ALLEGIANCES

THUNDERCLAN

Leader: Bluestar- blue-gray she-cat, tinged with silver around the muzzle

Deputy: Tigerclaw-big dark brown tabby tom with unusually long front claws

Medicine cat: Yellowfang- old dark gray she-cat with a broad flattened face

Warriors: Whitestorm - big white tom

Apprentice, Sandpaw

Darkstripe - sleek black and gray tabby tom

Apprentice, Dustpaw

Longtail- pale tabby tom with dark black stripes

Runningwind- swift light brown tabby tom

Willowpelt- very pale gray she-cat with unusual blue eyes

Mousefur- small dusky brown she-cat

Scourgeclaw- small black tom with one white paw, ice blue eyes

Apprentice, Falconpaw

*Goldenclaw*- golden brown tabby tom

Fireheart -handsome ginger tom

Apprentice, Cinderpaw

Graystripe - long-haired gray tom

Apprentice, Brackenpaw

Apprentices: Sandpaw- pale ginger she-cat

Dustpaw - dark brown tabby tom

Swiftpaw - black and white tom

*Falconpaw*- golden brown tom with black stripe down back ice blue eyes

Cinderpaw -dark gray she-cat blue eyes

Brackenpaw - golden-brown tabby tom

Queens: Frostfur- beautiful white coat and blue eyes

Brindleface - pretty tabby

Goldenflower - pale ginger coat

Speckletail - pale tabby, and the oldest nursery queen

Mossflower - white she-cat with gray patches, bright blue eyes

Elders: Halftail - big dark brown tabby tom with part of his tail missing

Smallear- gray tom with very small ears. The oldest cat in ThunderClan

Patchpelt- small black-and-white tom

One-eye- pale gray she-cat, The oldest she-cat in ThunderClan. Virtually blind and deaf.

Dappletail- once-pretty tortoiseshell she-cat with a lovely dappled coat

SHADOWCLAN

Leader: Nightstar - black tom with amber eyes

Deputy: Flintfang - silver gray tom

Medicine cat: Runningnose- small gray and white tom

Warriors: Stumpytail- brown tabby tom

Apprentice, Brownpaw

Boulder- silver tabby tom

Wetfoot- gray tabby tom

Apprentice, Oakpaw

*Stonetail*- light gray tom black tail

*Amberpelt*- ginger she-cat

Apprentice, Pinepaw

Brightflower- black and white she-cat

Littlecloud - very small tabby tom

*Mousefang*- brown and white she- cat

Apprentices: Brownpaw- small brown she-cat

Oakpaw- small brown tom

Pinepaw- gray and white she-cat

Queens: Dawncloud- small tabby

Darkflower- black she-cat

Tallpoppy- long legged light brown tabby she-cat

Elders: Ashfur- thin gray tom \

WINDCLAN

Leader: Tallstar- elderly black and white tom, very long tail

Deputy: Deadfoot- a black tom with a twisted paw

Medicine cat: Barkface- short-tailed brown tom

Warriors: Mudclaw- mottled dark brown tom

Apprentice, Webpaw

Tornear- gray tabby tom

Apprentice, Runningpaw

Onewhisker - brown tabby tom

Apprentice, Whitepaw

*Graywind*- mottled gray tom

*Spottedwing* - tortoiseshell and white she-cat with green eyes

Apprentice, Shrewpaw

Apprentices: Webpaw - dark gray tabby tom

Runningpaw- light gray tabby she-cat

Whitepaw- small white she-cat

*Shrewpaw*- dark gray tom

Queens: Morningflower - tortoiseshell she-cat

Ashfoot- gray she-cat

Elders: *Littlebreeze*- dull gray tom

*Rockfur*- scarred dark gray tabby

*Swift-tail*- a light brown tabby she-cat with black tail

RIVERCLAN

Leader: Crookedstar- a huge light-colored tabby tom with a twisted jaw

Deputy: Leopardfur- unusually spotted golden tabby she-cat

Medicine cat: Mudfur- long-haired light brown tom

Warriors:Blackclaw- smoky black tom

Apprentice, Heavypaw

Stonefur- large, broad-shouldered gray tom with amber eyes and battle-scarred ears

