rabbit4

Chapters 1-7 (I apologize to whoever has to mod this cause it’s a lot)

Chapter 1

They smell weird, Dawnkit thought, scrunching her face as the new warriors walked by. I wish they would go away.
Sammie, Luna, and their kit, Izzy, were new additions to PineClan. They came from a barn at the edge of the territory. After the barn was destroyed in a fire that luckily didn’t reach the Clans, they joined PineClan for safety, but they didn’t quite fit in. They don’t even have Clan names! Dawnkit remarked. I’m proud to be a Clan cat, and I would want a real name.
Lilykit scampered up behind her. “What are you doing?”
Dawnkit shrugged. “I don’t know. Just watching.”
“Our apprentice ceremony is so soon!” Lilykit squealed. “I can’t wait to become a warrior. I’m going to be the best warrior in the whole Clan!”
Dawnkit twitched her whiskers in amusement. “I’m sure you will be. One day, you might even become the leader.”
Lilykit pressed up against Dawnkit. “And you will be my medicine cat.”
It was no secret that Dawnkit wanted to be a medicine cat. Her mother had practically glowed with pride when she told her. Ambershine didn’t have an apprentice yet, so the spot as a medicine cat apprentice was available.
Everflame padded up behind them, and Dawnkit felt a rush of pride. Her father, the PineClan deputy! Well, he wasn’t really her father, but she and Lilykit never knew Ryewing, and Everflame was the one who raised them.
“Are you ready for your apprentice ceremony?” he asked.
Lilykit bounced on her paws. “It’s today!”
Everflame purred. “I know it is. How exciting is this? One of you is training to be a warrior, and the other will be the next great medicine cat!”
Lilykit leaned forward. “Can we go hunting?”
Dawnkit shook her head. Lilykit was always so hyper. “Aren’t you supposed to wait until you’re an apprentice before you go out of camp?” she asked skeptically.
Everflame touched his nose to the top of Dawnkit’s head. “I think I can make an exception.”
Lilykit sprinted in a circle. “Yay!”
Dawnkit blinked in confusion. Why was Everflame breaking the rules? “Shouldn’t we ask Stormfrost first?”
Lilykit shrugged. “I don’t think she would care. She never cares. Besides, we’re almost apprentices, and Everflame gave us permission.”
Dawnkit knew that her sister was right, but a small part of her still wanted to ask Stormfrost permission just to pretend that her mother cared. “Fine, let’s just go.”
“Everflame? Can you take me out training?” Lionpaw stood behind Everflame.
Dawnkit’s heart sank. Everflame was about to show them the pine forest! Why did Lionpaw have to ruin everything? He always made sure that Everflame spent all of his time with him.
Lilykit puffed out her chest. “He was going to take us out hunting before our ceremony.”
Lionpaw looked back at Everflame. “Well?”
Everflame casted an apologetic glance towards Lilykit and Dawnkit. “Sorry, you two. Lionpaw is my apprentice. Tell you what. After the ceremony, we can do something special, like race each other, or anything you want. Okay?”
Lilykit nodded reluctantly. “I understand.”
Dawnkit glared at Lionpaw’s back as he walked away. I wish you stayed in RockClan, where you belong. She turned to Lilykit. “Want to play catch with a pebble?”
Lilykit stared wistfully after Lionpaw. “Sure,” she murmured distractedly.
Deerkit and Branchkit bounded out of the nursery. “I want to play too!” Deerkit yowled.
“And me!” Branchkit squeaked.
Dawnkit nodded. “Of course you can,” she mewed. “Why don’t you go find a pebble?”
Deerkit lifted her chin. “I’ll find the perfect pebble!”
Branchkit nudged his sister. “No! I will!” He shoved her to the ground and the two tussled for a few moments before Lilykit interrupted them.
“Uh, guys? I already got a good one.”
Deerkit sprang up. “Toss it to me first!”
Lilykit nudged the pebble in Deerkit’s direction, but Dawnkit rolled in front of it and caught it between her teeth. “I win!” she cried victoriously.
“What are you kits doing?”
Dawnkit leapt to her paws and quickly licked her fur clean of dust. “We were just playing.”
Stormfrost hurried over to her and finished brushing her off. “Your apprentice ceremony is later today. I don’t need my kits covered in filth for it,” she scolded.
“Sorry, Stormfrost,” Lilykit mumbled as she flattened her ears.
Stormfrost’s tail twitched. “What’s done is done. Just make sure you aren’t dirty for the ceremony.”
Dawnkit sighed. “We won’t.” She wished her mother could be more like Fallowleap, who cared for her kits all the time, and would be inseparable from them on the day of their apprentice ceremony. But Stormfrost was distant. She always had been. Dawnkit remembered a little bit about Fernleaf, Stormfrost’s sister, who had cared for them as if they were hers. I bet Fernleaf would be a better mother than Stormfrost, she thought, a little resentful. At least we have Everflame. Everflame practically raised Dawnkit and Lilykit after their real father died, and their mother was too sad to look after them. He was not Stormfrost’s mate, but he was her friend and he tried to make sure that they were always happy, and sometimes Dawnkit forgot that he wasn’t their actual father.
Lilykit waved a paw in front of Dawnkit’s face. “Hello? Earth to Dawnkit!”
Dawnkit shook her head to clear her mind. “What?”
“I said Needlestar is about to call the meeting! He’s just waiting for Everflame and Lionpaw to get back.” She purred. “How exciting is this!?”
Joy flooded through Dawnkit. She was about to train to be a medicine cat apprentice! She would finally be where she belonged. “That’s awesome! I hope they hurry up!”
Lilykit glanced at the camp entrance. “Runningbreeze is fetching them now.”
As she spoke, Runningbreeze returned with Everflame and Lionpaw. She sure is fast. She lives up to her name, Dawnkit thought in amusement.
Needlestar jumped onto the Pine Pile. “All cats gather round the Pine Pile for a Clan meeting!” he called.
Dawnkit’s paws felt light as she and Lilykit bounded over to the Pine Pile. She sat down next to Lilykit at the bottom of the pile, and waited for Needlestar to continue.
“We are gathered here today to make two kits into apprentices. I love this part of leading a Clan because it allows us to watch new generations grow up. Would Dawnkit and Lilykit please step forward?”
Dawnkit closed her eyes. She was finally on her way to becoming a medicine cat! She hoped with all her heart that she would make Stormfrost proud. When she opened her eyes, she saw Stormfrost gazing up at her and Lilykit, love glimmering in her blue eyes. Beside her was Everflame, who was purring and nodding in encouragement.
“Lilykit, from this moment forth, until you receive your warrior name, you will be known as Lilypaw. Your mentor will be Icestone. Icestone, this is your first apprentice, and I hope you will pass on your knowledge and strength to her.”
Dawnkit watched as Lilypaw touched noses with Icestone, her whiskers quivering with excitement.
“Dawnkit.” Dawnkit startled at her name being called. “From this moment forth, until you receive your warrior name, you will be known as Dawnpaw. It is my understanding that you wish to train as a medicine cat apprentice, so Ambershine will be your mentor. May she pass on her skills and wisdom to you.”
Ambershine padded over to Dawnpaw and touched her nose to hers. Her eyes were warm and comforting.
“Lilypaw! Dawnpaw!”
Dawnpaw’s heart swelled as she heard Stormfrost cheering louder than any of her Clanmates.
Lilypaw raced over to Dawnpaw. “We’re apprentices now!” she mewed giddily. “I can’t wait to learn how to hunt, and fight, and attack ShadeClan cats!”
“I will teach you how to hunt and fight,” Icestone told her in amusement, “but you won’t be learning how to attack ShadeClan cats.”
Lilypaw’s eyes widened. “Sorry!”
“It’s fine,” Icestone purred. “How about I start by giving you a tour of the territory?”
Lilypaw lit up. “Yeah! I’ll see you later, Dawnpaw.”
Deerkit and Branchkit trotted over to Dawnpaw. “Fallowleap says we have to say congratulations,” Branchkit explained.
Dawnpaw dipped her head. “Thank you.”
Deerkit sulked. “You’re so lucky that you’re an apprentice!” she complained. “We still have, like, two moons!”
Dawnpaw stifled a purr. “That’s not too long,” she countered. “You just have to be patient.”
Deerkit rolled her eyes. “Easy for you to say.”
“Dawnpaw!” Ambershine called. “Are you ready?”
Dawnpaw whipped around. “I’m coming!”
Chapter 2

Lionpaw moved quickly away from the Pine Pile after the apprentice ceremony was over. He had to get back to Everflame before—
“Lionpaw! I’ve been looking everywhere for you!”
Lionpaw inwardly groaned. “Hi, Izzy.”
Izzy’s green eyes were shining as she stepped in front of him. “Hi,” she breathed as she took a step closer to him. Lionpaw fought the urge to take a step back. “I already asked Runningbreeze. She said it’s alright if we go hunting together.”
Oh, great. “I, er, I don’t know if Everflame will let me,” he said awkwardly, hoping the excuse would work.
Izzy tilted her head. “Then go ask.”
“I don’t know—”
“Everflame!”
Lionpaw bit back a growl. Why did she have to be so difficult? Couldn’t she see that he didn’t want to hunt with her?
Everflame lifted his head at Izzy’s yowl and walked over to them. “What’s up?”
“Can Lionpaw go hunting with me? We promise to bring back a lot of prey.”
I never promised that.
Everflame shrugged. “I don’t see why not.”
Izzy brushed her pelt against Lionpaw’s. “Great! Thank you.”
Everflame’s eyes twinkled in amusement. “Have fun.”
Lionpaw glared at him, but his mentor didn’t notice.
“I think I’m best at hunting mice, but I’m also good at rabbits. It makes sense that I’m so good at catching mice, because that was my job on the farm! I’m probably the worst at catching birds, which is unfortunate because I really like birds…”
Lionpaw let her voice fade away until she was basically just chattering to herself. He caught the scent of a squirrel and crouched down. Everflame was still teaching him how to climb trees, so he had to make sure that the squirrel stayed on the ground. And that means that Izzy can’t scare it into a tree.
“Boo!”
The squirrel startled at Izzy’s voice and dashed high into a tree. Lionpaw faced the annoying apprentice, hissing. “Why did you do that?!”
Izzy giggled. “I was trying to scare you.”
Lionpaw huffed. “Yeah, well the only thing you scared was that squirrel.”
Izzy looked at her paws. “Sorry.”
Lionpaw turned away. “Just go away. I’m going to hunt on my own.” He didn’t wait for a response. He couldn’t stand another second of being around her.

“So you’re the new apprentice?” Izzy mewed to Lilypaw.
Lilypaw nodded vigorously. “Yeah. What’s it like?”
“Well,” Izzy began, and Lionpaw braced for an endless ramble. “It’s a lot of work, but it’s fun. I can’t wait to be a warrior.”
Wow. Straight to the point. I’m impressed.
Lilypaw leaned forward. “Don’t you ever wish that you had a Clan name? So then you could get a warrior name?”
Izzy shook her head. “I like my name, and I’m proud of it. I wouldn’t want some name like, Bushtail, or something like that.”
Lilypaw sighed. “Well your name wouldn’t be that.”
Izzy made a face. “Why? That’s what all of your names sound like.”
Lionpaw rested his chin on his paws and closed his eyes as the she-cats’ conversation faded away. He opened his eyes into the same dream he always had.
“Lionpaw.”
“Swiftsnow?” Lionpaw called out at his father’s voice.
“Why didn’t you save me?”
Anguish filled Lionpaw’s heart. “I was only a kit! I’m sorry!”
Swiftsnow stepped out of the shadows. “You should have tried,” he growled.
Lionpaw whipped his head around desperately. “I’m sorry! I should have tried to save you, I know that now. It’s all my fault!”
“Lionpaw,” Rainmist’s delicate whisper floated from the darkness. “I promise I will see you soon.”
Lionpaw flattened his ears. “Stop taunting me!”
“I promise!”
“You let me die!”
“Be brave!”
“You should have tried to save me!”
“No!” Lionpaw screeched. “I was a kit! It wasn’t my fault! Leave me alone!”
Swiftsnow faded into nothingness, his angry words going with him.
Rainmist tried to get closer to him. “I promise. I won’t break my promise.”
Lionpaw stumbled backwards. “You did!” he cried. “You promised you would come for me but you never did! I never saw you again because you died.”
Rainmist sobbed, her eyes widening, and then she, too, faded away, leaving Lionpaw alone in the darkness.
Lionpaw woke up, gasping for air. Lilypaw lifted her head in the nest next to his. “Are you okay?”
Lionpaw caught his breath. “Yeah,” he murmured. “Just a bad dream.”
“I get those sometimes, too,” Lilypaw replied softly. “I find that it helps to think of all the happy things around me. I also like to talk to Dawnpaw about them.”
Lionpaw was silent. He didn’t really want to talk about his nightmares to a young apprentice. Then again, there weren’t too many happy things in his life. He didn’t know where he belonged in the Clan, and a lot of cats still saw him as RockClan. Lilypaw stared at him expectantly. “I dream about my parents,” he finally muttered.
“Well I don’t understand how that’s a bad dream,” Lilypaw pressed.
“My father is angry at me. He tells me that I let him die. And my mother… well she just keeps repeating her last words to me, which were that she promises that she will see me soon.” Lionpaw took a deep breath. “I know it’s not real, but it still hurts.”
Lilypaw rested her tail on Lionpaw’s back. “Why do you blame yourself for your father’s death?” she asked quietly.
Lionpaw jerked his head in her direction. “What?”
“Your dreams aren’t real, which means that some part of you blames yourself for your father’s death. Why?”
Lionpaw’s pelt grew hot. Was he really that easy to see through? Maybe Lilypaw was just really good at understanding other cats. “I guess I just feel like I should have protected him,” he confessed. “I know that it’s ridiculous. I was a kit. But I was his only son, and his firstborn. I should have been there for him. Instead, I didn’t even find out he was killed until a moon later.”
Lilypaw’s green eyes glinted in the shadows. “That’s ridiculous, Lionpaw. There’s nothing you could have done that would have prevented his death. If you had been there, you probably would have been killed, too.”
Lionpaw blinked rapidly. “I know that, but it doesn’t change how I feel.”
Lilypaw shifted closer to Lionpaw. “What about your mother?”
“Huh?”
“Why was your mother in the dream?”
“I… I guess I’m angry with her.”
“Why are you angry with her?”
Lionpaw sighed. When would the questions stop? “I think it’s because she promised me that she would be with us, me and my sisters, soon. She promised us over and over again, whenever she got a small chance to see us. It gave us so much hope, and then she died just when we thought we won.”
Lilypaw quickly licked his cheek. “I’m sorry,” she murmured. “But it’s not her fault that she died. You shouldn’t blame her for something that was out of her control.”
Lionpaw sighed. “I know. I just miss them so much.” He looked up at her. “What are your dreams about?”
Lilypaw ducked her head. “I don’t know. Stuff.”
Lionpaw poked her side. “Hey. I told you my dreams, so you have to tell me yours. It’s only fair.”
“Fine,” Lilypaw mewed. “They’re about my father. I’m always walking through a shadowy forest. It’s very dark, and I’m lost. I see a cat who looks like he could help, and he I know… I just know that he’s my father. But when I call out to him, I see that he doesn’t have a face. I think it’s because I resent the fact that my mother spends all of her time grieving over a cat I never knew, but yet I am his daughter. It bothers me so much because I should love my father, but I don’t even know what he looks like.”
Lionpaw nodded. “That’s tough. But you have Everflame, right? And he practically raised you as if he were your father. Maybe it’s okay if Ryewing doesn’t mean the same thing to you
that he did to Stormfrost.”
Lilypaw thought for a moment. “Maybe,” she said slowly. “You knew Ryewing, didn’t you?”
“Yes,” Lionpaw answered. “He was friends with Rainmist.”
Lilypaw looked him in the eye. “What was he like?”
“I don’t remember him too much, but he was kind. And he really cared about Stormfrost and you and Dawnpaw. He was willing to die just so you would be safe, and that’s exactly what he did.” Lionpaw tried to think of there was anything else. “I don’t know. He was a really good cat. He loved making the kits laugh, and he was so excited to find out that he was having kits of his own.”
Lilypaw’s eyes glittered with tears. “Thank you,” she breathed. She yawned. “It was nice talking with you, Lionpaw. Maybe we can do it again sometime.”
“Yeah, maybe,” Lionpaw echoed. As he tried to fall back asleep, he found that his mind kept wandering back to Lilypaw. I don’t know why, he kept telling himself. She’s just a silly, young apprentice.
Chapter 3

