SwiftFoot :The Begining

Prologue
I woke up to firm paw steps outside,  before I got up I looked around to see that everyone was in the bush, they were and Fern, Berry and Oak were all awake clearly hearing the noise too. I got up slowly, knowing my sliver pelt shown in the moonlight, Berry who had a pitch black pelt went low almost invisible in the dark, and slowly moved up and took a look, hissing under her breath before slowly making her way back into the bush. She came over to me and Fern who where now huddled close together and said "Rats.." I held my breath, Berry moved over to our parents and woke them telling them what was happening her voice could almost not be heard. I went into a fighters crouch and waited. The paw steps became louder and I started to see the shadow on the light snow. I waited till I saw its ugly muzzle then I pounced landing squarely on its back and rake it with my claws. It bucked me off and jumped on me and bit my shoulder until its teeth touched. I let out a yowl of pain. Fern came running and bit the rat in the neck for a swift kill. I got up and ignored the extreme pain, I couldn't just leave my family to fight seven rats! I ran and bit the rat holding onto Berry's tail and I killed it in one blow. I turned to go help the next cat when I saw that they were all dead. I fell to the ground painting my shoulder bleeding so much that it could mean death. My eyes were glazed in pain as Fern ran like lightning to the bush and grabbed Marigold, Cobwebs, and  Poppy Seeds from the corner of the bush and ran back quickly placing them on my wounds. I flinched as I felt them touch my wound but I knew it had to be done. My shoulder wouldn't stop bleeding, and it soaked through the cobwebs and dripped off. Fern panicked but didn't dare show it, she ran for more cobwebs and soon we got the bleeding to stop I was very dizzy though becuase I had still lost alot of blood and I slept for a long time that night.

              Chapter 1
    I woke up to the smell of prey as I opened my eyes I saw my older sisters Berry and Fern grooming , my older brother Oak still sleeping, And my mom Cream and my dad Acorn were nowhere to be seen. I got up and stretched I tried to find the prey that woke me but I guessed it was the finished prey of my sisters, I asked "Wheres mom and dad?" Fern answered "There out hunting." I nodded and sat grooming myself. My mom Cream had had to litters one with Oak, Fern, and Berry and the other with me and my other sister Meadow who died shortly after she was born because of a harsh Leaf - Bare. Then a noise behind me made me look, my brother Oak was just waking, I got up and padded over to him and touched my nose to his shoulder. " Good morning Oak." I purred, we had been the close's of all the siblings. "Good morning Swift." He purred back. Then the fresh scent of prey hit my nose and I turned as my mom and dad padded into the shelter of the huge bush, both had prey dangling from their jaws. I got up and I took a mouse my favorite and padded over to Oak and asked "Do you want to share?" He said "Thanks Swift but im going to go hunt." I filled with joy "Can I come?! I'm already 6 moons old!" He laughed "Not this time Swift, not in Leaf Bare, but when New leaf come's I promise to teach you." I sighed he was right we could not waste any prey even if it was almost New Leaf and there was 4 other rouges that lived near us that shared prey with with us as long as we hunted some for them as well. I licked his shoulder as he padded out of the bush and out into the light snow of Great Oaks. Then Berry said "Swift, you should get a little more sleep the rat bite dosen't look like its fully healed yet." She reminded me. I nodded my shoulder was a little sore, so i curled up in my nest again and drifted back to  sleep. When i woke up Oak was not back yet and my sister's were out looked for herbs just incase my shoulder didn't heal right. I heard a noise from outside the bush, thinking it was Oak i padded out of the bush my paws became  cold in the light snow, i waited not thinking to smell the air when out of nowhere five clan cats started to run at me the lead one going for me and the others going for the bush. Before i had time to think a cat ramed my side and pined me, before i knew it sharp claws dug into my shoulders and i let out a yowl of pain. As I tryed to get free he hissed at me and spat "Why are you here!" I hissed and said "Becuase this is are home! Let us go!" "Not on ThunderClan's territory" He spat, then i hissed back and said "were not on Thunder Tribe-- I mean Thunder Clans territory were on River Clans!" His eyes were slits and he said "keep them there im takeing this one" He pointed with his tail to me "To BrightStar." My parents knew better then to fight with clan cats so all they could do was hiss when they heard this. At that he jumped off his claws still unshethd and ordered "You will go nowhere but where i tell you or you're crow food!" I looked back at my family who nodded for me to go, so i went wondering where he was taking me

                                       Chapter 2
Before i knew it i was padding into the Thunder Clan camp. As we walked in everyone stopped talking and glared at me everything was silent, then a powerful voice broke the silent's "Who's this?" A she cats voice ordered from the den under the high rock "I found her and her family sheltering at Four Trees BrightStar." I thought to myself Four Trees? Dose he mean Great Oaks? But my thoughts were broken by the BrightStar's Voice again "Was she on our part of Four Trees?" The tom looked at his paws and meowed "N..No but i still thought i should tell you..." BrightStar turned her gaze to me and i met it, then she asked "Why were you at Four Trees?" I tried to act brave as i meowed "My family and I live in the shelter of a bush there, and when the thing you call a "Gathering" Happens we have permission from River Clan to dubble back into their territory till your thing ends then we go back." The leaders gaze turned back to the tom and she meowed "Take her back and let them go, this is River Clans problem not ours." at that she turned and walk off soon I couldn't even see her, and before i knew it I was back to my family, my sisters and Oak were now in the circle as well. The tom made a signal with his tail to tell the warriors to release them and I sprinted over to them and the showered me with licks, Oak stepped in front of me and said in a powerful voice "Leave!" The warriors glared at us and padded away. Then Oak turned to me and meowed "What happened!" I told them the story and they all showered me with praise at being so brave i felt so embarrassed.  Then Fern chewed up some marigold and put it on the cuts in my shoulders and put cobweb over it saying "That should help it heal faster."  I sat back up looking out of the den as the last lights in the sky diapered and the first stars of Silver Pelt could be seen. That night I did not sleep much because i was thinking about all that had happened, I didn't not like the clans but the way the acted to me and my family was not drawing me in. When dawn came I sat up my shoulders were stiff but i tried to ignore it. I looked around and saw that everyone was still sleeping and that Fern was shaking. When mom woke up i told her how i saw the Fern was shaking and that i was sure everyone was cold she sighed and said "We were not going to tell you unless it came to this but.. Leaf Bares to hard on you and I cant bare to see anymore of you die because of it.." She turned to Acorn and he finished for her "The other day RiverClan asked us to join.. I said i was going to think about it and i have come to a decision.. I think we are going to join RiverClan." Berry jumped to her paws and yowled "WHAT!? WHERE LEAVING THIS NICE LIVE!?" Fern tried to calm her and Cream answered "I'm only asking that you try it Berry, we are leaving now." Then she got up and padded out of the shelter of the bush Acorn followed, Fern and I were close behind, Berry brought up the rear not happy about this at all. Before we knew it we where at the front of RiverClan camp and Acorn stepped up and meowed "SunStar, we would like to join.

               Chapter 3
SunStar smiled and said "I hoped you would, if you would sit we will have a clan meeting." My father nodded but I was confused, by the looks of it my siblings were too. Then out of nowhere the leader yowled "All cats old enough to swim the rapid's gather beneath the wet rock for a clan meeting!" Every cat padded over other then the kits and sat turning their gaze ether to the leader or to us. Then the leader meowed "We have a rouge family that wish's to join us. Acorn, Cream please step forward." My mother and Father stepped up and the leader continued "May Star Clan look down on this rouge family and approve of my chose." Then she turned to Cream and Acorn and said " Cream, Acorn do you both promise to uphold the warrior code and to protect the your clan and clan mates even at the cost of your own life's?" Cream met her gaze and said in a firm voice "I do." and Acorn echoed her replied Then the leader said "Then from this moment on your new name is CreamFur and BrownTail." Everyone started chanting "CreamFur! BrownTail! CreamFur! BrownTail!" Then my parents stepped back and she turned her gaze to Fern "Fern, Please step forward." My sister stepped up smiling " Fern, do you promise to uphold the warrior code and to protect you clan and clan mates even at the cost of your own life?" Fern meowed "I do!" the leader smiled "Then from this moment on your new name is FernLeap." Everyone Chanted "FernLeap! FernLeap! FernLeap!" Then she turned to Oak and Berry and said "Oak, Berry please step forward." Then she said "Do you both promise to uphold the warrior code and to protect your clan and clan mates even at the cost of your life's?" Oak said" I do!" and Berry just nodded "Then from this moment on your new names will be OakHeart and BerryStep." Everyone Chanted " BerryStep! OakHeart! BerryStep! OakHeart" Then they stepped back and she turned to me and meowed "Swift, Please step forward." I move forward I could almost not keep my joy to myself then she looked at me and meowed "Swift, you are to young to become a warrior so your going to become a apprentice." Then she meowed " You are now 6 moons old and old enough to become a apprentice from this moment on until you earn your warrior name you will be SwiftPaw." Everyone Chanted "SwiftPaw! SwiftPaw! SwiftPaw!" I felt very embarrassed at the praise and I step back with my family. Then the leader meowed  "SwiftPaw, you will need a mentor to help you train to become a warrior I will mentor you." Then she said "Meeting Dismissed." And she gingerly jump down from high rock and padded over to me, all my family was getting congratulated and then the leader said to me "Lets go train." I nodded and padded out of the camp behind my leader. She said "We are going to do fighting." when we got to a good place to fight she stopped and turned to face me "Now try to hit me." She saw I had my claws unsheathed "No claws." She laughed. I sheathed my claws and laughed to and then meowed "it was just instinct." She smiled and meowed "Ok now try to hit me." I ran at her making it look like i was going to jump on her back, then I slid under her pushing at her belly making her lose her paw hold and pined her. I jump off, and she meowed "That was very good SwiftPaw" After training till sun high she said "Ok that's good for today." We were both a little sore after all the fighting. When we got back I layed down on a rock to sun myself after all the fighting I was tired, in the end I fell asleep. When I woke up it was dark and the first stars of Silver Pelt could be seen, I got up and padded to the apprentice den but I had to pass the warriors den on the way. When I was going passed it I felt sharp teeth dig into my scruff and pull me into the warriors den I turned on my heels my claws flexing when my eyes adjusted to the darkness I saw it was just BerryStep, I said "What in Star Clan was that for!?" She meowed "Shhh!! keep it down!! SwiftPaw... I..I'm leaving..." I gasped "You can't! " my voice cracked. She answered "Mom only said i had to try it. SwiftPaw you know im not a Clan cat im a loner."  I meowed "I..I know please come and visit.." She smiled and meowed "I will I promise." At that she went low and sprinted out of the camp her black pelt making her almost invisable in the dark and she was gone.

