Author's Notes: I can't believe I've finished another story! I'm having so much writing these. I can't wait until the next one is finished. So, here is the final chapter of the second story following the life of a warrior named Rowanwind. Please enjoy, and don't forget to review!

Disclaimer: I don't own Warriors, but I do own the characters made up for this story. Please don't steal my characters.

Chapter 21

"Kill the orange tom!" Sly shouted.

Many dark cats and crows appeared around the gathered Clan cats. Rowanwind noticed Stormy bristling. The other Clan cats gave yowls of anger and terror as the first wave of black and gray DarkClan cats attacked. Within moments, the clearing was in total chaos.

Rowanwind snarled at the three toms who were coming directly toward him. Obviously, Sly didn't want to take him on one on one. He was going to send his followers to fight instead.

"You'll do fine, Rowanwind," a voice whispered in his ear.

He glanced sideways to see Deathmask standing beside him. The tom's dark fur was bristled.

"Don't forget all your mentor has taught you!" Deathmask whispered. "My strength is with you!"

Rowanwind felt his muscles tensing as the toms laughed at him. They walked circles around him, never taking their eyes off his ginger pelt. Suddenly, as if they were a singular cat, the three toms came at him. He braced himself for the blows...

Stormy came screaming toward them, her pelt sticking up and her tail streaming out behind her. Rowanwind watched her slam into one of the smaller toms. The two rolled away, slashing and spitting. The other two toms paused and looked on in amazement. Taking his chance, Rowanwind attacked one of the toms closest to him. The other tom was suddenly distracted by Cedarspirit, and he sped away after the other ginger tom.

Rowanwind sliced his claws over the tom's ear. The DarkClan cat spat in anger and reared up to slam his paws onto Rowanwind's shoulders.

"No! He's mine!"

The tom turned and hissed at another DarkClan tom, who came padding forward.

"Go elsewhere. It's my time to fight him," the new tom said.

"Fine. But if you fail in killing him, it will be your head Sly takes," the first tom sneered.

"You're talking about me like I'm a prize!" Rowanwind hissed at them.

The second tom laughed. "You are a prize, silly young tom!"

The new tom came at Rowanwind with lightning fast paws. Rowanwind had no time to brace himself before the two of them were rolling in the dirt. Hissing and spitting, Rowanwind and the tom clawed and slashed at each other.

"Die, you stupid light demon!" the tom snarled.

"No!" Rowanwind lurched forward and dug his teeth into the tom's shoulder.

He felt himself being wrenched free of the tom's shoulder. A heavy weight pressed down onto his chest suddenly; he realized the tom was sitting on him. Rowanwind's breath escaped between his lips. He could feel the energy slowly seeping from his body. He could hear the cries of his Clanmates, sounding so familiar...

"Rowanpaw!"

He opened his eyes and peered into the chaos. A ginger-brown blur was running toward him, a darker blur beside it.

He felt the weight lift off his chest. A gulp of air sent his head reeling. Then, slowly, his vision went black and his mind slipped into unconsciousness.

A chirping bird woke him. Feeling groggy, Rowanwind lifted his head and looked around. Brilliant sunlight shone down onto a scene of injured cats. He spotted Frostflower replacing cobwebs on one of the Wetpelt's paws. Blizzardclaw was attending to Brushgrove's bloody tail. Dovewing and Cracklefur were whispering to each other.

"Rowanpaw?"

He turned swiftlty to see a ginger-brown she-cat trotting toward him. Behind her was a dark brown tom with silvery eyes. Both looked gaunt and much skinnier than the last time he'd seen them.

"I thought you were dead," Rowanwind whispered.

Gingerpaw sat down beside him. Lionpaw hung back, looking nervous.

"We thought so, too. For a while, anyway." Gingerpaw hung her head. "DarkClan kidnapped us and kept us tied up. They had guards stationed near us all the time. We...we saw Icefur. Oh, Rowanpaw! They turned Icefur into a slave! They make him hunt for them!"

"Gingerpaw, my name isn't Rowanpaw anymore. It's Rowanwind," he croaked. "You've been gone for so long."

Gingerpaw looked up, her eyes full of sorrow. "We tried to keep track of time, but it was too hard. I'm so sorry I ran away..."

