Relentless Nightmares(Book 1)

## Relentless Nightmares

written by: CalicoCreations5/Raven

story edited by: HappyFloof531/Mochapaw

planned by: Raven, Snowothetwix1/Wintersnow, and KuroTuro/Crowwhisper

some chapters written by: HappyFloof531/Mochapaw(chapter 5)

## Allegiances:

### Riverclan

Leader: Beestar (yellow and brown striped tom with blue eyes thick fur with a fluffy back of neck and tail)

Deputy: Lunarsong (Small black soft she cat with blue eyes and a crescent moon shaped hair forehead tuft)

Medicine cat: Finbelly (big chubby orange tom with light blue eyes and lighter accents)

**WARRIORS**

-Nightmaretalon (mottled tabby grey tom with blue eyes and vines in his thick tail and a scar down his leg)

-Skinkfang (scrawny messy yellowish tom with lots of scars, a mangled hind leg, and amber eyes)

-Ripplenose (Pale chesnut brown tabby with white marks and green eyes and a sturdy build with broad muzzle)

-Mudspatter (mottled striped brown tom with blue eyes and some lighter accents with messy fur)

-Berrytalon (yellow sturdy she cat with short fur and green eyes, has a stripe here and their)

-Powderleaf (white she cat with pale specks on cheeks and back with green eyes. Is skinny)

-Whisperbreeze (a silver dappled she cat with white accents and blue eyes and is sleek and skinny)

-Minnowleap (a pale brown tabby she cat with thick fur and white speckles in places with amber eyes)

-Cedarheart (a deep brown tom with darker accents and amber eyes, he’s strong and sturdy with shorter legs)

-Bassclaw(A silver and dark gray and black long furred tom with blue eyes)

-Tadpoletail(a skinny sleek black she cat with white paws and tail tip and green blue eyes)

**APPRENTICES**

-Moonpaw (a small black and white she cat with blue eyes and soft fur)Mentor: Nightmaretalon

-Wasppaw (a yellow and black striped tom with amber eyes has same fur as dad)Mentor: Powderleaf

-Carppaw (a speckled orange tom with white paws and green eyes and is chubby)Mentor: Lunarsong

**QUEENS**

-Mothspeck (a white fluffy she cat with grey specks in places that form together to make a cluster, blue eyes) (Polecatkit: a white and brown tom, Winterkit: a white speckled she cat Trunkkit: a deep brown tom with darker spotted tabby pattern)

**ELDERS**

-Ferretmuzzle (a yelllow tom with brown long ringed striped and blue eyes has a bit tangled fur and strained eyes)

### **Thunderclan:**

Leader: Larchstar(gracefully gray she cat with green eyes)

Deputy: Flametuft(black long furred tom with a orange chest patch and large pupils with yellow eyes)

Medicne cat: Melodywing(a black and silver she cat with green eyes) Apprentice: Emberpaw

**WARRIORS**

-Steeltail(large steely gray tom with darker tail and cold blue eyes)

-Stormheart(a gray tom with darker cape and markings and lighter accents with blue eyes) Apprentice: coldpaw

-Reedfluff(a brown red she cat with a slightly more fluffy chest and short fur with green eyes)

-Turtlespots(a dark calico tom with green eyes and short fur with a graying muzzle) Apprentice: Stillpaw

-Littlenose(a pale brown grey she cat with a small nose and green eyes)

-Shellfrost(a white and silver striped she cat with blue eyes and a smug expression) Apprentice: Flarepaw

-Fuzzyflight(a golden long furred tom) Apprentice: scorchpaw

**APPRENTICES**

-Stillpaw(a silver sturdy she cat with black mask and blue eyes) Mentor: Turtlespots

-Coldpaw(a white tom with black paws and a tail with piercing blue eyes) Mentor: Stormheart

-Emberpaw(a black she cat with orange paws and flecks and green eyes) Mentor: Melodywing

-Scorchpaw(a stormy gray tom with a darker muzzle and amber eyes) Mentor: Fuzzyflight

-Flarepaw( a tortishell sleek she cat with yellow eyes) Mentor: Shellfrost

**QUEENS**

Aspenshine(a gray sleek she cat with lighter areas and faint sporadic darker stripes and green eyes) (Kits: Ashkit(gray speckles she cat), Birchkit(black with a cream chest))

Dimefur(a silver she cat with blue eyes who once was a kittypet)(Kits: pennykit(brown slim she cat with peculiar orange eyes), Nickelkit(a silver tom with green eyes), Quarterkut(a gray tabby tom with blue eyes), Dollarkit(a rich brown tom with green eyes, pun intended))

Batshade(a black huge chested she cat with flat ears and violet eyes)(Kits: Beankit(a deep brown she kit with a few splotches and green eyes))

**ELDERS**

Tootheye(a black scraggy tom with a missing eye and many scars, his eye is yellow)

Creampad(a soft raggedy once beautiful cream she cat with darker paws and pink pads) with yellow eyes)

## **Prologue: Flood**

Cold, thundering rain slammed down onto open fields as lightning split the sky. The wind was so strong that mice were getting buffered down the hills against their control, and the many streams were overflowing rapidly. Yet the rain did not block out the thrumming of paw steps across the sodden grass as cats of all shape and color streamed from the rising flood water in panic. A sturdy golden tom, his fur now darkened and plastered to his pelt, yowled atop a tall ridge. The rest of the cats stopped listening with bated breath as the wind grew ever stronger.

"Cats of Riverclan! Is everyone here and accounted for? We must make our way to the Windclan borders hills to escape the floods!" Dawnstar yowled with a strong, reassuring voice, despite the fatal situation.

"Wait! Where are Dunestep and Frondcloud? Frondcloud's kits are nearly born!" Ferretmuzzle gasped, looking around frantically for his sister. Minnowleap put her tail on his shoulder comfortingly. Ripplepaw and Cedarpaw huddled near their parents, frightened and shivering.

"Dawnstar, we have to find them!" Silverflash mewed in alarm.

"We can't. I'm so sorry, but the flood has almost reached us. We have to move," Dawnstar meowed solemnly, dipping his head.

Ferretmuzzle gave out a wail, bringing his sons closer to him.

"May StarClan keep them safe," Dawnstar murmured. The clan quickly repeated his words. "Now move!" he ordered racing along the hills towards springy moor tops. Riverclan hesitantly followed after their leader, Minnowleap had to force Ferretmuzzle to run along with the rest as the flood water engulfed their paws.

"Frondcloud, go up in that tree!" Dunestep meowed fiercely helping her up as the flood grew wider. They had lost the rest of their clan in the pouring rain, and to complicate things further, Frondcloud's kits would arrive any day now. Frondcloud whimpered in the dark depths of the hollow cavity of a sycamore, waiting for her mate to return. A few seconds went by of waiting when the golden tom didn't return.

"D- Dunestep?" Frondcloud called, her meow spiked with worry.

No answer.

The soft brown she cat curled up sniffing, her tail over her swollen belly. A sharp pain pierced her stomach. *The kits!* She started to panic. *They can't come now, not in this flood!* A spasm crossed through her body and she screamed. The pain was unbearable. Wild thoughts raced through her head. *Dunestep is probably dead. The flood water is rising. RiverClan was gone, and my kits are coming.*

Her breath came in gasps as a sac plopped onto the oak wood. She fumbled to grab her son and nipped the sack, licking his fur backwards to warm him. Everything around her faded away as her new son was born before her. Happiness flooded her from head to toe, before reality came crashing down.

Water, cold, cruel water, had reached the tree nook. She gave out a gargled scream pulling her only kit closer to her. "M-Mudkit... please be safe..." She had decided that name in a split second, knowing she wouldn't live to raise him. She sobbed quietly, grabbing a chunk of bark and placing her mewling kit on it. It floated atop the flood water. Frondcloud hoped with all her heart that he would reach the rest of her clan. *This is the end... be safe, Mudkit. I love you,* she thought as her lungs began to burst under the water. *I'll see Dunestep again soon...*

## **Chapter 1: Daily Routine**

Mudspatter awoke with a lurch. He'd had a nightmare about a flood. Water had always made his fur bristle. He was born into RiverClan but after his traumatic experience as a kit he wouldn't go near water, to the clan's great displeasure. Nightmaretalon especially would never let it go that Mudspatter hated water and that his parents were dead. He felt so bad for Moonpaw, Nightmaretalon's current apprentice, as Nightmaretalon once mentored him and that was... a literal nightmare. He forced a small laugh at the irony.

"Rise and shine, fish breath!" a weaselly voice came from outside the warrior den. The source of the voice poked his head in.

"Yes, Skinkfang," Mudspatter muttered quietly, getting to his paws and trying to let his brown fur lie flat.

"What was that? I can't hear you," Skink snickered, shoving Mudspatter back to the ground. The mottled brown tom gave a sniff and staggered to his paws.

"I said y-yes sir," he said, trying to be a bit louder this time.

"Good. Nightmare wants you, by the way. Byeeee!" Skinkfang zipped out of there, the coward. Muddy sighed, walking slowly out of the reed woven den into the bustling camp clearing, and looked around for the gray pelt of his tormentor.

It was nice to see all the little things around the camp, like the adorable family bonding moments... that he would never be a part of. He shook his head, looking around. Lunarsong was huddled against Beestar frightfully; she had seen a spider. *She's more afraid of the world than me!* he remarked silently. Moonpaw had seemed to be hiding in a bush while Wasppaw was trying to teach her some cool tricks. C*an he not see she's upset?* Finbelly was drying herbs outside the medicine den with his brother Carppaw. *Siblings. Huh.* He wondered what they were like. Maybe if he had one they would protect him from Nightmaretalon-

"Hey, stop daydreaming, runt!"

Speak of the devil.

A large gray tom was now towering in front of him. He hadn't even noticed. Mudspatter took deep breathes, putting on a quivering smile.

"Hello, Nightmaretalon. You wanted to see me?" he quavered, trying to sound casual.

"Yeah, I would! I need your help in the territory." Nightmaretalon grinned wickedly. Mudspatter knew exactly what his intentions were, but he had to take a stand.

"Sorry, but I can't. I have to.... help Finbelly," he meowed nervously, but stood firm.

"Look. You and I both know very well you don't. Now, before this becomes much, much worse, I advise you to come with me," The mottled tom growled revealing yellowing fangs.

