A/N: My kitten got her apprentice name! She's now Rabbitpaw of ForestClan and Blizzardstar a.k.a. Caspurr is her mentor!

UPDATES WILL BE MOVED TO SATURDAY!

You guys are amazing! SO many reviews!

Wishheart01: I know!

XxSilverslashxX: sure! :D

Winxclubfan1 (Guest): hmm... maybe rogue/loner/kittypet OC's? But just one per person!

Stormfeather of LakeClan: thank you!

Sandstorm0789: I know, I love romance too!

Silver wolf rain: great! I love NimblexAkain too!

Moonofbetrayal: thanks! :)

Sparkypony1: you mean like the characters don't seem to be linked together? Don't worry, I'm working on that. Within the next couple chapters everything will really start to come together.anonymous (Guest): thanks for reviewing!

Dragonflywing: That's what I was afraid of... oh well... a lot happens in this book and I don't know how to move it any slower... thanks for reviewing!

What does that make... 10 REVIEWS! *faints*

Blizzardstar (a.k.a. Caspurr): Rabbitpaw! Get some ice water to pour over Willow, I heard it wakes twolegs up!

Rabbitpaw (a.k.a. Lucy): yes ma'am *gets a bucket of really cold water* Can we get this started with?

Blizzardstar: *rolls her eyes* sure. Time for Chapter Eight everybody! Willow was very happy with this one! So... here we go! *helps Rabbitpaw push the bucket of water onto the unconscious Willow, who then turns into one big ice cube*

Rabbitpaw: whoops... maybe that was a bit to cold...

Chapter Eight: If I Close My Eyes…

I don't have to hear it if I don't want to. I can drown this out; pull the curtains down on you. It's a heavy world. It's too much for me to care. If I close my eyes, it's not there. –Headphones, Jars of Clay

Wildpaw sat in the corner of the room, watching the other apprentice's gossip. She flinched at their every comment.

"I bet Ashfall took the kits right out from under her nose!" Shrubpaw grinned, "Imagine that!" he leaped at his brother, Brackenpaw, and wrestled him to the ground.

A growl formed in Wildpaw's throat and Hollypaw pressed against her to calm the younger apprentice, "Come on; let's go hunting."

With the wind blowing her troubles away Wildpaw was able to finally talk, "It's been a half-moon now. Why hasn't anything happened? Rockpelt is still missing, Ashfall is still being guarded, and Darkstar," she spat her mother's name, "Is still running around the house like she owns everything!"

"It takes time to sort things like this out. Just give it awhile, Lionstar will take care of it," Hollypaw sighed, "But you are right. Rockpelt is still missing and I hope Lionstar demands him back soon. ForestClan will see us as weak if our deputy isn't back by the next gathering."

"Hollypaw! Wildpaw! There you both are," Northfrost rushed up, "Lionstar has called a clan meeting!"

Wildpaw's ears perked in excitement and ran back to the house as quickly as her long legs could take her. The atmosphere of the camp was tense; claws were unsheathed, visible in the ample light. Wildpaw sat down beside Hollypaw, as far away from Darkstar and her sisters as she could manage. Lionstar stood on a pile of old boxes in the middle of the room, his tail lashing angrily.

"Darkstar, this has gone on long enough. You still have our deputy and it has been a half moon. We request that you return him to us," the leader growled.

The black tabby she-cat tilted her head, "I feel it is unsafe for me to stay here any longer… very well. My three daughters and I will be leaving immediately."

Wildpaw's jaw fell, "What! I'm not going with you! I would rather die!"

Darkstar hissed, "You are my daughter. Of course you will be coming with me."

"Stop," Lionstar ordered, "All of them will decide. Shadowpaw, Smokepaw, Wildpaw, what are your decisions?"

"No way would I go!" Wildpaw spat, "I'm loyal to FieldClan, not a random rogue who just decides to show up one day and claim me as her kit."

Smokepaw hissed, "Well I'm going with my mother. Ashfall is the real rogue, not her."

Shadowpaw's eyes met Wildpaw's and then Ashfall's for a moment before turning to Smokepaw, "I'm going too. Ashfall had no right to take us from Darkstar."

Lionstar dipped his head to the two apprentices, "Very well. You can leave now. Darkstar, we expect our deputy back by sunset."

Ashfall's eyes blazed but he stayed were he sat, shouldered by Silverbranch and Shadowbreath.

"Of course," Darkstar swished her tail happily, "Come on Shadowpaw, Smokepaw."

Wildpaw watched in horror as they followed their mother out of the camp, the last thing she saw of them was Shadowpaw's black tail-tip. Fury boiled under her pelt as she watched Lionstar disappear into his den and before she knew it she was surging forward, ignoring Hollypaw's cries, until she was nose-to-nose with long-haired ex-kittypet leader.

"Wildpaw-" he took a step away from her.

"You lousy excuse for a cat!" Wildpaw's eyes blazed, "You believe a rogue over your own warrior and you don't even give him the chance to give a full explanation! You- you monster!"

Lionstar's face lit up in surprise as he searched for words to say, "I didn't want her to do anything to Rockpelt. I can listen to Ashfall's story now if that will make you happy."

