A/N: Okay, so as I promised, I'm starting to show a little more of Jani's life in the clans, and how it's affecting her. But still keep in mind what's happening in her human life and see how it affects her . . .

Strangers and Spirits

"Violetpaw, hurry up or we'll never feed the clan!"

Ashfur's annoying voice rang through the camp. In all the three weeks I've been here, he was the main problem I had to deal with. Sure Thornclaw was annoying as well, and heck there a few more cats that have a problem with me. But Ashfur, my God! He didn't even try to hide his hatred to me. All he ever did was snapped at me, or just stared at me. He was like an awkward creeper.

Luckily, Brambleclaw says he understands. He told me the story of when Ashfur starting hating him as well, for "stealing" Squirrelflight with him. Turns out Squirrelflight, Brambleclaw's mate (wife in a sense), got angry at Brambleclaw for some reason and went out with Ashfur for a while. Then she dumped him and got back with Brambleclaw and Ashfur's been pissed with him since.

I looked up from talking to Whitewing (she was a nice she-cat), and sighed. "Coming," I called back to him.

Saying good-bye to Whitewing, I joined Ashfur and the rest of night patrol. What I couldn't make up in daytime clan duties, I triples mad up in night patrol. I was the best hunter in the clan. Although there normally wasn't hunting at night, I did it anyway. I actually managed to catch a few things. A squirrel here, a bird over there, sometimes a vole if I'm lucky enough. The clan likes how I help out, and as it turns out, these cats go to sleep late. I'm talking after midnight late. I've become friends with many of them. The three I've become good friends with are Lionblaze, Hollyleaf, and their brother Jayfeather (he was recently given that name, which I know I heard Mary used that name before!). They're nice cats, the three of them-though Jayfeather can be a grumpy little stick in the mud sometimes. Though, I can't help but feel they're hiding something. Sometimes when I go into the camp, I see them huddled together, then I looked away for a second, then I look back and they're gone. Now ain't that weird?

Lionblaze was in this patrol, and I was happy, because he usually backed me up if I started having an argument with Ashfur. Brambleclaw was leading the patrol, another sigh of relief. Not that many cats did anything when Ashfur picked on me. He was still an elder warrior nevertheless. But I didn't care. You hurt me, I'll hurt you back. You're only even by getting even (these are the exact words that get Tom into detention every week).

And so we did the usually at night patrol. Walking, hunting, walking, smelling for intruders, walking, re-scenting the borders. WindClan was okay, but something was up by ShadowClan. I did smell something different.

"A rogue?" I suggested.

Brambleclaw nodded. "Yes, I felt like I've smelled this scent before."

"Me too," Berrynose (the official asshole of ThunderClan) said.

Brambleclaw looked down to me. "Violetpaw, try to see if you can find out more."

I tasted the air. "The scent is a tad fresh; I'm guessing he was here not that while ago."

Brambleclaw nodded with approval. I started to taste the air again. Wow, by the smell of it, this guy's been hopping from place to place.

"This cat's a traveler," I said. "First he went here, then into ShadowClan, then back here, then back to ShadowClan a little longer, and he passed by here a little while ago."

Brambleclaw had a smile on his face. "Very good Violetpaw. You're becoming very well in your tracking."

My pelt was glowing with pride. Yay! A compliment. Not many of those in my human life. The rumors and stuff in my school were beginning to spiral out of control. Now they were saying I was caring an STD. Oh my God the humiliation was becoming unbearable. When my friends weren't there to have my back, all hell broke loose. I mean, I could defend myself. But when it was a battle between one and ten . . . it was crucial.

At the thought of my human life, my stomach began to knot, and I pushed the thought to the back of my mind. No, I wasn't going to think of that while I was here. Here, I was a hard-working, helpful rogue-to-be-warrior. I wasn't going to let anything or anyone stop that. Not Ellen, not Ashfur. No one.

I turned to Brambleclaw. "I think he might still be in the territory, Brambleclaw. Maybe a little up north into the territory. Perhaps we should send a few warriors to follow the scent trail to see if he's still there."

