A Daily Life in RiverClan

Thrushcall looked at Birchwing waiting for Swiftferret to dismiss them from their vigil. But instead of Swift Ferret, it was their medicine cat Hawkfeather that dismissed them.

Thrushcall had formed close ties with the medicine cat, because right before his first warrior ceremony a few moons ago he got bit by an adder. He was really lucky to survive was what Hawkfeather told Softstar. Birchwing was supposed to be made a warrior too, but stayed behind with him. And yesterday after Thrushpaw was fully healed, he got the name of Thrushcall, and Birchpaw got the name of Birchwing.

They both trotted to the warriors den. They laid down in nests closest to the entrance. After a few hours Thrushcall walked out of the den, and went to the fresh kill pile.

"Hm. I should probably go hunt." he silently thought to himself.

"I see you've noted the pile needs refilling," joked Swiftferret as she walked up to Thrushcall. "I should probably send a patrol. Want to lead it?" Thrushcall was amazed that the deputy asked him the lead a patrol

"Yes. Yes I would."

"Good. Then take Birchwing, Treepath, and... Chickpaw with you."

Thrushcall rounded up all the cats and they left.

"Wow! You getting to lead a patrol on your first day as a warrior! How cool, is that?" asked an excited Birchwing.

"Pretty honorable," interjected Treepath.

Thrushcall's adder bite was acting up but he said nothing about it.

"Thrushcall's adder bite is acting up." said a blatant Chickpaw.

"No, it's not. I just thought I smelt.... Badger." Thrushcall said trying to keep his cool.

"Stale, must've passed awhile ago" said Treepath smelling the cool air of leafbare.

They hunted for awhile and started on their way back to camp.

"Ah!" Thrushcall collapsed, wriggling around on the ground.

"Thrushcall?!" Birchwing called rushing back. "Chickpaw go get the medicine cat!"

Chickpaw was soon back with Hawkfeather, and his apprentice Foxpetal.

"What happened?" asked Hawkfeather as he watched Foxpetal examine Thrushcall's leg.

"Foxpetal, black berries, marigold, and catch weed." Foxpetal ran off to go get the herbs Hawkfeather had listed.

Thrushcall had felt like it had been a moon since Foxpetal left. She came back while Hawkfeather was pulling a bee out of Thrushcall's leg. Foxpetal smothered a poultice of the blackberries and marigold on the area where the bee had stung him, then she carefully laid catch weed across it.

"Foxpetal go get some poppy seeds s-"

"No," interjected Thrushcall, "I'm allergic."

"Right. Either dandelion or raspberry leaves then." Foxpetal walked a little farther from the group and grabbed a dandelion. She set down for Thrushcall. He ate it, and leaned up against Birchwing for support.

Foxpetal stared at Thrushcall from outside her den, feeling the warmth of the sun slowly fade away. Thrushcall was talking to Swiftferret and met her gaze. Then Mousecatcher walked through their ever longing stare. Thrushcall walked to the entrance and motioned for Foxpetal to follow him. She waited until Hawkfeather was starting to look over Larkcry, and then she walked out. She ran trying to catch up to him. When she caught up to him, he was sitting by the lake. The sun had finally set, and he moon was starting to rise.

"The stars are beautiful." said Foxpetal as she took a seat beside Thrushcall.

"Not as beautiful as you." replied Thrushcall licking her ear. He perked his ears hearing a twig crack.

"Thrushcall? Is that you?" Thrushcall flicked his tail signaling for Foxpetal to hide.

"Who is with you?"

"Who are you?" he growled

"It's me, Birchwing? Whose with you Thrushcall?" she repeated.

"Nobody." he lied.

"Oh, I just thought I smelt Foxpetal. Must've been from earlier. I was hoping I could tell you something."

"What's that?" asked Thrushcall. He watched Birchwing step out of the bushes. She was magnificent. Her pelt was sleek, and her eyes were glittering.

"I was hoping to tell you that I-" she was interrupted by Foxpetal adjust herself. Foxpetal spotted some celandine nearby and quickly snatched it up.

"Whose there?" growled Birchwing. Foxpetal walked on and pretended to collect herbs.

"Foxpetal?" Birchwing caught a glimpse of her bright crimson fur. She poked her head out of the bush.

"Hm?"

"Are you watching us?"

"No? I was just collecting herbs." she set down burdock and celandine.

"At night?"

"I find it a way to calm down."

"You know what, I'll be right back." Birchwing stalked off in the direction of the bushes.

Foxpetal purred and wound herself around Thrushcall. He got tingles down his spine. He pinned her playfully and was nose-to-nose with her.

"Sorry I just had to make d-" Thrushcall looked up.

"Uh... You know what it's not important it can wait till later." Thrushcall straightened up, and Birchwing turned around.

"Birchwing wait!" Thrushcall tried to bound forward, when Foxpetal leaped on his back making him topple.

"Oof." he fell.

"It's okay. She'll get over it." Foxpetal whispered softly. Thrushcall looked into her eyes and laid with her until dawn.

About a moon later, Thrushcall was sharing tongues with his sister Geckospots. He saw Foxpetal approaching and Geckospots went and sat with their mother, Mousecatcher.

"I have something to tell you." she blurted out.

"What's that?" Thrushcall asked, stretching.

"I'm having kits," she said in a low tone.

"That's great! Whose the father?" Birchwing was walking up to him when he said this.

"You."

" 'You' who?" asked Birchwing.

"Nothing."

"He's a father." said Foxpetal proudly looking at Birchwing.

Birchwing looked back and forth between them and started smiling.

"That's great, Foxpetal! Me too!"

"Whose the father of your kits?"

"Mousecatcher's brother Adderclaw." she replied proudly.

A moon later when Thrushcall was laying in the nursery with Foxpetal, Rosehoney rushed out.

"Hawkfeather!" she was bolting to the medicine den, leaving her kits with her mate Goldfeather. Thrushcall noticed he had blood in his fur. He looked all over his flank for a wound, and noticed it was coming from Foxpetal. It may have been due to the stress of quitting being a medicine cat, but Thrushcall knew it was the kits coming. Birchwing was holding in yowls too. Two queens kitting!

"Foxpetal, wake up!" he was nudging his mate awake. She woke up, a painful expression on her face.

Hawkfeather, flicked his tail and him and Adderclaw had to step outside. Mousecatcher came out from the nursery telling her brother to go get water-soaked moss for the queens.

After awhile the kits were born. Thrushcall and Foxpetal named their kits; Tawnykit, Spotkit, Moosekit, and Lavenderkit. Birchwing and Adderclaw named their kits Honeykit, Cloudkit, Sunkit, and Fernkit.

Acornkit poked her head over her dads forearm

"Wow! Cedarkit look! New kits!" she pounced on her brother to wake him up.

"Ow! Stop jumping on me, this is not how I want to spend my last night in the nursery. You pouncing on me to wake me up because of-"

"It's our sister's kits!"

About two moons later, all the kits had opened their eyes except for Fernkit and Tawnykit. Though, they eventually opened them.

All the kits were playing out in the clearing, while Fernkit and Tawnykit were playing with a moss ball. Tawnykit's brother, Moosekit, tumbled into them, shoving Tawnykit in a thorn bush.

"Ah!" Birchwing poked her head out and counted the kits.

"Tawnykit?" she looked from side to side.

"Oww I can't move!" she whined. Her sister Lavenderkit saw and went to go get Hawkfeather. Fernkit got busy on chewing the thorns. Hawkfeather bounded out of his den. Lavenderkit was trailing after him. Tawnykit was almost free except for her tail. Hawkfeather pulled her out of the thorn bush checking for any wounds that the thorns could have caused.

Foxpetal took Tawnykit into the nursery and groomed her. Fernkit sat inside the nursery and waited for her while his mom picked at his pelt. Once Tawnykit was done getting groomed, they resumed their playing.

"Let all cats old enough to catch their own pray gather around the high rock for a clan meeting!" called Softstar one evening. As he waited for everybody to gather, he had a quick word with Swiftferret.

"We have many kits to apprentice. Sunkit, step forward." Sunkit scampered forward casting a sidelong glance at some of the warriors, wondering who his mentor would be.

"From this day on until you are a warrior, you'll be known as Sunpaw and your mentor is Mousecatcher." Sunpaw looked about ready to burst with excitement as he bounded over to his mentors to touch noses.

"Moosekit step forward. From this day on until you are a warrior, you'll be known as Moosepaw, your mentors is Adderclaw."

"Cloudkit step forward. From this day on until you are a warrior, you'll be known as Cloudpaw, your mentor Brighteyes."

"Spotkit step forward. From this day on until you are a warrior, you'll be known as Spotpaw, your mentor is Frostflight."

"Honeykit step forward. From this day on until you are a warrior, you'll be known as Honeypaw, your mentor is Swiftferret."

"Lavenderkit step forward. From this day on until you are a medicine cat, you'll be known as Lavenderpaw, your mentor is Hawkfeather."

"Fernkit step forward. From this day on until you are a warrior, you'll be known as Fernpaw, your mentor is Treepath."

"Tawnykit step forward. From this day on until you are a warrior, you'll be known as Tawnypaw, your mentor is Goldfeather."

"If that is everything-" Swiftferret muttered something in his ear.

"Ah, yes! My mate, Geckospots, is expecting kits!" He said proudly looking at his mate from where she laid at the entrance to the nursery. She purred and met his eyes. Everybody purred congratulations to Geckospots.

"If that is all for now, clan dismissed."

"Can you believe it Fernpaw? We're apprentices!" Tawnypaw called across the clearing bounding over to him.

"It's crazy! What do you think we'll do first?" he said bounding over to her.

"You'll be helping clean the elders den." said Alderback, Blossombark not far behind him.

"Ohhhh! Okay!" Tawnypaw bounded across the clearing to the elders den.

"Come back for another story Tawnykit?" asked Creameyes.

"I'm Tawnypaw now," she said puffing out her chest.

"Congratulations!" Larkcry bounded across the den and gave Tawnypaw a wet lick on the cheek.

"Any ticks?" Fernpaw asked coming in with a some mice swinging from his jaws.

"I've got one digging in between my shoulders," mumbled Chickentail. He attempted to scratch at it but he couldn't reach.

"I'll go get some moss!" Fernpaw yelled charging out of the den.

"I'll go get some mouse bile." Tawnypaw giggled trotting out of the den.

"Hey Lavenderpaw. Do you have any mouse bile?"

"Uhhh... Hawkfeather? Do we have mouse bile?"

"In the back corner next to the cobwebs." he said without looking up from the herbs he was sorting. Lavenderpaw grabbed it and slid it to Tawnypaw.

"Thanks," she grabbed the bile soaked moss.

"Don't wash your paws with your tongue! Go wash it in a stream," Hawkfeather shouted as she walked out.

"Okay!"

"I climbed up that tree, and leaped down onto that badger! It never saw it coming." Creameyes exclaimed swiping at the air.

"Wow..." Fernpaw gasped as he replaced Creameyes's nest.

"Who's first?" Tawnypaw asked as she trotted in.

"Chickentail first," Larkcry said not looking up from her tail.

"Okay... I see it," Tawnypaw rubbed the moss onto the tick to loosen it up.

"Oooohhhh thank you darlin'," Chickentail sighed, relaxing into his nest.

"Uh-huh. Larkcry you next."

Larkcry pulled her head away from her tail so Tawnypaw could use the mouse bile.

"Thank you Tawnypaw, " she purred.

"No problem. You done Fernpaw?"

"Just about... done." he said fixing the last nest.

"Thank you guys so much!"

"Come back anytime for more stories," Creameyes smiled.

Tawnypaw and Fernpaw ducked out of the den.

"Now. We need to go figure out where the lake is."

"Sure, that'll be fun. Hope you know how to swim," Tawnypaw teased.

"Lets go this way," he motioned toward a path. Tawnypaw followed him down the path.

"I see the lake!" Fernpaw sprinted.

"It's so big..." Tawnypaw gasped as she put her paws into the water. It began to rain.

"Now how do we get back?" Tawnypaw looked at Fernpaw, rain soaking his white speckled pelt.

"I don't know! Let's hide in the roots of this tree," Fernpaw squinted through the rain then ran under the roots of the tree.

Tawnypaw followed him.

"Its s-so cold," Tawnypaw shivered.

"Come closer," Fernpaw sat next to Tawnypaw and licked her pelt. Tawnypaw yawned.

