Chapter 10

So, here we are, the tenth chapter. This is a huge milestone for me in the whole writing thing, since I've never gotten past 5 chapters without discontinuing. Hopefully, this was earlyish enough to make up for the last chapter. I tried to make a little longer than usual as well.

Foxstar24 - Thanks! In my twisted mind, she deserved it because I hate her, but I guess not everybody does.

Niah-Miyoki - Yay for Stormy, Thrushy and Swifty! Those names were totally random. XD

Flamie - :P I like that idea. And I hate fillers, too, although I really had no choice with that last one.

Qzil - Me too. Well, sorta. I've never liked Brook, but I've always wondered how Stormy's kits would turn out, so, yeah…

AliKatNyah - Wow, that is freaky! Maybe I'm physic, but I just don't realize it. :P

Nightpaw stood in the middle of a dark clearing, glancing around her nervously. Everything around her was sinister and gloomy. Up in the sky, no stars twinkled, no moon cast it's silver glow on the forest. The undergrowth was a dark gray color, wilted and dying. The trees cast black shadows on the already murky ground, and the only light came from the moss, glowing strangely in the eternal night. Nightpaw had been here many times, but it still unnerved her.

It had been a half moon since Leafpool's banishment. The Gathering was the next night, and the warriors were preparing for a fight. The ancient laws of StarClan were ignored now, and the Clans always broke out into some petty argument or another. The gray apprentice had been visiting Tigerstar in her dreams every night since that first time, and she had learned much. It was clear that she was advancing ahead of Firepaw and Blackpaw in her training.

Nightpaw pricked her ears in surprise as she heard the leaves rustling faintly and the bulky shape of Tigerstar appeared, his amber eyes glowing in the dark. But that wasn't what had caught the she-cat's interest. Behind the former ShadowClan leader prowled an unfamiliar black-and-gray tabby tom.

"Hello, Nightpaw," Tigerstar growled in greeting. "I am glad you have come here tonight. This will be a very important training session for you."

The young apprentice, still staring at the newcomer, was snapped out of her reverie by his deep voice. She straightened herself up and quickly licked her chest in an attempt to regain her dignity.

"Why is it important?" she asked in a quiet voice. Tigerstar's mouth curved up in a cold smile.

"Because today, you will fight for real. Darkstripe has been wandering alone for uncountable moons now. He shouldn't be a problem for you."

It was then that Nightpaw noticed the despair and hunger that dulled Darkstripe's sunken blue eyes. It disturbed her. She would never want to be banished to the Place of No Stars.

Taking a deep breath, the she-cat crouched down in a ready fighting position. Darkstripe did the same, baring his teeth and unsheathing long, thorn-sharp claws. Nightpaw's eyes widened and she turned to Tigerstar.

"Claws unsheathed?" she asked. Even though this was only a dream, she knew that when she awoke the injuries would be as real as her mossy nest. The thought made fear well up in her throat.

When Tigerstar nodded, malice glittering in his amber eyes, she turned back to Darkstripe and unsheathed her claws. She tensed her muscles, ready to spring at any moment.

"Attack!"

At the loud yowl from the former ShadowClan leader, both cats leaped forward, colliding in the air. They both tumbled to the ground, Darkstripe landing on top. He pinned her to the ground and dug his front claws into her shoulders. Nightpaw winced in pain as blood began to well up in the wounds, and she scored her claws down the tom's soft underbelly.

Darkstripe leapt off the she-cat, hissing at her angrily. Remembering one of the moves Tigerstar had taught her, she pushed off the ground with her hind legs, soaring over the tabby tom's head and onto his back. The ghostly cat growled as she dug her claws into his pelt and he began to flail about, trying to shake her off. She continued to hold fast, and finally he dropped to the ground and rolled right on top of her.

Nightpaw felt her breath rush out of her as Darkstripe crushed her underneath him, and she was left winded. Weakly, she tried to push him off her, but to no avail.

"Stop!" she heard Tigerstar yowl. She sighed in relief as the large weight lifted off her body and she could breath without muddy fur getting stuffed in her mouth. Lifting herself shakily to her paws, she assumed a sheepish expression and looked up at the dead leader.

"Wake up, Nightpaw," he meowed sternly. Nightpaw blinked in confusion.

"What?"

"Wake up!"

The apprentice opened her eyes to see that she was actually in the apprentice's den, and Breezepaw was standing over her, yowling in her ear.

"Finally!" he cried angrily. "I've never seen a cat sleep for so long in my life!"

Nightpaw glared at him. "What do you want?"