                                        Chapter 4
Fern and I were on the dawn patrol, just us for a change. It had been two moons after BerryStep left the clans and after we joined them then we heard a twig snap behind a bush and we both went into a fighters crouch b then out for the bush came the 4 rouges that we used to share prey with! two went for me and two for Fern. Before I had time to fight back I was pined by both of them and I tried to get free, Fern was holding her ground and was clawing at them. Then one of the rouges hissed "you left us for the clan!? Well now your going to die!" One of the ones that pined my went to go for the kill at the neck but I was to fast I ducked my head in but not far enough and his claws ripping a quarter of my left ear off and I let out a yowl of extreme pain as I felt the blood stream out of my ear just after that I got free and i was about to go help FernLeap when they pushed her off the side of the gorge! I heard her yowl of horror ring through my ears. The rouges ran away happy that the would at lest really hurt her and I run to the side of the gorge when I looked down, I Let out a yowl of horror as I saw that she missed the water and hit the bank and the fall killed her. Just then I heard a sound behind me and I turn fast thinking it was the rouges again but I was wrong it was Berry! I ran to her and buried my muzzle in her belly fur. She gave me a comforting lick and I looking trying to find a way to get to FernLeap's body. Then I saw a way down on WindClans side, I didn't care what would happen to me so I ran over the border and to the opening in the ground and I ran down it I look knowing I could swim I jumped into the water and let the current carry me untill I saw a bit of bank that I could pull myself up onto. After I got up I ran as fast as I could down the bank till I got to FernLeap's body. I droped to the ground and I buryed my muzzle into her fur, Berry steped up behind me and meowed "Do you want me to help you bring her back to the camp?" I was to sad to anwser so i just nodded my head and got onto my shakey paws. Berry grabed FernLeap's scruff and held her as she wondered how she was going to swim across without droping FernLeap's body, I meowed in a shakey voice "I'll help you." I shank my teeth into FernLeap's scruff and we jumped into the water letting the current carry us till we could claw up onto the bank. When we padded into camp with FernLeap's limp body in Berry's jaws CreamFur let out a yowl of sarrow and pain and BrownTail tryed to comfert her Oak, knowing that I was in deep sorrow came and licked my ear comfertly. Berry put FernLeap's body down and toughed her nose to her shoulder mummbleing something under her breath, then padded out of he camp her tail drooped. SunStar came up to me and asked "How did it happen?" I told her the story and OakHeart's tail moved fast in fury "I'll teach those rouges someday!" He spat in fury. OakHeart looked at me his eyes softend and he moewed gently "I'll sit vigal with SwiftPaw tonight. Everone came and meowed the respects to FernLeap before padding into their dens for the night, then OakHeart and I layed down near ferns body for vigal. I layed my muzzle on her side and looking into her glazed eyes.

               Chapter 5
  It felt like only a few minutes when SunStar came out with AcornTail, EveningMist, and HoneyPatch, the elders to take FernLeap's body to be buried. I sighed, first Berry leaves, then FernLeap dies, what could come next! I got up and SunStar told me to go get some rest. As i padded over to the apprentice's den CinderPaw came up to me and touched his nose to my shoulder and meowed quietly "I'm so sorry SwiftPaw..." I didn't say anything but just looked at my paws, when I saw that he really meant it I looked up and meowed "I'm sorry im..im just in a lot of grief.." He answered "I understand SwiftPaw. Come on I'll come with you to the apprentice's den." I padded to the den with CinderPaw and when we came in there were two more apprentice's MaplePaw was sitting grooming herself and GoldPaw was curled up in a light sleep. CinderPaw said "Pick any nest you want SwiftPaw." I took the nest in the back corner near MaplePaw and as I sat down, MaplePaw looked at me as if I smelled like crow food then she said "If your going to stay there you better not meow in you're sleep or roll or your on the other side of the den!" I ignored her comment  and curled as sleep overtook me, the last thing I heard before I fell asleep was CiderPaw hissing at MaplePaw for being so mean. I woke up to GoldPaw shaking me and meowed in a pretty voice "SunStar said it's time to train." I shoke sleep from my eyes and I streched as I was blinded by the sun as I stood in the clearing. IvyWing padded up behind me and mewoed " SwiftPaw ?" I turned to her and meowed "Yes." Then she moewed "SunStar told me to tell you that MossTail found something by the Thunder Path that he needed her to look at, you get the day off from training." I nod my thanks as she pads over to a circle of warriors that were talking. When the scent of rouge hit my nose and stunk it. I jumped to my paws and turned my claws flexing, my eyes grew wide as I saw that there was eight of them. The lead one padded over to EchoStrike and hissed saying "We clam war with RiverClan!! Be prepard we will not say when but we will start war!" At that the rouges  sprinted out of the camp and back to their own. When SunStar came back with MossTail EchoStrike Sprinted over the SunStar and told her about the rouges, EchoStrike and SunStar were the only one's that knew what the rouges said. SunStar jumped onto high rock and yowled "All cats old enough to swim the rapids gather beneath the wet rock for a clan meeting!" When everone was sitting SunStar said "A rouge group has clamed war!" I gasped,and mummbles went through the camp she flicked her tail for silent's and contenude "They have not said when they will start this war but they have promsied they will start one." She scanded the crowed "We need all warriors and apprentice's to be ready to fight. From now on till the rouges start this war, all apprentice's for thier training will be doing fighting and only fighting." She looking around the at the cats to see what they throught "Also MarshKit is old eough to be a apprentice. MarshKit, You are now Six moons old and old enough to become a apprentice, From now on untill you earn your warrior name you will be known as  MarshPaw." Everone chanted "MarshPaw! MarshPaw! MarshPaw!" Then SunStar said "And your mentor will be EchoStrike. When a warrior is not training their apprentice on their fighting moves, I want them on a hunting patrol. Meeting Dissmissed " She jumped off the rock and flicked her tail towed EchoStrike and padded into her den, EchoStrike right behind her. I got up shocked at what the rouges said and I wondered by what rigths they had to start this war, but my thoughts were broken by a yowl of horror as the rouges raced into the camp, I jump to my paws as a rouge apprentice went for me, I hissed as he cuffed my ears. I jumped on his back raking it with my claws making him fall to the ground. I pined him and raked my claws at his back till he let out a yowl of pain. He pushed me off and ran to get out. I turned to see who needed help i gapsed as i saw SunStar pined to the ground by a max size tom, I ran as fast as i could to the fight and ramed the warriors side as hard as i could knocking him off SunStar i clawed hard at his belly but he was to  big and pushed me off pining me to the ground and i felt sharp claws dig into my belly. I let out a yowl of pain when SunStar, out of nowhere knock him off of me and rolled on the ground with the tom. The tom landed on top and clawed SunStars neck before i could get there. She let out a yowl of extrem pain and her body fell limp. At this EchoStrike ran to her side and started to lick her without stoping, I remember that SunStar had said that the leaders get nine lifes, why was EchoStrike so sad? Then to warriors pined EchoStrike and a Warrior pined me. EchoStrike was no match for the warriors and soon his body fell limp near his leaders. At this the rouges were happy and ran out of the camp yowling in victory.

