FadingStar's Wrath

Written By Pebble Stones

FadingStar's Wrath is a book made just from the imagination. It is based off of Warriors just like the rest of my books. There is gore and inappropriate scenes that young readers, and old readers, may find disturbing. Do not read on if you find discomfort in fighting scenes, death, cats expressing their love, cats showing signs of love, and harsh words. Thank you.

RainClan

PaleStar

QuietWing - QuietStar

SoftFeather

BlackStream

BlizzardStride

MuddyBreeze

EaglePaw - EaglePounce

Lividpaw - LividLake

TansyPaw - TansyLeaf

BerryBelly

FluffyCloud

GoldenBlaze

StreamSplash

Sugarpaw - SugarWing

WhiteWillow

TwilightPaw - TwilightFall

BronzeTail

SkyPetal

TalonWhisper

ThornTuft

StarlingPaw - StarlingCry

SpeckledWing

FallingKit - FallingPaw - FallingHeart - FallingStar

Bark-Kit - BarkPaw - BarkPool

StoneKit - StonesPaw - StoneCry

PebbleKit - PebblePaw - PebbleWing

CreamKit - CreamPaw - CreamPelt

Plumkit - Plumpaw - PlumWillow

Wolfkit - WolfPaw

SongBird

Ferret

* FadingStar
* QuietStar
* SongBird
* EaglePounce
* LividLake
1/5
MurkyClan

MumbleStar

MorningWillow

BrightPaw - BrightKink

BadgerStripe

BumblePaw - BumbleBlossom

NightPaw - NightWisper

BrownCedar

CinderClaw

DaisySky

SprucePaw

WingPaw

TallWeasle

* MumbleStar
* Cinderclaw
* BrownCedar
* BumbleBlossom
* DaisySky
1/5
SparkClan

ClawStar

Yellow-Web

MistKit - MistPaw - MistFeather

WillowKit - WillowPaw - WillowMist

IvyKit - IvyPaw - IvyTendril

DapplePaw - DappleDusk

FeatherPaw - FeatherDapple

FireFish

JayLeap

NettleNose

RapidScar

SparkPaw - SparkSong

StrikeStream

TallPaw - TallTalon

WhisperPaw - WhisperWish

* SparkSong
1/1
QuickClan

PikeStar

FlameWhisper

MumblePaw - MumbleJaw

BumblePaw - BumbleStrike

Slashkit - Slashpaw

ScarletWater

WinterSplash

IcePaw - IceBreaker

JumpKit - Jump-Paw

BranchWing

StripeThroat

* FlameWhisker
1/1
FlightClan

FinchStar

Streak-kit - StreakPaw - StreakPelt

Springkit - SpringPaw - SpringBlossom

Spotkit - Spotpaw -SpotWing

SnowSpirit

SpiritSong

PoppyShine

PetalPaw - PetalNose

PoppyPad

LightMoon

Leafpaw - LeafJaw

JayPaw - JayLeap

Lightkit - LightPaw - LightMask

* FinchStar
1/1
Prologue

Chapter 1

Fadingkit squealed in annoyment as a water splashed onto her head. She woke up beside Bark-kit. The soft pitter patter of rain beat down on the nurery. She sighed. It had been raining for almost a moon and the clan kept forgetting to patch the roof of the nursery. Puffing in annoyance, Fadingkit stood up. She walked with her head and tail drooping to look out of the nursery.

She had to follow a narrow trail that kept the nursery safe and hidden. Finally her head poked into the light. She looked around. The clearing was flooding. She had to tell WhiteWillow. Padding back down into the dark, cold nursery, Fadingkit tripped. She squealed as she tumbled and rolled all the way to the paws of WhiteWillow. Pebblekit, Stonekit, and Creamkit laughed. So did Plumkit, who Fadingkit always thought was the nicest of the bunch.

"Hush children." WhiteWillow meowed calmly. Fadingkit must've woken her up.

"The clearings flooding!" Fadingkit burst out.

"Yeah right. You're probably lying." Pebblekit sneered. WhiteWillow stood up and disappeared into the dark narrow tunnel.

"Wimp. I wish you would just fade away." Creamkit sneered. She was almost as bad as her sister, Pebblekit. "Just like your name says." She added with a laugh. The other kits laughed.

"Oh shut up. We all trip." Bark-kit growled.

"Yeah. Sure." Plumkit meowed."We just aren't as clumsy as mouse-brained Fadingkit." Fadingkit shrunk down to the ground. She found Bark-kit beside her. His fur was fluffed up. He looked twice his size. His claws where unsheathed and there was almost a crazed look in his eyes.

"You really think you can hurt us?" PebbleKit growled.

"It's four against two." Stonekit laughed. "Oh, make that one. We would destroy Fadingkit in an instance."

"Stop it!" Fadingkit wailed. She hated them. Her tail lashed violently behind her. She unsheathed her paws. Just as she was about to jump onto Pebblekit, Whitewillow returned.

