|*|The warriors Destiny|*| Warrior cats fanfic|*|

[Claw.]

Ⓗⓐⓩⓔⓛⓒⓛⓐⓝ

Leader: Shadestar - A muscular white tom with dark brown socks, tail tip, muzzle and ears and blue eyes.
Deputy: Oaktail - A reddish brown tom with a sturdy bushy tail and green eyes
Medicine cat: Ivycatcher - a silver she-cat with a tabby tail and green eyes
Medicine cat apprentice: Wrenpaw - a pale brown tabby tom with completely shattered front leg, covered in scars and bent at a strange angle, he has missing tufts of fur and only half a tail. He has a scar over his left eye and scars over his pelt. He has two green eyes.

Warriors:
Meadowblossom - tortoiseshell she-cat with green eyes
Lynxtail - bushy unusually golden spotted tom with a half tail
[Apprentice - Rainpaw]
Graycloud - white and gray tabby tom with blue eyes
Amberwing - dark tortoiseshell she-cat with amber eyes
[Apprentice - Mistpaw]
Foxtail - red and white tom with green eyes
Willowfrost - Silver she-cat with blue eyes
[Apprentice - Minnowpaw]
Redfur - red tabby tom with amber eyes
Swallowfoot - a tortoiseshell she-cat with a bright ginger paw and amber eyes
Emberlight - a smokey grey she-cat with a red tail and green eyes
[Apprentice - Fernpaw]
Mudstripe - a pale brown tabby tom with blue eyes
Larksong - a black and white tom with yellow eyes
[Apprentice - Runningpaw]
Cougerclaw - a musky brown tom with a black paw and blue eyes
[Apprentice - Rabbitpaw]
Snakefang - a tortoiseshell she-cat with a overbite and green eyes
Longclaw - a black and white tom with yellow eyes
Longtooth - a long furred gray tom with yellow eyes and one big tooth that sticks over his lip

Apprentices:
Rabbitpaw - a dark brown tabby tom with green eyes
Minnowpaw - pale brown she-cat with green eyes
Mistpaw - a silver she-cat with white feet and a tabby tail and green eyes
Rainpaw - a gray tabby tom with a dark gray paw and blue eyes
Fernpaw - a cream she-cat with amber eyes
Runningpaw - a musky brown tom with yellow eyes

Queens:
Windfur - a silver she cat with a thick pelt and dark gray flecks, blue eyes [Mother to Wolfkit and petalkit]
Fawnbreeze - a pale brown dappled she-cat with green eyes [Mother to finchkit]
Kits:
Bravekit - a long haired tom with dark gray fur and amber eyes
Hazelkit - a pale brown tabby she-cat with green eyes
Maplekit - a pale brown she-cat with green eyes
Wolfkit - a dark grey tom with white paws
Petalkit - a tortaiseshell she-cat
Finchkit - a pale brown tabby tom
Elders:
Tornpelt - a brown tom with missing fur patches and yellow eyes
Riverleap - a silver she-cat with blue eyes
Shadowspot - a black and white tom with yellow eyes

Ⓢⓜⓞⓚⓔⓒⓛⓐⓝ

Leader: Tanglestar - a long furred brown tabbytom with blue eyes
Deputy: Reedfur - a red tom with two white front paws and green eyes
Medicine cat: Quailfoot - a blue she-cat with blue eyes
Medicine cat apprentice: Ferretpaw - a Grey tabby tom with blue eyes

Warriors:
Shimmersong - a silver she-cat with a white muzzle and blue eyes
Troutleap - a dark tortoiseshell tom with a white paw and blue eyes
Coppernose - a redish brown tabby tom with green eyes
[Apprentice - Silverpaw]
Wrenfeather - a pale brown she-cat with green eyes
[Apprentice - Larkpaw]
Brambleleaf - a red dapple she-cat with blue eyes
Shredfur - a small brown tom with amber eyes
Voleleap - a brown tom with green eyes
Darkcloud - a dark gray tom with amber eyes
Molefoot - a pale brown tom with big feet
Appleberry - a grey spotted she-cat with green eyes
Sunflight - a ginger tom with yellow eyes
[Apprentice - Swiftpaw]
Tawnyfoot - a tortoiseshell she-cat with amber eyes
Otterwhisker - a brown she-cat with short fur and green eyes
Cherryfeather - a golden tabby she-cat with blue eyes
[Apprentice - Mintpaw]
Mossythroat - a brown and white she-cat whith a brown patch on her neck and green eyes