Apprentice, Shadepaw

Loudbelly- a dark brown tom

Silverstream- slender silver tabby

Whiteclaw- dark warrior

*Icestream*- gray and white she-cat

Mosspelt- tortoiseshell she-cat

*Pebblestorm*- mottled dark gray tom

*Honeystream* - light brown she-cat with green eyes

Apprentice, Logpaw

*Trout-tail*- light gray tom with fluffy tail

*Shellfur*- mottled light gray tom

Apprentices: Heavypaw- thickset heavy tabby tom

Shadepaw- very dark gray she-cat

Silverpaw- silver tom

Logpaw- brown tabby tom with long, thick tail

Queens: Mistyfoot - dark gray she-cat blue eyes

Elders: Graypool -a gray she-cat with patched fur, scarred muzzle.

CATS OUTSIDE OF THE CLANS

Smudge- black and white tom

Barley- black and white tom that lives in barn close to forest

Brokenstar- long haired dark brown tabby, former leader of ShadowClan

Blackfoot- big white tom with black paws blue eyes, former deputy of ShadowClan

Clawface- battle-scarred brown tom

Ravenpaw- sleek black cat with white tipped tail

Princess- a light brown tabby with distinctive white chest and paws.

Ruby - gray she-cat amber eyes

Kana- brown and cream marbled tabby she-cat , blue eyes

Talon - dark brown tabby tom with a white chest, amber eyes

Cloudkit- Princess's firstborn kit, long furred white tom

Chapter 13

Scourgeclaw watched the dark tabby cat sitting before him closely. Talon had fully emerged from the bushes he had been hiding in, pushing them aside with his powerful broad shoulders. and padded forward silently to sit before Scourgeclaw. He seemed to be studying the black warrior closely.

"I asked you first." Talon meowed coyly, twitching his ear to get a leaf off of it. Scourgeclaw narrowed his eyes.

"You're in ThunderClan territory. You shouldn't be here." meowed Scourgeclaw. Talon's eyes seemed to brighten.

"Ah, but I have ThunderClan blood, so should be allowed here." Talon purred with amusement. "But, if you must know I'm here because I've been trying to find Moss. I haven't seen her for a long time now and just wanted to check in on her. You all we're suppose to see Kana awhile ago and when you didn't come she sent me to find her." Scourgeclaw blinked in surprise.

"She's fine, she joined ThunderClan, along with Rusty and myself." Scourgeclaw meowed. "She's called Mossflower now, and Rusty has become Fireheart. He just became a warrior tonight." Talon purred happily.

"So that little ginger fur-ball is a warrior now huh?" he meowed softly, Scourgeclaw gave him a nod. "I haven't seem him since he was five moons old."

"Yes he's grown a lot since then too."

"I suppose your name is no longer Scourge."

"You would be correct it's Scourgeclaw, now." Talon nodded his head.

"How's Moss, I mean Mossflower, enjoying ThunderClan?" Talon asked looking at his long claws. Scourgeclaw watched him a moment before answering.

"She's happy, she has a mate and kits on the way now." Talon looked up, blinking in surprise.

"She's pregnant?" Talon asked, eyes wide with shock. Scourgeclaw twitched his tail in amusement.

"Yes, she is, she is starting to show a little now." Scourgeclaw purred quietly. Talon shook his head slowly trying to get over the shock, before purring softly, his eyes glittering.

"I'll have to tell my mother about this she'll be thrilled." he meowed happily. Scourgeclaw once again was calmly watching Talon, a thought that had been plaguing his mind since the dark tabby had appeared into the forest.