“Today I went out hunting,” Lilypaw boasted. “Well, I didn’t really go hunting. Icestone just made me practice with leaves and sticks. She said I was really good at it, though. She said I’m following in Stormfrost’s footsteps, and I might be one of the best hunters in PineClan!”
Dawnpaw purred. “That’s great, Lilypaw!”
“What did you do today?” Lilypaw asked eagerly.
“I helped Ambershine organize the marigold and the daisy leaves,” Dawnpaw stated proudly, and then ducked her head in embarrassment. Her tasks sounded so lame compared to her sister’s. It didn’t matter, though. Dawnpaw loved learning about each and every herb. She soaked up all of the information like it was sunlight.
Lilypaw nodded encouragingly. “That must be hard to memorize all those leaves.” She jumped up. “Do you want to play moss ball?”
Dawnpaw blinked. “We haven’t done that since we were kits!” she exclaimed.
“And?” Lilypaw started walking. “Come on. It will be fun!”
Dawnpaw shook her head to herself, and ran to catch up. “Wait for me!” She stumbled over a moss ball. “Here’s a good one, Lilypaw!”
Lilypaw jumped. “Toss it to me!” she shouted.
Dawnpaw hit the moss ball as hard as she could with her paw and it swiftly rolled to Lilypaw. Lilypaw dove in front of it and hit it with her tail.
Dawnpaw ran to catch the ball and rolled it back, but she must have hit it too hard because it flew right past Lilypaw. “Mouse-dung,” she muttered.
Lilypaw let out a mrrow of laughter. “Bird-brain!” she teased. “Why did you hit it so hard?”
Dawnpaw stood up and shook out her fur. “I don’t know!” she purred. “I like winning. I’ll go get it.”
Lilypaw started walking to where the ball had gone. “No. I’m closer. Wait here.”
Dawnpaw folded her tail over her paws patiently. She looked up eagerly when she saw Lilypaw emerge from the pines, but her heart sank when she noticed Lionpaw beside her.
“You’re playing moss ball?” he observed. “I haven’t played that since I was a kit with Sorrelkit and Brindlekit!” He looked at Lilypaw. “Can I play?”
No, Dawnpaw wanted to growl, but Lilypaw was already nodding enthusiastically.
“Of course!” she mewed. “Here. Catch it!”
Dawnpaw watched, slowly growing more and more disappointed as her sister and Lionpaw tossed the ball back and forth, completely ignoring her.
“Guys,” she meowed loudly. “Guys!” Neither of them even glanced at her, to her great frustration. “I’m going to help Ambershine with her herbs.”
Lilypaw didn’t even notice when Dawnpaw left.

“Alright, recite what you’ve learned,” Ambershine instructed.
Dawnpaw sighed. That was a lot to remember. Thinking back to her lessons, she spoke. “Catmint is for greencough, cobwebs stop bleeding, coltsfoot helps breathing, dandelion is for bee stings, honey soothes sore throats, juniper berries help with a bellyache, poppy seeds calm cats down and make them sleepy…” Her voice trailed off as she thought of what else she had learned. There was something else, she was sure of it!
“One more,” Ambershine urged.
“Marigold stops infection?” Dawnpaw guessed.
Ambershine nodded. “You got it! There’s a lot more, but that’s enough for today.” She glanced at the sky. “Tonight is the half moon,” she meowed. “We will travel to the Mooncave and I will make you an official medicine cat apprentice. Do you remember the travel herbs I taught you the other day?”
Dawnpaw scrunched up her face in concentration. “Daisy, sorrel, chamomile… and… uh, burnet?”
“And what do they do?”
“Burnet gives strength, chamomile eases the mind, daisy for easing joint pain, and sorrel keeps us from getting too hungry.”
Ambershine’s eyes were warm with pride. “You’re a fast learner. You will do well as a medicine cat,” she mewed. “Now, we should be going if we want to meet Duckfeather and Beewing on time.” A shadow crossed her face. “Willowheart used to meet us here, but now she’s gone, and LakeClan has no medicine cat.”
Dawnpaw dipped her head. “That’s terrible.”
Ambershine pushed Dawnpaw’s traveling herbs toward her. “Eat up.”
Dawnpaw lapped up the herbs. She knew that most cats found them gross and bitter, but she secretly liked the taste. “I’m going to say goodbye to Lilypaw if that’s alright with you?”
“Go ahead.” Ambershine waved her off with the flick of her tail.
Dawnpaw ran out of the medicine den. “Lilypaw?” she called. “Where are you?”
“She’s out training.”
Dawnpaw looked up to see Lionpaw. “Oh,” she muttered.
“Shouldn’t you be doing the same?” Lionpaw asked pointedly.
Dawnpaw met his gaze daringly. “I’m getting ready to go to the Mooncave.” She didn’t like Lionpaw. When she was a kit, he stole Everflame from her. Now, all Lilypaw wanted to do was hang out with him.
Lionpaw tilted his head. “Well then why are you looking for Lilypaw?”
Dawnpaw rolled her eyes. “Whatever. I’ll just see her when I get back.” If she couldn’t say goodbye to Lilypaw, she would see if Stormfrost was around.
She found her mother eating alone near the nursery. “Hi, Stormfrost,” she mewed in greeting.
Stormfrost looked up from her prey. “Oh, hi Dawnpaw.”
“I wanted to tell you that I am going to the Mooncave tonight,” Dawnpaw said excitedly.
Stormfrost purred. “That’s wonderful!” She paused. “I’m sorry that I wasn’t there for you like I should have been when you were kits.”
Dawnpaw shook her head. “No, I understand. Ryewing had just died and—”
Stormfrost cut her off. “That doesn’t justify how I acted.”
“No, it doesn’t,” Dawnpaw agreed. “But I understand.”
Stormfrost blinked in gratitude. “I’m proud of you. Now get going to the Mooncave before you’re late.”
Dawnpaw raced back to where Ambershine was waiting. “Can we go now?”
Ambershine nodded. “I was waiting on you!”
Once they reached the ShadeClan border, Dawnpaw could see two cats ahead who she assumed were Duckfeather and Beewing.
Duckfeather stepped forward to greet them. “Ambershine!” she mewed warmly. “You’ve taken on an apprentice!”
Ambershine’s ears twitched. “Yes, this is Dawnpaw. She’s Stormfrost’s kit. You remember Stormfrost, don’t you?”
“Of course,” Duckfeather purred. “Her sister is in ShadeClan. One of the best hunters we’ve ever had.”
Beewing touched noses with Dawnpaw. “I am Beewing. I only just earned my name last moon. Do you enjoy being a medicine cat so far?” she asked.
“Yes,” Dawnpaw replied. “But I still have much to learn.”
“You are wise for your age,” Beewing commented. “Come now, it’s almost time to meet with StarClan.”
Dawnpaw bounded ahead, grateful for the extra strength that the traveling herbs gave her. She skidded to a halt when they finally reached a large cave. Dawnpaw shivered. It’s so dark in there!
Ambershine began to walk inside the cave. “Bramblebush and Harepounce will be waiting for us inside,” she called back, her voice echoing as she disappeared into the darkness.
Dawnpaw followed her mentor. Is this what it feels like to be blind? she wondered. Suddenly the cave opened up into a large cavern filled with a colorful array of crystals. Moonlight shone through the cracks in the roof of the cave, illuminating everything. The presence of StarClan was so great that Dawnpaw’s whiskers shook.
“Wow,” she breathed.
Ambershine’s whiskers twitched in amusement. “It’s pretty wonderful, isn’t it?”
Dawnpaw nodded wordlessly.
Harepounce narrowed his eyes. “Who is this?”
“Dawnpaw is my new apprentice,” Ambershine explained.
Dawnpaw looked around at the small group. “Hi,” she murmured timidly. “It’s really cool how you can even feel StarClan here.”
Harepounce tilted his head. “Huh?”
“What does she mean by, feel StarClan?” Dawnpaw heard Beewing ask Duckfeather in a hushed voice. Even Ambershine looked puzzled.
Dawnpaw flattened her ears and felt a flush of heat. Was she the only one who could feel it?
Bramblebush sat down in the center of the cavern. “Shall we begin?” he asked quickly, changing the subject.
Beewing blinked. “Sure.”
Harepounce and Duckfeather took their seats, but Ambershine remained standing. “Before we meet with StarClan, I would like to perform my ceremony with my apprentice. Dawnpaw, is it your wish to enter the mysteries of StarClan as a medicine cat?”
“It is.”
“Warriors of StarClan, I present you with this apprentice. She has chosen the path of a medicine cat. Grant her your wisdom and insight so that they may understand your ways and heal their Clan in accordance with your will.” Ambershine touched her nose to Dawnpaw’s head and Dawnpaw licked her shoulder. “Now we both sit down and share dreams with StarClan,” Ambershine whispered.
Dawnpaw curled up on the floor of the Mooncave, her tail brushing against her nose. She willed sleep to come, and suddenly found herself in a prey-rich forest. Am I in StarClan?
“Hello, Dawnpaw!” A warm mew sounded behind her.
Dawnpaw turned around slowly to see a golden-brown tabby tom with silvery blue eyes, just like hers. “Who are you?”
Sorrow sparked in the tom’s gaze, but quickly disappeared. “I am Ryewing,” he murmured. “I am your father, Dawnpaw.”
Dawnpaw took in a shaky breath. “Ryewing…”
Ryewing purred. “My daughter,” he whispered. “Did you know that Stormfrost and I had imagined one of our kits would be a medicine cat?”
“You did?” Dawnpaw asked.
“Yes.” Ryewing nodded. “I wish that I could have been there for you.”
“I know,” Dawnpaw mewed. “Stormfrost missed you very much. But Everflame helped her be happy whenever she was particularly sad.”
Ryewing sighed. “That’s good. I only want you all to be happy. That’s all I want.” He paused before continuing. “Dawnpaw, you have a very strong connection with StarClan. You might have felt it before when you were a kit, but now that you are on your way to becoming a medicine cat, it will only grow stronger.”
Dawnpaw shivered. “That’s good, right?” She thought about the cave, and understood why everyone seemed so confused.
Ryewing blinked. “It can be, but you are young. The path you tread is not an easy one, and a lot will be placed to your shoulders. I hope you will learn to carry the weight.” He sighed. “I have a prophecy for you.”
Dawnpaw leaned forward. Her first prophecy! “What is it?”
“Echoes still remain. Do not stop listening for them,” Ryewing recited slowly.
Dawnpaw made a face. “Well what does that mean?” she exclaimed.
Ryewing touched noses with her. “I do not know. These prophecies come from a greater force, one that not even StarClan can begin to understand. It is up to you to figure this out.”
Dawnpaw flattened her ears. “Why me?” She was only an apprentice. How did StarClan expect her to decode a prophecy?
Ryewing shook his head sadly. “I do not understand it, but it is what must be.”
Dawnpaw noticed her paws getting lighter. “What’s happening?” she asked, and her voice sounded far away.
“You are waking up,” Ryewing replied calmly. “Please, tell Stormfrost and Lilypaw that I am here, and I am always watching over my family.”
Dawnpaw woke up with a start. Her head ached as her dream came rushing back to her. Ryewing, the prophecy, something about my path. She wondered what the prophecy could possibly mean, and decided she would ask Ambershine about it. She must know something.
Beside her, Ambershine stretched. “I saw Barkstripe, Foxfang, Juniperspots, and Berrypaw,” she meowed, speaking of her Clanmates that had died before Dawnpaw was born. “They told me that echoes still remain, and not to stop listening for them.”
Dawnpaw gasped. “Ryewing told me the same thing! What do you think it means?”
“I’m not sure,” she mewed thoughtfully.
Dawnpaw felt a stab of dismay. “You don’t know?”
Ambershine purred. “Patience, little one. A prophecy takes time to figure out. It could take up to a few moons before we even begin to understand it.”
Dawnpaw slouched. I don’t think I can wait that long.