"Come on kits." She meowed. "The clearing is really flooding. We'll get trapped down here if we don't get out of the nursery." Whitewillow's eyes where frantic as she pushed the kits into the tunnel. Fadingkit was last, just like every time.

"Stop it!" She yowled as the other kits kicked up dirt and sprayed her in the face. By the time Fadingkit reached the clearing, water was rushing around Fadingkit's paws. She spit dirt from her mouth, angrily.

"Stop bickering for one moment kits!" Whitewhillow snapped. Whitewillow wasn't Fadingkit's birth mother. Her birth mother had died several moons before when she was just born. She was killed by a fox. So was Fadingkit's sister. Her father had always just cast her aside.

Thats why she got the name Fadingkit. He said that he wished she would just fade a way. So thats why cats started to call her Fadingkit. Water rushed around her paws. The river was exploding from it's banks. Fadingkit gasped as the water splashed into her face.

Water sprayed her eyes and grabbed at her fur. She was so small that the water easily ripped her from the ground and through her into it's whirling mess. She could just hear Bark-kit screech and see his paws as they chased her. She could just hear Pebblekit wish that she died. Her eyes slowly closed as her head hit a rock. She saw blood surround her eyes, and everything went black.

Chapter 2

Fadingkit woke up hanging loosely in WhiteWillow's jaws.

"Oh boy. She survived." Pebblekit growled. Fadingkit coughed up some water. Her tail dragged loosely in the water. She looked down, surprised to see water under her. She looked around to see the rest of her clan trudging on along beside WhiteWillow.

"I thought you were going to die!" Bark-kit gasped.

"Yeah. I think we all did." Stonekit growled.

"I wish that I died." Fadingkit replied.

"Hush child." The RainClan deputy, QuietWing meowed. She gave Fadingkit a rough lick on her right cheek. QuietWing was one of Fadingkit's favorite cats in the clan. Ever since her mother had died, Quietwing came to visit Fadingkit every day. She was a strong, beautiful she-cat.

Whitewillow mumbled something through her mouthful of Fadingkit. QuietWing gently took Fadingkit in her jaws. WhiteWillow spit a tuft of fur from her jaws. Fadingkit squealed as Quietwing semi-dropped Fadingkit as she got comfortable with the kit in her jaws.

Fadingkit sighed as Quietwing began to scramble up a muddy slope. It was four fox-lengths long.The rest of the clan scrambled up alongside Quietwing and Palestar. PaleStar's flanks where heaving from the effort. His bones jutted painfully from under his thin pelt. His fur was matted and unkept. He looked as though he was going to slide back down the hill.

"Palestar is on his last life." Quietwing muttered through Fadingkit's scruff. When Palestar finally made it to the top, he collapsed in the pounding rain. Fadingkit's eyes stung from all the water. She looked down to see the water level rising.

"Why are we even running from water!?" BerryBelly, one of the elders growled. "We're the only clan that swims for Starclan sake!"

"Because this type of water is dangerous! You know that BerryBelly!" Ferret, the other elder hissed.

"I know that Ferret." BerryBelly spat angrily. "But there's no need for us to be running from this water like a bunch of cowards! Back in my day..." Fadingkit drifted away. PaleStar was coughing and wheezing in the mud. The rain pelted the RainClan cats.

The wind was whipping the ground and the trees. The RainClan cats were trapped on this small muddy island. Fadingkit was quivering from the cold. She was soaked through and through. The other kits where soaked and shivering as well.

"We have to swim PaleStar!" QuietWing yowled over the wing as she sat Fadingkit down. PaleStar's eyes were wide. Fadingkit could tell he was to week to swim.

"I can't QuietWing. I'm useless now. You need to lead the clan. The water would be too strong for me. Please take the clan. Lead them well. Please." Palestar meowed. His eyes where pleading as he begged for QuietWing to leave.

His body shook and he lay his head down. His eyes fluttered as his coughing shook his insides. Blood trickled from his jaws as his eyes began to flutter. QuietWing gasped and ran to Palestar's side.

"Go Quietwing..." Palestar whispered as he closed his eyes. Quietwing stood up.

"He's dead..." She whispered shakily.

Chapter 3

Fadingkit stared at the dead leader. She took a breath of horror. QuietWing was not leader! She would put a stop to all of this unfairness that was always shoved onto Fadingkit's shoulders. She would never be made fun of again!

"Lets go everyone. We have to swim. If you are a warrior, take a kit. I want two cats with each one of the elders. Just to help them swim." QuietWing yowled. Cats took up their positions. Fadingkit watched as TwilightPaw and StarlingPaw stood side by side, shaking. ThornTuft, TalonWhisper, SpeckledWing, SongBird, and WhiteWillow each picked up a kit.

FluffyCloud picked up Fadingkit gently. GoldenBlaze and StreamSplash began to help BerryBelly. BronzeTail and SkyPetal helped Ferret. The elders where complaining and gripping about how they didn't need any help from warriors.

