| Preceded by: None |
Rowankit's Destiny | Succeded by: A New Life |
Rowankit's Destiny By:Tawnypeltlover[]
Rowankit's Destiny is a book about a little kit, Rowankit, who makes big changes to Darkclan, but along the way, there are big sacrafices he has to make, since he is a special cat in a prophecy from Starclan. Will Rowankit complete the prophecy, or even know what it means, or will it be the doom of Darkclan? READ TO FIND OUT!
Clans: Darkclan, Ghostclan, Lightningclan, Fireclan, and Starclan
1st:Rowankit's Destiny
2nd:A New Life
3rd:The Rage
Series:Rowan Series
Prologue[]
It was a stormy night, and a ginger she-cat was about to give birth to her kit. A big black tom with a nasty scar across his face was sitting next to her, trying to keep her calm. A small golden she-cat padded into the nursery. "I'm here to help you give birth to your kit, Squirrelfoot." The golden she-cat meowed. "Okay." Squirrelfoot meowed. "Okay, everything is going to be fine. It won't take long." The black tom meowed to Squirrelfoot and licked her cheek and he padded farther away in the den. The golden she-cat nodded to him. "Okay, Squirrelfoot, when I say push, you push as hard as you can, okay?" The golden she-cat meowed. "Okay, let's begin" Squirrelfoot meowed. The golden she-cat closed her eyes then opened them again. "One, two, three, PUSH!" The golden she-cat meowed. Squirrelfoot pushed as hard as she could. "Again. One, two, three, PUSH!" The golden cat meowed and Sqiurrelfoot pushed again. "Okay one more time! One, two, three, PUSH!" The golden cat meowed, then Squirrelflight pushed as hard as she could again and a little fur ball was at Squirrelfoot's stomach, squeaking in hunger. "You did it, Squirrelfoot! Congratulations!" The golden cat meowed happily. The big black tom padded over to Squirrelfoot and licked her cheek. "You did great, my love. Thank you for helping us Shinefur." The big black tom meowed. "No problem! Now, what are you going to name your kit?" Shinefur asked. "Is it a tom or a she-cat?" Squirrelfoot asked. Shinefur examined the little kit. "It's a tom." Shinefur meowed happily. "A tom, hmm. What do you think we should name him, Batscar?" Squirrelfoot asked the black tom. Batscar looked at the little kit. He had black legs, black tail, black ears, a big black spot on his back, a black spot around his eye, yellow eyes, and the rest of his fur was orange. "How about, Rowankit?" Batscar guessed. "Yeah! Rowankit. His name will be Rowankit." Squirrelfoot purred and licked the little kit as he drank milk from his mother's stomach. "He is going to be a great warrior." Batscar meowed and touched his nose to the top of his little head. "I know it.".
Chapter One[]
Rowankit padded around the camp beside his mother. He loved going around the camp, seeing all of the cats, smelling all the new smells, and seeing all of the new things he had never seen before! His mother stopped short at the entrance of the Darkclan camp. His mother's eyes grew wide. "Come on, Rowankit. We need to get back to the nursery. Now!" Squirrelfoot urged and they ran back to the nursery. "Stay here. I will be right back." Squirrelfoot ordered and she ran to the warrior's den. Rowankit padded around the nursery, seeing all of the queens and all of the other kits. Rowankit spotted a silver tabby she cat with a white belly and chest, and sparkling blue eyes. Rowankit saw her eyes looked towards him, then straight at him, and she smiled. Rowankit smiled back, then the kit ran over to him. "Hello there! What's your name?" The silver kit asked. "I'm Rowankit, whats your name?" Rowankit asked back. "My name is Streamkit. Want to go out and play?" Streamkit asked. "No, I can't. My mother told me to stay in here and wait for her to get back. It must be an emergency." Rowankit meowed sadly. A dark gray she-cat with green eyes padded up to them. "An emergency?" The gray cat meowed. "Rowankit, this is my mother, Mothwhisker." Streankit introduced Mothwhisker to Rowankit. "What's the emergency?" Mothwhisker asked Rowankit. "I don't know, but she ran off to the warrior's den." Rowankit meowed. "Okay. Streamkit, stay here with Rowankit. I will be right back. Don't go out of the nursery!" Mothwhisker ordered and she ran to the warrior's den. "I wonder what the emergency is. It must be really important!" Streamkit mewed. "Yeah-" Rowankit began, then he heard the thumping of lots of paws. The two kits looked at eachother, then they ran out to the entrance of the nursery to see bunches of cats charging in and attacking their clan. "Darkclan is in trouble!" Streamkit yowled. "Well, we are going to have to do something about it!" Rowankit yowled and he ran out to a small tom and pounced on top of him. The tom hissed and threw Rowankit off of him, then Rowankit heard the yowling of his mother's voice, as she was running towards him. She quickly picked him up and placed him in the den. The small tom that Rowankit attacked followed them into the nursery, and hid behind it before Squirrelfoot left. The tom ran into the nursery and ran for Streamkit and Rowankit. "Dumb kit! You need to stay in the nursery!" The tom hissed. Rowankit attacked the tom, and the tom fled from the Darkclan camp, and bak to his on clan. "Wow! How did you do that?" Streamkit squeaked. "I just, attacked him. I don't know how I made him flee. I'm just a kit." Rowankit meowed. The two kits saw a big black tom prowl into the nursery, and pick up Rowankit by the scruff. "Rowankit! Use your awesome fighting power on the mouse-brain!" Streamkit yowled sadly. Rowankit struggled, and tried to throw slashes at the tom's face, but he couldn't reach. His arms were too short. "Streamkit! Help!" Rowankit yowled. Streamkit leaped onto the black tom's head and clung on. *Get off of me dumb kit!" The tom growled, but Streamkit stayed on. She slashed all over the tom's head, then the kits saw Squirrelfoot and Mothwhisker run into the nursery and attack the big black tom. Streamkit jumped off of the tom, but Rowankit was still in his grip. "Let go of my kit, Shadestar!" Squirrelfoot hissed and dragged her claws down Shadestar's chest. Shadestar yowled in pain, letting his grip on Rowankit go. Rowankit hit the ground, then he scrambled beside Streamkit. Squirrelfoot and Mothwhisker slashed and hissed and growled, until Shadestr fled Darkclan camp, then the rest of his clan followed him out of there. "Dumb Shadestar, bringing his clan to attack us!" Streamkit spat to herself. "Okay little kits, that was Ghostclan, their leadr is Shadestar. Ghostclan has always tried to attack us, and we always win!" Mothwhisker yowled in victory. "Why dd they attack us?" Rowankit asked his mother. "Ghostclan hasn't liked us for a very long time. It was all from that one night at Great Trees. Want me to tell you the story?" Squirrelfoot asked. "Yes yes yes!" Streamkit and Rowankit meowed.
Chapter Two[]
"Alright, a long, long time ago, all of the clans were in peace, and didn't attack eachother. But then one day, Ghostclan had traveled onto our territory. We warned them not to come on our territory again, and they got furious. A while after that, Ghostclan had set an attack on us. When the other two clans heard about the attack, then one clan, Firecln, sent an attack on Ghostclan, so Ghostclan was furious with Fireclan, too. Ever since then, Fireclan and Darkclan were sworn enemies of Ghostclan, so we always get attacks from them." Squirrelfoot announced. "Woah woah woah woah. That's not how it happened!" Mothwhisker meowed. "What? It has to be! The elders told it to me themselvs!" Squirrelfoot protested. "Now, I will tell you kits the REAL story of why Ghostclan attacks us." Mothwhisker meowed. "Many moons ago, Ghostclan was a peaceful little clan in the forest. Until Darkclan saw Ghostclan patroling their border higher than usual. Dakclan sent an attack on them, since the old leader of Darkclan, Graystar, thought they were think about planing something on Darkclan. Ever since then, Ghostclan has wanted revenge on Darkclan for sending an attack on them for no reason, when the clans were suppose to be peaceful." Mothwhisker explained. "Okay, but who's story is right?" Streamkit asked. "Neither of them are right." A cat spoke. The cat padded into the nursery. The cat was a white tom with silver flecks on his muzzle. "Skywing? You know the story?" Squirrelfoot meowed. "Yes, I know the story of why Ghostclan always attacks us. So listen closley." Skywing meowed. Streamkit and Rowankit sat in front of Skywing as he sat down. "Alright little kits. Ghostclan always attacks us, because of a fight many moons ago. All of the clans were at The Great Trees, when the old Ghostclan leader Ghoststar said his speech but he said something that the clans didn't need to hear, so the old Darkclan leader Lilystar told him, "We don't need that information, Ghoststar. Please keep that information within your own clan.". Then Ghoststar got furious and attacked her. Ever since then, Ghostclan has been furious with Darkclan because of that one meeting. Shadestar has still keep the fury going within Ghostc;an when it needs to stop. That is why Ghostclan keeps attacking us." Skywing meowed. "Oh, so that is why they keep attacking us!" Streamkit mewed. "I can't argue with an elder." Squirrelfoot meowed. "Yeah, I guess that IS how Ghostclan keeps getting us." Mothwhisker meowed. "Well, I better be getting back to the elder's den. See you later little kits." Skywing meowed and padded back to the elder's den. "Thank you for the story!" Streamkit yowled to him before he left. "So, now what do we do?" Rowankit meowed. "When are we going to be apprentices, mom?" Streamkit meowed and ran up to her mother. "Well, it's been a five moons since you two were born. So, one more moon until you become apprentices." Mothwing meowed. "Yay! Only one more moon!" Streamkit mewed and jumped around. "Can we go around the camp now mom?" Rowankit meowed. "Sure." Squirrelfoot replied and led Rowankit outside of th nursery. Streamkit or Mothwing didn't see them leave, so they were cautiously looking around the nursery for them. "Streamkit! We're out here!" Rowankit yowled to her. Streamkit looked up, smiled, then told her mother and they came out to them. "We're gonna go around the camp with you guys." Streamkit meowed and the four padded around the camp
Chapter Three[]
