Stories!!!!

Story part 1 *A dream*

Snowstar padded into camp, a  plump pheasant in her mouth, it's tail dragging in the dust of the camp tunnel. She dragged it to the fresh kill pile and dropped it on top. The whole pile fell over from the weight of the pheasant.
"UGH!!!" she screeched, fixing it.
The kits tumbling outside the nursery stopped suddenly at her screech.
"Carry on, carry on." she muttered under her breath to the kits.
"Maybe you should rest." her mate Raincloud mewed.
"Maybe, you're right." she meowed. "But I don't even feel tired." She padded towards her den anyways. Raincloud padded after her, and she didn't object.

When Snowstar opened her eyes, she was in a forest. She started to pad down one trail, when a crackling of bushes behind her made her whirl around. A cat stepped out in front of her. The cat had bracken colored fur with the stars shining on his pelt. When he began to walk toward Snowstar, sparks flew between his feet and the ground. Sparks of starlight.
"Brackenheart?" Snowstar questioned.
"Yes, I'm glad you remembered me." her father replied.

"How could I ever forget you, father?" she purred. "I've always loved you. You were a great father. You must have a message from StarClan for me."

"Actually, I do. Here is what they sent me to tell you.

'There shall be four of your kin, 

of whom two shall win 

The favor of StarClan and their friends

They will stop at naught to make an end

To trouble in the Clan'

You must heed our words, Snowstar, if you wish to have a safe life in FrostClan for you and your kits."

"Kits???" she squeeked.

"You are going to have kits. StarClan has seen this in your future."

"I am ready to accept the destiny StarClan has set for me." Snowstar replied, the dream already fading. "Goodbye, Brackenheart. Be sure to tell my mother I love her too."

"I will." His voice fading into the distance, the sounds of camp coming to Snowstar's ears.

"Snowstar?" the voice of Raicloud woke her from her trance.
"Yes?" she replied.
"You were twitching in your sleep. Are you OK?" he questioned, sounding truly concerned.
"Yes, I am OK. It's just..." her voice trailed away for a second. "I had a dream from StarClan. They told me I am to have kits. Your kits." she didn't mention the prophecy.
"And what's wrong with that?" he mewed.
"Nothing. I'm just telling you." she answered. She knew she couldn't tell him the rest of the dream. She would have four kits, but only two would 'earn the favor of StarClan and their friends.' Did that mean the other two kits would be evil? Or would her other kits... NO she would not think that way. She was not even close to having kits, as far as she knew. "I'm going to talk to the medicine cats, see what they say." she mumbled.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Story part 2 *Announcement*

Snowstar lay in the shade by the nursery. The time ticked by. She was going to have kits! It was time to announce it to the Clan.
"Let all cats old enough to catch their own prey join beneath the IceRock for a Clan meeting!" she yowled clearly, her yowl echoing off into the vast forests around the camp. "I have an important announcement to make. I am expecting kits very soon."
The Clan gasps in shock
"Yeah, I wasn't expecting it was so soon!" she mewed " I didn't notice, I was apparently carrying kits for a long time, according to the medicine cats. I only realized getting more and more tired for the smallest aerobic activities. It's time for me to rest in the nursery before the kits take much more out of me. I want them to be nice and healthy. I trust that Skypelt will lead you well, in my absence. Clan dismissed."
She slid down the rock, instead of leaping off it like she normally did.
"Take care of the Clan, Skypelt." she whispered to her best friend and deputy. "Take care of them like you would take care of my kits. They are like my kits, in a way." she admitted.
"I promise." Skypelt meowed faithfully to her friend.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Story Part 3 *Kits!*

Snowstar was lying in the nursery. She knew that the time for the kits to come was soon. Raincloud, her mate, slipped into the nursery.
"How are you doing?" he asked her.
"I'm fine now, but the kits are coming soon, I know it." she responded, looking somewhat anxious.
"That's good." he mewed.
Snowstar settled down for the night, the chirping of crickets, and calls of other night creatures filled her ears as she dozed off.
The next day...
Snowstar awoke to sharp pains. "The kits are coming!" she yowled. "Tawnyflash! Wavepaw! Help me!"
Tawnyflash and Wavepaw rushed into the nursery, with Raincloud pacing anxiously outside the entrance. Snowstar's flanks heaved, and a wet bundle slid onto the nursery floor. She panted for breath.
"Wavepaw, nip the sac open and lick the kit's fur the wrong way." Tawnyflash instructed her apprentice. "This will warm up the kit."
Wavepaw did so flawlessly. As she did, Snowstar felt another bundle slide onto the floor. Tawnyflash took care of that kit. A few minutes passed, with Snowstar heaving for breath the whole time. Then, a third bundle slid onto the floor. Wavepaw opened the sac, and licked warmth into the kit. A fourth followed soon after. "That's it." Tawnyflash announced. "Snowstar, you and Raincloud have four healthy young kits. Two toms, and two she-cats. Congratulations."
At this time, Raincloud pushed his way into the den. "Great job!" he congratulated his mate. He had been very anxious the whole time. "We can pick out names for them soon." he continued, watching the kits begin to suckle. StarClan was right. Snowstar had four kits, just like they said. I wonder if the rest of Snowstar's message will eventually turn out just as they said too. He wondered. It will. StarClan haven't failed us yet.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Story Part 4 *Names*

Snowstar stretched and yawned. She was relieved that her kitting had gone very well. Her four unnamed kits snuggled by her side. "It's time we think up names for them." she commented to her mate Raincloud. "I've thought of some good ones."
"So have I." her mate replied. "Tell me yours first."
"Well," Snowstar mewed, nosing a lightly dappled gray she-kit, "I made up a name for this one. It's not the usual natural name, but I like it. Etharkit."
"Umm..." Raincloud muttered, wondering why his mate had chosen to make up a name of her own. "Sounds fine to me." he finally replied, not wanting to let his mate down. After all, she led the Clan. She must have made this choice for a good reason. "What are the other names you picked out?" he asked, changing the topic.
Snowstar motioned towards the all white tom. "I want to name him Winterkit. His pelt is white like winter's snow. That's all the names I thought of. What about you?"
"Well," Raincloud began, pointing towards the lightly rosy-colored she-kit, "I want to name her Lilykit. She looks like those lillys I see in the Twoleg gardens, by the catmint." He then pointed towards the one kit, a tom, who was awake. "I want to name him Eaglekit, because he seems to be always watching us when the other kits are asleep like an eagle."
"Those sound like good names." Snowstar agreed. "You can tell the Clan when you leave here."

Story Part 5 *A Game?*

Snowstar awoke in the nursery, only to find that her kits were gone. She sighed, so young, and yet so very adventerous, she thought admiringly. She yawned and stretched, then exited the den to find the culprit kit who had led the others astray. She noticed the kits as soon as she had poked her head out of the den. Making nuisances of themselves, as usual, she noted dryly. The kits were tumbling over each other in the middle of the camp clearing. It seemed like they had tried to exit the camp, via the gap between the nursery and a large clump of bushes, but had gotten pricked by the thorns, and were now fighting over who was to blame.
"Kits!" she scolded severely, "Don't fight in the middle of the camp where warriors and apprentices, who unlike you, make themselves useful every day travel through. They have enough to worry about besides tripping on small kits like yourselves."
Snowstar watched the kits react to her scolding. Lilykit and Winterkit looked very ashamed of themselves. Etharkit wouldn't meet her eyes, and Eaglekit looked downright angry at getting caught. All the kits' fur prickled with embarrasment.
"We're sorry." the all chorused together.
"You should be." she mewed. "If you want to play, play outsides the nursery. You could even play inside, since we're the only ones in there besides Stormbringer. But be warned, if any other queens come into the nursery expecting kits, you will have to do all your playing outside, so as not to disturb them."
The kits trailed into the den, but imediatly livened up as soon as Eaglekit pounced on Winterkit, and the two of them fought. Etharkit leaped onto the peak of a nest, and squeaked, "I'm the queen of the nest!"
Lilykit leaped up, pushing Etharkit off the nest and proclaiming, "Not anymore! I'm the queen of the nest now!"
This brought Winterkit and Eaglekit to attention at the new game Etharkit had started. They both leaped up and over, onto the side of the nest that Lilykit was now queen of. The force of them knocked her off the nest. Then, they turned on each other and wrestled for a bit, until Eaglekit succeeded in knocking Winterkit off the side of the nest. "Now I'm KING of the nest!" he boasted. "And none of you can knock me off!" Etharkit and Lilykit leaped up, but Eaglekit dug the tiny thorn-sharp claws of  his hind legs through the mossy covering of the nest, and into the firm bracken, stabilizing himself, while his front paws battered them away. By then, Winterkit had recovered, and took a leap at Eaglekit, but the "king" batted him away easily, with his hind claws stuck in the nest.
After a while, the kits got bored of trying to knock Eaglekit off the nest. It wasn't as easy as they had thought it would be. "Told you you couldn't knock me off the nest!" he boasted to the other kits. "Now you have to call me the king!" None of the kits wanted to call Eaglekit the "king", so Snowstar came up with another idea for them to sink their teeth in.
"Why don't you kits go to the elder's den?" she told them, figuring it would keep them out of trouble. The kits loved that suggestion, and scampered off the elder's den, for the very first time ever. They entered the den, and met the elders.
"Hello." said Leafdapple and Dawnshadow kindly to the kits.
"What are your names." asked Shortwhisker, the cranky elder, who had just woken up from her nap.
"I'm Eaglekit," mewed Eaglekit.
"I'm Etharkit."
"I'm Winterkit."
"I'm Lilykit."
"That's nice." Shortwhisker replied.
"Don't mind Shortwhisker," Leafdapple mewed kindly to the kits. "She's quite cranky, especially after just waking up from a nap."
"So..." replied Shortwhisker. "Why are you young kits here, disturbing your elders?"
"Snowstar told us to come here." mewed Eaglekit. "She's our mother."
"That's right, you're the leader's kits." Shortwhisker mewed in reply. "Well, I've got something to tell you! Don't ya expect any special treatment from me, just 'cause you're Snowstar's kits. That aint how I work around here!"
"Umm..." mewed Etharkit.
"REALLY?" exclaimed Lilykit.
"Oh..." Winterkit muttered softly.
"Humph." huffed Eaglekit.
At that moment, and not a moment too soon, Blackslash padded softly into the den. "Hello," he mewed to Shortwhisker. The kits winced, waiting for her to get mad at him, but she seemed to calm down at his presence. "Come out, kits." he mewed to them. When they were all out of Shortwhisker's hearing range, he told them, "Shortwhisker was about to have one of her crazy fits. She's very cranky because she's so old. I'm one of the few who can calm her."
Etharkit looked at him admiringly, "You're great! Thanks!"
Blackslash sighed. "Next time, go in when she's asleep. The other elders are fine."
"We sure will." she answered. Then added, "Bye." as he padded off. "Come on," she told her siblings, "Let's play outside the nursery."
* * * * * * * * * * * * *
Snowstar was dreaming. She stalked the mouse deftly through the forest. It was heading towards the thunderpath. She frowned, Better catch this soon, before I get squashed. She crouched down, ready to spring. A cry pierced through the calm. The mouse ran off, startled. Snowstar searched for the source of the cry. She pounded into the clearing, where she had heard the cry come from. A monster loomed on the thunderpath, coming her way. In the middle of the thunderpath was a kit. Snowstar shot forwards, pushing the kit to the other side of the thunderpath.
"There, you're safe now." she told the kit. It was only then, that she realized this. The kit she had saved was Winterkit!

Story Part 6 *Fake Gathering*

*This story part happens during the gathering, when many cats are gone, and Dewstripe and Stormbringer  are watching the kits.*

"Since there is a BIG gathering going on now, and somehow Snowstar forgot to invite us there, we should have our own totally awesome small gathering!" announced Etharkit. "I will be Etharstar, and you will be my warriors of GlenClan!"
"Okay," mewed Winterkit, "I'll be Winterbreeze."
"I'll be Lilyflower." mewed Lilykit.
"I'll join your gathering," mewed Dewstripe, "And I'll be the warrior Dewstripe!"
"I'll be the warrior Eagleslayer!" mewed Eaglekit. "Etharstar, you should say that I earned my name by killing an eagle that had taken a kit, but I killed the eagle, and saved the kit!"
"Great! I'll certainly say that at the gathering." Etharstar mewed."Anyone else want me to say something?"
Dewstripe, who had been to 'Big gatherings' put in some info. "Usually, at gatherings, the leader explains how good the prey is running, about medicines, - " but she didn't get much further.
"No no no!" Etharstar yelped. "That's boring old cat stuff."
"Ahem..." Shortwhisker cleared her throat.
"Sorry Dewstripe." Etharstar mewed sadly, then brightened. "Come on, Clan, let's go to the gathering!" The others all followed her. "Here's a good place to hold the gathering." Her tail flicked towards a thick branch that had fallen on the ground inside the camp. She leaped up and turned to face the cats in her Clan. "Today's gathering news: Eaglepaw has recently become Eagleslayer. He earned this name by killing an eagle that had taken a Clan kit. Fortunatlly, the kit was only very shocked and afraid, and not injured."
"Lilypaw and Winterpaw have also recently received their warrior names, Lilyflower and Winterbreeze.
Lilyflower! Winterbreeze! Lilyflower! Winterbreeze!
"The prey is running well too." she announced, incorporating some of what Dewstripe had told her to say. "That's all this Clan's news. Who will announce next?"
Eagleslayer leaped up. "I'll play Eaglestar, leader of FlightClan. This Clan's news: I am the new leader, because Dovestar has died. She was nobly struck down in battle against a group of rouges. She was a great leader, and will be sorely missed. Also, we have two new warriors. Riverpaw and Everpaw are now Riverstone and Everflight."
Riverstone! Everflight! Riverstone! Everflight!
"That's all of FlightClan's news."
"Then this gathering is closed." Etharstar motioned to her Clan to follow her back. Eaglestar now abandoned his role as the leader of FlightClan, and was back to Eagleslayer.
"That was fun!" exclaimed Winterkit.
"Yeah!" purred Lilykit. "I bet real gatherings aren't that fun."
Dewstripe held in a purr. Real gatherings were MUCH more exciting, but the kits had made the small gathering fun, though.

Story Part 7: Part 1*Water*

It was a peaceful night in the FrostClan camp. Those still awake could hear the chirping of crickets, croaking of frogs by the stream, and the occasional hoot of an owl. Best of all, the stars were clearer than ever. "It is a good omen." mewed Snowstar quietly to no cat in particular. "Our warrior ancestors are watching over us." At this, she promptly padded softly to the nursery and curled around her kits. They could do without her, but she wanted to spend as much time as she had with them before they were apprenticed.
*around midnight*
Lilykit stirred restlessly. The other kits slept peacefully. I really need a drink of water, she thought anxiously. I know, I'll go to the nearest stream. Then I can get a drink there. So she got up quietly and padded softly out of the camp, nose searching for the scent of water. There! she thought, smelling a stream. She took off at a ground-eating lope for the water she had scented.
When she arrived, she found she had scented a stream of cool, refreshing, slow-flowing water. She dipped her head and drank greedily. Here was water that had no taste of moss to it. I could stay here forever, drinking and drinking. Lilykit loved the taste of the fresh water. It made her feel strong. She waded further into the water, and suddenly realized how hot she had been. She even dipped her head underwater, because of the heat. She didn't know that the time of the leaves falling could be so hot. It had been cool the last few days, and she had been thankful for her thick pelt. But not now.
Lilykit finally felt cooled off, so she waded out of the water. She decided to dry off on a rock, because she would look very suspicious coming into the camp all dripping wet. She climbed up the rock, and promptly fell asleep.

