Warriors: Everfree of Secrets

by Bluepaw

Rating: everyone
Tags: Original Character, Rainbow Dash, Adventure, Princess Celestia, Crossover, Tragedy, Applejack, My Little Pony: Friendship is Magic, Alternate Universe, Sad, Anthro, Other
Length: 16289

In the everfree there are secrets, that most do not want to know.

Cover art by CandyCoatedCats

In Equestria there are four types of cats. Pegasus cats, unicorn cats, earth cats, and alicorn cats. They all live with ponies, dogs, and other wild animals.

FEAR ITSELF WILL SAVE THIS CLAN

The tensions of Lightningclan are still very high. All the clans may be joining together. As the loyalties of all the cats shift, it's hard for Dashfang to know who she should trust.

Dashfang is determined to find the truth of the death of Purpletail, the formal Lightningclan deputy. Although, as she looks she uncovers secrets in the everfree, that should have stayed secrets . . .

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

Published 2014-01-03 04:00:05 UTC
Last updated 2014-03-25 20:29:39 UTC

Chapter One

Dashfang ran down the ravine trying to fight against the snowy storm of leaf-bare. She gripped a mouse in her teeth and she shook her paws off as she went. The sent of the mouse shot into her nostrils, and she felt her stomach growl. She has not eaten since yesterday morning. That’s leaf-bare for her.

She was starving, and she felt like she wanted to give up and fall into the freezing snow. However, she knew that the clan needed to be fed. Her wings felt like they were frozen.

A glow of pride replaced her cold thoughts as she thought of the battle that had just happened yesterday. The Breezeclan cats had been much outnumbered by the Lakeclan and Shadeclan cats, but they asked them for help. They were fighting to death, and they soon won against the two clans.

She then ran into the clan camp, and went through the leaves that had been the entrance. She saw all the cats inside their dens, and then she saw Setclaw, examining the clan. She walked over to Dashfang, and looked coldly into her eyes. “Where have you been?” she asked, and she started to lick her paw.

Her smile turned into a cold frown, and she put down her prey. “I’ve been hunting.” She mewed, and she picked her prey back up and brought it to the fresh-kill pile.

Setclaw ran after her and mewed, “I do not think that you need to go hunting again.” She looked into Dashfang, and she smiled. “You are going to the gathering tonight.” She then walked over to the warriors den.

Dashfang picked up a mouse and a vole, and saw Applefur walking into the den, after Setclaw. She followed her, and she saw three cats sitting together. Setclaw, Daringtail, and Soarwing talked to each other. Dashfang lifted her ears and she tried to listen, but they were whispering too much.

Applefur put her paw on Dashfang’s shoulder. “You okay catmint?” she asked, and Dashfang looked into her green eyes.

“No,” she whispered. “I want to know more about Setclaw killing Purpletail.” She looked back at Setclaw and she frowned.

Applefur frowned too. “Well we can’t go, because we would have to go through Breezeclan territory,” she mewed, and Dashfang’s eyes furrowed.

“That’s a risk we’ll have to take,” mewed Dashfang, and she looked back at Setclaw.

She saw her reflection in Setclaw’s eyes, and Daringtail growled, “Why in the world are you staring at that kitty-pet!”

Dashfang snarled at Daringtail, and Setclaw stood. “We will leave at Moonrise! Get some rest!” she yowled, and they all slept.

Dashfang and Applefur, however, stood up a while. “Applefur, we will leave after the gathering,” she mewed, and they went to sleep.

They both woke when they felt a paw touch their face. Sunstar was shaking them, and Dashfang sat straight up. “We’re leaving now,” she mewed, and she turned to fly to Castle Rock. She called all the cats and told them that it was time to leave.

They all ran to the edge of their territory where the fourtrees had been laying for years. Sunstar stopped, and the cats waited for her to give the signal to move.

Dashfang looked at Sunstar. Suddenly, Setclaw ran over to her and mewed, “Are we going to let them know about Bloodface?” she asked, and Sunstar shook her head.

“No, we will have to keep that a secret,” she mewed, and she looked at her clan. “We will not mention Bloodface to the clan! He will bring chaos to all the clans!” she yowled, and she flicked her tail. The cats came running down the hill into the four trees. They saw the cats in between the trees. Then Sunstar ran on top of the great rock, and the clan leaders smiled.

Dashfang tried to find Applefur, but then she saw her friend walking away with Copper. She frowned, and she saw some elders talking about warriors. Then the gathering starts.

It was a very short meeting, and Dashfang remembered the last gathering when all the leaders almost started a fight. Dashfang looked for Applefur, and she popped in front of her. “Are you ready?” asked Dashfang.

Applefur frowned. “To see Fluttershy?” she asked.

“Not so loud!” Dashfang yowled.

Applefur nodded, and she mewed, “Yes I am ready to see Fluttershy,” She mewed, and Dashfang nodded back. They then run into the forest and start their journey to Fluttershy.

Chapter Two

Dashfang and Applefur ran through the calm, crisp wind, and the snow on the soft ground slowed them a little bit. Applefur lifted her paws up and down and she frowned. “Are we getting any closer? If I walk any further, my paws will freeze to the ground!” she yowled, and Dashfang sniffed the air.

She smelled something. It was Flutterpaw! “This way!” she yowled, and they were off. She stared into the two-leg farm, and smelled the old plants she used to play in. She sniffed it in, and sighed. Applefur noticed, and then a cat jumped on them.

“Who are you?” it asked, and then it stopped, smiled, and jumped off, licking its paw. Cosmic soon jumped out, and smiled. “What are you two doing out here today? Especially out in this cold?” he asked, and then he shook his head. “Never mind, come inside,” he jumped in the bright red barn, and a little shadow came out of the hay.

It was a voice, it was her voice, but it was too loud to be her. “Who’s there?” it echoed.

Cosmic smiled, and was about to say Dashfang and Applefur, but Dashfang cut her off. “It’s Dashfang, and Applefur!” she yowled into the darkness, and Flutterpaw jumped out smiling.

“Hello girls!” she mewed, and she purred against the two. Her tail tickled Dashfang’s nose. She sneezed, and smiled.

“Why don’t we get some of those mice over there?” Dashfang asked.

“I know that Setclaw killed Purpletail! I saw her do it!” she yowled, and Dashfang and Applefur gave her strange looks. She sighed, “Do I really need to tell you the whole story?” she asked.

Dashfang and Applefur nodded. “Please, Flutterpaw, we need to know so we can tell Sunstar, and help her against Setclaw!” they both yowled, and she nodded.

“It was a dark day for Lightningclan. The moon shone on the rocks, and for a couple moments, the whole night was perfect. We hid in the bushes; it was my first night out. Purpletail gave us the signal to attack. The Lakeclan warriors bounded out of the water, and the battle began,” Flutterpaw shook as she told the terrifying story, “I was attacking Burningfur, you know him right? Anyway, Fleurheart, the former deputy, ran into me, and growled ‘No Lightningclan warrior will hurt this warrior!’” She unsheathed her claws as if she were in the fight right now.

“I saw Purpletail struggling against Fleurheart, and Setclaw ran into him. Setclaw told me to leave, but I needed to see what was going on. The large cat, Fleurheart, was about to attack, when a huge rock fell on top of him! It was probably my fault, but anyway, Purpletail saw the Lakeclan cats retreating at the sight of the deputy dead. Then I saw the terrible part! I saw Setclaw stalk behind Purpletail when everyone left, I was the last. She dug her fangs into Purpletail, and I saw the blood drip down. I stared at the cat like I was having a nightmare. Then, of course, we ran home. I was first to get back.” She stopped, and breathed heavily, “D-do I really have to tell you more?” she asked.

Dashfang and Applefur shook her head. “No that’s all, but when you told the cats at the gathering, you told it wrong. I told it to Sunstar, and she did not believe me.” She mewed.

Flutterpaw stared at them, “Did I?” she asked, “I meant to say the one I just did.” Applefur shook her head.

“Oh well, as long as we know the truth, we can tell Sunstar,” said Dashfang, and her pelt was covered with snow when she got up. She shook herself off, and licked Flutterpaw. She smiled, and they all said good bye. The thought of Dashfang telling Sunstar ran through her body. She just had to remember what Flutterpaw said.

They ran into some mice, but decided to leave them be, they needed to get home quickly. Dashfang sniffed, and stopped. “What is it?” asked Applefur.

“Breezeclan!” Dashfang yowled, and they saw Wildwhisker and Chrystalfoot. They looked around, and Dashfang and Applefur tried to hide, but they saw them.

“Dashfang, Applefur!” she yowled, and they both ran over. “What are you doing here?”

Dashfang smiled, and rubbed her head. “Uh, we thought we could smell Shadeclan in here!” she yowled, and Chrystalfoot showed her teeth and growled.

“Shadeclan!” she yowled, “In our territory! Especially after what we did to them then!” she showed her teeth, and Wildwhisker did the same.

Applefur giggled. “It must’ve been an old scent!” she mewed, and the two Breezeclan cats smiled.

“Of course, now do you need any food?” she asked.

Dashfang cocked her head. “Shouldn't you scold us or something? We are in your territory,”

The two laughed, and the deputy licked Dashfang. “We owe you our lives, and again, wouldn’t you like any food?” she asked kindly.

Dashfang and Applefur shook their heads, and they ran back home. When they got back, and ran through the old covering of the clan, they saw an evil eye staring at them. It was Setclaw, staring at them, on her cold haunches, shoulders above her head, and her green eyes stared deep into Dashfang’s

“Where have you two been?” she asked, “You go on a long journey, and come back with no food?” they stared at her in disbelief.

Chapter Four

Dashfang got to her paws slowly, and she blinked her eyes. She yawned, and went outside. The fresh-kill was low, and she grabbed one quickly. It was a small, stringy mouse, but it would still work. She went to the den, and woke Applefur up. “Applefur, do you want to go hunting?” she asked, and Applefur slowly got out of her bed.

She stretched, and she yawned. “Y-yea, sure,” she mewed, and Redpaw jumped out of the apprentice den.

“Can I come!” he mewed happily, more excited that usual.

“Yeah,” mewed Dashfang, and Lightningstorm crawled out of his den.

“I guess I’m going too?” he mewed, and he stretched out his legs. He sat, and wrapped his legs neatly around his paws.

Dashfang nodded, and they crawled out of the cold tunnel. She saw a nice sunny day ahead. The sun burned onto her bright coat, and it shined back into the sky. She smiled at Lightningstorm, whose tail stuck straight into the air as he hunted. She saw a little rabbit hopping with only three legs. She crouched down, and she waited. She pounced, and the rabbit was pinned onto the ground. “I caught a rabbit!” she yowled, through clenched teeth.

