User:Snowstarthecourageous/Lightningdash's Prophecy

So, this is Lightningdash's story. None of this will ever happen in the real RP (probably) and this is all my imagination. This may not be an accurate portrayal of any cats other than Lightningdash, but I was just picking random cats to be in the story. Some of the cats in this I made up, and some I took from the RP, so if it's your cat and you don't want it in this, just tell me and I'll take it out and make up a new cat. This is also a work in progress, and unless you have permission please don't edit it. Enjoy!

Prologue
A small black kit padded around in a large den, pacing. A she-cat padded over to the kit. “What is it, Lightningkit?” the warrior asked. “Nothing, Shimmermoon,” Lightningkit meowed. Lightningkit padded over to a small nest of moss and lay down. She fell asleep. She awoke in an empty field. It was completely dark, and she couldn’t see anything. Then, a streak of lightning flashed across the dark sky, lighting up the field. The kit squeaked when she saw a black she-cat with bright purple eyes. Lightning with a pure heart will light the path to what is ahead, and will blaze through the Thunder of a storm.The she-cat meowed, her voice metallic and her fur blowing in the wind. Her bright purple eyes began to glow, and Lightningkit saw a vision of the future. She saw herself, hanging from the jaws of a huge black tom, watching as a snow white tom killed her leader. She called out, and the tom turned to look into her eyes, and he leaped onto the huge black tom and killed him with one bite. She fell to the ground, and the white tom rushed over. “Lightningdash! Lightningdash, can you hear me? It’s Thunderfoot. You’re safe,” Thunderfoot meowed. The vision faded, and the world faded to darkness.

Chapter 1 - Lightningkit
Lightningkit looked around the nursery, and saw a big white cat curled up in one of the nests. She padded over to it and poked its ear. “Wake up, sleepy kitty!” she mewed. The white cat lifted its head up.

“Hello…?” it meowed.

“Hi! I’m Lightningkit, one of the 5 newest sisters in the clan!” she meowed.

“Hi, I’m Thunderkit, Crystalheart’s son,” he meowed, licking a black paw. Lightningkit didn’t know what it was about this kit, but she found something odd about him. Lightningkit shook out her fluffy black fur, making herself puff up to twice her size.

“Hey, I’m almost as big as you!” Lightingkit meowed, bouncing up and down.

Thunderkit laughed. “What’s so funny?” Lightningkit asked.

“I’m much bigger than you!” he joked. Lightningkit pounced on his ears. “Are not!” she meowed playfully. Thunderkit tackled her and pinned her down on her back.

“Now who’s bigger?” he meowed. Lightningkit slipped out of his paws and tackled him, bowling him over. She ran around him a lot, until he was dizzy. She stopped and pinned him down and cuffed him around the ears. “Wow! You ran so fast!” Thunderkit meowed once his dizziness had worn off.

“Did I? I just ran.” She meowed, confused.

“You looked like a lightning bolt!” Thunderkit exclaimed, “Your eyes made this yellow shimmer thing around you when you ran, so you looked like lightning!”

“Wow, really?” She began to run again, this time running as fast as she could. This time, her eyes began to change color, until they were a bright purple. Thunderkit stared in awe as Lightningkit disappeared. Lightningkit stopped running and she was in a dark clearing. Lightningkit stared around, terrified. “Where is Thunderkit?” she whimpered. She felt something moving down her back, and she flipped around to see bright purple eyes in the darkness. “Who are you?” she asked.

<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:14.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family: "BellMT","serif"">“I am Blackspirit. I am here to show you your destiny,” Blackspirit meowed, her voice metallic and her purple eyes glimmering. Blackspirit waved her hardly visible black tail toward Lightningkit, telling her to turn around. She turned around, and saw lightning flash across the sky, lighting up the whole clearing. She saw Thunderkit, but he was huge. Bigger than the second Lightningkit, standing tall next to him. She stretched her long legs, twining her tail with Thunderkit’s. Lightningdash looked straight into the real Lightningkit’s eyes, and her eyes turned purple. Just before she was thrown into a vision, she heard a metallic voice behind her meow, ''Lightning with a pure heart will light the path to what is ahead, and will blaze through the Thunder of a storm. ''Lightningkit was thrown into a vision of Thunderkit fighting viciously with Flashstar, and then she saw herself hanging from the jaws of a huge black tom, pleading with Thunderkit to look at her. Thunderkit looked into her eyes, and he stopped fighting. He let go of Flashstar, and then Lightningkit was thrown back to Thunderkit in the real world. “Thunderkit!” she yowled, rushing over and throwing her paws around her friend. “Oh my gosh, that was awful! Thunderkit, I’m so glad you’re still here!” Thunderkit looked at her, astonished.

<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:14.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family: "BellMT","serif"">“What just happened? You just ran and ran and then you were just, gone! Poof!” he meowed.

<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:14.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family: "BellMT","serif"">“It was so weird! I was thrown into this dark clearing and there was this cat named Blackspirit and I heard this voice and it said something weird and it was so scary!” she sighed, leaning on Thunderkit. Thunderkit purred, but stopped in the middle of purring, as if he was embarrassed. Lightningkit stopped leaning on him. “What’s wrong?” she asked.

<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:14.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family: "BellMT","serif"">“Well… I was purring…,” Thunderkit mewed, embarrassed.

<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:14.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family: "BellMT","serif"">“So what?” Lightningkit asked, tilting her head to one side.

<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:14.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family: "BellMT","serif"">“Er, nothing, nevermind,” he meowed.

<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:14.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family: "BellMT","serif"">“Oh, okay,” Lightningkit meowed. “Wanna play mossball?”

<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:14.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family: "BellMT","serif"">“Sure.” Thunderkit meowed, grabbing a ball of moss and tossing it into the air. Lightningkit jumped and caught it, grabbing it in her jaws and tossing it as high as she could. Thunderkit caught it.

<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:14.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family: "BellMT","serif"">“Ah, I’m bored of this game. I’ve played it too much,” Thunderkit meowed. He looked into Lightningkit’s eyes. “I, I really like you, Lightningkit,” he blurted, but then he slapped his tail across his face.

<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:14.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family: "BellMT","serif"">“Huh? You do?” Lightningkit asked, stunned.

<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:14.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family: "BellMT","serif"">“Uh, yeah, I guess I do…,” Thunderkit meowed. Lightningkit then realized what that black cat meant when she showed Lightningkit, herself even, with Thunderkit. She knew what she had to do. “Thunderkit, I have something to tell you,” Lightningkit mewed, worried if what she was doing was right.

<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:14.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family: "BellMT","serif"">“Yes, Lightningkit?” Thunderkit asked, his voice small, as if scared. Lightningkit led him outside of the nursery to a small niche in the wall of the camp. She snuck into it, and it led into a small cave that had two nests of moss in it. “This is where I come when I’m upset, or angry,” Lightningkit explained, pulling a small ball of moss out of a hole in the wall. She placed it at her paws. “Now, I need to tell you something,” she meowed. She barely muttered it by the knot in her throat.

<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:14.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family: "BellMT","serif"">“Yes, Lightningkit?” Thunderkit repeated.

<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:14.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family: "BellMT","serif"">“I really…,” her voice trailed off.

<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:14.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family: "BellMT","serif"">“You really what?” Thunderkit asked.

<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:14.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family: "BellMT","serif"">“I really like you, too,” Lightningkit meowed, embarrassed.

<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:14.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family: "BellMT","serif"">“You… You do?” Thunderkit asked with a shocked expression on his face.

<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:14.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family: "BellMT","serif"">“Yes. I do,” Lightningkit mewed, staring Thunderkit in the eyes. Her eye color changed to a beautiful teal as she looked into his eyes. He stared back. Lightningkit purred so loudly, she thought the whole forest heard her. She padded over and twined her tail with Thunderkit’s, purring. Thunderkit licked her ear, hesitantly.

<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:14.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family: "BellMT","serif"">“It’s okay, Thunderkit,” Lightningkit purred, licking Thunderkit’s ear.

<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:14.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family: "BellMT","serif"">Thunderkit and Lightningkit padded out of the niche in the wall, and out into the camp. Shimmermoon and Crystalheart rushed over. “Where were you two? We’ve been so worried! We thought you had been taken!” they meowed. Shimmermoon wrapped her tail around Lightningkit, and purred, nuzzling her daughter. Lightningkit’s sisters, Fawnkit, Cherrykit, Mountainkit and Mistykit, bounced over. “Lightningkit! We were all so worried! We thought we had lost you!” they all mewed, swarming around their sister in a purring mass of tails and paws. Lightningkit tried to push her way through her sisters, but to no avail.

<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:14.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family: "BellMT","serif"">Thunderkit pushed his way into the mass to stand next to Lightningkit. “Stop! Lightningkit doesn’t like it!” Thunderkit meowed defensively, standing in front of Lightningkit. Her sisters stopped swarming, and stood in an attack line in front of Thunderkit. They all crouched, their lips drawn back in a snarl. “Get away from our sister!” They all snarled, and they leapt onto Thunderkit. “Stop!” Lightningkit yowled at her sisters. They all froze, their eyes filled with confusion. “Why?” They all stared at her confusedly.

