Elsi: Happy New Year, everybody! Here's a quick present-chapter to help rush in 2013!

Trek: I thought you hated rushing in the new year.

Elsi: I do. I find the words I just said extremely corny, but that's okay. Anyways, here's Chapter 4 for all of my readers! It goes back to the Great Five agan - know you missed them! This chapter is Mountain, and the next one will be Willow, I think. Yeah, that's right. Also, I'm sorry I didn't get this up sooner. I did finish it a few days ago, but I originally planned to post Chapter 5 with it. I'll work on Chapter 5 now, but no promises! I'm really bad at writing the beginning-middle bits of a book.

Trek: We've noticed. Anyways, Elsi doesn't own Warriors.

Elsi: We've noticed? What's that supposed to mean? TREK!

Chapter 4: Mentor and Apprentice

Darkness threatened to choke Mountainpaw, and he'd never been so afraid. He wouldn't admit that, of course. He'd been here before, and he'd trained here before. Hawkfrost hadn't hurt him, and neither had Tigerstar. Really, there was nothing to be afraid of. But Mountainpaw couldn't help but think about what Ivypool had said. Had Hawkfrost really convinced her to start a war? Why would she ever agree to that? Had she been tricked or something? That made him think about this deal with Hawkfrost in a different way. Even if he loved his next lesson, he had to say no. There was no way he could heal Tigerstar – something awful would come of it. Ivypool's story had guaranteed that.

But Mountainpaw had adored his last lesson. Hawkfrost's teachings, which were surprisingly simple, but incredibly valuable and different, had changed his training radically. One lesson! A second could put him to warrior level. Did Ivypool really know all of Hawkfrost's tricks? Could she teach him, too? That was a good deal.

Hawkfrost's blue eyes alerted Mountainpaw of his dark mentor's presence, and he forced his fear under a stony mask. The cat from the Place of No Stars looked him up and down for a few seconds.

"I heard that my brother is dead," Hawkfrost said. "That's a shame. He was your mentor, wasn't he?" Mountainpaw swallowed hard at the mention of Bramblestar. His mentor had taught him everything. He would trade Ivypool for Bramblestar any day – Bramblestar was everything that he wanted to be. Mountainpaw nodded. Hawkfrost sat back on his haunches, and Mountainpaw slowly tensed. That position looked innocent, but he saw the tension in Hawkfrost's legs. He was going to pounce when Mountainpaw wasn't expecting it.

"Your new mentor is Ivypool now," Hawkfrost said simply. Mountainpaw gave confirmation, but Hawkfrost didn't visibly react. Would the dark cat have a positive or negative reaction to his former apprentice? Hawkfrost thought for a moment.

"She was a good apprentice," he pondered. "She wasn't as talented as you are now, when she was your age. But then again, you're a special case, aren't you, Mountainpaw? Ivypool was always a particularly good trickster."

Those words made Mountainpaw uneasy. He didn't like hearing his new mentor called a trickster, not after she had gotten all of his secrets out of him. A possibility occurred to him: what if Ivypool had been…lying to him? No…he would wait it out. She would be here soon, and then he could know for sure. She wouldn't lie about something so serious.

"She helped in the organization of the war, you know," Hawkfrost went on. "It was such a shame when she turned on me. I don't know why she did it. Probably that stupid medicine cat and his lies." Mountainpaw gulped, not liking the sound of that. Jayfeather was Birdpaw's mentor, and a cat his sister trusted. He could trust Jayfeather, too. Nothing Hawkfrost said could change that. Ivypool had to come for him soon!

"Well, enough about Ivypool," Hawkfrost said. "We should begin our second lesson, shouldn't we, Mountainpaw? Then, maybe you'll help my father out of his…situation?"

"Let's see if I'm satisfied before I make any decisions," Mountainpaw drawled. He was kind of looking forward to what Hawkfrost had to show him. "Can you teach me something that you didn't teach Ivypool?"

"Of course," laughed Hawkfrost. "Now, if you'll follow me. I want to show you a very special place in the Place of No Stars." Mountainpaw decided that he didn't like the sound of Hawkfrost's laugh – but, he was curious. Was there really something that Hawkfrost hadn't taught Ivypool? And was he really ready for something that she had never been ready for?

Of course he was. Hawkfrost had said it earlier – he was way more talented than she had been. He had incredible powers. If Hawkfrost tried to trick him, Mountainpaw would be ready. Really, nothing could go wrong. Squaring his shoulders, Mountainpaw followed the ghostly warrior back into the strange trees. They walked in silence for a few moments, and Mountainpaw let his senses flow. That was one thing he really didn't like about this place – he felt so strained. He felt almost like a normal cat, and that sensation was stifling to him.