Apprentices:
Silverpaw - a pretty silver she-cat with wirey fur and blue eyes
Swiftpaw - a black and white tom with yellow eyes
Larkpaw - a black and white tom with blue eyes
Mintpaw - a gray tabby she-cat with green eyes

Queens:
Daisyleaf - a brown and white she cat with green eyes [Mother to Marshkit and Frostkit]
Icestep - a white she-cat with blue eyes [Mother to Whitekit]
Kits:
Marshkit - a musky brown tom
Frostkit - a silver she-cat
Whitekit - a white tom
Elders:
Timbershade - a golden tabby tom with blue eyes
Robintail - a tortoiseshell tom with a short tail and amber eyes
Cloudyeye - a blind gray she-cat

Ⓢⓣⓐⓡⓒⓛⓐⓝ

Mosstail - a brown tabby she-cat with a bushy tail and green eyes

Ⓡⓞⓖⓤⓔⓢ

Vik - a red tom with matted fur and amber eyes
Sweet pee - a pretty tortoiseshell she-cat with green eyes
Cliff - a black tom with blue eyes
Axel - a reddish tom with amber eyes

Ⓛⓞⓝⓔⓡⓢ

Izzie - a black she-cat with green eyes
Goldie - a golden tabby tom with green eyes
Paddy - a young pale ginger tabby tom with green eyes

Ⓚⓘⓣⓣⓨⓟⓔⓣⓢ

Dipsey - a thick furred silver tabby she-cat with blue eyes
Chester - a black and white tom with yellow eyes
Spikey - a young black and white tom with amber eyes
Jinx - cream colored she-cat whith green eyes
tibby - a young small shy white tom with green eyes

Ⓛⓞⓥⓔ

--♥-- = mates
-♥ = she likes him
♥- = he likes her
_-♥ = mother to
x♥ = ex mates

Meadowblossom --♥-- Mudstripe
Meadowblossom _-♥ Minnowpaw, Rabbitpaw
Willowfrost --♥-- Graycloud
Willowfrost _-♥ Mistpaw, Rainpaw
Amberwing --♥-- Oaktail
Amberwing _-♥ Runningpaw, Fernpaw and Wrenpaw
Mosstail --♥-- Longtooth
Mosstail _-♥ Bravekit, Hazelkit and Maplekit
Windfur --♥-- Cougerclaw
Windfur _-♥ Wolfkit, Petalkit
Fawnbreeze _-♥ Finchkit
Shimmersong --♥-- Voleleap
Shimmersong _-♥ Silverpaw, Mintpaw
Mossythroat --♥-- Darkcloud
Mossythroat _-♥ Swiftpaw, Larkpaw
Daisyleaf --♥-- Molefoot
Daisyleaf _-♥ Marshkit, Frostkit
Icestep --♥-- Shredfur
Icestep _-♥ Whitekit
Izzie --♥-- Goldie

Ⓑⓛⓤⓡⓑ

The two newest apprentices of Hazelclan think no more of there life other than training to be a warrior, that is until Mistpaw discoveres a unforgivable crime commited, but by who? And as her clanmates seem to only suffer and ignore what is really going the two apprentices will learn more secrets which could be the only thing keeping all the clans from becoming torn apart. But will they discover what is reall going on in the forest before it's too late? And will anyone believe them if they do? That is for them to find out, but is it so much for two apprentices to hold a warriors destiny in young untrained paws?

Comments and any critique is greatly apprecated please just post below! The prologue and first chapters will be coming soon, thank you

[Claw.]

Ⓟⓡⓞⓛⓞⓖⓤⓔ

Night lay upon a frost covered forest, prickly trees towered over a cowering silver she-cat, her glistening green eyes gazing in fear at the night forest. As she stared through the leafy undergrowth, her paws obviously unable to carry her swelling fear, a strong, muscular, shadowy figure stalked through the forest and towards a stream, glistening in the light of the moon. His head turned, as if knowing the she-cat was watching him, before plunging his forepaws into the stream. The silver she-cat narrowed her eyes, to look closer at the moon shined stream and saw streaks of scarlet rushing into the silent current, the she-cat gave a small gasp of alarm and immediately the shadowy figure swung his head round to glare into her direction, amber eyes as sharp as a hawks, burning so close to the silver she-cat's hiding place. The muscular figure turned away and stepped out of the scarlet streaked stream, sending droplets sparkled with crimson onto the reeds around him, then as sneaky as he had appeared he stalked off into the undergrowth and the she-cat was alone.

