Legend: of the wild cats

[Stormflower; Mapleclaw]

LEGEND
of the wild cats

CHAPTER 1


Firestar led his clan across the open moorland as the full moon shone brightly in the dark blue sky, star-studded with flittering sparkles. Strangely he could sense it was some sort of an omen with such a clear peaceful night. At the gathering all the clans had been kind, and the truce seemed to glow in all their hearts. Sudden Brightheart came hurtling across the open moor toward Firestar. He flicked his tail to Larchfire to take the lead as he bounded away, the soft turf clumping between his claws as he ran. Brightheart stopped abruptly, skidded to a halt panting. “Firestar! Tundraheart just had her kit!”
Firestar stopped and stiffened. Tundraheart wasn’t supposed to have her kit for another quarter moon! “Go back to camp and I’ll be there as soon as I can!” He shouted urgently to her.
Without waiting for an answer Firestar raced across the moor once more and halted in front of Larchfire flicking his tail impatiently.
“Larchfire I want you to lead the clan back to camp. Tundraheart just had her kit and I must go back to help.”
Spiderleg suddenly pushed his way through the mass of cats gathering round to listen to the urgent news.
“Firestar I must come too. I must make sure my kit is safe!” Spiderleg meowed urgently and determinedly. He looked ready at any moment to push past Firestar and head out without him.
Daisy glared at the tom menacingly. She had been Spiderleg’s former mate but he had given her up and their kits to be with Tundraheart.
Firestar gazed at the warrior sympathetically, dipping his head meowing respectfully, “Very well. Larchfire, make sure the clan stays safe.”
Firestar whirled around and raced across the moor with Spiderleg hard on his heels. The stream separating ThunderClan from WindClan loomed ahead of them and the two cats splashed through the icy water splattering their fur with cold wet drops. Firestar leaped up to the woodland on the other side, shaking his pelt shattering drops of water from his pelt to fly in all directions. They pelted through the trees and burst into the clearing. At the exact moment Brightheart padded over, her head bowed. “Sadly, only one of her kits survived. Leafpool and Jaypaw did all they could but they just couldn’t save it.” Brightheart explained.
“No!” Spiderleg’s call echoed around the camp shattering the horrifying silence. Spiderleg raced across camp disappearing into the nursery.
As Firestar listened to the warrior, his eyes clouded with grief. “That’s really too bad. I’ll go see Tundraheart and her kit and tell her my grief.” He turned away from the warrior and slowly padded toward the nursery. He squeezed in through the entrance to find Tundraheart curled up around the kit, giving it vigorous licks. A mew of protest arose from the tiny body but then fell silent as it curled closer to its mother. Tundraheart turned her head, noticing the flame colored leader enter the den.
“How’s your kit?” Firestar asked gently noticing the grief in her eyes.
“Fine, thank you,” she replied solemnly.
“I’m very sorry to hear about your other kit Tundraheart. I will help in all ways possible to make sure the other stays healthy,” Firestar meowed as confidently as he could to the queen.
“Thank you Firestar. Spiderleg has just gone out to fetch me some fresh-kill. He’s very worried about her,” she told the leader fearfully.
“So it’s a she-cat? Have you chosen a name for her?” Firestar asked curiously tilting his head.
“Actually Firestar, I have. I’ve decided to call her Midnightkit.”
He looked carefully at the kit as she squirmed around trying to find a comfortably spot close to her mother. She had a faint coat of black fur growing across the tiny body. “That sure suits her,” he meowed smiling.
“I had hoped it would.” Tundraheart mewing trying her best to return the smile.
“I must see to the clan now but I wish you and your kit well. I will hope to see you out with Midnightkit for her to see the forest for her first time.”
“She’s a strong kit, this one. She will be out and about before you know it.”
Tundraheart smiled and turned back toward her kit and curled up closely around it, closing her eyes.
Firestar turned around again pulling himself through the entrance as the brambles tugged at his fur. He managed to wriggle out giving his ruffled fur a few quick licks before padding farther into the hollow.
Spiderleg burst into the clearing panting, with his jaws full with a large, plump vole and a fat wood pigeon. He disappeared into the nursery within a heartbeat.
In total, the nursery had three kits. Whitewing had just given birth to her two kits; Willowkit and Spottedkit two sunrises ago. They would be perfect play mates for the newly born Midnightkit.
As Firestar stood in the clearing he heard a rustling in the bracken, and the cats from the gathering started to push through to the camp. Murmurs broke out as they entered the hollow speaking of the new arrival of Midnightkit.
Exhausted, Firestar leaped up the rockfall to the highledge and squeezed into the large break in the sheer cliff where his den was made. He slowly padded over to his mossy nest lined with feathers and dropped down onto his soft cushioned bed, closing his eyes as sleep engulfed him.

Firestar opened his eyes sleepily as the bright, warm morning rays seeped into his den awakening him. He scrabbled to his paws, finding that his sore muscles and joints pierced him like badgers teeth. Half stumbling, half sliding Firestar crawled down the tumble of rocks into the hollow.
It was a long while after dawn so most of the cats had gone off hunting or on the dawn patrol. He gazed down at the fresh-kill pile noticing that it was fairly full, but there wasn’t any harm in making the pile a little larger. He trotted into the warriors den, finding Cloudtail and Brightheart curled up together on a large bed of moss.
“Cloudtail? Brightheart? Would you like to go hunting?” He asked quietly.
Cloudtail popped open his eyes, apparently full of energy. Brightheart got to her paws more slowly, her jaws gaping in an enormous yawn. She shook her self vigorously, shaking off any moss that dared stick to her pelt.
“Of course, I’ve been as bored as picking ticks from the elders pelts, sitting around the camp all day doing nothing! It is time I did something worth my while,” Cloudtail almost shouted.
Cloudtail shot through the dens entrance and bounded over to the edge of the camp shouting, “Come on! You’re as slow as a kit with two legs!”
He turned and raced through the woods, leaving the two cats behind.
“Come on, we better hurry up if we don’t want to get left behind,” Firestar meowed to the she-cat by his side.
They pelted through the forest, racing after the white tom. They stopped abruptly as they noticed Cloudtail stalking a fat mouse. Cloudtail leaped at the small helpless creature his eyes narrowed, killing it with one quick swipe of his massive paw.
“Good catch!” Brightheart exclaimed, nuzzling Cloudtail gently on his shoulder.
Cloudtail opened his mouth to retort something but clearly thought better of it.
“Thanks,” he meowed instead.
Firestar parted his jaws, scenting the air for prey. Almost immediately he scented mouse, starling, and a stale scent of fox about a quarter moon old. He spotted the mouse more by scent than sight, scuffling among some thick, prickly, bramble thickets. It cautiously crawled out, not noticing the large cat as he crept closer. All of the sudden the wind changed direction sending Firestar’s scent with it. The mouse tried to dart under the spiky bramble thicket but Firestar was too quick. He leaped at the mouse, its tiny body crushed beneath the weight of a muscular leader.

The day soon passed, and when the small patrol reached camp it was already sundown. The patrol had caught two mice, a vole, a rabbit, and a fairly plump starling.
Firestar padded over to the fresh-kill pile and took a large rabbit about the size of himself and dragged it over toward Sandstorm where she was sitting just outside the warriors den speaking with Brackenfur.
“Hi,” Firestar meowed between mouthfuls of rabbit fur.
“Hi,” she replied, turning her head to hold Firestar’s gaze.
Firestar dropped the rabbit at her paws asking, “would you like to share? This rabbit’s as large as I am.”
Sandstorm smiled and nuzzled his gently, “Of course I would you stupid furball.”
They ate in silence as Brackenfur ripped into a squirrel, devouring it within heartbeats.
“I’ve got to go on the dawn patrol tomorrow so I better get a good sleep,” Brackenfur explained to the two cats.
“Bye!” Sandstorm called.
Brackenfur flicked his tail, indicating that he had heard her as he squeezed into the warriors den.
“I better go too. It’s getting late and I’m quite tired, but would you like to go hunting tomorrow though?” Firestar asked her quietly, making sure not to wake the sleeping cats.
“Sure, just make sure you don’t get up at almost sunhigh like yesterday.”
Sandstorm smiled, leaping to her paws, padding into the warriors den.
Firestar stood and gazed at where she had disappeared for a few moments, but after a while he whisked around and bounded up the slope to the highledge. He squeezed through the narrow cleft in the rock entering the large cave. Padding up to large nest of moss, he circled it twice, laying down into the soft nest.

It’d been four sunrises since he had last seen Midnightkit, and as he padded down into the hollow, he spotted her bouncing around joyfully in the open clearing. She would run around to sniff hear and there pretending to be a warrior.
“Mommy! Look I’m a warrior!” Midnightpaw whirled around and ran straight into Firestar. She fell over backwards looking up at the leader her.
“S-sorry,” she meowed shaking herself, but as she gazed up at him with big round eyes she asked excitedly, “are you the leader my mommy told me about? The one who had saved Brambleclaw from the fire when he was a kit, and saved WindClan from being torn to pieces by taking a patrol to help them?” The young kit gazed up at him questioningly.
“It was the whole patrol who saved WindClan not just I,” he meowed modestly to the tiny kit.
“But you were the one who led them!” She protested.
“Midnightkit!” Tundraheart called loudly. Midnightkit gazed up at the leader with questioning eyes, but finally began to bound back to her mother.
“Bye!” She called reluctantly as she turned away from the leader and raced after her mother tumbling right into her.
“Sorry!”
Tundraheart smiled warmly and nudged her back into the nursery.
Firestar stood watching the spot where they had disappeared for a few moments, then strode off to find Sandstorm to go hunting again. He had promised her he wasn’t going to be late so he padded swiftly over as he spotted her sitting at the edge of camp.
As Firestar trotted over to the she-cat he realized that Midnightkit looked just like Hollypaw-the same green eyes and the same black pelt.
“Kits can be kits.” He told himself quietly as he reached Sandstorm.



















CHAPTER 2


Five moons had passed since Midnightkit was born, so she was just about ready to become an apprentice.
Midnight burst out of the nursery, followed by Willowkit and Spottedkit. It was pitch black, so the only thing that indicated that Midnightkit was there was the bright glow of her emerald green eyes. Her two other companions were faintly visible because of Spottedkit’s tortoiseshell coat and Willowkit’s light gray one. They crept silently out of camp leaving the safe walls of the hollow.
“Come on! If we don’t want to be caught we better hurry!” Midnightkit whispered to her friends.
All three of the kits pelted through the forest leaving the camp far behind.
“Midnightkit, please stop! We are really tired.” Spottedkit panted after a while.
“Alright,” She mewed frustrated, with only the faintest sign of tiredness in her voice compared to the other two kits. “I’ll be right back. I’m going to go hunt like a warrior!”
Without waiting for an answer, she bounded off. Suddenly a river loomed right in front of her but it was too late. She slipped right off the edge into the icy cold water, being dragged under.
With all her strength, Midnightkit broke through the surface of the water, her terrified wails echoing the forest. She was pulled under once again and found that she did not have the strength to go on much farther. Suddenly, she was being lifted out of the chilling water and dragged toward shore.
Something was holding her scruff, but she wasn’t sure if it was a cat, or something else. Once she could breath again she scented the strong scent of cat, though it wasn’t from ThunderClan. It had an odd odor like grass, but she had no idea who it could be.
The firm grasp on her scruff vanished and she found herself lying splayed out on the soft moorland grass. She was panting hard and she didn’t want to move one muscle on her body.
She forced herself to open her eyes and as she did she saw a lean, sleek, dark gray tom standing over her, gazing down at her limp body.
“What do you think you’re doing?! Going for a swim to drown?!” He hissed.
“I-I didn’t mean too! I was running and I slipped!” She squeaked.
As he gazed down at her his burning gaze died into sympathy for the young she-kit lying on the ground. She started to scramble to her paws, but the dark gray warrior gently nudged her down again.
“You must keep still. You are soaked to your fur and look extremely tired.” He meowed kindly to her.
“Alright,” She mewed awkwardly. “One more thing, what’s your name?” She asked curiously.
The WindClan warrior gazed into her green eyes, filled with comfort.
“My name is Crowfeather.”
“My name’s Midnightkit. Are you a warrior?” She asked.
“I sure am. Now lie still and get some rest.”
“Alright.” she sighed.

The bright morning sun closed around her engulfing her in its rays. She woke with a start as she heard yowling and screeching. Midnightkit scrambled to her paws gazing around the moorland.
Cats were fiercely battling in the open moor, some on the ThunderClan border, others on the WindClan border.
Midnightkit gazed around rapidly, searching for some cat she could go to for protection.
She turned her head and saw Crowfeather gazing at her with horror. Before she knew what was happening, a large gray tom bowled her over leaving her half conscious. She heard a loud hiss from Crowfeather as he leaped at the tom.
“Watch what you’re doing!” Crowfeather hissed angrily.
“Crowfeather, have you lost your mind?! Or have you forgotten which clan you belong to?” The gray tom spat.
“You have no right to question my loyalty!” Crowfeather shouted. Crowfeather gave the cat an angry hiss and leapt off. He bounded over to Midnightkit giving her a vigorous lick, almost toppling her over. Crowfeather grabbed her by the scruff and carried her farther away so she wouldn’t get hurt. Giving her a nuzzle he meowed in a gentle voice, “Stay here. If anyone comes before the battle is over hide in those bushes.”
Crowfeather pointed to a thicket of bramble that was barely a couple mouse-lengths away.
“Alright,” Midnightkit promised.
Crowfeather bounded away back into battle. Midnightkit closed her eyes, waiting fearfully for it to be over. Suddenly she heard loud yowls of triumph arise from the cats. Which clan had won? her birth clan or her rival?
Daring to peer out, she saw WindClan fleeing across their border. For some reason she wasn’t sure if she was either glad or disappointed that WindClan had lost. She shook the thought out of her head as Firestar padded over.
“Are you alright?” He asked.
“Y-yes.” She mewed shakily.
Without another word Firestar grabbed her by the scruff and padded away.
By the time the patrol reached home it was sunhigh. Tundraheart burst out of the nursery calling, “My kit! Where’s my kit!” She turned her head to see Firestar padding over. He dropped Midnightkit on the ground at Tundraheart’s paws. She crouched close to the ground as Tundraheart licked her vigorously.
“Thank you very much Firestar. I don’t know what I would have done without her.”
Without waiting for an answer Tundraheart nudged her into the nursery. The second she got there Willowkit and Spottedkit started to pour questions upon her.
“Did the WindClan cat hurt you? Did they throw you in the river?” They asked questioningly.
“No! Crowfeather saved my life! I was running and I slipped into the river and Crowfeather pulled me out!” She mewed proudly. “The only reason he didn’t bring me back was because he was afraid I was to wet and tired to make it.”
“What?! Crowfeather was telling the truth?” Tundraheart asked unbelievably surprised.
“Of course! Crowfeather would never lie!” Midnightkit argued, though she barely even knew the WindClan cat.
“Well then you sure have some explaining to do to Firestar.”
At that moment Firestar padded in meowing, “Explain what?”
Midnightkit spilled out every detail she could remember about last night. Firestar was wide eyed through the whole story. When Midnightkit had finished her story, Firestar hung his head low in shame.
“How will I ever repay Onestar?” He meowed desperately.
“Y-you could give them me.” She mewed, hoping she sounded more confident than she really felt. Firestar gave her a gentle lick, meowing softly, “You are worth more than that.”
Midnightkit was so surprised; she stayed mute with shock until Firestar had left.
“Mommy? Was it really all my fault?” Midnightkit mewed solemnly.
“No. No, it wasn’t you’re fault.”
A quarter moon had passed since the battle and the cats were healing swiftly. Midnightkit had found out that Spottedkit and Willowkit had made it back safely with out anyone noticing she was gone. When she woke, blinked open her eyes sleepily as the dim light of dawn seeped in through the nursery walls.
Firestar padded into the den toward her and her mother. Midnightkit scrambled to her paws shaking off the moss that stuck to her pelt.
“Tundraheart and Midnightkit, I have some wonderful news for you. It is time that Midnightkit becomes an apprentice.”
Midnightkit sat dazed beside her mother to stunned and happy to speak. Midnightkit managed a small squeak, “But I’m not even five and a half moons old, aren’t I supposed to be six?”
“Yes, but you need someone to look after you so you don’t get into trouble.” Firestar put in joking.
Midnightkit managed a smile but it soon faded as Willowkit scrambled to her paws sleepily mewing, “F-Firestar, when I become an apprentice, I would like to become a medicine cat apprentice.”
Firestar gazed down at her for a few moments then spoke kindly, “Willowkit you know there already is one.”
“I know but there is nothing wrong with having two!” She argued.
Firestar sighed then meowed, “I will speak with Leafpool, but I’m not making any promises. Alright?”
Willowkit’s face lit up so brightly Midnightkit couldn’t think of any cat who would deny her.
“Thank you Firestar!” Willowkit joyfully mewed.
Firestar nodded then padded out to return to the clan. Tundraheart started grooming her fiercely.