Rowankit swatted at a leaf. He has been in the nursery with Streamkit for four moons, and he was ready to get iut if the nursery already! One of the other queens in the nursery, two moons ago she became a queen, had her kits a few sunrises ago.They were Tigerkit, Lilykit, and Sunkit. Tigerkit was a tom with a dark brown pelt with black stripes, and he had amber eyes. Lilykit was a tortoiseshell she-cat with sea blue eyes. Then Sunkit was a golden tabby she-cat with emerald green eyes. Even though they were only in the nursery for a short while, Tigerkit was pretty big for a kit, because he was about Streamkit's size. What Rowankit didn't like about Tigerkit was that he wanted to get chances to spend time with Streamkit, which made Rowankit feel uneasy. Was Tigerkit falling for Streamkit? If he was, Rowankit wouldn't let him be with her, because he knows she deserves more than that huge cat's presents in her life all the time. Rowankit had feelings for Streamkit, and he wasn't about to compete with a kit that is younger than him. Plus, Streamkit and Rowankit were going to be apprentices soon, so for a while, Rowankit wouldn't have to worry about Tigerkit. Who knows, they might become warriors before Tigerkit, Sunkit, and Lilykit even become apprentices, so then Rowankit could probably be together with Streamkit as warriors before Tigerkit, and Tigerkit is way too young for Streamkit anyway, so what does he have to worry about? Rowankit began swatting at the leaf again, after he thought about Tigerkit. Of course, the kit he wanted to see, the tabby kit prowled out of the nursery and leaped for Rowankit. Rowankit turned around and leaped for him. Rowankit pinned down Tigerkit, then leaped off. "What do you want Tigerkit?" Rowankit hissed. Tigerkit leaped up to his four paws and narrowed his eyes. "I know about you and Streamkit, and it's not going to happen. I am the true cat for Streamkit!" Tigerkit growled. "Your way to young for Streamkit, and your still going to be in the nursery while Streamkit and I are in the apprentice's den, then we will become warriors before you even become an apprentice." Rowankit bragged. Rowankit didn't want to get in a fight with this kit, but if he had to, he will. Tigerkit growled. "I don't have to be an apprentice to be in love with her!" Tigerkit hissed. "You just don't understand it, do you Tigerkit? Streamkit won't want to be mates with a cat who is still a kit, when she is a warrior!" Rowankit harshly explained. Tigerkit hissed and pounced for Rowankit, but Rowankit dodged him and leaped at him and pinned him down. "There's no need to fight me, because you know I'll win anyway." Rowankit spat then leaped off of him. Tigerkit leaped up. "Your too wimp. You always let me go when you could've clawed me to shreds!" Tigerkit hissed. "Do you think the clan would forgive me for clawing the fox-dung out of a kit that is so much smaller than me?" Rowankit questioned. Rowankit looked to see a stone colored pelt and shocking amber eyes pading right for them. "What do you two think your doing?" The cat hissed at them. "We were play fighting dad." Tigerkit grunted at the huge tom. "Well, don't be too rough, because we really need a kit in the medicine cat's den." The tom murmured then padded away. "My father is never proud in me, and I hate it. No matter what I do, he always just points out whats wrong, and not whats right." Tigerkit meowed angrily. "The messed up mouse-brain." Tigerkit mumbled. Rowankit narrowed his eyes at Tigerkit. What was so bad about his father? He was only pointing out all of the bad things so he could know better when he gets older, but part of Tigerkit's words were right. His father should give him more affection than he does now. Rowankit looked down at Tigerkit. "We are wasting time fighting." Rowankit meowed and put his tail on Tigerkit's shoulder. Tigerkit closed his eyes, then nodded, and the kits padded back into the nursery
Later that day, Streamkit and Rowankit chased leaves and played around with eachother, while Tigerkit, Sunkit and Lilykit curled up next to their mother as she told them stories. Rowankit was feeling better about Tigerkit, since they talked with eachother that part of the day. Rowankit stopped and looked at Streamkit. "Hey Streamkit." Rowankit meowed, jumping off of her. Streamkit jumped up to her paws. "What?". "Do you like Tigerkit?" Rowankit meowed and hesitated. "Well yes, I like him as a denmate, but not like like. I have never told anyone who I REALLY like, ever since you were born at the same time as me. I waited all day for you to open your eyes, seeing your coat shine in the sun, then I gave up and went to my mother after it had been a day since you were born. Then, when I first saw you with your eyes open, my whole life changed." Streamkit meowed. She turned and looked at the ground. "I-I-I like you Rowankit." Streamkit softly meowed and hesitated, then she turned to look at Rowankit. Rowankit stared at her, his eyes glowing. "I-I like you too, Streamkit." Rowankit meowed. Streamkit padded up to him and nuzzled him, then licked his cheek. "I can't wait until we become warriors." Streamkit meowed, then she ran back to the nursery, and Rowankit just stared and watched her go.
Chapter Four[]
Rowankit padded around the camp, excitedly. Today was his ceremony to become an apprentice, and he couldn't wait. Rowankit heard thumping coming close to him, so he unsheathed his claws then turned around and leaped into the air and pinned the cat down. "Uh, hey Rowankit." The cat purred. Rowankit looked down then clouded up in embarassment. "S-Sorry Streamkit. I thought you were a different cat." Rowankit meowed. "What 'other cat'?"Streamkit meowed. "Tigerkit?" Streamkit meowed, answering for him. "Rowankit, you know I will never be with him, so what are you worrying about?" Streamkit meowed then licked his cheek. "It's just that he always makes me feel uneasy whenever I get up to him. I don't know why. It's as if I'm suppose to avoid him or something." Rowankit thought out loud. A cat poked it's head out of a den then came running to them. "Your suppose to avoid somebody?" The cat asked. "Yes, it feels like it." Rowankit meowed. "I'm Darkclan's medicine cat, Blacktail." The tom meowed, his body was white, his eyes were green, then his tail was all black. "Wait, what happened to our other medicine cat?" Streamkit meowed. "Oh, she retired and went to join the elders. Now you two, come with me." Blacktail meowed and led them to the den he came out of. When Rowankit padded inside, he smelt bunches of herbs and tangy smells that he never smelt before. "Wow, when you smell the camp, then in here, it's feels so weird." Streamkit meowed. "Oh, you'll get used to it." Blacktail meowed, then they padded out into a huge grassy clearing with a big pool of water, then a big rock with a huge crack in it, almost so big that you can make a den in it. Rowankit padded up to it and sniffed. The scent of herbs was even stronger than just in the den. "Come over here young cats." Blacktail meowed. Streamkit and Rowankit padded over to him and sat down. Blacktail sat down. "I've had a prophecy, about a cat who has to avoid another cat. I think the cat in the prophecy is about you." Blackail meowed and pointed his tail to Rowankit. "What is your name?" Blacktail asked Rowankit. "Rowankit." He replied. "And I'm Streamkit!" Streamkit added. "Alright, Rowankit, you have to be the one for the prophecy. The prophecy is fortold about a cat with Rowan in it." Blacktail meowed. "So, what is the prophecy?" Streamkit asked. "Rowan will charge through the forest, and can stop at nothing, and will have a great responsibility on their paws." Blacktail meowed. "So what does me having to avoid someone have to do with-" Rowankit meowed. "But, will have a great power in their way, and will have to try to avoid this great power, for it will try to destroy them." Blacktail meowed. "And that's it.". "So, there is great power in my way." Rowankit meowed to himself. "And I will have a great responsibility on my paws. But what does it mean?" Rowankit asked Blacktail. "I can't tell you. You have to find it out on your own." Blacktail meowed. "But-" Rowankit mewed. "No buts, now leave my den so I can work, please." Blacktail ordered and Streamkit and Rowankit left his den through the little whole at the front. "What does that prophecy mean?" Streamkit asked. "I don't know, but I don't think anyone around will know how to help me." Rowankit meowed sadly. "Yes there is! Let's go ask Gingerstar! She'll know what to do!" Streamkit meowed an the two kits ran to their leaders den. "Gingerstar Gingerstar!" The two kits meowed as they ran in. Gingerstar looked up. "Don't worry little ones. I was just about t start your ceremony. Let's go."Gingerstar led them out of her den with her. "Can we talk to you after the ceremony?" Streamkit asked. "Yes." Gingerstar meowed then she leaped onto the High Rock and yowled to her clan. Darkclan gathered around below the High Rock. Squirrelfoot, Batscar, Mothwhisker, and another cat ran out of the nursery and ran to their kits. Squirrelfoot ran up to Rowankit and lapped his fur, cleaning it and sleeking it down. "Okay mom okay!" Rowankit teased and dragged a paw over his ear. Streamkit did the same to Mothwing and Streamkit licked Mothwhisker's cheek, then the other cats. Rowankit saw her then did the same to his parents, then Streamkit and Rowankit padded up right below the High Rock together. "Who was that other cat with you?" Rowankit asked. "Oh, that was my father, Foxtail." Streamkit meowed then they sat silently under the High Rock. "Cats of Darkclan! I am here to appoint two knew apprentices.They have been with us for six moons, and it is time for them to move out of the nursery." Gingerstar yowled. "Streamkit, you will now be known as Streampaw." Gingerstar scanned the clan then pointed with her tail to an all black tom with yellow eyes. "Shadowflight will be your mentor." Shadowflight padded out of the crowd and touched noses with his apprentice. "Rowankit, you will now be known as Rowanpaw." Gingerstar looked around again then pointed to a tortoiseshell tom with amber eyes. "Spottedfire will be your mentor." Spottedfire padded out of the crowd and went to touch noses with his apprentice. Gingerstar leaped off of the High Rock "Rowanpaw! Streampaw! Rowanpaw! Streampaw!" The clan cheered, then they padded up to congratulate them, then they padded away. Gingerstar brought them to her den. "So what did you want to talk to me about?". "Well, Blacktail gave use a prophecy earlyer, and we need your help understanding what it means." Rowanpaw meowed. "Okay, what is the prophecy?" Gingerstar asked. "Rowan will charge through the forest, and can stop at nothing, and will have a great responsibility on their paws. But, will have a great power in their way, and will have to try to avoid this great power, for it will try to destroy them." Rowanpaw meowed, repeating what Blacktail had told him. Gingerstar hesitated for a moment. "I don't know what the prophecy means. I'm sorry, Rowanpaw." Gingerstar meowed. "It's okay." Rowanpaw meowed. "Rowanpaw! Streampaw! Come on, we are going to go out to train!" Shadowflight and Spottedfire called. Rowanpaw and Streampaw dipped their heads to their leader, then ran out of her den and to their mentors. Shadowflight led the way out of the Darkclan camp and up the stone wall that was in front of the entrance to Darkclan camp. "I don't understand why this wall has to be here!" Streampaw complained. Rowanpaw shot her a look so she would be quiet, and Streampaw didn't talk anymore until they got to a big clearing half way from the stone wall. "This is the training hollow, where warriors train their apprentices to hunt, battle, and gather moss." Spottedfire explained. Shadowflight nodded to the apprentices. "So, what are we going to train on first?" Rowanpaw asked Spottedfire. "First, we are going to learn how to gather moss for the elders." Spottedfire meowed and Streampaw laughed. Shadowflight shot her a stern look. "You are too." Shadowflight meowed and Streampaw stopped laughing.
Chapter Five[]
Rowanpaw and Streampaw mainly spent the rest of the day picking moss from trees around the training hollow. Arch your paw, then unsheathe your claws as hard as you can, then make a swiftly gentle slice on the moss, and you'll get the moss off, and leave the dirt and roots behind, Spottedfire's teaching repeated in Rowanpaw's mind as he did what Spottedfire taught him. Spottedfire and Shadowflight were out hunting to get some food for the fresh-kill pile, while Streampaw and Rowanpaw got moss. "Why do we have to pick up moss? Why can't we do something fun at the beginning of our training?" Streampaw complained. "They're teaching us the simplest first, so we will be able to do better at the things we have to do later. Like hunting, Spottedfire told me this is also both a hunting move, and a battle move." Rowanpaw explained. "How is this a battle move and hunting move?" vStreampaw meowed. "With each slice of our paw, we're getting more and more controlled. By the time we've mastered this, we'll be able to rake our enemie's muzzle with a flick of our paw, and to kill prey quickly and cleanly." Rowanpaw meowed, remembering what Spottedfire had told him. "Oh, okay." Streampaw meowed, sounding more joyful about doing this.
