He couldn't see, he couldn't hear… but he could feel. He could feel the wind blowing through his fur, he could feel the way his lungs burn with each breath he force himself to take.

He could feel pain, so much pain. In his shoulders, his belly, his back. He could feel the pain that was burning into his body from the scratch marks and bites that had ripped fur, scales and the skin that laid underneath. He felt the blood pooling underneath him.

He felt sadness, and raged. Betrayed storming in his blood, driving him, urging him to stand up, to fight. But before he could do that, he felt a paw step firmly onto his shoulder, pinning him down.

Sootpaw snaps his eyes open, when a painful sensation pulse around his neck, making him jerk up. His chest heaves, blue eyes blown wide before he takes a shuddering breath as he realizes he was in the Apprentice Den.

"You alright?" Turning his head, Sootpaw sees Nightpaw looking at him in concern.

"I'm fine. Just a bad dream," he shakes his head, sitting up from his nest and grimacing in pain from his sore body. He has been grateful for the lie in that Raggedsnarl had graciously given him, but wasn't looking forward to what he will have to do to make up for it. Each night, Sootpaw had returned to his nest, a new scratch or ache to silently complain in his head. He wouldn't dare say it out loud like Tanglepaw or Bullpaw did.

"What happen to you?" Sootpaw asked, nodding his head towards her shoulder was plaster with spiderwebs.

"Oh, Raggedsnarl took us apprentices out to the Burnt Sycamore for some battle training with the Crafters. To teach them battle moves," she grimaces when she moved her injured leg a bit too much, "Barkpaw said I wrenched my shoulder,"

"Barkpaw?" Sootpaw queried, standing up fully, "Not Pricklenose?"

Nightpaw shakes her head, "He's still with Needlefang. He hasn't left her side unless he is forced to by Crowtail,"

"Has there been any news about whether or not she will wake up?"

"She will," Nightpaw nodded her head, "Pricklenose is sure of that. He just doesn't know when she will wake up. Which is a relief, with how things are with Windmoor I don't think anyone would accept a Bishop from them,"

"A Bishop from Windmoor?"

Nightpaw blinks, before she nodded her head, "Ah… you wouldn't know. When a Bishop dies before they trained the Apprentice that will take over them, they either take one of the fully trained Heirs from the other Kingdoms, or they take one of the Heatherkin," she giggles a bit, as Sootpaw looked perplexed at her, "The Heatherkin is what we call those who are descendent from Heather Wind, the founder of Windmoor. The bond between the Kingdoms and our ancestors were very fragile when the Kingdoms were form, only wisps in dreams or when the wraiths of the past push through the veil, leaving them weak for many moons. Except for Heather Wind. The molly has always been able to see more than others, and it was said that it was her sight that led her to the Highstones," she smirks, "Though those of Shadowmire say it was Holly Shadow who found what was hidden in those dark depths,"

Nightpaw shakes her head, "It is told, that her kits were born with her ability, and after she lost her mate, she soon realize what she had to do. She gave up three of her kits, Foaming Shadow in Shadowmire, Dawn Thunder in Thundergrowth, Spider River in Riverglade. Her fourth and final kit, Dusty Wind, stayed by her side and was taught by her, just as his siblings were taught. It was during the time of Bishop Brindlescorch that a problem such as this arose. The Bishop of Riverglade, Emberfall lost her last life, without training a Bishop Apprentice of her own. The others didn't know what to do, before Kinktail, the Heiress to Shadowmire was called upon by Lady Nocta to become Riverglade's Bishop,"

"And if no Kingdom has a fully trained Heir, then a Heatherkin will be quickly trained to take over as Bishop. Which happen here in Shadowmire once, when our Bishop Snowbirch succumb to the Bloated Belly and soon after her heiress, Brightwhisker quickly follows. Shadowmire had no idea what to do, as none of the other Kingdoms had a fully trained Heir. Two Felis stepped up, Mossfire who was Bishop Snowbirch's first apprentice and Jumpfawn, Brightwhisker's apprentice stepped up. Both said that since they were trained by a Bishop or Bishop's Heiress then they were more than qualified to become Shadowmire's next Bishop. The two began to fight each other, saying that whoever won, would have Lady Nocta's favor," Nightpaw began to chuckle darkly, "They both died that night from their wounds, not even the Soothepurr could heal their wounds,"

