Hi everyone! I'm in a good mood 'coz it's summer:) Here's Chapter 6!

As they pelted through the forest on the way to the Four Oaks, Shadefrost found herself running beside Shrewfur. "Hey Shadefrost," her ex-mentor meowed. "How's life as a warrior?"

Shadefrost smiled at him. "It's great!" But not as good as it should be, she added to herself. Foxwhisker had promised her much more.

"Well that's good." They leapt over a log.

Shadefrost suddenly realised that she hadn't thanked Shrewfur for his mentoring. "It's thanks to you that I got this far," she meowed, dipping her head gratefully.

"It was my pleasure," Shrewfur purred.

Shadefrost saw Foxwhisker's tail among the patrol. Excusing herself, she increased her pace so that she was running alongside the tom. "Hey," she mewed.

Foxwhisker smiled at her but the smile did not reach his eyes. They were troubled. Shadefrost blinked, concerned. Something was worrying Foxwhisker and she would do anything to make it better. "Please tell me what's wrong."

Foxwhisker shook his head. "I'm sorry but if I did then you would make fun of me for the rest of my life."

"I wouldn't."

Foxwhisker sighed. "I've told you before Shadefrost, I've not been sleeping well. Can't that just be enough for you?"

Shadefrost felt pain tug at her heart. She felt she could tell Foxwhisker anything. He obviously couldn't do the same for her. Did that mean that he didn't love her anymore? "Okay," she whispered and let her paws slow until she reached the back of the patrol.

She felt a pelt brush hers but she ignored it. "Shadefrost?"

Shadefrost looked up to see Finchwing. "Oh hi Finchwing."

"Are you okay?" Finchwing asked, concern showing in her eyes. "You look hurt all of a sudden."

Shadefrost shook her head. "I'm fine," she lied.

Her sister didn't look convinced. "Are you sure?"

"I'm good Finchwing," Shadefrost snapped, suddenly angry.

Finchwing looked taken aback. "Okay," she murmured. She pressed forward and Shadefrost was left at the back of the patrol all alone.

Shadefrost sniffed the air around the Four Oaks. She could smell WaterClan but not CaveClan. They must be late, she thought. She waited patiently beside Creekfall, waiting for Fallenstar to flick his tail so that they could descend into the clearing. As she waited, she let her eyes drift to Foxwhisker. He was staring straight ahead, his eyes the same pools of worry as before. Shadefrost let another wave of pain tug on her soul. She loved him so much. She couldn't bear the fact that he didn't want her anymore. The pain turned into agony and she forced herself to look at Fallenstar's tail tip until it died into a steady throb.

Beside her Creekfall shifted impatiently. Shadefrost guessed that he wanted to see his old clanmates again. He had originally been of CaveClan. Leaning towards him, she whispered, "Relax, CaveClan aren't there yet."

Creekfall nodded. "I know but it doesn't make me any less eager to see them."

Shadefrost was about to reply when the tip of Fallenstar's tail gave a slight twitch. She sprung to her paws and followed the rest of her clan as they leapt over the log that blocked them from the clearing. As she raced down the slope with the pawsteps of many strong warriors, she felt a familiar sense of pride touch her soul. She was part of a strong and thriving clan. She let a purr escape her jaws.

The clearing was bathed in the light of the full moon. The four tall oak trees seemed still managed to baffle Shadefrost even though it was the third time she had come to a gathering. The WoodClan patrol had already split up. Silkpaw was talking to Lizardtail, the WaterClan medicine cat, while Fallenstar and Hollyfrost were exchanging words with the deputy, Whiteclaw. A friendly atmosphere surged around the clearing. The WaterClan and WoodClan cats were on good terms after they had fought together against the rogues.

Shadefrost heard a cat call her name and turned to see three WaterClanners rushing towards her. She recognised them as Sunpaw, Featherpaw and Poolheart. Sunpaw, a brown tortoiseshell and Featherpaw, a sliver she-cat, had once helped Shadefrost when she was attacked by an eagle and she still felt gratitude towards the two of them. Poolheart, on the other hand, had fought alongside Shadefrost in the battle against the rogues. He was a handsome grey tom with a shining coat and Shadefrost had once felt a certain attraction towards him before she realised that he and Featherpaw were closer than friends.

Poolheart reached her first. "Hello Shadepaw," he purred.

