Chapter 10!

"No…!"

Foxpaw woke with a start, trembling from his ears to his tail-tip, his blue eyes wide as he sank his claws into the moss beneath him. It was so vivid… Beside him, Stormpaw and Featherpaw were still fast asleep, Stormpaw stretched out with his chin on his paws and Featherpaw curled into a tight, fluffy ball beside them. On the other side of the den, Sorrelpaw and Sootpaw were still sleeping as well, Mousefur choosing to take Rainpaw and Tawnypelt, and Ashfur on the evening patrol.

It must not be morning yet. The dark ginger apprentice didn't bother trying to fall asleep again, standing slowly and slinking out of the den into the calm night. It had been a moon since Brambleclaw and Tawnypelt were made warriors—Foxpaw, Stormpaw, and Featherpaw all missing the previous gathering because the new warriors simply had to go. Looking up, Foxpaw could see that the moon was nearly full again. It's about time…

Already tired of sitting still, the red-furred apprentice stood again, padding quietly towards the gorse tunnel. He knew there would be two warriors standing guard, and he suddenly hoped one of them was Dustpelt, if only so that he could have permission to leave camp and go hunting. As he pushed his way out, he heard soft murmuring, one of which belong to Dustpelt, as Foxpaw had hoped, and the other belonging to…

Fireheart…? He crouched down in the gorse tunnel, knowing that if he stayed still enough towards the center his scent would be completely masked by all of the other cat scents in the entrance to their camp.

"Honestly, Fireheart, they've been training for four moons—I don't care who's earned their warrior names, it's time that Foxpaw, Stormpaw, and Featherpaw went to a Gathering."

"I know, Dustpelt…" Fireheart sighed. "After the ambush assessment you told me about I told Bluestar we should bring all of them, but she felt that after RiverClan tried to take Sunningrocks, they needed to see how little we were affected—how we not only kept Sunningrocks but gained two new warriors."

"That's just wonderful," Dustpelt was getting exasperated. Foxpaw felt his whiskers twitching in amusement. "But this time, he's going. Whitestorm told me yesterday it was a shame that Stormpaw wasn't chosen to go the last one, and even Runningwind is taking note that Featherpaw's hunting skills are worthy of a Gathering."

Fireheart sighed again, though this time there was an edge of amusement in it. "Alright, Dustpelt. I'll tell Bluestar as soon as she wakes up this morning."

Foxpaw imagined Dustpelt nodding his head. "Good."

Taking a deep breath, Foxpaw decided to reveal himself, pushing loudly through the remainder of the gorse tunnel.

"Foxpaw." Dustpelt glanced at Fireheart, whose whiskers were twitching. "You're up awfully late."

Foxpaw dipped his head. "I couldn't sleep." He admitted honestly. "Do you mind if I hunt for a while, to clear my mind?"

His mentor thought about it for a long moment, before finally nodding. "Be careful, and if you're not ready for training at dawn, this won't happen again."

"Yes, Dustpelt." He dipped his head respectfully first to his mentor, and then to his father, before slipping into the shadows of the forest. Instantly, his mind was clear—clear of all of the blood and pain that haunted his dreams. He was alert, his ears pricked and steps silent. The nearly full moon seemed as bright as the sun to him, painting the path before him as silver as the stars.

It didn't take long for him to spot a mouse, scurrying back and forth beneath a leafy fern. Crouching low, Foxpaw pulled himself slowly forward, letting tail brush as lightly on the ground as the wind. You're mine… A well-timed pounce brought him directly on top of the small creature, the weight of his first blow killing it instantly. There was a soft rustle, and another mouse shot out of the undergrowth—not fast enough, as Foxpaw brought his paw down on its spine. Thank-you, StarClan, for the mice… one for Ferncloud and one for the kits. Now I just need something for Brightheart and her litter.

Rabbits weren't generally out this late, but it pleased Foxpaw greatly to spot one, intentionally breaking a twig so that he could give chase, the cool night wind smoothing his pelt and washing away the last bits of his lingering nightmare. It didn't take long for him to catch the plump brown creature, lifting it triumphantly in his jaws. The moon was sinking lower, an eerie, pre-dawn light beginning to stain the sky. Time to head back. He gathered his mice on the way, and made it back to camp before dawn. Runningwind and Cindercloud sat guard now, and the dark gray queen greeted her son with a purr.

"Late night hunting, hm?" She stood and licked his shoulder. Foxpaw gave her shoulder a gentle head-butt. "Go ahead and bring that to Ferncloud and Brightheart, their kits are already up and mewling." Foxpaw nodded, pushing his way back through the gorse tunnel. It wasn't quite dawn yet, but the camp was slowly coming to life. Silverstream and Graystripe sat outside the warriors' den, sharing tongues and discussing their duties for the day. Tawnypelt was just slipping into the warriors den after returning from the evening patrol, Mousefur and Ashfur right behind her. Hailpaw was taking a bundle of herbs to the nursery, and Foxpaw picked up his pace so that he could meet his brother there.