"Lets sleep."

"Good idea..." Fernpaw blinked sleepily. They laid down next to each other.

"Fernpaw! Tawnypaw!" Tawnypaw blinked sleep out of her eyes.

"Fernpaw wake up," she nudged Fernpaw.

"Tawnypaw!"

"Fernpaw! Fernpaw where are you?!"

"Momma?" Fernpaw poked his head out from under the tree.

"My kit!" Birchwing bounded forward. Tawnypaw poked her head out next to him.

"Tawnypaw!" Foxpetal lifted her out from under the tree by her scruff. Blossombark and Alderback were behind the mothers.

"I know what we're doing today," Alderback sighed. Tawnypaw and Fernpaw followed Alderback as he walked away.

"That thrush is even bigger than you Tawnypaw,"

"Well your mouse is pretty big too." she said trying to comfort him. They set their prey down on the prey pile.

"That squirrel never saw it coming!" Moosepaw boasted.

"Whatever..." Honeypaw scoffed. Tawnypaw walked up to the groups of apprentices.

"Hey guys!"

"H-hey Tawnypaw." Honeypaw stuttered. Tawnypaw smiled then went to her nest.

"Oooh looks like Honeypaw. Has a crush," Spotpaw laughed.

"Shut it," he snarled, then stalked away to his nest.

"Let all cats old enough to swim the rapids gather under the wet rock to hear my words! Larkcry was found dead by the lake. Most likely from the badger that killed Chickfeather. Also, there is a gathering."

"That is such a weird thing to go from 'Larkcry is dead!' to 'Oh yeah! And. There is a gathering," Moosepaw muttered sarcastically to the other apprentices.

"Moosepaw, Tawnypaw, Honeypaw, Lavenderpaw, Hawkfeather, Swiftferret, Cedarears, Acornleaf, Mousecatcher, Thrushcall, Foxpetal, Adderclaw, and Geckospots. Moosepaw, lead the patrol to fourtrees." Moosepaw gulped then pinned his ears to his head padding to the head of the patrol.

Foxpetal and Adderclaw were in deep conversation. And Tawnypaw noticed since greenleaf was here, Foxpetal was starting to look a little plump.

"Really Foxpetal? Your'e my mate, and now your having kits with Adderclaw?" Thrushcall lashed his tail.

"Really Adderclaw?" Birchwing asked.

"At least I'm having both of your guys kits?"

"Never again..." Birchwing growled and stalked out of camp with Thrushcall. Everybody's mouth was gaped open in surprise, everybody was whispering. Tawnypaw leaned against her mother to comfort her.

"I love you Tawnyp-" she got cut off mid-purr. She collapsed onto the ground from a convulsion and yowled. Tawnypaw nudged her mother into the nursery. Birchwing came racing in her hackles raised.

"What happened?" she panted.

"It's Foxpetal!" Tawnypaw wailed. Birchwing ran to the nursery muttering stuff frantically under her breath. Thrushcall leaped on Adderclaw and pummeled his belly. Tawnypaw ran forward to break up the fight. Her father's foot slipped and clawed her deeply in her cheek. She screeched. Thrushcall stopped. He gasped in horror.

Tawnypaw panted and backed away from Thrushcall then went to the medicine den. She went into the nursery after getting cobwebs to see her mother. She had a tom and a she Juniperkit and Dandelionkit. Tawnypaw purred as she curled around her mother. Adderclaw was sitting in front of Foxpetal, admiring his kits.

"They're beautiful," Geckospots smiled, then looked at her own swollen flank. "I can't wait to see what mine look like."

"I'm sure they'll be just as beautiful as you are," Tawnypaw purred as she fell asleep. She woke up awhile later to Geckospots whimpering, Foxpetal was murmuring into her ear while Hawkfeather laid his tail on her belly.

"Lavenderpaw. When you stub your paw, what happens?"

"It gets swollen?" she said tentatively.

"Right... Something is swollen and the kits won't come and if she keep's pushing her kits might die. She can't push for awhile." Hawkfeather said examining Geckospots.

"Should I get Softstar?" Tawnypaw yawned.

"Yes, but be quick!" Hawkfeather yelled as she raced out of the den. Tawnypaw trotted up to Softstar's reed woven den.

"Softstar?" she whispered.

"Come in," said a gravely voice. She could hear Softstar yawning.

"Sorry to bother you-"

"No, not at all. What can I help you with?"

"Geckospots started her kitting." Softstar sprung up, and out of the den. Tawnypaw ran after him.

"Your doing good! You can push soon," Hawkfeather said, stroking her flank. A little moan escaped Geckospots.

"You're doing great," Softstar said licking his mates ear. She smiled, then her face contorted as another convulsion hit her.

"Push as hard as you can!" Lavenderpaw got into position to grab the kit. Geckspots grabbed the stick from in of her and bit down. As the kit came out, Lavenderpaw nipped the sac and put the kit as Geckospots belly.

"It's a tom!" Softstar purred and licked his kit. The kit squirmed and mewled as Geckspots adjusted him. She then grabbed the stick again.

"It's a she!" Lavenderpaw said as she laid the kit next to its mother. "And another she." she said not so excited as the first two times. Tawnypaw saw the kit not breathing.

"Um. Hawkfeather?"

"Wait, I know what to do," Tawnypaw bounded over and pressed on the kits chest, being careful not to push too hard. It coughed up water and mewled.

"How did you know to do that?" Hawkfeather asked.

"I had a dream about it," she shrugged. Haawkfeather stared at her unitl his train of thought was broken by Softstar.

"What should we name them?" Softstar said.

"That one should be Briarkit for his spiky pelt," Tawnypaw giggled.

"That one should be Woollykit. For her wool colored fur," Softstar said licking Woollykit's head.

"That one will be Dustkit, after my father." Geckospots said licking each of her kits. Tawnypaw smiled, then looked over at her siblings.

Tawnypaw sniffed around.

"The weather is lovely today," Birchwing sighed stretching.

"Quite, looks like rain will come very soon though" Tawnypaw replied taking a drink of water. Birchwing padded over to the lake, her swollen flank just barely brushing over the ground. She bent down to drink some water.

"Feels good to stretch my legs."

"I bet, being cooped up in the nursery with all those kits has gotta be a little uncomfortable."

"Well they're expanding it, it should be ready in a few sunrises when my kits come. Thrushcall is very excited about it," she stopped and looked across the lake with a blank expression.

"Birchwing?" Tawnypaw looked over at her companion.

"They're coming," she collapsed. Tawnypaw rushed over.

"Birchwing! I'll go get help!" Tawnypaw spun around to face a fox. She unsheathed her claws and backed protectively over Birchwing. The fox snarled and nipped at her paws, she raked the fox's muzzle and it whined growling. Tawnypaw launched herself at the fox and leaped on its back. She dug her claws in and tore its flank. She hissed as it tried to fling her off, she lost her grip and went rolling. It began to pour rain. The fox loomed over her as she tried catching her breath. The fox bit her shoulder and shook her. She yowled as the Fox dropped her into mud. The fox bared its teeth, standing over Birchwing who had a kit in her jaws. Tawnypaw used all her strength to rake the foxes eyes. It yowled then ran to the Windclan border.

She panted and limped over to Birchwing. The she was heaving each breath, two kits soaked from the rain at her belly.

"Pick up one kit," Tawnypaw prodded a kit to Birchwing's jaw. She limply picked up the kit. Tawnypaw picked up the second one, then nudged Birchwing to her paws, wincing as she leaned against her shoulder.

"Hush!" Mousecatcher's call rang across camp, everybody perked their ears. Tawnypaw limped into camp, with a bloodied Brichwing and the kits. Thrushcall, Adderclaw, and Foxpetal rushed forward. Thrushcall and Adderclaw took the kits, while Foxpetal took Birchwing. Tawnypaw could faintly hear Fernpaw's voice, then everything went black.

She woke up to the tangy smell of herbs, she winced as her shoulder was on fire. She cried out, and Lavnderpaw rushed in with a mouse. She set down the mouse and got chervil. She chewed up the chervil and put the juice on Tawnypaw's shoulder. Lavenderpaw grabbed the mouse and pulled it into small pieces giving them to Tawnypaw. Tawnypaw licked feebly at them, she at them then slipped back into sleep.

"Who knows, she could be dead for all we know," Lavenderpaw whispered to Fernpaw.

"I... Idon't want to think that," he shook his head. Tawnypaw blinked sleep out of her eyes and looked around.

"L-lavenderpaw?" she rasped.

"Look she's awake!" Lavenderpaw bounded forward. She grabbed a piece of moss from nearby and soaked it in the stream running though the den. She put it in front of Tawnypaw. She lapped it up.

"Your awake Tawnyheart. We didn't think you would."

"Tawnyheart?" Tawnyheart repeated.

"Yes. Also, Fernleaf, Lavenderfrost, Sunclaw, Spotclaw, Honeycloud, Cloudcry, and Moosefur. Oh, also Robincall and his littermate Redbark." Tawnyheart wobbled to her paws, and went to the nursery.

"You're awake," Birchwing purred. "Thanks to you Rabbitkit and Leafkit are perfectly healthy." she licked her kits.

"Dandelionkit don't be so rough with Woollykit and Briarkit." Foxpetal called over her shoulder.

"I am being careful see?" she walked around the kits as they chased her tail.

"I'm the mouse this time Juniperkit."

"Are you sure Dustkit?" Juniperkit asked nervously.

"Of course," she replied. Juniperkit lightly pounced on Dustkit, then jumped off right after.

"How many kits do you think you'll have?" Dandelionkit asked, weaving around Tawnyheart's legs.

"Oh, I'm not having kits," she laughed.

"You didn't know?" Foxpetal asked looking up from were she was sharing tongues with Geckospots.

"I know I'm not having kits," Tawnyheart said reassuringly.

"Your already a moon through, there's no way. Unless you've been sneaking off the eat kittypet food," Foxpetal teased. Tawnyheart looked at her flank realizing how swollen it was.

"I-I'm not ready to be a mother!" she broke down crying. Foxpetal and Geckospots whisked her into the nursery and comforted her.

"It's great! You'll love it, your kits will be as beautiful as you!"

"I-I don't even know who the father is," but Tawnyheart knew very well who the father was.

"Well its obviously Fernleaf!" Foxpetal purred.

"Fernleaf?" Tawnyheart whispered.

"Hm?" he perked his head up from his nest.

"Can... Can you come lay with me?"

"Yeah. Is everthing all right?" he asked padding over the other warriors then into the nursery with Tawnyheart.

"No, I'm just scared. I'm so close to having the kits any day."

"And you have the most experienced queens in the clan to help you through." he meowed licking her ear. Tawnheart eventually fell asleep. Fernleaf padded out of the den and stretched. Mousecatcher was organizing patrols. He spotted Juniperpaw nearby and padded over to him.

"Hey Juniperpaw. Later can you give Tawnyheart a piece of prey?"

"Yeah sure! C'mon Woollypaw we have elder duties."

"I'm coming! Just let me finished my mouse."

"Thanks Juniperpaw." Fernleaf pressed his muzzle to Juniperpaw's head.

"Hey Woollypaw? Will you and Dandelionpaw be fine while I get Tawnyheart some prey?" Juniperpaw asked as he set down some moss.

"Yeah just don't be gone long, I'll let Dandelionpaw know you left when she gets back." Juniperpaw padded out of the den to the fresh kill pile.

"Hungry again?" Swiftferret purred as she limped out of the medicine den.

"No, it's for Tawnyheart."

"Ah. Alright don't let me stop you," the expecting she limped to Softstar's den. Juniperpaw picked up a vole then padded to the nursery.

"Where's Tawnyheart?" he asked Birchwing.

"She went out for a walk I believe," she said looking up from grooming Rabbitkit. Juniperpaw thanked her and left the vole for Birchwing. Juniperpaw trotted out of camp in search of Tawnyheart. He wondered to himself why she was out this close to her kitting. He followed a trail of Tawnyheart's scent he found. A tail! It must be Tawnyheart's! He thought silently to himself. He bounded forward and saw a rogue crouching over her.

"Having kits I see..." the rouge's voice was very deep. Juniperpaw scented Tawnyheart giving off fear-scent. He ran forward and stood over Tawnyheart.

"What's this? A kit fighting a warriors battle? What has Riverclan turned into?" he chuckled to himself.

"I'm an apprentice and my name is Juniperpaw."

