A Warrior's Path/Book

This book isn't done being written yet. Do not edit it unless you have permission. This is to avoid conflicts in editing.

## Book

This book is currently being written by Ocean, Jungkook Stan, and Spark as an original book for the wiki. Contact them for details.

## Chapter 1

Creek could feel herself being bathed by the cold, sharp scent of air. She had tons of questions. *Is this the scent of stars? What’s going on? How come I’m doing this? Are my littermates also?* Creek was dead, although she did not realize it. She felt herself land gently on a smooth rock. She stretched her eyes open, and surveyed the land in front of her. What’s going on? She struggled up, and looked around for more cats. There weren’t any. Suddenly, she heard a voice coming from behind her.

“Hello. I am Storm Sky. I see you have found StarClan’s hunting grounds, Creek?”

“H-how do you know my name?” Creek was scared, but when she met this she-cat’s gaze, she immediately knew that this cat could be trusted.

Storm Sky purred, and replied, “You are in StarClan, dear. The Clan of stars has more knowledge than you think. Now you are a member of StarClan too, although you were born a loner.”

Creek’s fur bristled. Was this cat making fun of her? She decided that Storm Sky wasn’t and sniffed curiously at her fur, backing away in embarrassment as she realized how rude she was being. She stared at her white paws, wishing that Storm Sky would stop looking at her. But instead, Storm Sky gazed at her, and licked her head. Creek lay down, enjoying the warm, rough tongue scratching on her head, and couldn’t stop herself from purring.

“This is Spider. He is my mate, and also is the father of our two kits, Bramble and Flame.” Storm Sky beckoned to a dark brown tom, who’s yellow eyes landed on her. “Nice to meet you, Creek.”

Creek looked up and saw that his jaw was crooked, and half of the fur on his tail was ripped off. She instantly regretted the words as soon as they came out of her mouth. “How did that happen?” *I can’t seem to do anything right! Will if fit in at all here in StarClan?*

Creek was relieved to hear that he wasn't much upset about it. Instead, he had explained to her patiently, and another reason he was called Spider was because he had 6 toes on his front left paw. Just like with Storm Sky, Creek liked Spider too. They welcomed her to StarClan!

"Creek, we're going for a hunt," Storm Sky told her the next day.

Creek was instantly alarmed, and protested in her head, *I don't know how to hunt yet!* But instead, she tried to stay calm and agreed.

"Don't worry, Creek. It won't be as hard as you think, your mother and littermates have to hunt on harder ground. Here in the Clan of stars, hunting is much easier! Without another word, she pounced on a passing mouse. *That seems easy! I thought that hunting would be very hard! I bet I could do that,* Creek thought.

Storm Sky pointed her tail to a mouse that scurried by. "Try catching it!" she encouraged kindly.

Creek's small paws flew over the ground. She chased the mouse until it stumbled over a tree root, and Creek leaped on top of it. She held it in her paws, and down at it. It was moving.

"Bite it's neck," Storm Sky instructed.

Creek obeyed, and soon enough, the mouse was dead. *I caught something! Maybe I'll fit in StarClan after all...*

Creek's belly rose and fell as she slept peacefully. Yawning, she got up. There was a silver she-cat next to her, who lay down with her eyes open. When she saw that Creek was awake, she leapt to her paws.

"Creek! I'm Star, but quick! Come with me, there's something I have to show you!" Panic or excitement showed in Star's eyes, Creek couldn't tell. Creek followed her, paws skimming the ground. *I've been in StarClan for barely a moon, and is there a problem now? I really hope not...* Creek's thoughts continued as they reached a pool shining with clear water. She peered down into it, and it seemed like it didn't have a bottom.

"Creek, this is where we can see living cats, and what they are doing. We can contact most of them, but we found your mother! Juniper!" Star panted, eyes glowing.

Creek's eyes grew wide. "Really?" she whispered. "Can I see?"

"Of course," Star purred. "But we only send living cats dreams when we feel it is important, not just because we want to chat."

