Warriors: Fear and Hope

by Bluepaw

Rating: teen
Tags: Adventure, Crossover, Tragedy, Anthro, Applejack, Gore, My Little Pony: Friendship is Magic, Alternate Universe, Romance, Original Character, Rainbow Dash
Length: 17584

What would you do if you had to disobey your clan?

Front cover: Candied Kittens

Equestria, a calm place filled with cats and ponies, has many cats all over it. Pegasus cats, unicorn cats, and earth cats. Dashfang's, a new Lightningclan warrior, mentor died, and she only had Sunstar and Applefur. Breezeclan's leader has returned, but no kitty had known who it was. Flutterpaw hadn't been heard from ever since Applefur and Dashfang sent her away. Now she finds cats disobeying her clan. She also may have to disobey her clan. What will she do to make her clan gain her trust?

I do not belong warriors! I give all thanks to the Erin's

Published 2013-12-12 18:50:02 UTC
Last updated 2013-12-30 07:31:16 UTC

Allegiance

ALLEGIANCE

Lightningclan

Leader Sunstar: A one thousand year old cat, who is an alicorn. Her fur is a light pink, and her mane is blue pink and green. She has no kits and no apprentices. Her kitty mark is a sun. Represents Celestia

DeputySetclaw: A younger she-cat who is a unicorn. Her fur is a light orange, and her mane is a dark orange and red. Her kitty mark is an orange and red sun. Represents Sunset Shimmer

Med cat Spitfire: An older cat with a light orange coat and a dark orange mane. Her cutie mark is a flame. She is a pegasus. Represents Spitfire

Warriors Dashfang: A young fit she-cat who became a warrior because she fought bravely. Her kitty mark is a cloud with a rainbow lightning bolt coming out of it. Represents Rainbow Dash, she is a pegasus

Apprentice, Browniepaw

Applefur: A young fit she-cat who became a warrior because she fought bravely. Her kitty mark is three apples. Represents Applejack. Earth cat.

Apprentice, Redpaw

Cloudstorm: A cream colored cat with a blue mane and tail. Her kitty mark rocks.

Daringtail: An older she-cat with no kits, but one apprentice, her kitty mark is a compass. Represents Daring Doo. Pegasus

Apprentice, Cyanpaw

Fleetingwind: A swift older tabby Pegasus

Bluepelt: a young blue tabby Unicorn

Twistfur: A small cream colored cat with a red mane and tail. Her kitty mark, two peppermint twists creating a heart.

Apprentices Lightningpaw: A young tom with a yellow coat, and a light yellow mane and tail.

Soarpaw: A young male cat with a light blue coat and a navy blue mane. Has no kitty mark yet. Pegasus

Featherpaw: Pale tabby tom Pegasus

Browniepaw: A young, exciting tom. He is an earth cat. Light brown tom with a dark brown mane and tail.

Redpaw: a young calm tom. He is an earth cat. Red coat and dark red mane, no kitty mark yet.

Cyanpaw: A young she-kit. She is cyan with a purple mane. Has no kitty mark yet Pegasus kit and represents Cyan Skies.

Queens Pinkiefur: Beautiful pink coat, pink mane, and her kitty mark are three balloons. Has three kits, and is an earth cat.

Sewpelt: beautiful longhaired earth cat tabby represents Sew ‘n Sow

Morningdew: A fun earth tabby

Shadeclan

Leader Mistyfur: a yellow she-cat with a blue mane and tail. Her kitty mark a tornado

deputy Lionpelt: an orange tom cat with an orange coat and red mane and tail. His kitty mark, a claw.

Med Cat Twinklelight: a white unicorn she-cat cat with a pink mane and tail. Her kitty mark, stars

Warriors Visiontail: a young earth warrior she with a brown coat and a blonde mane. Her kitty mark, a mirror.

Apprentice: Crumblepaw

Jetblack: A grey tom with jet black paws. His kitty mark, a moon.

Prismfoot: a blue pegasus tom cat with a bright white mane. His kitty mark, a rainbow.

Apprentice: Aurapaw

Shuttercloud: a pegasus warrior with a yellow coat and a blue mane and tale. kitty mark a box

Queens Cakecloud: A blue earth cat with a pink mane and tail. Kitty mark three cupcakes

Allieflower: a yellow unicorn she-cat with a blue mane and tail. Kitty mark three flags.

Wingpoppy: a pink she with a blue mane. Her kitty mark a butterfly.

Elders Bluemoon: a blue tom with a white mane. His kitty mark a moon.

Breezeclan

Leader Lunastar: A dark blue she with a blue, sparkly mane. Her kitty mark is the moon.

Deputy Crystalfoot: an orange she, with a light purple mane. her kitty mark, diamonds.

Med cat Redheart: a white she with a red mane and tail. her kitty mark, a red cross.

Warriors Jellyclaw: a gray tom with a blonde mane and tail. His kitty mark, a grape.

Apprentice: Buttonpaw

Junebug: a yellow she with an orange mane and tail. Her kitty mark, flowers.

Wildwhisker: a pink she with a blonde mane and tail. Her kitty mark a flower.

Apprentice: Milkypaw

Flamefur: An orange she earth cat. Her kitty mark, fire.

Queens Coldfoot: a cream colored cat with a purple mane and tail

Gracefulfall: a grey she with a blonde mane and tail. Her kitty mark, mist.

Lakeclan

Leader Bluestar: A blue tomcat with a white mane. His kitty marks a star.

Deputy Ravenfur: A white she-cat with a black mane. Her kitty mark, a quill in ink.

Med Cat Rhymefur: A small she cat with a brown mane. Her kitty mark, a cross.

Warriors Strikeclaw: A jet black cat with a black and yellow mane and tail. His kitty mark, a storm.

Apprentice: Bellpaw

Burningfur: a yellow tom with an orange mane. Unicorn. His kitty mark, an eclipsing sun.

Apprentice: Shadypaw

Nightingale: A blue she with a blue mane and tail. Her kitty mark, a skull with wings.

Apprentice Silverpaw

Copperpelt: A brown tom with a dark brown mane and tail. His kitty mark, a star.

Icyclaw: A white cat with a blue mane and tail. His kitty mark, rain drops.

Cat's Outside of Clan

Lightning: A blue, kind old friend of Dashfang. She has a lightning like mane and tail. Has no kitty mark because is kitty-pet. Lives in twolegnest next to the forest. She is a pegasus.

Cosmic: a yellow unicorn tom with a purple mane and tail. Lives in a deserted twoleg farm. His kitty mark and shooting star.

Bloodstar: A white unicorn tom with a blonde mane. formerly the Shadeclan leader. His kitty mark a star with blue spikes.

Hunterheart: Large dark blue pegasus tom with a lighter blue mane. His kitty mark, a constellation.

Thunderface: A terrifying tom with a black body and a blue and white mane. His kitty mark, a storm

Tin: A silver tabby tom. No kitty mark.

Cloud: a twin sister of Dashfang. Her sister got the rainbow mane, but she got the white mane. She is a kitty-pet.

Skykit: Clouds first born kit; a sky color kit with pegasus wings with a white mane/tail.

Prologue

Nightline had escaped from the moon and had joined Breezeclan. She had been very sick though. Her alicorn powers had been dying for days. However, she did protect her subjects, unicorn or no. She mostly had pegasi, but she didn't mind. Sunstar had not noticed her absence from the moon, though she had been for many moons. Nightline may have been evil, but her powers have weakened her, making it so she cannot raise the moon.

Gracefulfall, a pegasus cat with a young unicorn kit in her mouth put him down, and asked her leader “Is it safe? I mean it is the Lightningpath, and my kit, well,” the wing of the alicorn cut her off.

“Quiet. The two-legs may hear you. And of course it’s safe.” she said in her deeper than usual voice. “Your kit will make it. Even if the monsters come, you will know!” She yelled.

The pegasus nodded and looked both ways for a monster. She heard one, grabbed her kit, and ran. “Please may you go first?” she asked her leader.

Nightline nodded and flew to the other side of the Lightningpath, and Gracefulfall followed. Many unicorn cats’ teleported over, and earth cats had to either jumped or walked. A monster killed only one cat, but the cats had to keep moving. They then saw a fire dimly light the sky. Nightline walked to it, but her body blended into the night. All that showed was her starry mane, her eyes, and her kitty mark.

Gracefulfall leaped forward and quickly asked, “Are you sure we should just leap in front of the two-legs like their nothing? I mean think of the tired elders, or the starving apprentices. They could be stolen, or, worse, die! Please, can’t we go around?” her wings folded down and she grabbed her kit from the ground.

Nightline thought, and said in a quiet voice, “No. No! We will not hide in the shadows as we did with Shadeclan! We will not do that again. We have to take our territory.” She spread her wing and started to fly over the humans. One wing snapped and she couldn't feel it.

Nightline fell and one of the two-legs took out a bright red light. It shot the poor cat and something exploded. She could still jump away, but she couldn't feel her wings. She got into the cave making sure all the kits, elders, warriors, and apprentices got in. She looked at the moon and frowned. She thought of her days on it. It was terrible. She was alone. It won’t happen again. She felt all of the cold, dark blood run out of her body replaced by warm, light blood. Lunastar had returned. She must tell her sister, but for now she slept. She slept a nice sleep that she hadn't gotten in years. She finally knew she would be accepted.

Chapter One

Dahfang shivered. She wanted to come over to Applefur, her best friend, and sleep for the remaining hours of the night, but she couldn't. She was on her warriors vigil, and she wasn't aloud to sleep.

She could remember the fight of Shadeclan yesterday: She was right above Bloodstar, once the unicorn leader of Shadeclan, and they were fighting to the death. His horn at her stomach, she could've died at any second. She could still see the running of victory. Moreover, that is how she became a warrior.

She looked at the moon and she saw no cat in it. The craters, of course, were still there, but Nightline was missing. She shook her head and folded her wings down. She breathed heavily and she went back to protecting her clan. She felt her tail start to whip impatiently behind her. She started to fall asleep, but heard a cat pad up behind her.

Dashfang almost closed her eyes, but whipped back up. She then saw Cloudystorm come over to her.

The pegasus sat straighter and she looked at the sky.

“Ah, the new warriors. How are you doing, I mean do you like your new titles?” she asked.

The two cats just breathed heavily and nodded. They thought they needed to keep going, but then Dashfang saw the sun coming up. She let out a puff of air to see the others laughing.

Pinkiefur, an earth cat, bounced up to them. “Oh I’m so excited! I really hope that you guys are now warriors and now we get to spend more time together until you get your own apprentices then you get to hang out with them more and . . .” a wing of a younger pegasus cut her off.

“Pinkiefur, please,” said a younger cat named Autumnbreeze. Her kitty mark was wind for her love for flying. “You two will become great mentors. Thanks you.” She said and she walked away.

Dashfang got up and shook off all her morning dew. She then walked to Sunstar.

“Ah, Dashfang, what can I help you with?” she asked Dashfang.

All of a sudden, Setclaw barged in. “Sunstar, how are you? I brought you some fresh mice, and I think you deserve a nice cool drink.” She sat down and gave the mouse and the drink to Sunstar.

She carried it to her lips with her magic, and sipped it a little bit. “Dashfang, were you going to tell me something?” asked the kind alicorn.

Dashfang took a deep breath, but shook her head. “No ma’am. I wasn’t.” she said, and she walked out of the room.

Sunstar quickly stopped her. “Wait, please, I need to ask you and your friend Applefur to go find Breezeclan in a couple of days. Please.” She said kindly.

“Yes ma’am. I will also be at the gathering tonight.” She said walking out of the room with glee. Her leader actually trusted her one hundred percent. Of course, the cat went for a quick fly around to see the nice air. She then saw

Applefur waking to the fresh-kill pile. She flew down and grabbed a mouth full of mice.