Lightningstorm smiled, and mewed, “Why don’t you bring it to Spitfire and Browniepaw. I hear they’re busy right now,” he mewed, and Dashfang nodded.

She ran over to the medicine cat’s den, and she saw the two cats talking. “Now, Snowblind has a broken bone from her tripping on Castle Rock. What do you use to heal it?” she asked the young apprentice.

Browniepaw hopped to his feet, and looked into his teacher’s eyes. “I need cobwebs to bind the broken bone, get poppy seeds to stop the hurting, and then get some rush to help the cobwebs,” he mewed quickly, and Spitfire smiled.

“Good, now go on and get it.” Spitfire mewed, and Browniepaw limped into Dashfang.

“Oopes, sorry Dashfang, I barely saw you,” he mewed and he went around her. “Is that for us?” he asked, and he started at the rabbit.

Dashfang dropped it, and pushed it over to Spitfire. “A little stringy, but it will work,” she mewed. She bit into it, and pushed the rest to Browniepaw.

Browniepaw’s leg was healing a little, but he still had to limp. Setclaw trapped him when she wanted Sunstar.  Poor Browniepaw went behind her back to go see Setclaw. He was hit by a monster, and suffered with an injured leg. He then became the Lightningclan medicine cat apprentice.

After he finished the rabbit, he left the den. Dashfang nodded to Spitfire, and she left the den. Applefur stood outside the den, and smiled when Dashfang hopped out of the den. “Copperpelt wants to talk to us today,” she mewed. “It’s about Fleurheart,” she went as, after Dashfang did not answer.

Dashfang pricked her ears. I thought you said you would only meet at Gatherings, she thought.

She still had to leave, however. She went to Lakeclan with Applefur by her side. The frozen river stretched across the ground until they found a little island in the middle. They slid across until they reached a little thicket next to the ice. Suddenly the thicket shook, and a brown figure hopped in. He shook himself off, and licked Applefur. Dashfang looked outside the thicket. “Did anyone follow you?” she asked uncertainly.

Copperpelt shook his head. “No, no one followed,” he mewed, but a rustling in the bushes alerted Dashfang.

A little Lakeclan warrior jumped out of the bushes. It was a she-pegasus with a dark orange mane. She hissed: “I already have to hide this joker, why are there two Lightningclan warriors now?” She looked at Copperpelt as she growled.

“Its okay, Orangemist, she is the same as Applefur,” Copperpelt mewed calmly, and he introduced the cats.

Her fur got less tense, and Applefur went out the thicket with Copperpelt. “We’re going to leave you alone for a little bit, so you two can talk!” Copperpelt mewed, and, before Dashfang could protest, they both left.

Orangemist licked her paw, and started to cool down. “So what did you want to talk about?” she asked happily.

Dashfang smiled at her, and she started her story. She told her about Flutterpaw telling them about Fleurheart, and that the rock crushed her. “So why did Fleurheart say that no Lightningclan warrior will harm Burningfur?” she asked to Orangemist.

Orangemist closed her eyes. “Burningfur is my brother, but I do not know why my father would say that. Maybe my mother knows. Her name is Goldiefur, just be careful she can be a little crazy. I do know, however, that my father was killed by a falling rock,” she mewed, and she looked into Dashfang’s uncertain eyes. “If you want to meet my mom, you can see her tomorrow in the afternoon.”

Dashfang nodded, and found Applefur and Copperpelt outside. She brought her home, and they got into the warriors den. She fell asleep, but had no dreams that night.

Chapter Five

Dashfang woke when she heard a loud yowl on top of Castle Rock. She rolled over and got out of the den. Her eyes opened slowly, but closed again. She shook herself, as the ceremony began. Dashfang saw two little kits, pink, one with a dark flat mane, and the other with a mane like her mothers.

Then a little squeak came out behind Dashfang. “I’m as big as dumb Coffeekit! Why can’t I be an apprentice?” growled Skykit. Dashfang’s little niece was getting bigger, but she was not six moons.

“Because, Skykit you are not six moons, so you cannot be an apprentice yet,” her foster mother, Morningdew, mewed.

“Threadkit and Coffeekit, you have reached the age of six moons, and it is time for you to be apprenticed. Threadkit, from this day on, until you receive your warrior name, you will be known as Threadpaw. Your mentor will be Cloudystorm. I hope Cloudystorm will pass down all she knows on to you,”

Threadpaw ran over to her new mentor, and she touched her nose with his. Then Sunstar went on, “Cloudystorm, you had been a great mentor to Lightningstorm. I hope you can pass these qualities to your new apprentice.” Then she turned to Coffeekit. “Coffeekit, from this day on, until you receive your warrior name, you will be known as Coffeepaw. Twistfur, you will be her mentor. I hope that the quality that your former mentor taught you will be given to this apprentice.”

The clan cheered for the two new apprentices and Dashfang heard their names being shouted across the crisp sky. She looked at the two apprentices giggling and growling at the other two mentors. The young apprentices then ran into the apprentice den, and mewed with surprise. It did look bigger on the inside.

Sunstar looked down on the two, new apprentices, but she was not smiling. She was frowning. She looked at Dashfang, and she felt a pain stab in her left side. She looked down at her as if she was going to do something, but instead, Setclaw led her into her den.

Dashfang could not help wondering why she was staring at her. A cold breeze ruffled her fur, and she turned the other way so no dirt got in her eyes. She stared at the sky, and she started to flap her wings and get off the ground. She flew onto the cloud. I hope that Skykit will get a Pegasus mentor so she can learn to fly. she thought to herself, and she looked down onto her clan

Applefur padded under her friend’s cloud. Dashfang flew down and she looked at her friend. Applefur mewed, “We need to see Copperpelt, Orangemist, and Goldiefur today,” she mewed and they needed to start their journey.

They swiftly passed Lightningpath, and a few monsters roared past before Dashfang and Applefur could pass. They passed Owl Tree, and they soon reached Fourtrees. Applefur and Dashfang stood for a couple of heartbeats, but then kept moving. They passed the two-leg bridge, and finally got to the lake. There was no stopping now. They quickly padded to where the thicket was. Dashfang stopped, and shivered at the air. The air was crisp, and cold, but they needed to keep moving.

Finally, they reached the thicket they hid in last time they came. They hid for a while, but no one came. “Do you think it was a trap?” Dashfang asked, and Applefur shook her head.

“Of course not!” she growled. “Why would Copperpelt trap me?” she looked at Dashfang with anger burning in her eyes.

Dashfang flinched at the way she said it. “I don’t know, I guess it’s just that, well, it’s taking so long.” Dashfang hated lying to Sunstar, but right now, she had to do it. She still thought that this was a trap, and they saw the sun turn to Sun-high. Dashfang stared outside the thicket, but then something happened.

A low growl came from outside the thicket. “Wait, I smell Lightningclan cats!” a little voice yowled. An elder, almost as big as Dashfang, jumped on top of Dashfang and Applefur. Her golden, fluffy fur puffed into Dashfang’s face as she fought them. She was about to strike when they all heard a large yowl.

Orangemist jumped into the thicket, and the golden elder was about to strike. “Mother!” growled Orangemist, “Stop right now!” She did stop the elder, and she growled and spat at Orangemist

The elder got off Dashfang, and stared at Orangemist. “Why are they here!” she growled, and she stared into her daughters eyes. She slowly got less tense as Orangemist told the story.

“Okay, so you are Goldiefur?” Dashfang asked.

The elder nodded.

“Can we talk now?” she asked, and Goldiefur got to her paws.

“Yes,” Goldiefur answered, “But I want to talk to only you, Dashfang, the rest of you leave.” She looked into Dashfang’s eyes.

“So, why did Fleurheart say that no Lightningclan cat would harm Burningfur?” she asked, and Goldiefur put her head down. She was silent for a moment, and all that Dashfang could hear was the breathing of the wind. It was so quiet that they could hear every animal chattering.

“Well, as you know, Fleurheart is their ‘adopted’ father,” she mewed, and she got to her paws.

Dashfang looked at her burning eyes as she said it. Goldiefur stood, and she stared at Dashfang. “The two warriors, Burningfur and Orangemist, are not my kits, they are from Lightningclan,” she revealed one of the most powerful secrets in the forest. However, what would she tell Sunstar?

Chapter Six

As Goldiefur looked at her paws, her eyes suddenly shot. “If you tell Orangemist or Burningfur about this, I will rip you to shreds, and bring you back as prey!” she yowled to Dashfang, and Dashfang flinched as she heard it.

She nodded, “Of course not,” she bowed her head, and smiled at Goldiefur.

She ran out of the thicket, and she beckoned Applefur with her tail. “What did she say?” she asked and she ran over to her friend, licking Copperpelt goodbye. The two young lovers have been meeting for a while, but in secret. The whole clan had no idea that they were meeting, only her.

She shook her head, mewed, “Nothing,” and they left Lakeclan territory.

Applefur turned her head to see Setclaw standing on the edge of camp. Dashfang left to Sunstar, and she saw her staring up at the light filled sky. She turned her head, and sat up straight when she saw Dashfang come in. “Yes Dashfang?” she asked tiredly.

Dashfang looked at her, frowned, looked at the exit, but stayed. She stared at Sunstar for a couple moments, and then spoke. “I wanted to talk about Setclaw,” she mewed.

Sunstar’s halfhearted smile turned into a frown. She stared into Dashfang’s eyes, and she mewed, “I thought we had dropped this subject.” She stared coldly into Dashfang’s eyes.

She stared at her, fear slammed into her body, and she stared at her leader’s eyes. “I found that Setclaw was lying about killing Fleurheart’s death was an accident and that a rock had fallen on him.”

Sunstar’s eyes turned from cold to frozen, and she stared deep into Dashfang’s fur.

Dashfang’s chest puffed out, and she mewed, quietly, “And, we believe that Orangemist and Burningfur are Lightningclan born.”

Sunstar’s eyes lightened, and she stared at the sky again. Her eyes looked sad, as if she was asking Lightningclan for questions. “We will stop talking of this Dashfang!” she mewed. “And we will not be speaking to anyone about this!” she sent her away, and she sent Dashfang away.

Applefur was waiting outside for her, and she turned quickly to see Dashfang step out of the den. Her eyes were light unlike Sunstar’s fearful eyes. She looks at her best friend, and she mewed, “What did she say to you?” She looked into Dashfang’s eyes.