<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:14.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family: "BellMT","serif"">“Because! He wasn’t doing anything wrong! And he was right, I didn’t like it! Now stop it, this instant!” Lightningkit shoved her sisters off of the snow white tom. Her sisters allowed it out of confusion, and they didn’t have time to disagree anyway. Thunderkit lay on the ground, panting and sighing. Lightningkit ran over to him, and laid her tail tip on his ears. She leaned down and looked at his face. “Thunderkit?” She whispered. “Are you okay?” Her eyes glittered with worry. Thunderkit opened his eyes, looking straight into Lightningkit’s eyes. “I’m fine. There is no need to worry,” Thunderkit meowed, standing up, his legs shaking. Lightningkit put her tail over his shoulders, leaning up against him to help him balance. She led him toward the nursery, her sisters watching her in confusion. She led him into the nursery and to his nest, lying next to him to keep him warm. She laid her tail tip on her nose, and licked Thunderkit’s ear, falling asleep.

Chapter 2 - Thunderkit
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:14.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family: "BellMT","serif"">Thunderkit awoke in a dark, gloomy forest. He peered around, wondering where he was. Then, he saw yellow eyes peering out at him from the bushes. “Who’s there?” he called out. A black she-cat padded out of the bushes toward him. He crouched down, his lips drawn back in a snarl. “Who are you?” he snarled.

<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:14.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family: "BellMT","serif"">“I am Blackheart.” The black she-cat showed her crooked yellow fangs.

<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:14.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family: "BellMT","serif"">“I don’t trust you!” he snarled, going into a battle crouch. Blackheart smiled.

<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:14.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family: "BellMT","serif"">“This is StarClan, my dear! Do you not trust your ancestors?” Blackheart asked, her head tilting to the side.

<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:14.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family: "BellMT","serif"">“This is StarClan? How do you live here all the time? And what do you want with me?” Thunderkit asked, confused as to why this scary cat was talking to him.

<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:14.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family: "BellMT","serif"">“Yes, this is StarClan. It is actually very beautiful. But not everything is beautiful in StarClan, my dear. This part is the bog. It is the part of StarClan where cats from WinterClan come when they die. When they die, they appear here!” Blackheart meowed, stepping onto a spot of ground.

<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:14.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family: "BellMT","serif"">“But you never answered my last question.” Thunderkit meowed, still confused.

<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:14.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family: "BellMT","serif"">“What was it again? My memory is going to crowfood, I’m so old!” Blackheart joked.

<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:14.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family: "BellMT","serif"">“What do you want with me?” Thunderkit growled, annoyed that he had to repeat his most important question.

<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:14.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family: "BellMT","serif"">“Oh! Of course! I haven’t told you what you are here for! I brought you here to make you a better warrior, to help your clan!” Blackheart meowed matter-of-factly. Thunderkit gave her a suspicious look.

<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:14.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family: "BellMT","serif"">“And why would you do that, if you came from another clan. And why would WinterClan cats come here when they die? It would seem they would live in a snowy place, since they love snow so much.” Thunderkit meowed, still glaring suspiciously at Blackheart. Blackheart looked thoughtfully at Thunderkit for a moment, but then a look of knowing came to her face.

<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:14.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family: "BellMT","serif"">“They come here because this is a small part of the Icy Forest, the snowiest place in StarClan. There is a thin layer of trees around this bog, and then it is all snow. And I would do that because I care for all of the Clans, and I want them to be strong,” Blackheart meowed. Thunderkit didn’t believe it yet. “Are you training Lightningkit? Or her sisters? Or my siblings?” he asked. Blackheart shook her head.

<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:14.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family: "BellMT","serif"">“No. You are the biggest of your litter, and you would make the best warrior out of all of them.” Blackheart answered nonchalantly.

<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:14.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family: "BellMT","serif"">“No I wouldn’t! Lightningkit would make the best warrior in the world! Even better than me!” Thunderkit growled, his hackles raised and the fur along his spine bristling.

<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:14.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family: "BellMT","serif"">“I understand. But I chose you, not her, didn’t I?” Blackheart meowed.

<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:14.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family: "BellMT","serif"">“I don’t care! Train her and me, or I’m not training with you!” He meowed defensively.

<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:14.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family: "BellMT","serif"">“Fine. I’ll train both of you. But not at the same time.” She meowed. “You will be trained separately. And don’t mention it to her, or any cat for that matter.” Blackheart meowed.

<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:14.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family: "BellMT","serif"">“Fine.” Thunderkit meowed, still not trusting the black she-cat.

<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:14.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family: "BellMT","serif"">“Good. Now let’s get to train-,” Blackheart meowed, cut off by Thunderkit.

<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:14.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family: "BellMT","serif"">“No! I am waking up and reassuring Lightningkit that I am okay. She must be terrified about me,” Thunderkit meowed, and with that, he awoke to daylight pouring into the nursery. He wriggled, and felt fur brush against his. ''Lightningkit. ''He thought, turning his head to see the little black she-kit cuddled up next to him. She lifted her head to look at him.

<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:14.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family: "BellMT","serif"">“Thunderkit!” she meowed happily, covering his face with licks. “I was so worried about you! I thought my sisters had injured you!” she meowed between licks. Lightningkit nuzzled him affectionately. “I was so worried about you,” she purred.

<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:14.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family: "BellMT","serif"">“Don’t worry about me. I’m fine, honestly!” Thunderkit meowed. Fawnkit padded over.

<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:14.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family: "BellMT","serif"">“Sorry Thunderkit. I didn’t mean to hurt you...,” Fawnkit meowed guiltily.

<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:14.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family: "BellMT","serif"">“It’s okay, Fawnkit. I’m fine. I was just... tired! Tired, yeah, that’s all.” Thunderkit meowed. Lightningkit nuzzled him.

<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:14.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family: "BellMT","serif"">“Thunderkit is fine. Just leave him be. He must be tired from fighting all four of you at once! You’re all quite ferocious,” Lightningkit meowed jokingly. She led Thunderkit away from Fawnkit, leaving Fawnkit with a stunned expression on her face. Lightningkit led Thunderkit over to her nest, and motioned for him to lay down with her tail. “Stay here, and I’ll bring you a mouse.” Lightningkit meowed affectionately, padding off to get Thunderkit a mouse. Thunderkit decided to let her take care of him, to make her feel better. Thunderkit curled up in Lightningkit’s nest, placing his tail tip over his nose. Lightningkit made her way back into the nursery with a big plump mouse in her jaws. She padded over to Thunderkit and dropped the mouse by his nose. “Here you go!” She meowed, crouching down to watch Thunderkit to make sure he was okay. Thunderkit bit gingerly into the mouse, taking small bites, then bigger ones, until he was eating it ravenously. Lightningkit smiled at him. When Thunderkit was finished, Lightningkit curled up next to him, purring happily. Thunderkit purred, and drifted back into sleep.

Chapter 3 - Lightningkit
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:14.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family: "BellMT","serif"">Lightningkit awoke next to Thunderkit, who was purring in his sleep. She looked around, blinking her eyes sleepily. She got up, careful not to disturb Thunderkit. She slipped out of the den, her tail slipping through the entrance like a snake. She sat down outside of the nursery, her tail curled around her paws, scanning the clearing. She felt a tail slither over her shoulders. She flipped around to see Blackspirit sitting next to her. “What are you doing here?” She asked.

<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:14.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family: "BellMT","serif"">“This is your dream, dear Lightningkit.” Blackspirit meowed, her purple eyes gleaming in the darkness of the night.

<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:14.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family: "BellMT","serif"">“But why have you come? And what do you want with me?” Lightningkit asked.

<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:14.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family: "BellMT","serif"">“To train you.”

<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:14.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family: "BellMT","serif"">“For what?”

<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:14.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family: "BellMT","serif"">“The greatest battle ever to come to AutumnClan.”

<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:14.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family: "BellMT","serif"">“What do you mean?”

<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:14.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family: "BellMT","serif"">“You will have a huge part in it. You and Thunderkit.”

<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:14.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family: "BellMT","serif"">“But why?”

<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:14.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family: "BellMT","serif"">“It was foretold millenniums before you were kitted, by the Ancients,” Blackspirit replied. Lightningkit didn’t ask any more.

<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:14.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family: "BellMT","serif"">“So, when are we going to start?” Lightningkit asked.

<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:14.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family: "BellMT","serif"">“Now,” Blackspirit replied, her metallic voice quivering, as if in fear. Blackspirit led Lightningkit out of camp and into a grassy clearing. She sat down, curling her tail around her paws. “You have first move,” she meowed. Lightningkit jumped onto Blackspirit, pawing at her ears and biting at her scruff. Blackspirit batted her away easily, as if flicking off a bug. Lightningkit landed on her back, the breath knocked from her. “Now that wasn’t very good at all, was it?” Blackspirit asked, licking a paw and running it over her ear. “Let me teach you how to use your power.” Blackspirit meowed.

<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:14.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family: "BellMT","serif"">“My power?” Lightningkit asked.

<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:14.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family: "BellMT","serif"">“Yes, your power.” Blackspirit meowed.

<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:14.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family: "BellMT","serif"">“What power?”

<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:14.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family: "BellMT","serif"">“Yours.”

<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:14.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family: "BellMT","serif"">“Alright then. Teach me.” Lightningkit meowed.