              Chapter 6
When they had left, I jumped to my paws and ran to my leaders side, why was she not waking up?! Then I heard OakHeart step up behind me and meow "That was her last life..." I held back a yowl of sadness then I remember that EchoStrike had died too. How were we going to pick the new leader. Right after I thought this MothFlame, the Medicine Cat jumped up onto the high rock and called the meeting. After everyone was there she meowed "We have lost SunStar And EchoStrike.." There was complete silent's. I dipped my head in respect for the lost Deputy and Leader. After a few minutes MothFlame continued "Because both are Leader and Deputy have pasted, it is my duty to pick the new leader." She rested her gaze one by one on all the warriors then after a long time meowed "BrownTail, Do you accept the role of leader?" My dads eyes grew wide and then he meowed "I will take this role." MothFlame smiled and meowed "Then you are RiverClans new leader." At that MothFlame jumped down and my father jumped up, he turned to the cats and meowed "I most go get my nine lifes from MotherMouth. But before i go i need to apoint a new Deputy." He rested his gaze on OakHeart, then mewoed "OakHeart will you take the role as Deputy?" OakHeart was glarely surprised and he meowed "Of course dad-- I mean BrownTail." BrownTail smiled and then meowed "I will take, MothFlame, OakHeart, and SwiftPaw." Then her turned to GingerPelt and meowed "GingerPelt will take the over the role of Deputy till we get back." After he said this he jumped off of the high rock and flicked his tail torwd me and OakHeart, and walked into the Medicine den to get traveling herbs from MothFlame before we left. After we got the herbs we set off, MothFlame and BrownTail walked in front together, and OakHeart and I padded along behind. OakHeart whispered to me "I see you have some eyes on CinderPaw." He smirked. I looked at my paws and pawed at the dirt and meowed "N..No he's just a good friend..." He lughed and meowed "Don't worry SwiftPaw, don't tell anyone but, i have my eyes on a cat too." I looked up at him and gasped playfully and cuffed his ear. He laughed and did the same, before we knew it we were rolling around on the ground playfighting and laughing. BrownTail and MothFlame turned hearing us laughing and started to laugh when they saw that i was betting OakHeart and had him pined. Out of nowhere he kicked up knocking me off  and i rolled in the dirt, then he pined my and pawed my belly as if he was clawing me. I let out a playful hiss and pawed him. No one was baying any attenchen to what was around us becuase before we knew it we were all having fun. Thn out of a bush a HUGE warrior ramed OakHeart off me and clawed his belly i jumped to my paws but before i could move i saw that cats had serounded us and we were pened in! My ears lay flat, my back was hunched, and my lip was up in a snarl. The ctas closed in on us and the one that pined OakHeart jumped off and stood infront of BrownTail and hissed "Your coming with us." I knew that thease cats were not clan cats and there were to many of them to be rouges or loners, but they were taking us somewhere 8 cats came out of the circle and two went to each cat, one infront of them and the other behind them pushing them along. It seemed like hours when we left the marsh and onto open meadow. I looked at my brother who seemed to be struggleing after fighting with the warrior, he keeped haveing to be pushed to keep walking. I looked up and saw a huge cave up ahead and the guided us to it. When we got in the was nothing there glearly every cat in the group had been with us. When my eyes ajusted to the darkness i saw cats come out off the holes in the wall, I waas wrong there were way more cats to many to count, i saw them come toward was hissing and speting two more came to all of us, and seround was one by one, The huge circal that srounded us broke up and the four cats guied us all in deffrent derections. I hissed as i tryed to get away from the cats and to help my brother OakHeart, but it was no use they keeped me moving away from everon elas. They brought me into a dark cave and pushed me to the ground and into a nest lined with thorns. The cats pulled a thorny vine over my front paws, the thorns stuck into my pelt and skin that made it inpusible to get it off without help, they did the same to my back legs and i was stuck on the groound, in the dark, without anyone but thease cats. My legs bled a bit but not badly but everytime i trying to get free from the throny vines, the thorns just went deeper and tighter. I heard paw steps coming toward me in the dark, my eyes were adjusted to the dark now and i saw it was OakHeart and one of the cats! They throw OakHeart to the ground near me and did the same to his paws. After they left  i picked my head up and was able to lick his ear, he groned " That warrior did a toll to me..'' I sighed i knew i was useless in this cave and the start i was in, i meowed "Do you know where they took Father and MothFlame?'' He cough then meowed "No, they sepreated us when they took you here." then i thought out loud "If only we knew who thease cats were..." He turned his head toward me  and mowed "I ove heard then talking to BrownTail, they call themselfs the DarkTribe. They said that  they way we went to go to MotherMouth, the land we went throw was theres." I thought about this for a secend then moewed "But why were so many of them out? How did they know we were going to go throw their territory?" He sighed saying "They said that that was a normal patrol for them, becouse they think that if thiers alot of them the cats they find wont fight back." I nodded my head when i heard a few cats pad into the cave mouth, two went to OakHeart and The lead one to me and meowed " We are taking you so the Tribe can desid what to do to you." He smriked. Then he grabed my scruff and the other two grabed OakHearts scruff and the padded out of the cave. I kicked trying to get them to drop me but to no avail. They droped OakHeart and I ruffly on the ground infront of everone and out of the corner the pushed my father and MothFlame near us but thier legs were not tied with throny vines. When BrownTail saw us he ran over and licked us both. The leader of the tribe broke the silent's saying "We have some tresspassers." he turned to us and everone hissed. I pulled my lip up in a snarl. He continued "I need help desiding what to do with them. Warriors, Elders, And I will vote." He moewed "Elders, Please step foward to vote." After about 10 Cats had step foward, he nodded to one and he spoke in a raspy voice "Keep them here and use them for hunting." The other elders acrred and they all steped back. The warriors step up there was about 15 of them. The huge warrior that had pined OakHeart step up and meowed "Keep them here and starve them!" The leaders eyes rested on him and meowed "Do the rest of the warriors accre with this?" The warriors looked at eachother then at us then back t the leader. One by one they all nodded their heads in accrement. then the leader turned to us and meowed "Then i have come to a dishison. We will do both, they will bring the prey to everone but will starve!" My eyes grew wide and my dad jumped to his paws his fur brisaling and he yowled "Leave my Family alone!" A warrior mold hime to the groun and pin him down. Then he turned back and meowed "We are finished here. Leader of Hunting you will tell them to what they will have to bring prey to and when, and how much to bring." At that he jumped down and padded away the leader pf hunting came over to us with two pther warriors the warriors pulled the vines off are legs and pushed us to are feet he meowed pointing with his tail to me "You will bring prey to the warriors" He turned to my brother "You to the kits and queens." Then her turned to my dad and MothFlame "And you will bring prey to the trainers and the leader. You will also have to take the prey that the warriors bring back form a hunt and put it in the pile." He fliked his tail to a pile of fresh kill "Now go bring them all prey." He turned with his warriros and padded out of the cave. I knew i could to nothing other then what they said so i padded over the to fresh kill and grabed as much as i could holc (4 prey) And padded over to the cave i saw the warriors pad into. When i got in i droped the prey infront of Four deffrent warriors and went to pad out when a warrior blocked my way he meowed "You'll never starve im talking to the leader about a deffrent punishment on top of this one!" At that he sprinted out of the den and i went to go get some more fresh kill. After all the warriors had had thier fill the leader called every cat to a tribe meeting. I was brought infront were we had sat last time but my family did not join me. I looked around and saw that they were coming. When we all were there he meowed "A warrior has brought to my attenchen that this trainy sized cat here" He pointed to me with his tail "Is taking the punishment of starvation alot easyer then the rest. So i have made a deshion. She shall train as a trainy!"