END OF PART 1 OF STORY PART 7.


WANT TO FIND OUT WHAT HAPPENS TO LILYKIT?  BE READY FOR THE NEXT PART, CALLED FIRE!

Story Part 7: Part 2 *Mysterious Fire*

As you know, Lilykit has gone to the stream, and the others are still in the nursery with Snowstar.

Lilykit suddenly awoke, and felt the chill of the moon, even though it was not full. She shivered, then remembered why she was out there. I'd best be getting back, she thought. or else the Clan will come looking for me. Her fur was dry by now, so she didn't have to worry about that. Now, all I have to do is find my way back to camp.
She picked up her own scent, and followed it all the way back to the camp, and curled up alongside her mother and siblings.

An hour later...

Winterkit awoke, and felt hungry. He trotted out of the den, and to the pile, which unfortunately happened to be non-existant. He felt like trying to hunt, so went off into the woods, leaving on a main trail where he was likely to find his way back. He opened his mouth, and ran air through it, so he could smell better. Mouse, he thought, because he smelled a mouse.
Stealthfully, he tracked it to the place where it was nibbling a seed. He dropped into a hunter's crouch and got ready to spring. Just before he sprung, however, the mouse leaped away and down a hole to it's nest. Winterkit felt vibrations in the ground, and ran to hide under some leafy covering. He was just in time, as he saw a light emerge from across the clearing. He had heard stories of fire, and how it looked, smelt and felt, burning to the touch. This light had no smell, and looked different from descriptions he had heard of it. It had no heat coming from it whatsoever.
The light came closer and closer, but it was in the air, a floating light. Winterkit crouched in the underbrush, belly to the ground, as the feared light came closer and closer. Then he noticed that a twoleg was holing it! The twoleg didn't get burned while holding the light, which confused Winterkit. The twolegs must have some kind of power over nature, even fire! he thought excitedly. I wish they could teach me! Then my Clan would be warm in the coldest of leafbare.
But that's mouse-brained, he thought. I can't communicate to them. And so he crept through the low bushes along the path, and followed it back to camp. He knew the twoleg would never find the small cat trail back to camp.
Once in camp, he curled up next to his siblings and mother, exhausted and ready to fall asleep, and had a second thought. Mouse dung! I forgot to get something to eat!

Story Part 8: *Apprentices at Last!*

I'll really miss them, but it's time... thought Snowstar. I'd better call the meeting.
"Let all cats old enough to catch their own prey join beneath IceRock for a Clan meeting."
"I have good news. My kits are ready to be apprenticed. Eaglekit, Etharkit, Winterkit, and Lilykit, please step forward."
"Eaglekit, your new name, until you become a warrior, shall be Eaglepaw. Your mentor shall be Wolfstorm."
"Etharkit, your new name, until you become a warrior, shall be Etharpaw. Your mentor shall be Blackslash."
"Winterkit, your new name, until you become a warrior, shall be Winterpaw. Your mentor shall be Dewstripe."
"Lilykit, your new name, until you become a warrior, shall be Lilypaw. Your mentor shall be Bouncestep."
"Mentors, pass on all you know to your apprentices, so they can be the best warriors possible in service to their Clan."
Eaglepaw! Etharpaw! Winterpaw! Lilypaw! Eaglepaw! Etharpaw! Winterpaw! Lilypaw!

Story Part 9: *The Vison. Of the Future?*

 Etharpaw's shape rose up in front of Snowstar, and she slowly turned from shadow to reality. A full moon rose bright and glowing behind her. She was poised elegantly in front of it, with one paw slightly lifted. Next, Eaglepaw's shadow shape rose up, replacing Etharpaw. He was poised in a hunting stance, body low to the ground, and tail held flat out. His brownish coloring slowly filled in, and in front of him appeared a dead eagle. Some of the eagle's blood glistened on his claws. He must have killed it, she thought. Slowly replacing him, was the shape of Lilypaw, running through a meadow covered in lilies. Her shadow too began to take color and soon it was her, not just a shadow of her. Lilypaw soon also began to fade, and up came another shadow, the shadow of Winterpaw. Compared to the others, it was small and seemingly insignificant in the background of snow. A blizzard. He padded steadily on, in the opposite direction of Snowstar. Winterpaw hardly seemed to notice the blizzard going on around him. He looked so sad. Then he too vanished like the others. A deep, dark, blackness took the place of everything. Snowstar couldn't see a whisker in front of her. Suddenly her wide-open pupils burst with light, and she squeezed her eyes shut tight. When she opened them, she saw the cause of the sudden light. A huge fire leaped and sparked in front of her. She backed away warily. It's just a dream, she told herself, just a dream. In the fire, red-amber eyes gleamed back at her. Cat's eyes. A cat charged out of the fire, his fiery red pelt looking as if the flames of the fire themselves danced upon him. Snowstar looked into his eyes, and saw a fire of ambition gleaming in them. As she gazed upon him, the fire behind him suddenly blazed higher and a second shape darted from the fire to stand by the first. His pelt was an ashy gray, and his eyes too were gray. Again, the fire burst higher, but this time the face of Eaglepaw appeared in the flame. Suddenly the flame vanished altogether, and everything went dark once more. A deep voice broke through the total silence. "The two may not be who you think they are." the voice said, and suddenly the speaker came into view. "Brackenheart!" Snowstar cried out in her dream, which was turning out to be more of a message from StarClan. "Do not fear, though," her father Brackenheart continued. "For the two will come when they are needed most. They will have the power to stop this disaster in the Clan. StarClan has forseen this." "But the two shall be of my kin!" exclaimed Snowstar, thinking they must be two of her kits. Brackenheart opened his mouth to answer...

Snowstar jerked awake, thinking hard. 'The two shall come when they are needed most. they will have the power to stop this disaster in the Clan. StarClan has forseen this.' Her kits would save the Clan, she just knew it. Those two cats she had seen in the flame must be the evil coming to the Clan that two of her kits would stop, she thought. But which two would be the ones to stop them?And what would be of the other two?

Story Part 10, Section 1 *The First Dream*

Eaglepaw's heart skipped a beat. He was outside of FrostClan territory! He had always wanted to explore elsewhere, and now he could! He leaped forwards with an effortless bound, but was quickly brought to a stop when the bushes in front of him suddenly rustled. He stopped in an instant. The rustling got louder, and he heard cat's pawsteps in front of him. Two tom cats suddenly emerged. One was a fiery red color, and the other an ashy gray color. They padded straight toward him,  in deep conversation. Neither of them looked much older than him.
"Do you think we should?" asked the fiery red tom.
"If one of them comes, then yes." answered the ashy gray tom. "Otherwise we'll know we have been imagining things."
The toms padded on toward Eaglepaw, not noticing he was there.
"I guess we'll just have to wait and see." the fiery pelted tom told the ashy gray one. "The only problem is that we don't know how long we have to wait."
"Then we'll wait forever," hissed the ashy tom. "They WILL come. We must be patient, and hope the fire never leaves us."
Fire? Thought Eaglepaw. How could fire 'never leave' a cat? Oh well, he thought. I guess I'll figure out if I stay with them.
"Even now," the ashy pelted cat went on. "I feel the fire burning in me, consuming me, telling me to go out into the world and find adventure." 
"I know!" the fiery tom exclaimed. "Every day it burns brighter, telling, no, commanding me to leave this forest and go elsewhere. I'm sure this is how you feel too."
"Indeed." replied the ashy tom once more.
Ah... Thought Eaglepaw. This 'fire inside' them is figurative for their emotions. Now I understand.
By now though, the two cats were almost on top of him. He yelped and jumped out of the way, but was too slow. He flinched as the fiery tom crashed into him first, and then the ashy one, but suprisingly no impact occured. They went straight through him!
"Ah! Ghosts!" Eaglepaw yowled.
"What are you talking about?" came the groggy reply from Winterpaw.
Eaglepaw blinked. "Excuse me? Didn't you see those cats pass right through me?"
"As a matter of fact, I did not. Lilypaw?" he mewed to his sister. "Did you see two strange cats come into the apprentice den and pass right through Eaglepaw like ghosts?"
Lilypaw yawned. "No."
"But they WERE HERE!" exclaimed Eaglepaw. "Certainly some cat saw them!"
"I sure didn't." came the reply of Winterpaw.
"Me either." was Lilypaw's reply.
"I did." announced Eatherpaw.

Story Part 10, Section 2 *Etharpaw's Decision*

"What!" cried Lilypaw and Winterpaw in unison.
"How?" questioned Lilypaw. "I would have guessed Eaglepaw was dreaming."
"No." answered Etharpaw. "I'm sure I saw two tom cats. Was one fiery red and one ashy gray?"
"Yes!" replied a stunned Eaglepaw. "Exactly right."
"I was there the whole time, right behind you." she meowed. "You were so focused on what was happening in front of you that you never saw me. What do you think those cats were waiting for?"
"I - I don't know." stammered Eaglepaw.
Etharpaw sighed. "You need to learn how to read between the lines. Or should I say... LISTEN between the lines. One of them said 'If one of them comes, then yes.' We must be one of 'them'. After all, we were the ones who dreamed of them, not Lilypaw or Winterpaw."
"Yeah!" exclaimed Eaglepaw. "Now I... kinda get it." he finished, his voice dropping at the end.
Etharpaw sighed again. "You really DON'T understand, do you." Eaglepaw opened his mouth to respond, but Etharpaw continued. "I'm stating a fact. And, one of them said they were waiting for adventure. Who are we? We love adventure. This is why it must be us."
"And what do you suggest? Snowstar would hardly let us get out of camp free to find two strange cats in who knows where!" Eaglepaw meowed.
"And that, is why we need to sneak out of camp!" announced Etharpaw triumphantly.

*     The    *     next    *   night   *   ...   *

"Quick, this way!" hissed Eaglepaw, noticing that the camp guard padding off around the camp perimeter. "The entrance is clear!"
"How's it over there, Winterpaw?" whispered Etharpaw. Winterpaw and Lilypaw had decided to help their littermates sneak out of camp.
"All clear," he whispered back. "What's up over by you, Lilypaw."
"Nothing I can see." she called back quietly. "Okay, so we don't know where exactly you two are going," she called to Etharpaw and Eaglepaw. "Which means we can truthfully answer Snowstar and our clanmates when they most certainly will ask us 'Where are Etharpaw and Eaglepaw?'. 'We don't know! Why?'. I've got it all planned out."
"Should work like a charm!" whispered Winterpaw.
"What's a charm?" Lilypaw asked.
"I don't know. It just sounded right in the sentence." he answered. "Like 'the early bird catches the worm.'"
"I thought it was 'the early cat catches the prey."
"Say! What do you call a frozen volcano?"
"What's a volcano?"
"A giant heap of rock that spews forth hot stuff."
"You've been listening to Shortwhisker's nonsence tails."
"What! They're not nonsense, they're awesome! Anyways, the answer is an icebox!"
"Ha ha ha." she mewed, rolling her eyes. "That's so funny I forgot to laugh. It sure would help if I knew EXACTLY WHAT AN ICEBOX WAS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!"
"That's easy. It's a thing twolegs store food in."
"Who'd you hear that from?"
"Guess!"
"Shortwhisker"
"Ding ding ding, we have a winner!"
"Where'd you get that from? Oh, let me guess, Shortwhisker."
"Yeah! Shortwhisker may be cranky, but she sure was adventurous when she was young. She told me she had heard that from a talking picture box in a twoleg nest-"
"She understands twoleg? Anyways, speaking of adventurous, where did Etharpaw and Eaglepaw go?" Lilypaw hissed at Winterpaw. "They were just here a minute ago!"
"They must have left while we were chatting." he replied.
"Oh well." sighed Lilypaw. "Now we'll be SURE to be telling the truth when Snowstar asks us 'Where are Etharpaw and Eaglepaw?'. 'We don't know! Why?'. I've got it all-"
"Yeah, yeah, yeah. You explained that already."
"I did? Oh, yeah. Quick," she hissed to Winterpaw. "Let's get back in the apprentice den before the guard notices we are gone." And with that, they both slipped quietly into the apprentice den.

Story Part 10, Section 3 *Snowstar's Snowday*

 *Sun-high the day after the last story part*

Lilypaw looked at Snowstar. She felt really bad about her mother not knowing about Eaglepaw and Etharpaw, but what could she and Winterpaw do? If they told Snowstar, she would most likely send out a search party that was a total waste of time and energy. She padded over to Snowstar.
"Come on, Snowstar." mewed Lilypaw, with worry in her voice as she pushed a piece of fresh-kill toward her mother. "Have this mouse." Her mother hadn't eaten since the night before.
Snowstar glanced at Raincloud, who was sharing tongues with Hawkfeather. He's being strong for my sake, she thought. I should try to be strong for all of us. Next she looked at Winterpaw who was staring off into the distance. They all miss Eaglepaw and Etharpaw. It's not just me. I'm the leader of the Clan. I have to keep going, if not for my sake, for theirs. She accepted the mouse that Lilypaw offered her, and took a bite. The mouse's flavor hit her tongue full blast, and she suddenly realized how hungry she was. The mouse disappeared in a few more bites.
Snowstar began to pad towards where her deputy Skypelt was eating with some other warriors, when suddenly a sharp gust of wind hit her. Her fur ruffled up, and she gazed up into the sky. Some glints of white floated down from the air.
"Snow!" she gasped. All the warriors and apprentices, even those who had been in dens earlier, came out and watched the snow, mesmerized. "We need hunting patrols, quick, before the snow sets in. Shadowflower, Hawkfeather, Cinderpelt, Fuzzypelt, and Jingletail. Please take your apprentices with you to hunt. We need the fresh-kill pile stocked up before the snow bars us in our dens. Everyone else, move the leftover prey into the warriors den. We'll ALL stay in there. It's the biggest den. Let's find some brambles and bracken and cover the entrances to the other dens, so snow doesn't get in there. If it does, it will take forever to get out." Giving these orders made her completely forget about Eaglepaw and Etharpaw, as she threw herself head-over-tail into Clan business.
She worked as hard as all the warriors and apprentices to move the elders', apprentices', medicine cat's, medicine cat apprentice's, and her own nests into the warriors' den. It was hard work, but the cold snow made them cool, not hot. Thank StarClan that we have no queens or young kits to move, she thought. That would have been very difficult. It was only when she was done moving nests and the hunting patrol had come in that she remembered Eaglepaw and Etharpaw. I hope they're okay out in this snowstorm.
She peered out a gap in the baracaded entrance to the warriors' den they had left to let fresh air in. The snow was so thick it was hard to see anything. They've never seen snow before. I'm not sure they'll be okay. If only I knew.
"Snowstar." came a voice from behind her. She turned and saw Raincloud, with pain deep in his eyes. "I hope our kits are okay."
"That's exactly what I was thinking." she mewed, with sorrow filling her voice.
Winterpaw looked at Lilypaw. He looked so sad. Snowstar saw the exchange and, thinking they were feeling bad about their littermates, tried to console them. "I'm sure Eaglepaw and Etharpaw will be fine. They always knew what to do at camp."
Winterpaw replied, "Yes." That one sylible meant more to Snowstar than all her words before.
*   That   *   Night   *
Snowstar went out into the darkness, squeezing through a small gap in the barrier that she made bigger. She plowed through the two-tail lengths of snow covering the ground, with only her head above the snow. The darkness pressed down on her, until suddenly a bright light made her squeeze her eyes shut. When her pupils had adjusted, she looked up and saw...
"Brackenheart!" she purred when she saw her father.
"Snowstar, you make me proud the way you handled this snowstorm. But that is not what I came for." he meowed.
"What did you come for?" she asked him.
"Your two missing apprentices, Eaglepaw and Etharpaw. They are safe, and StarClan is watching over them, just as we watch over you. Do not worry about them. Even now, they travel on the destiny of the prophecy. The very prophecy I gave you what seems like so long ago." He meowed in reply.