Dashfang shook her head, and she smiled at her friend. “She didn’t believe me,” she mewed, and Applefur nudged her.

“Oh don’t worry! Lets get some mice to munch on and get this out of out head!” she mewed, and she leaped over to the fresh-kill pile, but Dashfang stayed back, and stared over at Setclaw.

Would it be too late when Sunstar found out? She is n her last life. Does Setclaw know? Is she just waiting for the right time? She shook her head when she heard Applefur’s voice.

“You comin’ Dashfang?” she asked, and Dashfang got on one paw.

Dashfang looked at her, and smiled. She pushed the thoughts to the back of her head, and ran over to Applefur. “Yeah!” she yowled, “I’m coming!"

Chapter Seven

Dashfang saw about three little kits jeering at Bloodface. His rage showed in his yowls, and his mouth opened to curse at them. Boltstripe, who was supposed to be guarding them, smiled at her, but turned back to the kits.

Skykit was among them, and she started to swipe at the elder’s tail. He growled at the young cat, and another kit jumped in front of him, sticking out his tongue. Skykit then bit down into his tail, and he let out a huge yowl of agony.

Dashfang stared at the three kits and flattened her ears. “Skykit, Diamondkit, Silverkit! Enough!” she growled, and the three kits stopped.

Boltstripe flattened his ears, and growled at Dashfang. “They were doing fine!” she yowled. “They were just practicing their fighting techniques.” Her ears pointed up, and his eyes gleamed.

“Do they really have to do it to an elder?” she asked, putting her paw on her face. “Alright, that’s enough. Get away from Bloodface.” She pushed the kits away, and guided Bloodface to Spitfires den. He walked slowly into her small clearing. “And as for you Skykit, you should know better!” she yowled when she flew back.

Skykit flattened her ears. “Well, maybe I just wanted to show the other kits that I am not weak!” she growled, and she faced Diamondkit and Silverkit.

Dashfang looked into her cold eyes, but then looked away, growling. “Just because you’re a kitty-pet . . .”

She was cut off by Skykit’s voice. “What?” she growled.

Dashfang’s ears pricked. Hadn’t Morningdew told her that she was a kitty-pet? “You’re a kitty-pet, didn’t Morningdew tell you?” she mewed, her voice calm.

Skykit looked down at her paws. Dashfang growled curses under her breath and told her that she had been a kitty-pet. She had a kitty-pet mother, and most likely a kitty-pet father. When she finished Skykit’s eyes were huge.

“Why didn’t you tell me?” she asked helplessly.

“I thought that Morningdew did!” she growled, when Browniepaw popped up behind them.

His brown fur gleamed in the sunlight which reminded some two-leg dessert that they had accidently fed her. He smiled at them, and he mewed to them, “Is everything aright?” He looked down at Skykit. He smiled and patted her head. “Do you two want to come herb hunting with me?” he asked happily.

Dashfang and Skykit nodded, and they left the camp. Dashfang looked outside at the bright snow. It stood neatly in patches on the ground, and Skykit pounced in them. She got down and pounced on a leaf. Soon they heard a yowl from her. “Browniepaw, Browniepaw!” she mewed as she jumped over to the medicine cat apprentice. “Are these some good herbs?” she asked as she pointed to some dark purple herbs in a little bush. They looked like juniper berries, but they were too bright to be them.

Browniepaw’s eyes widened and he yowled over to the young kit, right before she was about to touch them. “No, don’t touch those!” she growled, and the kit jumped backwards. “These are deathberries. Some cats call them nightlock, but I prefer their formal name. I was first introduced to them when I was just about to touch them. Spitfire yowled at me throughout the rest of the day. She said that if I even touched them I would hurt by toxins.” He finished her speech and covered up the berries with leaves. “Some mouse-brained fox can unbury it and eat it,” her mewed with a giggle.

Dashfang still breathed heavily from the young cats yowl. She as surprised when he yowled for Browniepaw was usually mellow, and calm. His eyes burned with fear as he stared at the almost killed kit. Skykit breathed faster than Dashfang. She was, after all, the one that was about to touch the Nightlock. She purred when Skykit came up against her, shivering with fear.

“C’mon you two,” she mewed, “let’s get home.” She pounced away, and Skykit went with her. Her eyes were huge, and she stared at the nursery. Dashfang knew she was thinking terrible things. She rapped her tail around her, and she touched her nose to her nieces. Skykit scooted closer to her aunt, and she squeaked something that Dashfang couldn’t understand. Then she said it again.

“I’m sorry.”

Chapter Eight

Dashfang looked out through the tiny hole of the den. She looked in front on her, and she saw some little kits suckling their mother. She smiled, but then remembered there were not kits this small in the clan. Her eyes narrowed, and she looked up at the mother. She was a light pinkish and orange, but Dashfang couldn’t tell which one was which. She looked at the glowing queen fade into the darkness, and the kits squealed. Dashfang stared in horror as their squealing grew. Suddenly Rareleaf slowly camp in behind them. She rapped her tail around the tiny kits, and she disappeared with the kits fading away with her.

Dashfang woke with a shake of her paw. “Quiet down mouse-brain!” growled a familiar voice. Soarwing was lashing his tail, and he turned to get more sleep.

Dashfang licked her paw, and thought to herself. Were those the kits from Lightningclan? She shook the thought out of her mind, and got to her paws. The bright morning sunlight came through the den, and Dashfang’s fur welcomed it through the bracken. She stretched, and she walked out the cool den.

Applefur was most likely with Copperpelt. Redpaw kicked a little pebble with his paw, and growled under his breath.

Dashfang padded over to the young apprentice, and licked his ear. “What’s wrong?” she asked, and she curled her tail around her paws. She smiled, but the young apprentice did not share her happiness.

He sighed, and mewed, “I haven’t seen Applefur all day, and she hasn’t trained with me over the last moon! I’ll never become a warrior.” He started poking at the ground, and Dashfang lay with him.

“Do you want to hunt with Lightningstorm and me?” she asked kindly.

His ears pricked up. “Really?” he asked, and he popped to his paws.

Dashfang giggled and nodded. “Of course,” she mewed. “No cat should be neglected like that.” She slowly got to her paws, and padded over to the warriors den. “Lightningstorm,” she mewed, “Redpaw and I are going hunting, would like to come?”

Lightningstorm slowly got to his paws, and nodded. His eyes were wide with excitement, and Dashfang saw Setclaw crawl out behind him. “Don’t go too far,” she growled, and they all leaped off.

Dashfang smelled a mouse, and she got into a hunting-crouch. She pounced onto it, and she killed it with one swipe of her large paw. She carried it back, and she saw three little kits and their mother. Skykit, Diamondkit, and Silverkit were playing in the cold snow, and they mewled happily. Dashfang smiled, and set the mouse in a little hole, burying it.

“Hello, kits,” she mewed, and she licked her nieces head.

“Dashfang, nice to see you,” Morningdew mewed. Her eyes glittered and her fur burned in the snow. “How are you today?” she mewed as the three kits ran into each other.

“Fine,” mewed Dashfang, and she saw Skykit jump off somewhere. “Hold on.” She pounced after her, Lightningstorm and Redpaw behind her.

They heard a large yowl come from in the woods. Dashfang’s ears pricked and she ran over to where it was coming from. She ran straight into the bushes, and saw Skykit being attacked by a badger. Dashfang raked her back across it, and Redpaw went straight under it, scraping down its stomach. Blood dropped to the ground, and Dashfang ran across the hard floor.

She started to run across the leaf-covered floor. She quickly ran across the clearing when she saw Redpaw’s leg ripped. She stared at the leg, and ran to the poor apprentice. She then tried to chase off the badger, but its huge paw ripped through her wing. She yowled with pain, and she felt her eyes tear up. She looked at the badger, fire in its eyes, and she growled. She bit its skin, and it yowled. She saw the blood of her wing on the ground. She winced when Redpaw touched it. She then saw Browniepaw run up to her. He picked her up, and they went close to the clearing. They stopped when they heard a cat behind them.

“Skykit!” they heard a growl behind them. Setclaw stepped out into the clearing, and mewed. “I can’t believe you think that every warrior has to look after you!” she growled. “If you want to be an apprentice so badly, you have to act like one! You will look after the elders, change their bedding, and feed them every day!” she growled, swept around, and she chased off the kit.

Dashfang raced after her, and she saw Spitfire and Bloodface sitting together, sharing tongues, and spoke quiet words.

Chapter Nine

When Browniepaw was finished tending to Dashfang’s wound on her wing, she talked to Setclaw about the badger fight. “It wasn't Skykit’s fault!” she growled.

Setclaw growled deep in her throat, and she snarled. “Well, she was the one who left camp! And got out of your sight!” she growled, and left.

Dashfang sighed. Skykit had nothing to do with the badger attack. She ran over to the elders den when she heard Knitear growl. “That’s not how you do it, ya’ dumb kit!” she growled, and Skykit frowned, low to the ground.

She stepped out the den, when she saw Dashfang standing, and staring sympathetically at her. She came over, and licked her ear happily. “You need some help?” she asked, and she went into the warriors den. Knitear grunted as she saw the two she-cats walk into the den.

“Ah, so you’re here to ‘tend to me’?” she asked, and she lay on her paws.

Dashfang smiled, and licked her patient’s ear. She then started to change the bedding under her, and she heard Blossomtail growling playfully at her elder friend. “Oh calm down, Knitear,” she mewed, “You’re just being mean to the kit.” She licked Skykit’s ear, and she mewed something under her breath.

Dashfang smiled at her, and whispered into Skykit’s ear. “I’m going to get some more moss; try not to mess this up!” she mewed, giggling, and she left the den.

She then saw a flicker of movement near the nursery. She looked into it, knowing that Setclaw was pregnant only for a little while. She smelled the air, but all she could smell was Morningdew and Pinkiefur. They spoke calmly about Setclaw, and Dashfang walked up to them, her tail high.

“Do you know where Setclaw is?” she asked calmly. She looked into both of their eyes. Morningdew was mad, but Pinkiefur’s were unreadable.

“She said that she needed to go to the filth place. Why?” she asked, and she looked deeply into Dashfang’s cold eyes.

She could feel fear shoot through her, and she felt her heart pounding from the pressure. How could she tell the queens about Purpletail? She shook her head. “No reason, Sunstar just wanted her,” she mewed, and she walked away.

