Hey, guys! Sorry I haven't updated in a while. I know I suck. I've been busier than life.

Recap: Frostpaw trains with Willowfall, and then she talks with Ratpaw, who tells her that he's in love with a cat but that he might be having second thoughts. Frostpaw assumes that it's Snowcloud. Ratpaw tells Frostpaw that he likes what she's become. Littlekit, Brokenkit, and Icekit get their apprentice names, but Icepaw passes out. Frostpaw and Willowfall try to save her, but she ends up dying because of malnutrition. Icepaw's mother, Bluepelt, is devastated, and blames Willowfall and Frostpaw, who feels awful. Fruzetail comforts Frostpaw and she mutters a prayer to StarClan.

Yay!

Chapter 19

A Brief Reunion

[Cedarpaw]

"Wow, it's been a long time, hasn't it?" Briarclaw was mewing as he walked alongside his apprentice, a smile on his face and the morning sunlight in his eyes. It was a clear day, so far. "I'm so glad Willowfall finally agreed to let you restart training. She told me that we should go slow, though, so we're only doing a little bit today. Is that alright?"

Cedarpaw flicked an ear as he walked beside his mentor through the trees. He was talking to him as if he were a kit.

"I wonder what will happen with ThunderClan today," Briarclaw said with a sigh, frowning. "Minnowstar is prepared to do anything to get more land. But if we wipe out ThunderClan, then that will just leave ShadowClan more vulnerable. Blossomstar is bound to attack at some point."

Cedarpaw flattened his ears, his tail twitching. He highly doubted that Minnowstar would choose him for the patrol. On the other paw, she had chosen him for the Gathering, which had honestly surprised him. It felt like he hadn't gone to a Gathering in forever.

"Anyway," Briarclaw murmured, his dark amber eyes turning to his apprentice, "just let me know if you think training is too much and if you want to go back to camp. I'm still worried about you, you know. I know that you haven't completely gotten over your father's death..."

Cedarpaw felt a surge of irritation. Briarclaw had no idea what he was thinking. But he had no desire to say anything. His mentor wouldn't understand.

The two cats soon approached a small clearing, where apprentices were taken to train. Cedarpaw looked around, blinking his amber eyes. It'd been a long time since he'd come here. It felt strange, as if things were back to the way they were and everything was normal again. But he knew that that wasn't true. Things had never been normal to begin with. Not since Waterkit had died.

He flattened his ears, not wanting to think about it.

"I figured we'd work on fighting tactics," Briarclaw mewed, smiling slightly before it quickly faded. "We don't have much prey to hunt, anyway..." He shook his head, facing his apprentice. "Attack me," he mewed.

Cedarpaw hesitated for a moment before leaping forward. Briarclaw, assuming that he would attack straight on, dodged to the left. But that was what Cedarpaw had been anticipating; he mirrored his mentor before lunging for him, knocking the surprised warrior into the snow.

Before the apprentice had time to pin him down, Briarclaw kicked out his back legs, shoving the smaller cat off. While Cedarpaw regained his balance, Briarclaw rolled over onto his stomach. But before he could get up, the apprentice launched himself at him again, shoving him back against the ground. The bigger cat rolled back over onto his back, causing Cedarpaw to lose his balance. But he quickly regained it and pinned Briarclaw to the ground, his belly facing up. Cedarpaw kept one paw firmly at the warrior's shoulder, and without even thinking, he brought his other paw up, claws flexed, preparing a strike.

He paused, paw still hanging in the air as he looked down at his mentor, who had a surprised look on his face, amber eyes wide.

Cedarpaw blinked softly, slowly lowering his paw before he stepped off of him.

"...That was good," Briarclaw mewed, slightly breathless as he got to his paws. "I know I've told you this before, but you really are a good fighter, Cedarpaw. I'd say you're the best of all the apprentices. Maybe even some of the warriors."

Cedarpaw swallowed, for some reason his mentor's praise not making him feel good at all. He flattened his ears.

. . .

The sun was nearing its highest by the time Briarclaw and Cedarpaw were making their way through the snowy woods and back towards camp. Snow had begun to fall softly and clouds bleached the sky white. As the apprentice walked, he could sense that his mentor kept sending him glances, but he made an effort not to meet his gaze.

"Minnowstar's bound to arrange the patrol to go to ThunderClan, soon," the warrior mewed as they walked. "I just hope blood isn't spilled... Cedarpaw, what's wrong?"

