Shelter from the Flames:FanFiction (CHAPTER 5 UP)

ThunderClan

Leader: Firestar - ginger tom with flame – colored pelt

Deputy: Brambleclaw - dark brown tabby tom with amber eyes

Medicine Cat: Jayfeather – gray tabby tom with blind blue eyes Apprentice: Silverpaw

Warriors:
Graystripe – longhaired gray tom
Brackenfur – golden brown tabby tom
Cloudtail – longhaired white tom with blue eyes
Brightheart – white she – cat with ginger patches
Thornclaw – golden brown tabby tom
Squirrelflight – dark ginger she – cat with green eyes Apprentice: Skypaw
Birchfall – light brown tabby tom
Whitewing – white she – cat with green eyes
Berrynose – cream – colored tom Apprentice: Owlpaw
Hazeltail – small gray and white she – cat
Mousewhisker – gray and white tom
Cinderheart – gray tabby she – cat
Lionblaze – golden tabby tom with amber eyes
Toadstep – black and white tom
Blossomfall – toitoiseshell and white she – cat
Bumblestripe – very pale gray tom with black stripes
Dovewing – pale gray she - cat with blue eyes
Molenose – brown and cream tom
Cherrysplash – ginger she – cat Apprentice: Snowpaw
Raccoonpelt – black and gray tom
Lilyface – silver she – cat with bright green eyes
Hollyleaf – black she - cat

Queens:

Ivypool – silver and white tabby she – cat with dark blue eyes; mother of Toadstep's kit: Nightkit – dark black she – cat
Icecloud – white she – cat; mother of Mousewhisker's kits: Birdkit – toitoiseshell main coon she – cat, Sparrowkit – light brown and white she – cat

Apprentices:

Silverpaw – longhaired silver she – cat
Skypaw – silver and white tabby she – cat
Owlpaw – brown and gray to
Snowpaw – white she – cat

Elders:

Dustpelt – dark brown tabby tom
Sandstorm – pale ginger she – cat with green eyes
Millie – striped gray tabby she – cat with blue eyes
ShadowClan

Leader: Blackstar – large white tom with one jet – black forepaw

Deputy: Tawnypelt – toitoiseshell she – cat with green eyes

Medicine Cat: Tuftear – brown main coon tom

Warriors:

Toadfoot – dark brown tom
Applefur – mottled brown she – cat
Crowfrost – black and white tom Apprentice: Seapaw
Snowbird – pure white she – cat
Olivenose – toitoiseshell she – cat
Owlclaw – light brown tabby tom
Scorchfur – dark gray tom
Tigerheart – dark brown tabby tom
Pinenose – black she – cat
Ferretclaw – cream and gray tom Apprentice: Streakpaw
Starlingwing – ginger tom
Lionstripe – golden tabby tom
Longflower – gray she – cat Apprentice: Sweetpaw

Queens:

Dawnpelt – cream – furred she – cat; mother of Owlclaw's kit: Morningkit – bright ginger tom
Dankflight – brown tabby and white she – cat; pregnant with Lionstrip's kits

Apprentices:

Seapaw – gray – blue tom with blue eyes
Streakpaw – black she – cat
Sweetpaw – cream – colored she – cat

Elders:

Ratscar – brown tom with long scar across his back

WindClan

Leader: Ashstar – gray she – cat

Deputy: Whitetail – small white she – cat

Medicine Cat: Krestalflight – mottled gray tom

Warriors:

Crowfeather – dark gray tom
Owlwhisker – light brown tabby tom
Nightcloud – black she – cat
Weaselfur – ginger tom with white paws Apprentice: Spottedpaw
Harespring – brown and white tom
Leaftail – dark tabby tom with amber eyes
Emberfoot – gray tom with two dark paws
Breezepelt – black tom with amber eyes
Sedgewhisker – light brown tabby she - cat
Swallowtail – dark gray she – cat
Sunstrike -toitoiseshell she – cat with large white mark on her forehead
Whiskertail – light brown tom Apprentice: Moorpaw
Bouldercloud – large pale gray tom