She walked toward the stench of Setclaw’s ash laden fur. Her scent was in two-leg place, which was a strange place for her to be in. She saw her, but she couldn’t get close enough to see or hear who she was talking to. She sniffed the air and she smelled cats. They weren’t kitty-pets, but they didn’t smell of any clan. She then turned around. She realized that Cloud had no cat to defend her when she was in her garden. Was Setclaw planning to attack Dashfang’s only sister? She ran as fast as she could towards her sister’s house. When she finally got there, she could smell her sister over the fence. “Cloud?” she asked, and she jumped onto the fence.

Cloud jumped onto the fence, and smiled at her sister. She licked her sister’s ear, and mewed, “What’s going on?”

Dashfang’s ear twitched and she looked into her sister’s cold eyes. She looked down, and she could smell Setclaw again. “Have you seen any orange cats lately?” she asked.

“I have plenty of orange cats in my neighborhood,” she mewed, giggling. Dashfang looked into her eyes seriously, and Cloud coughed. “Sorry, can you be more specific?” she asked, calmly.

Dashfang thought of Setclaw. Her green eyes burned in her memories as she thought of the cold, dark deputy. She told her she had orange fur, a red and orange tail and mane, and she was a strong unicat. Cloud frowned.

“I’m sorry, I haven’t,” she mewed, not realizing that it was a good thing she hadn’t seen the deputy. Dashfang nodded, and was about to lead away when her sister called her name. “Wait, I just wanted to know if I could see Skykit sometime soon?” she asked, and Dashfang smiled.

“Of course, just in new-leaf okay?” she asked, and Cloud nodded. She licked her sister goodbye, and she walked home. She saw Setclaw back in the nursery. She saw the snow start to melt, and the crystal’s slowly started to thaw from the trees. New-leaf was beginning, and the thaw had begun. But what would happen to her clan if Setclaw took over?

Chapter Ten

Sunstar listened to Dashfang’s story about the story of scenting the cats near two-leg place, but she never mentions Setclaw.  Sunstar Blinked, and looked away. “Did you see any of these cats?” she asked, and she looked outside the den.

Dashfang shook her head. “No, I did not, Sunstar,” she mewed, and she saw no expression in Sunstar’s cold eyes.

Sunstar sighed, and flicked her tail to let her leave. Dashfang quickly left, for she knew that Sunstar was in a bad mood, and she met up with Applefur. She licked her friend’s ears, and she sat with her. Dashfang didn’t tell her about Setclaw, but she felt she needed to.

The leaf-bare snow melted and the water fell onto Dashfang’s head. She shook herself off, and she heard a quiet yowl from inside the nursery. She knew that Setclaw was in there, and so was Skykit. She ran towards the den, and she saw Setclaw towering over the kit. “This moss is still wet!” she growled, and Dashfang gasped.

She jumped between them, and yowled, “Now, now, we don’t need any fights in the nursery.” She looked at Pinkiefur, and she nodded.

Pinkiefur pressed her nose against Setclaw’s back. “C’mon Setclaw, why don’t you take my nest for now,” she mewed, and she turned to Skykit. “And while she’s sleeping, Skykit, why don’t you get some new moss.” She pushed the little kit along, and Dashfang smiled at her kind words. She then followed Skykit into the forest to collect the moss.

She looked at Skykit, and puffed out air. The sky was clear, and she wished her head was the same. She looked down at Skykit, and licked the little ones head. When they turned back, they saw Applefur, Lightningstorm, and Fleetingwind behind her. Their eyes were wide, and she saw them staring back at camp. “Setclaw wants you,” Applefur spoke, and Dashfang nodded.

As they ran back home, Dashfang heard Applefur talking to herself calmly, but strangely. She never acted this strange before. What was she doing? Dashfang told the pack to go ahead, and to tell Setclaw she needs to do something quickly. “Okay, Dashfang,” was all they said, and then they left as swift as the wind.

Dashfang looked into Applefur’s eyes, and she mewed softly, “Are you okay, Applefur?” She looked deep into her friend’s eyes, and she sighed. “I can’t help you if you don’t tell me,” she mewed, and Applefur sighed.

“Okay, fine,” she mewed, and Dashfang saw her eyes weaken. She mewed quietly, but Dashfang was not satisfied with her answer.

“Speak up Applefur!” she growled, and she did speak up.

“I’m pregnant!” she yowled and Dashfang stepped back.

“W-what?” she asked, and Applefur moved her mane in front of her face. Dashfang couldn’t believe what she was hearing. She has been eating more, and she has been getting heavier, but she never even guessed she would be pregnant!

When would she tell Copperpelt? Would she tell any of the clan yet? “We need to tell the clan, don’t we?” Dashfang asked, feeling a bit mad about her friend not telling her before.

Applefur looked away. She closed her eyes, and took a deep breath. Well we’d have to tell them sooner or later wouldn’t we?” she asked, smiling a bit.

They heard a little yowl from behind them, so they ran towards the patrol. “Where have you been!” growled Setclaw. “I need all of you to patrol the Lakeclan border! Now!” she yowled, and she swept into the kits den.

“What’s her problem?” asked Fleetingwind.

“You have no idea,” mewed Dashfang, and they went to the Lakeclan border. It was a fun walk; they were talking, making jokes, laughing at each other. Then they got to the Lakeclan border.

“What has happened?” asked Applefur as she starred down at the lake. It overflowed onto the bank and border of Lakeclan.

Then Rareleaf’s voice buzzed in her head. “The only thing stronger than fear is hope.”

Dashfang knew that Applefur was thinking about Copperpelt. Dashfang heard Fleetingwind behind her chuckling, and she whipped around. “What is wrong with you?” she growled. “They are in trouble, and there are still kits in that camp.”

Fleetingwind shrugged and ran back to their camp. They ran into Sunstar’s den and told her everything. She got to her feet and went to Castle Rock. “All cats old enough to catch their own prey please come to castle rock!” she yowled. “The clan Lakeclan has been flooded from the thaw of this leaf-bare. If we do not do something, the flood may create chaos in all of the clans.” She stopped for a couple of second for the cats to speak.

“How can we help the lake from flooding?” asked Pinkiefur. The rest of the cats murmured in agreement.

Sunstar growled over the noise. “We will figure something out!” she growled. She then walked back into her den, murmuring something to herself.

Applefur walked over to Dashfang, and she smiled. “Let me guess, you want to see Copperpelt?” she mewed teasingly. Applefur blushed, and looked away.

“Well, he could be in trouble, there are kits there as you said,” she mewed, and she looked at the exit to the camp. “So are you coming or not?” she asked, and Dashfang sighed.

She laughed, and mewed, “Alright, alright, I’ll come with you.” They ran through the forest and to the bank. The river was flooding onto their paws, and their eyes were blinking away water that splashed into their faces. They both ran towards the small, slippery stepping-stones that went over the cold, over-flowing bank.

Dashfang nodded, when they heard little mewls crying for help. They turned to see three little kits standing on a breaking nest that floated softly on the river. Dashfang gasped, and Applefur pushed her. “You can fly! You jump in and get them!” she yowled, and Dashfang snarled.

“I broke my wings in the badger attack you mouse-brain!” she growled, but she still jumped into the water. She was tossed and turned, and the water churned her fur against her skin. Her eyes widened when she saw a huge boulder right in front of her. She ran her back into it, and she turned to fight the current. She saw a huge wave run her into another rock, and the kits mewed with happiness when they saw the warriors. Dashfang grabbed part of the nest, but when she turned, all she saw was the rushing water of the lake. It was as if the only thing in the world was this lake, these kits, and Dashfang.

Chapter Eleven

Chapter Eleven

Dashfang then felt fur brush against her, and she saw Applefur grabbing one of the kits. Dashfang grabbed the other, and they swam quickly to the other bank.

They heard rustling around them, and they tried to hide, but it was too late; Ravenfur was already surrounding them with Burningfur and Strikeclaw behind her. Her eyes were slits and theirs were huge. “What are you Lightningclan warriors doing on our territory?” she growled. Her eyes blazed with fury, but Dashfang showed no fear.

She snarled and growled, “We were saving these kits. Now, if you don’t want them back, we can throw them back in the river!” she threatened.

Ravenfur stepped back, and she looked at the kits. “Come with us, we will take the kits with us,” she growled, and Dashfang followed with Applefur behind her, her eyes glistening with fear. They crossed into the calm new territory for Lakeclan for as long as the flood will go.

Dashfang saw cats snarling at them angrily, but she did not see Copperpelt anywhere. Applefur looked worried, but Dashfang stayed close to her. She looked around, but all she saw were cats snarling, or covering their kits. “Where are my kits!” a voice yowled back behind a nest. Then Orangemist jumped out of the nest, and saw her two kits sitting, licking their paws dry. She started licking one of them fiercely. She picked them up, and nodded to Dashfang and she led them into the nursery.

Ravenfur snapped them back into the camp by yowling, “What are you doing here?”

Dashfang stepped forward, and she started speaking roughly. “We were just making sure none of the warriors were fishing in the flood. We then saw the two kits, and we had to save them,” she mewed. She still had to keep Applefur and Copperpelt’s secret to herself. She slowly looked from cat to cat, but finally stared directly at the leader.

“Where did you find them, Ravenfur?” he asked, and Ravenfur stepped forward to her leader.

“We found them by the lake, Bluestar, with Orangemist’s kits next to them,” she mewed softly.

Bluestar looked from Dashfang to Applefur. Then he blinked. His skinny body turned to Copperpelt. “Prey is scarce,” explained Goldiefur. “We only have enough prey to feed a kit. The two-legs are even poisoning the lake.” She looked at the two young warriors, and Dashfang nodded.

“It’s settled then,” Dashfang mewed, and she turned to Applefur. “We will be hunting for Lakeclan on Lightningclan territory.”

Bluestar nodded, and he smiled. “Thank you, kind warriors,” he started as he looked at his clan. “We have been weak and frail, but no one’s helped us. Thanks you so much.” He turned, and Copperpelt came down to them when no one was looking.

When they walked home they slept soundly, but then Dashfang woke with a jolt. She heard mewling and crying. What was that? She went to the nursery, and saw Pinkiefur’s kits mewling. She looked behind her and she went to the warriors den. Applefur slept soundly. Dashfang came over to her, and nudged her with her nose. Applefur turned on her side, but Dashfang just grabbed her tail and pulled her out of the den.

“Applefur,” she whispered, “Wake up; we need to hunt for Lakeclan.”

Applefur got up slowly, and touched her nose to her tail. She started licking it, and then licked her stomach briskly. “Okay,” she mewed, “let’s go.”