They sat down in the middle of the clan and started to eat. “So what did Sunstar tell you? Did she tell you anything?” she asked, but Dashfang shook her head.

“No, no, I didn't say anything, but she did tell me something. In a couple of days, at least the day after the gathering, she wants us to go get Breezeclan from deep in the Everfree Forest.” She said taking another quick bite of a bird.

“Really, awesome, I do hope it’s the day after the Gathering! That would be so cool! Then we could get our apprentices! That would be awesome!” she yells and she took a bite.

Dashfang sighed, and looked into the sky. She saw clouds, and lots of them. Applefur smiled. “Well I’m going to go to the new den of ours! The warriors den!” she yelled and she pounced off.

“Applefur, I’m telling Sunstar about Flutterpaw.” said the pegasus.

Applefur gasped and yowled, “That’s for us only!” she started whipping her tail back and forth in the sky. She then growled, “And what if Sunstar tells Setclaw?” she asked.

“She won’t! She is trusting, but I will tell her. I will tell her before the Gathering.”

Chapter Two

Dashfang let out a deep breath after her friend left. She had promised Flutterpaw that she would not tell any one. She went to her den and she slept.

Days flew by like hours to Dashfang. They finally reached the Gathering. Sunstar sniffed the air. “All cats old enough to catch their own prey please come to Castle Rock!” she yowled.

All the cats circled around Castle Rock.

“Now, today, as you all know is the Gathering. We will leave at sun-high.” She pounced down the rock and she

went over to Dashfang. “Dashfang, you seem you need to get something off your chest? Are you OK?” she asked as she walked past the cyan cat.

Dashfang thought, but shook her head. She can still remember when her title was Dashie. Then it was Dashpaw. Dang-it, I do not deserve this! she thought when her friend came over to her and curled her tail around her haunches.

“So you really are going to tell Sunstar aren't you?” she asked as she put her paw on Dashfang’s paw.

Dashfang looked at the sun and the clouds. She smiled and nodded. “Yes, I am, and do you know why? Because if I do not this clan could perish. She could destroy everything. I need to.” She put her head down and lay on her paws.

Applefur smiled and lie with her, but Dashfang felt something missing. Like someone was missing. “Probably nothing.” she whispered to herself.

The sun finally got to its peak and Sunstar went to Dashfang. “Dashfang go get Applefur, and we will go. Quickly though!” she yowled and pounced into the woods.

Dashfang got Applefur and leapt after Sunstar and Setclaw. Applefur was right next to her and they ran faster than ever, or at least Applefur did. Dashfang flew as fast as she could.

Dashfang stopped when she saw Sunstar. “Sunstar, may I speak to you?” she asked the cat.

Sunstar nodded and yelled, “Setclaw take the lead.” She walked over to Dashfang and sat.

Dashfang took deep breaths and said, “I know we said that Flutterpaw died,” she stopped and looked into her leaders eyes. “She is alive.” She said trying to make it short.

“That’s great news.” said Sunstar.

Sunstar was about to leap away when Dashfang yelled, “She said that Setclaw killed Purpletail!”

Sunstar stopped tail in the air. “What?” she asked the young warrior.

“Flutterpaw said that she stayed behind and she saw Setclaw kill Purpletail and Goldendream. I heard Setclaw say that Flutterpaw was a traitor when I was going out to get food for Flutterpaw. She said that Flutterpaw alerted the Shadeclan that it was safe. I, I mean we, sent away Flutterpaw to Cosmic. We left her.” She said, feeling a tear stream down her face because of her loss of her friend.

Sunstar’s tail whipped impatiently. “So you think that a cat from Lightningclan killed another?” she asked.

Dashfang nodded.

“That would break warrior code, and I know Setclaw wouldn't do that.” She closed her eyes. “Flutterpaw does have an active imagination, it was probably just that.”

Dashfang nodded again, but frowned. She then heard Applefur jump through the bushes. “What held ya’ up?” she asked looking at her friend.

Dashfang smiled and shook her head. “Nothing.” She said and they were off.

Applefur smiled when they finally got to the Gathering. The leaders, well all accept Bloodstar. A light yellow cat,

with a light blue mane, replaced him and her kitty mark was a tornado with water flying out of it. She stood proudly.

Applefur looked at the leaders and saw the cat. “That’s Mistyfur, and she is replacing Bloodstar.”

Mistyfur smiled down at the cats and started the ceremony. “I am Mistyfur; I will be the new leader of Shadeclan! My name will be Mistystar.”

The Shadeclan cheers at their new leader.

The rest of the Gathering wasn't very long, but it was an honor to go as a warrior. Dashfang ran home and she saw Daringtail smiling gratefully. What is she so happy about? she thought to herself.

Sunstar jumped onto Castle Rock, and she yowled, “All cats old enough to catch their own prey please come to Castle Rock!”

The cats walked over and sat next over to it.

“Now, today, Cyankit will become an apprentice. Her name is now Cyanpaw! Her mentor will be Daringtail!” she yowled.

Daringtail stepped to the shaky scared cat. “It’s OK, you’re doing fine.” She said.

Dashfang rolled her eyes. Yeah right. she thought.

“And, today, Dashfang and Applefur will start their journey to Breezeclan to bring them back home.

Dashfang’s heart skipped a beat as she remembered that.

“It may be rough, but the brave warriors will make it.” She smiled at Applefur and Dashfang.

Applefur was smiling and so was Dashfang. That day they started their amazing journey.

Chapter Three

Spitfire walked over to the two cats and smiled. She gave the two cats some herbs. “Don’t run into trouble.” She said.

Applefur smiled, but Dashfang started to think. What would happen if they did run into trouble? She shook her head and she saw Sunstar in front of her.

“Dashfang and Applefur, have a nice trip, and please, don’t run into trouble.” She said and she slowly pounced away.

Dashfang smiled to Applefur, and they were off. Dashfang flew into the air, and into the everfree forest.

Applefur gingerly walked on the cold ground of the Everfree. The trees closed in on them as they flew and walked slowly. Dashpaw heard something around them. She shrugged after a while of looking. They did take some rests, but they kept moving. Dashfang heard stories of the cats in this forest, almost ripped to shreds by dogs. She shivered at the thought. Soon the night sky came over the clouds and the bright day.

Applefur stopped and looked at Dashfang. “Man, my paws are killing me. I am going to take a nap. You can fly around if you want, but do not leave!” she yelled to the Pegasus.

Dashfang thought of her old life of a kitty-pet. She flew into the air and saw the clouds passing her. She saw the moon getting larger and larger. She then stopped flapping her wings and folded them. She fell to the ground quickly as she started to flap her wings again. She fell faster and faster to the ground and she soon she saw wind flying around her. She was about to break the sound barrier. She then stopped when she saw some one in front of her. Another Pegasus, “H-hello?” she asked calmly.

She looked and saw another flash of a cat in front of her. “Dashie?” it asked.

Dashfang then flew back up as fast as she could, broke the sound barrier and created a sonic rainboom. She smiled and she flew back down. She saw Applefur struck with fear. “Wha-what was that! Did you just do the sonic rainboom!” she yelled with fear.

Dashfang smiled and she folded her wings. “I guess I did.” She said with a smirk on her face.

Applefur sighed and went back to sleep. Dashfang looked into the rainbow-covered sky, wondering how many

people and cats she woke up. She finally fell asleep, but they started to move again, when the sun came up. Dashfang came over to a large tree blocking the path. Dashfang flew over it, but Applefur couldn’t get over.

“Dashfang I’m gonna go around. Wait there while I do.” She walked around the tree.

Dashfang waited until she saw a large castle in the middle of the forest. Her eyes widened. She flew to the castle. It seemed like a pony is too big to get into the castle, but a cat was just the right size. What is this? she thought.

Applefur finally got over the log and yelled for her friend. “Dashfang, Dashfang, where are ya’?” she screamed.

Dashfang could not hear her. She saw fur on the ground. She sniffed it, but she could tell it was not fresh. She

heard whispering that sounded like it has been echoing in the caves for years. “She isn’t evil, she isn’t evil.” It said it repeatedly.

“H-hello, I just want to help Breezeclan, is anyone even there?” she asked. She heard it again, and she heard a

twig snap. She screamed and flew to the ceiling.

“Ha he, scardy-cat.” said Applefur behind her.

Dashfang rubbed her head and flew back down. “Well, I wasn’t scared, I was just tried to get away from the whispering.” She said.

Applefur cocked her head, and pricked her ears. “What. . .” the wing of Dashfang cut her sentence short.

“Fear will save our clan.” It whispered. “She is not evil.”

Applefur pricked her ears again. “Wh-who is that?” she asked as she stepped back slowly.

“I don’t know, but I found this blue fur on the ground.” She said showing Applefur the fur.

Applefur gasped. “That’s Nightlines fur! I know because Sunstar keeps some in her den!” she yowled and they heard the whispering again.

“Nightline is not evil, she is not evil either.” It said.

Applefur shivered and she looked back at Dashfang. “We should really just keep moving.” she said.

Dashfang nodded and they ran out of the castle. They ran as fast as they could and then Dashfang felt something cold on her nose. Is that snow? she asked herself. She then saw more coming down. “It’s snowing! Bare-leaf isn’t even here yet!” she yelled to Applefur.

Applefur shook off all the snow and soon it started to rain. The lightning flashed and the thunder banged. Dashfang would not give up. They ran and flew through all of it. They then came to a desert like area. Applefur took Dashfang’s tail when she was about to fly over. “We are doin’ this together. No flying over this.” she said and they both walked through the scratchy area. The grass was almost gone when they got to the sand. They heard some twigs snapping thinking it was just the wind.

“C-can I fly now?” asked Dashfang.

“Why? Are you scared?” asked Applefur with a smirk.

Dashfang rubbed the back of her head. “No, my paws just hurt.” She said and she flew into the air.

Applefur rolled her eyes and then they heard another twig snap. They saw some things zoom in front of them. Then there was a blue figure in front of them. “H-hello?” asked Applefur.

Then, suddenly, Breezeclan cats pounced out of the bushes and took their claws out. They growled and hissed. The warriors and apprentices of Breezeclan were ready to attack the cats.

Dashfang and Applefur stood silently as the cats were about to pounce on them. They closed their eyes, and were ready for the warriors and apprentices. They were ready to battle.

“Stop!”

Chapter Five

She heard all the clan cats speak. “This is bad; our kits; who is it going to be?”

Dashfang bit her lip and flew into the sky. “We can stop his if we work together. Find a cat and stay with them!”

The cats came together and they found another. Applefur went to her friend and she sat.

Dashfang smiled at the leader. She then pounced into the sky flapping her wings. She looked at all her Pegasus cats and they flew into the skies. Unicorn cats got ready with all the kits, except one. Gracefulfall held her cat and gently flew next to her leader. She nodded and they flew and ran off.

Dashfang checked the skies and saw clouds moving in. They heard a monster roar over Lightningpath. Dashfang sniffed the air and could smell the acrid, as some cats say, smell of the monsters. “We are near Lightningpath.” She said and she looked at a hole next to it. She could smell that there were badgers living there, but they were gone. “We can

go in.” she yowled.

Lunastar smiled and nodded. “All cats! Please go into the hole next to the Lightningpath! I repeat all cats! Please go into the hole next to the Lightningpath!”

The cats either jumped or flew into the hole. It was difficult to stay comfortable, but it was worth it. They heard five monsters go over them, but they managed to keep safe. After hours of waiting, they were off.

Applefur looked at the skies and sniffed. “There is something in the air, but I can’t tell what it is.” She said as she kept sniffing.

