A/N: Yeah, it's impossible to see where the story is heading… until now

A/N: Yeah, it's impossible to see where the story is heading… until now! …I hope. And thanks to Tanfeather of AmberClan for Duskpaw's warrior name! :)

Chapter 4 – Fall

"Do you, Duskpaw, promise to uphold the warrior code and to protect and defend your Clan at all costs?"

"I do."

"Then by the powers of StarClan I give you your warrior name. Duskpaw, from this moment you will be known as Duskshadow. StarClan honors your courage and skill, and we welcome you as a full warrior of ThunderClan," Foxstar finished with a fiercely proud look in his eyes, although he wasn't Duskshadow's mentor.

"Duskshadow! Dawncloud! Duskshadow! Dawncloud!" The chanting roared in his ears, and the golden tom felt the same great feeling as when he had defeated Rowanpaw: pride, glory, and victory. Such a dark name for a bright future, he thought to himself. What would he go for now, leadership of ThunderClan?

Nah. I can't stand talking and reasoning with the other Clans to try and avoid fighting. I was made for the battlefield. I fight and leave the thinking to others.

Dawncloud was given her warrior name with her brother. They were now one of the youngest named warriors in ThunderClan's history, being in training for only four moons. Dawncloud was made a warrior on account of her winning the hunting competition, as Duskshadow was honored for his victories in the fighting. He never realized there could be so much glory in this world.

Rowanpaw sat in the edges of the gathering, staring at Duskshadow with narrowed blue eyes. Why wasn't he a warrior? He was fully two moons older than that cocky Duskshadow, but he was still shamed in the daylight Gathering. And how in StarClan did he know just how to counter my new move? Does he really have a gift? It's not fair!

But Rowanpaw wasn't going to give up. He never gave up in his fights, and he was determined to get the last laugh. He approached Kestrelpaw, whispered a few words in his ear, and they both slipped out while their Clanmates praised their worst enemy.

"Thistleclaw! Thistleclaw, Rowanpaw's stuck in the Sky Oak!"

Foxstar and Rowanpaw's mentor, Thistleclaw, appeared immediately. The leader snarled, "Why would he do such a mousebrained thing?"

"W-we were having a bet, sorta; I told him he couldn't climb up halfway—"

Foxstar interrupted him, commanding Thistleclaw, Duskshadow, and Kestrelpaw to go help Rowanpaw. "And Wildstorm and Ravenwing will come with you as well. Rowanpaw's not the first cat to be stuck in the Sky Oak, and he won't be the first to fall." Everyone knew who that was: Cinderheart, who was one of the oldest cats in ThunderClan.

The cats sped towards the Sky Oak with Thistleclaw in the lead. When they reached the huge tree, all the cats gasped. Rowanpaw was up perilously high, teetering on a small brach. From the way the leaves were falling on the ground, Duskshadow could guess that Rowanpaw was shaking with dead fright. Even so, wouldn't it be great to humiliate him again by being his savior?

Those thoughts were in his head as Duskshadow leaped onto the lowest branch, and started to make his way upwards. Thistleclaw yowled, "Don't be so reckless!"

At times when there no sturdy branches to leap to, he unsheathed his claws and made the climb painstakingly slow. "Help me!" wailed Rowanpaw. Duskshadow grinned to himself and leaped onto another branch, when suddenly a squirrel darted out of its shelter, scrambling upwards. The rustle broke his concentration, and before Duskshadow understood what was happening, his grip on the bark was loose.

There was a sudden moment of vertigo as he plunged downwards. He flailed with his paws to grab hold onto something, anything, but the trunk was too far away, the branches too weak to hold on to. The ground rushed up to meet him.

I couldn't make it, were his last thoughts, as Thistleclaw made the climb in his place…