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 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 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 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 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.

4 New Apprentices

Let all cats old enough to catch their own prey join beneath IceRock for a Clan meeting!
Mistpaw, Mintpaw, Moonpaw, and Maskpaw, please step forward. I Snowstar, leader of FrostClan, call upon my warrior ancestors to look down on these apprentices. They have trained hard to understand uphold your noble code and I commend them to you as warriors in their turn. Mistpaw, Mintpaw, Moonpaw, and Maskpaw, do you promise to uphold the warrior code and protect this Clan, even at the cost of your life?
"I do."
"I do."
"I do."
"I do."
Then by the powers of StarClan I give you your new name. Mistpaw, from this time forth you will be known as Miststream. Mintpaw, you will be known as Mintpelt. Moonpaw, you will be known as Moonfeather. Maskpaw, you will be known as Maskfur. May StarClan bless you all as warriors.
Miststream! Mintpelt! Moonfeather! Maskfur! Miststream! Mintpelt! Moonfeather! Maskfur!

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 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.

Gathering 12/20/10

Okay, today's the full moon gathering, which seems strange to me because my calenders both say that the full moon is tomorrow, on the winter solstice, with a total lunar eclipse.
Anyways, anyone online can come to the gathering... http://moonstargathering.blogspot.com/

New Cats

Let all cats old enough to catch their own prey join beneath IceRock for a Clan meeting!
In today's news, we have five new cats joining FrostClan.
Let us welcome Brightfeather and her kits Lionkit, Mousekit, Sunkit, and Foxkit.
Thank you for joining!
Brightfeather! Lionkit! Mousekit! Sunkit! Foxkit!

~Snowstar

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 11 *The Truth, Section 1*

Snowstar gaped at the evil eyes all around her. After a bit, she saw one of them blink slowly and deliberatly. She bounded over to the eyes, which disappeared as she came towards them. She sniffed the wind, and tasted fox. She followed the footprints. They lead to a huge cave, so she went in. All through the cave, she could only smell fox. She went down one tunnel, and found a huge opening that formed a cave inside a cave. At least fifteen huge foxes were in it! Snowstar gaped at how huge they were. All of them were nearly two times the size of a normal fox, and barking away.
Suddenly, Snowstar felt a draft besides her, and as she looked, Brackenheart appeared by her side. "They are on the edge of your territory." Then he touched her nose, and suddenly the barking was translated.
"Those cats on our territory must be gotten rid of." snarled one.
"Yes"
"Yes"
"Yes"
"All in good time," came the smooth reply of a black-coated fox. This fox was like none Snowstar had seen before, even larger than the others. "First, we will spy on them, and figure out an ingeneus plan to take over their 'camp'." This fox was obviously the leader of the others.
Brackenheart touched her nose again, and the words faded into barking again.
"The two will save us from this, right?" meowed Snowstar.
Brackenheart nodded, and then began to leave the cave. Snowstar followed numbly. But two of my kits left. And they were the two I thought most certain to be the two. I guess I was wrong. When she looked up again, she was back in the snowy camp. She climbed back into the warriors den and sealed up the entrance.
*   The   *   Next   *   Morning   *
It was snowy, but that didn't stop Winterpaw from trudging through the white flakes to the elder's den, where the elders had relocated to after the storm.
"What's the truth?" questioned Winterpaw. "Can you really speak twoleg?"
"Yes, I can," answered Shortwhisker. "I learned it by sneaking into a twoleg nest day after day and watching the moving-picture box, with sound too! I saw the pictures, heard the sounds, and began to understand." At this, she let out a harsh call, a sound Winterpaw had only heard come from twolegs. "I just said 'cat' in twoleg," she answered, looking at the puzzled expression on his face.
*   In   *   The   *   Apprentice   *   Den   *
"It's true," announced Winterpaw to Lilypaw. "Shortwhisker really CAN speak twoleg."
"Wow!" gasped Lilypaw. "She should speak to them more often! She would be able to convince them not to come on our territory!"
"I don't think so," meowed Winterpaw. "The twolegs would probably think she was crazy, or that it was going insane."
"You're probably right again," she answered. "Snowstar is so upset about Eaglepaw and Etharpaw disapppearing," she continued in a whisper. "Do you think we should have told her the truth? I feel so guilty."
"No," Winterpaw whispered back. "You know she would probably be even more upset. She would feel like she has to help them."
"You're probably right AGAIN!" she exclaimed. "Even though, I wonder how Eaglepaw and Etharpaw are."

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 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 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 Etharpaw.

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 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!

5 New Warriors!

"Let all cats old enough to catch their own prey join beneath IceRock for a Clan meeting. I have decided to make Tinypaw, Pebblepaw, Crowpaw, Mudpaw, and Sassypaw warriors." [since the one who plays them hasn't come on lately, I'll make up names for them.]
"Tinypaw, do you promise to uphold the warrior code and protect this Clan, even at the cost of your life?"
[I do.]
"Then by the powers of StarClan, I declare you Tinyfoot, warrior of FrostClan. May StarClan protect and honor you for your skill at catching prey for this Clan."
"Pebblepaw, do you promise to uphold the warrior code and protect this Clan, even at the cost of your life?"
[I do.]
"Then by the powers of StarClan, I declare you Pebblepath, warrior of FrostClan. May StarClan protect and honor you for your honesty."
"Crowpaw, do you promoise to uphold the warrior code and protect this Clan, even at the cost of your life?"
[I do.]
"Then by the powers of StarClan, I declare you Crowfur, warrior of FrostClan. May StarClan protect and honor you for your bravery."
"Mudpaw, do you promise to uphold the warrior code and protect this Clan, even at the cost of your life?"
[I do.]
"Then by the powers of StarClan, I declare you Mudspots, warrior of FrostClan. May StarClan protect and honor you for your courage in battle."
"Sassypaw, do you promise to uphold the warrior code and protect this Clan, even at the cost of your life?"
[I do.]
"Then by the powers of StarClan, I declare you Sassyheart, warrior of FrostClan. May StarClan protect and honor you for your sense of humor, which lights up your Clanmates' days."

Gathering 9/22/10

Anyone online, please come to the gathering.
You can comment until tomorrow at this time. 8:06.
I hope we will have plenty of comments this way.
http://moonstargathering.blogspot.com/2010/09/gathering-92210.html
Click the link above.

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 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!