Queens:

Heathertail – light brown tabby she – cat with blue eyes; mother of Breezepelt's kits: Waterkit – dark gray tom, Rabbitkit – light brown tom, Tinykit – tiny black she – cat
Furzepelt – gray and white she – cat; mother of Bouldercloud's kits: Stonekit – gray tabby she – cat, Cloudkit – gray and white tabby tom

Apprentices:

Moorpaw – brown and white tom
Spottedpaw – toitoiseshell and white she – cat

Elders:

Gorsetail – very pale gray and white tom with blue eyes

RiverClan

Leader: Mistystar – gray she - cat with blue eyes

Deputy: Readwhisker – black tom

Medicine Cat: Willowshine – gray tabby she – cat

Warriors:

Graymist – pale gray tabby she – cat
Mintfur – light gray tabby tom Apprentice: Slashpaw
Pebblefoot – mottled gray tom
Mallownose – light brown tabby tom
Robinwing – toitoiseshell and white tom
Beetlewhisker – brown and white tabby tom
Petalfur – gray and white she – cat
Hollowlog – dark brown tabby tom Apprentice: Orangepaw
Troutmist – pale gray tabby she – cat

Queens:

Icewing – white she -cat with blue eyes, mother of Mintfur's kit: Whitekit – white tom
Mossyfur – brown and white she – cat; mother of Beetlewhisker's kits: Sharpkit – brown tabby tom, Branch – brown and white she – cat

Apprentices:

Slashpaw – black and silver tabby tom
Orangepaw – orange tabby she – cat

Elders:

Minnowtail – dark gray she – cat

Firestar gratefully escaped the commotion in camp as he settled down into his nest. It was a full moon since the great battle with the Dark Forest, and even though the clans had united to fight, they still were far from trusting each other. He was exhausted, helping to care for everyone and soothing them. Jayfeather had insisted that he take a rest, and Firestar hadn't objected. As soon as he closed his eyes, he was in the forest, looking at a blue – gray she – cat.
"Bluestar? Oh, Bluestar! I wish you were here! We in such troubled times. The clans are so separated. Could you maybe, ask a StarClan cat from the other clans to go to the leaders and tell them me need to -" Bluestar cut Firestar off with a hard glare.
"It isn't that simple! StarClan is as isolated from one another as the living clans! More battles face us in the future, and much blood will be spilled! If the clans do not come back together, it may be the end! I have come to deliver a prophecy, a very fragile prophecy. If anything goes wrong, there will not be another chance! Here it is:

Two sisters will reunite the clans

They will save shadow from fire

They will save river from sun

They will save wind from fox

They will save star from dark

They will rise to the pinnacle of the mountain

Friends will be their advantage and weakness

In the end, they will either save all or leave all

Firestar gasped. Another prophecy? They had just fulfilled one! And did this mean there was another battle with the dark forest? Suddenly, Firestar felt a claw rip deeply into his back. Two glowing amber eyes burned into him.
"I am not finished, you coward!" a voice snarled. Firestar let out a yelp and Bluestar screeched. Then, he woke up with a start. Sandstorm's green eyes were filled with concern.
"Firestar, is everything okay?" she asked. Firestar grunted as he got up and nodded.
"I'm quite fine."

