(Okay thank you to everyone who has reviewed my stories so far. I have to thank Crimson Solitude of the Moon for the question in chapter 8 I didn't think about Mosskit's special issue until then. The question asked was…

Why I made Mosskit a she-cat as oppose to a tom?

Well here is the answer. *Tiny bit of a spoiler…well not really*

If you recall, In one of the warriors books in the original series and in Secrets of the Clans Mosskit is mentioned as a tom I don't remember if they give any details as to what he looked like, but I know Mosskit was mentioned as a tom. However, in Cats of the Clans and Bluestar's Prophecy Mosskit is mentioned as a gray and white she-cat. In other words she is one of Erin Hunter's special gender switch cats.

Even though I tend to go by the original series for a lot of things concerning parentage and gender issues, I decided to use the Bluestar's Prophecy version of Mosskit because it had the most detail of who Mosskit was and we get to know Mosskit a little bit and her character from Bluestar's Prophecy. So as a result I used this version of Mosskit, I think the Erin's would refer to Mosskit as a she-cat now that she played a pretty big role in Bluestar's prophecy.

So I hope that cleared up any confusion for those who haven't read Bluestar's Prophecy or didn't know about the whole gender issue.

Now as for Goldenclaw, I have been leaving little hints here and there about who he is but very soon you will know exactly who he is and what role he plays in the series. Its not a terribly big role but he is important in the lives of four young, outstanding, cats.

As for Scourgeclaw and whether or not he is evil? Well your just going to have to wait and see. J)

Chapter 9

Mossflower awoke in her nest. She stretched and started to head out of the den when she noticed Scourgeclaw lying in his nest right next to hers. She blinked at him before poking him in the side with her paw. Scourgeclaw grumbled and rolled over in his nest. Mossflower leaned over and hissed in his ear.

"Wake up Scourgeclaw," Scourgeclaw growled before turning to look at her with an annoyed face.

"What is it?" Mossflower looked at him incredulously for a moment before answering.

"Where were you at the gathering? I was looking for you all night long." Scourgeclaw rolled his eyes and sighed.

"If you must know, I wasn't prepared to be around so many different cats is all so I watched from afar." he meowed.

"That doesn't explain why we couldn't find you after we came back to camp." she meowed watching him suspiciously. Scourgeclaw stretched out of his nest and padded out of the warriors den and sat down, letting the sun warm his pelt. Mossflower followed him and looked at him expectantly. He sighed again before answering.

"I went for a hunt, I didn't want to come back to camp without prey." meowed Scourgeclaw. Mossflower sighed knowing that there was something he was leaving out but didn't feel like prying it out of him.

"Fine, then I suppose you know what's happening?" she meowed.

"Yes I know that ShadowClan drove out WindClan." meowed Scourgeclaw.

"Yes that is why Bluestar has decide to increase patrols, and I think it might be why she wants to travel to HighStones." Scourgeclaw turn to look directly into Mossflower's eyes.

"What do you mean by that? Bluestar's leaving?" Scourgeclaw meowed confused.

"Yes she's going to share tongues with StarClan and she's taking me, Firepaw, Graypaw, Ravenpaw and Tigerclaw with her. It is important that apprentices make the trip to HighStones before they are made warriors. This is probably why I'm going as well." Scourgeclaw flinched when she mentioned Tigerclaw and growled lowly under his breath.

"Why am I not going? I've never been to HighStones either." he hissed crossly.

"Well… it might be because you were nowhere to be found after the gathering and that's when she made the announcement." she hissed back sarcastically. Scourgeclaw narrowed his eyes at her and thumped his tail irritably on the ground. Mossflower sighed before sitting beside him and giving his ears a few brisk licks.

"It'll be okay, I'll make sure Tigerclaw doesn't do anything to Firepaw. He wouldn't dare with Bluestar around anyway." Scourgeclaw shook his head.

