Hi everyone! I don't have any more plans for one shots or other stories in the near future, so full attention should be on this story from now on. Also, I thought that I might answer your reviews!

Get ready for the story!


"I can groom myself!"

That's up for debate thought Tadpolekit, watching Shadekit struggle to get away from Tansyfoot's tongue.

Two long moons had passed since Tadpolekit had got out of the medicine den. Yet, every time she felt happy, the WindClan warriors dark threat would return to her head. Shadekit had noticed that she seemed down a lot, and always tried to cheer her up. But this was counterproductive. Tadpolekit would then feel worse now that she knew Shadekit was working hard to try and return her to her old self. She didn't want Shadekit to work hard for nothing to happen. So she felt worse because now she realized that she couldn't get back to her old self, meaning she felt more down. This meant that Shadekit would try even harder to cheer Tadpolekit up, which made Tadpolekit feel worse.

It wasn't a great cycle to be trapped in. At last Shadekit gave up on making her feel better. But that made it worse again, because it confirmed her theory that she was a lost cause. She was a kit, and couldn't help the clan. She was useless.

But watching Shadekit desperately trying to get away from Tansyfoot's tongue, Tadpolekit wondered But today, she was going to become an apprentice! She would no longer be useless! After Tadpolekit, Shadekit, and Tansyfoot were up and heading towards the fresh-kill pile, Seedstar had approached them and quietly told them Tadpolekit and Shadekit's apprentice's ceremonies were today. Since then, Tansyfoot had gone crazy trying to make sure that Tadpolekit's and Shadekit's pelts were just right Tadpolekit had gotten a brief lick by her mother, but Shadekit had been uncooperative with Tansyfoot, resulting in a drawn out saga as Shadekit desperately tried to escape Tansyfoot.

"There. You're done Shadekit." mewed Tansyfoot, bringing Tadpolekit out of her thoughts.

"I'm a long haired cat, Tansyfoot." protested Shadekit. "You can't groom me the same way you'd groom yourself or Tadpolekit!"
"Hush dear." responded Tansyfoot, annoyance etching her mew, telling her kits that her patience was running thin. Shadekit stared pointedly at his feet, sulking. Tadpolekit shot him a sympathetic look.

"Let all cats gather beneath the Clanrock for a clan meeting!"

Tadpolekit saw Aethernose whisk out of the warriors den and sprint towards Tadpolekit, Shadekit, and Tansyfoot.

"Sorry I'm late!" gasped Aethernose as he sat down next to Tansyfoot, who let out a purr. "I was on guard duty last night. I didn't think the ceremony would be today!

In response, Tansyfoot purred something that Tadpolekit catch.

The clan was now gathered, and Seedstar addressed them.

"Tadpolekit, Shadekit, please come forward." As Tadpolekit walked up, shaking and feeling very conscious of all the eyes on her pelt, she noticed how calm and confident Shadekit looked. How could he! Didn't he notice that the whole clan was staring at them!

"Shadekit," mewed Seedstar, and Tadpolekit quickly snapped her gaze onto the ShadowClan leader. "You have reached your sixth moon and are now ready to become an apprentice of ShadowClan. Thus, from this day forward, your name shall be Shadepaw. Frogeyes, you are strong and thoughtful warrior, and I hope you will pass these skills onto Shadepaw."
Shadepaw walked up and touched noses with his new mentor. It's my turn next thought Tadpolekit. Her nerves were playing up badly, and she was shaking uncontrollably. But slowly, she walked up to the Clanrock and faced Seedstar.

"Tadpolekit. From this day forward, until you get your warrior name, your name shall be Tadpolepaw. Weaselfoot, you are an experienced and loyal warrior, and I trust you to show Tadpolepaw everything you know."

Tadpolepaw walked forward and awkwardly touched noses with Weaselfoot.

"I-I promise I'll try my best." Tadpolepaw stammered, trying to sound confident.

"I expect nothing less." the brown-colored warrior mewed warmly

The clan was now looking at Stormfall, who was setting the patrols, no longer paying attention to the two new apprentices.

