Chapter 1

Darkpaw opened his black eyes as the morning light streamed through the branches of the apprentices' den. Pushing himself up, Darkpaw yawned, showing rows of glimmering white teeth. Glancing around his den, Darkpaw noticed that his denmate, Lakepaw, was still curled up into a tight ball, her blue-gray fur glowing with the light of the sun. Pulling himself to his paws, Darkpaw bounded over to Lakepaw and bent down to hiss in her ear, "Rogues are attacking the Clan!"

Lakepaw's amber eyes flew open and she scrambled to her paws, her fur bristling until she noticed Darkpaw purring with amusement nearby. Allowing her fur to lie flat, Lakepaw growled, "Darkpaw, you mouse-brain! You nearly gave me a heart attack!" At this, Darkpaw began to laugh. "It's not funny!" Even as she chastised him, Lakepaw's eyes sparkled with laughter as she glared at Darkpaw.

"Lakepaw!" Both apprentices looked at the entrance where Sunfoot's head was poking through, his broad shoulders making him almost to large to enter the apprentices' den. Darkpaw nodded to Sunfoot while Lakepaw bowed her head deeply to her mentor. "Lakepaw, Voleheart is leading the dawn patrol and asked if you would be willing to accompany us."

"Can I come?" Darkpaw meowed eagerly, his black eyes wide with hope. It had been six moons since Darkpaw's battle with greencough and the black apprentice had showed no signs of getting sick again. Yet, Voleheart still made him do simple things such as gathering herbs for Talonclaw and taking care of Songbird, the only Clan elder. Darkpaw was willing to do his share, but didn't understand why Lakepaw got to do so much more than him. Darkpaw then realized that his chores would probably be much less come this evening. After tonight, there would be three new apprentices.

Airkit, Waterkit, and Cloudkit were Darkpaw's three younger siblings were at there sixth moon and in the ancient traditions of StarClan, it was time for them to take their apprentices' names. Darkpaw was proud of his kin, but more relieved that there would be more paws around to assist Talonclaw and Songbird. Soon Darkpaw would have almost no weight on his shoulders.

"I actually think Woodstar wanted to see you, Darkpaw," Sunfoot called over his shoulder as he led Lakepaw out of the den, leaving a crestfallen Darkpaw behind. Lakepaw turned her head and muttered 'bye,' but Darkpaw turned his head, not wanting his denmate's sympathy. Why was Lakepaw allowed to do so much? Did Woodstar pity her because the young cat had lost her mother? Darkpaw sighed, realizing that he would like to be pitied if something had happened to Gingereye. Maybe he was judging Lakepaw too hard.

Following Sunfoot and Lakepaw out of the den, Darkpaw spotted Woodstar talking with Reedtail. The black warrior's tail was waving urgently as he spoke to his leader, but when Sunfoot and Lakepaw padded over to them, Reedtail stalked away. Even at a distance, Darkpaw saw Lakepaw's shoulders drop as her father entered the warriors' den, not even glancing at his daughter. Woodstar muttered something to Lakepaw and Darkpaw watched as Sunfoot led Lakepaw over to Voleheart who was pacing around impatiently. That's my mentor, Darkpaw thought with respect as he watched Voleheart leave the camp, Sunfoot and Lakepaw sprinting after him.

Woodstar was watching them, but when he saw Darkpaw, he bounded over to stand beside his son. Darkpaw watched his father, realizing how little the two of them looked alike. Woodstar was a small brown tabby with flaming orange eyes while Darkpaw was already larger than his father and mother, his muscles strong despite his young age. Voleheart and Sunfoot had teased Woodstar constantly about him being smaller than his young son. Darkpaw gave his long, thick fur a gentle lick, another difference between father and son.

"Good morning Darkpaw," Woodstar meowed, flicking the black apprentice on the shoulder as he sat down beside him. There was a time a couple moons ago when Woodstar would have been able to flick Darkpaw on the ear. Now he had to stretch his tail to even reach Darkpaw's shoulder. "I trust you slept well?"