<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:14.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family: "BellMT","serif"">“Run as fast as you can,” Blackspirit instructed. Lightningkit started to run, as fast as she could. She raced around Blackspirit in circles. “Stop!” Blackspirit yowled. She stopped running. “That is one of your powers. I stopped you before you teleported.”

<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:14.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family: "BellMT","serif"">“Teleported?”

<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:14.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family: "BellMT","serif"">“Yes. Judging by how fast you run, your eyes change color. When they get to purple, you teleport into a dream or a vision, and you disappear from the waking world,” Blackspirit meowed. “Your other power is to see into the future. Remember when I gave you the vision of you and Thunderkit, and then you looked into your own eyes, and you heard my words and saw a vision?”

<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:14.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family: "BellMT","serif"">“Yes, vividly.” Lightningkit meowed.

<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:14.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family: "BellMT","serif"">“You saw the future.”

<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:14.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family: "BellMT","serif"">Lightningkit looked at her, stunned. “So you are training me for the future?” Lightningkit asked.

<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:14.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family: "BellMT","serif"">“Yes, and for your destiny. I will meet you here tomorrow night. I must go, your clanmates are waking,” Blackspirit meowed. She began to fade, and as Lightningkit padded back, she looked back and Blackspirit was gone. Lightningkit awoke in her nest next to Thunderkit, who was now waking up. Lightningkit purred as Thunderkit turned his head and blinked at her.

<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:14.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family: "BellMT","serif"">“Stay there. I’ll get you some prey. I hope the hunting patrols came back with some prey for us,” Lightningkit purred, padding off to the fresh-kill pile. She leapt down from the ledge the nursery was situated on, and padded over to the pile, which was stocked. She pulled a plump squirrel off the top, and dragged it back for Thunderkit and her to share. She dragged it through the entrance and set it down in front of Thunderkit. “Let’s share it,” she meowed kindly, sitting down next to Thunderkit and letting him take the first bite. The two kits ate the squirrel, and went outside the Nursery to play.

<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:14.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family: "BellMT","serif"">“Let’s play Leaders!” Thunderkit meowed. “I’ll be Thunderstar, leader of ThunderClan!”

<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:14.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family: "BellMT","serif"">“Ok, then I’ll be Lightningstar, leader of LightningClan!” Lightningkit meowed.

<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:14.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family: "BellMT","serif"">“I want to play!” Fawnkit meowed.

<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:14.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family: "BellMT","serif"">“Me too!” Berrykit mewed

<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:14.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family: "BellMT","serif"">“I want to play too!” Cherrykit meowed.

<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:14.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family: "BellMT","serif"">“Hey, don’t leave me out!” Shimmerkit mewled, bouncing over.

<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:14.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family: "BellMT","serif"">“Ok, Fawnkit, Cherrykit, you are my warriors,” Lightningkit meowed. “Fawnkit, you can be Fawnskip, and Cherrykit, you can be Cherryfall.”

<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:14.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family: "BellMT","serif"">“Ok then, I get Berrykit and Shimmerkit, and they will be named Shimmerlake and Berrybush,” Thunderkit meowed.

<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:14.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family: "BellMT","serif"">“But I want to be named Berryfall!” Berrykit mewed.

<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:14.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family: "BellMT","serif"">“Alright fine, you can be Berryfall,” Thunderkit meowed, annoyed.

<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:14.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family: "BellMT","serif"">“Alright, it’s settled,” Lightningkit meowed. “My clan gets the nursery, and your clan gets out here, on the ledge.”

<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:14.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family: "BellMT","serif"">“But I wanted the nursery!” Thunderkit argued.

<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:14.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family: "BellMT","serif"">“No, LightningClan gets it!” Lightningkit argued back.

<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:14.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family: "BellMT","serif"">“Fine!” Thunderkit meowed angrily, leading his warriors away to his camp.

Chapter 4 - Lightningpaw
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:14.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family: "BellMT","serif"">Lightningkit woke up at dawn. The sun was beginning to make its way across the sky just to go back into its hibernation for the night, and then come back again in an everlasting cycle of day and night. Fawnkit stirred next to her, sitting up to stretch. “Fawnkit! Today is our apprentice ceremony!” Lightningkit meowed happily. Shimmermoon blinked her eyes open next to them.

<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:14.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family: "BellMT","serif"">“Be careful out in the woods. It’s dangerous!” she meowed, giving them each a lick on the head. Lightningkit’s other 3 sisters began to stir, and each had a glint of excitement in their eyes as their eyes blinked open. Lightningkit padded over to Thunderkit and prodded him with a paw.

<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:14.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family: "BellMT","serif"">“Wake up, sleepyhead! Today is our apprentice ceremony!” she meowed, continuing to prod Thunderkit with her paw. He finally opened his icy blue eyes and blinked, looking up at Lightningkit. He stood up, and licked a paw, running it over his ear.

<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:14.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family: "BellMT","serif"">“Mornin’,” he meowed, padding across the nursery to prod Berrykit awake. Lightningkit heard pawsteps from outside, and saw her father, Sparkpelt, rustle his way into the nursery. Lightningkit ran over to him, and started bouncing around him.

<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:14.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family: "BellMT","serif"">“Sparkpelt! Sparkpelt! Guess what! I’m gonna be an apprentice today!” Lightningkit meowed excitedly.

<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:14.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family: "BellMT","serif"">“I know!” Sparkpelt meowed, pawing his daughter around the ears. “Congratulations!” he meowed, pride sparkling in his ocean blue eyes.

<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:14.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family: "BellMT","serif"">“Lightningkit! Come here so I can clean you up! Your pelt is a mess!” Shimmermoon meowed, and Lightningkit bounded over. Shimmermoon gave her a good washing, and Lightningkit heard Flashstar yowl.

<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:14.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family: "BellMT","serif"">“Let all cats who can catch their own prey gather here beneath the Highbranch for a clan meeting!” Lightningkit pelted out of the nursery, using all of her willpower to keep herself from yowling in happiness. Thunderkit was right next to her, their pelts brushing. They skidded to a halt in front of the Highbranch. Panting, Lightningkit sat down and waited for Flashstar to start her ceremony, and while waiting, she thought of Shimmermoon and her sisters. She glanced around as Flashstar started the ceremonies. “AutumnClan! Today, I shall welcome 8 kits to the clan as apprentices. Lightningkit, Fawnkit, Mountainkit, Cherrykit, Mistykit, Ripplekit, Thunderkit, and Shimmerkit, you have been with us for 6 moons now, and it is time you were apprenticed. From this day on, you will be known as Lightningpaw, Fawnpaw, Mountainpaw, Cherrypaw, Mistypaw, Ripplepaw, Thunderpaw and Shimmerpaw. Lightningpaw, your mentor will be me. I promise to pass down all I know to you. Fawnpaw, your mentor will be Fireheart. I hope he will pass down all he knows to you. Mountainpaw, your mentor will be Quailsplash. I hope he will pass down all he knows to you. Cherrypaw, your mentor will be Amberflash. I hope she will pass down all she knows to you. Mistypaw, your mentor will be Flameglow. I hope he will pass down all he knows to you. Ripplepaw, your mentor will be Hawkwing. I hope he will pass down all he knows to you. Thunderpaw, your mentor will be Leopardclaw. I hope she will pass down all she knows to you. And finally, Shimmerpaw, your mentor will be Jayfur. I hope he will pass down all he knows to you.” Jayfur and Hawkwing gave each other excited glances, and Quailsplash nuzzled Amberflash. Leopardclaw flexed her claws in excitement. Flameglow’s eyes glowed. The newly named Lightningpaw glanced back at her mother and father, and saw their eyes glowing with pride, staring at their daughters. Lightningpaw nuzzled Thunderpaw, who was sitting next to her. Thunderpaw purred. But then his eyes filled with worry.

<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:14.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family: "BellMT","serif"">“What about Berrykit?” he meowed.

<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:14.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family: "BellMT","serif"">“I’m not finished yet, Thunderpaw,” Flashstar meowed, looking at the newly named apprentice. “Berrykit, you too have reached six moons. Am I correct that you want to become a medicine cat apprentice?”

<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:14.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family: "BellMT","serif"">“Yes,” Berrykit replied. Cloudshine leapt onto Highbranch.

<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:14.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family: "BellMT","serif"">“Cats of AutumnClan! As you know, I will not be around forever. So I have chosen to take an apprentice. I have chosen a cat who has shown experience, caring, and perseverance. Your next medicine cat will be Berrypaw!” Cloudshine yowled.

<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:14.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family: "BellMT","serif"">“Berrypaw, do you accept the position of apprentice to Cloudshine?”

<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:14.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family: "BellMT","serif"">“I do,” Berrypaw meowed.

<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:14.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family: "BellMT","serif"">“Then at the half moon, which is tonight, we must travel to MoonLake for you to be accepted by StarClan,” Cloudshine meowed.

<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:14.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family: "BellMT","serif"">“The good wishes of all of AutumnClan go with you,” Flashstar meowed. Berrypaw nodded, and the mentors padded to the apprentices and touched noses with their apprentice. Flashstar leapt down and touched noses with Lightningpaw. “Hi, Flashstar! I can’t wait to start training!” Lightningpaw meowed excitedly.