As sunhigh approached, Firestar’s yowl rang out across the clearing.
“All cats old enough to catch their own prey join here beneath the highledge for a clan meeting.”
Midnightkit almost jumped out of her fur, realizing it was time for her ceremony. She quickly lifted her head proudly, remembering that her ceremony wasn’t something to be nervous about, she should be proud.
As the cats quieted down Firestar flicked his tail to signal her to come up to the highledge. She bounded confidently up the steep side of the rock, almost losing her balance but quickly shifted her weight so she didn’t fall. That’s the last think I want to do is to embarrass myself at my ceremony!
“It’s time for Midnightpaw to become an apprentice, and receiver her apprentice name. Midnightkit from this moment on, you will be known as Midnightpaw. Her mentor will be I, Firestar and I will train her to all the ways I have known and learned to be a warrior,” he exclaimed.
Midnightpaw stepped forward to touch noses with Firestar, now her mentor. When she stepped back, loud shouts arose from the cats in the clearing caterwauling, “Midnightpaw! Midnightpaw!”
She gazed down at her mother sitting proudly in the center of the hollow, with her father Spiderleg, grooming her gently, but with an unmistakable hint of pride glowing in his amber eyes.
Midnightpaw scrambled down the steep slope to enter the hollow filled with cats crowded around to congratulate her.
Tundraheart and Spiderleg were the first to push through the crowd to see her.
“I’m so proud of you,” Tundraheart whispered with eyes filled with joy.
“I know you will turn out to be a wonderful warrior one day, especially with the training from your clan leader,” Spiderleg meowed proudly.
“Thanks.”
Willowkit and Spottedkit scrambled over mewing, “Congratulations!”
“Thank you. Just think! Soon we’ll all be able to sleep in the apprentice den together like we used to in the nursery!” Midnightpaw reminded them.
“Well... you two will. I’m going to be a medicine cat apprentice!” Willowkit mewed proudly. Midnightpaw nuzzled her gently mewing, “Of course you will.”

















CHAPTER 3


The day had gone by quickly, the starlight engulfing the sky with the spirits of their warrior ancestors. Firestar curled up into the soft mossy bedding of his nest, shutting his eyes tight. Sleep almost took him at once and as he opened his eyes, he found himself standing in a dark forest, the thick branches blocking the sky from view.
Firestar ran on and on but seemingly went nowhere. The sight he saw in front of him was the most horrifying thing he could imagine. Skidding to a halt, Firestar tried to run but his paws were planted firmly into the ground, and it seemed to be sucking him deeper into its depths.
“Firestar, it’s good to see you again. Welcome to my world.” The dark tabby warrior breathed into Firestar’s ear.
A cold shiver ran through his spine, taking all the life out of him.
“You will be wiped out like a monster ripping into a cat with its powerful black claws. Firestar, you keep looking behind you, keep your ears pricked, because even though I’m not in your world I have revenge in my paws ready to release its mighty power that I have had for many moons.”
Firestar’s pelt pricked with dread but the image of the massive warrior Tigerstar had vanished into the night.
Firestar’s eyes popped open as the dim light of dawn flowed in through the narrow cleft in the rock. Firestar was shaking horribly, terrified from the dream he had had. Firestar shook himself vigorously, more to rid the dream from his mind than actually clean his pelt. He padded out to the highledge, half sliding, and half scrambling down the rubble. As he reached the hollow he could see a few warriors gathered around the warriors den to go on the morning patrol. He was just about ready to pad over when he remembered he had to train with Midnightpaw. He turned around to find her already waiting outside her den to go train. She bounded over excitedly mewing, “Can we go Firestar? Please?”
“Alright,” He sighed, and without another word Midnightpaw bounded off through the tunnel.
“Apprentices,” He grumbled as he raced after Midnightpaw. She was exceedingly fast, and no matter how fast Firestar pelted through the trees he rarely got any closer.
“Wait!” He shouted to the overly excited apprentice. Midnightpaw slowed her pace until she was at a fast trot, and by then Firestar had caught up.
Firestar stopped as he was losing his patience and meowed, “You mustn’t run off like that if you want to learn something.”
“Sorry Firestar, I just really want to start training.” Midnightpaw mewed, her eyes a little bit apologetic.
“That doesn’t mean you have to rush through all your training to learn something. We are just about at the Ancient Oak so we’ll start there first,” Firestar almost snapped. He padded through the trees with Midnightpaw following fearlessly. The trees parted to reveal a tall, large oak that seemed to reach the sky.
“Wow! That’s the tallest tree I’ve ever seen!” Midnightpaw blurted out.
“That’s probably the tallest one you will ever see.” Firestar mumbled, but Midnightpaw took no notice even if she really did hear.
“That’s the tree that you will learn to climb.” Firestar acknowledged her.
“Can I learn now Firestar? Please?” Midnightpaw pleaded.
“No, today we will do nothing but learn the boundaries and scents,” Firestar informed her.
“Okay,” Midnightpaw mewed, with the gleam of disappointment in her eyes. Midnightpaw took one last glance at the oak and then padded after Firestar as he left the small clearing.
The two cats soon reached a mossy clearing with tall oaks sitting at its edges.
“This is the training hollow. We won’t train here for a while though, so don’t ask,” Firestar told her.
He trotted through the forest, leading Midnightpaw across its damp boundaries. Firestar slowly stopped at the edge of the stream, separating ThunderClan from ShadowClan.
“Yuck! What’s that horrible smell?” Midnightpaw asked wrinkling her nose in disgust. Firestar let out a purr of amusement as he answered, “That’s ShadowClan. They aren’t the friendliest cats you could imagine.”
“I could see why. They must always be angry with that horrible stench.” Midnightpaw growled.
Firestar nudged her gently meowing, “Come on, if you hate the stench then I don’t think you’d want to stand here all day.”
Firestar padded farther away into the depth of the forest. He bounded through the brush to a stone wall of a twoleg nest. Midnightpaw crouched down to the forest floor her belly brushing against the ground as she hissed, “twolegs.”
“Don’t worry, twolegs had abandoned it long ago and just left it in the territory. It also had a great supply of Catmint,” Firestar added as he leaped onto the stone wall and into the garden.
It was overgrown with all sorts of plants and flowers-but the only one that looked familiar was the huge clump of Catmint. Midnightpaw padded over sniffing curiously at the herb, taking a leaf and chewing it screwing up nose expecting it to be bitter.
“It’s good!” She exclaimed surprised.
“It’s probably the only herb you’ll find in these woods that isn’t bitter.” Firestar told her.
Firestar flicked his tail to signal Midnightpaw to follow. Firestar padded confidently into the abandoned twoleg nest with Midnightpaw following more warily. Firestar lifted his muzzle to scent the air parting his jaws to drink in the scent.
“Do you smell that?” Firestar asked the apprentice.
“Yes, isn’t it mouse? Tundraheart had showed me mice from the fresh-kill pile back at camp.”
“Good work! You have already learned almost every scent in the forest!” Firestar praised the young apprentice. Midnightpaw’s eyes lit up with pride but she stayed silent. As Firestar turned his head, he noticed a fat mouse scuffling about pulling out white cotton from a twoleg thing. From his days of a kittypet he remembered it being comfortably soft.
Firestar instinctively dropped into a hunting crouch and crept toward the mouse with Midnightpaw hard on his paws. As he glanced toward her he was surprised to find her doing a perfectly positioned crouch. Quickly returning his gaze to the large mouse, he crept forward. Firestar leapt up sliding across the twoleg thing with the now broken mouse in his paws. Suddenly another mouse shot out from beneath the twoleg thing and Midnightpaw lunged forward, killing the mouse with one hard pound on the head from her small but strong paw.
“Great catch!” Firestar praised her. “You caught your first mouse without even needing to be trained.”
“Thanks,” Midnightpaw purred proudly.
“Here, we can share this one and bring the other back to the elders.” Firestar pointed toward his mouse while talking to the apprentice.
They ate in silence devouring the prey with a few massive bites. Firestar stretched his sore muscles as he slowly got to his paws.
“We’ll go half way down the old thunderpath and then turn toward the WindClan boarder.” Firestar informed the black she-cat.
Midnightpaw nodded her head excitedly, with a gleam of excitement in her emerald eyes. They raced down the old thunderpath side by side, running in long powerful strides. Firestar slowed his pace to a fast walk with Midnightpaw changing gait to match his.
“This used to be an old thunderpath that most cats guess was how the twolegs got the rock from the camp to and fro.” He explained.
Midnightpaw barely took notice as they veered off into the forest once more.
Midnightpaw lifted her muzzle to taste the air asking, “is that WindClan? I can scent the moorlands.”
“It is,” Firestar replied not glancing over to look at her.
He stopped in front of the churning river just able to cross in Greenleaf or leaffall when the water wasn’t too high. Right now it looked as if any cat who dare cross would be swept into its black, churning waters to never see the living world once more.
“This is the river that separates ThunderClan from WindClan,” he explained. Midnightpaw gazed steadily past the river asking curiously, “but if WindClan lives on moorland, how come they have part of the forest?”
Firestar gazed down at the young apprentice answering, “The river is the easiest mark that will separate the Clans.”
Midnightpaw gazed at him for a moment longer as if waiting for a better answer.
“Come on, it’s already sunhigh and there is lots to do around camp.”
Midnightpaw grabbed her mouse and followed Firestar out of the forest into the hollow.
As the two cats pushed through the tunnel and into the camp Midnightpaw bounded over to the elders den disappearing into the bush. As Firestar padded farther into the center of camp Larchfire, the ThunderClan deputy bounded over informing, “Firestar, Leafpool would like to see you in her den.”
Firestar nodded and raced away pushing his way through the screen of brambles to enter the medicine cat den. Leafpool turned her head as she noticed Firestar pushing through the entrance to sit in the center of the cave.
“Larchfire said you had wanted me.” He said respectfully to his daughter.
As he gazed around the room he noticed that Jaypaw wasn’t there. He must be out collecting herbs, he thought.
“Firestar, I’ve thought about what you said about Willowkit wanting to become a medicine cat apprentice. I’ve decided that it would be a great honor to train two apprentices in my lifetime, and it would be great help with another.”
Firestar gazed at her with disbelief. The only reason I mentioned this to you was because I promised Willowkit I would! Firestar thought. Mute with shock he dipped his head and backed out of the medicine cats den, turning around to bound up the pile of rocks to his den where he could sleep to clear his thoughts and then maybe inform Willowkit on the news.

[Stormflower; Mapleclaw]

CHAPTER 4


Midnightpaw padded out of the nursery from hearing the great news about how Willowkit was going to become a medicine cat apprentice. She couldn’t forget the gleam on joy, excitement, and anticipation in her unusually blue eyes.
Grabbing a starling from the large pile of fresh kill, Midnightpaw padded over to the apprentices den. Settling just outside of the den she tore into the plump starling she had chosen from the pile. Poppypaw padded over and settled down next to her asking curiously and kindly, “so how was your first day of training?”
“It was great but I think I’ll enjoy the fighting, patrols, and hunting better.”
“Those are my favorite part of training too,” Poppypaw said smiling.
Midnightpaw gulped down her fresh kill and padded to the entrance of her den, nodding to Poppypaw as she trotted away. Just as she was about to enter, Firestar bounded over meowing, “get a good sleep because we’re going on the dawn patrol with Berrynose, Stormfur, and Brook.”
Midnightpaw nodded eagerly, turning from Firestar to slip into her den. This is going to be my first patrol! Circling in her nest twice, she dropped into the soft moss, closing her eyes waiting eagerly for morning to come. Just as she closed her eyes, Honeypaw padded in meowing, “it’s a little early to be going to sleep isn’t it?”
Blinking open her eyes, Midnightpaw sat up replying, “tomorrow is my first patrol so I want to get a good sleep.” Not able to hold in her excitement she added, “isn’t that fantastic?”
A gleam of amusement lit up her eyes as she replied, “That’s wonderful.” She sat for a moment before adding, “I remember, my first patrol. I was just as excited as you to be defending our boarders and making sure the markers are strong so other clans know that we are ready to fight any time.” Honeypaw sounded so patient and experienced; Midnightpaw wouldn’t be surprised if she was just an overly small senior warrior with years of experience. Settling back down to give Honeypaw time to think back on her memories, she closed her eyes waiting for dawn.
Midnightpaw blinked open her eyes sleepily as a paw jabbed her in the ribs. Moaning, she pulled herself to her paws shaking her pelt vigorously, sitting upright.
“Wha-?”
Honeypaw cut her off as she meowed urgently, “hurry up! It’s almost time for the dawn patrol to leave!”
Midnightpaw rushed out of the den blinking her eyes as she went. As she burst through the entrance of her den she called over her shoulder, “thanks!” As she turned to face the patrol, she skidded to a halt.
“You were almost too late,” Firestar whispered in her ear.
“Sorry, I’m not used to waking up so early,” she answered yawning.
“Well you better get used to it because you’ll be going on a lot more patrols in your lifetime.”
“Come on, let’s get going,” Firestar told to the group. He led them through the tunnel into the forest, entering the thick undergrowth. She stayed pace with Firestar step for step until they neared the ShadowClan boarder.
“Berrynose, you take the lead,” Firestar told the young cream colored tom. Berrynose nodded to the leader with an unmistakable glitter of excitement in his eyes. This must be his first time leading a patrol, Midnightpaw thought to herself. Berrynose had become a warrior quite a while ago, but he acted as though he had been one for uncountable moons, and as though he was always better that everyone, so Midnightpaw guessed that Firestar didn’t feel comfortable just giving him the power he wanted.
Suddenly, Firestar halted with Midnightpaw stopping beside him.
“What do you smell?” He asked her.
Midnightpaw lifted her muzzle to taste the air and as she did she smelled a strong scent of ShadowClan, squirrel, vole, and a faint scent of thrush. Answering she told him what she thought she had scented.
“Incredibly good, Midnightpaw!” Firestar meowed, nodding his approval.
She smiled proudly as they stood tasting the air. Firestar gazed warmly at her for a moment more before turning around and heading after the rest of the patrol. Midnightpaw followed Firestar as he bounded through the forest catching up to the rest of the patrol.
As Midnightpaw padded into the camp through the thorn tunnel, she couldn’t help remembering the warm and loving gaze Firestar had gave her. As the thought returned Midnightpaw felt as though delicate butterflies flew through her stomach devouring every last bit of concentration. Suddenly Midnightpaw swerved to avoid Brambleclaw as he pushed past her holding two mice in his jaws, not even giving her a glance as she mumbled, “sorry.”