Dashfang ran through the camp, trying to be silent, but she saw Skykit squeeze out of the nursery. “Dashfang!” she yowled. Luckily her squeak didn’t wake the others. “Where are you going? Can I come, can I come! Plea. . .” She was cut off by Dashfang’s paw slamming into her mouth.

“Quiet, what do you want to wake the whole forest?” she asked, and she shook her head. “No, you can’t co. . .”

“Please!” Skykit whispered, but Dashfang shook her head.

“No, we’re, umm, on a secret mission. Sunstar wants us to leave at once.” Luckily that broke Skykit. She left, and Dashfang let out a large breath.

They ran through the forest, and they finally got some prey to drop off. They walked to Lakeclan camp, and they heard yowls of excitement when they saw the two cats cross into the camp. The young kits ran over to see what they caught. Dashfang dropped a large vole, a mouse, and a bird. Applefur dropped hers, and the cats purred to them gratefully. Then Copperpelt came over to Applefur, and they went behind the same thrush they went behind last time. Orangemist came over to Dashfang. “How have you been?” she asked, and Dashfang smiled.

“Fine, you?” they talked as they walked towards the thrush Applefur and Copperpelt were in.

“I’m fine, just I wish the whole Copperpelt Applefur thing were just a dream,” she sighed, and she went into the thrush.

Dashfang looked at Copperpelt. He looked happy, and surprised. “Orangemist, Orangemist!” he yowled. “Applefur’s pregnant!”

Orangemist stepped back. “What!” she yowled, and Dashfang flinched at her hostility.

Copperpelt licked his mate, and she smiled. “I’ve been pregnant for only a couple of days,” she mewed, but Orangemist still looked shocked.

“Copperpelt?” she mewed and she jumped into the camp.

Copperpelt sighed, and mewed, “You guys should go, she’s pretty mad right now.” He jumped to her, and the two friends left.

As they walked on the stepping stones, they heard Setclaw growl. “What were you doing on Lakeclan territory?” she growled, and they both took a step back.

Skykit was behind her, her ears down with fear. Setclaw chuckled, and they all went back to Lightningclan camp. Dashfang and Applefur felt ashamed when they got back to camp, and Setclaw led the to Sunstar’s den. Sunstar pricked her ears. “I found Dashfang and Applefur in Lakeclan territory,” she mewed. “And Skykit following their trail.”

Dashfang caught Skykit’s eyes, but she did not even speak. “We were hunting for Lakeclan territory because they were starving!” Applefur burst out.

Sunstar sent Setclaw away, and she listened to the story. She nodded and she stood. “You will both be punished for this,” she mewed, and she looked at Dashfang. “You will be treated as apprentices and will be sleeping in the warriors den. You cannot leave camp without a warrior. Dashfang you will be with Daringtail and Applefur-” she kept talking, but Dashfang didn’t listen.

Great! she thought. She then turned around, and went to the apprentices den where she belonged.

Chapter Twelve

Daringtail swept her tail across Dashfang’s nose. “No, Dashpaw and Applepaw please come with me!” she mewed, giggling.

Dashfang pushed her tail away, and she walked past her ‘mentor’. Dashfang had been doing this for a couple of days now, and she hasn’t been catching any prey. Daringtail has just been scaring them off a lot.

Dashfang growled, “I give up!” to Applefur, and she walked back to camp alone.

She walked into the den for Browniepaw and Spitfire. He sees Browniepaw slowly bringing the herbs back and forth from Spitfire to the little den where they keep them. Browniepaw saw Dashfang, and he smiled. Dashfang smiled back, and turned to Spitfire.

Spitfire didn’t turn to see him, just spoke. “Could you get some poultice for Knitear?” she mewed, and Dashfang nodded. “She’s been having pains in her paws and shoulders,” she finished, and Knitear snorted.

“That kit is mouse-brained!” she growled. “When she got me that moss, it was still wet!” She turned to her side, and Browniepaw rolled his eyes.

Dashfang giggled, and looked at Spitfire. “Yes, of course I will get you your poultice,” she mewed, and she turned away without a good-bye.

While she was going to grab the poultice she saw something strange. She saw Bloodface and Setclaw sharing tongues! Could he be her mate? No, Dashfang shook her head, and kept going. She grabbed the poultice and when she got back to the camp, Setclaw growled at her. “Boltstripe will be taking over my deputy duties until I have my kits. Go with her and Daringtail to see if there is any way to get to the gathering.”

Dashfang nodded, and she jumped to Boltstripe and Daringtail. She wished that Applefur was coming too, but she was too busy then.

Setclaw then started talking to Boltstripe, and she smiled as she said it silently to her. Before they left, Sunstar asked Dashfang to come to her den. “Yes, Sunstar,” she mewed, seeing Applefur next to her.

“First of all, your punishment is lifted, and you will not be sleeping in the apprentices den.” She looked at both Applefur and Dashfang when she said it. Then she went on. “And, Applefur will be staying in the nursery until she has her lovely kits.” She then turned away from the cats, and flicked her tail, telling them to leave.

Dashfang meets up with Daringtail, and Boltstripe. She crossed the cool grass with them, and the wind tugged gently at her sky blue fur. When they finally reached the once tiny stream they had to leap across, they saw it was flooded as well. Dashfang looked around, and saw a large branch hovering over the water. “Guys,” she mewed, and the two warriors turn towards her. Her tail flicked to the branch. “We could try to cross over this like a bridge!” she mewed, excitedly, and she leaped on it carefully. She walked over it, but then it snapped.

She had been paralyzed for a moment, but then she moved. It snapped again, and she gripped her claws into the wood. “Daringtail, Boltstripe, help!” she yowled, her wing still broken. Suddenly she was plunged into the water, with her eyes closed. She opened them, and saw nothing but rushing water. Then a huge wave crushed her into the ground.

Please help! she thought, and she swam up to the surface. She only saw glimpses of Daringtail’s golden fur swimming towards her.

She felt something grab her scruff, and she was lifted out of the water. She coughed up water, and she looked up at Boltstripe’s blue tail swinging. She turned around, and Dashfang closed her eyes. “Don’t worry,” Daringtail mewed. “You don’t need to walk. I’ll carry you.”

Dashfang rode on Daringtail’s back, and her eyes watered. She turned her head, and she saw the camp entrance. The water left her body, but she still went to Spitfire. “Dashfang!” she growled. “What did you do to yourself?” she asked.

Dashfang smiled, and coughed up more water. Her eyes were red from the water, and her mouth stung with the taste of all the herbs that were in the water. Spitfire touched her paws, and she nodded. “You don’t have a chill,” she mewed. “But, before you leave, I want you to listen.”

Dashfang nodded, and sat. When Browniepaw walked into the room, his eyes widened when he saw Dashfang.

Browniepaw stared at Spitfire, and she smiled. “Browniepaw, would you like to follow my footsteps and become the LightningClan apprentice?” she asked, and Dashfang stared at Browniepaw.

Her eyes wide and her mouth trembling. “Y-yes,” he mewed, and Spitfire smiled.

“I will tell Sunstar,” she meowed as she left the room. Browniepaw leaped after her, and Dashfang smiled.

Dashfang went towards them, and she saw the young apprentice extremely excited for the amazing moment. Dashfang then ran into the Nursery. She saw Applefur, and she smiled. “Applefur, Applefur!” she mewed, and she frowned when she saw Applefur in pain.

“Y-yes, Dashfang?” she asked, and she seemed better.

“Browniepaw agree to be the medicine cat apprentice!” she yowled, and she ran to High Rock. The young warrior then ran to the top of the rock to see Sunstar walking out of her den.

She called the cats together, and Spitfire stepped forward with Browniepaw next to her. “Cats of LightningClan!” she yowled over the noise. “As you know, I will not be around forever! Therefore, it is time I took an apprentice! I have chosen a cat that has shown bravery and kindness to others. Your next medicine cat will be Browniepaw!” she yowled, and the cats started to cheer.

Sunstar stepped forward, and she looked down at Browniepaw. “Browniepaw, do you accept the post of apprentice to Spitfire?” she asked, and Browniepaw looked amazed.

“I do,” he mewed and he stepped forward.

Spitfire smiled, and she looked at her clan. “Then at half-moon, you will travel to Moonstone to be accepted by LunarClan before the other medicine cats!”

Sunstar smiled, and she looked down at Browniepaw. “The good wishes of all LightningClan will go with you,” she mewed, licking the apprentices head.

When he jumped down, the other cats licked him, and congratulated him.

That night, Dashfang saw Sunstar jump onto High Rock. She then yowled out her clan. “All cats old enough to catch their own prey please come to High Rock!” she yowled, and she looked down at her clan. Boltstripe stood next to her, replacing Setclaw, and she mewed; “Now tonight is the gathering, as you all know, and I want Boltstripe, Cloudystorm, Twistfur, Bluepelt, Dashfang, Lightningstorm, and Soarwing to come with me.” She jumped down from the rock, and the cats followed her to the edge of the camp.

They finally reached the place where Dashfang slipped. “We should turn around,” Lightningstorm mewed.

Sunstar looked at all the cats, and she turned to Lightningpath. The lights and noises of the monsters did not come because of the flood, and she moved to the LightningClan edge. She neared the water, and she looked back at the cats. “We will have to go through ShadeClan territory,” she mewed, and she stepped lightly through the path.

When they all crossed, they heard rustling in the leaves. They kept going until shadows and growls were seen and heard. Then Sunstar signaled them to crouch down. The warriors all crouched down, and they saw Shadeclan cats jump out and surround them.

A yellow she-cat with a blue mane and tail jumped out, and smiled. “Wait, Jetblack!” she growled. “What are you doing here?” She circled the cats, and smiled.

Sunstar explained the flood, and that they could not get through to Four-Trees through their territory. She looked at the warriors of Shadeclan, and Dashfang could tell she was worried.

The she-cat smiled. Then Jetblack spoke up. “Mistystar, how can we tell we can trust them!” he growled, and he jumped back when Mistystar growled.

“Shush!” she growled. “Now, why don’t we escort you to Four-Trees? You all look tired.” She picked up the pace on the warriors, and they finally made it to the Great Rock.

They immediately started the meeting. The first to speak was Mistystar. “Now, we have an important matter to speak of,” she mewed, and she turned to Sunstar. “LightningClan has been sheltering Bloodstar!” she yowled.

Chapter Thirteen

The cats murmured, and they heard the cats scream in protest. Lunastar stared at her sister, and growled, “Sister how could you!” She looked deep into Sunstar’s eyes.