By the time Shadowflight and Spottedfire got back from hunting, Rowanpaw and Streampaw's pile of moss was bigger than before. "Wow! Great job!" Shadowflight meowed happily. "How are we going to bring all of this back to camp?" Streampaw meowed, then they heard thundering. "Uh oh. We better hurry and bring this back to camp!" Spottedfire meowed and taught them how to pick up to pieces of moss at the same time. The four cats all picked up to pieces of moss, a big piece under their chin, and a piece in their mouth. They brought the moss back to camp and hurryed to the elders den. Shadowflight dropped his moss. "We got you fresh moss." Shadowflight meowed, and the rest of the cats dropped their moss in a pile. "Wow!" A brindle colored she-cat meowed happily. "Who is that?" Rowanpaw whispered to Spottedfire. "That's Brindleflower, one of our elders." Spottedfire whispered back. "Who are these two little ones?" Another cat meowed, a gray tom with a yellow and a white eye. "This is Rowanpaw and Streampaw, two newly made apprentices." Spottedfire meowed. Shadowflight was remaking the elders nests when he nodded to Streampaw for her to come and help him. "Let me guess, Rowanpaw is your apprentice, Spottedfire." The gray tom guessed. "Yes, and Streampaw is Shadowflight's apprentice. We were just training them earlier." Spottedfire meowed. "Who is that?" Rowanpaw asked. "That's Ghost-eye, one of our oldest elders. He loves new cats. He was my mentor when I was an apprentice like you." Spottedfire meowed. Ghost-eye got to his paws and padded up to Rowanpaw. "Nice to meet you, Rowanpaw. I'm glad you were chosen to be my apprentice's apprentice. Yes, I know it sounds funny." Ghost-eye joked. "Nice to meet you too." Rowanpaw meowed. Ghost-eye went back to his nest, but before he could sit down, Shadowflight and Streampaw went to his nest to give it fresh moss. "Am I going to learn how to do that?" Rowanpaw asked Spottedfire. "I think you would already know how from watching them. I saw you looking at them while they were helping the elders." Spottedfire meowed. Shadowflight looked up. "Come do this one, Rowanpaw." Shadowflight meowed and Streampaw and Shadowflight went to stand beside Spottedfire. Rowanpaw padded to Ghost-eye's nest and got some fresh moss. He neatly put fresh moss all around the edges of the nest and stood up. "Like that?" He asked Spottedfire. Spottedfire nodded happily but slowly. "Wow! He learned how to do it by just watching!" A red tom with a black muzzle and blue eyes meowed from the other side of the elders den. "Who is that?" Rowanpaw asked Spottedfire as he walked up to him. "That's Robinwing. He was the mentor of my sister, Moonsky, but she died in an attack from Ghostclan." Spottedfire meowed. A sleek golden she-cat looked up at Rowanpaw, her eyes wide. "You're Rowanpaw?" She meowed. "Yes." Rowanpaw meowed. "Rowanpaw! I'm Shinefur, the old medicine cat. I helped your mother have you." Shinefur meowed. "Wow! Blacktail told me you were in the elders den." Rowanpaw meowed. Shinefur nodded, then curled up again and went back to sleep. Rowanpaw looked outside of the elders den saw it wasn't raining or thundering anymore, but what he saw was the familiar dark brown tom with black stripes and amber eyes watching him with glaring eyes. Rowanpaw turned away, but the cats were padding out of the elders den, and Rowanpaw ran after them to catch up. "You two deserve a meal. Pick something from the fresh-kill pile and go eat." Spottedfire meowed and him and Shadowflight picked up something from the pile and padded to a nettle patch close by. Streampaw and Rowanpaw picked up a mouse and padded together to the tree stump close to the back of the camp. They sat down at the front at the stump. "Man, I'm starving!" Streampaw meowed then quickly gulped down the mouse and buried the bones. "I wish I could get another piece from the pile." Streampaw meowed and got up. Rowanpaw got up and they padded around the camp. Tigerkit narrowed his eyes and watched them. He ran and leaped for Rowanpaw. Rowanpaw quickly turned around and pinned Tigerkit down. "Don't try getting me again small fur ball. I don't mean to be mean, but you've got to stop. You can't win this." Rowanpaw hissed and Streampaw turned around. "Tigerkit, I don't love you as a mate. I'm going to be mates with Rowanpaw when we become warriors." Streampaw purred and licked Rowanpaw's cheek. Rowanpaw purred back then leaped off of Tigerkit. Tigerkit growled then stomped off to the nursery.
Chapter Six[]
It had been five moons since Rowanpaw and Streampaw went training for the first time. They were out in the training hollow, praticing their last battle moves. Rowanpaw and Streampaw had gotten even bigger and stronger than before, and were better at doing their training. Spottedfire and Shadowflight said that this would be their last training session until tomorrow, when they would become warriors. Rowanpaw couldn't wait until the next day, because then they wouldn't have to worry about Tigerkit. Then, Rowanpaw remembered horrbily. Today was Tigerkit, Sunkit, and Lilykit's ceremony for becoming apprentices. Rowanpaw lunged for Streampaw and pinned her down. "Good move!" Streampaw meowed. "Thanks. Let's see if you can do better!" Rowanpaw joked and leaped off of Streampaw. Rowanpaw turned around and pretended like he was doing something. Streampaw leaped for him, but Rowanpaw turned and leaped at her and bit her ear then pinned her to the ground. Streampaw's ear bled a lot on the ground, and she shoved Rowanpaw off of her and pinned him down. She bit his leg then leaped off. "Good one!" Rowanpaw meowed. "Thanks." Streampaw meowed, and her ear was caked with dry blood now. "We better get you to the medicine cat's den to fix up that ear. From the looks of it, you'll be scared on your ear for life, but we need to get all the dry blood out and clean it so it doesn't get infected." Shadowflight meowed and the four cats padded home and to the medicine cat's den. Blackatil fixed her ear just in time for Gingerstar's yowl to summon the clan. They padded out and sat below the High Rock. "Cats of Darkclan! We are gathered here today to appoint new apprentices to Darkclan. They have been with us for six moons, and it is time for them to leave the nursery. Lilykit, you will now be known as Lilypaw." Gingerstar looked over the clan and pointed to a yellow cat with green eyes. "Lightningfoot will be your mentor." Lightningfoot padded up to his apprentice and they touched noses. "Sunkit, you will now be known as Sunpaw, and Ferntail will be your mentor." Gingerstar meowed and a greenish she-cat with blue eyes padded up to his apprentice and touched noses to his apprentice. "Last but not least. Tigerkit, you will now be known as Tigerpaw. sky will be your mentor." Gingerstar meowed and a blueish she-cat with yellow eyes padded up to Tigerpaw and touched noses to him. "Also." Gingerstar began and Rowanpaw hesitated. What was she going to say? "Shadowflight and Spottedfire, please come up with your apprentices." Gingerstar meowed and they padded up with Streampaw and Rowanpaw. "From what you have told me, your apprentices are ready to become warriors. Streampaw, do you promise to uphold the warrior code and fight for your clan, even at the cost of your life?" Gingerstar yowled. "I do." Streampaw meowed. "Then by the powers of Starclan, I give you your warrior name. Streampaw, you will now be known as Streamfur. Starclan honors you for you williness and pride." Gingerstar yowled. "Streamfur! Streamfur! Streamfur!" The clan cheered, including Tigerpaw, his eyes filled with love as he cheered and stared at her. "Rowanpaw, do you promise to uphold the warrior code and fight for your clan, even at the cost of your life?" Gingerstar meowed. "I do." Rowanpaw meowed. "Then by the powers of Starclan, I give you your warrior name. Rowanpaw, you will now be known as Rowanclaw. Starclan honors you for your strength, and your loyalty to Darkclan." Gingerstar meowed. "Rowanclaw! Rowanclaw! Rowanclaw!" The clan cheered, other than Tigerpaw. He just sat in silence, glaring at him. Rowanclaw glared back at him and growled, then Tigerpaw ran off to his mother. Gingerstar leaped off of the High Rock. The clan circled aroun Streamfur and Rowanclaw. "Well, Rowanclaw, you remember what we were going to do when we became warriors?" Streamfur asked him, padding away from the crowd. "Yes I do." Rowanclaw purred and licked Streamfur's cheek. A sleek silver she-cat raan up to them, her belly plump. "Streamfur! Rowanclaw!" She meowed when she approached them. "Yes, Moon-eye?" Streamfoot asked her. "I'm having kits soon! So when they become apprentices, you could be their mentors! I asked Gingerstar and said that you could!" Moon-eye meowed happily. "That's great! But I'm going to be mates with Rowanclaw, so Rowanclaw could mentor one of your kits! He would be honored!" Streamfur meowed happily. "Your going to have kits?" Moon-eye exclaimed. Streafur looked up at Rowanclaw. Rowanclaw nodded and Streafur jumped up excitedly. "I'm happy for you! Well, I gotta get back to the nursery. Nice talking to you!" Moon-eye meowed and padded back to the nursery. "We are going to have kits already? Don't you want to at least train an apprentice first?" Rowanclaw meowed. "Okay, I'll train an apprentice first." Streamfur meowed and licked his cheek then padded off. A cat prowled out of the nursery with two other cats. "Are you sure we should do this?" A cat meowed. "Yes! Now shhh!" The leading cat hissed. "But I don't want him to hate me for the rest of my life. Unlike you, I like him as a friend." The other cat complained. Rowanclaw padded to the fresh-kill pile, thinking the cats were going to someone else, but the cats followed him. Rowanclaw narrowed his eyes and waited for the cats to get closer. He could almost recognise the leading cat's name. Tigerpaw, and his sisters, Rowanclaw thought and rolled his eyes. He was fine with Tigerpaw's sisters, Sunpaw and Lilypaw, but Tigerpaw was just plain out mouse-brained. He kept trying to beat Tigerpaw at fighting and he never won, but he never stopped coming for him. Rowanclaw growled and the cats stopped dead in their tracks. "I know your following me Tigerpaw, and don't get your sisters worked up in this, because they might get hurt." Rowanclaw warned, not looking at them. Tigerpaw's eyes grew big. "How did you know we were following you?" Tigerpaw growled softly. "I could hear your talking behind me, and your pawsteps nearly shake the forest!" Rowanclaw harshly joked. "I'm sorry we followed you, Rowanclaw. Our brother made us." Lilypaw meowed and padded up beside Rowanclaw. Rowanclaw looked down at the apprentice. She was big, and she would make a great fighter with her strength. "It's alright. I get followed by your brother all the time." Rowanclaw meowed, and Tigerpaw leaped at him. Rowanclaw turned around and slashed at his belly, though his claws were sheathed. "If a cat did that to you with their claws unsheathed, they would've killed you." Rowanclaw growled. Tigerpaw hissed at him and stomped away to the nursery. "Hey, you know your an apprentice now, right?" Rowanclaw teased and Tigerpaw just turned around and padded to the apprentices den, his eyes blazing in fury. "I don't know what his problem is. He is just always angry all of a sudden. He used to be happy when we we firstly born in the nursery. Now he's all mean and furocious, trying to pull us into his schemes on you." Sunpaw meowed sadly. "What did you do that made him so angry?" Lilypaw whimpered. "Okay first of all, I didn't do anything. He loves a cat that I'm mates with, and he vowed he would be mates with her, and even though she said she didn't love him, he still tries to destroy me." Rowanclaw explained. "Second of all, you guys need to not be afraid of him. He's just an ordinary cat who has anger issues" Rowanclaw chuckled, and Sunpaw ,and Lilypaw laughed. "So go and have fun with your mentors." Rowanclaw meowed and Sunpaw and Lilypaw ran off into the camp. Rowanclaw sighed and shook his head. Then he remembered his prophecy, a great power will try to destroy you, but Tigerpaw isn't powerful, or is he, Rowanclaw thought. He must be when he becomes a warrior, because he was pretty powerful already. Gingerstar padded up to Rowanclaw. "Rowanclaw, Tigerpaw's mentor had went to join the elders, because he came back from a patrol with a huge gash on his shoulder because a tree branch dug into his skin, so you are going to be Tigerpaw's mentor for now on." Gingerstar meowed. Rowanclaw's eyes grew huge. "I-I-I can't be his mentor. I just figured out that Tigerpaw is the great power trying to destroy me in my prophecy. There is no way I could be Tigerpaw's mentor, because he wouldn't listen to anything I say." Rowanclaw tried to explain. Gingerstar hesitated for a moment, then nodded. "Fine, you won't be his mentor. I'll go find someone else." Gingerstar meowed and padded away. Rowanclaw let out a sigh of relief. Rowanclaw heard a yowl from the nursery, then he saw Blacktail charge out of the medicine cat's den and into the nursery. What is going on, Rowanclaw thought and charged for the nursery.