Silently, Midnightpaw slipped into her den for a nap. The patrol had ended and everything seemed normal though the ShadowClan scent markers were much stronger than usual, was what Firestar had murmured to the rest of the patrol. Circling twice in her nest she settled down wrapping her tail gently over the tip of her nose, closing her eyes.
Midnightpaw rolled over groaning as a paw prodded her in the side. When she didn’t move the paw prodded harder, forcing her to open her eyes. As she looked up, Lionpaw stood over her poking her in the ribs meowing urgently, “hurry up! Spottedkit and Willowkit are about to become apprentices!” As Midnightpaw scrambled to her paws, she tripped over her front paws and began falling forward. Just before she hit the hard spring earth, she felt a firm grasp holding her scruff pulling her back onto her paws.
“T-thanks,” Midnightpaw stammered awkwardly blinking sleep from her eyes. Shyly, Lionpaw meowed, “yeah, well, any cat could have done it.”
“But you were the one who did,” Midnightpaw reminded him. When Lionpaw just shuffled his paws on the earth Midnightpaw sighed and turned around, now fully awake and full of energy from her nap. She sat in the center of the clearing curling her tail gently and laid it across her jet black paws. Lionpaw sat down next to her with Hollypaw on her other side. Leafpool and Jaypaw padded out from the medicine cat den and sat next to Sorreltail just behind them. As she watched the entrance of the nursery Spottedkit and Willowkit scrambled out with Whitewing nudging them gently.
“Come on!” Spottedkit meowed frustrated giving Willowkit a hard shove making her stumble forward. When Willowkit had regained her balance sh spun around, battering Spottedkit with her paws, claws sheathed. Spottedkit gave a surprised squeal and ran after Willowkit as she darted away. Whitewing grabbed Spottedkit’s scruff firmly in her jaws until she had relaxed, and Willowkit came padding back. Just as Whitewing opened her jaws to scold them Firestar’s call rand out across the clearing.
“All cats old enough to catch their own prey join here beneath the Highledge for a clan meeting!” As the two kits sprang forward, Midnightpaw noticed Willowkit stick out her small pink tongue at Spottedkit and barely dodged fast enough as Spottedkit tried to swerve into her. Giving a sigh, Spottedkit sat a little ways away from below the highledge with Willowkit, Whitewing and Thornclaw sitting around her. As she watched her friends, she noticed that Willowkit was shaking violently with anticipation. Not even she had been that eager. Firestar carefully picked his way down the tumble of rocks toward the kits soon to be apprentices.
“The time has come for Spottedkit and Willowkit to become apprentices,” Firestar meowed pausing. Quickly, he began speaking once more meowing, “From this moment on Willowkit will be known as Willowpaw. Leafpool will be your mentor and I know she will train you in the ways of StarClan to become a proper medicine cat.” Uneasy murmurs rippled through the gathered cats like a forest fire spreading across the landscape.
“No clan has ever had two medicine cat apprentices!” Mousefur blurted. “That’s against the warrior code!”
Firestar sat calmly with his tail wrapped neatly around him paws but Midnightpaw noticed a gleam of uneasiness show in Willowpaw’s eyes as she shifted from paw to paw glancing at the cats glaring at her with questioning stares.
“Mousefur, it has never been said that having two medicine cat apprentices is against the warrior code, it has just never happened,” Firestar told Mousefur as she gave him a furious glare from the clearing. Suddenly Firestar turned to face her, sending a rippling chill across her spine. As she glanced over to Sandstorm, she must have noticed it too for she glared at Firestar furiously as though growling, you had better keep your feelings away from her! Purposefully, Midnightpaw stared at the ground, shuffling her paws uneasily against the lush spring grass. Only once Firestar had begun to speak again had she glanced back up to watch Spottedkit become an apprentice.
“Spottedkit, from this moment on you will be known as Spottedpaw. Brambleclaw, it is time for you too take on an apprentice. You will be Spottedpaw’s new mentor.”
As she watched, Brambleclaw stepped forward to touch muzzles with his new apprentice. She was just close enough to hear Brambleclaw meow, “we’ll start training tomorrow, and the first thing you’ll be doing is cleaning out the elders den.” Midnightpaw thought she saw a gleam of disappointment in the young tortoiseshell’s light amber eyes as she left her mentor to go sit with her. Just as Spottedpaw was about to sit, Firestar leaped up the tumble of rocks to the highledge calling, “this meeting is now over.”
“Come on! We’ll go get you some moss from the medicine cat den to make you a nest, and we can say hi to Willowpaw while we’re at it.” Midnightpaw bounded away not waiting for an answer. As she glanced behind her, she noticed that Spottedpaw was more than two fox-lengths away and not gaining any ground. Midnightpaw slowed her pace but it was pointless because the bramble thicket guarding the medicine cat den stood just in front of her. Just when she was about to push through the sharp mass of brambles, Willowpaw’s small light gray head poked through the screen. “Midnightpaw! Come in! I want to show you some of the herbs I’ve learned!” Willowpaw disappeared into the cave, with Midnightpaw hard her heels. As Midnightpaw pushed her way into the den, Jaypaw sat sorting through bitter smelling herbs. Turning his head in their direction Jaypaw sighed, then meowed, “Willowpaw, who is it you’ve brought in this time?” Staring straight at her Jaypaw meowed, “hi Midnightpaw.” Uneasiness pulsed through her body as Jaypaw stared at her. It seemed as though he could see her, though he was blind. Clearing the thought from her head she answered, “Hi Jaypaw. How’s Foxpaw?”
“Well, he’s getting much better, but he’s still has a cough but it’s no longer a threat, it’ll just needs a couple more days and he’ll be fine.” Jaypaw explained.
“And I know which herbs to give her! The best remedy for greencough is Catmint, and for Whitecough, Tansy is the best but must be given in small doses,” Willowpaw proudly purred. Jaypaw smiled warmly in Willowpaw’s direction. Willowpaw returned his affectionate gaze as he meowed, “great work Willowpaw! You’re already a great medicine cat.”
“Thanks,” Willowpaw purred. Suddenly Spottedpaw pushed her way in, glancing at Jaypaw, then Willowpaw.
“Hi Willowpaw, Jaypaw. Midnightpaw, Firestar told me to tell you he’s waiting for you in the training hollow. He said it would be a good test to see if you remembered the way.”
“Okay. Thanks Spottedpaw. Bye Willowpaw, Jaypaw. Have fun sorting herbs!” Midnightpaw bounded through the brambles, racing through the entrance tunnel. Midnightpaw slowed her pace to a trot, scenting the air while searching the ground. She quickly picked up Firestar’s warm scent, heading north-east. Picking up her pace, Midnightpaw soon was pelting through the tightly packed oak trees. Midnightpaw stopped abruptly, skidding through the thickly bedded, mossy area.
“Great job Midnightpaw! I knew I only had to show you once and you’d remember,” he praised. Midnightpaw smiled happily at Firestar’s praise as her training began.
“Today, we’ll start your battle training,” Firestar told the young apprentice.
“Great!” Midnightpaw had always dreamt of fighting in battles against other clans, fighting to defend her clan and territory.
“Midnightpaw, I want you to try and slip past me, without getting caught.” Firestar’s words snapped her back to the real world out of her day dreaming.
“Okay.”
Midnightpaw studied Firestar as he waited for her to dart past. As she watched Firestar she noticed he had most of his wait shifted on his right side. Quick as a flash, Midnightpaw shot past Firestar, feeling and hearing a hard thud not even a mouse-length behind her. Spinning around she stared at Firestar waiting for his opinion. As Firestar turned around, he meowed, “Fantastic, Midnightpaw!”
A wide smile spread across her face from the praise. She couldn’t count how many times Firestar had said, Great Midnightpaw! Or, Fantastic! Suddenly a rustle in the bushes alerted the two cats. Midnightpaw pricked her sensitive ears, flicking them toward the trembling bushes. Spottedpaw burst out panting, “Midnightpaw! I get to come training too!”
Brambleclaw slowly padded out of the brush after her, lashing his tail back in forth scolding Spottedpaw.
“If you want to scare all the prey from here to ShadowClan then you’ve accomplished.”
“I’m sorry Brambleclaw. I didn’t mean too,” Spottedpaw mewed softly.
Brambleclaw gently cuffed her around the ears making Spottedpaw yank her head away.
“You’ll learn,” Brambleclaw meowed with a gleam of amusement in his amber eyes. Turning to face Midnightpaw, Firestar meowed, “come on, we’ll start with another move because you’ve completed that one.” Backing up a few spaces, Firestar continued. “Run past me.” Midnightpaw twitched her tail uneasily. She knew this wasn’t going to be fun while she tumbled in the dirt, but in the end, whatever move it was, it would be fun to use on Firestar, and any cat in battle. Reluctantly, she raced forward. In heartbeats, she watched as Firestar stuck out his muzzle, tripping her, with Firestar kicking out with his forepaws to fast to be anything more that a flashing image. She tumbled across the area embedded with moss thankful for its softness. Pulling herself from the ground she shook herself vigorously.
“How do you do that?” She questioned. Firestar laughed amused.
“First, when the opponent is coming for you, make sure you get in a position where you are able to reach their forepaws with your muzzle. Just when their close enough stick your muzzle out, and they’ll trip. Instantly once they fall you’ve got to be ready to kick out with your forepaws to send them away. And always be careful of this trick when your attacking for it’s a common one all cats like to use.” Firestar explained.
“Okay.” Midnightpaw meowed determined. I’ll sure get Firestar good! She thought,
Suddenly Firestar lunged toward her, but she was prepared. Following instructions perfectly, she stuck out her muzzle, tripping Firestar making him fly forward. Just in time she batted him with her paws sending his sprawling in the dust. Bounding over she asked anxiously, “How’d I do?”
Shaking his ruffled fur he answered, “Great, but you just about missed me when you were supposed to kick out.”
“Can we do it again? I’ll know I’ll do better!” She pleaded. A wide smile spread across Firestar’s face as he meowed, “you’ve barely started your training! You are doing so well I have a feeling it’s not going to take you long to become a warrior. You’ll have lots of time to master all the moves.”
“Okay,” She sighed.

Midnightpaw continued with her battle training until sunhigh, working on the badger attack and some others moves. Spottedpaw began to bound over meowing excitedly, “Would you like to train together? Brambleclaw said it was alright as long as it was okay with Firestar.” As she finished Spottedpaw glanced expectantly at Firestar waiting for his reply.
“Alright, but only for a little while. We should be heading back soon,” Firestar answered.
“Great!” Spottedpaw meowed almost shouting. Midnightpaw positioned herself in front of Spottedpaw ready to attack. Spottedpaw lunged but Midnightpaw was completely prepared. She shot away whirling around just in time to leap onto Spottedpaw’s back. Spottedpaw tried to wriggle free but Midnightpaw had a firm grip on her shoulders. Midnightpaw bit down on Spottedpaw’s ear, but careful not to break the skin. Spottedpaw reared up sending Midnightpaw sliding down her back. Spottedpaw leaped around, landing on Midnightpaw belly holding her down. Midnightpaw pummeled her with her hind paws careful not to let them get unsheathed, and quick as a flash she rolled out of Spottedpaw’s silhouette hanging over her and leapt to her paws. Midnightpaw lunged over her, whipping around to nip at Spottedpaw’s ankles. As Spottedpaw tried to slash out with her paws to hit her she quickly slipped underneath the apprentice and began to pummel her from the other side. Leaping onto her back Midnightpaw pounded her paws against Spottedpaw’s head just hard enough so she could feel it, but not hard enough to really hurt her bad. Spottedpaw fell to the mossy earth with Midnightpaw holding her down triumphantly. Spottedpaw hissed in defiance and refusal to lose but Midnightpaw held her firm by pressing her muzzle into the earth and holding down her back legs.
“Alright Midnightpaw you can get off her now,” Firestar ordered. Glancing at her mentor as she leapt off her friend. She waited patiently for what he had to say.
“Great job, I especially like it when you used the badger attack,” he answered.
“Thanks,” Midnightpaw meowed as she glanced over toward Spottedpaw as Brambleclaw meowed to her, to quiet for Midnightpaw to hear. Firestar nudged her gently as he meowed, “come on, we’ve got to get back to camp. There’s work to be done.” Obediently she padded forward toward camp leaving the other two cats behind.

[Stormflower; Mapleclaw]

CHAPTER 5


Midnightpaw silently crept from her den slipping into the quiet clearing, silent except for the unwelcoming howl of the wind on the breeze rustling the branches of the tall, newly budded trees. Whirling winds blasted in her ears as she crept on. She stopped suddenly as she noticed Mousewhisker on guard at the entrance. For some strange reason Midnightpaw felt as though something was calling her to the lake. She had to get out. Skimming the walls of the camp as silently as she could, she clawed her way up the side of the camp wall that wasn’t as steep as the others. Midnightpaw pulled herself up to the leveled ground, looking down in the silent camp to make sure she hadn’t aroused anyone from there sleep. Seeing nothing stir, she turned her back on the camp enclosed in the rock walls; she padded on through the thick brush with newly budded leaves pulling against her sleek pelt ruffling her jet black fur, invisible to the moonlit night. Pushing on she finally reached the star-studded wondrous lake glistening with moonlight. Small waved lapped against the shore as the wind suddenly changed to a small comforting breeze, barely able to feel. Midnightpaw padded silently down the beach, picking her way across the pebbly shore to reach the lake. She curled silently into the uncomfortable, cold stone ground that seemed to suck all the warmth out of her. Closing her eyes, sleep took hold of her instantly. Blinking open her eyes, Midnightpaw found herself in a thick forest, with the moon shining full above her head through the branches of tall trees. Cautiously she padded forward examining the unknown territory, though it seemed faintly familiar. She stopped abruptly, almost walking straight into a clearing with cats she didn’t recognize speaking urgently, but slowly and kindly.
This must be StarClan! Midnightpaw thought. But why did they send me here? Suddenly the cats parted to reveal someone she did know. Firestar! In a blink of an eye, the cats disappeared, and the only thing that resembled that they were still there were there faint but clear voice meowing, “Listen Firestar, listen.” They whispered.
“I’m listening!” He called impatiently.
“The one with the eyes of the stars hold the power of all five clans in her paws.” The voices meowed in unison. The strange voices sent a chill down her back as she listened. A she? It must be a she-cat from ThunderClan-but who could it be?

Firestar woke with a start still fumbling as he pulled himself to his paws. His dream was so odd. Shouldn’t this dream have been sent to Jaypaw, or Leafpool? And maybe even Willowpaw? Definitely this must have been a mistake, Firestar decided. But then again, StarClan hardly ever made mistakes. Clearing his mind from the thought, Firestar picked up his pace and steadied himself as he picked him way down the rockfall from the highledge. He realized it was barely dawn and now even the patrol that was supposed to go at dawn hadn’t even been out yet. Firestar silently padded across the clearing and peered inside the apprentices den. Midnightpaw was fast asleep, as though she had just gotten back from somewhere, but that was unreasonable. Sighing, he slipped out and bounded across the clearing as Graystripe and Spiderleg appeared from the warriors den.
“Good morning.” Firestar greeted them.
“Morning,” Graystripe meowed warmly. Spiderleg had just given a swift nod and followed Graystripe as he settled himself down in the clearing waiting for Whitewing and Cloudtail, the other two cats who were supposed to be in the dawn patrol. As he gazed into the lightening sky, he realized tonight would be the half moon, so Willowpaw would be heading up to receive her medicine cat apprenticeship. Firestar sat and watched cats appear from there dens yawning in the morning light as the sun slowly began to rise and spread golden light across the shadowed clearing. As soon as Larchfire appeared he bounded over. “Larchfire, I’m going to hunt for a while, so when Midnightpaw wakes up can you please tell her to clean out the elders den?” Firestar asked.
“Sure,” Larchfire replied, dipping his head. Larchfire had been chosen by StarClan to become ThunderClan’s new deputy, even though Brambleclaw still lived strong and healthy. Firestar had never been sure why StarClan had chosen him, but he didn’t question. They knew what they were doing.

