The soft drizzle of rain fell gingerly and droplets clung to her lashes. Curling her lip, Hawkpaw watched as Sorrelbreeze shakily got up and dipped her head to Morningstar. She was still sulking over the fight she had with her the other day, but felt somewhat guilty for saying such harsh things to her mother. It doesn't matter, it's her fault for being so mouse-brained in the first place, she deserved that. Hawkpaw was convincing herself as she heard Sorrelbreeze murmur to Morningstar, "I'm going to get fresh air by the ShadowClan border."

Morningstar tilted his head, "Why there?"

"I have my reasons," she wandered away and Hawkpaw stared in shock, she's actually leaving the camp? Was it because of what I told her yesterday?

Hawkpaw noticed Rabbitpaw speaking with Applepaw and Snakepaw sitting a taillength away, scuffling the dirt with his paws. She walked over to her silver tabby brother and nudged him.

"What?"

"Is Applepaw still upset with me?"

"What do you think?"

Hawkpaw furrowed her brows and glanced over at the young apprentice who was staring at her with wide eyes. "I don't know how to make up with him."

"Why not actually apologize," Snakepaw suggested in a 'duh' tone.

She stuck out her tongue, "I don't think it's that easy."

"You might be surprised, Applepaw is a fuzz-brain who can get over anything. He'll probably forget all about this incident in a moon."

"That's too long," decided Hawkpaw. "I need to fix this now." She squared her shoulders and marched towards Applepaw who winced as she stopped in front of him. "Um, do you want to go on a walk with me? So we can, um, like talk about things?"

"Smooth," Snakepaw scoffed.

"Shut up! Anyways, what do you say?" Applepaw looked over at Rabbitpaw who gave him an encouraging nod, and he mewed softly:

"Sure."

Hawkpaw's muscles slackened and she smiled, "great! Come on then!" They walked through the entrance, their pelts snagging on the thorn tunnel as they pushed through it, Hawkpaw in the lead with Applepaw following apprehensively. It was sunhigh now, the clouds had cleared and the wind dropped as it rustled the leaves muffling their pawsteps on the earth. Below, in the dazzling sunlight, stood the Sky Oak with its dark green crown swaying in the breeze.

"I had no idea we came so far, oh well." Hawkpaw shrugged and sat beneath the large tree, beckoning Applepaw with her tail. "I wanted to apologize for harming you in training, I honestly don't know what came over me. I know it must be hard for you to forgive me, but I still want to be friends even after all that. I'm really sorry. I promise I won't do it again," she smiled at him and he sucked his teeth in, debating.

After a moment of awkward silence, Applepaw finally licked her paw and meowed, "I forgive you, so let's put it behind us now."

"Mm!" Hawkpaw giggled and got up, "Let's race again, and this time I'll give you a head start."

"I don't need a head start!" he fluffed up his fur in mock offense.

"We'll see about that," she started running off into the undergrowth and heard Applepaw scramble after her.

"No fair! You got a running start!" Her heart pounding, she sprinted across the soft earth as they weaved among the bramble tendrils, branches hooking her pelt. Adrenaline pulsed through her paws as she gained speed, her breath coming in short spurts and her lungs beginning to burn. The rain now poured down as a heavy downpour, roaring like a lion while it assailed her. She ran across the slippery path, her posture weakened by the weight of her soaked fur. As they neared the border of ShadowClan, the sharp tang of blood hit her and she abruptly halted, Applepaw crashing into her.

He rubbed his snout, "why did you stop like that? I nearly broke my nose!" He stopped as he sniffed the air, "what's that smell?"

