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Sunspot's pelt prickled. "And who are you to make such an accusation?" she demanded, eyes narrowed into blue and green slits. "Scorchpaw is trying, and over half the mischief she's caught in, you're also included in as well in some shape or form." She quickly put in an extra burst of speed and caught up to Stormfang, hissing slightly in disgust.

Well that went well, thought Tigerpaw sarcastically. At least it'll be easier to sneak away now..."

Rainpaw accidently bumped into Tigerpaw, partially blinded by feathers that the wind blew in his face from his pidgeon. "Mfrorry!" he quickly apologized.

"Watch it, mousebrain!" grunted Tigerpaw, teeth latched tightly onto his squirrel's nape.

"Mmmph! Mmm sheh mshrorry!" protested Rainpaw.

"What was that? I can't understand a word you say!"

Rainpaw glared at the tabby in annoyance.

"Onestar, not to pry, but what happened?" asked Sunspots; Stormfur cleared his throat in warning.

***
Featherpaw swatted her friend's ears good naturedly. "Uhuh. Well, I suppose, you could do worse!" she teased. Her own thoughts darted back to Winterpaw, and the injured look in his eyes. Already, the events from the night before felt like a lifetime ago.

Time to take training seriously, she thought. I can't afford not to, and something tells me that is the "calm before the storm." How ironic.

She allowed her eyes to briefly close...

Suddenly they snapped open. The forest was dark. She arose stiffly to her paws; it wasn't until then that she realized that she was stiff from the damp. A cool breeze blew steadily through, but the leaves didn't rustle an inch.

What is this place?!? Scorchpaw! Where is she!" Her paws felt slippery under her; a metalic odor wafted into her nose. Blood! She tried leap away, but the blood suddenly scabbed around her fur, locking her in place. From this possition, she could see a mound off in the distance, bathed in the same eery red light. A lone cat stood atop the hill. His ears pricked upwards; without warning, he leeped from atop his perch. The mound disolved into an avalanch of skulls.

Stampede! she yowled in fright. She suddenly broke away from her imprisonment with a sudden burst of strength. She glanced at her paws; instead of them being white, they were brown. Well of course they're brown! I'm stained with blood, aren't I?!? She quickly unsheethed her claws for traction and scaled a tree. She overlooked the river of bones flowing past over the square of sod she had rested only a moment before, claws still gripping the branch. Wickedly long, curved claws, she realized with astonishment. Those aren't mine!

A gray cat [Graystripe] appeared on the branch behind her, his pelt shimmering with starlight; Featherpaw slipped from her perch in shock. The large grey cat grabbed her by the scruff and hauled her back up.

"Where am I! Who are you? And why has my appearance changed?!?" she demanded.

"It hasn't," replied the gray cat calmly.

"Oh yes it has! My claws are differen- huh? They're back to how they were before..."

"I will only say this once," said the grey cat suddenly. "Fire and Gray will unite again, and Tiger prowls again. Keep the fire burning; beware of the tiger." He suddenly faded back into the mist. "Beware of the Tiger..."

"Wait! What? You can't just leave me here! What do you mean, "beware of the tiger"?!? Come back here!" she yowled.

The forest returned to how she remembered it before; Scorchpaw was staring at her. It wasn't until then that she realized that it all had been a dream, and that she had uttered her last sentence in the waking world. But if that was a dream, why do I still feel dried blood between my pads?

***
Jayfeather stretched stiffly. "You already said that, Firestar. We came for answers, not the same riddle. And Spottedleaf, we've already figured out that more trouble is coming," he growled.

Yellowfang raked her claws across Jayfeather's cheek. "Silence, kit!" she hissed. "You are still in the presence of Starclan; show some respect!"

Jayfeather sat back on his haunches haughtily, indignantly washing his wound.

"Oh for pitty's sake, it's just a scratch! It won't even be there when you wake up!"

Spottedleaf softly padded over, touching noses with Jayfeather briefly. "You yourself know that Starclan can't reveal everything to you; what would be the point in that?" she said calmly.

Jayfeather sighed. "Well, you could at least say something new."

Greystripe joined Firestar on his other side a moment later.