                                     Chapter 7
I looked up in shock, did he want me to join the tribe!? He jumped down and a warrior padded up to me and meowed "We will go train now. Come!" He pushed me along out of the cave and to the open meadow we had to pass throw to get there. When he stopped pushing me, he went in front of me and he started telling me some moves. They were a lot different then the ones we do back in the clan, and i had no chose but to train. After training for half the day for quit a few days, the leader called the tribe together. He brought OakHeart to the front with me, OakHeart looked even worse then the last time i had saw him. Then the leader meowed "This Trainee will have to fight with this cat to the death!" His voice rang throughout the cave and my dad jumped to his paws but a few warriors stopped him from coming to us "If they don't fight she will be killed!" A warrior step to the front of the group of cats and stood watching me.  OakHeart looked at me in shock. I turned to the leader and hissed "Ill never fight him!" The leaders eyes were slits and meowed "very well you both die." To warriors ran at us and pined was down they put a paw on are necks and leader meowed " Are you sure?" Then OakHeart said "Don't kill her i..ill fight." The warriors jumped off was and i scrambled to my paws. I looked at him my eyes full of sorrow and he ran at me pining me to the ground. His claws dug into my shoulders and he fake bites my shoulder whispering "Play along in the end ill just knock you out.." I let out a fake yowl of pain and kicked him off of me and pinned him to the ground putting a paw on his neck. He tried to get free (and tried to act real XD) Then he loosened up so i loosened up and he kicked me off and pined my hitting my head hard and knocked me out. The leader sat up and meowed "That's enough, even tho it was not a kill it was enough." He turned to BrownTail "You may leave but if you ever come into are territory again we will kill you all." They brought us the the end of the territory, OakHeart was holding me in his mouth, we went across the territory and back to are own. We met a border patrol on the way back and when they saw us they ran to us and asked so many question's. I started to wake up the light blinded me thinking one of the trbie cats had me in thier mouth, i kicked weakly at his belly and then OakHeart said "It's ok SwiftPAw its just me." He gently put my down on the ground and MothFlame looked me over "She'll be ok." I heard a gasp of joy and i felt licks covering my ears. When i looked up i saw CinderPaw! He moewed "SwiftPaw! im so glad to see you!" He licked me again. I sat up and meowed "im glad to see you to CiderPaw.'' He luaghed saying "Did you mean CiderTail!'' I gasped "Your a warrior!" HE smiled "Yep i am!" I scrambled to my paws, still a bit shaky and CiderTail pushed up on my side to help me stay on my paws. He moewed "What happened to you all?" I luaghed "Long story." He looked at MothFlame and BrownTail and saw how skinny they were he moewed "Here we got a bit of prey." He drops a rabbit and few mice at there paws. They hungryly at them and we started back to camp. As we walk CiderTail luaghed saying "We almost sent GingerPelt to MotherMouth to take your place BrownStar." My father stop and the luaghed "We fergot to go to MotherMouth we never made it!" We all brust into luaghder then out of nowhere a warrior ramed me off my paws and knocked the wind out of me i gasped for air as i kicked up claws unsheathed. I saw CiderTail knock the warrior off and mewoed " PainFur get off her!" He turned fast and then it hit him "S..SwiftPaw?.." I got to my paws and meowed "Yes its me PineFur.." He bite his lip and meowed "Im sorry SwiftPaw." I smiled "Your fine PineFur." When we got back into the camp i looked around, everything was the same. I heard a yowl of joy come from the Clearing and CreamFur ran to us and showerd us all with licks. Then they called a clan meeting. He said "I never got my nine lifes i will only take MothFlame this time and we will go a deffrent way." He eyed me and OakHeart, we both smiled and he smiled back. Then he said "CLan Dissmissed." He flicked his tail toward MothFlame and they sprinted out for the camp. CiderTail padded over to me and meowed "You see to become a warrior you cant go and dissaper for a moon!" He joked. I turned luaghing and meowed "And to get a good seances of homur you need to be a she!" We luaghed and sat are tails intwined. I turned to him in a more seriuse mood and meowed "Do you think i have to redo my training becuase i was gone so long?" He turned and thought for a moment then meowed "I dont belive so.." Then i remembered " My mentor was SunStar i need a new one. I wonder who my mentor will be!" CiderTail joked saying "Maybe me!" I luaghed "That could be you know!" He luaghed and and went to say something to me but he was interupted by IvyWing saying "CiderTail! OakHeart wants you, SwiftPaw, And himself on a hunting patrol. He's waiting for you!" At that she turned and went to the Nusery to play with the kits and bring them prey. As CiderTail and i went i was thinking about what CiderTail was going to say to me when he was interupted, but i thought it was better for him to being it up again and not me.I turned to him hoping he would bring it up but he didn't so i started. "CiderTail what were you going to say to me when you were interupted by IvyWing?" He turned to me and sighed saying "I think it would be better to tell you when your made a warrior.."  We had a pretty bad hunting patrol  it was almost Leaf - Bare and Prey was scares. When it was about SunDown BrownStar and MothFlame returned, i padded over to my father and licked his shoulder. He purred and jumped onto the highrock and called the formeler calling. After everyone was there he meowed "their is a kit ready to be a apprentice their saramony will be tomrrow at dawn. Also i have reseved me nine lifes from StarClan, also we have a ruage that wish's to join us, Rose please step fowered. From this momment on till you reseve your warrior name you will be known as RosePaw. Everone chanted RosePaw! RosePaw! RosePaw! he jumped off highrock and BrownStar meowed "Clan Dissmissed." He came over and told OakHeart to come with him to his den before seting up the dawn patrol. She meowed "What can i do for you SwiftPaw?" I think i had some bad prey can you give me something for thay?" She turn gathering some Juniper Berrys and placed them infront of me i ate them and then sighed saying "Thanks. Well i better get there beofore OakHeart sets up the patrol's.." SwiftPaw got up and sighed padding out of the den. When i got to the glearing OakHeart was just padded out of the den with BrownStar and OakHeart jumped on highrock yowling "Patrol setup! Everone other then the kits, queens, and elders come up to hear what he had to say. He meowed "Im just setting up tonights patrol, night watch, and Dawn patrol. GingerPelt, you will led tongihts patrol, take SwiftPaw, CiderTail, and FrostHeart." Then he turned to IvyWing "IvyWing you will take night watch tonight." Then he turned to PineFur and meowed "and you PineFur will lead the dawn patrol take BarkLeap, FawnTail, and MaplePaw." Then he jumped off and we all scrammbled to are set patrols. When i got to my paws i was a little winded. I tryed to think what i had done to cause this but all i had done was vist MothFlame and sit there..

                Chapter 8
After the dawn patrol came back I woke up to firm jabs in my side and some cat telling me to get up. I slowly opened my eyes and there sat MaplePaw she said "Wake up sleepy head! Clan meeting!!" I got to my shaky paws and hid a cough as i padded out to the clearing for the Clan Meeting. It felt good to get off my paws. I turned my gaze to BrownStar and waited to hear what he had to say. He meowed "DasiyKit has reached six moons and is now old enough to be a apprentice. DasiyKit from this moment on till you earn your warrior name you will be known as DasiyPaw." Everyone chanted "DasiyPaw! DasiyPaw! DasiyPaw!" The she looked at my Father with a proud smile and then steped back respectfully. then he meowed " Before i get to the warrior making her mentor will be FrostHeart. We also have a apprentice ready to be a warrior." I thought he must mean MaplePaw. Then he turned to me! and meowed "SwiftPaw please step forward." I stepped up very proud and shocked as I looked up to meet my fathers gaze. He meowed "StarClan please look down on this apprentice and approve of my chose. She has worked hard to understand your noble code and please accept her as a full warrior of RiverClan. SwiftPaw, do you promise to uphold the warrior code and to protect your clan and clan mates even at the cost of your own life?" I looked up and meowed firmly "I do." He smiled and meowed "Then from this moment on you will be known as SwiftFoot" Everyone chanted "SwiftFoot! SwiftFoot! SwiftFoot!" I dipped my head respectfully at my father and stepped back. CinderTail raped his tail with mine and meowed in a whisper his congrats. After he finished what he was saying he jumped down and OakHeart jumped up and meowed "Before you all go im going to set up todays patrols." He turned to me with a knowing glance "SwiftFoot you and CinderTail go on a border patrol. FrostHeart, Take GoldPaw and IvyWing and go on a hunting patrol." At that he jump down and i pulled myself to my paws and hid another cough. As I padded out of the camp with CinderTail, I hid another cough but CinderTail didn't see. After we were a long wase away from the camp CiderTail stoped and turned to me I stoped wondering what he was doing, then it hit me, he was going to tell me that thing that was intrupted along time ago! I waited till he finily meowed "SwiftFoot, you know that day when you came back the i was intrupted rigth before i told you something?" I nodded my head and he contenude "Well i think in ready to tell you.." He met my gaze and meowed in a soft meow "SwiftFoot, will you be my mate?" I looked at him with a huge smile and meowed "Of course i will CiderTail! I have been waiting for you to ask me!" He seemed relived when he saw i was just as happy as he was and he sat and shared tunges. Then i got up overjoyed and so was he we completly forgot  we were on patrol and raced back to the camp are tails intwined. When we ran in BrownStar thought something was wrong and ran over with his eyes full of concern then we both broke into luaghder and my father look at us confused, then i meowed "BrownStar! CiderTail asked me to be his mate when we were on patrol--" Then it hit me. WE NEVER PATROLED! CiderTail and i looked at eachother and then brust into uncontroulable luaghder. My dad smiled at us and then said "Im gald for both of you, and dont worry about the patrol ill take a patrol out but why dont you both come with me?" We both smiled and noded. Soon BrownStar, CiderTail, FrostHeart, MaplePaw and me were out on patrol we refreshed the scent markings becuase there was a havey rain that night. I though i smelled some scent i had smelled before, it stunk my nose and the orther clearly smelling it to. We all stoped and waiting ready for anything; but this. Twolegs and a monster came out of the bush near the thunderpath and my eyes filled with horror as i saw it come right for us! I sprinted away and so did the other's the two legs got out of the moster and ran after us. MaplePaw, the slowest becuase she was the only apprentice got grabed by her back leg and pulled into the twolegs arms. Her eyes were glassed in pain. I ran at the two leg and clawed its leg when it let go of MaplePaw, i grabed her powerfully in my jaws and ran as faast as i ccould into the long Heather where we quickly lost them. When we got back to  camp i ran to the meedicine den with MaplePaw still in my jaws.I layed her in a nest and MothFlame came running. She quickly looked MaplePaw over Maple'Paw And then sat up to where I was still sitting and meowed "She broke the bone in her leg badly and I don't know if it will ever recover correctly." MaplePaw Was in too much pain to say anything but a quick flicker of sadness and worry flicked into her eye's but was qucikly replace with pain once more. MaplePaw Finaly found her voice and meowed "If my leg doesn't heal right can I become your apprentice?" Moth'Flame Smiled sadly "Of course Maple'Paw. I am glad that your looking on the bright side of things." News about MaplePaw spred fast around camp and soon everone was sad for MaplePaw. I woke up my coughs coming back and i felt shakey again. I looked around the den everyone was still fast asleep. I padded out into the cilly Dawn air as I looked around i saw only a few warriors and my brother were up. I smelled something and when i looked at the side of the camp i filled with joy, there standing at the each of camp was Berry! I ran to her and licked her shoulder and she rested her head on the top of mine. "I told you I would vist." i smiled at her and told her to come sit. CreamFur padded out of the den and ran to her kit with joy. After the family had all said there hellos and she had had some prey she got up and meowed "I must be going thank you for the prey." I got up and said "You better come back your ill take you prisoner." i smirked. She luaghed and siad "Even though your a warrior i still think i could bit you in a fight." I luaghed saying "Oh ya? Lets go find out." We padded out of the camp and found a good place and started fighting after a litttle bit of rolling and tossing i finily got her pined and got her in a place that she couldn't get up. She luaghed saying "I better come back then." I jumped off smiling. "Oh you better belive it." i said then she turn said good bye and left though the underbrush again. Brown'Star called the formileor calling and everyone gathered under highrock. He meowed "Now that LeafBare is coming to a end I would llike a few more hunting patrols to go out and see if they can catch any early comers. I would also like to have the ShadowClan border patroled more often. Oak'Heart scented ShadowClan on our side of the border. Clan dissmissed." I got to my paws and as i try to hide a cough when I fell into a coughing fit CiderTail ran over just as i passed out. He grabed my by the scruff and ran to the medicine den where he put me down and MothFlame looked me over she spat and hiss "Mouse Dung! Green cough everone out of this den now!" CiderTail was sad but he left and paced outside the den. MothFlame managed to give me Catmint but she had to force it down my throut. I lay there my breathing still growing more and more shallow untill you could almost not even see it. She steped back watching, she shock her head and padded out of the den. CiderTail looked at her seeing her sad look he didn't dare speak. MothFlame said "Shes not dead yet but i think we are going to lose her.." CiderTail was taken aback and held back a yowl of sadness. She said that they still had to stay outside becuase even if i was dieing i had green cough. She came back in and watched me, when i woke up with a jolt and started coughing trying to fill my lungs with air again. She steped back overjoyed witch was not like her and ran out of the den and said "Shes alive! and awake! But you still can't come in. After i get rid of some of the green couch she can have one visitor at a time." MothFlame said strictly, CiderTail was sad but he understood he was just glad i was alive. Then he asked "Is she going to live?" MothFlame awnsered "I dont know, only StarClan knows. But at the momment i don't think we will lose her." She assered him. Then she padded back into the den and all my family and CiderTail sat outside to wait. padded over to me and quickly gave me more Catmint and some Poppy Seeds to help with the pain. I ate them, I dug my claws into the ground to keep myself from coughing again when i was chewing the herbs. I fell back asleep and rested for the rest of the day.