Creek nodded, and gazed at the pool. A small mist covered it, and when it reappeared again, she could see a small black shape curled up under a bush. Spider walked up behind her. "When you have been in StarClan for a while, you will instinctively know these cats' thoughts. Juniper, right now, is thinking of revenge. You must stop her from killing your father!"

"You mean...I have to send her a dream?"

"Yes. Go into the pool, and you will appear in her dreams. Give her a warning, and good luck." Without another word, Spider left again.

Creek turned around. "Star?" she said quietly. "I-I'm not sure I can do this..."

"I know you can. Try your hardest. The words will come to you when you go into your mother's dreams."

Creek turned around, and dived into the pool.

Moons and moons had passed since she had delivered Juniper the message. In fact, she had done it again, and knew that Juniper was now Juniperstar, and lead DarkClan. She had also met Moon Roots, who was also very nice to her. StarClan was like living in a world that had all the prey you could ever eat, and cats that were kind to her. *This is my home now. I'll never be able to go back, but I can talk to living cats, in a special way that I've never done before.*

## Chapter 2

Whitefly cried as he watched his mother dash away, carrying Mesquite with her. "Mommy!" *She can't leave now!* he thought.

Bumblebee pressed her muzzle into Whitefly's side. "What now?"

A night-black cat turned around and shot a disgusted look at him and Bumblebee, Whitefly wriggled uncomfortably under the cat's gaze. *Frightening is an understatement.*

A brown tabby approached the black cat. "What are we going to do about *them*, Juniperstar?" he asked the black cat, pointing at Whitefly and Bumblebee.

The cat named Juniperstar shrugged, "Kill them, the longer they live, the longer Nightshade's memory will stay in this Clan."

A light orange-red cat flexed his claws. "Shall I do it?"

"I was thinking not, but to prove that you are still loyal, I would say yes," Juniperstar nodded. "Mothwhisker, come here and take them to another clearing.

A dark-striped tom bounded over to Whitefly, he grabbed Bumblebee too, and dragged them out of the camp. *Anyone, please help!* Whitefly prayed, but all he got was a flash of pain.

Whitefly shut his eyes, and let himself be dragged across the fallen leaves and twigs scattered on the forest floor, they scratched at his fur and ripped at his flesh. He shut his eyes tighter, and tried to fall asleep, and wake up to see that Nightshade hadn't gone, and he wasn't going to be killed.

He was so worked up in his thoughts that he did not expect the sharp claws that raked across his neck. He tried to squeak in pain, but all that came up was a bubble of blood. His vision was clouded and he couldn't feel his body. *Death? Now?"*

He seemed to seize up, drifting away from earth. He dared to open his eyes, and found that he was floating towards the stars. He twisted around to search for Bumblebee, finding her right beside her.

"Wow..." Bumblebee whispered when she opened her eyes.

"I know," Whitefly agreed.

They were so close to the stars that they seemed to form the shapes of cats. One of them, a tiny ginger she-cat, padded forward to stand in front of Whitefly and Bumblebee.

"My name... is Creek," The she-cat announced, she tilted her head. "It looks like you are almost as young as me."

"You are younger than us," Whitefly noted.

"Yes, I was dead before I was born," Creek agreed. "But I don't mind, I can still help my mother, Juniperstar to find the best futures for her."

"I saw Juniperstar," Bumblebee piped up. "She was the one who ordered us to be killed!"

Creek looked aghast, "She did? I should of known!" She then calmed down, "The spirits of the cats who once lived don't know everything. You two will be joining us in a few minutes."

Whitefly felt Bumblebee brush her tail along his spine, "Let's go."

Creek lead them to the shimmering mass of cats, they introduced themselves to the two littermates. A silver tom called for quiet, then stepped out of the crowd to see Whitefly and Bumblebee.

"That's Moon Roots," Creek whispered, nudging them forward to meet the tom. "He was the first cat to arrive here."

"Welcome to StarClan," Moon Roots said in a deep, rich voice. Whitefly thought that he might as well have been a lion. "StarClan is where the many spirits come, we are the spirits of dead cats. We help the living cats in need such as sending them visions or prophecies."

