Chapter Three: Half Clan?

Starpaw woke early, before even the first rays of sunlight. She gave herself a quick wash, and then woke Moonpaw, whose mentor Goldendawn wanted to start training at dawn as well. She noticed with satisfaction that Stonepaw as still snoring like an elder. Serves him right if he's late for training! She snorted at the image of Stonepaw being told off by his mentor Coalfoot.

"Why are you making that noise? Do you have a cough?" asked Moonpaw, looking worried.

"Of course not! You don't have to be so overprotective!" exclaimed Starpaw.

"Well, okay…" said Moonpaw, startled by his sister's intense reaction. "I just wanted to make sure."

"Oh, I'm sorry. I shouldn't have snapped at you, Moonpaw. I'm just a little tense."

"Well, if that's all," said Moonpaw, looking relieved.

Starpaw paced, stretched, and paced some more. The sun's rays had crept across the sky, touching it with their golden-orange fingertips. Stormwave and Goldendawn had already come to collect Sunpaw and Moonpaw, and Stripepaw, Stonepaw and Swiftpaw were still sleeping. They didn't have to begin training until mid-morning. The other apprentice she didn't know was just stretching in his nest.

He came to the den entrance to greet her. "Hi!" he mewed brightly. "You must be the new apprentice. I'm Alderpaw."

Starpaw sucked in a sharp breath. He was talking to her! The tom that she had watched shyly as a kit. His almost full-black coat shone in the morning sun. One of his front forepaws and most of his face was bright white. Starpaw felt like she would melt under his brilliant emerald gaze.

"Uh, H-hi. I'm Starpaw," she stammered. "It's nice to look at- I mean, meet you." She felt her pelt go hot. Starpaw felt strangely stupefied but happy. She started to list to one side but caught herself. What was this strange feeling?

"Alderpaw, it's time to train," called one of the warriors, interrupting Starpaw's staring.

"Coming Fishclaw!" Alderpaw shouted back. "Well, see you later then," he mewed cheerfully to Starpaw, and bounded off.

"Bye," she murmured softly. Starpaw felt delirious. He had said "see you later" to her! How could she feel so happy with this tom she had just met? It felt silly, but she was sucked into his cheerful attitude and confidence. Did she simply have a crush on Alderpaw, or something more?

Either way, she was happy to be with him.

Finally, Starpaw decided to look for Owlclaw since he was late and Stonepaw was stirring in his nest.

She peeked into the half-empty warriors' den, but Owlclaw wasn't there. Hmm, thought Starpaw, I wonder where Owlclaw could be? It was strange that she hadn't seen him on the way to the warriors' den. As she rounded the corner around the warriors' den, she thought she saw Owlclaw's brown fur deeper in the forest. She decided to investigate and walked into the little bit of forest in RiverClan's territory. There she heard angry words hissed through clenched teeth.

"She's half-Clan, her and her brother. She will turn against you and destroy this Clan."

"You're insane. Stop accusing my apprentice and her family of things they haven't done," argued Owlclaw.

"That traitor Stormwave should never have been deputy after what he did. It should have been me," snarled a voice Starpaw didn't recognize. "He ran away with a ThunderClan she-cat!"

"Yes, but it is not your decision who is deputy. That is Poolstar's decision, and to defy that is to defy your leader. Stormwave paid for his disloyal behavior when his mate died. He was devastated."

"But he should have paid the price with his own life, his and his kits'," insisted the stranger. "The traitor must die!"

"Traitor yourself,' retaliated Owlclaw. "I don't want to listen to your insane threats."

"Then you will die too!"

Just then, Poolstar's patrol came towards the two arguing cats. They gave no sign that they had heard what was spoken. But Starpaw had.

"Why hello Owlclaw, Duskfeather," Poolstar meowed.

Duskfeather! That was the name of the strange cat! She had only seen him once or twice around camp.

"Greetings, Poolstar," said Duskfeather, who let out a strange, chilling laugh, "fancy meeting you here."

"Well, I'm late, my apprentice must be wondering where I am," said Owlclaw with an affected smile. "I spent too long talking to Duskfeather here, and I'm afraid I lost track of the time."

"Then I shall see you later," replied Poolstar, to which Duskfeather added, "Yes, goodbye, dear Owlclaw!"

Owlclaw was coming nearer, but Starpaw was numb. The words from the whispered conversation echoed through her mind. Half-Clan…Destroy the clan… traitor…Stormwave should have never been deputy… ran away with a ThunderClan she-cat…paid for his disloyal behavior when his mate died … the traitor must die…"

ThunderClan she cat. Her father's mate.

…paid for his disloyal behavior when his mate died …

Traitor. Her father was a traitor.

Half-Clan. ThunderClan.

Half ThunderClan!

…should have paid the price with his life, and his kits'…

Starpaw was in shock, reeling with the revelation that she was half ThunderClan. Owlclaw approached her but she saw nothing, heard nothing.

Owlclaw knew right away what his apprentice had overheard. He knew that she had not been told before.

Starpaw was brought up a perfect little RiverClan kit. She learned to swim and attempted to fish, always played RiverClan in ThunderClan and RiverClan.

She was told that her mother was RiverClan too, and died in a tragic sickness when she and Moonpaw were born.

Only now did she understand the truth. Only now did she know that she had been lied to. Stormwave, Maplefeather. They had lied. Did Moonpaw know too? Was he withholding that all this time? Did all of her Clanmates know?

Why did she have to be different?

All because of her father and mother. But she, Starpaw, was RiverClan, born and raised!

Owlclaw shook her gently. "Starpaw."

Starpaw shook her head, trying to clear her confusion. It was soon replaced with anger and hurt. "Why didn't you tell me? Why didn't anyone tell me?"

"I'm sorry you had to find out this way."

A/N: Well, it looks like we're finally seeing a plot here! Sorry about the earlier chapters that were too slow, but now these seem rushed. :/ Well, please give your feedback, it is greatly accepted!