The apprentice had stopped walking and had turned around, and was now staring out into the distance, a grim expression on his face. He felt almost as if something, or someone, was watching them.

"...I don't see anything," Briarclaw said. "Or smell anything, easier. I think we're fine. C'mon, let's keep going. We don't want to miss Minnowstar's announcement."

Cedarpaw blinked softly, looking out through the snowy blur until he hesitantly turned and followed after him.

They soon reached camp; most cats were already beginning to gather as they anticipated Minnowstar's announcement. Cedarpaw pricked his ears when he saw Olivepaw sitting with Ratpaw and Frostpaw. Littlepaw and Brokenpaw had joined them, as well. They were clearly trying to fit in with the older apprentices. Snowcloud wasn't with them. She was, instead, sitting with Furzetail and Icewhisker further away, a grimace on her face, which used to be unusual for her.

Cedarpaw padded over to the other apprentices; Olivepaw pricked her ears and lifted her head, a small smile appearing on her face as he sat down beside her.

"Hey," she murmured. "Everyone's getting ready for Minnowstar to speak. You're just in time." Cedarpaw forced a tiny smile and nodded slightly.

Olivepaw was about to continue speaking, but her mouth closed and she blinked as she looked behind Cedarpaw. The tom, in confusion, turned around to see, much to his surprise, his mother.

Swallowflight stood about a foxlength away from him, her tortoiseshell coat not as pretty and neatly kept as it used to be. Her tail and shoulders were drooping, and her usually bright green eyes were dull. Cedarpaw had hardly even interacted with his mother since Reedfur had died, and he thought that they never would.

"Can I talk to you?" she rasped, looking as if she were in pain. Her eyes glittered with sorrow, and she seemed so pitiful that it looked as if she could just collapse at any moment.

Cedarpaw's whiskers twitched, wanting to turn away and for some reason feeling no desire to even look at his mother. But Olivepaw was watching. So he slowly got to his paws, ears flattened as he and Swallowflight took a few steps away from the crowd and headed towards the edge of the camp.

"...I'm sorry," Swallowflight sighed once they were out of earshot. She looked at him pleadingly, shaking her head softly. "I haven't even said a word to you since Reedfur died. As your mother, I should have been there for you and helped you through it all..." She closed her eyes, her voice scratchy as she whispered, "That doesn't make me a very good mother, does it...?"

Cedarpaw flinched a bit at her words, lowering his gaze. Part of him wanted to speak, but another part- the larger part- knew that if he even opened his mouth, words that weren't meant to be said, weren't meant for her to hear, would pour out, one wrong word after another. She would look at him in horror and would probably wonder what had gone wrong.

...That didn't make him a very good son, did it?

"Cedarpaw, please talk to me," Swallowflight begged desperately. "I'm so sorry that I haven't been the responsible mother I should be. It's just... I had enough grief when those foxes killed Waterkit, and now your father..."

Cedarpaw stiffened at the mention of his brother, ears flattening against his skull. Conflicting emotions scattered his mind, but he tried to suppress them. After a short moment of silence, he finally lowered his head and turned away, making his way back towards the group and leaving Swallowflight stare after him in despair.

Only a few seconds passed before Minnowstar leaped up onto the Tallstump, eyes narrowed as she lashed her tail. Silence filled the air as gazes lifted expectantly.

"Cats of ShadowClan," she called, light blue eyes ablaze, "Today, I'm going to be taking a patrol to ThunderClan to get more territory. We have had too many deaths this Leafbare, and I don't want this to continue." Cats murmured sadly in agreement, bowing their heads. Cedarpaw watched quietly.

"We will try to negotiate with Bumblestar," she continued. "However, if they aren't willing to come to a compromise, then we must not hesitate in forcibly expanding our land. I am the leader of this Clan, and I care about it more than anything." She paused, her gaze sweeping over the crowd. "The cats who will be coming are Harestep, Weaselfoot, Icewhisker, Furzetail, Briarclaw, Ravenheart, Cinderblaze, Snowcloud, Ratpaw, and Cedarpaw." The tom blinked when he heard his name. "Willowfall, I'd like you to come, too, in case fighting should occur and we need your assistance." The medicine cat shallowly dipped her head.

