"I have received word that a group of cats calling themselves the Outcasted have terrorized a certain clan," Miststar called at the next gathering. Stormstar got kind of pale, while Dreamstar and Owlstar looked confused.

"We should do something about this," Miststar continued, "Next time, they'll be terrorizing someone else."

"Miststar, I don't know what your talking about," Dreamstar said, "And it doesn't exactly make me want to do it."

Shadowpaw heard Redpaw hiss, and laid her tail on her friends back to ensure she didn't leap at Dreamstar. She could feel other WindClan cats bristling around her, and maybe even a couple RiverClan cats. The Outcasted- whoever those loners were- were a danger to all four clans.

After the gathering, Stormstar confronted Miststar, "How did you know who those cats were?" he asked angrily.

"Does it matter?" Miststar retorted, "I already told everyone. This is a serious threat!"

                                                                                        ---

"Wake up, Shadowpaw, for the last time!" Snowstorm called impatiently, "You're on the dawn patrol."

Shadowpaw groaned. She got out of her warm, cozy nest and walked outside into the cold, dawn air. It stung her fur, and she followed Snowstorm, Stratusfoot, and Runningriver outside camp. No other cats stirred, except Brownpelt, who was sunning himself on tall cleft and lifted his head as they passed. Shadowpaw couldn't imagine why someone would want to be up so early.

"Let's patrol ThunderClan's border," Snowstorm decided. She was leading the patrol, so all the other cats followed her. Soon they reached the ThunderClan border, and Snowstorm paused.

"What's the hold up?" Shadowpaw asked.

"Can you hear that?"

Shadowpaw listened- the sound of battling cats!

Snowstorm turned to face her patrol, "Stratusfoot, go back to camp and get help." With a flick of her tail she beckoned the rest of her patrol to enter ThunderClan territory.

They reached the camp, and saw a writhing mass of warring cats. ThunderClan was outnumbered. The RiverClan dawn patrol launched themselves into battle against what had to be the Outcasted.

Shadowpaw easily cleared off a few opponents, but it felt like there was always more. Actually, more were coming right then. Wait- they smelled weird. Like pine needles, and scales. ShadowClan, and with Stratusfoot in the lead! They launched themselves straight into the battle, and soon, the Outcasted turned tail and sprinted into the undergrowth.

Dreamstar leapt to what ThunderClan cats knew as high tree, "Snowstorm," he called, "Were those the Outcasted?"

Snowstorm nodded, and a horrified look appeared on Dreamstar's face, "We must do something!"

                                                                                           ---

"ThunderClan has recovered from the attack." Dreamstar reported, "And we would like to thank ShadowClan and RiverClan for their help."

Owlstar and Miststar nodded, and Dreamstar continued, "I may add that ThunderClan is more than willing to fight these... rogues."

Miststar stepped  forward, "The river is prey rich," she mewed, "and as you already know, we would love to get our claws on the Outcasted." she stepped back, signaling for Stormstar to speak.

"The rabbits are running," he said simply, before nodding to Owlstar.

"ShadowClan is doing well," he told the cats, "And we would like to get revenge on those rogues as well."

All eyes turned to Stormstar. He glared at all the cats before muttering, "Oh, all right. WindClan is in. But, what are we going to do?"

The crowd murmured before Owlstar spoke up, "We should wait for a sign from StarClan."

Dreamstar grunted, "You always talk about StarClan! It's like you worship them."

All four clans went silent.

"Changing the subject," Miststar mewed, "When will we get a sign from them?"

"Right now," a voice mewed.

All eyes were drawn to the sky, and they saw a StarClan cat decending into the area that the cats were gathered.

"There is a prophecy," the starry cat mewed, "but that is not what we are discussing right now. The Outcasted are a serious threat, and you must do something. Each clan must send a warrior and an apprentice on a journey to another forest. They will embark on their journey tomorrow."

Then the cat was gone. Dreamstar blinked.

"A sign from StarClan," Stormstar murmured, and said more loudly, "We should choose a warrior and an apprentice now, if they're to leave in the morning. Dreamstar?" Stormstar stepped back.

Dreamstar surveyed his clan before saying, "Cloudfrost, you'll go with your apprentice Stormpaw." He stepped back, nodding to Miststar."

Miststar hesitated, then said, "Peakrise, you and Shadowpaw should go."

Shadowpaw gasped, as did Peakrise. But Stormstar was already speaking, "Nettleclaw, take Redpaw." There was a gasp from Redpaw, who was sitting beside her.

"Uhmm... Tornwhisker, take my apprentice, Roguepaw," Owlstar said, before, "The gathering is dismissed."

                                                                                            ---

From where she was curled up in the apprentice's den, Shadowpaw could hear the cats talking about the gathering. But she was tired, and she needed rest if she was to leave in the morning.

She heard footsteps approaching her, and lifted her head warily to see Peakrise padding towards her.

"Hello," she said groggily, "You're a warrior now, remember? You don't sleep in here," He let out a faint purr of amusement.

"I know. I was just wondering if you were nervous too."

"Nervous? StarClan, yes! But tired too. You should take a leaf out of my tree and get some rest."

"I wanted to see you."

She looked up and met his eyes. They were focused on her, "I want to see you too," she whispered.

"You need to become a warrior."

"I'm not eight moons old! Not anytime soon, that's for sure."

Purring, Peakrise left. And she was alone. She felt lonelier than she had before he had came, and she was almost mad at him for that. But she knew, in a way, that she would never get mad at him over little things like that.

Time passed, and the camp was starting to settle down. Eventually, Shadowpaw woke up. Later she could not recall what woke her, but she was restless, and padded out of her den. It was before the first lights of dawn, and they would not come for a good hour or so. A storm was building on the horizon, but something told the apprentice that it would not harm her journey.

She decided to hunt. She thought briefly about rousing Snowstorm, but she had been to the gathering, and needed rest.

She padded outside camp, and waved her tail to Runningriver, who was on guard, "Going hunting?" he asked her.

She nodded, "I'm going to try forest prey. I want to get better at hunting mice and shrews if I'm going to travel far from the river."

Runningriver purred, "Our river isn't the only one in the world, you know."

Her eyes widened, "Really?"

Runningriver nodded, "It isn't, but forest prey is a good idea. Those fish-brained ThunderClan cats will have a shock!" They both purred as Shadowpaw padded farther from the camp.

She reached a few trees clumped together, and decided to hunt there. Almost instantaneously, she scented a mouse. 

She crouched low, and, making sure not to let her tail trail over any leaves, she padded forward toward the prey. It sat, nibbling on a nut, unknowing of the threat behind it's chubby back.

Suddenly, thunder boomed, and lighting struck the tree nearest to the mouse, splitting it cleanly in half and sending the mouse scurrying into the apprentice's paws.

She blinked, surprised, and suddenly, everything was darker. She was somewhere else, and she was watching Miststar. She tried to call out, but her voice made no noise. And was it just her or... did Miststar look younger?

Lightning struck a tree, splitting it and sending prey into her leader's paws. Shadowpaw heard words echoing around her.

To save the clan of wind on waves,

A half clan will be born.

She'll lead her clan to victory,

her loyalty untorn.

A final battle to be won,

A treacherous jorney.

Fate and will will join,

forming all clan's destiny.

She blinked again, and everything was back to normal.

Am I that cat? she thought, Will I form RiverClan's fate?