“Dawnpaw!” Lilypaw cried.
“Hi, Lilypaw!” Dawnpaw called cheerfully, trotting over to her sister.
“How was the half moon?” Lilypaw asked, pressing up against Dawnpaw.
“It was wonderful,” Dawnpaw sighed. “I saw Ryewing.” She left out the prophecy because Ambershine had told her not to tell anyone but Needlestar.
Lilypaw gasped. “You saw… our father? What was he like? Did he talk about me?”
Dawnpaw nodded. “He did. He said to tell you that he is always watching over us, and he wishes that he could have known us. He’s very gentle, and wise.”
“Lionpaw told me a little more about him while you were gone,” Lilypaw said, a little distractedly.
“Lionpaw?” Dawnpaw felt a prickle of unease. Lionpaw was never in a good mood. And he was rude. Why would Lilypaw be interested in him? “Why were you talking to him? He’s always brooding and practicing battle skills.”
Lilypaw glared at her. “He’s very nice. Did you ever consider that the reason he’s never happy is because both of his parents are dead? And maybe he just wants to prove himself to Clanmates that think he’s loyal to RockClan, not PineClan.” She sniffed. “He’s not that different from us, if you think about it. We lost our father and he’s an orphan, and we’re both RockClan cats who joined PineClan.”
“We aren’t RockClan,” Dawnpaw hissed. “We’re PineClan. Stormfrost and Ryewing were RockClan, but we are PineClan.”
Lilypaw took a step back. “Geez,” she muttered defensively. “I didn’t want to fight.” She huffed. “You know, you don’t always have to be so judgemental.” Her tone was sharp.
Dawnpaw felt a sting at her sister’s words, and she hung her head. “I’m sorry.” She lifted her gaze from the ground. “Do you want to talk? Or play a game?”
Lilypaw started to walk away. “No. I’m tired. I think I’m just going to get some sleep.”
No you’re not, Dawnpaw thought bitterly. You’re going to talk to Lionpaw. Why can’t we be close like we were when we were kits?
Chapter 4

Lionpaw crept through the forest, trying his best not to bump into trees. The moon wasn’t giving off too much light, so it was hard to see where he was going. Hurry up, he told himself. You’re already late. Lilypaw had spent some time complaining to him about how grumpy Dawnpaw was being, and he had to wait for her to fall asleep before he left.
“Lionpaw!” Brindlepaw barreled into him, nearly knocking him over.
Lionpaw purred fiercely. “Brindlepaw! Sorrelpaw!”
Sorrelpaw quickly licked his shoulder. “Where have you been? We’ve been waiting forever!” she complained.
Lionpaw ducked his head. “Sorry,” he mumbled. “One of the other apprentices, Lilypaw, was talking to me for a while.”
Brindlepaw nudged him. “Ooh!” she teased playfully. “Lilypaw!”
Lionpaw felt his pelt grow hot. “Oh, shut up.”
Brindlepaw shrugged. “I shouldn’t only mock you,” she laughed, poking Sorrelpaw in the side. “This one has been following Mistpelt around like a lost kit!”
Sorrelpaw’s jaw dropped. “I do not!” she protested. She shoved Brindlepaw to the ground and held her down, but Brindlepaw twisted around so she was holding Sorrelpaw down.
Lionpaw felt a pang of envy at his sisters’ play fighting. He loved PineClan. He felt at home in the pines, and he hated the harsh, open mountains. After his parents died, it was almost as if StarClan had guided his paws there. But seeing his sisters knowing exactly who they were meant to be made him think of everything he didn’t have.
“Lionpaw,” Brindlepaw mewed, pulling him away from his thoughts. “I caught a hawk today!”
Lionpaw beamed at her. “That’s awesome, Brindlepaw! That must have been really hard.”
Brindlepaw licked one of her paws and drew it over her ear. “It wasn’t that hard,” she said casually.
“Ha!” Sorrelpaw exclaimed. “Not that hard? You said it almost got away from you, and it took three warriors to help you!”
“That sounds dangerous,” Lionpaw fretted.
Brindlepaw shrugged. “It’s how we hunt.” Mischief glittered in her eyes. “What, has being a forest cat made you soft?”
“I’m soft? You’re the one who’s scared of birds!” Lionpaw retorted.
“They’re big birds,” Brindlepaw muttered, and Sorrelpaw giggled.
Sorrelpaw brought both Lionpaw and Brindlepaw in closer so the three of them were side by side. “I miss this,” she murmured. “When we were kits, and we were together whenever we wanted, and Rainmist would always be there, and Swiftsnow would bring back something for us to play with every time he went on a patrol.”
Lionpaw sighed. “Me too.” The truth slipped out before he could stop it, and he quickly clamped his jaws shut.
Sorrelpaw gazed at him hopefully, her golden eyes wide. “You should come back, then!” Brindlepaw perked her ears, eagerly awaiting his response.
Lionpaw shook his head. “No,” he told them. “I am loyal to PineClan. I miss you, but I needed a fresh start after… after what happened. PineClan accepts me, and I have friends there. And family, in a way,” he added, thinking about his foster mother, Fallowleap. He was stretching the truth a little. Lilypaw was his only friend, if she even was that, and he had to work his paws off to get the slightest look of approval from his Clanmates, but his sisters didn’t have to know that.
Sorrelpaw looked at her paws, but Brindlepaw nodded in understanding.
“I get it,” she told him. “Now, enough of this sappy stuff. Let’s have fun together until you have to go back.”

Lionpaw yawned. After visiting his sisters the night before, he was tired. But Everflame wanted to train with him at dawn, so he had to get up earlier than usual.
Lionpaw was thinking about how tired he was, and how warm his nest was, and didn’t see where he was going when he bumped into Dawnpaw.
“Watch where you’re going,” she growled.
“Sorry,” he muttered. “You could have gone around me.”
“The Clan doesn’t revolve around you, you know!” she hissed angrily.
Lionpaw rolled his eyes. “I could say the same for you.”
Dawnpaw glared at him and stomped off.
What is her problem? he wondered. Dawnpaw was stuck up, in his opinion. She thought she was more important than everyone just because she was training to be a medicine cat. And she acted like the other cats did around him, when she was from RockClan, too. Whatever. Lionpaw just wanted to find Everflame so they could start training.
“Lionpaw, there you are,” Everflame meowed. “Are you ready?”
Lionpaw nodded. “Are we doing hunting or battle skills?”
Everflame thought for a moment. “Hmmm. Maybe battle skills. Hunting is pretty basic so I think I can just put you on patrols instead of teaching you.”
Lionpaw beamed. “Thanks!”
Everflame’s expression darkened. “Besides, we need all of our apprentices trained for battle with what’s been happening.”
Lionpaw tilted his head. “What’s been happening?”
Everflame sighed, and for a moment, Lionpaw thought Everflame was annoyed with him for asking. “ShadeClan has been scented on our side of the border.”
Anger rushed through Lionpaw. How dare ShadeClan cross the border! They thought they were so much better than the other Clans, but PineClan was stronger. “We should attack them!” he yowled.
Everflame shook his head. “I suggested that, to show ShadeClan that they aren’t stronger than us. But Needlestar wants to see what they have to say at the Gathering.”
“But that’s in a half moon!” Lionpaw argued. “They could do a lot of damage in that time.”
Everflame shrugged. “Needlestar is the leader.”
Lionpaw frowned. “Yeah, I guess so. He is a good leader and he knows what he’s doing. You’d make a really good leader, too, though.”
Everflame grinned. “I’m on my way.”
Lionpaw laughed. “Yeah, I guess so.”
Everflame was quiet for a little bit, and his eyes grew sad. “Foxfang would have made a great deputy,” he finally murmured. “She could have been a leader.”
Lionpaw was quiet. He remembered that Everflame was the only survivor out of his littermates after Snake’s rule. His sister, Foxfang, died in the final battle, and his other sister, Turtlepelt, had been missing for moons along with an apprentice named Featherpaw, and most of LakeClan. None of them had returned, and they were assumed dead.
“Well, we should get started,” Everflame said suddenly, and Lionpaw refocused on his training.
“I’ve already learned a lot of battle moves,” Lionpaw pointed out. “Can I practice defense tactics instead?”
Everflame raised one eyebrow. “I’m impressed. Most apprentices just think about fighting. They don’t ever think about if they would need to defend themselves.” He started padding in the direction of the training area. “You will make a good warrior, Lionpaw.”
Lionpaw felt pride swell in his chest as he bounded after his mentor. I’m going to make my parents up in StarClan proud one day.
“Okay,” Everflame mewed as they arrived at the training area. “If I were attacking you, what is the first thing you would do?”
“I would try to grab your shoulders?” Lionpaw guessed.
“Wrong. If you did that, I would throw you off balance and your belly would be exposed.”
Lionpaw winced at the thought of his belly being scratched up. “So what do I do?”
“Well,” Everflame began. “There are a few tactics you can use. The most common is to roll under your attacker and claw them from behind. Another one that doesn’t always work, and is unique to PineClan, is if the attacker is running towards you, simply dodge to the side. It will momentarily throw them off balance and you will have the advantage.”
Lionpaw nodded along with Everflame. “Are there any others?” he asked.
“One more that we use frequently is if you are pinned down, use your hind legs to scratch your attacker’s belly.”
“Cool!” Lionpaw exclaimed. “Can I practice them?”
“Of course,” Everflame replied. “Let’s practice the first one. I’ll be the attacker, obviously, and we are in the middle of a fight.” He winked. “Use this as an opportunity to show me your battle skills as well. Claws sheathed.”
Lionpaw latched onto Everflame’s shoulder, so when he stood on his hind paws, his belly wouldn’t be exposed. He drove Everflame backwards and attempted to push him onto his side, but Everflame twisted his head and bumped it into Lionpaw’s neck, causing him to let go. Lionpaw delivered a blow to his mentor’s face, and Everflame staggered backwards. When he prepared to claw at Lionpaw’s ear, Lionpaw used the first defense move and rolled out of the way just in time, standing up behind Everflame.
“Good job! That was fantastic!” Everflame mewed. “Some of the warriors I know don’t even fight that well.”
Lionpaw panted. “Thanks!”
“You better not have been talking about me, Everflame,” Icestone called as she entered the clearing with Lilypaw, Runningbreeze, and Izzy.
Everflame purred. “Of course not, Icestone. You know just as well as I do that you’re a brilliant fighter.”
Izzy padded over to Lionpaw, her eyes huge with awe. “Lionpaw! You looked so handsome when you were fighting Everflame! And so brave!”
Lionpaw took a step back. “Er, thanks?”
Izzy took another step closer to him. “If we had kits, just think of what great warriors they would be!”
Well this got super weird really fast. Lionpaw took another step away from Izzy, only to find himself pressed against a tree. “Well…” Come on, Runningbreeze! Don’t you see that your apprentice is crazy?
Izzy blinked. “You should rest. I bet all that fighting hurts your scar, doesn’t it?”
Lionpaw bit back a growl. He hated it when cats saw his scar as a weakness. He earned that scar from saving Flowerpaw of LakeClan. It only made him stronger, even though it was all cats saw sometimes. Oh, look at that poor apprentice with the scar! Did you hear that his parents died? “Everflame didn’t even touch my scar,” he snapped. “Why would it hurt?”
Izzy gasped. “I just thought that it would!”
“Oh, shut up, Izzy.” Lilypaw’s voice sounded from behind Izzy, and Lionpaw twisted his head to see her with her green eyes blazing.
Izzy stiffened. “Look, I’m just trying to be nice and look after him,” she mewed defensively. “And he doesn’t need a scrawny little apprentice like you to fight his battles for him.”
Lilypaw rolled her eyes. “I’m not fighting his battles for him. I’m standing up for him. And he doesn’t need a kittypet to look after him.”
Izzy narrowed her eyes. “I’m not a kittypet!” she hissed through gritted teeth.
“Then why don’t you have a Clan name?”
Runningbreeze and Icestone hurried over to them. “What in the name of StarClan is going on?” Icestone exclaimed.
All three apprentices were silent.
Runningbreeze let out an exasperated sigh. “Alright, none of you will talk? When you get back to camp, I want all of you to clean ticks off of the elders. Clanmates do not fight each other.”
That’s so unfair! Lionpaw fumed.
“But Lionpaw didn’t even do anything!” Lilypaw protested. “Why is he getting in trouble?”
Icestone nudged Runningbreeze. “Don’t you think that’s a little harsh? It was just a little argument with some apprentices.”
Runningbreeze shot a sharp look at Icestone. “Don’t forget that I’m a senior warrior. You’re hardly out of the apprentice den. Don’t question me again.” She exhaled. “Fine. Lionpaw won’t be punished, but you two still are.”
Izzy sulked off, but Lilypaw stayed put. Lionpaw leaned closer to her. “You didn’t have to do that, you know,” he whispered.
Lilypaw blinked at him. “I know, but it’s what friends do.”
Lionpaw nodded once. “Cool. And thanks for sticking up for me with Izzy. I hate it when cats only see my scar.”
Lilypaw purred. “Anytime.”
Lionpaw watched her nimbly leap away, returning to Icestone’s side. She sure is special. He shook his head. What are you thinking?! She’s Dawnpaw’s sister! He could never like Lilypaw. He definitely didn’t like her. She was just a friend.

