Chapter 1

Saiken

"All cats old enough to catch their own prey, please join here beneath outcast rock for a clan meeting!" Millenniumstar's voice boomed from the clearing, I felt the smooth rasping of my mother's tongue across my forehead as she panicked to get me ready for the apprenticeship. A squeak escaped my throat when she poked my eye and I shied away from her. She didn't let me escape and continued to clean my black fur that matched her own.

"Mom! Stop it! I'm clean!" I squealed struggling to get away from her grasp.

"SaikenKit! Stop moving! You must look your best!" She hissed under her breath then released me. I hurried out of the bramble enclosed den, bursting out into the clearing, bright light blared in my eyes. Awakening cats poured from their dens. I felt nervous at once, my shyness returning in the large group of cats. Out of no where, someone hit my shoulder as they rushed past to get a good spot.

"Come on Jasderopaw, hurry up!" the cat who had run into me called. A blonde cat ran to catch up to him.

"Devittopaw! I'm not that fast." the blonde cat complained. I scoffed in annoyance at the two apprentices. They were made apprentices a moon before I was great, now I have to share a den with those two again… I growled softly to myself. They weren't exactly the most well behaved and loved to pull pranks. Especially the one named Devittopaw. His brother, Jasderopaw, only seemed to follow him around and follow his commands. Though he never complained about it, I could swear he didn't like being bad all the time. He was actually kinda cute when you looked at him. Jasderopaw also stood out quite a bit in the NoahClan because, unlike most of us, he was blonde. I found it quite strange actually, all the others, like me, were black, greys, and white, but this one stood out in the forest, he barely even blended in, even in Green Leaf! I decided to sit near the two brother's for some reason and padded over to a spot behind them, I sat on my haunches and wrapped my ebony tail around my paws, I gazed up at Millenniumstar, he stood on a large cave like, ledge, glancing around and waiting for the cats to settle down.

"Today, we gather here for the apprenticeship of Saikenkit, she has reached the age of six moons and as leader of Noahclan, it is my responsibility, to make, my daughter, an apprentice and warrior of this clan," My cheeks grew warm with embarrassment. Did he really have to emphasize the fact that I was his daughter? "Saikenkit, step forward." He spoke looking down at me, I felt his eyes burrow into my soul. "Saikenkit you have reached the age of six moons, and it is time for you to be apprenticed. From this day on, until you receive your warrior name, you will be known as Saikenpaw, your mentor will be Tykipon. I hope Tykipon will pass down all he knows to you."

Tykipon stepped forward his dark grey pelt with black stripes making him almost invisible within the crowd. But what really made the tom stand out was the bright, violet butterfly with diamond shaped wings on his chest, it was really a mystery of how he got it and and why it was there but the others just took it as his own appearance.

"Tykipon, you are ready to take on an apprentice. You have received excellent training from Skinntear, and have shown yourself noble, and an excellent teacher. You will be the mentor of Saikenpaw, and I expect you pass down all you know to Saikenpaw." My father finished. I turned to face Tykipon. He walked forward calmly and bent over to touch noses with me.

"Saikenpaw! Saikenpaw! Saikenpaw!" The rest of the clan cheered in unison, excitement bubbled up in my chest I'm finally an apprentice! My mother Lulubell, walked towards me her head held high in a proud manner. I trotted up proudly to my mother, and nuzzled her shoulder gently. Lulubell licked the top of my head affectionately though, her face wouldn't show it and she wouldn't admit it, I assumed she was proud of me.

"Saikenpaw, come. It's time to show you the territory," Tykipon's voice rang in my swiveled ears.

"Coming!" I called back spinning around "bye mom!" I called and ran after my new mentor feeling the fresh, Leaf Fall air run through my long jet black fur. I bounded through the clearing after Tykipon and through the wooden hollow trunk. My mentor lead me through the murky bog, clouded pools of water and large area's of mud were seen everywhere. The sounds of frogs croaking around me made me look around. Clumps of lush green ferns hung near deeper area's of the bogs.