Firestar padded silently through the bushes, lifting his muzzle to scent the air. Unpleasant clouds had begun to blot out the sky with dark, gray puffs that promised rain was coming soon. As quick as he could, Firestar nosed the ground following his scent trail to retrieve his buried prey. Every time he came upon one he quickly grabbed it and continued for the rest. As he finished a light rain began to drizzle upon him muzzle, and in a few heartbeats it began to pour down in sheets of icy pin pricks. He raced through the rain, toward camp as fast as he could. Suddenly not paying attention, he slipped at the edge of the cliff and began to slide down the muddy slope. He unsheathed his claws trying to grip the slick wet ground but it was no use. He hit the bottom hard making a loud thump, tumbling across the wet, grassy bottom. He lay panting as he caught his breath. Rolling over, he pulled himself over groaning in frustration as he realized he was covered in mud, not a single spot of flame colored fur showing. He saw Jaypaw and Willowpaw racing over asking worriedly, “are you alright?” Shaking himself Firestar answered, “yeah, I’m fine.” Pulling himself upright, he shook himself hard, spraying drops of mud in all directions. Willowpaw and Jaypaw both slunk back as the spray hit them.
“Sorry,” Firestar apologized. “I really want to get this stuff off.”
“I can tell,” Jaypaw mumbled. Willowpaw gave him a fierce nudge, murmuring something to Jaypaw, to soft for Firestar to hear.
Glancing frustrated at Jaypaw, Willowpaw told Firestar in a firm voice, “Firestar, you’d better come back to the den. We can give you some herbs, and check you over.”
Reluctantly, Firestar nodded and padded after them. As they slipped inside the warm den with the scent of sweet and bitter smelling herbs he was thankful to be out of the rain. He glanced around the dully lit cave with small piles of herbs scattered across the stone floor. Cracks in the cave walls were filled with herbs that Firestar hadn’t recognized, though almost all herbs were unfamiliar to him, probably because he was a leader not a medicine cat.
“Here,” Willowpaw mumbled through a mouth full of leaves. The sound snapped Firestar back to the other cats standing near him waiting for him to take the herbs. Turning his attention to the Willowpaw he meowed respectfully, “thanks,” as he took the leaves from her grasp.
“Thyme,” Jaypaw explained as he padded over. “Chew it and then swallow. It’s simple enough.”
Jaypaw often got on Firestar’s nerves but he nodded and began to chew the bitter leaves. Screwing up his face he gulped down the unpleasant herbs. By the time he finished Jaypaw had begun to rub some sort of herb into Firestar’s fur, but it began to soothe his sore muscles so he stayed silent as the remedy began to work.
Finally Jaypaw stepped back glancing over his work.
“That should work, but just incase don’t groom yourself until morning,” Jaypaw ordered. Firestar nodded to the order. It would be an unpleasant sleep with his clumped fur, sticky with the juice of the herbs, though he knew it was for the best. Saying farewell to the two cats he raced through the rain and up the rockfall to the highledge, padding through the cleft in the towering stone walls. As soon as he took a few paw steps he entered the large cave that was his den. Unexpectedly Sandstorm rushed forward but halted a few tail-lengths away, making it seem she was eying his suspiciously but the emotion was gone so fast Firestar wasn’t sure if it had been true. Right now he didn’t want her comfort, he just wanted to be alone in his den and think, but he didn’t want to hurt her feelings so he let her stay.
“I was worried about you,” She meowed. For some reason it sounded as though she wasn’t sure she really was anxious and worried. But I’m probably just imagining, Firestar thought. She wouldn’t really be like that. Or would she? The uncertainty made Firestar feel as though he was plunging into darkness. Clearing his mind he padded forward, licking her between the ears. It didn’t feel right for some reason. For some reason he didn’t feel comforted or loved. He just felt awkward. Sandstorm returned the lick with a gentle nuzzle. They curled down together in his large nest of moss, bracken, and ferns. It was recently changed by Foxpaw, Squirrelflight’s new apprentice, who had just a few days ago been released from the medicine cat den. Firestar gazed into the stone wall as Sandstorm began to fall asleep curled against him. Edging his way away from Sandstorm he slipped away. He slunk out into the open moonlit night silently padded down the rockfall. Stopping abruptly halfway down he rockfall he gazed down at a black outline against the night sky, barely visible. Instantly he recognized the figure. Midnightpaw. A tingling feeling began to creep through him from head to tail. Nervousness crashed over him, making him want to turn tail and flee back into his den. Suddenly he realized how stubborn and mouse-brained he was being. Why should I be nervous? She’s my apprentice for StarClan’s sake! Pulling himself together he padded forward. Delicate butterflies felt as though they were soaring through his stomach. Suddenly a thought hit him so hard he stopped again midway across the clearing. Shaking his head he thought to himself, I don’t love her! He felt as though his spirits half lifted, and half plummeted into darkness. Or-or do I? No! I-I love Sandstorm! Don’t I? Not being able to answer the question that kept wringing through his mind made him feel even more uncertain and uneasy. All the time he’d stopped and thought Midnightpaw had been aware of his presence for he noticed her ears swiveled in his direction. Realizing there wasn’t any point of waiting he padded uneasily forward.
Sitting beside the young she-cat he asked kindly, “what are you doing out here?”
Midnightpaw turned her head to hold his gaze. Firestar’s heart pumped so loud in his ears he thought every cat from here to ShadowClan could here it. Her emerald eyes locked onto his.
“I’ve felt as though something’s calling me. I don’t know what. Also I think it just soothes me sometimes when I have things on my mind.” A question wrung in his ears making him feel as though his spirits were lifted with StarClan. Am I ever on her mind? Am I what she thinks about?
Pulling his gaze from hers he watched the glimmering stars bright in the midnight sky. Firestar thought his heart skipped a beat on what image he saw. A shooting star soared across the midnight sky. An image flashed through his mind. Two emerald eyes with black fur encircled around them. In each eye, a glowing star shone glimmering brightly. The one with the eyes of the stars holds the power of all five clans in her paws.
The clearness of the vision shot so clearly through him he felt as though his heart literally stopped. The cat of the prophecy is Midnightpaw!

[Stormflower; Mapleclaw]

CHAPTER 6


Midnightpaw gazed at the flame colored leader as he gazed into the star-studded sky. She’d also noticed the shooting star, and for some reason, she felt comforted by the presence of the leader at her side. Was the star a sign? Or was it just a natural sight that happened and they were just lucky to see it? As she thought she realized it was midnight, and a shooting star had lit the sky. The prophecy rang in her ears. Midnightstar. No. No that couldn’t be it, she thought shaking her head. Or was she really destined for greatness and the power of a leader? She couldn’t tell, and she didn’t want to. It was too far away to be thinking of leadership, but she always thought it would be a great experience, and she’d love the feeling of leading a clan to the gatherings and being the one responsible to make her clan the strongest. The world began to spin before her eyes as she thought about all the responsibility.
“There’s a new prophecy,” Firestar meowed quietly, snapping her back to her own world away from her dreams and thoughts. As the words began to sink in she straightened at the thought that he didn’t know she had heard the prophecy.
“Really?” She asked trying to sound as curious and shocked as she could.
“Yeah, it’s strange though. The one with the eyes of the stars holds the power of all five clans in her paws, it says.” Firestar meowed still gazing into the sky.
“I’d wonder who they’re speaking of. It would have to be a she-cat in ThunderClan, but I couldn’t imagine who,” Midnightpaw meowed trying to sound puzzled. She knew she wasn’t lying because she really did wonder who, but she had a feeling that she knew whom it was, but she just couldn’t figure out the who it could be. Firestar nodded gazing at her once he turned away from the stars glimmering in the night. A slight breeze drifted across the night, rustling the leaves of the new-leaf trees.
The one with the eyes of the stars holds the power of all five clans in her paws. The prophecy seemed to whisper in her ears as she listened to the wind.
“You better get to bed, and so should I if we’re going to be ready to go training tomorrow,” Firestar said unexpectedly.
“Okay,” Midnightpaw meowed, “You’re probably right.” Saying good-bye to Firestar she padded into the apprentice den, silently slipping in as quiet as she could. Settling into the soft moss she embedded herself into its green-brown cushion. Shutting her eyes darkness engulfed her vision. She could never imagine what it would to be blind, living in a world of darkness and no light what so ever. Ignoring the unpleasant feeling she curled deeper into her nest as she began to sleep.

Light of the golden rays seeped in through the cracks between the branches that were positioned to shelter the cats underneath. She blinked open her eyes to the light as she awoke. Suddenly aware of the noises of cats hissing and yowling in rage, she leaped to her paws, energy pouring into her limbs. Glancing around she noticed not a single apprentice was still inside. She bounded out of the den, and as she entered the clearing cats were gathered around Honeypaw.
“ShadowClan has attacked the patrol! They’re claiming that part of our border is theirs and they out number us a million to one! They’ll kill them all if you don’t hurry! I’ve been sent to gather help!” She panted shouting in bursts of breath. Firestar pushed his way through the mass of cats shouting with rage and fury.
“Poppypaw, Cinderpaw, Hollypaw, Lionpaw, Honeypaw, Icepaw, Spottedpaw, and Toadpaw you’re the apprentices to go help!” Firestar shouted over the yowls and hisses. Midnightpaw felt angered. What about her? Wasn’t she good enough?
“Firestar! What about me?” She called. “I can go!”
Firestar stopped and gazed at her for moments before answering, “alright, but listen to the warriors. You’re still young; you don’t know all the moves yet.” Midnightpaw felt a growl rise in her throat. She knew enough to fight! It wasn’t fair that they thought she was still to small and young. She would show them! Midnightpaw pulled herself to her full height as Firestar called out more orders. “Larchfire, Brambleclaw and I will lead patrols! Midnightpaw, Poppypaw, Lionpaw, Squirrelflight, Mousewhisker, and Spiderleg, you’re in my patrol! Cinderpaw, Foxpaw, Hazeltail, Tundraheart, Whitewing, Honeypaw, and Spottedpaw your in Brambleclaw’s patrol, and Thornclaw, Berrynose, Dustpelt, Sandstorm, Ferncloud, and Cloudtail your in Larchfire’s patrol! Now go!”
Cats raced off at Firestar’s command. Firestar’s patrol was first to be off as they pelted through the trees. The yowls and screeches of pain and anger echoed through the forest as they neared the fighting cats. They came into view in a tangle of teeth and claws. The patrol raced down a slope into the battle. Midnightpaw suddenly heard a cat shout, “thank goodness they’re here!”
Midnightpaw launched into battle landing square on the shoulders of a tortoiseshell she-cat. This cat’s Brambleclaw’s sister! Midnightpaw thought. Caught of guard the cat lurched from under her, sending Midnightpaw sprawling backward in mid-air. She landed with a thud and instantly the she-cat landed on top of her knocking the breath out of her. As she gasped for air, she began clawing the she-cats stomach, clumps of fur caught between her claws. Blood began oozing out in a rush and the she-cat screeched in pain. As the grip released from her shoulders she slipped out and darted to her side raking her claws down the Tawnypelt’s side and by the time the cat turned toward her she was a few tail lengths away. The cat rushed toward her but she stuck out her muzzle sending the ShadowClan warrior flying and as she tumbled past, Midnightpaw pummeled her with claws unsheathed. She instantly leapt on top of the warrior biting hard into her ear. The she cat pushed her way out and fled toward the ShadowClan border. Midnightpaw praised herself for defeating her first cat. She whirled around gazing at her clan mates fighting side by side. Suddenly she caught sight of Firestar and he was lying on his side on the forest floor with two cats attacking him fiercely. She let out a yowl of rage and launched herself onto a gray cat that she remembered in stories as Rowanclaw. She raked her claws along his head, and he instantly fell to the ground, limp beneath her paws. She backed away as she realized he was dead. She never liked the idea of killing cats, but she’d do what she had to defend her clan-mates, and especially her leader. As she watched, Firestar sent the other warrior fleeing in terror back to his territory. She watched the cats, and they all seemed to be locked in battle. Everyone seemed to be fine in their battle, and unexpectedly the ShadowClan cats fled back to their side of the border, but she didn’t know why. As she turned around she realized the third patrol was racing down the slope hisses of rage turning into yowls of triumph as the other clan fled. Rowanclaw and a gray apprentice lay lifeless on the floor of the small clearing. Brambleclaw bounded forward touching his muzzle to the small gray apprentice. She was just close enough to hear him murmur, “Dawnpaw, you were my kin and I wish you a good life in StarClan.”
That apprentice must have been Tawnypelt’s kit! She must be devastated-her mate and one of her kits gone to live with StarClan, Midnightpaw thought silently. She couldn’t imagine if she had a mate and kits and they had died in battle. The thought sent a chill down her spine. Clearing her head she listened as Firestar called out more orders.
“Brambleclaw, Squirrelflight, Whitewing, and Thornclaw you can take the bodies of the two cats to the ShadowClan border tomorrow at dawn so they will be honored and buried properly.” Midnightpaw was thankful that none of her clan-mates had died in the battle like the two ShadowClan cats. She turned her gaze away from the cats as Leafpool and Willowpaw began rushing through the cats examining their wounds. Willowpaw rushed toward Midnightpaw meowing worriedly and urgently, “are you alright? Do you need any herbs?” Midnightpaw smiled as she answered, “no, all I’ve got is a small scratch on the shoulder. I can defiantly wait until we reach camp.” Willowpaw brushed through her fur anyway checking her over.
“You seem to be alright,” Willowpaw meowed, relief showing in her eyes.
“Just what I said,” Midnightpaw answered.
Suddenly Willowpaw stiffened and tensed. “Where’s Spottedpaw? Where is she!” Willowpaw demanded urgently, letting her gaze travel over the bleeding cats bunched together yowling triumphantly to the sky.
“She’s alright,” Midnightpaw softly and sympathetically informed her friend. “She never even went into the battle.” Once she’d finished Willowpaw gazed apologetically at the black apprentice, her growing muscles glinted in the sunlight that seemed to glow on her, making her emerald eyes glisten.

Firestar stood stiffly and proudly, letting his gaze to the young beautiful apprentice Midnightpaw. She was so beautiful and strong; he just couldn’t help but to love her. He’d made up his mind that he loved her-but how was he supposed to tell Sandstorm? Or even Midnightpaw? Firestar shook his flame colored head as it shone in the golden rays of the sun. He jerked his head up as Leafpool gently began to lap at his wounds. She looked up at him with her amber eyes as she spoke, “you should come back to camp now Firestar. Those wounds are getting worse.” They probably would’ve been fatal if Midnightpaw hadn’t saved me, he thought silently.
“Leafpool I’m fine.” Firestar broke off as he heard Squirrelflight screech, “they’re back!”
Firestar felt a sudden weight on his back, pounding him hard to the grassy earth knocking the breath out of him. As he gasped for air the unfamiliar cat raked his unsheathed claws down his neck. Suddenly Firestar seemed to be engulfed in darkness, though it seemed to slowly fade into light. As he blinked open him eyes he saw Bluestar, Lionheart, Redtail, Whitestorm, Yellowfang, and Spottedleaf standing in front of him in a grassy clearing with blooming pink and purple flowers. As he pulled himself back to his paws, limbs aching with pain he meowed urgently, “Bluestar, I know I’ve lost a life, but I must get back!” Firestar was nervous for his clan but mainly for the young apprentice he loved. Spottedleaf came forward and whispered in his ear, “you don’t always have to stay with one love, you can learn more if you see to other cats that you feel affectionate to and care for. The first cat isn’t always the only one, and maybe isn’t the right one.”
“Spottedleaf! I need to know more!” Firestar shouted as the darkness engulfed him once more. He wasn’t completely sure what Spottedleaf meant, though he wanted to know badly. He knew her message had something to do with him loving Midnightpaw and Sandstorm-but which one did she want him to chose?
Firestar’s eyes shot open as he felt new energy surge through him. His gaze flew through the mass of cats no more than a blur of a tangle of glistening of teeth and claws. His eye got a glint of a black she-cat pinned down and being clawed by a massive dark brown tabby tom, who was a little over weight. Firestar launched himself across the brow of the hill and flung himself full out on top the tom. Firestar bit deep into the toms’ throat, and leapt off as it squealed like a kit and ran off blindly toward his territory. Suddenly Blackstar appeared and Firestar lurched off his paws and fell to the ground with a thud. “You fool! You mouse-brained fool!” Blackstar snarled. The huge tom raised a massive paw to bring down onto the ThunderClan leader, but suddenly, as Firestar closed his eyes and waited for the hit, the weight on his powerful shoulders was release and as he scrambled to his paws he saw Graystripe hold him down while Midnightpaw raked her claws across his cheek. The leader shook and yowled, and fell limp. The two cats stepped off, and Firestar could tell he was losing a life.
“Come on!” He shouted over the screeches and yowls of terror and rage. Graystripe raced off with him but Midnightpaw broke off to fight side by side with Spottedpaw as they sent a she-cat away screeching in pain and fear. Blackstar ran to the front of the group, and finally with a last call he drove his clan back to his own territory. No yowls of triumph came from the gathering ThunderClan cats, only mumbles. Leafpool and Willowpaw gathered all the warriors that were too wounded to travel back with the rest, and began to rub poultices into their fur as the other cat set off. Firestar took the lead with Brambleclaw a little way behind. Larchfire had been in the group of badly wounded cats, and he worried if his deputy would be alright. The cats followed him through the forest walled with tall oaks and birches. They pressed through brush that pulled on their fur, but they were warriors-they didn’t care. As the group of cat entered the camp, mostly all of them either limped to their dens or over to Jaypaw in the medicine cat den waiting for the wounded. Firestar just licked his own wounds and strode up to his den to curl up for a rest. He’d decided-he would give Poppypaw, Honeypaw, and Cinderpaw their warrior names in the morning but for now all he needed was rest, and then go see to his clan-and Midnightpaw.