An old blue-gray tabby bounded past Moon Roots. "StarClan does not know everything, we do not control the living cats, you must remember that."

"We will," Whitefly promised, then to Creek, "Who is she?"

"Storm Sky."

Storm Sky twitched her tail, motioning Whitefly and Bumblebee to follow her. "This is our hunting ground," she pointed her tail at a softly glowing patch of sky, that had trees and shrubs growing, with soft green grass covering the rest of the grounds.

"May we find Nightshade?" Bumblebee asked.

"If she was here, she would of shown herself to you," Storm Sky raised an eyebrow.

"So...she isn't here?" Bumblebee sighed, crestfallen.

"You can still watch over her," Storm Sky told her, "We can also visit living cats in their dreams."

"How?"

"Will it," Storm Sky answered simply.

"Thank you," Whitefly said politely, then to Bumblebee, "Hunt?"

"Yes."

The two spirits bounded into the lush undergrowth of StarClan's hunting grounds. The sun disappeared, making their pelts shine as bright as the other spirits. *Two new stars,* Whitefly thought, gazing around, *in the sky.*

## Chapter 4

Waterstream was patrolling the border alone at night. She heard an owl make a noise far into the night, and the rustling of bushes. Waterstream was not the tiniest bit nervous, and knew that it was only prey, and nothing to worry about. She paced around the oak tree that marked the border, gazing at the land around it. The night was silent, except for the rushing sound of the river near the camp. No one was about to attack. Waterstream yawned. She was a bit tired, but knew that Juniperstar would never forgive her if she fell asleep on night patrol, and that she would earn plenty of rest at dawn, although it was still a long time away. She had only started the patrol a little while ago.

"Help me!" Waterstream heard a very muffled stream, and her ears perked. She heard the noise again, and decided it wouldn't hurt to investigate. The cat in trouble seemed to be close to the river. When the sound came again, Waterstream was alarmed, and rushed over to the river. A small cream cat the size of an apprentice was struggling to fight the river's currents, and was sinking into the water. *Well, I can swim. I'll save her!* Waterstream thought, plunging into the water.

The cold water of the river startled her, but as she used her long legs to paddle through the water, she soon could almost reach the cat. Her tiny head bobbed up and down the water, until Waterstream saw it disappear. *No!* she gasped to herself. Waterstream could only take a breath, and dive down the water herself.

With her eyes shut and her mouth closed, not breathing, Waterstream dove into the water. As she forced herself to stretch her eyes open, a stinging sensation filled them, making her close them again. She shook herself, and opened them again. *I'll save her!* she vowed to no one in particular. Her long gray legs pushed through the strong current. Waterstream's legs hit a rock, and she felt the fur tear. She gasped in pain, and her head rose to the surface. After catching her breath, she leaped down once again.

*I've got you!* Waterstream was relieved when her teeth met the young cat's scruff. She dragged herself to shore, and then started licking the kit fiercely heedless to the pain that was stabbing in her left hind leg. The little she-kit coughed up some water, and shook her head, spraying water everywhere.

"Are...you okay?" Waterstream asked nervously.

"Yes," she whispered. "thank you for saving me."

"Do you have parents? What is your name?" Waterstream stroked her flank with a paw.

"No, I don't have parents. At least I don't think I do. Also, my name is Nightshade."

Nightshade crept up to Waterstream's belly and snuggled up close. Waterstream purred, and licked her ear. *I wonder why she doesn't have parents. My sister and my mother died...but it might be better. I remember the sorrow I felt when they died. I hope that she didn't feel pain.* Suddenly, Waterstream remembered something. *I'm supposed to be patrolling!* she glanced down at the small kit. *I'm not sure I should leave her. If I take her to Juniperstar, what would happen?* Waterstream made up her mind. She would take Nightshade to Juniperstar.

"Nightshade?" Waterstream prompted quietly. Nightshade was sleeping, her belly rising and falling slowly.

Nightshade blinked. "Yes?"

"I-I belong in a Clan. I have to go."

Nightshade looked up at her, hurt. "But..."

"Do you want to come with me?" Waterstream asked gently, running her soft furred tail along Nightshade's flank.