"Uhg. You reek of Dark Forest. What on earth were you doing there?" hissed Firestar softly.

"Awaking the new Gray," Graystripe replied.

Onestar stopped and looked at the tortoiseshell she-cat. "You are Sunspots... I remember you from the last gathering. No, it's okay Stormfang. I'm asking for help, I will give a reason. It isnt just two-legs and our rabbits. Our fresh kill and territory has been compromised. It's a cat that knows our land just like a WindClan cat. But I assure you it's not my cats. Whoever it is, covers their tracks well." He turns and looks at Tigerpaw, the leader staring at him. "And I do not appreciate troublemakers, apprentice. It will do you good to remember that!" he spat and continued on the march.

"Who gave him crowfood this morning..." Tigerpaw growled, continuing on the treck. Soon, WindClan cats began to creep over the top of the hills, all of them skinny and dull matted coats, but their tails were raised with pride. Clearly, they still had fight in them.

**************

Scorchpaw blinked at her friend slowly, her New-Leaf green eyes bright. "Beware of Tiger? I've had that dream too! You saw the orange cat?!" She lept to her paws, excited. "What else did he say?"

**************

Bramblestar dipped his head to Graystripe. "Greetings Graystripe."

"Greetings Bramblestar, it is good to see you."

Spottedleaf looked at Jayfeather and suddenly her amber eyes turned icy cold. "What good would it do if we guided you every pawstep like helpless kits!" she hissed. "You come whining for direct answers when you know we cant give them to you. That's life, kit! You've been given a gift to interpret signs and messages to your clan, and walk the stars with your ancestors. You've made it quite clear that you dont like being treated like a kit, but you never cease to act like one!"

Firestar blinked at Spottedleaf, he saw truth in her words though. He touched hs tail to her shoulder to calm her down. "Enough. Unkind words are not needed now. Bramblestar, Tiger walks with you as he did when you were kits. He is not alone. Paws walking on Breeze, a racing black stripe, a hawks icy blue eyes also walk with him too. All four clans must be on guard. Medicine Cats must prepare for a war that LionClan will lead."

'A hawk's icy blue eyes...' immediately Hawkfrosts face flashed in Bramblestars mind and his fur stood on end. Hawkfrost was a RiverClan cat. So who lead them... he was dead! This didnt make sense...

"Beware of Tigers allies in the shadows. Remember your roots, for they will save you." Soon, the four StarClan cats faded away from view.

**

Bramblestar blinked his eyes open, now seeing the moon moving out of the Moonpool. Their time with StarClan is at an end. "Well, that's more to go on." Hopefully with some thought it'll become clear. He flicked his tail slowly, watching for his medicine cat to awaken. He drew a paw over his whiskers, yawning widely.

Featherpaw shook her head. "No, it was a gray cat. Saying something about Fire and Gray uniting as one... and that I should 'keep the fire burning,' whatever that means. All I can say is that I hope I never have to visit that place again!"

She tried to smooth the fur along her spine back down, but she was still too shaken by her graphic vision for her body to behave. She spotted Bramblestar and Jayfeather heading in their direction; the former with a distressed expression, the latter looking grumpier than usual.

"Huh. Doesn't look like they like the answers they recieved..." she murmured to her friend.

Jayfeather was indeed in a foul mood; it had been several moons since he'd last been scolded like that, and not once had it been infront of his leader. I just voiced what we were both thinking... every cat has said that to them now and again; even they themselves have when they were living! He snorted out loud, but didn't voice anything to his leader; he knew that Bramblestar was already upset with him for his conduct over possibly "offending" a bunch of dead geezers. Still... it's rare that Spottedleaf acts that aggressive; perhaps this is even more serious than I first thought."

***
A puzzled look crossed Sunspots's eyes. That's a first! I've never heard of cats doing that -not even Tigerstar! Unless... Her gaze shifted briefly towards where the tabby apprentice sulked. She shook her head violently. No! Stop jumping to conclusions, Sunspots! You're a warrior and a mentor, not some gossiping kit!

