A/N: Hey guys! I am so sorry for the long wait but my computer had a major virus on it and it took forever to get it back from the shop. I hope you like this chapter!

Chapter Sixteen

~Fight-of-the-Fierce~

The rest of the Gathering Tournament passed by with laughter, happiness and an over-abundance of fun. Fiercepaw, Goldenpaw and Lightningpaw entered in a few more competitions with Lightningpaw winning in the battle training for apprentices, Goldenpaw winning in the competition of mice and shrew hunting and Fiercepaw winning in the tree climbing competition for apprentices.

"You gonna enter in the rabbit hunting competition?" Lightningpaw meowed, his flanks heaving with his effort to breath deeply after his failed attempt in the battle training for warriors. He had the misfortune to be chosen to fight Cedarscar and the legendary warrior had taken him down with one hard hit to the head. Fiercepaw and Goldenpaw had been torn between laughing and being worried, a debate easily solved by snickering while they hovered over him worriedly.

"I don't think so." Fiercepaw meowed, stretching out under the sun and watching through slitted eyes while Lionstar easily battled against a BrookClan warrior and a NightClan warrior. He was easily slipping around them, knocking them off their paws and then waiting for them to get up before starting all over again. He was having fun if the toothy grin on his face and the mischievous gleam in his pale green eyes was anything to go by.

"Why not?" Goldenpaw meowed, dropping down beside them with a triumphant flush to her brilliant green eyes. She just finished winning in the bird hunting competition. There were an array of feathers stuck in her golden fur and the fresh-kill pile had grown considerably larger.

"Well, that is supposed to be for the BreezeClan cats." Fiercepaw said dismissively and Goldenpaw shared an exasperated look with Lightningpaw.

"Since when has that stopped you?" Lightningpaw meowed incredulously while Goldenpaw muffled her laughter behind her jet black paws. Fiercepaw tore her attention away from Lionstar and shot them suspicious looks. They tried to paste innocent looks on their faces but it wasn't really working since Lightningpaw had a sly smirk pulling at his muzzle and Goldenpaw's eyes were gleaming with that sneaky look.

"Why should I do it?" Fiercepaw meowed and they shared another look, shifting closer, ducking their heads towards hers and meowing lowly.

"Well...Honeypaw hasn't ever caught one rabbit, let alone two..." Goldenpaw began.

"...and can you imagine the look on her face when you do so...again?" Lightningpaw finished. Fiercepaw grinned, surging to her paws.

"I'm in!" She meowed and they grinned, hopping up.

"I knew you would be!" Lightningpaw boasted, puffing out his white chest.

"You did not!" Goldenpaw protested, shooting him a playful glare. Fiercepaw smiled, walking along between the two of them while they bickered playfully. Sometimes, she is startled to be reminded of how much she adores the two of them.

"Fiercepaw! Are you going to do this competition?" Sparrowpaw meowed, trotting over.

"Yeah, they convinced me-" Fiercepaw ducked her head, narrowly dodging one of Lightningpaw's massive paws. "Hey!" Fiercepaw yelped, narrowing her silver eyes at him.

"Sorry!" Lightningpaw meowed, scrambling to get away.

"Get back here!" Fiercepaw growled, chasing after the large tom.

"Help!" Lightningpaw called over his shoulder, lurching to the side when Fiercepaw lunged at him.

"I'm going to kill you!" Fiercepaw yowled and Goldenpaw laughed, sitting back gracefully, watching the two of them with a fond gleam in her eyes. Fiercepaw gathered up her muscles and launched herself forward, landing squarely between Lightningpaw's shoulders. Moving fluidly, the black and silver apprentice nipped the back of his neck, hooking her tail between his front paws and yanking. With a loud yelp, the larger white and silver apprentice tumbled forward, his front paws swept out from under him. "Got you!" Fiercepaw meowed triumphantly, planting her small silver paws on his chest and glaring down at him.

"Mercy! Mercy!" He yelped and she opened her jaws, her long white fangs gleaming in the sunlight just seconds before she snapped them shut in front of his nose. He went cross-eyed, watching her fangs and gulping.