Sparrowkit and Birdkit stood erect as Firestar called them. They walked up to the foot of highledge boldly, pelts gleaming in the leaffall sunshine.
"Birdkit, Sparrowkit, come here." Firestar rasped in his old voice. "Birdkit, from this day until you receive your warrior name, your name will be Birdpaw."
"Birdpaw!" Sparrowkit heard her littermate echo quietly.
"Brambleclaw, you will mentor Birdpaw. You have sown bravery and wisdom as well. I hope you pass those skills onto Birdpaw." he continued. Sparrowkit felt a twinge of envy at her sister being mentored by the deputy.
"Sparrowkit," Firestar called. Sparrowkit held her breath. This was it! She was going to be an apprentice! "From now until you receive your warrior name, you shall be called Sparrowpaw."
Sparrowpaw said her name over in her head to savor the moment. She was training to be a ThunderClan apprentice! What could be more exciting?
"Hollyleaf, you will mentor Sparrowpaw." Sparrowpaw's breath caught in her throat. Hollyleaf had left the clan seasons ago, and then returned. Hollyleaf? Why Hollyleaf! she thought to herself. I want to be the best warrior ever, not the worst!
"You have proved your loyalty the last few moons and deserve a chance to pass those skills on to an apprentice." Firestar said smiling down at his granddaughter. Hollyleaf stepped up proudly.
"Thank you, Firestar. I am honored." she said happily and turned to Sparrowpaw. Sparrowpaw reluctantly touched noses with her, and the clan began to chant.
"Birdpaw! Sparrowpaw! Birdpaw! Sparrowpaw!" they said cheerfully. Sparrowpaw blushed when she saw that Owlpaw was chanting, too.

Icecloud, Birdpaw and Sparrowpaw's mother, came up and licked them. "Oh, I'm so proud of you! You're apprentices already!" she crowed. Sparrowpaw rolled her green eyes. Her mom was so weird.
"You bet we're proud!" a voice rumbled. Mousewhisker's form appeared suddenly beside Icecloud's. "You two are going to be the best apprentices ever! And such an honor, being mentored by the deputy, and a hero!"
A hero! More like a mouse-brain! thought Sparrowpaw. How come Birdpaw gets to be mentored by the deputy and I get stuck with her!
Hollyleaf and Brambleclaw came up to them parents and the two daughters. "We want to start by showing you the territory." Brambleclaw announced. Birdpaw meowed for joy, but all the excitement had been sucked from Sparrowpaw. What was the use of seeing the territory if she was never going to be a good warrior to defend it.
As she dragged her paws to the entrance of the camp, guarded by Birchfall, she realized that maybe she could become a good warrior, if she trained alongside Birdpaw being taught by Brambleclaw. Birchfall watched her leave.
'Well you don't look very excited, little one!" he exclaimed. Sparrowpaw ignored him. It only increased her misery to do this.
All throughout the territory, Sparrowpaw was observant. She needed all the help she could get if she was being mentored by Hollyleaf!
"Now this is the ShadowClan border. ShadowClan are no good to anyone, so don't hunt often here. They'll be on your case if you catch a mouse a fox – length away from their territory." Hollyleaf explained.
What do you know! Sparrowpaw thought. Probably would rather betray all our secrets to ShadowClan than defend the territory against them.
Hollyleaf wondered if she'd get to go onto ShadowClan territory soon. Maybe for a battle. Oh, how that would be exciting! She was so caught up in her daydreams of battle that she almost missed what Brambleclaw said next.
"It's a very dry gleenleaf. There might be a forest fire soon."

Remember what Brambleclaw just said. It'll come later in the story!

