Hi guys.

Bad feeling, eh?

Yep. Just a sec.

Thank you Raven that flies at night for reviewing! Here's a brownie! *Tosses*

Not for da bad news.

Me going hiatus.

Yay.

Me going to Center for Talented Youth, and thus won't be updating as often, if at all. I'm not sure if they let us use FanFiction of not.

Sooooo... Three weeks.

Oh, also, Mom's sending my cats away. Currently grieving.

Yep.

Bai.

*Screams* I WILL MISS YOU READERS! I LOVE ALL OF YOU WHO WENT THIS FAR! BUT... I WILL BE BACK! *Bows and leaves stage while sniffling and wiping tears with a sleeve*

ENJOYYYYYYY DIS PROBABLY LAST CHAPPIE OF THIS MONTH!

-Windy (Naturethorn is not here)

Written By: Windbritsle

Edited By: Naturethorn

As Moonpaw stretched outside of the medicine cat's den, she was aware of eyes locking on her, amber, blue and green. She shifted uncomfortably, groaning a bit as she stretched out her wounds, trying in vain to open her clawed eye as she staggered over to Fuzzball, who was watching Leaftail and Grassheart practice their skills in horror. When he saw the she-cat, he let out a gasping breath and scrambled over to her.

"Why are they fighting?" He asked, fear resonating in his voice. Moonpaw watched him, trying to read his expression. It was like looking in your reflection in a puddle as a strong wind blew by. "They're just practicing their moves," Moonpaw responded. "No cats are ever harmed. But why they aren't practicing in the clearing, I don't know…" Suddenly, Leaftail struck Grassheart with her whole body, causing the older tom to stagger and fly towards Fuzzball, who was instantly squashed against the ground.

"What are you doing?" Moonpaw demanded as Fuzzball yelped in fear, holding back a cry of pain as she stretched her healing wounds through opening her jaws. The two warriors watched her, their gazes holding her steadily in their grasp with glowing amber eyes. Out of nowhere, a shoulder bumped her harshly. Turning to the side, Moonpaw saw Nightpaw, who had sneaked up to her like a shadow. "They're in trouble," She whispered, a hint of excitement bubbling in her voice. "Icestar is coming out of his den, and he doesn't look happy!" Moonpaw and Fuzzball turned to look in the direction Nightpaw's amber eyes were focused on. Nightpaw was right. The old pale blue-gray tom padded out of his nest, and ordered something harshly to the two sibling warriors. They dipped their heads, but did a good job of not showing any emotion whatsoever. After a quiet scolding, the two warriors moved off casually. Icestar cast a glance at the three young cats huddled near the Medicine cat's den entrance and snorted. Moonpaw watched, confused. The last time a practice fight had broken out in camp, Poolpaw had to take care of the elders for a moon. But yet the warriors seemed to have received no punishment…

"I have no idea what that was about," Moonpaw started. Fuzzball did not respond, but instead shook his fur and sighed wearily. "I wonder when the fox'll be gone." He raised a paw and licked at the raw, scraped pink pad. "I want to go back to my housefolk." Moonpaw cocked her head in confusion. The clan might have made a bad impression on Fuzzball, she knew. But what she did not get was why the tom was so anxious about returning to his housefolk. The legendary leader, Firestar, living only in the stories passed down from Hollyflower's deceased mother, was a kittypet named Rusty before he came to the forest. He loved it. Stormflight, one of the greatest warriors, was found in a kittypet den as Frank before he joined the clan. Why Fuzzball would want to go back was past her. But, instead, she responded, "Probably soon. I can ask the patrolling cats if you want," She offered. Fuzzball watched her with gratitude. "Thank you!" He exclaimed.

Moonpaw just nodded, and walked off slowly. The cats she walked past turned to look her, though when she caught their gaze, they quickly veered away. The were cats whispering to each other, their eyes in her direction. Moonpaw wondered if bringing Fuzzball to camp was a bad decision. She padded slowly over to Dewstripe, who was staring blankly into the sky. When she turned around, she realized that Nightpaw wasn't with her. "Dewstripe." She greeted the deputy quietly. The she-cat just nodded in quiet acknowledgement. Moonpaw blinked her one unpatched eye, and accidentally cracked open her patched-up eye a bit. "Ow!" She whimpered, but her other eye widened. For a split second, her damaged eye saw through a opening in the herbs, and saw a ghostly figure standing next to Dewstripe, his nose in her fur, his eyes filled with regret. "Snakefang!?" She gasped. Dewstripe jumped to her paws, eyes darting from side to side. She spun around a couple of times, then crumpled to the ground. "I thought I scented him," The tabby deputy of ThunderClan whimpered. Moonpaw's eyes flooded with apology, her head dipping. "I'm sorry, Dewstripe."

She backed away, and slowly padded towards the elder's den, following a strange, unknown instinct. As she entered, Hollyflower lifted her head. "Youngster!" She exclaimed quietly. "Ah, 'paws always change their minds. I feel you have something to ask me?" Moonpaw searched the elder's gaze. There was the cheerfulness on the surface, like the ice on a frozen-over lake. But Moonpaw could tell that under the many seasons of sorrow, anger, hurt, comfort, love, and hate, hidden just under the surface, where the calm, deep green water lies. "Yes, I guess." Moonpaw stuttered. "Um, can you tell me, does StarClan control fate? Do they control when you die?"

Hollyflower narrowed her eyes slightly in confusion and a bit of surprise. "Why do you ask, 'paw?" She asked, her voice gentle. Suddenly, Moonpaw felt the stone in her heart drop, and everything about the previous suns flooded out her jaws. Snakefang's mysterious death in his den, Fuzzball's strange likeness to her, and her clanmate's coldness to her. She reluctantly mentioned Icestar's irregular behaviour. "And I sa..." She trailed off. This was unnecessary, right? "-w, um, Fuzzball messing around!" She said after a moment's hesitation. Hollyflower remained quiet while the younger cat spoke, listening intently, her eyes rippling like there were fish under the serene surface. When she heard the last sentence, she flicked her ear, and sighed. "StarClan does not control fate." She answered. "They can see a cat's destiny, and yet destiny is in your own paws… look," She said, gesturing with her tail at the cats milling around the camp. "After surviving through three leaders, I learned a lot and only got closer to StarClan."

She closed her eyes and tilted up her head, allowing herself to fall back through time. "The ambitous but unwavering, loyal Bramblestar. The elderly but courageous and fair Squirrelstar. And now…" She poked her head out of the den and stared meaningfully at Icestar's den. "There are thousands of pawprints in that den, and nothing that we can do will ever change that, but the old and caring, empathetic, and mysterious Icestar treads courageously in their path." Moonpaw saw ages beyond ages of memories reflected in Hollyflower's forest-green eyes. Some memories old and long-lost, yet there were others, memories too joyful and sorrowful to be forgotten among the stars. "In times of trouble, never forget your elders." Hollyflower cautiously warned. "But no cat has the power to change your destiny. You are the only cat that can shape your future." She said, smiling. "Now, this old cat must have bored you with all her talk of rubbish. Why don't you go outside, have some fresh air, and tell this to Nightpaw? She knows you much better than I, no doubt."

SORRY! IF I EVER GET PERMISSION, I WILL UPDATE! I'M SOOOOO VERY, VERY, VERY SORRY!