"Stay together Rainclan!" QuietWing yowled over the wind and rain. Her fur was ragged and flying everywhere. "The current is extremely strong. Apprentices, stay as close to the warriors as possible!" QuietWIng instructed and began to lead the cats into the raging water. Fadingkit's eyes where wide with fright.

SongBird padded into the water beside StarlingPaw and TwilightPaw. When all the cats where belly deep in the water, QuietWing instructed to swim. The cats plunged into the water. Cold surged around Fadingkit as FluffyCloud semi-dropped her. She screeched. FluffyCloud quickly saved Fadingkit.

The cats padded through the flooding territory. The cats got tired very quickly. The water began to pull cats under. Their heads popped up, but not very quickly. QuietWing finally managed to get the cats to the trees. They climbed shakily up the trees, knowing that they where on SparkClan territory.

"Aren't we going to get in trouble if SparkClan finds us?" Fadingkit squeaked.

"Yes." FluffyCloud meowed shakily.

"We need to get to the gathering place! It's high ground and that way we aren't on any cats land." QuietWing yowled. The cats responded with groans. They began to leap through the trees. Faster and faster. Their claws sprayed bark everywhere. Fadingkit squealed as her back was dragged on the bark. She felt a something stab her back.

The cats finally scrambled down the trees. Their paws where splintered and there necks where heavy. They crossed the open ground of the gathering place until they got to the rock. They all piled into the cave. The wet cats collapsed in the dry area. Fadingkit had never realized how much Rainclan cats could detest water.

Fadingkit felt her stomach growl. Her eyes grew heavy and she scrambled over to Bark-Kit. She curl up next to him. Fadingkit quickly fell asleep next to her friend.

Chapter 4

Fadingkit woke up to an unusual sight. Sun! Sun was drifting into the cave!!! She got up, but the tiredness from yesterday weighted her down. The cats looked from the cave in exhaustion. The flood was still raging. The rain must've stopped some time last night. Fadingkit hadn't realized how long she had been asleep.

She must've been asleep since around sun-high, yesterday. The flood was a lot shorter than yesterday. Fadingkit felt as though she where burning. Her back had a short stick that was stuck tight. She whimpered. SoftFeather and TansyPaw where running around helping with injuries.

QuietWing stared out at the sun. Her eyes where wide. She looked as though she would never recover from PaleStar's death. Fadingkit wondered who the new deputy was. SoftFeather padded over to Fadingkit. She looked in concern at Fadingkit's back.

"Lay down." She instructed to Fadingkit. She lay down in pain.

"What supplies do you need?" TansyPaw meowed.

"Cobwebs and a poppy seed." SoftFeather meowed back.

"Okay." TansyPaw meowed. She padded away and came back.

"Fadingkit, this is going to hurt. A lot. This poppy seed will help ease the pain." Fadingkit nodded shakily. She ate the poppy seed that SoftFeather gave her. Her eye lids grew heavy and she found herself half asleep. SoftFeather curled the cobwebs around the stick, and pulled. Pain surged through her back.

She had to bite her tongue to keep from yelping in pain. She felt blood as it trickled down her back. She took a deep breath. The stick was gone. She was okay. As long as the bleeding stopped.

"Get me Yarrow, Tansypaw." Tansypaw nodded and raced off. She came back and gave her mentor the yarrow. SoftFeather placed the yarrow onto the wound. TansyPaw had chewed it up already. Fadingkit felt the pain ease away.

"Do you need anything else SoftFeather?" TansyPaw asked.

"No. You may go rest now Tansypaw." Softfeather replied.

"Okay. Thank you." TansyPaw meowed curtly and padded off.

"Fadingkit, you may rest. Do not run around and play. You may loosen the dressing." Fadingkit nodded and drifted to sleep as SoftFeather padded away.

Chapter 5

Fadingkit woke up in the comfort of the nursery. It had been two moons since the flood. Bark-kit was about to get his apprentice name! Pebblekit, Stonekit, Creamkit, and Plumkit where seven moons old, but because of the flood, Quietstar had decided to do the five kits together.

Fadingkit twinged with jealousy. She wanted to become an apprentice. She was stronger than those mangy flea-bitten apprentice anyway! She perked her ears up as Quietstar let out a yowl for the cats to gather. She launched out of the nursery to take her place in front.

Warriors pushed her aside and to the back. She growled in frusteration. She looked to see all five kits sitting side by side. Fadingkit felt jealousy burn in her stomach. The thought of her best friend becoming a warrior alongside Pebblekit, made her itch in fury.

"We are gathered here to create three warriors and five apprentices!" QuietStar meowed. "Stonekit, you have reached the age of six moons, and it is time for you to be apprenticed. From this day on, until you receive your warrior name, you will be known as Stonepaw! Your mentor will be SkyPetal. I hope Skypetal will pass down all she know to you." SkyPetal padded up to the high rock.

