A/N: Sorry I didn't get out the last update! I had a really bad case of writers block, but do not fear! It only affected the update time, not the chapter quality ;)

I would like to thank my reviewers: Sandstorm0789, Wishheart01, Silver wolf rain, and Stormfeather of LakeClan!

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NEW UPDATE SCHEDULE: EVERY FRIDAY

I'm going to try this out, we shall see if it works! XP

Now onto the story!

Chapter Six: Now I Know

Wildpaw flicked her ears happily. It was perfect weather over the field as usual. She had completely forgotten about the dark gray tabby- or was that black tabby- from her dream. No, a half-moon had passed and she could only think about her assessment today. Not her warriors, unfortunately, no, that should be in two and a half moons. Close. But this was the assessment before her warriors and the leader and deputy would both be there! She almost smirked when Lionstar announced that Shadowpaw and Smokepaw wouldn't be there. They were a half moon behind because of a- err- accident. It would have been for all of the siblings if Wildpaw hadn't caught a thorn in her paw and turned back before even leaving the camp. When Ashfall, soggy and cold, had found the two twin sisters out of camp when they were supposed to be staying in for the day because of the impending storm, he made sure that Lionstar made Shadowpaw and Smokepaw stay in camp for a moon. That kind of delay in the middle of their apprenticeship was unrecoverable from. She knew she should feel sorry for them, and deep down in her heart she did. But just thinking of her sisters made her unreasonable mad.

Wildpaw had no idea why just the sight of her sisters made her tremble; made a spectacular array of feelings wash over her pelt. But they had never gotten along and now the rift was just too deep. Ashfall had long ago given up trying to make them get along. Nobody could.

"Good luck, Wildpaw!" Hollypaw grinned, nudging her.

Wildpaw braced herself to keep from staggering to the side, "Thanks."

"Wildpaw," Lionstar waved his tail, "We're wasting daylight."

Rockpelt stood at the long-haired white and golden tom's side, his gaze measuring her up. Lionstar rolled his eyes at the delay and bounded across the field, the deputy waited a moment before joining him.

"Bye Hollypaw!" Wildpaw called over her shoulder and followed them.

The wind tugged at her long fur as she rushed after Lionstar and Rockpelt. As the cats slowed down Lionstar called over his shoulder.

"Okay, here is where we will leave you. Until sun-high you will hunt in the field and the head over to the town. There you will hunt until the sun begins to set and return to camp. Then we will talk with your mentor and let you know how you did," Lionstar gave a quick nod to Rockpelt and the two cats split ways and disappeared into the tall grass to the sides of the path.

Wildpaw looked around quickly before falling into a hunters crouch, attentively scenting the air. She brushed past the thick grass and finally pinpointed her target, a small field mouse. She forced her mouth to stop watering and sprung forward, crushing the creature under her dark golden paws. Wildpaw struggled to keep her tail from flicking happily and dug up the decaying padding of grass that covered the ground. She carefully laid it over her catch and continued on through the field.

Sun-high welcomed her with a total catch of two field mice and an unlucky hare. She returned her catch to all one place and made sure that it was well secured before venturing on to the town. She had made her home there just like the other FieldClan cats, but unlike they she and her sisters had never been completely overjoyed with venturing into the town for rich two-leg infested morsels. It seemed indecent to beg… like a kittypet.

At least it wasn't a busy town like she had heard of in the stories. It was a small place, a couple dozen houses and… oh, what were they called? Stores, that's what the others called them. Places were twolegs got their bedding materials and food and whatever else they stored in their houses. The roads were scattered randomly and easy to cross, but the first lesson still was, as always- watch out for the cars. Or 'monsters', as ForestClan called them, understandably. Remembering how Dragonflame taught her she scented the air. Sun-high was always the best time for this task, or preferably right before dusk. The scent of twoleg food slammed into her face. It might seem indecent, but the food she would be getting for the clan was better than any field mouse! She followed her noise to a nice looking house. A twoleg stooped over a large black container on poles, the smell drifting strongly from it. She forced a limp and walked up, putting on a hungry expression and with one, loud meow caught the twoleg's full attention.

His eyes softened and he made a noise. A smaller twoleg came out of the house and he pointed at her and the smaller twoleg disappeared with a grin. A second later he emerged with a bowl of kittypet food. Wildpaw's eyes immediately narrowed in disgust.

Dumb twoleg! So that's how you're going to play it then? Ok, game on!