Chapter Seven[]
Rowanclaw charged for the nursery, hearing the wind fill his ears. What was happening? Rowanclaw reached the nursery and saw Blactail with Moon-eye, helping her have her kits. Rowanclaw saw there were two bundles in front of her stomach. "Last one, ready? PUSH!" Blacktail meowed and another bundle was in front of her belly. Moon-eye had three kits in her litter, and one of them was going to be his apprentice! Rowanclaw padded up to them. "Congratulations Moon-eye!" Rowanclaw meowed happily. "Thank you, Rowanclaw." Moon-eye meowed thankfully. Rowanclaw saw there was a black and white tom with green eyes sitting next to Moon-eye. Must be Moon-eye's mate, Rowanclaw thought. "Oh, I forgot to introduce you to my mate. Rowanclaw, this is Flurryfoot. Flurryfoot, this is Rowanclaw." Moon-eye meowed. Flurryfoot nodded to Rowanclaw, and Rowanclaw did the same to him. "What shall we name them?" Moon-eye asked her mate. There was a black and white tom with green eyes, that looked just like Flurryfoot, and white and silver she-cat with blue eyes, like one of her mother's eyes. One of Moon-eyes's eyes was blue, then the other was gray, like the moon. Then the last kit was a black and silver she-cat with turquoise eyes. "Wow, they're beautiful kits! I can't wait to train one of them!" Rowanclaw meowed. "Okay, we'll name the one that looks like me Shadowkit." Flurryfoot meowed. "We'll name the silver and white kit Skykit." Moon-eye meowed. She looked at Rowanclaw. "Why don't you name the last one, Rowanclaw?" Moon-eye meowed and Flurryfoot nodded. "Okay." Rowanclaw meowed and studied the last kit, it's little turquoise eyes sparkling as she drank her mother's milk. "How about, Featherkit?" Rowanclaw suggested. Moon-eye and Flurryfoot looked at eachother and nodded. "Her name will be Featherkit." Moon-eye agreed. Rowanclaw nodded. "Glad to help. Well, I better go. I gotta go on a hunting patrol soon." Rowanclaw lied. He didn't want to stay in the nursery all day. "Okay, see you later Rowanclaw!" Moon-eye called after him as he left the nursery. Rowanclaw ran to Gingerstar's den. "Gingerstar, can I go on the next hunting patrol?" Rowanclaw asked as he approached the entrance. "Sure, pick some more cats to come with you." Gingerstar meowed and Rowanclaw padded to the warriors den. "Anyone want to come on a hunting patrol with me?" Rowanclaw meowed inside the den. "Sure! I'll come!" A voice called. "Me too!" Another meowed. "Me three!" Another voice said and three cats padded out to him, Lightningfoot, Brackenheart, and Ferntail. Brackenheart was Tigerpaw's new mentor, since Skystorm went to the elders. "Could our apprentices come along?" Ferntail asked. "Sure." Rowanclaw meowed then he remembered Tigerpaw was one of their apprentices, and he couldn't tell them no now, because it was already too late. "Lilypaw! Sunpaw! Tigerpaw! Come out here!" Lightningfoot yowled and the three apprentices ran to them. "You are going on a hunting patrol with me, Ferntail, Brackenheart, and Rowanclaw." Lightningfoot told them. Tigerpaw's eyes grew big and he glared at Rowanclaw. Rowanclaw rolled his eyes at him and Tigerpaw growled. I don't understand the problem with Tigerpaw. If he hadn't of met Streamfur, he would be happy with me, Rowanclaw thought. The cats padded out of the camp and into the forest. "Should we go to the Sky Tree?" Rowanclaw asked the warriors. "Sure." Ferntail meowed and they padded to a path that was very well hidden on a side of the training hollow. Rowanclaw remembered this path when he was first starting his hunting training. The Sky Tree was a towering tree with huge, shading leaves that covered the hollow below it. The tree looked as if it went past the sky, and it's huge leaves covered the sky above the hollow, keeping out snow and keeping the hollow sort of warm in leaf-bare. When they reached the hollow, Tigerkit complained, "Why is this place so shady? I want to at least train in a hollow with some sunlight!". "Hey, your lucky to have this tree in this hollow! It keeps out the snow from in here, so it's easier to train apprentices in leaf-bare! Quit your complaining!" Ferntail hissed. "Selfish mouse-brain." Lightningfoot mumbled. Brackenheart glared angrily at them. "You two stop YOUR complaining! He's only an apprentice! He'll understand when he is a warrior! Now, can we get to hunting?" Brackenheart spat. The two warriors glared at eachother, then nodded. "Have Lilypaw, Sunpaw, and Tigerpaw been trained for hunting yet?" Rowanclaw asked the warriors. They all shook their heads. "Well, I'll go hunt for some food, and you guys train your apprentices to hunt." Rowanclaw meowed. The other warriors nodded and Rowanclaw ran off farther in the woods. Oh Brackenheart, when will you understand to give apprentices discipline! Ferntail and Lightningfoot were a little harsh on Tigerpaw, but they were right! Even though Tigerpaw is an apprentice, he should learn some respect! Rowanclaw thought and sniffed the air. He smelt mice, lots of mice. He tracked down the scent to a small whole that he could just fit his paw into. Mouse hole, mouse family, good eats. Rowanclaw shoved his paw down the hole, not letting the mice escape, and he dug his claws into flesh. He quickly pulled the mice up, stuck his other paw in the hole, and killed the mice he had caught already. Rowanclaw dug his other claws into more flesh and pulled them up, sniffing the hole for any other mice, but he had caught them all. He killed the mice and put them all in a pile, then he heard the thumping of pawsteps and a noise yowling, "Rowanclaw! Rowanclaw, come quick!". It was Lightningfoot! "Lightningfoot?" Rowanclaw called as he began to the the yellow fur of his clan mate coming towards him. Lightningfoot reached him. "Rowanclaw, we need to hurry back to the Sky Tree, something is going wrong!" Lightningfoot meowed, staring at Rowanclaw's prey. Rowanclaw gave him a mouse and Lightningfoot ate it quickly, then they both carried the mice back to the Sky Tree. "Tigerpaw!" Rowanclaw growled as he reached the Sky Tree, putting his prey down. Sunpaw was laying on the ground, blood staining her shining yellow fur. Sunpaw's ear was torn, and a huge gash on her shoulder. Tigerpaw was panting, looking at Rowanclaw. Tigerpaw's claws were stained with blood, and his ear was torn, not as bad as Sunpaw's. Rowanclaw looked around and saw the familiar pinkish body on the ground, her belly was raked, and her tail was covered with blood, then her leg had bite marks on it. "You took both of them? How?" Rowanclaw hissed at Tigerpaw looked down at his paws. "I didn't take them both. I only took on Sunpaw." Tigerpaw meowed then glared at Brackenheart. "Brackenheart attacked Lilypaw, because she tried to stop me. Lilypaw was inacent!" Tigerpaw yowled. Rowanclaw stared at Brackenheart. "I'd be suprised if you weren't exiled. I don't want to hear your side of the story, nor will Gingerstar. Tigerpaw will have to have another mentor." Rowanclaw growled then looked at Tigerpaw, sounding more calm. "Why did you attack Sunpaw?". "She said I was terrible at hunting. She had caught a squirrel, and I almost got a bird, then she said I was terrible, so I attacked her." Tigerpaw meowed, sounding guilty. "What did you do?" Rowanclaw meowed, looking at Ferntail. Ferntail's eyes were clouded with grief, then she looked at Rowanclaw. "I tried to stop Tigerpaw, but Brackenheart held me off, and he attacked me. Then he attacked Lilypaw when she tried to stop Tigerpaw. Tigerpaw listens to Lilypaw more than Sunpaw, so it would've worked if Lilypaw had told him to stop!" Ferntail screeched and stared at Brackenheart. "Why did you attack her?" Ferntail yowled. "I wanted Tigerpaw to prove that he was strong, and that he can fight back!" Brackenheart growled. Rowanclaw lunged at Brackenheart and pinned him to the ground. "You'll regret ever doing that!" Rowanclaw hissed and raked Brackenheart's belly, then he flexed his claws and slashed across Brackenhearts face and muzzle. Rowanclaw leaped off of him and growled. Brackenheart tried to run away but Ferntail knocked him to the ground with a swipe of her paw. Rowanclaw padded up to Brackenheart, his tail lashing in fury. "Gingerstar will be glad to agrre with my suggestion of what to do with you." Rowanclaw spat then looked at Tigerpaw. "Tigerpaw, come with me. Ferntail, keep watch of Brackenheart. Lightingtail, I know there's alot of prey, but I need you to take all of the prey back to camp. Once you've gotten it all to the fresh-kill pile, come to Gingerstar's den. Tigerpaw and I will be there." Rowanclaw ordered. "And Ferntail, I will send a warrior to come and get you and Brackenheart. Stay here until the warrior comes." Rowanclaw meowed. Rowanclaw stopped. "I'm going to have send some more warriors to come and get Sunpaw and Lilypaw and bring them to medicine cat's den." Rowanclaw meowed. "I don't think they'll be here when they get here. You need to bring them the the camp now!" Ferntail ordered. Rowanclaw nodded. "Tigerpaw, you get Lilypaw. I will get Sunpaw." Rowanclaw meowed, then Rowanclaw and Tigerpaw ran for the camp with Sunpaw and Lilypaw. When Rowanclaw and Tigerpaw reached the camp, they hurried to the medicine cat's den and dropped off Sunpaw and Lilypaw, then they walked to the leader's den. "You realized what you've done wrong, right Tigerpaw?" Rowanclaw meowed asked as they walked. "Yes, I'm sorry Rowanclaw." Tigerpaw meowed, and Rowanclaw hesitated. That was the first time Tigerpaw had ever acted nice to Rowanclaw, and he was starting to get suspicious about Tigerpaw. He was planning something, and he was trying to get Rowanclaw to be more neutral with him, so that when Tigerpaw attacks, Rowanclaw won't see it coming. "I know this sounds crazy." Rowanclaw meowed to Tigerpaw. "Yes I know, I said sorry to you. That doesn't change anything! I