"Ashfur says you, me, Whitetail and Weaselfur are to go on a border patrol," he replied, just as coldly. He sniffed arrogantly, as if she weren't worth any more effort, and stalked out of the den. As Nightpaw heaved herself to her feet, she realized there was still a sharp pain in her shoulder, and she flinched.

Once she had exited the den, she began to pad towards the fresh-kill pile, but was stopped Weaselfur as he stepped in front of her.

"You slept in for too long," he meowed admonishingly. "There's no time to eat if we want to end this patrol by sunhigh."

Nightpaw blinked in embarrassment and followed Weaselfur towards the camp entrance, where both Breezepaw and his mentor, Whitetail, were waiting. Without another word, all four cats padded through the thorn tunnel and into the forest.

"Weaselfur and I will stay in front. You two will keep in the back and watch for danger," Whitetail meowed over her shoulder after they had traveled a few pawsteps. Nightpaw and Breezepaw shot each other infuriated glares.

"You'd better not touch me," Nightpaw growled. "Or I'll rip your pelt off."

Breezepaw snorted disbelievingly. "You? Rip my pelt off?! I'd tear you to shreds before you could even try!"

"Yeah, right! I'm a way better fighter than you! And hunter!"

"I hunt way better than you! I bet you've never caught a squirrel that climbed up the Sky Oak!"

"I bet I could!"

"Prove it!"

"Maybe I will!"

"Will you two shut your mouse-holes and focus on the patrol?" Weaselfur snapped, interrupting their heated argument. The two of them closed their mouths but continued glaring at each other angrily, making sure they were as far apart as possible.

The small patrol eventually reached the new HawkClan border, the rank stench blocking out everything else, even BrambleClan's scent.

"A patrol must have been by here recently," Weaselfur informed them absently. "Let's hope they haven't crossed again."

Nightpaw noticed that both warriors were staring longingly at the large stretch of moorland across the border. It was almost as if she could feel the tug in their hearts herself, urging them to cross.

"Were you WindClan warriors before Bramblestar and Hawkstar took over?" Nightpaw asked suddenly. Both of them glanced back at her in surprise.

"How do you know about WindClan?" Weaselfur demanded, his eyes flaming. The she-cat suddenly became acutely aware that the tom was one of Bramblestar's elite warriors - he could do anything, and he wouldn't get punished.

"Morningflower told me," she meowed bluntly, although there was a slight catch to her voice. The entire Clan knew why the elder had been killed half a moon ago, but she still worried she would get in trouble for mentioning the incident. Surprisingly, Weaselfur's eyes softened.

"Yes, I was from WindClan," the tom meowed. "Morningflower was the oldest cat in her Clan. She was born before even Onestar, and Webfoot always said she had grown up with old Tallstar."

He shook his head suddenly, and his eyes hardened yet again. "But this is no time to reminisce. We should mark the borders and head back."

It only took the four cats a little while to scent-mark the borders, though they made sure to double check every inch. They didn't want HawkClan taking over any more of what little territory they had left.

"I bet WindClan was better than ThunderClan," Breezepaw meowed suddenly, a challenging note to his voice.

"No way!" Nightpaw retorted. "ThunderClan was way better than WindClan! After all, who would want live on the moorlands?" She spat in mock disgust. "There are no trees!"

"I wish there were no trees in this StarClan-forsaken forest! It would so much more fun to run across the moors without these massive trunks blocking your way!"

"Well then you wouldn't be able to gloat about catching a squirrel in the Sky Oak!"

"So? I'd rather catch a rabbit!"

This argument, though less heated than the last, continued all the way back to camp. Nightpaw could tell that Whitetail and Weaselfur were amused, otherwise they would have stopped the fight by now.

"Give it up!" Breezepaw yowled as they entered camp. "WindClan was better than ThunderClan, and you know it!"

"I will never give up!" Nightpaw shouted back.

"Well then maybe we should go hunting together sometime!" he growled angrily.

"Maybe we should!" she snapped back. The two of them glared at each other one last time before stalking off in their separate directions - Breezepaw towards the apprentice's den and Nightpaw towards the fresh-kill pile.

Nightpaw picked out a plump vole from the pile, still fuming from the verbal conflict they had exchanged. She was about to settle down and when she stopped in her tracks, realizing what she had agreed to.

"Mouse-dung!" she spat quietly. There was no way she could get out of this now.

A/N - Didja like it? Didja? It's a little longer than the other chapters, to make up for the filler.

Heh, I really liked writing about Nightpaw and Breezepaw - especially the last few lines. It was fun. :P