Out of nowhere a soft voice whispered to her, " A new disturbance is threatening the clans and only a storm of rain covered by mist can save them! "

The silver she-cat swivelled her head in fear trying to find where the voice had come from, " A storm of rain covered by mist? What do you mean, where are you? Show yourself, what is threatening the clans?" she began to look wildly for answers before her fear persuaded her to get to her paws and run, and she kept padding into nothingness and the forest was silent again.

Ivycatcher woke with a start. Her paws trembling from a dream that was still gripping her paws, she looked around anxiously, her heart thudding fast before she seemed to realize what was happening, she nosed her way out of her nest and padded silently towards her apprentice, Wrenpaw, was sleeping in his nest, his body was crooked from a past attack from a fox when he was a kit. Ivycatcher pressed her nose into his flank to attempt to quietly wake him, he looked up drowsily, his eyes still fresh from sleep, "wha?" the young tom looked around sleepily, but his mentors reply was only sharp and wreathed with fear, "There is no time to explain, we must speak to Shadestar, the future of the clans may depend on it!" She hissed.

Wrenpaw dragged himself from his nest, his body still wailed for sleep but his eyes were alert and tinged with curiosity, he knew there would be a time for questions later so instead of speaking just followed his mentor who was darting, silently, for Shadestar's den. Ivypcatcher looked back at her apprentice, by this time she had managed to calm herself a little, her heart melting for her struggling apprentice who was limping towards her. The silver she-cat nosed her head inside of the den before whispering sharply, "Shadestar? Are you awake? We must speak to you now!" A tired murmur sounded from inside, just s confused and sleepy as Wrenpaw had been, "Come in"

The two medicine cats entered the den quickly but silently, Wrenpaws tail trailing on the dusty ground behind him, Ivycatcher turned to face her leader, sleep very far away from her now, she dipped her head politely at her drowsy leader before speaking, "Starclan has spoken to me! They told me of a new prophecy that threatens all clans!" Shock pierced the den as both tom cats seemed to forget there tiredness as much as Ivycatcher and turn to face her, eyes glaring with both fear, shock and a twinge of excitement. Shadestar dipped his head towards his medicine cat before speaking in a low growl, "Explain everything and don't miss any details!" He warned her sharply.

A sudden wave of anxiety faced the silver medicine cat but she forced herself to stay calm under the piercing looks of her clan leader and apprentice, "I was in the forest," She began nervously, "Night had fallen as far as the eye could see and a thick layer of frost washed the ground, i couldn't move! Fear was gripping me from all over but i had no idea why, i just knew that my paws wouldn't be able to carry such weight on them." Shadestar watched his silver medicine cat intently, "Go on." Ivycatcher gulped under the pressure of the watchful eyes, "Out of no where a muscular, shadowy figure appeared from nowhere, they stalked towards the stream, watching their surroundings fearfully as if they were about to be attacked by a herd of badgers!"

Wrenpaw let out a small gasp at the thought of such a cat wandering through the forest at night and all eyes turned to him, he lowered his head in shape of interrupting his mentor in such an important message. Shadestar flicked the end of his bushy tail to tell Ivycatcher to continue, the silver medicine cat spoke again, her voice still sharp with fear, "He plunged his muscular paws into the stream and as i looked closer i could see blood streaking through the current, clearly washing from his paws, I to let out of a gasp of fear then and he turned in my direction." She took a long breath before continuing, "His eyes were fiery amber but fear pulsed through them and i knew something wasn't right. He then turned away and sneaked away back into the undergrowth" Shadestar gave a small growl of annoyance, "Could you not try and follow him, find out what he was up to, or who he was?" Ivycatcher gave a loud hiss, "I already told you i couldn't move!" she snapped, before gasping as she realized how rude she had been to her clan leader. She dipped her head apologetegly before continuing with her story, "No i could not follow him but next something just as strange happened," She explained, her voice calmer now, "Out of nowhere a soft voice whispered in my ear ' A new disturbance is threatening the clans and only a storm of rain covered by mist can save them! ' and then the forest was quiet again and i ran off until i awoke"

Shadestar took a long breath as if trying to understand everything that he had just been told, "Starclan are definitely trying to warn us about something dangerous, only time will tell what it is." He then took another long pause to think about everything this prophecy would affect, "Do you think i will have to delay my two knew apprentices, the nursery is getting full but i don't want to put any young cats in danger." Ivycatcher thought about it, "I do not know, but we cannot hold back our normal traditions just because of a prophecy I’m sure not even starclan would be so cruel as to hurt to new apprentices, you should be alright to complete the ceremony just make sure there mentors keep an extra eye out for danger" Shadestar nodded thoughtfully and accepted his medicine cats decision. The three were silent for a short while after that as if all three were trying to take in what had just happened.

