Disclaimer: I do NOT own Warriors, Erin Hunter does. Now on with the show~

In the darkness of the ShadowClan camp, Clawface was pacing, his tail ticking back and forth and every few seconds he stopped to stare at the camp entrance, only to start again. Nightpelt watched him with a slightly amused expression, his head inclined to one side while his brother continued his wary movements.

"Brother, you'll wear yourself out before the journey even begins, please calm yourself." The skinny demon said, even as Clawface only stared at him with a forlorn expression before resuming his pacing, his tail now lashing side by side in his mounting unease.

"But Brother...I don't know if I can do this! Questing to bring WindClan home? When I was one of the warriors who helped Brokenstar drive them out, they will never listen to reason if they see me with the others. They might outright attack because of me!"

Nightpelt blinked before closing his eyes, walking up to his larger brother and pressing against his side, twining his tail with Clawface's. Against him, the new leader could feel the warrior's body shaking but his actions soothed the big demon somewhat and Clawface let out a soft sigh.

"Perhaps it would be better if we didn't go through with this. Let ThunderClan handle the mission." the large warrior mumbled, his ears flattening against his skull while his tail worked free of Nightpelt's and started to lash again. His smaller brother gave him a sideways glance before reaching out, tapping Clawface with his paw, the burly demon winced when he felt the black cat's claws digging slightly into his muzzle.

"You stop that!" Nightpelt growled quietly, narrowing his eyes. "My brother is proud and strong! The Clawface I know wouldn't back down, not from any challenge! I understand how you feel, but we must do this! ShadowClan must right the wrongs Brokenstar forced us into. We must show that we are more than bloodthirsty monsters! It will be the greatest honor we can have if we bring WindClan home. Like I told Bluestar, it's time we showed that the shadows don't always bring fear and destruction."

Clawface looked at his brother, snuffling his paws and tilting his head. His tail finally stopped lashing but it drooped to the ground behind him. "But Brother...are you sure that I should be the one to do this?"

Nightpelt's gaze softened and he brushed his cheek against his brother's, once more twining his tail to the bigger male. "I've never been more sure than now, Clawface. I believe in you."

XxXx

Sandspirit and Ravenflight was sitting with Firepaw and Graypaw, the ginger apprentice looking slightly miffed that Sandspirit was going away while Graypaw looked a little more excited. Heartseeker was with them briefly but she was now out with Bluestar, though the leader still seemed wary of her, Heartseeker didn't let it bother her in the slightest. She nudged the black and white warrior who seemed just as down as Firepaw, trying to cheer him up.

"Imagine, being chosen to find WindClan! And being about to leave the territories beyond even Highstones! You lot are so lucky!"

Ravenflight tried to smile to Graypaw's cheerfulness, but from his drooping whiskers, it was clear that he wasn't feeling much of the same excitement. "Yeah, lucky us."

Graypaw seemed to realize Ravenflight's subdued manner and tilted her head, the demon wrapping her tail around her paws while trying to think of what else to say that might help. Firepaw lowered her head, looking over at Sandspirit and moving closer to her, the paler molly enjoying her touch and realizing that she wouldn't be able to have Firepaw beside her for a long while. The feeling was too much like how when the full blooded demon had left the Clan and Sandspirit closed her eyes, not wanting to relieve those horrible days.

The apprentice seemed to sense her friend's feelings and nuzzled her tenderly, licking her shoulder at the end. "Do not worry. I will be here when you return. By the tails of the Firstborn, this I swear."

Her strange words seemed to comfort Sandspirit, making her smile. She returned the lick and purred softly. "Thank you, Firepaw. I promise to come back to you too. don't want you to worry either." Firepaw nuzzled her again and smiled softly, shaking her head. "I won't worry. The Allmother is looking out for you, I know you'll be okay."

Sandspirit gave her dear friend a certain look and tilted her head, wanting to know more. "The Allmother?"

Firepaw's ears twitched and she had to remind herself that she said that she wasn't going to leave Sandspirit out in regards to her culture and origins.

"I am not a Oel-cir'va, but I will share the Song of how Meerclar came from the earth and brought forth us Folk. We praise our Elders, who watch over us. We praise Meerclar, whose Eye lights our hunting. We salute our quarry for making the chase sweet."

"Thanks. Praise. Salutations." Heartseeker's voice came from the entrance of the camp, Bluestar standing next to her, her eyes wide. Firepaw opened her eyes, to look at her older sister, who smiled and nodded her head.

Firepaw returned the smile and closed her eyes once again. She then continued. "We are the Folk, and today we speak in one voice of the deeds of all. We are the Folk."

Her voice then lowered to an almost whisper and carried with it a tone of a deeper knowledge that everyone in the group, even those a little further off listened to. Sandspirit's eyes widened as Firepaw started the story, feeling something deep stir within her breast, before her eyes closed while she held on to the feeling.

"In the Hour before time began, Meerclar Allmother came out of the darkness to the cold earth. She was black and as furry as all the world come together to be fur. Meerclar banished the eternal night, and brought forth the Two..."

