Mirror Image

''Whenever I seem to fight.. I always seem to be fighting for a different reason.''

''Why am I fighting? What did this cat ever do to me? Why do I even have to fight?''

''These questions... I feel as if these questions seemed to be answered when I met the seer, I didn't know they actually were real.. I thought they were just an old cats tale.. Something to keep the kits in check.''

''And yet... She was real... I could tell, she wasn't a liar, even though she was born in the clan of shadows and darkness. Even by the time of her birth, other cats regarded her as cold, evil, just like the rest of her clan.''

But they were wrong, they would learn that, not all were evil, nor that all were good.

I was told from my mother, that seeing a heron was good luck, because they seemed to go with the flow, herons...

I wasn't really sure what to say to that, so I didn't.

But I wish I did, for that was the last time we ever spoke.

Prologue
Two toms stood in the rain, flashes of lightning lit the sky in a white light, the both of their eyes flashed in hatred and betrayel.

The big, black, amber eyed tom yowled "How could you?! This is our clan! How dare you kill them?!" his eyes flashed in anger.

The cruel, young, dark brown tom, whose eyes were as cold as ice, and claws as sharp as thorns, smirked, and mewed, "Why not? They were weak, and they're still weak in Starclan also, this clan doesn't need weaklings, Shadowclan is supposed to be powerful."

The black tom snarled "They were your family! The only family you had!" his tail flicked irritably, and his claws sheathed and unsheathed in anticipation for the battle that was obviously brewing.

"Hah! I don't need family, I didn't need them, again, they were weaklings who had it coming to them!" the brown tom laughed, his tail twitching. "You're getting a soft heart, not fit for a Shadowclan leader!"

"This isn't me being soft! This is you killing family to feed your own ambitious plans!" the black tom yelled at him, "Are you that blind?"

"Heh, no, I'm not blind, and my plans are for the good of the clan. Unlike your thoughts and plans, which will only make the clan crumble into a ruin. A shadow of it's former self." the brown tom growled, his eyes starting to narrow dangerously.

"You don't understand! If you try and make your ambitious plans come true, the clan will crumble!" the black tom yowled in exasperation.

The brown tom twitched his whiskers, "The clan won't crumble, it will thrive on the fear that I will bring to the clans, all clans will bow down to us!" he mewed "We will rightfully rule the lake!"

"You can't, cats have tried that before and have had horrible, horrible, deaths! You will end up taking the same path as them, only to fall." the black tom growled.

"Unlike them, though, I'm going to be smart, not be hot-headed, and plan ahead. I'll know where cats will be before even they do." he sniffed.

"But-" but the black tom was silenced, the brown tom had finally pinned him, and he snarled.

"Good-bye, brother."

Chapter 1
A kits innocence is probably the only good thing about clan cats, who always want to pick a fight.

''But a kit losing it's innocence because of something.. Something not normal..''

How are they supposed to be innocent then?

A small, young kit squeaked as a pure white tom leaped on her, his playful blue eyes shining in delight.

"Heronkit! Come on! I want to play!" the white tom laughed, jumping off her, and procceded to poke her with his paw, "It's no fun sleeping all day! Everyone knows that!"

Heronkit stretched, and yawned, looking at her friend, "You were always the morning cat, Whitekit, sadly, I'm not one of those cats." she mewed calmly.

Whitekit swished his tail, "Aw, but it's so easy to be a morning cat! It's a whole new adventure when you wake up, to see the whole wide world!" he mewed.

Heronkits mother, Rainpetal, purred from where she was resting, "Whitekit, no cat can see the whole wide world in one day, especially a kit."

Whitekit puffed out his chest in a typical tom fashion, "Well, maybe not today, but someday!" he mewed.

His sister, Heatherkit, who was older then them, was washing herself, and she sighed, "Whitekit, you're not even an apprentice yet, but you can always explore the camp."

Whitekit looked at Heronkit with wide blue eyes, "Want to go explore the camp?" he asked, bouncing up to her.

Heronkit, suddenly feeling hopeful, nodded, "Yeah! I call going inside the medicine cats den first!" she yelled, pushing Whitekit, and running out of the nursery.

"Hey! No fair!" Whitekit laughed, chasing after her,pouncing on her, then jumping off, hurrying to the medicine den.

She laughed as she stood up to catch up, but she stopped, looking around in shock, everything had changed.

The world seemed to distort, everything was mixed images, cats were fighting, or talking, but it seemed to mesh together, and blood was on the ground, like it was recently fought on.

Heronkit looked around, and thought W-What's going on?! she backed up in alarm, looking around as her world seemed to distort even more, focusing on cats fighting, and blood being spilt over territory.

''I-I don't want this! What's happening?!'' she thought in alarm as she heard, "Don't trust the reflection on the surface."

She heard Whitekit yell, "Hey! Heronkit! Heronkit, you're not even listening to me!"

Heronkit blinked, and the weird vision was over, and soon it was peaceful again, and Whitekit was standing in front of her with confused eyes, "Are you alright?"

"Uh.. Yeah!" she laughed. "Just got a head rush, that's all, got up to quickly!" she twitched her tail, looking at Whitekit, "Really, I'm fine."

Whitekit just twitched his whiskers, "All right, let's go then!" he mewed, continuing his adventure to the medicine cat den.

Heronkit followed slowly, dismissing the weird vision as her imagination, or a day-dream, nothing to worry about, it was just a dream.

The medicine cat den was probably the brighter part of the camp, with moss on the sides of the den, a small pool of water, with a tiny sprinkle feeding into the pool, which was surrounded by rocks, and the den floor was strangly soft to the paws, and there was a small crevice, where they kept the medicine.

As they peeked their heads in, they saw Sunfur sorting herbs, and her apprentice, Yellowpaw, tending to one of the elders.

"How is Windears pad? This is the season for cracked pads, especially among the elders." Sunfur mewed.

Yellowpaw mewed, "Looking good, you can go now Windear." she nodded to the old elder.

Windear grumbled, "I can't wait for the season to be over, I prefer not going to sleep with sore pads." she muttered, flicking her tail irritably as she started to walk out.

Sunfur called, "If they start bugging you again, just come here! We'll give it more herbs," she sighed, "They get even more crankier every year."

Yellowpaw looked at the two kits, "Looks like we have visitors, Sunfur." she mewed.

Whitekit and Heronkit tipped their heads.

Sunfur looked at them, "Huh, curious kittens putting their noses in dangerous places?" she asked, then purred, "Look around, but whatever you do, don't eat anything, don't want you getting sick from herbs." she then turned to another cat, who was sleeping, but was also in pain.

"Tsk, I don't know how she keeps on pulling through, she's strong, but sicknesses keep bombarding her left and right." Sunfur muttered.

Heronkit asked, "Will she be alright?"

"Of course she will be." Yellowpaw muttered, mixing a poultice, eyes narrowed in concentration.

Whitekit, who had padded past Sunfur, nosed a white looking flower, then asked, "Sunfur, what's this?"