Brambleclaw nodded. He didn't try to hide the impressiveness in his eyes. The warriors looked at each other, nodding.

"That's a very good suggestion Violetpaw," Brambleclaw said. "But the scent in stale. I highly doubt this rogue is still here."

Sandstorm, Firestar's mate, tasted the air. "Though it does smell familiar, don't you think?"

Brambleclaw nodded in agreement. "Yes, I have to say it does. I'll talk to Firestar about it. Come one everyone, it's about time to be heading home." He turned me, waiting to see whether I leave or come back. I don't know why he bothers anymore; I always choose to go back. Once everyone in the clans goes to sleep I go. Sometimes I meet Hawk on my way home. He's a really nice cat. He use to belong to belong to a group of cats too, but in a deadly battle, the cats of his home scattered, and he's been lonely ever since.

Hawk offers me guidance whenever I need it, especially now. He also teaches me a few battle moves from his home. Of course, I doing (surprisingly) well with the battle moves Brambleclaw teaches me, but learning a little something on the side doesn't hurt. Right? Strange though how similar his battle moves compared to the clans' battle moves.

On our way back, I notices that Lionblaze seemed a bit stiffened. I got close to him till our pelts brushed. "Something wrong?"

"Uh . . . I'll explain in the camp." He quickened his pace.

Once in the camp, the cats welcomed us back. Most of them were especially friendly to me considering I had two pieces of juicy prey dangling from my jaws. I went back to get them quickly before we returned.

Firestar's green eyes shone. "Wow Violetpaw, nice catch for night hunting."

I couldn't fight the smile growing on my face. It felt nice being complimented by the leader.

I bowed my head slightly. "Thank you Firestar."

I went to join the other warriors. In the clans I was kind of a floater. Sometimes I hung with the apprentices, other times with the warriors, occasionally at the medicine cat's den with Leafpool and Jayfeather, and sometimes, if I was in the mood, I visited the queens. Like I said before, most of the clan cats adored me, where as others wished I never fell into the camp in the first place.

Lionblaze was talking to his two siblings. I was surprised Jayfeather was there. Most of the time he's inside the medicine cat's den, mixing herbs, treating a cat-medicine cat stuff. The fact he was out here surprised me a bit.

"What's up kittens?"

The first time I used that on them, I almost got the clawing of life. But now they're use to my "strange" greetings. I just tell them it's a rogue thing. They fall for it every time.

Jayfeather looked up at me. "Hey Violetpaw. Heard you got us some food." He licked his lips. Poor thing was probably hungry.

I nodded, suddenly realizing he couldn't see it. "Yes I did. I'm telling you I'm a prey magnet. The prey-" I drew out my paw in a dramatic way "-attracts to me."

Hollyleaf giggled. "See, this is why I like you. You're sense of humor is so much different compared to the other rogues I've met."

"Speaking of rogues," Lionblaze piped in. "Violetpaw, what do you think of the rogue scent we found?"

I sat down next to them. "Oh yeah, weren't you going to say something to that?"

Hollyleaf and Jayfeather looked to him. Jayfeather sighed. "We might as well tell her, just in case she meets him."

I moved a little closer. "Know what?" I asked, lowering my voice.

The three of them looked at each other, as if they didn't know where to start. Finally, Lionblaze sighed, and answered. "I recognized the scent you smelled at the ShadowClan border. You were right, it was a rogue . . . His name is Sol-"

"-And he's the most devious, sneaky, fox-hearted, little piece of crow-"

"-Hollyleaf!" Lionblaze rested a paw on his sister's as she calmed down.

She looked down at her paws in embarrassment. "Sorry" Her whiskers twitched. "I guess I didn't realize how much I hated that cat."

Wow, this Sol (isn't that Spanish for sun?) cat must've been a real ass. "Who exactly is he?" I asked.

"A good for nothing rogue," Jayfeather said. "Who turned ShadowClan against StarClan and is enforcing his ways upon him."

"What ways?" Hollyleaf's fur bristled in anger. "His ways are nothing more than barbaric rules that only help him, not ShadowClan. Whatever he says goes completely against the warrior code!"

