Sorry to all that this took so long. I never officially put it on hiatus, but it kind-of was. I was working on For Real - if you haven't read it, that's my most popular story! I love it! I'm trying to think of a good ending for this.

Niah-Miyoki - "Sappy is like, loveleh." Yeah, and it's fun to write.

Qzil - Yeah, if I ever get a chance, I'll make guys jump in lakes. It sounds hilarious.

Fluffylover666 - haha. Okay, here's the update. Thanks for the fave:)

Lightkit - I love the name Birchleaf. Are you the Lightkit registered on Fanfiction?

Yalith's wolf - JW, what does your PenName mean? Oh, and thanks for the funneh review.

HCSBFovever - oops, this took forever. Thanks for the fave :)

Stardawn - wicked name. I didn't describe Applenose much before I went full-on into Birchpaw loving her, I know. Thank you for the compliment :D

Grassy Leaves - Haha. Your suggestion kept this story running, I was going to put it on a very long hiatus when I got your ideas. Thank you!

Violently long Author's Note. Why did I say violent? Weird. I got my I.D. for going to Washington D.C. awhile ago, but I'm just warning everyone that I'll be gone in the first week of April. I won't be dead though.

Across the Borders, Chapter 7

by: rainfeather's hope

(birchpaw's pov)

I pad softly along the lakeshore, praying that no cat notices me slipping home. I'm right at the edge of ThunderClan territory - I might as well go hunting for some prey. Maybe it'll keep Ashfur off my back about my disappearance.

I scent squirrel soon after I enter the foliage of our familiar forest. My claws slide out as I think of sinking my teeth into its scrawny neck. The russet-colored prey is perched on a branch just over my head, scrabbling at a nut. An acorn, I think. As I watch, it removes the shell from the rest of the nut and drops it onto my head. I growl and hurl myself upwards after the acorn-dropping little bugger. But before I can snag my claws into its annoying tail, a rank scent sweeps over me. Badger!

The squirrel loses my attention and scuttles away quickly. I guess it too realizes something isn't right here. I turn this way and that, trying to decide which direction the badger is from me. I've just about pinpointed it when a wide paw slams down onto my head. Stars swim hazily in front of my eyes. Strangely enough, there is little pain. Without a thought I claw for its eyes. To my surprise I feel my claw pierce something soft. The badger howls and thrashes around, obviously in pain. Its wide paws catch my gray flank and throw me into thornbushes. Already dazed, I try to stand back up. I've got to drive this foul beast away. By the time I manage to get to my feet, it's lumbering away in the other direction clumsily. I can't say that I mind the fact that it's heading for ShadowClan.

Wait - ShadowClan! Applenose!

The second this crosses my mind, a she-cat shrieks in pure terror. I want to flee, but I know what I must do. Even if the cat isn't Applenose, I've got to save her. My paws seem to grow wings as I hurtle for the border. I spot the brute leaning over Snowstep, the new warrior queen who is pregnant.

Time seems to slow down as I recognize the cat hanging from the badger's jaws. A limp tortoiseshell coat and green eyes. Applenose. "Not my she-cat, you devil!" I yowl, crashing into the badger like a runaway train. It doesn't seem to recognize me. Snowstep hobbles a few steps unsteadily toward me; I push her with my nose and order her to go to her camp. She looks as though she wants to argue with me - after all, I'm only an apprentice - but she closes her mouth, nods briefly, and flees the place, casting one horrified glance backwards.

I bowl into the creature, trying not to choke as I inhale the vile scent. "Let. Go. Of my Applenose!" The first words I spit at it were a whisper, but I shriek the last part for all of StarClan to hear. I rake at its hindlegs until the badger drops Applenose from his mouth and swings another paw at me again. I cry my fiercest enemy yowl and battle it fiercely, but I'm no match for the seasoned, old male. It gashes my throat and I feel warm blood trickle into my pelt. The next minute flies by, and though I've given it a huge weal on its flank and two scratches across his nose, I have twice the number of injuries. Another blow, this time to my chest, weakens me further. I fly across the border into ShadowClan territory. Applenose is struggling up. I touch my nose quickly to hers and together we fly into battle,

At least we'll die together.

The badger lifts me this time into its teeth. Pointy, thorn-sharp; pain shrieks through me. I expect StarClan's glitter to appear at any moment. I expect my brother, Shrewpaw, to say, 'Birchpaw, come to us.'

Instead, Firestar's yowl rips through the trees. I fall limp in amazed disbelief. A fresh patrol of ThunderClan warriors streams down to where Applenose still fights the badger. My mentor, Ashfur, Firestar, Cloudtail, and Spiderleg tear like a load of angry bees into the fight. The badger's small, beady eyes try to take in all the foes and widen. Within a few heartbeats, it has dropped me and is running away, crashing through the forest.

"Whoa, thanks guys. For a few minutes there I thought I was fresh-kill." I say.

Ashfur doesn't speak, but noses me all over to check my injuries. I squirm away from his nose and bump into Applenose. She looks awkward. "Um, everyone, this is Applenose. She's ShadowClan." I meow slowly.

Firestar scrutinizes us. I am very, very aware of his gaze on us and make sure that we aren't touching at all. Which we had been, until he started staring.

"All right, little brother, let's get back to camp before you die of injuries," Spiderleg orders good-naturedly.

Firestar agrees and collects his patrol with a sweep of his tail. I whisper a quick word of farewell to Applenose and follow them back to camp.

-x-x-

"I, Firestar, leader of ThunderClan, call upon our warrior ancestors to look down upon this apprentice. He has fought bravely in the battle against the badger, and is ready to become a warrior. I commend him to you as a warrior in his turn. Birchpaw, do you promise to uphold the warrior code and to protect and defend this Clan, even at the cost of your life?"

I can't believe this is finally happening. "I do," I mew, striving to keep my voice level. Ferncloud is staring proudly at me, and Whiteflower is pressing against my side just a tiny bit too enthusiastically. Ah well.

Firestar stares at me challengingly. The blaze in his olive eyes takes me aback for a second, and then I realize he's guessed about Applenose and me. So why is he making me a warrior?

"Then by the powers of StarClan I give you your warrior name. Birchpaw, from this day forth you will be known as Birchfeather. We welcome you as a full warrior of ThunderClan." His voice catches a little, as though he isn't positive he should be doing this. He rests his muzzle on my head; I feel his eyes staring beadily down at me all the while. Struggling to quell my rising anger, I lick his shoulder. Cats behind me are chanting.

"Birch-fea-ther! Birch-fea-ther!" I turn around and embarrassedly purr.

"Now we can be together!" Whiteflower's delighted purr is even louder than my own, which admittedly falters, although very slightly, at her idea. Still, I try to keep up my idea of happiness. "Birchfeather, I love your name!" she cries.

"Me too," I say, a bit prideful. "But I've got to keep vigil tonight." I remind her.

Her face falls for a second, but then it brightens. "Well we can go hunting tomorrow then!"

"I'd like that, Whiteflower." As I say it, I realize that's the truth. "Definitely."

Her smile tells me everything I need to know. But then I think of Applenose, and feel torn.

Why can't it be simple?

--x--

Augh. Short. Review, please, thanks.

--Rainey