Disclaimer: The Warriors series doesn't belong to me, so please don't sue me. Erin Hunter created it.

Now, hopefully the Prologue was nice enough to get some peoples' attention, so from here on is the actual storyline of the first 'book' in my fanfiction series. Enjoy!

Remember that this is set ~50 years after Firestar's death, and ignores all events of the third and fourth series, as I do not like their concepts. They still live at the lake, but boundaries may have shifted some. Who knows? Only time can tell what has happened in 1200 moons.

(Miffin's note: Hi guyz! (waves like an idiot))

Chapter 1

The first few slivers of the pale dawn light of leaf-fall slithered its way over the ThunderClan camp, as three cats slowly padded their way into the clearing. A large black and white tom shook the few remains of moss from his fur, while a slender pale-ginger tabby pushed his paws forward as he stretched for the first time that morning. The final cat, a ginger she-cat with a white muzzle and tail-tip, stifled a small grin as she licked her paw and drew it over her ear.

"It seems like Lightningclaw is still half-asleep…" She purred, drawing her paw over her ear a few more times for a thorough cleaning.

"He'll wake up soon enough, Foxheart." The large tom growled, swishing his tail dismissively.

"Hey, I can hear you, you know…" Lightningclaw muttered dryly, though there was a twinkle of playfulness in his eyes.

"Enough talk." The black and white tom meowed, "Are we going on the Dawn Patrol, or aren't we?"

"Yes Badgerclaw!" Both cats mewed, nearly in unison, getting to their paws. "Just let me get Sparrowpaw, the lazy furball…" Lightningclaw growled, quickly dashing off to the apprentice's den. Moments later he re-emerged with a small brown tabby in tow, hissing angrily at the tom. By the time they reached the two awaiting warriors, the apprentice's head was bowed down embarrassedly, his ears flattened against his head.

Lightningclaw looked furious as he stepped beside Foxheart, but she could tell that it was more so with himself than his lazy apprentice. Both she and her brother were made warriors more than nine moons ago, but this was his first apprentice. She knew he wanted to impress Dawnstar—their sister and ThunderClan's leader—with a warrior worthy of the clan, but it was turning out to be more difficult than he thought. All Sparrowpaw seemed to want to do was eat and sun himself in the few remaining rays of light they had before leaf-bare. His training was taking a turn for the worst…

Foxheart quickly licked Lightningclaw's ear affectionately.

"Don't worry, things will get easier by leaf-bare." She whispered encouragingly.

"That's easy for you to say…" Her brother meowed quietly, "you haven't had an apprentice yet…"

With a flick of his tail, Badgerclaw led them towards the bramble tunnel and vanished outside quickly; the three cats following close behind. The air outside of camp was cold and unmoving, making them shiver as they headed towards the ShadowClan border. Their ears were pricked, and their eyes scanned the forest quickly for any signs of ShadowClan intrusion, but there were none, not even at the stream marking their borders.

"Hmph," Sparrowpaw sneered, spraying a scent marker on nearby a tree, "it looks like ShadowClan's too scared to stick their noses into our territory today."

"Don't get too cocky, Sparrowpaw." Foxheart warned, batting his nose gently with her tail. "Just because we haven't had trouble with them today, doesn't mean we won't have trouble tomorrow."

"I know, I know…" Sparrowpaw murmured, flicking an ear in understanding and started off again. Lightningclaw only sighed sadly at his apprentice's arrogance as he padded after him.

The cats moved on, following the stream to the northern boundaries of their territory, then circling back to check on the WindClan border. The sweet, sticky scent of leaf-fall hung thick in the air as the cats raced through the forest. The normally green-leaved trees were now brilliant shades of orange and red, and leaves littered the ground everywhere they looked, lightly crackling under their paws as they ran. Some frost even coated the ground, chilling their pads when they stepped on it. The patrol didn't travel far when the sweet scent of leaf-fall suddenly mixed with that of another cat's. They slowed their pace cautiously as the cat came into view, then nodded their heads in acknowledgement to her.

"Hi, Poppystripe!" Foxheart mewed, briefly touching noses with her sister. "You're sure out early this morning."

"I came to collect marigold." The young she-cat mewed, curling her tail over her forepaws neatly. "We're starting to run low, especially after Bristlepaw's accident a few days ago…"

"Will he be okay?!" Sparrowpaw demanded, remembering how his den mate had shot after a squirrel, only launch himself straight over a small, rocky ledge near camp.

