Runningpaw approached the leader with Honeystorm, Thistletail, Brindlepaw, Moonpad, and Spiritwing.

"Did you dig the hole for them, Moonpad?" Ashstar asked. Since Moonpad was Stormfeather and Featherstream's aunt, she was the one for the job. The silvery she-cat nodded.

Ashstar turned to her fallen kin. "Does anybody want to say anything?" She asked, whirling around to face the funeral party.

Honeystorm stepped forward. "If you don't mind, Ashstar, I would like to say something."

The leader nodded.

"Well, I have many things to say about these two. Featherstream was a great friend, and I will always appreciate how she was such a great cat around others that couldn't be bothered with her attitude. She was so kind.

"Stormfeather was so handsome and brave. Although he was quiet, he still wasn't afraid to show how valiant he was in front of enemy cats. I will never forget those cats." The golden tabby fought off a few tears as she stepped back to let the next cat speak.

Next, a tortoiseshell she-cat came up. "If I may, Ashstar?" she went on as Ashstar urged the warrior to go on. "Well, Featherstream was such an enthusiastic cat- she could let a pheasant go and forget about it the next day. She was so bright. And…and Stormfeather…he was one of the best toms I have ever met. So handsome, and kind, and sensitive…I think I actually loved him. Goodbye, Stormfeather and Featherstream." She dug her tortoiseshell muzzle into the fallen tom's fur, then the dead she-cat's. She seemed to have undefined passion when she took in the scent of the tom. Thistletail must have really loved the warrior.

Ashstar came forward and nuzzled the two warriors for the last time. "These two warriors were very brave and smart. I will forever be grateful of what they have done in the past. Has everybody said what they wanted?" All of the cats nodded.

Runningpaw wanted to say something, but was too afraid that it would turn into something scornful about the two. Besides, that was how he felt about the two anyway, even though he hadn't known them very well. The apprentice instantly realized that he shouldn't be so angry at the dead warriors since he didn't even have a reason to other than they were made warriors before him.

"We will now come up to share tongues for the last time with our fallen warriors, Featherstream and Stormfeather." Ashstar was the first one to come up, and she buried her muzzle into Stormfeather's cold flank.

Ashstar made sure that the entire patrol could hear what she was saying for some reason. They all were looking at her as if she had just shoved the two dead warriors down her throat.

"Stormfeather, thank you for your honesty and bravery. ThunderClan will never forget you." She heaved a sigh. "Or at least I will never forget you. Goodbye, my son. I…I will always love you."

Next, she came up to Featherstream and dug her muzzle into her still cheek. "Featherstream, my daughter…my beautiful daughter." She breathed in the she-cat's sultry scent. "You were the best daughter a cat could ever have…I will miss you." She nuzzled her daughter and lifted her head slowly. She backed away and let the rest of the cats say their last to the cats.

As they came up, Runningpaw was thinking over what the leader had just said. Why had Ashstar said more to Stormfeather than he did to Featherstream? To Stormfeather she had almost said a full speech that was as long as a newly named leader would give to her Clan. But to Featherstream she had only said a few words…

What was Runningpaw thinking? Being here at this mournful event had turned his brain to mush! Why did it matter that Ashstar said more words to her son than to her daughter? She included more compliments to the she-cat than to the tom anyway! He shook the thoughts out of his head.

His pounding pondering was awakened when Ashstar looked to Runningpaw and mewed, "Runningpaw? Do you want to share tongues with the two?"

The light brown tom nodded and came up to the warriors. He buried his muzzle into Stormfeather, thinking millions of thoughts in his head about the tom. He may have disliked him, but Runningpaw never knew that the tom would have died…actually died…

He turned to Featherstream and did the same. He was thinking of the beautiful she-cat sitting in the sun, grooming herself after she had just had a vole… Runningpaw almost wished that Featherstream hadn't died. She would have made an excellent warrior and queen.

Runningpaw looked to the rest of the mourning cats to see if any hadn't gone yet. But they all were still, holding his gaze and waiting for them to be buried.

The leader nodded. "You are the last one, Runningpaw."

The apprentice backed into the group.

Ashstar gestured to the hole dug by Moonpad. "Spiritwing, will you do the honor of burying the warriors?" She asked, looking at the gray tom. Spiritwing must have been Ashstar's mate, and Runningpaw could swear he remembered Goldpuddle or one of the elders telling him that Ashstar had a mate. Spiritwing must have been the one.

The gray tabby came up and took Featherstream roughly by her back leg. Runningpaw was bewildered at how the tom was treating the burial of his own children- he wasn't taking it so seriously. Or not as seriously as a father should.

He made sure every cat saw the last sight of the beautiful she-cat. Runningpaw drank in every last curve, every last fleck of black, every last…feature. He had no idea that he would ever be so regretful of even letting the she-cat go out on her vigil- she would have been the perfect mate.

Spiritwing ignored all of the tears and pitiful sobbing sounds and flung the tabby she-cat into the pit, digging the dirt and mud back onto her fur.