"But as they were buried, a figure strode into the camp, everyone recognizing her as Flowerstem, daughter of Windmoor's Bishop, Fallowbelly. She said that Bishop Snowbirch's wraith had come to her, stating that she was to be Shadowmire's next Bishop. And after telling something that only a selected few know, something a Windmoor Felis would never know, they all believed her. After that, a new rule in the code was made, that if a Bishop was to die before training a successor, then either a fully trained successor from another Kingdom will take their place, or someone of Bishop Heather Wind's blood will do so instead. That way, no kingdom will lose their link to Lady Nocta,"

Sootpaw hums at this and opens his mouth to ask another question when a wailing cry erupted. Nightpaw and Sootpaw glanced at each other before sticking their head out of the den to watch as Tanglepaw runs towards the Shadedroots, "Pricklenose! Pricklenose! Get out and help!" she lashes out at Deerleap who had been guarding the entrance, "No! I need Pricklenose to get out and actually help!"

"Tanglepaw!" Barkpaw runs towards her, yellow eyes wide, "What's the matter? You need to leave Pricklenose alone so he can focus on Needlefang, I can," he lets out a screech, jumping back as blood drips down his face, from his now torn ear.

"I don't need help from you, you sorry excuse of a coward!" Tanglepaw snaps, "I actually need Pricklenose to do his fucking job and help! Bullpaw is hurt!" she wails, green eyes wide before they glare into the shadows of the Shadedroots, "Stop hiding away and do your job!"

"There's no point, Tanglepaw," they all turned, to see Raggedsnarl stroding into the camp, the limp form of Bullpaw being carried by Cloudwhisker, his blue eyes filled with tears, "Bullpaw is dead,"

Murmurs of shock and disbelief rose up, and Sootpaw couldn't help but jerk back as Cloudwhisker set Bullpaw's body down. Even from here, Sootpaw could see how his head was wrenched at an awkward angle. Barkpaw was standing rigid, staring at the lifeless body of his brother before he flings his head back, letting out an anguished wail.

"It was an accident," Raggedsnarl announced, "A terrible accident," Sootpaw turns his gaze towards the crafters who had slowly followed Raggedsnarl and Cloudwhisker from behind, he sees the horrified cloudy look in Mouseswipe's blue eyes, Azaleaswipe was gently licking at his ears, muttering softly to him, "But this also means we need to get stronger, now that we lost one of our own," he gazes out at them, before he nodded his head, "Cougar, step forward,"

"But she's not old enough yet!" Berrypuddle cries out, but she grimaces as Raggedsnarl growls at her, cutting across mutters of agreement from others.

"She is five moons old, and she is the biggest of all the kits. She can handle it," Raggedsnarl growls, and Berrypuddle sighs, allowing Cougar to step forward. The molly was dark ginger with yellow golden feathers on her back and shoulders. Her green eyes were staring at Raggedsnarl with awe, "From this time on, you shall be known as Cougarpaw," Raggedsnarl turns his gaze to Cloudwhisker, who was staring at Bullpaw with great sadness, "Cloudwhisker, you shall mentor Cougarpaw. Its the least I can do for you,"

Cloudwhisker looks up, unblinking at Raggedsnarl, before he slowly pushed himself up, and walked towards Cougarpaw, pressing his nose against hers.

"That isn't fair," Feather complains, looking at Cougarpaw with undisguised envy.

"That's right!" Storm agreed, "We're just as old as she is!"

"I promise you that you will be made apprentices as soon as you're tall," Raggedsnarl smiles at his niblings, chuckling when Storm arched his back and stood on his toes, as if he was trying to grow taller right away, "Vulturefrost will be your mentor, Storm and I'm sure that by then Wolfclaw shall be done training Tanglepaw, so he can have you, Feather,"

Darkflower looks at Nightjarwail uncertain, before drawing her two kits closer to her with her tail.

