A/U: Ugh, I went through this chapter and realized that it was horribly written. But I don't have time to edit, my sister is coming home for spring break and I won't have computer access for a week. So that means I am also posting the epilogue as well. Than I am taking a short break. Thanks WildCroconaw, SonofTheSea100896 and PieInYaFace for reviewing!

To WildCroconaw: I actually had Copperpaw's name picked out. But it won't be mentioned until the next book. Sorry, I may use the suggestions in another story I am planning though.

Chapter 24

Stormstrike shivered as cold winds pierced his thick pelt. The sky had turned pale, signaling a storm that was rapidly approaching. He watched with keen interest as his newly found friend, Mossypool. After receiving his warrior name, the two had become closer than ever. On top of their new-found friendship, a queen had moved into the nursery. Troutfur was now expecting Mallownose's kits.

The Clan was in desperate need of kits. There weren't any other apprentices. Stormstrike, Nightfire, and Mistwing had been chosen to take on apprentice duties because of the need for their skills. Nightfire was furious that she had been chosen for cleaning out the elders' den. Stormstrike knew that his sister was hoping to take on the responsibilities of a mentor soon. She was aiming to become Mistystar's deputy.

He shook his head as a fresh blanket of snow began to fall. The lake around camp was beginning to freeze over due to the leafbare winds. Luckily RiverClan cats had a wider range of prey than WindClan. Stormstrike was skilled at hunting water voles and shrews. Sometimes he would find them hiding in their nests, and startle them with a spark of electricity. This had made him a valuable partner in hunting patrols.

"If this keeps up we'll never become full warriors," Nightfire grumbled as she carried a wad of moss out of the elders' den. Her black and gray tabby fur stuck out against the pure white snow. Stormstrike would have felt amused by her reaction had he not been annoyed by her arrogance. "I'm tired of cleaning out their nests," she added with a lash of her tail after dropping off the moss in a pile.

"Maybe Mistystar will give you one of Troutfur's kits to train," Stormstrike meowed as he tossed the moss into the stream beside them.

Her only reply was a snort. Mistwing emerged from the den with gleaming eyes. "We're done!" she announced happily.

"Thank StarClan," Nightfire sighed. "Lets go grab some fresh-kill."

Mistwing nodded and followed her sister towards the clearing. Stormstrike watched as they left, feeling remorse course through him. His silver tabby sister was nothing more than a follower to Nightfire. Mistwing needed to learn how to take care of herself. Nightfire was taking advantage of her sister.

I don't know how she can stand being around her, he thought with a shake of his head once more. The dark gray warrior left the elders' den before he could hear them complain about the cold. That was all Graymist and Mintfur seemed to do. Stormstrike wouldn't have minded, except he listened to everyone complain every day. Even his own mother would complain about the lack of fresh-kill on the pile.

Sooner or later leafbare would end. With the end of leafbare would come melting snow. The rivers would overflow with water, according to Mistystar. When this happened sometimes the Clan would have to move.

Stormstrike had yet to see his first snow melt, and he would quite glad that he hadn't. It seemed dangerous to live near the water during newleaf. Kits sometimes drowned if the water got too close to the nursery. He shivered at the idea of drowning to death. It sounded horrible, and he couldn't imagine a more dreadful way to go.

"You shouldn't be thinking about that." Stormstrike nearly leaped out of his pelt when he heard Mistystar's soft voice.

He turned around to face his former mentor with wide eyes. "I...I," he stammered.

"It's okay," she murmured. "Every cat fears death. I was afraid to die after watching my own brother suffer under the claws of Tigerstar." She closed her eyes at the bitter memory. The images of that day still haunted her dreams. "But I know now that when we die, we go to StarClan. One day I will see him again, as well as my father."

Stormstrike tilted his head at the mention of her father. He had heard stories of the brave Oakheart. The former RiverClan deputy had died during a battle against Sunningrocks, a legendary place where battles were constantly waged between RiverClan and ThunderClan. According to legends Tigerstar had claimed that Oakheart killed Redtail during battle. Yet Oakheart himself had been killed as well during the same fight.