"'There shall be four of your kin,
Of whom two shall win
The favor of StarClan and their friends
They will stop at naught to make an end
To trouble in the Clan'"

"Yes," she answered. "I remember that prophecy. They must be searching for the end of the trouble in the Clan. But, what trouble? I don't - I haven't noticed any trouble in FrostClan! Why did they have to leave?"

"All will be found out in good time. All I can tell you is the two who will end the trouble have power. Power far beyond anything we can imagine. They too will find themselves within themselves. Their true power." her father replied.

"What exactly to you mean?"

"Now is not the time to tell you. StarClan does not like to interfere in the Clan much. Live cats must rule their own life. We just give a little help along the way. Just like your kin will aid you along the way. The pathway to eternity."

"Pathway to eter-" she began, but Brackenheart had suddenly vanished. She glanced around camp for him, but only saw a pair of evil-!!!! Evil eyes! Evil eyes staring back at her!

Story Part 11 *The Truth, Section 2*

Eaglepaw and Etharpaw trudged the snow.
"Why did it have to snow right when we left camp?" complained Etharpaw.
"Well," meowed Eaglepaw, "I would have said StarClan was mad at us, but they were the ones who probably sent us the dream that convinced us to leave camp. I'm guessing it was just bad luck."
"VERY bad luck," added Etharpaw, but they trudged on through the drifts. "We'd better find those cats in our dream fast! The only problem is WE HAVE NO IDEA WHERE TO LOOK AND WE'RE PROBABLY ALREADY LOST!!!!!!!!!!!"
"Yep, that's our only problem," replied Eaglepaw in a dull voice. "I'm already bored with this quest."
"Don't be bored."
"Well, you're the one kinda telling me to be bored, Etharpaw," announced Eaglepaw.
"What are you talking about?" she replied. "I didn't say anything."
"But, you told me 'don't be bored', didn't you?" asked Eaglepaw.
"No," she answered.
"Then who said that?" he asked. "The two cats we are looking for?"
"I didn't hear ANYTHING," she responded. "It must have been a message from StarClan to you."
Eaglepaw didn't answer, so they kept padding on straight. The cold, icy wind whipped at their pelts, and stung their faces. A tall tree stood in their way.
Etharpaw squinted at it through slitted eyes, "Haven't we seen this tree before?" she asked.
Eaglepaw squinted at it through slitted eyes also, "I don't remember," he answered honestly. His eyes widened. "We're so tired! We'd better stop and rest some."
"Good idea," she answered, and suddenly all her tiredness crashed down upon her. "We should dig into the snow and make a cave to keep us sheltered from the wind."
The two siblings dug into the snow, and curled up by each other to stay warm. The snow, though cold, kept them much warmer than they would have been if they had been exposed to the wind.

*   Snowstar   *

Snowstar was having a deep, dreamless sleep, when suddenly the blackness gave way to light. Her wide-open pupils burst with light, and she squeezed her eyes shut tight. When she opened them, she saw the cause of the sudden light. A huge fire leaped and sparked in front of her. She backed away warily. It's just a dream, she told herself, just a dream. In the fire, red-amber eyes gleamed back at her. Cat's eyes. A cat charged out of the fire, his fiery red pelt looking as if the flames of the fire themselves danced upon him. Is this cat in charge of the trouble with the foxes, thought Snowstar?  Snowstar looked into his eyes, and saw a fire of ambition gleaming in them. As she gazed upon him, the fire behind him suddenly blazed higher and a second shape darted from the fire to stand by the first. His pelt was an ashy gray, and his eyes too were gray. Or is this the one? Or, she thought, are they BOTH responsible for the plight of the foxes? Either way, if they came to camp, they would certainly cause a lot of trouble for her and her Clan. Brackenheart's words echoed in her brain: 'The two may not be who you think they are. Do not fear, though, for the two will come when they are needed most. They will have the power to stop this disaster in the Clan. StarClan has forseen this.' 
"But what if the two are gone?" she whispered, her eyes felt damp. The dream was gone. She was in her den with Rainwhisker. No one else. No fire, no two cats, "No Eaglepaw or Etharpaw." she whispered again.

Story Part 12 *What In the Snow?*

Etharpaw and Eaglepaw tunneled themselves out from under the snow, and continued on their quest to find the two cats in their dreams. Suddenly the place began to seem familiar to them.
"I recognize this place from my dream," announced Eaglepaw.
"I was just about to say that myself," answered Etharpaw. "Let's keep going, they should be anywhere around this general area."
The two cats circled around the area. Eaglepaw lifted his nose, and scented the air. He pointed his tail to the right. They walked in that direction. Etharpaw pointed at the ground, which had fresh cat footprints in the snow.
"We're getting close," she murmered.
"Indeed," replied Eaglepaw, also in a low voice.
Suddenly the trees in front of them parted into a semi-clearing. They stepped into the open area, and walked a ways into the middle of the clearing. Suddenly, a sound was heard from behind them. They both whirled around and faced a fox. They were too far in the open to run.
"We have to fight it," hissed Eaglepaw. "Just stay calm and remember all the battle skills our mentors taught us before we left camp."
Etharpaw remembered her mentor, Blackslash, lithe and swift, showing her battle moves. "Okay," she meowed. "Let's attack." She leaped at the fox, remembering how Blackslash had looked, copying him flawlessly. Her claws raked down the fox's muzzle. The fox batted at her, but she leaped up, dodging the attack. Eaglepaw attacked next, leaping up onto the fox's back and raking his hind claws down it's spine. We can't win this alone... thought Etharpaw, but she kept fighting.
A rusty blur suddenly swerved in front of her, and slammed into the fox. A gray shape leaped from her left, also at the fox.
"You look like you could use some help," called a flame colored cat.
"So we came," finished the gray one. 

Story Part 13 *Help Has Come*

The flame colored cat leaped at the fox, with the gray one on his heels. The fox took one look at the four hissing cats, and turned tail and ran.
"Phew!" exclaimed Eaglepaw. "That was way too close for comfort." he turned to the two cats who had just helped them. "Thank you," he said, dipping his head in respect. "I am Eaglepaw, and this is my sister, Etharpaw."
The gray cat turned to the flame colored one and nodded. "I am known as Ashfire, and this is my brother, Lionflame. We both had dreams that two cats who looked like you would find us, and we would help you. The only thing we don't know, is what we will help you do."
Etharpaw gasped. "My brother and I also had dreams that we would find two cats that looked like you."
"Then I guess we all should get going back to wherever it is that you two need help," meowed Lionflame.
Eaglepaw thought for a moment. "Okay. Etharpaw and I will take you to the FrostClan camp. Maybe by the time we get back, the Clan will know what the trouble is. Then you can help us." 

Story Part 14 *What's going on?*

"I hope Snowstar isn't too mad at us for leaving her without any clues of what we were doing or where we were going." meowed Etharpaw.
"Oh, come on!" exclaimed Eaglepaw. "She'll be so happy we're back and safe she won't care about that."
"If I were you, I wouldn't take my homecoming that lightly, Eaglepaw." Lionflame put in.
Ashfire nodded at his brother's words. "It will probably be a combination of both of what you said. Let's just follow your tracks home, he said. You don't know if your Clan is in trouble now, or will be later. It's best to get a move on."
The four cats padded out of the clearing and into the woods back toward the FrostClan camp.
*            *           *           *
~ In the FrostClan camp~

Snowstar looked around uneasily. She had this strange feeling that she was being watched. That everyone was being watched. It was making her skittish. She let her gaze slide around the perimeter of camp again. Nothing, nothing, still nothing, she thought. I'll go crazy if I keep thinking like this. If only the enemy or whoever it is would show their faces, then I would feel better. I can't fight an invisible enemy, after all.
"Is something wrong Snowstar?" asked Winterpaw.
"Yeah, you've been looking around uneasily forever!" added Lilypaw.
"I'm sure it's nothing you apprentices need to worry about." Snowstar meowed briskly. "Why don't you feed the elders?"
The apprentices sulked and looked at their paws.
"That's an ORDER!" she yowled at them.
Lilypaw and Winterpaw jumped. "Yes, Snowstar," they squeaked in unison.
"Gee," Winterpaw mewed through a mouthful of mouse. "Why was Snowstar so grouchy?"
"I don't know," answered Lilypaw as the reached the elder's den and set her squirrel down. "It seems she  has something on her mind."
"You're right!" exclaimed Winterpaw. "I wonder-"
"Are you two gonna keep on yapping the day away or give us our prey!" came a yowl from inside the elder's den.
Lilypaw sighed. "We'd better give Shortwhisker her prey, or she'll claw our ears off."
"And don't forget Dawnshadow and Leafdapple." mewed Winterpaw.
Together, they entered the elder's den.
"Finally," came the irritated voice of Shortwhisker. "I thought all the apprentices forgotten about us elders over here."
Leafdapple purred. "Don't mind Shortwhisker. She's always cranky, even when the apprentices are on time."
Winterpaw wondered how Leafdapple and Dawnshadow survived in the elder's den.
"She's not as bad as you think," meowed Dawnshadow, seeming to read Winterpaw's mind. She stood up and arched her back. "Just between you and me," she whispered in his ear, "She tells us all sorts of crazy stories about how she did this and that when she was younger. That makes it worth putting up with her sharp words."
"My ears were sharp enough to pick up what you said, Dawnshadow," Shortwhisker meowed, but with a humorous tone in her voice. "Oh, and I think I have a tick in my fur. Can one of you apprentices take it out?"
"Fine," meowed Lilypaw. There was no point in arguing.
When she came back, Winterpaw was no longer by the elder's den. She sighed. He must have left her to do all the work. She paused outside the entrance to the den, and heard the elder's talking.
"Have you seen how nervous Snowstar seems these days?" asked Dawnshadow. She had formerly been Snowstar's deputy, but then had decided to retire and had moved to the elder's den.
"Yes, I  have noticed also," mewed Leafdapple, the former medicine cat.
"She seem edgy," announced Shortwhisker. "I wonder what's up."
"Perhaps she got a message from StarClan warning her of danger," suggested Leafdapple.
"Or she is just worrying about her kits," snorted Shortwhisker.
"That's nothing to joke about. She's really concerned for their safety," meowed Dawnshadow.
"Her kits are apprentices. They can take care of themselves." Shortwhisker retorted.
"You don't understand," Leafdapple meowed patiently. "You've never had kits."
"Neither have you," meowed Shortwhisker, tail twitching. "Medicine cats aren't allowed to have kits."
"Ah, yes, but when I was medicine cat to this Clan, the whole Clan were my kits," Leafdapple purred.
"Yeah, Yeah." Shortwhisker sighed. "Apprentices these days, they never were this slow when I was young. They knew how to respect their elders. When is Lilypaw coming with that mouse-bile?"
Lilypaw walked in. She wordlessly dabbed the bile on Shortwhisker's tick, which fell off quickly after that. Then she left. The elders' conversation had given her much to think about. 

Story Part 15 *Attack*

Snowstar raised her head from her paws, and looked around. She was in the clearing of the FrostClan camp. Then she saw the eyes. She yowled, "Attack!" and leaped towards the attackers.
*                *                 *
Etharpaw and Eaglepaw loped steadily through the woods, with Lionflame and Ashfire following close behind them.
"Here's the path to the camp," panted Etharpaw. "I hope they're not in trouble."
The four cats picked up the pace and sprinted into the camp, which was in turmoil. The cats of FrostClan were fighting for their lives against more foxes than Etharpaw had seen in her whole life.
"The trouble!" yowled Lionflame. "We're too late!"
"No, the battle has just started, see. Hardly anyone has been wounded yet, foxes and cats. There's still time to help!" exclaimed Ashfire.
Both cats leaped into the battle, fighting fiercest of all. Etharpaw and Eaglepaw battled a huge fox together, slashing with their claws, steadily driving it backwards. Then Etharpaw leaped on it and raked  her claws down its back. The fox yelped and ran. Etharpaw leaped off and flung herself back into battle. This time she found herself battling next to Eclipsepaw. Together they drove that fox off too. Eaglepaw found himself battling besides Redforest. They too drove off their fox.
The masses of fighting cats and foxes parted, and Eaglepaw saw Lionflame knock a fox over in one blow before the gap closed in again. What power! No wonder we were sent to find them. Then he turned and leaped at another invader.
Winterpaw and Lilypaw were battling on the other side of the clearing together. They clawed and bit, but their attacker would not give in. Lilypaw gasped as she saw Ashfire bring down a fox in one blow.
"Who's that?" she asked her brother.
"No idea." he replied, panting. Then he saw Etharpaw and Eaglepaw. "Lilypaw! They've come back! Eaglepaw and Etharpaw!" He threw in a last swipe before the fox had finally had enough and ran.
Lilypaw turned and looked. Sure enough, Etharpaw and Eaglepaw were fighting on the other side of the camp. Suddenly a searing agony tore into her shoulder, and she collapsed on her back. She looked up and saw a huge black fox pinning her down. To her horror, it spoke.
"Resist and die!" the fox howled in her face, drawing back its paw to strike the death blow.
"NOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!!!!!" she howled. 

Story Part 16 *Is This How It Ends?*

"NOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!!!!!" Lilypaw's cry pierced the air.
Snowstar slashed her attacker a final blow and leaped toward the cry. She seemed to fly through the air as she leaped over cats and foxes toward her daughter. I'm too late! she screamed in her head. Her paws landed. She leaped again, but the black fox's paw was coming down, claws flashing, toward Lilypaw's neck. Her heart sank.
Then a flash of flame and gray darted at the fox from opposite sides. The black fox howled in agony, and Lilypaw was able to scramble away to the safety of the medicine cat den. The two cats, who Snowstar had seen as the flash of flame and gray scrambled away from the black fox as it reared up, turned, and swiped at it, but the fox bowled them over and attacked another warrior. Snowstar was blocked by another fox and as the battle continued she lost sight of the black fox.
The battle continued for what seemed like forever to Snowstar. She saw a seemingly endless wave of scarlet foxes. The sky started to darken. Dark clouds covered the sun, blocking its rays. Snowstar heard thunder rumble in the distance. Then, a black shape came to the front of her mind. The black fox that had almost killed Lilypaw was there in front of her. Rage and anger blinded Snowstar for a second, but she shook it away and jumped in the air, skillfully avoiding a lunge. She landed on the fox's back and raked her hind claws down its spine. It howled, but then rolled over and crushed her against the ground. She pushed with all her might, and the fox gave way. She rolled out smoothly and quickly, landing on her paws once more. The fox struck like lighting, knocking her off her paws once more. Can I beat it? she wondered, then shook her head, Of course I can. I'm fighting for everyone. My kits, my Clan, and I have StarClan on my side.
She scrambled once more to her paws, this time she struck the fox like lighting. The fox staggered backwards a few paw-lengths, then braced itself and smirked, at least, she thought it looked like a smirk.
"You'll have to do much better than that to beat me," the fox spit.
"What?" Snowstar exclaimed. She had thought she had been doing very well.
The black fox didn't answer. It only struck her once more like lighting and she was swept off her paws. She began to get wearily to her paws once more, but a heavy weight on her chest stopped her. She tried to draw in a breath, but found hardly any air. A sneering face pushed against hers.
"You shouldn't have tried to fight us. You didn't stand a chance," the black fox spoke once more in cat tongue.
Snowstar gasped out an answer. "I - had - to....."
"You'll pay for it," The black fox's head lunged forward and met her throat.
Snowstar felt her body jerk, and she hurt like never before. She drew in a deep breath as the paw came off her chest, but that breath never left her. All she saw was darkness. 