The apprentices den was hot and stuffy. A awrm breeze rustled the trees, making an echoing sound on the still night.
She had planned to be the best warrior possible, but now she couldn't. Hollyleaf was okay, and she could hunt and fight, but who knew if she was loyal. Sparrowpaw might be dragged into any of Hollyleaf's evil plans.
"Hey, Sparrowpaw. Are you okay? You look really down." Snowpaw asked with a concerned tone. Sparrowpaw sighed. Snowpaw aws nice, but she didn't know not when to bother her.
"I'm fine, Snowpaw." Sparrowpaw grumbled. Skypaw hsifted in her nest.
"Could you guys go to sleep already! We have to be up early to catch the cool parts of the day. And Sparrowpaw, you don't have to that grumpy. We know somethings up." she said.
Birdpaw turned over to face the trio. "Yeah. What do you keep moping about?"
"I am not moping!" Sparrrowpaw defended herself. Birdpaw and Skypaw snorted.
"Come on, Sparrowpaw! If somethings upsetting you, you can tell us. We're your friends!" Birpaw assured her.
"Look, guys. I just wanna get some shut-eye, now. I had a hard first day, and I'm pooped. G'Night!" she told them. Then, she put her back to them, and pretended to fall asleep.
Sparrowpaw waited for her denmates' breath to lengthen and deepen, as they drifted into sleep. Then, she silently slipped from the den and into the moon-washed camp.
She watched her footing to make sure she didn't step on twig or something noisy as she made her way through camp. She stopped behind the nursury.
Moving a few brambles, she uncovered a small hole in the thorn barrirer that she and Birpaw ahd found when they were kits. She tried to squeeze through, but apparently she had grown a great deal since she had been apprenticed.
I have to get out of this camp somehow! she thought. Then, she heard loud snoring coming from the entrance. To her delight, Mousewhisker ahd fallen asleep during watch, so she could walk right past him.
Out in the forest, the clear night air filled Sparrowpaw's lungs, and she thanked StarClan that she had been able to get out. Here she safe from all the clan. Her annoying denmates, the grumbling elders, the careless kits, and the expextant senior warriors and her parents.
She ran around the territory, wild and free, and wished she could be an amazing warrior fighting and hunting here. Maybe she could! She could go to Firestar, explain the problems about her mentor and... no. Firestar would never agree to that.
Perhaps, since she was so desperate to be a good warrior, she could go to another clan! She would hide her scent, pretend to be loner interested in being a warrior, and then... no. She was a ThunderClan cat through and through. She'd have to think of something else. Huh. What could she do!
Drousiness overtook her. Wishing for her nest she creeped back to camp. She would find a way! She would! She promised StarClan she would make Hollyleaf into a new warrior, a better one. StarClan could bet on it!
This chapter did not turn out exactly as I planned, but it'll work.

"Wooooohooo! First Gathering, here I come!" Sparrowpaw said enthusiastically.
"You're in a good mood!" Birdpaw said cheerfully. Sparrowpaw's midnight outing had done her good.
"I cannot wait to show you the Great Tree!" Snowpaw said in her sweet voice.
It was the night of the full moon, and the shine covered the cats on their way to the Gathering like a leaf-fall frost. Nothing could ruin this night. Nothing!
Or not! Sparrowpaw thought to herself as she saw Hollyleaf making her way through the crowd to her. Sparrowpaw's smile was wiped off her face as quick as a WindClan cat closing in a on a rabbit.
"Hello, Sparrowpaw. Are you excited for your first Gathering?" she said in a honey-glazed voice.
I was until you came and wrecked my day! Sparrowpaw bit back. As much as she resented Hollyleaf, she had to respectful of her mentor. "Yeah, sure, I guess." she said, turning her face away. Hollyleaf tilted her head.
"You don't look like it. Ah! I know what's bugging you. It isn't that scary. The cats from other clans won't hurt you; there's a truce. And it may be tense, but you'll meet some friendly faces. You might even make friends! But remember, your loyalty must remain in ThunderClan." Hollyleaf told her.
Sparrowpaw snorted as Hollyleaf went back to walk by Lionblaze and Jayfeahter. "Yeah, right. You'd probably want me to make an alliance with a ShadowClan cat." she said under her breath.
"Sparrowpaw-" Birdpaw started slowly. Sparrowpaw turned to face her. "I've wanted to talk to you about something for a while, ya know. It's about Hollyleaf. Whenever you're around her, it seems as if, you... don't trust her."
Sparrowpaw was bewildered. "You mean you trust her?"
"Why shouldn't I? I mean, why shouldn't you?" Birdpaw shot back, equally astonished.
"'Cause shes a traitor, that's why!" Sparrowpaw couldn't believe her ears! Her sister trusted this foxheart of a cat!
"Why do you think she's a traitor?" Birpaw asked uncertainly. Sparrowpaw hissed in dismay.
"She's done many horrible things! Like when she made all of ThunderClan look like mouse-brains when she told everyone Leafpool's secret! Then she abandoned everything! Now she's back and she expects sympathy and welcome from-"