I raise my paw then lowered it. "Down she-cat. If he causes all this trouble why don't the clans do something? Drive the little vermin out?"

"We tried," Lionblaze said with a sigh. "Sol seemed so nice when we first met him. He really seemed like he could help us with the prophe-"

Jayfeather wacked Lionblaze with his paw. He gave a serious stare to Lionblaze. "With the precise ways we can help out clan. But leadership is what the fox-heart wanted." He sighed. "It's a shame Blackstar was stupid enough to believe him."

I shook my head. "Ironic, Blackstar sounds like a smart leader, why would he be stupid enough to believe the stuff this, Sol, says?"

"His leadership is strong," Hollyleaf said. "But his faith in StarClan isn't. He always says how the clans were never meant to come here. I guess when Sol came in with the alternative, Blackstar just jumped on it."

It was ironic. Cats have told me about the legendary ShadowClan leader. He use to be a deputy for Brokenstar (a VERY bad cat from what I hear), then became a rogue, then became a deputy for Tigerstar (a VERY VERY bad cat and Brambleclaw's father; talk about awkward). He's all white, except for his paws which are jet black. Sounds like a funny-looking cat to me. But from what I hear, he's far from funny. He's kind of a fun-sucker, perfect for leading ShadowClan. Like I said, he sounds like a smart leader, why would he join that stupid rogue Sol?

Lionblaze let out a yawn. "Well, I'm going to rest. I heard something about me going to dawn patrol tomorrow."

"Ouch! Good luck!" I said.

Before he left, he looked at me again. "Oh, and I heard Brambleclaw and Firestar talking about you."

That got my attention. "Really? What were they saying?" Now I was getting butterflies in my stomach.

He let out another yawn and shrugged. "I don't know. I just heard you name and they were nodding at each other."

I swatted my tail playfully at him. "Well shoot, why did you get me all excited?"

The four of laughed. Jayfeather and Hollyleaf yawned. Pretty soon they went off to their nests.

I looked up at the half-moon. It was a little after mid-night. The clan must've had a hard day if they're going to sleep a little earlier than usually. Pretty soon, the only cats in the camp were the two guards, Dustpelt, Firstar, and Brambleclaw.

I padded up to Firestar and Brambleclaw. "Do you guys want me to do anything before I leave?"

Firestar shook his head. He too let out a yawn. "No Violetpaw, that's okay. You did well today. Brambleclaw told me you beat him in battle training today."

"Oh . . ." I looked down shyly to the ground and then to Brambleclaw. "I thought you weren't going to tell him that?"

Brambleclaw laughed. "Sorry, he pestered me into it."

With a sighed I looked at Firestar. "Alright Firestar . . . you caught me. I'm a fighter."

"And a good one too," Brambleclaw put in. "My tail still hurts."

"Yeah, sorry again."

"No reason to be. We can use a good fighter like you."

I blushed. "Oh chucks! You're too modest."

We all laughed again. That's when the two grown toms yawned. I guess it was time to jet.

"I'll get going now. Let you two catch your beauty sleep."

I bowed my head to both of them, and left. Once out the camp, breathing in at nice smell of nature, my spirit was alive. To me it was scary how I hardly slept, and I was so alive! Literally, I did was a one hour nap once a week after school. I know it sounds crazy, but that's all I needed. Every since the Witch put that curse on my, my adrenaline seemed to be pumping twenty-four-seven.

Suddenly, I looked beyond the lake, to where the Witch's wooden shack was. I hadn't seen that woman-thing-since the curse was placed on me. Was she still there, cooking up spells and potions? I just wonder. Maybe one of these days I'll find out. Wait, no! She turned me into a cat for going on there twice; I could only imagine what she'll do on the third visit.

I went up to lake as normal. I sat down on the bank, lapped at the water, and enjoyed the view I had.

SSSSSSSShhhhhhhhh

My senses all went on alert. What the hell was that? It sounded like a whisper. Like someone was saying something.

I looked all around. No one was there. Just me and nature. Maybe it was the wind. Yeah probably.