Story Part 17 *StarClan's Help*

Snowstar stood up. She was by the SnowyOak. She plucked a leaf off the tree, lay down, closed her eyes and chewed it thoughtfully. When she opened her eyes, the cats of StarClan had come. Her father, Brackenheart stepped forward.
"Greetings, Snowstar," the he meowed. "You have lost your first life."
Another cat, smaller than many others, stepped forward, stars sparkling against the ground as he stepped forward toward Snowstar.
"You need time to recover, before you can go back. Rest here with us," he meowed, stepping closer.
"Rockpaw?" Snowstar whispered.
The cat purred, his pelt brushing hers and filling her with strength.
"You're not mad?"
"Mad about what?" Rockpaw looked puzzled.
"Raincloud," she meowed, her voice cracking. "I didn't think I could go on without you, but then I found him and have kits.I-I didn't mean to replace you."
Rockpaw's eyes softened. "No. I am glad you could find the strength and courage to go on without me. If you came we could be together, but it was your destiny to lead your Clan. Your kits are strong, and will serve their Clan well."
Snowstar settled down on the grass, and Rockpaw curled up beside her. "And now, you will find the strength and courage to go on in battle to defend your Clan, which you lead so well."
Snowstar relaxed as he lapped his tongue across her fur, smoothing it. I'll almost miss being here... she thought. NO! I can't think like that. My Clan NEEDS ME! So does Raincloud...
Her eyes closed, and when she opened them, she was back at the SnowyOak. She spat out the remainder of the oak leaf, and watched dizzily as the world spun before her. Then it came to a halt and she was laying splayed on the ground where the black fox had killed her before. She leaped to her paws and spun, trying to find the black fox. She knew that must be the leader. If I can take out the leader, then the whole thing will fall apart, and we'll only have to scatter the remainder of the fox posse. 

Story Part 18 *End Battle*

Snowstar glanced around the clearing, and saw the black fox. She zigzagged through Clanmates and foxes alike, leaping over Blackslash as he came rolling past grappling with a fox, and landing square on the shoulders of the unsuspecting black fox.
"So it's true," the fox hissed. "You can come back from the dead." The fox's eyes opened wide. "You must have two lives!"
Snowstar hissed in return, and gave the fox one last rake of her claws. She leaped down, and bit the fox's throat. The fox let out a harsh cry, and then lay still. Snowstar leaped down, about to cry out in victory, but then the fox came up, and she found herself pinned down.
"How?" she gasped, expecting the claws to come crashing down any moment.
A flash of fire came to her, and the black fox crashed down at her side. A fiery orange and golden cat stood triumphantly on top of it, while another gray cat slashed the death blow. When the other foxes saw their slain leader, they ran from the FrostClan camp.
"Who are you?" Snowstar asked the two cats.
"I am Lionflame," the orange and golden one replied.
"And I am Ashfire," announced the gray one.
Snowstar opened her mouth to ask them where they had come from, but was interrupted by Eaglepaw. "We found them. Etharpaw and I. On our quest!!"
"Quest?" she gaped at them.
"Yeah! We had dreams that we must find them, and we went off and did," Etharpaw had padded over. "Eaglepaw and I are sorry that we worried you, but this was something we had to do. We didn't think you would understand."
"I guess you're right about that," Snowstar mewed slowly. "I would have tried to stop you."
The prophecy, it has been fulfilled, she thought. Eaglepaw and Etharpaw saved the Clan, and these other cats, I have dreamed about them, but my assumption of them was wrong. They helped the Clan, and I had thought they would hurt it.
"You are welcome to stay for a while, and then go." Snowstar dipped her head to Lionflame and Ashfire. "FrostClan is grateful for your help against the foxes." She scanned the clearing. Tawnyflash and Wavepaw were helping the wounded cats, putting on cobweb and goldenrod poultices. Bouncestep was huddled over Lilypaw. Snowstar raced over.
"How is she?" she asked breathlessly.
"I don't know," Bouncestep looked bewildered and shocked. "Will StarClan really allow my apprentice to die? This doesn't seem right!" he wailed.
"Tawnyflash!" Snowstar cried out.
Tawnyflash raced over. "Oh my!" she sounded shocked. "This should have been treated imediatly!"
Lilypaw's shoulder was ripped open, almost to the bone.
"Wavepaw! Get some cobwebs and goldenrod over here!" Tawnyflash commanded her apprentice. Wavepaw rushed to the medicine cat den and came back with cobwebs around one paw and goldenrod in her mouth.
She spat the goldenrod on the ground and gave Tawnyflash the goldenrod. "Snowstar, chew this goldenrod into a pulp. I have to check on Dawnfeather, Iceflower and Echosong. They're the only cats we haven't checked yet." With that, Wavepaw raced away.
Snowstar picked some goldenrod and chewed it. Then she spat it out and placed it gently on the wound, with Tawnyflash's instructions. Tawnyflash covered the goldenrod with cobwebs, and then smeared some sticky tree sap on the poultice. "This will help it stay in place," she said. "You and Bouncestep should take Lilypaw to my den. She'll need watching as she heals."
Snowstar and Bouncestep gently lifted Lilypaw and took her to the medicine den.
From the other side of the clearing, Eaglepaw, Etharpaw and Winterpaw watched. They glanced at each other, each knowing what the other was thinking... Will Lilypaw survive?

Story Part 19 *Repairs*

The forest was dark. A dark brown tabby tom with deep, sparkling brown eyes padded through the forest. A light rosy she-cat with green eyes strode beside him.
"Where are we going?" she asked him. "Why am I here?"
"I cannot tell you," the tabby tom responded. His gaze was clear, but his mind was racing. She shouldn't be here! How can I help her leave? A vision of a snowy white cat with blue eyes full of grief filled his mind. She doesn't deserve for her heart to be broken again.
"Come with me," he whispered in the rosy cat's ear.
She followed him. The trees thinned, and a light shone again. The tabby tom stopped walking. His companion turned to him, head tipped to the side in question.
"You must go on without me..." he said softly, eyes full of longing.
The rosy cat padded on.

*

Etharpaw, Eaglepaw, and Winterpaw padded into camp, dragging thorns and brambles with them. Etharpaw dropped her load by Eclipsepaw, who was working with her mentor Fuzzypelt. 

"Whew!" she exclaimed. "There sure is a lot of work to be done."

The fox attack had damaged the camp walls, and the apprentices were working on the walls. Eaglepaw dropped his load by Featherpaw and Jingletail. Winterpaw dropped his by Oakpaw and Dawnfeather. The older apprentices and their mentors were working on the wall while the younger apprentices got thorns and brambles from the forest and brought them to camp. A bit farther in the camp, Leafpaw was working with Raincloud and a few other warriors on repairing the dens. Mosspelt, Shadowclaw, Wavepaw, and Tawnyflash came into camp with lots of goldenrod and cobwebs for the wounded cats. The whole camp was busy with activity. Snowstar, Iceflower, Manderinpelt, Crowfur, Sassyheart, and Mintstream were on patrol, making sure the boarders were marked so no other Clan would think they were weak. Skypelt, the deputy, was organizing a hunting patrol.

Etharpaw sighed, and headed back into the forest with Winterpaw and Eaglepaw. She wanted to see Lilypaw, but there was so much to do! When she came back the senior warriors, Mistyleaf, Dewstripe, Hawkfeather, Heatherfeather, Shadowflower, and Startail were gathered around Skypelt and Snowstar, who had gotten back from patrol.

"I'll have to announce this at the next gathering," Snowstar was saying. "If I don't and some cat finds out, another Clan may think we hid it because we were weakened and attack us."

Mistyleaf, Dewstripe, Hawkfeather, Heatherfeather, Shadowflower, and Startail nodded.

"Then it's decided," Skypelt raised her voice. "We won't hide the fact of the attack."

Snowstar nodded. "Now if you'll excuse me, I must speak to Tawnyflash about Lilypaw."

She saw her other kits watching from the entryway to camp and beckoned them with her tail. "Drop those brambles off and come with me."

The apprentices did as she said and scampered over to the medicine cat den. When they got the the entrance they hesitated, and then followed Snowstar's lead.

Story Part 20 *A New Battle For One*

Snowstar's tail tip disappeared into the medicine cat den. The three apprentices followed. The fourth apprentice lay still on the mossy bedding, breathing lightly and shallowly.
"How is she?" Snowstar asked.
Tawnyflash peered out from the back of the den with goldenrod in her mouth. She padded over to Lilypaw and dropped the herbs. "I'm sorry," she mewed, bowing her head. "I'm not sure I can save her. I'll put another poultice on." She licked up the herbs, chewed them, and put them on Lilypaw's wound.
Snowstar bowed her head. When she spoke, her voice cracked with grief. "I know you and Wavepaw are doing your best, Tawnyflash. That's all I can expect you to do." With that, she turned and left the den, tail dragging in the dust. When she passed Etharpaw, Eaglepaw, and Winterpaw, she brushed her tail over their shoulders. "Come, I'm going to have a ceremony."
The apprentices followed her to IceRock with wide eyes.
"Let all cats old enough to catch their own prey join beneath IceRock for a Clan meeting." called Snowstar as she leaped onto the rock, claws dug into the surface to keep from slipping.
The Clan gathered around.
"I have called you together for some important ceremonies today. Eclipsepaw, step forward."
Eclipsepaw stepped forward, eyes glowing.
"Fuzzypelt, to you agree that this apprentice has learned enough of the ways of FrostClan to become a warrior?"
Fuzzypelt stepped forward. "Yes, Snowstar."
"I, Snowstar, leader of FrostClan, call upon my warrior ancestors to look down upon this apprentice, she has trained hard and learned the ways of the code, and I commend her to you as a warrior." Snowstar swung her gaze toward the excited looking calico cat. "Eclipsepaw, do you promise to uphold the warrior code and to protect and defend this Clan even at the cost of your life?"
"I do."
"Then from this day forward, your name shall be Eclipseshadow. We welcome you as a warrior of FrostClan."
Eclipseshadow! Eclipseshadow! Eclipseshadow! Eclipseshadow!
After the cheering had died down, Snowstar called out once more. "One more thing to do before everyone gets back to their duties. Lionkit, Mousekit, Sunkit, and Foxkit step forward."
The four kits stepped up to the base of the rock.
"Lionkit, Mousekit, Sunkit, and Foxkit, from now on and until you receive your warrior names, you shall be known as Lionpaw, Mousepaw, Sunpaw, and Foxpaw. Lionpaw, your mentor will be Shadowflower, Mousepaw, your mentor shall be Redforest, Sunpaw, your mentor will be Stripetail, and Foxpaw, your mentor shall be Smokepelt."
The mentors and apprentices touched noses.
Lionpaw! Mousepaw! Sunpaw! Foxpaw! Lionpaw! Mousepaw! Sunpaw! Foxpaw!
Snowstar leaped down to congratulate the new apprentices, mentors, and warrior.
"Eclipseshadow, you will sit vigil this night, but first get something to eat. You've been working all day on the camp."
The ceremonies had made Snowstar momentarily forget the crisis of Lilypaw. "Where are Lionflame and Ashfire?" she muttered under her breath. Suddenly, as if the thought of them had made them arrive, they were standing before her.
Lionflame spoke. "You must want to know where we went."
Snowstar looked at them. "Yes."
"We had to go to the SnowyOak." Ashfire meowed. "StarClan spoke to us, but it was faded and not clear. They said to receive an important message, we must go to the SnowyOak, so we did."
"What was the message?" Snowstar was getting interested.
"Well, StarClan told us that the prophecy

'There shall be four of your kin,
Of whom two shall win
The favor of StarClan and their friends
They will stop at naught to make an end
To trouble in the Clan'

"Has been fulfilled." Ashfire replied.

"Ah, it must have been that Eaglepaw and  Etharpaw, bringing you the news of trouble in FrostClan, which was the foxes." Snowstar exclaimed.

"Precicely." Ashfire told her.

"But wait, there's more," Lionflame meowed solemnly. "StarClan said, 'A new prophecy has come..."

"Wait," Snowstar interrupted. "There's a new prophecy already?"

Lionflame went on as though he had never been interrupted. 

"'One cat of the Clan

Will be lost forever, 

But another can

 Come back to mend the five

Heats that were torn asunder'" 

"I-I don't understand..." stuttered Snowstar.

Ashfire snorted. "Prophecies weren't made to be understood."

Snowstar glared at him.

Lionflame slid his cool gaze over Ashfire and Snowstar. "Many prophecies come and go, and all are fulfilled, though not always in the way we think they should be or will be."

Snowstar tried not to gape at him. I didn't know he was so wise. She shook her head as the brothers padded away. 'One cat of the Clan will be lost forever?' That sounds bad. Then her head jerked up. Lilypaw!

*

The forest was light now. The light, rosy cat padded closer to the light, but then the ground suddenly opened underneath her paws. The tabby tom leaped forward, grabbing her scruff, but when he heaved to pull her out from the hole, the ground crumbled beneath his hind paws. He scrambled backward and heaved once more on the light cat's scruff. His eyes flashed with the fire of determination. The rosy cat let out a wail of despair. 

"I'll save you," the tabby screeched through a mouthful of fur. I can't! he thought. I must! he used all the power in his haunches, but the rosy cat's scruff slipped through his teeth. The power of his struggles launched him through the trees and into the light. He scrunched his eyes closed and leaped blindly for the dark of the forest, but slammed into an invisible wall. His eyes flashed open. Oh no! he wailed silently as he saw the rosy cat's paws slip from the edge of the dirt and vanish. How could StarClan let this happen?

Story Part 21 Part 1 *Sudden Apperance*

Snowstar raced toward the medicine den.
Tawnyflash looked up as her leader raced in. "What?"
"Lilypaw," Snowstar panted. Her daughter was still breathing. She raised her head up to the sky. "Thank you, StarClan." she murmered.
"It's been a long day," a voice behind her said. Raincloud laid his tail upon her back "Why don't you get some sleep? Tawnyflash and Wavepaw will make sure that everything will be okay."
Snowstar relaxed and went to her den with Raincloud.

*

Snowstar yawned and stretched. She had had a fitful sleep with no dreams. Raincloud was gone, and his scent was stale. Skypelt must have assigned him to dawn patrol, Snowstar thought. She arched her back and padded out of her den. Etharpaw, Eaglepaw, and Winterpaw were sharing a salmon by the apprentice den, while Eclipseshadow was showing Lionpaw and Sunpaw a battle move, which they eagerly tried to copy. Tawnyflash appeared with Wavepaw from the tunnel with bundles of herbs in their jaws, and then vanished inside the medicine den. Other warriors were sharing prey by the warriors den. It's a normal day in FrostClan. We're already recovering from the fox attack. Only one thing was missing... Lilypaw!

