I'm staying up late to finish this chapter. -.- Review replies will be extra-short, I'm afraid. I have an AP test Thursday plus two state-run tests Friday and Monday as well as a math test Tuesday, then I'm off to DI Globals from Wed. to sometime that next weekend, probably Sunday. I'll probably update this weekend but then I might not for a long time, as in about a week and a half. :(

ShadowHawk540: :'( RIP ShadowHawk's bike...

The Story Of Your Life: Cinderstrike's coming! Just a little slower... And I was definitely more perfectionist when I was younger. :P

EradrinSkyleaf: Is this soon enough? ;) And I completely get the busy life thing. ^^ Reread the intro and you'll get the picture. *noms cookies like Cookie Monster*

Willowdream of ForestClan: I'm hoping to start horseback riding lessons soon! :D I used to take them when I was younger and obsessed with horses but stopped (stupidly, I don't know why I stopped lessons). And our exams are about the same times, but most of mine are actually taken earlier, like cumulative assessments or AP exams or something.

QLKwriter: I read a book recently and it mentioned the (Holland? maybe?) White Bike. Look it up, it's pretty cool. ^^ That is a pretty interesting story!

Sweetflower0409: That's good! :) Recently I've been trying not to be lazy. I guess we'll see how long that lasts...

ilovewarriorcats: I'm also not a huge fan of reading poetry, but it's actually fun to write! I find my best poems are telling stories, though. :P I'm a girl. How about you? OC is Outside Character, as in a reviewer could submit a character of their own to a story. OOC (roleplaying websites) is Out Of Chat.

Nightfeather: I wish I had time to check out your Wattpad! I'll try to remember to do it in about 2 weeks when I'm actually free. :P Do you have your account yet or did I update too soon?

Sootthorn's POV

The rest of that evening passed amiably. The cats Rainsky had brought back mingled with LeopardClan, exchanging news and mourning those who had died. I sat on Highledge, trying to grow accustomed to seeing the stone hollow so full. But I feared it wouldn't last long.

As my eye caught my reflection in a puddle below, a slight breeze whispered through the stone hollow, ruffling my fur. For a moment, my reflection seemed to age, becoming an older cat. Ashthorn.

I turned away from the clearing in disgust, knowing my father must be here, invisible. "Get away from me," I hissed under my breath. "I can lead this Clan on my own."

"But what about those times when you came running to me because you let a cat die?"

I blinked; Ashthorn's vague outline sat before me, blocking the entrance to the leader's den. I growled under my breath, shoving through him into my den. "I don't need your help anymore," I spat. "Rainsky's back; he can help me now. I don't need you anymore."

A pair of ghostly, dark blue eyes blinked slowly, a head dipped in respect to my request, and Ashthorn vanished. I sat in my nest, slowly, deliberately, washing my paws. I couldn't believe he'd had the nerve to come here to me. Hadn't I made it clear I wanted nothing to do with him? Who was he to control my life? Who was he to control my name?

"Sootthorn?" It was Rainsky. He stood nervously in the entrance, eying me warily. For a moment, neither of us spoke. Then Rainsky thought, Are you okay?

I sighed. Of course Rainsky would notice. Sympathetic, empathetic Rainsky would have noticed the moment Ashthorn's name was mentioned.

You didn't make it easy to miss, Rainsky thought, stepping into the den.

Yeah, I guess. I didn't really know what to say to him. One would think that after all this time it would be exciting to finally talk to one's brother again. But in reality I was at a loss for words. Rainsky was a warrior—he'd grown into a name like Rainsky. What else had he grown into? What else had changed about him?

What else had changed about me?

Rainsky sat beside me. How's LeopardClan been without Cinderpaw and me here? The unspoken questions hung in the air between us, suspended in our locked gazes. How's LeopardClan been without Ashthorn? What's with you and Ashthorn? What have I missed?

I looked down, unable to answer anything except the one Rainsky had actually thought to me. It's been okay. Stressful, sure, but Dawnshine and Rustpelt have helped me out with that.

Oh, you've become friends with Rustpelt? That's great news!

I could feel Rainsky's happiness pulsing through the air between us. I felt like I should be more excited, but somehow I wasn't. Have you made any new friends? I asked in as monotonous as a thought can be.

Rainsky's eyebrows creased. Yeah, I've met Aspenpaw and Alderpaw.

Good for you.

Rainsky hesitated for a moment. I knew what he was going to ask and braced myself for it. I'd known all along this stupid small talk wasn't going to get us anywhere. But part of me still hoped we'd never get to this part of the conversation.

What's up with Ashthorn? Why did you freak out before when you heard his name?

I turned automatically to face the cave wall. I didn't mean to shut Rainsky out, but after several days of trying my best to get Ashthorn out of my life, it had become instinctive. We had a falling out. Even I thought my thought sounded clipped.

Rainsky didn't reply. It suddenly hit me that sweet, caring, sensitive Rainsky would have thought I was mad at him for asking, when in reality I was mad at Ashthorn. Quickly, I turned back to him. I'm sorry, Rainsky. I'm just not used to thinking about it.

That's fine. But through Rainsky's nonchalant words, I could hear his relief. We were still as close as ever. Whenever you feel ready, you can let me know. I'm here for you, you know? It's what littermates are for. He smiled at me and got up to leave the den.

I took a deep breath. Just before Rainsky's tail vanished around the corner of the den, I blurted out, "He was mad about my warrior name."

Rainsky's head reappeared. He didn't say anything, just looked at me, waiting for me to continue. After another deep breath, I began telling him the story of how I tried to get my nine lives, but how Ashthorn told me to get my warrior name first, how Stormtuft named me after Ashthorn, how mad Ashthorn was about me "not being my own cat." When I'd finished, Rainsky padded into the den all the way and sat beside me.