"That's not what's bothering me." Scourgeclaw sighed at last as he watched Mossflower give him a confused look. 'Can I trust her?' he thought briefly and decided he would share some of the fruits of his escapade from last night.

"I have a bad feeling, something about the way Brokenstar was so insistent on ThunderClan giving up our territory. What if he attacks while you are all away? I just don't think it's a good time to be leaving the Clan without a leader." Mossflower's eyes had widened in surprise by his answer. She knew first paw that Scourgeclaw's instincts were spot on and he wondered how she would feel about what he had just told her. After a few minutes Mossflower finally answered him.

"Maybe Bluestar would consider leaving Tigerclaw behind or myself behind?" she meowed. Scourgeclaw shook his head.

" To be honest I don't think any of you should leave, and I don't think Bluestar would leave Tigerclaw here anyway since she won't be able to keep an eye on myself and him." Mossflower looked around and saw Spottedleaf beckoning her over with her tail.

"I have to get my traveling herbs, why don't you tell Lionheart that he should focus the patrols on ShadowClan while we're gone?" Scourgeclaw snorted

"And what in StarClan's name is going to make him want to focus the patrols on ShadowClan? The hunch of an outsider whose only been apart of the clan for a couple of moons?" Mossflower touched his shoulder with her tail.

"You should at least try, I mean the claim itself is a possibility to consider, even if ShadowClan doesn't attack while we're gone it wouldn't hurt to be prepared for an attack just incase." with another glance at Spottedleaf. "I have to go now " Mossflower meowed softly before giving Scourgeclaw one last lick on his ear and bounded over to Spottedleaf who was sitting in front of a bundle of herbs. Scourgeclaw watched her go with a sigh 'Oh they'll be attacking as long as Boulder remembered to keep his mouth shut.' Scourgeclaw growled inwardly. He starting to hope that the silver tabby had said something to his dark leader. He sat in front of the den watching some of cats as they prepared for the day. He spotted Lionheart with Bluestar. The two appeared to be discussing what would be going on while Bluestar was away. Scourgeclaw glanced over to where Mossflower was talking to Spottedleaf, before making his way toward the ThunderClan leader and her deputy. When he reached the two he waited patiently for them to take notice of him. Bluestar was the first to notice him.

"Scourgeclaw I was wondering where you were last night I didn't see you come home from the gathering." she meowed with a sharp stare. Scourgeclaw looked into her eyes and saw that she was more curious than angry. Scourgeclaw dipped his head in apology.

"I apologize Bluestar, I still had so much energy left over from the gathering I thought my energy could be used for a quick hunt." he meowed evenly. As he looked up at Bluestar he saw that while she still had a little suspicion of him, she had accepted his answer.

"Make sure you tell someone where your going before you just take off the next time, understood?" Scourgeclaw fought back growl as he gave Bluestar his promise. ' She's speaking to me as if she was chastising a kit.' he hissed inwardly to himself. Bluestar watched closely for a moment before speaking again.

"I feel that you have something to tell me?" she asked with a slight bit of urgency. 'as observant as ever.' Sourgeclaw thought before answering his leader.

"Bluestar, is it wise to leave the Clan so soon after the ShadowClan leader has made it clear that he will drive out our Clan if we don't give up our territory? Shouldn't you console with your ancestors once you know your clan isn't under immediate threat?" Bluestar blinked slowly as she took in his words. Lionheart seemed to be deep in though as well. Within a few seconds Bluestar finally spoke.

'I can see your point in all of this, but ShadowClan has no reason to attack us right away because we have neither refused nor accepted to give up our territory to them, but you are right to be concerned." with that said she turned to Lionheart. " Put the extra patrols on the ShadowClan border. While I don't think that they'll attack so soon after the gathering it won't hurt to be cautious." Lionheart nodded giving Scourgeclaw a nod of respect before going of to set the patrols. As Scourgeclaw moved to find Firepaw before he left he felt Bluestar's tail touch his shoulder.