Only Firestar had been able to prove that Oakheart had died when a boulder collapsed during the fight. Redtail had been murdered by Tigerstar, and the treacherous cat had used Oakheart's fight as a tool to gain trust with Bluestar.

The story was a popular one, and the elders continuously reminded the apprentices of it.

"You would make a fine leader someday," Mistystar whispered after a few moments of silence.

Her comment made Stormstrike blink in surprise. He never knew how much faith Mistystar had in him. The thought made him wonder if he was really cut out for leadership. After all, he was a Marked cat. This meant he had a huge advantage over any other warrior. He could easily destroy any opponent with a jolt of electricity.

When Mistystar turned to speak with Pebblefoot, Stormstrike used this as an opportunity to slip away. He wanted to speak with Flowerpaw. Or whatever her new name was. By now she should have earned her full name. It had been nearly a moon since he last met with Flowerpaw and Copperpaw.

The leaves on the trees had begun to fall. Stormstrike narrowed his eyes as the ferns underpaw tickled his pads. They were frozen from the frost that had taken over the forest and lake. Now with the snow that covered them, the feeling was even more strange.

His ears swiveled forward when he caught a familiar scent in the air. Stormstrike came to a halt near an oak tree with all of its leaves missing. They were the first leaves to drop during the beginning of leaffall.

A tortoiseshell pelt moved within the snowbanks. Amber eyes looked up in surprise when the cat noticed Stormstrike's presence.

"Stormpaw?" she called hesitantly.

"It's me," he replied in a low whisper. He wasn't sure if she had any others with her. The RiverClan warrior didn't want to hurt her Clanmates anymore than she didn't want to hurt him. "Although I go by the name of Stormstrike now," he added with a lift of his chin.

Her eyes widened when he looked at her. "That's great!" she purred. "I've earned my full medicine cat name as well," she murmured. "I go by the name of Flowertail."

The name suits her, he thought as she swiped her dappled tail across the snow. "I'm glad we could both earn our names," he mewed after settling down. "Have you heard from Copperpaw lately?" he asked.

Flowertail looked down at her paws at the mention of Copperpaw. When Stormstrike tilted his head in confusion, she looked up with blazing amber eyes.

"She trespassed on our territory under Bramblestar's orders," she growled furiously. "I haven't forgiven her for destroying part of our catmint."

"Why would she do that?" he asked. Copperpaw had seemed like a fairly decent apprentice. There was just something about Flowertail's story that bothered him.

"I don't know," she replied. "But there's something more troubling than her to worry about," she added more quietly. "I've received a prophecy...and it involves us."

Stormstrike's eyes grew even wider as she described the dream she had when she went to the Moonpool. According to her vision the bodies of her Clanmates had littered the forest. The Marked cats were the ones who had caused their deaths.

"What Flametail told me seems to be true," she murmured. "Yesterday Ferretleap was killed by a badger. Luckily a patrol was able to scare it away but...I can't help but wonder if that badger was Copperpaw."

I doubt it, Stormstrike told himself. He refused to believe that Copperpaw would do such a terrible thing. She was just too gentle and caring to commit a crime like that. Yet somewhere deep inside the Marked warrior felt suspicions rise within him. Something told him that Copperpaw could commit a crime like the one Flowertail had described.

"How is your Clan coping with leafbare?" he asked, trying to change the subject.

"We're doing fine," she replied. "Dawnpelt gave birth to Owlclaw's kits not too long ago. They're all a bit over excited, but they'll settle down soon."

Stormstrike purred at the thought of kits. ShadowClan seemed to be fairing well after all. There really was no need to worry about any of the Clans. WindClan could take care of itself if they needed to. They could easily hunt squirrels in the forest that Firestar had given them.

There was something that still bothered him though. It was a something that had bothered him since he first met Flowertail. He wanted to know why the Marked were placed within the Clans. And he wanted to know what would happen in the future. How the Marked would effect the future of the Clans, and the rest of the world around them.

A/U: Once again I am sorry for the horrible writing of this chapter. It was written in a hurry which would explain why it ended so abruptly. I'll try to edit it the following week when I'm sick of playing the new Pokemon game. By the way, who is getting Pokemon White?