Poppystripe waved her tail calmly.

"He'll be fine, Sparrowpaw. All he needs right now is rest; he'll be hunting with you by tomorrow if his cuts are fully healed."

Sparrowpaw's shoulders relaxed a bit and he nodded his head to the medicine cat. "Thanks, Poppystripe."

An amused purr rose in the she-cat's throat. "No need to thank me, Sparrowpaw. It's my job as ThunderClan's medicine cat to take care of injured cats."

"You're doing a good job…" Badgerclaw meowed, noticing the tall pile of bright yellow flowers beside her.

"Oh, a compliment from the clan deputy!" Poppystripe widened her eyes in mock shock, "I'm so honoured!" She purred, bowing her head with a playful grin.

A small growl rumbled in Badgerclaw's throat, but it was neither angry nor hostile. He flicked her ear gently with his tail, and heaved himself onto his massive paws once more.

"Let's go then, you lazy furballs. There's a lot more territory to patrol before sun-high!" The three other cats jumped to their paws eagerly, meowing a quick "good-bye" to Poppystripe, and dashed off after their deputy.

The dark tabby gave a small mrrow in amusement before going back to her work.

There was no difference at WindClan's border as there was at ShadowClan's, and the cats turned back after placing fresh scent markers, just in case WindClan was planning on an invasion. They kept a decent loping pace until Badgerclaw motioned his tail for them to stop. He quickly looked up at the sun, then back to the three cats and spoke.

"We'll stop to hunt here; I'm sure you're all hungry by now." He meowed to them all, but it was obvious that it was pointed mostly towards the apprentice.

"Finally!" Sparrowpaw mewed, quickly vanishing into the undergrowth.

"Wait for me!" Lightningclaw yowled after him in vain, sighing and chasing after him with a quick "good-bye" to Foxheart.

"That apprentice is going to be trouble…" Badgerclaw meowed quietly as he settled himself down, ignoring the tempting scent of prey all around him.

"I agree…" Foxheart mewed near-silently, wrapping her tail around her paws for comfort. "I just hope that Lightningclaw will be okay…"

Badgerclaw snorted. "He'll be fine…only his pride will be hurt if his apprentice decides on a soft kittypet life rather than that of a warrior's."

Foxheart nodded miserably, knowing Badgerclaw was right. She let out a tiny sigh as she kneaded her paws into the ground.

"I hope he doesn't choose a Kittypet life…if not for Lightningclaw's sake, for the sake of ThunderClan…"

Badgerclaw nodded, his eyes closed to tiny amber slits.

"ThunderClan needs all the powerful warriors it can get…and yet we only have two surviving kits in the nursery this season…" Foxheart went on, kneading into the earth harder. "Two kits gone from Green Cough…another one drowned in the lake…" She shivered, fluffing her fur up as if it were a shield against her troubled thoughts. "Is this really StarClan's will?"

Badgerclaw said nothing, only continuing to look forward, his eyes still contrasting amber slits to his white-and-black head. Both cats were silent for a long time, listening to the sounds of the forest around them, until Badgerclaw finally stood up, shaking a few clinging leaves from his thick fur.

"We'd better go and find them and return to camp. Dawnstar will be wondering where we are." He meowed curtly.

"Alright, Badgerclaw." Foxheart nodded and stood as well. "Let's go find those two lazy furballs!"

Just as the ginger she-cat spoke, Lightningclaw stepped into the small clearing from under a thick layer of undergrowth. As he shook a few orange and red leaves from his fur, he made a small disapproving look.

"Sparrowpaw's not with you?" He meowed, turning his head to look around the entire clearing.

Foxheart shook her head. "I thought he was still with you!"

Badgerclaw's eyes narrowed and he flicked his tail irritably.

"That foolish apprentice…let's find him, now!"

Both cats nodded quickly and sped through the undergrowth, Badgerclaw in the lead. The massive tom lifted his head to scent the air and grunted angrily.

"I couldn't scent him either!" Lightningclaw meowed desperately, his green eyes wide with worry. "What if he's in trouble?!"

"Calm down, Lightningclaw." Foxheart mewed as comfortingly as she could. "Maybe he just went back to camp…or chased a squirrel farther than he expected."