"Talon, Mossflower told me and Fireheart, that your father was a former leader of ThunderClan, did you have any siblings?" he asked curiously. Talon watched him a moment before answering.

"Well I don't actually remember much of my father since he died not long after I was born, " Talon meowed softly looking up at the stars, " But, my mother told me that my father said that I looked like his son he left behind in ThunderClan, Why do you want to know." Talon asked curiously, tilting his head to the side a little in curiosity. Scourgeclaw felt a chill go down his spine, after Talon made the earlier comment, but kept a emotionless face.

"Oh, no real reason, I was just curious." Scourgeclaw meowed hoping that Talon wouldn't push the matter. Talon gave a shrug.

"Well then if that's all I suppose I'll be on my way then." Talon meowed over his shoulder as he headed back toward the twolegplace. Scourgeclaw called out to him.

" Wait, how did you know we were here?" Scourgeclaw asked looking suspiciously at Talon. Talon looked over his shoulder and gave Scourgeclaw an amused look.

"I have my ways, Take care Scourgeclaw." Talon purred before racing away into the trees, disappearing into the night. Scourgeclaw sat staring at the spot where Talon had been standing for a few minutes longer, before turning and making his way back to the camp.

Fireheart gave himself a nice stretch, looking up at the sun that was beginning to rise in the distance. He looked over at his friend Graystripe, happy that they were finally warriors, but he also had a sense of dread knowing that he had to tell Bluestar about Tigerclaw. He glanced around camp seeing some of the warriors, emerging from their nest getting ready for early patrols. Fireheart purred as Scourgeclaw, walked by him heading for Bluestar's den. As he watched his brother, he briefly wondered why Scourgeclaw didn't want to tell Bluestar about what Ravenpaw had told them, but he brushed this thought aside as Whitestorm came padding up to the two of them.

"Good morning you two, I bet your both glad to see the sun." Fireheart and Graystripe both gave him a nod. Whitestorm blinked in amusement. " Your vigil is over, you can talk now."

"I thought the sun would never rise." Graystripe groaned. Whitestorm mrrowled with laughter. Fireheart, looked over his shoulder seeing Sandpaw and Dustpaw emerged from the apprentice den, giving the two newest warrior's resentful looks.

"How did that kittypet become a warrior before us?" hissed Dustpaw to Sandpaw who leaned over to him.

"I say that he just got special treatment because he was Bluestar's apprentice, or maybe she just didn't feel like training him anymore." Sandpaw sneered Fireheart felt the fur on his neck start to rise, but before he could retort, Whitestorm turned around to glare at them.

" That's enough you two go get ready for your training." he meowed sternly. Sandpaw and Dustpaw slunk away heading toward the camp entrance. Whitestorm looked back to ThunderClan's newest warriors.

" Go get some fresh-kill and have a rest." he meowed before heading off to train his apprentice.

" I hope they, have to chase blue squirrels all day." mutter Graystripe, Fireheart looked at him in confusion.

"But there aren't any blue squirrels Graystripe." he meowed.

"Exactly." Fireheart purred in amusement.

"But, they do have reason to be upset, they were training before us." meowed Fireheart.

"Yeah I suppose they would be sore about that." Graypaw meowed they head over to the fresh-kill pile and picked up the last two mice and a swallow. They took them over to the warrior's side of camp. Fireheart had just started to bite into his mouse when Scourgeclaw came padding out of Bluestar's den. The black warrior seemed pensive as he padded toward them.

"Good morning Scourgeclaw," Fireheart meowed as he reached the two. Scourgeclaw returned the greeting. Graystripe pushed the swallow over to Scourgeclaw.

"Are you hungry?" he asked between bites of is mouse. Scourgeclaw watched him a moment before settling down beside the flame warrior and plucking the feathers off of the swallow. Fireheart looked at him with a curious glance.