"Y-yes, Nightmaretalon..." he muttered, hanging his head. He would never win. He followed the huge tom out of the tunnel over the small stream and out onto the foreboding fields. The good thing was that out in the open, Nightmaretalon couldn't do much. The bad thing was that Mudpatter was, well, himself, and he had no true friends or family. *I guess Beestar is his half brother but he never recognized him as such.* Skinkfang joined them shortly. Nightmaretalon snarled at the scrawny yellow tom for being late. Even his 'friends' were treated badly. At least Mudspatter wasn't Whisperbreeze. He felt so bad for her. She was Nightmaretalon's sister. *If he treats me like this, StarClan knows how he treats her,* thought Mudspatter. It was even more infuriating because Beestar was oblivious to it!

He stopped abruptly, soft mud squishing at his paws. Then shivers ran down his spine.

"N- No!"

## **Chapter 2: His First Friend**

A cold, raging river stood before the three cats. Mudspatter's paws were at the riverbank, his unsheathed claws digging into the peat frantically. *I can’t do this! Why can’t I hunt for the clan, or-*

”Want a little taste of the water, huh, baby Muddy?” Nightmaretalon sneered, waving his tail for Skink to join them and pin Mudspatter down.

”Please, no-“ he gasped as the yellow paws held around his shoulders shoved him to the muddy ground. He felt sick.

”Shut up! You need to learn your lesson, runt!” The gray tom's powerful hind legs pounded Muddy into the river. He screamed, bubbles erupting from his muzzle. He was retching and waving around madly.

They dragged him back up to the surface and he gasped for air, spluttering and coughing. He shivered so violently it looked like he had been through ten horrible blizzards.

”W-w-w why are you doing this?!” He wailed, his teeth chattering uncontrollably.

”Having fun!” Skink cackled as Nightmaretalon sneered, ”Shut it! We are teaching you a valuable lesson, rat!"

”Just leave me alone...” Muddy groaned, curling up into a tight ball of fur for warmth.

”Oh no you don’t!” They kicked him full on into the raging stream and he screamed, splashing and thrashing. He had never learned how to swim and was quickly sinking while being dragged along the current.

*StarClan, why didn’t you kill me in that flood? This is unbearable!* he thought, frantically having given up his vain attempts to stay above the surface. He started to sink slowly to the rocky bottoms as his vision blacked out.

Until suddenly, jaws met his chest fur and hauled him out of the river with great strength and effort.

“Don’t hurt me anymore! Please!” he squeaked feebly, coughing up water.

”Why would I hurt you? And aren’t you a RiverClan cat? Why didn’t you swim?” A she-cat's voice was audible through Mudspatter's water-logged ears. He lifted his head and rested it back down again, feeling dizzy.

”Who are you?…” he murmured, still shivering.

”I could say the same to you, pal! I’m Reedfluff. From ThunderClan.” Mudspatter leapt to his paws, hissing, but fell over again. The red-and-brown she-cat rolled her eyes.

”Prideful RiverClan,” she scoffed, nudging him into a sitting position.

”Ehem well, thank you f-for your help,” she mocked teasingly, laughing.

”H-hey…. b-but yeah, thanks,” he mumbled, flushing.

”Don’t take it too hard. It’s just a joke, silly,” Reedfluff mewed, hopping up onto one of the shining stones of Sunningrocks, which did currently belong to ThunderClan.

”Uh, well, I’m Mudspatter…” He shuffled his paws, wondering where Nightmaretalon and Skinkfang went. They were bound to find him soon.

”Nice to meet ya, slippery paws,” she snorted, balancing him again.

”Heh heh, yeah… I’m afraid of water, actually,” he muttered, his thin tail twitching anxiously.

## **Chapter 3: Demoted**

He didn't know how he had managed it, but he was able to slip back into camp under Nightmare and Skink's noses. He sighed with relief, curling up near a bush at the edge of the clearing. He had actually made a friend today. Granted, they *were* in ThunderClan and her first impression of him was drowning... *But hey! It's something, right?* Muddy convinced himself. For once, he wasn't dreading Nightmaretalon coming back, as he was in high spirits.

"Hey, Mudspatter... do you have a moment?" Beestar had padded up to him, his brown and yellow tail swishing. Mud was very surprised to be called into the leader's presence. He wasn't even that important.

"Yes, of course," he murmured following Beestar into the woven den around an ancient willow tree. His fur brushes the lichen as he went into the open space. It felt a bit damp, but he didn't complain, last thing he needed was Beestar to think of him as a kit.

"We need to talk about what you do for this clan. You never go fishing because of your... erm... *fear,* and you don't fight in battles either," Beestar meowed sternly. Mudspatter's heart sank. Beestar had only wanted to talk to him because he wasn't useful. *What did you expect? It's the truth,* Muddy scolded himself, but it still stung. He caught mammals, and... and....

"I, um..." he stammered, averting Beestar's stare. He felt his fur crawl uncomfortably, his earlier happiness vanishing in heartbeats. What was Beestar going to do with him? Make him an elder? Exile him? Make him go in the water?... He shivered at the prospects. *Why can't I just be normal like all the other warriors?*

"What is RiverClan supposed to do with-with a *faulty warrior?*" Beestar said. The words hit Mudspatter like a tsunami flooding his brain and suffocating his lungs, unable to speak. "Maybe you could become medicine cat or mediator... yet that's probably to much to trust you with," Beestar mused suspiciously. Mud gulped, looking at his paws.

Beestar pondered for a while before speaking again. “You will become an apprentice again, it seems to me you didn’t learn enough of the skills to begin with. I don’t think Nightmaretalon was a good mentor for you, and he already has another apprentice, so your new mentor will be Minnowleap.”

”You what?!” he yowled in complete and utter shock. “But-but-”

“My decision is final. Now go. The re-ceremony will commence soon,” Beestar sighed, flicking his striped tail and turning around. Mudspatter slowly walked out, feeling like claws were being stabbed through his heart.

## **Chapter 4: Training...**

Pawstep after pawstep. Muddy's paws thudded slowly on the dirt clearing. The air felt damp and heavy, making him feel even more weighed down than his heart already was. He sat, curling his tail around his light brown paws. He was trying to choke back a sob, not looking up. Then his ears pricked. He had heard something that confused him.

”Are you sure that was the correct call? I still think it was way too harsh...” Beestar mumbled.

”No, no. He doesn’t help with anything around the clan. He needs to learn,” a black she cat mewed quietly, her fur in her eyes. It was Lunarsong. Mudspatter's brain blanked out, trying to think of why Lunarsong wanted him to suffer like this. He had never done anything to her. He was always sympathetic. *Maybe she’s just confused. I mean, she's so shy and timid. Maybe she’s scared he won’t get enough prey for her kits?* he thought.

He gave out a weary sigh as his two worst enemies strolled into camp.

”Oh, sad, you didn’t drown,” Nightmaretalon drawled, but his paws were twitching. “Hey, why are you so sad? I haven’t done anything to you yet,” he scoffed, looking at Mudspatter's sullen posture.

”Well, um… I’m being made an apprentice again...” he murmured not looking up. Nightmaretalon gave a grumble.

”Ugh, you're my apprentice again! At least I’ll have fun with you,” he sneered.

”That’s the thing… you're not my mentor anymore. Minnowleap is.” He held his breath, waiting for the eruption. Nightmaretalon just halted. He gestured to Skinkfang to leave, then turned and stormed to Beestar's den. He was relieved that Nightmare hadn’t hurt him, but it didn’t change the pit in his stomach. Muddy felt like it had been hours since the decision to make him an apprentice again, when Beestar emerged from his willow tree den and leapt upon the Highbranch.

"All cats gather around the Highbranch for a clan meeting!" he yowled his words ringing across the cozy clearing. Mudspatter sighed and slowly sat in front of the ancient tree watching as his clanmates crowded around, muttering in confusion. Nightmaretalon was noticably grumbling angrily to Skinkfang who was nodding vigorously. Ripplenose was speaking in a low meow to Berrytalon, glancing at Mudspatter. It made his fur stand on end. Mothspeck was hovering outside the nursery with her kits and her mate, Cedarheart, while Powderleaf and her apprentice Wasppaw were sitting up curiously. Whisperbreeze was nowhere to be seen, and Mudspatter had a suspicion why.

"Today we..." Beestar sighed and tried again. "Today we are making Mudspatter an apprentice again because most cats agree that he hasn't done much for the clan." He glanced apologetically at Mudspatter. "So he will now be starting over to learn more skills." Loud chatter started up among the clan, some in mocking and some in sympathy.

"Mudspatter, please step forward." Mud did as he was told and stepped quietly up to Beestar. "From this moment on you will be known as Mudpaw. Your mentor will be Minnowleap."

"What? No!" Minnowleap spoke up sharply. Mudpatter sighed. Minnowleap was always bitter to him. In her eyes, he had caused Frondcloud's death and Ferretmuzzle had never been the same after that, having retired early.

"Minnowleap, my decision is final," Beestar meowed sternly. Minnowleap hissed in frustration and walked towards Mudsplatter resentfully.

“Go pick the elders' ticks for the rest of your apprenticeship,” she grumbled into his ear, her chestnut color tabby fur bristling in frustration. She had been hot headed for as long as Mudsplatter knew her.

"O-of course, ma'am," he muttered, looking at his paws yet again.

"Clan dismissed!" Beestar leapt off the branch and walked into his den, Lunarsong following him. Mudspatter couldn't help but feel uneasy around her now.

"Stop daydreaming. We have training to get done!" Minnowleap meowed sharply. Oh, right. He was Mudpaw again. He followed the brown she cat out of the camp, looking back wistfully. Was this even home anymore? It seemed like he had nobody but Reedfluff, who wasn't even in RiverClan and liked him more than half of his clanmates.

They walked on along a stream bed and Mudpaw looked to the other side of the river, not wanting to see the torturous depths.

"First off, I guess I'll teach you how to fight better because you're a scaredy mouse," Minnowleap snorted. *She definitely isn't as bad as Nightmaretalon though,* he thought in relief. Minnow yawned, positioning herself in a battle stance on a flat patch of grass. "Let me see what you know so far," she meowed, leaping at Muddy and clinging onto his back. She was much heavier than him and he stumbled under her weight, trying to fling her off vainly.