Snowstar padded toward the medicine den, when she nearly got bowled over by Wavepaw, racing from the den, eyes wide.

"Snowstar," she panted. "Something's wrong!"

Snowstar gasped and raced the rest of the way to the den. When she entered, she saw Lilypaw. She padded lightly toward her daughter, thinking she might be sleeping.
"There's no need for that," came Tawnyflash's voice. It chilled Snowstar to the bone. "She's gone..."
Snowstar let out a wail. The camp was suddenly silent. Raincloud pushed his way into the den, followed by Etharpaw, Eaglepaw, and Winterpaw. Snowstar wailed again, the sound of grief only a mother mourning her kit can cry. "The prophecy..." she muttered. "Why did it have to come?"
"I couldn't stop it..." a voice whispered in her ear.
Snowstar spun around and took in the scent and sight of the new cat. He had a dark brown tabby pelt, and deep, brown eyes, sparkling with grief.
"I tried," the cat went on. "But she was too far gone..."
Snowstar laid her tail on his pelt. "I understand now... They took Lilypaw to be with them, but gave you back to me. I should be glad, but it was at such a high price..." here her voice cracked.
"Ahem...." Raincloud was looking at her. "Who exactly is this cat?"
"Meet Rockpaw. We used to... know each other. Before I started this Clan." Snowstar explained.
"So... you were friends." Raincloud prompted.
"Yes. We were - friends." Snowstar answered.
"We're apprentices too!" Etharpaw mewed from behind Snowstar and Raincloud. "Where do you come from?"
"Well," Rockpaw seemed uncomfortable. "StarClan..."
"You're dead? Have you come to guide Lilypaw? Howcomewecanseeyou?" Etharpaw's questions spewed from her mouth.
"I was dead. Now I am alive." he replied bluntly.
"You can train with us," Etharpaw offered. "Snowstar, who will his mentor be?"
Rockpaw purred. "Your kits are inquisitive. I like that."
"Hey! We're not kits any more!" exclaimed Eaglepaw. Only Winterpaw remained silent.
I don't care if this cat was dead and is now alive. I only care that Lilypaw is gone... Winterpaw glared at Rockpaw, understanding the earlier part of the conversation. He took Lilypaw so he could come back. 

Story Part 21 Part 2 *Lilypaw Lost*

"Rockpaw, will you join the Clan?" Snowstar asked her friend.
Rockpaw pondered for a moment. "Yes. I don't know much. I was only an apprentice when I died."
"Yeah, but we both were well into our training, and I'm sure you learned a lot in StarClan," Snowstar mewed.
"So he will be in the apprentice den?" Etharpaw asked again.
Snowstar swung her head toward Etharpaw. "Yes, at least for a bit while he learns the ways of FrostClan."
She turned back to Rockpaw. "You will be my apprentice. Come, we will have the ceremony and then sit vigil for - Lilypaw." Her voice broke.
Rockpaw dipped his head and followed her out of the den. Raincloud, Tawnyflash, Wavepaw, and the other apprentices followed too, carrying Lilypaw.
"Let all cats old enough to catch their own prey join beneath IceRock for a Clan meeting," Snowstar called out, leaping onto IceRock.
"I would like to welcome a new apprentice into the Clan," she announced. Whispers sounded through the assembled cats.
"I knew Rockpaw when we were younger, before I started FrostClan. We were friends, and then... He had a tragic accident and died. As you probably already know, my kit, Lilypaw died from her injuries in the fox fight. Somehow her death transported Rockpaw back to life, and he appeared in the Medicine Cat Den when Lilypaw died. Rockpaw, from now on until you become a warrior, I will be your mentor and teach you the ways of FrostClan."
Snowstar leaped off the rock and touched her nose to his.
Rockpaw! Rockpaw! Rockpaw! Rockpaw!
After the cheering had died down, she added. "We will sit vigil for Lilypaw tonight, and bury her at dawn." Snowstar walked away from her new apprentice and sat beside Lilypaw, pushing her nose into her fur. "I'll miss you," she murmered. Raincloud sat beside her, his nose in Lilypaw's fur too. Then Eaglepaw, Etharpaw, and Winterpaw, who kept shooting hostile glances at Rockpaw. I'll have to talk to him about that later. she thought. Then she pushed out all thoughts but her grief for Lilypaw. 

Story Part 21 Part 3 *Questions*

The sun rose slowly, and Snowstar looked up from her vigil beside Lilypaw. Suprisingly, no one had fallen asleep on vigil. The elders came out of their den and took up the apprentice's body, moving it to the site of the burial. Snowstar, Raincloud, Winterpaw, Eaglepaw, and Etharpaw followed behind. After Lilypaw was gone, the group dragged back into camp. Snowstar and Raincloud went to the leader's den. The apprentices went to their den, and the elders went to the fresh-kill pile. The moment Snowstar lay down, she was out.

*

The sun was high in the sky when Snowstar awoke. She was careful not to wake Raincloud, who was still asleep. Skypelt met her at the entrance of the den.
"What's happened," Snowstar yawned.
"I sorted out patrols, don't worry," Skypelt told her.
Something in Snowstar's  mind clicked. "Have you seen Lionflame or Ashfire recently?"
"No," her deputy replied.
"They told me that Lilypaw would die, and another would come to mend broken hearts." Snowstar confided. "I'm wondering just who those two think they are."
Skypelt shrugged. "I can't help you there, Snowstar."
Snowstar dipped her head. "Yes, I'll have to search for some answers myself." Then she padded off to the fresh-kill pile. Her stomach growled with hunger. After she had had a nice plump fish, she looked up to see Lionflame padding into the camp. She leaped to her paws and raced over to him.
"Why did you make a prophecy that said my kit would die?" she asked.
"Just so you know," Lionflame responded, "I had told you that the prophecy was from StarClan, not me. And even when StarClan told me the prophecy, they seemed saddened when they said it. They didn't want it to happen either. They just passed on their knowledge to me, and Ashfire and I passed it on to you."
Snowstar looked taken-aback. "Well, yes, but you didn't have to tell me. It would have saved me some worrying."
 "It is not up to me to not tell you something that StarClan told me to tell you. Do not forget that they said you will be brought hope, and your broken heart will be mended." Lionflame looked at her. "Take courage, for StarClan would not give you a burden they knew you could not handle."
How are you so wise? Snowstar wondered. "Do you know if the hope they have promised has come?"
"Only you will know for sure," Lionflame replied. Then he turned to leave.
"Wait," Snowstar commanded. "Are you going to join the Clan?"
Lionflame seemed to consider this. "I do not know. I must ask my brother. We will make the decision together." He turned to leave once more.
"Where is Ashfire?" Snowstar asked. Lionflame either didn't hear, didn't know, or didn't think he had to give an answer. 

Story Part 21 Part 4 *Mentoring*

Snowstar sighed, and turned back to camp when Lionflame vanished. Rockpaw came out of the apprentice den.
"Hi, Snowstar," he mewed. "Should we get some training in?"
"Sure," Snowstar told her apprentice. "We'll start off patrolling the border, since that's mainly what you don't know." It's so weird being his mentor when we're the same age, but not the same age, Snowstar thought as she trotted off out of camp with Rockpaw behind her.
"There's the SnowyOak, where medicine cats share tongues with their ancestors." Snowstar pointed out. Then she swept her tail toward the river on the right that they were approaching. "Across there is FeatherClan's territory. They are our allies. Past them is PowerClan. They are neutral, as far as I know. Anyways, the river is a great place to catch fish." She swept her tail toward their left, the trees. "The trees are great places for other prey. Mice, squirrels, rabbits, birds, and more."
Rockpaw nodded absently, taking it all in.
"I'm not sure I can teach you much more. You'll probably be a warrior soon," Snowstar commented later. I'll think of just the right name for my old friend, she thought. "Let's hunt!"
She bounded off the trail into the woods. Rockpaw followed.

Story Part 22 *Uncertainty*

"Doesn't Snowstar seem to have a permanent frown on her face?" Winterpaw whispered to Eaglepaw.
"Yeah," he whispered back. "Must be stressful being the leader and... you know... Lilypaw..."
Winterpaw put his head on his paws and gave a silent sigh. He really missed his sister. They had done so much together while Eaglepaw and Etharpaw went off on the mission to save FrostClan. And then... She was gone, because some cat named Rockpaw had taken her place. Winterpaw hated him for it.
"Eaglepaw!" called a voice from outside the apprentice den. "It's time to go hunting, or have you forgotten."
Eaglepaw scrambled to his feet. "Coming, Wolfstorm! Catch you later," he added to Winterpaw.
Winterpaw watched the bushes rustle and then settle as the two raced out of camp. Still, he stared at the bushes. They rustled again and Snowstar came padding in with...ugh...Rockpaw behind her. Rockpaw padded straight for the fresh-kill pile, but Snowstar came padding toward Winterpaw in the apprentice den.
"I know that you blame Rockpaw for Lilypaw's death, but it's not that way," meowed Snowstar. "He told me that he never meant for it to turn out like this." Snowstar told Winterpaw about the forest, and how Lilypaw had fallen in a hole and Rockpaw had been unable to help her out, and somehow was thrown back into the living world.
"I see now," Winterpaw mewed, "But I'll always look at him and see Lilypaw as she should have been now."
Snowstar sighed, "Sometimes that happens to me too." She rasped her tongue over Winterpaw's ear and left the den.
*      *      *      *     *
This is it, thought Etharpaw. This is my chance to impress Blackslash. Etharpaw and her mentor were in training. Advanced training. She crouched on the branch, claws digging into the bark.
"Ready!" called Blackslash from below.
Etharpaw gathered her strength in her hindquarters and leaped to the next tree, and the next, and the next. She knew Blackslash was running below her, but didn't dare look down. The trees were thinning out as she traveled toward the river. The next thing she knew was she was falling, falling, falling! Her eyes were wide as she plummeted toward the river below her. I have to make this look like I did it on purpose, was her thought as she hit the water below.
The river, usually icy cold from melted snow, had been warmed by the gracious summer sun. Her eyes were still open underwater, as she looked around. There! A fish tried to flash past her, suprised at her sudden appearance. She was too quick for it, and killed it in one claw swipe, clasped it in her jaws and paddled strongly toward the surface.
She looked around, and saw she had been swept a ways downstream. As she dragged herself from the river with her fish, she saw Blackslash appear on the shore.
"Etharpaw, I so KNOW you did not do that on purpose," Blackslash exclaimed to his sodden apprentice.
"Well, I did," Etharpaw lied.
"Sure!" Blackslash mewed sarcastically. "Just wait 'til I tell the whole Clan you caught a fish by falling in the river," he added, racing toward camp.
"No!" cried Etharpaw, racing after him. 

Story Part 23 *Thoughts*

Etharpaw wanted to disappear.
"And that's how Etharpaw caught the fish," Blackslash had just finished the story of her falling in the river and using the fish as an excuse.
She felt she would be ashamed forever. So what, she thought. I'll defend myself now.
"Well you see, I was trying out a new hunting method. Different animals catch fish in different ways. Bears catch them by swiping them out of the river. Twolegs use sticks that they point and then pull in fish on an invisible string..."
Etharpaw would have gone on, but someone in the crowd scornfully mewed "What creature catches fish by falling in a river?"
"I didn't fall in!" she cried. "And otters catch fish by swimming in the water, just like I did."
Hisses of annoyance filled the air. Etharpaw pushed her belly to the ground, trying to hide, but it wouldn't go away. The sound rose in a crescendo, louder and louder and louder....
"STOP!" she screeched.
"Stop what?" asked Eaglepaw groggily.
Oh, it was just a dream. "Nevermind," Etharpaw mewed. Her mew was strong but silent, the nightmare had jerked her awake.
It was just a dream, it was just a dream. It didn't happen, it didn't happen, she told herself over and over. Actually, Blackslash had never told anyone of her terrible mistake. He had known, but had kept it a total secret, not even saying anything when cats congratulated her on her catch. I wonder why, was her last thought before she drifted back to sleep.
*     In The Warrior's Den     *
I bet Etharpaw's wondering why I didn't tell on her, thought Blackslash. And then, another thought popped into his head. Is it wrong to fall in love with my own apprentice? Hmm...

Story Part 24 Part 1 *Assessment Time! {Good luck}*

Snowstar awoke to a wave of cool air from outside her den. She sighed in relief. The summer had just been unbearably hot this season. The breeze died as soon as it had come. Snowstar rolled onto her paws and padded out of her den.
Now that she was in the sun, she realized her den had been cool. Ugh... I wish I could stay in there forever, she thought. But I can't. I have a Clan to look after. And, thinking about that, some assessments should be done today on some apprentices. I'll have a word with Jingletail about having Featherpaw's assessment today along with Rockpaw. Hmm... and maybe ask Dawnfeather and Raincloud about having Oakpaw and Leafpaw have their first assessments too. Wow!!! There's lots to do today.
Snowstar padded over to the fresh-kill pile and grabbed a silver fish. Picking it up in her jaws, she walked over to where Jingletail was.
"I'm thinking Featherpaw is ready for an assessment today," she mewed. "Why don't we have her and Rockpaw go out in the forest and catch prey for their final assessment before becoming warriors."
"Great idea," Jingletail replied.
"I was also thinking that Oakpaw and Leafpaw can have their first assessment today. I'll have a word with their mentors and get some extra warriors who aren't on patrol to help out." she continued.
Jingletail finished his meal and stood up and glanced toward the apprentice den. Featherpaw emerged conveniently, with Oakpaw and Leafpaw behind her. "I'll have a word with Featherpaw and the others right now."
Snowstar nodded, scanning the clearing for Dawnfeather and Raincloud. First she told Dawnfeather, and then Raincloud. Next she headed to the apprentice den to find Rockpaw. Supprisingly, he was still asleep.
Snowstar smirked, remembering the tricks they had played on each other as apprentices. For some reason, she felt the urge to prank him now. No cat was in the den but him, and all the others were across the clearing, except the elders, whose hearing was rather poor.
"WAKE UP LAZY BONES!" she yowled at the top of her lungs.
Rockpaw started and leaped to his feet. "Who what where?" he asked.
Snowstar shook with silent laughter. "You should have seen the look on your face!!!" she managed to wheeze out.
Rockpaw frowned, then began to smile, chuckle, then laugh. If any cat had seen them at that moment, they would have seen Snowstar rolling on the ground with laughter with Rockpaw laughing a few tail-lengths away.
"Anyways," Snowstar had finally recovered from laughing, "Congratulations, your assessment to become a warrior is today. Featherpaw will be doing it along with you. Oakpaw and Leafpaw will also be having their first assessment today. Be ready in a few minutes. I just have to go find four warriors willing to help out assessment watching."
Rockpaw nodded, and Snowstar left him collecting his thoughts for the assessment ahead. She saw a few warriors relaxing by the fresh-kill pile, but they had been the dawn patrol. She wouldn't bother them. Next, she poked her head into the warriors den. Some warriors were asleep, but many were chilling in the shade of the den, softly speaking to each other.
"Hey, can I have four cats to help out with the apprentices' assessment today?" she asked softly. Mandarinpelt, Iceflower, Echocanyon, and Snakefang stood up, ready to help. "We'll meet by the tunnel."
They all met at the tunnel, and Snowstar gave the instructions. Usually, since she was leader, she didn't help out with assessments unless she had spare time, but she had her apprentice in the assessment, which was sort of a special occasion. She automatically took control of the assessment. "Okay. I want Featherpaw to head toward the SnowyOak for prey. Jingletail and Mandarinpelt will be watching you discreetly." She watched as the gray apprentice bounded off excitedly with Jingletial and Mandarinpelt following slower. "Oakpaw, Dawnfeather, and Iceflower will head toward the rapids of the river. Leafpaw, Raincloud, and Echocanyon will head toward the calm stretch of the river. Which leaves Rockpaw, myself, and Snakefang heading toward the fallen tree bridge across the creek. Good luck, everyone."
Rockpaw padded toward the natural bridge that had fallen across the stream many moons ago. Good thing I taught him the lay of the territory, was Snowstar's final thought before she followed Snakefang and Rockpaw toward the tree.
*     *     *     *     *
"Told you we should have waited and tagged along on the sun-high patrol," Etharpaw huffed to her brothers.
"Aww... Then we'd be stuck along the boarders." Eaglepaw made a frowny face.
"Good thing we made this hunting patrol," commented Winterpaw.
"Will you three shut up?" barked Hawkfeather, who was leading the patrol of the three apprentices, Heatherfeather, Hollyfeather, and himself.
"Do you think it's funny that those three all have their name beginning in H and feather as the last part of their names?" asked Etharpaw in a low tone.
"Yep," replied Winterpaw in a loud voice. Eaglepaw and Etharpaw winced.
"Glad you agree with me," boomed Hawkfeather. "You and your sister, come with me. Eaglepaw, go with Heatherfeather and Hollyfeather.
"What did I agree to?" Winterpaw asked innocently to Etharpaw once Hawkfeather was a few fox lengths ahead of them.
"Probably splitting up to hunt," Etharpaw mewed, putting two and two together. Her ears twitched, hearing a mouse. All thoughts but the hunt left her mind.
*****
Eaglepaw was within two tail-lengths of his prey, a pigeon, when in suddenly squawked and flew off.
"Mouse dung!" he spat, leaping after it and missing.
When he landed, he realized that the bracken to his left was shivering slightly. That must have scared off the pigeon. The bracken rustled more. What rotten luck. The bracken was still rustling, harder than before. What the??? "W-who's there?" croaked Eaglepaw, mouth dry with fear. Two cats leaped clear of the bracken. Eaglepaw's claws slid out. I must win.  

