We're getting close to the last chapter! I'll try to do a sequel. It depends on how this story turns out in the end. A lot of people want Cinderpaw and Lionpaw to get together. I'm still not sure about that yet. Maybe.

Also, sorry it took so long! We have been kinda busy today. Hey, I'm only a day late right? lol.

Chapter 8: An Early Decision

"Barkface!" Kestrelpaw yowled as he ran forward. Leafpool and Cinderpaw were right behind him, while Lionpaw was going slower to help Jaypaw. The group saw Barkface hunched over a small tabby shape. Lionpaw gulped when he saw Heatherpaw. She was so still you'd think she was dead. The only thing that betrayed that was the faint rise and fall of her chest.

"She hasn't woken up" Barkface mewed when they approached.

Well we can see that! Lionpaw growled to himself. He shook his head. Barkface would do whatever he could.

"She's unconscious, but alive. I don't know what happened. Maybe she ate something, but whatever happened it seems deadly" Barkface growled. Lionpaw nodded slowly. Cinderpaw pressed close to him, making Lionpaw feel warm. He could feel Jaypaw's gaze burning into him.

He's blind; he can't see what's going on… Lionpaw thought to himself.

Suddenly Lionpaw felt Cinderpaw start to sway. He struggled to support her, but she kept swaying. Before Lionpaw could do anything she collapsed. Her eyes turned amber for a split second before they closed.

"Leafpool!" He cried. Leafpool turned to face him, and her eyes widened.

"What happened?" She hissed running over to Cinderpaw. Lionpaw felt himself shaking. What was going on? Who would be next?

"What do we do?" Lionpaw asked. Leafpool sighed and her shoulders slumped.

"I just don't know Lionpaw" She muttered, "I've never seen anything like this before."

Barkface walked over to Leafpool and whispered something urgently into her ear. Leafpool nodded a few times, making Lionpaw grow anxious.

"We're not sure if we should move them" Leafpool mewed after a few moments "So… it looks like we're spending the night here in WindClan territory"

Lionpaw sighed. It would be too dangerous to be out here, especially at night. What about badgers or foxes?

"Are you sure that's a good idea?" Jaypaw asked. Lionpaw nearly let out a purr of relief. So he wasn't the only one worried about it.

Leafpool shrugged.

"Personally, I don't know what to do. We'd be taking a risk by moving them." Leafpool replied.

"But we'd be taking a risk by staying here" Jaypaw pointed out.

"A risk worth taking" Kestrelpaw replied "We have Lionpaw here"

"An apprentice can't take on a badger by himself!" Jaypaw hissed.

"It's not like we won't help!" Kestrelpaw shot back. Both medicine cat apprentices were bristling and glaring at each other.

"Well what if there's more then one? Four medicine cats and one warrior apprentice can't take one more then one badger!" Jaypaw spat. Kestrelpaw snarled.

"Stop it you two!" Barkface hissed. All eyes turned to the elderly medicine cat.

"We're all staying here and that's final," Barkface growled "Kestrelpaw, go back to camp and get two warriors. Ask Onestar first though"

Kestrelpaw shot one last angry look at Jaypaw before running off. Barkface and Leafpool sighed and laid down. The two were soon deep in conversation, trying to figure this out.

"Maybe we should go and get Mothwing or Littlecloud" Leafpool mewed. Barkface shook his head.

"Actually, I was thinking your or Jaypaw should head back. After all, your clan needs you" Barkface replied.

"I'll go" Jaypaw immediately mewed. Leafpool nodded.

"Lionpaw, you can take him back. If you can, ask Firestar to spare a warrior" Leafpool mewed.

"I don't need someone's guidance!" Jaypaw hissed immediately. Lionpaw rolled his eyes.

"Well, don't think of it as guidance. Think of it as your brother going with you to camp to get a warrior so we all won't be ripped to shreds" Barkface hissed. Jaypaw muttered something inaudible, but nodded.

Lionpaw purred with relief and he and Jaypaw walked back to camp.

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"Firestar?" Lionpaw mewed, poking his head into the den. Firestar mewed a quick "Enter" before Lionpaw walked in.

"Leafpool was hoping you could spare a warrior" Lionpaw mewed. Firestar raised an eyebrow.

"Why?" He asked. Lionpaw looked at his paws.

"Heatherpaw and Cinderpaw passed out…" He replied, "We can't risk moving them, so she asked me to ask for a warrior. We're staying in WindClan territory for awhile"

Firestar nodded. His eyes held trouble.

"Take…" He paused for a moment. Lionpaw waited patiently for his reply.

"Take Brackenfur" Firestar decided.

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"Cinderpaw!" Brackenfur cried when they reached where they were staying the night. Brackenfur ran over to her and buried his nose into her fur. Lionpaw saw that Kestrelpaw had brought back the warriors Nightcloud and Crowfeather.

"So what do we do now?" Brackenfur asked. Leafpool looked around her.

"Now we wait," She replied. As the sun started to set, Lionpaw felt a pit of dread. Crowfeather told him to get some rest, and Lionpaw nodded. He laid his head on his paws and fell asleep.

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"Wake up Lionpaw!" A rough voice hissed. Lionpaw recognized Tigerstar's voice, and he weakly opened his eyes. Sure enough, Tigerstar and Hawkfrost were there with two other cats.

"You said I had a whole moon," Lionpaw hissed as he stood up. Tigerstar rolled his eyes.

