Hailstorm leads the way over to Ashstar who was waiting outside her den waiting. Scarlet stuck close to Hailstorm because now she could see that the two apprentices had stopped their fight and was starring over at her. A few warriors shot looks her way and the two elders exchanged glances. "Don't mind them, Scarlet, just focus on Ashstar." Hailstorm advised and Scarlet listened. When they reached her Ashstar nodded a greeting. "Morning, Scarlet, I hope you slept well."

Scarlet nodded "I did, the nest was amazing. I've never had one so nice before."

"I'm glad you're happy." Ashstar then looked around to see if any cat was lingering by. When no one seemed to be she continued "Now I know your preferred name is Scarlet but if you are to get situated back into clan life you should probably take on a clan name that way it doesn't draw suspicion to you or the clan."

"Why would the name Scarlet draw any suspicion?"

"Because clan names are unlike yours and if we were to take you anywhere and someone happened to ask your name they might believe you're a kitty-pet or a loner. Then everyone would be questioning why we brought you in and we don't want that with all that's going on."

Scarlet narrowed her eyes "Is there something you're not telling me?"

"There is a lot you don't know yet but you will come to know in time. Now if you are ready do you want to accept your clan name, you don't have o attend the normal ceremony if you don't want to?"

Scarlet nodded "Yes Ashstar. I would like that."

Hailstorm rested on her haunches near Ashstar as she begun. "Scarlet, stand in front of me," Scarlet did as Ashstar said and stood in front of her, "Scarlet you are old enough worthy of being an apprentice of Windclan and now have the honor to accept your clan name. Do you, Scarlet, accept?"

"I do." Scarlet tried not to let her voice quiver.

"Then from this day forward until you receive your warrior name you will be known as Scarletpaw, and since not many warriors have met with you I will…"

"I'm sorry to interrupt, Ashstar, and I know I was only named a warrior four moons ago but, I think I can take on Scarletpaw as my apprentice. Of course only if you approve." Hailstorm lowered her head but Scarletpaw could see the determination in the young warriors green eyes.

Ashstar looked at Hailstorm for a few heart beats then nodded "Hailstorm you will be Scarletpaws mentor, you had a great mentor in Heathertail and I would like of you to pass these honorable skills down to Scarletpaw."

Hailstorm proudly padded over to Scarletpaw who smiled as they touched noses. Ashstar nodded with approval "You will make a great mentor Hailstorm, and, Scarletpaw; you will be an amazing warrior one day too." Now Hailstorm for today just show Scarletpaw around the territory maybe give a few hunting tips. Eat before you go though, please."

Hailstorm nodded and Scarletpaw sighed in relief remembering she didn't get to eat yesterday. Hailstorm picked up a white tailed rabbit by its scruff and went over to a patch of sun bathed grass Scarletpaw followed and settled down on the other side of the rabbit as they each took turns biting into the juicy flesh. Scarletpaw looked over at Hailstorm "Thank you, for becoming my mentor, Hailstorm."

Hailstorm smiled "Of course! I wouldn't have it any other way."

"So what all will I be learning as an apprentice?"

"Well the most important thing of all I will have to teach you is the warrior code, most of us learn it when we were but I'm going to have to teach you it. We also teach how to hunt well and with respect so you can help keep the clan fed and we teach you to fight so you can protect your clan from foxes, badgers, other cats and other clans."

"How long would this take? You know to train me and teach me all of this?" She asked taking her last mouthful of rabbit.

Hailstorm rubbed a paw over her muzzle "Well… since you have extra stuff to learn it might take up to 8 moons at the most but average training takes six to seven moons so it really just depends." She stood up and shook her pelt "let's get going now I don't want to waste sunlight." Scarletpaw nodded and jumped to her paws and padded after Hailstorm as she led her out of camp. When they reached the open moor Hailstorm flicked her tail "We are going o go along the river clan border today so we'll be going this way." Hailstorm turned left gliding through the heather as she made her way up and down small rising hills. Scarletpaw raced after her the heather brushed up against her flanks reminding her of her small size but as Ivorypaw always reminded her she could always use it to her advantage. They came to a stop at a small flowing stream.