"That's yarrow, I don't advise eating it, unless you want to lose your prey." Sunfur mewed, then looked at Yellowpaw, "I'm going to collect some borage, do we have any dock?"

"Yes, I collected some just the other day." Yellowpaw mewed, flicking her tail.

Whitekit grimaced at the yarrow, and asked, "Why would you want that plant?"

Sunfur answered before leaving the den, "For extracting poisons, or healing cracked pads, maybe you'll need it someday Whitekit," she twitched her whiskers, "Hopefully not though."

Whitekit grimaced again, then looked at Heronkit, "Let's go explore somewhere else." he mewed, pushing Heronkit out of the den.

Heronkit mewed, "Huh, I never knew herbs were so important on saving a cats life."

Whitekit shrugged, "Well, leave that for the medicine cats." he mewed, looking around, "So where should we go first? The prey pile? Maybe we could hide in it and scare some warriors."

Heronkit shook her head, "I'm not sure that's a good idea, we'd get in so much trouble." she mewed.

Whitekit sighed, "Yeah.. I guess you're right.." he faltered when he saw Clawstar walk out, growling at a cat, who was whimpering in fear.

"Hey! Isn't that Fernpelt?" Whitekit asked, watching with interest, and a tiny bit of fear.

Heronkit didn't answer, she realised Fernpelt was bleeding. What did Clawstar do to him? Heronkit wondered, suddenly worried for the small tom.

Clawstar growled one more thing, and Fernpelt just whimpered, and backed away, running into the warriors den.

Whitekit tipped his head and mewed, "That was pleasent."

Clawstar realised the kits were watching, and his whiskers twitched in twisted amusement, and he jumped toward them.

"Hello you two, I see you've witnessed my scolding of Fernpelt." he mewed, twitching his tail, asif he was amused with the scolding.

Heronkit thought, I'd hardly call that scolding.

Whitekit asked, "Why? What did he do?"

Clawstar looked at Whitekit, eyes narrowing, and looking at him closely. Then mewed. "Ah, yes, well, let's just say he wasn't being a true Shadowclan warrior, he was acting weak-minded, and I had to give him a scolding, so he doesn't mess up again."

Heronkit willed Whitekit to stay silent, which he did, and Heronkit was a bit worried when Clawstar kept looking at him closely, like to see if he was real.

Heronkit laughed nervously, and pushed Whitekit away from Clawstar, while mewing, "It was nice talking to you Clawstar, but, uh, we have important stuff to do!"

As she pushed her friend away, he heard him mew after them, "Remember, a Shadowclan warrior should never be weak, and showing compassion is a sign of weakness."

Heronkit shivered, and her fur bristled in alarm as Whitekit growled at her to stop shoving him, and when she did, he glared at her, "What was that for?"

Heronkit didn't answer, only watched as Clawstar strutted back into his den, her tail flicked, and mewed, "Maybe we should go to the elders den."

"And listen to stories? Alright! Maybe I'll ask about our old leader!" Whitekit had suddenly got his good mood back, and bounced to the elders den.

The elders den was covered in moss, the floor a bit muddy, but covered with lichen nests, and the elder tree, where some of the older elders nest.

Heronkit rolled her eyes, and followed him, tail twitching when he jumped on Fogtail, who expressed his anger by pushing Whitekit off him.

Heronkit bowed. "Hello Fogtail, we're here to listen to some stories." she mewed politely.

Fogtail looked at her, "Well, I was just woken up, and probably won't be able to get back to sleep, I guess so." he muttered, sitting down.

Whitekit mewed, "I want to hear about our old leader, Nightstar!" his eyes widening in excitement at the prospect of the story.

Fogtail raised an eye-brow, and mewed, "That isn't exactly a tale for kits."

Whitekit widened his eyes more, "Aw! Come on! Please?" he asked.

Fogpelt sighed, "No, maybe when you're apprentices, then you'll be ready to hear it." he mewed.

"Why do we have to wait until we are apprentices to hear it?" Heronkit asked, raising an eye-brow questioningly.

"As I said, this isn't a tale for kits." he mewed, then flicked his tail, and added, "Now leave me to rest, my bones are growing old."

Whitekit had walked out, mewing "Well, that was a waste of time."

"Well, I'm sure there's a reason for it, maybe it's too scary for kits," Heronkit mewed, her tail flicking, and she added, "I don't want to hear about something that might terrify me."

Whitekit mewed, "Well, that's you. I always love to hear stories, especially terrifying ones." he flicked his tail, and asked, "Where should we explore next?"

Heronkit asked, "How about the apprentices den?"

Whitekit looked closely at the den that the apprentices slept in. He then mewed. "Alright, we're going to be in there soon anyways."

Heronkit agreed, it was going to be quite soon, as they were going to be six moons in a couple days.

As they padded up to the apprentices den, the mouth of the den wide, yet draped with lichen, they heard arguing inside.

"No, Mudpaw, I am not, I repeat, not searching the elders for ticks again, it's your turn!" a she-cats voice hissed.

Another voice, a tom, whined, "Oh come on, Firepaw!"

As they peeked in, they saw two apprentices glaring at eachother, fur bristling.

There was another tom in the back, but he looked like he was sleeping through the arguing. Not that the other two paid him any mind.

The ginger she-cat spat, "No! I've done it so many times already! It's your turn!" she flicked her tail.

Mudpaw just rolled his eyes, "Fine!" he stomped out of the den, paying no attention to the two kits watching with amusement and shock.

Firepaw sighed, then looked at the kits, "Why are you two here?" she asked curiously.

"We are exploring!" Whitekit exclaimed.

Heronkit looked around the den, the mossy walls giving the young cats shelter from the wind and rain, the soft floor covered in mossy nests, and the roof of the deen housed hanging lichen, giving the den a creepy, but secure atmosphere.

Firepaw mewed, "Sorry you had to see that, but Clawstar doesn't like apprentices shirking their duties, which Mudpaw was doing," she added with a glance at Marshpaw. "And don't mind him, he's only scary when he's awake."

The two kits looked at Marshpaw, and understood why, he looked way too big to be an apprentice, his fur seemed to be bristling, even in his sleep, he looked like a menacing cat.

"He's not that scary though... He's just misunderstood." Firepaw mewed when she saw the expressions on their faces.

Whitekit asked, "Why would he be?"

"Well, because he looks more lion and cat, does he not?" Firepaw mewed, phrasing it as a question, but knowing the answer.

Heronkit just nodded, silently agreeing with the fiery she-cat.

Firepaw then tipped her head, then ushered them out, "Now, how about you two leave us in peace? Us apprentices have alot of work to do!" she mewed.

As they watched the den, they turned to look at Clawstar, who was sitting in the tree, where he called clan meetings.

He yowled, "Let all cats join beneath the tree for a clan meeting!"

They turned to him, their eyes widening in surprise as he called, "We have an apprentice to make!"

Whitekit and Heronkit looked at each-other, they turned when they saw Heatherkit pad past them, and Whitekit whispered, "This must be her apprentice ceremony."