"I'm not the one you need to tell that to," Rowanwind said.

Lionpaw stepped forward. "We know that, but Gingerpaw was worried about what you thought about her. She thought you would hate her because she ran away with me."

"I felt that way for a short while," Rowanwind admitted. "Then Stormy told me she saw you get kidnapped."

"Stormy?" Gingerpaw blinked. "That kittypet who tried to save us?"

Rowanwind nodded.

"Am I interrupting?"

The three turned to see Frostflower walking toward them.

"No, you aren't interrupting," Rowanwind said.

"Good. I need to check and make sure that you aren't injured too badly, Rowanwind," Frostflower said. "We can't have our deputy getting infected because of a scratch he didn't get checked."

"Deputy?" Lionpaw gaped at Rowanwind.

Rowanwind ignored the RiverClan tom. "Go ahead, Frostflower."

He waited patiently for the medicine cat to finish looking him over. As soon as she was done, Frostflower gave a nod of approval.

"You'll be stiff, but you'll be fine," Frostflower meowed. "What about you two?" She looked at Gingerpaw and Lionpaw.

"We're fine, thanks," Lionpaw replied.

Frostflower nodded and padded away.

"Deputy?" Gingerpaw mewed.

Rowanwind nodded and stood up with a groan. "Clawstar appointed me deputy after Ashfang sent a message from StarClan."

"Ashfang is dead?" Gingerpaw's eyes widened with shock.

"Yes."

Gingerpaw sighed, her ears flat against her skull in sadness. "What else has happened?"

"Thundestripe and I have apprentices," Rowanwind meowed.

"Thunderstripe? You're both warriors and mentors?" Gingerpaw gasped.

"Purepaw is my apprentice, and Palepaw is Thunderstripe's," Rowanwind said.

"Purepaw...Palepaw..." Gingerpaw shook her head. "Lightdew's kits?"

Rowanwind nodded again.

"Gingerpaw?!"

The three of them turned to see Clawstar walking toward them. His green eyes were wide with shock.

"Hello," Gingerpaw mewed.

What happened to you?" Clawstar asked. He glanced at Lionpaw. "Lionpaw as well!" Clawstar shouted at Granitetail, who was nearby, to fetch Featherstar. "It is good to have both of you back. When did you get back?"

"Last night. Lionpaw saved Rowanpa...wind from Gore," Gingerpaw said.

"Gore?" Clawstar's eyes flashed with suspicion. "How do you know the tom's name?"

Featherstar and Rapidriver showed up then. Both looked ragged and tired, but Featherstar's eyes widened with surprise at the sight of RiverClan's lost apprentice.

"Lionpaw!" Featherstar padded forward more quickly. "You've returned!"

Lionpaw bowed his head quickly. "I'm so sorry! We...we got kidnapped by DarkClan!"

Clawstar gave a yowl of anger. "From right under our noses?"

"No!" Gingerpaw gasped. She glanced at Lionpaw. "We...we..."

"We went looking for my father. The last I saw of him, he was living in Twolegplace. Gingerpaw agreed to come with me. We got kidnapped by DarkClan kittypets. It's my fault we left," Lionpaw meowed loudly. He hung his head. "I'll understand if you don't want me to remain in RiverClan."

Featherstar looked at him with pity. "Any other time, I might have refused your return. But now, we need all the able paws we can get. You returned to RiverClan, though you could have continued your search for your father. That loyalty is needed in RiverClan."

"What about me?" Gingerpaw mewed, looking sheepishly at Clawstar.

"I agree with Featherstar. You have returned, instead of letting us worry even longer. That shows me that you are ready to be a true warrior of ThunderClan," Clawstar meowed.

"But...my training!" Gingerpaw gaped. "I barely learned anything..."

"Then you can train alongside the kittypets," Clawstar meowed.

Lionpaw's ears twitched. "Kittypets? What kittypets?"

Clawstar and Featherstar looked at Rowanwind.

"It was my idea to bring the kittypets from the Twolegplace into the forest and teach them how to fight, so that they can help us against DarkClan," Rowanwind explained.

Gingerpaw and Lionpaw looked at each other with similarly surprised expressions.

"And the Clans agreed to that?" Gingerpaw asked.

"ShadowClan, of course, are against it," Clawstar said.