<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:14.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family: "BellMT","serif"">“I can’t wait to train you! I couldn’t find a better apprentice for me,” Flashstar meowed, touching noses with her new apprentice. Lightningpaw scampered over to her parents. She touched noses with Shimmermoon, then Sparkpelt. “Thank you, both of you, for keeping track of me as a kit. I will use the skills you taught me to train to become the best apprentice that AutumnClan has ever seen!” Lightningpaw promised. Shimmermoon stared proudly into Lightningpaw’s eyes.

<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:14.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family: "BellMT","serif"">“That is the least I could expect from you, Lightningpaw. I love you, and I am more proud of you than you could ever know. You are the best daughter I could ever have asked for,” Shimmermoon meowed proudly, giving Lightningpaw a lick on the head.

<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:14.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family: "BellMT","serif"">“I’ll miss you too, Shimmermoon.” Lightningpaw meowed.

<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:14.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family: "BellMT","serif"">“Lightningpaw. You are the best daughter I could ever have asked for, and I will make sure that you become the best warrior AutumnClan has ever seen,” Sparkpelt promised, his eyes filled with pride. Lightningpaw nuzzled her father.

<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:14.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family: "BellMT","serif"">“Thank you,” Lightningpaw meowed.

<h2 class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:14.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family: "BellMT","serif"">Chapter 5 - Lightningpaw <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:14.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family: "BellMT","serif"">Lightningpaw kicked Flashstar off, flinging her across the clearing. She landed on her back, and Lightningpaw leapt, landing on top of Flashstar. She pinned her mentor down, cuffing her around the ears. “That was amazing, Lightningpaw! You are really coming along in battle training,” Flashstar meowed, her tail sticking straight up. Lightningpaw got off of her, letting her get up. Flashstar got up, ruffling her pelt. “I think you are getting really good,” Flashstar meowed proudly. ''Only because I’m getting trained by a StarClan warrior! ''Lightningpaw thought, waving her tail in acknowledgment. “Why don’t we go hunting?” Flashstar suggested.

<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:14.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family: "BellMT","serif"">“Sure, Flashstar,” Lightningpaw meowed. She let Flashstar lead, and then she let her senses roam. She heard a squirrel, ruffling through the bushes. She got into the hunter’s crouch, prowling toward the bush. She pounced, pinning down the squirrel, and nipping its neck, the taste of fresh blood filling her mouth. Flashstar turned to see Lightningpaw with the fat squirrel hanging from her jaws. “Great catch!” She meowed. Lightningpaw padded over to a tree and buried her prey. She heard pawsteps coming down the path she and Flashstar had taken. Berrypaw burst out of a bush and skidded to a halt.

<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:14.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family: "BellMT","serif"">“Lightningpaw! I need some help,” he meowed.

<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:14.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family: "BellMT","serif"">“Alright, what do you need?” she asked.

<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:14.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family: "BellMT","serif"">“I need help getting Marigold. I found a huge patch and I can’t carry it all,” he meowed.

<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:14.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family: "BellMT","serif"">“Okay. Flashstar, can you get my squirrel on your way back from hunting?” Lightningpaw asked.

<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:14.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family: "BellMT","serif"">“Sure, Lightningpaw,” Flashstar replied, padding on down the trail, leaving her and Berrypaw alone.

<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:14.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family: "BellMT","serif"">“C’mon Lightningpaw! Let’s go!” Berrypaw meowed, running down the trail the way he had come, his tail streaming out behind him. Lightningpaw followed him, her long fur flowing from the wind. She finally caught up to him, and she raced ahead, using her power to run. Running felt effortless now, from training to use it every night with Blackspirit. She found the patch of marigold, and skidded to a halt like Blackspirit had taught her. She waited for a bit, and then she saw Berrypaw coming down the trail.

<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:14.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family: "BellMT","serif"">“Hurry up, slowpoke! I’ve been waiting here for ages!” Lightningpaw joked. As Berrypaw skidded to a halt, Lightningpaw padded over to the patch of marigold. She turned to see Berrypaw trying to catch his breath. “Berrypaw! You make me wait so long for you to get here, and then you make me wait for you to give me instructions! Next you’ll make me wait for you to gather all of your marigold!” Lightningpaw joked, cuffing him around the ears. Berrypaw flicked his tail in annoyance, and then padded over to the patch.

<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:14.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family: "BellMT","serif"">“Here, like this,” Berrypaw meowed, slicing his claws in a rhythmic motion, slicing pieces of marigold off of the stems and placing them carefully into the pile. Lightningpaw sat down next to him, and copied his movements. She sliced piece after piece of marigold, stacking them neatly in a pile. Once half of the marigold in the patch had been sliced, Berrypaw looked at Lightningpaw. “You can stop now. We have enough. We’ll have to come back out for fresh moss for the elder’s bedding. They’ll be grumpy,” Berrypaw meowed.

<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:14.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family: "BellMT","serif"">“Alright. Let’s get this marigold back to Cloudshine,” Lightningpaw meowed. She grabbed her pile of marigold, and gingerly carried it back. Berrypaw at her side, the two apprentices pelted back to camp as fast as they could without dropping the marigold. Lightningpaw got back first, padding to the medicine den.

<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:14.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family: "BellMT","serif"">“Oh, you brought marigold! Thanks Lightningpaw,” Cloudshine meowed. Lightningpaw dropped the marigold for Cloudshine to sort through, and went back out to see Berrypaw padding into camp, dropping his marigold and panting heavily. Lightningpaw padded over.

<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:14.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family: "BellMT","serif"">“Need some help?” Lightningpaw meowed, grabbing his marigold and carrying it to the medicine den, not giving Berrypaw time to answer. She dropped it at Cloudshine’s paws and left her to sort it. “Berrypaw, I can handle the moss collecting. You stay and catch your breath, and then you can help me with the elder’s nests when I get back,” Lightningpaw meowed. Berrypaw nodded in agreement, and Lightningpaw pelted off to the Mosstree. It felt like only a heartbeat had gone by when she got there. She immediately sat down and began to cut pieces of moss. Once she had collected some moss, she picked it up and began to slowly make her way back to camp. She padded slowly back, managing not to drop her bundle of moss on her way. Once she had made her way back to camp, she dropped her moss. “Berrypaw!” she called. She saw the brown tom pad out of the medicine den.

<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:14.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family: "BellMT","serif"">“That’s perfect!” he meowed, padding over to Lightningpaw and poking the moss. “Let’s bring it to the elders before they get grumpy,” Berrypaw meowed, picking up half of the stack in his jaws. Lightningpaw picked up the rest, and followed Berrypaw to the elder’s den. Darkheart immediately turned her head to look at the two apprentices.

<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:14.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family: "BellMT","serif"">“Took you long enough, didn’t it?” Darkheart meowed grumpily. “My poor old bones have been aching all day from this wet moss!” she complained. Lightningpaw shooed Darkheart off of her nest so that Lightningpaw could fix it with fresh moss. She carefully lifted the old moss off of the top of the nest, and placed a bunch of fresh moss on it. She tossed the moss gingerly to the side, into a pile of cleaned-out moss that Berrypaw had removed. She kneaded the moss with her paws, flattening it out over the bracken at the bottom of the nest. She motioned for Darkheart to come over to her. Darkheart padded over and sniffed the moss. “Smells a bit damp, don’t you think?” she asked, prodding the nest with a paw.

<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:14.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family: "BellMT","serif"">“No, it is perfectly dry, Darkheart. I checked it before it was brought to you.” Berrypaw glared at Darkheart. Darkheart looked annoyed, and then settled down in her nest, curling up with her tail tip over her nose. Lightningpaw moved on to the next nest. “Hi, Squirrelfall!” Lightningpaw meowed, glad that she had gotten Squirrelfall, the only elder that was never grumpy.

<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:14.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family: "BellMT","serif"">“Hello, Lightningpaw. Have you brought me some more moss?” Squirrelfall’s bright green eyes sparkled. Squirrelfall had gone into the elders den early, because of an injury that didn’t heal correctly. Lightningpaw looked at her twisted leg and shuddered. She was an apprentice when she got that injury. She broke it when falling from a tree and it never healed correctly. That’s how she got her name, because she used to climb like a squirrel, but she fell, so Flashstar gave her that name. She was still as young as Sparkpelt, who was nowhere near a senior warrior.

<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:14.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family: "BellMT","serif"">“Yep, I did. I love bringing you moss, because you are always so nice, and tell great stories!” Lightningpaw meowed, flicking Squirrelfall on the ear with her tail tip. Squirrelfall dragged herself out of her nest with her two front paws, and Lightningpaw removed the old moss, and replaced it with the rest of her fresh moss. Lightningpaw had collected some feathers too, and she organized them nicely in Squirrelfall’s nest. “There you go. Fresh moss and feathers!” Lightningpaw meowed. Squirrelfall looked delightedly at her new nest.

<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:14.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family: "BellMT","serif"">“Thanks, Lightningpaw!” Squirrelfall exclaimed.

<h2 class="MsoNormal">Chapter 6 - Lightningpaw <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:14.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family: "BellMT","serif"">Flashstar hissed, and leapt at Lightningpaw, her teeth bared and her hackles raised. Lightningpaw got up on her hind legs, and waited for Flashstar to get close enough. As she got close up, Lightningpaw jumped, and pressed all of her weight downward. She landed square on Flashstar, crushing her mentor to the ground. She pounded Flashstar’s head down, smashing her muzzle to the ground. She pawed at Flashstar’s face, her claws sheathed. She got up and off of Flashstar. “That was good, Lightningpaw, but you need to work on your balance,” Flashstar meowed approvingly. Fawnpaw yowled in approval.