Heronkit nodded, Heatherkit sat down, and licked her paws seriously.

"We gather under the tree today to welcome a new apprentice in our mist," Clawstar mewed.

When the clan was silent, he continued, "Heatherkit, from this moment on, you'll be known as Heatherpaw, your mentor will be Briarmoon."

Whitekit and Heronkit turned to look at Briarmoon, the tabby she-cat held herself with pride, and she looked strict.

"I feel bad for Heatherpaw, she looks mean." Whitekit whispered in Heronkits ear.

"Nah, they'll fit each-other perfectly." Heronkit snickered.

Whitekit twitched his whiskers, and flicked his tail, "I'm hoping I don't get a strict mentor, I wouldn't be able to stand still and follow what he or she says." he mewed.

Heronkit mewed, "I just want a mentor."

~*~*~*~

A moon later, Heronkit was lying on her back, staring up into the blue sky, which was full of poofy clouds, and the sun.

Whitekit had walked in, eye-brow raised, and he mewed, "You do realise that our apprentice ceremony is soon."

Heronkit mewed, "I know, just relaxing before finding out who our rough mentor is." her eyes wandering to her friend.

Whitekit twitched his tail, and mewed, "Huh, not all mentors are going to be rough," he stopped, then added, "Hopefully."

Heronkit sighed, rolling her eyes, then stood up, shaking her fur, "Well, we better get ready," she glanced at Whitekit, and asked, "Did you get stuck in the thorn bush again?"

Whitekit twitched his whiskers, and shook his head. "Nope, I'm thorn free." he mewed.

Heronkit also twitched her whiskers, silently glad that all was peaceful, No crazy visions. she thought happily.

As Clawstar called for the meeting, Heronkit nodded to Whitekit, and padded out.

Not much had changed in the past moon, except a few border fights between Shadowclan and Thunderclan, but that was nothing new.

He mewed, "Heronkit and Whitekit, from this day on, until you recieve your warrior names, you will be known as Heronpaw and Whitepaw."

Clawstar turned to Whitepaw, "Whitepaw, your mentor will be Willowwater." he looked at the blue-gray she-cat, who nodded.

Heronpaw looked at Clawstar, and he mewed, "Heronpaw, your mentor will be Flaresky." he nodded to the light ginger tom, who's blue eyes widened in surprise.

As the meeting ended, Heronpaw padded up to Flaresky, and asked, "Well, what are we going to do first?"

Flaresky eyed her, then his whiskers twitched, "How about I introduce you to the territory?" he asked, looking outside of the camp.

Heronkit just nodded, unsure of why Clawstar paired her with such a hyper warrior.

Flaresky mewed, "Great! Follow me!" he ran out, not waiting for Heronpaw, who scrambled to catch up.

Flaresky sat down on a rock, on a hill, overlooking all of the pine forest, Heronpaw thought, Is this the only place that's not covered in pine trees?

Heronkit looked around, suddenly getting an awestruck look on her face.

"What do you think? Best place in the territory, huh?" he laughed at her expression, then flicked his tail to where the pine trees seemed to falter into leafy trees. "That's Thunderclan territory, I'll show you the borders over there." he then looked at the lake, "That island over there is where we hold the gatherings."

Heronpaw asked, "How are we supposed to get to there?"

"Crossing the tree." Flaresky mewed, then nodded to the other side of the border, where there was a triangular island, with willows surrounding it.

"That's Riverclan territory, I'll also show you the border over there, and what not to do on a patrol." he added.

Flaresky bounded off the rock, then led her to the leafy forest, stopping suddenly, and sniffed the air.

"This is the Thunderclan border, you can't forget that scent, it smells of owls and badgers." Flaresky mewed in disdain, then looked at the clearing, which was a little bit farther down.

"That's also Thunderclan territory, it used to be ours, but we lost it a long time ago," Flaresky mewed, then shook his head, "It was a waste anyways, no prey ventured there."

Heronpaw saw him head to a dead holly tree, and she asked, "What's this?"

"A marker, to show which side of the border is which." Flaresky answered.

Heronpaw nodded, but heard a sharp growl, "Who goes there?!"

Both Flaresky and Heronpaw turned around sharply, only to see a very huge, mean looking tom, who repeated what he said.

"I'm going to ask you again, who are you!?" he hissed, claws ready to fight.

Chapter 2
Fear.

''Something every cat doesn't want to admit they have. But they have it, they can't run away from it.''

''But they try.. And it ends up getting them into more trouble then it's really worth.''

Why can't you just face your fear?

Face it, even though you're afraid.

Heronpaw hid behind her mentor, scared of the built Thunderlan cat, his pelt rippling with muscle, his claws glinted in the sunlight, and he smelled of owl and other forest creatures.

Flaresky, though, looked at him calmly when he mewed, "Oh, just showing my apprentice the borders, Branchclaw, nothing suspicious about that right? I'm sure you took your apprentice out to explore the boundries." he twitched his whiskers in amusement.

Branchclaw scowled, looking at Heronpaw carefully, "I never knew Shadowclan cats made kits apprentices early," he then sneered, "Are you guys scared?"

Heronpaw narrowed eyes, and she growled, "I'm six moons, I'm at apprentice age!" she puffed out her chest, staring the warrior in the eye, trying not to flinch.

"Six moons? You don't look it." he grunted, pushing her away from the borders edge.

Heronpaw grunted when he pushed her, she bared her tiny fangs, but Branchclaw just laughed, "You don't scare me little apprentice."

There was a tiny silence, with Branchclaw and Heronpaw glaring claws at each-other. Flaresky broke the silence with a cough, "Well, we better get going, got a lot of training to do, stuff to see," he mewed, lightly pushing Heronpaw away from Branchclaw. "See you at the gathering, Branchclaw." he mewed calmly, yet there was a hidden anger in his voice.

Branchclaw echoed his anger, "See you at the gathering."

As Flaresky and Branchclaw huffed away from each-other, Heronpaw followed in confusion, unsure why they acted that way toward each-other, ''I know Shadowclan and Thunderclan don't have good history with each-other, but private battles? That's new to me. ''she thought, as she walked beside Flaresky.

"Why is he so huffy?" Heronpaw asked her mentor, flicking her tail in nervousness.

Flaresky seemed to frown, "He's always been huffy, that's just him I guess." he mewed in annoyance.

Heronpaw frowned also, and thought, I don't think Flaresky is being entirely truthful about Branchclaw. she flicked her tail, dismissing his annoyance with Branchclaw as just normal Thunderclan and Shadowclan relations, the clans were never good friends anyways.

Flaresky led her beside a lake, it's small waves lapping the shore, as they walked, they saw a couple birds fly away.

They stopped at the edge of a group of willow trees. And Flaresky asked, "What do you smell." he flicked his tail, and looked around.

Heronpaw sniffed the air, smelling all sorts of things; Fish, willow, and wet cat.