Lunastar looked at her starving clan and frowned. “Please, Dashfang, can you go hunt with your friend?” she asked kindly.

Dashfang smiled and nodded. “Applefur, are you OK with hunting?” she asked her friend.

Applefur nodded and they ran off into the forest. A terrible smell filled the air as they passed Lightningpath. They got much food, but not enough. The clan shared it thankfully, and they were, well, less hungry when they were finished.

Redheart came over to the two warriors and smiled. “I want to thank you so much about bringing us back to our territory.”

Dashfang smiled, but frowned when the medicine cat left. I just hope we can make it with all these kits and apprentices. she thought to herself. She slowly walked over to Applefur who was eating a small bird.

Applefur waved to Dashfang and she smiled. “I was wondering if you thought that we could actually make it?” she asked cautiously.

Applefur choked on a bird for a second, but then coughed. “Of course we will! For all I know, you’re the best around!” she yowled at her friend, sounding like a kit.

Dashfang smiled and she fell asleep. She slept for hours and she finally woke with a shake of her paw. Applefur

woke her up and she slowly licked her friend. Dashfang shook her head and she licked her paw. She then scratched her ear with her back paw and sat up. “WH-what is it?” she asked sleepily.

Applefur smiled and licked her paw. “We are leaving now.” She said slowly and she pounced to a young

apprentice.

Dashfang stretched and yawned. She looked at Lunarclan and ran to Lunastar. She nodded and they flew into the sky. Gracefulfall flew next to Lunastar and held her kit. “Gracefulfall let me hold your kit for you. You seem tired.” She said and she grabbed the kit.

Gracefulfall smiled and relaxed. Dashfang held her kit and flew down. Her wings cramped up so she walks a while. Lunastar was so content, and she looked like an apprentice. She smiled and started to jump next to Applefur. She smiled and she looked at the star-filled sky. “Applefur, do you smell a storm coming?” she asked.

Applefur smelled the air, and nodded. “Smells like a lightning storm.” She said.

Dashfang flew up and she put her paw on Lunastar. “We should get down, Applefur said there is a lightning storm coming.” She said flying down.

Lunastar followed her and the rest followed. They walked the rest of the way until it struck. The first strike of lightning hit the ground and the thunder rolled. Dashfang looked at the sky and it flashed a couple more times. The thunder scared the kits and they were not able to stop it.

Applefur frowned and looked at Lunastar. She frowned at the weak leader and she looked at the rest of the clan. They pushed on until they got to large brambles. Lunastar brightened and she sniffed the air. “We are in Breezeclan territory. We are home every kitty!” They were home.

Applefur smiled at Dashfang as she gleamed proudly.

They almost went home when Crystalfoot and Wildwhisker protested. “We will come with you.”

Dashfang argued with the cats, but they won. They started their trip home as the lightning flashed and the rain fell.

Chapter Six

They trekked through the dark Everfree when Wildwhisker looked around. She yowled. “Rabbit!” she crouched and pounced into the forest.

                Dashfang was about to soar to her, but Crystalfoot stopped her.

                Soon Wildwhisker came back with a large, juicy rabbit, and licked her paws. “Better than Lakeclan eh?” she said and she smiled.

                Dashfang purred in agreement and stared down at the fat, giant rabbit the she-cat dropped. She licked her claws and smiled at her friend. “Ya’ hungry Dashfang?” she asked kindly, and she pushed the plump rabbit in front of her.

                The four warriors ate the rabbit gratefully. When Dashfang ate all her share, she sat up, and licked her paw. She did feel nice and rejuvenated after her rabbit meal, but she still got very cold. She put her wings down to keep her warm. What would happen if Dashfang and Applefur went back the way they came? Through the Everfree, and was it faster to go through Lakeclan territory than to go through there? Well this is an important mission agreed by all the clans. It’s not like they are stealing prey was it?

                Dashfang smiled and looked at her friends. “Don’t you think it would be faster to go through past the lake?” she asked.

                Applefur coughed and frowned at her friend. “That would be going through Lakeclan territory though!” she yowled.

                “We could travel next to the ravine. Lakeclan never goes there.” She suggests licking her paw.

                Applefur stood, but flinched. “Even my paws hurt.” She whispered and she sighed. “OK fine, we can take a short-cut.” She said.

                “Our leader told us to only bring you to Fourtrees.” Said the tired deputy.

Dashfang nodded and she looked over Applefur. "You do not need to come if you can not." she mewed.

"We'll only be there for a while."

"No, no we can't let you go alone. We can come. Lunastar will understand." she mewed hopping to her feet.

"I cannot promise that we won't run into any kitty." she mewed convincingly. Soon, the cats were convinced.

"Well, I guess if we go that way, Lakeclan will know that we are home." mewed Crystalfoot.

Wildwhisker licked off her lips to get the fresh-kill scent off it and mentioned, "We'll be home before moon-rise!"

Crystalfoot shook her head and mewed sternly, "You just want to make sure you have a good nest."

"Are we going through Lakeclan territory or not?" asked Dashfang annoyed.

Crystalfoot nodded. "We are going through Lakeclan and we will come back at moon-rise." she mewed and she smiled at Dashfang and Applefur. She turned and looked toward the gorge. They were finally in Lakeclan territory.Over the thunder and rain, Dashfang could hear the roaring river running into the cold lake.

They followed the rush and they soon got to the ravine. Dashfang looked over the edge, and her wings shook with fear. Some of the ground under her paw. She stepped back and she ran to Applefur. Applefur laughed and punched her friend lightly. They caught up to their guide.

Crystalfoot hissed, her tail dropped, and her ears fell to her head. Dashfang only heard the rushing of the river. She turned her head to see Wildwhisker doing the same. Dashfang felt uneasy about the two warriors. They saw lightning flash, and heard thunder roar.

The rain ran in their fur and they heard a twig snap. A warning yowl drove through Dashfangs ears and she got down. They all turned to see a Lakeclan patrol chasing after them. The ravine was too close and it was too dangerous to step back.

A blue Lakeclan warrior hopped on Dashfang. She rolled quickly away from the ravine, kicking rapidly. The Lakeclan  cat bit into her shoulder, and Dashfang felt a rush of pain. She finally kicked the warrior off, but she wouldn't stop. She hissed and  raked the Lightningclan cat. "This will be the last time you ever set a paw in Lakeclan." she hisses.

Dashfang knew that Applefur and her guides were struggling to win. He could hear them yowling with pain. They were exhausted. She then heard something from the forest. It was full of fear- soon Setclaw bounded out with the night patrol behind her. Cloudstorm, Bluepelt, and Lightningpaw were following her.

Yowling and spitting the Lightningclan cats jumped into battle. The blue she jumped off of Dashfang. She started to fight Setclaw. She watched Setclaw pinning a tom to the ground. Dashfang quickly grabbed the blue warrior and threw her to the ground. The black deputy was fighting with Crystalfoot. Crystalfoot was no match for the young she. Dashfang was about to leap onto the black cat, but Setclaw beat her to it. She bit Ravenfur's shoulder and she hauled the mighty deputy off Crystalfoot. She heard a high-pitched squeal behind her. She saw Lightningpaw fightnig with a large, jet black cat.They were rolling on top of each other and tussling. They were right about to roll off the edge of the ravine! If Lightningpaw and the cat rolled one more time, they would fall to their doom.

Dashfang flew to them and swiped the warrior off the poor apprentice. Lightningpaw flew closer to the edge and flew into the air. He slammed right in front of Dashfang and he yowled, "I can win my own fights without your help!"

Dashfang tried to explain when a terrible howl made them jump. Applefur was leaning over the edge of the ravine, her hind legs dangling.Behind her, Dashfang stared at her holding for her life and a white paw. Applefur tried to hang onto the cat, but it fell with a terrifying yowl. Applefur  screamed after it and she looked at the cats paw went down the stream.

The cats stopped fighting when Applefur screeched a terrifying screech. Dashfang froze with exhaustion and fear. The Lakeclan ran over to the ravine. Dashfang looked at the head of the warrior sinking under the water of the rushing river.

Dashfang felt a cold shiver of fear rushed through her body: she thought about the Breezeclan medicine cats words "This day shall bring many unnecessary deaths."

Chapter Seven

Ravenfur stared at the river with disbelief. “Icyclaw no!” she yowled.

Applefur scrambled back until she was on safe ground.  She gasped and she breathed heavily. “I-I tried t-to save her! S-she slipped . . . a-and she fell!” The words stammered out of her mouth quickly and her eyes shook with fear. Dashfang leaped over to her, and she put her nose to Applefur’s.

The other cats bounded, limped, and ran away, but Ravenfur stayed. “This fight is not over.” She said. “However, we will give mercy, but just this once.” She yowled to her clan to wait for her, and they ran home.

Crystalfoot smiled and nodded at Dashfang and Applefur. “Thank you, we will be grateful to you for moons. We should get home though. Good-bye.” she leaped away with her friend and she disappeared into the forest.

Dashfang glanced at Lightningpaw staring at the ravine in front of her. He had thought the he had been so close to sharing the Lakeclan cat’s fate.

Setclaw growled in her throat, and yowled, “Follow me.”

Dashfang hesitated for a second. Applefur then pushed her. “C’mon, we don’t wanna be left behind.” She said and Dashfang flew into the air. She turned and saw Lightningpaw flying right behind her.

He snarled and she flew on.  They finally caught up to the patrol that had been waiting for her. “Dashfang, I told you to follow me!” yowled Setclaw.

Dashfang sighed; “Applefur was. . .” she began, but Setclaw cut her off when she was trying to break some branches.

“The sooner we get Applefur back in camp the better!” she yowled.

Applefur stood silently, but Dashfang was mad. “It wasn’t Applefur’s fault that Icyclaw fell!” she yowled.

Setclaw nodded in agreement. “I know, but now it is done. We need to get back to camp!” she meowed and she was off. “Keep up this time!” she yowled back.

Dashfang kept up, and accidently passed the deputy, but a cat held her to the ground.  The cats leaped over Lightningpath, and the rain started to calm down. Dashfang took a deep breath through her nose, and she could smell Sunstar, Twistfur, and Pinkiefur. They were waiting for them at the front of the clan.

“Did you find Breezeclan?” the creamy figure yowled.

“Are they safe?” asked Sunstar.

Dashfang rested her tired feet by lightly fly above the ground. “Yes we found them, and yes they’re safe at home.” She felt very tired, and she looked over at Applefur.

She looked up at Lunarclan and saw a new crater added to the group. A tear ran down her cheek as she saw this.

Setclaw yowled to them: “Come with me, you too Applefur!” They leapt to Sunstar’s den, and they saw the leader admiring Lunastar’s fur.

A welcoming mew escaped from her throat. “Welcome!” she purred and she smiled at the two warriors. “Breezeclan is safe at home?” she asked.

Dashfang nodded. “Yes ma’am,” she mewed. “Lunastar told me to thank you.” She mewed.

A shocked face came across Sunstar, but she went on. “G-good, good,” she mewed.

Setclaw growled: “Dashfang decided it was a good idea to go through Lakeclan territory.”

Applefur tried to protect her friend. “It wasn’t Dashfang. . .” Dashfang’s wing cut the orange cat off.

“They were found being attacked by Lakeclan patrol.” She shook her head sadly. “If we hadn’t found them in time, they might not have made it.”

Sunstar sighed in relief. “So you saved them?” she asked.

Setclaw nodded. “Yet, it’s not that simple. They were fighting beside the ravine. A Lakeclan warrior, who was fighting Applefur, fell off the edge.” She looked into Sunstar’s eyes.

“D-did he die?” asked the leader, terrified.

Dashfang accidently jumped in. “She didn’t mean to do it! She would never kill any kitty unless they were threatening our clan!” she yowled.