"You're hopeless," Wildpaw lashed her tail, "No, it won't replace the fact that my sisters are gone, but fine, if anything it will prove to you just how mouse-brained you are!"

"I'm the leader. I suggest you don't talk to me that way," Lionstar hissed, signaling for Silverbranch and Shadowbreath to take Ashfall to him.

"You can both go now, we'll be fine," Lionstar flicked his tail for both warriors to go and leave Ashfall with them; he then faced the dark gray tom, "Okay, talk."

Ashfall dipped his head, "It's a bit late, isn't it? You just sent both of those kits with a murderer."

"Murderer?" Lionstar growled, "What are you talking about?"

"I might have taken the kits but I did it to save them," Ashfall paused, "She had already killed both of their brothers and had her claws above Wildpaw's neck when I found her and managed to stop her. Wildpaw, raise your neck so that Lionstar can see," Ashfall directed.

Wildpaw looked fearfully at him. Nobody knew… except for it would have made sense for him to know… she raised her chin and with one paw lifted up the fur on her neck.

Lionstar gasped, "How long have you had that?"

"A-as long as I can remember," she licked the fur back down again.

"That is the scar Darkstar gave her right before I took the kits. I almost lost her but she owes her life to a passing by rogue. If I recall correctly her name was Aliana."

"How do I know your being truthful?" Lionstar asked.

"You don't-" Ashfall was cut off by a shriek.

"Rockpelt!"

Dragonflame poked her head into the room, "L-Lionstar, you might want to check this out…"

Lionstar got to his paws, beckoning Ashfall and Wildpaw to follow him. As they reached the bottom of the stairs Lionstar abruptly stopped.

"Oh… oh… Ashfall," the leader turned to face him, his claws unsheathed, "You are right. I should have listened to you before… this. No kit. No apprentice. No cat should ever have to see something like this…"

Wildpaw looked away but it was too late. The image of Rockpelt's emaciated body would forever stay in her mind. The deputy was long gone.

Lionstar hurried to give orders, "Dragonflame, Northfrost, take the apprentices to their dens immediately. Mistystripe, Shadesplash, keep your kits in the nursery until I say so. Sanddust, Shadowbreath, Ashfall, come with me. There will be no body present for the vigil. I'll appoint a new deputy tonight but until then Littleflower will be in charge of the camp.

The senior she-cat dipped her head; her eyes filled with anguish as Lionstar grabbed the dark gray tom's scruff and hauled him out of the camp. Ashfall briefly touched Wildpaw's ear for a moment before hurrying after the leader.

The shock had slightly calmed down when Lionstar and the group returned during the night. Any cats that could sleep were quickly roused. A new deputy was to be named, and even with Rockpelt's death still hanging over their heads like a dark storm cloud every warrior was eager to hear if their name would come from the leader's lips.

Wildpaw kept her eyes on her paws after hearing the story of her birth. If only Smokepaw and Shadowpaw had heard… but now they were gone, perhaps forever.

Lionstar didn't make a move to jump up onto the boxes this time, instead he looked at the clan with dull eyes; "Rockpelt will be missed by all of us. He was a natural leader and the clan ran smoothly under him. May he approve of my choice, FieldClan, your next deputy will be Ashfall. I was wrong to judge him and not allow him to tell his side and now it got us here. I am sorry," the leader's tail trailed in the dust as he entered his den leaving Ashfall to deal with the chaos.

"How did a kit thief get to be deputy?!" Sunflight yowled.

"Yeah! That's no fair!" Daisyrain joined in.

Shrubpaw hissed, "One second he is under guard, the next he is deputy!"

"Next thing you know Darkstar will be a FieldClan warrior! Lionstar must have bees in his brain!" Shadesplash protested, both her young sons hissed at Ashfall.

Sanddust and Shadowbreath drew closer to the gray tom to protect him from the angered clan, but Ashfall shook his head calmly, "I know this must be disturbing to you but listen to me for just a moment. You all know what happened to Rockpelt at the hands of Darkstar. You now all know her nature. There were five kits in her litter; I hope you all understand now."

It took a moment for the clan to catch on to his meaning.

"You… you mean she killed two of her kits?" Mistystripe gasped.

Ashfall shook his head hesitantly, "Yes," he answered the dark tabby queen.

The new deputy's response only set the clan further into disarray. Wildpaw glanced around for a moment before sprinting out of the camp. Once sure that nobody was following her she slowed down to a walk, her paws treading lightly on the grass. The stars sparkled on the vast expanse of the black sky above her head and her racing heart slowed down. She made her way over to the highest part of the field and sat down, gazing at the near full moon. In the distance she heard a wolf's call. She closed her eyes briefly and tried to think of everything but the current events.

But she knew she would never be able to forget for long.

A/N: Now that I've recovered *glares at the kittypets* I'll get right to writing Chapter 9, which will be Ravenheart's, and then Chapter 10 will be Rabbitkit's and she'll get her apprentice name then.

Chapter Question: What would you do if you were Wildpaw?

A) find Smokepaw and Shadowpaw and tell them the truth.

B) return to the clan and attempt to forget everything.

C) figure out a way to convince the clan to capture Darkstar and then talk with Smokepaw and Shadowpaw.

D) run away from everything madly XP

~Willow