"Ah. Sorry, an apprentice. And if you are such a good apprentice, then fight me. Nobody has ever beat Slit," Juniperpaw gulped, he had only has battle training once. He then raked the rouge's muzzle.

"Now it's my turn to show you what I can do!" the rouge snarled and leaped at Junperpaw. Juniperpaw leaped out of the way just in time and the rouge slammed into a tree.

"I refuse to be defeated by an apprentice!" Slit hissed and then leaped again, this time landing on Juniperpaw. Tawnyheart growled and slashed Slit's haunches. He turned around and raked her flank. Juniperpaw jumped up on Slit's back and raked his eyes.

Slit yowled and tried to shake Juniperpaw off. Juniperpaw clawed at Slit's neck, until he felt his knees buckle. He leaped off before Slit fell onto the ground. Slit convulsed then fell still, heaving shallow breaths. Juniperpaw dragged Tawnyheart into a nearby abandoned rabbit warren.

"We'll be safe in here for now," he panted. He grabbed some cobwebs that were in the corner. He laid them on Tawnyheart's flank. She winced.

"I'm fine, put them on your own scratches."

"I'll be fine, yours might get infect if it doesn't get treated soon." he scented cats walking by, he heard a low murmur. He backed farther into the den and curled around Tawnyheart. He fell asleep after awhile.

"Juniperpaw! Tawnyheart!" Juniperpaw woke up hearing the cries of his clan mates.

"We're in here!" he called prodding Tawnyheart awake. He nudged her to her paws and peeked his head out of the den. He saw Foxpetal and Adderclaw bounding towards them.

"I'm fine," he said as Foxpetal inspected his pelt. Tawnyheart limped out behind him. Foxpetal ran to her side and let Tawnyheart lean against her. When they'd got back to camp Mousecatcher was the first to greet them.

"Thank Starclan they found you two!" she touched her muzzle to the cats' heads. "But we've got to be quiet, we've finally got Fernleaf to sleep."

Tawnyheart padded into the nursery and laid beside Fernleaf. He curled tightly around her and buried his muzzle into her fur.

Juniperpaw went and rested with his sister. Awhile later he was woken by wincing. He padded to the medicine clearing.

"Lavenderfrost," he whispered.

"Hm?" replied a groggy voice.

"Chervil, borage and a stick might be a good idea right now for Tawnyheart I think."

"And what will she need afterwards?"

"Raspberry leaves," he trotted over to the herb storage and grabbed the herb he listed. While he did this, Lavenderfrost quietly got up careful not to wake Sunclaw, and checked over Creameyes. When Juniperpaw reached the nursery, Birchwing, Geckospots, and Foxpetal were comforting her. Fernleaf ran in with dripping moss. Juniper paw put the stick and the herbs in front of her.

"How is she doing?" Lavenderfrost asked running in, then stroking her sisters flank with her tail.

"Fine till just a moment ago. She was sleeping then complained about a sharp pain. Then I went and got Foxpetal and Geckospots." Birchwing said not looking up from Tawnyheart.

"Alright... Eat the herbs and then grip the stick whenever you need to Tawnyheart." Tawnyheart feebly lapped up the leaves then groaned.

"This isn't good..." Juniperpaw muttered to himself. He squeezed out of the den and came back with feverfew. "Eat this one too." Tawnyheart lapped up the feverfew then clenched the stick in her jaw, bracing herself. Fernleaf licked her ears reassuring her. Geckospots was comforting her.

"It'll be over before you know it, just keep breathing and push as hard as you can."

"On the count of three, I want you to push as hard as you can," enunciated Juniperpaw as he got in position to grab the first kit. Tawnyheart bit down on the stick as a convulsion hit her, then stopped mid-push.

"I can't do it!" Tawnyheart screamed. Foxpetal licked her daughters ear as she cried. Robincall poked his head in.

"Hey Fernleaf, Softstar is leading a patrol to Shadowclan, and he wants you to come for-"

"Robincall you can take Fernleaf's place then," Lavenderfrost interupted. Fernleaf was hardly understanding.

"Go!" Lavenderfrost said, breaking his train of thought. He licked his mate's ear, then was replaced by Robincall. He murmured something in her ear and she calmed down. Birchwing looked at him suspiciously. He returned her gaze with a friendly smile. She looked away in the direction of the elders den where her kits were. Tawnyheart let out an ear-splitting yowl, then Robincall muttered something in her ear again. She pushed then out came a tom. She had two more kits. She stopped kitting around sunhigh. Fernleaf came back at around sundown. He noticed, Robincall was still in the nursery.

"Are you gonna stand there like a bump on a log or are you gonna let me through?" Junierpaw said boredly.

"Oh yeah, my bad." he let Juniperpaw pass. "So," he cleared his throat, "Your still here?"

"She asked me to stay." he replied. Tawnyheart woke up, she saw Fernleaf but instead looked at Robincall and smiled. He smiled back.

"Well I'm here now so you can leave."

"Oh right. You want to see your... kits." he muttered something in Tawnyheart's ear and she nodded. He nodded his head to Fernleaf then padded out of the den.

"What did he say?" demanded Fernleaf.

"Nothing." she assured him.

"Doesn't seem like nothing..." he muttered.

"Well if you're going to be rude, then go away." she turned to her kits and groomed them.

"Sorry. Hey, they don't really look like me." he said getting suspicous.

"They look like Foxpetal," she said quickly, "She is my mother after all."

"Well they don't look like Birchwing and she's my mother."

"Will you stop?" growled Tawnyheart. He murmured an apology. "Come name the last kit."

"The others were named?"

"Me and Robincall each named one."

"Oh, well her name should be Stormkit."

"The other's are named Oakkit, and Squirrel kit."

"Robincall named Squirrelkit." she purred, a hint of pride edged her voice. Fernleaf curled around her.

"Why did he get to name one?"

"He suggested it, and I agreed." she shrugged.

"It's a great name," he finished as Tawnyheart slipped into sleep. Fernleaf got up awhile later and left. Robincall padded in after he left.

"Morning," he murmured licking her ear.

"Good morning,' she meowed.

"How are our kits?" he smirked.

"Beautiful as ever, Fernleaf full of questions."

"Speaking of, here he comes I'll see you later." he nuzzled Tawnyheart's ear then slipped out quickly. Fernleaf emerged moments later.

"His scent is fresh, what was he doing?"

"My flank wound was bothering me its fine now."

"C'mon Oakit you're not being fair!"

"Well, yeah! We're playing keep away from Squirrelkit," Stormkit giggled.

"Dad they aren't being fair!"

"Why don't you come help me reinforce the Elders den?"

"Okay!"

"Robincall be careful where your putting those reeds!" Tawnyhart meowed from inside.

"That was me!" Squirrelkit squeaked as he pulled on a tendril that was sticking out.

"Make sure your son doesn't stab himself," Tawnheart fretted.

"He's 3 moons, he'll be okay, right Squirrekit?"

"Uh-huh!" he said as he threaded a reed through a hole.

"Fernleaf wouldn't have let him do this."

"Who knows? Ever since he went to Skyclan, everything has changed," she sighed, grabbing a reed Squirrelkit passed her.

"Oakkit, lets play clan!"

"I'm the leader this time!" Oakkit called over his shoulder as he ran to the wet rock.

"No fair! I don't want to be the medicine cat! Thats for wussies like Squirrelkit!" she whined.

"Then you can be seconds coolest, deputy!" Oakkit grunted, trying to scramble on to the wet rock.

"Okay." She pushed him up with her head. "Your heavy!"

"That'll make me a good warrior!" he boasted. He pranced around on the rock. "Deputy! Bring me the traitor!" Stormkit pushed Squirrelkit forward.

"Here is the traitor!"

"I will eat all of your prey that I want!" Squirrelkit boasted.

"Not on my watch!" Oakkit leaned forward and slipped off the rock. He landed on his shoulder with a deafening crack. He emitted a scream.

"Oakkit!" Squirrelkit bounded forward and sniffed his brother who was wailing.

"It hurts! Please help!" his gaze was clouded in pain.

"Momma!" Stormkit screamed bounding across camp. Tawnyheart poked her out of the Elders den, Robincall was bounding towards Squirrelkit and Oakkit. Tawnyheart bolted after Robincall.

"Squirrelkit it h-hurts," Oakkit whispered as Squirrelkit dragged him to the medicine den. Juniperclove was the first to greet them.

"Whats going on?" he asked as he inspected Oakkit's shoulder. Oakkit cried out as he touched it.

"W-we were playing a game and Oakkit was on the wet rock, and he slipped and fell," Squirrelkit felt nauseous as he remembered what'd just happened then, Tawnyheart rushed in.

"Stormkit said he fell." she panted.

"We were playing clan, and Squirrelkit was the traitor, and Oakkit stepped forward to say something and he slipped, "Stormkit said, her cheeks wet from tears. Tawnyheart inspected Stormkit and Squirrelkit.

"His shoulder is broken and dislocated," Juniperclove called across the den to Lavenderfrost. She started rustling through her herbs.

"That is not good... Especially this early in his kithood," Oakkit cried and squirmed as she moved his leg around. "Juniperclove hold his haunches. Squirrelkit, hold his head. Stormkit, gently lay across him." All of the cats got into position, Robincall curled his tail around Tawnyheart. She watched painfully.

"On the count of three, I'm going to put it back in the socket then wrap it," Lavenderfrost said looking at each of the cats.

"Wh-what are you gonna do?" Oakkit asked as Juniperclove pawed him a stick. Oakkit weakly grasped it in his jaws.

"You're gonna feel some pain." Juniperclove said pressing down on his haunches.

"One, two... three!" Lavenderfrost pushed Oakkit's shoulder into place until she heard a click. Oakkit let out an earsplitting yowl.

"Done!" Juniperclove put a stick along his leg then wrapped it elder leaves. Then tied it together with a piece of long grass. Oakkit cried.

"It hurts! Momma help! Please it hurts!" Oakkit kicked out his other legs. Squirrelkit licked his brother's head. Lavenderfrost put him in a nest and gave him some poppy seeds. Squirrelkit curled around his brother. Stormkit laid on his other side. Tawnyheart curled around all her kits. Robincall perked his ears and poked his head out of the medicine den. He hissed, Skyclan was invading. Tawnyheart picked up Oakkit, then ran to the elders den. A warrior clawed at her flank she yowled as she fell. Creameyes poked his head out of the den, eyes open in surprise and grabbed Oakkit. Squirrelkit and Stormkit ran across camp. Squirrelkit nudged Tawnyheart as she got to her paws. A familiar pelt was standing over him.

"Kits huh? Fighting battles now?" the cat picked up Squirrelkit and ran.

"Momma!" he screamed trying to wriggle his way free. Tawnyheart followed behind in the distance. When they got to Squirrelkit got to Skyclan, he ran for then entrance. The cat pulled him back by his tail.

"Fernleaf, why have you brought a kit? I told you to leave the elders and kits alone."

"Lightstar, this is my rightful kit." Tawnyheart ran in.

"Give me my kit," she snarled, her pelt fluffed up.

"Your kit, huh? How about that this is also my kit and I never get to see them?" Fernleaf laughed.

"They were never yours! You made your choice to run!" Squirrelkit bit Fernleaf's paw and ran to Tawnyheart, hiding under her.

"Great Starclan you have thorns for teeth!" Tawnyheart picked up her kit and ran. Lightstar yelled at Fernleaf as he tried to follow. Tawnyheart made it back to camp. She put Squirrelkit in the elders den.

The elders and the kits listened to the battle go on for awhile. Then Squirrelkit heard a yowl. It was his mothers! He ran out of the den despite the plea of the elders. He bolted through the battling warriors. A warrior stood snarling over her. Squirrelkit stood over his mother and let out a weak growl.

"Out of the way kit," the warrior growled.

"Maggotheart I've seen you have grown!" Robincall said crashing into the unsuspecting cat. Robincall clawed Maggotheart's flank and it bled heavily.

"Skyclan retreat!" he yowled as he ran out, the Skyclan warriors followed in pursuit. Squirrelkit licked his mothers ear. She panted.

"Squirrelkit where are you?"

"Right here."

"I-I can't see you come closer," she said looking around. Squirrelkit say his mother's eyes.

"Y-your eyes! That fox-hearted Skyclan warrior blinded you." Squirrelkit led his mother to the elders den.