"All I smell is fish and water." she grunted, trying to hold back a sneeze.

"Yep, that's Riverclan scent, there must have been a patrol not to long ago, they're usually peaceful, thinking they're safe on that little island of theirs," Flaresky mewed, and turning back to their own territory. "I'd show you Windclan, but that'd have to be us intruding on Thunderclan territory." he laughed, and ran back into the deep, foggy, Shadowclan territory.

Heronpaw started to follow, but was stopped dead-cold by another weird day dream, but it was just voices, no images.

''We can't survive, it's too late now! ''A deep voice, a male, cried in despair, obviously frightened.

''Wha-What do you mean? ''A softer voice murmured, sounding female.

''I mean what I mean! Starclan... ''The voice snapped, but faltered, as if he hadn't meant to snap.

''They did this, or was it really him? ''The softer voice asked, with sadness in her voice, as if accepting that this was the way it had to be.

''That fire nearly wiped us all out.. We can't stop him.. ''The vision slowly fading, along with the voices of the two cats.

The vision ended, and Heronpaw widened her eyes, and she called, "Flaresky?"

Flaresky had already disappeared into the fog, not waiting for his apprentice, and Heronpaw then continued on her way.

''What fire? And who's him? ''she pondered as she returned to camp, trying to figure out the weird day-dream.

As she returned to camp, she ran into Whitepaw, who was holding a robin, his eyes shining, "I caught it! I caught it on my first try!"

Heronpaw didn't show any emotion though, she hurried past him. And her she felt a pang inside her at Whitepaws expression when she pushed past him. It was sad, almost left out.

I'm sorry... she thought to herself, but she knew Whitepaw wouldn't hear her, he could not read her thoughts, and he also didn't have emotionally shaking visions.

She hurried to the back of the apprentices den, and closed her eyes, facing the wall. She hoped that Whitepaw wouldn't question her, which he always did. But she hoped... Just for once, he minded his own business. For his own good.

Heronpaw shook her head, shaking her tail back and forth. Marshpaw was the only one in the den, but he was sleeping peacefully.

She stared at him with jealousy, wondering how he could sleep so easily. He seemed like he could sleep through anything.

Heronpaw sighed, and finally crawled into her nest, closing her eyes, hoping for a silent and peaceful sleep, just like Marshpaw was.

Heronpaw couldn't sleep though, she heard snippets of conversation in the warriors den, but it was too quiet for her to hear, and when Whitepaw came in, she finally managed to have a unrestful sleep.

Heronpaw dreamed she was in a misty clearing, she puffed out her fur, because it was unusually cold and unforgiving.

When she heard a noise, she turned around, but she was shocked that there was nothing there, ''This must be a dream.. Yes, a horrible nightmare. ''she thought, fear rising in her.

Heronpaw jumped when she heard something again, but still, nothing. Not even the tiniest trace of any cat. No Whitepaw, no anyone.

Heronpaw whimpered a tiny bit, ''It's just a dream Heronpaw.. Just a dream..'' she thought, flicking her tail, shivering.

Finally, the noise sudeenly started getting nearer, and she laughed "Heh, Whitepaw! Come out! This isn't funny!" she mewed, trying to sound confident, but she faltered when the noise stopped.

She started to back away from the noise. Butthe mist started to grow dense, and she shivered.

Suddenly, a dark shape flew at her, with claws as sharp as thorns, and teeth as white as snow.

She screamed, and she jolted awake, looking around wildly. And she unsheathed her claws, scratching her nest in comfort.

She looked around. Mudpaw the shirker was sleeping on his back, snoring softly, while Firepaw was right beside Marshpaw, sleeping a peaceful sleep, while Marshpaw seemed to be stirring. And Whitepaw was in the far corner, also sleeping.

She sighed, ''It was just a dream.. That's all, a nightmare. ''she thought, relieved that the dark, vicious shape, was no more then a figment of her imagination.

She yawned, stretching her front paws, and stood up. She peeked out of the den, the sun was slowly starting to rise, and the mist in the camp was eerily starting to remind her of her nightmare, with the same dark treees surrounding it.

She shook her head, ''It's just a dream, this is my home. ''she thought, though wasn't entirely reasurred when a dark shape came out of the leaders den.

Clawstar also had awoken, but looked like his sleep was peaceful, and he stretched, sitting down.

Heronpaw shook from head to toe, Clawstar looked extra mean today, his eyes were grim, and his claws were unsheathed like sharp thorns, waiting to strike it's prey.

Heronpaw sighed in relief when a light pelted cat seemed to jump out of the warriors den, Flaresky padded up to her and asked, "You okay? Have a bad dream?"

Heronpaw nodded, "Yeah, it was pretty scary." she mewed.

"Ah, old Windear used to tell me when I had bad dreams as an apprentice that bad dreams made you stronger," he laughed, "It's certainly a nice thought."

Heronpaw was glad he didn't ask furthur questions, he mewed, "Why don't you go hunting, maybe that'll take your mind off things, just remember to be quiet, and keep your paws light, and tail off the ground." he then procedded to the apprentices den, obviously to wake the others up.

Heronpaw thought, He's right, hunting will take my mind off that nightmare.

She stopped, sniffing the air, smelling bird. She crouched, tracking where the prey was.

She saw it, pecking into the mud, trying to find it's food.

She unsheathed her claws, and her eyes widened, she sniffed the air, not detecting anything else except the fresh scent of mist rising from the ground.

The bird froze, looking up, making Heronpaw freeze also. But the bird seemed to return to it's hunt for food, and Heronpaw procedded towards it again.

She leaped, taking the bird by surprise, and just as she was about to kill it, she was bowled over by a black furball, and another black cat killed the prey, running into the tress.

Heronpaw felt the weight lift off her, she looked up, and saw both of the black pelted cats run away, with her bird.

"Hey!" she hissed, chasing after them, angry that she had her kill stolen from her, just like that. But she did have to admit, they were really quick.

She finally caught up to the younger one of the two, she leaped, surprised on how small he was, he gasped, trying to twist away from her.

She hissed, "What do you think you're doing?" unsheating her claws, getting ready to do some damage.

"I could ask you the same thing!" the older one yowled, bowling her over, pinning her down, he had obviously abandoned the bird to save the other cat.

His claws were unsheathed, and his eyes were flashing. Heronpaw thought, ''They're going to kill me! ''

But the tom just growled, "Cyprus, take the bird and go back to the den, I'll catch up with you." he continued to glare at Heronpaw, and she could only watch as the younger tom got up, running away with the prey.

"So, you clan cats think you're the biggest thing in the forest eh? Think all this prey belongs to you?" he was snarling, "If I ever see you attack my brother again, I'll think twice of showing you mercy." he leaped off her, flicking his tail, and running after his younger brother.

Heronpaw was lying there, confused on what had happened, she rolled over, getting up. She shook out her fur, and thought with a growl, ''What was that all about? ''

She sheathed and unsheathed her claws, and decided to go find somewhere else to hunt.

