"Thank you for serving ThunderClan, and may StarClan grant you many moons of rest." Sunstar's deep meow reached the ears of ThunderClan.

"Thank you, Sunstar," Appleleaf meowed and dipped his head. "I appreciate being able to live this long, because StarClan knows there are plenty of cats who deserve to but don't," Skypaw could tell the elder was talking about Moonfur.

Skypaw had finished her mouse moments before Sunstar tore his eyes slowly off her pelt and leaped onto the Highrock. Appleleaf had requested to become an elder, for his long moons of fighting and hunting for his Clan had finally come to an end.

Skypaw took a moment to realize that Stormpelt would now be the eldest warrior in ThunderClan. The gray warrior seemed to take notice of it too, because Stormpelt's back straightened and he lifted his chin a little bit in pride, for his Clan would respect him even more now.

"Thank you, Appleleaf," The Clan meowed their thanks to the graying old tom. Skypaw decided she would visit her friend in the elder's den and thank him later. Appleleaf had lived a long time, seeing three leaders come and go as if it was nothing. She heard Russetsky tell her about how he saw Graystar, the leader before Sandstar, die in battle. Mostly all of the Clan was expecting Sandstar to die when she did, but only one cat didn't get to see it happen.

Moonfur.

Skypaw hadn't ever seen Moonfur, for she was too young to leave the nursery when she recieved her warrior name. The only time she saw Moonfur at all was when her bloodstained body was laying out in the clearing for vigil.Willowleaf didn't want to waste all her lavender to clean and scent the young warrior's body when she didn't have enough to even do half of it. She decided to save it. Russetsky didn't want her kits to see such a horrible sight, so they were rushed inside as quickly as they were forced out.

"Clan dismissed," Sunstar meowed before leaping off the Highrock. He quickly climbed the tumbled rocks up to his den, disappearing inside without looking back.

Skypaw climbed to her paws, ready to go head to the elders' den, where Appleleaf would be from now on. He's going to be so lonely, Skypaw thought.

"Skypaw!" Skypaw stopped and turned around, her mentor's black pelt running up to her. "Battle training?" Skypaw loved how Hazelflower asked her what she wanted to do. No matter how uneven Skypaw made her training plans, meaning three days hunting, one battle, Hazelflower always managed to make it all evened out in the end.

"I was just about to go to the elders' den," Skypaw explained. "but I could go after."

Hazelflower looked puzzled. "Why are you going to the elders' den?"

"I wanted to thank Appleleaf for serving ThunderClan personally," Skypaw explained. "I think I know him better than any other cat. Except Willowleaf, that is. He needs a friend." Hazelflower nodded briefly, her hazel eyes focused on something behind her.

Before Skypaw could turn around and look, she heard a familiar voice. "I appreciate you trying to be my friend, Skypaw, I really do. It means a lot that a young cat like you cares about an old tom." Skypaw whipped around, her ears hot with embarrassment. "But don't let me interfere with your training. The Clan needs you."

Skypaw was surprised when Appleleaf didn't look hurt or angry by her words. Instead, he looked sincerely appreciated and happy. His eyes were inviting, and she knew she had just made this old cat's day. Maybe he wanted to be her friend after all.

"Go train," He meowed. "We can chat later." Skypaw nodded and turned away, Hazelflower lingering a little bit before following. Padding towards the gorse tunnel, she turned back and was surprised to what she saw and heard.

Appleleaf was purring, talking to Willowleaf. Both cats were looking at Skypaw, and Willowleaf's eyes shone with appreciation, approval, and admiration.

Waving her tail in acknowledgement, she turned back and ducked under the tunnel.

Hazelflower and Skypaw were trekking through the forest to the training hollow side by side when Hazelflower decided to break the silence. "I'm proud of you," she meowed.

"Why?" Skypaw hadn't done anything amazing in training lately.

"Appleleaf has been alone for many moons," Hazelflower explained. "No cat would talk to him except Willowleaf. Every once in awhile, she would get annoyed by his constant company as well. You're the first cat to care, and all of the other apprentices before you have even tried to avoid him."

Skypaw was surprised. Appleleaf was a friendly cat, a cat to go to in tough times. He was full of wisdom. She wouldn't be on wonderful terms with Rainpaw without him. She knew he was an honorable warrior, and still was up until just now. She knew that StarClan would welcome him with open paws when it was his time.

*

*

*

Skypaw batted at Hazelflower's side. Hazelflower swerved right after the blow and tried to smack Skypaw's ear, but she was too slow. Skypaw leaped out of the way and was on Hazelflower's back in seconds.

