This is long... this is my sisters but she gave it to me...

[★ Lightning Shade ★]

The Prophecy

Of

Four























































To my best friends Sarah, Sydney, Ivy, Bridget, and my little brother Ryan



Thank you for being so supportive (most of the time, teehee) and

always being my friends













Special thanks to Erin Hunter









































ALLEGIANCES



ThunderClan



LEADER:

Birdstar - black with big white splotches and pale green eyes



DEPUTY:

Blazefur - bright ginger with dark amber eyes



MEDICINE CAT:

Flamepool - cream with a large dark ginger spot on back and bright green eyes



WARRIORS:

Whitepelt - white tom with deep amber eyes APP: Snowpaw

Palmleaf - light brown tabby she-cat with startling green eyes

Tinyberry - small gray tabby she-cat with dark blue eyes

Stormfall - mottled gray tabby tom with light blue eyes

Owlsong - dark brown she-cat with dark amber eyes

Rockclaw - gray tom with light brown paws and ears with amber eyes APP: Bubblepaw

Redleaf - red she-cat with long legs and green eyes

Duststorm - brown mottled tabby tom with green eyes

Badgerstripe - black and white tom with deep amber eyes

Ratfang - dark gray tom with a long tooth and piercing blue eyes

Vixenclaw - dark ginger she-cat with long claws and dark green eyes

Featherwing - light blue she-cat with white flanks and underbelly and light blue eyes

Foxfur - light ginger tom with white ears and paws and green eyes

Mistflower - pretty mottled white and light blue she-cat with misty blue eyes



APPRENTICES:

Snowpaw - white she-cat with green eyes

Bubblepaw - white she-cat with blue spots on flank and back and dark blue eyes



QUEENS:

Frostwing - white and gray she-cat with light blue eyes MATE: Foxfur KITS: Blackkit, Rosekit, Swiftkit, Ivykit



KITS:

Blackkit - pitch black she-cat with one green eye and one blue eye

Rosekit - rosy tortoiseshell she-cat with pretty amber eyes and a sharp tongue

Swiftkit - cream tabby she-cat with long legs and blue eyes

Ivykit - light brown she-cat with green eyes



ELDERS:

Goldenbird - once-pretty yellow tabby she-cat with amber eyes

Pigeonflight - gray tabby tom with blackish stripes and light amber eyes; former medicine cat

Sagetail - white fluffy tom with blue eyes and a long tail

Lilypelt - creamy tabby she-cat with warm green eyes







RiverClan



LEADER:

Carpstar - sleek amber she-cat with watery blue eyes



DEPUTY:

Streamtail APP: Marshpaw



MEDICINE CAT:

Webpelt APP: Wavepaw



WARRIORS:

Pikescale APP: Pinepaw

Berryclaw

Pebblepelt

Cloudfur APP: Minnowpaw

Flowerheart

Splashpelt APP: Scalepaw

Watertail

Ripplepelt



APPRENTICES:

Wavepaw

Marshpaw

Pinepaw

Minnowpaw

Scalepaw



QUEENS:

Shellsplash MATE: Watertail





ELDERS:

Lilyflower

Littleleaf

Heronwing

















ShadowClan



LEADER:

Duskstar



DEPUTY:

Muddyheart APP: Wrenpaw



MEDICINE CAT:

Leafnose



WARRIORS:

Frogpounce

Marshyfoot

Pineneedle

Leopardtail APP: Tawnypaw

Cloudyheart

Clawpelt

Grasswing APP: Fernpaw

Reedtail

Tallfoot

Spiderfang APP: Darkpaw

Squirreltail



APPRENTICES:

Wrenpaw

Tawnypaw

Fernpaw

Darkpaw



QUEENS:

Dawnsky MATE: Reedtail KITS: Sunkit, Moonkit





KITS:

Sunkit

Moonkit



ELDERS:

Addertooth

Nightheart

















SkyClan



LEADER:

Jaystar



DEPUTY:

Wingfur



MEDICINE CAT:

Pigeonwing



WARRIORS:

Robinfeather

Shrewflight APP: Brownpaw

Softfur

Barkfoot

Mistwater APP: Poolpaw

Rustfur

Tabbystripe

Berrysplash

Sagefern APP: Oakpaw

Hawkfeather

Paleheart



APPRENTICES:

Brownpaw

Poolpaw

Oakpaw



QUEENS:

Ashflower MATE: Rustfur

Frostpool MATE: Tabbystripe KITS: Scorchkit, Poppykit



KITS:



Scorchkit

Poppykit



ELDERS:

Mapleleaf

Bramblethorn













WindClan



LEADER:

Sorrelstar



DEPUTY:

Hareleap



MEDICINE CAT:

Willowsong APP: Oakpaw



WARRIORS:

Gorsebush

Emberfall

Thrushflight APP: Rabbitpaw

Morningfur

Nightfern APP: Russetpaw

Ravenwing

Crowflight

Cherryheart

Weaseltail APP: Rainpaw



APPRENTICES:

Oakpaw

Rabbitpaw

Russetpaw

Rainpaw



QUEENS:

Fernleaf MATE: Ravenwing KITS: Amberkit, Wolfkit, Moorkit



KITS:

Amberkit

Wolfkit

Moorkit



ELDERS:

Sandfur

Slatepelt

Specklefur



























PROLOGUE



“Birdstar, I need to talk to you,” meowed a burly looking cream tom. A black she-cat with small white splotches dipped her head. “Of course, Sparrowstar,” she meowed, looking confused. “Walk with me.” Sparrowstar headed into the woods. Birdstar padded after him. “I have something extremely important to tell you. This lies with the life of the Clans.” Birdstar drew in a gasp. “The Prophecy of Four.” She tilted her head, puzzled. “The Prophecy of Four?” she echoed. “Yes,” meowed Sparrowstar. “The Four will save the Clans, and peace will spread throughout the land. But beware the light that shines through the night, and one of the Four will die when hope has arised.” With the last words of the prophecy, Sparrowstar began to fade. “Wait!” Birdstar screeched. “Tell me what it means!”

“The only thing I can tell you, Birdstar, that the survival of the five Clans depend on these four cats,” Sparrowstar meowed, and disappeared. Birdstar woke with a start. Mistpaw’s head poked into her den. “Birdstar!” she meowed. “Frostwing wants you.” Mistpaw’s head vanished. Birdstar heaved herself to her paws, washed herself quickly, and went to see Frostwing. Frostwing was talking to Foxfur outside the warriors’ den. “Birdstar!” exclaimed Frostwing. “I’m expecting kits!”

“Are they yours?” Birdstar asked Foxfur. He nodded and ducked his head. “No pressure, than?”

Birdstar gave an amused purr. Frostwing pushed her head against Birdstar’s. “You are my mother; I know you will support me,” Frostwing purred. Birdstar returned the purr, and a thought struck her. How many kits will she have? Will they be part of the prophecy? Which one will die?





CHAPTER 1



I was playing in the snow with my littermates Rosekit, Swiftkit, and Ivykit. It was a little chilly and we thought we can poke some fun into the warriors. We hid near the entrance of the warriors den and pounced on anyone who came in or out until our mother, Frostwing, called to us. “Blackkit! Stop bothering the warriors! And tell your sisters to come inside,” she called. We laughed and purred in amusement as we bounded through the snow toward the nursery. “You kits!” Frostwing scolded as soon as we were ushered inside. “Bothering the warriors like that! And Swiftkit! Just look at your pelt!” She started licking the laughing Swiftkit, who jumped away. “Stop! I can do my own fur!” she squeaked. “Yeah!” I added. “Our apprentice ceremony is tomorrow!” My sisters jumped in excitement as I mentioned the ceremony. A sudden purr sounded at the entrance of the nursery. Rosekit and Ivykit jumped in surprise. A ginger tom stepped in and I relaxed. “It’s only me,” rumbled the tom. “Hello, Foxfur,” meowed Frostwing. Foxfur stepped inside. We scrambled on him in excitement. “Hey, get off your father!” She pawed them off and we fell purring on the soft nest. “Now, since you are in your nest, you might as well sleep,” meowed Foxfur, who looked amused. “You have a big day tomorrow!” He backed out of the nursery, and I realized it was dark outside. I felt as if I can never sleep, but I slept anyway.