<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:14.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family: "BellMT","serif"">“Lightningpaw, that was absolutely amazing! I have never seen a training session be so intense! My fur was on end, waiting to see who won! Can I try it?” Fawnpaw asked, her eyes glittering.

<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:14.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family: "BellMT","serif"">“Sure, Fawnpaw.” Flashstar motioned for Fawnpaw to come and prepare herself with her tail. Fawnpaw got up from the log she was sitting on, and padded over. Flashstar went and took her place, her eyes glittering with anticipation.

<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:14.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family: "BellMT","serif"">“Fawnpaw, imagine I am an angry badger. Do what I did to Flashstar to me.” Lightningpaw reared up, roaring fiercely. She darted forward, and Fawnpaw leapt, trying to land on Lightningpaw. She missed by a tail-length, and her muzzle smashed into the ground. Lightningpaw stifled a mrrow of laughter, and her whiskers twitched. Fawnpaw jumped up, glaring angrily at Lightningpaw.

<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:14.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family: "BellMT","serif"">“It wasn’t funny!” Fawnpaw meowed, although she too was mrrowing with laughter.

<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:14.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family: "BellMT","serif"">Lightningpaw instructed Fawnpaw to get into position. “This time, you attack me,” Lightningpaw meowed, crouching down, ready to sprint. Fawnpaw reared up, trying to roar, but ending up letting out a squeak, so much like a mouse that Flashstar’s ears pricked and she looked around, looking for the mouse. Lightningpaw was rolling in the dirt, laughing her whiskers off.

<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:14.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family: "BellMT","serif"">“Hey!” Fawnpaw meowed, pouncing on Lightningpaw in annoyance. Lightningpaw kicked her sister off, and stood up, still mrrowing with laughter. Fawnpaw reared up, letting out a yowl of anger. Lightningpaw sprinted at her, leaping and landing right on Fawnpaw’s back. Lightningpaw shoved a paw onto the back of Fawnpaw’s head, shoving her muzzle to the ground. She stood up, her paw still on Fawnpaw’s head. She yowled in triumph. “Hey! Get your muddy paws off my head!” Fawnpaw meowed, her meow muffled from the mud. Lightningpaw lifted her paw off of Fawnpaw’s head, and stifled a mrrow of laughter.

<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:14.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family: "BellMT","serif"">“Your muzzle is absolutely covered in mud!” Lightningpaw laughed, pointing a paw at Fawnpaw’s muzzle. Fawnpaw swiped Lightningpaw’s paw away.

<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:14.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family: "BellMT","serif"">“Stop it, Lightningpaw!” Fawnpaw meowed angrily, pelting away into the forest. Lightningpaw pelted after her. She caught up to her in a heartbeat, and pounced on Fawnpaw.

<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:14.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family: "BellMT","serif"">“Stop!” Lightningpaw yowled, pinning her sister down.

<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:14.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family: "BellMT","serif"">“What do you want, Lightningpaw?” Fawnpaw meowed angrily, her eyes sparkling with anger.

<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:14.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family: "BellMT","serif"">“What’s wrong?” Lightningpaw asked.

<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:14.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family: "BellMT","serif"">“You! You are wrong! You know, not everyone is the best fighter and hunter and gatherer like you! Not everyone can run super fast! Not everyone is the best at everything like YOU!” Fawnpaw growled, her fur standing on end and her eyes glittering with rage.

<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:14.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family: "BellMT","serif"">“Well I’m sorry. I didn’t know it bothered you. Maybe you shouldn’t train with me, then, if you are so bothered by it!” Lightningpaw growled, hissing, her fur on end and her claws flexing, tearing up the mud on the ground underneath her.

<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:14.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family: "BellMT","serif"">“Fine then! I WON’T!” Fawnpaw yowled, pelting away, her fur on end and her tail fluffed up. Lightningpaw realized what she had just done. ''I’ve just lost my sister! ''Lightningpaw thought. She raced after her sister.

<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:14.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family: "BellMT","serif"">“Fawnpaw! Fawnpaw!” Lightningpaw called. She finally found her sister, who was sitting, yowling sadly up to StarClan. “Fawnpaw!”

<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:14.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family: "BellMT","serif"">“Get away from me!” Fawnpaw yowled, standing up and pelting off.

<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:14.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family: "BellMT","serif"">“Fawnpaw, wait!” Lightningpaw yowled, chasing after Fawnpaw.

<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:14.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family: "BellMT","serif"">Lightningpaw padded into camp, scanning for Fawnpaw’s spotted light brown and white pelt. She spotted her in a mix of apprentices. Lightningpaw padded over. Fawnpaw turned her head, looking straight at Lightningpaw. Lightningpaw beckoned with her tail for Fawnpaw to come. Fawnpaw got up and told the other apprentices she had to go. They all sighed, and Fawnpaw got up and padded over to where Lightningpaw was waiting, right outside the apprentice den. Lightningpaw padded inside, and Fawnpaw followed. Lightningpaw sat down, and motioned for Fawnpaw to sit. Fawnpaw sat down, and Lightningpaw began. “I’m sorry. I didn’t mean what I said, and I am sorry that I humiliated you in front of Flashstar.” Lightningpaw meowed. Fawnpaw nodded.

<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:14.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family: "BellMT","serif"">“I forgive you. It’s just, I feel absolutely useless when I do battle training with you.” Fawnpaw meowed, twining her tail with her sister’s.

<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:14.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family: "BellMT","serif"">“Good. I wouldn’t want you mad at me when we are about to have our assessments!” Lightningpaw meowed happily, leaning on Fawnpaw’s shoulder.

<h2 class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:14.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family: "BellMT","serif"">Chapter 7 - Lightningpaw <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:14.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family: "BellMT","serif"">Anxious, Lightningpaw stared at a fat quail, waiting to pounce. The quail was pecking at the ground, pulling a worm up out of the soil. Lightningpaw saw an opening, and pounced, pinning down the quail and nipping its neck, leaving it limp. She had caught a good haul of prey luckily, because it was her final assessment. She had caught 3 mice, 2 squirrels, a sparrow, and now, a quail. If she passed this, she, along with her sisters, who were hunting in other parts of the forest, would become warriors! Thunderpaw had his assessment the day before, and he and his littermates had passed. ''I’ll pass this, for Thunderpaw! ''Lightningpaw promised herself. She heard a noise, turned, and saw Flashstar pad out from the bushes.

<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:14.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family: "BellMT","serif"">“Good job, my apprentice. You have passed,” Flashstar meowed, her eyes glittering with pride. “You have learned quickly, Lightningpaw. I am proud to have had you as my apprentice, and I cannot wait to be able to watch you be a great warrior. I hope that you will take my position one day,” Flashstar concluded. Lightningpaw yowled with excitement.

<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:14.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family: "BellMT","serif"">“I passed?” Lightningpaw asked, her eyes full of happiness.

<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:14.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family: "BellMT","serif"">“Yes, you passed,” Flashstar meowed.

<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:14.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family: "BellMT","serif"">“Yes! Yes yes yes yes!” Lightningpaw yowled. She and Flashstar pelted back to camp for the last time until Lightningpaw was a warrior. This was the last time the two cats would run side by side as apprentice and mentor. As Lightningpaw pushed her way through the thorn tunnel, Thunderpaw rushed over to her.

<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:14.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family: "BellMT","serif"">“Did you pass?” Thunderpaw asked, his eyes glittering with worry.

<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:14.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family: "BellMT","serif"">“Of course I did! You didn’t think I wouldn’t, did you?” Lightningpaw asked, joking.

<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:14.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family: "BellMT","serif"">“Of course not! I knew you would pass.” Thunderpaw meowed, nuzzling Lightningpaw. The two apprentices twined their tails, and padded toward the Highbranch. Flashstar sped by them, as Fawnpaw, Cherrypaw, Mountainpaw and Mistypaw padded into camp with their mentors. Lightningpaw’s sisters flooded around the two apprentices.

<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:14.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family: "BellMT","serif"">“We are all going to be warriors!” They all chanted together.

<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:14.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family: "BellMT","serif"">“I’ll be the best warrior of them all!” Lightningpaw yowled, growling menacingly and pretending to claw at invisible warriors from WinterClan. “I’ll be the best warrior AutumnClan has ever seen!” She yowled up to StarClan, Thunderpaw hissing and growling menacingly as if in a battle with all four clans. Flashstar leapt up onto the Highbranch.

<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:14.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family: "BellMT","serif"">“Let all cats old enough to catch their own prey gather here beneath the Highbranch for a clan meeting!” The ginger she-cat yowled, throwing her head back and yowling loudly. All of AutumnClan gathered beneath Flashstar, and yowled back. “Today, I am going to do one of the most important ceremonies in the life of a clan cat. A warrior ceremony!” Flashstar yowled. “Lightningpaw, Fawnpaw, Thunderpaw, Cherrypaw, Ripplepaw, Shimmerpaw, Mistypaw and Mountainpaw. Step forward, please,” Flashstar meowed. The 8 apprentices stepped forward. “I, Flashstar, leader of AutumnClan, call upon my warrior ancestors to look down on these 8 apprentices. They have worked hard to learn and understand the ways of your noble code, and I commend them to you as warriors in their turn. Do you all promise to uphold the warrior code and to protect and defend your clan, even at the cost of your life?”

