In the following moons Gray Wing had been made deputy, Air Leap continued to grow (Fire Heart wondered how when he wasn't getting his milk) and Skystar had invited the rogues Leaf, Fox, Petal, Frost and Gray Wing and Turtle Tail had convinced him to let Storm join too. The three were a trio, having grown closer after Gray Wing and Turtle Tail first met her. And now Skystar was always padding after Storm now with a moony gaze.

Fire Heart wondered why Gray Wing didn't also try and convince Skystar to let Wind and Gorse join, too. After all, he was friends with them longer.

Hawk Swoop had also been assigned to be mentored by Rainswept Flower after her previous mentor's death.

Jagged Peak was close to being an apprentice. He had one moon to go before he joined the apprentices' den. Air Leap seemed sad that he would be alone. He and Jagged Peak were best friends.

At least the clan seems bigger now… Fire Heart thought as he watched Leaf get assigned on a patrol with Moon Shadow and Petal.

"Wake up!"

Ravenpaw heard Dustpaw's voice calling through the den entrance. He opened his eyes. Sandpaw and Graypaw had already awoken, sitting upright.

"Thistlestar's called a meeting," his brother explained, ducking back out.

The three apprentices crawled out from the warm den. It had been three moons since the battle with ShadowClan. Brokenstar had been quiet during Gatherings, clearly realizing he couldn't boss around ThunderClan. He hadn't even been at the attack himself. He'd just sent his minions to do his dirty work.

Ravenpaw shivered and his stomach growled. Leaffall was in full swing.

Thistlestar's voice was menacing as he began his speech, Tigerclaw beside him on the Highrock. "It has come to my attention that ShadowClan had help from inside the Clan."

The clan gasped and muttered among themselves and Ravenpaw frowned, especially when Tigerclaw sneered at him gleefully. Whaaa…?

Thistlestar's amber gaze switched over to the black apprentice, burning into him. The Clan curiously looked at the apprentice. "A little birdy told me so." Thistlestar looked at Tigerclaw from the corner of his eye.

"Ravenpaw, do you have something you want to tell us?"

He froze. What?

Everyone was very confused now while some put two and two together and backed away from him with hostile glares or open fear. Even Dustpaw scooted away and Frostfur hissed at him. Only Graypaw, Brindleface and Bluefur stayed put.

"Are you serious? I mean no offense but it's Ravenpaw. Since when would he be brave enough to even talk to a ShadowClan cat?" Brindleface asked. Ravenpaw never felt more grateful. This was why she was his favorite sibling. She had a brain.

Bluefur nodded in agreement, eyes slitted as she glared at Thistlestar openly. Graypaw was just looking horrified that Thistlestar would suggest a thing.

"Where were you all day on the attack?" Thistlestar growled.

"Um, g-guarding the camp entrance with Graypaw," Ravenpaw stammered. Graypaw nodded earnestly to back him up, but Thistlestar just shook his head.

"Apprentices don't guard the camp entrance! And of course Graypaw would cover for you." He sneered. "Tell us where you really were. Or I'll leave it up to your mentor to deal with you…"

Spottedleaf, outside of the medicine den, widened her eyes in horror as if she had guessed the true meaning behind his words. Brindleface nudged him.

"Ravenpaw…run."

He looked at her bewildered. "Wh-what? But…where? I can't leave!" He whispered back, becoming desperate. Every moment his life ticked down.

Tigerclaw was gonna kill him.

Tigerclaw had set this up and made The accusation to Thistlestar. Of course, Thistlestar believed him! If only he hadn't seen Tigerclaw murder Redtail!

Brindleface discreetly nudged him towards the entrance but he stayed still, frozen. Graypaw looked at him with wide eyes full of alarm and mouthed, 'go.'

"Nothing? Nothing to defend yourself?" Thistlestar snarled. "Well, then. From now on you're exiled from ThunderClan! For being a danger to our young!"

Ravenpaw should have been sad but his heart lifted in relief. They really were just kicking him out! Maybe…just maybe…he could go to SkyClan.

"Your time in ThunderClan ends now!" Thistlestar hissed and Tigerclaw launched himself at the young tom.

"GO!" Graypaw shoved him forward.

He ran.

Cold wind gripped Gray Wing as he loped through the forest with Jagged Peak. The tom was close to being apprenticed and Skystar thought it would be a good idea to teach him tree-climbing. For some reason. Jagged Peak was surprisingly quiet as he twirled in circles to take in everything.

"Wow," he breathed as colorful leaves drifted down from trees. "It's beautiful."

Ahead of him the forest was turning brown and yellow and red. The wind threw dead leaves at their faces. Under the branches they spotted Rainswept Flower, playing around with leaves, running to catch them.

Gray Wing watched. "Having fun?"