"The marsh is an excellent place to hunt frogs along with fish, though with mud and sticks, it can be rather difficult," Tykipon spoke, though I barely heard him, I had never been outside camp before, it was amazing, the way the light seeped through the thick coverage of tree's above us, "when you hunt here, you want to stay near the trees. There is solid ground there so you shouldn't get stuck," he advised.

"Alright," I answered still looking around in awe at my surroundings. He continued on keeping to the dry patches, when I put my paw down, I squealed in shock to discover how wet and sticky it was. I leaped back to a dry patch and shook my paw rapidly, flinging bits of mud from my paws.

Tykipon sighed irritably and kept walking, this time I payed attention to where he was stepping and walked on the same dry patches. I still felt the sticky, thick substance between my toes I'll have to clean that later… I groaned. I continued to follow Tykipon, making sure to step where he stepped.

I let out a relieved sigh when we stepped back onto dry land. This was just a normal pine forest, I knew the tree's could be a bit sticky seeing as the twins normally got sap stuck to their fur, I looked around swiveling my auds to hear the sounds of creatures around us. The soft trickle of a stream caught my ears.

"This is the forest, it's near the Carrion place," Tykipon explained. I nodded in understanding. As we ventured deeper into the forest, the feeling like we were being watched caught my attention, I felt my hackles begin to rise slowly, my fur prickling in fear, I edged closer to Tykipon who seemed unfazed by the feeling. Soon a large wooden structure came into view, along with an awful stench that smelled like crowfood! I crinkled my nose trying to block out the scent. Tykipon stopped abruptly, but curiosity made me wonder why it smelt so bad over here and what could possibly be inside this place.

"Tykipon? What is this place?" I asked tilting my head, swiveling my ears around to catch any movement.

"This is the Carrion place, rats live here. I suggest you don't go here if you don't want to die, this is a place for highly trained warriors such as myself, rats won't follow you and won't usually attack you unless you invade the nest, in hard times, Millenniumstar selects a patrol to hunt here," he explained turning around and heading in the other direction, I gazed back at the wooden structure one last time before hurrying to catch up with the grey tom.

"There are two more places I need to show you," he said as we neared a new stench, the smell was strong, it burned my nostrils and made my throat hurt a bit. I coughed. What is that awful smell! I hissed. Soon we walked from the safety of the trees and into a wide open space, a large, black, stone like path drove right through the forest and under ontop of some sort of small bridge where filthy water trickled through beneath it. Suddenly I remembered hearing stories from the twins about this.

"I-is th-this a thunderpath?" I asked timidly, I pushed the burning sensation in my throat down.

"Yes," he said simply. His ears perked and he turned his head towards a low rumble started, I felt the ground shake beneath my paws. I looked in the direction fear prickled through my pelt. Great starclan what is that! I thought in panic, I wanted to turn around and run as fast as I could but my paws seemed glued to the ground. "Get down!" He commanded shoving me down. I felt my body be shoved against the ground as the earth rumbled beneath my paws. It got louder and louder, it felt like my ear drums would pop. Thankfully it passed as quick as it came, my face was squished against the dirt and grass.

"You're crushing my face," I hissed through the dirt.

"Oh! Sorry," Tykipon said and stood up licking his chest fur flat. I got up stiffly shaking my pelt from scrapes of dirt and blades of grass."Anyways! Two tree's now," he moved on trotting ahead. I grumbled to myself and walked behind him. New scents hit me, they weren't bad but they smelt like… Oak? Dampness? "I see you smell Soulclan."

"S-Soulclan? A-Are they in our territory?" I asked with a low growl.

"They live across the thunderpath," Tykipon scoffed amusedly.

"Why would they live over there? Why do they smell so weird?" I asked tilting my head.

"They smell the way they do because of their environment. Starclan knows why they live over there though," Tykipon replied with a small shrug.

It seemed like ages but we both finally made it to Two trees. My paws ached, she panted coming to the top of a rather large hill, two tall cedar trees stood with a large boulder that towered in between both trees stood.