Sootpaw looked around, and while some felis looked worried, no one complained, "Still with this tragic accident...I think we need to do more. That we can be stronger,"

Vultruefrost sprang up, the other seem taller after hearing that he would be gaining an apprentice, "What about battle training every day?" he suggested, "That would really sharpen our skills,"

"We could patrol at dawn as well as sunset and evening," Foxheart suggested, "Let Thundergrowth and Windmoor know that we're always watching,"

"We could have a permanent patrol at the Grotted Path" Sunleaf remarked but Sootpaw noticed she exchanged looks with Dragonflyleap. "They both know we don't have enough time for all of this," Sootpaw figured, doubt rolling in his stomach. "Since he won't set hunting patrols, no one will have time to hunt for themselves,"

Raggedsnarl looked at all the Felis gather around the Shadedroots, and his gaze rested long on the elders, "Even our elders have a role to play," Sootpaw's tail began to curl between his legs, the fur along his spine rising as an uneasy feeling begin to well up, "I know they would do anything to make us stronger and more powerful. And with this is mind, I have decided that the best thing they can do to help us all is by leaving the camp,"

A stunned silence followed this announcement before yowls erupted, "You can't do this!" Fernshade calls out.

"They earned their rest!" Frogtail declared, stumbling back in horror.

A wave of shock washes over Sootpaw, and he snaps his head over to the elders, who looked like they were refusing to what they all heard. They were turning to each other, looks of indignation and fear in their eyes.

"The elders have no use for fighting or hunting or having kits," Raggedsnarl explained, dismissing their protests with a wave of his tail, "Away from the camp means they won't take precious or prey,"

"They might even be more comfortable out of camp anyway," Foxheart smirks, ignoring how Poolcloud shot her a look of disgust.

"Exactly!" Nutwhisker exclaimed, Brightflower making a choking sound at this, "especially with so many kits around. You know how they had always complained about them scampering about, always bothering them."

Nightpaw's shoulder fur was bristling, "Raggedsnarl can't really do this can he? Has he forgotten how well they served Shadowmire,"

Sootpaw frowns, before he fully slips out of the apprentice den, and padded over to where the elders were clustered together.

Archeye's eyes were narrow burning with rage in them, and his claws were digging into the ground, "What do you think will happen if we refuse to go,"

Brackenfoot sighs, "I don't think we want to find out," he warns, resting his tail on the older cat's shoulders, "I trained him… and even now I don't know what he is thinking. He could make us fight, prove that we can be fighters by fighting each other," he lowers his voice as he added, "Do want to be a part of that? I know that neither Lizardfang nor Littlebird…"

Archeye grimaces at that, but Lizardfang glowers, "Just let see him try… I may be old but I still got Belnis' roar still burning in my throat,"

Hollysnap nodded her head in agreement, "This is not the Shadowmire I swear my loyalty to,"

But Crowtail shakes her head, brushing her tail against Archeye's flank, "No… there is no need to shed blood… not for something like this," she whispers before turning her gaze back to Raggedsnarl, "We will go… but for all those who stayed silent, may the Gods have mercy on your souls,"

"Thank you," Raggedsnarl snorts, "For those kind words. Move out at once and may Clasator give you good hunting,"

Sootpaw gazes with blue eyes as the elders filled back into their den. More murmurs rose up, many wanting to protest against this but none dare to speak out loud.

"This is wrong,"

"What was that, Sootpaw?" Jumping at the growl that was directed at him, Sootpaw's ears pinned to his head as he sees Raggedsnarl glaring at him, "Why don't you speak louder so we can all hear,"

Sootpaw stares up at Raggedsnarl before he curls his lips, "This is wrong and you know it," he snaps, speaking louder than before.