"Or chased a squirrel off a ledge!" The ginger tom yowled, his eyes wide with the memory of Bristlepaw's accident fresh in his mind.

"Stop mewling like a kit and start searching then!" Badgerclaw hissed when a piercing scream of pure terror ripped through the air.

"Sparrowpaw!" Lightningclaw gasped, charging through the undergrowth towards his apprentice's voice. Foxheart and Badgerclaw followed the slender tom quickly, only to screech to a halt as a strong, rank scent filled the air, chilling their bones.

"Badger!" Foxheart yowled in shock and dismay, recognising the terrible fresh scent. Moments later, the brown apprentice raced at them, amber eyes wide with fear as a giant black and white beast lumbered after him quickly, crashing through the leaves and bracken as if they weren't even there.

"Help me!" He cried desperately as the badger swiped a powerful claw at him, narrowly missing him by a mouse-length. The apprentice squeaked in fear as Lightningclaw suddenly flung himself straight over his head and at the badger's face, latching onto it with his thorn-sharp claws.

The beast flung its head in agony, howling so loudly that birds flew from the treetops as it tried to claw Lightningclaw from its face, but the slender tom was faster! He suddenly jumped off of the badger when its claw was only a mouse tail's-length away and turned around quickly, hissing and spitting threateningly.

Scarlet drops of blood welled from the beast's head, and the look of pure hatred in its beady eyes told the cats that it had no intention of fleeing this battle…not yet, at least. Foxheart and Badgerclaw moved to the badger's sides, ready to fight it off as Lightningclaw swished his tail for Sparrowpaw to stand back. The apprentice obeyed instantly, his eyes still the size of moons as he watched the three cats lower themselves into a battle-ready position, before the badger suddenly struck a claw out at his mentor.

The tom hopped back and the battle began. Foxheart flung herself at the badger's left, while Badgerclaw did the same at the right. More blood welled from the beast as it howled in pain and snapped its powerful jaws angrily at Lightningclaw, just for the tom to nimbly move away when it was only a tail-length away. He then quickly countered as the badger shot its neck back up for a second strike, and slashed at its muzzle as hard as he could.

The badger screamed again as more blood dribbled down from its face, and it took a step back, shaking its head hard in a desperate attempt to make the pain stop. Foxheart and Badgerclaw quickly flung themselves away from the beast as it looked at the cats with its beady black eyes, having a second thought about this battle. Foxheart then lowered herself near the ground as if she was about to pounce at the beast, and it took a small step back. They were winning!

Just then, everything went wrong. The ginger she-cat didn't know what hit her as she was suddenly swept off her feet and into a thick tree by a powerful swipe of some kind. She moaned loudly as she heard the apprentice's voice yowling her name desperately, but screamed in shock a moment later. Weakly, Foxheart opened her eyes into tiny slits, only to see a second badger hovering over Sparrowpaw, its sharp fangs bared and saliva dripping from its mouth.

Its mate…! She thought, suddenly noticing Lightningclaw and Badgerclaw on the opposite side of the badger, cornered by the first one. They wouldn't be able to help the apprentice!

Foxheart desperately tried to get to her paws, but her body felt so heavy after the impact. Her green eyes widened in panic as she knew no one would be able to protect Sparrowpaw now.

The apprentice backed up slowly until he was corned against a tree, his legs shaking hard. "H-help me…" He mewed in terror as the giant badger hovered over him, more saliva running from its gaping jaws.

"R-run, Sparrowpaw…" Foxheart rasped urgently, but it was barely audible…and even if Sparrowpaw had heard it, she knew he was too afraid to run. The apprentice was in shock!

Is this it for us…? Foxheart wondered, trying to force herself onto her paws again. She managed to boost herself partway up, then exhaustion took over, drawing her body back to the ground like a stone. She helplessly looked up at her three clanmates, wishing she could fight alongside with them, but her paws and body would not budge. She knew that if worst came to worst, Badgerclaw and Lightningclaw would be able to flee; they had not taken as many wounds as she had, and the way they were trapped faced towards the ThunderClan camp, where they could call for reinforcements…but Sparrowpaw and herself were not so lucky. She could barely raise a paw to defend herself, and the apprentice had only started his training little more than a moon ago; he was in no shape to take on a full grown badger!