"Okay."

*Let's hope that SpyClan or any rogues didn't come. Juniperstar would kill me if they did and I didn't notice,* Waterstream thought, while she and Nightshade walked back to camp. As they neared the camp, Nightshade suddenly stopped and sniffed the air, and crouched down, shoulder fur bristling. "Where are we going?" she demanded, sounding scared.

Waterstream was puzzled. "My camp."

"No! I'm not coming with you. I remember this scent. Th-Three cats attacked me yesterday. This is a trap!" Nightshade stared at Waterstream accusingly.

"Nightshade. No one attacked you. Just follow me," Waterstream was getting impatient, but when Nightshade didn't move, she sighed. "Do you want to come or not? You won't be attacked here." Reluctantly, Nightshade followed.

"Juniperstar!" Waterstream called out. "I found a new cat by the borders."

Duskblaze walked out of the den and paused. "A new cat? What are we going to do with her?"

"I don't know," Juniperstar said. "What do you want to do with her, Duskblaze?"

"Well, I don't think we should kill her," he said slowly, gazing at the new cat. "I think we should let her stay here."

It took a lot of convincing, but soon Duskblaze led Nightshade to the warriors den. Waterstream was shocked. *I thought that these cats were going to want to kill her. Instead...Duskblaze seems happy enough to take her.* she purred. Nightshade wouldn't live without a home.

The next morning, Brambleshadow was awake at dawn. Waterstream thought that he disliked Nightshade very much, and that was proved when he sent out the very next patrol. "Nightshade, I want you to go hunting alone by the SpyClan border."

"But...I don't know how to hunt. And I don't know where the SpyClan border is," Nightshade said softly.

Brambleshadow twitched his ears in annoyance. "Then learn. Duskblaze, since you were the one who got us into taking her in, you can go teach her." Duskblaze seemed happy enough to do it, and soon Brambleshadow started organizing more patrols.

Waterstream flexed her claws. She and her mate, Mothwhisker, were already on the moor where they were patrolling, a moon after Nightshade had joined the Clan. There was an orange tom off in the distance, though it didn't seem necessary to fight him. The moor wasn't their territory, and he left a moment later with a small gray rabbit dangling from his jaws.

"Waterstream...are you sure we should let that new cat stay?" Mothwhisker turned around and questioned.

"Of course!" Waterstream blinked her soft blue eyes. "Why not?"

Mothwhisker hissed. "Are you not worried about her and Duskblaze having kits? That'll make Juniperstar *really* angry."

Waterstream found her shoulder fur bristling. "She's the size of a kit and the age of an apprentice. Duskblaze is already a young warrior. Do you seriously find the possible?"

"Nightshade learns fast. She'll be a warrior soon." Mothwhisker shrugged.

Waterstream allowed her mind to wander back when Nightshade had told the DarkClan deputy she didn't know where the SpyClan border was and she didn't know how to hunt. But now she was an excellent hunter, and brought back prey almost every day. She sighed. "I don't know. Nightshade and Duskblaze can become mates, but like us, she won't have kits."

Mothwhisker looked at her sharply. "You seem to be saying that you *are* expecting kits!" *Great StarClan, did I really sound like that? I'm loyal to DarkClan. I wouldn't have kits!* Instead of saying that, she just glared at him, and they finished the patrol.

That night, Waterstream was thinking about what her mate had told her, when Nightshade creeped up to her. "Can I sleep with you?" she asked. "The apprentice's den is too cold."

"Of course," Waterstream replied. *I won't let her live without a home. She has to be happy here. My life was full of disappointment when my sister and parents died. That is something I won't let happen to Nightshade.*

## Chapter 5

Droplet padded through the forest. It was dark, but he wasn't able to sleep. A few clouds were in the sky, and there was a full moon. Stars shined like diamonds in the sky. Droplet gazed at them, not looking where he was going. He fell into a river. Droplet hissed, shaking his fur. *I hate water! I should have looked where I was going.*

Droplet slept under a tree. He could feel his fur drying in the moonlight. He saw a black and gray tom, and a ginger tabby tom. A brown tabby she-cat was behind.