“Yes, Ravenfur will defiantly agree with you!” said Setclaw sarcastically. “What in the wide, wide world of Equestria were you thinking, going through Lakeclan territory?” she spat, her tail slashed back and fourth.  “And you even brought Breezeclan! Now you sent a message to Shadeclan and Lakeclan that we are allied!” she yowled.

Sunstar’s eyes turned from horrified to angry. “You brought Breezeclan?” she yowled.

“O-only two warriors! Lunastar escorted us with the-them!” she yowled.

Setclaw screamed, “You should have not brought them into Lakeclan!”

Dashfang was now angry. Fear shot through Applefur when her best friend was in the air. Her paws shook at Setclaw. “It was not an alliance; they were being polite and bringing us back home!” She yowled, and the lightning shot in the sky when she said it.

Setclaw huffed: “Does Lakeclan know that?”

“They knew that we were escorting Breezeclan home!” Dashfang yowled. “They all agreed at the Gathering!” Fear was in her eyes as she yowled it.

Sunstar stood and her wings spread. “You should not have gone through Lakeclan territory!” she yowled. “It was very dangerous. At the same time, you did well to find Breezeclan and bring them home.” She calmed down. “We need to get more kits trained. Dashfang, Applefur, Pinkiefur told me her kits are ready for training. I want you to take one of them for an apprentice.”

Dashfang was amazed!  She was going to have her own apprentice. She looked over at Setclaw. She was frozen on a rock.

“B-but none of Pinkiefur’s kits are six moons old!” Applefur yowled.

Sunstar nodded. “It won’t be long until they are. The Gathering yesterday troubled me.” She mewed nicely.

“Wouldn’t more experienced warriors be better to train two apprentices?” inquired Setclaw.

“I thought of that, but most of them are busy already.” the leader mewed.

“What about Fleetingwind?” the deputy asked.

“I thought of that.” Sunstar mewed. “But I really don’t think he will have time. Lightningclan needs his great hunting and loyalty.” She said.

“And you think these two have the time to do so?” Setclaw growled.

Dashfang flinched while she set a cold stare on her. Does she think that I am not fit to mentor a clanborn cat? she thought.

Sunstar set a cold glare on Setclaw. “We will find out. However, they did bring home Breezeclan.” She smiled. “And I am relying on you, Setclaw, to watch them.” She said to her deputy. “Now go and eat. You must be hungry.” She said to the two young warriors.

They both nodded and they ran out. “C’mon Applefur, aren’t you hungry?” she asked to her friend who was lagging behind.

Applefur shook her head, and she looked at her paws. “N-no, I just kinda want to sleep.” She said going to the warriors den.

Dashfang looked sympathetically at her friend. Her belly was full after she ate, and she pushed her way into the warriors den. She lay down and slept.

. . .

` Bluepelt came over to wake up Dashfang. “Time for your ceremony.”

Dashfang lifted her head, and she looked at Bluepelt thankfully. “Thank you, Bluepelt.” She said and she got up to stretch.

Applefur looked at Dashfang and nudged her. “Ha, ceremony,” she said, and she ran out of the den.

Dashfang quickly followed her, and she saw all the cats outside. “Nice job; nice bringing back Breezeclan; I’m glad their back!” they all cheered.

Dashfang’s fur bristled with excitement. She looked over at Applefur. “Aren’t you excited?” she asked.

She shrugged and looked at the sky.

He glared at Lightningpaw sitting next to Soarpaw. “I feel bad for Dashfang’s apprentice. Imagine being trained by a kitty-pet!” yowled Soarpaw and he laughed.

On the other hand, Lightningpaw did not laugh. He just glanced at Dashfang, and she stirred uncomfortably.

Dashfang turned to Applefur. “Sunstar doesn’t blame you. She knows you’re a good warrior.” She said, and she looked at her friend.

Applefur’s eyes met Dashfang’s eyes. “Yeah, she’s just doing this because the clan needs more apprentices. A-and why do we need them?! Because I was, dumb enough to kill a Lakeclan warrior!”

Dashfang was surprised by her tone. Dashfang was about to say something, but Sunstar interrupted.

“Tonight, we name two new apprentices! Come forward you guys.”

The brown kit ran from her mother’s side. He entered the clearing, his puffy tail held high. The red kit slowly went to Sunstar, and sat.

Dashfang felt her heart pound and she looked at both the kits. They were both earth kits, so she could not teach either to fly. She wondered which one she would get. She thought that the red kit would be easier to train. Yet, the brown one seemed like a younger her.

“From this day forward,” started Sunstar and she looked down at the brown kit. “This kit, until he has earned his warrior name, shall be named Browniepaw.” She said, and she patted the apprentices head.

“Browniepaw!” he yowled, but his mother hissed at him angrily.

“Dashfang, you are ready to have an apprentice. He will be yours,” she said, and pride was swelling in her heart. “Please teach everything that Sparkleheart and I had taught you.” She mewed and the cats cheered.

Dashfang nodded and she looked up at her new apprentice.

“And this young apprentice will be named Redpaw!” Redpaw did not move, or even make a sound.

“Applefur, you will be training Redpaw. Your lost mentor, Sparkleheart, had been great. I hope you are too.” She mewed to Applefur.

She slowly walked to the apprentice, and she touched her apprentice’s nose with hers. The gleam in the apprentice’s eyes showed he was as excited as his brother was.

Browniepaw ran to Dashfang and he smiled. He touched his nose to his mentors, and he smiled. I am a mentor. she thought, and she saw the gleam of pride in the apprentices eyes.

She looked around and she saw all the cats were nodding approvingly. Then she glared at Setclaw, on a cold rock, staring at her.

Dashfang looked back down at Browniepaw, whose eyes were gleaming with happiness. Dashfang then felt her fur beginning to prickle. She wanted to be a great mentor and a great warrior. She wanted to be a great influence to Browniepaw.

Chapter Eight

Dashfang woke up net to Applefur. She was up staring into the sky. Dashfang ran over to her friend. “Applefur,” she yowled to her friend.

Applefur jumped at her yowl.

“You alright?” asked the blue cat.

Applefur wiped her eyes to get her tears off her face. “I’m fine,” she said as she sat up looking at the sky.

Dashfang frowned, and walked over to her kind friend. “It looks cold,” she said and she looked outside.

Applefur began to lick the fur on her chest and spoke between breaths. “It sure is.” She mewed. Her hat was sitting next to her nest. She looked, and grabbed the hat to put it on her head.

Dashfang shook the frost off her cold fur. She then licked her paw and looked at her friend. “What are you going to do with Redpaw today?” asked Dashfang, still licking her paw carefully.

“Just showin’ him the forest,” she mewed, and she looked at the apprentice den.

“I’m doing the same with Browniepaw. Maybe we could travel together?” Dashfang mewed, she looked at Browniepaw jumping out of his den, and he chased a butterfly.

Pinkiefur quickly chased to her son and she pounced on him playfully.

“I think it would be better if we traveled alone.” Applefur mewed and she looked at Redpaw soon jumping on his mom. He may have been calm, but he could be playful.

Dashfang felt a pang of hurt. They had been the forest as apprentices. Why did her friend want to go alone? “A-alright,” she mewed. “See ya’ later when we can share a mouse and compare apprentices!” she mewed and she flew to her apprentice.

Browniepaw ran over to Dashfang and he was more excited than Pinkiefur was when she met Dashfang. “What are we gonna do today?” he yowled, a twinkle in his eye.

“We’re gonna look around the forest.” Said Dashfang, and she sniffed the air to check if there was going to be any bad weather. “C’mon.” she ran into the woods.

Browniepaw ran quickly after her, and he looked at his mentor in the eyes. “Are we going to look at Spiderrocks, or are we going to the Fourtrees? Are we going to Sunshine rocks? Oh, oh, are we. . .” Dashfang’s laugh stopped him. “What?” he asked as he stopped.

Dashfang shook her head and laughed again. “Why don’t you try to catch up?” she asked, spreading her wings.

Browniepaw smiled and he was about to run off, when Dashfang ran right in front of him. She flew as she could and she turned her head to see if Browniepaw was catching up. Surprisingly, he was. He ran with his small paws in front of him. Dashfang was surprised, but she then remembered that he was Pinkiefur’s son. She then started flying faster than she never flew before. Browniepaw caught up quickly, and Dashfang picked him up and she flew into the blue sky. Browniepaw looked at the ground and he smiled.

“You’ve never flown before?” asked Dashfang.

Browniepaw shook his head. “Well duh, I haven’t had a chance! No wings,” he said looking at the ground from Dashfang’s back.

They soon got to the front of Castle Rock. Dashfang jumped to the top, and Browniepaw raced after her. Soon she was at the very top. “Look at the trees! They look like they’re made from Lunar Stone!” he yowled when he looked over the rocks.

Dashfang looked over with him, and she smiled. He really was right. They could see the sparkling trees with the most beautiful moon in the sky. Lunastar must have forgotten that she had to lower the moon.

She looked at her mentor and smiled. “You should keep your energy. It’s hard to run when you’re breathless.” She said and she unfolded her wings. She flew close to the ground, close enough for Browniepaw to see where she was going. “Where are we going now?” he asked kindly.

“We’re going where apprentices are trained!” she mewed down to the young apprentice. They finally got to where a place used to cut right through the middle. “This is where a river used to flow.” She mewed. “It’s where I caught my first prey.” She mewed proudly.

“Wow, what did you catch?” Browniepaw yowled.

“You may see it another time.” She mewed calmly, trying to slow the apprentice down.

He kept running though, and Dashfang ran after him. They soon stopped at a nice little dip that came down into the Lakeclan’s river. It flowed nicely, but the ice covered most of it. “You won’t catch much there, except fish.” Mewed Browniepaw and he rubbed his head against Dashfang.

When Dashfang remembered her first catch, it filled her with pride. She looked at Browniepaw who was peeking over the cliff to look at the river. Dashfang laughed. “If I were you I would leave fishing to Lakeclan.” She mewed happily. “They can stick with fishing, but I want dry paws.”

Browniepaw laughed at her, and she smiled. The apprentice circled around and asked, “What now?”

His excitement and Dashfang’s pride filled her with energy. She flew off close enough to the ground and yowled back, “To the Owl Tree!”

Before, they were both warned about the icy stepping-stones of the river that crossed through Lightningclan. They kept bounding through the forest until they got to the second tallest tree in the forest. “Does an owl really live here?” he asked clawing the tree.

“Yes, can you see its hole in the tree?” she asked the eager kit.

“How can you tell that’s an owl hole?” he asked.

Dashfang raised her apprentices head, and mewed calmly, “Smell.”

He took in a big sniff, and his eyes widened.

“Do you smell it?” she mewed.

He shook his head. “Nope, I lost the scent.” He put his paws to the ground, and looked at them.

“Don’t worry, you’ll get the hang of it!” she mewed confidently. “Now look at the ground. What do you see?” she asked.

He looked around. “Leaves?” he mewed.

She laughed and moved the leaves around. “Look under the leaves.”

He dug under the leaves, and stuck his nose in. He sniffed, and he yowled, “Yuck! It smells like crow-food!”

Dashfang purred with amusement.

“You knew it was there, didn’t you?” he asked.

She nodded. “Yes, Sunstar played the same trick on me. You’ll never forget that smell.” She looked down at her. “Maybe you can do it when you get an apprentice,” she purred.

“What was it?” he asked her.

“An owl pod,” she mewed. “Owls do eat the same as us, but they cannot digest the bone and fur, so their bellies roll up the fur and bones and spit it out. If you see one of these that means you found an owl!” she purred as she remembered what Sunstar told her.

“Why in the wide, wide world of Equestria would you want to find an owl?” he spat angrily.