She grit her teeth together hard as the images of a mauled apprentice worked their way into her mind, terrifying her. The badger was taking its precious time, as if it knew just how much the tension was driving her mad. She tried to spit, to hiss, to draw the beast's giant head away from Sparrowpaw, but it either did not hear her, or was not interested in the injured she-cat. Foxheart could only watch miserably as badger opened its jaws wide, thrusting its head back for a killing strike.

StarClan help us! She prayed, clamping her eyes shut for a brief moment, but a furious yowl split through the air a moment later. Foxheart's eyes shot open just in time to see a dark ginger cat fling itself into the battle, barrelling into the badger's flank. The creature's tiny eyes widened in surprise as it tilted over off balance, then crashed onto its side. It roared loudly in annoyance, attempting to swipe its large claws at the cat, but it kept well away, standing between it and Sparrowpaw with bristling fur.

"P-Poppystripe…?" Foxheart mewed quietly, wondering where her sister had learned such reckless fighting moves until the wind shifted, carrying the new cat's scent towards her. She screwed up her face as the scent of Twoleg and carrion wafted into her mouth and down her throat, making her want to retch. Swallowing hard to rid the horrible stench from her mouth, she strained her eyes to get a better look at their saviour.

It was a dark ginger she-cat with a bit of golden fur on her stomach, neck and tail. Her pelt was covered in scars from many old battles, and one of her ears was torn with only a few shreds remaining. Her eyes were a piercing, icy blue, and she stood at a strange, twisted angle as she faced the ferocious beast, as if trying to guard two things at once.

The badger slowly forced itself up, its white claws gleaming in the light of sun-high. It took a small step towards the newcomer, but she didn't flinch; her eyes locked with its. The badger moved a paw to step forward again, but suddenly halted as a gruff barking broke out behind it, followed by the sound of crackling leaves and snapping branches. It turned its massive head to see its mate fleeing the battle; a blood-covered Badgerclaw and Lightningclaw hissed after it in victory.

The badger hesitated. Its black eyes slowly moved from its fleeing mate, to the strange new cat before it. Scraping its claws into the earth hard, it snorted loudly and turned its stump tail and fled through the undergrowth past the two warriors, ignoring their presence completely.

Foxheart's heart beat hard, before finally allowing a long sigh of relief. Her eyes slowly drifted from the badger's torn path to the newcomer once more, noticing the two other warriors looking at her as well. The rogue seemed to notice this too, taking a small, timid step away from the cats, her fur bristling and some fear scent running off of her.

Slowly, Badgerclaw stepped forward and dipped his head in greeting to the she-cat, a gentle looking in his amber eyes. The cat's tail twitched nervously, but her fur slowly began to lie down.

"Th-thank you…!" Sparrowpaw mewed shakily as he stepped beside the Rogue.

Suddenly, as if the whole of ShadowClan had jumped out at her, the she-cat's fur bristled again and she jumped away from the apprentice as if he were a threat, hissing at him. Sparrowpaw jumped back in surprise as well and quickly retreated next to his mentor.

"We don't want to hurt you." Badgerclaw mewed calmly, taking a seat to show her no hostility. Though his gesture was non-threatening, the she-cat still looked unconvinced and took a tiny step away from the clan cats.

Foxheart shut her eyes tightly, then summoned all of her strength to stand. She blinked hard a few times as she attempted to ignore the pain, finally forcing herself to limp to her brother and deputy, her tail dragging on the ground and her head bowed in effort. Lightningclaw instantly noticed her and lent her his shoulder to support her while Sparrowpaw nervously looked on between him and the Rogue.

"Get Poppystripe." Lightningclaw ordered curtly, and the apprentice raced off, a look of relief on his face.

The cat began to look nervous again as she watched the apprentice run off.

"Don't worry," Foxheart rasped kindly, "Poppystripe is our medicine cat. She can help heal you."

It wasn't until then that Foxheart finally had a good look at the she-cat. She suppressed a gasp as she saw how sickeningly thin she was. Bones could be made out under her unkept pelt, and strange black tar was smudged around her fur. She was clearly sick and tired from the way she wheezed in effort with every breath, and her blue eyes were dulled and half closed. Foxheart gave Lightningclaw a worried glance, but the tom gave no sign of notice. After what seemed like moons of waiting though, Sparrowpaw finally rushed back.

