Yay another chapter! :D
I really am proud of this story, even though I don't have as many reviews on it as Four of Four. I guess it's because I made all of the cats by myself without any help, don't really know. Anyhow I enjoyed writing this and I really hope you guys enjoy reading it.
Chow`

The Borders

Willowfur licked the top of Viperkit's head furiously, refusing to relent even though Viperkit was letting out small mewls of protest all along the way. It had been eight sunrises since he and Adderkit had made their promise, and in those few days Yellowkit, Greenkit, and Redkit had became apprentice's.

Greenkit was now, Greenpaw, and his mentor was Leaf-flurry, a brown she-cat with white swirls and a fiery temper. Viperkit had over-heard Willowfur mewing to Dawnfeet that she would make a good mentor for him, and hopefully help him come out of his timid shell.

Redkit was now Redpaw, and Banditstar had given him a small tom cat with orange patches as a mentor, and he was Saltpelt. Dawnfeet had sent a silent prayer to StarClan that Saltpelt's easy-going and cheerful nature would help quell his aggressive temper. So far Dawnfeet had no such luck.

Then, the creamy dappled Yellowkit was now named Yellowpaw. Yellowpaw had looked scared and a little lost during her apprentice ceremony, that is until she met her mentor, Twigsnap. The usually cold dark brown tabby tom had greeted her warmly, and didn't even snap at her when she accidentally stumbled on his black tipped tail.

Now his mother was grooming him fiercer than a TigerClan warrior for his apprentice naming ceremony. Excitement made his tail quiver and his fur fluff up, even with Willowfur's grooming. Cats were swerving through camp, and a few sitting outside their dens, waiting for Banditstar to announce the ceremony. Not far away was Adderkit, standing stiff legged and furious, complaining to Hightail that he should be able to become an apprentice too.

His sister Ravenkit merely squeaked excitedly and gave Viperkit a loud mew of encouragement. Her brother whipped his head around and scowled, before leaping and pinning her to the ground. Both kits tussled playfully on the moist ground before Hightail made them part.

Banditstar's large, sleek gray pelt stood out as he leaped agilely onto the Low Stump. His tail was ringed with black, and his legs were black from the ankle up. His face was partially black and could even be compared to a mask. His eyes glowed yellow as he gazed at his clan proudly.

"Let all cats old enough to catch their own prey gather beneath the Low Stump for a clan meeting!"

The MistClan cats however, were already gathered around expectantly. Banditstar gave Viperkit a small flick of his tail, and on wobbly legs he approached his leader. Banditstar nodded his encouragement and looked back out into the sea of MistClan warriors.

"From this moment you will be known as Viperpaw!" Banditstar shot the crowd of cats another proud look."Batflight you have proven yourself strong and independent, pass on what you know to this apprentice."

Batflight, a dark brown, almost black she-cat with pale blue eyes came up to greet him. A purr rumbled softly in her throat as she touched noses with him."Just because you're my first apprentice don't expect me to go easy on you."

Viperkit-no Viperpaw ruffled his white and gray patched pelt."I'm ready for anything you throw at me."

-xxxxxx-

Viperpaw was running behind Batflight and Mercystrike, a dark maroon she-cat with green eyes. Beside him was Rosepaw, a black she-cat with pale amber eyes. She was Mercystrike's apprentice.

Viperpaw could hardly believe it. He was an apprentice! He could have yowled to the stars in his swampy home with his excitement. The MistClan hunting grounds were dark and muggy, and thorns and mud puddles lay scattered across his path. Already they had been only a few moments out of camp and all four of their paws were stained with mud.

Viperpaw watched as Batflight leaped and Mercystrike and Rosepaw followed but found himself stumbling back. Ahead of him was a fallen, and most likely rotten log. However the young apprentice was determined and backed a few paw steps back. He wriggled his haunches and jumped. For a brief second Viperpaw was soaring. Then his paws caught on the log and he plummeted, face first into a mud puddle.

He spat out a mouthful of nasty mud."Yuck!"

Batflight was twitching her whiskers and Rosepaw snickered. Mercystrike gave him a soothing look,"Don't worry, it happens to every cat. Besides, what kind of MistClan cat are you if you are afraid to get your paws dirty?"

Viperpaw wasn't sure if Mercystrike was being literal or not, because her normally black paws were plastered in mud. Rosepaw gave him a friendly nudge. "It's all right, every cat gets used to the mud eventually. Heck, even I did."

Viperpaw wasn't so sure, his paws felt sticky and wet, and he didn't exactly enjoy the feeling either.

Soon the small patrol was off again. Viperpaw looked at everything hungrily, wanting to see as much MistClan territory as possible. The trees were low and a heavy, and a dark gloom covered the forest floor. If Viperpaw hadn't known any better, he might have thought MistClan territory was a little, well, depressing.

Suddenly it became brighter and Mercystrike and Batflight came to a stop.

Before them lay a large, smooth stone with moss growing all over it. Little patches of sunlight grazed the small clearing where it lay and the clear, shallow stream that snaked it's way around it. So far, that was the only clean water in MistClan territory that Viperpaw had seen.

Batflight let out a mew."This, Viperpaw, is the Mossy Clearing. It was once CaveClan territory a few moons before you were born, but we took it from them so MistClan warriors would have a nice place to drink. Better than that mud, eh Viperpaw?"