"This is Two trees. Once every Full Moon, we go here to meet with Soulclan and talk about our happenings, then and only then, we talk peacefully with Soulclan though you never want to tell them anything essential to us like if we're low on prey, you never tell them that, anything that gives them any valuable information, I will tell you more when the time comes," Tykipon said sternly. He looked up at the sky, the sun was slowly making it's way to the horizon. "Come, when we get into camp, you can get something from the fresh kill pile, I'll have a nest ready for you," he said, and walked down the slope back towards camp. I walked after him ignoring the aching in the pads of my feet.

I was thankful that this seemed to be a shortcut, by the time I got to camp, I was panting, my paws aching miserably. As the sun slowly dipped below the horizon I felt hunger gnaw at my stomach. I gazed across the camp, everyone seemed to be sharing tongues. The twins were tackling each other in play fight as usual, Roadpaw was pestering her father Sherylpelt tugging at the scruff of his neck. Lulubell was licking her paws sharing a sparrow with Millenniumstar, Wiselypaw ate a mouse, Skinntear sat grumpily near the elders den, though strangely enough there wasn't a single elder alive in the camp. Toraidofeather sat eating a shrew near Fiidoradusk. Maashiimastorm sat irritably, as usual flexing his claws. Maitorawing sat quietly staring at his food, probably looking for omens again, he was the medicine cat of the clan so this was usual.

I sighed and picked a plump looking mouse from the pile and settled down close to the apprentice den, the thorny shrub covering the den trembled slightly catching my attention, I saw something stick out, it looked weird, much like a frog but not quite. I crouched forgetting about my mouse and bunched my haunches, it moved and looked like prey maybe if I kill it, I will be congratulated I thought and sprung at it. But at the last minute it deteriorated and I crashed into the bush feeling thorns tug at my pelt.

"Ow!" I yelped and squirmed back out. I heard an uproar of laughter coming from behind me.

"Hah! It's always the same with scraps like you!" Devittopaw sneered with a smirk across his maw.

"I am not a scrap!" I spat collecting my mouse and moving elsewhere, my pelt stung slightly from being attacked by the thorns.

"Devi..." I heard Jasderopaw whimper softly to his brother. "Devi, don't be mean."

"Just jokin around Dero," the black patterned cat shrugged with a smirk. The blonde cat only sat next to his brother, nuzzling his cheek into the darker cat's side affectionately. Devittopaw wrapped his tail around his brother and closed his eyes concentrating. A moss ball appeared in front of them both, Devittopaw swatted it at his brother who looked and pounced at it. Seeing this made me wish I still had siblings. I had been told they didn't live for more than a few days. These two sibling cats seemed to think as one, moving and thinking in perfect unison. I could see it as they chased the moss ball as if they had a strategy without even speaking to one another. It was strange, I guess they've just been training for longer than me… I thought and bit into my mouse. I pondered this while I ate, realizing that the twins had been like that for as long as I can remember. Even as kittens the two of them moved as if they shared one mind, which it sometimes seemed it did because they spoke in unison at times and seemed to know what the other was feeling or thinking. Honestly, it was a bit creepy at times. But it was how they worked, maybe, one day I could be the best warrior, I'll show them who's the scrap! I thought. I was too caught up in thought to realize Roadpaw had walked up to me.

"Saikenpaw, you can sleep next to me if you want? Theres a spare nest!" She giggled.

"Yes please, thanks Roadpaw!" I chirped with a dip of my head. At least someone is being kind to me! I thought relieved. She smiled and bounced off back to Sherylpelt merrily. I took a biteful of mouse, the rich flavor of warm fresh kill bathing my taste buds.

Legs tired, I welcomed the thought of a bed though when I walked into the apprentice den, I felt uncomfortable, I yearned to curl up into my mothers side and stay in the soft cushion of our nest. This place just didn't smell the same. I'm just not used to it… It'll get easier… I tried to reassure myself as I crawled into the dip in the ground with lush moss and feathers lining the rim, the scent of honey and fresh grass. I recognized that as Roadpaw's scent.

Sitting on my haunches I felt the cold bedding press against my black pelt. I curled up tucking my sore legs under my chest, wrapping my fluffy tail around my haunches. I didn't feel right. It felt like there should be a warm body pressed against my pelt, the scent of the nursery was gone, I didn't think I'd ever fall asleep, but eventually, the dark abyss of sleep overcame me, engulfing me in a sequence of black, sound dimming until I heard nothing.