"I did, Woodstar," Darkpaw mewed and fell silent. When Woodstar didn't immediately fill the silence, Darkpaw got confused. Did Sunfoot say Woodstar wanted to see him? Thinking maybe Woodstar had forgotten, Darkpaw asked, trying to assist his father's memory, "Sunfoot said you wanted to speak with me?"

"Ah yes, Darkpaw," Woodstar meowed, nodding, "As you know, today is Airkit, Waterkit, and Cloudkit's apprentice ceremonies and Gingereye says that they all are quite nervous. I was wondering if you could maybe speak with them about it? After all Orangepelt had spoken with you." Darkpaw shrugged and Woodstar added, "Darkpaw, they are your kin and I know Airkit and Cloudkit are both nervous about everything. Waterkit probably is to, but she is too proud to admit it." At this Woodstar walked away, leaving Darkpaw to decide whether or not he would obey his leader's orders.

"Darkpaw!" Darkpaw turned and watched Orangepelt bound over to him, Maroonfeather following her. Maroonfeather was the newest warrior having been an apprentice with Darkpaw before earning his warrior name. Dipping to his head to the two warriors, Darkpaw listened politely as Orangepelt offered, "You up for a little hunting?"

"I'm sorry, Orangepelt, but Woodstar asked me to talk to the kits. Apparently they are nervous about becoming apprentices," Either that or Woodstar doesn't want me to do any training for StarClan knows why, Darkpaw thought bitterly. At this rate, he'd become a warrior by the time his youngest kin did. It wasn't fair!

"Ah Woodstar, always putting our young cats to good uses," Maroonfeather meowed, making Darkpaw seethe with annoyance. Why did Maroonfeather say things like that? After all, he was still a young warrior. He had barely had his warrior name for half a season. "Orangepelt, how about we go out hunting?"

Orangepelt seemed surprised that Maroonfeather wanted to hunt alone with her, but she shrugged it off and mewed, "Sure. Darkpaw, I'll bring you back a squirrel, okay?" Darkpaw shrugged and- taking that for a confirmation- bounded out of camp with Maroonfeather calling over her shoulder, "Bye Darkpaw."

Darkpaw padded away and entered the nursery, his fur bristling with annoyance. Why did every cat in the Clan have a job to do except for him? Trying to stifle his growing anger at the Clan, Darkpaw glanced up and saw Gingereye looking at him, her amber eyes soft with concern, "Darkpaw, is everything alright?"

Darkpaw didn't even get out an answer before three voices shrieked, "Darkpaw!" Darkpaw felt himself get knocked to the floor while three small bodies scrambled on top of him, nipping and pawing him gently. Darkpaw felt his annoyance slide as he pushed himself away and glanced at his three kin. It was hard to stay angry around them.

"Darkpaw, we are going to become apprentices today!" A soft voice squeaked. They don't sound nervous, Darkpaw thought to himself, Then against that was Waterkit. Waterkit was the largest of the new litter, her powerful forepaws making her much taller than his littermates. Waterkit was also the smartest and the sneakiest of the new litter, her orange eyes- the same shade as Woodstar's- were always filled with mischief.

"Aren't you guys nervous?" Cloudkit squeaked quietly, her gold eyes wide with fear. Cloudkit was the smallest of the kits always being tripped over by the larger cats. She was the size of a rabbit and like the piece of prey had the same powerful hindlegs. While her sister was the brains, Cloudkit was the strongest jumper.

"Sure, but it will be worth the nerves!" That was Airkit, the only tom of the litter. Airkit had brown fur- like Woodstar- and gray eyes- like their grandmother, Songbird. Out of all the kits Woodstar had fathered and Gingereye had nursed, Airkit looked the most like his parents. Sometimes Darkpaw was jealous. Sometimes he was not.

"Airkit's right! You're looking at JayClan's future best fighter!" Waterkit squealed before leaping onto Darkpaw and wrestling him to the ground. Darkpaw had to admit she was strong, but not strong enough. "And Cloudkit, you have the most powerful legs! You'll probably be able to climb HighTree even faster than Woodstar one day!"