Story Part 24 Part 2 *Assessment Time! {The Hunt}

Rockpaw had sprinted over the bridge, which was dry from the sun beating down on it. I'll pass this assessment no problem, he thought. He glanced over his shoulder, but didn't see Snowstar or Snakefang anywhere. They must be good at being discrete, he thought. Then, no more time for thinking. Just concentrate on the hunt.
A raven was pecking at the ground. It seized a worm in its beak and tugged. The worm resisted. Rockpaw crouched and glided forward, as if on winged paws. Then he pounced swiftly, snatching the raven in his jaws and shook it. Its wings stopped beating frantically as it died. A great catch, thought Snowstar, who was watching from in a tree. Speed and timing were perfect. Only the kill could have been a bit cleaner. She had chosen the tree, because when apprentices are looking for the warriors watching them, the one place they don't look is up. She watched as Rockpaw scraped earth over the prey, and then flattened some grass stalks to cover it until he came back later to take it.
Rockpaw lifted his head and drew in a breath to scent the air. Nothing. He padded on and kept checking for prey.
*     *     *     *     *
Eaglepaw stared at the two cats who had leaped from the bracken bush.
"Heatherfeather! Hollyfeather!" he yelped instinctively.
"Shhh..." said the reddish orange cat. The gray one nodded.
Was it just Eaglepaw, or did those two look familiar?
"Lionflame, Ashfire, what are you doing here?" asked Hollyfeather, who had heard Eaglepaw call.
Oh, thought Eaglepaw. That's why they kinda looked familiar.  "Sorry I bothered you Hollyfeather. Those two just leaped out of that bush and kinda took me by surprise."
Hollyfeather nodded and left. Heatherfeather had been too far away to hear Eaglepaw.
"Where's Snowstar," asked Lionflame, looking this way and that. Ashfire too looked around.
"I-I think she's out assessing some apprentices," stuttered Eaglepaw.
"Very well," meowed Lionflame cooly. "We will wait for her at camp then." Ashfire nodded again.
The two toms brushed past Eaglepaw as though they were way higher on the totem pole of Clan awesomeness than he was. Wait? What's a totem pole? Eaglepaw asked himself. Oh, whatever. I must have heard it from Shortwhisker's two-leg tales. I'll have to ask her when I get back to camp.
He then saw a vole, leaped, and caught it cleanly. He picked it up in his jaws and headed back to camp.
*     *     *     *     *
Rockpaw had had a successful hunt. After catching the raven, he had caught a fish, and a mouse.
"That's good," announced Snowstar, daintily jumping from her tree.
"You showed a surprising variety of skills by catching those different kinds of prey," meowed Snakefang, coming out of nowhere.
Rockpaw hid his surprise at seeing them, and picked up the mouse. Snowstar grabbed the fish, and Snakefang grabbed the raven. Then they joined up and headed back to camp.
"You're the first group done!" exclaimed Skypelt. She turned toward the entrance tunnel. "The others should be coming back soon."
Sure enough, Featherpaw's group was back next. Then Oakpaw and then Leafpaw. They stacked their prey on the pile and then Snowstar called the meeting.
"Let all cats old enough to catch their own prey join beneath IceRock for a Clan meeting."
The cats assembled. The rest of the hunting patrols had arrived shortly before Rockpaw had gotten back.
"Jingletail, do you believe your apprentice is ready to become a warrior?"
"Yes," he responded.
"And I believe that my apprentice is ready too. Featherpaw and Rockpaw step forward. I Snowstar, leader of FrostClan, call upon my warrior ancestors to look after these cats. They have trained hard, and I commend them to you as warriors in their turn. Featherpaw and Rockpaw, do you promise to uphold the warrior code and protect and defend this Clan even at the cost of your life?"
"I do," breathed Featherpaw.
"I do," stated Rockpaw.
"Then by the powers of StarClan, I give you your new names. Featherpaw, from now on you will be known as Featherbird. May StarClan honor you for your kindness and bravery."
Featherbird! Featherbird! Featherbird!
"Rockpaw, from now on you will be known as Rockblaze. May StarClan honor you for your caring and skills."
Rockblaze! Rockblaze! Rockblaze!
"Tonight you will sit vigil and watch over camp, but first have some fresh-kill from the pile."
They nodded and Snowstar laughed.
"I'll tell you when you can't talk! Enjoy yourselves now," she mewed as she headed toward the shadowy figures of Lionflame and Ashfire, lying in the shade of a rock. She knew why they were here. 

Story Part 25 Part 1 * Secrets {Farewell}*

Eaglepaw was frozen in indecision. It's now or never. He picked up his vole and padded into the elder's den. "Here, Shortwhisker, this is for you."
"I suppose you want to ask me something, or you wouldn't have come," mewed Shortwhisker.
"Yeah," Eaglepaw meowed. "I was wondering what a totem pole is. I just randomly thought of it the other day. Is it, like, two-leg lingo?"
"Right indeed! A totem pole is either a pole or post erected by Indians of the northwestern coastline of North America, especially in front of their houses. The second definition is a hierarchy system," announced Shortwhisker, who had picked her way through the definition carefully, translating the two-leg words.
"Thanks," Eaglepaw turned to leave, but was too late.
"Wait, why don't you change my bedding while you're here," the elder suggested, or should I say, commanded.
Eaglepaw heaved a sigh as soon as he was out of hearing range. "I should have known, but I had to risk it," he mumbled to himself.
*     *     *     *     *
The shadowy figures heads never turned as she approached. One spoke, his voice soft, but full of power. "We have made our decision."
"Our decision," the other figure echoed. Snowstar almost started, but held herself back. Ashfire had hardly ever spoken. Usually only Lionflame spoke. For both of them.
"You asked us to join your Clan," continued Ashfire, the second speaker who rarely spoke. "We give you our sincere apologies that we cannot join your Clan."
"C-c-cannot?" stuttered Snowstar. She would have understood if he had said they didn't wish to join, but COULD NOT? It didn't make sense.
"I can see you are surprised," continued Ashfire. "You expected us to say we didn't wish to join, but we truly cannot. Our work in life takes us elsewhere."
"Oh," mewed Snowstar.
"You would never fully understand us, so we won't try to explain," mewed Ashfire in a whisper. "All I can tell you is this:

The time is coming when the two,
In all their power come
Be ready for that day, blessed day,
When your worries shall be done.

The time may be soon,
But it also may be later
So be ready, don't waver
Lest soon become later." 

Snowstar gaped. This prophecy is even more confusing than the other ones.
Ashfire sighed. "I only wish I could explain it all to you, but it is not up to me to mess with time and space. But know this; of all the prophecies you have received, this one comes not from StarClan, but from an even greater power."
"And now we both bid you farewell," Lionflame mewed softly.
"Know that this is not the last time we will meet," mewed Ashfire confidentially.
"I-I don't know how to respond," Snowstar mewed. "Farewell for now, I guess."
"Farewell."
"Farewell."
Lionflame and Ashfire left her then, and headed out through the tunnel. She watched them go, staring after them long after the tunnel's leaves had stopped rustling. Snowstar shook her head. I need some time alone to think. She padded out through the tunnel and found her paws taking her toward the river. 

Story Part 25 Part 2 *Secrets {Mysteriousness}*

Snowstar sat beside the river, staring into its depths. The river was rather calm, not rushing fast, but not still either. This river keeps flowing, no mater what. I, too, must be like it and move on. Snowstar stood and padded along, following the river in its course. It is long and wide. If I threw a pebble in it, it would ripple and then disappear. I shouldn't let myself get down because of one bad thing happening in my life. She stopped following the river and once more sat, gazing into its depths.
"Ooooo..."
The cry started suddenly, then stopped. Snowstar gazed up the river and saw a beautiful bird. Its head was black, and the feathers of its body were speckled, black and white.

"Ooooo..."
Then the bird disappeared underneath the surface of the river. Snowstar frowned. She had never known birds to dive under and stay under. Ahh... Another of life's surprises, she thought. Just as she stood up, ready to walk back up the river toward camp, the cry came again.
"Ooooo..."
This time it was from several yards in front of Snowstar. She took one last glance at the bird, and then padded off back up the river. Just as that bird swims through the water, I must swim through the trouble in my life. The prophecy...

 The time is coming when the two,
In all their power come
Be ready for that day, blessed day,
When your worries shall be done.

The time may be soon,
But it also may be later
So be ready, don't waver
Lest soon become later.

She could still hear Ashfire saying it, in his cool, smooth voice. The two... Who could they be? I thought they were Etharpaw and Eaglepaw, at least in the old prophecy. I knew they were the ones. What if these are different?
"You are wavering," a soft voice said from behind her. She started and turned, gazing into Ashfire's eyes. "Soon will become later."
"Ashfire?" Snowstar gasped. "But... I thought you and Lionflame had left."
"We left, but were called back here by your inner turmoil," announced Lionflame, coming to stand beside his brother. "Oh, by the way-" His voice was cut off.
"Ooooo..."
"-That bird is a loon," he finished. 
"Loon," murmured Snowstar, looking at the beautiful bird. "Is that-"
She turned to see that Lionflame and Ashfire had seemingly disappeared into thin air.
"What's with them?" she asked herself, heading back to camp.

Story Part 26 Part 1 *A Full Moon Gathering*

Chatter Chatter Chatter Chatter
Etharpaw sighed. "It's so noisy in here," she complained to her brothers.
"I agree," mewed Winterpaw. "There's so many apprentices. What do you think, Eaglepaw." He and Etharpaw turned to their brother.
Zzzzzzzz....
Etharpaw looked at Winterpaw and started laughing. "How can he sleep through this?" she choked out.
"I don't know!" exclaimed Winterpaw, rolling on the ground in laughter.
"Hey! Why'd ya wake me up with your laughter?" asked Eaglepaw grouchily. He had finally woken up at the sound of their laughter.
"Because you were so funny, sleeping through all this noise," answered Winterpaw, gazing around the stuffy den at all the apprentices. "I guess now that we're all up, we should get some fresh-kill and start training with our mentors."
Etharpaw leaped to her paws. "Yes!" she cried, eyes sparkling. "And we should work extra hard, because tonight is the Gathering! If we go, it'll be our first Gathering ever!"
---Later---That---Day---
Snowstar leaped onto the IceRock. "Let all cats old enough to catch their own prey join beneath IceRock for a Clan meeting." Snowstar paused and gazed around the clearing as the cats of FrostClan assembled. "I have decided that whoever wishes to share news at the gathering may come. Apprentices included."
"Hooray!!!" yowled Etharpaw, Eaglepaw, and Winterpaw, along with much of the Clan.
Snowstar waved her tail for silence after a while of crazy cheering. "I hope that anyone who wishes to go, for a good reason, of course, will behave themselves properly and show how FrostClan cats are." She looked particularly at Etharpaw, Eaglepaw, and Winterpaw.
---Even---Later---
The full moon rose into the sky as the cats of FrostClan made their way to the gathering. Etharpaw, Eaglepaw, and Winterpaw walked side by side. Rockblaze and Featherbird came too, proud of their first gathering as warriors.
"This gathering will be totally awesome!" announced Eaglepaw.
"Wow!" look at all those cats!" exclaimed Winterpaw.
"Let's go make some new friends!" cried Etharpaw, racing over to the clearing with her brothers in tow. "Hmm... There sure are a lot of new cats here. Let me see... There should be FeatherClan, PowerClan, FadingClan, IvyClan, and of course, us, FrostClan. Let's go introduce ourselves."
"Yeah!" Eaglepaw agreed. He and his sister were very friendly and outgoing. Winterpaw, however, was more shy and timid. He hung back a bit. 