"Is that all you got?" she scoffed, prodding a paw at his chest. He toppled over, then staggered up, swiping at her legs. "Stop! Just stop! What in the world did Nightmaretalon teach you?" she meowed incredulously.

"Well, um, he mostly just clawed me up and shoved me in streams, to tell you the truth..." Mudpaw murmered.

"Really! He's a piece of work, huh? I'm going to have to talk to beestar about him."

"No! Please don't! He'll hurt me more!"

Minnowleaps gaze softened in sympathy. "Beestar will stop him from hurting you, I promise," she meowed briskly, then sighed. "Look, I'm sorry you have to be an apprentice again. It wasn't my choice and would never have been but we're just going to have to get through it. Ok?"

"Ok..." he meowed shuffling his paws.

"And perk up! Stop being so nervous all the time." She rolled her eyes. Mudpaw nodded and tried to look casual even though his insides were turning upside down at all that had happened today. He felt exhausted, and he swayed on his paws. Minnowleap noticed this and grumbled, "Just go back to camp. You need rest." She flicked her tail dismissively and he smiled, padding wearily back to camp.

## Chapter 5: Around the Camp

Sun shone onto the flat earth clearing, revealing generations of paw prints scored in the dirt. Mudpaw sat shivering in the cold winds, looking around the bustling camp.

Minnowleap was on patrol and he was an apprentice now, so he couldn't go out on his own. Therefore, he had nothing to do but to stay out of Nightmaretalon's claws. Who was suspiciously nowhere to be seen... did Minnow actually keep her word? He doubted it. Nightmare was probably just on patrol. He gave out a long sigh. *What has my life become?* He needed to leave this place, but had nowhere to go.

He decided to walk around and watch others to distract himself. *It isn't weird, be quiet brain,* he thought. Mudpaw padded over softly to the olive sedge den tucked in the corner that had a small, pretty stream flowing past it. Finbelly was outside of the den, drying some mallow leaves, but didn't look up at Mudpaw's approach. Finbelly's sleek orange fur shone like a carp's scales in the sun. A smaller copy of him bounded up to Finbelly. Their only difference was their speckles.

"'Ello, big bro!" Carpaw squeaked slipping on some mallow leaves.

"Careful!" Finbelly chuckled, gathering the leaves back up.

"Oops. Why are you playing with leaves again?"

"Cause I'm the medicine cat," he purred. Mudpaw watched, feeling a hollow pit in his stomach.

"Ohhhhhhhh right!" Carppaw bounced in the air. "Can I help? Lunarsong is out of camp, and I'm sooooo bored."

"That's strange. She doesn't have any patrols... oh well." Fin shrugged, scooching over for Carppaw to join him. Then he turned and spotted Mudpaw. "Hey Mudspa - I mean, Mudpaw. You can come too," he meowed kindly.

"Um, ok..."

"How's it feel to be an apprentice again? Ha! I'll probably be a warrior before you now," Carppaw laughed, oblivious.

"Um...."

"Carppaw! Don't be rude" Finbelly scolded.

"But its true - " Carppaw protested. Mudpaw tried to hold back a sob and crept away. He didn't want to be there anymore. He flopped onto the grass patch near the sedge wall where the nursery was tucked away. Cedarheart and Mothspeck were gathered around their three kits: Polecatkit, Trunkkit, and Winterkit. They were all 3 moons old.

"You have to put less weight into your haunches," Cedarheart meowed affectionately, adjusting Polecatkit's hunting position.

"Yeah! You have to do that thing, Polecatkit!" Trunkkit said, as he dropped into a crouch as well.

"Oh, like you know anything about hunting," Polecatkit teased.

"Well, watch THIS!" Trunkkit sprang at Polecatkit, knocking him to the dirt. Winterkit hesitated, then joined in.

"Break it up, kits, break it up," Mothspeck intervened. She put a paw between the tussling kits and they rolled over, laughing. Mothspeck smiled and happened to look up and see Mudpaw. "Oh, hi, Mudpaw," she said in a warm voice.

Trunkkit looked at Mudpaw and mewed, "Go away! We're having fun, *apprentice.*"

"Trunky, that's rude..." Winterkit murmured, but Mudpaw interrupted.

"No, it's okay. I'll leave," he said in a sad voice, and turned around to go elsewhere.

He was trotting through the clearing when he saw Moonpaw and Wasppaw. They seemed like they were in some sort of fight. *I wonder what that's all about...* thought Mudpaw, so he decided to investigate.

He sat in the shadows behind where the siblings were so that he wouldn't be seen.

"Wasppaw, could you maybe just leave me alone?..." Moonpaw meowed.

"But why? Being alone is boring! Why not hang out with me?" Wasppaw replied, pointing a paw at his chest.

"I just want to be left alone," Moonpaw squeaked.

Later on, Mudpaw had no idea why he had done this (he presumed it was the spur of the moment, but he couldn't be sure), but something inside him clicked together.

*Moonpaw isn't going to stand up for herself, so I will.*

He took a deep breath and padded over to Wasppaw. "H-hey, Wasppaw-" he tried to say in a confident voice.

"What?" snapped Wasppaw. "I'm in the middle of something."

"I-I think Moonpaw wants to be left alone... maybe you should go s-somewhere else?" He couldn't see Moonpaw, but she was probably wondering why Mudpaw was defending her from Wasppaw. *After all, why would* I *be the one protecting her?*

"Are you trying to boss me around like you're my mentor? I already have one - oh, that's right. You got *demoted*, so you're not even a warrior anymore. And I'm just trying to hang out with Moonpaw, but you wouldn't know anything about that. Your family died," Wasppaw spat. "So maybe instead of me leaving Moonpaw alone, you should leave *us* alone!"

Mudpaw froze in shock.

"Wasppaw-" Moonpaw started, but Mudpaw bolted for the entrance before she could finish.

He rushed past all the cats in the clearing and flew out of the entrance. He got to the stream and started sobbing quietly, feeling like he would never fit into the world.

## Chapter 6: An Uncomfortable Chat

Mudpaw dug his claws into the dirt, swaying on the spot. *Well, I guess nobody in the clan likes me! Ha! That's so funny...* It wasn't. It really wasn't. Maybe he could go to thunderclan and start anew. He looked at the roaring stream, a spike of fear crossing through his chest. He wobbled across the stepping stones nervously, trying to get over to Sunningrocks. His heart thumped at the clear blue depths. It was agony looking at its waves, but it would be worse to go back to RiverClan with nothing waiting for him.

"Hey there, Muddy! Whatcha doing coming over to ThunderClan land?" A familiar calming voice. Reedfluff's fluffy red chest was in view as he looked up from his fumbling paws.

"Reedfluff," he murmured in relief, almost losing his balance.

"Let me help you, big guy," she chuckled, leaping on the gray wet stepping stones and pressing against him to get him across. He flopped onto Sunningrocks, gratefully putting his head on his paws.

"You never answered my question. What are you doing here?" she meowed more seriously.

"I'm just lonely, I guess..." T*hat was an understatement.*

"Aww, you came here to see little old me," she said, smiling "So then, how's it going, Mudspatter?"

"It's, uh - it's Mudpaw now." Reedfluff's grin turned into confusion.

"What? Why? Did I rub off my trouble making skills on you?"

"Apparently, I'm not useful to the clan..." he trailed away, not wanting to talk about it. Reedfluff noticed how uncomfortable he was getting and quickly changed the subject.

"I've been good. My dad Turtlespots won't get off my case, though," she said. "Ok, maybe I *did* put ants in Shellfrost's nest, but she deserved it!" she huffed, her red fur blazing and puffing up in indignation.

"Why did you put ants in her nest?" he asked quietly, laughing and cheering up a smidge.

"She's a selfish prat! She was trying to boss me around like she's deputy," Reed scoffed, licking down her fluffed up chest fur.

"I believe you." He smiled, flicking his tail on the rock.

"I'd like to be leader one day. It would be cool!" Reedfluff chirped. "Larchstar is so full of herself, it's comedic. She likes to make her fur glossy every single morning, and every time, a *unknown* cat splats mud on her." The word unknown was emphasized as such, you could tell the 'unknown cat' was Reedfluff.

"Leader seems like too much responsibility. I just want a family..." Mudpaw broke off, sighing.

"Wait, is your family-" Reedfluff paused cleaning her red tail and avoided his eyes in embarresment.

"I was born in the worst RiverClan flood, and I was the only survivor of my family," he meowed solemnly, wishing they were still here. At least Ferretmuzzle had slept with Muddy instead. He was kind in his own way.

"Reedfluff, where have you gotten to now?!" A rude female voice came from the trees. He guessed it was Shellfrost.

"Ack, got to go! Talk to you again soon, slippery paws." And with that, she bounded off the rocks and was engulfed in the lush green forest of grass shimmers season.

"Bye..." he meowed sadly, deciding to leave thunderclan territory before he was caught. His spirits were a bit higher, though he still couldn't push Trunkkit, Carppaw, and Wasppaw's words out of his mind.

\*\*\*

He slipped quietly back into camp, his head low. He didn't want to talk to anyone. Just sleep. Ferretmuzzle was fidgeting outside the elders' den, looking into space as usual, and Mudpaw felt a sudden urge for his comfort. He sat beside his uncle and tried not to breathe in his rancid scent. Ferretmuzzle didn't notice, still looking at something only he could see. Mudpaw tucked his paws under himself and leaned into Ferretmuzzle, who looked around wildly, then softened at Mudpaw lying there.

"Sleep well, Frondcloud..." he murmured. The bird chattered quietly as the sun dipped below the streams and rolling fields of RiverClan territory, as Mudpaw fell into a troubled sleep.

## Chapter 7: Murdered

Mudpaw opened his eyes, seeing nothing but inky black darkness all around him, though his paws felt a surface that wasn't there. The air felt cold and slimy and he heard ringing of voices in his ears.

"Watch out."

"Watch out..."

"Watch out!"

He woke with a start to blood-curdling screams and movement all around the camp. The commotion pushed his strange dream to the back of his mind as he scrambled up to the crowd, horrified at what he saw.

Berrytalon was lying dead on the clearing floor, her eyes lifeless.

There was no sign of a struggle. It seemed like a clean killing... too clean for a predator. The neck was perfectly snapped and Berrytalon didn't seem to have time to react before she died.