She finally saw a very tiny bird, not fit to be really shared with the clan, but she needed to take something back to the clan.

She crouched, then leaped, catching it, and killing it swiftly. She grasped it in her jaws, eyeing the bushes for other cats.

She returned to camp, Whitepaw was in deep conversation with Firepaw, who seemed to be telling him off for something.

She placed the tiny bird down on the fresh-kill pile. Clawstar eyed the bird disapprovingly, but shrugged, thinking it must have been bad luck.

Heronpaw saw Firepaw leave Whitepaw, and Whitepaw mewed, "Firepaw was telling me off for getting mouse bile in her face while we were cleaning the elders fur."

"Well, that's understandable, I heard that stuff tastes horrible," Heronpaw laughed, then asked, "Hey, Whitepaw, while you were hunting did you have any troubles with rogues?"

Whitepaw looked confused, then shook his head, "No, not that I know of, why?" he mewed, looking at her curiously.

"Some rogues took my kill, then one of them attacked me when I attacked the younger one." she mewed, then shrugged, "I'm okay of course, just taken off guard."

Whitepaw shrugged, "Well that's nice to hear," he mewed. "I need to help Firepaw clean up the mouse bile I-uh, made a mess of. See you later, Heronpaw." he then padded away.

Heronpaw huffed, flicking her tail. ''Of course Whitepaw would mess up on his second day, especially when it involved elders. ''she thought with a shake of her head.

She padded up to Flaresky, whow as talking with Fernpelt, who was quivering all over. Flaresky seemed to be trying to calm the scared looking tom, but to no avail, his eyes were unusally grim, and his light ginger fur was bristling in nervousness.

Fernpelt retorted to whatever Flaresky had said, and retreated to the warriors den, ignoring some warriors as he passed.

Flaresky sighed, and looked at Heronpaw, "How was your hunt?" he asked, obviously trying to distract himself from his former conversation.

"Not really good," Heronpaw sighed, "Some rogues took it."

"Ouch, did you chase after them?" he asked, curiousity in his eyes.

"Yeah, I caught up to the younger one, but the other one attacked me," she hesitated before continuing on, "He attacked me because I attacked the cat with him," she tipped her head, and mewed, "He totally ditched the bird to save the little one, I thought rogues only cared about themselves."

Flaresky looked in deep thought, then mewed, "Yes well, that all depends, brothers usually take care of each-other do they not?"

Heronpaw gaped at him, and thought, ''I never mentioned them about being brothers! How does he know? ''she stared at him, but he didn't say anything.

"Well, I need to go on patrol with Rowantail and Morningflower with Mudpaw, they think he needs some leg building, but don't tell him that they think that, he'll just shirk some more duties, and we'd never get him off his tail." Flaresky laughed, "After all, that's what Mudpaw does best."

Heronpaw sniffed, agreeing silently with Flaresky, Firepaw had said to her that Mudpaw liked shirking his duties.

Flaresky whispered "Well, actually, it's his assesment, Clawstar wants another warrior ready to fight." his eyes sparkled.

Heronpaw giggled, and mewed very seriously "I'll be sure not to tell him, he'll go hurt himself doing everything."

Flaresky twitched his whiskers, "Very good, now I need to go, Rowantail doesn't like it when cats are late for patrols." he mewed, running to Rowantail, who had a very serious expression, with Mudpaw standing beside him, looking bored.

Heronpaw watched them leave, she wished she could have gone with them, Flaresky could have introduced her to more of the territory, maybe show her how to actually hunt without getting your catch stolen.

Heronpaw sighed, then saw Marshpaw pad out of the den, stretching, his pelt rippled with muscle, he was quite big for an apprentice, but he was actually a moon older then Heronpaw.

Marshpaw then went to talk to Firepaw, who seemed to be glad to have left Whitepaw to cleaning the elders den.

Heronpaw then looked back at the camp entrence. She got an instinctive feeling. A feeling to follow the patrol, to join and warn off any intruders.

''Maybe I'll run into those rogues again! ''she thought, starting to pad towards the entrence.

She looked back when she got to the entrence, making sure Marshpaw and Firepaw were in to deep in conversation to notice her, and that Clawstar was in his den, or somewhere else entirely.

She padded out, looking around carefully, trying to track Flaresky's scent, which was more familiar to her. She caught his scent, and started to follow it.

She started to scnt blood, but it was only prey. ''They must have gone hunting during the way. ''she sniffed around for theprey, and discovered a couple birds and a rare squirrel under some leaves and twigs.

She left it be, and returned to tracking Flaresky, and was surprised when some scents overlapped, Flareskys scent was fresh, along with another scent, and eerily familiar scent.

She finally caught sight of his light ginger fur through the dark bushes. She didn't call out though, afraid of shocking the patrol.

She watched, and she realised they had confronted a Thunderclan patrol, Branchclaw was among them, growling "Thinking you can intrude on our territory, eh? Steal our prey?" he was bristling.

Flaresky argued "We aren't intruding, we are on our side of the border!"

"Don't play that game with me Flaresky, we all know Clawstar wants more territory." Branchclaw hissed in his face, the two toms were glaring at each-other.

Heronpaw jumped when a cat poked her in the back, she whipped around ready to strike.

But she couldn't bring herself to do it.

The young rogue she pinned earlier was staring at the patrol curiously also, and he made a shushing noise, and indicated to the two quarreling toms.

She put her paw down, and hissed "Why you alone? Where's your brother?"

He just shook his head, and whispered back, "I said I was going to see what all the commotion was," he twitched his whiskers, His green eyes flashing with playfulness, "Are they always arguing?" he asked.

"Shadowclan and Thunderclan always argue." Heronpaw sniffed.

"You're a clan cat right? You're from Shadowclan I'm gussing, from the muddy and gross scent on you?" he asked curiously.

Heronpaw thought, ''Muddy? Gross? That's kind of mean... ''But she realised that he was young, and that he didn't know he was being mean, he was only describing what he smelled, not unlike Heronpaw when she told Flaresky the Riverclan cats smelled fishy.

"Yes, that's right, though I'm only an apprentice, I'm still learning," she mewed, "I'm Heronpaw, you must be Cyprus, am I correct?"

Cyprus nodded, turning his gaze to the patrol again when there was a yowl.

Branchclaw had Morningflower pinned, who was spitting in his face.

Heronpaw gasped "I've got to go help them!" she went to get up, but Cyprus put a paw on her back, and pushed her back down.

"If your friends seem nervous about this fight, how can you be so sure you'll win?" he asked.

Heronpaw hissed back "They are my clan-mates! I can't leave them!"

She then had a sudden realisation, she suddenly knew why Cyprus's older brother had ditched the bird and went to save Cyprus.

''I should have known, I thought rogues cared for nothing but themselves, even if they were brothers, I thought he went back to help him for more hunting trips.. But... That wasn't true. ''she thought.

"But, they're my clan-mates, it's what your brother did for you!" Heronpaw whispered.