Lionpaw emerged into the camp carrying a vole that he had caught. My paws feel like they’re about to fall off after training! he thought.
“Wow, Lionpaw, did you catch that?” Shadowpool called. “Nice catch!”
“Thanks,” Lionpaw replied.
“Go bring it to the elders,” Everflame whispered. “Then you can eat.”
“Okay. Thanks for teaching me those moves today,” Lionpaw mewed. He ran over to the elders den and entered it.
Spruceleaf lifted her head. “Oh, hello Lionpaw,” she greeted him warmly. “Izzy was just getting my pesky ticks off of me.”
“There’s one on my tail, Lilypaw! I told you, my tail! Not my paw,” Saptail was whining. “Young cats these days can’t seem to follow directions.”
Lionpaw expected to see annoyance flash across Lilypaw’s eyes, but instead she just blinked. “You told me that there was one on your tail, and one on your paw,” she murmured gently. “Don’t you worry, I will get to your tail in just a second.”
Saptail rolled his eyes. “Couldn’t go any slower, can you?” he accused gruffly.
Lionpaw set the vole down in between the elders. “Here,” he offered. I caught this for you.”
Spruceleaf gazed at him with watery eyes. “Thank you,” she warbled. “But I thought I already had a shrew today.”
“Your mind is acting up again!” Saptail snapped. “That was yesterday, and you had a pigeon, not a shrew. They could not be more different.”
Spruceleaf let her head fall to one side. “Oh,” she murmured thoughtfully. “Oh, yes, I remember now. I had a pigeon, not a shrew. And it was yesterday.”
“That’s what I just said,” Saptail muttered.
“No, that’s what I just said,” Spruceleaf argued. She looked at Lionpaw with the slight shake of her head. “He gets confused sometimes.”
Lionpaw stifled a purr. Spruceleaf was known for her terrible memory, and Saptail for his temper. He shuffled on his paws. “Well, I hope you enjoy your meal,” he told them.
“We will. You said you caught a rabbit?” Spruceleaf asked.
“No!” Saptail croaked. “It’s a vole! Does that look like a rabbit to you?”
“Lionpaw! Share this mouse with me,” Fallowleap called as he walked out of the elders den.
Lionpaw felt a rush of appreciation towards the she-cat who raised him as her own after Rainmist died. “Okay,” he replied, sitting down next to his foster mother.
Fallowleap gazed at him with kind eyes. “How have you been? I’ve been so focused on Deerkit and Branchkit that I haven’t had much time to talk to you.”
Lionpaw nodded. “I get it. Everflame said I did really good with my battle skills,” he stated proudly.
Fallowleap purred. “Of course you did! I think you will be a wonderful warrior. I know you will. Your mother and father would be so proud of you.”
Lionpaw took a bite of the mouse. “Do you think everyone else will think I’m a loyal warrior?”
Fallowleap’s eyes rounded in concern. “Why wouldn’t they?”
“I don’t know.” Lionpaw looked away. Fallowleap cared about him so much. He didn’t want to worry her. “I just hope that cats don’t think that I’m still loyal to RockClan.”
Fallowleap shook her head. “Why? Has someone said something?” She looked ready to fight anyone who had.
“No, no,” Lionpaw lied. “I just get a sense sometimes. I don’t know. It’s probably nothing.”
Fallowleap rested her tail on top of his. “Lionpaw, I know that you are PineClan, through and through. It doesn’t matter if you were born in RockClan, your heart beats for PineClan. You belong here, even if some cats have their doubts. One day, you will prove them all wrong and do great things. I truly do believe that, Lionpaw.”
“Thank you,” Lionpaw murmured. You’re right, Fallowleap. I will. I will do everything I can for my Clan. For PineClan.
Chapter 5

Dawnpaw sorted out the catmint into a pile. Leaf-bare was almost here, and that meant greencough would spread in the coming moons.
“How are you doing with that?” Ambershine asked, coming over to inspect her work.
“I’m done!” Dawnpaw announced.
Ambershine sniffed the pile of herbs and pawed at them. “Great job!” she finally meowed. “I’m impressed that you were able to do that already.”
Pride filled Dawnpaw’s chest. Ambershine said she did everything right!
Lilypaw stuck her head into the den. “Sorry to interrupt, but Needlestar said it’s time to get going.”
Dawnpaw wanted to bounce up and down in excitement. Her first Gathering! She was so happy that Needlestar had chosen both her and Lilypaw to go. The only bad thing was that Lionpaw was going too. Ever since Everflame had complimented him on his battle skills, he thought he was so special. Unfortunately, so did Lilypaw. Dawnpaw’s sister had been so obsessed with Lionpaw lately that it was getting annoying. Dawnpaw just hoped that Lilypaw would focus more on her than Lionpaw.
Ambershine swished her tail. “You go along, Dawnpaw. I just need to finish a few things.”
“Are you sure?” Dawnpaw asked.
Ambershine nodded. “Go, go.”
Dawnpaw and Lilypaw ran out of the medicine den. “Are you excited?” Lilypaw breathed.
Dawnpaw let out a mrrrow of laughter. “What do you think?”
Lilypaw giggled. “Good point.” She sighed. “Lionpaw has been to lots of Gatherings.”
Dawnpaw huffed. Here we go. “I’m sure he has,” she muttered. She and Lilypaw had been on thin ice since their fight–the first one they ever had–but things were better now. Except… when her sister was obsessing over Lionpaw
Lilypaw blinked at her. “What?”
“Nothing.” Dawnpaw already knew that the night would be all about Lionpaw. She might as well just accept it.
“He said that sometimes the leaders fight, but it’s really fun because all of the apprentices from other Clans hang out with each other. How cool is that?”
Dawnpaw began walking in-step with Lilypaw. “It does sound really fun,” she admitted. “But can you not just talk to Lionpaw the whole time? I mean, I’m here, too.”
Lilypaw’s eyes rounded. “I’m sorry if I haven’t been spending as much time with you,” she meowed. “I just really like Lionpaw, and I think maybe he likes me, too.”
“I’m sure if it’s meant to be, it will happen,” Dawnpaw sighed, already sick of the conversation.
Lilypaw snorted. “Do you always have to talk like a medicine cat?”
Dawnpaw swatted her with her tail. “What’s that supposed to mean?”
Lilypaw purred. “I’m sure if it’s meant to be, it will happen,” she mewed dramatically. “Like, what does that even mean?”
“Exactly what it sounds like,” Dawnpaw retorted.
“Hey!” Lilypaw’s eyes lit up. “There’s Stormfrost!”
“She’s coming too?” Dawnpaw asked hopefully.
Lilypaw shrugged and raced over to their mother. Dawnpaw trailed after her. She hoped that Stormfrost was going to the Gathering. Maybe she would be able to introduce her to some of the other warriors there. Hopefully she’s in a good mood today, Dawnpaw thought.
“Are you going to the Gathering tonight?” Dawnpaw heard Lilypaw ask.
Dawnpaw braced. She knew that even if Stormfrost was picked, she probably would stay back because of some excuse about being too tired, or not feeling well. But to her surprise, Stormfrost answered, “Yes. I can’t wait to finally introduce you to my sister, Fernleaf. I don’t know if you remember her from when you were kits, but she is very kind. Oh, how long it’s been since I’ve seen her. And my mother, Silverdusk. I miss her so much. ”
Dawnpaw felt warm with happiness at the thought of meeting new kin. It must be so hard to have a sister in another Clan. I don’t know what I would do if Lilypaw wasn’t here. “I can’t wait to meet them,” she murmured, pressing up against Stormfrost’s flank.
Stormfrost wrapped her tail around Dawnpaw. “You’ll love them both.”
Needlestar yowled for silence. “The Gathering is at RockClan,” he reminded everyone. “And to recap, the cats going are myself, Everflame, Ambershine, Stormfrost, Icestone, Redfall, Smokefoot, Lionpaw, Dawnpaw, and Lilypaw.”
Icestone approached Lilypaw. “You have to be respectful at a Gathering,” she meowed sternly. “No fighting with other apprentices, no insulting the other Clans, and no talking while the leaders are talking.”
Lilypaw let out an exasperated sigh. “I know, Icestone.”
Icestone nodded swiftly. “I was just making sure.” She padded off to join her brother, Redfall.
Needlestar lashed his tail. “Let’s go!”
Dawnpaw was giddy with excitement as she walked beside Lilypaw and Stormfrost to the RockClan camp. She wondered what the mountains would be like, and what the camp looked like. And I will be able to see all of the medicine cats again!
When they finally crossed over the RockClan border, Dawnpaw gasped at the sight of the sheer cliffs and swooping birds. The camp was beautiful, a valley with a clear stream running through it.
“Stormfrost!” A cry made Dawnpaw’s head jerk up to see a dark tabby she-cat dashing towards them. “Stormfrost, you’re here!”
Stormfrost’s eyes rounded.”Fernleaf!”
Fernleaf’s scent hit Dawnpaw and she was momentarily brought back to when she was a very small kit, and Fernleaf had watched over her and Lilypaw.
Fernleaf turned to look at Dawnpaw and Lilypaw. “These are Dawnkit and Lilykit, I presume?” She quickly corrected herself. “Oh, it must be Dawnpaw and Lilypaw, now. You’ve gotten so big since I last saw you!”
Lilypaw nodded proudly. “Icestone is my mentor, and Dawnpaw is training to be a medicine cat!”
Fernleaf blinked. “Wow! That’s amazing, both of you!”
“Do you know where Silverdusk is?” Stormfrost suddenly asked.
Fernleaf beamed and nodded, but Dawnpaw could sense she was hiding something. Whatever it is, it’s a good thing. A very good thing. She padded after them to find out what it was.
Fernleaf led Stormfrost to a silver tabby she-cat with three wide-eyed kits trailing behind her. “Stormfrost, this is Hollykit, Graykit, and Ashkit.”
Dawnpaw understood at the same moment that Stormfrost did. “You had kits?” Stormfrost exclaimed. “Who is the father.”
Silverdusk gazed lovingly at a gray tabby tom on the other side of the camp. “Whistleshade.” She bent her head down to the she-kit. “Hollykit, say hi to your sisters.”
Dawnpaw couldn’t keep herself from bounding forward. “These kits are my kin?’ she cried out.
Stormfrost turned to her in surprise. “Dawnpaw! You followed us?” She softened. “Yes, they are your kin. Come meet Silverdusk and her kits.”
Dawnpaw curiously approached the three kits. “Hi,” she greeted them.
Hollykit tilted her head and sniffed Dawnpaw. “You’re from PineClan, aren’t you?”
“How did you know that?” Silverdusk asked suspiciously.
Hollykit’s eyes widened. “Graykit told me they smell like pine needles and sap.”
“And how did Graykit know that?” Silverdusk pressed, turning her head to her son.
Graykit batted Hollykit with his paw. “You weren’t supposed to tell her that!” he whispered loudly.
Dawnpaw stifled a purr as she turned and padded away. Lilypaw must be wondering where I am, she thought. To her dismay, she noticed Lilypaw talking with Lionpaw. The two of them were laughing and joking around with each other, and Lilypaw didn’t seem to notice that Dawnpaw had even left. Do I even matter to her anymore? Now I’m going to be all alone at my first Gathering. And it’s all Lionpaw’s fault! Dawnpaw was so focused on her sister that she didn’t see the brown tabby she-cat until she bumped into her.
“Oh!” the brown tabby exclaimed. “I’m sorry!”
Dawnpaw shook her head. “No, I’m sorry. I wasn’t watching where I put my paws.”
The she-cat purred. “It’s fine. I’m Brindlepaw.” She noticed Dawnpaw’s lingering gaze on Lilypaw and Lionpaw. “My brother likes you, you know. You don’t have to worry about her.”
Dawnpaw whipped her head around. “What?!” she yowled, her fur bristling.
Brindlepaw stared at her quizzically. “I mean, he hasn’t actually said that he likes you, but I can tell.” Noticing Dawnpaw’s shocked expression, she mewed, “You are Lilypaw, right?”
Relief swept through Dawnpaw and she let her fur lay flat. “No,” she laughed. “I’m her sister, Dawnpaw. I’m training to be a medicine cat!”
Brindlepaw looked mortified. “Oh! I’m so sorry! I just thought— I thought you were Lilypaw, and she was Izzy. You know, with the gray fur and green eyes. My brother hates Izzy.”
“No, she’s Lilypaw. Izzy isn’t here,” Dawnpaw informed her.
Brindlepaw duck her head. “Well, I’m sorry again for the misunderstanding.”
“Don’t worry about it,” Dawnpaw assured her.
Two more apprentices, a tortoiseshell she-cat and a gray tom joined Brindlepaw. “Do you know where Sorrelpaw is?” The she-cat asked.
Brindlepaw rolled her eyes. “Probably talking to Mistpelt, pretending she’s already a warrior.” She glanced back at Dawnpaw. “Dawnpaw, this is Applepaw and Molepaw. Applepaw and Molepaw, this is Dawnpaw.”
“Hello,” Applepaw meowed cheerfully.
“Is this your first Gathering? I haven’t seen you before,” Molepaw remarked.
Dawnpaw nodded timidly. “Yeah. It’s nice to meet you.” She shot a glare at Lilypaw and Lionpaw. “Though it would be nice if those two would join us.”
Brindlepaw snorted. “Tell me about it. Both of my siblings abandoned me for a crush.”
“Is this, like, where the apprentices are hanging out?” A tiny tortoiseshell and white she-cat asked. A gray tabby tom and a black and white tom stood behind her.
Molepaw shrugged. “I guess so.”
“I’m Morningpaw,” she said brightly. “These are my brothers, Daypaw and—”
The black and white tom shouldered past her. “I can introduce myself,” he interrupted. “I’m Lightpaw. We’re from ShadeClan, the best Clan.”
Brindlepaw narrowed her eyes. “You hunt in trees, just like PineClan. The only difference is PineClan has pine trees and you have oaks. LakeClan is just weird because they can swim. So that means that RockClan is actually the best Clan.”
Lightpaw growled. “ShadeClan is by far the biggest Clan. We outnumber any Clan in battle, so we always emerge victorious,” he countered.
“Well—”
“Hush,” Morningpaw whispered. “Dapplestar has started speaking.”
Dawnpaw was about to turn her attention to the RockClan leader when soft fur brushed up against her. “Lilypaw!” she purred.
Lilypaw affectionately licked her ear. “Did you really think I would leave you the whole Gathering? Mouse-brain.”
Happy that things were back to normal, Dawnpaw listened to Dapplestar speak.
“One of our queens, Silverdusk, gave birth to three kits last moon named Hollykit, Graykit, and Ashkit. We have not scented any rogues since the battle with Snake, so I think it is officially safe to say that they have left. Hunting has been kind to us, and our warriors have been able to catch many birds. I hope that you all can say the same for your Clans.” With the dip of her head, Dapplestar stepped back and Reedstar took her place.
“LakeClan’s missing warriors still have not returned,” he meowed, his voice heavy. “That includes our deputy, Ripplestep, along with Meadowbird, Riverpelt, Heronflame, Gooseflight, Bubblesplash, Minnowsplash, Marshstripe, Puddleleap, and Drizzlecloud. I waited a long time for them to return, but it is time to accept that they are dead. I named Lightningstripe as the new deputy. Willowheart, Mallowfern, Loudbelly, and Gullfeather died. We still do not have a medicine cat, and we announce with a heavy heart that Swanfeather has joined StarClan. A patrol ran into a fox, and the wounds she received led to infection. We didn’t know how to treat it.” Reedstar’s voice broke off and guilt shone in his eyes. “She died yesterday. We did kill the fox, though. On a happier note, we have four new warriors; Flowerpetal, Shimmerfern, Rushfoot, and Rookfeather.”
“Flowerpetal! Shimmerfern! Rushfoot! Rookfeather!” Dawnpaw cheered along with everyone, but the cheers sounded dull. Reedstar’s depressing announcement had taken a toll on the cats.
“How did they lose so many cats?” Dawnpaw whispered to Lilypaw in dismay.
“Icestone said that most of LakeClan escaped to RockClan, but when RockClan was attacked, they ran into a trap. No one knows what happened to them,” Lilypaw explained. “Her sister’s mentor brought her to RockClan and went missing with them.”
“Turtlepelt, right?” Dawnpaw asked. Lilypaw was lucky that she got to hear Icestone’s cool stories. Stormfrost refused to talk about anything involving Snake.
Lilypaw nodded. “Yeah.”
“Stop talking,” Morningpaw hissed. “Needlestar is speaking now.”
“PineClan has been thriving,” Needlestar began. “We have two new apprentices, Lilypaw, and Dawnpaw, who has chosen the path of a medicine cat. Turtlepelt and Featherpaw still have not returned.” He shot a dark look at Nightstar. “We have scented ShadeClan on our side of the border. We understand that the weather is getting colder, and that prey is scarce for everyone, but we just ask that you stay on your side of the border.”
Nightstar rounded on Needlestar. “PineClan has always been a small Clan,” she snarled. “You have more territory than you could possibly need. ShadeClan is growing more and more. Palelight just had four kits a few moons ago! It’s simple. We need the space, you don’t.”
Needlestar hissed. “No, you don’t need more space,” he argued. “You have the entire woods! Here’s what is simple: your territory ends at the thunderpath.”
“Look!” Thundercrash of ShadeClan cried. “Clouds over the moon! StarClan is angry.”
Nightstar flicked her tail. “The Gathering might be over,” she warned. “But this isn’t.”

