Chapter 10- Troutleap

It had been two moons; Feathertail had been training Troutleap to use his power, being invincible in a fight but being completely useless when teaching him how to deal with kits, not that she ever had any. "They are driving me insane!" Was often his complaint but he couldn't help but love them.

Stormpaw and Cloudpaw were now Stormcloud and Cloudbreeze. Dustypaw and Hailpaw would be receiving their warrior names any day, especially since their sister, Daisypaw, had just received her medicine cat name, Daisytail. Icepaw was apprentice to Sageclaw and Snowpaw was apprenticed to Blackice. It was both toms first apprentice. They were eager to please. Smalllily had moved into the nursery and was expecting Sageclaw's kits. Despite all the joy happening in RiverClan, he could stop the feeling of dread that was building up inside him. The Dark Forest threatened him. Feathertail had often led him to the eternally darkened forest.

He looked at his kits; Minnowkit had silvery-blue eyes like he did. He was the leader and he wouldn't be surprised if he one day became Minnowstar. He was a thinker and wasn't one for fighting, but he would often stop in the middle of a game and observe the others. Rushkit's eyes were silver blue too but that was where his similarities to his father ended. He was as thin –if not thinner- than his mother, maybe even thinner than Cast. His legs were long making him taller than all of his siblings. He was a fan of fighting and was already pestering Icepaw and Snowpaw for lessons. Beetlekit had his mother's violet eyes and was showing skills in hunting. He had gotten bigger and now had large muscles and was the brawniest out of all his siblings. Willowkit had her mother's violet eyes too, and even though was tiny but showed as much promise in fighting as Rushkit did. She was the fastest of all her siblings and could dart around like a WindClan cat.

He pressed his muzzle to Dawnstream's as they watched their kits play. "You know, love, these kits are a pawful. You should watch them sometime." She said.

He chuckled. "How about tomorrow I put you on a patrol and I'll watch them. Is that okay?"

Dawnstream rolled her eyes and pressed her pelt to his. "That will be perfect. Are you going to the Gathering tonight?"

Troutleap nodded. "I also told Rainstar take Dustypaw. It's not his fault he was born with a brown pelt."

"That is very noble of you." She looked at their kits. "Let's hope they are like you. Being noble I mean."

Rainstar called the clan together. "Going to the gathering tonight will be Troutleap, Mintpetal, Daisytail, Lightningstorm, Silvercloud, Ripplesong, Blackice, Sageclaw, Softwind, Barkclaw, Stormcloud, Cloudbreeze, Icepaw, Snowpaw, Hailpaw and Dustypaw."

They patrol gathered around the fresh kill pile and prepared for the gathering. "Daddy, Daddy!" Troutleaped perked his ears at the sound of Willowkit's mewling. She was running towards him with Rushkit following close behind her. Minnowkit and Beetlekit were coming too, just slower. "Daddy, will you tell us what happens at the gathering?"

Rushkit nodded his black and silver head. "Please Daddy! We never get to hear any of the stories."

Troutleap purred and licked each one of his kits heads. "I will tell you in the morning."

"Come on! Let's go play with Spiderkit, Cricketkit and Featherkit!" Minnowkit said, getting the attention of his littermates, seeing that Troutleap and Dawnstream wanted to be left alone. Troutleap looked after his kits, proud of each.

"Is there anyone you want me to talk to at the gathering?" He asked.

She shook her head and pressed her muzzle to his. "Go have fun. Tell me what happens."

"I will." He padded over to the patrol and looked across at the lake. He could see the shadows of cats sitting on the island already. If he wanted he could swim there, it wasn't a hard swim. Feathertail appeared beside him. Troutleap, something bad is going to happen. He heard her voice echo in his head. It was the best way to communicate when they were in a large group. What do you think is going to happn? He inquired. I don't know, but be on guard. I'll warn the others too. With those words she disappeared.

Troutleap shook his head and started to follow the patrol as they left the camp. He walked by Silvercloud, one of the youngest warriors but strong too. Rainstar wanted her to mentor Spiderkit, Cricketkit or Featherkit when they became apprentices so Rainstar requested that he talk to the she-cat. "How are you, Silvercloud?"

Along with being one of the prettiest cats in the clan, she was also one of the kindest, most likely because she was Moonshine's last apprentice. "I'm great, Troutleap. I've been excited for this gathering for a while." Why has she been excited? He wondered.

"Any particular reason?"

The blue in Silvercloud's eyes grew smaller, as if the question caught her off guard. "Um… No reason. I just love gatherings!" She jumped into the lake and started swimming away. Troutleap watched her emerge onto the shore. She was scanning the group of cats until she saw a gray and white tom with dark blue eyes from ShadowClan. Troutleap remembered the tom's name, Frostfang, and shook his head. He scanned the cats for the apprentices and nodded at them. They all ran to him.

"Feathertail told me something was going to happen tonight." He let his gaze rest on each of them. "All of you be careful tonight." He let his voice soften. "How are your powers coming along?"

Mosspaw let out a huge purr. "Mine are coming great! Look!" She started staring intently at the water, the waves becoming bigger and bigger until even Trouleap was uncertain he wanted to swim in it. She turned her attention to the trees and made them sway as if it was being controlled by wind.

"Great Mosspaw!" Mosspaw's green eyes lit up. He then turned to Fernpaw. "What about you?" She was a blur and came back holding a clump of flowers that came from the other side of the island.

"I would say they are going great." She looked at Snakepaw. "You?"

His form slowly vanished, making him a shadow. He was working on making others shadows too and made part of Mosspaw vanish as well. Troutleap looked at Dustypaw. "How good are you getting at your powers?" Dustypaw's amber eyes turned bright blue in response. Dustypaw had the most curious power, being able to control what others saw and it worked in a range so he could control several cats at once. As Dustypaw's powers started fading he saw the shadow of a cat come closer to the gathering.

He saw that Feathertail had appeared beside him. The Dark Forest really is rising. That is Mapleshade. Don't let her get inside your mind. Troutleap nodded at the she-cat as she disappeared. He then turned his attention to the gathering, which was starting.

So now we really see that the Dark Forest is rising. Mapleshade is back. According to plan, right now there will be 12 more chapters, a prequel and a sequel. Vote for which one you want to see first and what you want their titles to be. I'm looking forward to it.