Stormfang dropped back suddenly and rammed into his apprentice's flank. "I will not tolerate such an insult from you, not towards Windclan and expecially not towards a leader! Consider yourself confined to camp again tomorrow. And, you will minister to the elders by yourself along with trying to balance your warrior duties and training until you have learned some respect!" he hissed. "How dare you embarass me and the clan!"

Tigerpaw was about to yowl in protest, but one furious glare was enough to silence him.

"For Starclan's sake, Tigerpaw! Can't you stay out of trouble for one day?" muttered Rainpaw. He quickly viewed the camp as they entered it; it was a sad sight indeed. A hunting patrol had just arrived slightly ahead of them; he could barely restrain a grimance as they dropped mouthfuls of beetles onto the freshkill pile.

WindClan parted as their leader brought the hunting patrol with him, looking ahead proudly though he looked no stronger than his clan. He lept up onto a tall mound of grass and pete. "Gather around, all of you." Onestar waited as his clan gathered around, a kit yelled out 'FOOD!' only to be silenced by his mother.

"WindClan is starving. I have decided to reach out to ThunderClan. It is a dire time of need with leafbare among us. Bramblestar has granted us a hunting patrol to help us."

"What?! THUNDERCLAN?!" a cat yowled indignatly. "How can you accept food from a bunch of half -clan cats! I'd rather starve!" The cat was named Breezestorm, his black fur and arctic blue eyes staring hatefully at the ThunderClan cats.

"Dont be a fool, Breezestorm!" a cat hissed at him. "This is a dire time... not a time for pride." Ashfoot announced. Onestar nodded his thanks. With a flick of his tail, he watched as ThunderClan helped pile the small fresh kill to the center of the clan. Soon, each cat was fed.

Stormfang nodded, "Our work is done. Till tomorrow Onestar... StarClan walk with you in your dreams."

Tigerpaw nodded in agreement, trying to make ammends. Time to adjust my stratagy in ThunderClan... at this rate, I'll never be a warrior!
***

The group moved together just as dawn was breaking over the horizon. Scorchpaw yawned tiredly but kept good pace with her clanmates. She glanced at herself and blinked, noting alot of the fat she carried all her life was almost gone, and some muscle was beginning to show. She breathed a sigh of releif. Finally, I'll look like a true apprentice! She moved over to Featherpaw and leaned against her shoulder, helping her on the last leg of the trip.

She saw that her mentor was silent the whole journey home, staying true to tradition and taking the long way. She stayed silent as well, nt wanting to disturb what he had seen. She felt it deep in her bones that StarClan existed, and she secretly longed to know what they had shared with her leader... what fate was in store for ThunderClan.

Bramblestar was the first to enter the camp, seeing his patrol back and resting. He went directly into his den, wanting to be alone. His old leaders words echoed in his ears and he looked back out of the camp. Suddenly, he felt frozen in his pawprints. The dawn light struck Scorchpaw's midnight black fur and gave it a reddish glow... like soot covered ginger. Suddenly, he understood. This. Is the Fire that Firestar prophecised.

Aptly named, arent you Scorchpaw... he mused and turned back to climb back into his den.
Winterpaw blinked, seeing Featherpaw and Scorchpaw returning fromt he trip. He sprang to his paws and raced to greet them. "Hey, I'm on hunting patrol this morning, what are you hungry for? Thrush? Vole?"

"The fattest mouse you can get your paws on will be fine," Scorchpaw murmured and walked into the den. She stopped... Tigerpaw was in her nest! She felt her hackles rise and gathered all her air to make a yowl until she stopped. Why was she making a fuss?

A nest was a nest right? Did it matter she sleep in the same spot all the time? She shook her head and went to a nest beside Rainpaw, laying down. No. fighting over a nest wasnt worth it in the least.

Featherpaw dipped her head, whisker's burning. "A-anything is alright,' she murmured, licking her chest slightly. She found herself standing alone outside the den's mouth, dazed for a moment, before slinking in behind her den mate. She collasped sleepily into her nest, adjascent to Scorchpaw's new one, and fell into dreamless slumber immediately, not awaking until prodded awake by Winterpaw later.