Chapter 6

“Lionpaw! I want you to go on the border patrol that Vixenclaw is leading,” Everflame yowled.
Yes! Lionpaw internally c

Repost
Chapters 10-14

Chapter 10

Lionpaw gaped at the ShadeClan leader. At war? He flattened his ears. This was terrible. The Clans had never gone to war. Surely there was another solution?
Lilypaw hurried over to him, her eyes filled with distress. “I don’t want the Clans to go to war!” she wailed.
“Neither do I,” he told her. “I wish that Nightstar would stop and think about what she’s doing.” It angered Lionpaw at how reckless Nightstar was being.
Lilypaw nodded meekly. “Me too.”
Before any cat could say more, Needlestar lashed his tail. “This Gathering is over, and there will be no more until this war is done.”
Lionpaw inhaled sharply. No more Gatherings?
Stormfrost bowed her head. “When we were being held prisoners of Snake, Willowheart gave us a message from StarClan right before she died. She said that the skies will clear, but it is only the eye of the storm.” She paused and looked up. “I think we’re out of the eye now. Our time of peace is over.”
Lionpaw shivered. Why hadn’t StarClan told them how to regain peace, instead of telling them that there will be trouble? He sighed. I guess that’s just what StarClan does.
Lilypaw nudged his shoulder with her head. “Come on,” she murmured. “Let’s go home.”

“Lionpaw!” Everflame yowled. “I want you to go on Runningbreeze’s hunting patrol. I also want Redfall and Nettlecreek on that patrol.”
Lionpaw felt Redfall sag next to him. “Mouse-dung,” he cursed. “I went on a hunting patrol yesterday.”
Lionpaw shrugged. “Well I guess you’re going on another one.”
Redfall sighed. “Yeah. I just wish Runningbreeze wasn’t leading it.”
Lionpaw nodded in agreement. “She’s uptight.”
“I wish Nettlecreek was leading it. He always tries to make the patrols fun,” Redfall whispered back.
“I’ve never been on one of Nettlecreek’s patrols,” Lionpaw replied.
“Oh,” Redfall meowed. “You’ve been missing out. At least he’s on it though. Maybe he can calm Runningbreeze down.”
Lionpaw laughed. “Yeah, hopefully.” He liked Redfall. They were friendly with each other when they were apprentices together, and he was glad to go on a patrol with the russet tom.
“Hey mouse-brains! Are you going to keep gossiping like elders or do what you were told?”
Lionpaw and Redfall shared an exasperated glance.
“That’s Runningbreeze for you,” Redfall muttered.
Lionpaw remembered something from when he was a kit. “There was a cat like her back in RockClan. Her name was, or, is Echodust. She was way nicer, though.”
Redfall stared at Runningbreeze thoughtfully. “I wonder if every Clan has a cat like her.”
“Redfall! Lionpaw!” Runningbreeze snapped. “Get over here, now!”
Lionpaw and Redfall dashed over to where Runningbreeze and Nettlecreek were waiting. I hope she didn’t hear us. Then we’d be in real trouble, Lionpaw thought. He thought it was stupid that even though he and Redfall were warriors, senior warriors like Runningbreeze could still treat them like apprentices.
Runningbreeze rolled her eyes. “You finally arrived. Let’s get going.”
Redfall leaned closer to Lionpaw as they walked. “Who do you think the Runningbreeze of ShadeClan is?” he asked in a hushed voice.
Lionpaw’s whiskers twitched in amusement. “I don’t know. I’ve seen Cloudpool lead a lot of patrols like Runningbreeze, but Thundercrash is always looking for clouds covering the moon at Gatherings.”
Redfall’s eyes widened. “Do you think they have… two?” he gasped dramatically.
Lionpaw shuddered. “I can’t imagine the horror!”
Nettlecreek flicked the tip of his tail. “Hey, Redfall and Lionpaw! Less talking and more fighting. Don’t want that one to get angry,” he warned, tipping his head in Runningbreeze’s direction.
“I heard that!” Runningbreeze hissed. “And don’t talk so loud. You’ll scare off all of the prey.”
Lionpaw tasted the air. “I smell squirrel,” he announced.
“Well don’t just stand there,” Runningbreeze scolded. “Go catch it!”
Lionpaw pushed aside his annoyance towards the senior warrior. She’s almost as bad as Izzy! He carefully stepped in the direction of the scent, searching for it. A flash of gray moved in the corner of his eye, and Lionpaw whipped his head to see the squirrel about to climb up a tree. I can’t climb a pine tree, so I need to catch it fast. He quickly dropped down and pounced, killing the squirrel instantly.
“Nice catch!” Nettlecreek praised. “Redfall is chasing a rabbit.”
The words hardly left his mouth when Lionpaw heard a cat cry out.
“Oh no!”
Redfall. Runningbreeze and Nettlecreek both perked their ears. What did he get himself into?
The three cats followed Redfall’s scent to the lakeshore, where Mossear and Redfall were in a stand-off.
“Great StarClan, he crossed the border,” Lionpaw muttered under his breath.
“What’s going on here?” Runningbreeze cried.
Redfall stared at his paws sheepishly. “I was chasing the rabbit and accidentally crossed the border.”
“And that makes it a LakeClan rabbit,” Mossear added.
Redfall bristled. “No!” he argued. “I caught it. It’s a PineClan rabbit!”
Mossear bared her teeth. “LakeClan needs it more than you!”
“How?” Redfall exclaimed. “You are hardly even a Clan! You have, like, no cats.”
Mossear recoiled. “Sandmouse caught greencough, and she’s expecting kits. And Rookfeather—”
“That’s enough, Mossear!” A stern voice came from a few tail-lengths away, and Lionscar saw Cedarwood emerging from the bushes, along with Shellwhisker.
Mossear glared at her Clanmate. “We need this rabbit,” she growled.
Lionpaw took a step forward. “You have a lake full of fish! How could you possibly need more for cats that you don’t have?”
Shellwhisker blinked. “You have no right to go off insulting other Clans. Your Clan murdered Ravenpelt.” she mewed calmly. “Maybe you should have stayed in RockClan, little apprentice.”
Lionpaw bit back a snarl. Nettlecreek shot him a glance and moved in front of him. “May I ask why this is your problem?” he retorted.
Cedarwood grinned. “We are allies with ShadeClan in their war, now.”
Mossear’s eyes gleamed. “Which means that we are also at war.”
“I would give us the rabbit if I were you,” Shellwhisker meowed menacingly.
Fury swept through Lionpaw. How dare they! “Is that a threat?” he snarled, but he was cut off by Runningbreeze’s twitching tail.
“Give them the rabbit, Redfall,” she ordered softly.
Redfall opened his mouth to protest, but quickly thought the better of it and kicked the rabbit in Mossear’s direction.
“Are you scared?” Mossear sneered at Runningbreeze.
“I just want to keep peace,” she replied evenly.
Cedarwood snorted. “Good luck with that,” he mocked ominously.
“Let’s get out of here,” Runningbreeze murmured.
Lionpaw stared after the LakeClan patrol in amazement. What fox-hearts! He had to report this to Everflame.
Redfall gave his chest a few embarrassed licks. “That was my fault, wasn’t it?”
“Yes, actually, it was!” Runningbreeze exclaimed. “If you had watched where you were going, none of this would have happened! Now we might have a battle!”
Lionpaw’s blood chilled. “A battle?” he choked out, thinking of the last time.
“Why don’t we all just calm down,” Nettlecreek said nervously.
Runningbreeze muttered something inaudible and stormed off.
Lionpaw and Redfall both turned to Nettlecreek for direction. Nettlecreek shifted uncomfortably on his paws. “Er, I guess we should keep hunting? And then we will report this to Everflame and Needlestar.”

“You’re back,” Everflame greeted them. He noticed the look on all of their faces. “Is something wrong?”
“LakeClan joined Nightstar’s war on PineClan,” Nettlecreek reported grimly. “They seemed to indicate that there would be an attack soon.”
Everflame’s gaze darkened. “I’ll go tell Needlestar. We will stay on high alert.” He looked around. “Where is Runningbreeze?
Dread clawed at Lionpaw’s belly. “She got angry,” he told him quietly. “She went off on her own.”
Redfall tipped his head. “She hasn’t come back yet?”
A shadow crossed Everflame’s face. “No. She hasn’t.”
“Lionpaw? Everflame? What’s going on?” Lilypaw padded over. “Is something wrong?”
Everflame placed his tail on Lilypaw’s spine. “We don’t know yet. Why don’t you get something to eat? Or see how Dawnpaw is doing?” he suggested.
Lilypaw’s eyes flashed. “But—”
“Now,” Everflame meowed much more sternly. “You too, Lionpaw.”
“But don’t you think we should get RockClan to join the war on our side?” Lionpaw asked.
Everflame shook his head. “Not yet. Needlestar wants to get through this as peacefully as possible. Now go with Lilypaw. This is a discussion for warriors, not apprentices.”
“But I want to help!” he protested. Lionpaw didn’t think that Needlestar’s plan was a good idea. ShadeClan already teamed up with LakeClan. If they convinced RockClan to fight on their side, PineClan would lose many cats. Pretending that the problem didn’t exist wasn’t going to help anything.
Lionpaw heard a hiss and a yowl, and whipped around to see Heatherthorn, the ShadeClan deputy, strutting into the camp.
“Intruder!” Deerpaw cried out.
Lionpaw’s fur fluffed out. What was she doing here?
Heatherthorn pushed past Deerpaw. “I would like to speak to Needlestar,” she mewed icily.
“I’m right here, Heatherthorn,” Needlestar sighed, emerging from his den. “What do you need?”
Heatherthorn stared at him evenly. “We would like you to know that we found one of your warriors, Runningbreeze, near the border. We have taken her to our camp as a prisoner, and are prepared to kill her, just like you killed Ravenpelt.”
No! Runningbreeze was annoying, but she was part of PineClan. They couldn’t kill her! “That’s against the warrior code!” Lionpaw blurted out.
Heatherthorn fixed her cold glare on Lionpaw. “So was your Clan killing Ravenpelt.”
Vixenclaw let out an exasperated sigh. “For the last time, we didn’t kill him. He died after the battle from infected wounds. We’re sorry for your loss, but we didn’t kill anyone.”
“Please,” Needlestar begged. “Tell me how I can fix this!”
Heatherthorn blinked. “Unless you find a way to bring back the dead, you can’t.”
Everflame exchanged a glance with Needlestar. “Lionpaw,” he began. “I think it’s time you pay RockClan a visit. Tell them there will be a battle tomorrow, and we want them on our side.”