"Oakkit?" she sniffed around.

"I'm here momma," said a pained voice. Stormkit padded over to Tawnyheart.

"Your eyes! What happened?" she squeaked.

"It was a fox-hearted Skyclan Warrior!" Squirrelkit roared, he swung a moss ball into the air then clawed it to several tiny pieces.

"Your making a mess Squirrelkit!" Treepath grumbled. Oakkit trembled and he cried.

"I-it h-hurts Squirrelkit," Squirrelkit padded over to his brother.

"What can I do?"

"My paw burns really bad, and its spreading up my leg." he complained. Squirrelkit called for Juniperclove after he looked over Redbark. He repeated what Oakkit had told him.

"He has a fever, a really high one by the looks of it." Juniperclove lightly picked up Oakkit and went to the medicine den. Squirrelkit followed.

"Lavenderfrost, Oakkit has a fever," Juniperclove called across the den. She padded over and sniffed Oakkit.

"Squirrelkit back away," she said, whisking him away with her tail. "That's yellow cough," she whispered to Juniperclove.

"We don't have any lungwort," he replied. Squirrelkit padded out of the den, and slipped out of camp when nobody was watching. He smelled the air and saw the moor, it had to be Windclan. He had heard tales of ancient Shadowclan having a bad yellowcough outbreak. His pads began to sting, so much walking he thought to himself.

He reached the border and wrinkled his nose. He put one paw over the border, then kept walking. He heard a patrol.

"Intruder!" a voice sounded, then pounced on him. He squealed as weight was pushed on him.

"Bramblecloud its just a lost Riverclan kit, get off!"

"Then what are we supposed to do with it Quietfoot?"

"I... I need lungwort for my brother Oakkit, he has yellow cough and he broke his shoulder."

"That'll be up to Ramstar to decide." Bramblecloud sharply nodded.

"Or, Ramstar doesn't need to know and we give the kit some lungwort. Do you see how exhausted he looks?" Quietfoot padded away then came back with some leaves. "Here. Bramblecloud, Ramstar needn't hear about this."

"Oh alright."

"Thank you Quietfoot!" Squirrelkit said over his shoulder.

"I hope Oakkit gets better!"

Squirrelkit broke into a run, he didn't make it very far, but he was able to to just slip back into camp.

"Found some," he panted. Lavenderfrost looked bewildered.

"Softtar just sent a patrol to go look for you!" Lavenderfrost took the lungwort and gave some to Oakkit.

"Just tell him I was playing hide and seek in here." he said licking his sore pads.

"That's not how it works Squirrelkit," Lavenderfrost said sternly.

"You could've been killed!" Juniperclove hissed.

"But I wasn't," Squirrelkit shrugged.

"How... How did you even make it there and back? How did you know the way?" Lavenderfrost looked up from Oakkit.

"I walked until I smelt something that wasn't familiar," he wrinkled his nose. His paws were bleeding, he winced as he drew his tongue over his pads.

"Your pads are swollen, get the little yellow flower," Lavenderfrost called over her shoulder. Squirrelkit sniffed around.

"This one?" he pulled out the flower that matched her description.

"Exactly that," she said only looking up for a moment. He chewed it into a pulp and spread it over his pads.

"Why don't do take this celandine and put it on your mothers eyes," Juniperclove padded to him and set down a flower that looked like a daisy, but it was yellow and only had four petals. He picked it up and padded to the elders den, careful not to tread on his swollen pad.

"Who is it?" Tawnyheart sniffed.

"Me," Squirrelkit replied, his response muffled by the celandine. He padded to his mother and began chewing the flowers into a pulp, he used his tongue to smooth it over her eyes. She winced as the juice seeped into her eyes.

"You gotta ask Juniperclove for cobwebs and some moss," Treepath said, as she squinted across the den.

"Okay, I'll be right back," he nuzzled his mother.

"Who is it?" Juniperclove sighed as he sorted through herbs.

"Me. Treepath said I need cobwebs and soaked moss."

" 'Course she did..." he muttered as he grabbed some cobwebs.

"Pick up a piece of moss, dip it in the stream and follow me," Juniperclove said as he sniffed Oakkit who would occasionally wince in his sleep. He then trotted to the elders den.

"Squeeze the moss over her eyes and then I'll put the cobwebs." Squirrelkit firmly grasped the moss and squeezed it over his mothers eyes. Robincall limped in, his shoulder covered in a poultice and cobwebs.

"Tawnyheart!" he limped faster and almost tripped.

"I thought I told you to go and rest," Juniperclove snarled as he nudged Robincall out of the den. Squirrelkit heard Robincall's mews of protest die down, as he limped to his nest. Squirrelkit watched Juniperclove lay the cobwebs over his mothers eyes, then he went over to the medicine clearing.

"Oakkit?" he whispered. He walked over to his brother. His fur was plastered to his body. Squirrelkit licked his brothers pelt. Oakkit woke up.

"Squirrelkit?" he moaned.

"I'm here," he licked his brothers ear, "Are you okay?"

"My shoulder aches a bit, but the burning sensation is gone."

"That's good, you want some water?"

"Yes please," Oakkit winced as he adjusted himself. Squirrelkit grabbed some moss from a pile, and dipped it in the stream. He padded back to his brother.

"Here,"he laid it in front of Oakkit's muzzle. He lapped it quickly. Stormkit padded in.

"You're awake!" she mewed. She purred and licked her brothers ears.

"Stretch as far as you can!"

"I'm trying to Squirrelpaw."

"You almost got it! One more time after this and you can go train with Swiftferret," Squirrelpaw blinked.

"I got it!"

"Great job Oakpaw! Now just do it one more time, I'm gonna put it just a bit farther," he said sliding the moss ball a little farther. Oakpaw reached out and grabbed it easily.

"Come back after training so I can look at your shoulder again," Squirrelpaw purred as he licked his brother's ear.

"Can she show me battles moves today?" he asked.

"That's if she's up for it then of course." Oakpaw padded over to his Swiftferret where she was talking to her daughter Kestrelbrook.

"Where is your sister?" Swiftferret asked.

"I think Littlefish went out with Redbark," she replied.

"I'm ready for training Swiftferret!" he mewed excited.

"Alrighty!" she nuzzled her daughter and purred a quick good bye. Oakpaw padded after Swiftferret into the forest.

"Squirrelpaw said I can do battle moves now."

"That's good. We'll start on that then," she stopped and faced Oakpaw when they'd reached the training area.

"I want you to headbutt my shoulder to unbalance me, then try to get under me. Think you can do that?" Oakpaw nodded and crouched.

"Go." Oakpaw slithered forward and went to headbutt Swift ferret's shoulder, but she was quicker. She used her tail to sweep him off his paws. He landed with a grunt.

"Try again, but tuck in your paws, and do something to catch me off guard." Oakpaw crept closer then reared up, as he'd hoped so did Swiftferret. He dropped back down and headbutted her shoulder and pummled her underbelly with sheathed claws.

"That was good!" she heaved herself to her paws. She sat down.

"Did I hurt you?" Oakpaw fretted.

"No, just having kits again," she panted.

"Swiftferret! Why didn't you tell me? I kicked your belly and now I've probably hurt them," he looked panicked. She laughed.

"You didn't kick the kits," she purred, "Lets get back to camp though." She heaved herself to her paws.

"You're very sure?"

"Very," she grunted as she slipped through the reed barrier. She padded over to her mate Rainjay. He looked up from his conversation with his mother Treepath. He licked his mother's ear then padded over to his mate. Swiferret started panting again.

"Are you okay?" he sniffed her for injuries.

"I'm fine," she panted.

"Should I tell Softstar?" Oakpaw asked his mentor silently.

"No, I'll tell him later," she insisted.

"Tell him what?" he looked at her, his eyes squinted.

"Nothing, come with me. Littlefish, Kestrelbrook, come with me and your father," she called to her daughters where they were sharing tongues. They trotted after their mother and father as they slipped out of camp. Oakpaw sat down on the shore of the river running through camp.

He watched the water, careful not to cast a shadow. He saw a fish slowly swimming by, he jumped into the lake splashing Stormpaw and Harestream. He grabbed the fish and dragged it to the shore.

"Wow! That's even bigger than you Oakpaw!" Stormpaw squeaked amazed.

"Bass are big, but I've never seen one that big..." Harestream gasped. She padded to her mate Whiteheather, her swollen flanks swaying slightly. She murmured something and he padded over.

"Thats a great catch Oakpaw," he sniffed the fish, "I heard Swiftferret is expecting again, I could ask Softstar to be your mentor for the time being."

"I accept your offer, but I think I'll wait till Swiftferret is ready to move to the nursery." he said tentatively.

"Until then, my offer still stands," he purred. Oakpaw nodded his head in thanks then padded over to Swiftferret as she returned.

"How'd it go?"

"Rainjay was thrilled, Kestrelbrook is a little worried. And Littlefish isn't happy because she is expecting kits and she thinks the attention will be all on me," she sighed.

"Well, she is missing out," he sharply nodded. She purred in laughter.

"Well maybe. Maybe not, we'll hunt tomorrow," she blinked softly.

"Okay!" Oakpaw said bye to his mentor then went to see Squirrelpaw.

"This one is feverfew, and this one is borage," he pointed at the herbs with his paw, his eyes were closed.

"Right! Now... what is this one?" Juniperclove set little white flowers in front of Squirrelpaw. He sniffed it.

"Yarrow."

"You getting good at this!" Juniperclove praised. Squirrelpaw opened his eyes and saw his brother.

"There you are! I think his shoulder has finally healed right," he looked to his mentor.

"That's good," he nodded as he looked at Oakpaw's shoulder.

"Time for your stretches. You shouldn't have to do them for too much longer," Squirrelpaw muttered feeling around his brothers shoulder. Oakpaw laid down.

"Today we're going to do swimming stretches," Squirrelpaw callled as he padded out of the den. Oakpaw got up and followed. He followed Squirrelpaw into the river. He let his paws off the ground then swam against the current.

"Good, just don't let the water take too much control of your body," Squirrelpaw was wading in the water. The current pushed the way he was swimming and he was carried upstream. Oakpaw freaked out because he couldn't find his footing.

"Whiteheather can you grab Oakpaw!" Squirrelpaw ran along the shore. Oakpaw felt teeth sink into his scruff. Whiteheather heaved him out.

"Current catch you by surprise?" he laughed.

"A little, thanks," he panted.

"Squirrelpaw!" Juniperclove poked his head out of the nursery, "Harestream started her kitting!" Squirrelpaw bounded across the camp, flying past Whiteheather. He slipped into the nursery after his mentor. Cedareyes, Harestream's father waited outside with Whiteheather. Her mother Honeycloud, was inside with her.

"You'll do just fine," she licked her daughter's ear. Harestream let out a groan as a convulsion passed through her. Squirrelpaw poked his head out of the den.

"Oakpaw can you go get some water-soaked moss!" Oakpaw sprung up and grabbed moss from the camp entrance and dipped it in the river. He slipped into the nursery.

"Here, "he set it down.

"Thank you. Whiteheather come get ready to meet your first kit!" Squirrelpaw called out. Whiteheather came in and crouched beside his mate. Juniperclove laid his paw on Harestream's side, she flinched as another convulsion came. She grasped the stick in front of her and pushed. A kit came out, Squirrelpaw nipped the sac and licked the kit to get it breathing. It mewled and squirmed.

"Say hello to your first daughter!" he laid the kit beside Harestream and let her adjust he kit before she was gripped by another convulsion. Another kit slid out, Juniperclove nipped the sac.

"Another she!" he laid the she beside Harestream. He laid his tail on her side. "That was the last one." he cleaned up the soiled moss. Whiteheather licked his kits.

"They're beautiful just like their mother," he purred. Harestream smiled, her eyes half-closed.

"I'll come check on you later," Juniperclove commented as he left the den. Oakpaw saw Littlefish's gaze boring into the back of Swiftferret's head as he left the den.

"Since Swiftferret is in the nursery, until she is able to continue her duties, Whiteheather will be Oakpaw's mentor," Softstar called loud enough for the camp to hear. Oakpaw touched his new mentor's nose. He looked over at Littlefish who was watching her kits play with Harestream's kits.

"Let's go practice battle moves," Whiteheather said.

"Okay!" Oakpaw followed Whiteheather to the training clearing. He smelt Swiftferret's scent, but it was fear-scent.

"Whiteheather."