Rainswept Flower stopped, embarrassed.

"No, no. Don't let me stop you. Just taking Jagged Peak for some tree-climbing," Gray Wing explained. Rainswept Flower looked at the tabby kit in horror.

"But he's too young!"

"I'm just big enough!" Jagged Peak retorted. "I'm five moons now, so there!"

"Jackdaw's Cry didn't start climbing trees until three moons after his training began," Rainswept Flower meowed, calm, despite the kit's rudeness.

"That's because he doesn't like to climb! He's scared! He told me so!"

Gray Wing nodded. "It'll be fine. Jagged Peak's strong."

Rainswept Flower watched them leave.

"Okay, start from the bottom," Gray Wing began. Jagged Peak nodded excitedly and put his front paws on the trunk before digging his claws in.

Gray Wing held him up by his head and Jagged Peak scrambled upwards, nearly nicking Gray Wing's ear with his hind claws. Gray Wing followed more reluctantly.

They made it to the first branch. Jagged Peak daringly stood up and balanced himself before looking around in awe. "Can we go farther up?" He asked.

Before Gray Wing could reply, he was already scrambling up to the second branch. "I can see the camp entrance from here!" He called down. "Hi Frost!" He yowled, waving his tail in the direction of camp. The white tom must have been guarding it currently. Skystar had grown more defensive after the whole ShadowClan stuff.

"Hello!" Was called back and Gray Wing smiled, shaking his head as he forgot his fear of climbing for a moment.

And that was when he noticed his little brother jump onto the third branch from the ground. It snapped and he fell to the ground.

And lay motionless.

Ravenpaw burst into the forest. As he scrambled up the rocks of the ravine, his mind kept frantically wondering where he should go? Where should he hide?

As he was halfway up Tigerclaw burst out of the camp followed by Darkstripe and Longtail, of course! Why does he always have to have his minions with him?

He scrambled through a crack in the rock and to his relief and amazement it led into a tunnel. Not stopping to wonder if it was safe or not, he squeezed forward until darkness suffocated him. He stayed still. Should he move on? Or stay? Tigerclaw wouldn't give up. What if he'd already positioned Longtail and Darkstripe on either side so he couldn't escape.

But what if there isn't another way out ahead? I'll be crowfood!

"Yes, no, yes, no," He muttered, trying to decide whether to go back or not.

He was to go forward.

He pushed onward until he felt a breeze up ahead and breathed in relief. He squeezed out and found himself near Owl Tree.

"THERE HE IS! GET THAT TRAITOR!"

Ravenpaw turned to see Darkstripe barreling towards him and he turned and fled. He zigzagged through trees and for a moment prided himself for being so fast that he could outrun older warriors.

He jumped over Snakerocks only to fall on his back leg, bruising it badly. He hissed as he struggled to his paws.

"STOP RUNNING, DUMMY!"

He had to get out of there. He frantically looked around and then thought, trees! Climb the trees! He half scrambled half hauled himself onto the first branch of the nearest tree.

Tigerclaw burst into the clearing and caught sight of him. He grinned maliciously and launched himself into the tree. He shoved his head against Ravenpaw, trying to throw him to the ground. Ravenpaw managed to grab the other branch of the other tree as he started falling. He pulled himself up and limped forward only for the branch branch break.

He hit multiple branches on the way, scratching himself up before he hit a stronger branch. He hadn't realized how high up he was. Tigerclaw looked down at him and then pounced. Ravenpaw scrambled around and fell to the ground.

Tigerclaw dropped by him and pinned him down with one massive paw. "Bye, bye, Coward!" He leaned down to Ravenpaw's ear and whispered, "you won't be breathing a word about Redtail."

Ravenpaw struggled and lashed out weakly but Tigerclaw hardly flinched. He slashed his claws down the apprentice's back and he screeched. He leaned down and sunk his teeth into his neck. Tigerclaw hauled him up, sure he was already dead and tossed him very far. He landed on the SkyClan border and blacked out.

Tigerclaw glared at the dead body of his cowardly apprentice before he licked the blood from his lips. He turned and padded back to camp. Thistlestar wouldn't have cared that he had murdered Redtail but if the Clan found out they might find a way to overthrow them.

One day they would rule all the Clans. And he wouldn't dare let an apprentice get in the way of that.

Jagged Peak was resting in the medicine den. Dappled Pelt had mended his leg and promised it would be fine in a moon or two. "But my apprentice ceremony!" He had wailed.

"Would you rather not have a leg?" Dappled Pelt sighed.

Gray Wing now paced outside of the den, blaming himself for not keeping a close eye on his brother. He had resented the look Rainswept Flower had given him as if to say, 'I told you so.'

Gray Wing suddenly heard a terrified scream. He spun around to see Falling Feather and Moon Shadow crashing into the clearing.