Wrenpaw broke the silence, "What about the clan? What are you going to tell them?" He questioned quickly, his heart thudding with worry of confronting his clanmates. Shadestar calmed him with a flick of his tail, "Nothing" The words struck the den as sharply as a killing blow to prey. Wrenpaws face gave a look of disgust, "What do you mean nothing, we can't not let them know, cats could die because of this!" Shadestar nodded, as if he was trying to look as if he was listening to the apprentice, "I will tell them Ivycatcher ha sbeen warned of danger and to keep an extra watchfull eye, i think i will explain fully at the next gathering, both clans need to know about this." The three cats gave a small nod of approvel before the two medicine cats were dismissed by Shadestar.

[Claw.]

Ⓒⓗⓐⓟⓣⓔⓡ ➊

Mistkit bounded after her brother, Rainkit excitedly, as they sped out of the nursery and towards a group of the apprentices who were grooming in the newleaf sunlight, "Todays the day!" She squealed excitedly as she caught up with her brother. Minnowpaw, a brown tabby apprentice with green eyes looked up at her with a warm smile trying to share her enthusiasum, "Yes, you'll finally be joining us in the apprentice den tonight," she mewed kindly. Minnowpaw was always very kind to everyone, though she had a suprising tempor whe cats ticked her off. Her brother, Rabbitpaw added, "Not a moment to soon, we'll be warriors before long" Minnowpaw wafted her tail over his muzzle before speaking, "Yes, i wanted to see you settle into the apprentice den before i was apprenticed," She mewed sweetly, "But it's not our day today, it's yours."

"Let all cats old enough to leap the old log gather below high stump for a Clan meeting" called Shadestar as he leaped onto high stump, a tall hazel tree stump, cut down many moons before any clans lived in the forest by twolegs. Rainkit gave a small squeal of excitement as Shadestar called a clan meeting, and saw there mother, Willowfrost, beckoning them to go sit beside the hazel stump. Both kits, coats smooth and glossy padded excitedly over to High stump and sat down beside it. As the clan began to settle around the stump Shadestar began the meeting, "HazelClan have been blessed with two kits, Mistkit and Rainkit, and they are now ready to become apprentices, come up here" He told the kits and the two scrambled up the stump to stand in front of Shadestar. Mistkit struggled to balence on the stump as they were so sqaushed together but she took a deep breath and managed to keep her balence. Shadestar began the ceremony with a strong mew, "Mistkit and Rainkit, you have reached the age of six moons, and it is time for you to be apprenticed. From this day on, until you receive your warrior name, you shall be known as Mistpaw and Rainpaw."
They both gave a small gasp of excitement at the sound of there new names before letting there leader continue,"Mistpaw, Your mentor will be Amberwing. I hope she will pass down all that she knows on to you." He mewed and gave a breif pause as Amberwing made her way through the clan to stand in front of her leader, "Amberwing, you are ready to take on an apprentice. You had received excellent training from Riverleap, and you have shown yourself to be Brave and fair. You will be the mentor of Mistpaw, and I expect you to pass on all you know to her."

Mistpaw leaped down from High stump to greet her mentor to touch noses with Amberwing, her pelt buzzing with excitement as she sat down beside her and waited to see the rest of the ceremony. Shadestar continued for Rainpaw, " Rainpaw Your mentor will be Lynxtail. I hope he will pass down all that he knows on to you." Rainpaw gave a small gasp as the muscular tom with a half tail made his way through the clan to greet his apprentice, "Lynxtail, you are ready to take on an apprentice. You had received excellent training from Redfur, and you have shown yourself to be Courages and loyal. You will be the mentor of Rainpaw, and I expect you to pass on all you know to him." Rainpaw then lept down from the stump to touch noses with his mentor before sitting next to Mistpaw and her mentor with Lynxtail only a few mouse-legnths behind him. The clan then began to call out there new appprentice names, "Mistpaw! Rainpaw!" Mistpaw noticed her mother, Willowfrost and her father, Graycloud, sitting next to each other and calling out extra loudly the new apprentice names.