Next came Stormfeather. He took the tom by the hind leg and flung him into his pit without even letting the cats see him again.

That was it. Ashstar gave a drooped flick of the tail and the rest of the cats started to file out. Ashstar didn't even say anything, but just kept staring at the graves of the two warriors where her mate was finishing covering the corpses.

Runningpaw started to make his way through the undergrowth when he suddenly heard a choking sound. He turned his head cautiously to see what had made the noise, and was surprised to see who it was.

It was Ashstar. Right after Spiritwing had kicked the last grain of dirt onto Stormfeather's grave, she broke out into shaking, uncontrollable sobs. The poor she-cat threw herself on top of the graves, pulling the dirt from them feebly as if she wanted to pull the warriors back from their calm, peaceful grave. It was a saddening sight.

Runningpaw wanted to rush out to comfort the leader, but decided against it. This was only a time for her family.

Spiritwing sighed and pressed his flank to Ashstar's, cooing soft and low. "It's okay, Ash," He murmured. He licked the she-cat's ears and lay down next to her. "I'll miss them always. Those two were the greatest cats that I've ever had." Runningpaw knew that Spiritwing had had quite a few mates in his long life. Now he was going to be an elder any day now, accompanying Phantomheart.

"No," Ashstar sobbed. "They will never come back. Never, Spiritwing!" She started to claw the earth twice as fiercely.

Runningpaw felt sick. He didn't want to see any more, and he dashed back into camp, the sobs still echoing throughout the ThunderClan territory.

Poor cat, Runningpaw couldn't help but think. He would be devastated to lose his own kits- how horrible it must be for Ashstar to lose them and never see them again.

He was greeted by Cinnamonpaw. "Hey Runningpaw!" She mewed brightly. "How about you and me-"

The light brown tom shook his lowered head. "No thanks, Cinnamonpaw," He murmured.

He saw the hurt look on the she-cat's face and instantly felt guilty. "I'm sorry, but I really can't right now…I have to change the elder's bedding. Besides," He mewed, trying to cheer up the apprentice, "If I don't, no cat will anyway! We have pretty lazy apprentices these days."

"Other than me?" Asked Cinnamonpaw nervously, kneading her paws.

Runningpaw couldn't help but lick the she-cat's cheek. "Other than you," He echoed. He trotted off towards the elder's den. "See you later, Cinnamonpaw!"

She waved to him with her tail and set off for the fern tunnel. She needed to visit Ratfur with Mossflower and see how to find out how many kits she was having. It would be proven to be fun.

…

Runningpaw felt better about the funeral later that day. In fact, he had totally forgotten it. It was fun to see Goldpuddle again and she had plenty of stories and wisdom to share with the eager apprentice. Today he actually liked changing bedding.

He hurried to the medicine cat's den to get some mouse bile. That was the only chore he didn't like with the elders- getting their ticks off with the horrid-smelling liquid.

Padding through the fern tunnel, Runningpaw looked all around him. It looked extra pretty today, what with the sun shining down through the ferns. It seemed like a beautiful Newleaf day.

"Hello?" He called in the clearing. There was no sign of the medicine cats, none of the hustle and bustle that usually went on during the day.

Runningpaw was too afraid to interrupt anything that was going on, but figured that he had already done that by yelling out through the clearing. He winced as he heard his voice bouncing off of the walls of the clearing.

He peered inside the den, careful not to interfere with any of the medicine cats' work. Runningpaw was sure that there was no cat in there, when he heard a tiny coughing sound.

The light brown tom jumped. He looked around wildly and was settled when his gaze rested on a tiny brown tabby kit. A she-cat by the looks of her. She coughed and daintily put her tail in her mouth, but it wasn't working. Runningpaw tried not to get near the she-cat, as she had some kind of cough. Not whitecough or anything, just a small midseason cold.

"Hi," Runningpaw greeted politely. He was amazed at how stunningly pretty her sapphire eyes were. They were deep, dark blu with little flecks of ebony. The prettiest eyes he had ever seen.

"Hello," she replied hoarsely. She tried not to cough as she talked. "What are you doing here? Don't tell me you have the Newleaf cold?" She asked.

Runningpaw purred. "No, I just need some mouse bile. Do you know where that is?" He asked the kit.

She nodded. "Over there," She pointed to a shelf carved into the wall with her brown muzzle.

The apprentice purred with satisfaction. "Thank you," He simply said. As he gingerly took one of the branches, he commented, "You look very pretty today. You must have groomed yourself very well!"

The she-cat blushed. "Well, not really. My mother had to give me a bath this morning, so…" She looked down at her paws.

Runningpaw curled his tail in amusement. "Well, you still look nice. Thanks for the help," He mewed.

The kit's eyes rounded as wide as a full moon. "Don't lick the stuff off of your paws," She warned him. "It'll taste horrible. Mossflower told me."