Dashfang was shocked, and she spoke up. “How did you know that we were sheltering him!” she growled, and Mistystar chuckled.

Mistystar turned to her, and Dashfang stood tall. “Oh, your little pests that you call apprentices were talking to each other about him,” she mewed, and she laughed again. Her eyes were dark, and she looked sharply at Sunstar.

Sunstar closed her eyes, and turned to Lunastar. “Lunastar,” she mewed, “We were doing this to be kind. You know I wouldn’t do this to harm any kitty.” She stared at her clan, and then she turned back to Mistystar.

The cats started to argue more, but then a huge shadow came over them, and Dashfang looked up. Mistystar stared up. “The gathering is over,” she growled. “However, there is one more thing to say. Sunstar, we now declare war on LightningClan.” She then turned, and looked at Lunastar. “Do you agree?” she asked, and Lunastar stared at her sister.

She sighed. “Yes,” she mewed, and Sunstar gasped.

Her own sister, declaring war on her. Her eyes turned to slits, and she growled. She turned away, and was about to head back, but Setclaw reminded her of the flood. She looked at Mistystar.

“No,” she mewed, and she turned and flew away with her clan.

Sunstar frowned, and she turned to her sister. She had already turned around and left. She then sat, her eyes covered by her paws. Then she heard a kind voice. “I’m sorry about your sister, Sunstar,” Bluestar, the leader of LakeClan, mewed behind her.

Sunstar turned to the leader, and smiled. “Its fine,” she meowed. “We always have little fights. Every kitty does.” She stared up to the moon, and frowned.

Bluestar looked at her. “Hey,” he meowed, breaking the silence. “Why don’t you get home through LakeClan?” he asked, and Sunstar looked at him.

“Thanks,” she mewed, and they left; Sunstar ran next to Orangemist and Burningfur.

Dashfang examined them, remembering that the two siblings were part of LightningClan by blood. Then she realized they seemed like one cat when they were with each other. Dashfang thought for a little while, and then thought of something. What if Burningfur and Orangemist the sun and daughter of Sunstar? she thought.

The rest of the way there, she met up with Copperpelt. They talked about Applefur, and they laughed.

. . .

Later that afternoon, Dashfang went out with Redpaw. When they went to Owl Tree, Redpaw sniffed the ground. Dashfang looked down at him. “What is it?” she asked, and Redpaw looked up.

“It’s ShadeClan and LakeClan!” she yowled, and they heard a rustling in the leaves.

“We need to warn the camp!” Dashfang yowled.

They both ran as fast as they could to the camp, and they finally reached a little tree. “I’ll stay here,” mewed Dashfang, and she jumped into the trees. “Keep going Redpaw!” she mewed.

Redpaw nodded, and ran back to camp. When Dashfang climbed the tree, she climbed to one of the highest branches. She then saw Gracefulfall jump out of the ferns. She saw the cat that she helped during the trip.

¬

Then she turned and saw her talking to Lunastar. Her leader then jumped back into the fern. She then turned, and she yowled something. Lionpelt jumped out, and hissed. The Crystalfoot jumped out, and she growled. Gracefulfall then beckoned some other cats with them, and the Shadeclan and BreezeClan warriors jumped into the clearing. They then ran towards the LightningClan camp. She turned to see the warriors of her clan running towards them.

Setclaw was leading the group through the everfree forest, and she stopped at the front of the tree. Dashfang ran down the tree, and she got next to Setclaw. She noticed that Applefur wasn’t there. Setclaw whispered into her ear. “Your friend is not in the nursery,” she growled.

“Shouldn’t you be?” she asked, and she noticed that it was Boltstripe not Setclaw. She shook her head, and she looked back at the warriors of the rivalry clan.

“Attack!” growled Boltstripe, and they ran towards the warriors.

Dashfang thought it was hard to fight against her friends from Breezeclan. She fought against Gracefulfall, and she was scratched in the eye. Then she saw Boltstripe being scratched in the flank, splitting her kitty-mark in half. She bolted straight at the cat, realizing it was Wildwhisker. Their eyes met, and Dashfang sighed. She scratched her muzzle, and ran behind her. She then scratched her flank.

Then the other cats ran to their camp, crushing their ferns. She then ran towards the camp, and wounded half the warriors. Then she ran into Sunstar’s den, making sure no kitty was in there. She ran out, and a cat attacked her right in front of her. She then threw her off, and she scratched her eyes.

When ShadeClan and BreezeClan retreated, Boltstripe ran into Sunstar’s den. Setclaw ran out of the nursery, and she looked at the clan. “Where is Applefur!” she growled, and she looked around again.

Applefur then ran into the camp, and she looked around. “What happened?” she asked.

Dashfang saw Setclaw stalking towards her. “What were you doing?” she hissed, and Sunstar jumped out of her den.

Sunstar looked at the clan, and saw Redpaw. She smiled. “Dashfang, how did Redpaw fight?” she asked, and Dashfang smiled.

“He fought well,” she mewed, “He did scent the warriors at first, and he fought against all the warriors like all the cats in LunarClan,” she mewed, and Redpaw smiled.

She nodded, and jumped up to Castle Rock. “All cats old enough to catch their own prey, please come to Castle Rock!” she yowled, and she flicked her tail, beckoning Redpaw up. “I, Sunstar, leader of LightningClan, call upon my warrior ancestors to look down on this apprentice!” She looked at Redpaw and smiled. Then she went on: “He has worked hard to understand the ways of your noble code, and I commend him to you as a warrior in his turn.”

Redpaw stood proudly, and looked down on his clan. Dashfang was proud that she trained him the rest of his apprenticeship.

“Redpaw,” Sunstar went on, “do you promise to uphold the warrior code and protect and defend your clan, even at the cost of your life?” she asked, looking down at the apprentice.

Redpaw puffed out his chest, and he turned to Sunstar. “I do,” he meowed, and he looked at Applefur.

Sunstar looked at her clan. “Then by the powers of LunarClan, I give you your warrior name! Redpaw, from this moment on you will be known as Redfrost. LunarClan honors your bravery and responsibility towards your clan, and we welcome you as a full warrior of LightningClan!” she yowled.

Chapter Fourteen

Dashfang looked at Redfrost, and she heard the cats cheering his name. She remembered when she just saw him as a kit. She then turned to see Applefur running out of the entrance. She ran after her, and saw her running towards Sun-rocks. She ran towards her, and then she stopped at the lake. Copperpelt swam to her, and licked her ear. She ran down to them. “Applefur are you okay?” she asked, and Applefur shook her head.

“N-no Dashfang,” she said, and she fell to the ground.

“It’s okay, I’ll go get Browniepaw!” she yowled, and she flew as fast as she could to go get her former apprentice.

Browniepaw was working on his herbs, and he turned when he heard Dashfang. “Browniepaw,” she breathed heavily as she said it. “P-please, I need your help, come with me!” she yowled, and they both ran to Sun-rocks.

Browniepaw looked at Dashfang. “So what’s going on?” he asked, and she started to explain.

“You need to help her. I don’t think she should be kitting right now,” she mewed, and Browniepaw’s eyes widened.

“She shouldn’t be!” he mewed, and he ran faster than Dashfang.

Dashfang flew after him, and stopped when he saw an orange blob in front of Applefur. No, it can’t be, she thought, and she saw Setclaw next to Applefur.

Applefur bled and she screamed and cried. Setclaw growled when she saw Dashfang: “What is this!” She looked back at Applefur and then at Copperpelt. “Who is this?” she asked more calmly.

Dashfang did not want to deal with her right now. She just helped Browniepaw, and listened to his orders. “Dashfang, try to get some cobwebs, and if you can’t find any, get me some horsetail!” he growled, and he then felt Applefur’s stomach. “Alright, Applefur, here comes the first kitten,” he meowed, and Applefur smiled. “You’re going to have to push!” he yowled, and Applefur strained.

She yowled, and she started to push. The first kit was born and Browniepaw shoved to Setclaw. “Lick, now,” meowed Browniepaw.

Setclaw growled. “Why would I want to lick this kit? She’s half clan!” she growled, and Browniepaw shot her a sharp glance. Then Setclaw started to lick the kit. It turned out to be a light orange kit with a yellow mane and tail.

Then they heard another yowl, and another kit was shoved towards Dashfang. She started licking it fiercely, and she heard Applefur meow something.

“I-its okay, Copperpelt,” she mewed.

Copperpelt choked, and coughed. “N-no, Applefur, you can’t leave!” he yowled. Then he started licking her fiercely.

She smiled, and coughed up blood. “D-don’t worry, sweetie. Here, let me tell you a terrible thing. I am dying, but I’ve always loved you,” she laughed, but then coughed again. “Please, don’t forget me, I really believe, you were the greatest, thing that ever happened to me.” Then everything went silent. What happened?

“A-Applefur!” Dashfang yowled. “No! Applefur, please, you can’t leave me!” she licked Applefur, and Browniepaw started to yowl.

“No, Applefur, stay with me!” he yowled, and he started to press the cobwebs harder.

Dashfang frowned. “Please, Browniepaw,” she mewed. She coughed. “She’s not with us anymore, sh-she’s gone.” She then coughed again.

Copperpelt yowled, and he fell to the ground. Dashfang looked down at her friend, and she couldn’t speak. Setclaw just huffed, and grabbed one of the kits. “Do you want to come with us, Copperpelt?” she asked, rather nicely.

Copperpelt nodded, and he turned to Dashfang. “But not yet,” he meowed. “I-I need to bury her,” she meowed.

Dashfang would have stayed, but Browniepaw shook her head. He needed to be alone with her.

Dashfang, Setclaw, and Browniepaw ran to camp, and Dashfang realized Applefur’s secret was out. She turned to Setclaw, who was kneading at the ground. Browniepaw nodded, and she saw Spitfire in the nursery with Sentrywing hovering over Setclaw. When Dashfang came in, Setclaw was nursing two beautiful kits. A little boy and another girl; it seemed strange that Setclaw was so kind to her kits.

Dashfang was still terrified about Applefur’s death. She remembered when they were apprentices, and they were just sharing tongues. She also remembered the first night they met. She felt her eyes tearing up. She shook her head, and tried to take her mind off the subject.

The kits were taken into the nursery, and Pinkiefur saw her. “Oh!” she yowled. “Whose are they?” she asked, and Dashfang started to choke. “Where’s Applefur?” she asked again.

She looked at Pinkiefur. “Sh-she was the mother,” she mewed.