Hazelflower was not about to give up. She dropped on her back, squishing Skypaw. Quickly she flipped over and had her paw on Skypaw's throat.

"That was good," Hazelflower meowed, her paw still on her apprentice's neck. "but you can do better."

Skypaw batted Hazelflower's paw away from her and stood up. "I know I can," she replied. "I have to. I will not loose a battle that quickly."

Skypaw was about to say something else until something leaped on her, knocking the wind out of her and made her tumble to the ground. Skypaw meowed in surprise and leaped to her paws, batting at her attacker.

"Good, Skypaw!" She heard Hazelflower's praise. "Keep going!" This fueled Skypaw's moves.

Her attacker's silver tabby pelt leaped out of the way as Skypaw leaped at it. Hissing in frustration, she saw it was going to run up behind her. Thinking quickly, she rammed into its side before it could finish the move.

Skypaw heard Hazelflower's meow of greeting as a white she-cat walked up next to her. Not daring to look longer than a second, she rammed into the silver tabby pelt again to stop it from getting up. Pinning it quickly, she placed her paw lightly on its throat, declaring victory.

"Well done!" Hazelflower meowed happily. Her eyes shone with pride at the battle won by her apprentice.

"Nice moves," Complimented the white fur that had talked to her mentor. It had been Petalheart.

"You can get off me now," Amusement was clear in the voice below Skypaw. She climbed off her sister, her tail high in joy. "You're going to have to teach me that move."

"What move?" Skypaw asked. She had used quite a few.

"The one where you kept running into me to keep me on the ground long enough for you to pin me," Rainpaw explained. "It was perfect. I was not expecting that."

Skypaw purred. That had been a move she made up all by herself. "Can I?" She looked at the two mentors, waiting for approval.

"Of course," Hazelflower meowed at the same time Petalheart said, "I would love to see it."

Giddy with excitement, Skypaw took position as standing. Crouching low, she quickly stalked, aiming at nothing certain. Finally, when she felt that the imaginary creature was close enough, she leaped, turning to her side in mid air, landing with a powerful whack to what would have been her enemy.

Praise came out of all the cats in the clearing, but two meows Skypaw was not expecting. Spinning around, she was surprised when she saw her mother and father, standing at the entrance to the hollow with pride shining in their eyes.

"Bramblefrost, Russetsky," Hazelflower and Petalheart both dipped their heads in greeting.

"Wonderful move, Skypaw!" Bramblefrost purred.

"Thank you," Skypaw replied, happy to please her father.

"Hey, what about my move?" Rainpaw questioned. All of the cats in the small sandy clearing looked at her, confused. "I was the one who fell helplessly on the floor! Don't I get any praise?" Humor danced in her eyes.

Meows of amusement rattled the clearing. "Of course, Rainpaw," Russetsky meowed. "You lost a battle. We are very pleased." Her mother teased.

Rainpaw purred. Skypaw joined in, and soon Bramblefrost and Russetsky were purring as well.

"I say we go hunt," Russetsky recommended. "All of us," The ThunderClan deputy took a moment to glance at Hazelflower and Petalheart, who looked confused and out of place.

The two warriors nodded and Russetsky led the unusual patrol through the forest. Every once in awhile, they would stop at their own times and scent the air.

Skypaw decided to do the same. Only instead of the mouth-watering vole or mouse scent that she usually caught, she smelled something bitter and unfamiliar. "What's that?" She questioned.

All the cats stopped to scent the air. Rainpaw had the same expression Skypaw did, but Russetsky, Bramblefrost, Petalheart and Hazelflower had looks of alarm and fear plastered on their faces.

"Badger!"

(Another announcement by me *rolls eyes* XD I know this is probably getting annoying, but I want to say thank you for almost 150 views. :D

Something else I would LOVE for you guys to appreciate in doing is voting for each chapter. The more votes, the more my story is advertised on Wattpad for readers with fantasy interests. I don't want to sound greedy by doing so, but my Wattpad career depends on it. Clicking the star on the bottom of the page is all it takes!

Also, want your Final Dawn warrior name in Sky Fall? Comment it below with his or her description, interests, and your Minecraft IGN (In game name). Sky Fall's cover contest is still going on, so I'm looking for entries, entries, and more entries!

Keep reading, and also, something that nobody has done yet is comment their predictions. Who do you think will outstand the badgers, and who will be conquered?)