In the morning, Birdstar paid a visit to the nursery. All she said was “Get ready for your apprentice ceremony!” That was enough to get us super excited. Frostwing and Foxfur washed them until their fur shined. “Let all cats old enough to catch their own prey gather beneath the Tallrock for a Clan meeting!” Blackkit heard Birdstar call. The kits bustled outside, despite Frostwing’s protests, and sat in the front of the crowd of cats. “Blackkit, Rosekit, Swiftkit, and Ivykit,” Birdstar meowed, “Come forward.” Blackkit took a deep breath and followed her sisters beneath the Tallrock. “Blackkit,” Birdstar announced, “From this moment on your name will be Blackpaw.” She beckoned a warrior out of the crowd with her tail. “You mentor will be Blazefur. Blazefur, I know you will teach Blackpaw with your loyalty and understanding.” Many cats gasped. Blazefur! She thought. The Clan deputy! She looked at the bright orange tom that stepped out of the crowd. He came up to her and they touched noses. “I look forward to teaching you,” he whispered. I blinked at him in gratitude and excitement and sat down in the crowd. “I hope you become a clever and loyal warrior.” Birdstar called. She moved her gaze to Rosekit. “Rosekit, from this moment on your name will be Rosepaw. Your mentor will be Featherwing, who I know will teach you what every warrior knows now effectively. I hope you will become a strong and thoughtful warrior.” They touched noses and sat down next to Frostwing and Foxfur. Again, Birdstar's gave traveled over to Swiftkit. “From this moment on, your name will be Swiftpaw. Your mentor will be Redleaf. Redleaf, there is no doubt that you will be the perfect mentor for young Swiftpaw, you being the fastest cat in the forest. I know you will become a swift warrior, Swiftpaw. Your name says so.” Swiftpaw eagerly touched noses with Redleaf and they sat down next to me and Blazefur. “Last but definitely not least, Ivykit, from this moment on your name will be Ivypaw. Your mentor will be Flamepool. Treat your injured Clanmates with care. Flamepool, I trust you to teach this young apprentice to heal the cats of ThunderClan” Blackpaw’s belly fluttered with surprise. Flamepool, the Clan’s medicine cat! Flamepool and Ivypaw touched noses and sat at the edge of the crowd. “We strike back at our enemies with four new apprentices!” meowed Birdstar, tail flicking in excitement. The Clan chanted the newest apprentices’ new names. “Blackpaw! Rosepaw! Swiftpaw! Ivypaw!” they yowled. Blackpaw studied Blazefur’s dark amber eyes. He purred and motioned his large broad head for her to follow. “Come on,” He meowed enthusiastically. “Let’s go to the forest.” She bounced in uncontained excitement and raced outside, only to stop to admire the snow-covered forest. “Welcome to ThunderClan’s territory,” meowed Blazefur.