Color flooded into my eyes when I opened them, I was in a meadow, so fine and beautiful this must be a dream… I thought wandering around, the tall emerald green grasses swayed in the thin warm breeze, monarch butterflies flew by me, their wings a vibrant orange with black lining and white speckles on their wings. I got into a crouching position, bunching my muscles and wriggling my haunches my tail waving high. I pounced feeling my fur get pushed back by the breeze. I felt earth beneath my claws as I landed on my paws, without the butterfly…

"Nice pounce, but if you really wanna catch something you've gotta crouch like this," I looked behind me seeing a taller black tom, his fur was a dark grey with darker stripe's drizzling down his back. I had to admit, he did look rather… Attractive… I nodded slowly and mimicked his movement, he seemed to be closer to the ground, his belly at least three fly lengths away from the ground. his tail was almost touching the ground but was high enough so that it didn't touch. I crouched low feeling my small legs struggle to keep my body from going too low, though my tail felt a bit heavy as I made it hover. The tom bunched his muscles and sprang, he glided swiftly through the air and landed on a leaf a fox length away. He turned towards me. "Now you give it a try," he purrs. I nod my head slowly and spring, I wasn't nearly as graceful as he was as I took off. I felt myself stumble and fall, my legs crumbling beneath me as I landed. It didn't hurt, but it was more of disappointment that settled inside my chest.

"Don't be too disappointed, nobody gets it right the first time. By way, my name is Aspenfall," the male purred.

"Mine's Saikenpaw..." I replied standing up and shaking my fur off from dust.

"It helps if you spread your hind paws a bit more," he suggested. I nodded and crouched down. This time. I had my legs spread out a bit more. "Aim for this." Aspenfall gestured to a leaf beside him. I nodded and bunched my haunches springing forward, I flew through the air feeling wind rush through my fur, I felt my claws dig into a dry leaf. I let a purr rumble in my throat when I realized this was my target.

"Nice job! You don't want your prey to smell you, so stay down wind" The tom purred with a nod of approval "now, meet me tomorrow here, I will appear in your dream to help you more, but for now it is time to wake up. Make sure to practice." Aspenfall meowed as my vision of the attractive tom faded into black nothingness.

"Saikenpaw! Get up lazy butt!" The sullen voice of Tykipon called out to me "its sunup!" He added, I groaned feeling my limbs ache slightly, I hope I see Aspenfall again… He was quite useful… I yawned sitting up and stretching out, feeling the muscles in my back stretch. My legs ached ever so slightly as if I had really went hunting, it was weird. But I shrugged it off and trotted out of the den. I searched the clearing through blurry eyes, waiting for my opticals to adjust to the morning light.

Adjusting, my eyes found Tykipon waiting at the bramble entrance. I trotted sleepily towards him.

"It's about time you got up! I'm teaching you hunting today so you can start feeding the clan," Tykipon frowned. Excitement bubbled up inside me.

"Yay!" I grinned bouncing on my paws happily. Finally! I'll be useful to my clan! I can finally start being the best warrior this clan has ever had! I squealed in excitement bounding towards Tykipon, rapid anticipation fluttered through my entire body.

The sunlit rays warmed heated my pelt as me and my mentor walked through the bramble barrier and into the lush forest. We walked slowly through the forest, a slight breeze ruffling my slick ebony fur. The dark tom came to a stop beside me.

"Listen closely to your surroundings," he breathed, I looked into his auric eyes and nodded, closing my eyes to see darkness, I inhaled the fresh Leaf Fall scent. But there was something disguised in it, as if it was wrapped in a cloak. "Breath in the air, do you smell it?" He instructed. Done and done I nodded towards him, opening my eyes. I attempted to distinguish the scent, but the only thing I've actually smelt was dead. Were the scents the same?

"I smell something…" I muttered, inhaling the scent again.

"What you smell is mouse," Tykipon said curtly, "what is the difference between hunting a mouse and a rabbit." He said quickly. I thought for a moment does it have to do with size? Or speed? I wondered pondering.

"Uh… Speed?" I guessed. Instant knowing that it was probably wrong hit me like a monster.

