Alright, I know I haven't updated my stories in a while. I actually wrote the next few chaters already, and I thought I had posted this one already. Sorry... But, now it's up. The next chapter is being proofread and will be up soon, I promis.
Anyways, I had fun writing this one, and I wasn't expecting so many reviews. Thank you to all of you who reviewed.
The Age of Awesomeness- Thanks for the review, I'm glad you're still reading it though you don't like the pairing.
Littlelubylu99- It is, I just messed up there. I should really go back and fix it.
Nameless- That made me laugh. :) I'm glad your liking the story.
Fawnpaw helped Cloudkit carry some bedding to the elder's den, making sure it was dry. Fireheart had told her that Smallear has stiff joints and it might be because Cloudkit is bringing the elders wet moss and Fawnpaw wanted to make sure he was doing it right.
She dropped it outside the elders den and paused for a break. She sat down and looked around camp. Cloudkit purred, happy to take a break too. He layed down across her front paws, talking about a game him and the other kits had played.
She licked his head and he purred louder. But as she washed his messy white fur, he suddenly tenced and pulled away, quickly grabing up some of the moss as he rushed into the elder's den.
Fawnpaw, confused, looked up to see Tigerclaw padding towards her. "Oh, hello Tigerclaw." She meowed, sitting up.
"I'm taking a patrol out to Fourtrees." Tigerclaw told her. "Since the river is flooding, we need to find out if we can make it to the Gathering. Do you want to come?"
"Sure." Fawnpaw stood up. "Who else is coming?"
"Fireheart." Tigerclaw answered. "And I'm going to see if Longtail wants to come too."
Fawnpaw nodded and bounded over to Fireheart and Bluestar as her mentor padded into the warriors den. She wondered why Fireheart was coming. Was he and Graystripe off their punishment for feeding Riverclan?
By now, the whole Clan knew that those two had been helping Riverclan for a few days, and when Bluestar found out she had punished them by giving them apprentice duties and making them sleep in the apprentice den again.
"Tigerclaw chose you?" Fireheart looked surprised as Fawnpaw stopped beside him.
"Yeah." Fawnpaw nodded and watched Tigerclaw return, Longtail at his side.
Her and Fireheart meowed a quick good-bye to Bluestar before racing to catch up with Tigerclaw and Longtail.
Fawnpaw padded beside Fireheart in silence, looking around at the forest. Newleaf had come and the forest was alive with new plants and animals seemed extra busy as it neared sunhigh.
After a while, Tigerclaw let them stop and hunt. Fawnpaw caught a vole, and they quickly moved on. Fawnpaw was surprised that Longtail and Tigerclaw weren't arguing with or insulting Fireheart. Usually they where, but now they kept their comments to themselves.
But as they reached the top of a slope and looked down on the other side, Tigerclaw let out a long low hiss. Longtail yowled in dismay.
Fawnpaw just stared at the river. Usually, it was shallow enough for cats cross easily, hoping from rock to rock to keep their paws dry. But now the water moved swiftly and rose from its normal size.
"Fansy crossing that?" Spat Longtail. "I don't."
Tigerclaw began padding upstream. He followed the edge of the water to the Thunderpath. The land gently sloped upwards and soon Fawnpaw saw small patches of grass and clumps of bracken poking above the water.
"This isn't as deep as when Whitestorm last reported." Tigerclaw meowed. "We'll try to cross here."
Fawnpaw stared down at the fast moving water. She never liked water much, but she knew that if the others went in, she had to too. Anyways, she might get the kittypet sneers that Fireheart does and she didn't want to upset Tigerclaw in any way.
Tigerclaw was already wading into the water, and Fireheart followed him a moment later. Longtail's ears twitched nervously as he splashed beside Fireheart.
Fawnpaw took a deep breath and walked forward into the water and pushing forward strongly. She gasped at the coldness, but continued on. She stayed close to Fireheart as they carefully made their way to the bank, jumping from one clump of grass to the next.
At one point, Fireheart lost balence as a frog wriggled out from under his paws and Fawnpaw rushed forward to help steady him.
Now, in front of them, the water was brown where it had stirred up mud. It was too wide for a cat to leap across and the stepping stones where completely under water.
Fireheart winced at something, Fawnpaw wasn't sure what it was though.
"Come here! Look at this!" Tigerclaw called from farther upstream.
Fawnpaw and Fireheart splashed towards him. Tigerclaw and Longtail where standing at the edge of the stream. A branch was stretched out in front of them, swept into place by the current so that it stretched from bank to bank.
"Just what we need." Tigerclaw grunted in satisfaction. "Fireheart, check that it's safe, will you?"
Fireheart looked doubtfully at the branch. Fawnpaw knew how he felt. The branch was very thin and twigs poked out in all directions, dead leaves still clinging on. Every few moments, the branch would jerk as if it was about to sweap along with the current again.
"Scared, kittypet?" Longtail taunted him.
Fawnpaw wanted to leap to he brother's defence, but stayed silent. Of course he was scared! Look at that thing, it wasn't fit to use to cross. But she didn't say anything, worried that they would make her go across instead or that Tigerclaw would get mad at her.