am still your enemy! But I had to say sorry to you, since you were the warrior to come in and punish me immediantly. Don't suspect me to say it to you again." Tigerpaw growled. Rowanclaw knew it. There was no way Tigerpaw would ever be nice to him. As they reached the leader's den, Rowanclaw saw Lightningfoot run in with lots of mice, from the pile that Rowanclaw had retrieved. "Gingerstar, may we come in?" Rowanclaw asked softly. "Yes, come in." Gingerstar's voice meowed from in the den. As Rowanclaw and Tigerpaw padded in, Gingerstar shot up and looked at Tigerpaw. "What happened to you?" Gingerstar asked. "Rowanclaw, tell me what happened.". "Well, I had caught a pile of mice, and Lightningfoot came and told me to come with him. We went back to the Sky Tree where we were training with all of the prey. When we got there, Sunpaw was on the ground, dry blood coated her fur, and she was harshly damaged. Tigerpaw had attacked Sunpaw, because she told him he was terrible at hunting." Rowanclaw explained and Gingerstar nodded, then looked at Tigerpaw. "You did a terrible thing Tigerpaw. There will be a great punishment for you, but I do understand you defending yourself." Gingerstar meowed and nodded to Tigerpaw. "You will clean after the elders for two moons, once every time you come back from training with Brackenheart." Gingerstar meowed. "There's one problem with that Gingerstar." Rowanclaw meowed. "What?" Gingerstar meowed. "Brackenheart let Tigerpaw do this to his sister." Rowanclaw meowed frankly. "When Ferntail tried to stop Tigerpaw, Brackenheart attacked her." A familiar voice meowed and Lightningfoot and padded into the leader's den. "Ferntail agreed to stay away, but when Lilypaw ran to stop Tigerpaw, Brackenheart attacked her, and she was badly injured, as well as Sunpaw." Lightningfoot explained, and Gingerstar's eyes were filled with fury. "Get Brackenheart to my den immediantly!" Gingerstar yowled, then Tigerpaw went to the elders den, and Lightningfoot ran with Rowanclaw as they went to go and get Brackenheart and Ferntail. "Ferntail!" Lightningfoot called. "I'm over here!" Ferntail wailed in pain. Rowanclaw looked at Lightningfoot and they ran faster to where Ferntail ahd called. Rowanclaw stopped and saw Ferntail lying on the ground, her stomach bleeding and her muzzle scraped up. "Ferntail!" Lightningfoot wailed and ran to her. Lightningfoot hurried and picked her up by the scruff and they ran back to camp and to the medicine cat's den. Lightningfoot lay Ferntail in the clearing and Blacktail ran in, grabbed her, and brought her into a small cave where she would be treated. "Rowanclaw? Is that you?" A familiar voice faintly asked from another cave. "Lilypaw?" Rowanclaw meowed and padded to the cave. Lilypaw was on a bedding of soft moss, and her belly was covered in cobwebs, and well as her tail, and her tail was cleaned from all of the dry blood. "I'm glad you're here Rowanclaw. You saved my life." Lilypaw meowed thankfully. "I should've been there when Tigerpaw went out of control." Rowanclaw meowed. "No, you were following orders and catching prey for the clan. You would've never known that Tigerpaw went out of control." Lilypaw meowed. "I should've stayed with you guys when you were training." Rowanclaw meowed griefly. "No! You were only doing what was best for Thunderclan and catching more prey! Don't blame yourself for this! Who we really need to be worrying about is Sunpaw." Lilypaw insisted. She was right. Was Sunpaw okay?
Chapter Eight[]
Rowanclaw was inside Sunpaw's cave, pacing cautiously around Sunpaw's nest. It had been a while since Sunpaw had opened her eyes, and Rowanclaw was getting worried. Then Sunpaw wearily opened her eyes and Rowanclaw stopped in front of her. "R-Rowanclaw?" Sunpaw meowed. "Sunpaw! You're awake!" Rowanclaw exclaimed happily. "Yeah I'm fine. Am I healed yet?" Sunpaw meowed, starting to sit up. "Almost, only a couple of scratches." Bllacktail's voice meowed as he walked in. "Blacktail, please say she will be alright." Lilypaw meowed and walked in. "Lilypaw! You must be fully healed if your walking normally. You may go back to training, but get a bite to eat first. You'll be hungry." Blacktail meowed and Lilypaw started to trot out, but first went over to her sister, gave her a lick on her cheek, then trotted out of the medicine cat's den. "How's Ferntail doing?" Rowanclaw asked as Blacktail began to finish Sunpaw. "She'll be okay, but she's going to have to stay in the medicine cat's den much longer." Blacktail meowed. Rowanclaw nodded then padded out of the medicine cat's den. Then he just remembered. Brackenheart! I need to go find him!. Rowanclaw ran to the warrior's den to see Lightningtail sleeping. "Lightningtail! I need you to come with me to find Brackenheart!" Rowanclaw called and Lightningfoot shot up and they ran out of camp and into the forest. "Where are we going to look first?" Lightingfoot asked. "You don't stand a chance against me!" A voice called from a bush. Rowanclaw looked over to see Brackenheart walking over to them, his ear torn, his claws stained with blood, and his muzzle raked. "What brings you out in the forest guys?" Brackenheart meowed. Lightningfoot leaped and pinned down Brackenheart hard. "You're coming with us back to Thunderclan mouse-brain! I can't believe what you did to Ferntail!" Lightningfoot growled and grabbed him by the scruff. Rowanclaw got his tail and the padded back to camp. They padded to the leader's den and slammed Brackenheart to the ground. "Brackenheart!" Gingerstar spat and she shot up out of her nest. "Y-Yes Gingerstar?" Brackenheart asked nervously. "Bring him." Gingerstar growled and Rowanclaw and Lightningfoot brought Brackenheart under the High Rock, the Gingerstar yowled from on top of it. The Darkclan cats gathered beneath the High Rock. "Darkclan! I'm here to announce, that one of our warriors, has let his apprentice, almost kill his own sister!" Gingerstar yowled and yowls of anger flooded the camp. "Silence!" Gingerstar yowled. "He shall be punished greatly for doing this, but he not only did that, but he attacked an apprentice, so his apprentice could show he would turn into a good warrior." Gingerstar explained harshly. "What? Who is this warrior?" A cat growled from the crowd. "This specific warrior, is Brackenheart, mentor of Tigerpaw!" Gingerstar yowled. The cat who complained charged at Brackenheart. It was a tortoishell tom with blue eyes, but now his eyes were filled with anger as he chased Brackenheart. "Gingerstar, call him away!" Bracknheart yowled but Gingerstar just sat there watching in hatred. "Tawnyfur stop." Gingerstar meowed and Tawnyfur stopped in his tracks. "Brackenheart, you are being exiled from Darkclan, for letting an apprentice attack his own sister, his own kin, and almost kill her, then attack the cats who tried to stop him!" Gingerstar growled, then Tawnyfur and Lightningfoot ran Brackenheart out of Darkclan camp, and out of Darkclan territory. Darkclan yowled in hatred to Brackenheart as he was run out. As the Darkclan cats started to leave the center, Gingerstar yowled to them. "Wait! I have a ceremony to make." Gingerstar looked at Moon-eye and her kits. "Moon-eye, it's time for your kits to become apprentices." Gingerstar meowed and Darkclan ran back and sat. Featherkit, Shadowkit, and Skykit ran under the High Rock and sat down respectfully. "These kits have been with us for six moons, and it's time for them to leave the nursery." Gingerstar yowled. "Shadowkit, you will now be known as Shadowpaw. Minnowfur will be your mentor." Gingerstar meowed and a tan tom with sea blue eyes padded up and touched noses with his apprentice. "Skykit, you will now be known as Skypaw, and Spottedfur will be your mentor." Gingerstar meowed and a white she-cat with black spots all over, and her muzzle was all black with green eyes, padded up to touch noses with her apprentice. "Featherkit, you will now be known as Featherpaw. Rowanclaw will be your mentor." Gingerstar meowed and smiled at Rowanclaw as he padded up an touched noses with Featherpaw. "My mother Moon-eye told me that you gave me my name. I begged Gingerstar to let me be your apprentice, since she was going to give you one of my other littermates to be your apprentice." Featherpaw meowed happily. "I'm glad to be your mentor. We shall start training tomorrow at sunrise." Rowanclaw meowed and padded to the fresh-kill pile. "Okay. See you tomorrow!" Featherpaw meowed and went to Shadowpaw and Skypaw. Rowanclaw brought a mouse to the nursery and saw Streamfur's belly as plump as can be. "Rowanclaw! I haven't seen you in forever!" Streamfur yowled happily. "I brought you a mouse. Enjoy." Rowanclaw purred and passed his mouse to her. "So, Featherpaw is your apprentice now." Streamfur meowed happily, then began to eat her mouse. "Yes. We are going to start her training tomorrow at sunrise." Rowanclaw explained. "That's cool. Guess what? We are going to have kits soon!" Streamfur cheered happily. "That's great!" Rowanclaw purred and licked Streamfur's cheek. "Rowanclaw! I need to see you in my den!" Gingerstar yowled from the camp. "Okay I have to go. I'll see you later." Rowanclaw meowed and ran off to the leader's den. "Yes Gingerstar?" Rowanclaw asked as he entered the den. "When you bring your apprentice out, Minnowfur, Shadowpaw, Spottedfur, and Skypaw would like to come with you." Gingerstar began. "That's fine." Rowanclaw meowed. "But, you need to train them in a place where Brackenheart can't find you." Gingerstar meowed. "Alright." Rowanclaw meowed. "That's all." Gingerstar meowed and sat down, then her belly growled. Rowanclaw nodded, then he padded to the fresh-kill pile, got a mouse, went and gave it to Gingerstar, then got a mouse for himself. He padded to a fallen tree and ate his mouse. He couldn't wait for his kits to be born.
