Yo, BlindSeer here! Okay, First things First…..

I HAD A MAJOR WRITERS BLOCK.

I am SOOOO sorry about this taking sooo long, but everytime I'd sit down, nothing would come to me, I just couldn't type. So, also, sorry about the quality of this chapter. Was still kinda unfocused when I wrote it.

Okay, just so ya know, this chapter is dedicated to SFLP, because if you hadn't bothered me so much (which IS a good thing) this chapter probably would've taken even longer to write. THANX!

Alright, I'm gonna reply to some reviews from a while ago.

Bluepelt (from chapter 9 review)- Well, I think the only other eligible cat is Whiteflower, and she is WAY to young for him….unless I'm wrong. I'm relying on memory here… ;)

Sup (From chapter 9): You are really annoying sometimes….see you at school!

Spiritwind(From chapter 9): I like that idea, but I'm kinda starting to like Mousepaw…even though he is a jerk. I think I have some special plans for him….then again, I might not.

Now from chapter 10

Bluepelt: Hmmm, I don't know…I kinda like Squirrelfight and Brambleclaw, even though I like Ashfur…I just don't think he is the right cat for Squirrelflight.

SFLP: I reviewed, I REVIEWED! Thanks, though, for the cyber plushies. My mom got mad at me, though. She says I have WAY to many stuffed animals. JK.

Wolfclaws: Thanks…I personally think I'm not a very good writer, but I think I'm improving. Not many spelling mistakes this time, right?

Forcestar: Yey! You reviewed!

Oceanwind: I do too. Graystripe is the best!

Vampireofchopstics: like the new name.

Firewolf- Love the name! Thanks for reviewing, and I am sooo happy you think so!

Spiritwind: Yeah, I think Cody did…So, the book The Wild Road, who's the author?

Disclaimer: All I want for Christmas is the Warrior Series….

OOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO

"Let all cats old enough to catch their own prey gather beneath highledge for a clan meeting," Firestar's yowl echoed through out the hollow.

Squirrelflight yawned as she emerged from the warrior's den, Ashfur beside her. Ever since Graystripe returned, Brambleclaw had rarely shown any emotion, always eying Sorreltail's kits with a look akin to hunger.

Leafpool had always seemed on edge, fear coming off her mental link in waves almost every night. She never left to meet Crowfeather, at least not that Squirelflight could detect, but at gatherings she seemed hard pressed not to run the dark gray toms side.

Firestar's voice broke through her conscious once more, and she made herself pay attention.

"Today, these kits," he began, but was interrupted by a voice.

"And pup," Silverpup barked. His comment was followed by a hush from Sorreltail.

"And pup," Firestar continued as if nothing had happened. "Have turned 6 moons and are ready to become apprentices. Sunkit, will you please step forward."

The bracken colored she-kit padded nervously up to her leader, keeping her eyes shyly on the ground. Firestar muttered something into her ear, and she raised her head hesitantly.

"Sunkit, until you've earned your warrior name, you will be known as Sunpaw, and your mentor will be Brambleclaw. Brambleclaw, you know what it is like to have to earn your loyally. Train this apprentice the way I trained you." Firestar looked at Brambleclaw straight in the eye, Squirrelflight could see that Firestar was implying. To not be like Tigerstar.

Brambleclaw stared back, not fazed by Firestar's warning, before padding up and touching noses with the small kit. As they padded out of the way, Sootkit walked excitedly up to highledge.

"Sootkit, until you have earned your warrior name, you will be known as Sootpaw. Train well, with your mentor Cloudtail to guide you."

As the white warrior stepped forward to touch noses with his new mentor, Firestar turned to Badgerkit, and the burly kit stepped forward.

"Until you have earned your warrior name, your mentor will be Brightheart. Train well, young one."

Turning to Cinderkit, he spoke loudly to the whole clan. The attentive kit glanced side to side, looking for something that Squirrelflight couldn't guess of.