"Yes?" he stopped and turned around.

"I smell fear scent, it's Swiftferret's." Whiteheather sniffed. Oakpaw snapped his head to his side as he heard a scream.

"It's Swiftferret!" he ran towards the scream, Whiteheather following close behind.

"You think your so important. Well your not!" the cat slashed Swiftferret's side, she screamed again. "Look at you, squealing like a kit because you can't take a hit!" the cat clawed her again. Oakpaw launched at the cat.

"Swiftferret!" Whiteheather sniffed over his sister. "Littlefish you traitor!"

"She deserved it! Stealing all the attention just because she was the deputy," she hissed.

"That doesn't mean your try to kill your mother!" Oakpaw growled.

"I was always the outcast! Kestrelbrook was always praised for the simplist of things, especially by our mother," she said the last word digusted, "While I was pushed aside. It hurt, she should feel what I felt for moons!"

"I-I was always proud of you Littlefish," she whimpered.

"What?" Littlefish was confused, "You're lying."

"I'm not, I was always proud of you. Do you not remember the times I tried to comfort you and you turned me away because you thought it was weak?"

"I do..." Littlefish said, her throat going dry, "And I just almost killed you oh my Starclan!" she ran over to her mother. Whiteheather stood protectively over his sister. He gently picked her up by her scruff an carried her back to camp. Oakpaw threw a hurt look at Littlefish. She followed, her tail and ears down.

Whiteheather padded to the medicine den.

"Dear Starclan..." Lavenderfrost rushed over. "What happened?" she sniffed Swiftferret who had started to yelp.

"Littlefish," Oakpaw said dryly.

"Well, she battled her like she was fighting a Shadowclan warrior, the kits are coming."

"Juniperclove!" Squirrelpaw yelled to his mentor who was tending to Harestream, he ran over.

"What's wrong?" he meowed.

"Swiftferret, and it's not good," Squirrelpaw slipped into the medicine den, Juniperclover right after him.

Swiftferret's gray speckled flank had dark red claw marks. She trembled, she held a stick in her jaw Lavenderfrost had provided her with. She shook violently as a convulsion hit her. Whiteheather laid his tail on her flank. Oakpaw had left and came back with Rainjay. He looked at his mate horrified.

"What happened?" he rushed to her side and pressed his muzzle to hers.

"Littlefish," Whiteheather said, flexing his claws out in front of him.

"But... Why?"

"She felt like Swiftferret was taking all the attention," Oakpaw growled curling his lip. Whiteheather got up.

"I don't want Chervilkit and Garlickit around her," he pushed his way out of the den. Littlefish wrapped her tail around Maggotkit and Silverkit as he approached. Swiftferret started to yelp as Juniperclove dressed her wounds.

"I know it hurts I'm sorry! Think of the beautiful kits you'll have!" Oakpaw slipped out of the den, he watched Littlefish leave camp, he followed her. She perched by the river and caught a fish, Oakpaw backed into a bush as she passed by. She picked up the fish but went the opposite direction of camp. She set the fish down and started smelling.

She smelt Shadowclan scent strong on the border of the Thunderpath. She padded onto the Thunderpath and sniffed. Oakpaw felt the rumbling of the Thunderpath before he saw the monster.

"Littlefish!" he yowled, she turned around and the monster hit her. Oakpaw rushed forward, Littlefish's neck was flattened. There was blood everywhere.

"L-littlefish..." Oakpaw pulled her off the Thunderpath by her tail. He lifted her onto his back and trudged back to camp. He was almost dragging himself by the time he got to camp. Redbark ran up to him.

"Littlefish!" he helped Oakpaw get her off his back. "What happened?"

"She smelt shadowclan, and she went onto the Thunderpath, I felt the monster coming. I yelled at her to get off. But it was too late." Oakpaw met Redbark's gaze, he searched through his gaze, but he was overcome by grief. Maggotkit and Silverkit came bounding out of the nursery.

"M-momma?" Maggotkit nudged his mothers head. Redbark pulled his kits close with his tail. Juniperclove was rushing out of the nursery with moss and dunking it in the river. Oakpaw followed him back into the medicine den.

Swiftferret's sides were heaving, and she had one bloody bundle of fur by her side. Lavenderfrost coaxed her to eat juniper berries and raspberry leaves. Squirrelpaw was dressing her wounds, and Juniperclove was cleaning the kit.

"Littlefish is dead," he muttered to his brother quickly telling him what happened.

"Rainjay, go get Kestrelbrook and follow Oakpaw," Squirrelpaw mewed looking up for a meer second. Oakpaw heard Rainjay's terrified yowl before he even looked. He stepped out into the clearing, where gathering cats were starting to whisper. Rainjay pressed his muzzle to his daughter's flank. He tepped back and sat down, his head bowed.

"Littlefish's death is a tragedy for Riverclan," Softstar's mew echoed around camp. "But we will thrive. Newleaf has brought us Maggotkit and Silverkit, as well as Marigoldkit and Garlickit." Softstar turned to Lavenderfrost as she swiftly pulled herself to where he was, she murmured something in his ear. "And Swiftferret's new kit, Mousekit!"

Yowls of happiness spread.

"Riverclan shall thrive! We will defeat and conquer whatever comes our way. Mousecatcher will be honored through this kit. Robincall please organize patrols, clan dismissed." Softstar leaped down from the wet rock and went into his den where he was greeted by Geckospots.

"Dandelionlight?"

"Yes Briartail?" Dandelionlight poked her head out of the warriors den.

"Need help?" Brairlight flicked his tail.

"Sure, just patching up some holes." Briartail took some reeds and walked around the outside of the den looking for holes.

"Rabbitriver, Leafgnarl, Woollybird and Stormpaw. You will patrol the Shadowclan border." The cats bounded out of camp. "Whiteheather, Redbark, and Oakpaw you'll hunt by the island." The cats nodded and left. "Birchwing, Foxpetal, Adderclaw, and Thrushcall. You will patrol the Windclan border." The cats gathered and left.

"Softstar, is there anybody in particular you want to lead the dusk patrol?"

"Geckospots, you and maybe Whiteheather. You can do the dawn patrol with whoever you'd like." Softstar padded to the prey pile and picked up a salmon, then padded back to his den. Robincall perked his ears. He heard yowling, Stormpaw came rushing into camp.

"Shadowclan was hunting on our land! Border squrmish!" she panted.

"Alderback, Blossombark, Fennelcrest, Mudwhisker lets go!" Robincall charged out of camp towards the Shadowclan border. Clumps of fur and dots of blood littered the floor. He threw himself into battle with a large cat that was attacking Leafgnarl. The cat had her pinned and was raking her belly. Robincall swiped at the cats ears and flank. The cat hissed and jumped off. Leafgnarl leapt up, fur bristling and leaped at the cat pinning him. The cat yowled as she sank her claws in, he wiggling out from under her and fled back into the pines.

Shadowclan was retreating! Robincall clawed at another warrior. His claw snagged on the warriors brown matted fur. The cat hissed and swiped at his muzzle and ears. He winced as the cat nicked his ear and raked his muzzle. This filled him with rage and he swiped feriously. The cat was surprised as Robincall bit into his shoudler, the warrior escaped his grip and ran off.

"Shadowclan retreat!" a cat through its head in the air and yowled. The cats turned tail and ran.

"Whose hurt bad?" Robincall surveryed the cats. Leafgnarl was limping, above Rabbitriver's eye was a gash. The other warriors were missing clumps of fur and had minor scratches. Mudwhisker collapsed. Robincall ran to his side. His flanks were heaving, blood was rushing from his shoulder.

"Somebody get help!" Alderback bolted in the other direction.

"Somebody go get cobwebs," Blossombark ran somewhere and came back hopping on three legs cobwebs on her fourth. Robincall grabbed it and pressed it into Mudwhisker's shoulder. "Hang on tight Alderback went to go get help." Robincall rested his head on Mudwhisker's flank.

He lifted his head when he heard acending foot steps. He got up and greeted Squirrelpaw.

"Alderback I need you to find me horsetail," Alderback nodded and ran off. Squirrelpaw pushed his paw onto the cobwebs. Mudwhisker cried out.

"Stop your hurting him!" Fennelcrest snarled.

"He's doing his job," Robincall said keeping his cool. Alderback came back. Squirrelpaw took the horsetail and chewed it into a poultice. He removed the cobwebs and smoothed the horsetail on, then put fresh cobwebs on.

"Robincall and Fennelcrest can you help him back to camp? Alderback you can help Leafgnarl. Blossomback and Rabbitriver if you're not too bad you can run along with me." Squirrelpaw ran back to camp to inform Juniperclove.

"Juniperclove! I've got Mudwhisker with a torn shoulder and Leafgnarl with a wretched paw. Rabitriver has a gash over her eye and the others have minor scratches." Squirrelpaw ran to the back of the den and grabbed herbs.

"I-I need to rest," Mudwhisker panted.

"We're almost there I know you can do it," Robincall leaned into Mudwhisker's flank careful not to rub off the poultice. He could tell Mudwhisker was in a lot of pain so he quickened his pace. As they reached camp, Robincall set Mudwhisker down in the clearing. Fennelcrest licked his blood soaked fur and murmured soothing words.

"Maggotkit, Silverkit, Garlickit, Chervilkit and Mousekit. Until you are warriors, you will now be: Maggotpaw, Silverpaw, Garlicpaw, Marigoldpaw, and Mousepaw. Maggotpaw, your mentor is Rabbitriver, Silverpaw your mentor is Woollybird. Garlicpaw your mentor is Leafgnarl. Chervilpaw your mentor is Stormfish. And Mousepaw your mentor is Oakfire." The clan bursted into excited yowls and chanted the names off the newly named apprentices. Softstar watched his clan as they left the clearing. The new apprentices were talking to their mentors. Fennelcrest was sharing tongues with Honeycloud in the entrance of the nursery, the swollen queens enjoying the sun. The elders were laying along the bank of the river. The medicine cats were sweeping old herbs out of their den with a branch thick with leaves. Mudwhisker and Cedareyes were coming back from a border patrol, they were in deep conversation. Acornleaf, Swiftferret, Harestream, and Goldenfeather came back from a hunting patrol.

Softstar noticed that Goldenfeather was starting to lag back on patrols. He wondered if he should ask if he wanted to join his mate in the elders den. He watched as Fennelcrest was followed by Squirrelcloud into the nursery. Honeycloud followed along. He decided to check on the young queen. He leapt down from his rock and padded to the nursery.

"You perfectly healthy. I do feel them kicking harder than last time," Squirrelcloud laid his tail along her flank.

"How is she doing?" Softstar meowed as he slipped in.

"She is doing just fine. Just the kits kicking again, I wanted to check up on her and make sure she was doing okay." Squirrelcloud padded out of the den followed by Softstar. Mudwhisker padded up to them as they left the nursery.

"Is Fennelcrest having her kits?" he looked from Softstar to Squirrelcloud.

"No, this kits are just kicking again I wanted to check if they were."

"Thank you Squirrelcloud," he dipped his head and slipped into the nursery. Squirrelcloud padded back to his den. Juniperclove was sorting herbs.

"Fennelcrest should be due any day now," he walked over to pile of new herbs.

"That's good. And Honeycloud?"

"Anytime today by the looks of it," Cedareyes poked his head into the den. "And that is my cue." Squirrelcloud grabbed some herbs and trotted to the nursery.

"Squirrelcloud, it's like you could read my mind," Cedareyes chuckled as he followed him.

"Maybe," he joked. He ducked into the nursery to see Fennelcrest licking the queen's ear.

"What do I do?" the panicked queen looked at Squirrelcloud. "W-Will she die like Jaypetal?" Squirrelcloud had never met Fennelcrest's mother Jaypatel. She had died during her kitting, Fennelcrest's father was in ShadowClan. He had helped RiverClan through hardship so he was welcome most of the time.

"I don't know," he answered honestly. "But you shouldn't worry, think of the kits."

"She'll be fine, Squirrelcloud is taking care of her," Cedareyes purred from where he was sitting by his mate. Fennelcrest seemed to take that for an answer. And shakily nodded her head.

"Juniperclove!" Squirrelcloud called out of the nursery. Juniperclove came bounding over.

"What is it?" Juniperclove looked at Honeycloud. The queens flank was swollen, and not from the kits.

"I think she's infected," Squirrelcloud murmured to Juniperclove. "And from what? I don't know."