They touched noses. Stonepaw puffed his chest out in pride as they went to sit down next to WhiteWillow. He smiled and looked at Pebblekit, Plumkit, and Creamkit. Quietstar went on.

"Plumkit, you have reached the age of six moons, and it is time for you to be apprenticed. From this day on, until you receive your warrior name, you will be known as PlumPaw! Your mentor will be ThornTuft. I hope Thorntuft will pass down all he know to you." Thorntuft wasn't very enthusiastic as he made his way to the high rock to greet his new apprentice. They touched noses and went to sit.

"Pebblekit, you have reached the age of six moons, and it is time for you to be apprenticed. From this day on, until you receive your warrior name, you will be known as PebblePaw! Your mentor will be TalonWhisper. I hope TalonWhisper will pass down all he know to you." Talonwhisper puffed his fur up in pride. He padded up to PebblePaw and they touched noses before going to sit down beside Plumpaw, WhiteWillow, and Stonepaw.

"Creamkit, you have reached the age of six moons, and it is time for you to be apprenticed. From this day on, until you receive your warrior name, you will be known as CreamPaw! Your mentor will be SpeckledWing. I hope Speckledwing will pass down all she know to you." Creampaw ran up to Speckledwing as she trotted up and touched noses. They trotted to sit beside Creampaw's family.

"Bark-kit, you have reached the age of six moons, and it is time for you to be apprenticed. From this day on, until you receive your warrior name, you will be known as BarkPaw! Your mentor will be FluffyCloud. I hope FluffyCloud will pass down all she know to you."BarkPaw didn't look very happy as he stared at Fadingkit. His eyes where full of something as he touched noses with his new mentor. They went to sit down at the edge of the crowd.

"And now for our newest warriors!" Quietstar yowled. "I, Quietstar, leader of Rainclan, call upon my warrior ancestors to look down on this apprentice. She has trained hard to understand the ways of your noble code, and I commend her to you as a warrior in her turn. Sugarpaw, do you promise to uphold the warrior code and to protect and defend your clan, even at the cost of your life?"

Sugarpaw was quivering. She took a deep breath then meowed, "I do."

"Then by the powers of Starclan, I give you your warrior name. Sugarpaw, from this moment on you will be know as Sugarwing. Starclan honors your courage and compassion, and we welcome you as a full warrior of Rainclan!" Sugarwing smiled as every cat cheered her name. She went to sit down beside Fluffycloud, her mother.

It was Starlingpaw's turn now. "I, Quietstar, leader of Rainclan, call upon my warrior ancestors to look down on this apprentice. He has trained hard to understand the ways of your noble code, and I commend him to you as a warrior in his turn. Starlingpaw, do you promise to uphold the warrior code and to protect and defend your clan, even at the cost of your life?"

Starlingpaw puffed his chest out. "I do." He meowed. His head held high.

"Then by the powers of Starclan, I give you your warrior name. Starlingpaw, from this moment on you will be know as StarlingCry. Starclan honors your bravery and skill, and we welcome you as a full warrior of Rainclan!" Starlingcry held his head high as his name was cheered as well. He went to sit by Sugarwing. Affection in his eyes. His mother, Streamsplash, smiled and licked his cheek.

Finally, it was Twilightpaw's turn. "I, Quietstar, leader of Rainclan, call upon my warrior ancestors to look down on this apprentice. She has trained hard to understand the ways of your noble code, and I commend her to you as a warrior in her turn. Twilightpaw, do you promise to uphold the warrior code and to protect and defend your clan, even at the cost of your life?"

Twilightpaw looked like she was going to burst. "I do! I do! I do!" She chirped happily.

"Then by the powers of Starclan, I give you your warrior name. Twilightpaw, from this moment on you will be know as Twilightfall. Starclan honors your courage and compassion, and we welcome you as a full warrior of Rainclan!" Twilightfall bolted over to her brother, Starlingcry and toppled him over.

"Clan meeting dismissed. And don't forget, our new warriors are to hold a silent Virgil tonight and guard camp." Quietstar meowed before jumping down.

Chapter 6

Fadingkit watched in bitter hatred as Pebblepaw flirted with Barkpaw. *I wish I where an apprentice.* She thought bitterly. She padded to the nursery. Whitewillow would be moving back to the warriors den. Fadingkit would be all alone.

She slid down the long dark tunnel and landed in mud that hadn't quite dried out yet. She yowled in frustration. She had a moon left! Then she would become an apprentice! She flailed her paws in rage and ripped up Whitewillow's nest.

Now the apprentices will have to clean that up! She hated Pebblepaw. She was such a fox-hearted snob! Even Plumpaw was mean now! She used to be so nice to her*. It must've been because she felt sorry for me.* Fadingkit thought. She whimpered.

She was covered in mud. Neglected. Forgotten. She should've just been dead! She whipped around as Barkpaw crept into the nursery, wide eyed. Fadingkit realized how she must look right now. Mud covered and rupped up moss everywhere.