"I brought her!" He gasped, taking a quick breath, "she wasn't at the marigold patch, so I had to go to camp—" he explained as the dark red tabby stepped into the clearing, quickly followed by two other cats.

The she-cat's head jerked and fear scent rushed off of her in waves as she looked at the lean new warriors.

"Don't worry, we're friends." One of the cats mewed, her blue eyes watching her sympathetically. She had extremely pale ginger fur, to the point of an orangey-white, and a caring expression on her face. The other cat, pure black with piercing amber eyes, nodded his head and sat next to her in high posture.

Instantly Poppystripe moved next to Foxheart and dropped a few herbs, nosing some tiny black seeds forward. Foxheart gratefully lapped up the poppy seeds as her sister quickly nosed her for the worst injuries, then sorted through her herbs silently for the correct mixture to give. She then moved on to the other two injured warriors next. Wearily, the she-cat crouched down, still obviously not convinced that the ThunderClan cats meant her no harm.

Poppystripe slowly padded towards her after checking Badgerclaw's and Lightningclaw's scratches. The she-cat's eyes watched her carefully as the medicine cat nosed her for any injuries before sitting back up with a small face.

"That's a bad cut…" She murmured half to herself, worry clouding her eyes.

Foxheart blinked, just noticing a long gash extending from the center of the Rogue's chest to her left shoulder. It was barely visible with her deep red fur, which she guessed was why she never noticed it before. That would also explain the guarded stance… She thought, slowly lying down as her muscles screamed for rest. That injury looks bad; no wonder she was leaning off of it.

"Sparrowpaw, we'll need more cobwebs…a lot more." Poppystripe mewed urgently and the apprentice shot off again. She began inspecting the wound again as the tom left, and sorted through her pile of herbs for one of the marigold flowers she had just picked that morning. Carefully, she began to chew petals until they were a fine paste and gently pressed it onto the Rogue's wound.

The tabby flinched in pain for a few moments, then slowly began to relax. Sparrowpaw quickly returned with a large wad of cobwebs wrapped around his paw and gave them to Poppystripe, who quickly pat them into place on the scar.

"That should be better…" Poppystripe mewed, but Foxheart knew her sister well enough to see that something was troubling her. She opened her mouth to speak, but it was her other sister that spoke first.

"Are you feeling any better?" She asked, taking a small step forward. This time the Rogue didn't flinch back, and held her gaze a bit more evenly. Slowly, she nodded and dipped her head politely, feeling the air of authority surrounding the pale she-cat.

"Good… I am Dawnstar, the leader of ThunderClan, and in the name of my clan I give you my thanks…things could have turned out much worse than this if you hadn't shown up…"

The tabby dipped her head deeper then slowly raised it again, watching the warrior beside her carefully.

Dawnstar blinked as she noticed the Rogue's gaze and waved her tail curtly. The black warrior dipped his head quickly and moved to sit beside Badgerclaw.

"Don't worry about them. They won't attack you; not after what you've done today." Dawnstar coaxed gently, motioning them with her tail. "Allow me to introduce them to you. The black one is named Blackblade. The one beside him is Badgerclaw, my deputy and his brother." She quickly flicked her tail towards the other cats beside Badgerclaw. "That is Lightningclaw and Foxheart, my own siblings, and you already know Poppystripe's name; she is also my sister." Her tail flicked to the brown apprentice behind Lightningclaw. "And that is Sparrowpaw, Lightningclaw's apprentice."

The Rogue slowly nodded, though did not look very interested in the formal introductions, making Dawnstar's tail twitch slightly in irritation.

"Would you mind telling us your name?" She questioned kindly.

The Rogue hesitated, looking around at all of the cats carefully, before reluctantly nodding her head.

"My name…is Blaze." She answered, still wearily eyeing the ThunderClan cats.

Dawnstar nodded. "Are you a Rogue then?"

Blaze narrowed her eyes slightly.

"I guess." She meowed dryly, her tail tip twitching irritably.

Dawnstar's ear flicked in interest, and Foxheart couldn't help but feel her own curiosity rising. Her answer was a peculiar. The way she acted was as though she was not a Rogue, or at least had not been one for long, but her scent was like nothing they had ever experienced before. It was nothing like the clans' scent in the forest, nor was it like that of a pampered kittypet; the tar on her pelt proved it. But the battle moves that she had shown today…if only the one, reckless tackle, was not something a Rogue would know, nonetheless use for anyone's sake but their own.