"Hey, Sparrowpaw, is something the matter?" Snowpaw asked gently. Sparrowpaw realized she had been talking rather loud.
"No, nothing." she grumbled.
She dropped back behind the group. She heard them whispering quietly, occasionally glancing back at her. Then she slunk away to walk by Owlpaw, a cat she could live with.
Actually, she could do more than live with him. She watched him as she drew closer. His fur was a funny color, with gray and brown patched dappling his muscular figure.
"Hey." she said softly when she came up behind him. He turned his head around, a wide grin spreading over his face.
"Yo, Sparry!" he said in a flirt-like voice. "So this is your first Gathering, eh?"
"Yeah. I admit I'm kinda nervous about meeting all the cats from other clans." Sparrwopaw said, this time more confidently.
"The RiverClanners are okay, but I am personally not a fan of ShadowClan or WindClan. And anyway, if any cat tried to lay paw on your pelt, they'd lose their ears." Owlpaw said playfully.
Sparrowpaw felt warmth spreading through her fur, and hoped it didn't show. She was about to replay when Brambleclaw announced, "WindClan approaching!"
All heads turned to see a dark smudge cascading down the dark, rolling hills.
"There's those haughty WindClanners! Ha! They may be fast, but they couldn't fight a blind mouse to the death!" Owlpaw growled. Sparrowpaw laughed, and thanked StarClan that she wasn't still sulking with Snowpaw, Skypaw, and Birdpaw.
"Oh! Here's the island Sparrowpaw! I think you'll like it! It's so cool!"
Sparrowpaw craned her neck to see a small piece of land surrounded by water about twenty fox-lengths away.
"Wow! How do we get on? Do we have to swim?" Sparrowpaw grimaced at the thought. She'd already been aloud out of camp for about a moon, and there was a drought, and she'd already been enough water she'd ever needed.
"Don't worry. We go on that fallen tree. Come on!" Owlpaw informed her. He confidently stepped onto the rotting tree walked across with perfect footing, and landed gracefully on the other side.
"It's fine, Sparrowpaw." he said with a wink. Sparrwopaw nervously eyed the water. She stepped lightly onto to wood, eyes closed, expecting to feel herself plunge into the water, but she was fine. She carefully balanced across, and landed with a messy leap safely on land.
"See? You're fine." Owlpaw assured.
They walked side by side, and mixed scents filled Sparrowpaw's nose.
"C'mon. The Gathering's already started. We must have been late." Olwpaw said with a sheepish expression.
They took a seat behind a burly tabby ShadowClan cat. "I thought kits weren't aloud at Gatherings." he growled, hostility like claws poking at them coding his voice.
Sparrowpaw hissed. "You-!"
"Don't get all up in his flea-bitten pelt. He's not worth it!" Olwpaw cut her off, shooting a firey glance at the ShadowClan tom.
Wow. Sparrrowpaw thought. Tension is thick in the air. It's as if everyone hates everone.
"Because of the drought and other conflicts," Onestar was saying, looking at Mistystar coldly. "I have to admit that we are low on prey, but we are as strong as ever." he continued, giving all the leaders deth glares hot enough to dry grass.
Everyone does hate everyone. I hope no one breaks the truce! Sparrowpaw thought.
"Well, RiverClan is doing well. We will be fully prepared to meet anyone who challenges us." Mistystar hissed through gritted teeth. Blackstar growled and Firestar huffed.
"Well, prey is running short in ShadowClan, and it has nothing to do with the drought! ThunderClan is trespassing! I will not inflict a battle here, though." Blackstar yowled, voice thick with hate.
Claws in had started to unsheath and pelt had stated to bristle in the crowd of cats. Hisses and yowls echoed in the night.
Oh no! A battle might break out! Everyone is perfectly prepared to break the truce! Sparrowpaw thought seemed as though no one else saw the moon covered with dark black clouds.
"ThunderClan is ready to attack any cat who accuses us!" Firestar growled.
Blackstar huffed loudly and clawed at the branch below him.
Even Firestar has joined in!
"Now, ThunderClan must depart before scenes arise." Firestar flicked his tail dismissively.
These cats are going to tear each other apart! I have to do something! Sparrowpaw thought desperately.
I know it's long, but I wanted to add all of that stuff.