Mistpaw felt as though she could almost burst with pride as the other apprentices and Willowfrost and Graycloud came over to congradulate them, "I'm so proud of our kits, becoming such brave little apprentices!" Willowfrost purred as she approuched. "They'll be able to come on proper patrols with us now" mewed Running paw brightly, "Yeah, and we can show them our proper battle moves" mewed Rabbitpaw as he approached. Rainkit looked up at his mentor from beside Mistkit, "What will we be doing first, please don't say we have to clean out the elders den?" He moaned at the thought of not being able to explore the territory but clean up after elders. Mistpaw worried at the thought to, not wanting to be cooped up in camp any longer than she had to. Lynxtail shook his head, "Well the elders do need new moss" He teased before continuing, "No we'll be going to explore the territory with Mistpaw, Amberwing and Foxtail if he wants?" The muscular tom gave a quetioning look at the red tom who was grooming himself at the other side of the clearing. Amberwing called him over before Lynxtail had a chance to speak, "Hey Foxtail, would you like to come with us to explore the territory with Mistpaw, Rainpaw and Lynxtail?" She questioned loudly so he could hear her from the other side of the clearing, "Sure!" He replied as he bounded over to join the apprentices and there mentors, "What about the other apprentices can they come to?" Mistpaw asked her mentor with a excited look in her eyes. Cougerclaw came out of no where and replied before anyone had a chance to, "No, Rabbitpaw and the others have border patrols, and Fernpaw and Runningpaw are wanted in the traing clearing for battle practice" The muscular tom growled, none of the apprentices argued, just bowed there heads and got on with there duties.

Mistpaw bounded towards the camp entrance, staring in wonder at the thorn tunnel that she had been forbidden to enter for so many moons but even she couldn't lie in saying that she had completely obeyed the rule and she and her brother had a few secret missions outside the camp before they had been apprenticed. But now everything was different and they were allowed out of the camp and were going to explore what territory lay beyond it, Mistpaw waited for Amberwing to give her a nod of approvel to head into the forest, and rainpaw sped in front to explore while Mistpaw stayed beside her mentor, slightly worried of what dangers might lie in the forest, plus she had a question, "What will we be doing in the forest? Will we be hunting today?" She asked excitedly, Amberwing just smiled at herapprentice before replying, "We will manley just be showing you around the territory, but we may have time to practice your hunting skills later" She mewed as she padded through the forest.

The silver she-cat padded to catch up with her brother who was racing in front and sniffing every tree and shrub that they passed, "Isn't this great, being out in the forest at last!" She mewed wistfully, drinking in the new scents and sounds that surrounded them. Rainpaw was almost to distracted to reply, "Yes it's great, I bet you i'll catch the biggest Rabbit in the forest by the time my trainings over" he chirped while sniffing the leaves of a holly bush, Mistpaw ignored his distant attitude and kept trying to have a conversation with him, "I bet you wont, because i'll catch it before you!" she teased padding over to his side and laying her tail on his shoulders. Rainpaw growled playfully, "I bet you won't" he mewed before leaping ontop of Mistpaws back and tussling her to the ground playfully, and Mistpaw aimed a few playful blows to his belly before pretending to go limp and he losend his grip, "Bet i will" She mewed and pulled away from his grip before leaping on his back and rolling playfully around with him, aiming small and playful blows at each other as they did so. Eventually Lynxtail pulled the apart with stern yowl, "Your not kits any more, your apprentices, and you'll catch nothing making as much noise as that, now pay attention!" He scolded, but there was a playfulness under his mew and the apprentices knew they weren't in real trouble, "Sorry" The mewed sorrowfully with there heads bowed.

Ignoring there earlier play fight, the the two apprentices sped through the forest talking excitedly among themselves. Mistpaw suddenly felt the ground become soft and springy under paw and they noticed moss growing thickly around them, the forest suddenly opened into a clearing where an old moss covered tree stood in the middle of the clearing. Amberwing stepped forward to check her surroundings before speaking, "This is mossy tree, it's a good place to challenge your tree climbing skills as some parts are slippy, and others are dry and are great for grips, Mistpaw, why don't you give it a try" she prompted and Mistpaw felt bile rising in her throat with anxiety.

She stepped towards the moss covered tree, and sniffed gingerly at the moss, most parts at the bottom were only a thin layer, as if other cats had picked moss from here and it was just starting to grow back. Mistpaw circled the tree until she found where the moss grew thickest and scrambled to get a strong paw-hold, once she felt secure she began to heave herself upwards, feeling slightly dizzy under her own weight. She then slowly began to move upwards until the lowest branch was in sight. She steadied herself into a sitting position where the trunk parted into two branches and decided which one to take: the one on her left went higher but had a thinner layer of moss and the one on her right dipped lower but had a thicker layer of moss. Mistpaw eventually chose the left, but only a few heartbeats after she stepped onto the moss covered branch did she feel herself slimp on the damp thin moss and took a few steps back before she fell off, instantly she felt her hind legs slip off the branch and she scrambled with all her stregnth to get back onto the branch and just when she felt herself slip further she dug her claws deep into the bark and closed her eyes in case she feel any further, "Help me!" she squealed in fear, not wanting to move a muscle.

