I sorry for the infrequent posting, school is my priority and it is crushing me right now. Please review and tell me what you think!

;)

Silverstripe689

Strikepaw stretched his legs, relishing the breeze on his fur and the pull of the muscle. One moon had passed since he had been released from the medicine den and his form had filled out again. Instead of squishy fat and loose fur hanging from his gaunt frame, he had rock-hard muscle and his fur shone like a small blaze in the dying light.

Plenty had happened during the moon. Strikepaw and Slashpaw were now the oldest of the den, and Willowpaw, Breezepaw, and Echopaw and taken the place of their old denmates, the now warriors, Mudfoot and Tabbycloud. Strikepaw felt a heave of sadness go through him, Tabbycloud and Tigerstripe seemed as close as ever, and he had heard the murmur of the prospect of kits. His sadness darkened as he remembered the limp bodies of Scorchflower, Wildblaze's mate, Nettlekit, Berrybright, and most shockingly, Adderstorm lying in the clearing for vigil. The old tom had died by keeping his sickness a secret so he would not take herbs from the younger cats.

Slashpaw tensed beside him, navy gaze wild.

"Aren't you excited?"

Strikepaw felt the sadness rush out of him in a blur, "Yes!" He hissed, his fur spiked. Dovesoar flicked her tail over his ear, "Shh! And for StarClan's sake, stop fidgeting!" she snapped.

Strikepaw kept his eyes on Duskstar as he pressed closer to the forest floor, brushing a fern frond out of his eye. ThunderClan was pressing too close to the border for Duskstar's liking, and there were scents of them crossing it. Duskstar had arranged a raid on the next patrol that came near the border, making sure her warriors would come home with flesh as well as fur between their claws.

There was a sudden rustle of the ferns up ahead, and the warriors tensed.

A lanky soft-gray tom with white splashes, huge blue eyes, and long thin whiskers slipped out of the bracken, followed by a black she-cat, dark gray tom, and a brown tabby she-cat. A small mottled brown she-cat tumbled out of the brambles behind them, squeaking in alarm.

The black she-cat whipped around and placed the apprentice on her paws before quietly snapping, "Honestly, Fallenpaw, they're just brambles. I told you that stealth was key here."

The little she-cat looked dejected, "Sorry, Aspenwing."

The black she-cat flicked her tail over the apprentice's ears to show that it was okay, before moving towards the head tom.

"The stench of ShadowClan is strong here, Vinewhisker. We need to tread carefully."

"Indeed, Aspenwing. Keep close to Fallenpaw, you too Brindlefoot, she doesn't have much training. Stoneclaw, come up with me, you are the best tracker. Any scent of…"

There was a howl from Duskstar and shadowy cats exploded from the trees, screeching in fury.

Vinewhisker looked horrified before screeching, "Fallenpaw! Fetch help!"

The mottled apprentice sped away, tail fluffed.

Strikepaw lunged for the first cat he saw, the cat he recognized as Brindlefoot. Slashpaw beside him, they began raking her side with thorn-sharp claws. The she screeched and twisted to rake her claws across Strikepaw's muzzle. He was preparing to lunge when Slashpaw leapt in front of him, a familiar gleam in his eyes and he twisted in a move Strikepaw had never seen before. His adopted brother dug his hind claws into the she-cat's muzzle, his body lunging under her stomach. Strikepaw saw the same look he had seen the first day of training, an utter need for bloodlust he saw it now. He brother clamped his jaws down hard on the she-cat's back leg and she fell to the ground.

Strikepaw shook himself out of his daze and lunged toward her face, claws reared for her eyes. He suddenly heard a yowl, ThunderClan's backup had arrived! He felt the weight go out from his paws and he was smothered with white fur.

Blizzardpaw!

The tom was huge, and he crushed Strikepaw.

"Not so talented now, huh?"

Strikepaw snarled and lashed his paws out to nick Blizzardpaw's cheek. The tom laughed and pressed him down harder, digging in his claws.

Suddenly there was a blur and Dovesoar landed hard on the white apprentice, bowling him over. She locked eyes with her apprentice, "Finish him." She snapped before darting away.

Strikepaw dove forward, digging his teeth into the white tom's muzzle, clamping his claws down on his forelegs. Blizzardpaw flung him off with a grunt, regaining his footing. Strikepaw dove under him, clamping his jaws around the same bone Slashpaw had. The apprentice shrieked and fell, crushing Strikepaw. Strikepaw twisted under the struggling weight and dove his jaws into Blizzardpaw's throat, growling. The apprentice pushed him off, hissing as Strikepaw pulled a bit of flesh with the fur before lunging again. Strikepaw darted to the side and the apprentice landed in the mud.

Strikepaw hissed in satisfaction and twisted around to see Slashpaw fighting a warrior twice his size. The tom was on his side, smeared with blood and Slashpaw battered his face. He lashed out his long legs, hooking his brother in his claws and pushing him away. Strikepaw was chilled at the bloodthirsty glint in his brother's eyes as he lunged for the tom's throat, clamping down hard. The warrior screamed and tried to stand, but Slashpaw held on. The warrior began to crumple before Strikepaw lunged forward and knocked his brother off.

"The warrior code says never to kill!" He spat in horror at Slashpaw.

The gray tom took off into the bramble, staggering before landing hard on his side. A smoky clanmate pulled him up, "Ashpelt! Come on! To Dappleleaf!"

Strikepaw looked in disbelief to his brother, whose eyes seemed blacker than blue now. Slashpaw bristled with anger as ThunderClan fled around them.

"These are our enemies! Are you softhearted now? They are trying to steal our prey! Do you want them to see us as weak?"

Strikepaw cowered, Slashpaw had never looked so vicious. He brother's gaze flickered. His face twisted into disappointment and a slight bit of guilt.

"Come on, the battle's over." He growled, before stalking ahead of Strikepaw.

ShadowClan seemed to be looking around to check for the wounded, checking themselves for injuries. He saw the limp body of Swallowleap, struggling to get up, blood flowing freely. He turned to help before there was a wild screech at the edge of the clearing.

A black tom flung a blow that sent the head of a pretty brown tabby flat to the ground. He then unsheathed his claws, raking them down her side.

It was eerily creepy. The tom said nothing, no noise emitted from him. He even did this in a sitting position, his fur slick as if this was nothing. The tabby struggled to her paws, her head dangling under its weight. She gave him a weak look, his blazing with fury, before stumbling away into the bushes. The tom did nothing, moving only to rake his gaze over the cats of ShadowClan. Only then did Strikepaw know who the cat was.

Emberflight.

"Emberflight!"

Duskstar rushed up to him, her head cocked. His gaze blazed as she approached and his lips curled. She stopped short as he stepped back to reveal a fuzzy plant at his paws.

Catmint.

QOTC1: Why was the importance of the catmint?

QOTC2: What the heck is up with Slashpaw?

BTW, I love Emberflight so we are going to be seeing a lot more of him.

;D