"What are we doing first?" Tadpolepaw asked

"I thought I would show you the territory." answered Weaselfoot

Tadpolepaw's mind instantly flitted back to the sharp rock where the WindClan warrior had injured her. If they were just looking at the territory, then, that rock was probably a landmark and they were likely to pass it. But how could Tadpolekit utter a complaint? Instead, she just wordlessly nodded to her mentor.


The long expanse of the thunderpath lay before Tadpolepaw. Weaselfoot had shown her a couple of good hunting places and other landmarks, but Tadpolepaw's head was spinning slightly as she tried to remember them all. How can I possibly be expected to remember all of this! This whole forest looks almost exactly the same! She had been focusing hard on remembering, and didn't notice where she was going. All of a sudden she was wandering onto the thunderpath. Or, she would have had it not been for Weaselfoot's tail, keeping her back. Now, she had to try and keep all of that in her head while listening to Weaselfoot. But, all of a sudden, she was staring across the thunderpath at the WindClan border.

She lost track of the landmarks in her head. She lost track of whatever Weaselfoot was saying. All she could think about was the smell of that WindClan scent, the scent of that the cat who had injured her. Horror engulfed her as she realized that all of a sudden, she was going to be out of camp a lot, probably marking this border. The clans were rivals, and a fight between WindClan and ShadowClan would happen soon. When it did, she and that WindClan warrior would probably end up fighting. And what reason would he have not to finish the job which he had started when he shoved her up against that rock? He could easily make it look like an accident that had happened in the heat of battle. Fear's icy fangs began to gnaw on her. She wasn't safe. She had felt this way when she got out of the medicine den, but that was different. There were still two long moons before she would have to leave camp. Now, she could be killed at any moment.'


That could truth hung in her mind as she finished exploring the territory. Soon she and Weaselfoot were back at camp and the clan was settling down as sky turned black and the stars came out. She felt a flash of gratefulness to Weaselfoot as she realized that they had avoided the rock that she had gotten injured on. To him, it was just where she had a nasty fall chasing a butterfly, but she was still gratefull.

"Tadpolepaw!" came a squeak from Ashenpaw. "I found you a nest in the den."
Tadpolepaw forced herself to smile "Thanks Ashenpaw," she mewed. "Where is it?"

"Let me show you." mewed Ashenpaw, and Tadpolepaw followed her into the den. The only cat in the den was Owlpaw, Ashenpaw's brother, who was awake.

"Hi Tadpolepaw," he mewed. "We made you a nest here, next to mine, Ashenpaw's and Honeypaw's."

"Thanks." she mewed softly, taken aback by their kindness.

The night wore on, and soon the apprentice's den was filled with sleeping apprentices. But Tadpolepaw lay awake, worrying about the WindClan warrior. But then, another claw of terror touched her. What if the WindClan warrior slowly killed everyone she cared about? Not just her family, but her friends as well? He would slowly pick them off, one by one until he finally came for Tadpolepaw last? She began to shiver with fear. What kind of cat would hurt an innocent kit! What reason would he have to do that? She yowled silently in her mind. Suddenly, her head shot up. What kind of reason would he have for that? She thought again, her fear subsiding slightly for a bit of curiosity, wondering what nasty motive a cat could have to try and kill a kit, which was against the warrior code?


Guys, I'm so sorry about the huge wait. I'll have the next chapter within the week, I promise. Anyway, Tadpolepaw is now an apprentice, events are going to start picking up reasonably quickly. Anyway, here are the reviews!

Maple Dapple: Yay! Glad that you are enjoying it!

SomeoneI'mSure: That would be interesting. Can't say I'm sure myself who would win if it was 1v1.

I-really-hope-not: Yeah, but she has no idea what the WindClan's warrior's abilities are like, or whether he has the backing of WindClan or not, and whether being revealed would deter the WindClan warrior or not. Finally, I can't have her tell Seedstar because of plot convince.

A Sky of Blazing Stars: Thank you!

Please keep reviewing, reviews keep me going, and I will see you all next time!

Thanks!

- Willowstorm