Hawkfrost paused ahead, taking a seat by what looked to Mountainpaw to be a large slate of ice. Willowpaw would like it, thought Mountainpaw. His heart gave a pang – he hoped that his sister would return to the Clans soon. They needed her, especially now.

You need yourself, Bramblestar had said. This is your quest now. Did that mean that he had to be alone in this? No, Mountainpaw knew better than that. If there was another…thing…he would need his littermates at his side to do anything about it. He didn't do well alone. Swallowing hard, Mountainpaw came to sit beside Hawkfrost at the ice.

"This is an exciting place," Hawkfrost began. "It's the one place that gives us access into the real world."

Mountainpaw's breath caught in his throat. That was pretty amazing. What was the catch? Would Hawkfrost really give away a secret so large, to him? Maybe this was a way of gaining his loyalty.

"You're going to show me how to use it?" he asked, amazed. Hawkfrost laughed.

"Don't be ridiculous," said Hawkfrost. "But I will show you something in its depths. On…a condition."

Mountainpaw wasn't surprised by this, and he waited for the catch. Surely there was one.

"For a look, you help my father," Hawkfrost ordered. His blue eyes flashed. "You are going to help him, aren't you?"

"Hey, that wasn't part of our deal," Mountainpaw snapped, trying to stop his paws from shaking. He couldn't let Hawkfrost get the better of him. "I get to decide after today's lesson."

Hawkfrost gave a tilt of his head.

"That was before I showed you the pond," he explained. "You wanted to learn something your mentor couldn't teach you, and I can give you that. But if I do that, you have to give me a little extra." Mountainpaw stared at the ice pond, watching the surface carefully. He could see anything through that slate of ice. He could find Willowpaw and check on her…or maybe he could figure out the source of the earthquake. Wasn't it worth giving Tigerstar a little…boost of energy?

Oh, where was Ivypool now? She would be able to tell him what to do – but she wasn't here.

"All I have to do is give Tigerstar some energy?" Mountainpaw asked, confused. Hawkfrost nodded calmly.

"Just enough to get him back on his feet," Hawkfrost answered. "It's easy enough. Makes things fair. StarClan got a chance to survive – why didn't my father?" Mountainpaw didn't answer, just watching the slate of ice. What could Hawkfrost show him in that pool? It would be worth anything that Tigerstar could do to him.

"And you'll show me something of my choice in the pool," Mountainpaw verified. Hawkfrost nodded. Mountainpaw took another step forward, stretching a paw over the pool. There was no reflection, and he paused. What should he do? He desperately wanted to look in the pool…but what if this was a trick?

"Alright." He said the word, very quietly, and suddenly, light exploded out of the pond. Mountainpaw was knocked backwards, and he looked up in terror as Hawkfrost walked towards him, his blue eyes gleaming in the light of the creepy pond. Mountainpaw scrambled backwards, but he couldn't escape the older cat, and he felt the energy draining from his body. No!

"Mountainpaw!" As Hawkfrost raised an unsheathed paw, a collision of grey flew into him, pushing him into the ground beside the pond. Mountainpaw slowly raised his head, feeling a greater awareness come back into him.

"You dare…" roared Hawkfrost, and he raised a terrible paw to knock Ivypool away. Mountainpaw watched his mentor yelp, and dots of dark crimson blood splashed into the pond. The water sizzled, and Mountainpaw slowly got to his paws. "Why did you come back?"

"Give me my apprentice, and I'll leave," answered Ivypool, tensing her body. Mountainpaw looked up at her, and Hawkfrost just laughed, turning back. His eyes caused a wave of pain to wash up Mountainpaw's spine, and he gasped. Ivypool's eyes spread wide.

"We made a deal, and he needs to keep his end," Hawkfrost spat. "My father is recovering now, thanks to Mountainpaw's strength. A life for a life. It's only right."

Into the pool. Mountainpaw knew the voice so well, but he couldn't place it. Who was speaking to him? Take Ivypool and go. I will save you. Mountainpaw struggled to his feet, and another pelt brushed against him. Hawkfrost looked up, bewildered, as a figure in light stepped up towards him. Ivypool cowered, blinded, and Mountainpaw found himself filled with strength. He pushed off of the ground, landing with grace near his weakened mentor. She was injured.

