Chapter 9 Dustypaw

The three shapes came closer to the barn where they had been told to meet. He glanced at Troutleap whose silver-blue eyes were growing big in confusion. "This can't be an invasion, they are all from different clans, so what are they doing here.

Mosspaw lead the group to the barn then quickly became confused. "Dustypaw, what is Troutleap doing here?" She looked at the group. Fernpaw was shrinking back trying to make herself unseen and the fur on Snakepaw's shoulders was beginning to rise. "Relax Snakepaw, I'm sure Troutleap has a reason for bringing Troutleap. Is that right?"

Dustypaw felt panic surge through him. Troutleap was looking at Dustypaw crossly. "Kind of. Let me explain everything to Troutleap real quick." Mosspaw and Snakepaw nodded and padded over to a small stream. Fernpaw looked back over her shoulder at Dustypaw before she continued to the others.

"What is going on here?" His voice was cross but confused.

Dustypaw looked around real quick. "I think there is a prophecy about us. We are different from the rest of our clanmates and Hazelpaw told me she received a prophecy when she visited RiverClan."

"What did the prophecy say?"

"Can you sit in with us while I tell everyone? They haven't heard either and I think it would be best if you all heard at once." Dustypaw asked. Troutleap looked hesitant but nodded. He padded over to the group of apprentices and sat by them awkwardly. "Let me explain why Troutleap is here. We visited the barn after Ripplesong insulted me about my brown pelt. I was making the nests in the nursery after Troutleaps kits were born." Mosspaw looked at Troutleap with her eyes bright.

"Your kits were born? Congratulations. What are their names and what do they look like?" Mosspaw looked very interested and the others were sparking with intrest.

"There are four of them, three toms and a she-kit. There is one that looks like me named Minnowkit, there is a silver tom with black markings all over his face and a black stripe down his back. We named him Rushkit. There is a small black and white tom we named Beetlekit and the she-kit is a small white tabby with silver markings on her legs and tail we named Willowkit." Troutleap eyes were shining with pride.

"They sound adorable!" Mosspaw's eyes were shining.

"Cute as can be!" Fernpaw was swooning as much as Mosspaw.

"We need to focus guys." Snakepaw looked bored. He wasn't the kind to swoon over kits out loud but there was happiness in his eyes.

"Anyway, after his kits were born Ripplesong insulted me so I ran off. Troutleap took me to the barn so I could meet his family, his father, Ian, his brother, Cast, his sister, Bell, his father's mate, Hailey, and their newborn kits, Farryn and Farley, which raised my spirits." He recalled the visit. They were all brown like him, except for Cast, and they all looked happy. "Seeing them made me think what is going to happen is going to be more possible."

Fernpaw stepped up. "What exactly is going to happen?"

He looked at the group gathered. He trusted every one of them, knowing they would all help with the task at hand. "There is a prophecy and I think it was referring to us. Hazelpaw told me 'Only the voices of the silenced can bring peace to the clans in the war to come. The Dark Forest is rising once again and only those cast away can save the clans. Lied to, cheated out of, treated unfair, they have more power than anyone in the clans.' I think only those cast away refers to us. It also said we have more power than anyone in the clans." He looked at the cats. "Does anyone here think they have a power?"

Everyone was silent only looking at each other with big eyes. There was no sound until Snakepaw stood up. "I had a vision and after I had that vision I was able to follow others like I wasn't there. They didn't see me even when I stood right in front of them. When I wanted to be seen I appeared. It was as if I was invisible, able to sneak into the shadows." Everyone looked at him, jaws dropping in awe.

"Do you think you could show us?" Snakepaw nodded and seemed to disappear. He was still there, you could see his outline, but if you didn't know he was there then you wouldn't seen him. He ran off into the reeds. No one saw him until he faded back to normal beside Troutleap. "Snakepaw, how did you discover you could do this?"

"I had a dream. A ginger tom padded to me and told me his name was Flametail. He asked me if I have ever tried to be a shadow. I said no. He said he would make it to where I could be one. The next day I had the vision and after I could be a shadow." He blinked his pale blue eyes and swallowed. "He said once all the ones were gathered he would visit us with the others who would lead us."

As he said that a ginger tom appeared beside him. "Yes Snakepaw. I did say that." The cats looked at the ginger tom with wide eyes. "Hello. My name is Flametail. I was the ShadowClan medicine cat apprentice seasons ago. I died drowning in the lake in an accident with breaking ice. I have never stopped watching the clans and became upset when they became segregated like this. It was before any of you or your elders were born but there was a group of us watching. There was nothing we could do to stop it, until now. The Dark Forest is rising and we came up with a way to bring the clans together and stop the Dark Forest using the five of you."

"Excuse me but five? I came here by mistake and I am like the rest of my clan. There must be a mistake." Dustypaw looked at Troutleap who looked very confused.

"Yes that is true, Troutleap but who would listen to a group of apprentices? We looked for a cat that would be a mouth piece for them. No one would listen to apprentices, especially ones like this. You and Mosspaw would be the only ones who would be taken seriously." Troutleap nodded his silver and white head. "We have chosen a cat who will each of you through this. This will be a great challenge and will require from each of you. I have been selected to be Snakepaw's teacher. Troutleap, this is Mistystar and her sister Mosskit. They are sisters and will be teaching you."

Dustypaw saw an elegant looking blue-gray she-cat with blue eyes. By her side was a little gray and white kit with the same blue eyes. He couldn't stop staring at the kit. "We're going to both teach you so you can understand everyone. My sister has lead RiverClan during the Dark Forest attack and I only lived as a kit but I still know a lot." The tiny gray and white she-kit said eyeing him.

Beside Mosspaw, a pretty dark brown tabby appeared "Mosspaw, this is Honeyfern, a cat who died to save Briarlight, Briarkit at the time." Mosspaw's eyes widened at the starry warrior.

"Hello Mosspaw." Mosspaw was silent in awe.

Fernpaw looked at her paws waiting for her mentor to arrive. A thin dark gray tom with blue eyes appeared. "Hello Fernpaw, my name is Crowfeather." Fernpaw's eyes immediately widened in awe.

Beside Troutleap was a silver she-cat with blue eyes and a plumy tail. "Hello Troutleap, I'm Feathertail."

Warning, updates will be slowed for two reasons. One: I am increasing my writing ability and taking up several of the challenges of the Warriors Challenge Thread (I recommend it very much) and two: I have run out of prewritten chapters but this story will get done I promise. I have decided everyone's powers. (Snakepaw's is my favorite power by the way.) I want some ideas on the final battle. There will have to be a new main enemy and army of Dark Forest warriors so you are welcome to send me one via PM. Really hope you like this chapter. I wanted to update and couldn't think what else to put after Feathertail so I just decided to update. I'm still looking for a beta, and you can only do one chapter if you wish.