"Hi, Droplet. I'm Meadow, and this is Shadow," the ginger tabby beckoned to the black and gray tom. "The she-cat is Cypress." Meadow beckoned to the she-cat.

"H-hi," Droplet stuttered.

"Don't be scared, Droplet. We are friendly. We have no intentions of hurting you," Cypress said. Her amber eyes looked friendly. Droplet relaxed. *I didn't even think they were going to hurt me. I'm anxious about meeting strangers.* Droplet gazed at the cats again. Then he blinked. Cypress, Meadow, and Shadow disappeared. *That was strange.*

Droplet started walking. All of a sudden, he smelt something. *I recognize this smell. I don't know what it is though.* He kept walking. *I wish Dusty and Sunny were here with me. I desperately need them! I'm so scared.* Sunny and Dusty were Droplet's littermates. One day, while hunting, the two had run into the leader of DarkClan, named Juniperstar. Juniperstar asked if the three wanted to join DarkClan. Droplet and Sunny refused, but Dusty agreed. That's when it hit Droplet. *Oh StarClan, I'm on DarkClan territory!*

## Chapter 6

Flame hissed, and leaped at the white cat, he sank his teeth into the cat's fur. His friends, Stripes and Lemon, jumped on top of the intruder too.

Diamond rushed to her friends' aid, shoving the cat off Stripes. Flame thanked her with a flick of his tail, but the intruding cat was whipping out snowballs from nowhere.

"Diamond, watch out!" Lemon and Flame yelled together. Diamond rolled out of the way and slashed the intruder's nose. He howled in fury but whisked around and disappeared.

"Great job Diamond, you did it!" Stripes called, but he promptly collapsed onto the ground. Lemon groaned.

A rustling of leaves alerted them, but it was only their other friends, Snake, Needle, Nugget, Wave, Ice, Plum, Midnight, Fruity, and Galaxy.

"We saw you chase away that cat, it was amazing!" Wave crowed.

Diamond licked her chest, Flame placed his tail on her shoulder. "There is still a lot of bad cats," He told his friends.

Galaxy's eyes lit up, "We should start a Clan dedicated to stop evil."

"That was my idea too," Needle agreed.

"I agree, we should do it," Flame nodded. "Who's going to be leader?"

"I nominate you," Galaxy pointed her tail to Flame. The others agreed, "Who's going to be deputy?" Wave called.

"I'll decide later," Flame sighed.

"We won't bother you," Midnight promised.

Flame shot her a grateful look, then said, "We should go hunt." He then turned around and bounded into the undergrowth.

When the newly formed Clan gathered together to share their prey, Snake shared his suggestion, "We should name our Clan, and we could change our names to show that we are different from other cats."

"Excellent!" Ice agreed. He motioned for Flame to stand up. "Give us our Clan name."

"Well," Flame stuttered, "GreatClan?"

Snake snorted and Nugget rolled his eyes so Flame tried again, "SpyClan."

"Better," Wave answered. Midnight, Nugget, Ice, and Diamond all agreed. "So SpyClan it is," Flame flicked his tail.

"Our new Clan names," Ice prompted.

"Al-Alright," Flame nodded. "Snake, from this moment, you will be known as-"

"Call me "Snakethorn"," Snake interrupted. Flamestar had been thinking of "Snaketail."

"Okay, Snakethorn, I welcome you as a full member of SpyClan," Flame announced. "Nugget, from this moment, you will be known as Nuggetclaw, I welcome you as a full member of SpyClan."

Lemon was given the name, Lemonstorm. Needle became Needlefur, Wave became Waveheart, Ice became Icefeather, Plum became Plumleap, Midnight became Nightwillow, Diamond became Diamondshine, Fruity became Rainbreeze, and Galaxy became Silvershine.

"What about you?" Snakethorn asked.

"There is a legend about a Clan called StarClan," Flame explained, "Cats who die will go to their. Well, their spirits do."

"So?" Nuggetclaw snorted.

"If I am right about it, then I should now be called "Flamestar"," Flame told him.