" So, what did Bluestar want to talk to you about?" asked Fireheart not bothering to hide the curiosity in his voice, Scourgeclaw swallowed a mouthful of the swallow, lick his lips slowly, before looking at his brother.

"You'll see soon enough, it isn't anything bad I assure you." he meowed before returning to his meal. This of course just made Fireheart more curious, but he pushed it aside to ask about another pressing matter.

"Is Bluestar alone?" asked Fireheart. Scourgeclaw shook his head.

"Tigerclaw, went in to speak with her after I left." Fireheart felt like a rock had settled into his stomach, he then remembered something.

" Why, didn't you tell Bluestar about Tigerclaw?" he asked suspiciously. Scourgeclaw sighed before swallowing the last piece of fresh-kill.

"Now isn't the time, besides you both have to be tired from your vigil, go rest" He said at last. Fireheart for the first time, felt the strain of the vigil. Graystripe gave long yawn. Scourgeclaw gave an amused look at him before turning his eyes back on Fireheart who was watching him unblinkingly.

"You will know soon enough , but now is the time for you to rest." he promised and without another word. Scourgeclaw padded toward the camp entrance, probably heading out on a patrol. Fireheart gave himself a stretch before nudging Graystripe toward the warriors den . They found some empty nest and crawled in to rest.

Scourgeclaw watched his brother and Graystripe pad into the warrior's den before making his way over to the nursery. He slid into the nursery slow and silent, he looked around spotting Mossflower, with Frostfur's kits, he meowed a greeting which Mossflower returned.

"Hey Scourgeclaw, what are you doing in the nursery?" she said in surprise.

"I saw Talon last night." he meowed lowly glancing at Brindleface who was still a sleep with her kits. Mossflower's eyes widened and shock. She climbed out of her nest and sat close to Scourgeclaw, keeping an eye on Frostfur's kits.

"What was he doing here?" she hissed under her breath.

"He was looking for you." she blinked slowly.

"Why, would he look for me?" she asked. Scourgeclaw looked at her in surprise.

"Because we were suppose to see Kana the day after we met the Clan cats. We just went to the forest." Mossflower sighed sadly.

"I forgot about that. She must have been worried." she mewled. Scourgeclaw placed his tail on Mossflower's shoulder.

"We all forgot, you shouldn't feel bad." Mossflower nodded slowly.

"I'm surprised that he came to ThunderClan territory." she meowed, then she looked suspiciously at Scourgeclaw. "He was in ThunderClan territory wasn't he?"

"I didn't go to the twolegplace if that is what you are implying." Scourgeclaw snorted.

"How did he know we were here?" she asked softly.

"I'm not sure he wouldn't tell me." Scourgeclaw meowed. Watching a gray she-kit tackling a golden-brown tabby tom. Mossflower purred in amusement watching the kits wrestling with each other.

"What did Bluestar want with you this morning?" she asked curiously.

"You'll know soon enough.I have to go get ready for a patrol now," he meowed turning around padding out of the nursery.

It was close dusk when Scourgeclaw returned from his patrol. He ignored the fresh-kill pile all together and decided to enter the warrior's den. After slipping into the warrior's den he stared in surprise at his brother who was mewling rather loudly in his sleep. He padded over to the flame furred tom , placing his paw on Fireheart's shoulder shaking him lightly.

"Wake up Fireheart," he hissed lowly in his ear. Fireheart twitched his ear, almost as if he had heard Scourgeclaw, but made no move to get up. Scourgeclaw shook a bit harder.

"Fireheart, wake up" he growled. Fireheart opened his eyes blinking sleepily. He gave a wide yawn, before turning to his brother.

"Hi Scourgeclaw, " he meowed sleepily.

"Why were you yowling in your sleep?" Fireheart blinked in shock, sitting up slowly in his nest.

"I was yowling in my sleep?" Scourgeclaw snorted,

"I'm surprised half the Clan didn't come running thinking that we were being attacked." he growled. Fireheart flattened his ears in embarassment.