Hawkpaw didn't answer since fear was rising inside her, Sorrelbreeze went for a walk around the ShadowClan border! She crept forward and gasped. On the ground in a pool of blood, her mother laid there. She looked back at Applepaw who was trembling behind her, "go fetch Duckfeather." He stared at her frozen with fear, "Go!" He sped off, his back paws throwing up dirt in his haste. She cast her eyes back to her mother and swallowed back a lump in her throat. "Mother?" Sorrelbreeze's eyes were fixed and vacant. She was gone. Her mind struggled to stay in that moment as she crumpled down on her knees, the odor of death rose in the air like invisible smoke. Hawkpaw shuffled forward and flung herself on Sorrelbreeze's rain-matted pelt, stained from the crimson blood and already losing its warmth of life. She saw that her mangled mouth was slightly opened, her tongue hanging loose. A thin slit was apparent on her neck, the cause of her death.

"I'm so sorry, mother. I'm sorry," she whispered. Then she saw it, the clumps of red fur caught in Sorrelbreeze's outstretched claws. She sucked in a breath and sniffed it, recognizing the unpleasant smell of Berrypelt. "That fox-heart!" she spat. He must of thought that the rain would cover his scent, but he didn't think about her claws!

Just then Applepaw returned with Duckfeather, Morningstar, Brighteyes and Flareheart. Duckfeather sniffed Sorrelbreeze and shook his head slowly, causing a fresh wave of anguish crashing over her. She wailed, her cry carried into the gloomy, afternoon sky.

"Oh, Hawkpaw, you poor thing," Flareheart murmured softly, rubbing her tail on her spine. "Come on." Hawkpaw leaned on Flareheart, Brighteyes holding her up on her other side. They led her back to camp deliberately, rain and tears blurring her sight. She nestled inside her moss bed, tucking her paws underneath herself and felt a sob rack her body. Rabbitpaw came in and snuggled with her, his refreshing scent soothing her.

"Don't you want to come and say your final goodbye to Sorrelbreeze?"

"She doesn't want me too," Hawkpaw sniffed.

"I don't believe that for a heartbeat, she loved you dearly! I'm sure she wants to feel you one more time."

No she doesn't!" Hawkpaw snapped. "She was too busy feeling sorry for herself to even pay attention to us. Besides, we fought before she died, I'd feel too ashamed to weep over her now." Rabbitpaw searched her face and eventually shook his head.

"I think that's a shame, but I won't force you. I'll be outside with Snakepaw if you'd like to join us," he stood up and slunk back outside. Hawkpaw watched as the Clan gathered around Sorrelbreeze's body, cleaned by the elders. Duckfeather brought some herbs from his den and laid them along her flank. Hawkpaw could smell their pungent green odor as it masked the scent of death. Snakepaw along with Rabbitpaw settled beside her, and Raindapple pressed her muzzle into Sorrelbreeze's fur. "My dear friend, you will be missed dearly. May you find good hunting, swift running, and shelter when you sleep." Her voice cracked as she spoke and Hawkpaw's heart twisted. Oh, Sorrelbreeze. Forgive me, please!

The rest of the Clan waited at the edge of the clearing for the night vigil to start. As the light drained away, the darkness came and under it everything in the forest was hidden. Hawkpaw watched the sun sink below the steep wall of the camp and huddled deeper in her nest, relieved as the shadows swallowed her. Droplets of water from the previous rainfall disturbed her, her tail-tip flicking irritably. Eventually, weariness and grief sent her into a sound sleep, and she awoke in StarClan.

Thistleclaw materialized from the woods and stared at her without a word, waiting patiently for the question that burst from her mouth, "Why did you take Sorrelbreeze too? What did she ever do to deserve that?"

"She is in a better place now, what does it matter? Besides, weren't you the one who said you despised her for being feeble and thoughtless? I believe I am doing you a favor here since she was holding you back."

"That's not true! I mean, kind of." Hawkpaw was at a loss for words, unsure how to respond. Did she really say all that? Did her mother deserve to die because of her? "So, it's my fault."

"I suppose," Thistleclaw responded calmly. "Are you okay with that?" She didn't answer just stared at her paws. "I think you're ready, Hawkpaw." She looked up as the fog parted and a mottled brown-and-ginger tom with a nick in his ear padded out, a red tom behind him. Berrypelt! She inhaled sharply as she saw the ShadowClan warrior emerge from the forest.