"What's going on?" Skystar demanded.

"There's a dead ThunderClan apprentice on our territory!" Falling Feather wailed. "I think it's Ravenpaw."

"Show me," Skystar meowed, voice trembling. Fire Heart burst out of the apprentice's den.

"Can I come?" He inquired Gray Wing. The gray tom hesitated before he nodded. They'd need all the help they could get. What if there was a murderer on the loose? What had Ravenpaw been doing near their border anyway?

Cloud Spots raced after Skystar, Gray Wing, Fire Heart and Falling Feather. Fox came too just to appear as an intimidating figure in case the perpetrator was still out there.

Fire Heart's green eyes were wide with horror and worry. Clearly, the ThunderClan apprentice meant more to him than he had thought.

They reached the border to see a motionless black shape and Gray Wing was vividly reminded of Jagged Peak's body. Cloud Spots raced forward with Fire Heart and Skystar. Falling Feather stayed back, terrified. Fox kept lookout.

Slowly, Gray Wing approached the three toms. Cloud Spots was checking Ravenpaw all over for signs of life. Gray Wing closed his eyes and prayed to StarClan…even if they probably wouldn't acknowledge him.

Finally, Cloud Spots looked up, green eyes wide and hope glimmering in them. "He's alive! But he needs treatment, stat!" Cloud Spots started ordering Fire Heart, Gray Wing and Falling Feather to get necessary herbs and cobwebs along with wet moss. Cloud Spots washed the blood off the body and applied herbs to the claw marks in the ThunderClan tom's back and neck. Afterwards he examined his hind paw before binding it with cobwebs.

"Okay, let's get him back to camp. Slowly."

Gray Wing positioned Ravenpaw on Skystar and Fox's back and the group made their slow way back to camp. Dappled Pelt had prepared a nest, obviously having hope that the cat would still possibly be alive too.

Jagged Peak lifted his head from his nest, blue eyes wide. "So…he's not dead?" Gray Wing shook his head.

"He needs lots of rest and attention but he will pull through," Cloud Spots reported, putting emphasis on 'will' as if fully certain.

"Good," Skystar sighed in relief and Gray Wing smiled fondly. His brother had always seemed against outsiders but now…it seemed he had warmed up to them. Even after all the grief he'd suffered.

Meanwhile, his apprentice had curled himself around Ravenpaw and murmured words into his ear even if he was unconscious.

He'll pull through. Jagged Peak will pull through. We have gifted medicine cats.

"He's dead," Tigerclaw reported, licking his lips. The Clan exchanged horrified, nervous looks. Brindleface dropped her head but Dustpaw was still conflicted. He was sitting beside his two sisters outside of the nursery.

Graypaw had disappeared into the apprentices' den when he heard the news, tail drooping. He had been Ravenpaw's best friend.

"Pity," Thistlestar sneered before he and Tigerclaw disappeared into his den to discuss something.

"What did those fox-hearts do with our brother's body?" Brindleface hissed. Dustpaw gaped at her as Frostfur gave her a reprimanding look.

"He had what was coming for him," she meowed with a shrug. Brindleface snarled at her and the white queen backed away.

"I cannot believe that you actually believe he was a spy!" She hissed, glaring at Frostfur and then at Dustpaw, who winced guiltily. Frostfur narrowed her eyes.

"Brindleface, stop talking like that or you'll be next!" There was actual fear in her eyes and Dustpaw realized she truly regretted what happened to Ravenpaw.

"Well, at least I'm still here for now," Brindleface snarled. "Because now that Ravenpaw's gone, I'm the only sibling left with any actual brain cells!" She scoffed and pushed into the nursery and Dustpaw heard her mutter, "imagine Ravenpaw working for ShadowClan. What's next? Thistlestar being a good leader?"

Frostfur fidgeted, looking a bit guilty now before she followed her into the nursery, quieting her mewling kits with a purr.

Dustpaw sat there, pondering his sisters' words. Who knew with Ravenpaw. They had never been close and he had always been jumpy and quiet. Mysterious. So there was a possibility he was just good at acting innocent. But on the other paw…when had Ravenpaw ever been able to even look someone like Brokenstar in the face?

He wouldn't…would he?

"Fire Heart!"

The apprentice cracked his eyes open. Sunlight streamed into his face, making him screw up his eyes. A moon had passed since Jagged Peak's injury and Ravenpaw's arrival. The apprentice had woken up from time to time but only to drink water and lap up his herbs given to him by Cloud Spots, who watched over him while Dappled Pelt helped Jagged Peak. The kit had finally accepted his apprentice ceremony would be delayed but he was exercising everyday to strengthen his leg as it mended.

"We're doing battle training today! C'mon!" Fire Heart jumped to his paws at this, energy surging through him. The apprentices' den was empty except for Hawk Swoop curled up in the corner, snoring.