Pinkiefur frowned, and her mane deflated like a balloon. She frowned. “Oh,” she mewed. “I-I’m so sorry, Dashfang.” She looked at the kits, and she brightened a little. “Can I suckle them?” she asked.

Dashfang smiled and nodded. She gave the two kits to her, realizing that the other kit was a light brown kit with a dark brown mane. She gave the two kits to Pinkiefur, and she let her suckle them. She then turns around, and went straight to Sunstar. She ran into her den, and told her everything. Her eyes darkened when she heard what happened.

“I’ll tell them what happened, and that the kits are staying with us,” she mewed, and she turned around. “But first, Dashfang, please go get Copperpelt,” she finished, and she sat down.

Dashfang nodded, and ran towards Sun-rocks. She saw Copperpelt with his head over the buried body of Applefur. He didn’t even turn, but he knew that Dashfang was there. “Where are the kits?” he asked. “They should be buried with their mother.”

Dashfang smiled, and helped the cat up. “They made it, Copperpelt. Pinkiefur is suckling them now!” she saw the tearful eyes of Copperpelt turn bright.

“Where are they?” he asked again, and Dashfang chuckled.

“Just come with me,” she meowed, and he followed her to the camp. She noticed how much Copperpelt reminded her of Applefur. Would he have to go back to LakeClan?

When they reached camp, they saw Sunstar already starting the meeting. “Today, Applefur has died for two kits,” she started. “We will mourn for her death, and we will take care of her kits. The father is Copperpelt, from LakeClan.”

The cats gasped, and Sewpelt spoke out. “They are half-clan!” she growled. “We should not respect them!”

Sunstar growled. “We will do everything we can for these poor kits!” she yowled. “The meeting is over!”

Dashfang saw Browniepaw walking over to her. “This is all my fault!” he yowled. “I could have saved her, but instead, I let her die! She was in my paws, Dashfang! She could have been here right now!”

Dashfang shushed him, and licked his head. “It’s okay, it was an accident,” she meowed.

“It was all my fault,” he said again, leaving to Spitfire.

Dashfang ran to Sunstar. “Do you think Applefur will be in The Place of No Moon because she did this?” she asked.

“No,” she mewed. “I did see them a couple of times, but I did not try to take them apart. I hoped that they would have figured out that they would not have turned out to be like me.”

Dashfang looked into her leader’s eyes, surprised by what she had said. “What do you mean?” she asked.

Sunstar looked at Dashfang. “I am the mother of Orangemist and Burningfur.”

Chapter Fifteen

When Sunstar told Dashfang, she was shocked. “But, who was their father?” she asked.

Sunstar sighed. She looked at Dashfang, her eyes cold. “Fleurheart was their father,” she explained. She then turned and coughed a little bit. “I, I had to give them to LakeClan to become deputy. It’s the clan before family, right?” She looked so, unsure.

Dashfang nodded, even though she didn’t really agree. She turned out of the den, and went to the nursery where Copperpelt was licking his kits. Pinkiefur was happily suckling them, and her smile turned to a frown when she saw Dashfang.

“Hi, Dashfang,” she meowed. She licked the kits, and she looked at Dashfang. “Do you want to say hi to the kits?” she asked, and Dashfang smiled.

“Hello, little kits,” she meowed. She looked at the little brown one and it turned to face her.

Her little mouth opened to yawn, and she made a little “Meep,” sound. Dashfang smiled, and she looked at the two little kits.

“C’mon, Copperpelt, we should leave,” she meowed. She then noticed that Cheertail was suckling Setclaw’s kits, Shimmerkit and Flashkit.

She took the thought out of her head, and led Copperpelt out of the den.

She saw the cats staring at him with hostility, and they went into the warriors den. Lightningstorm was acting like he did when they were apprentices. “You may sleep where ever you want,” he said to Dashfang. “Just keep him away from me!”

Copperpelt sighed. Surely he knew that this wasn't his clan. They slept until dawn, and they left to tell LakeClan the news. “Are you sure you don’t want to come?” Dashfang asked.

Copperpelt shook his head. “I feel more welcomed here than I would there,” he meowed, and he laid his head down onto his paw.

She leapt quickly through the forest, and got to the lake. It was calmer than it was during the thaw, but it still clashed against the rocks. She finally reached LakeClan territory, and she went to Orangemist. “I wanted to tell you this first,” she mewed, “Since you were close to her.”

Orangemist’s ears fell. “What’s wrong?” she asked.

Dashfang looked at her paws. “Applefur died while giving birth to Copperpelt’s kits!” she yowled.

The whole clan heard it! Bluestar ran out of his den, and Dashfang told him everything. He nodded and sent her off.

When she got home, she saw Copperpelt in the nursery again, playing with the kits. All the queens were fine with it, except Setclaw.

She saw Cloudystorm in the nursery. “Whose kits are you having?” she asked.

“Soarwing’s,” she meowed, and she looked at Copperpelt. “Poor tom, he must be so sad.”

“All cats old enough to catch their own prey please come to Castle Rock,” yowled Sunstar.

The cats circled around the Castle Rock, and she continued.

“Skykit, you have reached the age of six moons, and it is time for you to be apprenticed,” she meowed. “From this day forward, until you receive your warrior name, you will be known as Skypaw! Your mentor will be Dashfang. I hope Dashfang will pass down all she knows on to you,” she finished.

Skypaw looked so proud on Castle Rock. Her chest was puffed out, and her eyes were content. Dashfang came up and touched noses with her new apprentice, and they went to the apprentice den immediately.

Chapter Sixteen (Changed!)

Dashfang took Skypaw out the day after her ceremony to get some fresh air. She smelled the air, and she could scent something. Usually she would scent Setclaw in this, and she did, but she could also scent some other tinge of LightningClan. Could that be . . .? “Dashfang,” Skypaw cut off her thoughts. “Why are we here?” she asked, and her ears twitched as she looked at Dashfang.

“Oh, yes, of course, I wanted you to meet your mother,” she meowed. She led her apprentice through the trees, and she finally scented her sister. “Cloud!” she yowled softly over the fence.

The sky-blue Pegasus cat hopped onto the fence, and licked Dashfang. “Who’s this?” she asked when she saw Skypaw.

“Y-you don’t remember me?” Skypaw asked. Her eyes glittered like stars in the sky.

Cloud’s frown immediately turned to a smiled. “Oh, Skykit,” she meowed, and she was about to say something else, when Skypaw yowled in front of her.

“I’m Skypaw now” she yowled.

“Of course,” Cloud meowed, licking her daughter’s head. “Dashfang, about your last question,” she went on.

Dashfang brightened. “Yes, Cloud?” she asked. Maybe she will have some evidence of Setclaw.

“I saw a white cat and an orange cat. I could not see their manes or tails; they chased me off too quickly,” she meowed. “They both smelled of you and Skypaw.” Her eyes glistened, and Dashfang frowned. “Did that help?” she asked.

White cat! Dashfang thought, and she felt her paws itching to know who it was.  “Yes it did,” she meowed. “Thank you.” She touched her nose to her sister’s, and they left.

“Goodbye, mom!” yowled Skypaw.

They hunted quickly, and they licked the kitty-pet stench off of them. Finally, when they get back, they see Ravenfur, Orangemist, and Stonefur nearing Sunstar’s den. No cat was attacking so they were probably there in peace. Dashfang flew to the den, and she could hear the cats speak.

“Sunstar,” Ravenfur meowed. “I believe, since Applefur is dead, that Copperpelt’s kits belong to us.”

Susntar looked up. She nodded, and Dashfang gasped. “I agree, and I will tell you what my decision is at the next gathering,” she meowed.

Dashfang let out a long sigh, and the three cats came out. She called up the cats, and gave them the news.

Then, Sewpelt spoke out again. “We should be rid of them!” she yowled. “They are half-clan!” Other cats murmured in agreement.

Sunstar growled, “I will not let that happen!” She turned away, and leapt into the den.

They all saw Boltstripe and Setclaw sending out patrols, and Setclaw looked healthy, and clean. Her eyes were still dark. They sent out almost every warrior in the clan!

Spitfire and Browniepaw were leaving to visit Moonstone, and Dashfang called Skypaw over. “Is it alright if we come?” she asked.

Spitfire nodded, and they trekked through the forest. Then the scent of Four Trees was upon them. “Okay, this is as far as you go,”

Spitfire meowed.

They ran back, and when they got to the top of the hill, Dashfang saw a white cat with a blue mane leading a group of rogues through the forest. Behind her, she saw Setclaw. “Boltstripe, Setclaw?” she thought, and she gasped. “Setclaw was the mentor of Boltstripe!” she yowled. They then leapt off, and Dashfang saw Setclaw and Boltstripe pretending to fight the rogues and loners. There were tons of them. Thunderface, jumped on top of Dashfang, and she tried to get him off, but he was too strong!

Then something jumped into him. “Thanks Apple . . .” she then saw Copperpelt, and she frowned.

“C’mon!” he yowled. “There’s no time to mourn!”

Dashfang got up, and went to check on Sunstar. Her eyes darkened when she saw Boltstripe on top of her. She saw Setclaw huddling like a kit in the corner. “Setclaw!” growled Boltstripe. “Help!”

Setclaw stood, and she looked at Dashfang. She looked at her former apprentice and back at Dashfang. In a flash, she jumped on top of Dashfang. She clawed right through Dashfang’s face, and it was probably going to stay that way.

Dashfang shook her down, and Copperpelt pounced on her. “Don’t kill her!” yowled Sunstar.

Boltstripe was about to bite right through her neck, but Copperpelt and Dashfang pinned her down. Sunstar got up and stared at the substitute deputy and the real deputy. She growled, and sent the cats outside. Dashfang could tell that she wasn’t mad, she was in shock.

The patrols returned, and Browniepaw and Spitfire returned with them. They treated their wounds. “Sorry, Dashfang, that’s going to be a scar,” meowed Spitfire when she saw the scratch on her face.

Sunstar finally came out of her den, and looked at Setclaw and Boltstripe. “Today I found that our two deputies, Setclaw and

Boltstripe, have been plotting with rogues and mostly Bloodface’s warriors. I now ask Setclaw and Boltstripe if they have anything in their defense?” she looked down at the warriors, and neither spoke. Then Boltstripe spoke up.

"I was told by Setclaw to attack you. I thought you were doing something, so I did.

She nodded, and looked at Setclaw. She meowed, “Exile!”

The clan gasped, and Boltstripe and Setclaw were about to leave when Setclaw turned to Daringtail. “Will you join us in exile, Daringtail?” she asked, and Daringtail looked shocked.

