Hi guys, sorry for not updating in a while again. =_= Lack of inspiration works wonders, doesn't it? (notice the sarcasm) You guys are so patient that I want to cry, but I have no idea why. Wait, didn't I just say that because you guys were patient? Oh hey, that rhymed! *stares off into space*

*cough* Let's get onto the review answering, shall we? ^_^'

Birdflame: Thank goodness! *wipes imaginary sweat off face* (I'm weird, so I get relief over strange things, just ignore me if I get overboard. :3) Oh, and Hazelpaw will be surprised. Very surprised.

Spottedmist: Couldn't have said it better myself. :D

Embermist's Tales: I've laughed out loud many times that my mom looks at me like I have a screw loose these days. But seriously, the name...

Shiverdream of Windclan: All I have to say is thank you! 3

Wood Cats: THANKYOUTHANKYOUTHANKYOUTHANKYOUTHANKYOUTHANKYOUTHANKYOU I hope thanked you enough. I made a weird noise when I read your kind words with my throat and my older sister was like "I know that you're insane, but please keep your randomness to yourself". Honestly, I have no idea what Icepaw's going to do with her love life. I write all of my stories organically (not planning the end, but instead letting each chapter write itself each time) so I don't know if she'll even settle down. But then again, who knows? *wink wink* Oh, and as for the future, the end is just the beginning...

I turned around as Littlepaw padded up to me and the RiverClan apprentice. What did the little runt want?

"What's taking WindClan so long?" he asked.

Hazelpaw sneered. "How would I know?"

I grunted in approval, shooting the tiny apprentice a meaningful look. He was useful for something at last. Littlepaw nodded at the unspoken message, leaving to hobble over to a group of cats nearby. I recognized the sweet smell of the ThunderClan medicine cat, Spottedleaf, and the weird smell of Twolegplace. My nose wrinkled as the source of the smell, a fiery-pelted apprentice sat down.

So this was ThunderClan's newest apprentice? A kittypet? Huh, their dignity's gonna suffer. He still smelt of the tangy Thunderpath along with with the strange smell of the Twolegs. Ugh.

I padded up to them, finally getting rid of Hazelpaw, who had wandered off. Littlepaw better not be exposing any secrets of our Clan.

"If TigerClan still roamed these forests, we would hardly have made our territory here either," Spottedleaf commented.

"What's TigerClan?" Littlepaw asked from beside the ginger kittypet.

"TigerClan was one of the great cat Clans that used to roam the forests," a bulky, gray apprentice smelling of ThunderClan answered, amber eyes thoughtful. "TigerClan had cats of the night, big as horses, with jet black stripes. "Then there was LionClan. They were..."

"Oh! I've heard of them!" Littlepaw bounced slightly as he sat. I bet he wanted to impress the older apprentice. "They were as big as TigerClan cats, with yellow fur and golden manes like rays of the sun."

The gray apprentice nodded and narrowed his eyes, as if trying to remember something. "And there was another one, SpottyClan or something like that..."

"I suspect you're thinking of LeopardClan, young Graypaw?" I turned around to see a cat with a golden pelt. He must be Lionheart, an experienced tom of ThunderClan.

"You are a ShadowClan apprentice, aren't you?" Lionheart gazed down at Littlepaw with kind eyes. "How old are you?"

"S-six moons," Littlepaw squirmed, staring at his paws uncomfortably. There goes the tiny bit of respect I had for him, I thought, rolling my eyes.

"Awfully small for six moons," The golden tom remarked gently.

"My mother was small too..." Littlepaw murmured uneasily, backing away and disappearing into another crowd of apprentices.

Lionheart muttered something about Littlepaw that I didn't catch. He turned to Graypaw and the kittypet. "At least he was curious. If only you showed as much interest with the stories your elders tell."

His words sent them racing towards the same group of apprentices that Littlepaw had disappeared into. I followed out of mild interest. Why would ThunderClan permit a kittypet into their ranks? I halted, watching the group of cats. A ThunderClan apprentice, skinny, jet black tom with white on his chest and tail, was telling a story. His tongue was so descriptive and his amber eyes full of passion that I couldn't help but admire his story-telling skills, despite the fact that it wouldn't help him survive.

"Who new that Ravenpaw was such a good story-teller?" Graypaw muttered to both himself and the kittypet. The ginger cat didn't seem to hear his words, though, his green eyes troubled. Curiosity spiked through me. Was Ravenpaw's words bothering him in a way?

I followed the kittypet's stare, finding smoldering amber eyes directed right at Ravenpaw. Rage burned deep in his eyes, lips drawn back in a snarl. Tigerclaw of ThunderClan, mentor of Ravenpaw. What did his apprentice do to anger him so?

They said that Tigerclaw was a bold and brilliant fighter and that he was well-respected. He had a dark brown tabby pelt and a glare that could send even the bravest cat wailing to their mother. I scoffed in my head. Not me.

I allowed a steely glint to enter my eyes, staring down each cat in front of me. I knew that father was studying me, proud of me. I hoped he was satisfied. Brokenstar had trained my siblings and I ever since kithood, but the two of my siblings hadn't lived up to his expectations. They had been too soft. Whatever, ShadowClan didn't need weaklings to begin with. Lionpaw had begun to question father's teachings. That's the reason he died, the ignorant fool. If my two littermates weren't strong, then I would be strong enough for both of them.

I stood and stretched my mottled frame, closing my eyes softly. I turned to Hazelpaw, who had caught up to me at the last moment. Crookedstar's voice rang out. "Let the gathering begin," I purred delightedly.