<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:14.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family: "BellMT","serif"">“I do!” Lightningpaw threw her head back and yowled, leading the other apprentices in an ear splitting yowl.

<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:14.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family: "BellMT","serif"">“Then by the powers of StarClan, I give you your warrior names. Lightningpaw, from this moment on, you will be known as Lightningdash. StarClan honors your Speed, Strength, Courage, Fighting Skill and Wisdom, and we welcome you as a full warrior of AutumnClan. Thunderpaw, from this moment on, you will be known as Thunderfoot. StarClan honors your Strength, Courage and Fighting Skill, and we welcome you as a full warrior of AutumnClan. Ripplepaw, from this moment on, you will be known as Ripplefur. StarClan honors your Energy, Determination, and Enthusiasm, and we welcome you as a full warrior of AutumnClan. Cherrypaw, from this moment on, you will be known as Cherryblossom. StarClan honors your Carefulness, Kindness, Honesty and Independence, and we welcome you as a full warrior of AutumnClan. Fawnpaw, from this moment on, you will be known as Fawnleap. StarClan honors your Speed, Intelligence, Patience and Spirit, and we welcome you as a full warrior of AutumnClan. Mistypaw, from this moment on, you will be known as Mistyclaw. StarClan honors your Thoughtfulness, Warmth, and Forethought, and we welcome you as a full warrior of AutumnClan. Shimmerpaw, from this moment on, you will be known as Shimmerpool. StarClan honors your Carefulness, Honesty, and Courage, and we welcome you as a full warrior of AutumnClan. Mountainpaw, from this moment on, you will be known as Mountainheart. StarClan honors your Thought, Courage and Wisdom, and we welcome you as a full warrior of AutumnClan!” Flashstar yowled.

<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:14.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family: "BellMT","serif"">“Lightningdash! Thunderfoot! Ripplefur! Cherryblossom! Fawnleap! Mistyclaw! Shimmerpool! Mountainheart!” The clan chanted. Lightningdash held her head high, yowling the names of her friends high above the clan’s loud screeches. Thunderfoot nuzzled her, yowling her name to StarClan.

<h2 class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:14.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family: "BellMT","serif"">Chapter 8 - Thunderfoot <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:14.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family: "BellMT","serif"">The newly named warriors sat, watching over the camp in a silent vigil. Lightningdash sat vigilant, her yellow eyes a bright spark of light in the dark night. Thunderfoot watched her, sitting vigilant and staring out into the night. Thunderfoot quietly purred, so that no cat could hear. He sat on one side of Lightningdash, staring out into the night next to her, their tails twined together, and Fawnleap sat on the other side, glaring out into the forest.

<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:14.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family: "BellMT","serif"">Finally, the milky light of dawn reached the sky, and Flashstar padded out of her den. “You all can go rest now,” Flashstar meowed, relieving them of their silence. Thunderfoot and Lightningdash stood up, their tail still twined, and walked silently to the warriors den and to their nests, which were already made and set up by Shimmermoon and Crystalheart. Thunderfoot curled down into his nest next to Lightningdash, and fell asleep.

<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:14.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family: "BellMT","serif"">He woke again in the dark forest that he met Blackheart in all the time. Blackheart padded silently out of the bushes, smiling. “Thunderpaw, I am glad you have come,” she meowed.

<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:14.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family: "BellMT","serif"">“It’s Thunderfoot to you, Blackheart!” he meowed. “I’m a warrior now!”

<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:14.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family: "BellMT","serif"">“Not here, you aren’t. You are still a Dark Forest apprentice.” Blackheart immediately slapped her tail over her mouth.

<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:14.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family: "BellMT","serif"">“Dark Forest? You mean like, where Tigerstar went? I always heard nursery tales about how he was so evil that he went to the Dark Forest! You tricked me?” Thunderfoot meowed angrily. A black tom padded out of the bushes.

<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:14.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family: "BellMT","serif"">“Yes, she tricked you. So I can train you. You will be my soul in the real world!” The black tom cackled.

<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:14.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family: "BellMT","serif"">“What? How? Who are you?!” Thunderfoot asked, confused as a fox in a rabbit hole.

<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:14.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family: "BellMT","serif"">“I am Deathstar, the old leader of AutumnClan, and you will be my spirit!” Deathstar cackled, throwing Thunderfoot to the ground. “You will help me take over the clans, whether you want to or not!” Deathstar cackled. Thunderfoot saw thousands of cats surrounding the clearing, chanting a strange incantation. Thunderfoot awoke. The light of sunhigh was glittering through the leaves of the warriors den, and Lightningdash was prodding him awake.

<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:14.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family: "BellMT","serif"">“Wake up, sleepyhead!” Lightningdash meowed, licking his ear. Thunderfoot sat up, and smelled mouse. Lightningdash had put two mice next to his nest.

<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:14.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family: "BellMT","serif"">“You brought me a mouse?” He asked.

<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:14.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family: "BellMT","serif"">“Yes, I did. I caught them this morning, for you and I to share.” Lightningdash meowed, twining her tail with his and beginning to eat the mouse. Thunderfoot ate his mouse ravenously. It was a nice, plump mouse, and it was delicious and still warm.

<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:14.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family: "BellMT","serif"">“That was delicious!” Thunderfoot meowed, nuzzling Lightningdash. “You truly are a great hunter. I can see why Flashstar was so proud to have you as her apprentice.” Thunderfoot meowed.

<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:14.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family: "BellMT","serif"">“I’m not sure if that’s why. It might be because I am already trained!” Lightningdash meowed.

<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:14.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family: "BellMT","serif"">“What do you mean?” Thunderfoot asked, wondering what the she-cat meant.

<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:14.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family: "BellMT","serif"">“I was trained by a StarClan warrior.” Lightningdash confessed. ''Oh no! Was she tricked too? ''

<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:14.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family: "BellMT","serif"">“Which StarClan warrior?” he asked.

<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:14.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family: "BellMT","serif"">“Blackspirit. She told m-,” Lightningdash meowed, cutting herself off by slapping her tail over her jaws.

<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:14.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family: "BellMT","serif"">“Told you what?” Thunderfoot pressed.

<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:14.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family: "BellMT","serif"">“Nothing. Nothing important,” she meowed, glancing nervously around.

<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:14.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family: "BellMT","serif"">“What is it that you can’t tell me? I’m your mate, for StarClan’s sake!”

<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:14.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family: "BellMT","serif"">Lightningdash sighed. “Come with me, and I’ll explain,” Lightningdash meowed, whisking away out of camp. Thunderfoot followed her, wondering what was such a big deal that she couldn’t tell him in camp. She ran to a river, and sat down on a rock. Thunderfoot sat next to her.

<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:14.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family: "BellMT","serif"">“What’s up?” Thunderfoot asked.

<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:14.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family: "BellMT","serif"">“There is a prophecy… An important prophecy… And I’m in it,” Lightningdash meowed. Thunderfoot was shocked.

<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:14.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family: "BellMT","serif"">“Why didn’t you tell me!?” Thunderfoot asked.

<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:14.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family: "BellMT","serif"">“I wasn’t supposed to tell anyone.” Lightningdash answered.

<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:14.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family: "BellMT","serif"">“So what is the prophecy?” Thunderfoot asked.

<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:14.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family: "BellMT","serif"">“''Lightning with a pure heart will light the path to what is ahead, and will blaze through the Thunder of a storm. ''I’m the Lightning…. And you are the Thunder.” Lightningdash meowed.

<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:14.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family: "BellMT","serif"">“What?” Thunderfoot meowed, shocked as a cat with a badger rampaging through camp.

<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:14.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family: "BellMT","serif"">“I have powers. And I am destined to save the clan.”

Chapter 9 - Lightningdash
<p class="MsoNormal">''<span style="font-size:14.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family:"BellMT","serif"">I can’t believe I am saying this. I cannot believe I am saying this! ''<span style="font-size:14.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family:"BellMT","serif"">The words ran through Lightningdash’s mind as she told Thunderfoot about her prophecy.

<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:14.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family: "BellMT","serif"">“What powers?” Thunderfoot meowed. He kept asking questions. Lightningdash willed him to stop, but he never did.

<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:14.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family: "BellMT","serif"">“I can run. Really fast. I can see into the future. I can teleport into dreams and memories and the past. And when I look into someone’s eyes, I can see their future, and sometimes they see it too,” Lightningdash meowed, hoping that he would stop asking questions.

<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:14.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family: "BellMT","serif"">“Why?” he asked.

<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:14.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family: "BellMT","serif"">“I am destined to save the clan.”

<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:14.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family: "BellMT","serif"">“But what does that have to do with me?”

<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:14.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family: "BellMT","serif"">“I have to save the clan. From you.” Lightningdash meowed, flinching at the sound of the words she knew were true, but had never expressed to anyone but the one person who it is directed at.

<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:14.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family: "BellMT","serif"">“What?!” Thunderfoot growled angrily, pelting away from the river, and from Lightningdash. Lightningdash watched him go sadly. She yowled and leapt into the river.