Dashfang’s whiskers twitched when she looked into his dark, big eyes. “Owl’s get better views of the Everfree than we do. When it’s hard to find prey, you can see owls and follow them to prey.” She mewed.

Browniepaw smiled. “Where to next?” he asked.

“The Great Sycamore,” she mewed to her apprentice. They crossed through the woods, and through the Two-leg path. The sun rose into the blue sky when they got to a large tree.

“It’s gigantic!” he yowled.

“They say that when Sunstar was younger, she climbed to the tallest branch.” She mewed.

“No way!” he yowled.

“Mind you, when Sunstar was an apprentice this tree was most likely a sapling,” she joked.

They climbed to Spiderrocks. Widows! She thought to herself. She whipped around, seeing Browniepaw was gone. She jumped through the bushes, seeing Browniepaw standing on a rock. “C’mon; I’ll race you to the top!” he yowled and he was about to jump, when Dashfang flew and grabbed him. He was shaking when he saw Dashfang holding him.

“This place is called Spiderrocks,” she mewed still trembling.

Browniepaw got onto her haunches. “S-Spiderrocks?” asked the young apprentice, still shaking.

She nodded. “Widows live up there. With one bite, they would kill you.” She put her head down, and then she looked up at Browniepaw. “C’mon, let’s go have a look at Lightningpath.” She mewed.

Browniepaw stopped and shook his head. “ The Lightningpath?” he mewed.

Dashfang chuckled. “Yep, follow me.” She mewed and she ran off. She led her apprentice through the ferns, and finally they got to a place where Lightningpath cut through.

Dashfang looked back and forth at Browniepaw and Lightningpath. Browniepaw was about to take a sniff of Lightningpath, but Dashfang heard something. “Stay where you are!” she yowled. “There’s a monster comings!”

Browniepaw opened his mouth to gasp when the monster was about to run by. “Yuck!” he yowled, and he wiped his nose. “Is that a monster?” he asked annoyed.

Dashfang nodded.

Browniepaw unsheathed his claws, and dug into the ground. The monster ran by and she blew back real quickly. He luckily had his eyes closed. She kept them closed until the noise was gone.

Dashfang lifted his head, and said, “Smell the air, can you smell anything besides the Lightningpath stench?” she asked.

He sniffed the air and something filled his nostrils. “I remember that smell from when Bloodstar attacked.” He mewed. “And it was on the kits you had when they came home. It is Shadeclan!” he yowled. “Is that their territory across the Lightningpath?” he asked.

Dashfang nodded and she looked down at him. “Yes, and we better get out of here!” she mewed and she ran off with Browniepaw behind her.

She decided to take Browniepaw near the Two-legs and the tree-cutter.

As they walked past the two-leg place, the kit-hood of Dashfang filled her nostrils, which made her uneasy; even though she had not live that far from that place. “Stay alert.” She mewed, and she pricked her ears. “Sometimes, two-legs walk with their dogs around here.

The two cats went into the grass and walked low when they were close to the two-leg place. Some kind of warmth filled inside her. She had no idea why though.

The sound of Browniepaw’s squeaking voice alerted Dashfang. “Look!” he yowled to her, and she pointed to a cat walking across the forest floor. The light blue cat had a white mane and tail. Her eyes were rose like Dashfang’s, and her stomach was swollen with kits. Even her flank was barren of a kitty mark which meant she really was a kitty-pet.

“A kitty-pet!” yowled Browniepaw. “Let’s chase her out!” he got down.

Dashfang usually would agree with the apprentice, but this cat was awfully familiar. Before Browniepaw could jump over to the kitty-pet, Dashfang brushed against crunchy bracken.

The kitty-pet looked up and saw the two cats. Her eyes widened with alarm; she leaped away and she jumped over her fence.

“Rats!” Browniepaw yowled, annoyed. “I wanted to chase her out!” his ears flattened. “I bet my brother caught a hundred things today!” his eyes went from annoyed to sad.

“Yea, but she wasn’t worth it. Now c’mon I’m starving.” She mewed and she leaped off with Browniepaw crawling after her. They followed their paw prints home. Luckily the wind hadn’t blown them away. It was so quiet when they got back to camp. Like all the cats had left. There was only the breeze blowing the branches.

They ran over to their brother, and friend. “Here ya’ go, I got some fresh-kill.” Applefur mewed and she dipped her head into her mouse.

“Good day?” asked Dashfang, mouth filled with a crow.

“Well it was better than yesterday,” answered Applefur. Dashfang looked worried at her friend. “I enjoyed it though.” She meowed dipping her head into a sparrow. “Redpaw’s eager for learning.

“So is Browniepaw!” meowed Dashfang, smiling.

“Mind you,” mewed Applefur with her sparkle in her eyes. “I kept forgetting I was the mentor and not the apprentice!” she mewed smiling.

“Me too,” mewed Dashfang happily.

All the cats shared tongues until the moon rose into the blue sky. Dashfang jumped into her nest, and she tried to get to sleep. She finally got some sleep, but her dreams were filled with her kit-hood. She remembered sitting next to her mother’s warm, white stomach. She sat with her brother and sisters. She then remembered the kitty-pets smell.

Dashfang opened her eyes and looked at the ground. Of course! she thought. The cat she saw in the woods . . . was her sister.

Chapter Nine

Dashfang couldn’t get to sleep almost all night. The image of her sister still lingered in her head, and her smell filled Dashfang’s nostrils. She pushed out of her den, hoping the smell of the forest would get rid of this one. It was a cold, frosty day. The bare-leaf breeze was coming from the cold north and it hit Dashfang as she walked past the den. Cloudystorm and Daringtail were about to leave on patrol. Twistfur greeted Dashfang with a quick “Hello!” and she ran to join the patrol. Cloudystorm called for her mentor, Lightningpaw, and he bounded out of the den and he ran over to his mentor. Dashfang had before wanted to pounce after them, and mew “Hey can I join you?” and they would be off, but she didn’t want that now.

She padded across the clearing, and wondered if Browniepaw was up. Morningdew woke and a young, pink kit padded behind her. She was about two moons old. She had a cute little tiara on her head, most likely from a two-leg child. She came over to Dashfang and smiled. The young kit smiled.

Dashfang felt a pang of sadness. She knew that all those kits were clan born cats, and will become great warriors. Dashfang has been loyal to her clan, but she couldn’t help think that she didn’t belong there. She was born a kitty-pet and now was being raised a warrior. She would die for Lightningclan’s protection. However, no kitty understood her. She has done some bad things in the past, but now she’s a warrior now, right?

Applefur stepped next to Dashfang, and Dashfang touched her nose to her friends. “Can you take Browniepaw today?” she asked.

Applefur looked at Dashfang. “Why, I thought you liked Browniepaw?” she asked standing to her paws.

Dashfang shrugged, and mewed, “I just want to check something out that we saw yesterday.” She mewed. “Just, be careful, he doesn’t listen to orders much.”

Applefur nodded and her whiskers twitched as she smiled. “She sounds like a pawfull,” she mewed happily. “I can take him, it will be good for the two brothers to get together more!” she mewed again.

Dashfang nodded and smiled. “Thanks you,” she mewed and she bounded to the fresh-kill pile. There were still some mice and sparrows left from Redpaw’s kills. She ate a mouse, and then ran off to where Browniepaw and her left.

She saw the same house they found her sister at, and he leaped onto the fence of her sisters. There were no two-legs, but there were strongly scented plants sitting in the garden. She could see a swinging flap of wings behind a bush. She peeked out of the bush, seeing Dashfang.

She walked carefully to another bush, and then to the fence. “Who are you?” she asked quietly.

“I’m Dashfang, err, I mean Dashie!” She mewed, trying to remember her sister’s name.

Her sister cocked her head, and then smiled. “Dashie is that really you?” she mewed. She jumped onto the fence, and Dashfang nodded.

“Cloud, it is me!” she mewed.

“B-but, what’s that on your flank?” she mewed and she pointed her nose to Dashfang’s kitty--mark. “And, you smell like moss!” she mewed and she sniffed her sister.

Dashfang nodded, “I’ve not been living with two-legs for a long while.” She smiled at her sister, and her wings spread.

“Well, I can never forget that rainbow mane,” Cloud mewed.

Dashfang mewed, trying to explain her story, “I am living in a warrior clan, called Lightningclan, ever since I ran into my new best friend, Applefur.” She’s most likely never heard of clans. thought Dashfang looking at her sister.

Cloud looked at her, unsure. “You haven’t answered my question. What’s that on your flank?” she repeats.

Dashfang smiled.  “That is a kitty mark. When you become a warrior, in clans, you get your kitty mark. Anyway, I saw you yesterday in the woods, and I wanted to talk to you,” she mewed and she looked at her sister.

She cocked her head. “Well, first of all, I have never heard of that. Second of all, why?” she mewed looking into Dashfang’s eyes.

Dashfang felt sadness fling inside her. “Because, you’re my sister,” she mewed sadly, looking at the sky.

Cloud looked at her paws. “You’re thinner than any cat I’ve seen.” She mewed and she pointed to Dashfang’s stomach.

Dashfang laughed. “Thinner than a kitty pet, but pretty plump for a clan, err, I mean forest cat!” she mews happily.

Cloud still looked unsure.

“Where’s our mother?” she asked looking behind Cloud.

“She’s still with her house folk,” the blue cat mewed.

“What about. . .” started Dashfang, but her sisters clipped wings cut her off.

“Our brothers and sisters?” she asked. “They are around here. I see some of them in their garden, sometimes.” She mewed and she licked her paw happily.

A silence went over the siblings; finally Dashfang asked a question. “Do you remember mother’s soft, warm bedding?” she asked.

Cloud nodded, “I hope I can have that when I kit.” She mewed.

Dashfang felt embarrassed for a moment, but it faded away. It felt good to get this all out with a cat that understands. “Will this be your first litter?” she asked happily.

Cloud nodded and looked at Dashfang’s eyes. She was very unsure about having the kits. Sympathy waved through Dashfang. “You’ll be fine,” she mewed, and she remembered Morningdew’s face. “You look like your two-legs treat you well,” she mewed.

Cloud hugged her sister, and when she stopped, she pressed her soft fur against Dashfang’s hard fur. For the first time since she was a kit, she caught a glimpse of what the clan cats take for granted:  kinship, a common bond determined by birth and heritage.

Dashfang lifted her head. She wanted to tell her sister what she has kept as her own life. “Have you heard of the clans?” she asked enthusiastically.

Cloud shook her head, and smiled. “Well, you have mentioned a Lightningclan.” She mewed happily.

Dashfang smiled, and mewed, “There are four clans altogether.” She looked down at her small sister, and Cloud’s eyes twinkled. “We all take care of each other in each clan. Younger cats hunt for elders, warriors protect. I trained all Greenleaf, or spring, to become a warrior. Now I have my own apprentice. Dashfang could see her sister’s bemused look in her eyes. Although, as Dashfang spoke, her sister was very lightened up.

“It sounds like you are enjoying your life.” the kitty pet mewed.

When a two-leg called, Dashfang darted under the nearest bush. “I better go, they’ll be worried if I don’t.” she mewed. She looked at Dashfang, and she left.

Dashfang frowned and her ears flattened. “Okay, I have to clan anyway. I’ll come back tomorrow!” she yowled over the fence.

“That would be great!” her sister yowled back, and then her paw steps went away.

Once she went inside, Dashfang flew into the air. Memories of her kit hood swelled inside of her. The scents were larger than even the forest mosses. She stopped above Lightningclan, and felt like she wasn’t ready to go back. She felt as if it would all be strange to her. I’ll just go hunting. she thinks. Browniepaw is probably happy with Redpaw and Applefur, and the clan will accept any extra fresh kill she brings.