"Cinderkit has chosen a different path than the hard one as a warrior, but still a difficult path all the same. Cinderpaw wishes to become Thunderclan's medicine cat apprentice."

Squirrelflight stood with her eyes wide. I wonder if names have something to do with your fate.

Leafpool stepped forward, smiling, and touched noses with her new apprentice, and they quickly walked towards the throng of awaiting cats.

All eyes turned to the young pup, who was sitting proudly at Sorreltail's side.

"Silverpup, until you've earned your warrior name, you will be known as Silverpaw."

Every cat in the hollow held their breath, even the wind was silent, waiting who the mentor of the pup destined to save their clan was going to be.

"And your mentor will be…"

(A/N wouldn't it be sooooo evil if I left it here….)

"Squirrelflight."

She blinked in surprise. She hadn't expected this. Firestar had never told her in advance.

Glancing around, she saw Brambleclaw staring at her, and his gaze seemed proud before it melted back into a serene mask.

Taking a step gingerly forward, she padded up to the pups side.

Only now did she realize how big he was. As broad shouldered as Brambleclaw, and almost bigger than Firestar, Squirrelflight had to reach up instead of down to touch his wet nose.

Chuckles floated around the clearing as the tension slowly disappeared, and the clan started chanting the apprentices' names loudly.

Sorreltail's kits were too chocked with happiness to even purr, and Silverpaw was thumping his powerful tail happily.

OOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO

Leafpool watched as Cinderpaw emerged from the apprentices den, yawning, her burly brother, Badgerpaw, following, almost tripping over his strong paws.

Sootpaw emerged after, glancing around sneakily before tackling his big brother, and Sunpaw watched them quietly from the shadows.

Silverpup emerged, pushing his way through the opening, almost too big to fit in it, and Mousepaw emerged next, sneering at Silverpups struggles, followed by his cream-colored sister and his brother, followed lastly by Birchpaw.

As they all veered off to their mentors, Cinderpaw padded up to her, looking eager.

"What am I going to learn today?" She asked.

Leafpool smiled, and then said, "Well…"

OOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO

"Today we are going to show you Thunderclan territory," Brambleclaw said, staring at the 4 new apprentices.

Squirrelflight chocked back laughter at how serious they all looked. That won't last half a moon.

As they left the hollow, Silverpaw's bulk barely fit inside the tunnel, and Squirrelflight heard Badgerpaw chortle good-naturedly.

As Brambleclaw, Brightheart, and Cloudtail started running, the apprentices followed, Silverpaw almost passing them, his strong paws and forelegs springing with every step he ran, his muscles bunching under his long, silver-black coat.

As they neared the Shadowclan border, Brambleclaw opened his mouth to say something, but Cloudtail cut him off, saying, "Open your mouths, and see what you can smell."

They young cats and lone dog complied, and as the cats spit in distaste, Silverpaw narrowed his eyes, confused.

"Squirrelflight?" he barked.

"Yes, um, Silverpaw?" she asked, suddenly nervous.

"I can't smell anything that way. It's much easier with my mouth closed, I think," he said.

Blinking in confusion, she glanced helplessly at Brambleclaw. He looked confused as well, but nodded, as if saying to go along with it.

"Alright, then, you do it like that," she said slowly.

Smiling, he breathed in through his nose, and Squirrelflight remembered when his mother, Comet, had smelled Brambleclaw even before she had, and without using her scent glands…

Then it hit her.

Dogs don't have scent glands.

She laughed weakly, and Brambleclaw looked at her inquisitively.

Shrugging, she beckoned with her tail for the party to follow her, figuring that if she would be a mentor, she would have to teach.

OOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO

They didn't pass where Comet had most likely died, much to Squirrelflights relief and disappointment. The journey was getting to long for the apprentices, although Silverpup still seemed to have a lot of energy left in him.

"When you return, get a piece of fresh-kill for the elders, then go and rest. Tomorrow we will teach you how to hunt."