"I know that your worried for Firepaw, but he'll be fine while he's with me and I know your disappointed that you aren't going with us. I would have taken you along if I had known where you were." she meowed firmly. " I want you to help Lionheart keep an eye on the camp while I'm gone." Scourgeclaw blinked slowly before nodding.

"Yes we'll keep the camp safe."

Mossflower gulped down the last of the bitter tasting herbs with a grimace on her face. 'Isn't there a way to make these things taste any better?' She thought with a grimace. Spottedleaf watched her with an amused look on her face. Spottedleaf touched Mossflower's shoulder with her tail.

"I know they taste pretty foul, but it will help keep up your strength, but take it easy don't over exert yourself." she meowed softly, she lowered her voice a little as she added. " I also want you to start visiting my den more often. Have you decided when you are going to move ?" Mossflower looked around to see if anyone was paying attention to them. When she saw that no one was watching them she answered.

"Soon, I'm just waiting for a good time to tell Scourgeclaw and Firepaw." she meowed gently. Spottedleaf nodded in understanding. Mossflower looked nervously at Spottedleaf. "Do you really think I can do this?" she asked. Spottedleaf purred gently.

"Of course you can , I have faith in you and you should have faith in yourself. We'll also get to see more of each other now right?" Mossflower nodded. She and Spottedleaf had become close friends since she Firepaw and Scourgeclaw had come to live in ThunderClan, and while they got to spend some time together, they couldn't spend a lot of time together due to their respective places in the Clan, but very soon that would change. Mossflower bid farewell to Spottedleaf, then moved toward the apprentice den to see if Firepaw, Graypaw and Ravenpaw were ready. She gave a friendly nod to Goldenclaw as he passed her and she watched him creep into the nursery before continuing on her way. When she reached the apprentice den, she saw that Firepaw was talking to Scourgeclaw. She came up to stand beside Firepaw and gave him a questioning look.

"What are you two talking about?" she asked with a slight teasing note in her voice. Scourgeclaw rolled his eyes and ignored her.

"Oh nothing , Scourgeclaw was just telling me to be careful while we are gone." Firepaw meowed as he nudged Scourgeclaw. Mossflower made a look of mock hurt as she looked at Scourgeclaw.

"How come you didn't tell me to be careful?" she meowed. Scourgeclaw snorted.

"You're a warrior, your expected to be careful, if you don't then it's because you were being mouse-brained and probably deserved what ever happened to you." Scourgeclaw growled, knowing full well that if he had said that to any other warrior they probably would have taken offence, Mossflower however had an amused expression on her face.

"I'll miss you too Scourgeclaw, come Firepaw Bluestar's waiting for us." she meowed heading toward the camp entrance where the rest of the group was waiting to go, Firepaw touched noses briefly with Scourgeclaw before following Mossflower to the entrance. Scourgeclaw watched them with slight feeling of worry. 'Take care of him Mossflower'

Bluestar lead the patrol in the direction of Fourtrees. Tigerclaw stayed a stride behind her with Graypaw and Firepaw a few pawsteps behind him. Mossflower padded along behind the two apprentices, with Ravenpaw a pawstep behind her.

As they passed through Fourtrees, Mossflower couldn't help but look around and take in the scents of the cats who had been there last night. They climbed up the bushy slope that lead into WindClan territory.

Mossflower paused at the top and looked around at the landscape. She felt the wind rustle her fur as she took in the faint scent of WindClan that hung in the air as well as the stronger and more alarming scent of ShadowClan markers.

"Every Clan is granted safe passage to the Moonstone, but since ShadowClan is acting as though the warrior code doesn't exist we should stay alert. This isn't our territory WindClan here or not we will not disrespect the warrior code." meowed Bluestar as they continued through the territory feeling the sun beating down on their backs.

Suddenly Tigerclaw called out an alert.

"I smell a ShadowClan patrol." he growled. The others quickly scented the air.