"Did you really think we would give you that long when we already know what your answer will be?" Tigerstar hissed. Lionpaw snarled.

"Then my answer to joining you is no!" Lionpaw hissed, "Why should I join you when I know I can't trust you?"

"I don't know. Look around you Lionpaw. What do you see?"

Lionpaw looked around. At first all he saw were the darkened shadows of the Dark Forest. Then his eyes landed on four cats. A small black cat had a small tabby cat pinned under him. Another dark tabby had a small gray cat pinned under him. His eyes widened. The cats pinned were Heatherpaw and Cinderpaw.

"You did this?" Lionpaw hissed, "You made them collapse?"

Tigerstar nodded. Lionpaw looked at Heatherpaw and Cinderpaw. Cinderpaw was looking at him with frightened blue eyes. Heatherpaw wasn't moving.

"What did you do to them?" Lionpaw hissed. This time Hawkfrost stepped forward.

"Nothing" He replied coolly, "Yet"

Lionpaw hissed. Hawkfrost ignored him.

"Tigerstar! How long to we have to hold these two down?" a smaller dark tabby complained.

"Just a little longer Darkstripe" Tigerstar replied, "Scourge, great job so far"

Scourge growled and unsheathed his claws into Heatherpaw's shoulders. Lionpaw saw they were enforced with dogteeth, and heard Heatherpaw cry out in pain.

"Stop it!" Heatherpaw cried. Lionpaw's eyes widened. He growled and lunged for Scourge, taking him by surprise and knocking him off Heatherpaw. Lionpaw pinned Scourge to the ground for no more then a split second before Hawkfrost hauled him off him.

"Leave them out of this" Lionpaw hissed. Tigerstar nodded to Darkstripe, who released his grip on Cinderpaw. Cinderpaw and Heatherpaw huddled close together by a tree.

"What do you want?" Lionpaw spat angrily. Tigerstar calmly smirked.

"Scourge, grab the tabby" He ordered. Scourge walked over to Heatherpaw and dragged her toward Tigerstar. He laid her down in front of him. Looking into her eyes Lionpaw saw none more then cold fear.

"Now, Lionpaw" Tigerstar growled, "I want you to join us"

Lionpaw growled and shook his head. Tigerstar narrowed his eyes.

"Are you sure?" He hissed. Tigerstar laid a paw on Heatherpaw's throat. He slowly unsheathed his claws…

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"Barkface!" Kestrelpaw cried as Heatherpaw started shaking uncontrollably. Barkface and Leafpool ran over to them. Heatherpaw was shuddering and wheezing for air.

"Something's choking her," Leafpool hissed, "Someone open her mouth!"

Kestrelpaw pried Heatherpaw's jaws open with his paw. Leafpool stuck her paw inside Heatherpaw's mouth, but found nothing.

"I don't get it…" She murmured, "Kestrelpaw, you stick you paw in"

Kestrelpaw looked to Barkface, who nodded. Leafpool pried open Heatherpaw's jaws and this time Kestrelpaw searched. His paw returned, and his face was grave.

"I-I couldn't find anything," Kestrelpaw whimpered. Heatherpaw continued to shudder and wheeze.

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"Stop it!" Lionpaw hissed. Tigerstar stopped and sheathed his claws. Heatherpaw coughed and started gasping for breath.

"Lionpaw, the only way to stop this is to join us," Hawkfrost growled. Lionpaw hissed.

"Are you sure this is your choice? To ignore us?" Tigerstar growled. Lionpaw looked to Heatherpaw. She was shaking uncontrollably from fear. Her breathing had returned to normal.

"Well…" Lionpaw lunged for Tigerstar, pinning him to the ground.

"Heatherpaw! Cinderpaw! Run!" Lionpaw hissed as Tigerstar threw him off. Scourge grabbed Heatherpaw and Hawkfrost grabbed Cinderpaw.

"Scourge, bring her here!" Tigerstar spat as he got to his feet, "Darkstripe, hold Lionpaw down"

Before Lionpaw could react Darkstripe pinned him onto his stomach. Darkstripe positioned his head so Lionpaw would have to look directly at Heatherpaw.

"Lionpaw, this is your punishment for not listening…" Tigerstar hissed. He nodded to Scourge, who swiped his claws down Heatherpaw's back. Heatherpaw screeched in pain. Scourge ignored her and continued clawing.

"Stop!" Lionpaw hissed. He tried to close his eyes, but Darkstripe wouldn't allow it. He would have to watch.

"You deserve this, Lionpaw" Tigerstar hissed, "Finish the job, Scourge"

Scourge nodded. He unsheathed his long claws, reinforced with dog claws. He raised them above Heatherpaw's head, then brought them crashing down. Lionpaw closed his eyes, tears brimming on the edge. Lionpaw winced as he heard a loud crack. Tears were on the brim of his eyes. He didn't have to open his eyes to know what happened…

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"Where is all this blood coming from?" Kestrelpaw cried. Claw marks seemed to magically appear on Heatherpaw's body. She was shaking again as the medicine cats worked to cover her wounds. Suddenly, all was still. The wind seemed to stop blowing, and everyone was silent. The small heap of tabby fur had stopped moving. Her heather-colored eyes were glazed over.

"She's gone…" Leafpool whispered.

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Heatherpaw is dead! I actually can't believe I did that… well, those of you who wanted to LionCinder pairing, you might just get it. Heatherpaw is dead. But will Cinderpaw be next? Find out next chapter!