Chapter Nine[]
Rowanclaw led Featherpaw out of the camp and to the Sky Tree. Rowanclaw had been training Featherpaw for about five moons now, and she was getting very good at her hunting. This was going to be her last hunting session, then they were going to start battle training. Rowanclaw's and Streamfur's kits had been born. Their names were Moonkit, Cometkit, and Starkit. Moonkit was a gray she-cat with blue eyes. Cometkit was a dark blueish tom with green eyes. Starkit was a dark blueish she-cat with little white spots all over her fur, and light blue eyes. It was two more moons until the three kits would become apprentices, and Rowanclaw was flooded with pride. Also, Tigerpaw, Sunpaw, and Lilypaw had gotten their warrior names, Lilystem, Sunleaf, and Tigerfur. Rowanclaw's and Streanfur's mentors, Shadowflight and Spottedfire, had went to join the elders. When Featherpaw and Rowanclaw reached the Sky Tree, Featherpaw sat down respectfully as Rowanclaw unsheathed his claws. "Okay Featherpaw, this is your last hunting session. Show me what you've learned." Rowanclaw meowed and sheathed his claws. Featherpaw tasted the air and unsheathed her claws. She dropped down in a hunting crouch and began silently prowling toward a very plump squirrel. Rowanclaw hadn't seen a squirrel like that in moons, and his mouth began to water. No! Let Featherpaw catch this one, Rowanclaw thought to himself as Featherpaw reached the squirrel. She leaped and killed the squirrel with a bite to it's neck. "Well done!" Rowanclaw praised as Featherpaw brought the squirrel to him. "Now you catch one!" Featherpaw meowed and dropped her squirrel. "Not right now. We need to get that squirrel back to the camp while it's warm. You will start your battle training tomorrow." Rowanclaw meowed and they brought the squirrel back to Darkclan camp. "Great catch!" Gingerstar callled happily as she spotted them come in. "Featherpaw caught it all by herself." Rowanclaw purred praisingly. "I wouldn't have caught it without you training me!" Featherpaw meowed playfully as she put the squirrel in the fresh-kill pile. "Rowanclaw, I would like you to bring Featherpaw with you on a hunting patrol with a few other cats." Gingerstar meowed. "Yes Gingerstar." Rowanclaw meowed and Gingerstar padded back to her den. Rowanclaw nodded to Featherpaw and they ran to the warriors den to gather up some more cats. " Lilystem, Sunleaf, Lightningfoot! Come on a hunting patrol!" Rowanclaw called inside the den and the three cats padded out. "Alright! Where are we going to hunt?" Sunleaf asked. "Sky Tree?" Rowanclaw asked Lightningfoot. "Nah, let's go to the Ghostclan border where the forest is richest. There must be tons of prey there." Lightningfoot meowed and the cats ran out of the Darkclan camp and into the forest. Rowanclaw's fur got snagged onto some bracken, but he kept going, the scratch from the bracken stinging on his side. "Hey, after this, you should go see the medicine cat for that." Lilystem meowed, running beside him, until they reached the Ghostclan border. "Yuck! This place reeks!" Featherpaw meowed, cover her nose with her tail. "Let's go a little more away from the border so we don't cross it by accident." Rowanclaw meowed and the cats raced a couple of fox-lengths away from the border. Featherpaw sniffed the air and fell into a crouch. "Vole." She meowed, licking her lips. She creeped slowly to a bush, as the other cats stood still, watching her. Then, Featherpaw leaped into the bush and came out with a plump vole in her jaws. "Good work!" Rowanclaw praised, then he sniffed the air. It was very fresh, but not the prey he would've expected to smell. Rabbit. The cats quickly stood still as Rowanclaw peered around and saw the rabbit nibbling on some grass. Rowanclaw quickly, but silently, prowled through the ferns, not making a sound. Once he was a few mouse-lengths away from the rabbit, he leaped and pinned the rabbit, killing it with a bite to it's neck. "Wow! I've never seen a rabbit over here before!" Lilystem meowed. "Me neither. They must be traveling into the forest from the moorland, neer Ghostclan, since they're very close." Rowanclaw explained to Featherpaw. "Wow. I never knew Ghostclan lived on the moor. I thought the forest was thickest neer them." Featherpaw meowed. "It is, because they made it that way to keep Darkclan out." Rowanclaw meowed, then he dropped the rabbit, and Featherpaw put her catch un top of his. The cats continued hunting until it was nearing sunset, and Rowanclaw stared out past the trees. "Alright, let's get this prey back to the camp." Rowanclaw meowed and they brought their prey out of the forest and into the fresh-kill pile. A gray-blue tom padded up to them and eyed the prey. "Well done!" The cat exclaimed. "Who are you?" Rowanclaw asked. He had never seen this cat before, his blue eyes shining. "I'm Lakestorm, the Darkclan deputy." He meowed. That was strange. Lakestorm must go on a lot of patrols if Rowanclaw hadn't seen him before. Then, Rowanclaw heard a battle cry from a familiar voice. What the fox-dung? Rowanclaw turned and looked to see Tigerfur charging for him and Rowanclaw growled. "Tigerfur stop!" He yowled, but Tigerfur kept going. Now the whole clan was gathered around Tigerfur and Rowanclaw, even Gingerstar. "Tigerfur, what are you doing?" Gingerstar hissed. "I'm getting rid of Rowanclaw once and for all!" Tigerfur growled and leaped for Rowanclaw. But then, Lakestorm got in front of Rowanclaw and attacked Tigerfur. "Lakestorm, what are you doing?" Rowanclaw meowed. "Go! I'll take care of him!" Lakestorm urged them and the cats backed away a bit. Lakestorm was a good fighter, but Tigerfur was better, even though he was younger than Lakestorm. Rowanclaw couldn't bare to watch as Tigerfur clawed Lakestorm to death. Then Rowanclaw's hope rised as Lakestorm flipped over and pinned Tigerfur to the ground and clawed at his chest. "Mouse-brained tabby!" A she-cat called from the crowd. Rowanclaw recognized Ferntail hissing at Tigerfur, as well as Lightningfoot, and even Lilystem and Sunleaf. The rest of the cats cheered for Lakestorm as he flung Tigerfur across the camp and he hit the tree stump. Tigerfur just layed there, limp as a stick. "Is he dead?" Lilystem asked. "No, he's still alive." A tortoiseshell tom growled. Tawnyfur. "Don't bring him to the medicine cat's den!" Sunleaf hissed. Most of the other cats growled in agrrement but Gingerstar didn't speak. Why wasn't she doing something? She had to pick to either help Tigerfur, or not. What was so complicated about that? Then Gingerstar shook her head. "Minnowfur, escort Tigerfur to the medicine cat's den, now." Gingerstar meowed and Minnowfur dragged Tigerfur's body to Blacktail's den. Then, Rowanclaw remebered about his prophecy. Was he doing what he was supposed to for his prophecy, for his destiny? Rowanclaw shook his head to try to push the thoughts out of his mind, but they wouldn't go away. Then Rowanclaw looked up at the sky and saw it was almost moon-high. He yawned, then he padded to the warriors den. He curled up in his nest and fell into a deep sleep.......
Rowanclaw woke in his dream, in a cloudy place. Then, he heard Blacktails meow, "Rowan will charge through the forest, and can stop at nothing, and will have a great responsibility on their paws. But, will have a great power in their way, and will have to try to avoid this great power, for it will try to destroy them.". The voice echoed on in the cloudy place, and Rowanclaw looked around. "Where am I?" He meowed. Then he heard a growl. Then, pupilless amber eyes popped out of no where, and a brown tabby leaped out and pinned Rowanclaw to the ground. "Tigerfur!" Rowanclaw exclaimed and flipped Tigerfur over. Then, Tigerfur disapeared, leaving Rowanclaw pinning down nothing, except for mist. Rowanclaw woke up panting. What was THAT dream about? Rowanclaw peered outside to see sunshine filtering into the warriors den. Rowanclaw stretched and padded sleepily out of the warriors den. He looked over and saw Moonkit, Starkit, and Cometkit running towards him. "Rowanclaw! Rowanclaw!" Starkit and Moonkit cheered. Cometkit padded up to Rowanclaw's legs and snuggled up against it. "I'm gonna be a great warrior! Just like you!" Cometkit meowed proudly. "I'm glad you are." Rowanclaw purred, licking Cometkit's head. Streamfur padded out of the nursery and licked Rowanclaw's cheek. "I can't believe that they're almost going to leave the nursery already." Streamfur meowed. "Yeah." Rowanclaw meowed, licking Streamfur's cheek. "Hey Rowanclaw! Come on a hunting patrol with us!" Minnowfur meowed. Minnowfur was at the front of the camp with Tawnyfur, Shadowpaw, Spottedfur, and Skypaw. "Alright! I'll get Featherpaw!" Rowanclaw called. "See you later father!" The kits squeaked and the kits and their mother padded back to the nursery. Rowanclaw ran for the apprentices den. "Featherpaw come on! We're going on a hunting patrol!" Rowanclaw called, then he just realized how hungry he actually was. Featherpaw came running out already to the front of the camp, and the patrol set out into the forest. "Where shall we hunt this time?" Featherpaw asked. "Let's go to the place we went last time." Rowanclaw meowed and he led the cats to the border between Ghostclan and Darkclan, then padding a couple of fox-lengths away from the border. Minnowfur sniffed the air. He crouched and prowled towards a small hole. Rowanclaw hurried scurrying in the hole, getting louder and louder and louder, until two long white ears perked up. Minnowfur locked his claws on the ears and yanked the huge, plump rabbit out of the hole, the quickly killed it by biting it's neck. "Wow! That's the biggest rabbit I've ever seen!" Featherpaw meowed. They continued to hunt most of the day, and brought back all of their prey to Darkclan camp. "Oh no! I forgot! We were suppose to train today! I'm sorry Featherpaw. We'll have to battle train tomorrow." Rowanclaw meowed. "Okay." Featherpaw meowed, then Rowanclaw tooks a squirrel and ate it over at the tree stump.