***
Sunspots' patrol arrived at camp shortly after Brambestar's did. She added a squirrel she snagged on the way back to the freshkill pile before reaching for a sparrow for herself. Her muzzel briefly collided with Lionblaze's; the female warrior leaped backwards in shock, pelt fluffed.

((Sorry for the delay!))

Lionblaze jumped back, "Ah... you first Sunspots. Sorry." He licked a paw and pulled it over his whiskers. He saw Winterpaw watching and his fiery gold fur grew hot. "Winterpaw! Get up and moving!" He ordered, taking a shrew for himself and laid down near the Warriors den. He glanced at Sunspots, watching the tortoise-shell she-cat with great interest, but tried to be discreet about it.

Winterpaw's ears flicked up and nodded, "Comming Lionbalze!" He shook out his white fur and drew a gold paw over his ear. "Featherpaw, we're on patrol today! Rainpaw, Lionblaze told me that you and Scorchpaw have border patrol today. I bet if we all do well, we'll all get to go to the Gathering tonight!"

Scorchpaw's tail swished, waking up and hearing 'Gathering.' Her tail fluffed, she's been with the Clan for a full Moon now! She sprang to her paws. "Well, let's not stand around like a couple of starlings!" she mewed excitedly and darted out of the den. She shook out her fur and took in a breath of the crisp air. Leaf bare was upon the clan.

Dispite all that was happening, her green eyes sparkled with the prospect of a good day today. She was determined to prove she was every bit needed as any apprentice. She took a small mouse for herself and quickly began eating, swiping her tongue over her muzzle as the fresh kill settled into her body.

Clawfoot stood and walked over to Scorchpaw. "You're patrolling with me and Rosethorn. Your mentor will be busy with other duties. I expect you to be at the entrance as soon as you're finished!"

She nodded once, "Yes Clawfoot."

Clawfoot almost stepped back, startled. Was this indeed the kittypet that came only a moon ago? Yes, he thought. She'll fit right in. He nodded and went to join Rosethorn at the entrance. "She's comming along nicely..."

Rosethorn nodded in agreement, "Indeed. She'll make a great warrior."

color=#008000]Scorchpaw swiped her tongue one more time over her muzzle, stretching. She burried the fresh-kill and stopped when she spotted Sunpaw comming to her.[/color]

"Dont think I havent noticed," Sunpaw scolded softly. "You took off your cobwebs early. I just never caught you alone to say so... are you in any pain?"

Scorchpaw shook her head. "Nope. I feel fine. Thanks though."

"Next time, listen. I dont want your paws getting infected. Infected paws will do you no good in becomming a warrior!" the she-cat spat but gingerly passed a golden tabby tail good naturedly across her ears. "Take care on patrol today!"

"I will!" Scorchpaw got to her paws and trotted over to Clawfoot and Rosethorn. "All set!" For once, she thought, she didnt feel the overbearing need to prove herself... almost as if a great weight was lifted. This was her chance, to prove she's an asset to the Clan.

Suddenly, the kit murder flashed in her mind and her good mood was gone like a breath. She had to prove to the Clans she wasnt a murderer. ShadowClan in particular. She etched her claws against the sandy floor of the entrance. Russetstar didnt seem to be one for forgiveness... but she knew in her heart she didnt kill the kit. [i]The dead know what the living cannot hear,[i] she remembered the fiery orange cat saying. At least that gave her some peace of mind.

((BUMPED POST))

OOC: Alright! Sorry it took so long, again. T_T

"Nice!" Rainpaw exclaimed. "Hey Scorchpaw! Let's work hard today." He quickly scampered off to join Sorreltail, who was slowly working her way over to the other two warriors, his tail waving in the air.

"Well aren't you in a good mood!" she commented with amusement.

The grey apprentice shrugged. "Who wouldn't be? It's a fine morning and the Gathering is coming up."

"Is that all?" she teased. "Seems to me that your mood skyrocketed when you discovered a certain she-cat was coming along..."

Rainpaw flattened his ears slightly; he hated it when other cats tried to turn the tables on him.
Sure she's cute with her determind personality, but I don't like her, do I?

The two cats joined their patrol briefly around the same time Scorchpaw did.