                 Capter 9

A few days later MothFlame said that I could start having visitors. CiderTail ran as fast as he could into the den and ran right over to me and showered me with licks. I sat up and purred in amusment as i meowed "Im not dieing you know." He let out a purr of luaghder and he sat down intwining his tail with mine. I purred in the chilly morning air but it was not chilly for us becuase we keep eachother warm. Then out of nowhere IvyWing brust into the medicine den and ran to us her eyes filled with horror when she said "Theres 5 fox's in camp! Hurry! Both of you need to leave now!" Just then a fox steped in the way out of the den and IvyWing came over and stood infront of me with CiderTail at her side hissing madly. Then OakHeart lunched himself at it from the other side of the den and raked his claws on its back till it fell. It wiped him off and he rolled on the ground, only the wall stoped him from rolling. He layed there knocked out and i hissed madly as i got to my paws, not as strong as i used to be but i knew i had to help somehow. I ran at the fox before anyone coould stop me, I jumped on its back and bit its shoulder hard. It shook itself knocked me off and pined me he was just about too claw my neck for the kill when CreamFur pushed me out of the way and the fox killed her. I let out a yowl of sadness and of anger has i ran at the fox and jumped on its back and clawed its neck for the kill. I jumped off the fox's back and i went over to my mothers dead body and slowly picked her up by her scruff and walked to the clearing my taill draging on the ground behind me and my ears flat. MothFlame ran over to OakHeart after all the fox's were dead and checked him out, he was ok but needed to be in the medicine den for a bit. I placed her down sadness flooding over me as i staired into her lifeless eyes. BrownStar was tacken aback at the seet of his mate, laying there he walked over all the joy about wining the fight flooded out of him and he stood there stairing at her body. Tears clouded my eyes and CiderTail rested a kind tail on my shoulder. BrownStar jumped on high rock and meowed "All cats old even to swim the rappeds gather benith the high rock for a clan meeting." His voice cracked at the end. He cleared his throut and meowed "Sadly CreamFur has die saving SwiftFoot's life." He looked down at her lifeless body as her talked. "She was a brave and noble cat and now she is hunting with StarClan." There was a long puase, then he mewoed "SwiftFoot, OakHeart, and I will sit vigel tonight." IvyWing steped up "OakHeart is in the medicine den knocked out, BrownStar.." She said slowly. Then BrownStar meowed "Then if he is better then he will sit vigel if not then just SwiftFoot and I will." I sat there ignoring everything around me all I could think about was my mom. CiderTail tryed to cheer me up to no avail. BrownStar came over and I snaped back into realitly. He meowed in a soft voice "Shes in StarClan... We just need to remeber that..." I nod my head slowly, I knew she was but knowing she wasn't with me anymore.... CiderTail meowed "Do you want to go for a walk SwiftFoot?" I got up knowing there was no use to sit in my sadness, and I padded out of the camp behind CiderTail. After a nice walk I feltt alitte better. I went to go vist OakHeart, when I got in he was still knocked out. I asked "Is he alright?" She nodded saying "He should be better by tommrrow morning, if he will be able to sit vigle... I don't know, he needs to rest." She said in a thoughful voice. I nodded just as OakHeart woke up coughing. I started to lick his shoulder and he tryed to purr but coughed again. I meowed "Its ok OakHeart you'll be fine." He sat up streching his sore limbs, and meowed "Thats good to know, I can't waste all my time in this den espeshaly becuase im deputy. Is everyone ok?" I flinch at the though of having to break the news to him. I meowed slowly "No.. Not everyone..." HE looked at me his eyes showing sadness and meowed "Not CiderTail I hope!" When he saw that it wasn't him it hit him "No not mother...." I loked at my paws not daring to speak. He droped back down onto his belly is heart cracking like ice. I licked his shoulder and meowed "She saved me from one of the fox's I was about to die she did the right thing and I know shes in StarClan now." He looked into my eyes and noded his head slowly before resting it on his paws and fell asleep. The next morning dawned birght and sunny, promising a nice day. I went to check on Oak'Heart and he was alot better. My limbs were sore but I said nothing knowing that it wouldn't help. Maple'Paw was her normal grummpy self and asking for things left and right and insisting that her paw kept her from getting them herself. Cream'Fur was buryed at dawn by the elders and everything was pretty much normal other then the saddness that came with Cream'Furs death. Cider'Tail came up to me looking like he was in a nice, touched nose's with me and meowed "Want to go fill up the prey pile?" I purred and meowed "As long as your ok with getting less prey then me!" He purred and raced out of camp and I was at his tail. I held up to my promise and was betting Cider'Tail by two prey when a scent hit my nose and my ears shot up. It was kittypet.