"But they agreed to allow a few kittypets live in their territory," Featherstar added. "Hopefully Stormy will choose cats with a strong will."

"I know she will," Rowanwind said. "I trust Stormy."

"As do I," Clawstar said. "I have already sent her and Pips to discuss with the other kittypets which of them will be in each Clan."

Rowanwind stretched and curled his tail over his back. "What about those who are still here? No one was too badly injured, were they?"

"Torchfur was badly injured, but Blizzardclaw and Blossomfur are attending to him now," Featherstar said. "I believe he will make it."

"Torchfur?" Lionpaw's ears perked up. "Where?"

Featherstar gestured with her tail. Lionpaw ran off to find his old mentor without glancing back. Rowanwind noticed Gingerpaw watching Lionpaw run off; the she-cat looked very sad. During her time with Lionpaw, Rowanwind was sure that she had formed a strong friendship with the RiverClan tom. After all, both of them had once been Twolegs.

"I think it's time for ThunderClan to head home," Clawstar meowed. "Everyone is rested enough to make the trip around the lake."

"Then let's go home," Rowanwind meowed.

"...the kittypet, Stormy, tried to help us, but there were too many cats," Gingerpaw meowed, telling Clawstar and Rowanwind the story of what had happened to her and Lionpaw. "They knocked us out and dragged us all the where DarkClan has set up their camp. We were tied up with vines controlled by the DarkClan cats. We saw many cats forced to hunt and clean for DarkClan. We...we saw Icefur one time. His eyes..." Gingerpaw shivered.

"Please, continue," Clawstar whispered.

"We tried to keep track of time, but it was too difficult. Lionpaw came down with a cold, and DarkClan's healer, Tusk, fed him something to make him better again." Gingerpaw took a steadying breath. "Then, two nights ago, we were able to break free. We raced away, trying to go as quickly as possible without revealing ourselves. When we reached the lake, Lionpaw noticed the full moon. We heard yowls and raced to the island...and, well, you know the rest."

"That was an interesting story," Clawstar meowed. "Thank you for telling us. It is obvious that you are brave and strong. You may not have finished all of your training, but that can easily be fixed. We will hold your ceremony later tonight."

"Thank you. I feel as if I don't deserve a warrior name because I ran off...but I won't refuse it if it is your decision," Gingerpaw mewed quietly.

Clawstar nodded. "You will make a great warrior, as long as you believe in yourself."

"Thank you," Gingerpaw said. "I'll try my best."

Clawstar nodded again. "You may go. Rowanwind, please stay. There is something else we need to discuss."

Rowanwind watched Gingerpaw leave the leader's den. He heard Thunderstripe's friendly meow greet her at the bottom of the Highledge.

"I'm planning on going hunting tomorrow," Clawstar meowed. "I want to start doing more for our Clan outside of camp. I'll bring Blackcloud and Granitetail with me. I want you to stay behind and watch the camp."

"Of course. I can have Purepaw go practice with Cedarspirit. He's training the kittypets tomorrow," Rowanwind meowed.

Stormy and the other kittypets had yet to return. Rowanwind wondered where they had gone to discuss splitting themselves among the four Clans. He just hoped that Stormy had decided to stay with ThunderClan.

"I hope they return soon. The longer they are away, the more I begin to wonder," Clawstar said. "The kittypets' fighting skills are greatly approving. You had a brilliant idea, Rowanwind."

"Thank you. I was only hoping to gain help so that we can remain here," Rowanwind said.

Clawstar nodded. "I'm sure you must want to speak to Gingerpaw. She will need to learn all that has happened in her absence."

Rowanwind nodded. "Thank you for letting her stay in ThunderClan."

"What sort of leader would I be if I forced her to live on her own? I know about her true heritage as well, remember? She could not survive alone," Clawstar whispered.

"I think she realizes that. May I go now?"

"Yes."

Rowanwind gave a final, respectful nod before leaving the leader's den.

Rowanwind found Thunderstripe and Gingerpaw eating side by side near the fresh-kill pile. Gingerpaw was laughing at something Thunderstripe had said. When Rowanwind showed up, she abruptly stopped.

"Were you talking about me?" Rowanwind asked.

"Yes," Thunderstripe said.

"No," Gingerpaw said at the same time.