"What do you want?" She spat. Her heart ached. She wished she could be with Barkpaw in the apprentices den. He was her only friend.

"I wanted to say that I'm sorry."

"Sorry for what? Sorry for me being born? Cause Im sorry about that." She spat again. Barkpaw flinched. Pain flared in his eyes.

"No... Im sorry that I became an apprentice before you. But I guess you wouldn't care if I said sorry." He shot back to her. He flipped around and stalked off. Fadingkit stared after him. She couldn't believe she had just snapped at her only friend.

What had she done?

"Fadingkit." A sweet voice that Fadingkit hadn't heard in a long time called. "Are you in here?"

"Yes." Fadingkit replied and shrunk into the pile of shreded moss. QuietStar slipped from the tunnel.

"Oh dear. You've made quite a mess!" She laughed sweetly. Fadingkit turned her head sadly. She didn't understand her emotions. It was sadness, madness, hatred, jealousy, and something else she couldn't picture in her mind.

"Why are you here?" Fadingkit wailed.

"Because I know how hard it is to be alone. I know how you feel. My life was just like yours. My mother died and my father wouldn't even look at me. Bronzetail," Fadingkit flinched at the mention of her fathers name. "Is just sad. I missed your mother so much. Im sure you miss her too. And your father gave you such a sad name. Everykit hates you. I know how you feel. I just want you to know, your never alone." Quietstar stroked her muddy pelt gently and walked off.

Fadingkit was alone again. With only the comfort of Quietstar's words.

Chapter 7

Fadingkit launched herself from the nursery. It was finally the day! She was six moons old now! Finally!!! Quietstar had just called a clan meeting. She was so excited. She looked around the clearing. So many cats where ignoring her. She felt pretty sad that none of these cats cared that she was an apprentice. Quietstar began to meow.
"We are gathered here to create a new apprentice!" She yowled. She motioned for Fadingkit to step forward. She padded up. "Fadingkit, you have reached the age of six moons, and it is time for you to be apprenticed. From this day on, until you receive your warrior name, you will be known as Fadingpaw! Your mentor will be Songbird. I hope Songbird will pass down all she know to you."

Fadingpaw gasped. Her mentor was the deputy!? She stared as Songbird padded up to her. A calm look in her eyes. They touched noses and Songbird led Fadingpaw to sit. Fadingpaw's ears flattened down onto her head as she heard Pebblepaw, Stonepaw, Plumpaw, Creampaw, and Barkpaw snickering at her!

Her eyes widened and she felt a heavy stone dropped into his stomach. She whimpered.

"Pebblepaw. Is their something you would like to share with the clan?" Quietstar meowed. Pebblepaw's ears flattened.

"No Quietstar."

"Then stay quiet." Quietstar snapped and looked at Fadingpaw as she stared at the ground. Quietstar continued with watch she was saying. When the meeting was dismissed, one of the older apprentices, Eaglepaw, padded over to Fadingpaw.

*Oh great.* She thought. *This is going to be great.* Lividpaw padded beside Eaglepaw.

"Hey Fadingpaw." Eaglepaw meowed.

"Hi." Fadingpaw meowed shyly.

"We know how much Pebblepaw bugs you, so we would like to ask you if you would like to have your nest between ours" Lividpaw meowed. Fadingpaw couldn't believe her ears.

"Really?" Eaglepaw and Lividpaw nodded sincerely.

"Okay. Thank you." Fadingpaw meowed sincerely. "But why would you be so nice to the little kit who every cat hates?" Fadingpaw couldn't help but ask the question.

"Because our sister was like you. We where her only friends. Every cat hated her. We don't want you to feel like that." Eaglepaw meowed. *Wow. I've heard the stories about how Thymepaw was murdered.* Fadingpaw thought.

"Lets make your nest." Lividpaw meowed. Fadingpaw nodded and they padded into the forest to gather moss.

Chapter 8

Fadingpaw settled down in her new nest between Lividpaw and Eaglepaw. She was tired from all the moss they had collected. Then Eaglepaw had given her some hunting tips so she could wow Songbird. So far, she hadn't seen Pebblepaw or any of her littermates.

"You wanna hear a story?" Eaglepaw asked Fadingpaw. She nodded. "A long time ago, there was a cat. His name was Barley. He was a member of the dreaded Bloodclan. It was against the rules for a cat in Bloodclan to stay with their family. He stayed with his sister though to protect her. They lived together for several moons. Until apprentice age. Bone found out about this. Barely's sister was taken and Scourge tried to kill her. Barely barely saved her by bringing her to a twoleg den. He never saw her since, but he new that they would take care of her. He ran off and lived in a barn."

"Wow." Fadingpaw meowed. "Is that a true story?"

Eaglepaw nodded. "One of the elders told Lividpaw and I the story when we were kits."