"Well, yes but that isn't the answer I was looking for. The answer I was so hoping you knew was-" like how am I supposed to know this!? It's not like I was able to frolic in and out of the camp whenever the hell I wanted to? I growled irritably, "Rabbits hear you before you're there, you have to be extra quiet when hunting them and more aware of where your paws and tail are stepping. A mouse on the other hand, can feel you before you get to them. When hunting a mouse, like in this case, your pawsteps must be light," the tom said quietly. I nodded realizing this was actually important information that was coming from his mouth thats a new one I mused, then tilted my muzzle in the air to check if the mouse was still there. I looked around quietly, a small brown creature was scuffling through the leaves. Nibbling on a small nut. I brought my memory of last night back to my mind, remembering Aspenfall's words of advice 'You don't want your prey to smell you, so stay down wind,' I nodded, and crouched low, my belly just above the ground, my tail low, I wriggled my haunches slightly and crept forward, my paws lightly touching the smooth soil.

Images of last night buzzed through my brain, I watched the mouse, careful of where I put my paws. Then, bunching up my haunches, I prepared to pounce. My opticals stared at the unaware rodent. I felt energy burst through me as I sprung through the tepid air. As I landed, I felt a warm body beneath my paws. Now what do I do? I wondered looking down at the squirming prey item under me. Then I realized I had to kill it, bending over I gave it a quick nip to the scruff.

The metallic juicy flavor of blood trickled into my maw, a low growl rumbled in my stomach, as tender flavors bathed my tongue. I picked the small creature in my jaws and turned around, trotting towards my mentor, a mixture of triumph and pride in me.

"Wonderful job Saikenpaw. Though I didn't expect you to get it on your first try," Tykipon commented. "Now, I believe we should bury this and then we can go collect some moss," he said. You're kidding me right? MOSS… I bet the twins are doing battle training… I huffed in annoyance and gently put my catch down.

Tykipon scrapped some dirt over it to disguise it's scent. Then he trotted back towards where the clearing in front of the camp was, me following in his tracks. Disappointment settled in the pit of my stomach I thought I was gonna learn a battle move or do more hunting… I grumbled. Tykipon halted at a large tree, lush green moss covered the sides.

"Now, this is what you do," he said and demonstrated, extending his claws to their fullest extent, and raking his claws over them quickly making a large scrap that he had clawed off to fall to the ground. "Now we don't like bark or dirt in the moss so we must do it quickly," the tom said as he used his muzzle to curl the moss into a ball. I nodded and rose on my hind paws. Unsheathing my dark blade like claws, I quickly and effectively scraped the moss off, using one paw after the other until I had scraped off as much moss as my claws could take.

Sore clawed, I looked over at my large stack of moss, Tykipon was looking at me with a sly smirk.

"What? What'd I do wrong?" I asked tilting my head. Did I do something wrong? Is moss collecting literally complicated? I wondered.

"Nothings wrong. You just learned your first battle move," he purred kindly. That was a battle move? I wondered, curiosity pulled at me.

"R-Really?" I asked in shock. Tykipon nodded.

"Now help me roll up this moss so we can deposit it into the stock, then we can go back for your mouse," he said with a smile stretched across his maw. I nodded happily and used my nose to nudge the moss into a large ball.

I opened my mouth as wide as it could and grasped the large ball with my teeth, the fuzzy plant like material tickled the roof of my mouth. Tykipon guided me back to camp, pushing through brambles, his mouth full of moss as well. I looked around the camp clearing, most of the apprentices were back, I looked towards the sky, the sun was slowly dipping towards the horizon. How long has it been? I asked myself. I shrugged it off and dropped the moss into a pile that was filled with moss next to the medicine cat den. Maitorawing stepped out, his fluffy dark grey, fur looking more shabby than usual, the pungent scent of herbs was fresh on his coat, he glanced over at the fresh moss in our mouths.

"Why thank you, we were in need of moss," he said in a deep purr of a voice. I looked over at Tykipon who set the moss down at Maitorawing's paws. I glanced over at the older feline and did the same, an uncomfortable feeling clouded inside of my body. I never did quite feel fine around him did I? I wondered. Maybe it was because he always insisted on hiding his face. Or maybe it was his voice. I didn't know, but the point was he made me feel unsafe even though he was the medicine cat. I shook away a tremor and followed Tykipon back to where my mouse was hidden.