When she finally came back, she had a mouse and a vole. Sunstar was setting the sun, and she saw a blue glow around the moon as it rose. The clan came together to eat an evening meal. Applefur stood alone by the den; she held a fat chaffinch in her mouth. Dashfang nodded at her friend as she passed him to put her kill on the pile.

Setclaw stared coldly at Dashfang. She padded over to the pegasus, and mewed, “I saw Browniepaw with Applefur today. Where were you?” she growled to Dashfang.

Dashfang shared the stare. “It seemed like a good day to hunt- too good to waste.” She replied, her heart thumping with sadness. “The clan needs all the fresh-kill it can get its paws on.”

Setclaw nodded, and suspicion clouded her eyes. “Yes, but we also need warriors.” She mewed. “Browniepaw’s your responsibility now.” She whipped her tail back and forth.

Dashfang nodded, “I understand, Setclaw.” She mewed. “I’ll take her out tomorrow.” She dipped her head to the ‘great warrior’.

“Good,” the deputy looked around the clan.

Dashfang grabbed a mouse, and she walked over to eat with Applefur.

“You found what you were looking for?” asked the tabby.

“Yes,” she mewed. She felt a pang of sadness when she lied to her friend. “Are you still thinking about the Lakeclan warrior?” she mewed when she saw the sorrow in her friend’s eyes.

Applefur mewed: “I try not to. It’s just when I am alone.” She mewed and she looked up.

“Here,” started Dashfang, “That chaffinch looks like it’ll be half feathers, wanna swap?” she asks.

As she crunched on the chaffinch, Dashfang scanned the clearing. She saw Soarpaw and Lightningpaw outside of the apprentice den. Soarpaw was ripping into a mouse. Dashfang caught a glimpse of Lightningpaw’s eye, but her looked away.

Browniepaw sat next to an old stump where Dashfang used to always eat as an apprentice. He chatted with his brother as they both ate. Redpaw nodded from time to time as he plucked feathers from an old bird. Seeing the two young siblings sitting together, so at ease, made Dashfang think of Cloud more. For the first time, the sight of the clan made her uneasy. She had been smart to clean off the scent of Cloud off her fur, but the scent of her still lingered in her nose. The sun set nicely as she kept thinking of her sister. She found the closeness she had missed, but it had given shape to a sense of loneliness that, until now, had lain vague and nameless in her heart. Were her deep-rooted memories she had shared with her sister, stronger that her loyalty to her clan?

Chapter Ten

“Another day of sunshine!” purred Dashfang to Applefur. Her sky coat beamed against the sun. Thanks to the calm weather, she had seen Cloud nearly every day now! She had slipped away during patrol, hunting, and training sessions. She walked with her friend to the sandy hollow where Browniepaw and Redpaw were waiting for them.

“Let’s hope that this calm weather stays like this all leaf-bare.” Applefur giggled out. Dashfang nodded and smiled. She knew how much Applefur hated to get wet- if she did her fur would cling to her and it would take hours before it dried.

They had entered the hollow right as Browniepaw jumped on top of frosty leaves, flying them everywhere. One fell on him, and she pounced to grab it. He soon fell into more, getting them all into his fur. He blushed when he saw the two warriors.

The two friends purred with amusement. “At least Browniepaw is ready for our special exercise.”  Applefur purred.

Redpaw jumped up and he mewed, “Hello Applefur, what is our assignment?”

“A hunting mission,” Applefur mewed happily. She stood on the sandy hollow and Dashfang stood next to her.

“Where,” he mewed excitedly.

“We’re going to Sunshinerocks,” Dashfang mewed, soon sharing her excited look. “And we’ll all catch whatever we can.” She says with a nice smile on her face.

“I wanna catch a vole!” Browniepaw yowled, toppling over his brother’s head.

Dashfang laughed and smiled at the two. Applefur interrupted the happiness of the three cats. “I’m afraid all we catch will go straight to the elders,” she said in a solemn voice. Her cold voice became warm with delight. “However, if you ask nicely, I’m sure they would love to give you some.” She smiles to the apprentice and licks her head.

Browniepaw frowns and her ears were flat on her. “Okay,” then one ear perks up. “Which way is Sunshinerocks?” he asked, excited once more.

Dashfang smiled at his enthusiasm, and mewed, “This way, follow me!”

Applefur and the rest followed her. The leaves fell to the ground, and Applefur jumped on them. She purred with amusement, when she saw Redpaw staring at his mentor, surprised by his kit-like state. She blushed, and mewed, “Err, I never want to waste a minuet of hunting!” She smiles, and she gets up to dust herself off.

The four cats looked, and smelled, their way to Sunshinerocks. The sun glistened on all the cats’ fur as they crossed through Lightningclan territory. As they emerged through the bushes, they saw Sunshinerocks glistening under the trees. Browniepaw hopped onto a rock, and purred as the sunshine glows on top of him. “This feels nice!” she mewed happily.

Dashfang smiled, and hopped on with her. “Look Dashfang!” he yowled. “The river of Lakeclan!” she jumped to see the river from their side of the river. Dashfang nods.

“Well, why don’t we admire it from our side?”  Dashfang mewed as she walked over to their river.

Applefur’s ears prick as she hears a yowl of a Lakeclan cat. “Some kitties in trouble!” she yowled, and she stared down at the river. The cat swept off in the river, and Applefur jumped down to grab him.

Browniepaw called after him, “Applefur, you’re going to be in big trouble!”

Applefur did not listen; she just swam over to the drowning tom. She caught his scruff, and she swam over to the shore. Her paws were little, but she swam like a Lakeclan leader. She got to shore, and coughed out water. The tom coughed too, and looked up at her. “Am I in Lunarclan?” the earth tom asked.

Applefur giggled, and mewed to him, “Not yet you’re not.” She licked him clean. “What are you doing in Lightningclan territory anyway?” she mewed, still smiling.

He licked his paw, and rolled his eyes. “Uh, drowning.” he mewed sarcastically, and he kept licking his paw happily.

“Can’t you drown on your own territory?” she asked him, and he got up, shaking his water droplets onto Applefur.

The tom laughed, and asked, “Yea, but who would save me there?”

Applefur rolled her eyes, still smiling. “I don’t know!” she mewed, and her ears perked when she heard Browniepaw calling to her.

“Applefur get back here or you’re going to be in big trouble!” she yowled over to her.

Applefur laughed. “Alright, alright!” she mewed, “I better go, bye!” she ran over to Browniepaw and Dashfang. She looked back. “What’s your name?” She called out to the tom.

“Copperpelt!” he yowled back and he waved to the she-warriors.

As they trekked back hope, with plenty of food, Dashfang looked at Applefur. She stopped her with her wing. “Are you alright, you are really cold?” she asked as she looked at her friend.

“I-I’m fine.” She mewed, and she looked up. She shivered, and Dashfang looked back at her, stopping her again.

“You should go see Spitfire.” Mewed Dashfang and Applefur nodded.

She ran over to the medicine cat den, and Dashfang looked at Redpaw. He walked into the apprentice den, again tackled by his mother.

Dashfang smiled, and she saw Applefur walking over to her. “I have to stay in the warriors den for a while, I have a cold.” She mewed, with an annoyed look on her face.

Dashfang nodded, and followed her into the warrior’s den. She slept for a while, but when she woke, she saw no Applefur she saw flames of rainbows. There were brown specks coming out of it. She heard a scream, and she woke quickly. She still did not see Applefur, but she saw the rest of the warriors. She looked outside, and the moon was still in the sky. She saw Applefur’s fur on the ground, and she saw it next to the kit den. She squeezed in quietly, and she saw more of her friend’s fur in a little hole in the kit den. She ran off, in the cold, with a cold. She was alone outside. Or was she?

Chapter Eleven

Dashfang padded over to the warriors den, and she luckily saw Applefur waiting there for her. She was worried about her little chase in the water a today. She was just making sure. She looked at Browniepaw, and she reminded her too much of Fluttershy. She looked at her paws and she smiled. She decided to go for a quick fly around, but landed soon after taking off. Then she thought of Setclaw killing Purpletail. Dashfang shook her head.

Setclaw ran over to Dashfang. Browniepaw saw and ran over to them. “So, Dashfang, what is the meaning of Applefur’s cold?” she asked, trying to sound kind.

Dashfang tried to answer, but a cat voice behind her answered for her. “It was my fault! I pushed her into very cold snow, and she caught a terrible cold,” an apprentice mewed.

Dashfang saw Browniepaw behind her. “Okay, thank you for your kindness.” She tries to say nicely, but her glare at Dashfang made the statement cold.

Dashfang looked at her apprentice. “Aren’t you a little scared of Setclaw?” she asked looking into his eyes.

“No, why should I?” she asked. “She is a great warrior, and she will become a great leader. I should admire her.” She looked up at Lunarclan.

Why should he? She thought, and then she put her nose to his. “Go get some sleep,” she mewed.

Browniepaw nodded.  “Yes ma’am,” he said happily, and he ran off to the apprentice den.

Dashfang smiled, and she grabbed two pieces of fresh-kill. She ate, and thought of Browniepaw’s admiration of Setclaw. It worried her. There was more than every cat thought in the cat. She could still be planning to kill Sunstar.

A loud sneeze interrupted Dashfang’s thoughts. Applefur pounced over to her friend. “How are you doing?” she asked happily.

Applefur shook her head. “I have a cold,” she mewed, and she sat next to her friend.

Dashfang sniffed her, and she smelled like some of Spitfire’s medicine. “I saved you some mice!” she mewed to her friend, and she shoved it over.

Applefur puffed, and started eating. “Spitfire told me that I need to stay in the camp, and that I have a chill.” She mewed to her friend, still chewing on her vole.

“So what did she give you for medicine?” Dashfang asked happily, trying to lighten up the mood.

Applefur shook her head. “I can’t remember.” She mewed as she took one last bite of food. “That’s enough for me.” She mewed and she pushed the food away from her. She licked her paw.

“Are you sure? There is still some more.” Dashfang mewed, and she grabbed a vole.

Applefur shook her head. She then ran off.

Dashfang thought to herself. She probably has a cold she thought, and she went back to eating. She might not be here thanks to that Lakeclan cat.

.   .    .

Dashfang woke, and she saw Pinkiefur walking towards her. “Setclaw needs you.” She mewed happily.

“Ah, yes.” She mewed to her. She walked to Setclaw, and she did not look happy.

“It’s time Browniepaw and Redpaw had been tested.” She mewed with a scary tone in her voice.

“Already?” she asked.

“Sunstar did say that we need new warriors, didn’t she?” she asked her happily.

“Yes, but,” Dashfang started, but she was cut off by the look in Setclaw’s eyes.

“You will test them tomorrow. You slept all day today. Get some rest, and I will wake you in the morning with Browniepaw and Redpaw. You will be training both of them until Applefur is better.” She mewed, and she sent Dashfang to the warriors den.

She slept, until Browniepaw awaked her. “Time for our test?” he asked eagerly.

Dashfang nodded, and saw Redpaw behind him. “Okay, lets go.” She mewed, and they ran off.

Browniepaw chased after them, and they ran to the training hollow. Dashfang looked at the two, and she mewed happily, “Today, we will be having a test. I will be watching you two and you will come back at moonrise.” She set them off, and she followed Browniepaw, without him noticing.

She looked at him carefully, and she saw his hunting crouch. She looked as he pounced on a mouse. She smiled, but then cracked. She then heard something behind her.

“Hey Dashfang!” yowled behind her.

“Browniepaw,” Dashfang mewed, irritated. “You weren’t supposed to see me.” She mewed angrily.

“Oh, sorry,” Browniepaw mewed, and he went back into the woods. “Goodbye for now!” he yowled back.