"Flamestar, Flamestar, Flamestar!" his clanmates cheered.

"Now, It is time for me to appoint a deputy," Flamestar went on. "The new deputy of SpyClan will be Snakethorn."

Snakethorn purred, then licked Flamestar's fur. "Thank you," he whispered to his leader.

"We need to build our camp, we don't have much now," Flamestar called. He directed the constructions with Snakethorn adding ideas.

Moons and moons had passed since SpyClan had started when Flamestar realized something. The Clan didn't have a medicine cat, and there wasn't a cat who could take on that role. So the next morning, he announced that the Clan had to have a cat who could be the medicine cat, one that knew about healing.

They had a new kit, Wildkit, which his Clanmates had help nurse to strength. It had been hard, so needing a medicine cat would be more crucial to Clan survival.

"He's right," Silvershine agreed. Flamestar felt a surge of affection towards her. Silvershine looked around, "No one can be a medicine cat?"

"None of us have any experience with herbs or kitting," Nightwillow answered.

"*I* know a cat who has some experience in healing," Silvershine suddenly spoke up.

"Who?" Diamondshine asked.

"A loner named Moss," Silvershine twitched her tail. "She knows a lot of useful healing herbs and tricks."

"We should asked her if she can join us," Waveheart called.

"Alright, Snakethorn, Silvershine, and..."

"I'll go," Icefeather cut him off.

"Very well," Flamestar agreed, "You three may go."

When Moss was asked if she would be their medicine cat, she was very nervous but agreed. Flamestar gave her the name "Mossleaf".

One day, Silvershine approached Flamestar. "I'm about to have kits."

"Who's?"

"Your's."

"Mine?" Flamestar widened his eyes.

"I love you," Silvershine purred.

"I like you too," Flamestar whispered. He noticed that Silvershine's belly was almost touching the ground. "You should get to the nursery den, I'll fetch Nightwillow and Waveheart to help you."

"Yes, I would like that," Silvershine nudged his shoulder, then slowly walked towards the nursery den. "Nightwillow, Waveheart, I need you two to help Silvershine make her den in the nursery."

"So she's having kits?" Snakethorn stepped up next to Flamestar.

"Yes, mine."

"Great."

A few weeks later, Mossleaf got the sign that Silvershine was going to have kits very, *very* soon.

"It looks normal," He said, running his paws along Silvershine's belly. "Give a push," Mossleaf told Silvershine.

"Good," Flamestar ran his tail along his mate's side.

Silvershine sighed, then one by one, gave birth to four kits.

"What are you going to name them?" Mossleaf asked.

Silvershine pointed to a dark gray tom with pale gray stripes, "Stonekit." She then pointed to a brown she-kit, "Hazelkit." She finally nudged a pale gray she-kit, "Riverkit."

The newly named Hazelkit seemed to be weakening, "Help her!" Flamestar cried.

Mossleaf scooped up Hazelkit and buried her into Silvershine's nest, "Warm her and get her lots of milk."

Silvershine wrapped her paw around Hazelkit and started to groom her, placing her first to start drinking milk. Flamestar placed Stonekit and Riverkit next to Silvershine's belly.

Mossleaf peered closely at Hazelkit, "She'll survive."

"Thank you, Mossleaf, you truly are a great medicine cat," Flamestar congratulated Mossleaf.

*New Clan, new members, new kin.*

## Chapter 9

Thorn clawed her way out of her sleep, muttering grimly. Leaf-bare had come, and her kits were here too.

She shook her mate, Dagger's shoulder to wake him.

"What?" He groaned.

"My kits," she whispered, pointing to two wrigling shapes in her nest.

"Why didn't you tell me?" He exclaimed.

Thorn sighed, "You were tired."

"I'll go get some prey," Dagger swished his tail, "You can tell me their names afterwards."

Thorn agreed, settling down back into her nest. Her kits started to suckle her belly. *The cream she-cat will be Shatter, the dark tom will be Jagged.*

Dagger brought back two mice, he pushed a mouse towards his mate, Thorn gave an affectionate purr.

"What are their names?" Dagger asked.

Thorn pointed to her kits, "Shatter and Jagged."

