Well, as an apology for the last pitiful chapter, this should be longer than usual ^-^ Oh, and school starts in a little under a month so I might not update as fast… ^-^" But I will try my best! I hope you're enjoying the story!

I will answer reviews at the end of the chapter! I almost cried when I saw so many! Well, 12 is a lot for me! xD

So, without further adieu, read on children!

Chapter 8

"Think fast!" Larkpaw had to duck quickly to avoid a pinecone that soared by her ear. She growled playfully.

"What was that for?" She asked in mock annoyance. Briarpaw laughed.

"I told you to think fast!" He purred. She swiftly tackled him and brought him to the ground. She then then nuzzled him happily. "Fast enough?" He twined his tails with her and purred too. They curled up under the stars on the far edge of FireClan territory. Larkpaw felt an old twinge of pain as she looked up into the stars.

Are you watching me, Olivefur? I know what you meant when I would find a tom that made me happy… She buried her face into Briarpaw's shoulder. Her mother hadn't visited her in her dreams ever since the night Rowanstar had disowned her. She felt so alone unless she was with Briarpaw or Heatherpaw.

"Do you think we'll be warriors soon?" Briarpaw brought her out of her thoughts. It had been some many moons since their first Gathering. Larkpaw had been complemented on her hunting skills on being so alike her mother's. She was also told she was shaping up to be a fine fighter like Rowanstar. She fidgeted on the cool forest floor. Dead leaves crunched under her belly.

"I hope," she mewed," I don't feel like having my vigil during leaf-bare!" She shuddered at the thought of having to guard the camp in the frigid night. It would be so lonely even with her friends beside her. They wouldn't be able to speak at all, and nothing would be able to take the chill away until the vigil was over and they were allowed to retreat to their nests.

"Me-"Briarpaw stopped midsentence and pricked his ears. Larkpaw looked at him curiously but kept quiet as he motioned for her to be silent. She opened her mouth and breathed in the sharp dry scent of FireClan. She sunk close to the ground as Briarpaw did. She looked at him worriedly as his eyes grew round. The other FireClan scent was getting stronger and closer but she couldn't see any cat. Briarpaw nudged her towards ForestClan territory. "Go home." He whispered urgently.

Larkpaw scurried under the scarce bushes but turned to look back at Briarpaw before she left. He was still crouched where they were earlier, but some other cat was approaching him fast. She dashed towards her territory hoping that cat hadn't seen them. They could have heard us though!

She soon found the protective canopy of trees as she returned to her home. She relaxed slightly but tensed as she worried for Briarpaw. Would he be ok? She tried to shake that fear away as she let her paws lead her to camp.

It was still dark out and hard to see. Hopefully no cat had found out she was gone.

No one has figured that out yet. But Larkpaw's thoughts were cut short and contradicted her as she ran straight into another cat.

Jaypaw

Jaypaw watched Larkpaw quietly rise from her nest and carefully padded out of the apprentice's den for the sixth time this half-moon. She had been meeting this FireClan tom for quite some time now and had become a regular thing. He never mentioned his knowing about their meetings before, but he had to put an end to it before she was hurt!

He followed her softly making sure not to tread on anyone's tail as he slid out into the cool late Leaf-fall night. He knew Leaf-bare was on its way soon after Leaf-fall had taken its course. He leaped down the camp and slowly trailed after her as she headed towards the FireClan border. Her scent had become a well-trodden path over the moons. She hadn't been too careful of covering her tracks. He ignored the jealousy that gnawed at him as she met up with that Briarpaw.

He watched them play fight like a pair of kits. We used to do that all the time. Now she was too busy training or meeting up with Briarpaw to bother with Jaypaw. They did have some moments, but weren't as close as he had felt before she had met this tom.

He then watched them curl up together and look up at Silverpelt. They were talking until Briarpaw noticed something off in the distance. Jaypaw squinted to see the dark shape of a cat that loomed nearby the couple. Briarpaw nudged Larkpaw towards my direction. She hurried to cover as Jaypaw raced ahead. As he left his hiding spot he could swear on StarClan that Witherstar was approaching then snarling at Briarpaw.

Despite the brief flash of fear, Jaypaw kept going but stopped where he knew Larkpaw would be coming from and waited for her.

Soon enough he heard her paw steps nearing and tensed. Suddenly, he was barreled into by his best friend.

Larkpaw

The cat grunted as it got up. Larkpaw cringed fearfully until she drew in a familiar scent.

"Jaypaw?" She asked tremulously. Her friend sat straight back up.

"Yes, it's me." He answered stiffly. She drew her ears back at his slightly unfriendly tone. He had been this way for a while now but she still hadn't grown used to it.

"What are you doing out here?" She asked quietly. Jaypaw was silent for a moment.

"I could ask you the same thing." He hissed. In the dark night she couldn't see him, but she knew his fur had fluffed up twice his size and the powerful scent of anger hit her.

"Where do you keep going so frequently? Why are you always so tired?" Jaypaw snarled angrily.

"I- I-" She stammered. Jaypaw huffed.

"Don't say anything. I know what you have been doing. Just be careful, please?" His temper began to cool. "I'm worried about you." He murmured.

She tensed. Should she tell him? "Don't worry about me, Jaypaw. I will be fine." She tried to run past him but he stepped in her way.

"No, you're not ok and you haven't." Jaypaw sat in front of her and wrapped his tail around his paws. "I know you're hiding something, so spill."

Larkpaw hesitated for a moment. But she knew she had to tell some cat and what better than her best friend? He had been there for her ever Olivefur was murdered… So she told him everything down to the point of what had happened earlier, but she left out the prophecy Olivefur had given her. Jaypaw listened patiently and made few comments but was understanding.

They were both quiet for a while after she had finished. Suddenly the weight of losing both her parents physically and emotionally washed over her like a freezing river.

"I don't get it, why would StarClan let this all happen, Jaypaw?" She croaked as her throat tightened.

Jaypaw licked her ear softly. "I don't know, but things happen for a reason, Larkpaw." He looked up at the weak rays of dawn beginning to creep over the tall trees. "We better head back to camp or some cat will miss us."

She nodded silently as she followed the light golden tom back home.

I felt so compelled to make Jaypaw a bad character, but not in this chapter.

…did I just give something away? Maybe, maybe not(;

Alrighty, time to answer reviews!

Rainfire7007- Thankies! Sorry for the long wait for this one!

Butterfly that flies at dawn- Aw, thank you!(: I hope you keep liking it ^-^

Erin Hunteress- So many reviews from you! One for every chapter! *jaw drops* THANK YOU :D –gives endless supply of virtual cookies-

Haha so you get a paragraph or something! I tried to make this story really...emotional so I'm glad it did! And to explain the part why they let a queen into battle I'm going to make a short prequel called Look Before You Fall! (But i might change the name) It shall be up in about a month or so if you are still interested!(: I'll be trying to update it as frequent as possible! Again, thank you for your many views! They are very appreciated and I will hopefully be updating quicker for a while!