"He did it because he knew he would win, you don't know how small you are to him, I'm sure he would have taken on whole clans for me, but he knows how to pick his fights," Cyprus mewed, "And I'm sure your clan-mates wouldn't want you getting hurt because you thought it was your duty."

"It is my duty to protect my clan!" she whispered hotly.

"Would your leader go back for you?" he asked calmly, eyes looking at her curiously.

"Well..." Heronpaw faltered.

"I understand that the tom, the light ginger one, probably would. He's your mentor right?" Cyprus asked.

"Yes.. How do you know so much about the clans?" Heronpaw sked, turning to him.

"My brother talks about them alot, and not in a good way mind you.. I guess that's understandable, after all that's happened." Cyprus replied.

Heronpaw looked back at the patrol, where the argument was getting more heated.

Cyprus mewed "Do what you must, I'm sure you can win." he then disappeared into the bushes, leaving Heronpaw quite alone.

Heronpaw turned to the patrols, and saw that all of them were ready to pounce, claws unsheathing and sheathing in anticipation.

She then peeked her head out of the bush, and called "Hey! Mouse-brains!"

The two patrols turned to look at her, most of the expressions ranged from shock to mild amusement. Branchclaw hissed "Stay out of this kit!"

Heronpaw padded out, standing in front of the patrol, staring at him, no longer flinching from his harsh gaze, she puffed out her chest, and growled "Can't you see we are on our own border?"

Branchclaw drew himself up to full height, obviously expecting to see Heronpaw back down, but a flash of surprise went through his face when she stood on her toes, meeting his gaze.

He mumbled "But-uh, you see-uh, Clawstar wants more territory, you obviously haven't been listening." he seemed to have lost his nerve, because he shrank back.

"I've listened enough to know that you didn't need to attack Morningflower," she retorted, finally drawing herself up to full height, looking straight at him "I'm sure you wouldn't have liked it if we attacked you."

Branchclaw was defeated for words, he turned to his patrol, and flicking his tail, indicating for them to follow them, and soon they disappeared through the thorny under-growth.

There was a silence, she looked behind her, she suddenly felt small again under Rowantails and Morningflowers strict gaze, and Mudpaws entertained expression.

She turned to Flaresky, who was awestruck.

Heronpaw flinched when he opened his mouth to speak, but was surprised when he only mewed, "You made Branchclaw lose his nerve.. That's the best thing I've ever seen!" he laughed.

Morningflowers gaze softened, but Rowantails gaze didn't waver, but even he had a slightly amused expression.

Heronpaw relaxed, none of them were mad, even though Rowantail looked not as impressed as Flaresky, but she twitched her whiskers, and mewed, "Thanks, he did back down."

"You showed him!" Mudpaw mewed, eyes widening.

''Yes... I guess I did show him, he backed down as if he was scared of losing a battle, but I'm just an apprentice, why would he be scared? Heronpaw thought, And why was he so easily intimated when that rogue that attacked me wouldn't back down?''

Heronpaw realised the patrol was walking towards the camp, and she gasped, "Hey!"

Flaresky turned, twitching his whiskers, "Well, come on then, unless you want to take on Branchclaw." he then continued padding away.

"Not fair!" she yowled after them, running after them.

Chapter 3
<p style="text-align:center;">The past is a memory, a foggy memory which you cannot remember, or don't want to.

<p style="text-align:center;">Everyones past is different, it's what sets us all apart, makes us stand out from the usual cat.

<p style="text-align:center;">''But... Even if it is the past, it's not always a good past, a past that you don't want to hear about.. A past that reminds you..''

<p style="text-align:center;">Not everything is all good in this forest.

A couple moons had passed, the tension between Thunderclan and Shadowclan was building ever so slowly, more wounded warriors had entered the camp after a nasty skirmish. One of them was Willowwater, who had now a nicked ear to show for the Thunderclans merciless warriors, who were getting paranoid every day, every second.

Heronpaw wasn't sure what was causing the nervousy in Thunderclan; some claimed it was because their prey disappearing, even on a hunt, the prey would just disappear in a flash of shadow. The Thunderclan cats blamed the Shadowclan cats at the gathering, and a huge fight broke out. Heronpaw remembered it well, because it happened a couple days ago.

She had a nasty cut on her shoulder from a big Thunderclan apprentice, and Flaresky was stuck in the medicine cat den after being ganged up on by Branchclaw and his followers.

Heronpaw feared there was going to be a war, it was getting apparent, when Clawstar called some of the senior warriors to discuss.

Heronpaw also had the feeling that those shadows were not a Shadowclan warrior, but Cyprus and his brother hunting because they were hungry.

Heronpaw shook her head, and decided to hunt, the prey for them was also slowly disappereaing, but for different reasons, The two-legs were coming and going, taking away their leaf dens, and not returning.

Heronpaw jumped when Morningflower stalked up to her, and mewed, "We need more prey, I want you to go with Firepaw and look around, see what we can scrounge up." she padded away without another word, and Heronpaw wished Flaresky was feeling better enough to walk around. While he was in the medicine cat den, she was battle training with Clawstar, who was quite more vicious then Flaresky was.

Heronpaw scented the air, and looked everywhere, in the bushes, and in the trees. Just to make sure the two rogues weren't also thinking of hunting.

She finally scented a bird, a robin to be precise. She saw it hiding in the clump of leaves, pecking at the ground, it's red breast very obvious. Robins were usually shown around new-leaf, but since it was almost leaf-bare, they were starting to fly away.

She froze, tracking the bird, pin-pointing on where it was exactly, and leaped.

Unluckily, another shape was also aiming for the bird, and they smashed into each-other, shocked when the bird flew away.

"Hey! That was mine!" she hissed, knowing exactly who it was.

"Are you kidding me?" he hissed back, "I was here first!"

Heronpaw growled, "No you weren't, I didn't smell you!" she didn't lash at him, she couldn't bring herself too.

He hissed, "What's your name, apprentice?"

"Wha-?"

"What's your name!?" he snarled.

"He-Heronpaw, apprentice of Shadowclan!" she shivered, his emerald gaze was cold, and his claws had her pinned down again.

"Heronpaw? Shadowclan?" he sniffed her, and had a grossed out look on his face, "Should have known the Shadowclan part, all I smell is muck and pine."

"I told you my name! What's yours?" she hissed, flicking her tail.

He looked at her, seeming to be pondering either he should answer her, or if he should kill her.

He finally mewed "Coal."

"Coal? Okay, Coal, that was my catch! You can't just go stealing someones catch!" Heronpaw hissed, fighting to get up.

Coal didn't budge though, but he mewed "You clan cats are all the same.. After Cyprus told me about you, I thought there'd be actually a clan cat that was.. Different.. From the rest." he narrowed his eyes, but there was sadness in it's depths.

"Woah, hold on, what do you mean by different?" she asked, heaving herself up after he let her go, and she growled, "What did Cyprus tell you?"

"How you seemed to not like the disputes going on between the forest cats and the pine cats... And he told me how you seemed determined to protect your clan." he answered.