"This is the border to Riverclan?" Scarletpaw asked sniffing the edge of it.

"Yes this stream marks our border with Riverclan. This stream never used to be here though. A few seasons ago some two-legs invade both of our territories and made it. It was made father on our side of the original border but Riverclan cat picky and claimed what was originally ours Windclan didn't bother fighting over it since we never caught much prey but still."

"How old were you when that Riverclan claimed the land?" Scarletpaw was still sniffing the air and breathing in all the scents which smelled familiar to Ivorypaw and Stormpaw.

"I had just become an apprentice when it started. Come on there is still a lot to see." Hailstorm began to pad along the stream.

Scarletpaw padded alongside her "Where to next?"

"The lake, from there you can see all the clans."

"Cool! Why don't we race there?" She looked at her mentor.

"Is that a challenge I hear in your voice?" Hailstorm chuckled.

"You bet it is"

"You sure about that? You're challenging a Windclan cat, and we are known for our speed."

"I'm sure. The race starts now!" Scarletpaw Bolted from where she was standing and raced along the stream keeping Hailstorm in her sight who was gaining speed fast.

"Cheater! You got a head start!" Hailstorm tried to sound angry but couldn't keep herself from chuckling.

Scarletpaw pushed on as she came over a rise gaining more speed as she made her way down dodging a few rocks she gasped as she saw the lake. All of a sudden Hailstorm yowled from behind her "LOOK OUT!" In front of her a cat collapsed onto Windclan territory from a patch of reeds growing near the stream. Scarletpaw yelped and buried her paws into the soft earth sending dirt flying as she tried to skid to a halt. She came to a stop at the cats side. The she-cat was full grown and solid brown color. Hailstorm ran over to them "Minnowleap, what happened!?"

The she-cat coughed and opened her blue eyes "Shadowclan… Shadowclan has…" She went into a fit of coughing small drops of blood hit the grass "They have attacked Riverclans camp... we need help."

Hailstorm nodded "Scarletpaw stay here with Minnowleap I need go back to camp!" Hailstorm raced off with amazing speed and disappeared past the rise.

"Hurry…" Minnowleap coughed feebly.

Scarletpaw rested her tail the she-cats shoulder trying her best to sooth the injured warrior.

The she-cat looked up at her "I'm in no condition to fight anymore there is no way I will make it back to camp…. Please listen to my directions young one I'm dying I won't be alive when Hailstorm gets back." She began coughing up more blood.

"I'm listening…." Scarletpaw stared down at the she-cat in shock.

"When go over the run for about seven cat strides then take a sharp turn to the right over that river is the Riverclan camp…" She rasped.

"Alright don't worry we'll save your clan I promise." She whispered to the she-cat giving her a few licks to clean the blood from her face.

"Thank you….. At least" She laid her head down onto the grass "at least I didn't die for nothing"

Scarletpaw looked at the young she-cat in a daze, her tail still rested on her back, as her flanks rose for the last few times. Hailstorm seemed to be at her side a moment later "What happened!?" She wailed.

"She didn't make but she told me how to get to their camp we have to go or more cats are going to die!" Scarletpaw leaped over the Stream realizing how many cats were following her she took the way Minnowleap advised and as they neared the river the rage of battle ripped through the air "Come on just past the river!" The Windclan cats didn't like water but quickly made their way across bursting into the Riverclan camp. Hailstorm still at her side yowled over the screeches of the battle "stay close!" Scarletpaw looked around as the Windclan cats rushed into battle attacking any Shadowclan cat they saw. Scarletpaw tried to find Stormpaw or Ivorypaw couldn't find them and in an instant her head met the ground as she was tackled from the side Jaws bit into her flank and she screeched flailing with her claws outstretched she grabbed hold of flesh and ripped outward making the cat let go.