[Stormflower; Mapleclaw]

CHAPTER 7


Midnightpaw slipped padded painfully into her den and curled into her mossy nest. Her muscles ached and her wounds stung. Sleep took her instantly once she closed her eyes, and in her dream she found herself racing through a dark forest away from a dark brown cat with ice blue eyes. He chased after her as she ran blindly, and he came closer and closer until he was right on her tail. She could feel him hot breath on her neck as she swiveled in between trees and bushes. Just as he lunged she woke shuddering in terror. She scrambled to her paws in the glowing light of the sun. Lionpaw and Foxpaw were still sleeping but everyone else was up and awake. It was a while before sunhigh and cats were roaming around in camp. The elders were napping under a shady birch tree, apprentices were mock battling in a corner of camp near the medicine cat den, and Firestar, Sandstorm, and Cloudtail were sitting underneath the highledge sharing news. Suddenly Firestar broke from the group and bounded up the rockfall to the highledge, and the others strode over and sat gazing up at the rock wall at Firestar as he called out the familiar summons. Cats began to pull themselves to their paws and pad over. Midnightpaw raced toward the highledge and positioned herself in a good spot where she could see. Spottedpaw and Willowpaw bounded over and sat next to her, one on each side of the black apprentice. Birds chirped in the distance as Firestar looked down upon his clan, gathered in the clearing.
“As you may know,” Firestar began, “it is time for Honeypaw, Poppypaw, and Cinderpaw to become warriors.” The three apprentices straightened, a proud glow in their eyes.
“I Firestar, leader or ThunderClan, call up my warrior ancestors to look down on these apprentices. They have trained hard to understand the ways of your noble code, and I commend them to you as warriors in their turn. Honeypaw, Poppypaw, and Cinderpaw, do you promise to uphold to the warrior code and to protect and defend this clan, even at the cost of your lives?” The three older apprentices nodded eagerly and meowed ‘I do’ in unison. “Then by the powers of StarClan, I give you your warrior names; Poppypaw from this moment on you will be known as Poppytail, and StarClan honors your kindness and strength. Honeypaw, you will be known as Honeyfoot, and StarClan honors your knowledge and bravery. And finally, Cinderpaw you will be known as Cinderpelt, named after the great medicine cat. StarClan honors your courage and willingness, and we welcome you all as full warriors of ThunderClan.” Each new warrior stepped forward and licked the leader with gratitude as he touched his muzzle to their head in turn. Once he had finished he continued, “You shall sit vigil tonight, and all other cats may get a full nights sleep.” The instant Firestar finished the ceremony a loud chant rose up to echo in the stone hollow. Midnightpaw joined in chanting, “Poppytail! Honeyfoot! Cinderpelt!”
The three new warriors picked there way proudly down the tumble of rocks to be congratulated by their clan mates. Midnightpaw padded forward and gave each cat her congratulations. Their mentors pushed through the bunch of cats to touch muzzles with their old apprentices.
Midnightpaw stretched and yawned in the afternoon heat as it beat down onto her and Spottedpaw as they sat in the clearing talking about the battle.
“And then I clawed him right down the muzzle!” Spottedpaw boasted to Midnightpaw and Lionpaw who was sitting a little way off. Lionpaw completely ignored her and stared at Midnightpaw. She felt herself burn hot with embarrassment as she noticed his stare. Midnightpaw herself wasn’t really listening to Spottedpaw either; she was too caught up in her own thoughts.
“Want me to grab you something from the fresh-kill pile?” Spottedpaw asked, snapping Midnightpaw back to the real world away from her thoughts. She shook her head to herself and answered, trying to act as though she was listening. “Sure, grab me a vole or a wood pigeon if you can.” Spottedpaw nodded and bounded off. As she turned her gaze to where Lionpaw had been sitting he was gone, probably bored from the Spottedpaw’s constant talking. As Midnightpaw turned back toward the way she’d been looking, Spottedpaw came trotting over, a starling and a wood pigeon clamped limp in her teeth.
“Thanks,” Midnightpaw meowed gratefully to her tortoiseshell friend as she grasped the wood pigeon in her mouth. Midnightpaw began to tear into the juicy, delicious prey at her paws, licking her lips, her long pink tongue swiping around the edge of her mouth. Stretching her long black legs she sighed and laid sprawled out in the grass covered in shade by a tall elm. The black apprentice closed her eye lids and listened to the sounds around her. Birds chirping and leaves rustling in the slight breeze. Small paws scuffled between tufts of grass and thickets of brambles. Murmurs of cats in the clearing were loudest, but as she zoned them out all she could hear was the call of nature. The soothing noises soon lulled her to sleep and she breathed deeply in the warm afternoon air.

Midnightpaw raced after her mentor as he pelted through the trees toward the training hollow. As they entered the thickly embedded mossy clearing they noticed Hollypaw training hard with Brackenfur. Many of the moves she recognized, which was strange to her for Hollypaw was a very experienced apprentice.
“Why are they doing starter apprentice training?” Midnightpaw asked at a whisper. Firestar shuffled his paws in the moss, up turning small pieces of the cushioned green plant.
“Well,” he said a little uneasily. “It’s not beginner apprentice training that she’s doing, it’s advanced. Very advanced. You see, I was training you on harder things, for I know how good you are.” When Firestar finished Midnightpaw felt astounded and proud.
“Then may I fight her?” She pleaded. “If I know the moves then I might be able to beat her!”
“She is one of the best fighting apprentices,” he explained to her, though in Firestar’s mind he didn’t have the least bit of doubt in her. Midnightpaw’s big green eyes stared up begging to him so he finally gave in and meowed, “I’ll talk to Brackenfur.” Firestar left Midnightpaw to go speak quietly with Brackenfur, and no matter how hard she tried she couldn’t here what they were saying. After a moment or two Firestar flicked her tail to her and Hollypaw to signal for them to battle as he and Brackenfur padded off to watch and give pointers from the edges of the clearing. Hollypaw instantly launched herself at Midnightpaw, but luckily Midnightpaw darted out of the way not even a mouse-length from Hollypaw’s outstretched paws. Midnightpaw instantly whirled around leaping at Hollypaw. She landed square on her shoulders and bit her ear, careful not to break the skin, but just enough so she could feel it. Hollypaw reared onto her hind legs blind with fury at being beaten by a beginner apprentice. Midnightpaw hit the ground with a thud, and instantly Hollypaw was on her. Since Midnightpaw was still pretty small, she could wiggle free. The instant she was unleashed from the tight grasp on her shoulder Hollypaw rounded on her, charging. Midnightpaw stuck out her muzzle just in time to send Hollypaw flying as she pummeled her with her forepaws. Midnightpaw leaped onto her and pinned her muzzle into the moss, holding her down firm. Midnightpaw smiled at her victory, with Hollypaw snarling in rage.
“Okay, you can let her go now,” Brackenfur told her firmly, padding up to them. As Midnightpaw stepped off Hollypaw she noticed that Brackenfur and Firestar hadn’t said anything the whole battle. Usually mentors give their apprentices pointers while in battle training, but this time they were completely silent. Midnightpaw just shrugged it off and trotted over to Firestar eager to hear if she had done good or not.
“You were great!” Firestar exclaimed before she could say anything.
“Thanks,” Midnightpaw mewed proudly blushing. Firestar smiled, looking down at her. He turned his stare over to Brackenfur and Hollypaw as they talked quietly.
“Let’s work on some battle moves so we can leave them alone to talk for a few minutes,” Firestar told her padding into the middle of the mossy clearing. Midnightpaw nodded and trotted after her mentor. She stood on the comfy moss, listening to Firestar as he told her what to do. “Now, watch what I do and remember what I show you,” he told her.
“Okay,” she answered. Firestar instantly leapt forward so quickly he caught Midnightpaw off guard and she pounded against the moss, almost getting the wind knocked out of her. She struggled to free herself, but Firestar’s grip on her shoulders was too tight. He bit down into her neck; just enough so she could feel it, then stepped off. Midnightpaw blinked in amazement.
“That was so fast!” She exclaimed surprised. “May I try?”
Firestar stood a moment hesitating, glancing over at the approaching Hollypaw and Brackenfur. Hollypaw’s mentor dipped his head to Firestar as he padded past. Firestar flicked his tail in return as he turned back to the black apprentice. Midnightpaw gazed questioningly up at the flame colored tom waiting for him to speak.
“Err...,” Firestar meowed hesitantly shuffling his paws in the moss pulling out large clumps. “You can try tomorrow, but for today you’ve done enough training,” Firestar said more confidently not having to hesitate. Midnightpaw slumped her shoulders in disapproval but obeyed as Firestar turned and pushed through the undergrowth. Suddenly he stopped and lifted his muzzle into the air, making Midnightpaw bump into him. She saw Firestar twitch but he still stood stock still, and began to creep through a patch of ferns that were long and a deep, lush green. The ferns trembled and a small pink nose poked out twitching and scenting the air. Instantly Firestar lunged forward catching the brown, fat vole in his unsheathed claws. He dug into the vole’s neck with his claws, making it go limp under his hold. Firestar grabbed the vole in his jaws, lifting it into the air padding over toward Midnightpaw.
“Here, take this to the elders. They’ll be happy to have some fresh kill,” he said, passing over the prey. Midnightpaw dipped her head in obedience, bounding through the forest. The wind whipped her fur as she entered a wider spaced area drawing closer to camp. She skidded down the rocky slope deciding to take a harder challenging path into camp. About a fox-length from the floor of the camp she leapt, landing perfectly and swiftly on her paws padding toward Longtail and Mousefur. A few cats lifted their heads from napping to gaze over at Midnightpaw as she entered camp, but most cats just lay in the clearing as the heat of sunhigh beat down. As Midnightpaw approached the elders Mousefur blinked open her eyes grumbling. Longtail pulled himself to his paws blinking his sightless eyes toward her.
“Thank you Midnightpaw,” Longtail meowed gratefully to the apprentice. Midnightpaw stopped tilting her head toward the elder.
“But your-,” Midnightpaw was stopped as Longtail interrupted,
“Just because I’m blind doesn’t mean I can’t smell,” he said politely with understanding. “It’s often said that when you’re blind, your other senses are much better than normal cats’.”
“That’s interesting,” Midnightpaw meowed, trying her best to really sound interested. Longtail smiled and flicked his tail toward Mousefur joking, “Thank you for bringing us fresh kill. Some of us were getting a bit grumpy.” Midnightpaw laughed with amusement at Longtail’s remark about Mousefur. “Go on now,” he said finally. “You can tell the other apprentices to only bring us back a little fresh-kill.”

The day wore on, and the clear blue sky turned to a cloudy, murky gray one. Midnightpaw pricked up her ears as she saw Sandstorm speaking to Firestar. As Midnightpaw strained to listen and see what was going on, it seemed as though Sandstorm was hissing at him. Sandstorm suddenly spun around and stalked off into her den, glancing at Midnightpaw disdainfully. Why was Sandstorm acting so-so weird? Sandstorm was never usually like this. She was usually quite level headed and had good judgment, but today she just seemed to be acting rude and angry. Well, it wasn’t her problem. She didn’t have anything to do with it, so why should she care? Midnightpaw laid her head in her paws, but as she did she suddenly felt a icy cold chill rush down her spine, feeling fear and anxiousness. It’s probably just the wind, she though silently. Or was it? Did it have anything to do with Sandstorm being angry at Firestar? Was it her fault she was?

[Stormflower; Mapleclaw]

CHAPTER 8


Firestar sprawled out in him nest his mind shuffled with thoughts. Sandstorm was starting to get suspicious about him and Midnightpaw, and every night for the past quarter moon his dreams were haunted with Tigerstar. It was like everything was against him. Had he made the wrong choice about loving Midnightpaw? But suddenly anger began to bubble up inside him. No! He hadn’t made the wrong choice about loving Midnightpaw for it was his choice on whom he loved and who he didn’t. He didn’t care what the other cats thought! Firestar snorted, hauling himself to his paws as the glowing sun flowing into his den. Leaning down to stretch Firestar yawned, his jaws gaping showing his glistening white teeth stained with a little blood. He shook himself vigorously, squeezing out of the cave into the morning sunlight. He gazed around the camp a moment checking to make sure the dawn patrol was up and ready to leave. From what Firestar remembered, Larchfire, Rosepaw, Whitewing, and Squirrelflight were supposed to be on the dawn patrol. As he turned toward the tunnel, he caught sight of Squirrelflight ginger tail disappearing into the forest. Losing interest from watching the silent entrance tunnel, he made a huge leap landing perfectly in the hollow. A thought suddenly struck him. What about the sunhigh patrol? He quickly bounded into the clearing searching for good cats too go on the sunhigh patrol. He glimpsed Spiderleg, Dustpelt, Thornclaw, and Brightheart in the clearing, so he quickly ran to each one telling them their schedules for the day. He had asked Brightheart to ask Sandstorm, Mousewhisker and Cloudtail to go on a hunting patrol when they awoke. Right now he wasn’t ready to face Sandstorm, and he had to take Midnightpaw out for training. He felt a little guilty making Brightheart do all the running around that was supposed to be his job, but he needed to train Midnightpaw so he didn’t have time. As he padded to the apprentices den, he hoped Brambleclaw was getting Spottedpaw out for some training. She was just a young apprentice like Midnightpaw too. Firestar smiled as he thought about the other young apprentices. They wouldn’t be able to beat Midnightpaw! No apprentice could, he guessed. For StarClan’s sake Hollypaw couldn’t even beat her! He purred with amusement and began to settle himself outside the apprentices den, waiting for Midnightpaw.

Firestar dodged to the right, rolling in the dirt. He tried to leap to his paws, but it was too late. Midnightpaw was already pinning him down, holding a firm grip on his shoulders, pressing him muzzle in the dirt.
“There!” She meowed triumphantly panting. She released her hold on Firestar, letting him pull himself back up onto his paws. “I did it!” She exclaimed happily. Firestar smiled down at the beautiful apprentice. Firestar hadn’t really noticed, but Midnightpaw had grown quite a bit in the last moon of her training. She was about a third of his size now.
“You did,” he answered with a hint of amusement in his green gaze. He glanced up at the sun, realizing it was about Sunhigh, so they had trained for at least two hours. They had left at dawn and trained for a while at hunting and then had headed back to camp for a while before coming back out to do some battle training. Midnightpaw was much farther ahead in her training than the other beginner apprentices like Rosepaw, Toadpaw, and Spottedpaw. She was even farther ahead in her battle training than mostly all the all the apprentices, though after the defeat Hollypaw had taken from Midnightpaw, Hollypaw had trained hard, so they were pretty well evenly matched though Midnightpaw had long before her training would end so there was a great possibility that Midnightpaw would become a better fighter than the other black apprentice Hollypaw. As Hollypaw became older Firestar had noticed that white was beginning to show clearly on Hollypaw’s tail tip and on her hind paws. Midnightpaw was the only pure black cat in ThunderClan for now. Firestar tilted his head picturing what Midnightpaw would look like with white. It would be kind of odd, he thought. Suddenly he veered into a low thick branch not paying attention.
“Oof!” He gasped. The branch flung him backwards, knocking the wind out of him.
“Firestar!” Midnightpaw shouted. “Are you alright?” She asked concerned. Firestar shook his head, images spinning for a moment. As him sight cleared he mumbled, “I-I’m fine.” He pulled himself to his paws, rocking for a while. Midnightpaw brushed against his side balancing him, making his heart thumped as he felt the touch of her silky black fur against his side. He leaned into her as they began to pad on toward camp again.
“Thanks,” he said finally. “I mean for, you know...” he stuttered.
“Your welcome,” she finished for him smiling, a hint of amusement glittering in her emerald eyes. Firestar smiled and turned away, looking at her from the corner of his eye. He finally pulled his gazed away, padding ahead of her to enter camp. The space opened into the wide hollow, cats mulling around peacefully. Most all of the cats’ wounds had healed, except for a few deep cuts. Cloudtail still had a deep bite in his shoulder and Firestar even had a sore and stinging cut along his back. A couple other cats had wounds, but even they ignored them, continuing on with their warrior duties. Turning back to Midnightpaw he gave her a nod, indicating she could leave to do what she’d like. Though what made him smile was that instead of going into her den to rest or padding over to talk with a friend she bounded right back into the forest.
“Firestar,” a cat called. Firestar whipped his head around to gaze at Graystripe. “Oh,” he mewed embarrassed. “What is it you need?” He asked pulling himself back together, squaring his shoulders to gaze at his friend.
“Firestar, I’m sorry to remind you, but who is going to the gathering? Tonight is the full moon.”
Firestar stiffed. He had completely forgotten about the gathering!
“Oh, right. You shall go. I’ll tell the others who shall go too,” he meowed as confidently as he could, though he sounded a little unorganized. Graystripe hesitated a moment, but agreed to the answer. “Alright Firestar.” He said. He began to pad away, but suddenly stopped and turned his gaze back to Firestar. “You know Firestar, if there’s anything you need help with I’m always here.”
Firestar stiffed with discomfort and anger. Did Graystripe think he was incapable of doing his own duties?
“That’s a kind offer Graystripe but I can do it myself thank you.”
Graystripe looked a little unsure about leaving Firestar, but he reluctantly dipped his head, and headed toward the nursery to see Millie and the kits.

Firestar sat flicking his tail back and forth in his nest. The warm heat of the Greenleaf sun beat into the cave, though the shade didn’t have much effect, and with his coat Firestar was burning with heat. He gazed down at the floor as wisps of sand flicked across the floor as he twitched his tail. Sighing he lifted his gaze to stare at the blank, gray stone wall.
“StarClan, what should I do?” He pleaded quietly. “Is it Sandstorm or Midnightpaw?”
When Firestar received no answer from the spirits, he flopped down, tightly shutting his eyes, forcing himself to sleep. He had to know! It seemed like moons before he fell asleep, and awoke in a cool, brightly sunlit forest. He looked around, looking for a cat that would pop out and tell him what he should do.
“Spottedleaf? Bluestar? StarClan?” He called. The only noise he heard was the quiet swish of the branches and leaves in the slight breeze. It seemed kind of eerie, but then again peaceful and safe. He felt that unsure feeling again, and it seemed to be something like a sign. You’ll feel unsure until you decide for yourself. Whatever you choose will be the right choice. The thought just practically popped into his head. He felt a little relieved and a little disappointed that StarClan had given him a sign, but not the one he was hoping for.