"I am different! I'm not like Clawstar!" she mewed, as he started to walk away, "At least help me get some prey to replace the robin!"

"Prove you're different, go on!" Coal snarled back at her, turning to face her.

She stopped, mouth hanging open, she stared at Coal, she was unsure what to say, his eyes narrowed dangerously, and he mewed "Thought not." and he started to turn around.

"I-I can see things others can't!" she yelled after him, and he froze.

She realised he was frozen on the spot, he must have been thinking quickly, because he whipped around, "What.. What do you mean.. See things others can't?" he asked.

"I.. I have these dizzy day-dreams, sometimes they're... A scene... Or voices, or both! It scares me, and no one else seems to know or see these things!" Heronpaw cried, secretly glad that she had finally told someone about the day-dreams.

"Ca-Can you explain one of your recent visions, day-dreaming or sleeping?" he asked, he seemed a bit more unnerved now, not unlike Branchclaw, who looked the same way when Heronpaw stood up to him.

"Well, I was sleeping in my den.. And... I don't know what exactly happened, but I woke up, or thought I did, in a very dark.. Misty clearing," she hesitated, looking at Coals expression before continuing, "I-I heard a noise, it was dreadful.. A flash of black attacked me, it's thorn sharp claws glinting in what moon-light there was... It's eyes were as cold as ice... An-And it was going to kill me!"

Coal stared at her, then asked "What did this cat.. Look like?"

Heronpaw tried to remember it, even though it was a little terrifying, "I'm sure it was a black tom.. and his eyes were dark amber... and his claws were.. Unnatural... Like they weren't real..." she answered.

Coal was staring at her ina weird way, as if she was a very messed up piece of prey, and she asked "What's wrong?"

"Th-That.. It doesn't make sense..." Coal muttered, turning away from her.

"What? What doesn't makes ense Coal?" she asked, starting to bristle.

"I know that decription to well... I will never forget the cold gaze of amber, nor the dog like claws glinting as it lunges for the kill, nor the pelt that was as dark as night.. No... I will never forget that cat..." he muttered.

"What are you talking about Coal?" she growled.

He stayed silent, and looked at his paws, he looked like he was in deep thought, "The scent... What did you smell?" he asked.

Heronpaw was taken-aback by the question, but answered, "Of pine... Of the mist that hangs low in this territory." she indicated around them.

Coal just looked at her, and mewed, "That's what Shadowclan cats smell of."

"What!? You're not saying I dreamed of a Shadowclan cat!?" she exclaimed staring at him, "That's impossible! There's no cat in my clan with dog claws!"

Coal seemed to ignore her, and he mewed, "His name.. I forget his name," he then snapped back to look at her, eyes flashing, "He was ruthless, and cold-hearted.. And his name.. It was something like Night something.. But he was big.. Huge..."

Heronpaw widened her eyes, ''He.. He couldn't be talking about Nightstar! Us kittens were told he was a kind and gentle leader, not a ruthless leader.''

"Does... Nightstar ring a bell?" she asked rather cautiously, staring at Coal.

"Yeah, that sounds about right." he grumbled.

"N-No! That can't be right! I was told Nightstar was a kind leader!" Heronpaw yelled at him.

Coal asked, "How would you know that? You haven't met him have you?" he narrowed his eyes.

She just stared at her paws, unsure of what to say, but she unsheathed her claws, and dug them into the dirt, ''I haven't met him... But who should I believe? Coal, or my family? ''she thought, looking back up at Coal, to see he was padding away.

"I didn't think so." he muttered.

Heronpaw just stood there, and her head started to ache, and she sniffed in pain, and muttered, "Ow..."

Coal turned to look at her, his eyes looking at her curiously.

She felt it again, the same thing she felt before her other visions, an aching pain in her head, and dizziness.

She started to hear something, it wasn't exactly audible, but she could tell it was crying in fear, but it was certainly whispering something to someone, reassurance? Or was it an empty promise?

It started to get louder, and she could finally tell it was female, and she was whispering, "Shh... Shh, my little ones.. It's okay, we're going to be okay..."

She stayed silent, and so did Coal, and the whispering continued.

"N-No.. I'm fine little one.. I just want you to get your sibling out of here.. It... It's no longer safe for you anymore, bu-but don't worry... I'll come back for you, I promise..."

Heronpaw was confused, the cat sounded like it was dying, how could a mother make that sort of promise knowing she can't keep it.

Heronpaw looked up, staring at Coal, who seemed a bit confused, and a bit scared.. But there was something else.

Her world seemed to go back and forth, first, she was in what looked like a barn, a beautiful blurry white she-cat shielding her kits, the next, the forest, where Coal was getting alarmed.

'Urg...' she grunted, staggering back and forth, and the she-cat growled in her vision growled, "I won't let you hurt them you clan cat!"

A deep, male voice seemed to whisper in Heronpaw's ear, "Look at you? I've already hurt you enough, you cannot protect your kits anymore."

The female growled, "Even if I die, I'll still won't let you hurt them!"

"I do have to admire your spirit, but sadly.. You can't keep the promise of protecting them..."

The vision seemed to fade, there was screeches and yowls in the distance, and kits wailing for their mother, and finally.. The scruffling of tiny paws, running out of their supposed safe haven.

Coal asked, "Wh-What are you hearing?"

"Uh.. Huh.. Give me a minute to collect my thoughts..." Heronpaw muttered, "This one was... Different then the rest..."

Coal just stared at her as she tried to figure out what had actually happened.

"Well.. Okay, I heard voices.. But mostly a female and a male.. But I'm sure there was kits by the sound of the movements..." Heronpaw mewed.

She looked at Coals expression, who seemed worried. She continued.

"And... The female.. She was a very pretty snow white she-cat.. Green eyes I think.. I couldn't... Really tell, since it was blurry."

Heronpaw noticed that Coal was starting to look kind of weird. Like he was going to be sick.

"Anything else?" he asked.

"Only the screeches of fighting cats and the paws of kittens running away." Heronpaw mewed.

"Huh..." Coal muttered, flicking his tail. He started to pace, his eyes in a set, fearful face. ''Is he okay? What did I say? ''Heronpaw thought, staring at him as he continued to look around, almost as if he was afraid.

Heronpaw asked carefully, "Did I say something funny?"

He looked at her, he tipped his head, then shook it, "Oh! No, just thinking..." he mewed quickly, as if he wasn't just thinking.

He twitched his ears back, and he whipped around, eyes pointed slits, he sniffed the air, and his eyes widened. Heronpaw sniffed the air too, but she couldn't smell anything.

"Hide!" he hissed, grabbing Heronpaw by the scruff, and dragged her up a tree.

"Hey! You're supposed to warn before you start drag-" but she was cut off by Coals tail. S he glared at Coal while he looked around carefully.

She sniffed the air, there was a strange scent, it smelled gross, like crow-food and two-legs. Heronpaw heard Coal hiss, "It's a dog, and it's in a foul mood."