"It's okay, i'm coming to help you" she heard the voice of her mentor, Amberwing but didn't dare move to tell her she'd heard. She could also hear the sounds of scuffling of leaves and debris and guessed Rainpaw, Foxtail and Lynxtail were trying to make her fall a bit softer, but she didn't want to fall at all! Suddenly she could feel the mouth of Amberwing around her scruff as her weight lifted, she opened her eyes to see her hind legs dangling over the edge of the tree and and gave a small squeak of fear before trying to curl up in a ball, Amberwing's head instantly dropped lower and she mumbled, "Keep still!" and Mistpaw just gave an apologetic mew and was as still as she could make herself. Amberwing lowered her onto the parting of the branches were Mistpaw could steady herself, heartthumping she cowered in a ball until she could get her sences together. Mistpaw looked up to see Amberwing looking with her eyes filled with worry and then gave a sigh of releif when the silver apprentice nodded at her, "Can i got back down now?" she pleaded, still stiff with fear, but Amberwing looked unsure, "Are you ready?" Mistpaw nodded before looking towards the trunk underneith her.

"I'll go first, just in case" mewed Amberwing as she set her paws into the tree, "You have to climb backwards when you come down" She explained as she lowered herself so that Mistpaw could no longer see her head, she heard a few scrambling paws before Amberwing called, "Your turn, remeber, deep breaths and come down backwards" Mistpaw turned herself gingerly and felt with her hind legs for a mossy grip, she found soem moss but it was thinner then the moss on the way up and she guessed she must be coming down a different way, she kept her tail out for balence as she slowly lowered herself down the trunk. She gave a sigh if releif when her paws hit the hard ground once again, "That was amazing, you were so brave!" exclaimed Rainpaw as he bounded towards her, he gave her a lick on the shoulder to make sure she was okay and she pawed him away playfully, "I wasn't!It was so scary" Rainpaw looked back at Lynxtail with fear, "please don't say i have to climb that?" He mewed shakily, Lynxtail shook his head, "No we've had enough tree climbing for one day, we'll head for the reed clearing near the stream next so we can hunt, you've scared all the prey here with your squealing" He joked but Mistpaw didn't find it funny.

The two appprentices headed through the forest once again, looking back now and again to make sure they were going in the right direction, enjoying the sents of the forest as they flooded through her nose, she thought that she could sence vole and maybe even mice but she wasn't focusing to hard. Mistpaw looked over to Rainpaw, "Imagin what is out here, theres so many trees and bushes!" she exclaimed as she walked beside him, "Yeah and voles!" mewed Rainpaw clearly scenting the same as she had, "I wonder what the reed clearing is like, we must be pretty close" Rainpaw nodded, "Yeah the sent of vole must mean we're close to the stream, what do you think it looks like?" Mistpaw thought hard about it for a moment, "Well, i bet it's sunny and quite open" she began but Rainpaw interrupted her, "And filled with water voles!" Mistpaw nodded a bit annoyed about being interrupted, "Yes and voles, there will probably be some long reed beds where the voles sleep and maybe even a few lily pads! Oh and i bet there is rocks glistening in the sun light" She drifted off into thought not paying any attention to where she was going, she could hear Rainpaw trying to innturupt her but she wouldn't let him, "And there will probably be silver currents moving swiftly between the sun bathed rocks and golden sand banks close to the stream where you can stop and take a drink-" Mistpaw was inturrupted by her brother, "Mistpaw look, it's much more terrible then i could have ever imagened!" He wailed in terror and Mistpaw opened her eyes, "What?"

Just a few fox legnths infront of them was Mosstail, a brown tabby queen with a bushy tail lying lifeless in the reed bed, batted and scratched, deep wounds seeping through her pelt, her eyes were open, still frozen in terror of what had done this to her. Crimson trickled out of her mouth and onto the sandy banks like in Mistpaws imagenation but the lingering scent of death and blood and killed all of her wistful thoughts away. She walked up gingerly towards the queen to see if she could in anyway help her, but she was already hunting with starClan, she looked at the wounds on her and it looked like who ever had done this had made her suffer a long and painful death. This was the work of a cat, with a soul darker than beyond her imgination, they had killed a mother of three kits and loving mate of Longtooth, who would be so dark as to do this? Almost as they knew what she was thinking Foxtail, who had entered with the other warriors behind them spoke, "What in starClan could have done this?"