When we got there, I scraped the dirt and brush from my prey, I picked it up by it's scruff, pride swelling in my chest. I followed Tykipon back to the camp carrying my prey. I felt it swing back and forth as I held my head high with pride. When we reached the camp, I saw Jasderopaw and Devittopaw sulking. I knew, from past experiences, this meant they had failed to catch prey. This meant, they couldn't eat tonight. Their tails were wrapped around their paws, Jasderopaw leaned against his twin I really don't see how they're twins… They look nothing alike… I commented. A pang of pity came from my chest. Sherylpelt must have let them off hard for not bringing prey back. I can't believe I'm actually gonna do this… I groaned, closing my eyes, Tykipon left to talk to Sherylpelt. I trotted towards my father with my fresh kill. I sat in front of him.

"Why hello Saikenpaw, what a wonderful catch you've got there," Millenniumstar purred, his tail brushing the tip of my ear gently.

"Thank you father. Can I give some prey to the twins, they did hunt something, a bird had taken it after, I saw it with my own eyes," I said softly. The darker grey tom with black stripes turned his head towards where the twins sulked hungrily.

"If that is what you saw my dear," he said firmly. I nodded and trotted over to the fresh kill, depositing my catch and picking up a juicy squirrel. I trotted over to the twins, the large squirrel dangling from my jaws. I halted in front of the two, waiting for them to look up or say something. It was Devit that looked up first.

"The hell do you want?" He hissed sulkily.

"I'd be talking to me kinder if I were you," I replied dropping the squirrel at their paws, "you're welcome!" I replied hotly. The ravenette cat stared at the prey, before nudging his twin.

"Dero, look, food." He grinned, licking his brother's forehead lovingly.

"I convinced my father to allow both of you to be able to eat. YOU'RE WELCOME," I said, repeating the last two words with exasperation. Devittopaw gave me a small nod before pulling the squirrel to his brother. I smiled in satisfaction and trotted to the fresh kill pile, picking out myself a plump vole, the small creature still warm signaling it was a recent kill. I felt myself purr as the delicious scent wafted into my nose making my stomach growl.

I trotted over to a secluded area near the apprentice den and lay the vole down at my paws and sank my teeth into it, a flow of blood gushed into my maw. I felt scraps of warm tasty rodent slide down my throat, quenching my hunger.

I couldn't help looking over at the twins again. Devittopaw was helping Jasderopaw get the meat off the bones. A pang of envy struck me why couldn't my siblings have lived? I wondered quietly as I picked at the last bits of meat from my vole. And why can't Jasderopaw do that himself? I wondered. I shook the feeling, looking at the remainders of the plump brown fuzzy creature, it's meat filled my belly with warmth and satisfaction.

"Thank you Starclan for giving me this prey," I breathed closing my eyes, I picked up the bones and dropped them into the bone pile to decompose. I felt the strong urge to look over at the twins. They were chatting, just simply chatting, grooming eachother in the sunlight. I had nobody to share-tongue's with. To us, sharing tongue's is not just talking to one another, but sharing prey, grooming. I may not know how Soultclan works, but I don't think they really share-tongue's like we do, in all the stories I've heard. I had learned they are so much more different than us.

I often wondered if this was true. If they were really much more different than us. A voice broke my thoughts. "All cats old enough to catch their own prey! Please join here beneath Outcast rock for a clan meeting!" The voice of Millenniumstar rang through the clearing. Everyone quickly went to Outcast rock for the meeting. Maitorawing was sitting beside my father on Outcast rock. I wonder if he actually got a real sign this time! Or if it's just a piece of fur thats floating around in the wind like last time… I thought. Hopefully, it was the first thing... then again, the second might be better if it was a bad omen.

"Maitorawing has gotten an omen from starclan, he will explain to you what it is," Millenniumstar spoke.