"I guess," Dawnstar echoed, looking up at the sky thoughtfully. "That is an interesting way to respond…"

Blaze sniffed angrily and lifted her head to glare at the clan leader, but Dawnstar took no notice. After a few heartbeats more of no response, she finally flicked her tail irritably and rose to her paws, being careful about her left forepaw.

"I will take my leave here." She hissed, turning her back to the ThunderClan cats.

Poppystripe jolted up from her seated position next to Blackblade and quickly padded next to Dawnstar, a look of worry plastered all over her face.

"You shouldn't try to move, let alone leave in your condition!" She mewed frantically, "You've lost a lot of blood, and the forest is dangerous."

Blaze swivelled her head to look at the dark red tabby; her eyes slit and glared at her coldly. "I will make my own decisions. Not you, clan cat." She hissed fiercely.

Poppystripe looked taken aback, but continued to persist that the she-cat at least rest a bit longer before leaving. But the Rogue waved her tail dismissively and began to pad on, ignoring it all. Finally, the tabby bowed her head in defeat and slowly sat down, worry and sorrow clouding her eyes.

"Very well then," Dawnstar mewed, resting her gaze back on Blaze. "It was a pleasure meeting you, Blaze. If you ever need anything from ThunderClan, feel free to ask." She dipped her head politely to the Rogue. Blaze waved her tail in acknowledgment to Dawnstar's offer, limping towards the undergrowth.

Foxheart's heart ached in sympathy for Poppystripe, but she dared not move, or risk pulling even more muscles out of place. Finally, when Blaze had vanished completely into the undergrowth, Dawnstar stood up and licked between her sister's ears comfortingly.

"It's not your fault that she doesn't want to listen to you, Poppystripe." She coaxed gently. "She's a Rogue; she doesn't know that you want to help her."

For a second, Poppystripe looked at Dawnstar as if she was completely lost before quickly pulling herself together and nodding.

"I understand that, Dawnstar. I was just worried…" She mewed, looking to where Blaze had vanished as if she would return at any moment. "It's leaf-fall already, and it'll only get colder from now until new-leaf." Her eyes narrowed slightly as her gaze slowly drifted back to the clan leader. "That was a deep cut; without a warm nest and someone to look at it carefully…" She stopped herself from finishing. They could all see what the medicine cat feared.

Dawnstar watched Poppystripe unblinkingly for what seemed like moons, before finally nodding her head in understanding. She turned to look back at her warriors, then towards the direction of ThunderClan's camp. Flicking her tail, Dawnstar nodded to them as well.

"You can all return to camp for now. You're also excused from your regular warrior duties for the day as well. Have a good rest…and send another patrol to look for those badgers and chase them off of ThunderClan territory." She ordered, turning her gaze to the black warrior. "Blackblade, you will take over Badgerclaw's deputy duties while he rests for the day.

Blackblade looked uneasy at the order, glancing at his brother quickly for guidance, but the tom only stood tall and watched him expectantly.

"Let's go back." He finally meowed, waving his tail for the rest of the warriors to follow.

"What about Foxheart?" Lightningclaw mewed, stepping close to the ginger she-cat. "Should we bring her with us?"

Poppystripe looked from the warriors to Dawnstar slowly, unease filling her eyes. It was obvious that she wished to speak to Dawnstar alone, but Foxheart's injuries were the worst out of all of them, and it was her job as medicine cat to make sure that she would get better sooner than worse. Finally, she shook her head.

"We'll bring her with us when we're ready to go back." She explained, "It would be best if she rested a little longer before trying to move again."

Lightningclaw nodded his head and quickly followed after Blackblade and Badgerclaw, Sparrowpaw at his side. Foxheart was glad to see the apprentice acting like his mentor's shadow—as he should have been before—if only because of the danger of the badgers had passed.