“No!” she growled. “I thought we were friends. I would never join you.”

She turned to Soarwing. “You?” she asked.

He shook his head. “Of course not,” he meowed.

Finally he turned to Sentrywing, her mate. “Sentrywing, would you?” she asked kindly. Too kindly for Dashfang’s liking.

He shook his head, and went next to his fellow clan-mates.

Then Setclaw jumped through the bushes. They heard a yowl. "Be careful Dashfang, I could be anywhere; keep your head high, keep your ears pricked, cause I'll catch you, and then you're dead!"

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

Deputy   Setclaw: 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

Med cat Spitfire: An older cat with a light orange coat and a dar¬k orange mane her cutie mark is a flame she is a Pegasus

Warriors (toms and she’s without kits)

Cloudystorm: A cream-colored cat with a blue mane and tail her kitty mark rocks

Boltstripe: A white pony with a blue mane and tail Pegasus, kitty mark, a storm cloud with a lightning bolt coming out of it

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

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 she is a Pegasus

Apprentice Skypaw

Applefur: A young fit she-cat who became a warrior because she fought bravely her kitty mark is three apples earth cat

Apprentice, Redpaw

Soarwing: A young male cat with a light blue coat and a navy blue mane Pegasus kitty mark a lightning bolt with wings

Lightningstorm:  A young tom with a yellow coat, and a light yellow mane and tail his kitty mark a black storm cloud with a lightning bolt coming out of it

Sentrywing: An orange tom with a blue mane and tail. His kitty mark, a shield with a lightning bolt on it.

Apprentices (six moons old or older, in training to become warriors)

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

Redpaw: a young calm tom he is an earth cat red coat and dark red mane no kitty marks yet

Skypaw: A shorthaired kit Pegasus

Queens (she-cats expecting or nursing kits)

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

Morningdew: A fun earth tabby her kitty-mark dew drops

Sewpelt: beautiful longhaired earth cat tabby her kitty-mark a needle

Cheertail: the oldest queen in the kits den, with a cerise coat, and light pink and light gray mane and tail kitty mark three flowers

Setclaw: still the deputy of Sunstar, and pregnant with Sentrywing's kits

Elders (former warriors and queens now retired)

Knitear: an old tabby with a light blue coat and a white mane and tail her kitty mark a ball of yarn

Strongnose: an old cat with a very strong nose a brown mane and tail and his kitty-mark is wind

Crunchpelt: a dark blue cat with a purple mane and tail her kitty mark a snowflake

Snowdrop: a blind cat with a light blue coat and a blue and white mane and tail she is blind and her kitty-mark is a snow flower

Blossomtail: a white old cat with a green and pink mane and tail her kitty mark a flower

Bloodface: a white unicorn tom with a blonde mane formerly the Shadeclan leader his kitty marks a star with blue spikes

Shadeclan

Leader Mistystar: a yellow she-cat with a blue mane and tail her kitty mark a tornado

Deputy Lionpelt: an orange tomcat with an orange coat and red mane and tail his kitty mark, a claw

Medicine Cat Twinklight: 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 tomcat with a bright white man 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 marks a butterfly.

Elders   Bluemoon: a blue tom with a white mane his kitty marks 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: 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

Orangemist: an orange pegasus with an orange mane and tail; her kitty mark, a dark orange sun

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

Cat’s Outside of Clan

Cosmic: a yellow unicorn tom with a purple mane and tail lives in a deserted twoleg farm his kitty mark and shooting star

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

Fluttershy: a yellow cat with a pink mane was once part of Lightningclan she lives with Cosmic

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

Prolgue

The river of Lakeclan rushed quickly, but that was the only noise. The cattail of the river stuck out of the ice as the wind whistled.  The cold of the forest gripped onto the ground and leaves. The night was calm and the wind blew nicely.

There was a swift movement across from the river. A large tom swept across the snow. He shook some of the snow from his paws and he waited for two kits to go ahead of him. His white coat camouflaged into the snow, but his red and blue mane stood out.

The two small kits in front of him struggled in to snow. The red kit was a Pegasus with dark orange mane. They struggled through the snow, and they grasped for warmth. The ice of the snow matted onto their fur.  Whenever they stopped, however, the white tom kept pushing them forward.

The three cats trudged across the frozen until it widened into the lake where a small island stood in the middle. They slipped and slid across the ice right onto the island. “We’re almost there,” the white cat mewed.

They slipped onto the cold earth of the bank. They soon came to a small cave in Lakeclan territory. The bigger of the kits ran ahead at the sight of the cave, but the tom quickly caught him by the scruff before he could get in. He then walked inside and he set down the kits. He saw Nightingale, and he smiled. “Nightingale, can you help me with these kits?” he asked kindly.

“Fleurheart?” she asked, “Who’s kits are they?” She looked down at them, and they crawled over to her.

She smiled, and Fleurheart looked at her. “Well, I just found them freezing in the snow,” he mewed, and he sat down.

“Who in the wide, wide world of Equestria abandon their kits at this time of year, and in this type of weather?” she asked.

Fleurheart shrugged. “How am I supposed to know? Probably a rogue, or twolegs,” he mewed, and she looked down at them.

“Alright, I can take care of them,” she mewed, and she let them suckle on her.

He smiled, and left to the warriors den. When she sniffed them, however, she did not smell a rogue, loner, or twoleg. She smelled a cat from another clan. But, what would he be doing there? She sat and thought about it, while the calm snow outside fell to the cold ground of the forest. The scents of the kits were Lightningclan.

Chapter Three

Dashfang and Applefur stared at Setclaw, and her body moved towards them. “Well?” she asked. She sniffed them, and she growled. “You smell well-fed. Where have you been?” she asked.

The two cats put their heads down. “We hunted for the clan,” started Applefur, “And then we had to eat, t keep our strength up.”

Dashfang knew what was next, “Well come with me to Sunstar then, she needs to know about this.” They swiftly ran towards the leaders den, and they saw the leader sitting calmly, looking out the window.

“Yes, what is it?” she asked.

They all slipped into the den, and Setclaw started. “These cats are well-fed, and they say that they were hunting.” She mewed, and Sunstar looked at them. “They say that they went hunting for the clan, but then went hunting for themselves,” she snarled.

Sunstar’s head hung and she closed her eyes. “Is this true Dashfang?” she asked, and the cyan cat nodded her head. She looked at her paws. “I am disappointed in you two.” She mewed, and she looked back up. “Until next sunrise, you will have to be hunting for the clan, and not for your selves,” she looked heart-broken at them. “You may go.” The two cats left, and Setclaw stayed in with Sunstar.

Dashfang looked at her paws, and Applefur stared at her. Oh come on, we can still go out and hunt,” she mewed, and she retreated to the den. Dashfang stayed behind for a while, and she looked at the pile of fresh-kill. She grabbed something to eat, ate, and she retreated with Applefur.

Dashfang traveled through the cold, snowless forest. The thaw was beginning, but the snow still covered some braches of the tough trees. She smiled, and she went to the top of the hill. Her wings folded as she looked down, and her paws touched the soft, green leaves. She stared farther up the hill, and she saw Rareleaf smiling at her, but then she looked away. Dashfang padded to her, and licked her old friends face. Rareleaf smiled, but then frowned. She pointed down to Lakeclan. The lake of this land overflowed and covered the camp of Copperpelt’s home. She stared in horror. “The only thing stronger than fear, is hope,” mewed Rareleaf, and she disappeared. All Dashfang saw was the river overflowing the whole clan. She frowned. Then she woke. The cool moonlight lit her fur, and she stared outside. The words of Rareleaf ran through her head. “The only thing stronger that fear is hope.” She mewed, and she thought

Does this mean Lightningclan is doomed?

Chapter Seventeen

Dashfang walked into the medicine cat clearing, and she saw Spitfire with her son. “How could you?” he asked.

Spitfire shushed him. “Quiet!” she growled, and she took something out. “Please eat these.” She gave him the berries one by one, and Dashfang saw them, and remembered them.

She remembered the night lock! It was dark as night, and she heard Bloodface doing something. She saw him twitch, and eh growled. What was happening? Is this what it looked like when a cat died of night lock?

Dashfang was terrified so she left the den. She knew he was now dead, and she heard whining from the den.

Dashfang saw the moon high in the sky, and she frowned. Where was Sunstar? She looked around, and she went to the warriors den. She curled up into a tight ball, and slept. She heard the calling from Sunstar, and jumped up. Then she noticed the sun was beating down on her.

Susntar was on Castle Rock, her eyes dark, and her legs shaky.  “The new deputy is Dashfang!” she called, and she didn’t even do the ceremony before she left.

The cats gasped, and Daringtail spoke up. “A kitty-pet?” she asked. Dashfang shot a glance, at her, and she silenced. Something happened without Dashfang knowing, but the cats did.

The tips of her ears turned white. She was becoming the deputy of LightningClan. Did this mean she would have to change?

Browniepaw limped over to her, and whispered into her ear. “Your ears are white!” she yowled softly.

Dashfang looked in a little puddle, and Browniepaw was right! What did this mean? Was it just because she was deputy? She heard a rustling in the leaves, and the LakeClan cats were back.

“Where’s Sunstar?” asked Ravenfur.

“In her den,” meowed Dashfang, and Ravenfur looked at her ears.

She nodded, and smiled. Dashfang noticed that ever since Ravenfur became deputy, her ears turned from black to a creamy white. Is this normal for deputies? It didn’t happen to Sparkleheart or Setclaw. She shrugged, and she went to the leader’s den

“We are here to take the kits,” growled Ravenfur. “Applefur is dead; therefore, the living father will take them back to LakeClan!”

Susntar growled. “We will have war before we give up these kits!” she growled, and Ravenfur nodded.

Then Copperpelt jumped out. “No!” he yowled, and he looked at Sunstar. “I belong there anyway; I will take the kits there before there is a war.

Sunstar nodded, and she looked away.

Dashfang looked into the nursery, and she saw that Pinkiefur was heart-broken. Copperpelt took them away, and Dashfang followed him to the LakeClan border.

They reached the lake, and Dashfang started to whine. “Please,” she said. “You’re the only cat left that reminds me of Applefur.”

Copperpelt smiled, and licked Dashfang’s ear. “You were the only can that I could believe was Applefur, but you’re not. I’m sorry Dashfang, I’m leaving.”

He swam across the river, the kits in his jaws. Dashfang just watched and all she saw was Applefur crossing the river alone. She was alone now. She was deputy now. Now she had to take action.