"Sparrowpaw? Are you coming?" Birdpaw called into the apprentic's den.

Sparrowpaw was once again dwelling on that night when she had gone to her first Gathering, and a battle had almost broken out. How could StarClan let this happen? The clans were supposed to be united.

"What?" she said absent-mindedly. Birdpaw gaped at her.

"It's Nightkit's apprentice ceremony, you dope!" Nightkit had been a really close friend to Birpaw and Sparrowpaw in their nusery days. Nightkit kept hinting that she was gong to be an apprentice soon, so it was hard to forget.

"Oh. Coming!" Sparrowpaw said. the two sisters whisked out of the den, and sat in the crowd of cats taht had gathered below highledge.

"Nightkit. From this day until you hae received your warrior name, you will be known as Nightpaw." Firestar was saying. Nightpaw looked down proudly at her clanmates.

"Raccoonpelt, come forward. It is time you had an apprentice. You will mentor Noghtpaw." Firestar called. The yougest warrior quickly came, and Nightpaw touched noses with him.

"Nightpaw! Nightpaw!" the clan chanted.

Nightpaw messily lept down from highledge to Sparrowpaw and Birdpaw.

"Hiya guys!" she greeted them.

"Hello, Nightpaw! I'm so proud of you!" Birpaw told and licked teh top of her head.

"I wish you guys were already warriors so that you could be my mentor." Nightpaw said happily. Birdpaw laughed.

"If training went that fast, then you wouldnever ahve enoughtime to learn all the cool skills for fighting and hunting." she replied.

"But I'll be teh fastest apprentice to learn the skills ever, right?" Nightpaw said expectantly. Birpaw nodded.

"Yes, of course." she said. Nightpaw turned to Sparrowpaw.

"You think that, too, right?" she asked her. Sparrowpaw was shaking her head vigoriously with a faraway look.

"No,no..." she wispered absent mindedly.

"SPARROWPAW! How could you?" Birdpaw yelled. "Come on, Nightpaw. Let's go ask if Raccoonpelt if he and I can give you the tour of the territory!" Birpaw nudged a crestfallen Nightpaw away.

"Sparrowpaw!" a voice called, breaking Sparrowpaw from her thoughts.

"Wha... what?" she replied. Silverpaw appeared from inside the medicine cat den.

"I need to speak to you. Come with me into the forest." Sparrowpaw followed her into the ThunderClan territory.

Silverpaw led her into a small clearing hidden by a bramble bush.

"You've seemed... distracted, for a while." Silverpaw started. "More particularly, ever since your first Gathering. Did you notice anything?"

"Well, I... " Sparrwopaw was at a loss for words. She had know idea how to put her dilema in diolgue.

"Firestar recieved a prophecy about three seasons ago. It stated that two sisters would reunite the clans." Silverpaw said. "I think you may be one of the sisters. At the Gathering, what was out of the ordinary?"

"Um... all the cats were so hostile, and a battle almost broke out then and there." Sparrwopaw said. "But what's all this about a prophecy?"

"The prophey said that you'd save the clans. I think that you and Birdpaw are the sisters, and that you'll save us all." Sparrowpaw searched her. Silverpaw wasn't kidding.

"But... waht do we do? Do we get to go on a secret mission to the mountains?" Sparrwopaw asked excitedly. But Silverpaw shook her head.

"You'll find your destiny right here, but your prophecy may lead you there in the future... " Silverpaw said, touching Sparrowpaw on the shoulder lightly.

Sparrwopaw was amazed. Her destiny...

"Oh, and Sparrowpaw, one more thing." Sparrowpaw lifted her head. "Hollleaf is no traitor. She's as loyal as you or me. You've never given her a chance. Get past your prejudece. It may save your life one day."

Sparrowpaw said nothing. She had nothing to say. She wold never, ever trust Hollyleaf fully, she was sure.