All the apprentices nodded wearily, and headed towards the fresh-kill pile, each taking one to the retired warriors.

"How was your first day at teaching?" a voice sounded from behind Squirrelflight. Turning, she saw Leafpool standing behind her, Cinderpaw entering the apprentice den behind them both.

"More tiring than I thought it would be," Squirrelflight answered truthfully.

"Yeah, I know. But Cinderpaw is easy to work with. Everything I do, she catches, and remembers it."

Flicking her tail in goodbye, her sister walked back towards the medicine cat den, pausing to talk to Brightheart along the way.

Sighing, she was about to get some fresh-kill, but a gray blur tackled her playfully. Realizing who it was, she shoved him off her, turning and saw Ashfur.

"So how was your first day?" he asked.

She sighed. About to reply she saw Brambleclaw studying her, and looked straight into his amber eyes, and didn't answer.

Flicking his tail impatiently infront of her eyes, she tore her eyes away regretfully, and looked irritably at the gray tom beside her.

"Tiring," she replied, then walked wearily towards the warriors den before he could say something else.

As she settled down into the moss, she felt the guilt rise in her. How could she treat Ashfur like that?

She fell asleep with unease within her.

OOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO

As Leafpool walked along the desolate path of her dreams, she couldn't help feel unease in her, although if it was from her or her sister, she didn't know.

As she hid in the brambles once again, she saw that the session had already started, and Tigerstar was commenting on the lateness of his son's apprentice.

"You must make her obey, use fear if you have to. That is the best way to train an apprentice."

OOOOO(A/N because of my lateness, I give you Brambleclaw POV)OOOOO

That isn't how Firestar mentored me, Brambleclaw thought, and asked what had been on his mind every time he looked into Squirrelflights eyes.

"Must I always use force and fear to gain a position, even murder? When Firestar mentored me, he never pushed me more than necessary, and was always kind."

Tigerstar hissed in distaste.

"What caused this change of heart, Brambleclaw? You are training to become deputy, then leader, like me, not like that kittypet fool."

A familiar anger welled up inside him, more at himself than at his father.

You could always say no, not become the murderous traitor your father was, and is.

But he couldn't.

Could he?

"Now, if our plan works, it will be 3 to 4 moons (A/N Moon, not months, Wolfclaws. hehe) until they come. Then, as Firestar dies, you will become leader of Tigerclan, both of you."

Firestar dies…..

"He cant die!" Brambleclaw blurted out without thinking, protecting his former mentor and his leader.

"And why not," Hawkfrost hissed. "Honestly, Brambleclaw, what is wrong with you today?"

"Yes, what is?" Tigerstar said coldly. Shiver went down Brambleclaw's spine, and he didn't answer.

"Answer me, you soft-hearted fool! Do you not want to become leader? Not want to follow me in my pawsteps?"

"I want to become leader, father, but I don't want to become a murderer," he said. Taking a deep breath, he continued. "I want to have loyal warriors at my side by choice, not by fear."

Instead of the angry outburst Brambleclaw was expecting, Tigerstar's cold eyes were sympathetic.

"You are tired. I will not bother you for a few nights. Being a mentor is hard, but it is also training for when you are leader."

Brambleclaw opened his mouth to protest, but instead shook his head and turned away. Closing his eyes, he thought, but you don't understand. I don't want to be bothered by you ever again.

He opened his eyes, and was looking into silvery-blue eyes and white gleaming teeth...

OOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO

Once again, I AM SOOOO SORRY ABOUT NOT UPDATING!!

Oh, yeah, my email is working again… I think, so, you can PM me now, if you want!

Thanks to everybody! I'm REALLY sorry about not updating.

BlindSeer.

P.S. I was wondering…Sunset comes out in January…how many of you guys will still read my story after it comes out, because I know for sure that its not gonna be done by Christmas… Just Wondering!