Fire told of Harar Goldeneye and his mate, Fela Skydancer. She described a great many of their children but paused when she spoke of three toms, which she referred to as the Firstborn; Viror Whitwind, Grizaz Hearteater, and Tangaloor Firefoot.

At the name Hearteater, some of the Clan shifted and muttered to each other, all looking at Firepaw. Some were even the demons of the Clan, though they tried to be quiet. Firepaw stared back at them, all of them, her fur bristling and the beginnings of a snarl curling her muzzle. Sandspirit immediately licked her cheek, purring softly to distract her while twining her tail with the younger molly.

Heartseeker glared at every cat around her, hissing at the normal cats that dared to speak out in disgust.

It did the trick, all the cats bowed their heads though Firepaw looked over at Sandspirit, her expression morphing to one of worry and uncertainty. Sandspirit nuzzled her tenderly, purring more. "Ignore them. Please go on, I want to hear the rest of your story. Please Firepaw."

Firepaw looked deep into Sandspirit's eyes, seeing the true want to hear the rest of her Song and she closed her eyes briefly. She then opened them, took a deep breath while pressing more to Sandspirit in thanks and began again.

All of the cats were completely absorbed in Firepaw's story, even those who at first jeered. They nodded when Firepaw described the brothers, muttering how it was fair that Whitewind was fast and strong and how Firefoot was very clever given his solitude. Graypaw puffed out her chest saying that she was most like Whitewind, only to be lightly cuffed by Heartseeker who smiled at the smaller molly.

Bluestar was one of the ones who listened the most, despite herself. When Firepaw told of Heartearter's jealousy and how he raised a a great beast named Ptomakum, the last child of a demon-hound named Venus, she felt a chill down down her spine, causing her to look around.

But as Firepaw continued her story, telling of how Whitewind slew the beast as it had done to many of the Folk, quite a few cats, herself included felt a wave of sorrow and rage for what Hearteater had done. As it was told what despair fell on the family after Whitewind's death, some looked to Bluestar and the molly felt oddly warm that such pain would be felt by her cats when her time came.

The cats sighed in sympathy as Firefoot left his court and bristled as they were told of him finding the culprit and jeering for Hearteater's death when the black tom had him pinned under a tree. When Firepaw spoke of how Hearteater bargained for his life and tried to get Firefoot to let him live but as the sun came up, the cats were just as horrified as Firepaw told of Hearteater's screams as Firefoot was said to be. As Firepaw told the Clan of how Lord Tangaloor tried to find a way to protect his blinded brother, she described how Hearteater dug into the earth faster than any mole and swiftly disappeared.

"It is said that Hearteater still lives below ground, hidden from the eyes of the Folk, working foul deeds and aching to return to the World Above..."

Firepaw then ended the story to look around her, Sandspirit, Grayaw, Ravenflight, and Heartseeker all cheered her and gave her compliments on telling the story so well. While the rest of the Clan, even the demons were slow to say anything, they eventually concluded that it was a good story. "Do you really think Hearteater will return, Firepaw?" It was Darkstripe who asked and when Firepaw looked at him, she could see no mocking in his face. Secretly glad that her mentor didn't sneer, she shook her head.

"None of the Folk are sure. He could, for as evil as Hearteater's deeds were, he is still one of the Firstborn."

"Well, if that blind worm comes here, I'll tear him to bits! He won't dare to mess with ThunderClan!" Longtail boasted, forgetting his hatred of the demons for a moment to bolster himself.

Both Heartseeker and Firepaw glanced at each other, rolling their eyes but saying nothing. It was Bluestar that called the gathering to a close.

"Okay, okay. That's enough! Firepaw, that was a fine story, you told it well. But now it is time to get back to our duties. Heartseeker, come with me. I wish to talk to you." the leader looked at the younger for as long as she could before turning away. Firepaw and Heartseeker's eyes both widened as the surprising lack of scorn in her voice as she praised Firepaw's story. For a moment, the tabby molly hesitated with Firepaw by her side, but as Bluestar started to go back towards the camp entrance, she called to the younger feline.

"There will be time for more stories, but now I need you, Heartseeker. Hurry up!" there was a slight tinge of annoyance on his voice that roused the striped molly, giving her younger sister a lick before she rushed off.

"Firepaw, will you tell more stories?" Sandspirit asked the flame colored molly, to which Firepaw looked up, still rocked by Bluestar's praise.

"Yes, I would love to share more Songs with you! And...anyone else who'd listen. I'm surprised those non-demons of the Clan listened."

"My mother once told me that sometimes stories help bring others together. Perhaps we all saw that happen just now." Ravenflight said, nodding to the retreating cats.

Firepaw looked too and nodded, she then looked to her friends and smiled. "I suppose...you're right."

A/N: Hey everyone, long time no story. Sorry about that, things have been quite busy on my end. Hope you enjoy this chapter and the chapters to come. Wonder what Bluestar wants to talk to Heartseeker about? Find out in the next chapter, until then, please enjoy.