"They are upwind from us so they won't scent us we keep moving forward." meowed Bluestar. She motioned them to follow her as she quickly lead them away from the powerful ShadowClan scent.

They continued their swift pace until the scent of ShadowClan grew faint. They reached the edge of WindClan's territory where there were twoleg nests scattered across the landscape. They move quickly through them. Mossflower flinched as they passed a twoleg nest with dogs that were barking and growling as they quickly padded by.

They reached the Thunderpath just as the sun was beginning to sink. Bluestar moved the group over to a hedge near the edge of the Thunderpath. They watched as the monsters raced across the Thunderpath going both directions.

"We'll have to each go one at the time." meowed Tigerclaw before turning to glare at his apprentice. "You go first Ravenpaw."

Mossflower opened her mouth to protest, but Bluestar beat her to it.

"No Tigerclaw, the apprentices have never crossed the Thunderpath before they need to see how its done, I'll go first." she meowed before moving forward and stopping to crouch at the edge of the Thunderpath. She looked up and down the Thunderpath for monsters before racing across to the other side. Tigerclaw turn his attention back at Ravenpaw.

"Okay Ravenpaw, now that you've seen how its done you can go now." he growled.

Mossflower felt her fur begin to bristle as she stared at the dark tabby warrior, as she watched him glare at Ravenpaw. ' Scourgeclaw's right, no mentor should be treating their apprentice this way. He should be encouraging him not intimidating him' she thought as she watched Ravenpaw approach the Thunderpath shaking with fear in his eyes.

"You can do it Ravenpaw, just focus." she meowed calmly ignoring Tigerclaw's glare that he fixed on her. Ravenpaw copied what Bluestar had done on the edge of the Thunderpath, hesitating a little, until Tigerclaw growled at him to move his tail. He was about to cross when a monster came speeding down the Thunderpath causing Ravenpaw to back away from the edge of the path until it passed. He then quickly crossed over.

Graypaw made it over without any problems. Then Tigerclaw nudged Firepaw forward. Firepaw crept out onto the edge of the Thunderpath. Mossflower watched closely as a Twoleg monster came rushing down the path. Mossflower felt a wave of panic as she saw the monster miss hitting Firepaw by a whisker. She could barely stop herself from racing over to check on the fiery apprentice. Firepaw waited a little for the path to be silent again before racing over.

Mossflower quickly to the edge of the Thunderpath without waiting to see if Tigerclaw wanted to cross. She crouched down looked both ways before racing across to the other side of the path. Just as she was half way across, a speeding monster came hurtling toward her she moved forward and laid down just as the monster was in her way and trembled as it moved over her without touching her. Once it had gone she sat up and quickly dashed the rest of the way to the other side. As soon as she was safely across, Firepaw came over and buried his face in her fur.

"I was so worried, are you okay." he meowed softly. Mossflower purred I amusement.

"Are you okay?" she meowed "I'm not the only one who almost got hit today." she meowed.

"I'm fine." meowed Firepaw. Mossflower gently cuffed him on the ear.

"You better be. The last thing I need if for Scourgeclaw to claw my fur out for letting a monster get his paws on you." she meowed

"I thought for sure that you were crowfood Mossflower." meowed Graypaw as he approached the two.

"I thought so too." meowed Mossflower. Bluestar came over to look at the two just as Tigerclaw finished crossing.

"Do you both need t rest?" she asked softly. Her eyes had softened as she looked at Mossflower. Mossflower could also see the worry in her eyes.

"I'm fine we can keep going." she meowed. Bluestar turned to Firepaw who repeated the same thing. Bluestar nodded and lead the cats on toward Highstones.

Once they reached Highstones just s the sun had fallen, Bluestar gave them the okay to hunt and rest as they waited for the moon to rise. Mossflower moved off with the apprentices and Tigerclaw went his own way. They each brought back a decent catch of prey and brought it back to where Bluestar was sitting and staring into Mothermouth.