"Welll, I gotta go." Silverpaw said, and was gone in a silver flash.

Sparrwopaw stood there for a while, mystified. She was in the prophecy? How? Why? What could she do?
I hope you liked it!

"Birdpaw..." Sparrowpaw started, wondering what Birdpaw would do when she found out she might be in a prophecy.

"I don't want totalk to you, Sparrowpaw! You don't want to be friends with anyone. You're mean to Snowpaw and Skypaw, you don't pay any attention to Nightpaw, you have a horrible and fake prejudice against Hollyleaf, and all you want to do with me is yell!" Birdpaw hissed. Sparrowpaw was startled. She hadn't done anything wrong!

"What do you mean?" she asked. Birdpaw let out a yowl of disgust.

"And you don't even realize it! Oh, Sparrowpaw, what's the matter with you? You're so grumpy." Birpaw said desparingly.

"I'm not grumpy. I just needed some time! Now, I want want to talk to you, so you don't have a choice!" Sparrowpaw told her. Birpaw growled, but gave in.

"Then what is it?" she asked simply. Sparrowpaw took a deep breath.

"Silverpaw had a talk with me this morning, right after Nightpaw was apprenticed." she whispered, quietly so no one else could overhear their conversation. Birpawgrunted and murmured somehting like 'at least you remember it'.

"Go on." she urged.

"Well, she said that, um-Firestar recieved a prophecy a few seasons ago, and it said that two sisters would reunite the clans. Didn't you notice how every caln wanted to rip the other apart?

"I thought they always did that." Birpaw said, confused.

"They don't. They are usually peaceful and friendly at Gatherings. We are the ones in the prophecy, according to Silverpaw, and we are going to savethe clans." Sparrowpaw breathed the last phrase. Birdpaw was a practical cat. Would she believe her?

Birdpaw stared at her sister. "I don't know about that, Sparrowpaw. I mean, we're not even related to Firestar. I think we should get more proof before we think that."

Sparrowpaw's face fell. Birdpaw didn't believe her. "Let's go hunting." she suggested, changing the subject. "We need to get reaquainted."

Birdpaw nodded. The two she-cats walked into the forest together, once more best friends and sisters.

"Where should we hunt?" Birdpaw questioned. Sparrowpaw thought for a moment.

"Over by ShadowClan." Sparrowpaw didn't know why she had thought this, because she hated ShadowClan and even more she resented their fowl stench. She had just felt as if it was the right place to be right now.

To her surprise, the idea actually appealed to Birdpaw.

"What prey?" Sparrowpaw asked Birdpaw. They bearly htought for a second before calling in unison, "Squirrels."

Squirrels were Sparrowpaw and Birdpaw's favorite food. It had been the first prey tehy had ever caught, and they ahd caught it together.

Birpaw almost immediately scented a rather plump young gray squirrel, collecting acorns under a large oak tree.

"Okay, I'll pounce, and then I'll scare it into your paws, alright?" Sparrowpaw said. Birdpaw nodded.

Sparrwopaw crept up in the squirrel and then purposefully missed. The squirrel chattered in terror and ranin the of Birdpaw. But Birdpaw missed as well. Sparrowpaw ran after it; she was not going to lose thsi squirrel.

The squirrel, maddened by fear, just kept on running instead of darting up a tree. Sparrowpaw didn't stop. For someweird reason, she just knew she had to follow it. She wouldn't get another chance to get anotehr plump piece of prey like this, for all the animals were holed up to avoid the scorching sun.

The forest flew by, but Sparrowpaw didn't once look away from her target. Finally, the squirrel attempted to climb up a trunk, but she grabbed it just in time and gave it a swift bite to the head. The tiny gray body went limp, and Sparrowpaw gave a small yowl of triumph.

"Sparrowpaw! Sparrowpaw!" she heard Birdpaw call her name. She sounded more ditressed than Sparrowpaw would of thought. Then, Birdpaw appeared out from behind a cluster of boulders.