Mudpaw was hyperventilating. *Did Nightmaretalon do this?! I wouldn't put it past him.* He looked up and around the gathering cats for any clues.

Beestar was looking at Berrytalon with complete and utter shock, while Lunarsong was huddled around her children and crying into Beestar's chest fluff, presumably scared. Nightmaretalon for some reason looked... angry? That was very odd - he had never even interacted with Berrytalon.

Skinkfang was trying not to smile. He had always hated his sister, but Skinkfang was to cowardly to kill. *Or is he?...*

Mothspeck was shielding her kits from looking out of the nursery, Cedarheart and Powderleaf by her side. Ripplenose's voice interrupted his thoughts and observations.

"But she - she was one of our strongest warriors! Who could have - *what* could have..." Ripplenose sniffed the body carefully. "It smells like ThundercCan!" he meowed sharply, and Beestar leapt into action.

"Cats of RiverClan, remain calm. I will order more guards around the camp day and night with extra patrols. We will get to the bottom of this." He nuzzled Lunarsong comfortingly. "For now, we will mourn this noble warrior's death at moonhigh. Please carry on with your duties." The clan muttered worriedly, slowly spreading away from the body. Mudpaw watched Nightmaretalon carefully, even though his heart was threatening to burst out of his chest with its pounding.

Nightmaretalon was muttering to Skinkfang angrily about something and Skinkfang's yellow shoulders shrugged in response. Which prompted Nightmare to drag the scrawny tom out of camp. Mudpaw followed them cautiously, his curiosity getting the better of him. He looked back sadly at the yellow she cat's broken body in the clearing, being covered with lavender by Bassclaw and Finbelly.

Then he slipped passed the small stream, shivering and tracking a bushy gray tail.

\*\*\*

He arrived at a shaded area under a broken-down willow tree. The two toms were speaking in low hisses, so he had to creep closer to hear them.

"Why would she make it so obvious? She said it would happen discreetly so I'm not accused of anything!"

"I'm just glad she's dead," Skinkfang snickered, his twisted leg trailing in the grass.

"The point is that I'm a prime suspect! I'm not exactly nice to the public eye," he grumbled lashing his mottled tail .

"Well, I am too! She's my sister, for StarClan's sake!" Skink hissed, his battered tail trailing in the dirt.

"Don't use that tone with me! At least she was smart enough to frame ThunderClan." Mudpaw gave out a squeaky gasp. This was a RiverClan murderer, and a clever one! *What if I'm next?!* he thought frantically hastening to get out of their.

But it was too late.

"Where do you think you're going?" A menacing growl came form the willow tree clearing and he turned slowly to see two large figures looming above him.

## Frondcloud Bonus Chapter: Where it All Began

Frondcloud quietly slipped out of the warriors den, breathing in the flowery scent of the air. The sun shone on the sparkling clearing. Berrykit and Skinkkit were tussling near the nursery. *Poor scraps. Nobody knows who their parents are. All we know is that they're from WindClan.* She spotted her brother, Ferretmuzzle, with Minnowleap, and a purr rose in her throat.

"Good morning Ferri," she purred, padding up to the mates, who were sharing a mouse.

"Same to you, Frofro" Ferret purred back.

"Hey, what did we say about that nickname?" she joked crossly.

"Ayyy I can call you whatever I'd like, Frobble" he chuckled. Meanwhile Minnowleap nodded politely to Frondcloud.

"How have you two been?"

Minnowleap answered, "Great! Ripplepaw and Cedarpaw just became apprentices. We're so proud!"

"Oh yes, they are going to be great warriors! Dunestep is a good mentor. Don't worry," the brown speckled she cat said brightly.

"And a good mate, too, I hope." A golden tom emerged from around a corner.

"Of course you are!" Frondcloud purred twining her tail with his. The two cats sat down and Frondcloud groomed Dunestep's fur affectionately.

"Alright, sweetie, I should check up on the clan now. I am the mediator, after all," she murmured, getting up and licking his cheek.

"Awww if you must," he meowed, waving his tail in farewell. As Frondcloud trotted around the clearing, she suddenly pricked her ears, as she heard harsh arguing beside the apprentice den. She padded over softly to investigate.

"Get over it, already! You have two sons and a mate. Stop bothering me!" Silverflash hissed, lashing her silver, minnow-like tail

"I can do what I want!" Roseshadow, a red-and-black she cat scoffed. "Finbelly and Carpkit are useless scraps! Why should I care about them? They're both toms"

"THAT'S NOT HOW YOU TREAT KITS!" Silverflash roared. "Why was I ever mates with you?!"

"Because I'm gorgeous, darling. Just admit it," Roseshadow sneered, swishing her tail under the skinny silver she cat's chin, which only ticked her off more.

"I am your deputy. You DO NOT speak to me that way," growled Silverflash, unsheathing her claws. At that point, Frondcloud decided to intervene. It was nerve-wracking being a mediator and sometimes tiring to interact with everyone. But cats needed her help, and she was good at it.

"Ladies, please calm down. What's the issue?" Frondcloud asked calmly, curling her tail around her paws.

"This sad excuse for a cat keeps bothering me even though we're not together anymore. I have a mate and kits and so does she!" Silverflash complained, glaring at Roseshadow with pure hatred.

"I was not!" Roseshadow protested, but Frond could tell she was lying.

"Why don't you guys just step away from one another, take a walk, and eat something. Then when you're calmed down, you can discuss things more peacefully," Frond murmured, tilting her head.

"Fine," Silverflash hissed, walking away pointedly.

Roseshadow scoffed and whispered into Frondcloud's ear as she was passing: "You're a terrible mediator." Then flounced away over to a grumbling Salmonear.

*What a stuck up cat,* Frondcloud thought, shaking her head.

She wondered if Beeclaw was doing alright with his uncle. She knew how much he didn't want to be leader, despite Dawnstar's constant persistence. This clan had it pretty rough... she decided to take a small nap to clear her head.

She padded into the warriors den that was made out of woven reeds and sunk into her soft moss-and-cattail nest, curling up her tail over her nose and drifting off to sleep.

She woke up to an endless sky filled with stars and soft green grass under her paws. She had never had a dream like this before.

"Hello?" Frondcloud's voice echoed around the clearing.

"Hello, dear..." A brown chestnut she cat walked into her vision and her eyes welled up with tears.

"Momma-"

"I'm sorry, I don't have time to talk.." the starry cat meowed, her ears drooping. "I have a message for you."

"Oh.. what is it?" meowed Frondcloud, her fur prickling with unease. Mahagonywhisper was almost never sad.

"Darling, you'll give born to one kit. He will be part of a prophecy to save the clans." Mahogany's voice grew more mystified and her eyes glowed with a white light as she carried on.

"The flood draw up muds that will reveal the truth, with a great storm of lightning showing the way - Oh no. Time's up. StarClan, wait! I'm not finished - oh, my love, before I go... whatever you do. keep your kit alive. I'll see you soon." Then the starry she cat faded away from Frondcloud's vision as she was gently shaken awake by Dunestep. *Oh no... what does she mean, I'll see her soon?*

## Chapter 8: Punishment

"Please!" Mudpaw squeaked as he was tossed into a shaded ditch ruthlessly. His fur scrapped on the brambles excruciatingly and he staggered to his paws.

"You need to learn not to spy on us," Skink sneered.

"I didnt hear anything! I swear!" he squealed, huddled by the ditch wall.

"Liar," Nightmaretalon growled, slamming his claws into Muddy's soft brown cheek. He screamed, horrified. *Will they torture me? I should have never followed them... StarClan, help me!*

"We need to punish you," the gray tom snickered, a gleam in his blue eyes. Then he grabbed him harshly and dragged him back to RiverClan camp, where the clan was mourning Berrytalon.

"Beestar!" Nightmaretalon yowled, shoving Mudpaw to the ground. "We found this cat... snooping around the WindClan border and eating prey he caught." Nightmaretalon swished his tail.

Beestar gave Nightmaretalon a stern look. "That doesn't mean beat him up. I'm keeping my eye on you." Beestar glared and Nightmare and Skinkfang, swishing his tabby tail. "As for you, Mudpaw, I'm disappointed. You're on elders' duty, and no prey tonight."

Mudpaw tried not to sob. *This is so unfair,* he thought, but he said nothing in fear of Skinkfang and Nightmaretalon. He scampered over to the elders' den and Nighmaretalon hissed menacingly in his ear: "You work for us now. Say anything, and you're dead." Then he left camp again, annoyed at Beestar.

Mudpaw watched, shuffling his paws and glancing at Beestar, who had seemed to crumple momentarily under strain. Lunarsong shot a glance at Nightmaretalon and softly put a paw on Beestar.

Mudpaw padded into the sloped, woven willow-stem elders' den and peered in, almost gagging at the putrid smell. It was clear Ferretmuzzle didn't take care of himself, and Minnowleap was the only one helping. Minnowleap gave a aloof nod to Mudpaw then padded out so Mudpaw could do all the work.

*It is my punishment...* he sighed, walking up to his uncle and feeling a pang of sympathy at the raggedy, sleeping figure.

He started to clear away the dirty, smelly moss and wanted to throw up. Why didn't the other apprentices even take care of Ferret?! He felt so bad. They all thought he was crazy, presumably, but they don't know what it's like.

He ran his tongue along a fidgeting Ferret comfortingly, wincing as a flea jumped onto him. Well, he should get some mouse bile. But even this duty couldn't distract him from what Nightmaretalon and Skinkfang had said... *The murderer is among us, and now I'm being blackmailed. How could it get any worse?*

## Joke Chapter: Max meets mud(crossover chapter with mazebox thats noncanon)

Mudspatter woke up groggily rising to his paws then looked on in show a twoleg was right up in his face.

Max suddenly saw a jittery tabby cat un front of him.

He screamed getting up against the wall. Not another thing to hurt me!

Max sat down. 'Shh buddy,I'm not going to hurt you.are you ok?' He whispered in a soothing voice

“What! I can understand you!? Are you speaking cat right now” he meowed in shock but felt connected to this human somehow

"I dunno.im speaking the ancient language of my dimension and the inventors of it really liked cats but I don't know' Max shrugged

'Wait how can I understand you?'

Mudspatter was very flustered but took a tentative step forward “w well welcome to riverclan”

'Thanks.whats your name by the way,if you're comfortable sharing it that is?'