"So you're mad at him because he thought you were being too much like him?" He sounded confused. "But Ashthorn was a great leader."

"A great leader, sure, but not so much a great father," I meowed bitterly. "Remember how hard he was on Cinderstrike? How he forced you to embarrass yourself trying to be deputy? How he left his mate and kits for stupid duty?" The last sentence came out mostly as a hiss. I looked down and saw my claws were out and sunk into the moss of my nest.

Rainsky was quiet. "Well, he did say he'd come find us when he'd secured peace," he reasoned. "And Cinderstrike is pretty awful at hunting, to be honest. Also, that deputy thing? It definitely prepared me for being a leader now."

I looked away. "Yeah, but if you had to pick between leading a war and raising your family, which would you pick?"

Rainsky didn't reply. He didn't need to—I already knew what his answer would be.

I padded to the front of the den, peering out at the camp. Most of the cats had either already retired to their dens or were lying around the outskirts of the camp, sharing tongues. The sky above was scattered with the first few stars in Silverpelt. I glared up at them, wondering if one was Ashthorn, before turning back to Rainsky.

"It's getting late," I murmured. "Let's get some sleep. We'll need it for tomorrow."

"What's tomorrow?" Rainsky asked.

"Battle training."

The next morning, I was woken by a voice at the entrance. "Wake up, sleepyheads!"

Blinking in the sunlight streaming through the entrance, I squinted and saw Dawnshine at the entrance, a couple of mice in her mouth. Dropping them on the ground, she nosed them right to the edge of the too-small nest Rainsky and I were sleeping in. One ended up right next to my nose. The succulent, meaty scent rejuvenated me enough to disentangle myself from the nest and crouch to eat my fresh-kill. Next to me, Rainsky did likewise.

"It's time for the patrols to go out," Dawnshine reminded us, sitting in the entrance, her tail twitching impatiently.

I glanced up at her, amused. "I thought you preferred your toms to be mannerly and eat in small bites." I bent down and swallowed the rest of my mouse in one gulp. "But I can change that if you so desire." Dawnshine purred with amusement as she followed us out of the den.

The cats of LeopardClan as well as those Rainsky had brought back had already begun emerging from the dens and the clearing was relatively packed. The sheer number of cats caught me off-guard as I began leaping down the Rockfall, causing me to stumble, slipping down over the first few rocks. Then I recovered my coordination and descended the rest of the Rockfall with the dignity befitting a leader.

"Cats of LeopardClan!" I called as I paused on the last rock. I figured the general populace wouldn't care if I lumped all cats together into the category of "LeopardClan." "It is time to begin training for battle in earnest. NightClan could attack at any time in the next few days. We must be ready for them!"

A ragged sort of cheer rose from the Clan, all of whom were gathering beneath me as though I stood on the Highledge and not some random rock. I spotted Aspenpaw rearing up onto her hind paws as she yowled her approval.

"We will divide into four groups," I meowed. "I will lead one, Rainsky will lead another, Rustpelt the third, and Sparrowtalon the last. All will be practicing battle moves, excepting one that will hunt from now until Sunhigh." I nodded at Rainsky, who had paused beside me. "Rainsky's group will hunt, then battle train afterward."

Rainsky grinned at me gratefully. I figured he wouldn't want to work on battle moves all day, as he hated fighting. I stepped back to allow my brother to take the central stage. For once, he stood tall above the crowd, tail lifted confidently. I wondered briefly how much he'd changed while he was away. He used to hate speaking in front of crowds.

"I will take Snowclaw, Aspenpaw, Alderpaw," he began, glancing around the crowd, "Hyperion, Leafheart, Adderpaw, and Crowtail."

His last word was partially drowned out by a loud wail. "Why do I have to do stupid hunting? I want to fight!"

I glanced around the crowd. Unsurprisingly, I spotted Adderpaw glaring up at Rainsky. Of course, that spoiled brat would be the one to complain. I rolled my eyes at the sky as Rainsky replied, "Hunting is important, too. Do you want to starve?" He glared at the dark brown tabby.

Adderpaw returned the burning glance, hunching his shoulders sulkily. "I can hunt fine," he muttered. "Why do I have to practice more? Why can't I work on my fighting skills?"

"Exactly," Rainsky meowed with patience from I couldn't imagine where; I would've snapped and pounced on him by now. "You're good at hunting, so we need you to hunt for this entire Clan."

"Yeah?" Adderpaw challenged. "If we're putting all the good hunters on the naughty list, why are you leading it? I seem to remember you were worthless at hunting back in the forest!"

"I've grown up since then," Rainsky hissed, his temper finally rising. "Unlike some cats I know." He flicked his tail at the cats. "Come on, hunting group. Let's get going. We only have so long to hunt before Sunhigh arrives." He stalked past Adderpaw, who had to be cajoled into following by his parents, and disappeared through the thorn tunnel.

I leaped back onto the boulder, quickly listing the cats in each group. "Dawnshine, Larkwing, Lightwing, Snowclaw, Rowanpaw, Oakpaw, Honeypaw, and Whistlefur, you come with me," I finished. "All right. I'll be practicing in the mossy hollow. Rustpelt, your group can stay here in the stone hollow. Sparrowtalon, you can practice by the lake."

Bounding off the rock, I wound my way through the crowd. "Let's get training."

Did any of you remember Adderpaw? ;) Though I guess he would be Adderkit before...

AOTD: The thing I love most about biking is the hills. It's completely a trial-and-reward sort of system; you go up the hill, which is tough, but then you go down the hill with the speed and wind and everything, which is amazingly fun. :)

QOTD: What do you think Adderpaw's future will be at the lake?