"I'll get some coltsfoot and feverfew," Juniperclove ran out. He came back with the herbs.

"These are just some other herbs to make the kitting go smoother," he said as he watched the queen lap them up.

"S-squirrelcloud? Is her flank supposed to be swollen up like that?" Fennelcrest whimpered.

"No thats why I gave her herbs. Cedareyes, can you please step out so we have room?" Cedareyes nodded and padded out. He could hear the hushed voice of Robincall coaxing the tom to go hunt with him. "Fennelcrest why don't you go get Honeycloud some water-soaked moss?" Juniperclove suggested. Fennelcrest heaved herself to her paws and stepped out.

Honeycloud was breathing shallowly.

"Honeycloud I need you to stay awake," Junierclove urged. Her face contorted as a convulsion hit her. A kit came.

"It's a she!" Fennelcrest came back in. She set down the moss and sniffed the kit.

"Lick the kit to get it warm," Squirrelcloud called from where he was standing. Fennelcrest immeadiatly licked the kit.

"Juniperclove, examine the kit Fennelcrest has, I'll look for the source of infection," Juniperclove nodded and looked over the kit. The kit started to mewl, the cats laid it next to Honeycloud so she could suckle.

Honeycloud passed out.

"Honeycloud you need to stay awake!" Squirrelcloud was starting to rub a horsetail poultice on a nasty looking cut. He laid oak leaves over it.

"There's nothing we can do right now. Fennelcrest we'll be in our den, yowl as soon as something happens," Juniperclove cleaned the soiled moss. "Anything, even if she breathes funny. Anything, okay?" Squirelcloud looked at the queen.

"Anything, got it." The medicine cats went back to their den leaving Fennelcrest with Honeycloud. Juniperclove fell asleep, while Squirrelcloud went through the herbs. He heard Fennelcrest yowl. He ran out of the den, Juniperclove following blinking sleep from his eyes.

"What it is?" Squirrelcloud panted.

"Sh-she's awake," Fennelcrest had a relieved look. Honeycloud's gaze was clouded with pain. Squirrelcloud heard the thrumming of paws as Cedareyes charged into camp. Robincall followed close behind. Juniperclove was talking to Cedareyes.

"Honeycloud, how do you feel?" Squirrelcloud stroked the she's side with his tail.

"A stinging pain."

"Where?"

"It's a scratch. O-on my underbelly," she said nervously.

"When did you get this?" Squirrelcloud looked up.

"In a border squirmish with WindClan. I-I didn't think much of it. I wanted you to save your herbs for other cats."

"Honeycloud! This wound is infected, we always have enough herbs for every cat," Squirrelcloud checked her wound.

"I put herbs on here earlier, they seem to be working. Its just your foreleg rubbing against it." Squirrelcloud put more marigold on the scratch. Honeycloud relaxed into her nest. Cedareyes thrust his way into the den.

"Cedareyes she need to rest!" Juniperclove followed behind. Cedareyes trotted over to Honeycloud and started mumbling stuff in her ear. He licked his kit on their head.

"Have you decided on a name?" he looked up from the kit.

"I was waiting for you," she purred.

"I think her name should be Claykit."

"Junierpclove! Where is the borage?" Squirrecloud was frantically sifting through herbs.

" I was wondering the same thing!" Juniperclove was going through herbs on the opposite side of the den.

"Lavenderfrost!" Squirrelcloud yelled across the medicine clearing.

"What's going on?" she poked her head out from their nesting area.

"We can't find any borage and Fennelcrest is kitting!" Lavenderfrost stared wide-eyed at Squirrelcloud.

"Junierclove, go find some borage. If you have no luck, go to Quietfoot tell her I sent you." Juniperclove nodded and ran out of the den.

"Why in leafbare..." Squirrelcloud muttered grabbing other herbs. Lavenderfrost followed him to the nursery. Honeycloud was licking the queen's ear as she clenched a brittle stick.

"Honeycloud I need you to wake up a warrior and tell them to grab a thicker stick." Squirrelcloud padded by Honeycloud. She nodded then slipped out of the den. Mudwhisker came bounding in with a stick.

"Any other warrior..." Lavenderfrost muttered as she gave Fennelcrest the stick. Juniperclove came in panting.

"No borage, Quietfoot didn't have any either. Neither did Cloudstare. Cloudstare said she'd ask Garlicthroat."

"We might have a leafbare without borage," Squirrelcloud fretted. His ears perked.

"Intruder!" Maggotpaw's voice sounded around camp. Garlicthroat yowled as Maggotpaw landed on her. Squirrelcloud ran out of the nursery.

"Maggotpaw! Garlicthroat is a medicine cat, she has permission to be on our territory!" Maggotpaw got off Garlicthroat and pinned his ears and tail.

"Sorry Garlicthroat..." he mumbled.

"My apologies Garlicthroat."

"All good. I heard you didn't have any borage?" Garlicthroat shook her pelt.

"Yes, and we've asked Quietfoot and Cloudstare and they said they were fresh out." Squirrelcloud bit his lip.

"Well, Cloudstare just supplied me a few sunrises ago, so who knows with her. Shadowclan is flourishing with borage so I have no idea why she did... But I have a few leaves to spare." Garlicthroat set down the leaves in front of Squirrelcloud.

"Thank you! You're a life saver," he purred. He pressed his muzzle to hers.

"I should get going."

"I would go, but we have a queen kitting." Squirrelcloud motioned for Mudwhisker who paced outside the nursery. He trotted over. "Mudwhisker, can you escort Garlicthroat to the border? I don't want her to run into a fox."

"Of course," he dipped his head then padded out of camp alongside Garlicthroat.

"Three kits Squirrelcloud!" Lavenderfrost purred as he walked in.

"I just sent Mudwhisker off, he'll be back shortly-" Mudwhisker ran up behind him.

"A patrol came and got her at the border." Squirrelcloud nodded.

"Come meet your kits." Squirrecloud backed out of the nursery, Lavenderfrost and Juniperclove followed.

"Let all cats old enough to swim the rapids gather beneath the wet rock for a clan meeting!" Softstar yowled. Squirrelcloud noticed how tired and ragged his leader looked since his mate had died from greencough.

"Fennelcrest and Hoenycloud have brought new warriors to the clan. Please welcome Claykit, Cedarkit, Marigoldkit, and Mottledkit." the clan bursted into cheers.

"Clan dismissed..." Softstar leapt off the wet rock and landed clumsily. Acornleaf walked up to him but he shrugged her off and went into his den. Squirrelcloud went to Softstar's den den and called out a greeting. He heard a gruff, "Come in."

"Ah, Squirrelcloud. To what pleasure do I owe you?" Softstar chuckled.

"Nothing really. How are you doing Softstar?" Softstar sighed

"Not too good if I'm being honest. With Geckospots gone, and I'm on my last life... I don't know how much longer I can keep it up." Softstar's body shook as he let out a violent cough.

"Is there anything I can do to help?" Squirrelcloud searched his leader's blank gaze.

"You can send Robincall my way please."

"I will do that, and I'll be back with catmint."

"Save that for other cats," Softstar shook his head. Squirrecloud padded out of the den.

"Robincall!" his father looked up from where he was talking to Tawnyheart. He licked her ear then bounded over.

"Is something wrong, Squirrelcloud?"

"Nothing, Softstar wants to see you is all," Squirrecloud flicked his tail. Robincall smiled and pressed his muzzle to Squirrelcloud's before he padded to his leader's den. Squirrelcloud trotted to his den and grabbed catmint. He went back to Softstar's den. He heard Robincall's frantic mews.

"Softstar!" Squirrelcloud rushed in. His father was nudging his leader. Robincall looked up, eyes wide.

"Clan meeting!" Squirrelcloud scrambled out of the den onto the wet rock. Cats creeped out of their den, eyes bleary from sleep. "Softstar has gone to join Geckospots in Starclan!" Cats wailed from the gathered crowd. Robincall timidly stepped up beside him.

"Riverclan will still be as strong as if Softstar were l-leading," Robincall said shakily. He looekd over at Squirrelcloud"Breath"  Squirrelcloud mouthed. Robincall took a deep breath, and turned back around.

"Before I journey to moon pool, I shall appoint a deputy. I say these words before the body of Softstar, and hope that Starclan approves of my choice. Dustcreek is the new deputy of Riverclan." Dustcreek stared blankly his mouth gaped at Robincall. Stormfish covered her mates ears in a series of licks. He turned to her and smiled then looked back up at Robincall.

"Th-thank you. I will do my best to serve the clan well." Robincall nodded his head after he finished.

"If that is all for now, I'm going to moon pool with Squirrelcloud, Dustcreek is in charge. Clan dismissed," Robincall leapt off the wet rock and followed Squirrelcloud out of camp.

"I hope you haven't ate recently," Squirrecloud joked.

"I don't even think I could. I feel like I just ate mouse bile."

"So. What happened in the den after you went in?" Squirrecloud asked curiously, slowing down his pace to match his fathers.

"I called a greeting and he welcomed me after I was called in. And he said, 'Your time is coming sooner than you may anticipate. I trust my clan in your paws and will watch over you from Starclan' then he started to have a coughing fit and he convulsed." Robincall shuddered and gulped.

"Take your time..." Squirrelcloud said. Robincall looked over and half-heartedly smiled then continued.

"I tried shaking him to see if the fits would stop. And thats when you came in." Robincall looked forward with a somber expression.

"There's nothing you or I could've done," Squirrelcloud reassured him. "Here we are..." he gestured with his tail. Robincall silently followed Squirrecloud.

"Lap some of the water and lie down," Squirrelcloud lapped some of the water. Robincall did the same. He was thrust into darkness as the icy water burned his throat. He opened his eyes in the moon pool. Squirrecloud sat at a distance. Robincall tried to walk over to him, but his paws were stuck to the ground. He turned around to see starry cats in front of him.

"Greetings, Robincall." It was Softstar! Robincall tried making his way towards him.

"I'm sorry I could help you." he said.

"There was nothing you could have done, it was my time to go. With this life, I give you persistence. To show others you can keep going even when you feel you can't." he touched his nose to Robincall's forehead. He unsheathed his claws feeling pain like thorns stabbing him. Another cat stepped forward.

" Jaypetal..." he breathed.

"I have seen you my child. You will do great things. With this life, I give you a mothers love. Use it to show people you will do anything to protect your clan." she touched her nose to his forehead. He didn't expect the pain to be worse than the first one. He held in a yowl. Another stepped forward.

"You won't remember me. But I remember you."

"Owlkit... I could never forget." he whispered.

"The river wasn't your fault. It was my idea, I made you come. With this life, I give you courage, use it to show others you can do what it takes." he dipped his head so Owlkit could reach. Owlkit reached up on his tippy toes and touched Robincall's forehead. He felt like he was full of energy.

Littlefish gave him the life of rest. Mousecatcher gave him the life of swift abilities. Chickfeather gave him the life of trust. Larkwing gave him the life of guidance. Sunclaw gave him the life of battle-readiness. Grassbranch (his grandmother) gave him the life of forgiveness. And Rainthroat (his father) gave him the life of wisdom. Another cat he didn't recognize stepped forward.

"I am Molefly, a past medicine cat before Hawkfeather. From this moment forward, you are now Robinstar. But I must warn you, 'Be wary of the red stripes that catchs the yellow trail' " Robinstar woke up.

"Did... Did you see that?" Squirrecloud's gaze was confused.

"Yes, it made no sense but I'm sure you'll figure it out, lets go." The cats walked back to their camp in silence. Robinstar dipped his head to Oakfire who was on guard.

"Welcome home, Robinstar." Robinstar stepped forward and nuzzled his son.

"You can retire for the night, let Harestream do the rest of the night." Oakfire nodded and slipped into camp after Robinstar. Robinstar quietly padded to the warriors den. The cat he saught was missing. He yawned and stumbled to his den.

"You stayed late," his mate purred.

"I looked for you and here you are," he purred. He curled up around his mate.

"You can tell me about it tomorrow," she whispered as they drifted into sleep. Robincall woke as sunlight seeped into the den. He stepped over Tawnyheart and quietly padded out to where Dustcreek was assigning patrols.

"When the dawn patrol gets back, I want Kestrelbrook, Redbark, and Woollytail to patrol the Shadowclan border. I want Dandelionlight, and Briartail to go hunt. And I will lead a patrol along the Windclan border with Stormfish and Mudwhisker." the cats he listed nodded and broke into groups.