As the cats began to lope back towards camp, Foxheart suddenly felt uneasy. Looking up at her siblings, she noticed just how awkward it would be for her, a warrior, to be in the middle of a private discussion between clan leader and medicine cat. It was not her place to hear whatever they had to say. It was Badgerclaw's place, their deputy…or the senior warriors like Morningwind or Blackblade! She could barely even consider their kinship a reason to be here. Though they were her siblings, Foxheart had never been very close to them. She and Lightningclaw were born seasons after the two, and Dawnstar was deputy and Poppystripe medicine cat by the time she was an apprentice. Though they played with her and her brother when they were in the nursery from time to time, at times, that seemed to be the closest they ever were to her.

"If you want, you can leave me here and talk a ways off," she mewed hastily, "I could always yowl if there was any trouble."

"Don't be absurd." Dawnstar meowed flatly, flicking Foxheart's ear affectionately with her tail before sitting down next to her. "What good would it do any of us if those badgers returned when we were too far away to help you?"

Foxheart nodded solemnly and curled her tail around her side tightly. She looked from Dawnstar to Poppystripe silently before finally accepting herself as part of their conversation, however uneasy she felt about it.

"So, what was it you wished to speak to me about?" Dawnstar asked simply, her blue gaze watching Poppystripe calmly.

The dark red she-cat began to pace around in small circles for a matter of moments, finally sitting down forcibly. Her amber eyes looked between her leader and younger sibling seriously, until she stood once more and began to pace again, her tail thrashing as she starred at the ground as if in deep thought.

Foxheart nervously looked from Poppystripe's pacing to Dawnstar, who seemed to regard it as if it were nothing new. Shifting uncomfortably, she almost missed Poppystripe suddenly fling herself to where the Rogue had previously stood, staring at the ground with large eyes. Squinting, Foxheart's breath was caught in her chest as she noticed a deep pool of blood sitting before the she-cat; the ghostly reflection of her amber eyes glowing from its abyss.

Slowly, Poppystripe's whiskers twitched and she returned to seat herself before Dawnstar respectably. Dipping her head, she muttered a short "sorry", then looked back into her leader's eyes as if nothing had happened moments ago.

"Well?" Dawnstar questioned again gently, flicking an ear towards the pool of blood. "Has StarClan sent you a message, Poppystripe?"

Poppystripe dipped her head once more in a small nod.

"They have, Dawnstar…but it is not something to be rejoicing about…" She answered curtly, her amber eyes glancing from the pool back to her leader.

Dawnstar's eyes narrowed slightly, but she showed no sense of unease. Foxheart's own fur was beginning to bristle with anticipation and terror. What could StarClan have possibly warned her about?

"Go on…" Dawnstar growled lightly, her own eyes flicking to the pool uneasily and back to her sister. "What did StarClan tell you?"

Poppystripe shut her eyes for a short moment, as if it would protect her from StarClan's Prophecy. As soon as her amber eyes reopened, they flashed with an eerie type of intelligence Foxheart rarely saw in her sister. She shivered slightly; quickly forcing herself to stay still and listen to her sister's foreboding words.

"StarClan has made a Prophecy." Poppystripe repeated, looking from Dawnstar to Foxheart and back. "It is a Prophecy of hardship, and even death." Poppystripe's eyes narrowed slightly as she glanced back at the pool of blood. She quickly shot her amber gaze back to Dawnstar, as if the ThunderClan leader were the starry cats that had sent her such a harsh warning, but her eyes softened as she remembered her sister's face.

"Tell me." Dawnstar ordered, though gentle as she normally was, it was backed with a near-silent growl.

Poppystripe hesitated, but moons of her training made her open her mouth to speak.

"What I say is exactly as the voices of StarClan have told me; not only today, but at the Moon Pool last half moon as well. I did not truly understand their warning then, nor do I now, but I will ignore it no longer." She meowed curtly as her tail wrapped itself around her side tightly. Her eyes flashed gold as the light of sun high reflected off of them, and she finally spoke.

"The eyes of StarClan shall be blinded, and the forest will run red; Blood with run once more." The golden light of sun high made Poppystripe's pelt turn a sickly red like the blood behind her. She blinked slowly and turned her head a bit as the sun blinded her. "Blood can only be destroyed by Blood," She continued, looking grave and moons older than she truly was. "But not without the price of four."

Dawnstar stared at Poppystripe unblinkingly, her tail swishing slowly in deep thought. Finally, she shut her eyes and looked back up to the sky, watching a lone cloud roll by lazily.