"I miss her. She was such a sweet cat." Lividpaw meowed. Fadingpaw looked up as Pebblepaw, Stonepaw, Creampaw, Plumpaw, and Barkpaw padded into the apprentices den.

"Oh lookie here. Its Fadingpaw." Pebblepaw sneered.

"Leave her alone Pebblepaw." Lividpaw growled.

"Why would I listen to you?" She spat.

"Because we're older than you." Eaglepaw snapped. He rolled his eyes.

"Awwww. Little Fadingkit has a crush! No, make that two crushes!" Barkpaw laughed. Fadingpaw couldn't believe how mean he had gotten!

"You know what Barkpaw." Fadingpaw spat as she stood up. "I don't know what happened to you. Your as bad as Scourge. Maybe you should just go and live with Bloodclan, but leave me alone. You where the sweetest cat I knew. The only cat who understood me. The only cat who would talk to me like a real friend. And now, I think you your as bad as Pebblepaw." Fadingpaw finished. Barkpaw stared at Fadingpaw.

Fadingpaw then realized how badly she had just hurt Barkpaw. He turned away from her and lay in his nest. Pebblepaw lay beside him in her nest. She gave his cheek a sweet lick. Fadingpaw was disgusted. Stonepaw, Creampaw, and Plumpaw settled down in their nests as well. Fadingpaw sat down. She was pleased at how she stood up to them. She smiled at Lividpaw and Eaglepaw who rambled on to each other.

Fadingpaw drifted to sleep as Lividpaw told a story about the most evil cat in the history of the clans. Brokenstar. She liked these two toms. A lot.

Chapter 9

"Put your weight on your haunches and make sure to hold your tail still." Songbird instructed. Fadingpaw was in such an awkward position. Her legs were stiff and her tail stuck straight out over the grass.

"Like this?" Fadingpaw asked through gritted teeth. Songbird nodded approvingly. "Now can we fish?" Songbird let out a sigh of annoyance.

"I suppose so." She agreed.

"Finally!" Fadingpaw began to race off with Songbird hard on her tail.

"Fadingpaw! Watch-" Songbird yowled but was cut short as Fadingpaw found herself rolling down a small hill, heading straight towards Eaglepaw. She yowled in shock as she hit him. They rolled and Eaglepaw had Fadingpaw pinned down. His teeth barreled. As the dust cleared, he unsheathed his claws and got off of Fadingpaw.

Fadingpaw looked down at the ground. Her body rushed with heat.

"Are you okay?" Eaglepaw meowed. He looked into Fadingpaw's eyes and she felt different... She nodded.

"Are you okay? I didn't mean to roll into you." She meowed. She let out a small snort of laughter.

"Fadingpaw! You can't just run off like that!" Songbird yowled as she slid down the hill and stopped right in front of Fadingpaw.

"Im sorry SongBird." Fadingpaw meowed quietly.

"Now come on. We're going to fish." Songbird growled. She looked straight into Eaglepaw's eyes. They looked almost identical. There was something that was deep in both of the cats eyes. Fadingpaw could swear she saw fear in Songbird's eyes, and love in Eaglepaw's eyes. He kept glancing nervously at Fadingpaw as Songbird led Fadingpaw away.

Could Eaglepaw love her?

Chapter 10

Fadingpaw came back with several fish in her jaws. She had picked up fishing quickly. By the time they got back to camp, it was sunset. Fadingpaw picked up a fish that was already in the fresh-kill pile after dropping her catch, and padded to the apprentices den.

Her fur was muddy and dusty. She lay in her nest and stared at her fish. She didn't really feel like eating. She just wanted to think. What did she see in Eaglepaw's eyes? Whatever it was, it made her feel all warm and tingly inside. She looked up, pulled from her thoughts, as Eaglepaw and Lividpaw padded in.

"How was your hunt today, Fadingpaw?" Lividpaw meowed.

"Pretty successful." She responded. The two brothers sat down in their nests. "Would you like to share my fish?" Fadingpaw asked.

"Would you mind?" Lividpaw asked.

"Im not very hungry." Fadingpaw answered.

"Thanks Fadingpaw." Eaglepaw meowed once all three of them had devoured the fish. Lividstar quickly fell asleep. Fadingpaw began to lick her dirty pelt. She yawned as the sun slipped away.

"Would you like some help cleaning your pelt?" Eaglepaw asked. Fadingpaw felt hot again.

"Sure." Fadingpaw asnwered and sighed as Eaglepaw's tongue rasped over her pelt. She felt calm as Eaglepaw cleaned her pelt. She was exhausted. She slowly began to drift to sleep. She jumped as Pebblepaw, Barkpaw, Stonepaw, Creampaw, and Plumpaw barreled into the den laughing.

They stared at Eaglepaw as he licked Fadingpaw's pelt gently. Fadingpaw felt hot with embarrassment.

"What?" Eaglepaw meowed. They quieted down. Barkpaw looked as though he where going to scream. Rage surged through his pelt. Fadingpaw was shocked at how angry he looked.