Dashfang looked at him until she was out of sight. She watched Redpaw for a while, and then she went to see her sister.

She ran through the forest, and she saw her sister on the fence. “Hello Cloud,” she mewed nicely to her sister.

“Hello Dashfang,” she paused. “Is that correct?” she asked carefully.

“Yes, are your kits ready?” she asked eagerly.

“Not yet, only in two more days, then I will be a proud mother.” She was happy when she stared down at her belly. She looked back at Dashfang. “How have you been?” she asked kindly.

“Good, my apprentice and Applefur’s apprentice are taking a test on hunting abilities,” she answered her sister’s question with great pride.

Cloud smiled, and mewed, “Why are you taking care of Applefur’s apprentice?” Her knowledge on the clans is getting better day by day.

“She is sick right now, she has a chill,” Dashfang sadly mewed. “I will be taking care of Redpaw for a while.” They talked until sunset, they hugged, and Dashfang left.

She came to sandy hollow at moonrise, and she saw Browniepaw and Redpaw padding up to her. She smiled, and saw how much prey they caught. Luckily, she licked herself off before she had come to them. She was happy to see the two apprentices. She knew that she would go back to Cloud tomorrow to see her kits, and her nieces and nephews. She smiled, and walked home with the two apprentices.

Chapter Twelve

Dashfang knows that Applefur has been seeing Copperpelt behind her back. She has been sneaking out without permission for a while. She walked to the river in Lakeclan, and she sees Copperpelt waiting for Applefur.

“Copperpelt!” she tried to yowl, but she could smell other Lakeclan cats.

Copperpelt looked at her, and smiled. “I’ll be over there in a minuet!” he yowled to the cats. She looked at Dashfang and smiled. “Yes, Dashfang, I have heard a lot about you from Apple . . .” he started, but Dashfang had cut him off.

“I need you and Applefur to stop seeing each other!” she yowled to him.

Copperpelt’s smile turned into a frown. “But, I can’t! We need each other!” he yowled to Dashfang.

“Well, I guess you have nothing to say about hunting in Breezeclan territory a while back, and, oh what was it? Oh yes, you were in our territory drowning, and Applefur risked her life to save you?” she growled, but she saw Copperpelt’s expression changed from sad to angry.

“We needed to hunt in their territory because we were starving, my father, Bluestar, ordered me to!” he yowled.

Dashfang was surprised by his tone. She then noticed that his slick body was not slick, it was skinny. He was so skinny that you could see his ribs. “I will be talking to Applefur,” she mewed quickly and swept off to the woods.

She flew home, and saw her den. She snuggled up, and fell asleep.

She quickly woke, and she looked outside. A blinding white light went straight into her eyes. It was snow. Dashfang had not seen snow lying so nicely on the ground before. She saw Setclaw barking orders, and she looked behind her to see Dashfang, struggling in the snow. “Dashfang!” she yowled, “I need you to go hunting for a while!”

Dashfang nodded and flew off. She decided she could go hunting after she saw her sister. She looked at the kitty-pets house, and called out, “Cloud!” No answer, she knew she was kitting!

A couple minuets later, Cloud came out with a small something hanging from her jaws. She jumped up, and dropped a small blue kit in front of Dashfang “Her name is Skykit,” she mewed happily “I want you to take her into your clan and keep her as your own.” She lifted the kit and gave it to Dashfang.

Dashfang nodded. “I’ll take care of her.” She mewed, and she flew off. She could feel the kit’s wings shiver as she flew in the cold sky. She went under the leaf cavern and into the clan. She ran into Sunstar’s den, and her leader was working. “What is it Dashfang?” she asked. She then coughed.

“I have a new kit for us.” She explained everything, and she even explained her sister.

Sunstar nodded. “I will talk about it with Morningdew. Stay here,” she mewed as she bounded off.

She soon came back, and nodded. “We will take her in.” she mewed sadly. She called all the cats to the clan, and told them everything.

Daringtail protested: “we already have one kitty-pet here, why have another?” She growled, and others joined her.

Sunstar shut them up with a large growl. “Enough! We will have this kit in our clan.” She yowled, but she soon fainted. Spitfire charges after her, and grabbed her. Setclaw was out on patrol. She did not see this tragedy.

Dashfang ran after Spitfire, but the leaves covering her den, shut quickly

She then shrugged, and went over to where Skykit lay. She ran her over to the kit den. “Pinkiefur, can you take care of my kit?” she asked. “It’s my sisters, and she gave her to me, so I have no food for her.” She mewed hopefully.

“Sorry, I can’t, but I’m sure that my friend will!” she mewed as she pointed to Morningdew, already caring for her kits.

Morningdew shook her head. “I won’t be able to, I don’t have enough food.” She mewed sadly.

“I will get you extra every day!” Morningdew hesitated for a moment, but then looked at Skykit. She was starving, and cold.

“Fine,” she mewed happily. “Even if it is a kitty-pet, I cannot let some kitty starve.” She mewed, and Dashfang nodded.

Applefur came back and stared at Dashfang. “Copperpelt told me what you said.” She mewed.

“Applefur, it was for the best.” She tried to explain, but Applefur did not listen.

“You shouldn't be interacting with my life Dashfang!” she yowled to her, and she ran off.

Dashfang tried to stop her, but failed. She watched her friend run off with sadness. She heard cats snickering. Her wings fell, and folded. She was so sad that she felt like she should just run off and hide forever. She went to check on Sunstar, but Spitfire stopped her. “You don’t want to go in there, she has green cough, but I could let you guard her for a while.” She was in a happy mood.

She watched, and watched, until Soarpaw ran over to them. “I need Sunstar! Setclaw could smell Shadeclan warriors in our territory a minuet ago!” he yowled to Dashfang

Apparently, Browniepaw overheard their conversation. He was soon gone. “I can go since Sunstar is sick.” She mewed, and she stood.

“She needs a true warrior, not some kitty-pet pretending to be one!” he yowled.

Dashfang was enraged when Daringtail snickered. “Look you little fur ball, I’m going, and that’s final!” she yowled.

Suddenly, Redpaw yowled, “Browniepaw’s gone!” Dashfang was scared to death. She must have heard their conversation!

Dashfang stood. “Daringtail!” she yowled to her enemy, who was startled by her bravery. “Guard this.” She mewed, and she ran off.

She ran after Browniepaw’s scent, and she heard a monster going over Lightningpath. She quickly bounded over there, and she saw a brown something lying next to it. That brown something was Browniepaw who had just been run over by a Lightningpath monster.

Chapter Thirteen

Dashfang ran him home, and she gave him to Spitfire. She looked into her eyes, and mewed sadly, “I’m afraid that she will never become a warrior.” She stared into Dashfang’s eyes as she said it.

She thought that the monster that hit Browniepaw was supposed to hit Sunstar. She walked into her den, and she saw her in pain. She coughed and looked at Dashfang. She smiled, but then fell asleep. Dashfang licked her head, and she left.

Suddenly, Redpaw, who was off with Setclaw on patrol, jumped through the bushes, and he puffed out air. Dashfang stared at him, and asked, “What’s happened?” She looked into Redpaw’s eyes, and he puffed out, “We saw bones from Shadeclan territory!” he yowled.

Dashfang was very surprised by this. Everything that they did for them they turn their backs and hunt in their territory? She looked at Redpaw and mewed, “Get some rest.” She then jumped up onto Castle rock, and yowled, “All cat’s old, oh there’s no time for that! All cats come to castle rock!” stared down at the cats

“What are you doing up there?” yowled Cloudystorm.

“Redpaw has brought back bones that were from Shadeclan, and I needed to tell you!” she yowled down, and she looked at Spitfire, who was sniffing the bones. “Cloudystorm, Daringtail, Fleetingwind, and Bluepelt will be going on patrol. The rest of us will be waiting here!” She yowled, and they ran off.

She then saw Morningdew pop out of the kits den. “Skykit is missing!” she yowled and all the cats gasped. “And so are my other two kits!”

“We will go look for her!” Dashfang yowled. She took Pinkiefur and Spitfire with her. They sniffed, and sniffed, until Spitfire fund them.

“Two are here!” she yowled. A pink kit with the little two-leg crown, and a silver kit, with a cute braid, were shivering in the cold snow.

“Skykit went to hunt in the snow.” the pink one mewed sadly.

They chased after where she had pointed, and they saw Skykit playing in the snow, trying to catch a mouse. She laughed until she saw Dashfang, staring coldly down at her.

“You aren’t supposed to be hunting!” she growled at the young kit. Skykit saw Spitfire behind her.

They walked home, and they saw Spitfire wince at the bones. “Those aren't Shadeclan bones, those are from Bloodstar, he tricked us!” she yowled.

Dashfang was shocked. She looked around, only seeing queens and apprentices. She frowned. “Redpaw!” she yowled and Redpaw ran over to her.

“Yes, Dashfang?” he asked. He looked into her eyes, and she told him to go tell Setclaw about the bones. She hoped that they would be back before the cats attack. Sunstar walked out of her den and went straight to Dashfang and Spitfire.

“I lost another life.” She mewed, and Spitfire and Dashfang realized that she only had one life left. She stared into Spitfire’s eyes.

“You should get some rest then,” she mewed. Suddenly something jumped out of the bushes. Spitfire shoved Sunstar away, and Dashfang was only left only with two apprentices and two queens. Three cats bounded out. Bloodstar was among them. He smiled, and laughed menacingly.

“Remember me Dashfang?” he asked laughing like a maniac. He stared at the two apprentices, three queens, and one medicine cat. He laughed again. He jumped onto Dashfang, beginning to scratch her. She scratched him back, and she flew into the air. Pinkiefur then jumped on him, beginning a huge fight. A huge dark blue Pegasus tomcat pounced on her.

She fought him, and she tried to push him off, but the tom was too big. Suddenly a cat jumped on the tom, and she scratched him until he retreated. Bloodstar jumped onto Dashfang, and he smiled. Dashfang grabbed him by this neck, and threw him to the ground. Spitfire growled, and ran over to him.

The other cat, named Thunderface, jumped onto the cat that saved Dashfang. Dashfang realized that that cat was Applefur. She stared at her, and she ran over, slashing him off. He retreated, and they both left their ‘leader’. Spitfire licked Bloodstar’s head, and went to Sunstar with him on her back. Dashfang wondered why she would do this.

Sunstar limped out of her den, and looked at her clan. She then limped back in. Applefur looked at Dashfang. “I’m still mad at you!” She yowled, and she looked much better than yesterday. Her cold was gone. Redpaw walked in with Cloudystorm, and Setclaw. Sunstar noticed how well Soarpaw and Lightningpaw had been fighting.

“All cats old enough to catch their own prey please come to castle rock!” she yowled down, and all the cats circled round. She looked at Soarpaw and Lightningpaw and gestured them up. “Today, because of their great warrior like fight, Soarpaw and Lightningpaw will earn their warrior names!” she mewed loudly.

The cats cheered, and they hushed after a long cheer.

“Soarpaw will be known as Soarwing, because of his great flying ability!” she mewed. “And Lightningpaw will be known as Lightningstorm, for his love of fighting, and his great fighting ability!”

The cats cheered once more, and she nodded.

Chapter Fourteen

Dashfang looked at Lightningstorm wit pride, but Soarwing had not deserved his name. She looked at Lightningstorm, and Cloudystorm soon came up to her. “I was wondering if you wanted to go on patrol with him today, just alone.” She asked kindly.

Dashfang nodded, and she smiled. “Of course we can go alone. It would be good for her. I can tell her what it’s like when you have an apprentice.” She mewed, and she ran over to Lightningstorm, sniffing the warriors den. She ran up to him and smiled. “Lightningstorm, we are going on patrol together, is that okay?” She mewed happily, and Lightningstorm nodded.