Raggedsnarl stares at him, scrunching up his face in disgust, "You have a lot to learn, Sootpaw. I am the Attendant and until Needlefang wakes up, my word is law. My word is the will of Lady Nocta and she has done nothing to show what I am doing is wrong. So this must be her will as well,"

Sootpaw shivers feeling his skin crawl underneath his fur but he says nothing more. Instead, he slips inside the elders den and helped them gather up their favorite bits of bedding. Littlebird purrs in thanks at him, while Poolcloud looks at him gracefully. He was soon followed by Mouseswipe and Nightjarwail, the two helping roll up the moss and fern into bundles to carry. When everything was ready, he follows Brackenfoot out of the camp, refusing to look at Raggedsnarl. He could feel the burning gazes of the other Felis, all fixed on him and the elders.

They trekked out of camp and padded across the marsh. Brackenfoot took them to a spindly copse of trees that offer some protection.

"It was still within Shadowmire territory and not too far from camp," Brackenfoot explained, soon finding a spot where rock had fallen away to make a hollow in the bank, shaded by overarching clumps of ferns. Sootpaw, with Nightjarwail and Mouseswipe, began to clear away the debris inside and dug out more soil to enlarge the space enough until it was big enough for all the elders.

"Nightjarwail, why don't you and Sootpaw scout around and see if you can find us some prey," Brackenfoot gently requested when the vigorous exercise brought out a fit of coughing.

As the elders brought their bedding inside the newly made den, Sootpaw follows Nightjarwail who while he was still coughing was mostly silent. "You are right, this is wrong," blinking, Sootpaw turns his head towards the black tom who looked trouble, "the Elders have worked hard all their lives for Shadowmire, they deserve to be part of it. To be taken care of now that they're old. Shadowmire needs their wisdom," he sighs, shaking his head, "but I'm not surprise that Raggedsnarl doesn't think so… all he has ever wanted to do was fight,"

Spotting a turtle that was snoozing on a floating log, Sootpaw watches as Nightjarwail plunged into the water, expertly swimming through the murky and thick water before he was close enough to scoop the turtle into his jaws. The creature was quick enough to hide in its shell, but it did no good as Nightjarwail easily breaks its protection apart with his sharp teeth.

Looking around, Sootpaw quickly finds two sparrows, pecking away at the ground. Lowering himself into the waters, he slowly makes his way over, much slower than Nightjarwail, and much louder. Luckily, for himself either these two were deaf or even stupid enough not to feel frighten as Sootpaw lunges forward, snapping his jaws around one, while pinning the other to the ground before it could fly away. Quickly pulling himself out, he soon bites it neck, lifting the two birds in his mouth.

Nightjarwail looks at him, and nodded his head at him, sending a thrill of pride through Sootpaw's body. Together the two trotted back to the elders, their prizes hanging in their mouths.

Mouseswipe turns to them, sorrow still shimmering in his blue eyes, "I decided that I'm going to stay behind with the elders… hunt for them… fetch them bedding…" he closes his eyes, "as long as I live… I will never raise another paw to a Felis ever again,"

Sootpaw blinks at him, "If you're need of herbs, go to the Drifting Sun. They will happy to share them with you," a snort from Hollysnap makes his ears twitched.

"We don't need pity from Drifters or any outsiders," Lizardfang snaps but Featherstorm shushes him with a tail to a mouth.

"This is okay," Crowtail mewed, trying to sound determined, "We'll be fine here,"

Sootpaw was wondering if the black molly was trying convince herself that, but it seem to not work on Nightjarwail, "I'll come back with whatever prey I can catch,"

Featherstorm shakes her head, walking over to him and pressing her nose against his shoulder, "Don't neglect your duties.. don't give Raggedsnarl a reason to banish you," Nightjarwail opens his mouth, "Don't say that being his brother will stop him from doing so. I'm his mother, and yet he still banished me,"

"You haven't been banished!" Nightjarwail protested, "You're still part of Shadowmire. You still live on our territory,"

Brightflower chuckles darkly, "Feels like banishment," she comments quietly, Brackenfoot looking at her sadly before licking between her ears.