"Why are you with, him?" He spat.

"Why do you care?" Fadingpaw asked and rolled her eyes.

"Because *I* love you! Not him!" Barkpaw snapped. He looked so angry. His eyes where slits and his claws where unsheathed.

"Then maybe show her some more respect!" Eaglepaw spat and stood up. He stood in front of Fadingpaw protectively.

"Why would you even love an apprentice three moons younger than her?" Barkpaw spat.

"And why would you love an apprentice a moon younger than you?" Eaglepaw asked again.

"Because I can!" Barkpaw yowled nervously.

"If you love her, than you should show her more respect." Eaglepaw meowed cooling down a little bit. Barkpaw was quivering in rage.

"I.. You.." Barkpaw growled. He whipped around and stormed to his nest. He lay down heavily. The rest of the cats lay down in their nests. Amazed at what had happened. Fadingpaw settled back into her nest. Barkpaw loved her?

She hated Barkpaw now. She only ever like him as a friend. But she felt something more for Eaglepaw. And he felt something too! Eaglepaw settled back into her nest. Lividpaw hadn't been roused at the argument.

Eaglepaw stared into Fadingpaw's eyes for a long time. Fadingpaw stared at him back. She gave her pelt a self-conscious lick. Eaglepaw continued to clean the last of the mud from her pelt. Fadingpaw felt so flushed.

When Eaglepaw had finished cleaning Fadingpaw's pelt, he settled back into his nest. Fadingpaw stared at Eaglepaw. He yawned and rolled over onto his back.

"Do... Do you like me Eaglepaw?" Fadingpaw asked bravely. Eaglepaw looked shocked at the question.

"Yes." He meowed. "I know that your to young for love, but Im not. I just hope that one day you can love me back." He sighed and rolled over in his nest. Fadingpaw climbed over him and they rolled in a heap of fur.

"I like you back." She meowed and licked his cheek. Eaglepaw smiled gently. But then, his smile faded.

"You know, this is Lividpaw and my last night in the apprentices den." Eaglepaw whispered. "We passed our final assessment today." Fadingpaw felt a rock sink in her throat. It would be three more moons until she became a warrior.

She lay down nestled in Eaglepaw's soft fur. It took her back to when she was with her mother in the nursery again. She drifted asleep.

Chapter 11

Fadingpaw's eyes fluttered open as Quietstar called a clan meeting. Eaglepaw and Lividpaw where gone. Pebblepaw, Oakpaw, Stonepaw, Creampaw, and Plumpaw where rousing. She padded out of the den and saw Eaglepaw and Lividpaw.

She beamed with pride as she stared at Eaglepaw. He puffed out his chest in pride. She shoved her way all the way to the front of the crowd and sat down. When the clan had gathered, Quietstar began.

"We are gathered here today to create two new warriors." Quietstar meowed. "Lividpaw, please step forward. I, Quietstar, leader of Rainclan, call upon my warrior ancestors to look down on this apprentice. He has trained hard to understand the ways of your noble code, and I commend her to you as a warrior in her turn. Lividpaw, do you promise to uphold the warrior code and to protect and defend your clan, even at the cost of your life?"

Lividpaw nodded. "I do."

"Then by the powers of Starclan, I give you your warrior name. Lividpaw, from this moment on you will be know as Lividlake. Starclan honors your intellegence and dedecation, and we welcome you as a full warrior of Rainclan!" LividLake nodded in pride and went to sit down next to the Rainclan deputy, Songbird, and also his mother.

"Eaglepaw, please step forward. I, Quietstar, leader of Rainclan, call upon my warrior ancestors to look down on this apprentice. He has trained hard to understand the ways of your noble code, and I commend her to you as a warrior in her turn. Eaglepaw, do you promise to uphold the warrior code and to protect and defend your clan, even at the cost of your life?"

Eaglepaw puffed his fur our and made him look twice his size. He nodded in agreement before meowing, "I do."

"Then by the powers of Starclan, I give you your warrior name. Eaglepaw, from this moment on you will be know as EaglePounce. Starclan honors your spirit, strength and cleverness, and we welcome you as a full warrior of Rainclan!" EaglePounce smiled in pride and went to go sit down. Fadingpaw cheered his name loudest out of her whole clan. She couldn't wait to become a warrior now!

Chapter 12

Fadingpaw launched herself through the undergrowth. it had been a moon since Eaglepaw and Lividpaw had become Eaglepounce and Lividlake. Eaglepounce had been helping fadingpaw with her hunting while Lividlake helped with her hunting.

Things got easier with every other cat too. Creampaw and Plumpaw had begun to warm up to Fadingpaw. They began to hang out with her. Barkpaw and Pebblepaw where still as salty as ever though. She shook off the thought of everycat and went back to matching Eaglepaw's every paw step. She had grown a lot since the ceremony.