“Lionpaw? What are you doing here?” Sorrelpaw asked in alarm.
“You can’t just show up whenever you want,” Brindlepaw muttered.
“I know,” Lionpaw told them. “But PineClan really needs help. Everflame and Needlestar sent me here.”
“What’s wrong?” Sorrelpaw murmured.
Lionpaw nodded towards the camp. “Take me to Dapplestar or Frozenclaw. I need to speak with them.”
Brindlepaw hesitated before agreeing. “Okay. Follow Sorrelpaw.”
“What’s Lionpaw doing back here?” Whiteclaw called, sniffing him suspiciously. “Did he decide he missed RockClan?”
Lionpaw’s tail twitched irritably at the tom’s mocking tone, but he said nothing. It won’t get me anywhere to pick a fight with him.
Hollykit, Ashkit, and Graykit scurried out of the nursery. “What’s a PineClan cat doing here?” Graykit squeaked.
“Is he an intruder?” Hollykit yowled, unsheathing her tiny claws.
Ashkit lifted his head boldly. “I’ll fight him off.”
“No, you won’t,” Silverdusk scolded as she hurried after her kits. She looked at Lionpaw. “I’m sorry about them.”
Lionpaw ducked his head. “It’s fine.”
Sorrelpaw tugged Lionpaw along. “Dapplestar and Frozenclaw are in Dapplestar’s den.” She approached the leader’s den. “Dapplestar? May I come in?”
“Of course, Sorrelpaw,” was the friendly reply. From what Lionpaw remembered about her, she was a fair leader.
Dapplestar startled when she saw Lionpaw. “What are you doing back here?” she asked. “You made your decision to leave a long time ago.”
Lionpaw inwardly groaned. Why did everyone think he was leaving PineClan? “No, that’s not why I’m here,” he mewed calmly. “Needlestar sent me to ask you for your Clan’s help.”
Dapplestar’s eyes widened. “What’s wrong?”
Lionpaw bowed his head. “LakeClan joined ShadeClan in their war,” he explained. “ShadeClan kidnapped Runningbreeze and threatened to kill her. We need you to fight on your side when we rescue her tomorrow.”
Frozenclaw leaned forward. “Fight?”
“They aren’t going to give her up without a fight.”
Dapplestar nodded slowly. “Can you give Frozenclaw and I a moment to discuss this?”
Hope flared in Lionpaw’s heart. “Of course.”
As he padded outside, Sorrelpaw stared at him with huge eyes. “They kidnapped your Clanmate?” she whispered.
“Yeah,” Lionpaw responded miserably. “I really hope we can save her in time.”
Sorrelpaw affectionately licked her brother’s shoulder. “You will. And if Dapplestar says no, I’ll find a way to convince her otherwise. You can count on me.”
Lionpaw felt a rush of appreciation towards his sister. “Thanks.”
“Lionpaw?” Frozenclaw poked his head out of the den. “We’re ready for you.”
Stomach churning with anticipation, Lionpaw entered Dapplestar’s den. StarClan please let her agree.
Dapplestar’s tail swished. “Frozenclaw and I agree that there is no way we can’t help you.”
Relief swept through Lionpaw. “Thank you!”
Dapplestar purred. “It is our pleasure to fight alongside PineClan. I will make the announcement later tonight. Sorrelpaw can escort you to the border.”
“Thank you so much, Dapplestar,” Lionpaw repeated. “PineClan is forever grateful towards you.”
“It is our pleasure to help you,” she replied politely. “You might want to get going if you want to make it back to your camp by sundown.”
Sorrelpaw led Lionpaw out of camp. “It was nice having you in our camp again,” she meowed. “Even though you were just visiting, it was nice.”
Lionpaw didn’t meet her gaze. Sorrelpaw made comments like that all the time, but Lionpaw liked being a PineClan cat. “It felt a little weird to me, being back there. I didn’t like
how everyone thought I was trying to come back.”
Sorrelpaw briefly looked hurt. “Why? Is that such a bad thing?” she challenged.
Lionpaw quickly shook his head. “No! I just wish you would accept that I’m PineClan, not RockClan. Why can’t you do that?”
Sorrelpaw let out an exasperated sigh. “Well, first, it’s like you are throwing away Rainmist and Swiftsnow! They were proud to be RockClan, and you just left after they died!”
Lionpaw scraped his claws into the ground. “I will never forget them,” he growled.
Sorrelpaw ignored him. “And, second, you left me! You left me and Brindlepaw without even saying goodbye. We didn’t even know if you were alive until Needlestar told everyone what happened at the next Gathering.”
Lionpaw opened his mouth to protest, but then realized what Sorrelpaw said was true as he was taken back to his final days with RockClan.
Lionkit snuck out of the medicine den after the battle, Sorrelkit and Brindlekit trailing behind him. Beepaw said they weren’t allowed outside, but now everyone was out there, so it must be okay. “Rainmist said that she would see us soon, so she’s probably here,” he assured his sisters.
“Look!” Brindlekit squeaked. “There’s Stormfrost! Why is she talking to that sleeping ginger cat?”
“Because you can’t fall asleep in the middle of camp, silly,” Lionkit said. “She’s telling her to go find a nest to sleep in.”
“Ohhh!” Brindlekit mewed. “That makes sense. I wonder why I didn’t think of that.”
Sorrelkit leaned against Lionkit. “I’m tired and I miss Rainmist. Where is she?”
Lionkit shrugged. “I don’t know, but she won’t break her promise. She will find us soon. She’s probably just having a hard time getting around all of the sleeping cats.”
“Why does it smell like mint?” Brindlekit asked him, sniffing the air.
She was right. It did smell like mint. “I guess the ShadeClan camp just smells good.”
“My paws hurt,” Brindlekit moaned. “I want Rainmist.”
Lionkit longed for his mother, too, but he had to stay strong for his sisters. He saw other cats, even his Clanmates having a joyful reunion with each other, but no one came for the three kits. They were all alone, and as time went on, Lionkit felt more and more hopeless.
Sorrelkit stared at Lionkit with tears brimming in her eyes. “I want Mama,” she whispered.
Lionkit put on a brave face. “Let’s ask Stormfrost. She probably knows.”
But as the three kits approached Stormfrost, her eyes widened in horror.
What’s going on? Lionkit wondered. Stormfrost loves seeing us.
A warm tail wrapped around them, and hope sparked under Lionkit’s pelt. Rainmist? But it was only Sneezebird. “Oh, you poor, sweet kits,” she breathed. “You don’t deserve this.”
Lionkit’s breath quickened. What was going on?
Brindlekit quivered. “Where’s Mama?”
Sneezebird gazed at them sadly. “Rainmist died a quarter moon ago,” she murmured.
At that moment, something inside Lionkit broke. His sisters’ wails were only distant echoes, and he suddenly saw everything for what it was. The sleeping cats weren’t sleeping, they were dead, just like his mother. Stormfrost wasn’t talking to the ginger cat, she was grieving. The smell of mint that had become more and more prominent was to hide the smell of death. All around him was grief and sorrow, but nothing could compare to Lionkit’s feeling of loss. How could it be true that he would never hear his mother’s voice ever again? Or feel her soft fur brush against him while he slept? Or breathe in her scent one last time? How was it that he never even got to say goodbye? It was as if the world was devoid of colors. What had once been a bright and cheery scene was now disturbing and dark. He understood why Beepaw didn’t want him outside.
“What about Swiftsnow?” Brindlekit squeaked pitifully. “Can we see him?”
And just like that, there was a light. Their father! How did Lionkit not think of him? He suddenly longed for Swiftsnow so much that it hurt, He glanced around th camp, but couldn’t spot Swiftsnow’s jet black fur.
“I’m so sorry,” Sneezebird choked out. “Swiftsnow was killed in the first battle.”
No. It couldn’t be true. It just couldn’t be true that Lionkit and his sisters had lost both of their parents in a matter of moments. What had they done to deserve this?
“Lionkit?” Lionkit woke up that night to Sorrelkit poking at his side.
“What is it?” he mumbled sleepily.
“Do you know if there are any trees that reach the sky?”
Lionkit shook his head, confused. “No. Why?”
Sorrelkit’s face contorted and tears dripped from her eyes. “Because Rainmist will be sad if we don’t visit her, but I don’t know how to get to StarClan. I can’t reach that high.”
Lionkit looked away. “I can’t either.”
A little while later, it was time to return to RockClan. Lionkit pictured the camp from what he remembered. The cozy dens in the side of the valley, the lush grass, the clear stream. Then he pictured the ghosts of what had once been. His mother, his father, the warriors like Maplepelt and Timberfur who went missing. His body shook with fear at the thought of going back. He didn’t want to have to protect his sisters and be brave. He wanted Rainmist to comfort him. He wanted Swiftsnow to teach him how to hunt and fight. Sneezebird was gathering Sorrelkit, Brindlekit, Applekit, and Molekit to go home, and Lionkit noticed Stormfrost taking her kits to the PineClan cats. What is she doing? was his first thought. His second was, I want to go with her. The second thought surprised him, and he realized with a jolt that it was true.
“Yes,” an unfamiliar voice hissed eagerly. “Go with them. Follow your destiny!”
Lionkit looked up and saw a black tom with patches of bald spots and blue eyes so wide that they looked like two pools of water on his face. He was very old, ancient almost, and he didn’t smell like a Clan cat.
“Are you an elder?” Lionkit asked. “I don’t recognize you.”
The tom ignored his question. “Follow them. Go! Now! You know it’s right.”
Lionkit blinked, and the strange cat was gone. It must have been a part of my imagination. He took one final glance at his sisters, regret piercing his heart, and ran forward to join the PineClan cats.
“You remember now?” Sorrelpaw demanded.
Lionpaw nodded slightly. “I’m sorry. I’m so sorry, Sorrelpaw. I never should have left like that. I should have said goodbye.”
Sorrelpaw’s angry gaze softened. “I can’t stay mad at you, brother. We are kin, and blood stretches across borders.” She sighed. “This is the end of RockClan territory. You’re on your own now.”
“Thank you,” Lionpaw meowed. “I will see you tomorrow.”
Lionpaw started the trek back to the PineClan camp, excited to report the good news. RockClan was on their side! And he had settled long-buried memories and feelings with his sister. He felt… free. I can’t wait to see Lilypaw. Lilypaw made him happy, and he couldn’t let this light, joyful feeling go away.
As Lionpaw trotted through the pines, he suddenly became aware of how close he was to the ShadeClan border. He realized how strong the scent of ShadeClan was. A twig snapped behind him, and Lionpaw jerked around.
Heatherthorn grinned at him, showing off her sharp fangs. “Hello, there.”
Chapter 11

Lilypaw paced back and forth in the medicine den. “He should be back by now,” she muttered. “Why isn’t he back now?” Her voice had an edge of desperation to it.
Dawnpaw sighed heavily. “He probably is just chatting with his sisters.” Lionpaw had been gone for a while, and that meant that Lilypaw was a worried mess in the medicine den. It doesn’t even cross her mind that I have things to do before the battle tomorrow.
Lilypaw whimpered and sat down. “That’s not like him.”
Dawnpaw guessed that Lilypaw didn’t know about his midnight visits to RockClan. “You never know,” she mewed. “Look—”
“You see him? He’s back?” Lilypaw sprang up.
Dawnpaw rolled her eyes. “No. I was about to say, look, I’m sure he’ll be back soon. Don’t worry.”
“Oh.” Lilypaw ruffled her fur and sat back down.
“Lilypaw,” Ambershine began gently. “It’s getting late. Maybe you should get some rest. We can’t have anyone fall asleep during a battle.”
Distress flashed in Lilypaw’s eyes. “If it’s so late, then why isn’t Lionscar home yet?” she wailed.
“If he’s not back by morning, then we’ll know that we have a problem and we will look for him,” Ambershine reasoned. “But he hasn’t been gone for too long, and it makes sense that if it got too dark he would stay with his sisters.”
Lilypaw’s tail drooped. “Fine,” she mumbled.
Dawnpaw stared after her as she left. “Now I feel bad. Should I go after her?”
Ambershine gave a slight shake of her head. “She’s fine. We’ve been comforting her since sundown. Get some rest.”
Dawnpaw curled up in her nest and sighed. She hoped for Lilypaw’s sake that Ambershine was right, and Lionpaw really was okay. She squeezed her eyes shut and willed sleep to come.
“Help me! Help me! Someone help!”
Dawnpaw’s eyes snapped open and she found herself in the middle of ShadeClan territory. How did I get here? she wondered. She saw Wolfscratch running towards her and she braced for whatever would happen next, but to her surprise, Wolfscratch just went right through her I’m dreaming! she realized. Who was that calling for help?
Curious, she padded in the direction of the camp. The cries only grew louder, and Dawnpaw recognized them with a jolt. Lionpaw! Lilypaw was right! He was in danger. Bursting into a sprint, Dawnpaw spotted the golden tom in a rotten hollowed out tree. Runningbreeze was crouched beside him.
“Help!” he called out again, his voice growing hoarse.
“Shut up unless you’re trying to get us punished,” Runningbreeze snarled. “And you’re stupider than I thought if you think anyone will hear you.”
Dawnpaw’s heart tightened at the panicked look on Lionpaw’s face. She raced over to him. “Lionpaw!” she shrieked. “I’m here! I’m right here! I’ll send help, I promise! Can you see me?”
Lionpaw just looked right through her. “Help!” he yowled once more.
Dawnpaw frantically tried to make contact with him. “Lionpaw! Help is on the way! I promise. Just wait a little longer.”
“Help us!”
Dawnpaw woke up gasping for air, her heart beating so fast she could hardly breathe. Lionpaw’s voice echoed in her brain. We have to save him!
Ambershine lifted her head. “Dawnpaw? What’s wrong?”
Dawnpaw shuddered. “Lilypaw was right,” she whispered. “Lionpaw is in trouble. ShadeClan captured him.”
Just like that, Ambershine was on her paws. “What?!”
“I-I had a dream where I was in the ShadeClan camp. I could see Lionpaw and Runningbreeze being held prisoner, and Lionpaw was calling for help,” Dawnpaw explained shakily.
Ambershine nodded slowly. “Okay. Okay. We will rescue him tomorrow when we save Runningbreeze. Yeah. We’ll do that.”
Dawnpaw had to agree. It wasn’t like they could do much else.

