Infuriated yet? Lol, here's the next chapter before u explode. :P

Runningpaw tried to look above Cinderhope to see who it was that had spoken up above the other cats. Who was it that volunteered?

Suddenly, Runningpaw's heart sank as he saw who had just shut their mouth from talking. It was the cat that he would have least wanted to leave- Skycloud.

Runningpaw shook his head, feeling tears well up in his eyes. He knew from the time that he heard Skycloud say so that he was serious- when Skycloud attached himself to a subject, he never went off of it. He just stuck on like a leech- Skycloud had to be the one to leave, no matter how much Runningpaw disliked the idea.

"But you have to stay here, in ThunderClan!" Runningpaw burst out before any cat could react. "Isn't that what you've always wanted to do?"

Skycloud nodded. "Yes. But if staying in my Clan means no future for ThunderClan, I don't want to stay here. I'd feel guilty for moons. I just can't…let those poor kits be deliberately taken from ThunderClan. Think of all of the pain that their mother had to go through…and then have whatever you nearly gave your life for just get stolen like that…" He shook his silvery head. "I just can't imagine how sad I would be."

Runningpaw nodded. Skycloud had a point- he couldn't just return home happily, without the kits. The queens would be horrified and would desperately miss their kits. Skycloud had to do this,

Runningpaw kept thinking. He has to do this.

The light gray tom slowly stepped up to Hurricanesong. "I am ready to come with you, Hurricanesong," He mewed quietly. He dipped his head to his new deputy- not Cinderhope, but this bloodthirsty tom Hurricanesong.

The muscular black tom nodded and smirked. "Once again, good choice."

"May I have a couple of minutes to say goodbye?" Asked Skycloud sheepishly.

Hurricanesong nodded. "But not everybody in the Clan- just these cats here."

Skycloud nodded and padded slowly over to Cinnamonpaw and Mossflower first. "Cinnamonpaw, Mossflower, you two were the ones that always healed my wounds. And I was always getting into trouble, but you were worth it." He licked Cinnamonpaw on the head and Mossflower respectively on the chest.

The light gray tom then moved on to Cinderhope. "Cinderhope, you were always my idol. I tried in my apprenticeship to be like you, and I hope that I someday will." He gave Cinderhope a lick on the chest.

Finally, very slowly, Skycloud padded over to Runningpaw.

"Runningpaw," He mewed, but the word caught in his throat.

"Runningpaw," He started again, "Y- you were my best friend since we were kits. I will never forget the friendship and kindness that you and I shared. I will never forget how much fun we had as apprentices together and…I'm very sorry that I became a warrior before you."

Skycloud stood up and gave Runningpaw a lick on the ear, then on the chest. Runningpaw felt a pain in his chest, like his heart had been ripped in two by Skycloud's departing lick.

The young warrior turned to Hurricanesong and padded up to him. "Never forget me," He called to his former Clanmates, "I'll…" But his voice trailed away. He gave one last loving glance at the cats he once knew, and trailed off behind Hurricanesong, who was departing fast.

And Skycloud didn't even look back.

S.K.Y

"Aren't you going to eat anything?" Asked Brindlepaw with worry on her face. "Come on, Runningpaw, you'll have to eat something. Your ceremony is coming up, and I want to see you happy when you're given your name." She nuzzled his cheek, but the light brown tom didn't move.

Runningpaw shook his head. It had now been a sunrise since Skycloud had left for ShadowClan. Not many cats were as totally depressed as Runningpaw was as the news of the young warrior going off to join ShadowClan. "I'm not sure that being made a warrior is even worth it anymore, Brindlepaw. I miss him so much-"

"Yes, I do too. Shh, it's fine, Runningpaw." She sighed and sat herself down a tail-length away. "Oh, I know!" She mewed brightly. "I'll go and get you some water! Wait here," She dashed out of the den and hurried across the clearing.

When Runningpaw saw the last of the tabby tail, he heaved himself up and started to slowly make his way across camp. He decided that he hadn't seen Molly for a while.

When he had asked Ashstar, she had told him that she was in the visitor's den, a secluded hole in one side of the medicine cat's clearing.

Runningpaw padded out of the den and across camp, making sure that the tabby she-cat wouldn't see him. The apprentice tried to hold back tears as he saw that Brindlepaw, who was departing through the gorse tunnel, had Bloodpaw right beside her. At least they'll still be friends no matter what, Runningpaw thought.

But hey, he shouldn't be sulking over this- this experience taught him one thing- to take advantage of friendship. And besides, he was being made a warrior any moment now.

He took in the scent of the fern tunnel that led to the medicine cat's den. But Runningpaw no longer liked the scent of herbs- it reminded him too much of the constant thyme and poppy seeds he had been given by Mossflower.

