"What?!" Flamepaw gasped.

She could feel the stares of her clanmates burning into her. Wolfstar looked at her with a questioning gaze.

"Yes, your mentor is Shadowheart. If you don't like it, I'm sorry." Wolfstar meowed sternly.

Flamepaw dug her claws into the ground. Could Wolfstar not clearly see that Flamepaw despised Shadowheart? Why would she do this to her?

She's as cruel as Starclan!

Shadowheart, looking pleased, stepped forward.

He bent down to touch noses with Flamepaw,"I'm sorry for your loss."

Flamepaw reluctantly touched noses with him. Letting a growl rumble in her throat, she stepped back. The clan was still looking at her with wide eyes.

Wolfstar was still staring at Flamepaw, her eyes narrowed.

"The meeting is over!" Wolfstar called over her shoulder, as she jumped down from the ledge.

She padded over to Flamepaw, "In my den...now."

Flamepaw nervously nodded. She cast a glance at Goldenpaw, who was looking at her with sympathy in her eyes.

Let's get this over with.

...~...~...~...~...~...

Wolfstar settled down into her nest after she had brought Flamepaw into her den.

"Well?" She meowed.

Well what? I don't even know why she brought me in here!

Flamepaw sighed,"What?"

Wolfstar rolled her yellow eyes, "Why did you do what you did out there?"

Flamepaw felt embarrassed, but she was still upset with her leader.

"I just, don't particularly...like Shadowheart." Flamepaw studdered.

I'm in big trouble.

Wolfstar narrowed her eyes,"Why?"

I can't tell her! She would think I am crazy! Shadowheart is one of her best warriors!

"Well, um, because..." Flamepaw searched her mind for a believable lie. "Because, I think he was in love with Greycloud. And I just um..." Flamepaw's voice trailed off.

Really, Flamepaw? That's the best you can come up with? That's seriously unbelievable.

Wolfstar looked surprised, "Oh? I never really noticed." The she-cat shrugged, "Well, just try to listen to him the best you can. He's one of my best warriors, I think he will teach you a lot."

Flamepaw sighed. She was sure that Blackfrost could teach her just as much as Shadowheart could. Maybe even more!

"Anyways, that's no excuse for acting the way you did, even if you don't like him. As your punishment, you will have to clean out the elders den all day tomorrow, and tend to the elders." Wolfstar meowed sternly.

No! Not the elders!

"Even though you don't deserve it," Wolfstar began, "I am taking you to the Gathering tonight. It is about to start very soon."

Flamepaw dipped her head respectfully at her leader. Though she was excited about the Gathering, a pang of sorrow stabbed her heart. Jaggedfang would not be with her.

She's probably letting me go to take my mind off of Jaggedfang's death.

"Go on then! We are about to leave." Wolfstar urged Flamepaw out of her den.

Flamepaw flicked her ears, then skirted out of the leader's den.

...~...~...~...~

Cats were already milling about by the clan entrance,when Flamepaw come out of Wolfstar's den. Addertooth, Blackfrost, Tigerfang, Brackenpelt, Runningspirit, and Snowstorm were waiting.

Goldenpaw was showing Badgerpaw the correct way to do a hunters crouch. When Goldenpaw saw Flamepaw coming, her eyes lit up.

"Hey! Are you in big trouble?"Goldenpaw asked urgently.

Flamepaw shrugged, "I guess I'm not in that deep of trouble because I'm coming to the Gathering."

Goldenpaw gasped, "Really?" She sighed, "You can tell that Wolfstar favors you."

Flamepaw widened her eyes,"What? No she doesn't! She gave me the worst men-"

"Ready to go?"

Flamepaw whipped around to see Shadowheart hovering over her.

"Um, yeah." Flamepaw mewed quietly.

I really hope he wasn't listening to our conversation!

Flamepaw looked over her shoulder, Goldenpaw and Badgerpaw were trying not to laugh.

They're lucky they don't have a horrible mentor!

She felt Wolfstar walk past her.

"Before we go, let me just say this. Jaggedfang was a loyal and courageous deputy. He will be missed greatly. Even though he may have died, his spirit will always be among us, in Thunderclan!" Wolfstar meowed clearly.

Suddenly, every cat in the clan began calling out her mentor's name.

"Jaggedfang! Jaggedfang!Jaggedfang!"

Though her mentor and mother were gone, Flamepaw felt a renewed strength. She couldn't let her loss get in the way of being a good warrior!

Flamepaw turned around to look at the clan entrance. Her eyes widened.

Bluestar and Firestar stood there.

Am I the only one seeing this?

Bluestar opened her mouth to speak, "Be strong, Flamepaw."

Firestar stepped forward, "We are always watching."

Flamepaw nodded her head to the leaders. She closed her eyes and thought about her past.

Greycloud would always be watching her, and so would Jaggedfang. Her clan would support her, and Bluestar would guide her.

I can't let my past control me. I must be strong. For my clan, for Greycloud, and for Jaggedfang.

When Flamepaw opened her eyes, the two leaders were gone.