"Come on, the cat will help us," promised Mountainpaw. Ivypool met his eyes and nodded, and Mountainpaw cast another glance at their savior. He couldn't figure it out – was this cat male? Female? Silver? Gold? Something bright flashed towards him, and Mountainpaw shoved Ivypool and himself into the pond. He was falling, falling, falling…

XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX

Mountainpaw opened his eyes wearily, finding himself surrounded by light.

"Ivypool, Mountainpaw." It wore away for a moment, and Mountainpaw found himself collapsed on soft grass, his mentor stretched out beside him. He looked over at Ivypool, who met his eyes with a calm smile of appreciation. She had kept her promise after all. Dark scratches flittered over Ivypool's shoulder and neck – she was still hurt. Carefully, Mountainpaw got to his feet, fixing his eyes ahead of him. Who had spoken to him?

"Bramblestar," Mountainpaw breathed. His former mentor sat before them, just as majestic and noble as he had always been. "Bramblestar, what just happened?"

"Hawkfrost was not lying about the properties of the pond," Bramblestar explained. "There's one in StarClan as well. Your deal with Hawkfrost could activate some of the powers. You're lucky Ivypool rescued you, or Hawkfrost would have taken your life to save Tigerstar." The former leader of ThunderClan frowned, his amber eyes glittering. "I'm disappointed that you got so interested in the darkness."

"I'm sorry, Bramblestar…" muttered Mountainpaw, bowing his head. Shame washed over him. He had almost destroyed the Clans, hadn't he? If Tigerstar had taken his life…

"You will have to account for your actions, of course," Bramblestar rumbled. "Tigerstar will recover. You were rescued by a good friend, but their life will be taken."

"No!" cried Mountainpaw, standing straight. "That can't…"

"They will be alright…for now. But lives will be taken, Mountainpaw."

"Bramblestar…" murmured Mountainpaw, bowing his head. One of his Clanmates would die, all because he had listened to Hawkfrost. Ivypool draped her tail over his shoulder.

"Please, Bramblestar…" began Ivypool. "Help us now. Can you tell us about the earthquakes?" Mountainpaw glanced up at her. Earthquake? Was that what the shaking earth was called? Would there be…more? Horror caught in his throat.

"They've been predetermined," Bramblestar explained. "The revival of Tigerstar will, unfortunately, make the earthquakes more deadly for ThunderClan. They shake the entire area; the other Clans will suffer as well."

Mountainpaw shook his head – had his actions hurt the other Clans? Or were they going to all fall, and was that determined? There was no way! He had power over the earth; he would stop the earthquakes before they collapsed the Clans! He just had to.

"Can you help us?" begged Ivypool. "A warning or…anything?"

Bramblestar's pelt glowed with stars, and Mountainpaw watched as his former mentor stared at him.

"You need your littermates, Mountainpaw," Bramblestar said to him. "And you will come to need Ivypool as well. In the end, only you can stop disaster from happening again."

Ivypool glanced down at him, and Mountainpaw watched Bramblestar. Acceptance settled into his heart. All of this was his fault, anyways, and he would work as hard as he could to help the Clan again. Once they got Willowpaw back, everything would be easier again! Then, he could stop the earthquakes, and no more cats would die. That was all there was to it, right? Right.

Bramblestar's starry outline began to fade, and Mountainpaw's heart constricted. He didn't want his friend, his role model, to go. Why had Bramblestar left him alone to deal with this? Then light pressed around them, and Ivypool vanished from beside him.

Mountainpaw's eyes shot open, and the darkness of reality, of the apprentice's den, came back around him. He was momentarily dizzy, but a deep breath slowed his fear. Amber-turquoise eyes flickered up, and Mountainpaw shook his head when he recognized Littlepaw's gaze.

"Are you okay?" Littlepaw meowed. "You've been twitching a lot…I was starting to get worried."

Mountainpaw looked over at Skypaw, knowing that he should only tell the secrets to all of his littermates.

"Tell you later," he said quietly, and he curled up again to think. Bramblestar was right. While he needed Ivypool, his mentor, and while he needed all four of his littermates, there were certain things that only he could do. If this was his quest, then he would do it. Alone.

Elsi: I'm not all together thrilled by this chapter, but it's pretty cool. I've got the pool idea worked out and such. And who was that mysterious cat who rescued Mountainpaw and Ivypool? Honestly, I'm not doing a god job of making surprises come out of nowhere, but that's okay, right?

Trek: Maybe you're just underestimating your vague-ness.

Elsi: Maybe I am. I don't know. What did you guys think? And are you excited to see what happens with Willowpaw and Doveheart? I AM! I'm also excited to get REVIEWS! Please? Please? For Christmas?