"Well, you see, when I picked out a sparrow, it's feathers had a spirit like shape, but it was run over by thousands of black insects running over it's light feathers." Maitorawing explained though it didn't really get much of a reaction from anyone, how was this making so much sense to this crazy cat… Must be a med cat thing… I thought.

"So what's the point? Just a rotten piece of fresh kill," Devittopaw muttered to Jasderopaw, who giggled softly in response.

"It's not just a piece of prey Devittopaw," Maitorawing spoke again, somehow he had heard the smaller cats soft words from the top of the large boulder. He was creepy that way I guess. "It's telling us that we need to ambush Soulclan," he said. The words Ambush Soulclanseemed to catch everyone's attention. The twins grinned at each other. A new feeling of anticipation ran through my paws. But then… I realized I wouldn't be able to fight… I have only been training for a day…

"I have decided, we will attack at the full moon, we will hit their camp while they wait for us to join them in the time of peace, but instead, we will be attacking those who they had left behind," Millenniumstar said. Wasn't the full moon, or well Gathering, we called supposed to be a time where we joined Soulclan to speak news and be with a truce? Wait! That gives me enough time for battle training! I squealed happily. "As for apprentices, they will be taught nothing but battle training until after the war, we need as many claws as possible," he added. YES! Look out exorcists here I come! I laughed triumphantly. My clanmates around me began to cheer excitedly. "Meeting dismissed," father spoke, jumping from the ledge. Jasderopaw and Devittopaw cheered the loudest, the blonde cat giggling insanely. I felt a rise of adrenaline drive through me I found myself cheering too, blood roaring through my ears, I felt my long sharp claws dig into the soil beneath me. My cheer grew as loud as the twins. Blood will be shed, and it wouldn't be ours, it would be the filthy exorcist's blood spilled across the ground. Plus, I always wanted to see what Innocence was. Father had told me about it many times and how bad it was, but I've really wanted to see it for myself. Whatever it was, it sounds cool to destroy. I was elated to finally get my chance to kill one of them! I just couldn't wait! Maybe Aspenfall will help me train? I thought. I guess I'll find out tonight won't I? I thought watching the sun dip below the horizon.

Everyone had stopped cheering which meant I was done too, they stood up and left to their dens, talking up a storm, excitement rumbling from them. I stood up and trotted, feeling a bit of spunk in my step. Roadpaw trotted up to me with a big grin.

"Can you believe it?" She asked. "We're gonna kill exorcists!"

"I know right! I can't wait to feel their blood on my claws!" I felt a sadistic smirk stretch across my maw.

"I wanna crush some innocence!" Roadpaw giggled.

"I've never seen it, but I want to crush some of that too!" I mused, my tail bristling.

"Daddy says, it's green, and it glows." She mused. "And he also said, it feels REALLY good when you crush it."

"Ooh! I wanna try!" I giggled.

"I know right!" Roadpaw grinned. "I can't wait!" Together, the two of us trotted into our dens, our paws tingling with the urge to fight. Little did I know, this fight was going to be brutal…

It was the full moon. I had been practicing for weeks now. Night with Aspenfall, and day with Tykipon. I had practiced and learned so many battle moves.

I walked slowly from my den, glancing up at the dark blanket covered with the glistening sequins of starclan, littering the sky. It was very peaceful and quiet, calming my nerves a bit as I felt the breeze on my pelt. Well… It was calm until the twins shoved past me, causing me to lose balance briefly.

"Hey!" I snapped irritably after them. "Watch where you're going mouse brains!" I spat, but it was no use, they had long disappeared into the crowd of Noah. I grumbled, rasping my tongue over my prickled fur, letting it settle back down and become it's usual slick self. I followed them into the crowd, not knowing what to do now.

"It's time!" Millenniumstar's voice boomed through the clearing. He bounded to the front of the clan and lead the way to Soulclan's camp, feeling a nervous wave flood inside my body, I followed, though my excitement that this day was already here, ran over what doubts I had. I saw the twins a little ahead of me. Jasderopaw was grinning and giggling madly, practically running. Devittopaw followed him also grinning widely in anticipation. Their faces determined. I began to wonder if this was their first battle.

