Chapter 8

Snowpaw looked at Rainwhisker in puzzlement.

"You're happy for me?"she asked him.

"Yes. Yes I am very happy for you."he replied, his eyes glowing with an unknown brightness. Snowpaw thought hard. Something about his tone of voice didn't sound quite right. Is Rainwhisker planning on telling everyone? she thought with worry. But Snowpaw quickly pushed the thought out of her head.

Snowpaw continued her good hunting streak, and brought home a fairly plump rabbit and a small, scrawny mouse. She dropped them on the pile of other prey. Her sister, Emberpaw, looked like she needed food.

"Hey Emberpaw!"Snowpaw called to her."Wanna share a rabbit with me?"Emberpaw troted over.

"Sure! I haven't eaten all day!"she meowed in reply. The sisters started eating. Snowpaw eyed Heatherkit and Ravenkit playing a game, and she started to purr. One day, that will be me and...Hawkpaw. We will have kits together. Snowpaw quickly finished her portion of rabbit and went to bed early.

Pale white moonlight shone through the bare branches of the tree above Snowpaw's head. She huffed out of her nest and padded over to the camp entrance, where Twigstep and Hollowwing were standing guard.

"I am going hunting at night. Whitepaw told me that there's more prey at night."Snowpaw told them as she walked past.

"But it's Moonhigh,"Twigstep mumbled."You could just hunt later."

"Yeah,"Hollowwing agreed."You know of the dangers at night?"

Snowpaw shook her head."No,"

"Well, there's wolves, owls, moutian lions, bears, but we don't have to worry 'bout those until newleaf."Hollowwing meowed softly, as to not disturb anyone. A shiver had gone down Snowpaw's back when she heard of wolves. That was how her mother died.

"Well, I'm willing to take that risk."and then Snowpaw darted out of camp. Dead brown leaves crackled underpaw as Snowpaw headed toward the Waterclan border. Somehow, some way, Hawkpaw and I will become mates. Snowpaw thought as she neared the border. The enlarged stream was frozen because of the recent snow and ice. A holly bush, just tail lenghts from the frozen stream quivered. A hushed voice hissed her name,"Snowpaw!"

"Coming Hawkpaw!"Snowpaw meowed quietly as she ducked into the bush.

"Hey! I'm so glad you could come! I was just beginning to think you wouldn't ever be here!"Hawkpaw said enthusiasticly.

"Well, I am tired. But I came here for you."Snowpaw gazed into Hawkpaw's handsome blue gaze. She sat there, trying to think of something to say, when Hawkpaw spoke.

"Aw, that's very sweet of you. I want to get to know more about you. Tell me, who's your siblings and all that?"he asked.

"Okay, uh, my mom is Foreststar, and my dad is Stormheart."Hawkpaw's eyes widened at the mention of Foreststar.

"Your mom is Foreststar?"

"Yes. Anyway, my brothers are Thunderpaw, Whitepaw, who is my favorite, and Bronzepaw. My two sisters are Briarpaw and Emberpaw."Hawkpaw gazed toward the moon.

"I know about Briarpaw. Flamepaw has a crush on her."

"WHAT?"Snowpaw gawked."He's WAY older than her!"

"That's what I said! But Flamepaw is all like,'She's so pretty, and funny', and he went on and on and on and ON!"

"Yeah. Well, enough about my life! Let's hear about yours."Snowpaw layed down, her paws tucked neatly under her chest. Hawkpaw coiped her.

"When I was born, I was born with my sister, Fire, and my brother, Jay. My father was Falcon, and my mother was Tundra. I was born a rouge, as both my parents were. My father was killed by a Colorshine(car), and my mother was left alone to raise us three, which was really hard, as we were only a moon old. Mother had to go hunting, and then my sister, Fire, disappeared and never returned. I miss her, and wonder if she's even still alive. Jay and I, were scared. Mother always hated me, because I look like father, who hated my mother. They liked eachother, and then when us kits were born, he cheated on mother and only came around to see us. Father always said it wasn't fair to hate someone innocent like me. Mother had told Jay, who told me, she would've killed father if he haden't already been killed. Now, at three moons old, mother told Jay, when she returned from hunting, she would kill me, and never worry have to worry about seeing father in me again. So after Jay told me that, we ran and ran and ran, until, trembling, came onto Waterclan territory. At first, we were scowled at and nobody thought about bringing in a couple of hurt kits. And then they did, and yeah. Tundra's still alive, too. I ran into her just the other day. She has more kits, and is rasing them to help kill me. You had an easy life; mother and father loving eachother, and you were the leaders kit! I can only imagine what that'd be like!"Snowpaw's eyes glittered in sadness. What a horrible family!

"So, your sister, Fire, is still missing? And, do you ever wish that someone would love you as a kit?"

"Yeah, I never saw her again after she left, and I hope now that no kit EVER has a life like mine."Hawkpaw gazed at the ground. His pretty blue gaze was filled with saddness. Snowpaw got up.

"It's getting late. I think I shall go home now."she mewed before getting up, and ducking out of the bush. Hawkpaw came up beside her. His soft pelt brushed against hers.

"Meet you here again soon! Bye!"he called over his shoulder, and carefully padded back over the frozen stream.

Snowpaw nodded and purred, and left. She quickly hunted a mouse, and brought it home. Twigstep nor Hollowwing questioned her. She plopped down, and started to dream. In her dreams, Hawkpaw was crossing the ice on the border, when a large cracking noise spilt the silent forest.

"Help!"he called. Snowpaw tried to help him, but her paws were glued to the spot. She watched in horrer as he fell, into the ice-cold water, and then he never surfaced again.

Snowpaw woke with a start. She sat in her nest, looking around. Phew! It was just a dream! she thought as she got up. Blazeheart dashed over to her.

"Snowpaw! Grab Heatherkit and Ravenkit! We're leaving camp! NOW!"the deputy commanded.

"Why?"Snowpaw couldn't leave Hawkpaw!

"I'll explain later! JUST GO!"he growled.

"Fine!"Snowpaw quickly gathered the kits and dashed away. What's going on?

HUH? WHAT A TWIST! I KNOW, RIGHT?! Now all the REAL action happens! WOO!

Special thanks to:

Jaysong- you've helped me get thus far! You inspired me to keep writing! YOU ARE SUCH A GOD-SNED!

Cinderfern-your story is freakin' AWESOME! You're kind, gracious, and help me along with great suggestions!

THANKS TO EVERYONE ELSE WHO KEEPS A READIN! I'LL UPDATE IN ABOUT A WEEK!

Also, who should be Snowpaw's mate?

Hawkpaw

Tigerkit

ANSWER IN YOUR REVEIW! PS TIGERKIT IS BEIN' BORN SOONz!