Story Part 26 Part 2 *A Full Moon Gathering*

Etharpaw, Eaglepaw, and a reluctant Winterpaw, walked around introducing themselves. Etharpaw walked up to a dusty brown apprentice. "Hi, I'm Etharpaw, and my brothers are Eaglepaw and Winterpaw. What's your name?"
"I'm Dustpaw, from PowerClan," he said. "Nice to meet you. You're from FrostClan, right?"
"Yep!" mewed Eaglepaw.
"Who are you talking to, Dustpaw?" asked a dappled gray and white apprentice, also from PowerClan.
"Oh. These are Etharpaw, Eaglepaw, and Winterpaw. They're from FrostClan." meowed Dustpaw. "This is my sister, Starpaw."
"Cool," mewed Etharpaw. "So, do you guys really have powers?"
"Well, duh!" exclaimed Starpaw. "Why else would it be called PowerClan?"
"I can teleport and read minds," mewed Dustpaw.
"And I can manipulate plant growth," Starpaw mewed.
"Cool! Show us!" Eaglepaw and Etharpaw mewed in unison.
"Alright, but don't be too drastic about it," came a voice from behind Etharpaw and her brothers. They whirled around. "I'm Beachfur, Starpaw and Dustpaw's father. I see the future." He squinted at Etharpaw. "I see a bright future for you, chosen one." Then he walked away.
"Well, that was strange," commented Eaglepaw.
"Nah," scoffed Starpaw. "He's always doing that. You kinda get used to it. Anyways, let me show you my power!" She crouched down, closed her eyes, and concentrated. A single stem of grass grew. Slowly at first, then faster. Soon it was a few whisker lengths taller than the others. "See!" she announced, beaming proudly.
"Whoa! Way cool!!!" gasped all three of the FrostClan apprentices.
"Now I'll show you my power," mewed Dustpaw. He flicked his tail at a tree many tail-lengths away. "I will disappear from here, appear over there, and then come back too."
"Show-off," muttered Starpaw.
Dustpaw suddenly disappeared. Then he reappeared by the tree. Next, he disappeared from there, and didn't come back.
"Where'd he go?" asked Winterpaw.
Starpaw sighed, "He's probably right behind us." And sure enough, there he was.
"Alright, that was fun," he exclaimed. "Next, I'll read someone's mind. Eaglepaw, think of an object and tell Starpaw what it is. Then I'll read your mind and Starpaw'll tell me if I'm right."
"Okay," Eaglepaw mewed. He thought hard, and came up with something.
"Totem pole," he whispered to Starpaw. Dustpaw had teleported across the clearing, so there was no way he could have heard. If Starpaw wondered what a totem pole was, she didn't say. "Ready!" called Eaglepaw.
Dustpaw appeared in front of them. He narrowed his eyes and stared seemingly straight through Eaglepaw. "Hmm... You told Starpaw.... totem pole!"
Eaglepaw gasped. This couldn't have been a luck guess. "You're right."
"See!" crowed Dustpaw, what did I tell you?"
"That's all fine and dandy, but playtime's over. The gathering's starting," Etharpaw told them in a quiet voice. They turned their attention to the Clan leaders.
---Later---
"Whew! That was a great gathering," announced Etharpaw. "But now I'm totally tired. Let's get to bed."
"Yes," chorused her brothers.

Story Part 27 *An Awesome Day {scene one}*

"Hmm hmm hmm..." hummed Etharpaw. "Today's a great day."
"Why is that?" asked her brother Eaglepaw.
She looked at him sharply. "Because, I can just feel it, the warm air, the slight breeze, today will be a special day."
Eaglepaw rolled his eyes. "Yeah right!"
"You'll see," Etharpaw told him, padding daintily on her way.
*     *     *     *     *
Snowstar frowned. Something didn't look right. Ah, it's probably just my imagination. She felt like she was getting kinda paranoid since she had run into Lionflame and Ashfire by the river. She yawned and clambered out of her den. She decided to have a look around the territory for anything suspicious looking. Ugh, I'm still paranoid. Oh well, one tiny peek can't hurt... 
A while later, she returned from her one cat patrol with nothing suspicious at all to report. In fact, her whole patrol had been quite boring. The only interesting thing she had seen was the loon.
"Ah, well you can't win every day," she said to no cat in particular.
"You're right on that one," came a voice from behind her.
She turned around to see Rockblaze. "I'm worried," she confessed to him.
He snorted. "I can tell that. You went on a walk at dawn and didn't get back until sun-high. You must have been all the way around the territory. What's on your mind?"
She sighed. "Lionflame and Ashfire told me a new prophecy, and I'm worried about it. It seems that I'll have to wait even longer for some mystery character to appear and be a hero."
"Then why worry about the future?" purred Rockblaze. "Just learn to enjoy the present." He walked off, flicking her ears with his tail as he passed.
"Hmm. He has a point," she murmered to herself.
*     *     *     *     *
Etharpaw, Eaglepaw, and Winterpaw were walking along the river.
"Um... shouldn't a warrior be with us?" asked Winterpaw nervously.
"Nah, we'll be fine," mewed Eaglepaw confidently. "We're almost warriors anyways."
"If you're sure," mewed Winterpaw. "Then let's fish."
The three apprentices scanned the water's surface. It was smooth except for the slow trickle of the water. The river was broad, but calm.
"Oh oh oh!" exclaimed Eaglepaw. "There's one over there." He gestured with his tail.
Etharpaw cleared her throat. "Hear the advice of an expert fisher. A viewed fish cannot be caught."
"If we can't see the fish, how can we catch it?" asked Winterpaw.
"Yeah, whoever said that was mouse-brained," commented Eaglepaw.
"Exactly," replied Etharpaw. "We'll prove the "expert" that they're wrong. That's why today will be awesome."

Story Part 27 *An Awesome Day {scene two}*

"Okay...." mewed Eaglepaw slowly. "Let me get this straight, today will be awesome because we'll prove an expert fisher wrong?"
Etharpaw looked him in the eyes. "Yes." The two siblings had a staring contest. A splash suddenly made them each turn at the same time.
"Ha ha! I caught the fish!" yelled Winterpaw.
"Expert proven false," muttered Eaglepaw.
Etharpaw gleamed with pride. "I told you all the expert was wrong. What expert would give advice like that?" She looked back and forth, with confused eyes.
"What's wrong?" asked Winterpaw.
"Hmm..." Etharpaw mused. "That's very strange."
"What's strange?" asked Eaglepaw.
Etharpaw turned back to her brothers. "I just thought I heard something. And, I don't think the fish is what will be awesome about today. Something big is coming, a huge change."
Eaglepaw and Winterpaw looked at each other and shrugged. "Whatever," they mewed at the same time.
The comment didn't seem to register with Etharpaw. Out of the corner of her eyes she saw the shrubs beside the river clearing shiver and then still. The river was calmly carrying on its journey through its banks. Everything seemed normal. Ah, it's probably my imagination, she thought. She padded toward the river and stood, ready to fish.
"Hey!" called out Eaglepaw. "Winterpaw and I are going downstream to fish. Are you gonna stay here?"
Etharpaw nodded, not wanting to make a sound and disturb the fish in the river. She heard her brothers' paws slightly shaking the ground, but not enough to disturb the fish.
"Etharpaw," came a soft voice.
"I thought you guys were going downstream," replied Etharpaw. "Make up your minds."
"Etharpaw, it's Lionflame." came the voice again.
Etharpaw spun around. "Lionflame! What are you doing sulking around our territory?"
"Huh! I'm not sulking around, I'm here to tell you something about the prophecy."
"What prophecy?" Etharpaw was confused.
"So... Snowstar didn't tell you." he meowed.
"I guess not, since I have no idea what you're talking about."
"Here's all I have to say, you can ask Snowstar about the prophecy later," Lionflame announced. "You are part of the prophecy. You, not your brothers."
"Okay... but I don't care at this point since I have no idea about this prophecy you told my mother. You can be sure I'll ask her about it when I get back to camp, though. Now that my curiosity has been aroused, you can't stop me." mewed Etharpaw, swishing her tail.
Lionflame purred. "I don't want to stop you. I want you to go and tell Snowstar what I told you."
"That's good, because I'm going right now," she meowed, and swept grandly into the bushes.
Lionflame shook his head. "Snowstar has her paws full with that one." Then he too left the clearing.
*     A     few     minutes     later     *
Eaglepaw bounded into the clearing with Winterpaw following him, each one carrying a fish in their mouth. Eaglepaw set the fish down. "Etharpaw! Where are you!"
"Etharpaw!" called Winterpaw, adding his voice to Eaglepaw's. After a bit he added; "I don't think she's anywhere in the area."
"You're right," admitted Eaglepaw. "Maybe she fell into the river and got swept downstream screaming her head off."
"Nah," Winterpaw shot that idea down right away. "We'd have heard her. We were fishing downstream."
"Oh." mewed Eaglepaw. "Good point. She must have been carried off by an eagle then. I must hunt it down and save her so I can earn my warrior name, Eagleslayer."
Winterpaw rolled his eyes. "Good luck. I think she went back to camp."
"Aww..." sighed Eaglepaw. "Your reasons are oh so boring."
"Yeah, but they're reasonable, unlike yours."
"Mine are funny!" snapped Eaglepaw.
"Sure sure," Winterpaw waved his tail. "I'm heading back to camp to find her."
"Well I'm going to find the eagle and bring it home for dinner." Eaglepaw headed off in the opposite direction.
A cat in the bushes shook with silent laughter as the two parted ways.

Story Part 28 *Sharing Thoughts*

As Etharpaw strode into camp grandly, Snowstar was relaxing from her duties as leader for a few moments and enjoying peace. She was sunning herself on a rock, soaking up the last of the leaf-fall sun. When Etharpaw's shadow fell on her, she looked up drowsily.
"Etharpaw?" she asked.
"Yeah, it's me," came the answer.
"What's wrong?" Snowstar asked, still drowsy.
"You didn't tell me about the prophecy," Etharpaw mewed, somewhat annoyed. "And it was about me."
Snowstar sat bolt up-right. "Did Ashfire say that? The prophecy is about you?"
"No and yes," answered Etharpaw. "Lionflame told me."
"Well, I received three prophecies, one from StarClan, and two from Lionflame and Ashfire. The first I received has been fulfilled, and also the second. The third, I just recently got. That must be the one about you. Here it is...
'The time is coming when the two,
In all their power come
Be ready for that day, blessed day,
When your worries shall be done.

The time may be soon,
But it also may be later
So be ready, don't waver
Lest soon become later.'
If you don't get the first line, it's because it came from the first prophecy, the one from StarClan." mewed Snowstar.
Etharpaw stood there for a bit. "Confusing! How am I supposed to know what that means? I am only one cat, not two! How can it be me in the prophecy?"
Snowstar sighed. "I don't know. That's the thing about prophecies. They often speak in riddle, and are hard to understand. That's one reason why I didn't tell you about it. Also, I had only just gotten it days ago."
"I understand now," mewed Etharpaw.
"I don't understand why you got here!" came a voice behind the mother and daughter.
"Winterpaw!" yelped Etharpaw. "I'm sorry. I just had to come back right away. Did you catch anything?"
"Yep!" cried Winterpaw. "I caught that fish on the pile. I've got to go back and get Eaglepaw's now."
"Why?" asked Snowstar, puzzled. "He should be able to take care of his own fresh-kill."
"Oh, well," stuttered Winterpaw, feeling embarrassed for his brother. "He went off without it. He thought you had been carried off by an eagle, Etharpaw, and now he wants to hunt it down to save you and earn his warrior name, Eagleslayer."
Etharpaw snorted. "What a ridiculous idea. Why would an eagle carry me off?"
"Well, you know how... imaginative Eaglepaw can be," meowed Winterpaw.
"Thts rght, E hv e grt magntn," came a choked call from behind them.
What? Etharpaw and Winterpaw thought.
"Eaglepaw, put that down and answer properly," Snowstar mewed briskly.
Eaglepaw dropped the fish on the pile and padded over. "I said; that's right, I have a great imagination." He then turned to Snowstar. "I'm sorry I couldn't bring the eagle back to camp, O Great And Mighty Leader, but it was too heavy to drag back to camp. I feel ready to receive my warrior name, Eagleslayer now, though!"
Snowstar rolled her eyes. "That's too bad, Eaglepaw."
"Yeah," Etharpaw decided to play along too. "Now we'll have to name you Eaglelooser."
"What!" yowled Eaglepaw in protest. "I killed it, I just didn't bring it back."
"Fine," mewed Winterpaw. "You can be Eagleslayer-who-couldn't-bring-the-eagle-back-as-proof."
"Nah," mewed Etharpaw. "That's too much of a mouthful. I'd never be able to say that every time I needed to talk to Eaglepaw."
"I'll think of a wonderful name for you when you become a warrior, dear," Snowstar looked at Eaglepaw, and then turned her attention to her other kits. "You also."
"Thanks, mom," her kits chorused as Snowstar beamed at them.

Story Part 29 Part 1 *Exploration*

Snowstar yawned and stretched, then padded out of her den. She saw her kits huddled by the fresh-kill pile and wondered what they were talking about. Whatever, it's probably something trivial, she thought. Raincloud walked up to her then.
"Want to go hunting with me?" he asked.
"Sure," she replied. They walked out the tunnel and headed toward the river.
*At the fresh-kill pile*
"Hmm... There's not nearly enough good prey on the pile today," commented Winterpaw.
"Yeah," mewed Etharpaw, turning over a scrawny mouse with her paw.
"We should hunt for more," announced Eaglepaw. He flicked the small fish he had been looking at back onto the pile. "But first we need something to keep our strength up on the hunt."
Winterpaw held up a decently sized bird. "This should do," he said in a voice muffled by feathers.
The siblings fell to gulping down the morsel. "Alright, let's go!" yowled Etharpaw, done first. They all scampered out the tunnel a few minutes after their parents, leaving a wake of dust behind them.
"Apprentices," coughed Shortwhisker, who had been at the prey pile too.
"Well, where should we go?" asked Winterpaw after they had traveled quite a distance from camp.
Eaglepaw looked right and then left. "That way." He pointed right with his tail. They all went that way.
"Hey, I don't think we've ever gone this way before," meowed Etharpaw, observant as always.
Eaglepaw looked around at their surroundings. "Way cool! You're right!"
Winterpaw looked nervous. "We don't know what's out here," he mewed cautiously.
Etharpaw's eyes sparkled. "You're right! There could be an evil monster out here. Let's find out!" She bolted into some bushes, with Eaglepaw closely following her.
Winterpaw was left alone in the clearing. "Hey guys, don't leave without me!" he howled, chasing after them.
Eaglepaw and Etharpaw were cackling with glee. "This is fun!" cried Etharpaw.
"Did you see the look on Winterpaw's face?" asked Eaglepaw. They stopped running then.
"Shhh... he's following," whispered Etharpaw.
Winterpaw came out from behind them. "There you are." He looked relieved. "How will we get back?"
Eaglepaw flicked his tail. "We'll just follow our scent back."
"C'mon! Let's explore," whined Etharpaw. "I think there's something past those cattails." Hmm... there are cattails here, so there must be water. 
Etharpaw padded forward, reaching out a paw to part the cattails. She gasped and withdrew.
"What is it? What is it?" asked her brothers. Eaglepaw looked excited, but Winterpaw looked almost afraid.
"Ruins," she whispered. "Twoleg ruins on the other side of this pond."
Eaglepaw looked up at the sky. "We haven't been gone long, we must have really ran fast. I wonder why no other warrior has found this place?"
Winterpaw shrugged. "I guess they never bothered going so deep into the territory. If this even is our territory. We may be outside the boundries. Don't we need to hunt?"
Etharpaw peeked back at the twoleg ruins. "Sure, we can hunt over by the ruins. There should be plenty of prey making their homes in there. Let's go look!" She led the way around the pond and over to the ruins.
"Wow, it looks kinda scary from here," whispered Winterpaw. He envisioned the boarded up windows as blank, staring eyes, and the empty space where the door should have been as a gaping mouth.
"Hey, look at this!" called Etharpaw from far away. Her brothers turned to look at her. "There's a bridge thing here, but it must have sunk underwater, because only part of it is here."
"It's called a dock or pier," explained Winterpaw. "Shortwhisker told me that people use them to tie their stuff at and sit on."
"Ooh! I want to sit on it!" yelped Etharpaw. She ran onto the wooden planks. Eerk! The planks groaned with stress.
"Be careful!" called out Eaglepaw. "It doesn't sound stable!"
"I'll be fine," Etharpaw called back. "If twolegs could walk on it than I can." She made it to the end and sat down, looking into the clear water of the pond. Some small fish, too small for prey, swam beneath her, taking shelter under the pier. She looked up across the pond to the opposite bank. A light breeze blew through her fur, ruffling it gently. In that moment she felt perfectly at peace with nature.
"Do you think the dock will support us?" asked Eaglepaw. He had walked up to the beginning of the pier.
"It should," Etharpaw called back. She looked back into the water, but the scene beneath her had changed. Etharpaw gasped as a desert plain spread before her in the water. She could hear paw-steps, a roar, and then saw a flash of an animal she had only heard described in nursery stories, a golden-maned lion!