Once they had finished they waited beside Bluestar, until she told them it was time. She stood and made her way to Mothermouth. Mossflower approached the cave in awe of it. She barely paid attention to Graypaw calling Ravenpaw to join the rest of the group. She saw only blackness as she peered into the entrance.

"How will we see?" asked Firepaw as he looked into the cave.

"I know they way, just follow my scent. "Bluestar answered. "Mossflower you Firepaw and Tigerclaw will accompany me to the Moonstone, Ravenpaw and Graypaw you two will stand guard." with that said Bluestar entered the cave with Tigerclaw following right behind her. Mossflower nudged Firepaw ahead of her and took up the rear. Mossflower shiver slightly at the overwhelming darkness as they padded through the cave. She could smell fear scent in the air that grew stronger the further they traveled into the cave. At first she believe it to be Firepaw, until she realized it was the unmistakable scent of Tigerclaw. She have laughed about it if she herself wasn't starting to feel a little nervous. The air was damp and cold and it drove another shiver from Mossflower.

Just as Mossflower started to think that the cave would never end, the path open up into a cavern. The air was fresher here and the welcome scent of prey and heather that relaxed her. She could barely make out the opening in the roof that allowed the fresh air to seep in.

"We are now in the cavern of the Moonstone." meowed Bluestar. "You can rest for now, it will be moonhigh soon."

Mossflower laid down on the cold stone floor. Firepaw came and laid down beside her warming each other against the chill of the cave. She could hear Tigerclaw breathing heavily and filling the air with his fear scent.

Just when Mossflower was starting to doze in the cavern, a blinding light suddenly appeared and lit up the cave. She closed her eyes briefly before opening them and quickly realizing that the light was coming from a gleaming rock in front of them. The light of the rock turned Bluestar's pelt white, Tigerclaw's pelt had become silver and Firepaw's pelt a rich golden color.

Suddenly Tigerclaw turned tail and raced out of the cavern back toward the entrance of the cave. Firepaw became nervous and pressed his pelt into Mossflower's. Bluestar called out to the two of them.

"Are you both okay?" she asked.

"We are fine, why did Tigerclaw leave?" Mossflower asked confused. Bluestar explained that Tigerclaw was just overwhelmed by the power of the Moonstone and felt the need to leave at that time.

"Are either of you afraid?"

"No, I feel only curiosity." answered Firepaw.

"And I feel excitement as well as curiosity." Mossflower added.

"That's good" Bluestar replied as she approached the shinning rock and laid down beside it. They watched as she leaned forward enough to touch her nose to the rough surface. Mossflower and Firepaw sat and watched her as she closed her eyes and began to dream.

Before long the cavern was once again plunged into darkness. Firepaw tensed up against Mossflower.

"Mossflower, Firepaw are you both still here?" Bluestar called .

"Yes we are." answered Mossflower.

"Hurry then we must get back to the camp." she hissed as she blazed past them into the tunnel. Mossflower could barely contain her shock as she quickly spun around and raced after Bluestar with Firepaw at her heels. 'What could be happening at the camp' she thought. As she raced through the dark tunnel as quickly as she could.

Once outside Bluestsar told the others that they were leaving for the camp at once. She kept a fast pace as they travel back to camp. Mossflower could tell that Bluestar was anxious to get back to camp. They crossed the Thunderpath without trouble. And were heading back through the Twoleg nests when a muscular black and white tom appeared. Mossflower watched the cat warily and she heard Graypaw say something to Firepaw about the cat being a loner.

"Greetings Bluestar." meowed the tom. Tigerclaw watched the cat suspiciously. Bluestar stepped forward and greeted the tom.

"Greetings Barley, How goes the rat catching?"

"It c=goes well, I wanted to tell you to be careful and to go through the cornfield instead of running past the yard. The dogs are loose since they guard the Twoleg's nest at night. " he meowed. Tigerclaw opened his mouth to protest, but Bluestar beat him to it.