Chapter Ten[]
Rowanclaw ate his rabbit from the fresh-kill pile. He was so happy. His kits had become apprentices, Cometpaw, Starpaw, and Moonpaw, Featherpaw had become a warrior, Featherwing, so did Shadowpaw and Skypaw, Shadowfur and Skyfoot. Skyfoot and Shadowfur were Starpaw and Moonpaw's mentors, while Batscar was Cometpaw's mentor. Rowanclaw buried the rabbit bones in the ground, then heard russling outside of the camp, and yowling. None of the other cats in the camp seemed to notice, so Rowanclaw prowled out of the camp and toward a bush, where the russling was coming from. Rowanclaw sniffed it, and he smelt Lakestorm, Tigerfur, and blood. Rowanclaw leaped into the bush to see Tigerfur on top of Lakestorm. Lakestorm's body was drenched in blood, and Tigerfur's teeth and claws were stained with red. Rowanclaw gasped and jumped out of the bush and into the forest. Tigerfur charged after him and the raced through the forest. Then Rowanclaw stoped and raked his claws down Tigerfur's face when Tigerfur reached him. Tigerfur leaped onto Rowanclaw and clawed at his chest. Rowanclaw raked Tigerfur's belly with his back claws, then shoved Tigerfur into the air with a heaving shove of his back legs. Tigerfur hit the ground with a thump, and didn't move. Rowanclaw ran out of the forest and onto the earth path. The earth path a a long, wide path made of earth that led to the Darkclan camp. Rowanclaw ran up the large, steep hill, and down it, then into Darkclan camp. "Gingerstar! Gingerstar!" Rowanclaw yowled and charged for her den. Gingerstar padded out and saw Rowanclaw charging for her, then they hit and tumbled out behind the nursery and into the forest beyond. "What is it Rowanclaw?" Gingerstar demanded. "Lakestorm is dead! Tigerfur killed him, and his body is in a bush!" Rowanclaw yelped. "Are you sure Tigerfur did this?" Gingerstar meowed. "Yes! I saw it with my own two eyes!" Rowanclaw urged. "I'll have to check it out. Lead me to the bush." Gingerstar ordered, and the two cats ran into the camp, then to the bush. Gingerstar looked inside and saw Lakestorm's body. She sniffed it, then came out and nodded to Rowanclaw. "It has Tigerfur's scent all over it!" Gingerstar growled. "Where is Tigerfur now?". "He's out in the forest. He chased after me, then he hit the ground from in the air, and I haven't seen him move since." Rowanclaw explained, then they heard growling. Two amber eyes were watching them, narrowed. Tigerfur padded out, sheathing his claws and dipped his head to Gingerstar. "Looks like you figured it out. But, it wouldn't be a wise choice to exile me. Who knows what would happen to your patrols." Tigerfur sneered and Gingerstar thought for a moment. "One more thing like that, I'll have no choice." Gingerstar growled, then leaped onto the High Rock and yowled. The Darkclan cats gathered around underneath, and Gingerstar summoned Rowanclaw on top beside her with her tail. "Cats of Darkclan! I have a very sad announcement to make. Our former deputy, Lakestorm, has been killed out on his patrol. Tigerfur, the member of his patrol, said they were attacked by foxs, and only Tigerfur escaped. Today, we shall get another deputy to Darkclan." Gingerstar meowed. "Let Lakestorm, watching us from in Starclan, hear my words so that he may approve of my choice. Rowanclaw will be Darkclan's new deputy." Gingerstar yowled and Darkclan yowled in approvement. Rowanclaw jumped down, and Gingerstar padded back to her den. "Alright! Minnowfur, take Tawnyfur, Spottedfur, and Featherwing with you on a hunting patrol. Shadowfur, take Starpaw, Moonpaw, and Skyfoot on a border patrol. Batscar, Cometpaw, nd Squirrelfoot, you will go on tomorrows dawn patrol." Rowanclaw ordered and the cats went out to their duties. Rowanclaw padded over to Streamfur, who was talking to Tigerfur. By the looks of it, Streamfur was pretty mad. "I know you killed Lakestorm, traitor! You don't deserve to be in this clan!" Streamfur growled whispering and padded away. Rowanclaw ran after her. "Streamfur, wait!" Rowanclaw called. Streamfur turned around and her eyes shined with pride. "I can't believe you're the new deputy of Darkclan!" Streamfur wailed happily and ran up to Rowanclaw. "Me niether. I thought Gingerstar was going to pick someone else." Rowanclaw meowed. "Rowanclaw! I need to see you!" A cat called from the medicine cat's den. Rowanclaw gave Streamfur one last lick on her cheek, then ran for the medicine cat's den. "Yes Blacktail?" Rowanclaw called as he padded into the medicine clearing. "This is the time where your prophecy begins." Blacktail growled, coming out from his den. "The great power will start to be more furocious than ever, and will try to kill you at any oppertunity it has." Blacktail hissed. Rowanclaw's eyes widened. He knew Tigerfur was the power. By what Rowanclaw had seen Tigerfur do to Lakestorm, he was starting to feal uneasy. But then he shook his head. He shouldn't be afraid of Tigerfur! Tigerfur is just like he was when he was a kit, weak. "Thank you Blacktail." Rowanclaw meowed and padded out of Blacktail's den. Rowanclaw looked up into the sky and saw it was getting dark. Before he went to sleep, he would do some hunting. Rowanclaw padded out of the gorse tunnel and into the forest to search for prey. When Rowanclaw was deep in the forest, he tasted the air. He tasted blood, and a wild stench. Rowanclaw followed it to see a dark brown tabby eating a rabbit viciously. "Tigerfur! What are you doing out here?! You have to get back to camp!" Rowanclaw growled and Tigerfur turned around. "I will kill you Rowanclaw, I will!" Tigerfur hissed and ran in the direction of the camp. Rowanclaw tasted the air again to smell rabbit. He tracked it down and found a small hole. When two long gray ears perked up, Rowanclaw quickly locked onto the ears with his claws and pulled the rabbit up. He killed it with a swipe of his claws, then let go of the ears. He picked up the rabbit and began padding back to camp.
Chapter Eleven[]
"Tigerfur, you are now exiled from Darkclan!" Gingerstar yowled and Tigerfur began slumping out of the Darkclan camp. Tawnyfur ran out of the group and leaped on him. Tigerfur growled and hit him against a tree, then padded out. Tawnyfur layed by the tree unconsious, and the Darkclan cats began to pad away.Cometpaw, Starpaw, and Moonpaw ran up to Rowanclaw. "Rowanclaw! We are almost ready to be warriors! Batscar said we were going to become warriors in one moon!" Cometpaw meowed happily. "That's great!" Rowanclaw meowed happily. Then he became worried. What if they became warriors, and they were intercepted by Tigerfur? Oh, they can fight for themselves! They'll be stronger than Tigerfur by they stop training! But, what if Tigerfur found Brackenheart and they joined forces? Then they wouldn't be able take them together, thought Rowanclaw. Then he shook his head. He knew what he had to do. He had to kill Tigerfur. Streamfur padded up to them. "Rowanclaw, can I talk to privatly?" Streamfur asked the two cats padded to a far part of the camp. "Yeah?" Rowanclaw asked. "Look, when our kits become warriors, they won't be able take on Tigerfur. He is too advanced in battle training." Streamfur meowed worrily. "Don't worry, tonight, I'm going out looking for him. I might return, but I might not." Rowanclaw meowed. Streamfur's eyes filled with sadness and worry, but she nodded and ran away. Rowanclaw looked down at his paws. What did he just do? Why did he make a promise? He might die in his fight with Tigerfur. He'd rather die than see his clan be haunted by Tigerfur. There was no going back now. But it was going to be a while until moonhigh, so he thought about doing something to pass the time. He padded out into the center of the camp. Then, the memories of Brackenheart haunted his mind. Brackenheart would be seeking revenge on both Darkclan, and Rowanclaw. He looked around dizzily. He saw Lightningfoot sharing tongues with Ferntail. Were they going to become mates? Then, Rowanclaw saw Featherwing, Shadowfur, and Skyfoot padding towards him. "Hey Rowanclaw, could we go on a hunting patrol with you?" Skyfoot asked. Rowanclaw nodded and they headed for the entrance to the camp. When they got into the forest, Rowanclaw tasted the air and looked around. No scent of Tigerfur. Then, he padded in the direction of the Sky Tree. "This was where Sunleaf and Lilystem were attacked by Brackenheart and Tigerfur." Featherwing meowed. "Yeah." Skyfoot meowed. Suprisingly, Shadowfur didn't say a word. He was looking more raggly than usual, and part of one of his ears was torn. When did that happen? He wasn't born with it. Was he going to turn out to be a killer like, Tigerfur? Rowanclaw just kept on going in the path he remebered for a long time. Then, he heard growling near them. "Which of you fights the best?" Rowanclaw asked, unsheathing his claws, looking around. "We're getting in a battle?" Skyfoot meowed. "Shadowfur, fight with me." Rowanclaw meowed. Shadow fur padded to Rowanclaws side, unsheathed his claws, and looked around as well. "Featherwing and Skyfur, get back to camp." Shadowfur meowed and the two she-cats ran back to camp. "Haven't seen you in a while Rowanclaw." The voice spat. Rowanclaw recognised the voice. Brackenheart. "What do you want Brackenheart?" Rowanclaw hissed. "Brackenheart?" Shadowfur exclaimed and jumped into the bushes, then dragged out Brackenheart's body. "Let go of me!" Brackenheart growled. Shadowfur threw Brackenheart to the ground and pinned him down. He slashed rapidly on Brackenheart's face, making deep scars. Brackenheart yowled in pain and threw Shadowfur off of him. Brackenheart got to his four paws, but then began to pant. His paws slipped, and he fell to the ground. "Brackenheart is dead." Shadowfur growled deeply. "Why are you so angry with him?" Rowanclaw asked. "He hurt my love, Lilystem." Shadowfur meowed and looked down at his paws. Rowanclaw looked at Shadowfur. Now he understood him. Since he heard about the incident with Brackenheart and Lilystem, he's probably been seeking revenge ever since he began to love Lilystem. "Come on, let's go back to camp. I want you to tell Lilystem what you did." Rowanclaw meowed. Shadwfur looked up at him. "She'll be happy." Rowanclaw meowed, then they padded bacck to the Darkclan camp. Shadowfur ran to Lilystem, who was at the tree stump. "Lilystem, I killed Brackenheart." Shadowfur purred, the Liliystem yowled happily and licked all over Shadowfur's face.
