Storm War Sneak Peeks!

Chapter 1

Softpaw blinked, eyes wide with surprize. It was that dream again.  The cave was there, looming oppressively.  She stepped back, the wind ruffling her pelt. The darkness pored through her heart, sending shivers down her spine.
"Hello?" Softpaw called out.
Her voice echoed back to her, steadily growing quieter.
She stood silently, facing the cave for what seemed like moons. A sudden flicker of light caught her full attention. It floated towards, dazzling glow paining her eyes. Softpaw unwillingly reached her paw to touch it, and it evaporated into mist.
"What? It's a different ending..." Softpaw blinked. It usually ended with the light setting everything on fire.
Something wasn't right. The world flashed black and white, with every blink of her eyes.
Nothing happened. No more light, no sounds, nothing else. Softpaw stood.

"Softpaw! It's time for you to get up." A voice jolted Softpaw from her nightmare. Ivypond smiled, her brown eyes warm and welcoming.  Softpaw stood unsteadily. 
"You ok?" Her mentor asked.
Softpaw merely cast an exhausted sigh. "It was nothing."
"If you say so."
Softpaw trotted out, looking for her sister. The Sun's morning glow cast a soft light on the camp. Softpaw felt her mind clear, her heart lighten.  A smile rose to her lips.  Onepaw was flicking his tail as he waited for his mentor. Wilddusk was stretching lazily in a beam of sunlight.  Rustpelt was talking with Echopaw.
Echopaw!
Softpaw darted to her sister. "Morning!"
Echopaw turned, her pale blue eyes shimmering. "Softpaw! You're up!" She nuzzled her sister, purring. "Now can go hunting?" She asked her mentor.
Rustpelt grinned. "Why don't you get a bite to eat first."
"Okie!"
Echopaw friskily ran to the fresh-kill plie, where Onepaw was waiting. Softpaw waved good-bye to Rustpelt and raced to her sister.
"Wanna mouse?" Onepaw asked.
Echopaw stuck her nose in the air. "Um... How long has that one been here? It smells wrong. Besides, I like crows better." 
Softpaw narrowed her eyes as she sniffed at the mouse. "Yeah... Sorry Onepaw, but I think you should throw that one out." 
Both sisters snickered as Onepaw grumpily threw the spoiled prey into the forest.
Softpaw grabbed a shrew. As she tore into its juicy, warm flesh, she listened to Onepaw's story about when his father, Sparkheart, fought with the rest of the clan against Mudclan and Cloudclan.
"He fought hard, protecting his friends, and attacking the traitors."
Softpaw couldn't help but add in, "Um.. Actually, everyone fought with a partner. So he couldn't fight one of them alone."
Onepaw grimaced. "It's just a story."
Echopaw snickered. "And Heartstar had to help him up, right? Thornheart told me."
"Oh, whatever. I'm done." Onepaw swallowed the rest of his pigeon and padded away to find his mentor.
Softpaw and Echopaw sat eating quietly. When they finished, they waited at the exit into the forest.
"Ready to go?" Ivypond meowed. Rustpelt nodded. "But why don't we let
Raineclipse and Onepaw join us?"
Raineclipse, a beautiful mixed tabby she-cat, joined the patrol, with Onepaw following.
"Into the woods!" Ivypond mewed as the cats headed out.

The forest was full of life, dewdrops from last night's rain sparkled in sunbeams, and leaves dappled the ground underneath paws. The Leaf-fall air swirled through the birch trees. Squirrels darted from tree to tree. 
Onepaw fidgeted as such a squirrel ran right before their path. "I wish this was a hunting patrol."
Echopaw smiled. "Maybe on the way back."
Softpaw was going to add in, but a large spider web hung before her face. She backed up, glad she saw it in time. "Guys, watch out for this-"
Echopaw barreled straight through the web. A large spider was flung on her ear.
"Echopaw! A spider!" Her sister yelped.
Echopaw's eyes diliated in fear. "Where!"
Onepaw snickered, "On your ear!"
Echopaw shook her head wildly. "Get it off! Get it off!" She jumped and stomped around, looking ridiculous. Onepaw was rolling on the forest floor laughing, hardly able to breathe.
"Echopaw! It's off, calm down!" Softpaw mewed, reassuring notes in her voice.
Echopaw stopped running and glared at Onepaw. Her eyes were wet with tears.
"That was hilarious!" Onepaw grinned cheekily.
"No, it wasn't." Echopaw ran back to the mentors, tears glittering in her eyes. 
Softpaw cast a worried glance at her paws. "Onepaw, I-I think you made her upset."
Onepaw lowered his tail. "Obviously. Do you think I should talk to her?"
Softpaw shook her head. "No, she gets like this. Wait a while."

(A.N: Yes, being dramatic is in Echopaw's personality. It doesn't help that she has a crush on Onepaw.)

While Rustpelt, Raineclipse and Echopaw marked the borders, Ivypond approached Softpaw and Onepaw.
"What happened back there? Echopaw hasn't said a word."
Onepaw guiltily glanced at Ivypond's eyes. "She got a spider in her face, tried to get it off, and I kinda laughed at her.."
Ivypond narrowed her eyes. "Raineclipse will be expecting you to apologize to her."
Onepaw nodded. "Yes Ma'am."

The pair of apprentices stumbled back to camp, the sun fading behind the clouds. After battle training, their sore muscles didn't help the walk back to camp. Onepaw stared at his paws, Softpaw was watching a bird fly up ahead, and Raineclipse and Ivypond were chatting.
Echopaw had trained privately with her mentor, for obvious reasons.
As Softpaw entered camp, Echopaw met her eyes and darted to the Apprentice Den.
"So she's still avoiding us." Onepaw murmured.
"Looks like it."
A heavy sigh escaped Onepaw's lips. "I wish that whole thing never happened."
Softpaw flicked her tail. "All you have to do is apologize."
Onepaw nodded and headed to the apprentice den.