"The rest of you will stay here and guard the camp in case anything should happen," she mewed, nodding. "Alright. We leave now."

Cats murmured to each other in rapid voices as they gathered towards the entrance. As Cedarpaw got to his paws, Olivepaw looked at him, smiling lightly.

"It sounds like Minnowstar's convinced that you can stay out of the medicine den, now," she mewed quietly. She looked at him strangely and tilted her head, as if she'd ask a question, but she gave a weak laugh and shook her head. "Tell me how it is. And be careful, Cedarpaw."

The tom found that a small smile had appeared on his face, and he nodded. After a second of hesitation, Olivepaw took a step forward, pressing her muzzle to his. He shrank back only due to his surprise, but he blinked softly and pressed his nose to her cheek before turning away and joining with the others.

With one last lash of her tail, Minnowstar began to lead her Clan up the shallow slope and into the woods, snow falling gently, a wind blowing.

They walked mostly in silence, Minnowstar leading a quick pace through the winding trees, Harestep at her side and the others trailing behind her. Cedarpaw remained towards the back; Briarclaw was at his side, who shot him a small smile.

"Don't worry," Briarclaw murmured. "Everything will be fine."

Cedarpaw flicked an ear. He wasn't worried.

Ratpaw walked beside him, a stern expression on his face. He was looking in front of him, frowning, before he shot a glance at Cedarpaw. Cedarpaw looked back at him, saying nothing.

Soon, the scent of ThunderClan wafted past them as they approached the Twoleg path separating the two territories. Minnowstar paused for a moment, glancing around; no one was nearby. They continued on, passing into ThunderClan territory. It seemed colder, for some reason.

Although Cedarpaw wasn't nervous, his pelt prickled with slight unease. It had been a long time since he'd been in ThunderClan territory. Even though it took only a matter of steps to cross from ShadowClan to ThunderClan, it felt like a completely different world.

There were no signs of cats nearby. In fact, the scent was weaker than usual. ThunderClan was so small now that it must not have been able to keep its markers as strong.

He suppressed a shiver. The snow was falling harder, a harsh wind beginning to blow that rocked the leafless branches of half-dead trees. There was an unsettling silence that everyone seemed to notice. No one was speaking. No one dared.

Soon, Minnowstar began to slow down, her eyes narrowing to slits. She didn't need to tell her Clan that they were almost there, because not too far ahead, they could all see the brambles that guarded the stone hollow of ThunderClan's camp.

Cedarpaw listened, but he couldn't hear any ThunderClanners.

Lowering herself to the ground, Minnowstar slowly led the group forward, heading towards the small entrance in the brambles. She paused, looking over her Clan and giving them a small nod. A few nodded back. Everyone was tense; no one spoke. Minnowstar lashed her tail and turned, leading the cats through the entrance and into ThunderClan's camp.

Inside, Cedarpaw paused to look around, and was struck by how few cats were in the camp. He recognized Onespot, who was murmuring something to a white she-cat. Another she-cat, a gray one, was sitting with a smaller gray tom with green eyes; he looked like he was an apprentice. He must have been the only one. Three others were crowded together- two toms and a she-cat. The deputy, Spotfur, was standing at the foot of the Highledge, glancing around warily, black and white fur ruffled. Bumblestar was nowhere to be seen.

One by one, heads were lifted as the ThunderClanners noticed ShadowClan's presence. Their eyes widened, and looks of fear shot across their faces. Onespot got to his feet, a grave frown on his face. Cedarpaw noticed that he and Willowfall shared a quick glance.

"Where is Bumblestar?" demanded Minnowstar, her voice echoing against the stone walls. "I wish to speak to him."

A second later, the light brown tabby appeared from his den at the top of the Highledge, eyes widening when he realized what was going on. He already looked defeated, and Cedarpaw almost felt pity for him.

"Hello, Minnowstar," Bumblestar called out, trying to appear strong and confident, but his voice was shaking, slightly. "What can I do for you today?"

"I'm going to cut straight to the point, Bumblestar," the ShadowClan leader mewed. "We need more land. Yesterday, one of our cats starved to death, and we don't want this to continue."

"So you want some of our land," Bumblestar murmured, ears flattening a bit. His warriors watched quietly, saying nothing. Spotfur trotted up the path to the Highledge and stood beside his leader.

"This is the only way," Minnowstar said. "We can't take land from RiverClan. They're too big. Our only option was to come to you."