It was getting dark overhead, so Rowanclaw told Gingerstar he was going night hunting. When the moon rised all the way to the top of the sky, Rowanclaw set out into the forest. He looked everywhere, until he smelt it. Tigerfur. Rowanclaw tracked the scent to aa huge hole between the Ghostclan and Darkclan territory. Tigerfur leaped out and pinned Rowanclaw to the ground. "Searching around for me, eh, Darkclan deputy?" Tigerfur hissed. Rowanclaw flipped Tigerfur underneath him, and clawed his chest. Tigerfur threw him off and ran after him. Tigerfur jumped into the air and dragged his claws down Rowanclaw's back. Rowanclaw remebered the move he knew when he was little. He flipped over and pinned Tigerfur down. "Just like before Tigerfur, you never win!" Rowanclaw yowled. Tigerfur tackled him and the two rolled around, clawing and hissing and biting. Until they landed in a thorn bush. Rowanclaw tried to pull himself out, but he couldn't move. Tigerfur got out quickly and grinned evily at Rowanclaw. "Looks like another deputy will have to leave." Tigerfur sneered. and threw up his paw, ready to strike at Rowanclaw's neck, when Rowanclaw broke free and bit Tigerfur's back legs. Tigerfur fell to the ground as Rowanclaw ran and turned around, still running. Rowanclaw slashed down Tigerfur's face and muzzle with his forepaws. Tigerfur jumped back and leaped. He clung on to Rowanclaw's back. "You don't know what you got yourself into." Tigerfur growled and slashed down Rowanclaw's back. Rowanclaw threw him off, and Tigerfur hit a tree. He weakily got up, but then charged at Rowanclaw, slashing down his side as he ran past Rowanclaw. He bit Rowanclaw's tail hard, and Rowanclaw charged after him. He slashed down Tigerfur's leg, leaving Tigerfur tumbling down a hill and into a grassy meadow. As Rowanclaw charged after him, he looked around and saw ten trees all aligned in a circle, with a huge rock at the base of the two middle trees. "How did we get here?" Rowanclaw meowed, then Tigerfur charged at him. Tigerfur's eyes filled with rage as he clawed down Rowanclaw's chest. Rowanclaw breathed heavily, but chased Tigerfur back into the forest near the Ghostclan and Darkclan border. Rowanclaw yowled and tore off part of Tigerfur's other ear. Now, both of his ears were torn, and Tigerfur clawed Rowanclaw with fury. Then, Rowanclaw heard pawsteps thumping towards them. Then he recognized the tortoiseshell fur and blue eyes. Tawnyfur! "Tawnyfur! What are you doing here?" Rowanclaw demanded, the Tigerfur ran for Tawnyfur. Tigerfur tackled him quickly and quickly clawed down Tawnyfur's chest. Rowanclaw ran to them and leaped onto Tigerfur's back. Rowanclaw flipped him over and opened his mouth. Rowanclaw sunk his teeth into Tigerfur's neck, leaving blood stained on Rowanclaw's teeth. "You did it Rowanclaw! You killed him!" Tawnyfur yowled happily as he ran to Rowanclaw. Rowanclaw's breathing became heavier, and Rowanclaw looked at the scars on his chest. Rowanclaw's eyes began to close and he fell to the ground, breathing quick. "Oh no!" Rowanclaw last heard Tawnyfur wail before he fell unconcious................................
Chapter Twelve[]
Rowanclaw woke in the medicine cat's den. Tawnyfur had saved him from dieing the forest last night, and he owed him a lot. Blakctail was taking cobwebs off of his chest, when Gingerstar padded into the medicine cat's den. "Thank Starclan you're alive!" Gingerstar meowed relieved. "I thought I was going to loose another deputy!" She meowed. "I would've died if Tawnyfur wasn't there with me." Rowanclaw confessed gratefully. Streamfur ran into the cave and licked Rowanclaw's cheek. "Thank Starclan you're alive! I thought you weren't going to wake up!" Streamfur wailed happily. "Alright Rowanclaw, you are free to go." Blacktail meowed as he removed the last cobwebs from Rowanclaw's chest. Rowanclaw got up to his paws as Gingerstar and Streamfur padded out of the medicine cat's den. "Your prophecy is coming to an end. There is one step left, and-" Blacktail began, then they heard yowling and growling and hissing in the clearing. Rowanclaw ran out into the clearing to see Ghostclan attacking Darkclan in the camp. Rowanclaw ran into the battle and fought off as many enemies as he could. Then he looked over to see Gingerstar laying on the ground, bleeding to death, when the Ghostclan cats fled from the Darkclan camp. The Darkclan cats circled around Gingerstar as Rowanclaw ran to her. "Rowanclaw...........it is time for you to..............lead Darkclan........" Gingerstar coughed. "No! You're going to stay alive Gingerstar! You have to!" Rowanclaw wailed. "No, Rowanclaw, I'm losing my last life, and there is no way to stop it. You will be a fine leader, Rowanclaw, and I know it." Gingerstar heaved. Rowanclaw looked down at his paws. "Goodbye Rowanclaw, and goodbye Darkclan, I will watch over you from Starclan........" Gingerstar meowed heavily, then closed her eyes and stopped breathing. Blacktail padded up to Rowanclaw's side. "Rowanclaw, you must travel to The Mystic Waters to recieve your nine lives and your star name. Then, when you return, you must pick your deputy, and sleep in the leader's den from now on." Blacktail meowed and ran to his den, then returned with herbs. "Pick three other cats to go with you." Blacktail meowed, setting down the herbs. Rowanclaw flicked his tail to summon Tawnyfur, Minnowfur, and Featherwing. Blacktail nudged the four cats the herbs and they ate them. "These will give you strength, agility, and ability to not be hungry for your trip. You must go to The Mystic Waters now." Blacktail meowed and the four cats ran out of the camp and headed to The Mystic Waters. "I can't believe I'm actually traveling to The Mystic Waters." Featherwing meowed. "Remeber Rowanclaw, you have to stay silent as a mouse when we enter the cave and stay quiet when we exit the cave, alright?" Minnowfur meowed. "But how will I know where to go?" Rowanclaw asked. "I'll go into the cave with you. Follow my scent and I'll lead you there." Tawnyfur meowed. As it got dark, they reached a very long stretched of glimmering water. "We are here." Tawnyfur meowed. "Minnowfur, Featherwing, stand guard and wait until we get back. Talk to no one." Rowanclaw meowed then Tawnyfur and Rowanclaw entered a cave, with a small hole big enough for Rowanclaw's head to fit in that was right abov the stretch of water. Rowanclaw looked at Tawnyfur and Tawnyfur showed movement of licking, so Rowanclaw licked up some of the water, the fell into a deep sleep, his head on the land.................
Rowanclaw was in a mystical clearing with many cats around him. Eight cats stood closer to him, and he guessed that they were the cats to give him his nine lives. He recognized only one cat there, Gingerstar. She looked even more young than down in the camp, and her fur was covered in stars. "Welcome, Rowanclaw. You are here to recieve your nine lives, says Gingerstar." A cat meowed. It was a russian blue tom with light green eyes. Rowanclaw nodded. "You may speak, but not too much." Gingerstar meowed. "Okay." Rowanclaw bursted out in relief. He didn't like holding in his words. The russian blue tom came up to him first. "I am Stormwhisker, and I give you the life of courage." The gray tom meowed as he touched noses with Rowanclaw. A surge of power sliced through Rowanclaw, making him feel exausted. This was harder than he thought. Next, a sunny yellow she cat with orange eyes padded up to him. "I am Autumnsky, and I give to the life of love." The yellow cat meowed and she touched noses with Rowanclaw. Another bolt of energy sent through him ,and Rowanclaw thought he couldn't take it, but there were six more still to come. A frosty white she-cat with dark blue eyes padded up to him. "I am Snowcloud, and I give you the life of trustworthiness." She meowed and touched noses with Rowanclaw. He was starting to get used to the bolts of energy, but they still wore him out. Then, a forest colored tom with light green eyes padded up to him. "I am Foreststar, a past leader of Darkclan, and I give you the life of loyalty, so that your clan may follow your every command." The tom meowed and touched noses with Rowanclaw. This bolt of energy didn't make Rowanclaw feel dizzy, because it was familiar, since Foreststar was a leader of Darkclan. Next, a maple colored she-cat with amber eyes padded up to him. "I am Maplestar, the first leader of Darkclan. I give you the life of strength." She meowed and touched noses with Rowanclaw. Next, a brown tom with brown eyes padded up to him. "I am Owleyes, and I give you the life of agility." He meowed and touched noses with Rowanclaw. Then, Rowanclaw felt the shock again. Next, a silver she-cat with amber eyes padded up to him. "I am Cloudstorm, and I give you the life of dignity." She meowed and touched noses with Rowanclaw. There was one more left, and that was Gingerstar, his old leader. She padded up to Rowanclaw. "I, Gingerstar, will grant you you last life. I was the leader before you, and you will take in a great life." Gingerstar meowed. "Rowanclaw, I give you the life of wisdom. Serve Darkclan well." Gingerstar meowed and touched noses with Rowanclaw. The familiar touch of Gingerstar comforted Rowanclaw, as the last bolt of energy shot through him. "Also, it is my duty, to give you your leader name." Gingerstar meowed, lifting her head up. "Rowanclaw, you will now be known as Rowanstar, leader of Darkclan!" Gingerstar yowled, and a new power shot through him, and he felt bigger, stronger, more confident in himself, and he stood up on his forepaws. "It is time you return to your clan, Rowanstar. They need you to lead them through good times and bad." Gingerstar meowed, and the starry cats disapeared, and Rowanstar woke up in the cave with Tawnyfur. He got up and nodded to Tawnyfur, and they padded out of the cave and to Minnowfur and Featherwing. "What happened? How was it?" Featherwing asked. "Ah, a leader can't tell anyone what they saw." Tawnyfur meowed. "Rowanstar! Rowanstar! Rowanstar!" Featherwing cheered, and the moon was falling over the horizon as the sun began to rise. "When we get back to the camp, pick your deputy, then get some rest. " Tawnyfur meowed. "I don't know who to pick as my deputy. Probably Lightningfoot." Rowanstar meowed and they reached the Darkclan camp. All of the cats were still awake, and they turned to see Rowanstar walk into the camp. "Rowanstar! Rowanstar! Rowanstar!" The clan cheered as Rowanstar leaped onto the High Rock. "Cats of Darkclan!" Rowanstar announced as the cats began to gather below him. "It is my duty to choose my deputy after recieving my nine lives." Rowanstar announced. "Lightningfoot, will be the new deputy of Darkclan!" Rowanstar yowled and the clan cheered as Lightningfoot padded up to the High Rock. "It is my honor to be your deputy, Rowanstar." Lightningfoot meowed and dipped his head. As the cats began to separate and wander, Lightningfoot padded up to Rowanstar. "Get some sleep. I'll take over while you rest." Lightningfoot meowed. Rowanstar nodded sleepily and padded to the leader's den. He curled up in his new nest, remembering Gingerstar, and he fell into a deep sleep..............
Epilogue[]
Brackenheart got up to his paws. His face still hurt, and his paws were aching. "That black cat doesn't know what's coming for him!" Brackenheart yowled and began prowling into the forest, blood still spilling from his face. Then, he ran into a dusky brown she-cat with soft green eyes. "Woah! You look devastated! I'll help you! Follow me!" The she-cat meowed and Brackenheart followed her into a wide, vast moorland, with lots of cats living in it. They padded to a den filled with herbs and medicines. "Sit over there, in that nest. The she-cat meowed and pointed with her tail to a newly covered nest. Brackenheart padded over to it and layed down. Why am I here? I'm in Ghostclan camp! I don't need to be here! But, she is going to help me, Brackenheart thought to himself. Then, the dusky brown she-cat padded over to him with herbs and cobwebs. "What happened to you?" The she-cat asked as she placed the herbs on his scratches. "I was fighting." Brackenheart meowed, feeling better. "The warrior must've been pretty tough to do this to you!" The she-cat exclaimed as she put the last cobweb on him. "I'll keep you here until you're better, then you can be on your way!" The she-cat meowed and began to pad away, then stopped and turned around. "My name is Duskfur. What's yours?" She meowed. "Brackenheart." Brackenheart meowed. "Okay Brackenheart. Rest, and I'll come back later to take your cobwebs off." Duskfur meowed and padded away to a different part of the medicine den. Brackenheart gently started to close his eyes, then fell into a deep sleep........
Thank you for reading Rowankit's Destiny! Keep watch for the next book:' '(Well, don't know yet! XDDDDD)
I hope you enjoyed this book!
-Tawnypeltlover