[Claw.]

Ⓒⓗⓐⓟⓣⓔⓡ ➋

Rainpaw weaved his way through prickly trees, suddenly every noise seemed like it could come from a terrible killer, the killer of Mosstail. Her deathly smell still hung around his nose even though she was far behind him now, when she had been in the nursery with him and Mistpaw she had always been a lovely queen, she told all the kits to never judge a cat from his looks because it's his heart that is most beautiful, at first Rainpaw had never understood what she meant but when he had met the father of her kits, Longtooth, who had an ugly yellow tooth that stuck far out of his mouth, but Mosstail loved him and soon most of the nursery learned to as well.

Suddenly a terrible thought hit him, like a kick to the stomach he realised how devastated Longtooth would be when he found the news Rainpaw had to deliver, Lynxtail had sent him back to warn the camp when they found the body. But he would hate having to be the one to tell Longtooth that his beloved mate had been brutally killed especially when she was still nursing there poor kits. The kits of course, Rainpaw tried not to imagine how upset Mosstail three kits would be when they found that they had lost their mother and how scared the other kits would be when they found how cruel some cats could be to such a lovely cat.

But this news had to be delivered and he couldn't change the fact that Mosstail had died bur he wanted to do something so badly to try and make sure this never happened again, to do that he would have to find the killer. But not before Mosstails body had been returned to her camp where they could grieve for her and eventually bury her so as he approached the thorn tunnel that led to the camp entrance he took a gulp of fresh air before preparing himself to speak.

But when Rainpaw burst into the camp it was eerily quiet, the only remaining cats he could find were the queens, kits, elders, Wrenpaw, Shadestar, Swallowfoot and Redfur. The two warriors were dropping prey on the fresh-kill pile and looked quite tired from hunting so Rainpaw didn't want to bother them and Shadestar was in his den and he didn't want to interrupt in case it was important so the tabby apprentice rushed over to Wrenpaw who was drying herbs in the sunlight, "Wrenpaw i have terrible news, is Shadestar busy?" the crippled apprenitce looked up in suprise before answering, "No, what happened?" he asked quickly, clearly scared by the shock in Rainpaws tone, "I'll explain when i've talked to Shadestar, but could you gather some warriors while i wait?" he mewed quickly before racing towards Shadestar's den.

Rainpaw paced anxiously outside of Shadestar’s den, "Shadestar, I have terrible news!" he mewed through his wooden den. He could hear the tom moving before he replied, "Come in" Rainpaw raced through the hole in the twisted hazel roots before bursting into the center of then den where sunlight filtered through weaved debris at the top of the old hazel tree den, he gave a small gasp at amazement at the huge den, Shadestar was sitting in the corner in his den made of moss and ferns, "What’s the matter, you look like you've seen a badger!" he mewed with a hint of humour in his voice but that was all stopped when Rainpaw spoke, "Mosstail's dead! She's been attacked and left in the streambed! Lynxtail, foxtail and Amberwing have come to carry her back" There was a moment of shock in the den before Shadestar lept from his nest, "I'll fetch some warriors, we need to guard the camp, you and the other apprentices aren't allowed to leave the camp without two warriors, until we have found and punished the killer!" Shadestar then moved his way towards the entrance of his den and to address the camp and Rainpaw scampered out after him.

Rainpaw padded gingerly towards the medicine cat den, where Wrenpaw was waiting for him caring for his crippled leg tentivly, "What was the news?" he asked when he saw Rainpaw approach, and Rainpaw simply replied, "You'll find out soon enough. Did you gather any warriors?" Wrenpaw nodded and Rainpaw senced he was slightly annoyed that he kept refusing to tell him about the news but when he spoke his tone was bright enough, "Swallowfoot, Redfur, Mudstripe and Snakefang have come back from hunting, everyone else is on patrols and Ivycatcer is out collecting herbs but they'll be back soon enough." he mewed quietly something told Rainpaw that he was hiding something but before he could react the apprentice spoke again, "It's Mosstail isn't it?" he mewed out of the blue, Rainpaw replied, shocked, "Yes how did you know?" Wrenpaw twitched nervously as if he'd given something away, "Last night while i was sorting through the herbs i tripped on a rock and cut my pad, when i looked down there was a clump of moss soked in water and blood, i think it was an omen from Starclan but only now do i understand." Rainpaw felt sick as he listened to the crippled apprentice, "She was attacked near the stream and somebody killed her!" He explained his voice shaking with sadness.