SSSSSShhhhhhhrrrrrrr

I jumped up at the second one. Okay, that was defiantly not the wind. That was defiantly a voice. No doubt, someone was talking!

Suddenly, the beautiful landscape seemed like a threat to me. The shadows seemed like a cover up for anything to hide in. The think tree branches looked like claws ready to slice me to bits. The beautiful lake looked like a portal into an abyss.

EEEEEErrrraaaa

I spun around. Nothing was there. My fur began to rise in fear. "Okay!" I called. "Birchfall? Hazeltail? Hollyleaf? If this is some kind of joke, I'm going to claw you into pieces!"

No one came from the bushes. No one was there.

My legs trembled. My stomach developed a bad feeling in it. That's when I heard it again.

Gaaaaaannnnnnnnaaaaaa

Oh my God. It sounded to be coming right from behind me. I took a big gulp, and slowly turned. A pair of piercing blue eyes gazed into mine. I screamed and feel backward into a small shrub.

Hawk rushed to help me up. "Violet are you okay?"

I shook him off. "I'm fine, and I told you my name is Violetpaw."

"Whatever," he said.

I bonked him on the back of the head with my tail. "Don't ever do that again!"

He looked at me strangely. "Do what?"

"You know. Do creepy whispers like you were doing before." I lowered my voice in a whisper. "Gaaaaaaannnnnaaaaaa. Like that."

Hawk looked at me for a minute, confused as I've ever seen any cat. "Violet honestly, I have no clue as to what you're talking about."

I took one more look at him. I looked into his eyes. Nothing. There was not a hint that showed that he was lying.

I sat down with a huff. "Well then I'm going crazy, because I know I heard something."

When I looked up to Hawk, I found it creepy to see it was smiling. I scooted over a little. "Okay that's a little creepy."

He lowered himself down to me. "If you think they're real," he whispered into my ear. "Then go find them."

A chilling wind blew. Hm. That's strange. It was blowing north. Most winds here blow east, west, or south. Not north. And not only was it blowing north, it was blowing at an angle. I looked to the direction it was blowing. It was going up north into ThunderClan territory, right along the river between ThunderClan and WindClan.

"But if I follow it, how will I-"

When I turned around he was gone. Hawk simply was gone. He was here a moment ago, and now he was just . . . poof.

Was I on crack? Could this night get any weirder?

Even though he was gone, I took Hawk's advice and followed to where I thought the voices would be. They seemed to have been carried by the wind. So that's the direction I took.

I walked along the bank of the river. My paws struggled to walk up the hills and slopes. As I walked up the hills, I began to hear more whispers. But now it just wasn't just one whisper, it was hundreds of them. Yet still, there was no one around at all.

As I walked farther, the whispers became louder and louder. Finally I stopped. The whispers were coming from a high hill in . . . WindClan.

I paced around. What was I goanna do? I couldn't just walk through WindClan territory like that! Sure I did it when I was leaving, but I had to do that. This I could just shrug away. I could walk away at this moment. But I could just ignore the whispering either.

Finally, making my finally decision, I leaped out the river and raced through the territory up to the hill. Now the more and more whispers could be heard. How could no one else be hearing this? Was I the only one? It could just be me hearing another type of animal. But something in my gut told me it wasn't another animal.

As I reached the hills, I noticed a small structure of stone walls. I walked down to it. There was a small opening it in, so naturally I walked in.

It was like sort of a stone den. Sitting in the middle, was a crystal clear pool of water. The moon and stars reflected on it, casting a wavy blue shine all over.

Suddenly, I felt like a power was overwhelming me. I walked around the pool of water, not talking my eyes off it. Except I did. I looked down to see a paw print engraved in the stone. It was a cat's paw print. There were others, surrounding the whole pool. I thought the clans lived somewhere else before they came here?

A breeze swift through the small cave, and suddenly the water in the pool lit up. It glowed like a wonder, sending a surge of energy through me. The power was strong. Soon I felt myself walking towards it, calling me.

Once I reached it, I leaned over a little to see. The water then turned a bright glowing white. I didn't even flinch. I just leaned more forward. It was fascinating. In my heart, I felt a high power at work here.