CHAPTER 2



I watched Blackpaw and Blazefur, who was right behind her tail, dash outside the thorn wall. A tail tapped my shoulder and I turned to see it was Featherwing’s tail. “Follow me, Rosepaw,” she said. We trotted out of the thorn tunnel and Featherwing led me through the cold snow until we got to a rather big tree. “We are going to collect moss for the elders,” meowed Featherwing once we stopped. “What?!” I meowed indignantly. Moss? I wanted to hunt or explore the territory! I thought. I felt a light cuff around the ear. “Rosepaw, there is more to collecting the elders’ bedding,” Featherwing meowed sternly. “Really? what is it?” I asked, trying to distract myself from my spite. “Let me show you how to collect the bedding first, then it would be easier to explain.” She stretched her claws until she can’t anymore, and neatly sliced off a good piece of soft moss. “We collect it this way so the dirt and thorns and roots get left behind,” meowed Featherwing matter-of-factly. “And even if you don’t know it, but the better you are at harvesting moss, the more controlled you are of your claws,” explained Featherwing. “Then it will be easier to catch prey, and you can give an opponent a nasty scratch with just a flick of your paw.” My anger faded. “Cool,” I replied. I stretched out my claws until my paw hurt. Then I sliced a piece of moss off the tree. It was smaller than Featherwing’s, but I left behind all the dirt and roots. “Nice job for your first time,” Featherwing praised. We got a good amount of moss and Featherwing showed me how to get rid of the moisture. We carried it back to camp and lined the moss for Sagetail, Lilypelt, Pigeonflight, and Goldenbird. When we were done, my littermates were fetching fresh-kill from the pile to eat. I grabbed a rather scrawny vole and settled down to eat with my sisters. I can’t complain though. Its leaf-bare. I sat between Blackpaw and Ivypaw and started gnawing on my vole. Ivypaw was telling us what Flamepool taught her. “He showed me how to treat an infected wound,” she meowed excitedly. “It was for Snowpaw.” Snowpaw is an experienced apprentice and is bound to have her warrior ceremony along with Bubblepaw, Redleaf and Stormfall’s kit. “It was deep and green and sticky with pus-” Blackpaw interrupted. “We are eating, you know!” Blackpaw complained with a twisted face. “Sorry,” mewed Ivypaw sheepishly. “Anyway, what did you do, Swiftpaw?” Swiftpaw looked up from her mouse. “Redleaf taught me how to hunt and showed me the Great Ash,” meowed Swiftpaw. “It’s amazing I found this mouse in the snow!” She exclaimed before crunching on a mouse bone. I purred in agreement. “Well, I got to patrol the boundary with Badgerstripe and Flywing,” Blackpaw mewed. ShadowClan stink- ugh!” she added distastefully. “What did you do, Rosepaw?” Ivypaw asked curiously. I buried my muzzle into my vole. “I collected moss for the elders,” I mumbled. My littermates fell over with mrrrows of laughter. “Hey! It wasn’t my idea!” I protested. “Still,” Blackpaw purred. We finished our meal, drowsily shared tongues, went to our nests, and went to sleep.




























































To my best friends Sarah, Sydney, Ivy, Bridget, and my little brother Ryan



Thank you for being so supportive (most of the time, teehee) and

always being my friends













Special thanks to Erin Hunter









































ALLEGIANCES



ThunderClan



LEADER:

Birdstar - black with big white splotches and pale green eyes



DEPUTY:

Blazefur - bright ginger with dark amber eyes



MEDICINE CAT:

Flamepool - cream with a large dark ginger spot on back and bright green eyes



WARRIORS:

Whitepelt - white tom with deep amber eyes APP: Snowpaw

Palmleaf - light brown tabby she-cat with startling green eyes

Tinyberry - small gray tabby she-cat with dark blue eyes

Stormfall - mottled gray tabby tom with light blue eyes

Owlsong - dark brown she-cat with dark amber eyes

Rockclaw - gray tom with light brown paws and ears with amber eyes APP: Bubblepaw

Redleaf - red she-cat with long legs and green eyes

Duststorm - brown mottled tabby tom with green eyes

Badgerstripe - black and white tom with deep amber eyes

Ratfang - dark gray tom with a long tooth and piercing blue eyes

Vixenclaw - dark ginger she-cat with long claws and dark green eyes

Featherwing - light blue she-cat with white flanks and underbelly and light blue eyes

Foxfur - light ginger tom with white ears and paws and green eyes

Mistflower - pretty mottled white and light blue she-cat with misty blue eyes



APPRENTICES:

Snowpaw - white she-cat with green eyes

Bubblepaw - white she-cat with blue spots on flank and back and dark blue eyes



QUEENS:

Frostwing - white and gray she-cat with light blue eyes MATE: Foxfur KITS: Blackkit, Rosekit, Swiftkit, Ivykit



KITS:

Blackkit - pitch black she-cat with one green eye and one blue eye

Rosekit - rosy tortoiseshell she-cat with pretty amber eyes and a sharp tongue

Swiftkit - cream tabby she-cat with long legs and blue eyes

Ivykit - light brown she-cat with green eyes



ELDERS:

Goldenbird - once-pretty yellow tabby she-cat with amber eyes

Pigeonflight - gray tabby tom with blackish stripes and light amber eyes; former medicine cat

Sagetail - white fluffy tom with blue eyes and a long tail

Lilypelt - creamy tabby she-cat with warm green eyes







RiverClan



LEADER:

Carpstar - sleek amber she-cat with watery blue eyes



DEPUTY:

Streamtail APP: Marshpaw



MEDICINE CAT:

Webpelt APP: Wavepaw



WARRIORS:

Pikescale APP: Pinepaw

Berryclaw

Pebblepelt

Cloudfur APP: Minnowpaw

Flowerheart

Splashpelt APP: Scalepaw

Watertail

Ripplepelt



APPRENTICES:

Wavepaw

Marshpaw

Pinepaw

Minnowpaw

Scalepaw



QUEENS:

Shellsplash MATE: Watertail





ELDERS:

Lilyflower

Littleleaf

Heronwing

















ShadowClan



LEADER:

Duskstar



DEPUTY:

Muddyheart APP: Wrenpaw



MEDICINE CAT:

Leafnose



WARRIORS:

Frogpounce

Marshyfoot

Pineneedle

Leopardtail APP: Tawnypaw

Cloudyheart

Clawpelt

Grasswing APP: Fernpaw

Reedtail

Tallfoot

Spiderfang APP: Darkpaw

Squirreltail



APPRENTICES:

Wrenpaw

Tawnypaw

Fernpaw

Darkpaw



QUEENS:

Dawnsky MATE: Reedtail KITS: Sunkit, Moonkit





KITS:

Sunkit

Moonkit



ELDERS:

Addertooth

Nightheart

















SkyClan



LEADER:

Jaystar



DEPUTY:

Wingfur



MEDICINE CAT:

Pigeonwing



WARRIORS:

Robinfeather

Shrewflight APP: Brownpaw

Softfur

Barkfoot

Mistwater APP: Poolpaw

Rustfur

Tabbystripe

Berrysplash

Sagefern APP: Oakpaw

Hawkfeather

Paleheart



APPRENTICES:

Brownpaw

Poolpaw

Oakpaw



QUEENS:

Ashflower MATE: Rustfur

Frostpool MATE: Tabbystripe KITS: Scorchkit, Poppykit



KITS:



Scorchkit

Poppykit



ELDERS:

Mapleleaf

Bramblethorn













WindClan



LEADER:

Sorrelstar



DEPUTY:

Hareleap



MEDICINE CAT:

Willowsong APP: Oakpaw



WARRIORS:

Gorsebush

Emberfall

Thrushflight APP: Rabbitpaw

Morningfur

Nightfern APP: Russetpaw

Ravenwing

Crowflight

Cherryheart

Weaseltail APP: Rainpaw



APPRENTICES:

Oakpaw

Rabbitpaw

Russetpaw

Rainpaw



QUEENS:

Fernleaf MATE: Ravenwing KITS: Amberkit, Wolfkit, Moorkit



KITS:

Amberkit

Wolfkit

Moorkit



ELDERS:

Sandfur

Slatepelt

Specklefur



























PROLOGUE



“Birdstar, I need to talk to you,” meowed a burly looking cream tom. A black she-cat with small white splotches dipped her head. “Of course, Sparrowstar,” she meowed, looking confused. “Walk with me.” Sparrowstar headed into the woods. Birdstar padded after him. “I have something extremely important to tell you. This lies with the life of the Clans.” Birdstar drew in a gasp. “The Prophecy of Four.” She tilted her head, puzzled. “The Prophecy of Four?” she echoed. “Yes,” meowed Sparrowstar. “The Four will save the Clans, and peace will spread throughout the land. But beware the light that shines through the night, and one of the Four will die when hope has arised.” With the last words of the prophecy, Sparrowstar began to fade. “Wait!” Birdstar screeched. “Tell me what it means!”