"I was having a dream."

"Obviously" Scourgeclaw sniffed .

"I think it was dream of WindClan." Fireheart saw a flicker of confusion cross over Scourgeclaw's face.

"Why would you dream of them?" Scourgeclaw asked , watching Fireheart closely with his ice cold eyes. Fireheart shrugged, just as Tigerclaw came shouldering his way into warrior's den. He narrowed his amber eye's on the two as padded up to them. He turned his gaze onto Fireheart.

"You and Graystripe will be on the evening patrol, wake him up and get a move on." he growled, Scourgeclaw stared unblinkingly at the dark tabby flexing his claws. Fireheart merely nodded before nudging Graystripe awake and padding out of the den. Tigerclaw briefly looked at Scourgeclaw before padding out of the den. Scourgeclaw watched him leave with an urge to sink his claws into the dark tabby warrior's back. As he began to curl up into his nest, he thought about what Talon had told him the other night. Once more a shiver passed through his body as he curled up to sleep.

Some days later found Fireheart and Graystripe sharing tounges in the camp clearing. It wasn't quite moonhigh yet, the two had just finished their meal. they had been sent out on endless patrols since they had become warrior's and it didn't seem like they would be getting a break anytime soon. Fireheart kept an eye on Bluestar's den while licking his paw's.

"Are you still looking for Bluestar?" asked Graystripe who looked up from grooming his flank.

"Yes, I still need to tell her about, Ravenpaw and Tigerclaw." he murmured. Graystripe blinked slowly.

"But, I thought we weren't going to tell anyone about Ravenpaw." Fireheart shook his head.

"I mean't we would tell Tigerclaw, Bluestar has a right to know." meowed Fireheart.

"Why, don't you believe Ravenpaw?"

"We only know Ravenpaw's side of the story, and even if he is right about Tigerclaw killing Redtail that means that Redtail killed Oakheart and Redtail was too honorable to do that." meowed Graystripe. Fireheart stopped licking his paws to look at Graystripe.

"But, it isn't Redtail who I'm accusing, it's Tigerclaw whose is the problem." meowed Fireheart.

"But, no other cats have a problem with Tigerclaw, Ravenpaw was the only one afraid of him." Graystripe meowed, not quite meeting his friends gaze. Fireheart stared at Graystripe with a bit of resentment.

"Are you implying that Ravenpaw, made up everything?" he asked

"No. I just think we should be a little more careful." Graystripe meowed still not meeting Fireheart's face. Fireheart sighed as he gave another glance around the camp. He knew that Graystripe wasn't the only one who believed him. Mossflower and Scourgeclaw did as well, he knew that Graystripe must feel uncomfortable making assumptions on their deputy based on Ravenpaw's assumptions.

"I won't drag you into this Graystripe." sighed Fireheart gently. Just then Fireheart, spied a glimpse of gray heading toward her den, Fireheart stood up and moved to speak with her but she was leaping up onto the Highrock calling the clan for a meeting. Fireheart almost hissed in frustration, flicking his tail back and forth agitatedly. Graystripe sat up excitedly.

"Oh we're having a naming ceremony. I know Longtail's been dropping hints that he's getting an apprentice." Graystripe meowed padding off to find a place to sit. Fireheart followed silently seething.

They saw a small black and white kit enter the clearing looking nervous. Fireheart glanced around spotting Scourgeclaw not to far off his coat was well groomed and he was sitting next to Mousefur watching the black and white kitten closely.

""By naming apprentices, we show that ThunderClan will survive and remain strong."Leader: " From this moment on, until he has earned his warrior name, this apprentice will be known as Swiftpaw." Bluestar meowed looking at the black and white kit. Bluestar glanced at Longtail who came padding up to his new apprentice."Longtail, you are now ready to take on an apprentice, you have shown yourself to be a warrior who is fierce and loyal I hope you pass this on to Swiftpaw." Fireheart watched with resentment as Longtail murmured comforting words to the new apprentice, before touching noses with Swiftpaw. ' Just because he's a Clanborn kit.' he thought with a low growl.