Runningpaw felt a bit better when he saw the visitor's den. He hadn't seen Molly since he brought her home, and it would be nice to have her company. At least she would be nice to him because she was kind and not because she felt bad for him.

He poked his head through the hanging ferns. The warm smell of honey and flowers filled the air. The visitor's den was a pleasant place to be.

Molly was sitting down with her tail tucked neatly around her paws. She was grooming Brian like she had lived with him her whole life, with slow, calm rasps and comforting mews between licks.

"Um…" Runningpaw mewed nervously, "Am I intruding?"

Molly looked up from her licking instantly. She smiled when she saw Runningpaw. "Oh Runningpaw!" She mewed. She seemed surprisingly delighted to see him. "I haven't seen you for a while," She purred, licking his ear, "You must be very busy as an apprentice."

"Yeah," Runningpaw replied, trying not to roll his eyes. He was right in the first place- Molly was sort of spaced-out most of the time. All he had been doing for the past two sunrises were hunting and talking to Ashstar! He felt guilty.

"So how are you doing?" He asked, changing the subject. "Do you like it here?"

"Yeah! It's awesome here- the scents are beautiful as well as my surroundings- oh, it's so wonderful to be in a place that looks as good as it smells. Have you ever felt that, Runningpaw?" She asked.

Runningpaw nodded slowly. "Yeah, when I was in the nursery. Listen, life isn't always like this. You have to be prepared for the real Clan life, which is busier than you think. You'll have to brace yourself for how much others will judge you, too," Runningpaw growled. "ThunderClan aren't exactly appreciative of kittypets."

"Yes, I know, but I couldn't help but want to live here! The wonderful scenery, the calm environment, the kind cats…" Molly sighed sweetly, looking off into space.

Runningpaw nodded, thinking of all of the fights and other Clans stealing their kits. "Yeah, pretty calm here." He mewed almost sarcastically.

"So how does Brian like it here?" He asked, hoping to tide over any traces of his sarcasm.

"I like it fine," Spat the brown tabby in the back of the den. He didn't seem very active… perhaps he felt a bit gloomy here. Perhaps the forest wasn't like how the male kittypet thought. I wouldn't be surprised, Runningpaw thought bitterly.

"So when do you think we'll be made into apprentices?" Asked the pale tabby she-cat curiously.

Runningpaw shrugged. "Any day now, most likely. I'm sure that Ashstar will be ready soon."

Molly squealed with anticipation. "I can't wait to become an apprentice! Then I can become a warrior, then the deputy, then the leader and have litters and litters of little kits." She sighed softly again. "Mollystar…I like that name."

Runningpaw tried not to get sick as he heard what the kittypet was saying. "Well, it isn't that easy," He mewed, trying to defend his Clan's lifestyle.

The she-cat paused in grooming her face. "It isn't?" She asked, trying to sound overly surprised. "But I thought that when the deputy got too old and the leader needed a new one, then the leader would pick the cat with the best attitude and hunting skills." She paused and looked into Runningpaw's eyes. "Right?"

Runningpaw shook his head. "I'm sorry to say no…you have to become a warrior first and learn all of your training, then you have to train another apprentice yourself as a warrior, then you're made deputy. Oh, and the deputy is made leader when…uh…" Runningpaw kneaded his paws anxiously. "When she dies," he whispered quickly, shutting his eyes hard.

Molly shrunk back into a smaller figure that looked like some kind of kit. "Oh…sorry," She mewed. "I didn't know that Clan life was that hard."

That was it. Runningpaw couldn't take anymore of this kittypet's empty-headedness. "Well, then you thought wrong!" He snarled. "Clan life is hard, not even close to calm!" The apprentice whipped around and dashed out of the clearing.

Panting, he rushed through the fern tunnel with millions of thoughts swirling through his head. What a mouse-brain! If she didn't think that Clan life was hard, she shouldn't have joined! Then again, she wouldn't know, since she was a kittypet.

Runningpaw hissed for no reason in particular. What was life for anyway? His best friend was gone, he wasn't going to be made a warrior anytime soon, and-

"Runningpaw!" Came a voice. It was Cloverkit, and she was running at full speed just to find him. "Ashstar says it's time to make you a warrior!" The kit panted.

"Right now?" Asked Runningpaw. No way in StarClan would it be right now- would it?

Cloverkit nodded. "Yes, right now! Come on, get under the Highrock, she's just summoning the Clan!"

Never mind those earlier thoughts about never becoming a warrior…this was it! Runningpaw was finally earning respect in the Clan!

He rushed after the tiny tabby, excitement pounding in his heart. All thoughts of Skycloud had been replaced with I'm becoming a warrior, I'm becoming a warrior, I'm becoming a warrior!

Sorry that this chapter was really short, but as always I wanted a good stopping point. Sometimes I explode if I don't get to a good stopping point! .