“Mudspatter” he meowed starting to get into an easy mood instead of panic.

'Thats really cool.Im Max' Max replied,smiling at the cat

'Can I call you Muddy?'

“Strange name never heard names like that” he meowed walking into the clearing that was strangely empty. He thought nothing of it. “This is my home”

“Oh sure” he meowed taken aback

'My full name is even weirder. I just don't like it so I go by Max.My brother calls me Maxi the Taxi though so I've definitely had weirder names' Max shrugged 'Thats a cool place to live in.Is it cozy?'

“Yes and what’s a taxi” he meowed perplex “hey wait did you come here with anyone else and how even!”

'A taxi is like a kind of car...wait you probably don't know what those are.You know the large thingys that move around on 4 large circles?Yea it's a subtype of one of those' Max explained

'My older brother,but he won't bother you.He's probably just sitting by a lake eating pasta noodles right now.And how I got here,I dunno'

'He's older and a bit taller than me,but he wouldn't be interested in anything to harm yall.The only reason we're here is because we went to try and find a sleeping place but got lost.

“Oh wait so your nick name is a monster? Oh nevermind well we should find him so you can get back home”

'The nickname is just because I like building stuff,and because it rhymes with my name.Probably,my other sibling must be worried by now'

“Follow me they are probably in the territory” Mudspatter meowed padding softly over the small stream shivering than obit the fields. He unconsciously let his pawsteps take him to the stream near sunning rocks

Max followed him,carefully watching his steps

He spotted was that reedfluff with a human! That must be maxs brother “I think he sober their with my friend reedfluff” Mudspatter meowed walking across the rocks trying not to look at the water.

'Yep,that's him alright.im surprised he forgot the noodles,they're practically engaged' he replied,following him to the rocks

“Mudspatter look at this weird guy I found!” Reed meowed eating a mouse. Then she looked at max with sparkle sun her eyes. Mudspatter chuckled

'Ah,I see you've found my brother' Max replied,grinning

“Oh this is your brother cooool! He’s pretty ok just to quiet for me” reed chirped and mud sat next to the other human smiling

'Hey' Dark replied quietly

'Thanks.You seem pretty cool.Is Muddy your friend?he's pretty cool'

“Hello..” mud murmered shyly “what are noodles?”

”Yep we are Buddy bud buds! Im from thudnerclan and I’m the best cat their”

'You seem like it' Max replied with a grin,happy to meet someone else with chaotic energy

'It's my favorite food.I'll draw it over here so you can kinda see what it looks like' Dark replied,starting to sketch it with a stick he'd found

“Looks yummy!” Muddy meowed

“WANNA MAKE A PAW SHAKE! Me and mud have one tho hes to embarrassed to do it” she yowled

'Yessss.Me and Darks have one as well but he's too busy being sad to do it' Max replied

'I'm not THAT sad,Max.Stop spreading propaganda' Dark sighed

“Man I feel you! Muddy is kind of moppy”

”hey!” Mud mrrowed

'So is it a I forgot what we're here for or just judge Darks and Muddy day?' Dark asked

Mudspatter chuckled that was a good joke- when’s the last time he laughed

'Ok so what should we do with the pawshake' Max asked

“Hmmm anything completely random!” She chirped making weird wiggles with her paw and hitting his hand

'That works great!and...perfection!'

“Boom boom boom and boom!” Reed laughed. Flopping onto her haunches.

Max giggled as well

Max and dark started to fade zapping back to their dimension “well that was weird” mud and reed said in unison.

(Thak you to snowothetwix for helping write this chapter and go check out their series mazebox)

## Chapter 9: Comforting Message

He found himself again at the edge of the nauseating stream at the shining stones of Sunningrocks. The fluffy red she cat bounding next to him smiled gleefully. Everything he had to tell her sent shivers down his spine.

“Hello, Reedfluff,” he meowed grimly.

”Why so serious-“ she halted, sending a strain on Mudspatter.

”Berrytalon has been killed right in our camp and- and there was ThunderClan scent on it…” he murmured, hanging his head. Reedfluff only stood there in silence.

”I swear it wasn’t… let’s just go hunting. It will clear your head,” she meowed, brushing off the previous words as if there were just an irksome fly.

”Okay,” he sighed in relief. He was glad she didn’t press him, especially when he had claws at his throat. He followed her along the rocks precariously.

”Do you hunt land prey?” she asked, unsure.

”Yes, I do, since my, um-“

”Oh, right. Well, let me show you some ThunderClan tips.” Reedfluff smiled. Getting into a low, sturdy crouch, her paws placed firm above her, her haunches low, her tail straight, and her eyes fixated on a skittering mouse.

”First, follow my crouch,” she whispered, “then creep forward very lightly. The mouse will feel your pawsteps.” Reed moved forward, slowly and cautiously, trying not to make a sound... then pounced with a powerful leap, snapping the mouse's neck in between her paws. “Then leap and pinpoint its position to get the perfect kill!” she chirped.

The words kill made his ears prick and his fur bristle, but only for a split second. “Okay, I think I got it.”

Mudpaw sniffed the air and spotted a squirrel. He crouched a bit clumsily and creeping forward, wincing at his wrenched shoulder just loud enough that the squirrel gave a squeak and leapt up the tree. He sighed, looking down at his paws.

”Just try again,” Reed meowed briskly, pacing. He nodded and looked around at the pointed rocks for another creeping critter.

A mouse helpfully revealed itself from behind an oak tree and he crouched once again, more firmly this time. He had gotten some practice. He took a deep breath, then crept forwards very carefully until he was about a fox length from the mouse and leapt, landing hard on his scarred shoulder.

He hissed in pain, but had successfully squashed the mouse. He got up, staggering, and looked meekly at the smushed brown creature. He didn’t know how he could have done worse.

”Good job! You still killed it,” Reed purred, nudging him. He nodded absent-mindedly and sat there, staring blankly at the squashed mouse. A spike of anxiety pierced his light brown chest. *That will be me after Nightmaretalon has dealt with me*. He started hyperventilating.

”Hey, hey, hey!” Reedfluff sat in front of him, hugging him “Calm down, bud...”

”But he will kill me! I know it,” he choked out, starting to cry. Reedfluff's eyes filled with sympathy.

”It’s ok. I’m here for you,” she soothed. “You can always come to ThunderClan after everything is sorted out. Flametuft would allow it,” she murmured, resting her big head on his and curling her whiskers.

”You... you really think so?...” he sniffed, looking up at her with watering eyes.

”I do,” she meowed firmly, closing her eyes. They stayed there, and as they did so, Mudspatter felt his body ease up. It was going to be okay after all.

## Chapter 10: The Whispers in your ear

Mudpaw walked back into camp, a buzzing in his ears, but his mind strangely clear and his pelt glossy. His eyes lifted with a strange glow in their expression that was not seen often. His paws felt light, their soft brown tufts perked up and his claws firmly sheathed seamlessly through the sleek toes. He looked up straight and scanned the clearing of reed and and mud.

He looked at a cat he had not seen in a while, a silvery soft gray she cat with long, drooped ears and a fidgeting sleek tail tucked away behind some bushes at the edge of the clearing.

The brown tom quietly padded up to her, his ears quirked to the side, odd looking. “Hey, Whisperbreeze... are you - are you ok?” Berrytalon had always been somewhat cold to the she cat, but it was still hard to lose a clanmate. Plus, he had no idea what Nightmaretalon might have done to her.

”Hello...” Her voice was hoarse and dull, a lump in her once sleek throat, now missing of patches fur, and light scratches lay upon it like frost to tree tops. She smelled of infection, which deeply worried him.

”Have you seen Finbelly recently? He doesn’t ask awkward questions. I would know..” he meowed, his ears twitching. He plopped down beside her, quietly sleeking down his tufted ankles.

”...T-thanks... I haven’t...” she murmured, licking the small circle of white on her chest. “…I’m sorry!” She suddenly started crying quietly into her paws. Mudpaw awkwardly patted her on the shoulder with his tail, sighing.

“No, no, you did nothing wrong… I’m sorry you have to deal with him too.”

”He wasn’t always like this...” she cried softly. “He used to be such a nice tom, a nice brother until-“ Mudpaw pricked his ears. Nightmaretalon was was once nice?! He didn’t know why this baffled him so much, putting him at a loss for words, but listened nonetheless.

Whisperbreeze sighed shakily, tucking in her paws and wrapping her tail protectively over her flank out of habit. “It all started after Silverflash, our mom, became deputy…” and Mudpaw could envision it now: a silvery she cat with a fierce smile.

*Flashback*

“Bonestomp, what do you mean by this?” Silverflash snapped at the edge of the nursery, her silver fur on end and her blue eyes flashing with hurt and rage. This couldn’t happen again.

”You know I wanted to be deputy, mouse heart!” The dark gray-and-black tom snapped ferociously, all the love seeping out of his voice and onto the floor with the dirt. “Selfish slug!”

”It's NOT my fault! Dawnstar’s a prat!” she hissed, hurt wavering in her meow. Dawnstar had made her deputy right after her kits and before she even had an apprentice, but why?!

”Excuses, excuses... you're lucky you have kits, or else I would leave you in a heartbeat!” Bonestomp sniffed, his muzzle in the air and his amber eyes cold.

Silverflash opened her mouth to speak, but no sound came out. She just dipped her head and trailed away.

*End of flashback*

”After that, our - our father abused us in anger...” Whisperbreeze choked out, not wanting to remember. Mudpaw's gaze filled with sympathy. At least having no parents was better than having abusive ones. Then Whisperbreeze started up again, her voice low: “Nightmaretalon didn’t take it too well, with his own ambitions and envy… and, well… THAT'S all I know of it.” She stopped; it was getting to hard for her to speak. Mudpaw leaned against her, trying to be soothing, but didn’t know if it worked.

”I’m really sorry… I am,” he meowed empathetically. “Whisperbreeze can I, um, ask you something?...“ He had worked up the courage to say it.

”Yes.”

”Can I be your, um - new brother?” He smiled weakly, shifting his muddy brown paws. Whisperbreeze eyes welled up with tears and she raised her head. “I’m sorry if I upset you - “ he meowed, smacking his forehead with a paw.