Firestar stalked through the undergrowth, the strong scent of magpie in his nostrils. His eyes narrowed on the prey ahead of him, and in a heartbeat he leapt, landing squarely on his prey. He held the squawking bird firmly in his paws and nipped its neck with his razor sharp teeth. The bird instantly fell limp, its feathered body ruffled as Firestar gripped it in his jaws. Firestar had been on a hunt for a long while now, just killing prey. So far he had caught a mouse, two voles, a thrush, and now a magpie. Firestar strode through the forest, collecting his prey as he headed back to camp. Trotting into the hollow, he dropped his prey into the full pile. The prey pile was probably big enough for cats to have seconds. Prey seemed to flourish in the past moons, so the ThunderClan cats started to put on more muscle for they were getting the food they needed. Suddenly Firestar’s head shot up. Oh no! He had completely forgotten about speaking to the cats that would go to the gathering! He shook his head angrily at himself. You mouse-brain! He strode quickly around camp informing the cats if they would go to the gathering or stay back. He decided Leafpool, Willowpaw, Graystripe, Midnightpaw, Brightheart, Ferncloud, Whitewing, Brambleclaw, Larchfire, Spottedpaw, Rosepaw, Hazeltail, Honeyfoot, Poppytail, Cinderpelt, Squirrelflight, Lionpaw, and Icepaw would go. The others would stay back and guard the camp. As Firestar gazed about the hollow, he suddenly spotted Brambleclaw, Dustpelt, and Squirrelflight escorting Mothwing from RiverClan into the hollow. Brambleclaw broke from the group, bounding over to Firestar.
“Firestar, Mothwing and RiverClan seem to really need our help. Mothwing says they need Leafpool urgently too come help,” Brambleclaw explained gesturing with his tail toward the RiverClan medicine cat.
“Why should RiverClan always need our help? Aren’t they strong enough to look after themselves?”
“They should be,” Brambleclaw mumbled, glancing back to the group of waiting cats. “But it really seems urgent.”
Firestar hesitated gazing at Brambleclaw intently. “Well, I guess it’s alright to borrow Leafpool, but if they lay one paw on her, they’re going to pay with their lives,” he said, snorting with contempt. Brambleclaw dipped his head and raced into the medicine cat den. After a long moment, he pushed through the brambles with Willowpaw and Leafpool hard on his heels. Squirrelflight nodded to Brambleclaw and pelted off into the trees to escort the medicine cats back to the WindClan border where they could reach RiverClan if they traveled along the shore line.

Willowpaw glanced back to glance at Midnightpaw excitedly. She gave a little leap as she ran beside Leafpool to indicate she was so excited. Midnightpaw gave a lopsided smile at her friend. It was hard to believe she found herbs and plants interesting. All they did was sit there all day until they were picked. She shrugged and turned around to go battle train with the other apprentices. She bounded through the entrance tunnel weaving among branches and brush. She leapt high, her paws pushing off from a fallen log. She landed with grace, and slowed to a trot. Birds chirped and the leaves and branched swayed in the cool breeze. A gap between two stumpy twisted trees came into view, a mossy clearing visible. She slowed to a walk and pushed herself through the space, some fur rubbing off onto the tree. As she gazed around she noticed Spottedpaw pinned down by Hollypaw. She gave a half smile, leaping into the ring on top of Hollypaw. Hollypaw gave a squeal and fell to one side of Spottedpaw. Spottedpaw instantly rolled over and scrambled up to her paws.
“Midnightpaw! I thought you’d never get here!” She exclaimed happily. Midnightpaw flicked her ears but narrowed her eyes onto Hollypaw crouching down. Hollypaw and Midnightpaw were becoming huge rivals, for Hollypaw used to be known as the best fighter, but Midnightpaw was starting to take her place. Midnightpaw dared to look over at Spottedpaw from the corner of her eye, noticing she was at the edge of the mossy clearing with the other apprentices. Lionpaw, Toadpaw, Rosepaw, Icepaw, Foxpaw, and now Spottedpaw were all watching from the from the side lines. Icepaw and Spottedpaw were the only ones who cheered for Midnightpaw and the rest were betting half their prey that Hollypaw would win. The only shout that caught her attention was Spottedpaw shouting, “I bet all of my prey this suns that Midnightpaw will win!” Toadpaw stepped forward smirking, “Midnightpaw couldn’t beat a butterfly in battle even if she tried! I’ll bet all my prey on Hollypaw!”
Midnightpaw tensed with anger. She launched herself at Hollypaw catching her off guard. She batted her paw hard on Hollypaw’s head. It dazed her, giving Midnightpaw a huge advantage. She instantly just shoved her Hollypaw’s muzzle into the moss and held down her back legs with her own. She snorted holding her down for longer for everyone to see.
“Get off me mouse-brain!” Hollypaw mumbled her muzzle still in the dirt. Midnightpaw snorted with triumph the burning flame inside her starting to die out.
“I told you she’d win!” Spottedpaw boasted. Toadpaw stood astounded his eyes wide as though he didn’t believe what he saw. Midnightpaw lifted her paw off the older apprentice as murmurs and cheers began to brake out. Hollypaw pulled herself back up to her paws, shaking the moss and dirt off her pelt. She whipped around and glared at Midnightpaw snarling. Whisking around she stalked off out of the hollow. Toadpaw narrowed his eyes and he too bounded out.
“Midnightpaw! Midnightpaw!” The remaining apprentices chanted. The jet black she-cat stood tall and proud, smiling triumphantly.

[Stormflower; Mapleclaw]

CHAPTER 9


Midnightpaw crept through the undergrowth, brambles and rough leaves tugging at her pelt. A plump, brown woodland mouse sat hunched, nibbling on a seed about the size of one of her claws. Unaware of the cat stalking her, the mouse blinked as it shoved the seed into its mouth. Midnightpaw felt a pang of sorrow to kill the creature, for she knew that all living things should have a life to value, but she lunged; claws outstretched landing perfectly and squarely on the mouse. It gave a small squeak as she nipped its neck, dropping the seed it had spat back into its paws. She grabbed the creature in her jaws and padded toward camp. She stepped lightly on the damp earth swerving between bramble and thorn thickets. She suddenly stopped, pricking her finely curved ears as a bush trembled in front of her. Midnightpaw gently dropped the mouse on the ground, keeping her eyes on the bush all the while. A scent of vole wafted around her as she crawled toward the prey. As she moved closer she could see the creature scrambling around at the roots of the bush. Instinctively she leapt forward bringing her fore paws down hard on the vole. She dug her claws into its flesh and killed it not giving it time to make a warning call. She marveled her catch and dropped the new prey with the mouse. Today was her very first assessment, and she promised herself and Firestar she would catch at least three prey, and she was already on her second. Suddenly a huge bird came shambling through the thickets, its long feathered neck reaching down to peck at seeds. Pheasant! Midnightpaw stood stiff with astonishment. It had practically hopped into her paws! She bolted forward, claws outstretched toward the bird. Its head shot up in alarm as it noticed the cat lunging toward it. It flapped its wings wildly trying to run in any direction. The hard beating wings hit Midnightpaw hard on the head dazing her, and for moments she stood rocking from paw to paw, the world spinning. Shaking her head hard she blinked as the images in front of her slowly began to be still again. As she gazing around her heart thumped as she noticed the bird racing away leaving a trail of broken plants behind it.
“No!” She shouted, pelting after it. She wouldn’t let it get away! She began to easily gain ground to the bird as she ran. She leapt, her powerful haunches gleaming as the sun trickled in through the thick branches of the trees. Her black claws gleamed as she sent them into the flesh of the bird, deep crimson blood flowing out. A loud alarm call escaped the bird as it felt its skin tear. It screeched again, but this time fell to the earth, blood trickling into little puddles on the ground. Midnightpaw instantly pulled herself over to the birds head slicing her claws through its neck. Blood spurted out and she stepped off the prey proudly. Firestar unexpectedly burst through the bushes calling, “that was incredible! Fantastic! Amazing!” His eyes gleamed with pride on what she had done. Midnightpaw hadn’t even thought about him watching her. She blushed, a little embarrassed but proud.
“Thanks,” she meowed trying her best to sound happy and not embarrassed. Firestar smiled and gazed down at her. She returned his stare, and for some reason she felt kind of, strange. Her heart thumped and she felt as though butterflies fluttered through her. Firestar turned his gaze away still smiling.
“You did great you know,” he said quietly his eyes sparkling. Midnightpaw blinked her eyes glimmering all the same.
Sighing Firestar flicked his tail and led the way back to camp, dragging the pheasant as Midnightpaw brought the mouse and vole. She glanced at Firestar as he padded stiffly into the camp, the sun shining on his pelt turning him a fiery red. Unexpectedly Sandstorm was at the other end of the hollow glaring at Firestar as he slowed to pad beside Midnightpaw. Sandstorm’s eyes narrowed into angry slits. She turned her head away disdainfully padding over to a group of warriors basking in the sun near the highledge. Firestar shook his head disapprovingly. Midnightpaw decided to leave him to his thoughts a moment so she bounded over to the elders den to drop of her mouse and vole. Longtail and Mousefur were sleeping, so she gently placed the prey in front of them. She slowly backed out trying not to wake them. She managed to not disturb them and when she entered the clearing, cats came racing over to her. She was swarmed by the apprentices asking questions and the warriors congratulating her.
“That was a great catch!” Spiderleg called from a short ways away.
“Did you fight it off?” Spottedpaw and Icepaw asked excitedly.
“Great job!” Lionpaw exclaimed.
Midnightpaw felt proud and triumphant at all the questions and praises. The day passed quickly as Midnightpaw sat with Spottedpaw, Icepaw, and Foxpaw underneath the Highledge talking.
The moon slowly began to rise, the stars clear in the black sky. It would be a great night for the gathering. Soon enough, Firestar waited in the center of the clearing for the cats going to the gathering to wait with him. Midnightpaw bounded over energetically and enthusiastically, excited for her very first gathering. Spottedpaw bounded up beside her, standing as tall as she could.
“This will be our first gathering!” Spottedpaw meowed enthusiastically hopping up and down.
“I know that you mouse-brain,” she teased her voice kind as she nudged her friend.
“We’re all here, so let’s get moving. The moon isn’t going to wait all night,” Firestar suddenly acknowledged them, trotting out the entrance into the forest. This would be her first time out of ThunderClan territory! Her heart beat fast with eagerness at going to the gathering and meeting new cats from other clans. Would they be nice? So many thoughts swarmed her head; she couldn’t even focus where she was putting her paws. More than once she had tripped over pebbles and sticks as they padded on. Spottedpaw suddenly looked so wondrous and fascinated it snapped Midnightpaw back from her thoughts and once again to the living world around her.
“What-,” Midnightpaw asked, but suddenly something so unusual sat in front of her. As she peered through the widely spaced trees and waded through the shallow stream, a huge grassy plain stood in front of the cats. The warriors didn’t really seem to care, but her and Spottedpaw stood transfixed on the new environment. Midnightpaw faintly remembered the territory from when she was younger, and had been saved by Crowfeather. Crowfeather. The name wrung in her ears and she was curious if the WindClan cat would be at the gathering.
“Wow! Look at it!” Midnightpaw exclaimed to Spottedpaw, her emerald eyes wide with wonder. The two young apprentices exchanged thoughts about the moorland as sand squished in between their claws as they trotted along the shore line. After a long while, their whispers were cut off again as tall reeds and marsh land loomed ahead of them. Again the warriors didn’t seem to care but Midnightpaw and Spottedpaw were shouting with excitement at the other new territory.
“Hey look!” Spottedpaw shouted suddenly. As Midnightpaw followed her gazed she was excited to see a small island silhouetted against the lake. Firestar suddenly picked up the pace to a fast run, but Midnightpaw could easily catch up. RiverClan began to push out of the reeds heading exactly where Firestar was going. As the ThunderClan cats neared, Midnightpaw could see a twisted slimy pine tree laid across the water to form a bridge to the island from the shore. In moments the ThunderClan cats were clawing their way aboard the fallen log with Firestar in the lead. After Firestar, Graystripe, Whitewing, Lionpaw, Squirrelflight, Larchfire, and Brambleclaw it was Midnightpaw’s turn. As she leapt nimbly onto the log it slipped between her claws as she tried to pad forward. Instinctively she unsheathed her claws, barely able to hold on as she wove among pine branches. The water lapped against the log making it rock as the cats climbed to the other side. Midnightpaw’s heart thumped with terror in her chest at almost falling into the icy water. She leapt rapidly off the log, trembling as her paws pounded against the grassy shore. She sighed deeply and her heart beat returned to normal as she stood. Spottedpaw leapt off beside her, her friend shaking too.
“That was the scariest thing I’ve ever done!” Midnightpaw shouted to Spottedpaw.
“I know!” The tortoiseshell she-cat answered shakily. Midnightpaw shook herself vigorously trying to look as though nothing happened. Firestar suddenly began to pad off into the thick pine forest following a used trail. This must be the way to the gathering place! She thought to herself silently. As she followed a grassy clearing with eerie blue light from the moon stood in front of the cats. All the ThunderClan cats parted leaving the group to go speak to other cats. They had been the first clan here, followed by RiverClan. Midnightpaw suddenly saw a young apprentice like her pad by, and she seemed to be alone, the other apprentices just brushing past her.
“Hey Spottedpaw lets-” She stopped herself as she realized that her friend had already took off in the other direction toward a group of RiverClan apprentices. She shook her head to herself and she bounded forward to the single RiverClan apprentice. She was white with hazel stripes and hazel eyes. She was quite muscular, though she didn’t have a very lithe form for hunting or running.
“Hi!” Midnightpaw said cheerily. “I’m Midnightpaw! I come from ThunderClan!” She meowed kindly introducing herself as she padded up to the RiverClan cat. The she-cats eyes brightened as she noticed Midnightpaw beside her.
“I’m Hawkpaw!” She mewed enthusiastically. “I’m from RiverClan! I’ve only been an apprentice for about five suns,” she explained.
“I’ve been an apprentice for about a quarter moon,” she informed her.
“What’s it like to be in ThunderClan?” She asked unexpectedly. Midnightpaw was completely unprepared for the question.
“Uh,” she began awkwardly. Was this RiverClan apprentice spying for their training techniques, or just curious? “Well, I personally love ThunderClan and wouldn’t want to be anywhere else, but that could be different for a cat in a different clan. We hunt voles, mice, starlings, magpies, those sorta’ woodland creatures. In fact, earlier today I caught a pheasant!” She said proudly standing tall.
“Wow!” Hawkpaw mewed wide eyed. “What are your clan-mates like?” She asked tilting her head. Midnightpaw thought a moment, not as long as she had for the other question, for she was more prepared for what sort of questions Hawkpaw would ask.
“They’re very kind, strong, and loyal, and we are all part of whatever is important or interesting in camp. Say if one of our cats got hurt, everyone would be there to ask how they are and if they’ll be okay, and they would be very concerned. They are very caring I guess you could say,” she meowed proudly flexing her claws happily. Midnightpaw would talk about her clan any day. Hawkpaw stared at the ground shuffling her paws in the earth clawing up tufts of grass.
“Wow, I wish my clan was like that,” Hawkpaw mumbled barely loud enough to hear. Midnightpaw flicked her ears, her eyes sparkling with curiosity. Was this RiverClan apprentice want to join ThunderClan?
“Were you thinking about joining ThunderClan?” Midnightpaw asked boldly standing as tall as she could to show she wasn’t afraid to ask. Hawkpaw’s eyes glinted with worry.
“How’d you know?” she whispered her eyes full of fear and wonder.
“Lucky guess,” Midnightpaw said smiling. She couldn’t help but to be interested if ThunderClan would become even stronger. Hawkpaw narrowed her eyes as though studying Midnightpaw.
“Do you think I should join?” Hawkpaw asked in a low voice leaning forward so only Midnightpaw could hear.
“Well of course I think you should join us, but this is the opinion from a ThunderClan cat,” Midnightpaw meowed smiling amusement glittering in her leaf green eyes.
“But I don’t know anyone in your clan,” Hawkpaw went on.
“You know me,” Midnightpaw answered. “And I’d show you all the techniques and all the cats in our clan. I could show you the forest and around the camp.”
Hawkpaw hesitated, obvious that she was making a hard decision.
“Promise?” Hawkpaw whispered.
“I promise,” Midnightpaw replied confidently.
“Thanks,” Hawkpaw mewed gratefully after a few moments. “How about I meet you in WindClan territory, half way between RiverClan and ThunderClan tomorrow night?” She asked eagerly.
“Perfect.”