“Cats of PineClan! Gather beneath the Pine Pile!” Needlestar’s voice rang through the camp.
Dawnpaw padded forward. She wondered if Ambershine had told him about Lionpaw yet, and if he was going to announce it.
“Today is the day we will attack ShadeClan, unfortunately for the second time, to rescue Runningbreeze. It has come to my attention that Runningbreeze was not the only one captured, though. Lionpaw was taken as well.”
Dawnpaw felt a pang in her heart at the plaintive cry she heard from Lilypaw.
“When the dawn patrol returns, we will gather a patrol and attack. Since Lionpaw never came back last night, we can only hope that RockClan will join us if needed,” Needlestar continued. He was about to say more, but was interrupted by a screech.
Dawnpaw jumped in alarm. What was that?
“The dawn patrol was attacked!” Stoneskip cried. “They need help!”
Dawnpaw’s belly bottomed out. How would anyone on that patrol survive an attack from the whole of ShadeClan?
Needlestar stared gravely at his Clan. “Stoneskip and Roseberry, I want you to get the RockClan cats. Hurry.”
Roseberry and Stoneskip nodded once and ran off.
“Now,” Needlestar turned back to everyone else. “Who wants to fight?”
“I will!” Dawnpaw immediately recognized her sister’s voice. “I will fight anyone to save Lionpaw!”
Stormfrost stepped forward. “I will, too. Fernleaf might be ShadeClan, but I am PineClan, and I will fight for my Clan.”
Dawnpaw wished that neither of her kin had joined the fight. She wanted them both to be safe.
“Me too,” Nettlecreek boomed. “Those ShadeClan fox-hearts won’t beat us!”
Shadowpool pushed forward. Her kits were close to arriving, and she had given Branchpaw’s mentorship to Vixenclaw. “Nettlecreek, please be careful. I want you to be able to meet your own kits.”
“I will,” he promised. “I’ll be back before you know it.”
“You better,” she warned. “Or else I’ll claw your fur off.”
Nettlecreek purred. “I don’t doubt that.”
Soon, Smokefoot, Luna, Sammie, Izzy, Everflame, Vixenclaw, Icestone, and Flameleap joined the patrol, leaving Fallowleap, Deerpaw, Branchpaw, and Cherryfur to guard the camp.
Ambershine leaned closer to Dawnpaw. “Since this battle is bigger, we will go with them.”
Dawnpaw took in a shaky breath. “But I don’t know how to fight!”
Ambershine casted her a comforting gaze. “Not to fight. To heal.”
Dawnpaw relaxed. “Oh,” she breathed. “It looks like the patrol is leaving. I’m going to say goodbye to Lilypaw and Stormfrost.”
Ambershine nodded. “Go.”
Dawnpaw darted over to Lilypaw and tapped her with her tail. Lilypaw jumped slightly and turned around.
“Oh, it’s you,” Lilypaw purred.
Dawnpaw brushed against her sister. “I came to say goodbye. Be careful.”
Lilypaw touched her nose to Dawnpaw’s cheek. “I’ll come back. Don’t you worry.”
“Well last time you almost didn’t,” she reminded her.
Lilypaw shook her head. “I’ll be fine,” she insisted.
Dawnpaw sighed. “Just be careful please.” She glanced around. “Where’s Stormfrost?”
“Right there,” Lilypaw meowed, gesturing to where their mother was standing. “And Dawnpaw? I promise I’ll be careful.”
Dawnpaw dipped her head. “Thank you.” She padded over to Stormfrost. “Stormfrost? I came to say goodbye before you left.”
Stormfrost turned around. “Thank you, Dawnpaw.” She drew her in closer, which struck Dawnpaw as strange. Stormfrost had never been known to show much affection. I guess when a huge battle is about to happen, things are different. You never know who won’t make it out.
Dawnpaw looked up. “You’ll be safe?”
Stormfrost curled her tail around her. “Of course. You have nothing to worry about.”
Dawnpaw wormed out of her mother’s grasp. “I better go help Ambershine collect herbs,” she said.
“Of course,” Stormfrost murmured. “I’ll see you after it’s over.”
Dawnpaw ran back to Ambershine. “I’m back.”
Ambershine looked up from her herbs. “Oh, good. Help me sort out these herbs. I want piles of poppy seeds, oak, and marigold.”
Dawnpaw started sifting through the herbs, prodding aside oak leaves. “Do you think Lionpaw will be okay?”
Ambershine glanced at her. “Of course I do. He has two Clans fighting for him and Runningbreeze’s safety.” She paused. “Why do you ask?”
Dawnpaw wasn’t sure why she was so concerned for the young warrior. Ever since her vision, she had felt an overwhelming sense of panic when she thought of him being held captive. “I don’t know. I’m just worried about my Clanmate. It is my job after all. And Lilypaw is scared so I’m scared.”
Ambershine blinked warmly. “Well I’m sure you have nothing to worry about.” She was about to say more, but cut off with a gasp of pain.
Dawnpaw abandoned her oak leaves and darted to her mentor’s side. “What’s wrong?”
Ambershine crouched down. “My head,” she mewed in a strained voice. “There’s… ringing. Ringing echoing!”
Echoing… Dawnpaw was reminded of something, but couldn’t figure out what it was. “Were you near a loud noise today?” she guessed.
Ambershine shook her head. “No.” She sighed. “It’s fading now. It’s still there, but tolerable.” She shook out her pelt. “I’m fine. We should get going.”
Dawnpaw stared at her as she gathered the piles of herbs, and then followed her out of camp, towards the war.

Dawnpaw watched the raging battle from behind a tree anxiously. Stoneskip and Roseberry still hadn’t returned from RockClan, and PineClan was struggling ever since LakeClan joined the fight.
“Do you think PineClan will be okay?” she asked Ambershine nervously.
Ambershine sighed heavily. “I don’t know, Dawnpaw. I just don’t know.”
Annoyance rushed through Dawnpaw. She wanted a straight answer, not I don’t know. “But if you had to choose, what do you think—”
Ambershine cut her off with the flick of her tail. “I told you, I don’t know.” She closed her eyes and bowed her head, and Dawnpaw could tell that the ringing was back. A thought tickled the back of her mind, but she couldn’t quite remember what it was.
A screech of fury sounded particularly close to Dawnpaw, and she flinched.
“It’s alright,” Ambershine murmured. “We’re safe here. And no warrior would attack a medicine cat.”
“Help!”
Dawnpaw jerked her head to the source of the pained gasp and saw Stormfrost limping towards them. Blood was dripping from her pelt, and fear surged through Dawnpaw as she rushed to her mother’s side.
“You’re bleeding!” she exclaimed.
Stormfrost shook her head. “It’s not mine. It’s Sleekpelt’s. I think she broke my paw though.”
Dawnpaw supported Stormfrost on her shoulder as they made their way over to Ambershine. “Stormfrost thinks she broke her paw!” she told her.
“Do you remember how to check for one?”
Dawnpaw blinked. “I think so, but I’ve never had to before.”
Ambershine nodded. “I know. But it will be good practice, and I will help you the entire time.”
Stormfrost sat down. “Just please help me.”
Dawnpaw looked at Ambershine. “What do I do first?”
Ambershine stared back at her. “You tell me.”
Dawnpaw thought back to her lessons. “I feel the bone gently for any irregularities?”
Ambershine’s eyes shone with approval. “Good job.”
Dawnpaw crouched down next to her mother and examined her paw. She could already see the bone jutting out, and cringed as she thought of how bad that must hurt. Gently, she felt around Stormfrost’s paw until she hit the bump.
Stormfrost yelped in pain.
Dawnpaw looked over her shoulder at Ambershine. “It’s broken.”
“What do you do next?”
“I would give her comfrey, and then wrap her paw in a splint,” she answered. “But we don’t have the stuff for that right now, so I can give her poppy seeds to ease the pain.”
Ambershine purred. “Very good.”
Dawnpaw placed two poppy seeds on a leaf, and then decided brown put a third in. That break looks like it hurts terribly. She gave the seeds to Stormfrost. “You’ll feel better once you eat these,” she promised.
Stormfrost lapped up the seeds eagerly. “Thank you, Dawnpaw. You will make a wonderful medicine cat.” The poppy seeds were already in effect, and her eyes started to droop with exhaustion.
Suddenly, a chorus of triumphant yowls and screeches rang out, and Dawnpaw turned to see RockClan cats streaming into the battle, with Stoneskip, Roseberry, Runningbreeze, and Lionpaw in the lead!
They’re safe, and they brought help! Dawnpaw rejoiced.
Spikefur slammed Lightningstripe off of Lynxnose and into a tree, and the two cats battled him viciously. Vixenclaw and Frozenclaw swiped at Wildbelly and Tanglepelt, taking turns so the ShadeClan warriors didn’t stand a chance. Hope swelled in Dawnpaw’s chest as she watched. We could win this!
A sharp cry of pain caused Dawnpaw’s attention to fly to her mother, but Stormfrost was sleeping soundly. The noise had come from Ambershine.
Ambershine was shaking with the concentration of blocking out the ringing. Her ears were flattened and her eyes were squeezed tight. “It’s … echoing,” she whispered. “It hurts!”
Dawnpaw didn’t know how to help her. Still, when Ambershine said echoing, Dawnpaw was reminded of something she just couldn’t put into words. A memory she couldn’t grasp.
Ambershine threw her head back. “It’s everywhere!” she cried. “Can’t you hear the echoes?”
Then it hit her. “Ambershine!” Dawnpaw shook her mentor. “It’s an omen! Remember the dream? Echoes still remain, don’t stop listening for them. Whatever the echoes are, they’re close!”
Ambershine’s entire body relaxed. “You did it,” she breathed. “You made it go away.” She looked up, and her eyes widened in wonder and shock. “Dawnpaw! Look!”
Chapter 12

Lionpaw swung at Crowflight, his claws catching at her muzzle. She yowled in rage.
“Murderer!” she snarled, flipping him over and pinning him down.
Lilypaw jumped on the ShadeClan warrior, raking her claws down her side. Crowflight shrieked and turned on her. Lionpaw took his opportunity to leap up and hook his claws into her back.
Lilypaw swiped at her face, slashing her cheek, and Lionpaw tore her ear, sending Crowflight running.
Lilypaw dashed to Lionpaw, pressing her muzzle to his. “You’re okay!”
Lionpaw intertwined his tail with hers. When he was captured, he thought he was going to lose Lilypaw forever. He couldn’t risk never seeing her again and not have had the chance to tell her how he felt about her. “I like you,” he confessed.
Lilypaw gazed at him in shock. “You do?”
For one terrifying moment Lionpaw wondered if he said the wrong thing. But Lilypaw started purring.
“I was beginning to think you would never tell me,” she murmured. “I like you too. Maybe one day, when we’re warriors, we could be more than just friends?”
“I’d like that.” Lionpaw wished he could stay with her like that forever, but he broke away. They had a war to fight.
He turned just in time to see Oaktail about to barrel into him, and ducked out of the way at the last second. Oaktail skidded forward and Lilypaw took the opportunity to jump on his back and dig her claws in. When Oaktail rolled over, Lionpaw scratched his belly. He was careful not to injure him too much, so the whole Ravenpelt incident wouldn’t repeat itself.
After Oaktail was dealt with, Lionpaw turned to Lilypaw. “We make a good team.”
Lilypaw’s ears twitched. “We sure do!” Her voice broke off as another attacker ran at them.
It was a dark tabby she-cat. Lilypaw unsheathed her claws, ready to face her, but both cats stopped suddenly. The she-cat’s menacing yellow eyes softened, and Lionpaw recognized her with a jolt as Fernleaf.
Fernleaf stared at Lilypaw, and Lionpaw could see how torn she was. Would she be loyal to her Clan, or her kin? Lionscar remembered how close Fernleaf and Stormfrost were, and knew that the decision was impossible to make. For both of them. If either Fernleaf or Lilypaw attacked, they would be disloyal to each other, and would be hurt in a way that no medicine cat could heal. If they didn’t, they would be disloyal to their Clans.
I can’t let Lilypaw get hurt that way. Lionpaw stepped in front of Lilypaw and started attacking Fernleaf.
Fernleaf gave him a slight nod, her eyes shining with gratitude, before she ran off.
Lionpaw heard a strangled cry of agony a few tail-lengths away and turned around just in time to see Nettlecreek fall to the ground. Lionscar burst forward barreling into his Clanmate’s attacker. It was Rushfoot.
“What are you doing?” he screamed in Rushfoot’s face, shoving him to the ground.
Rushfoot’s eyes widened for a moment, but he simply hissed. “It’s a battle,” he growled. “I can do the same thing to you if I like.”
Lionpaw bit into Rushfoot’s scruff. “Still want to fight me?” he snarled.
Rushfoot scrambled out from under Lionpaw and shook out his pelt. “Try me.” He sprang forward, knocking Lionpaw to the ground. Lionpaw dug his claws deep into Rushfoot’s shoulders and pulled him down with him. The two toms rolled on the ground. Rushfoot loomed over Lionpaw, about to give him a harsh blow, when Lionpaw reached up and sliced Rushfoot’s cheek. He used his hind leg to scratch his belly, and when Rushfoot dropped momentarily, Lionpaw used the opportunity to jump up and pin him down. He delivered a blow to his face, and another to his throat. A horrible gurgling noise brought Lionpaw back to reality as he saw blood bubbling at the LakeClan tom’s throat. He leapt away in horror. No! Lionscar quivered with relief as Rushfoot rose shakily to his paws.
“Fine, you win,” he spat, backing away in fear.
Lionpaw felt a rush of victory. He had beat a full grown warrior!
Lilypaw padded over to him. “Nice job! I just beat Morningpaw.”
Lionpaw grinned. “Awesome. Do you think we’re winning?”
Lilypaw nodded enthusiastically. “We must be!”
A sudden yowl seemed to split the air, and all of the fighting stopped. Lionpaw cautiously padded towards the sound to see what was going on.
Needlestar and Nightstar faced each other, the heat of battle pulsing through them. Nightstar took a swipe at Needlestar, but he ducked and rammed into her side, winding her.
Nightstar layed on her side, letting Needlestar’s claws rain down on her. What is she doing? Lionpaw wondered. She’s making it too easy!
Nightstar darted onto her paws, so fast she looked like a blur. She outstretched one claw and Lionpaw gasped as it hit Needlestar’s eye. Needlestar collapsed to the ground, keeping his head down. Did she blind him? Lionpaw thought in panic. Before anyone could stop him, he raced to his leader’s side.
“What did you do?” he cried. “Warriors don’t attack eyes!”
Nightstar’s face twisted in rage. “He deserved it!”
Lionpaw took in a shuddering breath. “Nightstar, this has gone too far,” he whispered.
Nightstar bared her teeth and raised a paw. “How dare you challenge a leader? You’re just an apprentice”
Lionpaw squeezed his eyes shut, waiting for the blow to come. “I know what it’s like to lose kin.” Lionpaw peeked his eyes open and saw Nightstar slowly lowering her paw. “I’m sorry your son died,” he went on. “I’m sorry that you have to go through that pain, and Palelight and her kits. I know what it’s like to grow up without a father, and I hate that anyone else has to suffer that loss.” Lionpaw rose to his paws. “But if Ravenpelt truly was a loyal warrior, he never would have wanted this. This war has caused suffering for so many, and now his wasn’t the only life taken. Please Nightstar,” he begged. “End this. I know that Ravenpelt’s death hurt you in particular, but you caused everyone to suffer.”
Nightstar sagged, a surrender. Her body shook with heavy sobs. “I’m sorry,” she screeched. “I never meant for this!”
A wail rose from the crowd and Lionpaw saw Shellwhisker standing over Mossear’s body. He felt a pang of sadness for her. She was too young to die. Hardly older than me.
Sneezebird nudged the motionless form of Applenose and mewed pitifully.
Rushfoot, Flowerpetal, Rookfeather, and Shimmerfern bowed their heads over their mother, Honeyshine’s body, and Reedstar stared in dismay at Sleekpelt, who’s throat had been clawed out.
“No!”
Lionpaw saw a pretty tortoiseshell she-cat who he recognized as Lilyspring shrieking as she tried to bring her sons Lightpaw and Daypaw to their paws. He remembered them from a Gathering. Lightpaw had tried to start an argument with Brindlepaw about which Clan was the best, and Daypaw had always been quiet and shy, staying close to his sister Morningpaw.
Lionpaw thought of how terrible it must be for Lilyspring, having gone from three healthy kits to only one in a few moments.
There were a few more ShadeClan cats lost, like Petalsky, Sundapple, and Sparrowtail. Whiteclaw of RockClan was found dead as well, and both Dapplestar and Needlestar lost a life.
“Runningbreeze, no!”
Lionpaw followed the cry to see Vixenclaw with Runningbreeze’s body. He remembered they were sisters. A fresh wave of grief hit him at Runningbreeze’s death. As grumpy and annoying as she was, she had always been a part of PineClan. It would be strange to never complain about her with Redfall.
Lionpaw scanned around the horrible scene and gasped as he noticed Nettlecreek. No! he screeched in his head. He can’t be dead! Shadowpool is waiting for him! He raced over to the brown tabby tom, and nearly cried out in relief at the faint rise and fall of his chest. “I need a medicine cat!” he called. “Nettlecreek is badly hurt.”
Beewing padded swiftly over to them, but Lionpaw flinched away. She’s a ShadeClan cat!
Beewing rolled her eyes. “I won’t hurt him. I’m a medicine cat. I’m staying neutral during all of this,” she told him.
Lionpaw grudgingly let Beewing help him carry Nettlecreek to Ambershine and Dawnpaw. When they got there, the two medicine cats hardly noticed them. They were staring in amazement at something in the trees.
Lionpaw followed their gaze and inhaled sharply as he saw four cats emerging from the shadows. Intruders?
The tom was smoky gray with blue eyes. There were also three she-cats, one was tortoiseshell and white with green eyes, one was blue-gray. The third she-cat had such pure white fur that it looked like it was made of clouds. Her eyes were a brilliant burning amber, and they fixed on him with such intensity that he shivered.
She finally spoke. “It looks like you all could use some help,” she murmured.
“Featherpaw!”
Chapter 13