Story Part 29 Part 2 *Solutions*

The lion in the pond roared, and Etharpaw felt its hot breath on her face. She leaped up in terror, causing the dock to shake, which spilled her into the water.
"Etharpaw!" yowled her brothers. Eaglepaw sprinted toward the end of the dock, forgetting how unstable it was. The plank beneath him broke beneath his weight and he was spilled into the pond water also.
By now Etharpaw's head had poked above the surface of the water. "Be careful!" she yowled, just as Eaglepaw fell off.
"Too late!" called Winterpaw. He watched as Eaglepaw got his head above water and took in a deep breath. "Can you guys get out alright?" he asked.
Eaglepaw and Etharpaw were swimming strongly in the still pond water. They were, after all, FrostClan cats and FrostClan cats learn to swim almost before they walk. "The bank looks a bit steep," called Etharpaw. "And there's no way we can get back up on the dock again." She and Eaglepaw looked up at the dock looming over them.
"Well, come on! There has to be a way out!" shouted Winterpaw. "Do either of you have a brilliant idea?"
"Hmmm..." mused Eaglepaw. "Could you put some more water in the pond so we can float up to the surface and climb out?"
Etharpaw rolled her eyes. "How's he supposed to do that?"
Eaglepaw looked hurt. "I thought it was a good idea."
"No, it wasn't," snapped Etharpaw.
"Actually," meowed Winterpaw, "It may work."
"How?" asked Etharpaw and Eaglepaw in unison, but Winterpaw was already walking off.
"Hmm... If I can find a hose by the twoleg ruins, drag it over here, and turn on the water somehow, it may work," mused Winterpaw. "The pond is rather small, and while the hose fills up the pond I can dig a ditch out of the steep bank so that Eaglepaw and Etharpaw can climb up easier. It's a good thing Shortwhisker told all those random twoleg tales she learned form that talking picture-box."
Winterpaw rounded a corner by the ruins and found a hose. It's a good thing those twolegs left this here. Now, will it turn on? Winterpaw dragged the hose over to the pond and tossed its end in.
"What are you doing?" asked Etharpaw.
"Trying to save you," replied Winterpaw, heading back to the ruins. He found a knob and pawed at it with a paw. Nothing happened. Then he unsheathed his claws and scratched the metal. This only succeeded in making a shrieking sound that hurt his ears. He shook his head and grasped the knob with his teeth, trying to ignore the rusty-metal taste. He turned his head and, slowly but surely, the knob inched to the right. When he felt the water pressure in the hose, he went back to the pond.
"Hey!" exclaimed Eaglepaw. "The water just got a current."
"I turned the hose on," explained Winterpaw as he began digging a trench on the side of the pond. "That will fill up the pond and you can then swim over here and climb out." He got up and shook the dirt from between his claws.
"I didn't know the pond was so deep when we got here," mewed Etharpaw. "It looked shallow. I would have been more careful if I had noticed. I'm sorry."
"It's OK." soothed Eaglepaw. "I shouldn't have just rushed over to you and fallen in myself. That was pretty stupid."
"Yeah, you both should use more caution," suggested Winterpaw. "But don't worry, the hose shouldn't take much longer."
Eaglepaw and Etharpaw knew better than to ask Winterpaw who had told him about this twoleg invention. The answer was always the same: Shortwhisker.
*Fifteen Minutes Later...*
The pond had taken more time to fill than Winterpaw had thought. Fortunately Eaglepaw and Etharpaw were strong swimmers and were able to swim in place for the whole time. When the two came out, soaked to the bone, they shook themselves dry.
"Um... Etharpaw," meowed Eaglepaw. "Why did you fall in the water in the first place?"
"Oh, it was silly," Etharpaw could feel her fur heating up just thinking about it. "I imagined I saw a lion and it roared and scared me."
"I want to see a lion!" yowled Eaglepaw.
"Sure sure," mewed Winterpaw, who had come back from turning off the water. (They didn't want to flood the forest after all.) "But let's hope we meet some prey first to take back to camp. Or would you two like to explain why we've been gone so long?"
Etharpaw and Eaglepaw flinched. "Let's go!" they shouted.
When they all came back to camp, Snowstar was so proud that they had found so much prey that she never once asked them why they had been gone for so long.

Story Part 30 Part 1 *Not Much Longer???*

"Let all cats old enough to catch their own prey join beneath IceRock for a Clan meeting!" Snowstar yowled.
"I have spoken to Dawnfeather and Raincloud, and they agree with me that Oakpaw and Leafpaw are ready to be given their warrior names. Please step forward. I, Snowstar, leader of FrostClan call upon my warrior ancestors to look down upon these apprentices. They have trained hard and I commend them to you as warriors in their stead. Oakpaw and Leafpaw, do you both promise to protect and defend FrostClan even at the cost of your lives?"
"Yes," whispered Oakpaw.
"Yes," breathed Leafpaw.
"Then I give you your warrior names: Oakpaw, from now on you shall be known as Oakleaf. FrostClan honors you for your fighting skills. Leafpaw, from now on you shall be known as Leafshadow. FrostClan honors you for your hunting skills. May our ancestors watch over you both." She leaped off IceRock and laid her muzzle on the two newest warriors of FrostClan.
"Oakleaf! Leafshadow! Oakleaf! Leafshadow!" called the Clan.
"Wow! I can't wait until we're all warriors!" exclaimed Etharpaw, bounding up to her friends to congratulate them.
"It won't be much longer!" announced Eaglepaw. Then he too went over to congratulate Oakleaf and Leafshadow. Winterpaw followed him.

Story Part 30 Part 2 *The Medicine Mincer*

"I'm very disappointed in you," scolded Snowstar.
"But-but!" stuttered Eaglepaw.
"No ifs, ands, or buts. Go clean the elder's den," Snowstar commanded. When he had gone into the elder's den, she turned to Rockblaze, who happened to be standing behind her. "Honestly, who in StarClan does he think he is! 'Checking on the medicine in the den', my fur! Wavepaw must have nearly had a heart-attack when she saw the mess he made. Sometimes he can be such a kit!"
Rockblaze blinked. "It's good that you have a firm hand in controlling your son."
"I am leader of this Clan," reminded Snowstar. "I'd have to control him, even if he wasn't my son."
"You need to calm down for a bit," the dark brown tom told her. "Let's go for a short walk in the woods."
Snowstar sighed. "I guess that I do need a bit of calm for a bit."
The snowy white cat allowed Rockblaze to lead her out of the FrostClan camp and into the woods. She looked around and saw all of nature's beauty, which allowed her to relax from the strain of earlier. "You know, this was a great idea, Rockblaze," she mewed.
He looked at her with his sparkling eyes, which seemed lighter and more joyful than ever. "I know."
*         *           *
"Stupid, stupid, stupid," mewed the light gray she-cat.
The light brown tom she was talking to sighed. "Yeah, it was rather foolish."
"Rather? Rather?" asked the light gray cat.
The light brown cat sighed again. "Okay, okay, it was TOTALLY foolish."
"Stupid," corrected the gray cat. She giggled. "Snowstar totally told you off, Eaglepaw!"
"It's not that funny, Etharpaw!" growled Eaglepaw.
"Yeah, it was. You walked into the medicine cat den and started sorting through herbs as if you totally belonged there. Everyone thought you were on a legitimate mission. Then Wavepaw came in and totally freaked when she saw you in there. Snowstar spotted you the instant she started yowling! Then you were crow-food!"
Eaglepaw groaned. "Don't remind me."
"You've gotta admit, it was pretty funny!"
"No."
At that moment, a dark shape blotted out the light coming into the apprentice den. Etharpaw and Eaglepaw looked up into Dewstripe's green eyes. "You two should come with me and Winterpaw for training. Wolfstorm and Blackslash will meet us there."
Etharpaw and Eaglepaw groaned, but got up and followed Dewstripe.
*         *          *
By the time Snowstar had come back from her walk with Rockblaze, she felt totally refreshed and unstressed-out. "That was great, Rockblaze. I'll have to try that more often." She added the mouse she had caught to the fresh-kill pile, and Rockblaze added his vole. Snowstar sighed with contentment and padded over to where some of the senior warriors were sharing tongues. Then she saw Tawnyflash and Wavepaw, each carrying bundles of herbs. Ugh, why did they have to remind me!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Story Part 30 Part 3 *Battle Practice*




When Etharpaw and Eaglepaw reached their three mentors, Wolfstorm was already starting to instruct Winterpaw. Dewstripe glared at Eaglepaw when he came into the clearing late, but Blackslash simply nodded to Etharpaw.

"We are having a final assessment for battle today," Wolfstorm was saying to Winterpaw. Then he turned to Etharpaw and Eaglepaw. "I hope you heard that all, cause I'm not repeating it."

Etharpaw nodded, but Eaglepaw mewed "I only heard the last sentence." Etharpaw rolled her eyes and Dewstripe whipped her head around toward her apprentice.

"Listen closer and don't come late," she hissed.

Oh, she must be in a BAD mood today, thought Eaglepaw. He wondered why he had gotten the touchy mentor, but considered himself lucky to have a senior warrior as a mentor. He DID think Etharpaw was lucky to get a nice mentor like Blackslash.

"-for battle today; as I was saying earlier," mewed Wolfstorm. "I hope you caught that this time, Eaglepaw."

Mouse-dung! Eaglepaw thought. Oh well, I'll just pay attention closely to what Etharpaw and Winterpaw do.

Etharpaw reared on her back legs and took a claw swipe at Blackslash, who dodged. Then she followed it up with a leap on top of her mentor and lightly grabbing his scruff. He shook her off and she rolled with the impact, using her momentum to get back up and attack again.

Winterpaw feinted to the left and then attacked to Wolfstorm's right. Wolfstorm parried the blow with his front paws and then drove his apprentice backwards with long swipes with his forepaws. Winterpaw dodged and then sprinted to get to Wolfstorm's back to sneak-attack.

"Oofff!" Eaglepaw's breath left him as Dewstripe bowled him over. "Always be ready for an attack, don't get distracted in the midst of a battle," she meowed. Eaglepaw rolled away and the leaped to his paws. He raced up to Dewstripe, and she lashed out with her forepaws, but Eaglepaw was ready, he leaped on her back. Next, Dewstripe rolled over, trying to crush Eaglepaw beneath her, but he leaped off quickly and cleanly. "Nice moves," his mentor commented.

"Thanks," Eaglepaw gasped out
 
Story Part 30 Part 4 *Warriors at Last!*




"Let all cats old enough to catch their own prey join beneath IceRock for a Clan meeting!" yowled Snowstar. Her voice was normal, but any cat could see that her eyes brimmed with emotion, for her kits were now becoming warriors. When FrostClan had assembled, she went on; "I have spoken to Wolfstorm, Blackslash, and Dewstripe, and they all confirm that their apprentices are ready to receive their warrior names. Eaglepaw, Etharpaw, and Winterpaw, please step forward." They did as they were told. "I, Snowstar, leader of FrostClan call upon my warrior ancestors to look down upon these young cats. They have trained hard to get this far, and I commend them to you as warriors in their turn. Eaglepaw, your warrior name shall be Eagletalon. I commend you for your strength and prowess in battle. Etharpaw, you shall be known as Etharmoon. I commend you for your wisdom and hunting skills. Winterpaw, from now on you will be called Winterfrost. I commend you for your knowledge and kindness. May StarClan look upon you all with favor."

Then she leaped down the rock and touched their heads with her muzzle. She could hear the Clan calling their names all around her: "Eagletalon! Etharmoon! Winterfrost! Eagletalon! Etharmoon! Winterfrost!

When their mother left them to thank other warriors congratulating her on their success, the newly named Eagletalon, Etharmoon, and Winterfrost congregated together and spoke:

"It took a long time," meowed Eagletalon.

"But we finally made it." mewed Etharmoon.

"We're warriors!" cried Winterfrost.

"Boo Ya!" yowled all three.
 
Story Part 31 *Three Tales*




Etharmoon paced the warriors den, anxious to get outside.

"What's the rush?" asked Blackslash, her former mentor.

"I don't know, but this winter is warmer than normal," she replied. "I guess I want to catch all the prey I can before the snows come and we're burried."

"Makes sense," meowed Blackslash. He shook himself and bounded out of the den. Etharmoon followed him.

* * * * *

"And now, we have live news coverage brought to you by your truly, me!" came the voice.

Blink blink. "I don't get it," mewed Winterfrost.

"Switching channels!" cried Shortwhisker. She pawed at the TV remote and it switched. Music was playing in the background as crowds of twolegs danced around in peculiar patterns.

"Too old fashioned," meowed Winterfrost, noticing the black and white only. "Let's find something with color."

Shortwhisker pawed at the remote again. A cat was chasing a mouse. "This is more like it!" mewed Shortwhisker. "You'll learn twoleg speak in no time!"

Winterfrost tried keeping his confusion to himself. This seems impossible...

* * * * * * *

The mountain peak was snowy. The light brown tomcat trudged through the high drifts. A suddenly strong gust of wind almost knocked him over, and then he plowed into a drift as high as his chest. "Mrowwwwww!" he cried. His yowl echoed around the surrounding mountains, bouncing off their peaks. The air was suddenly silent. Too silent. He looked around, and the the ground began to shake. he looked right, left, down, and then, finally, up. The top of the mountain he was climbing was shaking. No, it was sliding toward him. "Heeeeeelp!"

Story Part 32 Part 1 *Memories*




Spring had sprung in the territory of FrostClan. Etharmoon stretched and yawned. She looked around the near-empty warriors den and saw one of her brothers, Eagletalon, but didn't see her other brother, Winterfrost. Where did he go off to? She wondered. He was the one least likely of all of them to leave unexpectedly. She glanced at Eagletalon again, to see if he was thinking what she was, but he was sound asleep, his right paw twitching. Etharmoon hid a purr of ammusement as she climbed out of the den.

When she was walking through the forest, she suddenly caught the scent of Winterfrost. She followed it, and found him, then suddenly wished she hadn't; for he was at Lilypaw's grave. She saw his white head bowed deeply with sadness. Even though it had been moons since their sister's death, they all still felt grief at her passing. Etharmoon felt that Winterfrost had the hardest time about it. He had been the closest to Lilypaw, staying with her when Etharmoon and Eagletalon had gone on their journey to find the saviors of their clan, which turned out to be Lionflame and Ashfire.

"You can come over."

Etharmoon started at her brother's voice. She hurried to obey. When she took her spot by Winterfrost, their pelts brushing, she half wanted to say something, but their closeness was all that was needed. The two cats sat in silence, remembering their good sister and friend, Lilypaw, who had unexpectedly left them early.

Oh Lilypaw, thought Etharmoon. If only you were here with all of us still. You would be a warrior too. I know Snowstar and all the rest of the Clan would have been just as proud of you as they are of us now.