Thanks for all the reviews. I really hope I'll be able to make a sequel to this story, but the only way I could do that is if… wait, if I continue I'm just gonna give away the whole story. Nevermind. Here's chapter 4.

Chapter 4: A Proposition

The cats that sat vigil for Ashfur were Squirrelflight, Firestar, Brambleclaw, Ferncloud, Birchfall, Dustpelt and Lionpaw. Lionpaw sat between his parents, his eyes on his mentor's unmoving body.

Why him? He thought to himself. Ashfur and Lionpaw had developed a close bond, like most mentors and apprentices did. Ashfur was an amazing mentor. He'd saved Lionpaw from falling into the lake, and in a way saved him from the ShadowClan patrol. If he'd stayed his fate would've likely been the same as Ashfur's.

The sun started to rise above the horizon, and the vigil was finished. Lionpaw blinked tiredly and looked around. Ferncloud's eyes still held a trace of tears. She'd been Ashfur's sister. Dustpelt, her mate, was Ashfur's mentor. Birchfall had been his apprentice before Lionpaw. Squirrelflight and Brambleclaw were friends. Firestar was his leader and Lionpaw, his last apprentice.

"Lionpaw" Firestar mewed when the vigil was finished "We will start training at sunhigh. For now, get some rest"

Lionpaw nodded gratefully and walked into the apprentice den. All the apprentices were either asleep or just now awakening. Lionpaw went to the only nest available and fell asleep.

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"Lionpaw, come on. We are going battle-training with Cinderpaw and Cloudtail" Firestar mewed prodding Lionpaw awake. Lionpaw groaned and opened his eyes, expecting to see Ashfur. But he saw the green eyes of Firestar looking down on him.

"Ok…" Lionpaw mewed standing up. He could see Cinderpaw and Cloudtail waiting for them by the entrance to the camp.

"Hi Lionpaw" Cinderpaw murmured softly as they approached. She had her gaze on her paws as she spoke.

"Hi" Lionpaw replied. Firestar and Cloudtail looked at each other, then around the camp.

"Let's go" Firestar mewed leading the patrol toward the Training Hollow.

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"Keep claws sheathed and take it easy today. Lionpaw might still be worn out from the attack," Firestar ordered. Lionpaw shrugged. Sure, his wounds still stung a little but he'd be fine.

"Fight!"

Not even a second after Cloudtail gave the call Cinderpaw lunged at Lionpaw. Lionpaw had been caught off guard, and sent sprawling to the ground. He thought he could feel some of the cobwebs coming undone. Cinderpaw sat down a rabbit-hop away from him.

"You ok?" She asked. Lionpaw stood up and nodded.

"Easy, Cinderpaw" Cloudtail ordered.

Lionpaw took his opportunity and lunged for Cinderpaw. Cinderpaw whirled around just in time and batted him away with her paw. Lionpaw again landed sprawled in the dust.

"Wow, you're good" Lionpaw commented standing up. Cinderpaw purred in response.

Cinderpaw lunged for Lionpaw this time, but Lionpaw was ready. Lionpaw jumped out of the way, causing Cinderpaw to fly past him. Lionpaw let out a gasp of relief as Cinderpaw stood.

"Ok, take a break" Cloudtail ordered. Lionpaw nodded and sat down at the edge of the Training Hollow. Cloudtail and Firestar started talking, occasionally looking at him. Cinderpaw walked over to him and sat down by him.

"How are you doing?" She asked. Lionpaw shrugged.

"Fine I guess" He replied, "My wounds are a little sore but-"

"Not about that. About… about Ashfur" Cinderpaw mewed softly. Lionpaw looked at his paws.

"Just fine" He muttered, "I'm doing just fine"

Cinderpaw pressed her nose to his side. Lionpaw felt his fur grow hot as Cinderpaw pulled away. Both looked a little shocked.

"I… er- well," Cinderpaw began. They were silenced their mentors, telling them to fight again.

"We can talk later" Lionpaw mewed running into the hollow. He still couldn't believe what happened. Did… did Cinderpaw like him?

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Lionpaw looked around the camp a few hours later to find Cinderpaw. He needed to figure out the truth. Did Cinderpaw like him? Lionpaw continued to look around but did not spot the pretty gray she-cat.

"Cinderpaw!" He yelled, trying to get her attention if she was near. At first he heard nothing. Then he saw Cinderpaw's sister Poppypaw walking toward him.

"If you're looking for Cinderpaw I think she went hunting" Poppypaw mewed.

"Where?" Lionpaw asked, a little impatiently.

"Um… she didn't say" Poppypaw replied, "Try the WindClan border, she loves hunting there"

Lionpaw nodded his thanks and sped off, not even thinking that he could run into Heatherpaw.

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Lionpaw ran toward the WindClan border, his paws drumming on the ground. Now he started wondering what could happen when he got there. Would he see Heatherpaw? Did he want to see Heatherpaw?

I do want to see her… he thought to himself, but… she hates me now.

Lionpaw continue running until he reached the border. He didn't see Cinderpaw anywhere.

"Cinderpaw?" He mewed. No answer. Well, Poppypaw was obviously wrong on this one…

"Help!" Lionpaw looked across the WindClan border and saw Cinderpaw. She was being chased by a patrol, and they didn't look too happy that she was there.