Runningpaw smiled. "Thanks, I'll remember that." He turned around and said goodbye to the kit. She mewled goodbye and waved with her cute little paw.

"Oh, wait," Runningpaw called back behind him. "If you don't mind me asking, what is your name?"

She was struck with realization. "Oh, my name's Cloverkit. How about you?" She asked. She seemed proud of her name.

"My name's Runningpaw," HE replied.

Cloverkit tipped her head. "You mean you aren't a warrior? You look big enough to be one!" She meowed with fascination. She was right- Runningpaw was getting a little big to be in the apprentice's den- he should be made a warrior soon once the idea popped into Ashstar's head. That was a highly low chance though- Ashstar probably wouldn't get over the death of her kin for some time now.

"Well, nice to meet you, Runningpaw," She purred politely.

"Thank you! Nice to meet you too!" Runningpaw called behind his shoulder.

"Maybe I will be your apprentice when I'm older!" Cloverkit called back to Runningpaw. "Hopefully you'll be a warrior by then!"

Runningpaw chuckled- of course he would be a warrior by then- this kit hardly looked four moons. At least he thought he would- then a saddening thought swept through Runningpaw.

What if he wasn't made a warrior until Cloverkit was an apprentice? What if he stayed an apprentice forever? That was a horrifying idea, staying in that tiny den his whole life. Who would he mate with? No she-cat wanted to have a mate that was still considered an apprentice! Would he really be kept an apprentice…forever?

He shook his head, wanting to claw some sense into himself. What was he thinking? Ashstar wasn't that bad! She just didn't think Runningpaw was ready…yet. even though Runningpaw had completed all of this training.

Pushing his way through the den, Runningpaw saw that Bloodpaw was already there. She was laughing with Hawkclaw along with something while they shared a rabbit.

The dark brown tabby looked up to see who was at the entrance. He brightened as he saw the apprentice. "Runningpaw!" He mewed brightly. "Why don't you give that mouse bile to Bloodpaw, I'm sure she's got it handled!"

Runningpaw nodded but looked at the dark brown apprentice quizzically. She nodded, a warm grin still on her face, and she carefully took the twig from her fellow apprentice.

"Thanks, Bloodpaw," He mewed to the apprentice.

"No problem," She replied. "I love staying here with these old furballs!" She purred through the stick and moss.

Runningpaw dipped his head and squeezed through the den, thinking cheerful thoughts. He met Skypaw at the fresh-kill pile and they ate their mid-day meal together, talking and laughing their cares away.

…

Runningpaw dreamed that night. At first there was mist around him, and he saw nothing. He squinted to see, but all he saw was the mist and darkness that surrounded him.

Suddenly, he felt a lurch. What was going on? A splash sounded, and he was underwater. He couldn't hear anything but the water rushing past him, and he slowly felt his breath leaving him.

Kicking his feet, Runningpaw desperately tried to make his way out of the water. His strong, muscular legs usually didn't have trouble getting out of the water when his friends pushed him in for jokes, but this water was like rock- he couldn't move.

He felt his breath slowly disappearing, and his lungs screamed for more air. But it was impossible to get out of this water. Runningpaw felt his last drop of strength leave him, and he gave up. His eyes slowly closed and he let black darkness envelop him, taking him away from consciousness.

Runningpaw's sapphire eyes snapped open, and he gasped for breath. He was happy to see himself back in the apprentice's den.

But something…wasn't right. Runningpaw felt somehow…different now. He didn't feel exactly right- something was wrong. He looked all around the apprentice's den. Everything normal. But he froze as his eyes wandered to his body. It was long and lean, the body of a much older warrior.

Runningpaw gulped. Was he still in his dream? What kind of twisted dream was this? He was still in the apprentice's den, and he was old…was this his fate?

The other younger apprentices giggled and leaped upon him, chanting, "Warriorpaw! Warriorpaw! Warriorpaw!"

Runningpaw flattened his ears. What? Warriorpaw? This definetely meant that he was a warrior age…and still an apprentice. He looked around, horrified.

Suddenly, he heard an owl screech. Runningpaw froze. It sounded like the owl that had attacked the apprentice's den two sunrises ago. Only this time…this time the owl flew into the apprentice's den. And too Runningpaw's horror, it took one of the apprentices in its huge talons.

"Hey!" Runningpaw yowled to the owl. "Get back here! Come back! Please!" He was even more weirded out when he saw an oak tree that bordered the camp. It's branches started to swing around and try to catch the owl, but with no avail.

Runningpaw yelped as the same cat from his dream about a half-moon ago popped up in front of him. Only this time it was real- not a vapory cat that seemed like fantasy. This was a real cat.

"Owl will come, and tear the storm!" It hissed. And just like that, the fur turned into vapor again and got swept away like the spray of the river.

Runningpaw's eyes rolled to the back of his head and everything went black.

Sorry about this cliffie…this one is just as dumb. Review please! i haven't gotten many reviews lately…