"Do it again and I will not be so forgiving. Understood?" Fiercepaw hissed playfully, raising her head arrogantly. Playing along, Lightningpaw dropped his head back, baring his throat. Purring happily, Fiercepaw snaked her head forward and nipped at the tender skin. Yelping, Lightningpaw squirmed away while she laughed, hopping off of him and circling around the larger tom.

"You are so mean to me!" Lightningpaw grumbled while she laughed.

"One of your ginormous paws could easily swipe my head off. One of my paws would only bounce off of your thick skull. Tell me, whom was in danger there?" Fiercepaw teased and the tom sent her a long-suffering look.

"Fiercepaw!" Nightstream trotted up, a proud look in her eyes. Fiercepaw stiffened, her silver eyes going frosty.

"Mother." Fiercepaw meowed coldly and Nightstream slowed down, wincing a little. Talonstrike walked over, watching carefully in case he needed to intervene with his daughter and her mother, his sort-of-hopefully-still-mate.

"That was incredible, how you combined the two battle moves like that!" Nightstream meowed eagerly. Fiercepaw shrugged, glancing away. The battle move where she pounced on Lightningpaw's back and nipped his neck was called Rabbit Pounce, Death Strike and then the second move where she used her tail to trip him was called Hidden Vine. The two moves hadn't been taught together and honestly, hadn't been considered for one's to combine.

"I agree with Nightstream, that was incredible." Talonstrike meowed supportively, standing beside Nightstream. Startled, the black queen shot him a thankful look, leaning into his shoulder the slightest bit.

Fiercepaw narrowed her frosty silver eyes, noticing the interaction.

Once, there would have been a time where that would have made her beyond happy but now, she is only worried that her mother will hurt her father again by withdrawing. The two mates used to be amazingly close but lately, haven't had much interaction. It makes Nightstream feel guilty for neglecting her kit and mate. It's just...after Silverpaw died, she couldn't handle the pain of losing them so she withdrew, rationalizing it in her head that it would hurt less if she distanced herself from them sooner. Little did she know she would just long for her kit and mate even more.

Now, the distance between them hurts Nightstream so much but the queen is clueless about how she is going to fix her mistakes and Fiercepaw isn't planning on making it easy if the hard look on her eyes is any indication.

"Talonstrike-" Fiercepaw meowed suddenly, shifting her eyes to lock on his. "I plan on entering the rabbit hunting competition, could you help me out with my hunting crouch?" Fiercepaw meowed sweetly. He hesitated, uncertain about how they are leaving this.

"It's fine, go on." Nightstream meowed gently, carefully reaching forward and nuzzling his muzzle. Talonstrike closed his eyes, breathing in her sweet scent and purring. He pulled back and gave her a searching look before following Fiercepaw, who is stalking away. Blueflame rose to his paws, finished watching. He trotted past the two parents, catching up to Fiercepaw and padding by her side.

"They are mates." He meowed quietly, knowing what she must be thinking. Fiercepaw clenched her jaw, narrowing her silver eyes and lashing her tail behind her; deep gouges being left behind in the dirt from her unsheathed claws.

"I know but that doesn't mean I have to like it." Fiercepaw huffed, stopping once she reached a clear space. Blueflame laughed, gently nuzzling her fringe. Fiercepaw purred a little, leaning into him before backing away and sitting down, wrapping her slender tail around her silver paws. Taking the hint, the large, elegant blue tom nodded respectfully at Talonstrike before leaving the area, falling in with Timbermoss, Blackclaw, Cherrynose and Swanfang.

While she waited for her competition to begin, Fiercepaw conspired to keep Talonstrike busy by purposefully messing up her hunting crouch. Talonstrike was torn between calling her out on her bluff and wondering if she was, in fact, having trouble. Her performance was fairly flawless and so he kept quiet, not wanting to insult his daughter and anger her. Fiercepaw, for her part, was feeling a little guilt but stubbornly burying that under righteous anger and annoyance.

When they finally called the rabbit hunting competition, she dropped into a perfect crouch before springing up and nuzzling at her stunned father.

"Thanks, Talonstrike, I think I finally got it. Just in time too! See you later!" She chirped cheerfully before sprinting over to the gathered apprentices and skidding to a stop beside Lightningpaw and Goldenpaw. "Are you guys doing it too?" Fiercepaw meowed breathlessly.