Batflight chuckled and Viperpaw spat, but only because he could still taste the mud on his tongue. He dipped his head beside the stream and took a long, good sip. It was the best water he had ever tasted.

"This also happens to be our border with CaveClan, so take a good sniff." Batflight instructed.

Viperpaw opened his mouth ever-so-slightly, and a mixture of mint, cold, and pine met his nose. So that's what CaveClan smell like? He wondered, before taking another sip. Rosepaw dipped her small head to drink beside him, before looking away, water droplets dripping off her whiskers. Mercystrike snorted, "Alright you've seen CaveClan's border, now lets get moving. We're wasting daylight."

Disappointed, Viperpaw left the Mossy Clearing, it was the most beautiful part of MistClan territory he had seen.

As the patrol made it's way through the trees the ground soon turned a little hard underfoot. The thick gloom that surrounded MistClan thinned out and the sky appeared bright once more. Tall grasses began to sprout up here and there, before the patrol stopped at a fallen birch tree. Mercystrike sprayed markers and Batflight gazed back at Viperpaw once more.

"The GrassClan border. They're fast and sometimes jumpy and are likely to stray over the border once in awhile." Her claws slid out and she grinned,"But we put them back into their place."

Viperpaw tipped his head to one side."Don't we warn them first?"

Mercystrike shouldered her way past Batflight."Why? It's better to attack and ask questions later, you never want to give your enemies a heads up!"

Viperpaw cocked his head to the side."But what if they come over on friendly terms?"

The dark she-cat snorted in distaste."Friendly? The other clans? Kit you're out of your mind! All four of us are pitted against each other for survival! CaveClan wouldn't share their clean water with us so we took it! Being nice doesn't get you anywhere in life."

Something didn't seem right to him though. He felt somewhat queasy at hearing Mercystrike's words. Didn't all four clans want the same things in life? Surely if you were kind to one cat they would return the favor of kindness one day. "But Mercy-"

"You're starting to sound like a soft kittypet Viper!"Mercystrike hissed, narrowing her eyes ever so slightly. "You wouldn't want to bed up with a GrassClan warrior and smell their disgusting scent would you? You wouldn't hunt for one of those lazy MoonClan apprentices and expect to share prey with CaveClan's leader one day?"

Viperpaw felt indignant."No I'm MistClan!"

Mercystrike rounded on him angrily."Than start acting like it apprentice!" Then with e sweep of her tail bounded ahead of the rest of the patrol, calling after her,"Let's hurry up and see MoonClan's border!I'm tired of standing around like a bunch of mouse-brains!"

Batflight shook her head and snapped shut Viperpaw's gaping mouth with her tail tip. "Don't worry about her now, Mercystrike has always had a sharp tongue."

Rosepaw looked uncertainly back at him before leaping after her mentor.

-xxxxxx-

Viperpaw stumbled over prickly thorns, dead leaves, and bits of rotten wood while all at the same time trying to avoid landing in a filthy mud puddle. MistClan territory was proving to be hazardous and a huge obstacle course, yet he knew it must make it even harder for an enemy patrol to come through, not being used to the muck and thorns.

His journey to MoonClan's territory was proving to be the longest and farthest from camp yet. Even though this was true the mud and stagnant pools of water seemed to be increasing, and it made Viperpaw wonder if MoonClan's territory was even more brutal than theirs.

The gloomy trees still lingered and yet the patrol slowed, and even though Viperpaw had thought there was going to be another burst of brightness before they came across MoonClan's border they stopped. His gaze burned the trees as he searched for what their border with MoonClan must be. There was a patchy clearing not too far from an over-sized, and smooth over rock, laying almost hidden in the mushy earth. The trees were taller and not as stunted as the trees in the heart of MistClan territory, but they still held a dark gloom about them. Then, Viperpaw saw it.

Not far from the patchy clearing, and not nearly as close as the half way buried rock was a deep crevice in the earth. Very slowly he padded forward and and look down into peer darkness. Not matter how hard he squinted his eyes he could see no bottom, and as he took in a quick breath a fishy, yet clear smell filled his lungs.

"This is our border with MoonClan."Batflight mewed. "After the clearing the territory becomes dryer and harder under paw, and the trees taller and greener. MoonClan have very lush hunting grounds, and don't ever think about expanding their turf. But they like to keep a close watch on all the clans, just the same."

"Why is there marshy hunting grounds in MoonClan then?" Viperpaw asked and was surprised when Rosepaw instead answered him.

"Those lazy fuzzballs started scent marking this place when it was our land. We scared them off and they still came back and marked it as theirs. When we came back to reclaim it the next time however we were ambushed and forced to flee! That patchy clearing their was one of our training areas, I only got to train there once!" Rosepaw lashed her tail in irritation.

"They were too much of a mouse to face us head on! No MistClan warrior hides around in the shadows, we have more pride than that."Batflight hissed, and Mercystrike and Rosepaw growled their agreement. Just then a surge of excitement flitted in Viperpaw's chest. What type of battle techniques do MistClan warriors learn?

Then an even better thought entered his small head. When will he be able to learn them?

R.E.V.I.E.W.