Rowanwind twitched his ears. "Well, it can't be both."

Gingerpaw's ears went back.

"I just just saying how much you've changed," Thunderstripe explained. "I said you're like an old, serious tom now. She thought it was funny."

Rowanwind flicked his tail at Thunderstripe. "You know why I have to be serious."

"Why? Because you're deputy, or because you're part of a prophecy that says you're going to destroy DarkClan?" Thunderstripe meowed dryly.

"You're in the prophecy, too!" Rowanind snapped.

"But I haven't let it go to my head!" Thunderstripe hissed.

"What?" Rowanwind gaped.

"I heard from Granitetail that Clawstar told everybody at the Gathering about you being in the prophecy. I thought you wanted to keep it secret!" Thunderstripe said.

"Maggotpaw had a sign from StarClan saying that it was time the Clans knew about me!" Rowanwind snarled. "If I didn't know better, I'd think you were calling me arrogant!"

"No! I'm just calling you an ambitious mouse-brain. You think you have the right to do whatever you want, just because you're in a prophecy! You aren't Tigerstar..."

"No! I'm not!" Rowanwind sneered. "I'm just trying to figure out how to keep myself alive long enough to save you and every other cat in the forest! I can't take this anymore!"

Rowanwind stormed out of the camp, ignoring Gingerpaw shouting his name.

He was halfway to the lakeshore when he ran into Oakpelt and Maggotpaw, who came running of the forest.

"Rowanwind!" Oakpelt gasped, his yellow eyes wide.

"What's going on?" Rowanwind demanded.

Maggotpaw glanced at Oakpelt, her own eyes wide with panic.

"Oakpelt, what's happening?" Rowanwind demanded again.

Oakpelt's ears went back. "It's...it's Maplerose. She's having her kits in our territory!"

"What? I thought I told you to stop seeing each other!" Rowanwind growled.

"Well..." Oakpelt cringed. "We can't help how we feel about each other!"

Rowanwind shook his head. "Let's hurry!"

Without a word, Oakpelt raced onward to the lakeshore. Rowanwind heard the panting before he saw Maplerose. She was lying in a patch of grass, her sides heaving.

"We're here!" Oakpelt lay beside Maplerose's head. "I brought Maggotpaw!"

Maplerose gasped. "It...hurts!"

"You need to push, Maplerose!" Maggotpaw called.

Rowanwind prowled around, going off to the edge of the water and back. He ignored the sounds of prey around him. His insides felt like they were boiling because he was so angry.

"That's it, Rowanwind. Use that anger. You can become leader and make them all pay for treating you this way!"

Rowanwind spun, his fur rising along his spine. "Leave me alone, Tigerstar!"

The apparition glared at him, amber eyes glinting. "Such a disappointment," he hissed. And then he disappeared.

"Rowanwind!"

Rowanwind trotted back to where Maplerose was lying, curled around two kits. One was gray; the other was cream colored.

"I'm taking the gray tom back to ThunderClan," Oakpelt meowed. "Softcreek still has enough milk for him."

Rowanwind shook his head. "You realize what will happen when someone finds out these kits are halfClan?"

"Nobody else will find out," Oakpelt said. "Their names are Coldkit and Secretkit."

What perfect names, Rowanwind thought to himself. Cold and secret...a cold secret.

"What will we tell ThunderClan?" Rowanwind asked.

"A dying rogue gave us her newborn kit before leaving to go off and die," Oakpelt said. "Maggotpaw has promised not to say anything."

"I won't say anything either, unless the two of you continue to see each other," Rowanwind said.

Maplerose shook her head. "I'll be confined to the nursery. Oakpelt and I will not be seeing each other any longer."

"Good. Just remember what I said," Rowanwind warned. "Come on, Oakpelt. Let's carry Coldkit back to camp. We'll tell them the 'rogue' named him Cold. Maggotpaw, you should head back separately."

Maggotpaw nodded and walked away.

"Maplerose, you must get yourself home," Rowanwind said.

The she-cat nodded.

Rowanwind and Oakpelt padded toward the camp, Coldkit firmly grasped in his father's mouth.

Oh, Oakpelt...what have you gotten me into now? Rowanwind thought to himself. StarClan, please...give us all the strength to get through this...

THE END