"Yup!" Goldenpaw meowed cheerfully.

"I see you clued your father in on the ruse." Lightningpaw remarked, nodding at where Talonstrike was shaking his head in her direction, an amused and exasperated look on his face.

"Huh? I have no clue what you are meowing on about!" Fiercepaw meowed innocently, tilting her head to the side and blinking her silver eyes sweetly at him. It was a heart-wrenching look and Lightningpaw was no exception to it, a fact Fiercepaw is gleefully aware of and ruthlessly exploits when she feels the situation calls for it. Goldenpaw muffled a snort behind a jet black paw, shifting sideways and pressing her shoulder into Lightningpaw's.

"Just let it go, Lightningpaw. You know as well as I that once she gets like this, we won't get a thing out of her." Goldenpaw meowed, ignoring the scandalized look on Fiercepaw's face.

"Why, I never!" She gasped dramatically and they collapsed in a furry gold, silver and black pile of heaving flanks, raucous laughter and lashing tails. Lightningpaw twitched his whiskers to hide his own smile, glancing over where Runningstar was walking over.

"Come on, we need to join the other apprentices!" He meowed eagerly, nudging them to their paws and shaking his head when a few giggles slipped out of the giddy she-cats. The three of them staggered over before collapsing, Fiercepaw mimicking Talonstrike's stunned face and leading them to burst into laughter again.

"Stop, stop!" Goldenpaw meowed loudly, laughing again. Fiercepaw was laying stretched out on her back on the grass, her small silver paws held tightly over her inky black muzzle, silver eyes gleaming happily over her paws and her fringe ruffling in the breeze. The other apprentices were glancing curiously at them, wondering what all the laughter was for.

"Sorry!" Fiercepaw gasped, hauling herself to her paws and leaning on Goldenpaw, a contented purr rising in her throat.

"No, you aren't." Lightningpaw meowed easily, grinning at her. Fiercepaw huffed, playfully tossing her head and glancing pointedly away from him just as Runningstar reached the group.

"Welcome apprentices! We are all gathered here to see the apprentice rabbit hunting challenge. This will be carried out in teams of two, so pick your partners now." Runningstar meowed, his voice carrying easily.

Fiercepaw, Goldenpaw, Lightningpaw, Sparrowpaw, Rosepaw, Strongpaw, Briarpaw (the dappled gray and yellow tom that Fiercepaw remembered had Blossompelt as his mentor before she'd been caught as a prey-stealer and removed from the position), Smolderpaw and Lilypaw were all the 'paws going to compete.

The moment Runningstar finished speaking, Lilypaw moved over beside Smolderpaw and ducked her head down, meowing lowly to him. Smolderpaw blinked his reddish-orange eyes slowly, sitting tall with his tail wrapped around his paws, seeming to ignore what the flighty BrookClan cat was whispering to him. Briarpaw and Strongpaw paired up, Goldenpaw and Lightningpaw paired up and that left Rosepaw, Fiercepaw and Sparrowpaw. The tom hesitated, looking uncertain for a moment.

"Rosepaw! Do you want to pair with me?" Reedpaw trotted forward and Fiercepaw bristled, rolling her eyes at the annoying tom automatically. Sparrowpaw brightened and trotted over to Fiercepaw.

"Do you want to hunt with me?" Sparrowpaw asked, blinking his royal blue eyes at her.

"Sure." Fiercepaw meowed, pushing to her paws and shaking her fur out from her whiskers to the tip of her tail. "We are going to do awesome!" Fiercepaw meowed eagerly, her spiky, inky black pelt fluffing up with excitement.

"I know, we did do pretty awesome last time so we will have a paw up on everyone else." Sparrowpaw agreed.

"The only ones we might have trouble beating are Goldenpaw and Lightningpaw and-"

"Wait, have they hunted like this before?" Sparrowpaw meowed curiously, cocking his light gray head to the side, royal blue eyes gleaming with sunlight and excitement.

"No, but they have this odd ability where it is almost like they can see into each other's heads." Fiercepaw meowed, shrugging as though she herself has never acted like that with any other cat. (When, in fact, she does it with Goldenpaw, Lightningpaw, Aspenkit, Blueflame and even Smolderpaw all the time.)