***
(back to when Winterpaw delivered patrol assignments)
Featherpaw felt herself purr, but a sudden thought swiftly choked away the pleasure she was feeling. Russetstar will be there! And she'll make an attack on Thunderclan, specifically Scorchpaw and Bramblestar. Oh, Starclan, this doesn't bode well, and how am I to 'keep the fire burning'?

She noticed Winterpaw's quizotic expression. "Oh! R-right, the Gathering. That's wonderful," she murmured

Sunspots bumped into her apprentice by accident as they burried the mangled remains of their freshkill. "Pardon me, Apprentice," she meowed politely, having recovered some of her composure. She then noticed the troubled look on the young cat's face. "What's wrong?"

"Huh? Oh, n-nothing, Sunspots," Featherpaw lamely replied.

Sunspots cast her apprentice a skeptical look. "It's about the Gathering, isn't it?" Featherpaw's jaw opened as if to speak, but she didn't give her a chance. "Stop fretting about it! No warrior has been able to add any sharpness to her claws over worrying; if anything, the opposite would be true! Leave Bramblestar to handle it; there's not much you can do about Russetstar's accusations that are sure to be at the Gathering tonight. Besides, Scorchpaw will have to face it eventually, and your unwavering friendship is the best loyalty you can offer."

Featherpaw's lowered tail gradually worked its way back up to normal height. "Thanks Sunspots," she purred. Her mentor swiped her ears with her tail lightly.

Sunspots stopped abrubtly by the main entrance. "Alright, Lionblaze. We're all present and accounted for!" she teased lightly. Immediately her whiskertips burned at her audacity.

Lionblaze nodded, flicking his tail and lead the way. He stopped Stormfang, "Keep that apprentice of yours busy. If he does well today, I'll put in a good word for him to Bramblestar." He knew he was stretching this... but if he could put a positive influence on Tigerpaw and reward him for good work, than perhaps his act will straighten out... and hopefully he and Scorchpaw will be able to work together. Dear StarClan... if that happened, maybe things will balance out in the other clans too.

Stormfang blinked gratefully, bounding in and dropping his fresh kill in the pile. He poked his head into the apprentice den, only to find his apprentice missing. He pulled away and yowled, "TIGERPAW!"

******************************************************************************************************

Scorchpaw marched with Clawfoot and Rosethorn, her eyes straight ahead and her ears slowly turning while they passed thorugh. Suddenly Rosethorn raised her tail to stop them.

"I smell something..." Rosethron meowed softly, the tabby female scanning the area.

Scorchpaw moved foreward slowly, stopping just behind Clawfoot and sniffed. "Smells like the mush the twolegs use to feed me... only... different." She moved foreward, her tail swishing behind her and stopped. "Oh... oh no... Clawfoot, you need to see this!" In front of her paws, lay a dead rabbit in a trap.

******************************************************************************************************

Tigerpaw poked his head out of the elders den. "WHAT?!" he meowed irritably. He didnt want trouble. Whatever it is, he could wait til he was done with clearing out the elders den moss.

OOC: meh. sorry about the shortish post; I'm having a writer's block for Lionblaze's patrol

"Rat poison," Sorreltail growled confidently. "But why do I scent cat as well?"

Rainpaw poked at the trap suspiciously with a branch. "Mousebrain!" Sorreltail hissed, tackling her apprentice, barely in time to save his paw from being snapped as the trap's jaws opened slightly from around the rabbit's leg before clanging down again.

"Thanks, Sorreltail," he murmured, his pelt smoothing back in clumps.

"It's my duty," she gruffly replied.

Rainpaw crept gingerly over to the trap again for a further inspection. "Look around the hinge of this thing; it's covered in rust. As is the rest of the mechanism. There's even grass growing through the rock vine."

"In other words, this thing has been here for awhile," said Rosethorn grimly.

"My guess would be, since the Twolegs tried trapping foxes several seasons ago when the clans first arrived here," Sorreltail replied. "And my foolish apprentice has already demonstrated how simple it could be for a cat to use it. There's even a horse barn that would be a fairly convenient sourse of poison; Daisy told me stories of how the Twolegs there set out poison to prevent rats from eating their horse feed."