As the little twoleg crouched down to hand her the bowl she yelped, feigning fright, and took off. Wildpaw hid behind the neighbor's house and waited a moment for the smaller twoleg to stop her search. Slowly she doubled back and hid in the bushes, waiting for the perfect moment. As the male twoleg turned around to lead the smaller twoleg inside Wildpaw made a run for the bag sitting in the grass beside the black container, she grabbed it and ran off before the twoleg even got a glimpse.

Now to get back to camp…

The bag grew cumbersome and she dropped it on the ground, hoping to lighten her load. Only finding a couple good pieces of the twoleg food patties in a smaller bag she sunk her teeth into it, her ear twitching in satisfaction.

"Well, well, well, what do we have here?" a dark shadow slid out from behind one of the dens.

Wildpaw unsheathed her claws and placed the package on the ground, "I'm not afraid to fight you."

A set of green eyes appeared only inches away from Wildpaw's own amber. And Wildpaw froze.

"You look like him, you know. Same golden pelt, dark paws, eyes, everything. If I wasn't mistaken," the she-cat brushed her black tabby tail across Wildpaw's throat, "My claws were this close to your throat when the traitor saved you and your sorry sisters."

"What are you talking about?" Wildpaw's heart skipped a beat.

"Well, maybe he can explain it to you when he arrives," the black tabby purred, "Ahh, there he comes…"

"Wildpaw!"

Ashfall!

"Well, hello traitor," the black tabby purred, "Lionstar, leave them both here and I'll give you back your deputy in a moment. You can all watch form the sidelines just as long as you don't comment and stay put. Otherwise I think you all know what will happen."

Wildpaw felt Ashfall's pelt brush against hers as the rest of FieldClan's warriors retreated.

"Ashfall, what's happening?" Wildpaw choked.

"The scum before you attacked Rockpelt and made Lionstar go back to FieldClan and get some of our warriors to come back here," Ashfall spit.

She was immediately taken aback by how her father spoke so hatefully, she had only known him to be gentle.

"Father, what is it?" Wildpaw struggled to keep the fear out of her voice.

Ashfall's eyes met the black tabby she-cat's, "Darkstar, it's a pleasure to meet you again."

Darkstar sat down on her haunches, gently licking a slender paw, "A wonderful greeting, dear Ashfall, but I do hope you remember our last encounter- when you stole my kits. I've found one, right here. Now where are my twin girls?"

Wildpaw looked up at Darkstar, her eyes widening.

"You won't get them back," Ashfall hissed.

Darkstar smirked, raising her voice so that the rest of the clan behind Ashfall could hear, "This tom stole my kits several moons ago! He took them right from my very side when I was too weak to fight him off!"

No… no. Not Ashfall! He wouldn't…

"Mother?" Smokepaw bounded forward, "It's possible… none of us look like Ashfall and Shadowpaw and I look just like you."

"Hold it," Lionstar snarled, grabbing Smokepaw's tail to keep her from getting any closer, "Ashfall, what do you have to say for yourself? Is what this rogue says is true?"

"Yes, I did take the kits, but-" Ashfall was cut off by the ginger-and-white leader.

"The rogue will stay with us for the night until we can get this sorted out. Silverbranch and Emeraldshadow, guard Ashfall. And Ashfall, not a peep out of you or I will personally rip your pelt to shreds. And rogue, you better let our deputy go," Lionstar swished his long tail.

"All in due time, I don't want this to be a trap set for me," Darkstar talked smoothly, "And after having my kits taken from me I don't feel I can trust anybody."

Ashfall was knocked away from Wildpaw's side as the clan filed out of the clearing. Wildpaw stared up at the sky for a moment.

"Come on! Don't you want to meet our mother?" Shadowpaw called out to her.

"Coming," Wildpaw sighed, picking up the package of food.

No… Ashfall wouldn't do something like that without reason. I trust him… not her.

"Wildpaw! Come on slow poke!" Shadowpaw called once again before disappearing into the crowd, presumably to find Darkstar.

Wildpaw closed her eyes briefly.

The dark gray tabby closed her eyes and her gray pelt was replaced by black.

"Shadowpaw? Shadepaw?" the she-cat's pelt now matched up with her sisters', but the markings were so different.

But now they were familiar… Darkstar!

A/N: Make sure to review if you liked it!

And Darkstar is back! :O

Chapter Question:

Who is your favorite villain in this series so far?

A) Darkstar

B) Icefang

C) Rezkin

Adios,

Willow