Sootpaw follows Nightjarwail, leaving Mouseswipe behind with the elders. The two had just enter the camp when Sootpaw heard his name being called. Taking a deep breath, Sootpaw walked towards where Raggedsnarl stood beside the Shadedroots, being careful to step quietly to not bother Tanglepaw and Barkpaw as they mourn Bullpaw.

Raggedsnarl narrows his eyes down at him as Sootpaw stood in front of him, "Sootpaw, question your mentor, who is also the Attendant is against the Code. You are my apprentice you do as I say,"

"But what you are doing to the elders is wrong!" Sootpaw snaps back, before he looks down at his paws "the elders don't deserve this. They served Shadowmire for many years and-"

"Are they safe," Sootpaw jerks his head up, staring at Raggedsnarl, "Do they have shelter?"

"Yes," Sootpaw answered reluctantly.

"Then they are fine," Raggedsnarl remarked dryly, "listen, Sootpaw. Do you know how lucky you are?" Sootpaw's head jerks back, and he stares uncertainty at Raggedsnarl, "Do you know how jealous the other kits are of you? You, who is much smaller than Cougarpaw, have been honored to become an apprentice of Shadowmire, to learn to fight. We have many enemies, Sootpaw. Windmoor murdered Bishop Sagewhisker," he hisses out, whiskers twitching in anger, "The only way for Shadowmire to be safe is for the other Kingdoms to fear us. I know things are different than what you are use to in the ruins, but the other Kingdoms will be happy to attack us if we show even the least bit of weakness," he turns his yellow eyes to him, "Even your sister will strike you down,"

Sootpaw bites his tongue, to stop the rebuke that Ardere would ever attack him. Maybe Fortis and Rubinus, but never Ardere.

Raggedsnarl then smiles, and a shimmer of glee began to shine in his eyes, "Get some food for yourself, and try to get some rest,"

Sootpaw frowns, "Why? Shouldn't I be training? I already miss the moonrise practice," "The one where Bullpaw died,"

"Because I want you to build up your strength. Because tomorrow night, we shall be taking our revenge against Windmoor," Raggedsnarl revealed, lips curl, showing his fangs, "Shadowmire won't be showing them any mercy, for what they did to Bishop Sagewhisker, they shall be driven out. You and all the other apprentices shall be going,"

Sootpaw swallows, but he couldn't move as Raggedsnarl padded away, talking to Foxheart and Wolfclaw quietly. His legs begin to tremble, as his heart beater rapidly against his chest, before he shakes himself. Turning back towards the apprentice den to see if Nightpaw was well enough to hunt, he jumps a bit, eyes wide as he stares at the white fur molly that stood in front of him. She shimmered in the moonlight, almost like starlight but Sootpaw could see through her. Blood was dripping down her throat, the flesh having been torn away, leaving a gaping wound. Her blue eyes stared at him, and her mouth was moving yet no words came out of.

"Hey, Sootpaw!" Hissing a bit, he jumps back making Sunrisepaw look at him in confusion, "Hey… you alright?" He tilts his head, staring at Sootpaw's shaking form, the way his tail was bushed up, "it looks like you saw a wraith," he chuckles shaking his head, as if amuse by the thought of that, "I was wondering if you want to go hunting?"

Sootpaw stares at him, ears pinned to his head before he shakily nods head. But as Sootpaw walks behind Sunrisepaw to the entrance of the camp, he looks behind his shoulder, wondering if the white fur molly was there again.

But there was no one.

So early Christmas present for you all...I had the urge to write this chapter, and it went more smoothly than I thought it would but here it is! And we're getting close to going back to Blazepaw's pov...honestly I can't wait to get to book 2, my baby Smoke will be there and then things will really get moving on. Its always book 1 that is the hardest for me because it mostly follows canon just having Sootpaw's pov...

Anyway, can you please give me some reviews? Like it doesn't even have to be long or anything (though I would really appreciate that if you did) so...please?

Anyway, hope you all enjoy! Merry Christmas everyone!