Fadingpaw watched through the trees for Eaglepounce's grey and white pelt as it flashed through the green environment. Finally she made her move. She cut over to where he was and leaped. Her paws connected with his flanks and she heaved him down.

He yowled in shock as the two cats rolled. Fadingpaw slammed into his face with sheathed claws. Eaglepounce withered away from the apprentice. He slammed her shoulder and she squealed. Fadingpaw began rolling.She didn't know where, but she heard the rushing of something, and it wasn't a stream.

The acrid taste of thunderpath flooded her jaws. She gasped. She was going to die! Fadingpaw could just here Eaglepounce as he screeched for her. She could here his pounding paws and then she felt the wind as it was driven from her.

She sprawled out beside the thunderpath. Eaglepounce had his paws planted firmly on her back. Her eyes where wide and she was panting heavily.

"Are you okay?" He asked frantically. He got off of Fadingpaw and helped her up. She began to cover his face in licks.

"Thank you." She meowed shakily.

"I couldn't loose you like my sister... ThymePaw." Eaglepounce whispered. "But the past is past. I have you now." Fadingpaw felt her insides melt. She couldn't wait to be aloud to have kits with him. *They'll be the most beautiful and handsome kits in Rainclan history!* She thought dreamily.

"Lets go back to camp." Fadingpaw meowed. She entwined her tail with his and looked at the clouds. They wehre becoming thick. The sky was becoming a dusty yellow. The wind was beginning to pick up.

"Looks like a storms coming. We better hurry." Eaglepounce meowed as they began to pad back into the forest.

Chapter 13

Fadingpaw dug her claws into the ground firmly. The wind was so strong that she could be picked up and thrown if she didn't have Eaglepounce. The two cat's fur was fluffed up. Eaglepounce had a small bird in his jaws. It had flown into his paws so he killed it.

The bird flapped violently in the winds. They got into camp. Everycat was gathering in front. Apprentices where in middle. Quietstar was in the middle.

"Everyone into the nursery!" Quietstar yowled over the wind. By now, their was a huge funnel of wind in the sky. Rainclan cats where racing down the tunnel. Fadingpaw was thrust into the tunnel. She screeched as she slid, but she landed on her paws this time.

Eaglepounce was right behind her. His teeth locked in her tail. Fadingpaw looked at him with wide pleading eyes. Was this the end of the clans? she wondered. She was shoved roughly down to the ground. She whimpered as Eaglepounce helped her up gently by the scruff.

Fadingpaw whimpered as Eaglepounce carried her gently. They where pushed to the edge of the nursery. Nests where trampled. Finally the whole clan was stuffed into the nursery. Wind whistled outside.

The ground felt as though it where shaking. Fadingpaw took a deep breath and pressed her head against Eaglepaw's shoulder.

"Where's Lividlake?!" Songbird screeched. Eaglepounce gasped and looked around. He stood on his hind paws. Fadingpaw's ears flattened as Eaglepounce landed back down.

"Where is he" He gasped Just then, several cats launched themselves into the nursery. It was Lividlake. Fadingpaw growled as she smelled Flightclan, Quickclan and Sparkclan.

"Everyone quiet!" Quietstar screeched. The nursery went silent. The only sound was the cats breath and the wind whipping outside.

"Greetings Quietstar." The Sparkclan cat meowed and bowed his head. Quietstar pushed her way to the front to face the three cats. "I am RapidScar, warrior of Sparkclan."

"I am ScarletWater, deputy of QuickClan." A small she-cat meowed.

"I am Lightmoon of FlightClan." A pure white she cat with a beige patch around her mouth.

"Why are you in my camp?" Quietstar hissed. "And Lividlake, why did you bring these cats into our camp?"

"We are terribly sorry for intruding on your camp." ScarletWater meowed. "We have come to warn you as a great danger."

"What type of danger?" Quietstar responded more curiously.

"A huge funnel of wind and rain is coming. You must get your clan as far away as you can. It is to dangerous here." Lightmoon spoke up. Her eyes where dark and her words where sincere.

"Sparkclan, Quickclan, and FlightClan are already abandoning our territories." RapidScar meowed.

"And how do I know that you don't want to steal our territory?" QuietStar growled.

"Why would we steal your territory?" Lightmoon spat. "We aren't fish breathes like you. We *hate* water. We wouldn't even touch your disgusting fish!"

"There telling the truth Quietstar. Look outside. You can see the wind funnel in the distance. Its coming quick. We must hurry." Lividlake meowed.

"I will not drag my clan away from our territory!" Quietstar growled.

"Please! We must get to the caves! Moss has already been set up for all the clans. Please!" Scarletwater pleaded.

"Fine. Eaglepounce will go with you to MurkyClan. Now leave!" Quietstar meowed. Eaglepounce gave Fadingpaw a quick lick and disappeared. Fadingpaw's ears went back as Lividlake pressed against her.

"He'll be okay." He meowed softly into her ear.

"I hope your right." Fadingpaw meowed and shook her head. A wind funnel?