Lionpaw groaned and ran forward toward the patrol. He could already tell this would not end well.

"Lionpaw!" Cinderpaw yowled when he came into view. Lionpaw stopped running a few fox-lengths away. When Cinderpaw and the patrol reached him Cinderpaw stopped by him.

"Two ThunderClan apprentices on our territory. What an unpleasant surprise" Lionpaw recognized Nightcloud. He tried not to growl.

"What happened?" Lionpaw asked. He scanned the patrol, hoping to spot Heatherpaw. He did. She was in the back, looking at her paws.

"This little apprentice was hunting on our territory" Lionpaw recognized the last cat of the patrol. It was Breezepaw, Nightcloud's son.

"Who you calling little?" Cinderpaw hissed "I'm bigger then you pipsqueak"

Breezepaw hissed and flexed his claws. Lionpaw stood protectively in front of Cinderpaw, just in case Breezepaw decided to attack.

"Sheathe your claws, Breezepaw" Nightcloud ordered. Breezepaw muttered something and sheathed his claws, anger in his eyes.

"I chased a rabbit onto your territory, it was a ThunderClan rabbit" Cinderpaw growled. Nightcloud ignored her.

"Just get off our territory," She hissed. Lionpaw and Cinderpaw growled, but nodded.

"C'mon" Lionpaw mewed to Cinderpaw. As they walked away he snuck a glance at Heatherpaw. She was looking at him, but Lionpaw couldn't read her eyes. Was she sad, happy, mad? Would he ever know?

"That was very foolish to chase that rabbit into their territory" Lionpaw growled when they crossed the border. Cinderpaw shrugged.

"Don't be telling me what's foolish, I'm older then you" Cinderpaw pointed out matter-of-factly.

"Well, I guess we should head back to camp" Lionpaw muttered. Cinderpaw shrugged.

"Fine with me" She replied "Let's go"

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Where am I? Lionpaw thought to himself. After he and Cinderpaw got back to camp it was sunset, so he went to sleep. When he woke up he was… here.

He was in a dark forest. Shadows moved in all directions. Eyes stared at him through the darkness. Lionpaw decided he might as well look around; he had nothing else to do here.

Lionpaw arrived in a clearing. It was brighter then most of the forest, considering the moonlight that filtered through it. Lionpaw walked into the clearing, but immediately wished he hadn't. As soon as he stepped foot in the clearing two cats stepped out from the shadows.

One was a dark tabby tom with a white chest and icy blue eyes. The other, a much larger tom, had a dark tabby pelt and amber eyes. They both walked toward him, expressions unreadable.

"Hello Lionpaw" The large dark tabby mewed "We've been expecting you here for quite some time"

"H-How do you know my name?" Lionpaw growled/stammered. The tabby shrugged.

"We watch everyone in our family" The tabby replied.

"You're not part of my family" Lionpaw growled. Who were these cats?

The tabby gave him a look of mock-hurt. "What? Your parents haven't told you the story of you Grandpa Tigerstar or Uncle Hawkfrost?"

Lionpaw immediately unsheathed his claws, anger in his eyes. What did these two want? Lionpaw heard stories of Tigerstar and Hawkfrost many times. He knew they didn't go to StarClan.

"What do you want with me?" He hissed. Hawkfrost stepped forward.

"Well, little apprentice, we have a proposition for you" Hawkfrost replied, "We need your help. You see, we need to urgently speak with your father."

"Contact him in a dream like you did to me" Lionpaw replied quickly "Now, I'll just go-"

"It's not that easy" Tigerstar cut in "You see, he won't listen to us. But he'll listen to his son, now won't he?"

"He might…" Lionpaw replied. What were they getting at?

"We just need you to be here when we contact him. Convince him to listen to us" Tigerstar growled. Lionpaw shook his head.

"I would never help you!" He hissed. Tigerstar let out a growl.

"Well, I guess you don't care about a certain WindClan apprentice after all" Hawkfrost growled. Lionpaw looked straight at Hawkfrost, anger blazing in his amber eyes.

"You leave Heatherpaw out of this" Lionpaw hissed.

"Oh don't worry, we won't harm her. Yet." Tigerstar replied "But if you do help us she won't get harmed at all"

Lionpaw hissed. What was he supposed to do? Help Tigerstar and possibly harm his father, or protect his father and possibly harm Heatherpaw?

"Y-You can't hurt her" Lionpaw growled, "This is all a dream. And you can't come back to life"

Tigerstar and Hawkfrost both gave looks of mock-surprise.

"Well, I suppose you caught us" Tigerstar replied, "Oh, wait. No you didn't. Tell me Lionpaw, does this hurt?"

Tigerstar swiped his claws down Lionpaw's face. Lionpaw cried out and jerked backwards, blood dripping down his face.

"Now, what makes you think we can't do that to Heatherpaw?" Tigerstar growled. Lionpaw hissed.

"We'll give you time to think about it. We'll see you again in a moon. Heatherpaw and Brambleclaw too" Tigerstar growled. Before Lionpaw could reply Tigerstar and Hawkfrost vanished, and Lionpaw awoke in his den.

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How was it? Please review! I'm trying to update as fast as I can but I had a little bit of Writer's Block on this chapter.