Dawnpaw gasped. That’s Featherpaw?! When her Clanmates spoke of the young apprentice who disappeared long ago, she had imagined… well, a young apprentice. This she-cat in front of her looked like a warrior, though. Muscles rippled under her thick white pelt, and her amber eyes were sharp. Her tail was full and bushy, and she stood tall and confident. Featherpaw looked as strong as any warrior.
Featherpaw looked around in shock. “We did it, Turtlepelt,” she whispered. “We made it home!”
Turtlepelt only nodded wordlessly.
Vixenclaw sprinted forward. “Featherpaw! You’re alive!” she cried, nuzzling her daughter.
Dawnpaw noticed Frozenclaw staring at Featherpaw strangely. I wonder what that’s about. She would have to ask Ambershine later. She probably knew.
Reedstar approached the dark tabby tom. “Drizzlepaw, Riverpelt,” he greeted them warily. “You have no idea how good it is to see you.” He looked around. “Are any other LakeClan cats with you?”
Cedarwood pushed forward as well. “Meadowbird? Have you returned at last?” he called, speaking of his lost mate.
Drizzlepaw shook his head sadly. “I think they all died. When we all tried to escape the RockClan camp during the third attack, Snake’s rogues were waiting for us. They slaughtered everyone, and Riverpelt, Turtlepelt and I pretended to be dead by laying in our Clanmates’ blood. We escaped when they were burying some of the others, but we were running so fast and it was storming so hard that we got terribly lost. We found Featherpaw about a moon after that, and the three of us have been trying to get home ever since.”
Dawnpaw felt sorry for the three cats. It must have been so hard, traveling for so long without a clue where they were going. She caught movement out of the corner of her eye and saw Everflame slowly walking over to Turtlepelt, his eyes brimming with emotion. His sister! She remembered.
“Turtlepelt…!” he breathed. “We thought you were dead!”
Stormfrost stood up, but Dawnpaw blocked her from moving any farther. “You’re hurt,” she objected. “Sit back down.”
Stormfrost’s whiskers twitched with amusement. “You may be a medicine cat, but I’m still your mother,” she reminded her. “Turtlepelt was… an old friend of mine. I would like to say hello.”
“Fine,” Dawnpaw mumbled.
Stormfrost limped over to stand beside Everflame. “Hello, Turtlepelt,” she mewed, and Dawnpaw thought she could detect a little bit of sourness in her voice.
Turtlepelt dropped her gaze. “Hi, Stormfrost.” She sounded ashamed. “I’m sorry for how I treated you when we were apprentices. If I could take it all back, I would in a heartbeat.”
Stormfrost blinked. “I forgave you a long time ago,” she replied. “I’m just happy you’re okay.”
Turtlepelt seemed to think of something, and she tipped her head in confusion. “Wait,” she meowed. “Didn’t you join RockClan? Why do you smell of PineClan?”
Dawnpaw caught a look of sorrow flash in Stormfrost’s eyes. She guessed she was thinking of Ryewing. “I joined PineClan again after my mate was killed by Snake’s rogues.”
“I’m sorry,” Turtlepelt murmured. She glanced around. “Where’s Foxfang? And Cherryfur and Flameleap?”
Dawnpaw’s belly tightened. Poor Everflame! He’s going to have to tell her that their sister is dead!
Everflame shifted uncomfortably. “Cherryfur is back at camp, and Flameleap is—”
Flameleap bounded forward suddenly. “Turtlepelt! It’s you! It’s really you!”
Turtlepelt purred happily with her father for a few moments before she turned back to Everflame. “Where is Foxfang?” she growled forcefully.
Anguish filled Everflame’s eyes. “She died in the battle against the rogues. She hunts with StarClan now.”
Turtlepelt shook her head rapidly. “No,” she breathed. “No!”
Dawnpaw couldn’t bear to look at the horrid scene anymore. She turned her attention to Ambershine. “We should get everyone back to camp soon,” she suggested. “We need to treat all of the injuries.”

Dawnpaw rubbed marigold into one of Nettlecreek’s many wounds. They were all already infected. Shadowpool paced back and forth.
“He’ll be okay, won’t he?” she asked once again, her voice high-pitched.
Ambershine calmly padded over to the queen. “Shadowpool, I promise I will do everything in my power to make sure that Nettlecreek lives. I won’t lie to you though. His infection is deep, and fever rages through his body.”
Dawnpaw knew that the chances of Nettlecreek surviving were slim. She just hoped he would make it to meet his kits. She glanced over her shoulder at Ambershine. “Should I give him poppy seeds?” she asked. “He’s going to be in a lot of pain when he wakes up.”
Shadowpool whimpered, but Ambershine shook her head. “I don’t want him to fall into too deep of a sleep.”
Dawnpaw hesitated before nodding. She didn’t want to see Nettlecreek suffer like she knew he would when he woke. She continued to sooth his burning wounds with marigold.
“Let all cats gather beneath the Pine Pile for a Clan meeting!” Needlestar yowled.
Dawnpaw sighed in annoyance. Not now, Needlestar! But she padded to the Pine Pile with her Clanmates anyway.
“Today, we fought a battle that never should have been fought.” Needlestar’s voice was thick with grief for all of those that had been lost. “We lost Runningbreeze to the paws of LakeClan and ShadeClan, but we will not be like them. We will not go to the next Gathering pointing the blame at them and starting wars. Nettlecreek has been fatally injured, and we will pray to StarClan that he will live.”
A heavy silence stretched over the camp. Dawnpaw bowed her head. StarClan, please. Let Nettlecreek live. He’s not ready to join you yet.
“We have some good news, though. Our lost warriors have returned to us. Turtlepelt and Featherpaw have come home.”
“Featherpaw! Turtlepelt!”
“I have a few more announcements,” Needlestar continued. “Luna, Sammie, and Izzy have informed me that they would like to become true warriors of PineClan. Would the three of them please step forward?”
The three former kittypets padded up to the Pine Pile.
“Sammie, do you promise to uphold the warrior code even with the cost of your life?”
“I do.” Dawnpaw could tell that he really meant it.
“Then from this moment forth, you will be known as Sparrowstripe. StarClan honors your bravery and devotion, and welcomes you as a full warrior of PineClan. Luna, do you promise to
uphold the warrior code even with the cost of your life?”
Luna nodded eagerly. “I do.”
“Then from this moment forth, you will be known as Poppymoon. StarClan honors your kindness and strength, and welcomes you as a full warrior of PineClan.”
Dawnpaw noticed Izzy hesitate as her name was called. “Wait!”
Needlestar stopped speaking and looked at her. “What is it, Izzy?”
Izzy shifted on her paws. “I want to be a full warrior, but I kind of like my name. Can I keep it? Or at least part of it?”
Needlestar purred. “Of course. Izzy, from this moment forth, you will be known as Izzyheart. StarClan honors your bright spirit and confidence, and welcomes you as a full warrior of PineClan.”
“Sparrowstripe! Poppymoon! Izzyheart!”
Dawnpaw noticed Featherpaw leaning forward in excitement, staring expectantly at Needlestar. She’s probably expecting to receive her warrior name as well, she thought.
Needlestar noticed Featherpaw and regret passed over his face. “I’m sorry, Featherpaw. It’s been a long time since you lived as a Clan cat, and I think it would be best if you finished your training.”
Anger flashed in Featherpaw’s eyes. “But I was only two moons into it! That will take forever!” she protested. “And Turtlepelt trained me just as if we were in the Clans. I even took my assessment.”
Needlestar shook his head. “I’m sorry, Featherpaw. You will earn your name soon.” He scanned the crowd and his eyes lit up as they landed on Roseberry. “Roseberry! You’ve never had an apprentice. You can train Featherpaw.”
Featherpaw’s fur bristled. “We were apprentices together! We’re the same age. Are you trying to embarrass me? Why can’t my mentor be Turtlepelt?”
Needlestar took a deep breath. “Turtlepelt has been away for a long time. I want you to be trained by a cat who has been here. Roseberry knows the warrior code inside and out, and she will make a good mentor, whether you’re the same age or not.”
Featherpaw muttered something that Dawnpaw couldn’t hear, and touched noses with Roseberry.
She sure seems pleasant, Dawnpaw thought sarcastically. She couldn’t believe that
Featherpaw had questioned Needlestar like that! I guess that’s what happens when you live as a rogue for too long.
“My final announcement,” Needlestar continued. “Is that two of our apprentices, Lilypaw and Lionpaw fought as bravely as any warrior today. In return, I would like to give them their warrior names. Would Lilypaw and Lionpaw please step forward?”
Chapter 14

Lionpaw gasped. He was going to be a warrior? Now? And Lilypaw too?
“Lionpaw and Lilypaw, do you promise to uphold the warrior code, even with the cost of your life?”
Lilypaw seemed to glow with happiness. “I do!”
Lionpaw closed his eyes. He did it. He had proved his loyalty to PineClan, and he was about to become a full warrior of PineClan. “I do.”
“Then by the power of StarClan, I give you your warrior names. Lilypaw, from this moment forth, you will be known as Lilywish. StarClan honors your bright spirit and strength.”
Lionpaw’s stomach fluttered. He was next.
“Lionpaw, from this moment forth, you will be known as Lionscar. StarClan honors your loyalty and courage.”
“Lilywish! Lionscar! Lilywish! Lionscar!” His Clanmates’ cheers echoed through the camp, and Lionscar’s heart swelled.
He was finally–finally–a PineClan warrior, and he had earned his full name beside his best friend in the whole world, Lilywish, who would maybe one day be his mate. It was no doubt the best day of his life.
Lionscar only wished that his parents could have been there to see him.
In that moment, he longed for Rainmist and Swiftsnow so much. He wanted them to see the warrior he had become. He wanted them to be proud of him.
As the cats of PineClan continued to call his new name, Lionscar lifted his face to the stars, searching for the two that were his parents. “I miss you,” he whispered. “And I promise I’ll never forget you. Can you see me now?”
He knew it was just a part of his imagination, but he could have sworn that he heard a slight whisper in the wind.
“We are always with you, my son.”

After the ceremony, Lilywish bounded over to him, her green eyes bright. “Hi, Lionscar,” she greeted him, emphasizing his new name.
Lionscar purred. “Hi, Lilywish!”
The two fell silent for a moment, and both shifted awkwardly on their paws.
Finally, Lilywish spoke. “Well now that we’re warriors, I think that we should get the first pick from the prey pile.” Her grin was mischievous.
“I don’t think that Stoneskip would agree with you,” Lionscar joked.
Lilywish’s eyes widened. “Probably not… but we should do it anyway. It is our first night as warriors, after all.”
Lionscar went along with her. “Yes, we deserve a reward, don’t we?”
To his surprise, Lilywish skipped over to the prey pile and picked out two rabbits. “One for you…” She tossed one to him. “And one for me,” she mewed, sitting across from him.
“I thought we were just joking!” Lionscar exclaimed.
Lilywish shrugged. “I mean, we don’t have mentors that will punish us anymore,” she pointed out.
“Don’t be so sure,” Lionscar warned. “Needlestar could demote us.”
Lilywish tilted her head. “Can he do that?”
Lionscar wasn’t sure. “I don’t know.”
Lilywish took a bite of her rabbit. “Whatever. If he tries to make me Lilypaw again, I’ll claw his ears off.”
Lionscar suppressed a snort of amusement. “That’ll get you kicked out of camp.”
“Maybe,” Lilywish admitted. “But if that happens, I’ll force you to come with me. I can’t survive long without my partner in crime now, can I? I would die of boredom!”
Lionscar purred. He admired Lilywish’s carefree spirit. Maybe one day they would be mates, but for now he loved being her friend. Her best friend.