"And what will happen to us if you take our land, do you think?" Spotfur suddenly spoke out. "The name 'WindClan' has already been destroyed. We don't want to upset StarClan even more, and I don't believe that you want to, either."

"If we don't do something, then we'll die out," Minnowstar growled. "I apologize, Spotfur, but if you don't agree to give us land, then we'll have to take it from you. Our Clan is bigger and stronger, and if you don't do as I ask, then we are capable of completely wiping out ThunderClan."

A few ShadowClan cats looked surprised at their leader's words, but they didn't speak. Cedarpaw swallowed, feeling the tenseness in the air.

"...No," Bumblestar finally said. "We won't let you."

A few ThunderClanners looked up at their leader in surprise, and even Spotfur looked at his leader, eyes narrowed slightly. He muttered a few words to Bumblestar that Cedarpaw didn't hear.

"I don't care," Bumblestar growled lowly; Cedarpaw pricked his ears. "I want to prove to these cats that I will stand and fight."

"If we fight, we'll all die," hissed Spotfur. "Face it, Bumblestar. They'll destroy us."

Bumblestar was silent for a few moments before he finally lifted his head, looking straight at Minnowstar.

"If you want our land, then you'll have to fight us for it."

ThunderClan cats were shocked, but Minnowstar slowly nodded her head.

"Very well," she sighed. "I was hoping to solve this peacefully, but if this is what you wish..." Lifting her head and puffing out her chest, she called, "ShadowClan, attack!"

Her cats began racing down the slippery rocks, prepared to fight. The ThunderClan cats hesitantly faced them, though a look of utter defeat was already on their faces.

Cedarpaw, feeling adrenaline course through his veins, leaped at a young tom, shoving him to the hard, snowy ground. His gray fur was ruffled, and he looked up at Cedarpaw with wide green eyes. The ShadowClan apprentice lifted his paw without hesitation, slashing it across the other apprentice's face and sending drops of red blood splattering onto the snow.

The ThunderClanner yelled out, kicking out his back legs and managing to shove Cedarpaw off. The tom rolled onto his back and got to his paws before Cedarpaw could strike, and he lifted a paw and struck a blow. However, Cedarpaw dodged it just in time, and quickly leaped at him again, knocking him back onto the ground and putting a paw at his throat.

With the other paw, Cedarpaw raked his claws down the tom's flank, and he yowled in pain. He did it again, this time on his stomach. The ThunderClan tom's eyes shot wide open, a strained gasp escaping his lips.

"Stop," he breathed. "You win. Please-" But Cedarpaw slashed him again across the face, feeling as if he were in a trance. It was odd; he'd begun to realize that he always felt like this when he was fighting. As if he were in a dream, that none of it was real.

As the gray tom lay spluttering on the ground and Cedarpaw brought his paw up again, he suddenly heard a small, quiet voice whisper, "Cedarpaw..."

The tom blinked, ears pricked in confusion. That sounded like...

Hesitantly, Cedarpaw turned his head, letting out a weak gasp at what he say.

A foxlength away stood a small tom-kit with a gray tabby pelt and leaf-green eyes. He blinked softly, his tail wrapped around his legs as he looked at Cedarpaw. His fur seemed to glow slightly, and an air of pure innocence surrounded him as he tilted his head.

"Stop," the murmured. "You don't need to keep fighting him. Please stop."

Cedarpaw stared at the kit in awe, his legs beginning to shake, mouth open. His throat felt dry and he was unable to swallow, his fur sticking straight up as he suddenly felt overcome with intense emotion. He couldn't even move.

Waterkit...

Waterkit smiled slightly as Cedarpaw recognized his dead brother.

"It's good to see you, Cedarpaw," he mewed quietly. "I wish I was there with you now..."

Cedarpaw didn't know what to do or what to say. He just stood there, staring in disbelief. He hadn't seen his brother in eight moons, and it was too much for him.

"I know you're surprised to see me," Waterkit murmured, looking down. "I just wanted to tell you... thank you. For what you did." He lifted his head, a sad little smile on his tiny features. "I have to go, now," he said with a frown. "Just be careful, Cedarpaw. Remember who you are. And remember me, too."

Cedarpaw opened his mouth, managing to squeak out the word, "I..." But it was too late. Waterkit had vanished just as quickly as he'd appeared.