"I knew I chose right," Robinstar murmured as he padded up to Dustcreek.

"I really appreciate you doing it, thank you. But... Why me?" he asked looking up from his paws.

"I see the way you treat Stormfish. You're great with training the apprentices when the mentors are busy. When we're shortened on apprentices I know the elders are always being taken care of. And you are like a mother in the nursery."

"I won't let you down," Dustcreek dipped his head.

"I know you won't," Robinstar smiled. "Oh, and Dustcreek?"

"Yes, Robinstar?" Dustcreek turned back around.

"Congratulations to you and Stormfish from Tawnyheart and I. The nursery will be crowded but there is always room to expand." Dustcreek looked surprised, he looked down and scuffed the ground with his paw.

"Thank you, Robinstar." Dustcreek dipped his head and bounded over to join his patrol. Robinstar watched the patrol leave. He turned over to the nursery. He ducked into the den.

"Honeycloud, Fennelcrest you are both I well I hope?" he looked between the queens.

"I am good," Fennelcrest purred as she nudged her kits. Robinstar looked to Honeycloud.

"I think I need to talk to Squirrelcloud but other than that I'm just a little thirsty." she resumed grooming her kit.

"I'll get one of the apprentices to bring you water, and Ill go get Squirrelcloud." he backed out of the den and stretched. He watched one of the apprentices stir. He strained to see who it was.

"Mousepaw, can you please get the queens some water?"

"Yes Robinstar!" she dragged her dead leg behind her. A long trailing scar stretched along her leg, a cut she was born with that affected the growth of the leg. She had gotten in when Littlefish had attacked Swiftferret when she was expecting kits. Everybody had expected her to take the path of a medicine cat. But she had been determined to prove everybody wrong. He watched as she held her head up high making sure the moss didn't drag on the ground. He made his way to the medicine den.

"Squirrecloud?" he looked around the den. The den was deserted. He stepped out and looked around the camp. He looked in each of the den to find them empty. He looked across at his den, from where he stood at the entrance. There was a ginger-golden cat. He watched it stare into the distance. It locked gaze with Robinstar. A black tiger looking creature with red stripes pounced on the ginger-golden cat. Robinstar watched horrified as it attacked the cat. He bolted towards it and pounced on it. He heard a yowl. He looked down to see Tawnyheart.

"Have you got bees in your brain? Get off!" she batted at his muzzle. He leapt off and smoothed his ruffled fur.

"Are you okay?" he looked her from nose to tail.

"I'm fine. Are you okay?" she demanded.

"F-fine now," he panted.

"I-I need to talk to the medicine cats and Dustcreek when he gets back."

"I guess that leaves me out..." she started to pad away.

"Not neccessarily," he called after her. She turned around and padded back to him.

"Good," she purred. She wound herself around him. He purred and nuzzled her. Stormfish padded over.

"Hi Stormfish," Tawnyheart purred nuzzling her kit.

"Hi Tawnyheart, Robinstar." she dipped her head.

"Stormfish. How are you?" Robinstar wrapped his tail around Stormfish as she sat in between them.

"Nervous I suppose."

"Honeycloud!" he sprang up and ran to the medicine den.

"Squirrelcloud!" he barked.

"Did I break the warrior code?" he grumbled as he woke up.

"No, Honeycloud needs to see you. I had forgotten. I need to speak to you and the rest of the medicine cats when Dustcreek gets back." Squirrelcloud nodded then walked over to the nursery.

"Honeycloud?" he called out.

"I'm here," she turned her head. "I think the get it getting worse, it stings." Squirrecloud padded over and looked at it.

"It's actually scarred up," he said confused. "Where is the pain coming from?"

"The scratch."

"Point where it's directly coming from." she pointed directly under the scracth where a bump was forming.

"I've never seen a bump like this... We might have to remove it, it looks bad. Lavenderfrost!" he called out of the den. The she padded over and slipped into the den.

"What is that?" Squirrelcloud pointed to the bump.

"That, is a tumor," she sighed.

"And that is deadly?"

"Yes! She could die unless we remove it. Immeadiately."

"How do you do that?" Squirrecloud asked confused.

"We give her a bunch of poppy seeds, cut it open and take it out," she nodded slowly.

"You what?" Honeycloud snapped her head up.

"You won't feel a thing," Lavenderfrost reassured her.

"But what if I don't make it?" she fretted.

"We'll do everything in our power to make sure you do," Squirrelcloud murmured. "By the way, once Dustcreek gets back, Robinstar wants to see us." he dipped his head and padded out. Dustcreek was coming into camp, blood gleamed from his nose as the sun hit it.

"Dustcreek!" Stormfish rushed from Tawnyheart and Robinstar's side. Dustcreek squirmed as Stormfish licked his scratches.

"What happened?" Robinstar asked padding up to the cats.

"Owl," Mudwhisker looked around wearyly. Whiteheather padded next to him.

"After we heard something I sent Stormfish home, and she sent Whiteheather," Dustcreek reported. He twined his tail with Stormfish as she pressed against him. He cried out. Stormfish ripped away and inspected his side.

"So you're not fine?" Whiteheather raised his eyebrow.

"I-it's just a bruise," he grunted through gritted teeth.

"It's not a bruise if blood is coming out of it," Juniperclove pointed out as he walked up. "Come lie down in my den," he sighed.

"I'm fine, I'll be fine." he pleaded trying to convince Juniperclove.

"Your not fine until I say you're fine," he snorted. "Let's go." Juniperclove trotted back to his den.

"Please just go, it'll be all right I'll come with you," Stormfish whispered as she guided him to the medicine den. Later on there was a yowl from the medicine den. Tawnyheart's hackles raised.

"I'll check it out stay here," Robinstar mumbled. He catiously made his way to the medicine den. He walked into the Stormfish holding down a wriggling Dustcreek.

"What happened?" he quickly took Stormfish's place.

"He has an Owl talon stuck under his rib!" Juniperclove yelled as he pulled the talon at an awkward angle. Robinstar sat on Dustcreek's hind quarters and used his front paws to hold down Dustcreek's front legs. Juniperclove grunted with effort and pulled out the talon.

"I got it!" Dustcreek relaxed and panted. Robinstar got off Dustcreek. Stormfish took his spot and licked his ears.

"It's over," she whispered."You're okay. I'm right here, I won't leave."

"Actually you might just for a moment, Stormfish. I need to speak to the medicine cats and Dustcreek," Stormfish looked from her leader to her mate. She sighed.

"I promise I'll be right outside if you need me." she rested her muzzle on her mate's, then heaved herself to her paws and left. Tawnheart padded in as she left. Her eyes widened as she saw Dustcreek.

"Dear Starclan..." she sat next to him and groomed around the wound that was now covered. Robinstar thought for a moment, then dived into his dream.

"And that's when I broke him out of his trance." Tawnyheart looked up from grooming her own pelt.

"It surprising you can still partly see..." Juniperclove muttered as he checked her eyes.

"What do you think that means Lavenderfrost?"

"Be wary of the red stripes that catchs the yellow trail' " Lavenderfrost stared blankly for a moment.

"I don't know... I haven't had any signs. But I'll let you know, same for these two." Robinstar nodded and slipped out of the den, Tawnyheart at his side. Stormfish went into the medicine den from where she was pacing. Lavenderfrost followed Squirrelcloud with a wad of moss. Squirrecloud carried a heavy ladden lambs ear leaf.

"Everything all right Lavenderfrost?"

"All fine!" she called over her shoulder. "Maggotpaw, Silverpaw, Marigoldpaw, and Mousepaw come here!" The four apprentices looked from where they were playing and ran over to Lavenderfrost. Mousepaw started to run and tripped. Oakfire rushed over and heped her to her paws. Chervilpaw snickered. His mentor Redbark cuffed his ears. Chervilpaw murmured an apology and followed his mentor out of camp. Mousepaw touched noses with her mentor and ran over to Lavenderfrost.

Stormfish steadly padded from the medicine den. She went and laid next to her brother. They started to share tounges. Robinstar watched as each apprentice had a kit at their side when they padded from the nursery. Fennelcrest watch the apprentices take them into the clearing, then went and laid with her mate. She watched her kits as her mate groomed her pelt. Robinstar turned and saw Honeycloud following Lavenderfrost and Squirrelcloud from the nursery to the medicine den.

Robinstar padded after the three cats. He saw that Juniperclove had moved Dustcreek to the medicine cat nesting area.

"Lavenderfrost?" Robinstar looked around questioningly.

"She has a tumor, we're removing it." Lavenderfrost stated plainly without looking up. Robinstar heard his clanmates hissing. He backed out of the den. The apprentices were ushering the kits into the apprentice den. The elders were rushed into their den by Stormfish who guarded the entrance. He watched a familiar face slip through the entrance bush.

"Fernleaf-" Tawnyheart breathed. He turned to her.

"I came to see my kits. I was wondering if I could join? If it is okay with Softstar of course. Hello Robincall," Fernleaf dipped his head.

"That would be up to me, Robinstar." Robinstar flicked his tail. "I will discuss this with Tawnyheart and my deputy, give me a moment."

"Thank you Robin...star." Robinstar narrowed his eyes and beckoned Tawnyheart. He trotted into the medicne den.

"Dustcreek, are you awake?" he called.

"Yes," came a hoarse voice.

"Fernleaf is here asking if he can join," Tawnyheart said quietly.

"I don't have a problem, but it's an extra mouth to feed," he coughed.

"True, thank you. Get your strength up," Robinstar rested his muzzle on Dustcreek's forehead then retreated back to Fernleaf. He was inching closer to the apprentices den.

"Fernleaf," Fernleaf jumped as his name was called. "You may join. On a condition."

"Anything," he said without hesitation.

"You stay away from the kits until the queens are comfortable with you."

"That's it?" he laughed.

"Or you could clean at the elders den for the amount of time you've been gone," Fernleaf stopped laughing. He nodded then padded off.

Squirrecloud laid a layer of moss under Honeycloud. She laid down. Squirrelcloud made a makeshift holder for her leg. Lavenderfrost sharpened her claw on a stick.

"What do we clean the area with?" Squirrecloud looked over at the herb store.

"Water, and marigold juice. Don't forget the seeds!" Squirrecloud grabbed the leaves with poppy seeds. He pulled out five, he slid them to Honeycloud. She ate them. Lavenderfrost watched her slowly fall into a deep sleep. Squirrecloud chewed marigold and put the juice with water on some moss. He rubbed it on the area. Lavenderfrost carefully cut the scratch with her claw.

Squirrelcloud used moss to dab some of the blood. Lavenderfrost curled her lip as she carefully cut around the tumor, dettatching it from its surroundings. After awhile, she pulled it out. She laid it on an elder leaf. Squirrelcloud soaked the excess blood. Lavenderfrost tied the elder leaf with a needle of grass. Squirrecloud chewed up horsetail and spread it over the cut. He laid cobwebs and oak leaves on it. Lavenderfrost took rosemary and waved it in front of Honeycloud's nose. Her eyes fluttered open.

"How are you feeling?" Lavenderfrost dabbed her head with water soaked moss.

"Sore, but okay for the most part."

"You have a slight fever but its nothing bad. Heres some feverfew," Lavenderfrost set down a few flowers of feverfew. "I'm gonna have to wake you up every once in awhile but for now you're fine," Hoenycloud smiled and drifted back to sleep. It was dark by the time Squirrecloud had cleaned up. He went out of camp to dispose of the soiled moss. He dug a hole and dumped the stuff in the hole. He scratched the loose dirt over it. He felt a paw over his eyes.

He yowled and slashed wildly.

"Wow wow wow! Calm down son!" a voice said.

"Wh-who are you?" he looked around not seeing anything. Fernleaf came out of the bush. "O-oh. It's just you." he panted and nervously laughed.

"What are-What are you doing here?"

"I'm here to do what I should have down years ago. I'm gonna be a father. I've come back to Riverclan." he smiled

"See you've been gone so long I don't even remember you. Robinstar is my father."

"No, I am. I am your real father. You look just like you grandmother Foxpetal. How is she by the way?" he asked.

"Retired with Thrushcall, Birchwing, and Adderclaw."

"Ah."

"B-but. I have Robinstar's same white mark," he lifted his foreleg to show a squiggly star shaped white blotch.

"Really... That rat heart really did have kits with him!"