Before the conversation could continue Lynxtail, foxtail, Amberwing, Mistpaw, Longclaw and Larksong burst into the clearing Mosstails body lay lifeless on their back, and they placed her carefully in the center of the camp where her clanmates could mourn for her. As he padded over to greet his sister he notced Maplekit and Wolfkit tumble out the nursery, Wolfkit pinning Maplekit to the ground as the tortoiseshell tried to throw him off, but before she had a chance Bravekit rammed himself into Wolfkit and the two tom kits tumpled on the ground, "Be more gentle with my sister!" Bravekit commanded while Hazelkit raced to see the patrol and expected to see her mother, and took a daunted step back when she reached her, "Bravekit, Maplekit come quick Mummy's hurt!" she yelped and all the kits circled Mosstail's lifeless body, Bravekit snuggled under her paws, "It's okay Mosstail, I’ll look after Maplekit and Hazelkit for you!" he sobbed.

Rainpaw turned away, he couldn't watch, he suddenly realised he had started to tremble under all the commotion and he felt as if his chest was about to explode with the horrors of the day, he closed his eyes to see if he could calm himself only to find his sister leaning against his side. He opened his eyes to see her understanding blue eyes staring into his as she lay her tail on his back he felt himself start to calm down, "We've had a rough day, it's not our fault Mosstail died." she mewed caringly as she guided him to the apprentice den, where they sat staring into the camp from the entrance, "Longclaw's patrol found us and he and Larksong helped us carry Mosstail back while Runningpaw went to warn the other patrols." she explained. Rainpaw had calmed himself and managed to speak by then, "The kits are devastated, I just wish there were some way i could have helped even stopped this." he admitted staring bleakly into camp, "I do to," Mistpaw began, "How about we investigate, find out who did this to Mosstail and punish them!" she mewed excitement filling her voice, "How about it" Rainpaw agreed.

Suddenly Longtooth burst into the clearing his gray ragged pelt fluffed up twice its size and his eyes huge with shock, "Is it true? Has someone really killed my sweet Mosstail?" he yowled as he burst into the clearing and quickly raced over to Mosstail as the clan made way so that he could see the body of his dead mate. Foxtail bowed his head, "Yes it is true, some evil cat killed her" He admitted sadness shaking his voice. Longtooth lay down next to his mate, rapping his tail round her and whispering, "You were a great mother, but don't worry about me or your kits, I'll take good care of them now, you hunt well in Starclan. I'll miss you Mosstail, never forget i love you, good bye!" Sadness gripped his body as he lay beside his mate and he kits mewled around him understanding the seriousness of the situation.

The rest of the patrols began to file their way back to camp, each one as shocked as the other, Ivycatcher returned a mouthful of herbs in her jaws pierced by shock she quickly took the herbs to the medicine cat den before she began to mourn for her dead clanmate. Rainpaw leaned on Mistpaw's shoulder, staring at Mosstail's body the whole time but not showing any emotion, his heart ached for her family for they had lost an amazing mother, a loving mate and a brave warrior, "I want to say good bye to Mosstail, will you come?" he asked Mistpaw quietly, "Of course I will" Mistpaw replied and both cats got to their paws, and shakily picked their way through there clanmates towards Mosstail's body.

The two apprentices curled up beside Mosstail, her kits were crouching in sadness at her belly and their father was layed right next to her. Rainpaw and his sister had to squash tightly to find a good spot, but eventually they curled up tightly near her neck, a thick cut had just started to scab over in front of their nose. Rainpaw bent his head and touched noses to the Hazelclan queen and whispered, "Good bye Mosstail, you will be greatly missed, watch over the clan, I'll always remember you," he whispered it so quiet that only her lingering spirit would have known he had spoken. He took a deep breath and drank her warm motherly sent, scanning scratches, clearly made by cats, but not just one, there were lots of different scars some scratches tighter than the others showing that there were lots of different cats that had ganged up on this poor Hazelclan queen.

Rainpaw heard Mistpaw whisper something but she was too quiet to hear, Rainpaw bowed his head and sat up, as Ivycatcher weaved her way over to where the apprentices were lying, "We should go now." Rainpaw told Mistpaw as he knew it would start to get very crowded if they didn't. Mistpaw nodded and slowly got up and stood beside him and the two cats began to walk back to the apprentices den in silence.