For a moment, Shadefrost was lost for words. The moonlight shone off Poolheart's sleek coat, making him more handsome than ever before. "H-hi," she eventually stammered. Poolheart seemed amused by her hesitation. Shadefrost scuffled her paws in embarrassment and said, "I'm not Shadepaw anymore. I'm Shadefrost."

Poolheart purred. "That's a nice name you've got, Shadefrost."

Shadefrost was mortified when a high-pitched giggle escaped her lips. Poolheart laughed as she ducked her head, too embarrassed to even apologise.

Sunpaw butted Shadefrost's flank with her head. "You a warrior then, eh?" she asked.

Shadefrost was relieved as the moment with Poolheart passed. "Yes," she answered.

"Well guess who else is!" Sunpaw didn't give Shadefrost the change to do so before she squeaked, "Me! I'm Sunfur now."

"That's great." Shadefrost flicked Sunfur's ear with her tail.

Featherpaw came forward last and dipped her head shyly at Shadefrost. "Hi," she mewed.

"Hi Featherpaw. How are you?"

"I'm fine," the apprentice answered, before going to stand beside Poolheart. He wrapped his tail protectively round her paws. Shadefrost felt a pang of jealousy shoot through her but she pushed it away. Poolheart was from another clan and she could not have these feelings for him. And besides, she still loved Foxwhisker even if he didn't feel the same way anymore.

Poolheart sniffed the air. "I smell CaveClan," he said. "It's just like them to be late."

Sure enough, a few seconds later a patrol of CaveClan cats came rushing down the opposite slope, following their leader, Polarstar. Shadefrost frantically scanned the group for Scorchstorm but couldn't see any sign of her mother's black and white pelt. She was probably at the centre of the patrol, Shadefrost concluded, out of my eyesight.

As the CaveClan cats intermingled with the other clans, Shadefrost bid farewell to Poolheart, Sunfur and Featherpaw and went in search of Finchwing. They would confront Scorchstorm together. She spotted her sister talking to a CaveClan cat. She smiled as she recognised the CaveClanner. Running over, she mewed, "Hi Sparklepelt."

Sparklepelt was her friend from CaveClan. The two of them had grown close while trying to keep Blackwing and Fembrook apart, which they had failed at miserably. Sparklepelt had a brother called Bloodspill. Bloodspill, unlike his sister, was not very nice to Shadefrost. He had heard bad things from Rootheart and Swiftclaw about her and had been nasty ever since.

Sparklepelt waved her tail at Shadefrost. "Hey Shadefrost. Finchwing told me about your warrior ceremony. Congratulations!"

Shadefrost touched noses with her friend. "Thank you," she meowed. "How's things in CaveClan."

Sparklepelt's eyes darkened. "Not good. But we're not allowed to tell any other cat about what's happened. You'll find out once the gathering starts."

"Oh go on and tell us Sparklepelt," Shadefrost pleaded, concerned about the sadness in her friend's voice.

"I'm a loyal warrior, Shadefrost," Sparklepelt said, shaking her head. "I'm not going to disobey my leader's orders. Not even for you. Sorry."

Shadefrost laid her tail on Sparklepelt's shoulder. "That's okay," she assured the CaveClan cat. "I can wait." Changing the subject, Shadefrost asked, "Is Blackwing here?"

"No," Sparklepelt sighed. "After what happened with Fembrook, he's been confined to camp."

"Oh that's a shame. Can you tell him something?"

Sparklepelt nodded. "Yeah sure."

"Just tell him that his kits are fine. One of our queens is suckling them. Tell him that Mintkit's eyes are green and Webkit's are amber."

Sparklepelt's eyes softened. "Aw, are they? That's great!" They purred together.

There was a nudge on Shadefrost's right side and Finchwing whispered in her ear, "Shadefrost I can't see Scorchstorm anywhere."

Shadefrost looked around the clearing. Her sister was right. Their mother was still nowhere to be seen. She turned to Sparklepelt. "Did Scorchstorm not come to this gathering?"

Sparklepelt's head snapped up and she looked alarmed. "N-no," she stuttered. "She... I can't tell you Shadefrost."

Shadefrost was becoming seriously distressed now. Was something wrong with her mother? "What's happened?" she urged Sparklepelt. Her friend looked flustered. Shadefrost didn't care. "Tell me Sparklepelt!"