As we walked, I felt the cold, yet soft, black dust like material of the Noahclan's territory turn to soft cushion like emerald blades against my pads. breathed in the air, it seemed… Clearer… More distinct… My nose crinkled at the scent of Soulclan. I looked around at the other Noah, their noses also seemed to be wrinkled in disgust.

Millenniumstar's tail drew up, his shoulders grew tense and he lowered himself, I watched as the other cats followed his example, their tails lowering instead so naturally, I mimicked them, keeping my body low.

I felt adrenaline pump through my body blood roaring through my ears, my opticals as alert as ever. Slowly, we all crept forward, awaiting the signal which was to be given by Millenniumstar. The camp was in sight. Just behind a few bramble berry bushes. Millenniumstar's tail went straight down that's the signal! I thought. With a burst of sudden energy, we surrounded the camp, and sprung from our hiding spot in the overgrowth. I unsheathed my claws, feeling them scrape the soil beneath my paws, everything sped past me.

"Ambush!" A Soulclan tom yowled in alarm, panicked screams filled the valley, I sped towards a she-cat who looked about a few moons older than me, her fur was almost slick, but slightly fluffy, she was a white tortoiseshell, though most of her was white showing a few gingery brown and black patches over her body.

I felt my eyes narrow as I plunged at her, bunching up my muscles and leaping into the air, scraps of grass and dirt flying from my claws as I sprung, the air gliding all too quickly by my fur. I felt my claws grasp the she-cats body, she yelped in pain, then swirled around furiously. Cyan optics glared up at me, they were filled with fury. I dug my claws deeper into her flesh feeling my blade like claws bury themselves into her shoulderblades. With a sudden jerk, I felt her reel backwards and stand on her hind legs, my claws ached from having to hold on so tightly. I felt her weight hold me down by squashing my body against the soil, I found myself pinned under her greater weight and strength. A burst of panic shot through me, all memories of training slipped from my mind. I thrashed under her weight, not even realizing her claws now pinned my shoulders down. "Calm down… Your legs aren't pinned to the ground, use them to claw her underbelly" a voice purred in my head, with sudden calm realization, I realized the voice was Aspenfall's. Following his instructions, I allowed myself to calm down, I realized Aspenfall was right, her underbelly was exposed.

Lashing out with my hind claws, I managed to scrape her underbelly, clawing at it furiously, and pressing my thighs against my body and forcefully shoving her off of my body, feeling her large weight stumble off. Growling I stood up as quickly as I possibly could, my gaze shooting daggers at her.

"Get lost fleabag!" The she-cat snarled, her fur bristling, I felt my hackles raised.

"What did you just call me?" I hissed challengingly, a growl rumbling in my throat.

"A. Filthy. Fox hearted. Fleabag…" The tortoiseshell said slowly hatred burned in her eyes. I lashed out with my claws trying to grasp her again, but she slipped away just a mouse length away from my claws. Before I could think twice, she slammed her paw into my side feeling the wind get knocked out of my lungs. I scuked in a breath of air staggering to the side, I heard a scream of pain behind me causing my focus to waver to whose it was. I distinguished it as the sound of the twins. The voice sounded like both of them combined could it be… Jasdevipaw? I thought. Jasdevipaw was who Devittopaw and Jasderopaw were when they merged together as one cat. Together they were Jasdevipaw, or Jasdevi for short. I turned my head seeing something that looked like a cat made… of… blood? What was that? I could see through it though it seemed like a liquid, it also looked sort of… Solid… It's jaws were around Jasdevipaw's throat, it's tail looked as if it was stabbed through the bigger cats left eye. I looked around as I dodged another blow towards my head.

None of the other cats seemed to really… Care… I realized what I had to do. I abandoned my fight, leaping through the crowd of cats and sprinting to the blonde, black splotched males side.

I interjected with a snarl, shoving Jasdevipaw away from the blood like creature. I shot my claws at it feeling warm, hot sticky fluid flood over my paw.

"Retreat!" The voice of Millenniumstar yowled. I retracted my paw and dragged Jasdevi paw away as best I could. I felt someone help pick him up, the weight seemed less. Suddenly, I realized there must have been something seriously wrong to make us retreat… Weren't we doing well? Then I saw the body. Oh no… I thought.