<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:14.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family: "BellMT","serif"">Thunderfoot heard a screech. He knew who it was, and he knew what it meant. He ran back towards the river, to where Lightningdash was sitting when she told him the truth. When he got there, she was nowhere to be found. He heard more screeching down the river. He ran as fast as his legs could carry him, and then, he saw Lightningdash in the river. Her whole body was limp and underwater. “No!” he yowled, diving into the river and grabbing hold of her scruff. He pulled her out of the water and onto the bank. “Lightningdash. Lightningdash, can you hear me? Lightningdash!” Thunderfoot yowled. ''She can’t be dead. StarClan, please don’t let her be dead! ''Thunderfoot yowled silently to StarClan. He picked the almost lifeless body of his mate up and carried her back to camp as fast as he could. When he got back, he yowled, “Help! Cloudshine, Berrypaw, come quickly! It’s Lightningdash!” Berrypaw rushed out of the medicine den as fast as he could, Cloudshine on his heels.

<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:14.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family: "BellMT","serif"">“Lightningdash! Get her to the medicine den, stat!” Berrypaw ordered. Cloudshine rushed over to Thunderfoot to help, but Thunderfoot turned her away.

<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:14.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family: "BellMT","serif"">“I got her,” he meowed, making a silent vow to keep her safe and to be by her side until she got better. He carried her into the medicine den and placed her down into a nest. He sat down next to her, and licked her pelt dry, so that she wouldn’t freeze to death. Berrypaw and Cloudshine rushed inside. Berrypaw rushed into the medicine storage rock, and pulled out every herb he could get his paws on.

<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:14.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family: "BellMT","serif"">“Thunderfoot, what happened to her?” Berrypaw asked worriedly.

<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:14.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family: "BellMT","serif"">“She fell into the river, and I heard screeching, and I came and found her body like this, limp underwater in the river,” Thunderfoot meowed, staring at his mate worriedly. He curled up next to her to keep her warm. Berrypaw came over to assess the damage. His eyes grew wide as he felt her leg. He ran to Cloudshine and whispered quietly to her. Cloudshine’s eyes grew wide too, and the two cats rushed to get herbs. Thunderfoot glared at them worriedly. “What’s wrong?” he asked. Cloudshine padded over to him.

<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:14.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family: "BellMT","serif"">“Her leg is broken,” Cloudshine meowed.

<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:14.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family: "BellMT","serif"">“What?” Thunderfoot meowed, beginning to freak out. Shimmermoon and Sparkpelt ran into the medicine den.

<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:14.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family: "BellMT","serif"">“Lightningdash! Oh my dear daughter, what happened to you?” Shimmermoon meowed, coming over and covering Lightningdash’s face with licks. “Cloudshine, please tell me she’ll live!”

<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:14.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family: "BellMT","serif"">“I can’t make any promises, but I will do my best, I assure you that.” Cloudshine mewed, trying to calm the queen down. Shimmermoon laid down next to Lightningdash.

<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:14.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family: "BellMT","serif"">“My poor daughter!” she cried. Fawnleap, Cherryblossom, Mistyclaw and Mountainheart ran in.

<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:14.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family: "BellMT","serif"">“Lightningdash! Oh no, what happened to her?!” they all yowled, rushing over to their sister.

<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:14.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family: "BellMT","serif"">“Back off!” Thunderfoot hissed. “Cloudshine needs room to work.” Cloudshine padded over with reeds and moss, wrapping Lightningdash’s leg with it, binding the leg so that it couldn’t move. She chewed up some comfrey root into a pulp, and spread it on Lightningdash’s leg. Lightningdash coughed and spit out water. She began to cough rhythmically, finally opening her eyes.

<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:14.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family: "BellMT","serif"">“Blackspirit…?” She murmured.

<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:14.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family: "BellMT","serif"">“Lightningdash. It’s me, Thunderfoot,” Thunderfoot meowed soothingly.

<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:14.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family: "BellMT","serif"">“Thunderfoot…,” she meowed, lifting a paw but she was too weak and it fell back into the nest. Thunderfoot stroked her head with his tail.

<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:14.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family: "BellMT","serif"">“It’s okay. I’m here,” he meowed. He curled up next to her and she purred quietly, because she was so weak that she could barely purr.

<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:14.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family: "BellMT","serif"">“Thunderfoot… Stay here…,” she whispered.

<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:14.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family: "BellMT","serif"">“I will. I wouldn’t leave your side even if my life depended on it,” Thunderfoot promised.

<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:14.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family: "BellMT","serif"">“Good…,” Lightningdash purred. Cloudshine padded over and dropped a poppy seed in front of Lightningdash.

<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:14.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family: "BellMT","serif"">“Eat that. It’ll help you sleep. You need rest,” Cloudshine meowed. Lightningdash licked it up, and fell asleep. Thunderfoot curled up next to her and purred.

Chapter 10 - Lightningdash
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:14.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family: "BellMT","serif"">Lightningdash lifted her head. ''Why can’t I go and hunt again? My leg is fine! ''She thought. She felt fur rub against her side, and saw Thunderfoot curled up, asleep next to her. Lightningdash purred. It had been almost 3 moons since Lightningdash had her accident, and Thunderfoot had refused to leave her side. Lightningdash’s leg had fully healed, but Berryfall never let her leave. Lightningdash stood up and stretched her legs. Berryfall padded out of his den and saw Lightningdash stretching her legs. “Lightningdash! I thought I should tell you that you can go back to the warriors den now, and you can hunt. But no running and no taking risks and after every patrol you go on you have to come and see me,” Berryfall meowed over protectively. Thunderfoot stuck his head up.

<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:14.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family: "BellMT","serif"">“Lightningdash! You can go hunting now?” Thunderfoot asked.

<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:14.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family: "BellMT","serif"">“Yes!” Lightningdash cheered.

<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:14.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family: "BellMT","serif"">“Alright, let’s go,” Thunderfoot meowed. ''He’s the best mate I could’ve ever found. ''Lightningdash thought. Lightningdash chased after Thunderfoot. ''I hope we have kits of our own one day. ''Lightningdash thought, smiling as she ran. She skidded to a halt, and leapt up into the air, catching a bird with a paw. She pounded it to the ground, cracking its spine. She picked it up in her jaws, and Thunderfoot padded forward. He growled. Lightningdash saw that his claws were unsheathed.

<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:14.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family: "BellMT","serif"">“Thunderfoot?” Lightningdash asked. Thunderfoot just growled. He leapt, and landed on Lightningdash, pinning her to the ground. Lightningdash shrieked with surprise. Lightningdash flung him off of her and into a tree. Thunderfoot got right back up and ran straight at Lightningdash. Lightningdash jumped and pinned him down. He struggled, but couldn’t get her off. He screeched with annoyance, struggling to get her off. He finally stopped wriggling.

<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:14.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family: "BellMT","serif"">“Lightningdash? Why am I pinned down?” Thunderfoot asked.

<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:14.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family: "BellMT","serif"">“You attacked me!” Lightningdash meowed. ''What has gotten into him? He’s not the same Thunderfoot that I know and love.'' Lightningdash thought. She didn’t give Thunderfoot a chance to say anything, and she ran away as fast as her powers would let her. Then, she was teleported. She was back in the dark clearing where she first met Blackspirit as a kit. She saw Blackspirit’s purple eyes flash in the darkness. “Blackspirit!” she called. Then, a flash of lightning pierced the dark night sky, and she saw thousands of pelts, glittering with the light of the stars. Lightningdash stared around. Who are these cats? She wondered. She felt a pelt brush against hers. She whipped around to see Blackspirit. “Where are we? Who are they?” Lightningdash asked, bewildered.

<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:14.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family: "BellMT","serif"">“This, dear Lightningdash, is StarClan, and those are your warrior ancestors,” Blackspirit answered.

<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:14.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family: "BellMT","serif"">“But why?” she asked.

<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:14.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family: "BellMT","serif"">“There is something you need to hear.” Blackspirit meowed, flicking her tail to the glittering pelts of StarClan. All of StarClan faced Lightningdash.

<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:14.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family: "BellMT","serif"">“Someone you love is not who you think they are. Remember the prophecy. ''Lightning with a pure heart will light the path to what is ahead, and will blaze through the Thunder of a storm. ''You are the Lightning. You know who the Thunder is. It is you who must save your clan from the evil of the dark forest. And he is who you must stop,” all of StarClan yowled. Their eyes glittered with the light of the stars, and Lightningdash was sent back to the real world. She saw Thunderfoot running down the path toward her. Lightningdash looked him in the eyes for a heartbeat, and dashed off, leaving him in the dust her paws left behind. ''I can’t believe my love is who I have to stop… I don’t think I can do it! He’s the Dark Forest! ''Lightningdash thought. Did he LIE to me? Lightningdash kept running and running forever until she reached the edge of the territory. She kept running from there until she came to a small abandoned twoleg nest. She padded in, and saw some moss and bracken growing inside, and the sound of mouse paws, and squeaking from one side of the nest. She collected the moss and bracken, and created a soft nest in a corner. She caught a mouse and took a few bites of it. It was hard to even eat without thinking of Thunderfoot. She finished off the mouse when she heard paws outside. She hid deep in her nest, but then she recognized the scent. It was Fawnleap. She saw her sister pad into the nest, sniffing. Lightningdash stood up.

<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:14.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family: "BellMT","serif"">“Lightningdash! Why in StarClan are you here?” Fawnleap exclaimed.