Sparklepelt opened her mouth to retort when a loud yowl raged across the clearing. The gathering had started.

The yowler, Fallenstar, started to speak from his perch on one of the great oaks. "WoodClan has much to report," he shouted. "Firstly, a few sunrises ago, we were attacked by rogues. With the help of WaterClan, we were able to drive them from the camp but not without sacrifices. We lost Flamefur, Daisypelt and Rustpaw." There were murmurs that travelled around the clearing at this but Shadefrost was too preoccupied to join the sorrow. She was gazing at Polarstar's tree and at the roots where Scorchstorm should have been seated. She wasn't there.

"Onto lighter news," Fallenstar continued. "We have five new kits; Wispkit, Dewkit and Rainkit." He lifted his chin proudly as he mentioned his kits. "And Mintkit and Webkit." He looked at Polarstar as he said this. "Polarstar, you understand that one of your warriors fathered these kits."He paused as shocked mews went up from the WaterClan cats. Once silence was restored, he yowled, "We have a queen suckling the kits and we offer to keep them."

"That is fine Fallenstar," Polarstar answered. "We want every cat to know that CaveClan are dealing with the father and punishing him in our own accord." Shouts of agreement went up from the CaveClan cats.

Fallenstar demanded silence. "Now that that is dealt with, I will finish by saying that we also have three new warriors. Shadowheart, who is not here today, and Shadefrost and Finchwing who are."

Shadefrost scuffed her paws as every eye in the clearing turned on her and Finchwing. It lasted only for a moment but to Shadefrost it went on for moons. At last Fallenstar broke the silence by mewing, "Ripplestar, do you have anything to report?"

Ripplestar nodded. She was a mute cat and at first every cat had doubted her ability to lead WaterClan. But she was a fierce and skilled warrior and had shown her intelligence by devising a communication system with her deputy, Whiteclaw. She used taps of her paws and flicks of her tail which Whiteclaw translated. She was doing it now. Whiteclaw, who was sitting next to her on the oak, yowled, "WaterClan did not lose any cats in the battle against the rogues. We are sorry to hear that WoodClan did." He dipped his head to Fallenstar. "We have a new warrior, Sunfur," he went on, pausing as the gathered cats swivelled to look at Sunfur. She raised her chin proudly. "We also have a new litter of kits." He whispered something to Ripplestar and when she nodded meowed, "That is all. Over to you Polarstar."

Shadefrost sat up straight. This was it. This was when she found out what Sparklepelt was hiding and where Scorchstorm was.

"This moon," Polarstar began. "We have had an outbreak of greencough. It has killed one of Talonclaw's kits, Sparrowkit, an apprentice, Weaselpaw and our deputy, Scorchstorm."

Shadefrost went numb with shock. What? Scorchstorm was dead. She was oblivious to the incredulous mews that rose around the clearing. She stared at Finchwing. Her sister looked almost as stunned as she was. Suddenly a terrible fear rose in her chest. She had lost her father, her brother and now her mother all in one moon. Was she destined to lose her sister too? Creekfall had come to sit beside Finchwing, pressing his pelt against hers but Finchwing looked unaware of his presence. She was staring at Shadefrost, slowly shaking her head. Shadefrost felt words escape her lips but had no idea what they were. Suddenly, some cat butted Shadefrost's flank. It was Sparklepelt. "Shadefrost? What's wrong?"

Shadefrost shook her head and released herself from the numbness. Scorchstorm had not been her mother, Daisypelt had been. Comforted by that thought, she whispered, "Nothing."

Polarstar had started addressing the gathered cats again. "And so now I have the task of choosing a new deputy." Everything in the clearing seemed still as every cat waited with baited breath for the announcement. "The new deputy of CaveClan," Polarstar yowled. "Is Bloodspill."

Yeah ok a bit of a cliffhanger:) I'll try to update ASAP!

Thanks to everyone who submitted a name for Lilacpaw, now I have lots of ideas:)

Thanks to all who reviewed: CRAZEDREADER96, xDreamsongx, Jellybean is me, Blossomgleam, NessieXJacob-Mossfeather and Hawfur the Ninja! I almost have 50 reviews. I can't believe I have that many and I've only done 8 or so chapters. Thanks guys - Thanks loads:)

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