“The only thing I can tell you, Birdstar, that the survival of the five Clans depend on these four cats,” Sparrowstar meowed, and disappeared. Birdstar woke with a start. Mistpaw’s head poked into her den. “Birdstar!” she meowed. “Frostwing wants you.” Mistpaw’s head vanished. Birdstar heaved herself to her paws, washed herself quickly, and went to see Frostwing. Frostwing was talking to Foxfur outside the warriors’ den. “Birdstar!” exclaimed Frostwing. “I’m expecting kits!”

“Are they yours?” Birdstar asked Foxfur. He nodded and ducked his head. “No pressure, than?”

Birdstar gave an amused purr. Frostwing pushed her head against Birdstar’s. “You are my mother; I know you will support me,” Frostwing purred. Birdstar returned the purr, and a thought struck her. How many kits will she have? Will they be part of the prophecy? Which one will die?





CHAPTER 1



I was playing in the snow with my littermates Rosekit, Swiftkit, and Ivykit. It was a little chilly and we thought we can poke some fun into the warriors. We hid near the entrance of the warriors den and pounced on anyone who came in or out until our mother, Frostwing, called to us. “Blackkit! Stop bothering the warriors! And tell your sisters to come inside,” she called. We laughed and purred in amusement as we bounded through the snow toward the nursery. “You kits!” Frostwing scolded as soon as we were ushered inside. “Bothering the warriors like that! And Swiftkit! Just look at your pelt!” She started licking the laughing Swiftkit, who jumped away. “Stop! I can do my own fur!” she squeaked. “Yeah!” I added. “Our apprentice ceremony is tomorrow!” My sisters jumped in excitement as I mentioned the ceremony. A sudden purr sounded at the entrance of the nursery. Rosekit and Ivykit jumped in surprise. A ginger tom stepped in and I relaxed. “It’s only me,” rumbled the tom. “Hello, Foxfur,” meowed Frostwing. Foxfur stepped inside. We scrambled on him in excitement. “Hey, get off your father!” She pawed them off and we fell purring on the soft nest. “Now, since you are in your nest, you might as well sleep,” meowed Foxfur, who looked amused. “You have a big day tomorrow!” He backed out of the nursery, and I realized it was dark outside. I felt as if I can never sleep, but I slept anyway.



In the morning, Birdstar paid a visit to the nursery. All she said was “Get ready for your apprentice ceremony!” That was enough to get us super excited. Frostwing and Foxfur washed them until their fur shined. “Let all cats old enough to catch their own prey gather beneath the Tallrock for a Clan meeting!” Blackkit heard Birdstar call. The kits bustled outside, despite Frostwing’s protests, and sat in the front of the crowd of cats. “Blackkit, Rosekit, Swiftkit, and Ivykit,” Birdstar meowed, “Come forward.” Blackkit took a deep breath and followed her sisters beneath the Tallrock. “Blackkit,” Birdstar announced, “From this moment on your name will be Blackpaw.” She beckoned a warrior out of the crowd with her tail. “You mentor will be Blazefur. Blazefur, I know you will teach Blackpaw with your loyalty and understanding.” Many cats gasped. Blazefur! She thought. The Clan deputy! She looked at the bright orange tom that stepped out of the crowd. He came up to her and they touched noses. “I look forward to teaching you,” he whispered. I blinked at him in gratitude and excitement and sat down in the crowd. “I hope you become a clever and loyal warrior.” Birdstar called. She moved her gaze to Rosekit. “Rosekit, from this moment on your name will be Rosepaw. Your mentor will be Featherwing, who I know will teach you what every warrior knows now effectively. I hope you will become a strong and thoughtful warrior.” They touched noses and sat down next to Frostwing and Foxfur. Again, Birdstar's gave traveled over to Swiftkit. “From this moment on, your name will be Swiftpaw. Your mentor will be Redleaf. Redleaf, there is no doubt that you will be the perfect mentor for young Swiftpaw, you being the fastest cat in the forest. I know you will become a swift warrior, Swiftpaw. Your name says so.” Swiftpaw eagerly touched noses with Redleaf and they sat down next to me and Blazefur. “Last but definitely not least, Ivykit, from this moment on your name will be Ivypaw. Your mentor will be Flamepool. Treat your injured Clanmates with care. Flamepool, I trust you to teach this young apprentice to heal the cats of ThunderClan” Blackpaw’s belly fluttered with surprise. Flamepool, the Clan’s medicine cat! Flamepool and Ivypaw touched noses and sat at the edge of the crowd. “We strike back at our enemies with four new apprentices!” meowed Birdstar, tail flicking in excitement. The Clan chanted the newest apprentices’ new names. “Blackpaw! Rosepaw! Swiftpaw! Ivypaw!” they yowled. Blackpaw studied Blazefur’s dark amber eyes. He purred and motioned his large broad head for her to follow. “Come on,” He meowed enthusiastically. “Let’s go to the forest.” She bounced in uncontained excitement and raced outside, only to stop to admire the snow-covered forest. “Welcome to ThunderClan’s territory,” meowed Blazefur.