Overhearing them, Goldenpaw snorted with amusement and turned back to Lightningpaw. Fiercepaw grinned sharply, stretching under the warm sun, her fur rippling and a happy sigh escaping her as Runningstar began to speak.

"The first team to catch two rabbits will win this competition. Have fun and remember, no biting, scratching or cheating in any way in order to win. The first cat or cats to be found out will be disqualified and face punishment from their Clan leader. Now, wind, feather...fall!" He shouted, the signal to go. (The wind lifts the feather then it cuts out and the feather falls, that is what the saying means.) With an excited mrow, Fiercepaw surged forward with Sparrowpaw, their paws falling in perfect sync as they bounded forwards.

Fiercepaw scanned the field, searching for any sign or scent of the fluffy prey of the day.

"I found one!" Sparrowpaw meowed, veering off with a flick of his tail. Fiercepaw spotted the gray rabbit moments later and veered off in the opposite direction so they could close in on the rabbit together. Once it caught their scent, the rabbit began bounding away but Fiercepaw and Sparrow were right there and they pounced on it together, snaking their heads forward to deliver two bites to the spine. The rabbit fell limp and Fiercepaw raised her head, silver eyes shining with accomplishment and pride. Sparrowpaw stared for a moment before looking away, heat flushing through his pelt but Fiercepaw didn't seem to notice.

She flipped her fringe out of her eyes impatiently and stood, searching for another rabbit. All around her she could see the other apprentices searching and some actually pouncing after rabbits they had spotted.

"This way, Fiercepaw." Sparrowpaw meowed, his sleek silver pelt bristling a little and his head ducked low, sleek ears perked up and his royal blue eyes locked on a rabbit. Fiercepaw dropped into an identical hunting crouch, slowly and carefully lifting her paws, pulling herself forwards. For some reason, she either hunts best when in the trees or in a field. In the forest on the ground, all Fiercepaw can ever do is find roots with an ease that upsets her regularly.

They drew forwards together, completely silent, saliva pooling in their mouths as the scent of the rabbit wound through their noses. Fiercepaw slowly moved forward while Sparrowpaw circled around until she was a few tail-lengths away and he was too. Fiercepaw moved her eyes from the rabbit and looked at Sparrowpaw, nodding the slightest bit. The tall grass around them ruffled the slightest bit and the rabbit paused, lifting into the air on it's large back legs, small pink nose twitching.

A sudden gust of wind blew their scent straight to it and the rabbit moved quickly, whirling around and leaping away.

"Now!" Sparrowpaw yowled, lunging forwards but missing the rabbit, snapping his jaws shut on its tail. The terrified prey ripped free, leaving a tuft of hair behind in Sparrowpaw's teeth before it leapt away. The thrill of the hunt lit in Fiercepaw's veins, burning through her like fire as she barreled forwards, eagerly chasing after her prey. Stretching her body out, Fiercepaw began running faster than she had ever tried before. The wind raking through her pelt, streaming past her as her paws drummed against the ground, her body stretching and releasing, a slight burn working through her body as adrenaline flooded through her, granting her the speed she needed...she craved this chase.

To those watching, Fiercepaw was a black and silver streak of fur, chasing after a streak of gray. The gathered cats watched eagerly to see if the fast apprentice would be able to catch her prey.

Fiercepaw drew closer to the rabbit and bunched up her muscles, launching herself after her prey.

She was suspended in the air for a moment, her front paws tucked tightly against her chest, silver against inky black. Her back paws were relaxed behind her, tail streaming out, ears flat against her head and her fringe curling around her muzzle. In that moment, the sun lit up Fiercepaw, making the silver on her pelt glow and the black seem even darker than before. She almost looked like a StarClan cat with the glow around her.

Then she landed squarely on the rabbit, feeling the sharp snap of the spine even as she struck. The rabbit's life left it instantly and time seemed to rush to catch up. Fiercepaw tumbled, head over paws, the rabbit gripped tightly in her teeth and front paws. When she finally rolled to a stop, her dark flanks heaved for air, sweat plastering her fur to her body. She had a small scrape above her eye and she shook her head impatiently, small scarlet drops of blood spraying away, landing on brilliant green grass where it sparkled under the sun.