"Hey! Don't call her that! She's done a better job than you at being a parent."

"You are just another mistake, Oakfire is definitely my son. And Stormfish... Just a Darkforest ridden accident." he snorted. Squirrecloud felt his rage boil inside him. He leapt at Fernleaf and tore at his soft pelt. Fernleaf was surprised. Squirrecloud let out a warning yowl. He winced as Fernleaf tore at his exposed under belly, but her kept tearing at his chest. Fernleaf rolled out from under him, causing Squirrecloud to slap his chin on the ground. Fernleaf pinned him and pressed his head into the ground.

"Bet you wish you were a warrior," he whispered, then started chuckling. Oakfire came tearing out of the bushes. He bowled over Fernleaf.

"You're banished! Get off my land!" he bellowed. Fernleaf panted.

"I didn't like this clan anyway. Keep your maggot infested crowfood of a mother and the mistake and the Darkforest accident. But I want you, the actual warrior."

"Not your warrior. Especially when you call my mother 'maggot infested crowfood' and my little brother a mistake. And especially-"

"For calling me a Darkforest accident." Stormfish finished. Fernleaf laughed.

"What is a half-dead medicine cat, a warrior who would dare never attack me, and a fat kittypet gonna do?" he launched at Stormfish.

"Back off! Or I slash her throat." Oakfire backed up. Stormfish went stiff. Fernleaf took a claw and dragged it down her side. She let out an earsplitting yowl. Oakfire pounced at Fernleaf causing him to let go. Oakfire gave him the death blow. Fernleaf was weakened. He dragged himself into the bushes. Oakfire ran back to Stormfish who was crying out as Squirrecloud examined her scratch despite his injuries. Oakfire let at an earsplitting yowl of warning, but paw steps already thrummed the ground. An attacked patrol that consisted of Tawnyheart, Dustcreek, Mudwhisker, and Mousepaw. Robinstar in the lead.

"What happened?" Robinstar ran over to Stormfish but was beat by Dustcreek.

"Stormfish!" he buried his muzzle in her fur and licked her scratch.

"Sh-she'll live." Squirrecloud panted. Dustcreek let Stormifish lean against him, pain glistened his eyes, but he kept silent. Oakfire slipped his brother onto his back and carried him back to camp. Juniperclove murmured to Starclan as the cats came into camp. Stormfish and Squirrecloud got treated. Dustcreek laid with Stormfish.

Lavenderfrost woke Honeycloud then padded to Stormfish. She laid her tail on her growing belly, then slid her paw over her flank and belly.

"The kits seem to be fine," she squinted. "I think I can even see a tail," she joked.

"Where?" Dustcreek sprang to his paws and inspected Stormfish. Stormfish and Lavenderfrost howled with laughter. Stormfish told him to lie back down. He flopped back down and grumbled under his breath.

"Keep your head up and your eyes open," Juniperclove said as he patched Squirrelcloud's underbelly. Squirrecloud grunted with effort to keep his head up. His screwed his eyes shut as Juniperclove put dock on his scratches.

"Eyes open!" Juniperclove snapped cuffing Squirrelcloud's ear. His eyes shot open. Squirrecloud's eyes began to water. Tawnyheart laid under his head, he relaxed his head on her flank. She groomed his face. He suddenly felt like he was back in the nursery.

"Juniperclove when you finish, you can leave him in that nest for tonight," Lavenderfrost smothered horsetail pulp and cobwebs onto Stormfish's cut. Squirrelcloud watched the world go dark. He started to dream.

He saw a yellow butterfly land on a flower, he crouched and leapt at it. It flew out of his grasp. He followed behind it. He stopped abruptly when a streak of red zoomed past him and pounced on the butterfly. Squirrelcloud watched horrified. He woke up to a drip on his nose. He looked up and saw water slowly dripping onto him from a hole in the reed barrier. He groaned. He saw the gentle rise and fall of Stormfish's flank. Dustcreek silhouetted against her. He looked around.

The sun gently poured into the den, and it was raining. He looked over at his flank. He winced as he moved his hindleg. One of the cuts was stinging. He put his nose to it gently, it wasn't hot. And it wasn't red. He heaved himself to his paws. He limped over to the herb storage and grabbed comfrey.

He limped back and flopped down on his nest. He growled as water steadily dripped down his back. He chewed up the comfrey and smoothed it on the cut. He sighed and relaxed as it seeped in.

"What are you doing?!" Juniperclove yelled as he bolted across the den. He snatched the remainder of the comfrey that was lying next to Squirrelcloud. Dustcreek's head snapped up. He watched perplexed.

"My cut was stinging so I was putting comfrey on it," Squirrelcloud panted. He stared wildly at Juniperclove.

"It could be infected! You need to ask before you use her-"

"I'm a medicine cat too! It's not infected!" Squirrelcloud yowled getting in Junipercloves face. Tawnyheart and Robinstar came rushing in. Tawnyheart murmured soothing words and and helped him lie back down. Juniperclove clenched his jaw.

"Juniperclove, come with me." Robinstar motioned. Juniperclove stomped over. Robinstar raised his eyebrow. Juniperclove put his ears down and walked side-by-side with Robinstar.

"So. What happened this morning?" Robinstar asked once they'd reached the lake.

"Squirrelcloud was using comfrey," he huffed.

"And, this is bad?" Robinstar turned to look at him.

"No. But it could've been infected. And I could have lost-" Juniperclove snapped his jaws shut and stared forward.

" 'Lost him'?"

"Y-yeah." he shakily exhaled.

"What makes you say that?" Robinstar asked.

"When Tawnyheart was expecting him when I was just an apprentice, Fern- you-know-who asked me to take her prey. And when I did, she was gone," he gulped, then continued, "she was cornered by a rogue when I found her. If I had found her any time later, she could've died. An-and I wouldn't have been able to save her. I mean, I was barely able to save her when he raked her flank!" Robinstar started snickering.

"What, what's so funny?" Juniperclove faced Robinstar.

"Juniperclove. You fret too much. You did save her. And she is fine to this day. If you keep living through the past, you won't be able to make the most of the present, and make memories for the future. You get what I'm saying?" Robinstar turned to him.

"I do now. Thank you, Robinstar."

"I'm glad you understand better, now lets go," he got up and playful nudged Juniperclove. When the cats got back to camp, everybody was awake and moving around. Robinstar dipped his head to Juniperclove and went to talk to the warriors.

When Juniperclove came into the den, Squirrelcloud was sleeping and Stormfish and Dustcreek were sharing tonuges. He grabbed comfrey out from the rock cleft and brought it over to Squirrelcloud. He chewed it into a poultice and smoothed its onto Squireccloud's scratches.

Squirrelcloud untensed and stretched. He yawned and look up at Juniperclove.

"Had a change of fur huh?" he teased. Juniperclove snorted and rolled his eyes. He continued to smooth the poultice.

"He decided to let me live Stormfish!" Squirrelcloud called over to his sister. Stormfish mrowed with laughter.

"For now," he teased. Squirrelcloud dramatically gasped.

" "For now' he says," Juniperclove cuffed his ear then rolled his eyes. Dustcreek stroked Stormfish's side with his tail.

"Let's go sit in the sun," she grunted as she heaved herself to her paws. Dustcreek stretched and got up.

"Dustcreek!" Robinstar called.

"I'll be right back," he nuzzled Stormfish, then scurried over. Oakfire motions for Stormfish. Stormfish went and laid with her brother and shared tongues. Mousepaw came scampering up to Oakfire.

"Let's go train!" she shuffled her paws.

"Okay okay!" Oakfire stood up. "Wanna come, Stormfish?"

"Sure!" she stood up. She followed Oakfire and Mousepaw out of camp.

"I can, thank you Robinstar." Dustcreek dipped his head and looked around for Stormifish. He didn't see her, and started assigning patrols. He started to freak out after all the patrols had come back nobody had seen Stormfish. At sundown Stormfish walked into camp with a vole in her jaw. She was laughing at something Oakfire had said. And Mousepaw was on her other side explaining something. She stopped as Dustcreek walked up to her. She set down her vole.

"Hey you!" she purred.

"Where have you been?" he demanded, "I've been worried sick!"

"She was with me," Oakfire said.

"And you were letting her catch prey? Do you know how close to kitting she is?"

"Calm down Dustcreek! Mousepaw caught it, and she caught it for you! I'm not a kit." Stormfish huffed. She stalked off to the nursery.

"Stormfish!" he called.

"Leave her be," Oakfire snarled. Mousepaw dragged herself to the nursery.

"Oh and she can go?" Dustcreek said dramatically.

"Yes! Now stop being a mousebrain," Oakfire shook his head and put the prey on the pile. Mousepaw happily dragged herself out of the nursery.

"You look very happy." Oakfire smiled when Mousepaw walked up.

"She said I could name the first kit!" she said happily.

"Well that's cool!" Oakfire touched his tail tip to Mousepaw's shoulder.

Oakfire and Mousepaw walked off side by side. Dustcreek pinned his ears to his head. He dragged his paws towards the nursery.

"Stormfish?" Dustcreek slowly creeped in. Fennelcrest was sharing tongues with Honeycloud, while Stormfish watch their kits tussle around. Fennelcrest looked up.

"Mottledkit, Marigoldkit, Cedarkit it's time for bed," Fennelcrest yawned stretching.

"That means you too Clay kit," Honeycloud called over her shoulder. Lavenderfrost walked in.

"Stormfish, I don't even know why you went outside of camp or even left my den, let's go. You too Dustcreek," she sounded over her shoulder. Stormfish grunted as she heaved herself to her paws. Dustcreek walk next to her. Stormfish slightly leaned against him. Stormfish winced as she laid down. Dustcreek curled around her.

Lavenderfrost put more poultice on her scratch.

"Dustcreek, nevermind you're good to leave the medicine den," Lavendersrost started going through herbs. "Stormfish... you can lay in the nursery. But if I hear Dustcreek have another fit because you left camp, I will have to have you stay in here, after I clamp his mouth shut." Stormfish started snickering.

"C'mon then Stormfish," Dustcreek let her lean against him and led her back to the nursery. Stormfish laid down. Cedarkit woke up and watched them.

"I'm sorry I freaked out earlier," he whispered as he curled around Stormfish.

"It's okay," she sighed. "I just wish everybody would stop treating me like a kit."

"I know, and I'm sorry that I did earlier. Would you like to come out with me tomorrow?"

"I would love to," Stormfish purred. Dustcreek nuzzled her gently.

"Clan meeting!" Robinstar's ywol echoed around the desolate clearing. Cats emerged from every den, bleary eyed. \

"Today, we will prepare for leafbare. I want everybody to make sure that the fresh kill pile is well stocked, all of the dens are patched, and our barriers are reinforced. Dustcreek will assigneverybody to a certain group for tasking. Clan dismissed," Robinstar leapt of the rock and headed towards the medicine den. Everybody started to crowd around Dustcreek.

"All of the apprentices come forward!" All of the apprentices made their way through the crowd. "I have a specil task for you. First, I need you all to go help the medicine cat make sure they're well stocked on herbs. After that I want you to see to all of the nest being changed out."

"Yes Dustcreek!" came scattered replies.

"Acornleaf, Tawnyheart, Mudwhisker, Cedareyes, Rabbitriver, and Woollybird, I need you all to make sure the dens are all patched and secured. Kestrelbrook, Redbark, Dandelionlight, and Briartail, I want you to make sure the prey pile is full so that we are full tonight, we don't know how much longer we'll be eating good. Harestream, Whiteheather, Oakfire, Blossombark, Alderback, Rainjay, Swiftferret, Sunclaw, Spotclaw, Cloudcry, and Moosefur. I want Harestream, Oakfire, Rainjay and Alderback to reinforce barriers. Whiteheather, Blossombark, and Spotclaw will patrol the Windclan border. Sunclaw, Cloudcry, and Moosefur to do the Shadowclan border. And I will help the apprentices and queens." All the cats names he listed filed into groups and started doing their assigned task.

Dustcreek padded to the nursery.

"I have come to clean your bedding," he announced.

"Thank goodness," Honeycloud sighed.

"Let's go play!" Fennelcrest sang. She ushered the kits out with her tail. Stormfish staid in her nest as everybody left.

"You okay?" Dustcreek tilted his head and nudged his mate.

"Yeah," she sighed.

"Wanna help me?"

"Sure," Stormfish stumbled to her paws, only to fall back down.