<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:14.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family: "BellMT","serif"">“I can’t handle being in AutumnClan anymore. I can’t handle being with Thunderfoot, or around him, anymore,” Lightningdash meowed sadly.

<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:14.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family: "BellMT","serif"">“What happened?” Fawnleap asked.

<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:14.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family: "BellMT","serif"">“He attacked me, like a savage. It was as if he was a rogue cat, going after his daily meal,” Lightningdash hissed. She turned away from Fawnleap, glaring angrily at the stone, cracked, broken twoleg nest wall. Fawnleap padded over and sat next to her.

<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:14.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family: "BellMT","serif"">“There is no reason to ignore me, when all you are is angry at Thunderfoot,” she meowed.

<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:14.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family: "BellMT","serif"">“I’m not just angry. He lied to me! He could’ve killed me. I’m surprised he didn’t follow you here,” Lightningdash growled. Fawnleap looked at her, blinking her beautiful green eyes.

<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:14.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family: "BellMT","serif"">“Lightningdash… I know you are angry. But that is no reason to leave your family!” Fawnleap meowed, nuzzling up against Lightningdash.

<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:14.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family: "BellMT","serif"">“I am living here, as a loner. Tell the other sisters and Shimmermoon and Sparkpelt where I am, and not to worry. Tell them they can visit me any time they want, and that when I come back to AutumnClan I expect to be welcomed back. I need some time to think,” Lightningdash meowed, turning away from her sister. She heard Fawnleap get up, and her paws pattering toward the entrance to the nest. Lightningdash turned to her. “Goodbye, my sister. I will come back to my clan once I find out what my purpose is,” Lightningdash meowed, curling down into the nest that she had built for herself and falling asleep to the sound of the birds singing their last songs of the day.

<h2 class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:18.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family:"BellMT","serif"">Chapter 11 - Thunderfoot  <p class="MsoNormal">''<span style="font-size:14.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family:"BellMT","serif"">What have I done? What have I become? Who am I? I don’t even know who I am anymore! I am not me! I could’ve killed Lightningdash just now… My love… What am I? Who am I? What have I done? ''<span style="font-size:14.0pt;line-height: 115%;font-family:"BellMT","serif"">The words repeated through Thunderfoot’s head as he watched Lightningdash’s tail flick angrily through the bushes. She was gone now. For good. ''What will I do without her? ''Thunderfoot sighed. ''There is nothing I can do now. She hates me forever now, I am sure.'' Thunderfoot’s head dropped and his tail dragged along the ground. He padded back toward camp. ''Maybe she’ll be there, waiting for me, as if nothing happened and she still loves me… No. It will never happen. I’ll live in the clan with the memory of our days together for the rest of my life. I have to stop pretending. I hate you, Deathstar. I hate you. So much. So much that you have probably never hated someone more in your life. ''Thunderfoot sulked back to camp. Ripplefur padded over to him. “Thunderfoot? What is wrong? Where is Lightningdash?” she asked. Thunderfoot flicked his tail, and padded away from his sister.

<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:14.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family: "BellMT","serif"">Fawnleap pelted into camp, her eyes flicking around to every corner of the camp until her eyes rested on Thunderfoot’s snow white pelt. She saw him, sulking, in the corner of camp, hid head and tail down. Fawnleap growled to herself. ''He deserves it. He ruined Lightningdash’s spirit. ''She padded over to him. “How could you!” she growled.

<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:14.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family: "BellMT","serif"">“Leave me alone.” Thunderfoot turned away from Fawnleap.

<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:14.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family: "BellMT","serif"">“No! Tell me why you hurt my sister?” There was no reply. Fawnleap growled. “Why would you betray Lightningdash that way? What are you, a savage?”

<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:14.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family: "BellMT","serif"">“No. I don’t know who I am anymore…” Thunderfoot banged his head on the rock wall of the camp. Fawnleap couldn’t bear to watch. She turned, and pelted away from the snowy white tom. She ran straight to Shimmermoon.

<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:14.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family: "BellMT","serif"">“Shimmermoon, I need to tell you something,” Fawnleap meowed.

<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:14.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family: "BellMT","serif"">“Yes, dear?” Shimmermoon blinked her beautiful blue eyes.

<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:14.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family: "BellMT","serif"">“It’s Lightningdash… She’s become a loner,” Fawnleap found it hard to believe, even though she had heard it from Lightningdash herself.

<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:14.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family: "BellMT","serif"">“What! Not Lightningdash! Where is she? Bring me to her!” Shimmermoon yowled. Fawnleap turned and led Shimmermoon away, toward the abandoned twoleg nest when Lightningdash was living.

<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:14.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family: "BellMT","serif"">Blackspirit growled at Lightningdash. “What is wrong with you!? You can’t just go and leave the clan! The clan is your DESTINY!” she growled. Lightningdash’s fur was on end.

<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:14.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family: "BellMT","serif"">“I am going back. I can’t bear to be without Thunderfoot anymore!” Lightningdash turned away from Blackspirit, running away as fast as she could back to the clan. She raced into camp, ramming right into Fawnleap, throwing her backwards. Fawnleap skidded across the camp floor on her back. Lightningdash rushed to her side. “Fawnleap!” she yowled. “Are you okay? Are you hurt?”

<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:14.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family: "BellMT","serif"">“I’m fine, Lightningdash,” Fawnleap meowed, standing up and dusting her fur off. Lightningdash noticed Thunderfoot sulking in the corner. She dashed over to him.

<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:14.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family: "BellMT","serif"">“Thunderfoot. Thunderfoot, listen to me. I’m back. I forgive you,” Lightningdash meowed, sitting down next to him. He turned to her, his icy blue eyes filled with sorrow.

<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:14.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family: "BellMT","serif"">“You don’t forgive me. Don’t lie to me,” Thunderfoot meowed. Lightningdash nuzzled him.

<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:14.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family: "BellMT","serif"">“I can always forgive you, my love,” she purred.

<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:14.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family: "BellMT","serif"">“You can?” Thunderfoot looked at her, a spark of hope glistening in his icy blue eyes.

<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:14.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family: "BellMT","serif"">“Yes. I couldn’t live without you, Thunderfoot,” she meowed. Thunderfoot purred, nuzzling Lightningdash.

<p class="MsoNormal">

<p class="MsoNormal">''<span style="font-size:14.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family:"BellMT","serif"">I will love him forever. ''<span style="font-size:14.0pt;line-height:115%; font-family:"BellMT","serif""> Lightningdash thought, purring and licking Thunderfoot’s ear. Thunderfoot and Lightningdash got up into a tree and looked out over the lake, the sunset reflecting on the sparkling water of the lake. Lightningdash jumped down from the tree. “Where are you going?” Thunderfoot called.

<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:14.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family: "BellMT","serif"">“For a swim. Wanna come?” Lightningdash jeered.

<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:14.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family: "BellMT","serif"">“Sure, why not.” Thunderfoot leapt down from the tree after Lightningdash. Lightningdash raced down to the lakeside, plunging in. She dove under the water and came back up, the water sliding easily off of her sleek black pelt. Thunderfoot stood by the water’s edge.

<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:14.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family: "BellMT","serif"">“What, to scared to get your paws wet?” Lightningdash taunted. Thunderfoot shook his head and plunged in after her. He shivered as the cold water rushed over his pelt. Lightningdash flicked water over his head. Thunderfoot swam over and splattered water all over Lightningdash’s pelt. She shrieked with laughter.

Chapter 12 - Lightningdash
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:14.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family: "BellMT","serif"">Lightningdash sat, gazing out over the lake, the surface of its water glittering with the reflection of the stars. She heard a screech from camp. She jumped up. ''Mountainheart. ''She recognized the screech. She ran back to camp as fast as possible. She saw the pelts of WinterClan warriors, and their disgusting scent wreathed around her like tendrils of smoke. She screeched and leapt into battle. She was so furious that she was slashing multiple cats down at once, screeching and throwing herself on top of a warrior, biting his neck and leaving him limp. She moved on to the next warrior. She screeched, sliding underneath him and flipping him over. She pounded his belly with her strong hind paws, and he screeched and ran off.

<span style="font-size:14.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family:"BellMT","serif"; mso-fareast-font-family:Calibri;mso-fareast-theme-font:minor-latin;mso-bidi-font-family: "TimesNewRoman";mso-bidi-theme-font:minor-bidi;mso-ansi-language:EN-US; mso-fareast-language:EN-US;mso-bidi-language:AR-SA">“Retreat, WinterClan, retreat!” She heard Blackstar’s yowl. She saw the WinterClan warriors streaming out of the camp, leaving their dead behind, and their wounded limping in the back of the group. She scanned the camp. She saw AutumnClan cats glancing around camp, looking for any stray warriors left behind. Then, her eyes rested on a body, lying lifeless on the rock floor of the camp. She noticed the she-cats beautiful gray and brown pelt, her eyes closed, unmoving and not breathing. Lightningdash rushed over to her. “Mountainheart! No, you can’t be dead!” She screeched. She pushed her nose into Mountainheart’s cold, lifeless pelt, the smell of her sister slowly fading from her body. Shimmermoon padded over solemnly, whispering, “My daughter… My beautiful daughter….” Shimmermoon pressed her muzzle into Mountainheart’s fur. Fawnleap and the other sisters padded over to grieve for their dead sister.