CHAPTER 2



I watched Blackpaw and Blazefur, who was right behind her tail, dash outside the thorn wall. A tail tapped my shoulder and I turned to see it was Featherwing’s tail. “Follow me, Rosepaw,” she said. We trotted out of the thorn tunnel and Featherwing led me through the cold snow until we got to a rather big tree. “We are going to collect moss for the elders,” meowed Featherwing once we stopped. “What?!” I meowed indignantly. Moss? I wanted to hunt or explore the territory! I thought. I felt a light cuff around the ear. “Rosepaw, there is more to collecting the elders’ bedding,” Featherwing meowed sternly. “Really? what is it?” I asked, trying to distract myself from my spite. “Let me show you how to collect the bedding first, then it would be easier to explain.” She stretched her claws until she can’t anymore, and neatly sliced off a good piece of soft moss. “We collect it this way so the dirt and thorns and roots get left behind,” meowed Featherwing matter-of-factly. “And even if you don’t know it, but the better you are at harvesting moss, the more controlled you are of your claws,” explained Featherwing. “Then it will be easier to catch prey, and you can give an opponent a nasty scratch with just a flick of your paw.” My anger faded. “Cool,” I replied. I stretched out my claws until my paw hurt. Then I sliced a piece of moss off the tree. It was smaller than Featherwing’s, but I left behind all the dirt and roots. “Nice job for your first time,” Featherwing praised. We got a good amount of moss and Featherwing showed me how to get rid of the moisture. We carried it back to camp and lined the moss for Sagetail, Lilypelt, Pigeonflight, and Goldenbird. When we were done, my littermates were fetching fresh-kill from the pile to eat. I grabbed a rather scrawny vole and settled down to eat with my sisters. I can’t complain though. Its leaf-bare. I sat between Blackpaw and Ivypaw and started gnawing on my vole. Ivypaw was telling us what Flamepool taught her. “He showed me how to treat an infected wound,” she meowed excitedly. “It was for Snowpaw.” Snowpaw is an experienced apprentice and is bound to have her warrior ceremony along with Bubblepaw, Redleaf and Stormfall’s kit. “It was deep and green and sticky with pus-” Blackpaw interrupted. “We are eating, you know!” Blackpaw complained with a twisted face. “Sorry,” mewed Ivypaw sheepishly. “Anyway, what did you do, Swiftpaw?” Swiftpaw looked up from her mouse. “Redleaf taught me how to hunt and showed me the Great Ash,” meowed Swiftpaw. “It’s amazing I found this mouse in the snow!” She exclaimed before crunching on a mouse bone. I purred in agreement. “Well, I got to patrol the boundary with Badgerstripe and Flywing,” Blackpaw mewed. ShadowClan stink- ugh!” she added distastefully. “What did you do, Rosepaw?” Ivypaw asked curiously. I buried my muzzle into my vole. “I collected moss for the elders,” I mumbled. My littermates fell over with mrrrows of laughter. “Hey! It wasn’t my idea!” I protested. “Still,” Blackpaw purred. We finished our meal, drowsily shared tongues, went to our nests, and went to sleep.