Clawfoot shook his head. "I don't know... it just seems all too convenient."

***
"Take a break and get something to eat," Stormfang ordered. "You've worked hard today."

Tigerpaw's eyes widened. Was his mentor actually praising him?

((GAH! Sorry for the delay. BUSY BUSY BUSY!!))

Scorchpaw watched Sorreltail and Rainpaw. She remembered this rat poison. "There's a way to get rid of it without harming anything. My twolegs use to use it too. if we manage to drown it with some water and burry it, everything should be okay."

Clawfoot came and sniffed turning and hacking slightly. "If that's the way to get rid of it, we'll burry it and let the next stomr take care of it. Rainpaw, mark it to warn other ThunderClan cats that there's poison here. We'll report it when we get back."

It's strange... how does rat poison get all the way out here? There's no scent or sign of twolegs here. Scorchpaw wondered... a worried feeling pricking through her fur. She needed answers. She was afraid of what they would be when she got them.

****

Stormfang watched the camp after returning with todays hunt. He glanced at his apprentice who was napping at the dens. He worked hard. He deserved a break... he just hoped to StarClan he wasnt going soft. That was the last thing that enemy clans needed to hear was him going soft!

"Stop scoweling," brightheart meowed. "He is young. But I doubt he'll be anything like the old Tigerstar. I think this young cat will prove and clear away the fear that name brings. Tigerheart of ShadowClan proved that himself. Why cant Tigerpaw of ThunderClan do the same?"

"You have too much faith Brightheart. I just have this feeling in my gut..." he meowed so softly that the cream and brown she-cat almost didnt hear him.

Tigerpaw cracked an eye open, hearing his name and blinked in surprise at the praise the half blind elder gave him... she had foolish faith. She has no idea what is in store for ThunderClan. When he rose to power after the kittypet leader, the Clans will be rid of the softness that Firestar brought. A true leader will rise like he should've so long ago. Now. BloodClan was nowhere near here. That was a mistake, bringing a rival clan to all the four forests home. No... if he was going to take over again, he needed to do it from the inside.

OOC: I'm assuming that Lionblaze's patrol went on hunting patrol? Gah, sorry about another late post. T_T

Bic:
Sunspots glanced at Featherpaw; the apprentice did slightly better than her first outing, but it was painfully obvious that she needed some more one-on-one time, preferably at dawn after the Gathering, if Lionblaze didn't assign her to another patrol. Her pelt prickled uncomfortably at the thought of the sturdy tom, but she couldn't smooth it with her toungue without dropping her shrew and blackbird and risk everyone sensing her embarrasment.

"You did well today," she told her apprentice immediately after they both added their additions to the fresh-kill pile. "Though, you could still stand for some practive."

Featherpaw's ears flattened as she dropped her vole and mouse. They were both rather plump, but the rest of her prey had been mice of random sizes. In reality, she had been lucky with the vole; it had been so fat that it couldn't scramble away in time.

"Heh! That's an awfully fine vole you have there," Tigerpaw taunted as he sauntered up after awakening from his nap, jelousy tainting his tone slightly. "In fact, it almost looks bloated! Are you sure you should be giving that to the clan?"

Featherpaw's eyes widened; the vole sailed through the air as she tossed it away, hissing slightly as she backed away from it.

"Featherpaw!" Sunspots hissed, swatting her apprentice harshly with a sheethed paw. "How dare you waste prey like that! I've always expected better from you!"

"But look at it, Sunspots," Featherpaw whimpered. "Don't you find it strange that I could've caught it so easily?"

The warrior's body relaxed slightly as approached the cadaver warily, only for her to recoil again; an odd aroma wafted from between the vole's dead jaws. "It does seem suspicious," she admitted. "Tigerpaw, Featherpaw, I owe you both an apology."

***
Rainpaw slowly nodded in compliance, waiting a few moments for some distance between himself and the warriors before doing his task. A few moments later, he was in-pace with them again.

"Well, the rest of the forest seems normal, so far anyways," Sorreltail warily said to her companions, silently praying to starclan that she didn't jinx them.