The first tom dipped his wide head and growled, "he is ready, Thistleclaw."

"Good. As is my apprentice, Redwillow. Let them fight." Fight? She glanced from Thistleclaw to Redwillow and then glared at Berrypelt. I'm fine with that.

"Hawkpaw, I still believe you are the fated one, but Berrypelt has also been training with us. Don't underestimate him. Prove to me that you are the destined cat, kill him, the murderer of your parents. Avenge their deaths." His voice was forbidding and sent a chill down her spine.

Berrypelt inspected his claws bored and mewed, "Can I kill her now?" Hawkpaw then realized it. He doesn't think I can actually lay a talon on him. Well, I'll show him, she unsheathed her claws, the hard way. She yowled and lunged towards Berrypelt. Berrypelt dodged and rammed his head into her stomach, knocking the air out of her. Hawkpaw gritted her teeth to keep from screaming and steadied herself. Springing forward she clamped her jaw down on his tail. He growled and swiped at her face, scratching her muzzle, forcing her to let go. Before she could adjust he was on her back and digging his sharp claws into her skin, trickles of blood rolling down her pelt as she thrashed wildly, trying to shake him off. No matter how hard she tried he wouldn't come off, so she forced herself to go limp recalling the last time it worked. Relaxing her muscles as if in submission, she let out a pretend howl of alarm as he bit down. Hawkpaw surged upward with all the strength she could muster and Berrypelt gave a snarl of surprise as he was thrown clear and tumbled backward.

Hawkpaw stood back up and began to zig-zag in front of him. The mangy tom growled with confusion and she quickly darted behind him and raked her claws down his spine. He whirled around to attack again, but she was ready for him, lashing out and catching his face several times with her claws before he leapt back.

"Die already, mouse-heart!" He suddenly pinned her down by her shoulders and clawed at her back till she squealed and struggled away from him, flailing blindly and kicked in the flank. As Berrypelt reared up, towering over her, Hawkpaw quickly rolled onto her back and in one fast movement kicked both back legs upward into his belly. He was flung backward and she pounced on him, holding him down. Berrypelt yowled in anger and whipped his head around, snapping repeatedly than collapsing on the ground.

"Finish it!" Thistleclaw bellowed from across the small clearing. Hawkpaw felt her vision darken, her nerves twitching uncontrollably. She sunk her teeth into his neck and tasted the flow of bitter blood filling her mouth. She clenched his throat harder, shaking it as Berypelt made gurgling sounds.

"H-how is this possible?" he sputtered before ceasing from moving, his body lax in her jaws. Hawkpaw released her grip on him, spitting out lumps of fur as she stepped back, viewing her victory. I did it. She cleaned the bloods off her paws as Thistleclaw swarmed around her, a purr escaping his lips.

"I knew you could do it! Berrypelt perished a humiliating death thanks to you, you have earned my deepest respect." Hawkpaw beamed, satisfaction spreading throughout her. I killed Berrypelt! I avenged my parents rightfully.

"I have one more question for you, Hawkpaw."She cocked her head. "Do you accept yourself completely and trust us to care for you here on?"

She thought about it. I suppose it isn't that bad to kill after all, I can live live with stained paws. "I promise, Thistleclaw."

"Good, I will see you tomorrow then. Anything you'd like to add, Redwillow?"

The sleek tom growled, "Berrypelt was obviously weak if he were to be defeated by an apprentice. Hawkpaw, I hope you don't disappoint me like he did. I look forward to watch you progress." With that, Redwillow padded away, his tail whisking furiously behind him. Hawkpaw closed her eyes feeling her heart become tainted with the taste of slaughter, a stone-cold heart. I will embrace my other half, if it leads to strength. I'll do whatever it takes. After all, StarClan wants me to follow this path.