"Fiercepaw, are you okay?" Sparrowpaw yowled, skidding to a stop. She released the rabbit, laughing breathlessly, rolling to her paws and bouncing with excitement and pent up energy. Instead of feeling tired because of her run, she felt even more alive than ever before.

"Let's catch another one!" Fiercepaw exclaimed, already searching for another rabbit.

"We don't have to, remember? We have to take our kills over to Runningstar before anyone else." Sparrowpaw reminded her and Fiercepaw paused.

"Oh. I forgot." She said, her eyes dimming a bit as the excitement left them. Sparrowpaw hesitated before turning away, strictly reminding himself that Fiercepaw was from a different clan. She is off limits in every single way.

...if only that thought didn't disappoint him so much.

~Fight of the Fierce~

The night sky stretched as far as the eye could see and Fiercepaw had to stifle a yawn, rolling over onto her back. The Tournament is almost ended. Everycat is just sitting and talking quietly while the final competition ends.

Lightningpaw is right beside her with Goldenpaw on his other side.

Fiercepaw stared up at the silverpelt, her heart aching in her chest for Silverpaw. Why hasn't he come to visit her lately? Fiercepaw sighed and looked away from the stars, her eyes falling onto her parents, curled around each other as they silently shared tongues. Fiercepaw was too tired to be mad or even glad about it.

Fiercepaw looked away and closed her eyes but that didn't help. If anything, closing her eyes made everything worse because she slowly fell asleep and she remembered.

-The fox spots Silverkit, a small bundle of silver and black fur by himself and it leaps.-

"No..." Fiercepaw muttered, her paws twitching but her friends didn't notice her distressed state.

-"Silverkit!" Fiercekit screeches as the fox snatches him up. "No!" She wails and she lunges at the fox, her tiny but sharp fangs piercing the thick red coat. The taste makes her gag but she bites down harder on its flank, causing it to yelp and drop her littermate.-

"Silverkit...please!" Fiercepaw mewed, slightly louder. Fear scent was starting to seep out of her fur and it caught Reedpaw's attention.

"Um...guys?" Reedpaw called uncertainly, moving a little closer and reaching out to Fiercepaw with his nose before jerking back with a yelp, a small dot of blood appearing. Fiercepaw had lashed out in her dream and it was the same now.

"Oh no. Lightningpaw-" Goldenpaw said, her eyes wide.

"I know." Fear was in his voice as the large tom began to run, searching for Talonstrike and Blueflame.

-A fang catches her on her side and Fiercekit lets go, dropping down and crawling to her littermate. The pain radiating from her side not even registering. "Silverkit..." She whimpers as the fox stands over them, salivating.-

"F-fox..." Fiercepaw whimpered, twitching and flinching in her sleep, curling into a tight ball. Reedpaw watched, worry and confusion swirling in his chest. He felt helpless because he didn't know what to do. The she-cat might be infuriating but no one deserved to have such fear in their sleep. It wasn't right but all Reedpaw could do was watch and wait for help to arrive.

-Silverkit has a gaping wound in his throat that is pouring blood.-

"No!" Fiercepaw cries, louder this time. Goldenpaw huddles closer, trying to help her friend without getting too close. For some reason, when she is having bad dreams, the only cats allowed to get close to her are Talonstrike and Blueflame. "Please don't leave me..." Fiercepaw mews, sounding startlingly like a kit instead of the fiery apprentice she normally is.

Lightningpaw searches for Fiercepaw's father and mentor but both of them are nowhere to be found. He spotted Nightstream and skidded to a halt, rushing over to her.

"Do you know where Talonstrike is?" Lightningpaw meowed frantically and the shadowy queen slowly shook her head.

"What is wrong?" Nightstream asked but Lightningpaw had already whirled around and started taking off, not even registering the queen's words.