”No, no... this is the nicest thing anyone has done for me,” she meowed breathily, smiling nervously “Yes, Mudspatter, yes,” she meowed softly, and hugged him. Mudpaw embraced her with relief, happiness and sadness.

They had talked often before she had disappeared and this was great. He had family - or, rather, adoptive family that could help him and understand him. He sighed softly, laying against her cheek, and drifted out of consciousness.

## Chapter 11: Who Keeps Doing This?

For the second time in a quarter moon, Mudpaw woke up to screaming. His heart pounded, panic gripping his chest like long claws. Whisperbreeze lifted her head in panic with the same feeling of dread.

”No! Buba, please wake up!” Tadpoletail wailed frantically, scrabbling at Bassclaw's dead body. Then realization hit him; the dark gray tabby tom and the black and white she cat were siblings. He couldn’t imagine losing Whisperbreeze after yesterday...

”Not again,” Nightmaretalon growled looking as if he actually cared.

Then cold realization hit him like the waves on the night he was born. It was another cleverly crafted murder, and Skink and Nightmare were in on this one, too. *Oh no, oh no, oh no, oh no…* He started to hyperventilate, holding his head with his paws. What if they killed him next?!

Whisperbreeze pressed against him worriedly. “I-it's okay…” she murmured, but he could tell she thought Nightmaretalon had something to do with it and fear scent rolled of her as well.

Beestar emerged amidst the chaos and gently pushed the sobbing Tadpoletail away with a paw, though by the way his tail twitched, Mudpaw could tell he was anxious.

”Calm down, everyone! Calm down!” Beestar ordered, his voice cracking.

”I’m sorry... did I not do my job right, or- or-“ Lunarsong cried into Beestar, which seemed to be a typical scene now.

”No, baby, you didn’t,” he comforted, letting her cry on him. Mudpaw watched in horror at the gathering cats.

”We need to find and kill whoever did this!” The normally bubbly and kind Tadpoletail yowled, her claws sheathing and unsheathing.

“Calm down, Tadpoletail,” Finbelly meowed gently, heading to examine the body. Murmurs rose from the crowd.

”He wasn’t the nicest but he was still a part of the clan…”

”He was grumpy but always good to have in battle.”

”I’ll miss him.”

Those were the words Mudpaw could hear travel around the cats' circle of despair.

”Beestar... there's more ThunderClan scent,” Finbelly announced solemnly, stepping away from the body.

Beestar gave out a long sigh. “Lunarsong, Finbelly. Meet me in my den, please,” he murmured.

Mudpaw was almost inclined to follow but the last time he’d done something like that it didn’t end well, so he stayed put in a pool of confusion and anxiety.

“It’s going to be-“ Whisperbreeze couldn’t finish her sentence as a sob emitted from her mouth yet again. Mudpaw pressed close to her, forcing himself to calm down.

“It’s okay. We have each other. That’s all we need,” Mudpaw meowed quietly, a few teardrops falling at his paws.

“It's going to be alright.”

## Reedfluffs Bonus Chapter: A Storm Rising..

The cold wind battered harshly at Reedfluff's red fur through the crack at the warriors den entrance. *Ugh, why is the wind so rude?* she thought, getting to her paws and stretching luxuriously.

"Hey sleepy head, get out here! You have hunting to do!" Shellfrost scoffed from somewhere outside the bush.

"Lose the attitude, prissy," Reedfluff snapped crossly.

"Hold your tongue, sweetheart, or I'll get Larchstar," The white and light gray tabby poked her head in, grinning.

"Oh, I'll be good for LARCHstar," she said innocently, bashing her eyelashes. *That stupid old bat! I wanna- gah!*

"Good," Shellfrost sneered, then trotted off into the distance.

Reed groaned for a long time then walked out into the chilly clearing. Flametuft's black fur could be seen shining in the dull sunlight next to his mate Aspenshine. Their kits, Birchkit and Ashkit, were tussling playfully at their paws.

Turtlespots was sharing a mouse with her mom Littlenose (W*ish he would get off my back sometimes!)* and Larchstar was sunning herself on the high rock, looking smug. Reedfluff would have given all the mice in the world to claw that look off her pretty gray face. Stormheart was sitting alone and looked like a cat who wouldn't give her a snarky remark, so she padded over to the tom.

"HELLO!" she yowled, laughing as Stormheart toppled over.

"Woah there! You almost gave me a heart attack," Stormheart chuckled, getting back into a dignified sitting position with his face in a embarrassed grin.

"You never know... that may be my intent!" she meowed in a joking, ominous tone.

"Oh stop it. You always crack me up," Stormheart smiled and nudged her shoulder.

"Oh, anyways, your dear old sister Shellfrost told me to go hunting," she drawled, annoyed. "Woullllld you care to accompany me, O brave warrior?" she grinned smacking his face with her thick tail.

"Yeah, I'd like to eat something other than your big red tail," he chuckled, getting to his light gray paws.

"Last one out is crow fooood," she grinned, leaping away through the thorn barrier.

"Hey, no fair! You got a head start!" Stormheart called, racing after her.

Steeltail, a gray tom, looked after them with cold blue eyes and followed slowly with stiff legs, unnoticed by the laughing warriors ahead.

The two ThunderClan warriors walked along the winding dirt path that had been carved out by many paws through the ferns. "Questionarooni... WHAT is your favorite prey?" Reed mrrowed randomly.

"Hmm... squirrels are pretty tasty, plus they're nice and soft from running and climbing trees," Stormheart meowed thoughtfully.

"I. Like. BIRD" she meowed cheerily "The feathers are a fun challenge to eat."

"You're quite the character, aren't you?" Stormheart chuckled, waving his slim gray tail.

"You could say that," she grinned, walking ahead but then turning around to walk backwards in front of him. "I mean, most cats in that silly clan are either boring or stupid," she informed Storm matter of factly.

"I guess I'm one of those stupid ones," he chuckled jokingly.

"Duh! I could bonk your head and hear an echo, it's so hollow," Reed teased.

"Thanks, you're so generous," Stormheart snorted.

"I know," she meowed pridefully. At least this cat was actually fun, though nobody could beat Mudspatter. Yes, she would still call him that. *He doesn't deserve to be a apprentice again,* she thought fiercely, walking in the normal direction once again.

Speaking of Mudspatter, the brown tom himself squeaked out her name from Sunningrocks.

"Mouse dung," she hissed quietly, glancing at a confused Stormheart. "So, um, I'm friends with a RiverClan cat and that's him, and yeah, please don't tell," she meowed rapidly, holding her breath.

Stormheart blinked then replied after a while, "I won't. I promise," he meowed firmly and smiled.

"Thank StarClan! You're a life saver!" she meowed, then turned to leap into the Sunningrocks clearing and barreled into Mudspatter.

"Ahh- oh, it's you," Mudspatter meowed, startled.

"Oops," she grinned, helping him up.

"Uhhh, Reedfluff... there's a cat behind- " he squeaked suddenly crouching away.

"Oh, don't worry. That's my friend Stormheart! He won't tell," Reedfluff meowed gently, plopping down beside him. Why was he so cute when he squeaked like that?

"Yeah, don't worry," Stormheart confirmed, sitting a good distance away with his tail curled around his paws.

"Anyway, what did you need?" She nudged the mottled brown tom, smiling affectionately, but as she looked at his nervous face, she straightened up in worry.

"Two cats have died, and- and... they found ThunderClan scent on the bodies," Mudspatter stuttered, leaning into her shoulder. Reedfluff and Stormheart shared a bewildered look, taken aback.

"But nobody in ThunderClan would do such a thing!" Stormheart growled defensively, which only made Mudspatter shrink away even more.

"Shhh... Stormy, you're not helping. Thanks for telling us, Muddy. I assume riverclan will, erm... *challenge* us about this, to say the least..." Reedfluff meowed, flattening her ears in worry.

"Y-y-yeah..." Mudspatter gulped, looking at his paws.

"Stormheart, we have to go NOW." she meowed urgently, getting up and hugging Mudspatter reassuringly. "Please stay safe," she murmured, before rushing out of the bushes with Stormheart at her heels. This was bad. Really, really bad!

Steeltail watched the scene, a slow cold grin sneaking on his face, getting to his paws and ambling back to camp with an ominous gaze.

## Chapter 12: Accusations

“All cats old enough to swim, gather beneath the tall branch for a clan meeting.” Beestar's loud call rang out across the silent clearing, echoing in Mudpaw's ears. Dread engulfed him, as he was almost 100% sure he knew what the meeting was about. He was horrible at fighting and he didn’t want to fight Reedfluff... he just couldn’t do it.

Cedarheart nuzzled Mothspeck solemnly and marched over to the willow tree. Ripplenose padded sullenly out of the warriors den with Powderleaf, Minnowleap, Nightmaretalon, and Skinkfang following. Even the apprentices didn’t have their usual energy as they trudged away from the prey pile.

Mudpaw took a deep breath and followed Ferretmuzzle and Whisperbreeze over, sitting between the two.

”As you all know-“ The yellow and brown tom's voice cracked. He tried again; “As you all know, two of our noble warriors have been killed by what seems to be ThunderClan themselves.” At this, Tadpoletail lashed her tail, her face stained with tear tracks.

Beestar continued. “So today I will be taking a small patrol over to Sunningrocks to confront them about these incidents.” Beestar meowed solemnly, looking around his clan of dull and angry warriors. “Lunarsong, you evaluate who’s going. I need a bit of time to myself,” Beestar murmured, dismissing the clan with a flick of his tail.

Lunarsong walked up beside the tree, looking strangely calm in all of this which concerned Mudpaw deeply. ”Me, Beestar, Finbelly, Skinkfang, Nighmaretalon, Ripplenose, and Mudpaw will be coming.” Her voice rung firmly around the clearing, the wind blowing her black fluff out of her face. “We will leave at dawn,” she meowed quietly, seeming to lose her calm edge for a moment, then slouched into Beestar's den.

Mudpaw began to panic, why him? Why in StarClan's name was he going?! And Skinkfang and Nightmaretalon, them too! They won’t be peaceful! *Oh no, oh no.* He paced, biting his lip.

"COME ON, MUDPAW!" Skinkfang snickered as the patrol walked over the small stream. Mudpaw gulped and glanced at Whisperbreeze, then slowly followed, shrinking back in alarm as the water touched his paws.