               Capter 10
I went into a fighters crouch and creeped into some tall grass and watched. Nothing happened so I started to slowly and quitely follow the smell untill I found a max sized fluffy kittypet stareing proudly at a limb mouse at his paws. I growled deep in my throut and slowly made my way into a bush only tail langths away from the kittypet. I pounced landing spuairly on the frightened kittypet and pushed it to the ground pinning it down, placeing a paw, claws unsheathed, on its neck, growling deep in my throut. The cat scwirmed for a secend before it found out it was useless and gave up. I hissed at the grey and black dabbled tom saying "Who are you and why are you here?" The tom glared at me and meowed boldly "Thats for me to know and for you to find out!" I pushed down on his neck and meowed "You could be dead in a few secends so I would speak up." He saaw that I was no bluffing and meowed with a hiss "Im Dabble and im a kittypet. Im only here to exploire and to get a bit of prey!" The tom lied to me. I hiss and meow "The exploreing can be done somewhere else and the prey belongs to RiverClan, not some soft kittypet!" I hissed and said "You better leave or--" I was interuted by strong paws pushing me off the kittypet and pushing me to the ground. I hiss and spring the cat off me. I was just about to fight back when I saw it was Ivy'Wing! I was taken aback and meowed "What do you think your doing!? Im taking care of this kittypet!" Ivy'Wing twitched her tail "You mean MY kittypet!" She said a little sceard. I hissed and meowed "What do you mean YOUR kittypet!" She pawed the ground and meowed slowly "I have been seeing him... He just came to come see mee... But I saw you coming.. And... And--" I flicked my tail and interupted "How can the clan trust you if your seeing a kittypet and letting it take our prey!" She shot her head up "He isnt stealing. I cought it for him!" My tail lashed from side to side in fury and I hissed "So for one your seeing him, two your getting prey for him, soon your going to bring him into the camp and let him come and go as he please's!" I hissed at her once more before turning to the kittypet "LEave now or your crowfood!" HE backed up flat to the ground and race into the marsh back to his twoleg nest. I turned back to Ivy'Wing. "Don't believe that Brown'Star will not hear about this!"I said stalking off back to camp. When I got in to camp everything was normal. I found Brown'Star shareing tongues with Oak'Heart in the clearing and I pad up to him my blue eyes still flames. HE saw the look at once and turn his head to me and meowed "Truble?" I got my emotions under control and meowed "I was out hunting when I smelled kittypet. I followed the smell untill I found a kittypet tom standing proudly over a limp mouse. I pined him and found out that he lives in the twoleg nest by the river. I was about to send him away when a cat pushed me off of him and pined me down." At this time Oak'Heart turned to hear the rest. "And when I looked up to see who it was, It was Ivy'Wing." Brown'Star's eyes grow wide but he didn't interbuted but flicked his tail to tell me to keep going. "I pushed her off and asked why she did that and she has been seeing this kittypet, letting him on our terriotry, and even cought him that mouse!" At that I sat down and Brown'Star spoke. "I never thought that Ivy'Wing would do such a thing. She was alwas such a loyal cat. She will be punished and maybe even worse." I looked to my side and saw that Ivy'Wing was watching from afar. She bared her teeth at me but said nothing, clearly to far away to hear what we were saying and I turned to face my dad again. HE stood up and sighed saying "I better get this over with.." I nod and stood along with my brother and we all padded up the the high rock. My dad called a meeting and after everyone was round my dad spoke. "SwiftFoot was out hunting when she found a kittypet. IvyWing has been letting this cat on are territory, been seeing him, and been catching prey for him." There was gasps and mummbles when he spoke and they didn't stop for quite abit. When they died down he meowed "IvyWing, do you understand how wrong this is? IT goes agansed everything you were tought as a apprentice!" IvyWing meowed "What do you know about the warrior code and being prought up as a apprentice loyal to the clan!? You were born a rouge and you should have stayed that way!" She hissed and my dad's eyes  narrowed at her "I know more about that then you IvyWing. I am giving you two choices IVyWing. Keep seeing the kittypet and leave the clan, or stop seeing the kittypet and stay in the clan with a punishment." His eyes never left her as he spoke. She was taken aback by the choice's and got to her paws meowing "How can you make me make such a big chocie in a flick of my tail! I need time to think!" I glared at her, ~or more time to see your kittypet friend.~ I thought to myself. A few cats mewoed their accrement trying to put themselfs in her place, while others were yowling in protest. My dad flicked his tail and everything was silent "Im not asking you to make this choice right this secend, but if anyone in the clan catchs you going to that kittypet you will be banished." The word "Banished" Struke something in her barin and her yellow eyes filled with sadness and she tought to herself ~ How could I have been so foolish as to see a kittypet and then make fun of my leader!? He was right, im going agansed everything I was tought as a apprentice, what loyalty is all about..~ She turned her gaze back to BrownStar and mewoed "Can we speak alone?" BrownStar heard the sadness in her voice and nodded. "Yes Ivy'Wing. Oak'Heart, Swift'Foot, come with me and IVyWing into my den. Meeting dissmissed." He jumped down and I quickly licked Cider'Tails ear and he purred as I rose and joined them by the mouth of his den. We all padded in and I sat down at my fathers side, my brother on the other and IVy'Wing sat infront of us. She pawed at the ground for a momment before meowing "Im so sorry Brown'Star.. I don't know what came over me... I just saw him one day and... And.. I fell in love with him... I just couldn't stop seeing him. I knew it was wrong, but love clouded my mind and now I understand what I did. You were rigth, everything I was doign, seeing him, catching the prey, and even letting him on our territory was everything I was brought up not to do. I neveer thought I would have found myself in this place, but now that im in it, I see what I was doing is wrong, and I can never even imagine leaving RiverClan, but how will I ever stop seeing him? I love him Brown'Star..." I was shocked at her sudden change of heart but I didn't speak. Brown'Star meowed "That is something you need to find out yourself Ivy'Wing. Your a great cat, A great warrior. But its your choice if you stop seeing him and your choice oon how to stop. The only thing I'll say on that matter is that I  will allow you to see him one more time, and tell him what your telling me. Then  its up to you to finish." She nodded and meowed "I Swear by StarClan I will tyr my hardest never to see him again. I never wanted to leave RiverClan but like I said, love clouded my mind, my judgement, and made me do things I never would have done otherwise. I hope you will let me stay in RiverClan and I promise I will stay loyal to RiverClan and RiverClan only." HE nodded "Thats all im asking for Ivy'Wing. You will alwas have aplace in RiverClan."

                Capter 11
A few hours after the hole thing with Ivy'Wing Brown'Star called a clan meeting. When everyone was there, he mewoed "Ivy'Wing has chosen to stay. But she will still need to be punished for her missjudgement and her choice to see this kittypet. Ivy'Wing, I have deceded that your punishment will be that you may not leave camp without another warrior escorting you. You will not be aloud to go to the gathering for two moons, and you are bound to camp unless you are needed on a patrol." Ivy'Wing nodded, she didn't like the punishment at all, but it was better then banishment. He nodded in return and then mewoed "Meeting dissmissed. Oak'Heart will now set up patrols." He jumped down and Oak'Heart toke his place and mewoed "Swift'Foot, go on a hunting patrol take three other cats with you. Fawn'Tail, go on a border patrol, take two other cats with you.  Bark'Leap, you take night watch." At that he jumped down and moved around the cats seeing if there were any questions. "Oak'Heart!!" I called and he turned making his way towards me. He nodded and I mewoed "Want to come with me on my hunting patrol? Its been abit seens I went with you." He purred "As long as your ok with getting less prey then me!" I purr "Ya right! In your dreams!" HE luaghed and mewoed "Who else is coming?" I looked around. then mewoed "Cider'Tail!! Want to come with Oak'Heart and I on my hunting patrol?" HE raced over and purr meowing "Of course!!" I smiled "Great! Lets get going then!" I quickly looked at the sky, it was alittle before sunset. I troted out of camp, Oak'Heart and Cider'Tail close behind. When we got a little bit from camp I stoped and mewoed "Cider'Tail, take the leaft flank. Oak'Heart, take the right flank. I'll go stright ahead. Meet back here. Don't stay out to to long. I want to be back before dark." They both nodded and we all went to the deffrent ways. I lefted my nose and parted my jaws. I drank in the smells and I smelled water vole. I went low and pin-pointed the little cretcher more by smell then sight and slowly made my way closer to the water vole. When I was a little more then a tail leangth away, I pounced and dealt a swift blow to the head that killed it qucikly. Oak'Heart saw a few fish almost emediatly when he got to the river. He got them and killed them quickly. Cider'Tail had the same luck and found a crow and a water vole in a matter of minutes. I grabed my catch and made my way back to the meeting spot. When I got there, I saw that Oak'Heart was alreasd there, his to fish place inbetwin his paws. He turned and smiled at me meowing "I told yyou I would get more then you!!" I hissed playfully and droped my water vole and sat near him licking his shoulder and pressing softly into his side. HE licked my head in turn. Although I was huge, he was even bigger. A few minutes later Cider'Tail showed up with his catch and we both stood. I grabed my catch and made my way back to camp. When we got back and had droped are prey in the pile it was dusk. I turned to Oak'Heart who had turned back to the entrence of the camp and meowed "Where are you going Oak'Heart? Its dusk." He turned to face me and meowed "I wanted to go check on something I found by the river, seems to be signs of a patenchal flood. I wanted to get a better look." I nodded meowing "Ok, but I don't think your going to get a very good look, its going to be dark soon." He nodded and troted out of camp. I turned back to Cider'Tail and mewoed "We better get some sleep. Its late." He purred and we made are way to the warrior den. I woke up to the first lights of dawn shineing onto my nest at the entrence of the warrior den. I lefted my head to see that only a few nests were empty. I sat up and licked a few scraps of moss off my glossy pelt and got up padding into the warm light of a early New Leaf dawn.  When I padded into the clearing  I saw Moth'Flame hurring to Brown'Star's den. I made my way over to her quickly and meowed "What's wrong Moth'Flame?" She looked at me, droped her herb's and meowed "Brown'Star has a cough and a bad fever. I just hope nothing come's of it." I look at her once and quickly make my way inside the den. Brown'Star was curled in a lose ball in his moss nest. He coughed every now and then and his ears were turning red. I glance at Moth'Flame who shock her head and whispered "He's worse then the last time I saw him." She padded closer and started to check him. She sat up quickly and meowed "Green cough!" I gasp "How? It's NewLeaf!" She shook her head again quickly getting to her paws "As late as it may be it's no less dangerous." She quickly got up and raced out of the den and I was on her heels. We raced into the medicine cat clearing and she called as soon as she got in. "Maple'Paw!" Maple'Paw came out and blinked sleep out of her eyes. When she saw the look in her mentor's face she limped quickly to Moth'Flame's side "What's wrong!" "Brown'Star has green cough, bad. Quickly, go get as much cat mint as you can hold in that muzzle of you're's from the storage and get back here fast!" Maple'Paw limped off as quickly as she could and Moth'Flame bent down and quickly grabed some ferver few. Maple'Paw limped back and meowed "were out of cat mint!"  "Oh great StarClan! Can anything go worse!" Moth'Flame hissed she turned to me meowing "Swift'Foot, I need you to go to the TwoLeg place and find the garden. Gather as much cat mint as you can find! It's soft it has three leaves and it has a erasistable smell! Hurry!" I nod quickly and race out of the camp I could hear the blood pounding in my ears as I ran. I reached a small river that ran on one side of the TwoLeg's house. We knew that no cat or dog lived there. I quickly jumped into the river swiming quickly to the other side. I smelled quickly making sure that they weren't outside and then I lept up to the corner post of one side of the fence. I scaned the garden for any cat mint thinking ~If I can't find any here, I'll have to cross into ThunderClan territory. But if that's what it take's to help me leader, I'll do it.~ I lept quitely into the garden and parted my jaws drinking in the scents of the garden. The TwoLeg stench was overpowering but stale. I tryed to push past it and focus on the scent's of the garden. I quickly found and raised part in the yard and by the smell's, I could tell it was the garden. I raced over leaping into the garden and started to smell every plaint in it's turn. I was nearing the end of the garden and still no scent of cat mint! I started to panick untill it was only one plant left. I smelled it and it wasn't cat mint. "Great." I mummbled to myself and I raced up to the fence and quickly left the yard. I raced past the house on the other side untill a came to a small hill I quickly turned and raced to the hills right untill I saw a a wide river. On the other side of the river was sunningrocks and ThunderClan's territory.  I went even faster untill I broke out of the cover of the heather and the long wet marsh grasses. I went low and slowly made my way to the eage of the river. I quickly scented for any sign of a patrol. I smelled ThunderClan, resent. I was in luck. The dawn patrol had left there only minutes before. There wouldn't be another patrol undtill sun high. I sliped into the river and qucikly swam to the other bank. I slowly pulled myself onto the other bank and stayed low not bothering to shake the water from my pelt and slowly went into the forest.