Pushing his way into the nursery, Foxpaw was greeted by the warm scent of milk and the mewling of kits. Ferncloud's begging to go outside and Brightheart's just mewling to mewl. They had been born only a few days ago, and Brightheart was still taking herbs every day as her milk supply ran unusually lower than most queens. She also had three kits to feed, which Willowpelt had agreed was difficult.

"How did you manage to get Swiftstep out of here?" Hailpaw was asking jokingly as Foxpaw dropped the prey between the two queens.

Brightheart purred. "Ferncloud asked him when his were due, and he shot out like a rabbit."

Foxpaw rolled his eyes, but pushed the rabbit and two mice forward. "Your breakfast has arrived."

Ferncloud perked up immediately, and Thistlekit scampered over to Foxpaw, her green eyes wide. "Wow," she blinked up at him. "Did you catch these, Foxpaw?"

"I sure did," Foxpaw puffed his chest out a little bit, before crouching closer the small she-kit's level. "And you know what?"

"What?" She squeaked excitedly, bouncing up and down. "I want to know!" Sagekit scrambled closer, and Foxpaw lowered his voice as if it were a secret.

"One day," he whispered. "You're going to catch prey even bigger and better than this."

"You think so?" Thistlekit lifted her head proudly, but Sagekit tackled her before Foxpaw could answer.

"Now kits," Ferncloud scolded them gently. Bring those two mice here and stop playing so rough—you're going to aggravate Brightheart."

"Sorry, Brightheart…" Sagekit sighed. "Sorry…" Thistlekit echoed. Foxpaw's whiskers twitched in amusement.

"And how are yours, Brightheart?" He pulled the rabbit closer to the ginger-and-white queen, peering into her nest at the tiny bundles nestled against her side. One tom and two she-kits.

"They're wonderful," Brightheart purred softly.

"What are their names? Hailpaw scooted closer to sit next to Foxpaw, also looking down at the kits.

Brightheart rested her tail on the back of the smallest, the snowy white tom. "This is Grasskit," she mewed quietly. Next was the first she-kit, with ruffled black and white fur. "Petalkit." Finally, her tail rested on the last kit, a she-kit with mottled black-and-ginger fur, nearly tortoiseshell but without and white or various shades of brown. "And Shadekit."

"They're perfect." Hailpaw purred, before standing. "Well, we'll be out of your way now. Just call if you need more herbs." Foxpaw nodded, before following his brother out into the growing dawn light.

"You must have been up pretty late to catch those fresh for this morning." Hailpaw glanced curiously at his brother, but Foxpaw averted his gaze.

"Yeah, I couldn't sleep." He shook his head, seeing Dustpelt obviously waiting for him towards the center of camp. "Maybe… Maybe I'll tell you about it later."

He heard Hailpaw sigh as he padded away, and regretted not being more open with his brother. I'll definitely tell him later. He promised silently.

"Are you still up for hunting?" Dustpelt stood as he approached, and Foxpaw paced a circle around his mentor.

"I'm always up for hunting." He meowed, his tail high. "Where to?"

"Sunningrocks." Dustpelt flicked his tail towards the gorse tunnel, where Longtail and Sootpaw were waiting. "It's a patrol. You and Sootpaw are leading it."

Foxpaw felt excitement jolt through his veins. They were apprentices—and they were going to lead the patrol. He bounded over the the older apprentice, whose fur was fluffed out in similar excitement.

"Are you ready, Foxpaw?" Sootpaw's amber eyes were glowing, and Foxpaw dipped his head.

"I was born ready."

As they made their way through the forest, Foxpaw was careful to give Sootpaw his opinion, but not step on his tail. The gray-black tom was older than him, after all, though not much further along in his training. They made it to Sunningrocks without issue, and even managed to show off their hunting skills to a passing RiverClan patrol, who glared at the hunting ThunderClan cats from across the river. Between Sootpaw and Foxpaw, there was nearly enough to feed almost every warrior as they took advantage of the warm new-leaf day, and with Dustpelt's and Longtail's catches added in, ThunderClan would certainly eat well that night.

"This is going to take at least three trips." Foxpaw concluded brightly, looking at the pile of fresh-kill they had compiled beneath the roots of a tree alongside Sunningrocks.

Sootpaw nodded, Longtail added a murmur of consent, his eyes bright with bright. Dustpelt dipped his head. "You better get started then."

Foxpaw wasted no time in gathering up as much as he could carry, padding triumphantly beside Sootpaw all the way back to camp and depositing the first load of their catch. Cats were murmuring all around, excited mews and impressed compliments. Dustpelt was right behind them with another jaw-full, and Longtail followed close behind. It took only two trips like this—only because Foxpaw managed to carry far too many mice by their tails along with the rest of his second load—and ThunderClan was set up for a feast. Fireheart moved to the fresh-kill pile, where Sootpaw and Foxpaw lay, catching their breaths.