"Oh, Sparrwopaw! There you are!" she said happily, and came to nuzzle her sister. Sparrowpaw was confused.

"I was right there! I was only a little ways away. Why were you so worried?" Birdpaw stared at her, shocked.

"Sparrowpaw, look around you! We're in ShadowClan territory." she wailed quietly. Sparrowpaw soon realized she was right. The towering oaks ahd turned to prickly pines, aand the whole place smelled utterly horrible.

"Oh no." Sparrowpaw whispered. Birdpaw glanced around nervously.

"Let's get out of here before a patrol comes around." she said. Then, a nerve-racking scent reached the scent glands on the roof of Sparrowpaw's mouth.

"Too late."

Four cats, three warriors and a buff apprentice, emerged from behind to pine trees. Luckily, Sparrwopaw and Birdpaw ahd just enough time to scoot around to hide behind the boulders before the patrol spotted them.

"Look at this!" they heard a she-cat say.

"It's covered in ShadowClan scent. They killed, but why didn't they bring it back. They must be here somewhere." another one said. Sparrowpaw realized they had found the squirrel she had found.

"Come out ans show yourselves!" the she-cat said. Another, deeper voice sounded.

"Shut up, Olivenose. They'll run away and hten we'll never know who did it."

"Yes, Blackstar." Blackstar? Blackstar is here! Oh, great. Sparrowpaw thought.

"Come on! The trail leads behind the rocks." another tom said. Oh no! They're coming around the boulders. Oh, this is the end. I'll never be a warrior. I guess we weren't the ones in the prophecy.

The two ThunderClan apprentices pressed themselves as flat against the rock as possible. Sparrwopaw suddenly felt her tail meet air. Had she pressed herself so far in between two of the boulders she had started to come out the other side? She pushed harder, then, she felt one of the stones shifting slightly, and she tumbled into some type of hole. Birdpaw followed her.

When Sparrwopaw opened her eyes, she wasn't in the forest on the other side of the boulders, she was in some type of underground cave.

"Where are we?" she whispered to her sister. But Birdpaw didn't reply. She was listening to the voices outside.

"The trail just ends here. They must have got away." a voice said. Birdpaw gasped.

"That sounds like Seapaw!" she whispered.

"Whose Seapaw?" Sparrowpaw asked. Birdpaw shrugged quickly. More voices sounded outside.

"Let's keep looking." the she-cat called Olivenose said. They heard the four cats pad away farther into the ShadowClan forest.

When Sparrowpaw's eyes ajusted to the light, she could see that the underground cave they found was not small at all.

"Whoa! A whole clan could fit in here!" she said. Birdpaw was still focusing on the noises outside.

"Let's get going." she said. "Do you think we can get back out?"

Sparrowpaw studied the opening where thee had come through. "I think so."

The two slipped through the entryway and dashed through ShadowClan territory as quick as they could. They wanted to avoid gettin gcaught at all costs.

When they were back over in ThunderClan, they rolled in some fresh furns to hide the fact they'd been to ShadowClan. Then, they went to camp.

"Where were you?" asked Thornclaw.

"Hunting." said Birdpaw casually.

"Then where is your prey?" he asked accusingly. Sparrowpaw winced. They should've brought back something.

"Um-" Birpaw said, but Sparrowpaw interrupted.

"There was barely any prey out there. And, we, kinda got into a playfight." Sparrowpaw lied. Thornclaw snorted in disapproval.

"Huh! Careless apprentices. I'll let you go this time, but if you come back empty handed again, there may be punishment.

"Okay. Sorry." Sparrowpaw said, and she and Birdpaw made a quick dash for the apprentices den to avoid getting quaetioned again.

Back in the den, Birdpaw glared at Sparrowpaw. "So much could've happened today, just 'cause of your carelessness. We should tell them what happened."

Sparrowpaw snorted. "And what, lose our pelts? The grumpy senior warriors will never understand. This will have to be our little secret."

Birdpaw sighed. "If you say so, Sparrowpaw."

I hope you liked this!