              Chapter 12
I was in the thick of the forest now. I had smelled the patrol a few time's and chanced my corse. I didn't feel like bumbing into a ThunderClan patrol in ThunderClan's territory.  I slowly moved toward what ThunderClan called TallPine's knowing that the TwoLeg's lived a wase behing them. I quickened my pace as I started to near them when I heard pawstep's behind me, or so I thought. I couldn't smell them because the wind was blowing toward them. I dived for the nearest pine tree and backed up untill I was sheltered by the hanging branch's. A few secends later I saw a patrol stalk out from where I had stood only secend's before. Everything in my body told me to dash behind the pine tree to two leg place, get the cat mint and get out but I knew that if I made even a slight agustment to my sitting position I would give myself away. I looked at the patrol and with a sinking felling I saw  Black'Heart. The agrasive ThunderClan deputy. He was pitch black with  golden eye's that missed nothing. But then I saw Bright'Star standing a few paces behind him. she was kind and just and she would give me a fair hearing before just out right killing me. Black'Hearts head shot up and I was only a few fox leanghs away from them now. I heard him meow "I smell RiverClan and it's fresh." Bright'Star  stood next to her deputy now and I could have sworn we locked eye's. But she turned to her deputy and meowed to the hole patrol "Check the area. This scent is very fresh the cat or cat's couldn't have gotten far. To my dismay Bright'Star ducked into the pine tree and jumped as she saw me a secend later. As quick as lightning Black'Heart was by her side and jump his strength pushed me to the ground. Bright'Star flicked her tail and a few warrior's and a apprentice surrounded me and Black'Heart jumped off me and joined them. They left a gap right at the front where Bright'Star stood and few steps behind the cat's and we locked eye's. I remebered her the first time I had gone to the gathering when I was brought to her when I was a rouge but she still didn't remember me. Her voice was sweet but stern as she meowed "Why are you here?" I got to my feet my shoulders stunk where Black'Heart had dug his claw's into them and I meowed "Someone in are camp has green cough and we were out of cat mint. The TwoLeg's in are territory didn't grow it this NewLeaf and I needed to find some before they died. The only other place I could think of was all the TwoLeg's that live behind thease pine trees." She thought for a momment before meowing " I understand your need but onl medicine cat's can come into other clan's territory without permisssion to gather a herb that has run out in there own territory." I nod remembering the warrior code and meowed "I understand that Bright'Star but both are medicine cat and her apprentice were busy this mornign and they sent me insted. May I please have safe passage to the twoleg place and back to my own territory?" She though once again before meowing "I grant you safe passage, but Lion'Shade with esscort you to make suree your not lieing." I nod my head thankfulling and the warrior's surruonding me broke up. A ginger tom with a missing eye flanked me and I dashed into the pine tree's Lion'Shade at my heels. I quickly made it to the TwoLeg place and jump up to the first corner post I aw realiizseing how long this was taking. I jumped down, nothing there and found a small garden. I quickly went over and the overpowering smell of catmint hit my nose. I quickly pin pointed the plant and picked as much as I could hold in my mouth. I quickly jumped the fence in one leap and raced toward the river. After a bit when we finaly got there I jumped right into the river and he turned around and left. I race back intto my own territory and toward the camp. When I saw the entrence I mustered the last of my strength and raced even quicker into the camp. I saw Maple'Paw flick her tail at me to bring it into the medicine cat den. I raced over and when I got in I droped all the cat mint. Moth'Flame raced over and meowed "What toke you so long! ou have been gone all morning!" I was panting and I meowed "Long story short. The TwoLeg's in are territory aren't growing catmint this NewLeaf and I had to go into ThunerClan territory for it.  I met a patrolw ith  right'Star at it's head and I was granted save passage for the catmint." She shook her head "Well, I'll make it a point to send Maple'Paw to t=go into ThunderClan territory for some more later. She will have save passage anyway." Maple'Paw saw the cut's on my shoulder's and flicked her tail to a nest. I settaled down and she meowed "Well, almost save passasge." I smile at her and she quickly treats my wounds. I turned to see a ginger she with dark brown stripes curled in a tight ball in the nest next to me. Maple'Paw saw me look and mewoed "She was following Brown'Star around yesterday. Cought the green cough." I frown at the kit. She was almost a apprentice, but in this stat she looked no bigger then a scrap of fur. "Heather'Kit isn't it?" I meowed to Maple'Paw. She nodded and went over to the kit placeing some of the catmint infront of it cooning to it trying to get it to eat the herbs. After a bit she did and I got up saying "Im going to go check on Brown'Star." Before Maple'Paw could repile I raced out of the den and to Brown'Stars den. I quickly entered to see Moth'Flame looking sadly over Brown'Star. She turned as I walked in a meowed "He's loseing a life.." I turned my sad gaze to my father and layed down near him. After a few menutes we woke up coughing. "Dad!" I meowed qucikly. Oak'Heart rushed in "Did he lose a live?" He meowed quickly. I nodded sadly and Oak'Heart started to lick Brown'Star. "How many more lives to you have?" He meowed quitely. Brown'Star repiled "I have three left. " I shook my head thinking ~soon Im going to lose him too!~ After I said goodbye to Brown'Star I padded out into the clearing. I saw Ivy'Wing overing to help patch a hole in the warriors den after a long storm that happened a few days ago.  I pad over the the fresh kill pile just to see  Maple'Paw taking the last two pices for her and Moth'Flame. She put them down and meowed quitely "Sorry. Do you want my share?" Ever seens I saved her from the Twoleg she had been super nice to me and we had formed a nice friendship. I smiled at her and said "No, you have it. I'll go see if I can find some cats to go hunting with me." Maple'Paw nodded and limped torded the medicine cat den. I turned and  started to walk to the warrior cat den. As I was passing the nuseary, I saw the oldest kit's playing outside. I stoped and sat down by Morning'Song, one of the queens and watched the kits scuffale together playfully. "How old are they now?" I meowed to Morning'Song. She purred and mewoed "A few night's till there apprenticeship." She looked proudly at the kits. "Heather'Kit, Ice'Kit, Shade'Kit, come here please." The kit's stoped playing at the sound of there names and bounced over to there mom.  The ginger she with the dark brown stripes that had had green cough turned to me and meowed "Hello! I hope your my mentor!" I purred at her and meowed "Well, I can see if Oak'Heart could arrange that." She jumped up and down and meowed "Yay!! I can't wait to see the territory!" I purred at her exitment and stood up meowing "I'll have a word with him tonight. But right now I have to go on a hunting patrol. Be good." I flicked my tail and she jumped to grab it, but I flicked it just out of her reach. Morning'Song meowed "Come on kit's. Time for a nap." They moaned but followed her into the den there tails drooped. I pad over to the warrior's den and stuck my head in. Cider'Tail was washing in his nest, Fawn'Tail was taking a nap, Bark'Leap was just waking and Ginger'Pelt was washing. "Cider'Tail, Ginger'Pelt, would you two come with me on a hunting patrol?" They both looked up and agreed and we started off. We split up and we all cought our fair share. I started back toward are meeting spot a fish and two water voles  held frimly in my jaws. When I got there the other's were already there both showing that they had had some good catching. As we started back I meowed "You have alwas been a better hunter then me Cirder'Tail." A purr rumbled deep in his chest and he mewoed "Well, I know never to get on the bad side of you becuase I could never bet you in a fight.