"Well done, you two." He meowed warmly. "Featherpaw and Stormpaw will be back from their hunts soon as well, and when they return we will feast before the gathering tomorrow." He paused, his eyes locking with Sootpaw's and Foxpaw's in turn. "Which both of you will be attending."

"Yes!" Foxpaw leaped to his paws, pacing around Sootpaw in a wide circle. "Did you hear that?"

Sootpaw let out a mrrow of amusement, rolling onto his back. "Yeah," he agreed. "It's your first, right? Don't worry—I'll introduce you to all of the cool apprentices from other Clans."

"Awesome!" Foxpaw paused, whirling to face his father again. "What about Stormpaw and Featherpaw, are they going as well?"

Fireheart laughed quietly before nodding. "Yes," he purred. "They're going as well."

"Yes!" Even as Foxpaw jumped into the air, the two apprentices in question padded back into camp, their jaws loaded with fresh-kill. "Did you hear that?" He rushed over to them, weaving between them as they made their way to the fresh-kill pile and deposited their catch. "We're going to the Gathering!" He announced, watching Stormpaw's and Featherpaw's eyes grow wide.

"We are?" Stormpaw spluttered, sitting down.

"We are." Sootpaw confirmed, flicking his tail-tip against Stormpaw's shoulder. Featherpaw let out a soft mewl of excitement, pouncing on her unsuspecting brother, who let her batter his stomach gently while he cuffed at her ears.

"I'm going to go tell Hailpaw." Foxpaw called over his shoulder, already moving towards the medicine den. Inside, he found Hailpaw dutifully sorting herbs, Yellowfang nowhere in sight.

"Hailpaw," Foxpaw greeted his brother with a gentle head-butt, and the medicine cat apprentice mewed a greeting, turning from his herbs to give Foxpaw his attention.

"Are you alright?" He asked instantly, his ice blue eyes scanning Foxpaw from head to paw for any signs of pain or injury that would bring him to the medicine den.

"What? Yeah, I'm fine. Better than fine, actually. We're going to the Gathering, Hailpaw—me and Stormpaw and Featherpaw." Foxpaw sat, tilting his head as Hailpaw forced an excited purr.

"That's great!"

"Hailpaw?" The warrior apprentice leaned forward, nudging his brother's shoulder gently with his nose. "Are you alright?"

The pale silver tabby hesitated for a moment too long, sighing and surrendering with a bowed head. "I suppose…" He sighed. "It's just…" He turned his ice blue eyes to meet Foxpaw's own dark blues. "I had a dream last night…"

Foxpaw sighed, scooting closer to his brother and pressing comfortingly against him. "Yeah," he murmured. "Me too."

Hailpaw's ears pricked. "You did?" He asked softly, surprise layering his tone. "Is that why you were up so late last night?"

Foxpaw nodded. "Yeah… But now…" He sighed. "All I can remember was that it was a bad dream, and that there was a lot of blood."

Hailpaw's eyes grew wide. "Really?" When Foxpaw nodded again, he continued in a hushed tone. "I can't remember mine either… I just remember waking up shaking—the smell of blood was everywhere…"

The pale tabby crouched low against the ground, and Foxpaw rasped his tongue gently across his brother's ear. "Is that why you're so worried? Because you can't remember?"

Hailpaw sighed. "It's my job to interpret dreams, Foxpaw, not forget them…"

Foxpaw licked his ear one last time, before nudging him to his paws as he heard Bluestar summoning the clan. "Maybe," he offered quietly. "It's not meant to be interpreted yet."

Hailpaw fell silent, before nodding. "Maybe you're right…"

"Of course I'm right." Foxpaw scoffed jokingly, before giving the smaller tom another firm nudge. "Now come on, it's time to feast!"

And therrrre's Chapter 10! I am feeling so motivated for this story right now, like, you guys don't even understand… lol. Thank-you all so much for reading and special thanks as always to my wonderful reviewers!

Frostflower223: I've considered it, and it miiight happen… you'll just have to keep reading, I guess;D thanks for being a beawesome reviewer:D

Beautiful Nightmarism: Thank-you for the suggestions, I'm going to add Foxpelt to the vote, I think… unless you like Foxfur more? I didn't want him to sound too similar to Stormfur since they're going to be made warriors at the same time… hm…

And to my guest: I think I will keep Hailpaw on the correct, medicine cat path^_^ thanks so much for reading, and I just might be able to work her in(:

Thanks again for reading, reviews and constructive criticism are always welcome, and feel free to add your opinion to those questions—pairings for the apprentices, and Foxpaw's warrior name. Until the next chapter!