She leapt to her feet and faced her attacker, a black tabby she cat with white paws. The cat sneered with a smirk spreading across her face "They need help, and the best help they can get are some scrawny Windclan cats!" They cat leapt at and she dived under her making her yelp in surprise. Scarletpaw pushed off her back legs and made body crash into the cats sending the she-cat flying through mid air and collapse in a cloud of dirt. Scarletpaw leapt on top of the she-cat and dug her claws into her flanks making her screech in pain. The she-cat tried to wriggle free of Scarletpaws grip but only made Scarletpaws claws rake through more flesh. "Break her paw! That should make her run." Thistleclaws voice came as a faint whisper in her ear fur. Scarletpaw bit down on a flailing white paw and twisted it as blood began to stain the white fur. The she-cat howled in agony and pulled herself free and retreated from the battle. "Great job! Help me over here!" Scarletpaw turned to se Ivorypaw behind and raced to her side. "I can't find Stormpaw he got swarmed by a couple of warriors and now I can't find him!" She whispered urgently in her ear. Scarletpaw looked around franticly then spotted two warriors on top of Stormpaw a few strides ahead "There!"

They raced over and Scarletpaw leaped onto a grey tom with black paws who was trying bite at Stormpaws throat. Scarletpaw raked her claws along his spine and bit down on his ear. The tom let out a yowl of surprise and tried to shake her off. Scarletpaw dug her claws deep into his skin and hung on ripping off half of his ear. Suddenly the tom reared up and landed on top of her. Scarletpaw let out a gasp of surprise and let go of the tom but as he tried to get his paws he was knocked over by Hailstorm and another Windclan warrior. Scarletpaw scrambled to her paws and looked over to Ivorypaw who was in front of Stormpaw struggling to fight off a black and white she-cat. Scarletpaw ran up behind the black and white cat that wasn't expecting her and bit down on her tail and tried to drag her backwards. The she-cat hissed at her in disgust and spun around, ripping her tail free she raked her claws along Scarletpaws nose knocking her of balance The black and white she cat leapt on top of her and bit down on her exposed chest "Fool!" The cat screeched. But then they were both knocked over and sent rolling as Ivorypaw and a Shadowclan apprentice went tumbling past.

"STOP! ENOUGH! SHADOWClAN, STOP ATTACKING!" Scarletpaw slowly stumbled to her paws and looked for where the voice came from. A dark orange tom was standing on top of a fallen log as he looked over the clearing "Riverclan has paid their price!" another walked forward and faced him she had a slender build and blue grey fur.

"Paid what price Rowanstar?! Riverclan has down nothing and you've just killed three of our cats!" She flicked her tail over to two bodies collapsed, broken and dead. One was a grey tom with a black paw. Another was a frail she cat with cream fur and brown paws. "The other one that's on their way to Starclan is at the Windclan border. Two of these cats were just named warriors and another was sick! What is wrong with you?! What did we do to deserve this!? What did they do that's so bad they had to die!?"

Rowanstar leapt down from the log and shoved his face into the she-cats face "One of your cat's killed three of our kits and you said you did nothing wrong, Mistystar!"

Mistystar bared her teeth "I would never…" Rowanstar cut her off.

"I don't want any excuses Mistystar. Leafblossom Lost her entire litter because of one of your cats. Now your clan has paid the price and it's over. Shadowclan, let's go home." Slowly the Shadowclan cats stalked off into the growing dark the last one being Rowanstar who gave a look of triumph then disappeared as well. Mistystar stood there in pure shock and seemed to be starring into nothingness. Scarletpaw watched as Windclans deputy, Thunderstorm, approached cautiously "Mistystar? Who do you wish to recover Minnowleaps body?" Mistystar looked at him in despair take her to your camp. I will have a few cats retrieve her in the rising sun tomorrow." Thunderstorm nodded when a wail broke through the silence "No! Sun please no!" A Small she-cat raced over to the dead tom in the clearing and buried her face into his fur. A black and grey spotted tom padded up beside her trying to hold back his grief he tried to sooth his mate. "Why would Starclan do this to us, Iceshatter," She buried her face in his neck fur, "He was our only son!"