           Chapter 13
When we got back, the camp was full of engery. I was wondering what was going on and when I thought that something good may have happened the idea vanished when I saw the look of fear and horror but anxity in the faces of the clan. All warriors and apprentices were on there paws and a small patrol of a two warriors and a apprentice were getting ready to go find strong twigs and branchs. The queens were busy weving the twigs that had already been brought back into the nuresay making sure that the small twigy entrence was the only way in and out. Even the elders were busy helping weive twigs with the queens. I shot Oak'Heart a confuesed glance and he came over and meowed "A patrol scented a ShadowClan patrol by the raise on the way to the river that leads to SunningRocks. We think they may be showing signs of aggrestion." I drop my water voles and my eyes widened "You mean a war?" He nodded grimly "It may come to that yes. We are preparing for the worst as you can see. I was wondering if you could gather--" The secend he said the word he shock his head. "I forgot! Theres a Gathering tonight! I better go remind Brown'Star." He raced away and that is when I saw how busy he really was. I pick up my catch again and drop it in the prey pile. I looked around the camp wanting to help in some way when Brown'Star leaped on to the highrock. I padded over knowing that he was going to call a meeting. "Let all cats strong enough to swim the rappieds gather bength the wet rock for a clan meeting!" All the cats started to come and sit down. When Brown'Star saw he had everyones attantion he begain. "There is a gathering tonight and athough he may be having a war soon it would be foolish not to attened. I will take Swift'Foot, Cider'Tail, Frost'Heart, Oak'Heart,  Fawn'Tail and Lily'Paw. I think your ready to go to your first gathering Lily'Paw." She looked happaly at the leader and her tail flciked in exceitment. One voice rose above the mummering. It was Evening'Mist one of the elders. "Brown'Star, is it wise to take so many cats away from camp?" Brown'Star turned and dipping his head "I understand your concern Eveining'Mist but if we take a smaller patrol the clans will know that something is wrong. Pluse. Athough ShadowClan  seems to be aggresive, they have brains. They will know that if they take a smaller patrol and leave alot of their warriors back at camp to attack us they will know that we would see it and that would throw away the eleament of surprize." Evening'Mist nodded her head understanding the sense in his words. "Alright. for every cat I have chosen I would go and get something to eat. We leave shortly. Theres is a few other thnigs I would like to say quickly. Ivy'Wing has shown her loyalty for the past moon and I am lefting her punishment. She is no longer under punishment and I would think she will still be treated like a clan mate even if she had bad judement. And then Morning'Song has told me that her kits are old even to become apprentices. Ice'Kit, Heather'Kit, and Shade'Kit, please step forward." The kits bounced happyly foward and I shot a glance at Oak'Heart. I had asked him if I could mentor Heather'Kit and he said that Brown'Star had picked me anyway. "Ice'Kit, you have reached the age of six moons and are now old enough to become a apprenitce. From this momment on, untill you earn your warrior name you will be known as Ice'Paw." Everyone chanted his name and then Brown'Star meowed "Cider'Tail, you are ready for your first appreantice. You are kind and have quick thinking. I hope you will pass thease onto your apprentice. Don't be scared to ask some of the older warriors for help as this is your first apprentice." They touched noses and backed up they both looked exceited. Then he turned and meowed "Shade'Kit, you have reached the age of six moons and are now old enough to become a apprentice. From this momment on untill you earn your warrior name you will be known as Shade'Paw." everyone now chanted her name and then he continued. "Ginger'Pelt, you are ready for another apprentice. You are quick and brave and I hope you pass thease things onto your apprenitce." they both touched noses oddly and stood back. Then he tunred to the last kit "Heather'Kit, you have reached the age of six moons and are now old enough to become a apprenitce. From this momment on untill you earn your warrior name you will be known as Heather'Paw." Everyone chanted "Heather'Paw, Heather'Paw, Heather'Paw!" Then he moewed "Swift'Foot, you are ready for your first apprenice. You are swift and fircely loyal. I hope you will pass thease to your apprentice. As this is your first apprentice don't be scared to ask some of the older warriors for help. Clan dissmissed." Brown'Star jumped down form highrock and padded over to the pile of fresh kill. Heather'Paw tryed not to bounce to her paws "I want to learn everything! Hunting, Fighting, climbing, I want to be the best warrior in the clan! I want to..to ..to!!" she started kneeding the ground with her front paws excitment shineing in her eyes. I purred. "All in good time Heather'Paw. Now, go meet your denmates. I have to go eat and get ready for the gathering. Training will start at Sunup." "Why can't I come to the gathering?" Heather'Paw meowing with a confuesd look in her eyes. I turned back to her and mewoed "We will learn about the warrior code soon enough. But I need to go get ready at the momment. Now, you should take this time to make friends with your new denmates and to find out how things happen around camp. But make sure your ready for training at Sunup. Meet me right outside the camp entrence." I flicked my tail dismissively and Heather'Paw raced off. I padded over to the fresh kill pile. I had the choice betwin a water vole or a fish. I grabed the fish and padded over to where Cider'Tail was munching hungerly at a mouse. I layed down and took a huge bite and whne I had swallowed I mewoed "Do you want to show are apprenitces the territory together tomrrow? I told Heather'Paw to be ready by Sunup." Cider'Tail purred "I wouldn't want to do it any other way." I quickly licked his ear. "Come on. We better hurry up. Brown'Stars almost done." I quickly started to eat my fish again. I quickly finished and Cider'Tail and I started to share tunges.

             Chapter 14
I was standing at the top of a marshy hill. Bellow the smells of ThunderClan and WindClan filled my sent clanses. A few more  paws steps and the ground leveled out where many cats paws had steped before. It was dry but thick lush green grass was suaing in the slight brezze. Brown'Star had his eye closed and I knew that he was thinking about what he was going to say. I slowly pushed my way through the cats up to my father loud even for all the cats to hear but not loud enough that it carried down the slope and let the cats bellow hear aswell. "Are you going to say anything about ShadowClan?" My father thought for a secend before meowing "No. I think that it would be better for ShadowClan to think they have the element of surprise and then we can surprise them by being ready when they lunch there attact." I nodded it made sense. All the other cats nodded there understanding and with one flick from Brown'Stars tail and we were racing down the slope into the clearing bellow. Bright'Star, ThunderClans leader and Snow'Star, WindClans leader were sitting side by side talking to eachother. There was no sign of ShadowClan. I broke off from the cats and trotted over to the small circle of warriors. A few meowed greetings and others just nodded but one cat jumped to her paws and raced over touching noses with me "Nice to see you again SwiftFoot!" I purred" Nice to see you too Grey'Pelt. How are you doing?" She sat down near me and mewoed jokingly "Fed up with rabbits!" I purred with amusement. Grey'Pelt was a older warrior. She was kicked out of RiverClan when RiverClan had had a evil leader Dark'Star. WindClan had understood and let her join them. Now, she felt like it would be betraying her new clan to join RiverClan again. "How are you SwiftFoot?" "Im doing well thank you. Cider'Tail is my mate now." She playfully patted my ear with a havey paw "Of course he is! Every cat knew you two would! It was so ovieuse a blind and deaf kit knew!" I purred. Then She meowed "Is he here?" I nodded and she stood "Im going to go congratulate him. I'll be back!" I licked her flank as she trotted away and then I stood looking around. Before I could move I saw the ShadowClan cats racing down the slope. There was still time before the gathering would start. I looked around and before I moved I saw a ThunderClan cat padding toward me. With a skinging feeling I saw it was Black'Heart and he clearly wanted to talk to me. Because he was a deputy I stayed poot. He glared at me and mewoed "Well, I hope OUR catmint helped YOUR clan out." I sighed. Here we go.. "Black'Heart," I diped my head "Do keep in mind Bright'Star gave me permission to let me have the catmint--" He cut me off short "After you bumbed into are patrol. But before that you were going to just go take it outright." I tryed to stay clam "Becuase that wasn't worth stalking into your camp for. And it was inportent. I couldn't just wait for a patrol to come to the border for me to ask." He glared at me "I think stealing IS a fine reason to go "Stalking into are camp" As you put it." Me patione ran out "Black'Heart, if you just came over to get into a fight your not going to get it! I took that catmint because it was needed and theres not much to do about it now was shut up you bossy furball." My tail flick quickly from side to side. He took a step back. I was much bigger then he was and he was no fighter. he bared his teeth at me before stalking off. Grey'Pelt came back and meowed "What was that all about?" I sighed "Brown'Star had green cough a few nights ago and there wass no catmint on are territory that wasn't dead so I went into ThunderClan territory to get it from twoleg place because Maple'Paw and Moth'Flame were both busy and I was fastest but I bumbed into a patrol and IF Bright'Star had not been on the patrol I may not have both my ears." Grey'Pelt's eyes widened. "Why did you go to ThunderClan and not WindClan?" WindClan and RiverClan were alies for the momment. "Because ThunderClans border was the closest to the camp and I needed to hurry." She nodded and meowed quickly "Looks like the gathering is about to start!" I turned and sure enough the leaders were jumping onto the great rock.  "Welcome Cats of all clans!" Russet'Star, the leader of ShadowClan meowed. Every cat fell silent and then she continued "Brown'Star, would you like to speak first?" My father took a step forward on the rock and meowed "RiverClan is doing fine and prey is running well. We have three new apprentice's Shade'Paw, Ice'Paw, and Heather'Paw. The could not make it this gathering. WE must thank ThunderClan for letting one of my warriors go and get catmint in twoleg place." Bright'Star nodded and meowed "Next time send one of your medicine cats and my warriors may not have been so keen on ripping your cats ears off." Brown'Star nodded his head in understanding and flicked his tail for Russet'Star to speak. "ShadowClan as been blessed with a few litters of kits. The only problem is that are terriotry was too small before this. We have alot of mouths to feed now." ~Whats he getting at?~ I thought to myself. "And we ask that we take the territory passed marked territory as are own!"