Hawkpaw and Midnightpaw sat side by side as the gathering went on.
“We need more ShadowClan cats,” Blackstar hissed. “If any clan wants to give any kits up now before they get hurt, please do so now or expect a battle,” the greedy leader went on, his eyes glittering evilly.
“No clan would ever give up their kits to a different clan,” Firestar said scornfully, anger flickering in his green eyes.
“Agreed!” Leopardstar and Onestar shouted in unison.
Firestar had introduced Midnightpaw and Spottedpaw to the gathered cats, and Leopardstar had shown them Hawkpaw. The three apprentices had stood tall with pride as their named were called, their muscles gleaming. Unexpectedly Leopardstar spoke up.
“Mothwing and I both had received signs from StarClan about a new prophecy, and we all believe that it is linked to a RiverClan cat.”
Firestar’s eyes glimmered with fury. “ThunderClan has also received this sign, so it may not be for RiverClan.” Firestar looked as though he knew something every other cat did not, but he didn’t speak anything of what he knew.
“Same as WindClan,” Onestar meowed.
“And ShadowClan,” Blackstar said loudly flicking his tail.
“Then we have no clue which clan the cat is from. And it also mentions a she-cat, so it wouldn’t be a tom,” Firestar pointed out, hiding whatever he knew. Leopardstar narrowed her eyes, clearly sure that it was supposed to be a cat from RiverClan.
“Does any other leader have anything more to say?” Firestar asked glancing around. All the leaders shook their heads beginning to stand up.
“Then this gathering is finished,” Blackstar finished. Midnightpaw snorted in disgust at the ShadowClan leader and how he acted. She hated how he had no respect for any other clan. Firestar turned ignoring him and leapt down from the great oak. He began to gather the ThunderClan cats as he flicked his tail to several cats to come.
“I’ll see you tomorrow night,” Hawkpaw whispered as Midnightpaw hopped to her paws.
“Tomorrow,” Midnightpaw replied dipping her head in farewell. She already knew that she and the RiverClan cat would be friends.

Midnightpaw sat, her tail curled around her jet black paws. The moon light shone down into the hollow, making it glow with an eerie but then again peaceful light. Midnightpaw sighed staring out into the starry night. The gathering had ended awkwardly, and for some reason Midnightpaw felt kind of queasy. But she knew it wasn’t because of the gathering or this prophecy all the cats were now talking about.
“StarClan, why do I feel like this?” Midnightpaw pleaded. Suddenly a whisper droned in the wind, its love, Midnightpaw. Your heart lies with a tom, the voice whispered.
“Wait! StarClan! Who is it?!” She shouted, but the voice was gone. She spun around as she heard a paw step. As she gazed around warily, she noticed who it was. Firestar.
He picked his way down the rockfall toward her calling, “is everything all right? I heard you shout.” Midnightpaw’s heart thumped wildly, as she glanced at the leader. His flame colored pelt was tinted with silver as the shafts of moonlight bore upon him. Her own black fur glowed like a ghost, only the outline of her lithe body visible.
“Everything’s fine,” she bluffed as Firestar neared. Firestar’s green gaze seemed to burn into her fur as he trotted nearer, his muscles gleaming in the eerie yet comforting light of the moon. A suddenly slight breeze picked up, gently rattling the trees, and making the grass blow lightly. Her fur was slicked back to her body, making her look sleek and strong. Her small form was considerably strong for a young apprentice, and was much more muscular than the other apprentices’. Firestar turned his grass green gaze away from her into the night as he sat nimbly beside her just outside the camp entrance. He flicked his tail pointing toward a path toward a cliff over looking the lake, indicating he wanted her to follow him. She followed obediently, her heart still thumping inside her chest. She was sure he could hear it for how loud it beat in her ears. She stared at the tall ominous trees as they wound around clumps and thickets of grass and brambles. A tree in particular was kind of interesting. It was gnarled and old, with a medium sized hole burrowed into its peeled bark. A sudden hoot of an owl made her tingle with eagerness and anticipation as Firestar led her on through the forest that was centuries old. She could hear the high tweet of a bird high in the branches of a large birch, tall with cloudy white bark. Sharp bramble thickets wove in front of their path as they walked on, and several thorn thickets were tucked tightly on the sides of the path tugging at the cats’ fur. As Midnightpaw padded farther into the forest the trees suddenly parted, revealing a large grassy edge overlooking the glimmering lake. The rippling water reflected the star-studded sky as it slowly lapped against the pebbly shore below the two cats. Small stones tumbled gently into the still lake, and then were pushed back again onto the shore as it rocked the rocks to and fro. Firestar turned and sat facing the calm lake, curling his slender tail neatly over his paws as he flexed his claws. Midnightpaw could tell just by the glint in his eyes that he was a little uneasy but sure on what he was doing. He turned his gazed toward her, his eyes bold as she settled herself into the grass. Her eyes suddenly sparkled, stars suddenly appearing. She saw Firestar’s eyes go wide in disbelief, and Firestar began to speak, trying to ignore whatever was astounding.
“Midnightpaw, there’s something I need to tell you,” he began a little bit hesitantly but confident. Midnightpaw’s ears quivered as she strained to listen. Her heart pulsed and her paws trembled excitedly. Was Firestar the one who her heart lies with? She winced as she remembered. No, no he’s not the one. How could he be? He already has a mate.
“Midnightpaw...,” he said softly. “Midnightpaw, you’re so beautiful. This may sound odd since I’m a leader and you’re still a young apprentice but I-I love you Midnightpaw.” His eyes glittered as he waited for her to say something. She was stiff with shock, excitement, uncertainty, and eagerness. She had no idea what to say! Her eyes glowed with happiness as she blurted, “Firestar, I love you too!” She trembled with glee as she leapt forward and touched muzzles with Firestar purring.
“So will you be my mate?” He asked cheerily.
“Of course I will you stupid fur ball!” She joked kindly. Firestar’s smile spread across his face as he entwined his tail with hers. Midnightpaw thrust her muzzle into his thick fur as they stood in the indigo light as dawn approached.
After a few moments Midnightpaw suddenly pulled back.
“But what about Sandstorm?” She asked, her eyes clouding and the excitement inside her draining. Firestar flinched but held his ground firmly.
“I’ll have to tell her,” he meowed half confidently sighing. Midnightpaw nodded as they began to pad back to camp, through the thick, tightly packed forest.
The scent of vole suddenly filled her scent glands as she opened her mouth to see if any prey lurked the forest. Her stomach growled for she hadn’t eaten since late the day before. As the sun began to rise, a small vole scuttled by and she instinctively hopped forward, missing the vole my a half a mouse-length. Firestar lunged the second she missing it, catching it between his claws. He nipped it on the neck instantly killing the brown, lifeless creature. He flopped down and bit into the plump, juicy vole, passing it over to her once he had had his share. Midnightpaw nodded to him in thanks, tearing into the small body. She gulped it down as it quenched most of her hunger. She sighed happily as the first shafts of morning rays trickled in through the leaves and branches onto the cats’ pelts. Her fur tingled as warmth seeped into it, and she closed her eyes realizing how tired she was.
“Don’t worry, you can skip training today,” Firestar assured her. She blinked open her eyes, surprised that Firestar could tell she was tired. Was it really that obvious?
“Thank you,” she mewed gratefully, rolling in the soft earth. Dirt clung to her pelt as she sat up. Firestar pulled himself to his paws groaning.
“We’ve got to head back to camp,” Firestar said blinking. Midnightpaw nodded in agreement and trotted through the forest with Firestar at her side. She decided she would go straight to her nest the second she reached camp. She felt she could flop down any moment but she padded on wearily. She was relieved once they reached camp and pushed through the thorn tunnel into the clearing. Incredibly lucky, no cat was in camp, and the dawn patrol had already left.
“I’ll see you later today,” Firestar mewed, his voice kind as he flicked his tail in farewell and bounded over to the rockfall. Midnightpaw ran her tail gently across his back and padded over to her den. Pushing inside she dragged herself over to her nest, trying not to wake any cats. She sighed with relief as she made it to her nest soundlessly and flopped down with weariness. She instantly fell asleep and by the time she awoke it was well after sun down. Midnightpaw blinked open her eyes, yawning, her jaws parting. She hauled herself to her paws, her limbs a little sore. She stretched them in turn, pulling out the kinks. She groaned as she stretched her right forepaw, her muscles popping. She stood a moment in her nest, the soft moss under her paws, squishing. She shook herself vigorously shaking off every bit off moss that clung to her black pelt. She bounded forward, energetic after her long nap. She grabbed a large vole from the fresh-kill pile, her stomach feeling as though it was eating out her insides for how hungry she was. She tore into the body of the creature, devouring it, savoring the food. She sat up, her long tongue swiping across her mouth to retrieve any scrap pieces of prey. Suddenly a thought shot through her mind. Hawkpaw! The sun was almost down, and she still had to get there before moonhigh. She rolled her eyes impatiently and waited for about a half hour until not another cat was in sight. By then the bright white glowing moon was high in the dark sky. She raced out the entrance and pelted through the forest at top speed. She felt like a WindClan cat, running as fast as they could. Expectantly the moorland opened up in front of her, its wide expanse of grass stretching for endless time, it seemed. She slowed her pace as she trotted along the sandy shore line at the edge of the water. As she bounded forward she spotted a silhouette on the horizon coming closer. She sped up again, this time feeling as though she was flying. Sprays of sand flew up from behind her swirling in the air. If anyone was watching, they would definitely get caught.
“Hawkpaw!” She shouted quietly. Hawkpaw skidded to a halt in front of her, panting. The two apprentices touched muzzles in a welcoming way. Suddenly, a WindClan patrol appeared over the crest of the hill, glaring at the two cats.
“Come on! We’ve got to hurry!” She urged. Hawkpaw nodded and the two she-cats set off at a brisk run in the ThunderClan direction. The patrol began to gain on them, and soon they were right on their heels.
“Stop!” A tom cried. Hawkpaw and Midnightpaw stopped abruptly whirling to face the WindClan cats. “What are you doing on WindClan territory?” He snarled angrily. Midnightpaw pressed against Hawkpaw trying to mask her RiverClan scent with her own.
“We’re just running because we wanted to be like you and see if we could be as fast,” Midnightpaw bluffed, making her voice soft and apologetic as if she didn’t really understand. The WindClan cats’ eyes narrowed down at them.
“From ThunderClan I see. Well, don’t do it again. Even though it was on the shore line and cats are allowed to pass through here, you can’t go doing it just for fun. Now be off!” He shouted lunging at the cats. Midnightpaw and Hawkpaw leapt with surprise and raced across the turf toward ThunderClan territory.
They passed the WindClan territory, and when they splashed through the stream, they were panting loudly from being chased by the WindClan cats. Hawkpaw didn’t even look where she set her paws as they plodded through the stream, so Midnightpaw guess she was very accustomed to the water.
“Are you sure you want to do this? Because if you say yes now, there’ll be no turning back.” Midnightpaw reminded her, as they were a mouse-length from the ThunderClan border. Hawkpaw nodded confidently stepping onto the ThunderClan side, holding her head high. Midnightpaw smiled batting her playfully with her forepaw. Hawkpaw purred with amusement and the two friends bounded through the forest. Hawkpaw trailed behind, wide eyed at all the trees and undergrowth as she followed Midnightpaw.
“We’re almost here!” She whispered excitedly. Midnightpaw pushed her way through the thorn entrance, slipping inside. Hawkpaw followed, thought some of her pelt got caught in the tight squeeze. Hawkpaw stopped her eyes wide with wonder and astonishment at the huge camp enclosed by the sheer towering stone cliffs.
“Wow! Its-its so amazing and well protected!” Hawkpaw whispered eagerly gazing around. Midnightpaw smiled and nudged her friend. “Follow me!”
Midnightpaw bounded up the rockfall, some loose stones tumbling down behind her. Hawkpaw scrambled up the rubble a little bit more clumsily, but made it up safely.
“Wait here,” she instructed to Hawkpaw. Midnightpaw called to Firestar, sticking her head into the cave.
“Firestar?” She called. Firestar leapt to his paws as he heard her call.
“What is it? Is anything wrong?” He asked blinking.
“Uh, no,” Midnightpaw said awkwardly. “But there’s someone here who needs to speak to you.”
Firestar tensed and flicked his tail for her to come in. Midnightpaw peered out and whispered to Hawkpaw, “come in.” Hawkpaw squeezed inside the cave staring at Firestar confidently.
“I have come to ask to join your clan.”

[Stormflower; Mapleclaw]

CHAPTER 10


As the light of sunhigh beat down into the hollow, Midnightpaw and Hawkpaw watched as Firestar called out the familiar summons. He had just told Midnightpaw and Hawkpaw to stay up on the rock ledge. Cats slowly began to drag themselves from their dens, murmuring as they noticed the RiverClan cat on the highledge. Once almost every cat was waiting in the hollow Firestar began.
“We have an unexpected visitor today, and an unexpected request. She has asked if she may join ThunderClan, and I except.” Yowls of disapproval broke out. Even Spottedpaw didn’t like the idea.
“She from RiverClan! She couldn’t ever learn how to live in the forest!” Dustpelt yowled. Caterwauls broke out again agreeing with the tom.
“Silence!” Firestar shouted angrily. The cats instantly fell silent, not liking the menacing look in their leaders’ eyes.
“It doesn’t matter if a cat has come from somewhere different, or the genetics it has. I was a kittypet and I turned out to be leader!” He shouted. “If a cat tries, then they can always accomplish.”
Firestar flicked his gaze around the camp, narrowing his eyes to look for any disagreement. Seeing none, he continued. “I’ve decided, since Midnightpaw has brought Hawkpaw here to live with us, it is her responsibility to look after her until she is a warrior. And what I mean by look after is show her around, and train her.”
Midnightpaw gasped as well as the cats gathered in the clearing.
“But I’m only an apprentice!” She protested. “How am I supposed to train her?” She asked astonished.
“You know more about the ways of ThunderClan than she, so you will train her on whatever you learn,” Firestar explained flicking his tail contentedly. The ThunderClan cats murmured with uncertainty as they flicked their gazes from one apprentice to another.
“Midnightpaw’s no bigger than Hawkpaw!” One cat whispered.
“How could Midnightpaw teach her anything?” Another called quietly. The burning flame to accomplish something began to flare up inside her. She could train Hawkpaw no matter how hard it was! She would!