"Thank you Barley, we'll go that way then." she meowed before heading into the cornfield to continue on the way back to camp. 'Something must seriously be wrong if Bluestar is just going to follow the advice of a loner without thinking it through.' Mossflower thought as she followed her mother into the corn field.

Suddenly they were attacked from every direction by screeching rats. Mossflower swatted the little dark creatures. She sank her teeth into a rat that was biting into her thigh. She could just see Firepaw writhing on the ground trying to get the rats crawling over his body, before another rat flung itself at her. She started to feel multiple bites on her back and tail and she began to twist and turn every way she could biting and slashing the rats with her claws and crushed the rats between her jaws.

Suddenly she saw Barley slicing through the rats . He pulled some rats off of her and a few that Firepaw still had on him before making his way over to Bluestar. Mossflower looked around and saw that Firepaw was helping Graypaw. Tigerclaw was doing well enough on his own and she couldn't see Ravenpaw, but she raced to her mother's side and helped Barley fight the rats that were covering her mother.

Suddenly as quickly as the rats had surrounded them they were gone. Mossflower looked around to see Ravenpaw pulling himself out of a ditch covered with bites and scratches. She looked down at her mother and saw that she wasn't moving she was covered in blood. Firepaw ran to Bluestar's side looking worried. She moved to comfort the fiery apprentice, when a furious snarl came from behind her. She saw that Tigerclaw had pinned Barley to the ground.

"You lead us into a trap." growled Tigerclaw staring at Barley.

"I didn't know that the rats were here." Barley growled back. Mossflower moved to stand beside Tigerclaw.

"Tigerclaw that's enough why would he lead us into a trap only to come and save us from it?" she meowed causing Tigerclaw to look at her before letting Barley get up.

"Mossflower, Tigerclaw, Bluestar's badly injured what should we do?" Tigerclaw moved over to where their leader had fallen.

"There is nothing we can do, she's in the paws of StarClan." Tigerclaw meowed. 'Please come back Bluestar meowed what will we do without you' thought Mossflower.

Scourgeclaw leaped over a fallen tree branch weaving through the oak trees. He was on patrol with Whitestorm leading it and Goldenclaw was padding along side him. They were scenting their border near RiverClan, checking to make sure that their was no sign of RiverClan attempting to take over some of their territory. Scourgeclaw twitched his tail in aggravation. 'We should be checking the ShadowClan border not RiverClan.' he inwardly growled. It was getting closer to moonhigh and the patrol was heading back to camp.

When they were getting close to ravine, Whitestorm paused and tasted the air.

"I smell ShadowClan." he hissed . A soon as he spoke a yowl rang out and suddenly the sounds of screeching cats filled the night. "Quickly the camp is under attack." without another word. Whitestoem was racing toward the camp with Goldenclaw hot on his heels. Scourgeclaw paused a moment before taking off down the ravine. ' I had a feeling this would happen.' he thought before tearing through the gorse tunnel into the camp clearing.

There were cats every where, screeching and clawing. Tufts of fur falling around and scent of blood in the air. Scourgeclaw tore into the battle, pouncing on the back of a light gray tom with a dark tail. He raked his claws along his spine and gave a fierce bite to the cat's shoulder blade. The tom gave a loud screech and twisted to try and get Scourgeclaw off of him, but Scourgeclaw wasn't letting up. He raked his claws across the toms face. The tom gave a powerful buck and knocked Scourgeclaw off his back. The tom leaped forward to try and pin Scourgeclaw to the ground, but Scourgeclaw was faster. He dodge out of the way and let his unusually sharp claws slice through the tom's flank sending him screeching out the camp. Scourgeclaw almost chased after him, when he remembered there were other attackers. 'I suppose I'll get another chance to finish of my quarry.' he thought. He flung himself back into battle coming up to fight beside Brindleface who had her paws full fighting a large brown tabby tom. Scourgeclaw slashed at the toms face , while Brindleface sank her teeth into the shoulder of the brown tabby. The tom screech and shook himself free from Brindlface racing out the camp entrance. Brindleface blinked gratefully at Scourgeclaw before she moved to help Goldenflower and Frostfur who were fighting a gray tom.\