"I'd like to see that," Gingereye purred with amusement, flicking Waterkit on the ear. Turning to her youngest son, Gingereye asked, "What about you, Airkit? Are you going to be a fighter or a climber?" Darkpaw already knew what Airkit's answer was going to be. After all he was the fastest out of the three kits.

"Neither! I'm going to be the best hunter! Mice, rabbits, fish, I'll catch them all!" Airkit than demonstrated a crouch and pounced on Darkpaw's tail, just as he flicked it out of reach. He had to admit that Airkit already knew his crouches fairly well. Darkpaw as well as Woodstar had been showing the kits some fighting and hunting moves.

"Oh of course, my little hunter!" Gingereye purred before turning to Darkpaw, her amber eyes sparkling with affection as she glanced at all four of her kits. Darkpaw knew that his mother had lost a litter before and he knew how much she loved them. She would be devastated if anything happened to them. "What about you, Darkpaw? What are you the best at?"

"Me? I'm going to be the best sibling of the best cats in the Clan," Darkpaw purred before jumping into the pile of kits that consisted of Airkit, Waterkit, and Cloudkit.

*

"Let all cats old enough to catch their own prey, report underneath HighTree for a Clan meeting," Darkpaw opened his eyes as he realized he had dozed off in the nursery. In one corner of the den, Gingereye had stopped licking Cloudkit and all five cats were staring at the entrance. Sharing a glance with Gingereye, Darkpaw padded out and could hear the scramble of tiny paws behind him. Darkpaw stood outside the nursery while Gingereye led her kits towards HighTree.

"Darkpaw!" Darkpaw turned and saw Lakepaw flicking her tail at him. Next to her was Sunfoot, Orangepelt, and Maroonfeather all staring up at HighTree. Reedtail, Lakepaw's father, was at the entrance of the warriors' den, hidden in the shadows. "Darkpaw, you mousebrain, come sit over here with us!" Darkpaw obeyed and sat beside his denmate while Woodstar continued the meeting.

"This is a proud day for JayClan, by naming apprentices we show that JayClan will survive and remain strong. Airkit, Waterkit, and Cloudkit, from now on until you have received your warrior names you will be known as Airpaw, Waterpaw, and Cloudpaw." Woodstar than swept his gaze around the Clan and meowed, "Reedtail, you are ready for an apprentice, you will be Airpaw's mentor. I know you will pass on your strength to Airpaw, and teach him the skills that will make him a brave warrior of JayClan."

Reedtail stalked forward and touched noses with Airpaw, his expression giving away nothing. The two cats- mentor and apprentice- than sat on the corner of the circle, watching the rest of the ceremony, "Orangepelt, you are ready for your first apprentice, you will be Waterpaw's mentor. I trust you to pass all your wisdom onto Waterpaw and train her to be a valuable warrior of JayClan."

Again the new mentor and apprentice touched noses and sat closer to Reedtail and Airpaw. "Maroonfeather, you are young, yet you have proven yourself many times to be a strong warrior. You will be Cloudpaw's mentor. You were once my apprentice, so I trust you to teach Cloudpaw everything I taught you and everything you have learned."

"Reedtail! Airpaw! Orangepelt! Waterpaw! Maroonfeather! Cloudpaw!" Darkpaw joined in with his Clanmates cheers, proud of his kin. JayClan was growing strong and would continue to do so for many seasons!

"Four will take one and make five, making history repeat itself. Thunder will fall on the lake and the Clan of birds will be no more. The end is now."

"What are you talking about Lakepaw?" Darkpaw meowed, glancing at his denmate who was staring up at the three new apprentices, excitement in her amber eyes. Although Darkpaw thought he saw a flash of jealously as Lakepaw glanced at Airpaw. Was she jealous that the brown tabby was her father's new apprentice?

"What are you talking about Darkpaw? I didn't say anything!" Lakepaw mewed, giving Darkpaw an odd look as though he was losing his mind. Sunfoot too had glanced at him, concern in his blue eyes.

Was he hearing things? Darkpaw didn't know, but the words kept repeating in his mind as though they were of some importance.

A/N I thought this was a fairly decent chapter, but let me here your opinions. Please please review. Thank you =]