Gritting his teeth determinedly, Fireheart stepped onto the branch. It immediately sagged under his paws, and he dug his claws in.
Fawnpaw, worried for her brother, stepped forward so she could see better.
Fireheart began moving forward cautiously, putting his paws down carefully. The branch bounced under his weight and twigs caught in his fur. As he neared the middle of the stream, the branch became barely as thick as his tail.
Fawnpaw, with increasing worry, looked at Tigerclaw. "Tigerclaw! Let him get off! That branch could break any moment. Please!"
Tigerclaw clawed the wet ground with his paws, glancing over at the ginger warrior, before finally calling, "Alright, Fireheart! You can come back."
Fireheart turned the best he could qnd carefully made his way back to land. He was almost there when suddenly the branch lurched. He gripped it tighter, and Tigerclaw yowled, "Fireheart! Jump!"
For a heartbreat, Fireheart swayed. Then the branch lurched again and Fireheart leapt. The branch was washed away, and Fireheart flew towards them. He fell short though, and clawed at the muddy ground for a hold while his backlegs where being pulled by the fast moving water.
For a moment, he lost hold and his head went under. But a moment later, he surfaced again, fighting his way toward the shore.
"Fireheart!" Fawnpaw yowled as she let out the air she didn't know she had been holding. "Help him!" She turned to Tigerclaw, who was just staring at him. "That's Fireheart! We have to do something!"
Tigerclaw hesitated, but Fawnpaw and Longtail had both already ran forward. Fawnpaw watched Longtail grab Fireheart's scruff to pull him out of the water. Tigerclaw stepped forward now to help.
With Tigerclaw's help, Fireheart managed to fully climb out. Fawnpaw led him away from the water. Fireheart shivered, and water streamed from his ginger fur. He couched upsome water of water before looking up, "Thanks," He managed to get out, looking unsire of who to thank.
"It was nothing." Longtail said, his face expressionless.
Tigerclaw came to stand next to Fawnpaw. Even though she was angry at him for making Fireheart try to cross the branch, and then hesitating to save him, Fawnpaw was shaky with relief and was glad to have someone to lean on.
"Are you hurt?" The deputy demanded to her brother. "Can you walk?"
Shakily Fireheart stood. He shook himself, sending droplets flying everywhere. "I-I'm fine, Tigerclaw." He stammered.
Tigerclaw stepped back to avoid the water. "Watch it; we're all wet enough already." He padded up to Fireheart and sniffed at him. "Back to camp for you." He told Fireheart. "In fact, we'll all go back. No cat can get across that water; you've proved that, if nothing else."
Fireheart nodded and Tigerclaw lead them into the forest. Fawnpaw left Tigerclaw and rushed to her brother's side and let him lean on her. She took some of his weight, ignoring how wet and cold he was.
She looked back at Tigerclaw to see the tabby glaring at Fireheart. But when he met Fawnpaw's eyes he quickly turned away.
Finally, they reached the camp. By now Fireheart's fur was dry, but he was so tired that he could barely put one paw in front of another, even with Fawnpaw's help.
Sandstorm, who was laying outside the warriors den, sprang up as soon as she saw them. "Fireheart!" She exclaimed. "You look awful! What happened?"
"Not much." Fireheart began quietly. "I was-"
"Fireheart went for a swim, that's all." Tigerclaw interrupted. "Come on. We need to report to Bluestar." He padded towards Highrock, Longtail at his heels. Fireheart staggered after them, Fawnpaw and Sandstorm helping him on both sides.
"Well?" Bluestar asked when the cats stood in front of her. "Did you find somehwere to cross?"
Tigerclaw shook his head. "It's impossible. The water's too high."
"But every Clan should attend the Gathering." Bluestar pointed out. "Starclan will be angry if we don't try to find a dry route. Tigerclaw, tell me exactly where you went."
Tigerclaw explained, including Fireheart trying to cross the branch. "It was brave but foolish." He growled. "I thought he'd paied with his life."
Sandstorm looked impressed, but Fawnpaw was holding back a hiss of anger. He knew that he had forced Fireheart onto the branch!
"Be more careful in the future, Fireheart." Bluestar warned. "You'd better see Yellowfang in case you've caught a chill."
"I'm fine." Fireheart meowed. "I just need to sleep, that's all."
Bluestar narrowed her eyes. "That was an order, Fireheart."
Trying not to yawn, Fireheart bowed his head respectfully. "Yes, Bluestar."
"Come to the den when you've finished." Meowed Sandstorm, giving him a lick. "I'll fetch you some fresh-kill."
Fireheart mewed his thanks and Fawnpaw helped him to the medicine cat den. She left him there, deciding that Yellowfang and Cinderpaw wouldn't be happy with another cat in their den while they worked.
She padded to the side of camp and sat down to wash her fur. But as she washed, she saw Tigerclaw staring at her from the warrior's den. She narrowed her eyes at him as he began to walk towards her. But before he could get close, she got up and entered the nursery.
And the story begins to change! Please review.