"What's wrong? That'll be us soon." murmured Graystripe. Fireheart cheered up a little after that. He then watched in surprise as Bluestar had turned to another kit and was going through his ceremony. Fireheart hadn't even noticed the second kit. He was far more confident looking then Swiftpaw, but was a little smaller than Swiftpaw. He had cold ice blue eyes, that were attentive, his golden fur looked glossy causing the black stripe on his back to stand out more.

"From this day on , until he has earned his warrior name, this apprentice will be known as Falconpaw." looking at the young kit, but what surprised Fireheart the most was that Scourgeclaw had risen to his paws and was weaving his way through his Clanmates to reach the young apprentice. Bluestar looked warmly at Scourgeclaw as he approached before addressing him.

"Scourgeclaw,, you are now ready to take on an apprentice, you have shown yourself to be a warrior who is swift and cunning I hope you pass this on to Falconpaw." Scourgeclaw silently regard his apprentice before leaning in to touch his nose. Fireheart blinked in surprise when he saw Falconpaw stretch a little to reach Scourgeclaw's nose. Scourgeclaw led the young apprentice to sit near where Longtail and Swiftpaw sat. Fireheart glanced over at Mossflower looked just as shocked as he was. Fireheart immediately headed toward his brother as the other Clan cats came over to congratulate the newest apprentices and mentors. Scourgeclaw looked almost amused as he saw his brother pad up to him with a look of shock and surprise on his face.

"When did Bluestar give you an apprentice?" Fireheart asked glancing at Falconpaw, who was being fussed over by Goldenflower.

"Just, now I thought you were watching." Scourgeclaw meowed in amusement. Fireheart narrowed his eyes at him.

"I think he means when did Bluestar tell you that you were going to be a mentor, and I'd like to know too." meowed Mossflower padding up slowly.

"I told you, that you would know soon enough." he meowed. Both Mossflower and Fireheart's eyes lit up in realization.

"So that's why Bluestar wanted to talk to you." Fireheart meowed softly. Scourgeclaw nodded.

"Well, then I guess we owe you a congratulations." meowed Mossflower touching her tail into his shoulder.

"Yes Scourgeclaw, congratulations." meowed Fireheart, touching his own nose to Scourgeclaw's nose. Graystripe padded up to the three happily congratulation Scourgeclaw. They all stiffened when they heard faint mewls about feeling sorry for Scourgeclaw's apprentice because he was a kittypet. "Ignore them Scourgeclaw, I know you'll make a good mentor." meowed Mossflower, Fireheart nodded in agreement.

"You taught me well, before Bluestar mentored me." meowed Fireheart meowed. Scourgeclaw merely nodded.

"Congratulations Scourgeclaw," meowed Mousefur as she approached , with Runningwind padding along beside her.

"You'll do fine," meowed Runningwind. Touching his tail to Scourgeclaw's shoulder, like Mossflower had done.

"I'll do my best, now if you don't mind I wish to have a word with my apprentice. They cats agreed. Mossflower headed back to the nursery, with Runningwind. Fireheart and Graystripe headed toward the warrior's den. Mousefur briefly touched her nose to his shoulder before padding off for an evening patrol. Scourgeclaw watched her leave before, turning to look at his new apprentice. He found Falconpaw, watching him with closely with calculating eyes. Scourgeclaw looked carefully into his eyes seeing that Falconpaw, looked more curious rather then hateful as Scourgeclaw had suspected him to be. 'Well, this could be the start of a very interesting relationship.' he thought with a twitch of his whiskers.

~That's all for this chapter. Falconpaw is Swiftpaw's brother, he and Scourgeclaw might make an interesting mentor and apprentice. Let me know what you think.