Suddenly, I felt myself falling. My face fell into the bright white light. I felt my body plummeting into the brightness. The brightness was surrounding me. It was all bright. Then . . . dark . . .

When I came to, it came to my attention that I was standing in a fog. Wait, wasn't I just by a glowing pool of water a minute ago? Now I was in a thick gray mist. The mist was so gray I could cut it with a knife.

I started to walk around. Nothing was around me, just the gray mist. Was I dead? Strange, I didn't feel dead. Did I drown in the pool? Panic seized me. Oh my God. I was dead! I had to be! What else could explain all this-

The voices. I heard them! Even though I couldn't see a thing through the mist, I could hear the voices. As I walked towards the voices, the mist began to clear away. Next thing I knew, I was standing in a area that was all white, and crowded with creatures. There was big group of cats in front of me; more cats than there were in ThunderClan. Across from them, there were people sitting on clouds. And not just people, animals too, some of them cats as well. But yes other animals too. I saw a lion, tiger, rabbits, owls, there was even a gorilla sitting on a cloud.

What in the name of every god was going on around here? A zoo? A circus? A freak show? Or was I goanna wake up and find out I bumped my head and was dreaming the whole thing?

A big man sitting on a cloud floated over the cats. I quickly blended into groups, casually joining in the back while the man came over.

He was a tan bald man with a thick gray fluffy beard and mustache growing on his hair. He was also wearing the long white robes I've seen Muslims wear.

He sat crossed-legged on his cloud, stroking his beard. He leaned down towards the cats, bending his arm and resting it on his knee.

Then, he spoke to them in a strong, booming voice, sort of like how Zeus sounded in that movie Clash of the Titans.

"Why do you bring us here?" he boomed to the cats. A few cats took a step back (I'm not goanna lie, I was one of them).

When no cat answered, he boomed at them. "What do you want? We Spirits have bigger problems to deal with!"

A blue-gray she-cat stepped out of the crowd. She looked up the man on the cloud. Before she could speak, a woman floated up to the two of them, also on a cloud. The woman was beautiful. A young woman with fair skin and deep blue eyes, with a long strapless gold dress, and a long brown braid hanging down her back.

The man looked at her annoyingly. "Adora, not now!"

She gave him a stern look. "Melkilo, please, can't you have patience? These poor creatures need us, can't you just listen to them?"

Melkilo grumbled something under his breath. Adora (these are strange names) nodded for the cat to talk. "Go ahead Bluestar," she said kindly.

Bluestar? Wait, she was the old leader of ThunderClan. Hold on. If she was here, then that means these cats were . . . Holy crap! I was in StarClan! But if I was, then what was up with all these people and animals on floating clouds?

"Spirits, I address you on behalf of StarClan, ThunderClan, WindClan, RiverClan, and ShadowClan," she said with a slight bow of respect.

The Spirits all mumbled to each other, but Adora hushed them all. She nodded for Bluestar to continue.

"If you will listen to us, I beg you. We need your help! A poison has sprouted in one of the clans, and we're afraid it'll spread to the rest of the clans."

Sol!

Melkilo stroked his beard again. "Interesting. And what do you intend we do? Go down at the strike down the problem. You know we can't do that Bluestar."

"Well do something!" she exclaimed, her fur beginning to bristle.

Adora floated closer to the old she-cat. "Dear Bluestar," she said in a smooth voice. "There is nothing else we spirits can possibly do. We've already sent you the special cats."

"Yes I know! The Three, yes. And we're grateful Adora, truly we are. But, great Spirit, is it truly enough? This rogue isn't the only thing damaging the clans!"

It went silent. The spirits looked at each other with wide eyes. Melkilo got their attention with a look of his eyes. He looked back down at Bluestar. "We are aware of the plans of the Underworld-"

"Then why don't you take action!"

Everyone, including me, looked sideways as someone walking in the bright atmosphere. My jaw dropped as the Witch walked into the area, her bare feet slapping against the white floor. Her super long jet black hair swung side to side as she walked with her shoulder back and head up tall to the two Spirits and Bluestar.