He saw Mousefur writhing underneath a large black tom. The tom moved to deliver the kill bite, but Scourgeclaw was faster. He sank his teeth into tom's throat causing him to release his grip on Mousefur. Mousefur crawled from beneath the tom and delivered a fierce bite to the tom's shoulder. The cat shook them both off with a yowl of pain. He raked his claws along Scourgeclaw's flank. Scourgeclaw slashed the tom in the stomach with his hind legs while Mousefur sank her teeth in the tom's flank. The tom screeched and broke free racing away from the camp. Scourgeclaw turn to face Mousefur, but the dusky brown she-cat had already jumped back into the fight. Scourgeclaw was about to follow her when he spotted a familiar fiery ginger pelt. He saw that it was indeed his brother Firepaw, wrestling with a tabby queen. Scourgeclaw looked around saw that the cats that had gone on the trip to Highstones ha returned to camp. He saw Mossflower attack a dark ginger she cat and wrestle with her on the ground biting and scratching. He saw Bluestar come limping into camp and saw the ThunderClan leader fling herself into the fray with the rest of the cats. Scourgeclaw heard a screech from the direction of the nursery and raced in that direction. He saw Yellowfang fight off Blackfoot away from the nursery. He saw that Rosetail one of the elder's was laying dead in front of the nursery. He felt a brush of fur at his flank and realized that Firepaw had come up beside him.

"Go on and fight I'll watch the kits." Yellowfang called from the nursery. Scourgeclaw and Firepaw turned back to the fight. They saw that most of the ShadowClan warriors had retreated and only a few remained in the camp. They watched as Goldenclaw, Whitestorm and Darkstripe chased the last few warriors out of camp. Scourgeclaw looked around at the devastated camp. Mossflower came to stand beside him. They padded over to the Highrock to sit down. They saw the queen's race into the nursery to check on their kits. Scourgeclaw half expected to hear more snarls of fighting, but was surprised to hear only squeals of joy and purring. Frostfur came out with Yellowfang to address the Clan.

"Yellowfang kept our kit safe. A ShadowClan warrior killed Rosetail to get to the kits, but Yellowfang stopped him from taking them."

"It was Blackfoot he was trying to steal the kits." meowed Firepaw. The Clan murmured in surprise at Firepaw's comment. Bluestar then came forward to address the Clan.

"Spottedleaf is working on Lionheart but I think he is going to join our warrior ancestors." she meowed gravely.

Graypaw let out a wail of sadness and raced to be beside Lionheart. They watched the gray apprentice move to share tongues with his mentor one last time. Firepaw padded over to comfort his friend. Mossflower gave Scourgeclaw a look of pain. Runningwind ran over to Mossflower and asked her if she was okay. Mossflower could only bury her face in his fur.

A few tense moments later Graypaw let out another yowl.

"He's gone." he wailed in despair. The other cats let out wails of grief. They began to carry out their duties to grieve for their fallen deputy and elder. Scourgeclaw rose to his paws and came to stand in front of Lionheart.

"You were a powerful tom, you will always have my respect." murmured Scourgeclaw as he looked down at Lionheart. He then walked over to Rosetail he didn't feel the need to say anything to the fallen elder, but he looked at her briefly before moving a way's off to watch the other cats. 'It would seem Boulder was telling the truth about the attack.' he thought.

Bluestar came to stand beside him.

"You knew this would happen didn't you?" she asked waiting for an answer.

"No, I had a feeling that it would happen." he answered. 'okay I didn't really lie, I didn't know that they would attack tonight.' he thought to himself. As he looked Bluestar in the eye.

