A/U: I figured I better get this chapter done before I leave for the weekend. I'm going up to the lake for two days, so...yeah. Anyways, I finally got three reviews! To me this is a new record, which is kind of sad when you think about it. Anyways, thanks WildCroconaw, PieInYaFace, and TheVampLuvr1 for reviewing!

Chapter 12

Every muscle in Stormpaw's body told him that this was wrong. That he shouldn't have gone behind Mistystar's back. Yet somewhere deep inside a voice told him it would be okay. One day he would be more powerful than StarClan and the Three combined.

After contemplating on what Flowerpaw had told him, Stormpaw decided to meet her and the other apprentices. He could feel the electricity surging through his body right now. For a moment Stormpaw wondered if this was how the Three had felt when they discovered what they could do. Or if Flowerpaw had any great powers like him. The thought made his fur crawl in anticipation.

None of the cats in RiverClan understood him, or his powers. After Nightpaw had discovered what he could do, she refused to speak with him. Only Streampaw was willing to share tongues with him, and that was when Nightpaw wasn't around. Despite the pang of loss over his sisters, Stormpaw felt it was necessary. What if he accidentally lost control of his powers? He could hurt them...Not that he would mind hurting Nightpaw. Someone needed to teach her some manners.

Soon the moon began to emerge from the clouds that had hidden it. Stormpaw looked up to see its silvery light reflected across the lake. He almost wished that he could swim rather than control lightning. Who knew what could be at the bottom of the lake. Something told him that it was important. It could hold a link to the cats that once lived around here.

He sighed and stretched out his back. Flowerpaw had mentioned meeting somewhere they could all go. The borders wouldn't be good; patrols were constantly checking them to make sure cats hadn't crossed. His only other option was the island in the middle of the lake. It made sense that Flowerpaw would choose the island. The island was safe, and no cat would suspect a couple of apprentices hanging around the clearing.

Stormpaw blinked in surprise when he heard the chirping of a kestrel. He spotted it hopping about on the branch of an aspen tree. It stopped hopping when it noticed his presence.

What sort of a stupid bird is this? he asked silently. It let out a shriek and began to flap its wings furiously. It took Stormpaw a few heartbeats to realize that it was flying towards him. He gasped in shock when its talons scored across his muzzle, drawling blood. The dark gray apprentice tried to dodge the bird's talons as it continued jabbing at his muzzle. He was stopped dead in his tracks, feeling stupefied as it suddenly stopped moving. What happened next nearly took his breath away.

The bird's feathers suddenly began to quiver. Dark ginger fur replaced light brown feathers, and the muzzle of a cat replaced its beak. Stormpaw couldn't help but stare in utter disbelief as it changed into a cat right before his eyes. And it was a she-cat for that matter.

Her bright green eyes were gleaming with fury as she glared at him. Than they softened when she gazed at his right ear. It was when she calmed down that Stormpaw could see the strange mark on her tailbone. It appeared to be in the shape of a paw print. Just like my lightning mark, he thought with a flick of his ear.

"You're...Stormpaw, right?" she asked after her fur flattened. Her gaze was still guarded as Stormpaw studied her. She had the stench of ThunderClan.

So this is what a ThunderClan cat looks like, he thought. Mistystar had told him that they weren't too annoying. She just didn't like the way they stuck their noses into everything. Always trying to help others when they couldn't take care of themselves.

"How do you know my name?" he muttered.

"Flowerpaw told me all about you," she replied. "The meeting is on the island," she added impatiently.

Still feeling mystified by this ThunderClan apprentice's presence, Stormpaw followed. His ears were still flattened. A patrol could easily catch them out here. If that happened than everything would be ruined. Stormpaw shivered at the thought of running into a moonhigh patrol. How would he explain why he was trespassing on their territory?

The trees began to part, giving way to the open moor. Out here he could see the moon gleaming faintly behind wisps of clouds. It was starting to grow into its full circle. Soon the full moon would come, and a Gathering would begin. Down below the island could be seen. Trees grew around the island, but the biggest of all was an ancient oak tree that stood out amongst the smaller trees.

Stormpaw felt awed by the sight. He was the first of his siblings to see reach the island. Nightpaw would never let him hear the end of it if she found out.

The dark ginger apprentice quickly moved forward. Stormpaw was surprised at how agile she was. She wasn't muscular like a ThunderClan cat. Her body was built for grace rather than stamina. He blinked when they reached the treebridge. The treebridge was what Petalfur had told him and his siblings about. In order to get to the island, a cat would have to cross it. But he could easily swim to the shoreline.

He didn't waste time plunging into the water. A purr of satisfaction rose within his throat when he caught the surprised look of his companion. Her green eyes narrowed slightly as she trotted across the bridge. She jumped off of the treebridge by the time he reached the other side.

"Copperpaw! Stormpaw!" Flowerpaw's excited mew broke the stony silence that passed between them.

Copperpaw bounded forward to meet the tortoiseshell apprentice. "I've been looking forward to this meeting," she purred.

Flowerpaw flattened her ears, suddenly looking crestfallen. "Rockpaw refused to come," she murmured. "He doesn't want anything to do with us."

The two continued chattering as Stormpaw shook the water off his fur. So WindClan also had a Marked cat. Rockpaw must have had a head full of bees if he thought he could stay away from them. It had taken a lot of encouraging for Stormpaw himself to come. In a way he knew how the WindClan apprentice felt.

"So now that we're all here, what are we supposed to do?" Stormpaw asked.

"I'm not exactly sure," Flowerpaw admitted sheepishly. "StarClan came to me the night before, and said to come here," she explained. "But that's all they said."

"Maybe they want us to help the Clans," Copperpaw suggested. "After all we have the power to."

Stormpaw was about to tell her that the idea was ridiculous when Flowerpaw shook her head.

"No...This prophecy, whatever it is, came from somewhere beyond StarClan," she mewed. "If they want us to do something with our powers, than they will tell us."

The RiverClan apprentice was surprised at how much wisdom Flowerpaw already had. He glanced at her and remembered the day they had fought. Guilt stabbed at his belly as he pictured himself attacking her with bolts of lightning.

"So coming here was a waste of time?" he snorted.

Flowerpaw turned to face him. A look of surprise flashed within her amber eyes. "Coming here wasn't pointless," she hissed. "We have to know each other, so that we don't attack one another. Rockpaw should have sensed this..."

Curiosity gnawed at Stormpaw as she mentioned the WindClan apprentice's name. He wondered what Rockpaw was like. Was the apprentice stubborn and hotheaded like most WindClan cats? Most likely, he sniffed.

"We should meet again," Flowerpaw meowed. "After the Gathering."

Stormpaw followed her gaze. Sure enough, the moon was already setting. Soon the sun would rise, and Mistystar would wonder where he had gone. One thing he knew full well was, that the Marked had a bigger destiny than he imagined. If they came from somewhere beyond StarClan...His claws unsheathed at the idea. Suddenly it felt as though discovering where they had come from felt more important than ever.

Sooner or later he would discover who their ancestors were. And what they were really born for.

A/U: I'm beginning to like Stormpaw more and more...He reminds me of Toklo from the Seekers series. Anyways, I'm thinking there will probably be about twenty chapters in this first book. I have decided that there will be a series about this. Thought it would be fun to write about them :D Please remember to leave a review, as they are appreciated.