Melkilo looked down at the Witch with amusement. "Ah, Mother Gana. You're late."

Mother Gana? Her name was Mother Gana? Honestly, I never would've guessed that.

Mother Gana put her hands on her hips. "No. Actually I came just in time."

Melkilo raised a gray eyebrow.

"You all were simply bickering before I came here," Mother Gana said. The Spirits laughed in amusement. Even the StarClan cats chuckled a little.

Mother Gana looked down at Bluestar, pity in her eyes. "I'm sorry Bluestar for what has happened to your descendants."

"It's your fault," Melkilo boomed at Gana. The entire area shuddered a little at the boom of his voice.

Mother Gana swished her hand, which sent a gust of with to him. It didn't knock him off, but it did back him a little unbalanced.

"You hush yourself!" she snapped at him.

"But it's true!" he snapped back. "You should've sent that mangled power-hungry human to the Underworld instead of turning him in a cat!"

Everyone began to turn to each other, exchanging glances and words of shock. I didn't listen to what they said. His words floated in my mind. He said power-hungry human and turned into a cat. Was Sol like me? A human transformed into a cat? Impossible!

Mother Gana stared hard at Melkilo. Finally she spoke. "You are a little right. Just a little! Perhaps I should've sent into the Underworld instead of transforming him-"

"And now I hear you've gone and transformed another human!" Melkilo shouted.

Mother Gana held up a finger, telling him to freeze. "Ah. But that was done for a purpose greater than you can imagine. She's not like other humans Melkilo. She's the key." Her eyebrows raised. "Perhaps the only hope."

She began to walk around, he hands behind her back like she was a lawyer at trail. I listened to her. Whatever she was about to say, I knew it would be important.

"Cats and Spirits, our world is being threatened. We as Spirits, have seen evil come in many forms, in many fools. The last time we saw evil at its greatest, we saw it in that fool the humans call Hitler. That was with the humans. Now evil returns, but it has found a way to come within you clan cats with that fool you call Tigerstar."

The StarClan cats hissed at the name.

"He's not alone," Mother Gana continued. "He has his little pets of helpers, wagging their tails behind him. Evil choose him to be its carrier, why I will never now. They're nothing more than fools to me. However Tigerstar is the biggest one of all. His hunger for revenge is the very thing that makes him evil to his own advantage. Spirits, we've done away with evil before, but I don't know if we can handle it now, seeing as to how powerful it's become."

Murmurs spread between the Spirits.

Mother Gana then looked at both the Spirits and the StarClan cats. With a sigh she continued. "StarClan cats, Spirits, both of human and animals form, time is running out for all of us. A war will soon waged. This battle will decide the fate of all Spirits, all living things. We can't do it alone."

Melkilo floated to her. "What do you suggest we do."

Mother Gana looked at him. "Center all of plans around and within the Clans. Rock's already started with one of the special cats we've sent."

I looked into the group of Spirits. Sitting on a cloud, was the haggard, furless cat I saw outside my window that night.

Melkilo nodded to Rock, as Rock nodded back. "The cat I've got is very strong. No doubt he can help us win."

"Very good," Melkilo said. He looked to Mother Gana. "And what of you?"

"Don't worry," she said. "I have the help of some old friends of ours'. It seems those we thought were useless, have turned out extremely helpful. I've too been working with someone. She too is strong. I still need t give her sometimes to get use to things. She'll need all the strength she can get when the time comes."

Melkilo swished his hand in the air. A glowing red ball forming in the of it. He stared at it, lost in a trance. Then he came back.

"There's not much time," he announced. He looked down at the StarClan cats. "We're all going to have to work together if we intend to win the war."

Mother Gana nodded. Then she swished her hand in the air and a glowing red ball also formed in her hand. "Melkilo's right. Time is short."

She paused, staring down at the ball as Melkilo had done. She looked up. "We Spirits have failed, like everyone else does. But we cannot fail on this. If we fail . . ."

The glowing red ball in her hand disappeared. "Then all will be lost."