"I believe you , you were right. I should have waited to console with StarClan." Bluestar meowed solemnly. "I need to decide on who should be the clan's new deputy." she meowed. She gave Scourgeclaw a nod before going over to stand beside Lionheart. Scourgeclaw watched her for a moment and briefly wondered who she would chose for to be the Clan's new deputy. Spottedleaf came over to him with some herbs.

"Can I look at your wounds?" she asked softly. Scourgeclaw looked at her a moment before nodding. Spottedleaf sniffed at the scratches on his flank before chewing up some herbs into a poultice and dabbing it on his flank. He flinched a little but didn't stop her from treating his wounds. She then moved on to the other injured cats before treating Bluestar.

Bluestar then climbed up on the Highrock and called the clan together to address them. The cats slowly gather around the Highrock and waited for their leader to make her announcement.

"It is nearly moonhigh and once more I must choose a new deputy too soon. I say these words before the body of Lionheart, so that his spirit may hear and approve my choice. Tigerclaw will be the new deputy of ThunderClan." Cats yowled loudly in approval the loudest being Longtail and Darkstripe. Mossflower widen her eyes in shock before turning to look at Scourgeclaw who was staring forward with an almost expressionless look on his face but when she looked closer at his eyes she saw that they had darkened in anger. Mossflower excused herself from Runningwind before walking over to Scourgeclaw.

"Are you okay?" she meowed softly. Scourgeclaw ignored her sharply turning and heading into the warriors den. Mossflower watched him go with a worried look in her eyes. She watched as the others came up to congratulate Tigerclaw. She looked up at her mother who looked at her briefly before climbing down from the Highrock. Mossflower came over to Runningwind who had just finished congratulating Tigerclaw and told him she was going to rest. She followed Scourgeclaw into the warriors den. She saw that he had already gone to sleep. She settled in the nest beside him and fell asleep.

At dawn all the warriors watched the elders take Lionheart and Rosetail's bodies from the camp to the burial site. Graypaw went with them everyone else went about their day. Firepaw and Ravenpaw went to sleep. Some of the other cats went into the warrior's den to rest. Mossflower nudge Scourgeclaw who seemed to be staring off into the distance.

"Come on let's go hunt together." Scourgeclaw looked at her a moment before silently nodding and heading out the camp entrance.

They headed toward Sunningrocks walking in silence listening to the sounds of the forest. Scourgeclaw heard the say a mouse nibbling on a seed. He got down into the hunter's crouch before pouncing onto the mouse and delivering a fierce bite. He then buried it into the ground. Mossflower watched him briefly before catching the scent of a sparrow.

They carried on hunting until it started to get close to sunhigh. They dug up their prey and began to carry it back to camp. They hadn't spoke a word to each other since the ceremony last night and Mossflower was anxious to speak to him. She stopped suddenly placed down her prey and waited for Scourgeclaw to notice her. Scourgeclaw sighed inwardly and turn to face her and gave her a questioning glance.

" Are you okay Scourgeclaw?" she asked softly . Scourgeclaw placed down his catch to answer her.

"I'm fine Mossflower."

"I was just asking I know you don't like Tigerclaw and he's the last cat you wanted to be made deputy." Scourgeclaw growled under his breath.

"I don't trust him and I know I could never follow him as a leader."

"Your not going to leave are you?" she asked worriedly. Scourgeclaw stayed silent. "Please say you won't leave." Scourgeclaw looked sharply at her.

"Why would you care if I leave or not. Why are you so insistent that I stay?"

"Because I'm pregnant and I want you to be there for my kits."

(That is the longest chapter that I have ever written. I'm sorry once again for not updating in a while because of computer problems I had to get my computer repaired so I couldn't update.

So what will happen now will Scourgeclaw stay? Will he leave?

Is Bluestar suspicious of Scourgeclaw?

Let me know what you think of the chapter. )