“Okay, attack me,” Midnightpaw told Hawkpaw, looking relaxed and unprepared, though she was tensed and ready.
“I’ve already done this,” Hawkpaw told her leaning to one side.
“I know you have, but not with ThunderClan techniques,” Midnightpaw told her, narrowing her eyes to focus. Hawkpaw lunged, but as she did Midnightpaw easily swiveled away and whirled around. Hawkpaw looked astonished.
“Wow that so different from RiverClan’s way because-” Midnightpaw cut her off before she could say any more.
“I don’t need to know the way RiverClan did it or does it, your learning the way ThunderClan does it.”
Hawkpaw dipped her head sighing.
“Now,” Midnightpaw began. “Did you see how I did it? You dodge to one side and spin around to face your attacker.”
Hawkpaw nodded narrowing her eyes, focusing as Midnightpaw leapt for her. She did exactly as she was told and did a great job, though if Midnightpaw had really tried she could have hit her, but Hawkpaw’s moves were excellent, so she decided to pretend she had really tried.
“That was great!” Midnightpaw exclaimed smiling.
“You really think so?” Hawkpaw asked cheerfully.
“I do.”
“Thanks!”
“Oh, and by the way, this is the training hollow. I should probably show you around the borders before we do much else,” Midnightpaw told her padding out into the thick forest.
“I imagine you already know the WindClan border,” she joked. Hawkpaw nodded vigorously bobbing her head up and down.
“Oh yes,” she laughed.
“Well then, follow me!” Midnightpaw exclaimed bounding forward onto the old thunderpath. As the soft grassy earth was felt underpaw seemed to be formed into a large path, Hawkpaw asked curiously but cautiously, “what is it?”
Midnightpaw smiled warmly. “It’s an abandoned thunderpath. All the ThunderClan cats guess it was used to make those stone walls in the camp,” Midnightpaw explained. “And you’ll never believe what’s up ahead.” Midnightpaw raced forward along the grassy path toward the Abandoned Twoleg Nest. The two apprentices stopped abruptly as the twoleg nest came into view.
“Get down!” Hawkpaw ordered, but all Midnightpaw did was smile.
“Twolegs abandoned it long ago so there’s no sign at all of twolegs. This is also where Leafpool, Willowpaw, and Jaypaw get the catmint.
“Willowpaw?” Hawkpaw asked looking horrified.
“Uh, yeah, from ThunderClan,” Midnightpaw meowed a little awkwardly eying Hawkpaw.
“We have a-” Hawkpaw stopped and corrected herself gulping. “Had a medicine cat apprentice named Willowpaw.”
“How long ago? Did she become a full medicine cat?”
“No she didn’t become a full medicine cat, and we had her a few days ago,” Hawkpaw said her voice trembling. Midnightpaw took pity on the apprentice flicking her tail down her back.
“Oh I’m so sorry!” She apologized.
“There’s nothing Leafpool or Mothwing could do for her,” Hawkpaw meowed gulping, trying to sound more confident. Midnightpaw hesitated before dipping her head in respect.
“There’s no point in going in if we don’t have too, so we’ll carry on,” she instructed, heading toward the ShadowClan border. The trees seemed luminous as they padded on. A couple pine trees had begun to grow on the ThunderClan side, probably because the seeds had drifted over and sprouted. That would mean more squirrels for ThunderClan. As Midnightpaw thought as they padded on, she realized just how powerful ThunderClan was. It had much more warriors than any other clan, and would hopefully have more territory. Suddenly a hard impact hit her and she stumbled backward.
“Oof!” She grumbled. She could hear Hawkpaw laughing, and as she focused she realized she had run into a tree not paying attention, and the ShadowClan border was a couple fox-lengths ahead of them. Shaking her head she pretended not to care, but couldn’t help laughing with her friend.
“As you can tell, this is the ShadowClan border,” she meowed still laughing, trying to clear her throat to stop herself from giggling.
“Come on, let’s see if you can find your way back,” Midnightpaw mewed curiously, trailing behind as Hawkpaw sniffed her way back. It took about ten minutes before Hawkpaw found the way back to camp, but at least she had.
“Great work!” Midnightpaw praised her.
“Thanks!” Hawkpaw answered happily.
“Let’s go get you some moss from the medicine cat den,” Midnightpaw told her, bounding over to a patch of brambles and peering inside. As she gazed in she was surprised to see Willowpaw and Leafpool working quietly in the small cave.
“Sorry to bother you, but may we please have some moss?” She asked as kindly as she could. Willowpaw lifted her head and trotted to a pile of moss at the back of the cave. She grabbed a thick ball of the cushioned green plant and padded over to Midnightpaw.
“It didn’t go good at all in RiverClan, so Leafpool is in a grouchy mood,” Willowpaw whispered. Midnightpaw nodded and thanked her friend for the moss and bounded out, grasping the plant in her jaws. She passed it over to Hawkpaw and trotted over to the apprentices den a little way away. She slipped in with Hawkpaw at her heels, padding over the nests.
“Over here,” Midnightpaw called as she stood on her nest. Spottedpaw’s nest was on her left and Icepaw slept at the tip of her nest. Hawkpaw nodded and dropped the moss on Midnightpaw’s right, and started to unfold the bundle. After a few moments once the moss was tightly packed against Midnightpaw’s, the two she-cats gazed around the nest. It was quite jammed with so many apprentices, but there was still a bit more room for maybe two more apprentices. Midnightpaw felt kind of bored, so she batted Hawkpaw playfully on the side.
“Hey!” Hawkpaw called, leaping at Midnightpaw. The two friends tussled in the den for a while until bits of moss clung all over their pelts. Midnightpaw groaned happily as she stretched, but then unexpectedly Hawkpaw pushed her over. Midnightpaw purred with amusement and rolled into her nest.
“I’m gonna have a nap,” she mumbled closing her eyes.
“I will too,” Hawkpaw mewed, her voice muffled by a yawn. Midnightpaw could feel the warmth of Hawkpaw as she curled in her nest, just realizing how squished she would be with Spottedpaw and Icepaw on her other sides. Her sides heaved as she slept peacefully as she dreamt about chasing squirrels and running through lush green meadows. Midnightpaw slept right through the rest of the day and night, enthusiastic and energetic at dawn when she awoke waiting for training.

Firestar padded stiffly toward Sandstorm as she sat, eating a piece of fresh kill. It was sundown and most of the cats were already in their dens. His heart thumped as he stood in front of her.
“What do you want?” Sandstorm said scornfully. Firestar flinched at her words but he began boldly, “Sandstorm, I’m sorry but my heart lies with another she-cat.”
As he finished Sandstorm didn’t look the least surprised.
“Oh yeah that’s a big surprise!” Sandstorm said sarcastically.
“Fine then! Be that way!” Firestar shouted and stormed off hurt.
Firestar had a hard time sleeping that night, and again he had Tigerstar haunting his dreams. Firestar woke with a start in the morning as shafts of Sunlight flickered in. He pulled himself to his paws and scrambled down the rockfall, trotting toward the fresh kill pile. He grabbed a magpie from the pile and devoured it within moments. He bounded over to Midnightpaw who was waiting patiently just outside the apprentices den.
“Ready too do some hunting?” Firestar asked, touching muzzles with Midnightpaw.
“Always!” She replied happily.

Midnightpaw and Firestar stood just outside the camp entrance talking.
“So was that what the old forest was really like?” Midnightpaw asked wide eyed with wonder.
“Yes,” Firestar answered. Suddenly Sandstorm leapt out of the bushes, lunging straight at Midnightpaw. Midnightpaw was unprepared and her eyes shone with alarm as the she-cat pinned her down. Midnightpaw instantly rolled over, free of Sandstorm’s grasp. Midnightpaw tensed, this time ready for Sandstorm. When she lunged, Midnightpaw stuck out her muzzle, tripping the ginger she-cat. She pummeled her with her forepaws, making her sprawl in the dirt. Sandstorm launched herself at Midnightpaw again once she had regained to her feet, this time catching Midnightpaw lightly on the shoulder. The wound stung and began to bleed, making her furious. She leapt at Sandstorm all her temper let out. She clawed the she-cats ear leaving a deep v shape. Midnightpaw leapt off and ran to the other side of the path.
“Enough!” Firestar suddenly yowled racing to Sandstorm’s side.
“I’m so sorry!” Firestar mumbled to the ginger cat.
“What about me? I didn’t even start the fight!” Midnightpaw shouted angry and hurt. Firestar didn’t even look. Sadness overwhelmed her, and suddenly the sky began to cloud over, sprinkling a light shower. Midnightpaw whirled around and began to race toward the moonpool, as far away as she could get, but as she ran she suddenly heard Spiderleg come rushing in yowling in devastation, “Tundraheart’s gone!” Midnightpaw closed her eyes and ran blindly, seeming that she went on forever. She finally collapsed in a sage bush panting heavily. She gasped for breath, and by the time she was breathing normal again, rain was pouring down in sheets of cold wet drops, matching her mood.

“The one with the eyes of the stars holds the power of all five clans in her paws,” Firestar mumbled to himself as the rain began to pour. Strangely it matched the way she must’ve felt, so that only meant one thing... Midnightpaw could control the nature!
“Midnightpaw!” He shouted realizing what he had done. Firestar began to bound through the forest after her, leaping logs and brush.

Midnightpaw leapt to her paws her eyes burning with anger. To match her mood lightning suddenly cracked through the air, a white light flashing. She pushed onward, passing the moonpool that was starting to overflow with water. Her heart felt as though a hole had burned through it. She had picked up a scent of three foxes-and her mother which could only mean that they had carried her off. She was determined to find her mother, though she was terrified on what she would find.
Days passed and Midnightpaw continued on over mountains and moorland, slowly loosing her energy.
A rabbit suddenly darted past, and Midnightpaw instantly took up the chase. With claws outstretched she landed on the prey, clawing its neck. The instant it was killed she tore at its flesh, eating it in great gulps. In moments she’d finished it and licked her lips, her stomach no longer growling for food. She sighed and rolled onto her back in the damp grass feeling nicer than she had in days. She wished the sun would come out to help her warm up from all the rain, and unexpectedly, it did. Peculiar, she though oddly. To see what was really happening she wished it would cloud over, and it did. Midnightpaw’s eyes were huge with shock. She leapt to her paws and glanced around. Spying a rock on a hill that seemed it wouldn’t budge, she though to herself, I wish that rock would tumble down the hill. Midnightpaw leapt back as the boulder moved, and after a moment began rolling down the grassy slope.
“I can control nature!” She whispered unsure if she should feel terrified or happy. She asked the sun to come out and again it did, shining its bright rays upon the she-cat as she bounded across the moor.
“Thank you for the powers you have bestowed upon me, StarClan. I promise I will treat them with respect and make sure I do not use them for my own greed,” she vowed dipping her head.
About a quarter moon passed and Midnightpaw continued to pad onward, and unexpectedly she noticed a forest silhouetted against the horizon. She eyed it carefully as she neared, and she noticed that from where she was looking the forest was incredibly lush and full of scampering prey everywhere. Practically every single place she looked she spotted some sort of prey. As she ventured in, she realized it was thick with underbrush in some parts where in others it was neatly spaced. It was so much more beautiful than the territory at the lake! As she continued on she stopped abruptly as she noticed a small opening into a bramble thicket. She decided it would be a place to shelter, so she slipped inside but she was incredibly astounded to find a huge clearing with large thickets that would make great dens, and a steep stone and grass hill that would make a great clan meeting announcing area. As she looked around she also noticed a large burrow with a slowly descending path. She cautiously padded in, and she was surprised to find a cave inside the underground burrow. It had soft white sandy flooring with a draping curtain of lichen hanging down at the entrance to the cave. A trickle of water formed a small pool at the back of the cave, running into a crack in the sandy earth. It was such a nice den Midnightpaw wanted it for herself, but she was too eager to find out what else was in the forest. She raced out of the tunnel and into the sunlit clearing, chasing after a mouse trying to scamper away. She swiped her paw at the creature, and flipped it into the air, catching it in her jaws. She wasn’t incredibly hungry so she bit into the prey with small bites, after a while finishing it. She leapt to her paws energetically, ready to set off into the forest with abundant prey and undergrowth. She pushed her way out of the bramble entrance, skipping over bushes and logs. As she set the first couple paws past the camp, she could here a faint rumbling of a river. She bounded forward and halted abruptly as a slow, thick river bubbled over her paws. Mostly every place she looked in the river Midnightpaw could see a glimmering silver fish, and it wasn’t very far away at all from the camp. She bounded along the edge of the river for a long while until she reached a fallen log that would make a great territory marker if cats were ever to stay here. She leapt, her powerful haunches just skimming the log as she flung herself over its scratched old bark. As she gazed on from the other side she was astonished to see tall reeds over looking the territory from this point. She parted from the river and as she scouted she noticed a nicely sized camp guarded by a stream. As she waded through the icy waters she noticed a small hollow with brambles and reeds, and with a couple of bushes and trees shading the clearing from the sun. She stood a moment studying the area and as she inspected she noticed a huge boulder with a large crack that would be just large enough for a cat to fit through. Midnightpaw didn’t feel like going inside the cave like area so she peered inside and she was excited to see a space large enough for at least two cats to sleep in.
Maybe RiverClan would like it here, she thought to herself, for the river parted from the other territory to gurgle with its bubbling waters into this one. She liked this territory so much better than the lake territory for there was steep slopes and mountains, but here it was pretty flat with only a few hills, and the forest was much, much more plentiful and lush. She raced forward leaping over the stream and heading toward a pine forest. On her way she skidded to a halt as she just about crashed into a huge boulder. As she blinked up at the huge rock, she realized there wasn’t just one of the rocks, but four. One rock for each clan, she though squinting. She scrambled away a little fearfully, not really wanting to know any more about the eerie place. She slowed her pace to a walk after about an hour when she came upon a thick pine forest. As she reached the beggining of the forest she could already scent many, many squirrels. She guessed she could see at least two in each tree scuttling along the branches. As she glanced back from where she had come she realized just how far each territory was. It was much more territory than any clan had back at the lake. Midnightpaw shook her head and padded on into the ominous forest. She felt as though something was lurking here, though ShadowClan cats would probably like it. She suddenly felt hard impact as she stumbled and tripped over a huge root sticking up from the earth. She felt her fur stand on end as pine needles stuck in her fur, but as she lifted her head, a clearing covered in red pine needles stood before her. It had prickly thorn bushes and thick bramble bushes. She didn’t dare go any further into the unpleasant area so she raced away further into the pine forest, but unexpectedly it opened up to an small expanse of grass with some carry on that stunk. She screwed up her nose in disgust and bounded back toward the river. After a long while her legs felt weary and tired, and she collapsed to the earth curling into a ball in a bush just large enough for her to fit into. She closed her eyes, thoughts swirling through her head.

Firestar pulled one paw after the other as the moon rose high into the sky. His legs trembled and he collapsed to the earth, dirt and leaves clutching to his fur. Firestar closed his eyes sighing.
How will I ever find her?

Midnightpaw blinked open her eyes as the shafts of sunlight trickled in through the thick branches of the bush. The leaves bristled in the slight breeze as Midnightpaw pulled herself from the bush and into the day light. She stretched, parting her jaws in a yawn. Blinking, Midnightpaw continued on at a walk in the direction toward the river, and after a while she leapt up with joy as moorland opened up in front of her. After uncountable fox-lengths the forest bordered the moorland. Rabbits bounded freely across the moor, one of the creatures almost every two fox-lengths. She raced across the field her fur slicked back as she ran. She leapt into the chilly water, the liquid soaking into her fur. She scrambled to the other side bounding through the territory that was so much like ThunderClan’s. She slowed to a trot, stepping soundlessly over twigs and thickets. She tilted her head excitedly when she spotted a sandy hollow a few paw steps in front of her. She bounded forward sliding in the soft turf. She hopped and kicked and rolled in the sand as she played happily.
“This would be perfect as a training hollow!” She exclaimed eagerly. She hopped up and raced energetically out of the forest and back the way she had come. The trees spaced and revealed a rocky moorland she had come from. She instantly set out, leaping enthusiastically across the fields.
The day passed and Midnightpaw plodded tiredly across the fields. She suddenly stopped, noting a white body lying silhouetted against the horizon. Her heart thumped with fear as she pelted across the moorland, her paws flying as she ran. She skidded to a halt a voice inside her screaming with devastation as she looked down.
“Mother!” She caterwauled, her voice echoing across the hills. She collapsed on the earth, thrusting her muzzle into her mothers white fur.
“Midnightpaw,” Tundraheart suddenly whispered hoarsely. Midnightpaw blinked open her eyes in shock
“Mother!” She cried again, this time delighted on hearing her mothers’ voice. “You’re alive! Just wait right here! I’ll go get you herbs!” She called as she jumped to her paws.
“No Midnightpaw, there’s no point. I’m ready to join StarClan, and I can see them now,” Tundraheart gasped, her eyes clouding. “But before I go, Midnightpaw, I want you to know I will always be with you, even in the skies I will roam. I know you will become a incredible warrior, and will serve your clan at all costs. Please tell your father I love him.” Tundraheart laid her head on the soft earth.
“Mother!” She shouted for the third time, a tear trickling down her jet black cheek. Midnightpaw wailed as the clouds cracked with thunder and pouring rain pattering onto the grass. The entire night Midnightpaw stayed with her mother. The morning was cloudy with no heat and a chilly wind sliced the air. Midnightpaw squinted as she awoke, pulling herself to her paws. Pulling her paws one after the other, she blinked feeling as though there was no point in life. Unexpectedly the sun peered through the dark gray storm clouds. The shaft of the sun beat down onto Midnightpaw, making her pelt glow like shining coal. Unexpectedly Firestar strode majestically over the slope toward her. Her eyes suddenly began to burn with sadness as he bounded forward.
“I know what happened,” Firestar explained, indicating that he knew about Tundraheart. He stopped about a mouse-length in front of her. Midnightpaw pressed her muzzle into his chest, closing her eyes as they welled with tears. A whimper escaped her, turning into a wail for her lost mother.
“I’m so sorry for what I did,” Firestar mewed softly resting his muzzle on her shoulder. “I don’t know what came over me, but I promise it will never happen again. Midnightpaw I love you and no one else, and I never will.”

[Flamefur]

Sandstorm's his mate though! Bad Firestar!

[Stormflower; Mapleclaw]

*laughing out loud!*

[Flamefur]

*murders Firestar* Bad Firestar! bad Firestar! I'm telling Sandstorm on you!!! *laughing out loud!*

[Flamefur]

Firestar padded stiffly toward Sandstorm as she sat, eating a piece of fresh kill. It was sundown and most of the cats were already in their dens. His heart thumped as he stood in front of her.
“What do you want?” Sandstorm said scornfully. Firestar flinched at her words but he began boldly, “Sandstorm, I’m sorry but my heart lies with another she-cat.”
As he finished Sandstorm didn’t look the least surprised.
“Oh yeah that’s a big surprise!” Sandstorm said sarcastically.
“Fine then! Be that way!” Firestar shouted and stormed off hurt.
Firestar had a hard time sleeping that night, and again he had Tigerstar haunting his dreams. Firestar woke with a start in the morning as shafts of Sunlight flickered in. He pulled himself to his paws and scrambled down the rockfall, trotting toward the fresh kill pile. He grabbed a magpie from the pile and devoured it within moments. He bounded over to Midnightpaw who was waiting patiently just outside the apprentices den.
“Ready too do some hunting?” Firestar asked, touching muzzles with Midnightpaw.
“Always!” She replied happily.

*cries* Nooooo!!!

[Midnightstar]

*laughing out loud!* xD