Heronpaw gasped, "Dog?" she thought, I've never seen a dog before! she peered into the muddy under-growth, almost excited to see the dog.

"You don't want to run into a dog, they're nasty." Coal sniffed.

Heronpaw ignored him, scanning the under-growth for a large paw or two. She leaned forward, the scent growing stronger.

Coal seemed to tense beside her, and soon, two very large paws padded out of a bush, Heronpaw suddenly felt a rush of fear. The thing was ten times the size of Marshpaw, the ears were pricked, it's brown and black coat ruffled up.

It looked up at them, it's eyes narrowed dangerously.

"Um... Coal?" she asked.

"Yes?"

"Can.. Can dogs climb trees?" she asked, looking at the tree they were on, it was quite small, being a young tree.

"No, but don't underestimate them, they can still grab a cat in a tree." Coal hissed, staring at the dog.

"That's wonderful." she hissed sarcastically.

Coal just rolled his eyes, but unsheathed his claws when the dog padded up to the tree, still glaring at them.

Heronpaw tried not to shiver as the dog put it's paws on the tree, trying to get to them.

Coal looked around, then jumped onto a higher branch, looking down at her, and he hissed, "Come on, they may be strong, but they are really stupid."

Heronpaw nodded, and started to climb to the branch, but the tree had started to shake, she unsheathed her claws. Sticking them into the rough bark of the pine, hoping that the dog wouldn't make her fall.

Coal had also unsheathed his claws into the bark, but he was more balanced then Heronpaw was, and he growled, "Come on, Heronpaw."

"I'm trying!" she cried, bristling because the dog was starting to growl.

Coal had gone silent, and the tree was shaking more, she started to lose her grip, and she strained to get up to Coal.

Finally, the tree finally gave one final lurch, and she lost her grip. She closed her eyes and thought, I'm so dead!

She felt herself stop, and teeth biting her scruff, she opened her eyes and saw that Coal had caught her, but was also losing his grip on the branch.

"Let go, Coal! That branch looks really weak!" she growled.

He rolled his eyes, and tried dragging her up, and the dog started to bark. Getting more excited at the cats.

They both froze, and Heronpaw heard him growl, "Oh, forget it." he finally dragged her onto the branch, but just as the branch started to sag, he jumped at the dog, claws outstretched.

Heronpaw stood up, staring wide eyed as Coal took on the dog.

The dog was as equally shocked as Heronpaw was as Coal landed on the dogs head, and jumped off, turning around.

The dog turned around also, it's eyes narrowed, and it barked.

Coal looked at Heronpaw, "Go! It's distracted, and don't look back, if you do, it'll go for you!" he mewed, as the dog was bunching it's muscles for the leap.

"And what about you? Even you can't take it." Heronpaw hissed at him.

Coal twitched his whiskers, "I know that, but you're going to have to trust me," he mewed, and nodded to Heronpaw, "Remember, don't look back, unless you want dog-breath here in your camp."

Heronpaw was about to argue, but thought better of it, and she sighed, then nodded.

Coal nodded also, and faced the dog again, who was starting to creep forward.

"Now, Heronpaw." Coal hissed, and jumped at the dog, and Heronpaw leaped out of the tree. She heard large paws thumping the ground. The dog was obviously chasing after Coal.

She ran deeper into the territory. Trying to resist the urge to turn around and go back, she froze, and she growled, "What am I doing? I'm a Shadowclan cat! A dog shouldn't scare me!" she started to turn around, she puffed out her chest, "I'm not going to let a dog scare me!"

She started to pad forward, but a shape flew at her, she started to hiss, but relaxed when it was only Cyprus.

But she wasn't relaxed for long, because he hissed, "Stupid dog has friends! My brother has disappeared!"

He dragged her up, and pushed her back toward her camp, "You've got to warn your leader! This dog must only be a young puppy! Because the others are hugfe! They'll crush you!" he hissed.

"And you?" she asked.

"I'm going to go find my brother." he mewed, and started to turn away, and Heronpaw started to hear loud barks in the distance.

"Wait! I'm coming with you!" Heronpaw mewed.

Cyprus turned to face her, and shook his head, and mewed, "I said you have to go warn your clan!"

Heronpaw looked at her paws, and she mewed, "But.. It's my fault that Coal is in danger."

Cyprus stared at her, then rolled his eyes, "Go to the entrance of your camp, and start making noise and yowl dogs are coming, then meet me right here, but hurry, those dogs are coming."

She nodded, and Cyprus leaped into a tree, Heronpaw ran to the entrance of the camp, and tipped her head.

She started jumping up and down, slamming her claws into the entrance, and she finally screamed, "Dogs! Dogs are coming!"

She heard some cats stir, then panic, some of them screaming what she had yowled, and she ran away as she heard footsteps run toward then entrance, and she leaped into the tree with Cyprus, who seemed slightly amused.

"What exactly did you do?" he asked.

"Made noise, and scream," she mewed, also twitching her whiskers, "Now let's go save your brother."

Cyprus nodded, heading toward the noisy barks of the dogs. And Heronpaw followed, hoping that Coal was at least smart enough to take shelter away from the dogs.

Heronpaw and Cyprus stopped at a clearing. There was blood and fur everywhere, most of it was a brownish black colour though. Not pure black.

"You guys just missed the fight," A tom padded out, his black fur puffed out, and scratches on his flank. "That was fun."

Cyprus rolled his eyes, "Coal, sometimes I wonder if you have common sense." he hissed in annoyance.

Coal twitched his whiskers, "Hey, all it takes is 20 seconds of stupid courage to get rid of dogs." he mewed, shaking out his fur.

Cyprus shook his head, amusement in his eyes, and he mewed, "Stupid courage is right."

Heronpaw sighed, ''So Coal did have some sense and took shelter somewhere, unless you took those dogs on one by one, which again, would be very mouse-brained. ''

As she was lost in her thoughts, Coal and Cyprus were sniffing around, making sure noone of the dogs were left.

"Where did the other dogs go?" Cyprus asked.

Coal twitched his tail, and mewed, "Scattered, some stayed around here, and others just ran off in different directions."

Cyprus seemed to nod, and mewed, "Makes sense, when dogs know they're losing, they scatter."

Coal nodded, and was saying something, but to Heronpaw, it was starting to blur out of her ears, as if it was being muted.

Cyprus had answered, but Heronpaw didn't hear, she flicked her ears, and a ringing sound was growing louder and louder every minute.

"What?" she murmured..

Cyprus looked at her, and seemed to repeat what he said, but the ringing drowned it out.

Heronpaw shook her head, and mewed loudly, "What?! I can't hear you!"

Cyprus seemed to growl in frustration, and before Heronpaw knew it, she got a cuff round the ears.

"I said that dogs are probably here because of all the cats, and their two-legs let them free." Cyprus grunted.

Heronpaw shook her head, and flicked her ears, "Okay, I can hear now... That's strange." she mewed.

"What's strange?" Coal asked.