The ThunderClan tom, who was still under Cedarpaw's grip, looked up at him in confusion. Cedarpaw slowly got off of him, letting him up, but he was still staring at where his brother had disappeared. His legs were shaking, and he felt as if he would collapse at any minute. All the memories he had of his brother came rushing back to him, and it was too much to bear.

Suddenly, Bumblestar's voice called out, "Stop!"

Cats raised their heads; ShadowClan cats had barely any scratches on them, while a couple of ThunderClan warriors had received somewhat serious wounds that Onespot was now quickly looking over.

"Stop this fighting," Bumblestar called. "Please."

"So then you'll give us territory?" Minnowstar challenged, lifting her head and standing tall.

Bumblestar frowned and closed his eyes for a moment before finally muttering, "...We want to join you."

There was a shocked air in the hollow; even the ThunderClanners seemed shocked. Cedarpaw could barely hear what was going on.

"...Join us?" echoed Minnowstar. "Like WindClan did with RiverClan?"

"Face it, Minnowstar," Bumbleclaw breathed. "If we don't join together, then RiverClan will wipe us both out. If we don't cooperate, we don't stand a chance against Blossomstar."

"You do realize that you would be giving up your title as leader," Minnowstar said. "And that the same goes for Spotfur."

The ThunderClan deputy limped over to Bumblestar; he had a wound on his leg, but he still looked confident. The two talked it over for a few moments before Bumblestar lifted his head.

"Very well," he murmured. "We've decided that this is the only way to want to join with you and share both territories."

"Remember that you and your Clan will now be under my rule," Minnowstar meowed, "and that the name 'ThunderClan' will be gone. There will be only two Clans- RiverClan and ShadowClan. Do you agree to this?"

Bumblestar let out a long sigh. It clearly wasn't easy for him.

"Yes," he murmured. "I do." No other cats were speaking.

"Very well," Minnowstar called out. She made her way over to the side of the hollow where the entrance was and trotted up the slope. Looking out over the crowd, she called, "From this moment on, until circumstances allow it to change, every ThunderClan cat here will now be under my rule. Bumblestar will give up his position as leader and return to his warrior name, Bumbleclaw. Spotfur will return to his position as warrior. We will continue to live at ShadowClan's camp and will make use of both territories." ShadowClan cats were watching quietly; they were clearly shocked, but they said nothing.

"Let's return to ShadowClan camp," she murmured. "Every wounded cat will receive aid once we're there. ShadowClan, move out."

No one dared speak as the two Clans, now one, made their way through the snowy trees and back to camp. The ThunderClanners looked at each other in a way that suggested that they knew this would happen. They didn't protest or complain.

Bumblestar- or Bumbleclaw- walked in the back of the crowd beside Spotfur, who nodded to him. Cedarpaw walked alongside Ratpaw, neither of them speaking. Cedarpaw knew that this must have been a difficult decision for Bumbleclaw, but otherwise, they would have been in grave danger.

But the thing that occupied the apprentice's mind the most continued to be his brother. He was in a state of shock, and he tried to remember if it had really happened. Maybe not. Maybe he was just going crazy. A few cats already seemed to think he was.

When the cats finally returned to their camp, Cedarpaw pricked his ears; there was a quiet uneasiness in the air. The few cats that had been left behind raised their heads in confusion when they saw that ThunderClan had joined them. But something else was going on, Cedarpaw could feel it.

"What's going on?" demanded Minnowstar as Darkstorm and Bluepelt ran forward, pelts prickled.

"They have Olivepaw," Darkstorm breathed, and Cedarpaw's tail lifted in alarm when he heard his friend's name.

"What are you talking about?" the ShadowClan leader hissed, eyes narrowed. "Who?"

"A RiverClan patrol attacked while you were out," he breathed. Cedarpaw blinked, remembering when he'd thought someone had been following him and Briarclaw. Had it been...?"

"They took Olivepaw," Darkstorm continued breathlessly. "They took her, and they said that if you don't surrender to them by sunhigh tomorrow, then they'll kill her."

Yeah, I know parts moved sort of fast, sorry xP And wait, did Cedarpaw just... speak? He only said one word, but still. Lolol.

Oh, also, I'll probably put updated allegiances for the next chapter. I know it get can confusing with so many cats xP

Thanks to all my lovely reviewers, I love you all so much. :)

TNT,

Pearly!