A few moments later, or a walk that felt more like thousands of moons, they had arrived at Sunningrocks and looked around. Steeltail, a dark gray warrior, stepped out of the bushes.

"Sunningrocks are ours, RiverClan. What are you doing here?" Steeltail meowed coldly, giving Mudpaw a glare. This glare confused him but made him more on edge at the same time.

"We need to speak with Larchstar." Beestar returned the cold stare as Steeltail narrowed his eyes and sprinted away, bringing back with him Larchstar and a few more warriors.

"What do you want, Beestar?" Larchstar scoffed, looking at her claws with a smile.

"Two of our warriors have died and there was ThunderClan scent all over the bodies,"beestar growled, glancing at her unsheathed claws.

Larchstar looked up with anger flaring in her gaze. "None of my warriors would ever do such a thing!" she yowled incredulously "This is war, Beestar. WAR!" she hissed dramatically, flaring her shiny gray fur.

Beestar stepped back in shock and anger "So be it, Larchstar. I would have liked not to spill more blood, but I see you only care for yourself," Beestar meowed coldly, already back swimming across the river.

Mudpaw glanced fearfully at the stone cold ThunderClan warriors and spotted Reedfluff's worried green gaze from amidst them. He smiled weakly before following his clan, a hollow feeling in his stomach. What if he died? Or Reedfluff? Or Whisperbreeze? He tried vainly not to think about it as his paws trudged back to the gloomy camp.

## Chapter 13: A Cold Clearing

The clearing felt more unlike home than every before. Cats were huddled in tight groups, speaking in low voices about the upcoming battle or their lost loved ones. Tadpoletail got more and more restless each day. Nobody had spoken up but he knew those were her sobs at night in the warriors den.

On the other paw, Skinkfang barely seemed to care that his sister was dead. He spent the majority of his time pampering Nightmaretalon, who was more on edge than ever.

Muddy knew Skink was raring to sink his claws into him, but Beestar kept a close eye on him, to the brown tom's relief. At least Beestar could do that for him.

Moonpaw, he noticed, was more scared than usual. Maybe Nightmaretalon was taking his frustrations out on her, but he had other suspicions.

She was a pretty shy cat, but never this jumpy. It stood out to him like a mouse among fish. Yet he did not want to go near Wasppaw again after his harsh words. It sunk in like claws to be reminded by someone other than himself that he didn’t belong.

Maybe it was because the cats were just young, yet Nightmaretalon, Skinkfang, and even Lunarsong hated him enough to put him through trials and tribulations. He’d have to ask Lunarsong her reasoning behind her suggestion of his demotion, but maybe it was normal. He *was* pretty worthless. Besides, he couldn’t take a confrontation. Not now.

”Dawnstar, is that you?” Ferretmuzzle croaked, making Mudpaw jump in surprise. Ferretmuzzle's amber eyes were squinting at him, his legs still having the power of a young tom, yet his fur matted.

“N-no, uncle. It’s me, Mudspa - I mean, -paw...” he muttered, shuffling his paws.

”Oh yeah... I knew that,” Ferretmuzzle shook his scruffy head and laid beside Mudpaw lopsided, not seeming to notice.

”How have you been, Ferr?” he meowed, licking his fur clean, but recoiling as a sour taste met his mouth.

”Who?” the brown and yellow tom asked, seeming confused by the nickname.

”Oh... you, sorry,” Mudpaw meowed, embarrassedly fluffing out his brown mottled fur. The retired tom nodded then started staring off into the distance, looking at something Mudpaw could not see. Mudpaw licked his ear, purring shakily, before looking round once more.

“I’m sorry this is my fault..” Lunarsong meowed, shakily leaning against her mate with a tremor.

”No, honey, it’s mine. I’m sorry, I should be a better leader,” Beestar sighed, twining his tail with hers. The black she cat didn’t respond but buried her face into his chest, trembling.

Mudpaws eyes softened, No, she was fine. Just scared. *Maybe she’s not the smartest and that’s why I’m an apprentice again,* he mused glancing, around once more. Then he froze as he felt eyes burning into the back of his head. He turned sharply to see Minnowleap's cold green gaze on him.

He waved his tail slowly in greeting and Minnow sighed, averting his gaze like it was hard to see him with her mate or hard to see him at all. She was a anomaly to him. She could be cold and snappy or also just and responsible. It made his stomach clench at these changes in moods. He didn’t like surprises and never knew what mood she’d be in. Training was either good or a disaster. He winced remebering a time where he had been forced to try to learn to fish again and just broke down in tears.

He sighed once more. There were so many cats he had to talk to, to resolve things with, to help, to confront. He wasn’t strong enough. He didn’t have it in him. He was surprised that he'd had enough courage to ask Whisperbreeze to be his new sister. There was no way he could fix any of this...

”Pew!” A small pebble flew toward Mudpaw, hitting him sharply on his flank. He winced in pain, looking up at his attacker, and was slightly surprised to see Wasppaw. He wasn’t as bad as the warriors, but it still hurt.

”Hey Wasppaw... can you, uh… not do that?...” Mudpaw mumbled.

”Oh, lighten up. I knew you wouldn't be fun.” Wasppaw flashed a yellow glare at him. Moonpaw stood behind her brother, looking small and sympathetic. She seemed to follow wasppaw around a lot lately, but he didn’t know if it was her own free will.

”I’m-I'm sorry-“ Mudpaw meowed instinctively, looking away.

”Whatever. Geez, you seem younger than me, and you were a warrior,” he meowed casually before walking away. Moonpaw's black and white cheek fur flushed slightly and she looked into his deep blue eyes, trying to say *I’m sorry*, before following her brother.

Life was so unfair. He put his face in his paws and groaned wanting to start crying again but felt too weak to even do that. He sat up as a light weight touched his shoulder.

”Are you al’righ?” a kind voice spoke in his ear. It was Finbelly. He was a bit surprised that the medicine cat had came up to him, but grateful nonetheless.

”I’m just s-scared” he admitted, trembling slightly at the daunting weight on his shoulders. What if he was next?

”Come to my den,” Finbelly meowed briskly, looking at Mudpaw with his kind, soft gaze, his thick orange fur shining on the sunlight and a few leaves stuck in his thick tail. Mudpaw nodded, sniffling, and followed him slowly, stumbling over a stick as his paws went numb.

They brushed through the hanging lichen into the neat little den with a tiny, bubbling stream running along the side. Mudpaw sat down near the entrance awkwardly, looking up at the den roof. Finbelly sat across from him, curling his thick orange tail around his tan legs.

“So I presume you are scared with all the death happening?” the orange tom meowed gently with a slight lisp.

He nodded slowly, not speaking as he felt his voice would be so high it would shatter the medicine cat's hearing ability.

”Mudpaw... you have it rough, young one, but stay strong. it may seem that not many like you here, but I’m here for you, and I know for a fact others are too. Stay strong, buddy,” Finbelly meowed kindly with sympathy in his eyes.

”H how would you understand” he squeaked out immediately regretting speaking up.

Finbelly sighed, “Mudpaw, let me tell you a story."

"You see... my parents weren't very good cats. My mother was a egotistical jerk and my father a lazy slob. I was treated as the poorest of the poor, especially when I chose to be a medicine cat, but when my brother, Carppaw, was born, he had it so much worse just because Roseshadow wanted a she cat. I would do anything to protect my brother even now that our parents are dead, and I would do the same for you and for this whole dang clan. That's why I’m a medicine cat,” he meowed solemnly, looking into Mudpaw's eyes. “And I know you don’t have any real siblings, but friends are just as good, and you have them in this clan.” Finbelly put a paw on his.

Mudpaw was very flustered and confused. This was sudden. Had Finbelly always been there for him, just in the background? Is that why he’d never been seriously hurt? Did Finbelly really care for him that much?... But why? His heart warmed anyway and he nodded, his eyes welling up with tears.

He sighed, leaning into the tom's chest floof and letting his composure fly away. He was overwhelmed by all the social interaction today, but very heartened at this unexpected show of affection. "Thank you..."

## Chapter 14: The Battle

A sprinkle of raindrops showered the clan in the dawn light. For it being so early in the morning however, the whole of RiverClan was awake. To Mudpaw's annoyance,Wasppaw was stepping on his tail and laughing obnoxiously. The clan, in sharp contrast, was solemn and on edge.

"Wasppaw! Stop your jabbering!" a sharp female voice snapped. It was Powderleaf, her white fur on end and her tail lashing. It was very unusual to see her this snappy; she was usually level headed and quiet.

"You're not my mom," Wasppaw hissed, but he stopped and stalked over to a quivering Moonpaw. Mudpaw knew today was the day. A huge chasm had formed in his stomach and he felt on the edge of falling into a chasm himself. Worry struck at him from the inside and he looked around every few heartbeats until the words he was dreading came.

"RiverClan. Today I must inform you that we will charge into ThunderClan land and fight for our fallen clanmates, seeing as Larchstar has chosen not to make peace," Beestar rumbled, his paws twitching restlessly.

Mudpaw couldn't help but glance at Lunarsong, who's claws were unsheathed. He was taken aback by this, but shook his head to clear his dark thoughts.

Beestar continued: "Lunarsong, Nightmaretalon, Skinkfang, Cedarheart, Ripplenose, Tadpoletail, Moonpaw, Whisperbreeze, Mudpaw, and I will be going. Powderleaf, Wasppaw, Carppaw, and Finbelly; guard the camp. Keep the kits and Mothspeck safe," Beestar ordered as Mudpaw yelped in alarm and fear. Whisperbreeze whimpered beside him, her eyes closed.

Cedarheart licked his mate's cheek in farewell while more warriors crowded around the entrance.

"You'd better beat the meany old ThunderClan!" Polecatkit barked after his father.

Mudpaw took a deep breath and curled his tail around Whisperbreeze's, guiding them both to the entrance.

The RiverClan battle patrol trooped out of the camp with their tails hanging. Mudpaw hugged Whisperbreeze tight as they approached the stream. The water made him feel even worse.

Whisperbreeze smiled weakly, wrapping her silver tail around him and going on the stepping stones as well.

Sunningrocks shimmered beautifully in the sunlight, but all Mudpaw could think about was how blood would be spattered across the rocks.

The warriors started sprinting along the undergrowth, filled with rage and grief. Tadpoletail was at the lead, her teeth bared.