“That would be great!” he mewed, and they ran off. He found a mouse and pounced on it, killing it instantly. He smiled, and dropped it in front of Dashfang. “Do you know what’s great about going out on patrol?” he asked Dashfang happily.

“What?” Dashfang mewed and she looked into his eyes.

“We get to eat prey right as we catch it.” He mewed, and they eat just for a bit. They finally got home, and they heard Sunstar’s yowl.

“All cats old enough to catch their own prey please come to Castle rock!” she yowled, and she saw all the cats circle around her. “Today, the formal leader of Shadeclan, Bloodstar will be named Bloodface. We cannot take away his nine lives, but we can take away his name.” she mewed, and she left.

The cats were all very startled by their leader’s decision. Dashfang saw Spitfire tending his wounds, and Browniepaw helping her. Dashfang had not seen him for a while, so she decided to see them. She saw a scar on Browniepaw’s leg. It looked a lot like a lightning bolt. Dashfang looked at him, and smiled. “Why are you tending his wounds?” she asked Spitfire.

Spitfire frowned, and looked at Dashfang. “I am because he’s my son. My mate was his father, Charmingstar. We did not want any kitty to know, so we gave him to my sister, Fleetpool.” She mewed.

Dashfang was shocked. Browniepaw limped over to her, and patted her back. He then limped away, to get more herbs. He brought more, and put it on where Dashfang scratched him down.

Browniepaw smiled at Dashfang. “I would love to stay and chat, but I think Sunstar wants you,” he mewed, and he went back to his herbs.

Sunstar did want her. “Dashfang, come here.” She mewed, and Dashfang followed her. “Had Rareleaf tell you about the prophecy of our clan?” she asked.

Dashfang shook her head. “No she had not, what it is?” she asked, cocking her head with very much interest.

Sunstar smiled, and mewed, “It is fear alone will save our clan.” She looked into Dashfang’s eyes. She then left, no time for Dashfang to ask her question.

What does that mean? she thought, and she shrugged, and went to Setclaw, who was ordering cats around.

“Dashfang, I need you to go back onto patrol with Lightningstorm,” she mewed, “Cats are saying that they smell Shadeclan warriors in our territory.” She ran off, and Dashfang, once again, got Lightningstorm.

“What is it?” he asked. “Are we under attack!” he yowled.

Dashfang shook her head, and calmed him down. “We need to go on patrol; Setclaw said that cats smell Shadeclan warriors in our territory.” She mewed, and the two cats ran off. Luckily, they were both pegasi, so they could both fly. They ran across the borders, and they smelled for any Shadeclan cats. They did not find any, so they shrugged, and they flew home.

Sunstar was standing on castle rock. She looked down at her clan, worried. Dashfang looked at the kits den, seeing Skykit pounce out of it. She smiled at Dashfang, and leaped over to her. “Hello Dashfang!” She mewed happily.

“Hello, Skykit, how is Morningdew?” she asked nicely.

Skykit said she loved being with her, and the sun began to set. “Well, good night Dashfang!” she mewed to her friend, and aunt.

Dashfang mewed with a laugh, “Good night.” She ran over to the warriors den, where Lightningstorm and Soarwing now rest. They breathe nicely and calmly.  Dashfang slept in his nest, right next to Lightningstorm. She fell into a deep sleep, until a rustle in the bushes woke her. A warning yowl came from Strongnose. All the cats ran to the bushes, and heard them rustle again. Some growled, and some shied away. The cat jumped out of the bushes. It was a Pegasus with a blonde mane and tail, and a flower kitty mark.

She puffed out air, and she stared at the clan. “The Lakeclan and Shadeclan c-cats banded together, and they are attacking us now!” she yowled, and then she choked because she was breathing too hard. She fainted, and was very soon woken up by Dashfang.

“C’mon, we have to go.” She mewed, and she ran off. Setclaw, Applefur, Lightningstorm, Soarwing, Fleetingwind, and Redpaw ran off with Dashfang in the lead. Setclaw soon jumped ahead of Dashfang, but suddenly stopped. She sniffed the air.

“We’re being followed!” she yowled, and she turned to a bush. Skykit pounced out, and ran into Setclaw’s leg. “Skykit, you are supposed to be in the clan!” she yowled to the young kit.

“I wanted to come with!” she yowled defiantly.

Setclaw was angry, and she whipped her head to Dashfang. “She is your kit, so she is your problem!” she yowled, and Dashfang looked at Redpaw.

“Redpaw, bring Skykit home. Are you alone Skykit?” she asked as Tiarakit and Silverkit “Bring them home Redpaw!” she yowled, and he looked straight into her eyes. His ears were flat, but he still did it.

She bugged Setclaw, but they still went on. Setclaw soon stopped, and she yowled to Dashfang to come up. “Dashfang, lead us to the camp.”

Dashfang led them into the camp until they saw all the Breezeclan cats fighting against the Lakeclan cats. They fought for their lives, and then the Lightningclan cats came to the rescue.

Chapter Fifiteen

Dashfang and the rest ran down the walls of Breezeclan, and they pounced on different Lakeclan and Shadeclan warriors. They fought with Breezeclan, and they were losing miserably. Suddenly, a large tom from Shadeclan pounced onto Dashfang. She ripped him off, and she began to fight again.

She saw Applefur being ripped and being torn to pieces by female Lakeclan warrior. She stared at fear in the face, and she charged at the cats. They started to fight with her, and she ripped through as if the cats were nothing. She was then attacked, and she realized it was Ravenfur. She tried to push her off, but she was too strong.

She then saw Setclaw, sitting at the top of their castle rock. “Setclaw, help!” she yowled, still fighting away Ravenfur. Setclaw did not listen. She just sat there, her tail whipping impatiently. The cat soon knocked out Dashfang, and she fell to the ground. She had a dream. She saw a cat in front of her.

“Look Dashfang, I caught a mouse!” she said. It was a young Pegasus cat. Dashfang laughed and nodded.

“Great job, you’ll become a great warrior,” she mewed, when suddenly, Rareleaf showed up next to her.

“Beware a warrior you cannot trust.” She mewed quickly, and she poofed away.

Dashfang woke up, and looked at Applefur. Can I trust her? she thought, and she knew that she was the one that she could not trust. She soon leaped back into battle, and they were outnumbered. She saw Copperpelt, weak and injured. She then saw him charging after her with much force. She does not recognize Dashfang!

“Copperpelt!” she tries to whisper, but it comes out somewhat loudly. She had been hit into the head, and they fell to the ground.

Applefur saw both of them, and she yowled, “No!”

He stopped and looked at Applefur. He nodded, and got off, but Dashfang was furious with him. She pounced onto him with much force. She was about to bite the cat, but Applefur called over to her. “No!” She yowled again.

Dashfang stopped, ashamed by this. Then she saw Soarwing. Had he noticed her letting Copperpelt go! She stared at Applefur and was leaping away to check if Copperpelt was in any way injured. Fleetingwind pounced on a cat that was just about to kill Dashfang. It was a fearful sight to see, and she thanked him. Then she saw Mistystar had attacked Lunastar, as she had been called from now on.

She quickly flew onto the leader, and crushed her to the ground. She yowled to Lunastar, “Quick run!” She then flew to another cat, not realizing it was a Pegasus.

He growled, and smiled. He pounced onto Dashfang, and she could tell it was Lakeclan because of how light he was. She grabbed his foot, and pulled him to the ground. He flapped his wings a bit, but she pinned them down. He kicked her leg, once again, flying into the sky. Dashfang flew up into the air with him. “This fight isn’t over yet!” she yowled to him.

He smirked, and he looked down at her. She was gaining more and more speed, and she finally caught up to him. They both landed on a cloud, and they began to fight more. Dashfang threw him over, and broke his wing in the process. He could not fly up, and he fell to the ground, making a huge crack of a noise.

She soon found that the cat was just a rogue. He had died, and she frowned. She looked down and saw Applefur just coming back.

She flew down, and the Shadeclan and Lakeclan retreated as they lost. She saw Applefur, and she smiled at Dashfang. “I’m sorry Dashfang, I’m sorry that I acted so rude,” she mewed, and she smiled.

Dashfang nodded. Then she saw Soarwing whispering into Setclaw’s ear. She growled at Dashfang, and Dashfang flinched. “You let go a Lakeclan warrior?” she asked.

Dashfang shook her head. “Liar!” Soarwing yowled, and he flew above her. “I saw you let him go!” He was angry, and Dashfang could see the lightning in his eyes.

She frowned, and looked at Setclaw. “We will discuss your punishment later.” She mewed, and she left.

Dashfang looked at Applefur, and she pressed her side against hers. For the first time in a long time, Dashfang felt her friendship with Applefur connect again. Then she realized she was’t the one that she should beware. She could not trust Setclaw.

The end

Of book two

Chapter Four

Dashfang hissed at the cats, but remembered she was trying to help them. “Please, we want to help you get back to your own territory.” She said and she looked at the leader.

Lunastar jumped forward and sat in front of the new warriors. “How do we know we can trust you?” she asked them.

Gracefulfall stepped forward with her kit. “I think we can. They seem familiar.” She said, remembering a cat from Breezeclan before.

Redheart, the medicine cat of Breezeclan, came forward. “We can trust them, Lunastar.” she said.

Applefur gasped. “You’re Lunastar!” she said excitedly.

Lunastar nodded and smiled. “I am thy sister of Lightning Sunstar. What thy princess of the night asks, though, who are thou?” she asked.

Dashfang stepped forward and bowed down. “I am Dashfang, a warrior of your sister’s clan. This is Applefur, she is my best friend.” She explained.

Lunastar put her horn to Dashfang and Applefur’s head. “Good, now I can trust you if my sister made you warriors. She slowly walked to her clan. “All cats old, err wait, I don’t need to say that. These cats will be leading us home! They have been through a long tough journey to get to us! We shall follow them home!” she yowled in her loud voice.

Dashfang smiled at Applefur and they flew off.  Lunastar flew with Dashfang and Gracefulfall. Dashfang looked at

Gracefulfall’s kit. “Are you getting tired of holding him? I could hold him.” She said kindly.

Gracefulfall handed her the kit and Dashfang grasped him carefully. “What’s his name?” she asked the queen.

She shrugged and looked at the sky. “His name is Moonkit.” She said and she looked at her kit.

Dashfang flew safely across the sky when they felt rain come down on them. They saw shelter and she looked at the leader. “There’s shelter down below, should we go?” she asked.

Lunastar looked down at her shivering clan. “Yes, we should. Please go to the shelter!” she yowled down.

All the cats ran into the barn and they looked at the sky. The lightning clashed and the thunder banged. Applefur walked over to Dashfang and she smiled. “Well this is a good spot to rest.” She lay down on her paws and slept a little.

Lunastar’s ears pricked and she looked around. “Shh, I hear paw steps!” she whispered.

“Ah, so you came crawling back to me, didn’t you Dashfang?” asked a familiar voice.

Dashfang got to her haunches, and was ready to pounce when she saw a golden cat with a pink mane jumped out of the forest. Dashfang smiled and hugged her old friend. “Flutterpaw!” she yelled.

Flutterpaw smiled. She smiled at her two old friends.

Dashfang thought to herself: I still remember when I was a kitty-pet and I was young. She then lies down and she fell asleep.

She woke with a shake and she looked at Applefur. “What? It’s the middle of the night.” She said.

“Redheart is getting a message from Lunarclan!” she yelled and she shook her head.

Lunastar looked at her medicine cat. “What, what did they say?” she asked the calm cat.

“They said that there will be many unnecessary deaths tomorrow.” She said.

The clan gasps when they realize that Flutterpaw and Comet left.