-"gughg...Fiercekit..gugug..." He whispers, the blood gurgling in his throat and then he stiffens and his head drops. His amber eyes go glassy and the light, his life- is gone. Suddenly, his form seems even smaller as Fiercekit stares at him with horror-stricken eyes.-

Fiercepaw yelped quietly, small, clear streams of tears dripping down her face. The pain in her heart was overwhelming, stealing her very breath. Fiercepaw was trapped in a nightmare and she didn't even know it. To her, she is reliving the same day over and over and over again and there is nothing she can do but watch. She can't save him...she can never save her littermate and it kills a part of her every time.

"There you are!" Lightningpaw spotted Blueflame emerging from the trees with Snowfang. The two of them looked so blissfully happy as they walked side by side, their pelts pressed together but Lightningpaw didn't notice any of it. In his mind, all he could see was Fiercepaw's tiny body twisting and turning, crying out with pain and loss with heart breaking agony. He had to get Blueflame to Fiercepaw, now.

"What's wrong, Lightningpaw?" Blueflame meowed, a little concern in his meow.

"It's Fiercepaw! You need to come quick!" Lightningpaw's mew was urgent and worry began to darken the blue tom's orange eyes.

"What happened?" He asked, breaking into a trot and following the large apprentice. Swanfang easily kept pace with them but her blissful mood had just crashed into a pile of flames.

"She- Fiercepaw fell asleep!" Lightningpaw blurted out and horror gave Blueflame the speed he needed to pass the apprentice and search out his own. He found her, surrounded by curious 'paws with Goldenpaw as close as possible.

"Blueflame!" Goldenpaw cried, scrambling to her black paws with relief in her green eyes. "Help her!" The apprentice didn't care she had just ordered a warrior around, all she needed was for Fiercepaw to stop making those little mews and cries that tore into her heart with painful intensity. Blueflame dropped to the ground beside Fiercepaw but she yelped and lashed out at him, stunning the blue tom and Fiercepaw's two friends.

"You smell like Swanfang." Lightningpaw meowed urgently, nearly out of his mind with worry. He was clawing the ground to shreds with his long claws but didn't notice, so focused was he on his friend. Blueflame swore, leaping to his paws and lunging for the small pond, diving into it without a second thought. He swam through the pond until he couldn't smell Swanfang on his pelt and then surged out, dragging himself onto the grass and quickly shaking off before running for Fiercepaw.

Dropping down beside her, Blueflame wasted no time curling around and on her, covering her small body with his own, a soothing stream of mews leaving his throat. It didn't work for a few minutes but Blueflame didn't let that deter him. He gently washed away her tears, purring softly, trying to use the sound to wake her up. Gently wrapping their tails together, Blueflame sent a thought up to StarClan.

'Please let me wake her.'

Fiercepaw began to stir, her body falling limp under Blueflame's, their pelts pressed together until all she could scent was Blueflame. Panting and trembling, Fiercepaw opened her silver eyes, staring right into Blueflame's, her heart leaping in her chest when she saw the raw concern in his eyes. Blueflame stopped licking at her tears and stopped purring, staring down at her. Fiercepaw tried to move but he was covering her body with his own and heat spread through her, startling Fiercepaw with the intensity.

She suddenly realized that while she admired Sootfire, she didn't like-like the tom. This feeling she felt when she looked up at her mentor...Fiercepaw looked trustingly up at Blueflame, the two having a moment that made every cat shift, feeling like they are intruding on a moment that wasn't meant to be shared.

"What happened?" Fiercepaw meowed, her memories slowly fading away until all she could remember was she had been looking at the stars, closed her eyes and then...nothing. The next thing she knew, she was waking up with Blueflame on top of her and her friends and the other 'paws gathered around her.

"You don't remember?" Blueflame meowed softly, the vibrations of his voice spreading through her, filling Fiercepaw with warmth.

"No." Fiercepaw answered, her silver eyes going distant while she tried to remember.

"Shouldn't you be getting off of Fiercepaw now, Blueflame?" Swanfang meowed, a little sharpness to her mew. Startled to realize he was still laying on top of Fiercepaw, Blueflame scrambled off, standing beside Swanfang...beside his new mate.

How was he going to be able to tell Fiercepaw about this, so soon after her nightmare?

Guest (warriorcatgirl125) - Hey, thanks so much for the compliment! I plan on getting caught up on your story soon and I am looking forward to it! Also, I love when you do art for my cats, they always turn out so awesome!

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