The clan crashed into a ThunderClan patrol, and to Mudpaw's dismay, Reedfluff was in it. He glanced at all the cats, trying to rack his brains to remember their names from Gatherings. There was a fluffy golden tom who he was pretty sure was named Fuzzyflight. Reedfluff... A cold gray tom that was Steeltail, Larchstar herself, Stormheart from the other day, the deputy Flametuft, and Littlenose, who looked like she would rather be anywhere else. And some others. It looked like they were expecting us.

Both clans stood facing each other for what felt like moons before Tadpoletail leapt at Steeltail, wildly slashing his flank. Then all around him the other cats leaped into battle.

An tortishell she cat leapt at him, pinning him down easily and slashing at his legs. He looked around frantically, clawing at her legs on his stomach. Ripplenose knocked the apprentice away with a headbutt, then was lost to the battle once more. Mudpaw stood up, shaking and wanting to run. To hide. He couldn't do this.

Then a gray glossy she cat leapt on him next, pinning him to a tree. Larchstar herself was looking menacingly at him.

"Looks like we have an example here to show RiverClan not to mess with us," she sneered, running her claws down his chest. He gasped in pain, his vision going blurry.

A familiar red pelt flashed in front of him and slammed Larchstar to the ground. "DONT HURT HIM, YOU FOX HEART!" Reedfluff snarled at her own leader, who looked disgusted and shocked.

"Reedfluff! You stupid traitor!" she snapped.

"Oops, didn't recognize you," meowed Reedfluff sarcastically, leaping off of Larchstar and scrambling away. Mudpaw huddled under a bush, waiting for the battle to cease he couldn't take it. Coincidentally, Moonpaw was in a bush beside him doing the exact same thing. He didn't speak to her, still very shaken by his near death experience, but he peeked his head tentatively out of the bush and was shocked to see Lunarsong pining Fuzzyflight to the floor. His growls were cut off by a scream as Lunarsong snapped his neck, a gleam in her eye.

But she noticed him and gave him a menacing look. "You won't get in the way," she hissed quietly, before running off like everyone else.

Mudpaw was shocked. It was like bees were buzzing in his ears.

"THUNDERCLAN, RETREAT!" Flametuft called, Larchstar hissing spitefully in protest. But the bloody and battered warriors ran from the scene, Littlenose sobbing over Fuzzyflight's body as two warriors hauled it away.

*Oh my StarClan. I'm so dead.*

## Chapter 15: The Monster Inside

Mudpaw woke in complete darkness, blinking his eyes quickly to let light into them.

He wasn't in his nest.

He wasn't even in camp.

He quickly shot to his paws, quivering in fear.

*Where am I? Am I dead?!*

"Seems like sleeping beauty is finally awake." A cold drawl came from within the darkness and he turned around to see Nightmaretalon right behind him with his claws unsheathed.

"P-please don't kill me!... I didn't do anything.... I swear!" he rambled, starting to breathe erratically.

"I have no intent of killing you, but-" He cut off, his expression unreadable, but he did look slightly uncomfortable.

"SHE'S HERE!" Skinkfang yowled, crouching low and hiding his injured hind leg in fear, but he had a wicked grin on his yellow face.

Nightmaretalon shoved Mudpaw back to the ground into the sodden grass. Mud squelched on his paws uncomfortably.

"It seems to me, Mudpaw, that you have seen and heard too much." A cool female voice grew clearer as pawsteps approached him. The moon peeked out from some clouds to reveal a small plump black she cat with cold violet eyes.

"L-L-Lunarsong!" he gasped, gulping in a breath "I'm sorry! I'll do anything! Just please don't kill me-" he squeaked, his voice barely audible as the pitch was so high.

"Pathetic," Skinkfang snickered quietly, his ears flat to his head.

"Shut your trap, lizard," Lunarsong meowed coldly, swiping her long claws at the yellow tom's muzzle. He hissed in pain, but stood rigid.

"Yes, Lunarsong, ma'am."

She turned back to Mudpaw, smirking coolly. "Well, you work for me now," she meowed softly, her eyes gleaming. "You clearly know too much, and now you know I'm not a stupid scared she cat, but someone who will do whatever it takes to get what I want. And right now, I want you to stay quiet and do whatever I say," she booped his nose smiling.

Mudpaw was very unnerved by this change in the once innocent seeming she cat, but breathed heavily and meowed "Y-y-yes, of course-"

She slashed his leg unexpectedly and he cried out in pain, tears rolling down his face.

"That's ma'am to you." Cold realization hit him like waves.

"T-ThunderClan didn't kill those cats, did they?... You did," he blurted out in a shaky whisper, his whole body quivering and his leg bleeding sickeningly.

"Wow, little mousebrain here finally put the pieces together, did he?" she mocked, then a growl rose in her throat "And we're gonna keep that little secret between us or my claws just... might-" she put them up to his face "-slip."

Nightmaretalon and Skinkfang laughed harshly, but in a strained tone.

"Yes, y-yes, yes," he sobbed, starting to hyperventilate.

"Skinkfang, shut the kit up. I have other matters to attend to," Lunar meowed pompously, swishing her plump black tail then trotting out of sight with the most casual air about her.

"With pleasure," Skink meowed in relief, glad she was gone and glad to do something violent. Nightmaretalon glanced at the cats, bored, before walking away as well, leaving Mudpaw alone with the scrawny savage.

He curled up very tightly, whimpering at the scratches being scored along him, but was too terrified to do anything and lay there in utter terror and defeat. He was surrounded by monsters that plagued him physically and mentally with no avail. He would just have to wait for a savior that may never come.

## Chapter 16: I Don't Like This

The days dragged on with Mudpaw waiting in anticipation and fear. *What would he have to do?*

He sighed wearily. He had secluded himself from the rest of the clan. He knew that if he told a single soul, *his* soul would join the victims.

"Mudpaw? Where are you?" Whisperbreezes soft worried whisper penetrated the thick bushes and reached his drooping brown ears.

He didn't answer.

"Mudspatter, please..." Whisperbreeze choked out, growing worried. He sighed, cleaning his brown fur quickly before speaking.

"I'm in here," he gulped, trying to make his voice casual and light. She rushed past the bushes with her silver fur on end and blood stains spattered on her cheek. Nightmaretalon must have been angry.

"I was worried sick! Please don't do that again," she murmured, curling around him.

"Are you alright?" he interjected, his stomach squirming.

"Oh... yes, yes..." She trailed away, fidgeting.

"MUDPAW! WHISPERBREEZE! YOU'RE ON PATROL!!" Lunarsong yowled, and the two adoptive siblings scrambled out of the bushes over to a quiet clowder of cats.

The group consisted of Powderleaf, Ripplenose, Carppaw, and Lunarsong herself. He gulped, looking at her fearfully. She betrayed no sign of seeing his fear and looked quite nervous, though he knew it was a façade.

The six cats padded out of camp to patrol the WindClan border; it had been quiet over there lately, yet it's better safe than sorry.

"I'd like to see those scrawny rabbits try to beat me," Carppaw snarked, referring to the skinny WindClan warriors. Lunarsong purred softly.

"You'd be better than me," she squeaked quietly, brushing her fur our of her eyes.

"Awww, thanks! But I bet you could get a few good hits," Carppaw chirped. *Oh, she would. She definitely would,* Mudpaw thought, wincing. How was the whole clan fooled by her act? To be fair though, it was really convincing.

That was the part that scared him.

"Are you alright...?" Whisperbreeze asked in his alert ears.

"Yes." He smiled weakly. He felt sick at the lie, but he couldn't say the truth. Especially not in front of her.

They arrived at the faint scent marks of RiverClan at a field that sloped upwards on the WindClan side. Powderleaf and the others sprayed their scent across the gorse dutifully. Each cat looked weary and like they didn't want to be here for long. Moral was very low.

"Oi, you're two inches on our land," a Bengal she cat scoffed, running down the moor top with cats trailing behind her, looking very annoyed.

A brown speckled cat thrust his muzzle into Mudpaw's face, sneering. "You look stupid for a RiverClan cat!"

Mudpaw jumped back in shock at the scruffy tom's rancid breath, huddling against Whisperbreeze.

"Stop it, you two," Beechcrawl ordered coldly, trotting up to the border and looking emotionlessly across the RiverClan patrol.

"Fine," Bengalglare rolled her eyes, stepping back and dragging her barking son Hyenafang back as well.

"Sorry for the troubles," Shrewheart, a brown plump tom, meowed apologetically, shaking Ripplenose's paw in greeting. Beechcrawl fluffed out his sandy fur.

"Very sorry for sure," Beechcrawl meowed blankly, already walking away, his thin tail twitching. Mudpaw was taken aback by this encounter, already being on edge, then thought curiously; Wasn't Beechcrawl Berrytalon's brother? Was he not upset? The tom frightened him a bit, and he let out a tiny squeak.

Lunarsong said nothing, looking shyly at the WindClan patrol before walking on at Ripplenose's lead. The brown warrior sniffed at some leaves and picked them out handing them to carppaw

"Give this watermint to your brother," Ripplenose smiled softly to the bouncy, orange speckled tom.

"OF COURSE!"

Whisperbreeze pressed against Mudpaw, looking startled as well, yet the patrol moved on like nothing happened and all was normal. But it wasn't. It never would be, unless Lunarsong was stopped.

But how would she be if Mudpaw was too cowardly to tell anyone?

## Chapter 17: A Medicine Cats Flight

Mudpaw awoke yawning and shaking out his fur wearily, two moons later and lunarsong had not given him any tasks yet. It was both a relieving and unnerving.

He got to his paws making his way out of the apprentice den, which was another sharp reminder he was an apprentice again, and sat down near the olive bush that was the medicine den. The sky was draped in dark stormy clouds, rain was on its way. He shivered with the river at least he could stay away from it but the rain followed him everywhere unless he was under the cover, which skinkfang had not so gently reminded him last time.

He fluffed out his fuzzy brown fur glancing around expecting something bad to happen. He fidgeted with his paws unsure what to do.

"Hey kiddo" Finbelly chirped trotting out of the medicine den.

Mudpaw jumped in surprise "Oh.. hello finbelly" he smiled softly great someone was with him!

"You look pretty bored, why don't you come collect herbs with me?" Finbelly chuckled licking his tan chest fur.

WIP