Blackpaw yawned lightly and opened her eyes into the cold world. Beside her, Spiderpaw was still snoring away, his tail flickered lightly on her back. The she-cat smiled and curled up tighter, her mind drifting off into a dream...

"Blackpaw."

The apprentice fluttered open her eyes to see a dark meadow around. She turned around and saw that Spiderpaw was no where to be found.

"This can't be a dream." She murmured quietly to herself. "It's to real to be a dream..."

"Oh, it is a dream." Blackpaw gazed up and saw a fiery orange cat sitting on a rock. The cat's eyes flickered a ghostly green as he spoke. "Blackpaw, I have a message for you from your ancestors."

The cat jumped down and padded up to Blackpaw's level. "You have been chosen for a very special task, one that will require you to use your powers instead of hide them away."

Blackpaw narrowed her eyes at the cat. "How do you know I have a power?"

The large cat purred softly as he sat down. "I am from StarClan. In fact, I was the one who gave you your powers, little one."

Blackpaw was silent for a few minutes as she thought about what this cat had said. She knew her power would have to be used at some time. It had grown stronger in the past few moons, and soon it would be too strong to control, unless if she were to use it.

Finally she said, "What is the message?"

The tom cat smiled. "You are part of a prophecy, Blackpaw. One that requires not only you to fulfill it, but also one other cat."

"What's the prophecy?"

"When the Darkness comes again, only two have the power to save. One with sharp ears and eyes, the other with strong paws and power. Together they will bring light to Darkness and all will be peaceful once more." the words sent chills down the apprentice's back, but before she could ask what the prophecy meant, the orange cat faded silently, leaving Blackpaw alone once again.

"Blackpaw, wake up." The black she-cat opened her eyes and looked up. Above her, Spiderpaw was standing with his claws unsheathed. He looked worried, like something had just happened.

"What is it?" She asked, getting to her paws.

Spiderpaw glanced around nerviously. "I heard voices coming from over by the border." He growled, lashing his tail. "They didn't sound like the Dawn Patrol."

Blackpaw let out a shaky breath as she opened her senses, letting all the sounds of each cat fill her head. It hurt terribly, but she pushed past the pain and focused on the border. In her mind, she saw a large patrol of ShadowClan cats walking across the border, heading towards ThunderClan camp.

The black apprentice unsheathed her claws. "We need to get a patrol, check it out."

"No, Blackpaw." Spiderpaw growled. "We can take them on, it doesn't sound like that many cats."

Blackpaw huffed sharply. "I have kit's in my belly. You think I want to fight a group of rogues?" She hissed.

The gray cat sighed. "Fine. Let's get back to camp and I'll warn Goldenstar."

Blackpaw nodded and followed the tom at a fast pace, still able to hear the ShadowClan patrol. Man, she thought, for ShadowClan, they sure are loud.

"Goldenstar!" Spiderpaw parted from Blackpaw and raced to where Goldenstar and Oakstorm were talking. After a few moments, Goldenstar stood up with Oakstorm and the two padded off with Spiderpaw to Goldenstar's den.

"Blackpaw? What's the matter?" Blackpaw turned to see Boldpaw padding out of the medicine cat den. "You seem tense."

"We heard a ShadowClan patrol crossing the border." The black apprentice mewed slowly. "They're on their way here."

Boldpaw's eyes became clouded with worry. "I'd better tell Cloudfang-"

"No, we don't want to cause a widespread panic." Blackpaw said and looked over to see Spiderpaw reappear from the leader den with Goldenstar and Oakstorm. The leader jumped up onto the High Ledge and yowled for a Clan meeting. Around Blackpaw, cats swarmed out of the dens and over to where the meetings were held.

"Come on, Blackpaw." Boldpaw led the way to the back of the crowd. Up above, Goldenstar was standing uneasily.

"Cats of ThunderClan, I have an announcement. Some of our apprentice's have spotted a large group of cats crossing our border. We need to be prepare to a battle. All queens, kits, elders and injured cats, stay my den. It's the largest den we have. All other cats, get ready to fight."

As soon as the meeting was adjourned, cats rushed around, some heading for the leader's den, others heading to guard the camp entrance. Blackpaw watched them go, beginning to head for the entrance when she was stopped by Birdfeather.

"You're a queen." He meowed sternly. "You need to protect your kits. Go to the leader's den."

Blackpaw snorted. "No way-" just as she spoke, a sharp pain hit her in her belly and she fell to the ground in pain.

Birdfeather rushed to her side and looked around. "Cloudfang, I think they're coming!"

The white medicine cat raced over and placed his paws on Blackpaw's belly. The apprentice was breathing heavily, her eyes wide with terror. "Yup, we need to get her to my den, now." Behind them, Goldenstar padded up.

"Are they coming?" She asked quickly. When Cloudfang nodded, the leader let out a long breath. "Alright, get her to the medicine den." Together, she and Birdfeather carried the young queen to the medicine den and left her with Cloudfang as that battle began...

"Aren't they beautiful?" Blackpaw lay on her side in the medicine cat den. Down at her belly, two tiny kit's squirmed around, hungry. Boldpaw sat next to the nest, smiling, though her eyes betrayed her worry.

"We need to move them..." She mewed softly, gazing out of the den exit. Outside, sounds of the battle were still going, cats yowling and hissing at each other.

Blackpaw gazed down at one of the kits, a bright gray she-kit with a black tail tip and ear tips. One of her ears was folded over backward, exposing the inner ear. Her tail stuck out oddly... as did her second leg. She mewed loudly and tried to get some milk before her black brother stole it all. If only they knew the hardships that were going on outside...

Hi, everyone, so here it is. I finally brought the kits in and yes, one of them is deformed. I just brought that in for some more excitement. Now, why are ShadowClan attacking, may you ask? Well, you'll see... mwahahahaha! -Goldmoonrider