Outside, Storm was in front of the nursery, dozing, her swollen belly, rising and falling. She would be due soon. Air Leap was excited to meet his kin.

They followed the trail to the training hollow. The path was strewn with fresh fallen golden leaves that crunched beneath them. By the time they reached the sandy hollow, yowls could be heard. The apprentice exchanged a glance with his mentor and the two burst forward into the hollow.

"And what? And WHAT?"

Shattered Ice was taunting Jackdaw's Cry until the black apprentice snapped and clawed his mentor across the muzzle, claws unsheathed. Shattered Ice stumbled before he regained himself.

Jackdaw's Cry stared in horror as did Gray Wing and Fire Heart. Finally, Shattered Ice nodded in approval. "I do believe you are ready for your assessment.

"What kind of training do they do?" Fire Heart whispered to his mentor.

"Training we'll never do," Gray Wing muttered back. The two toms in the hollow spotted them and greeted them amicably.

"So…what's up?" Gray Wing asked as he led Fire Heart into the clearing.

"He needed a confidence boost for his paw swipe. So I gave it to him."

"Okaaay…." Gray Wing muttered as they left the hollow. Fire Heart huffed a laugh.

"Let's see how you fight," Gray Wing ordered. "Attack me. And no claws."

Fire Heart looked up and down, wondering what to do. Gray Wing was only a length away. He was slim like a WindClan cat so Fire Heart almost matched him in bulkiness. If he could get behind him, he might have a chance to tackle him.

Fire Heart launched himself forward. He aimed to jump on his back, but Gray Wing was ready, he dropped into a crouch and rolled to the side, making him tumble head over tail. Fire Heart hit the ground hard, winded.

"Nice try, but your eyes gave you away," Gray Wing chided in an annoying sing-song voice. "I could see where you were going to aim by where you were looking. Try again."

This time, Fire Heart looked at his shoulder but aimed for his front legs. When Gray Wing dropped to the ground he would hit him as he crouched. Fire Heart felt a rush of satisfaction as he launched himself forward, but it turned to confusion as Gray Wing jumped over him to avoid him.

"Now try something I wouldn't be expecting," he meowed.

Fire Heart got to his paws, fur ruffled and dusty. Not even Yellowfang had been this tricky. He attacked again. This time, he charged at Gray Wing head on. He stepped back and grabbed his scruff, twisting him over his head and slammed him to the ground but managed to make the impact not so hard. He puffed.

"You're a good learner, Fire Heart," Gray Wing meowed gently. "But you must be creative. Assess your moves. Surprise me."

Fire Heart backed away, hot and dusty. He was determined to get it right this time, letting frustration fuel him. Slowly, he got into a defensive stance, watching Gray Wing. He mirrored him, crouching and began to creep forward. He swatted at him and he ducked. Gray Wing leaned forward to nip at him and he suddenly turned around and kicked him away with his hindlegs.

He did say be creative.

Fire Heart jumped up, feeling jubilant. Gray Wing groaned before he got to his paws. "I do believe you are ready to be assessed as well." Fire Heart brightened only to freeze when his mentor glared at him but it wasn't venomous which meant he was joking.

"My turn."

The days grew colder and prey started to run low. Storm was giving birth but this time Dappled Pelt was with her. Cloud Spots was out collecting herbs. The clan was quiet with anxiety as Skystar hovered outside of the nursery. Even Air Leap, who usually paraded around camp, was quiet.

Finally, Dappled Pelt came out, relief obvious on her face. "Storm has had two she-cats and a tom." Skystar almost plowed her over as he dashed into the den. Hawk Swoop shook her head, smiling. Dappled Pelt muttered irritability as she left to her den to fetch herbs.

"Can I see them?" Air Leap bounced over. Skystar hesitated before he nodded.

"Just be careful you don't tread on them." As the clan lined up to visit the kits, Turtle Tail burst into the clearing with Fire Heart.

"Fox is dead! A ShadowClan cat named Clawface tried to attack us all and killed him! We managed to escape!" The tortoiseshell gasped. Petal sank to her paws with a sob and Leaf patted her comfortingly with his tail. Hawk Swoop felt horrible at the untimely death. Just when the Clan seemed happy of the new kits' arrival and the peace they had had so far. Not to mention she would be made a warrior soon if she passed her assessment.

But as soon as she entered the warm nursery and looked down at the three squirming bundles she knew no matter what…SkyClan would survive.

One more chapter to go and then the Epilogue. I swear Into the Wild is always the easiest and shortest to rewrite.

I know everything seems to be going by fast like the rogues joining, Storm's kits being born and the deaths, so many in a row. I'll try to make the chapters more shorter and detailed in Fire and Ice/Thunder Rising.