"Great StarClan…why have you given us such a cruel warning…?" She asked quietly, slowly looking back to the medicine cat. "Do you have any idea what it means?" She pressed, also looking drawn, as if she had faced the badgers herself.

Poppystripe drew her lips back uncertainly, slowly pointing her tail towards the pool of blood.

"The voices of StarClan were loudest when I saw and dressed her wound…" She answered solemnly, meaning Blaze. "And the pool of blood is her own…"

"Then you believe that Blaze has something to do with the Prophecy." Dawnstar assumed, standing quickly. "Is she a danger to our forest? Is she 'Blood'?"

Poppystripe blinked slowly, as if she did not understand the question, until she slowly shook her head.

"I do not know, Dawnstar…" She meowed quietly, bowing her head sadly. "The Prophecy had two 'Bloods.' For all we know, she might not even be in the Prophecy…just an omen…"

Dawnstar's eyes narrowed and she lashed her tail angrily and began to pad around in circles as Poppystripe had done so earlier. Foxheart could do nothing more than watch as her leader—her sister—began to hiss angrily and scratch at the earth beneath her claws as if it held the answers she seeked. At last, she stopped and turned her icy blue gaze to Foxheart, making her stiffen fearfully, wondering if she would take her anger out on her instead.

"What do you think?" She asked, watching her closely.

Foxheart blinked, surprised that she had even bothered to think about her opinion; they had ignored her the entire time, why would she matter now?

"What do you think?" Dawnstar repeated, flicking her tail irritably. "What should we do?"

Foxheart looked from Dawnstar to Poppystripe in desperate hope of guidance, but the tabby only looked back to the blood, ignoring her pleading eyes.

Swallowing hard, Foxheart sputtered a few incoherent words, before finally finding her voice.

"I-I d-don't know, Dawnstar." She mewed, avoiding her eyes as best she could. Noticing Dawnstar scuff the ground with a paw irritably, Foxheart quickly shot her gaze up to her eyes nervously, only to look away again.

Mentally she shook herself. What's WRONG with me? She wondered. I've looked her in the eye since I was a kit! Why be nervous now?! She needs my help! Foxheart took a deep breath and slowly raised her gaze again, surprised to see Dawnstar's impatient glare replaced with a softer look.

After a moment more of hesitation, Foxheart glanced from the blood and back to her sister.

"I can't tell you what to do, or give you the wise guidance of a medicine cat," Foxheart mewed, relieved to see Dawnstar nod her head agreeably. "But…I can at least say what I would do…"

Her ears twitched in embarrassment as she noticed both cats waiting for her to speak patiently. Taking a quick moment to lick her chest fur flat, she looked back to the two she-cats, happy to see them exchange amused glances before watching her once more.

"I would go and find Blaze, and invite her to join ThunderClan." She mewed confidently.

Dawnstar blinked, furrowing the fur above her eyes a bit, but did not rebuke the suggestion.

"Explain." She mewed curtly, taking a seat before her.

Foxheart starred at her for a moment, unsure if she had heard correctly, but with the Dawnstar's gentle gaze on her, she knew she was right.

"W-well…" She stammered, looking to Poppystripe once more, but the tabby merely shrugged her shoulders and sat as well, watching her as patiently as Dawnstar. "Th-ThunderClan needs warriors…" She began, looking nervously back to her leader. Is this how Badgerclaw felt when he became deputy? She wondered. "And we don't know for sure if she's even in the Prophecy or not…and if she is, we could keep an eye on her that way…" She explained, kneading her paws into the earth gently, pleased that the pain from earlier was nearly gone.

Dawnstar blinked once more, slowly turning to look to Poppystripe.

"Do you agree with her?" She asked.

Poppystripe looked from Dawnstar to Foxheart and back. Slowly, she nodded her head.

"It's a wonderful idea." She mewed, quickly whipping her tail an inch from Foxheart's nose before she could let out a purr of satisfaction. "But that is not for me to decide…it is the clan's, and your own, Dawnstar."

Dawnstar nodded.

"I agree." The pale she-cat mewed curtly. "Therefore, once we return to camp, I will ask the clan what they think, and if they agree with Foxheart's idea,"—Dawnstar's eyes glittered brightly as she spoke her sister's name—"then we will find Blaze and ask her to join ThunderClan."

Ah, done. I think that's an even better edit than last time. Too many "before"'s. Hopefully you liked it!