"Interesting names," Dagger commented.

"Exactly."

A sudden rush of paws woke Thorn at dawn, a group of cats were thundering towards them.

"Hey!" a brown she-cat called. "What are you two doing in our territory?"

"This is *our* home," Dagger, now awake, snarled back.

"Then *you will leave. **NOW***," a white cat with black stripes commanded.

Thorn's fur started to bristle but she nudged Dagger, "We can't fight all of them."

"But-"

"We can find another place," she urged, turning around and sprinting towards her kits. She grabbed Shatter and Jagged and began to run away from the new cats. Dagger chased after her. Thorn did not notice that she dropped Jagged, only until she was tired.

"I dropped Jagged!" she cried.

"What!" Dagger's fur stood up on end, "What if the other cats took him!"

"We should see," Thorn picked Shatter back up from a pile of leaves. They retraced their steps, following the scent of cat.

"Here," Dagger parted a few leaves away from a birch tree, "This seems like their camp."

A flame colored cat was pacing around the brown she-cat Thorn and Dagger had met. "You took their kit? SpyClan doesn't do these things," He asked.

"The she-cat dropped him," a white she-cat pleaded, "He's newly born and needs milk."

Thorn watched Jagged play with the other kits, "He seems happy with the others," she whispered to her mate. Dagger grunted, but didn't say a thing.

Another cat spoke up, a ginger she-cat with yellow eyes, "We should be able to manage him."

"Besides," the brown she-cat added, "His parents are probably long gone."

"It's their fault that they ran," the white and black tom muttered.

"Snakethorn!" the brown she-cat chided.

"Flamestar," the white she-cat pleaded again, "Let him stay."

Flamestar heaved a great sigh, "*Very* well, we will need to name him."

"I have an idea."

Flamestar turned towards the speaker, a silver tabby she-cat. "Yes, Plumleap?"

"Wildkit."

"Good choice," Snakethorn agreed.

Thorn's fur began to bristle again, but Dagger laid his tail along her back, comforting her. It was one of the many things Thorn loved about him, why she chose him as her mate.

"We should go," he pressed his muzzle to Thorn's shoulder.

They chose a spot far away from SpyClan's scent and settled down, creating their den before long. Shatter was playful, like all kits, her first sentence out of her mouth was: "Was I born alone?"

Thorn and Dagger had exchanged looks, but Thorn was the one who spoke, "No, you were born alongside another kit, a tom. But he's lost to us."

"He's not alive?" Shatter asked.

"We don't know," Dagger answered, then gave his daughter a small lick.

Thorn and Dagger snuck looks into SpyClan's camp a few more times, Dagger proposed that they bring Shatter to check on SpyClan the next time. Thorn agreed.

The sun was nearly down when the three peeked through the birch leaves. The SpyClan cats were bustling around, getting ready for the night. Shatter's purr comforted Thorn, more than Dagger's tail, or a rogue's life. It held hope and happiness, raising a new generation, even though Jagged, now Wildkit, would be so hard to reach to. She rubbed her kit's forehead gently with her paw, Dagger twining his tail with her's.

Thorn reflected on her life. She had always been a rogue, and would always be.

## Chapter 10

Rainbreeze was lying on the soft grass with her mate, Nuggetclaw. They were sharing a mouse when Nuggetclaw was called out by Plumleap. She wanted him to look at the warriors den, which had a hole in the roof. Rainbreeze knew that the hole probably was where Nuggetclaw slept, otherwise he wouldn't be looking to irritable when he stalked away, tail twitching in annoyance. She closed her eyes again. She would finish the mouse when Nuggetclaw returned. As Rainbreeze let the sun warm her soft belly, she felt like she was being stared at. She opened her eyes, and saw Mossleaf surveying her body with a look of interest.

"Rainbreeze, come over to my den, if you don't mind," Mossleaf instructed, her green gaze not leaving her belly. Rainbreeze nodded, and padded over to where Mossleaf disappeared under the smooth, large stone, making a cave for her to put her herbs.

"Did you want to talk about anything?" Rainbreeze asked.