Nightkit glanced at her mother, her gaze flashing. "Are they back yet?" She inquired for the tenth time.

Fawnfur sighed. "No. Aren't you tired? Don't you want to go back to sleep with your brother?"

Nightkit lashed her tail, turning her head to stare out of the nursery again. "No. I'm not tired."

Earlier that day, ThunderClan scent had been discovered on the border. Oakstar had gone with a patrol to question the forest Clan peacefully, but every cat was still tense. It had barely been three moons since a bloody battle with ThunderClan. Nightkit glanced at the broken nursery wall that was slowly being rebuilt, reminiscing the horror she had felt when her mother had pushed her and Duskkit deep into the moss nest.

Fawnfur turned to her kit. "Are you cold? You're shivering." She curled her tail around her black kit, concern dancing in her eyes like fire.

"I'm just worried about the patrol. What if they're attacked in the  ThunderClan camp? They wouldn't stand a chance." Nightkit murmured quietly.

Fawnfur licked Nightkit, pride in her eyes. "Oh," she squeaed, "look at my little warrior already!"

Nightkit's fur bushed up, then settled. She squeezed out of her mother's choke-hold. "They're back!" She sprinted out of the nursery, the light of the moon making her pelt glow. She stopped just in time to hear Echowing interrogating the patrol.

"Where have you been?" She screeched, voice shrill.

Most cats would have taken offense to the she-cat's sharp tone, but Nightkit knew she had just been worried about her Clanmates.

Oakstar placed his tail on Echowing. "ThunderClan didn't take it too well," he meowed in a defeated tone. "We were chased out. We're lucky to have made it out without any injuries."

"Lucky?" Rosefeather rounded on her leader. "Those snakehearts were lucky I didn't rip into them! How dare they?"

Honeyheart nodded, agreeing with the russet she-cat. "I doubt StarClan will be very happy with them. It was dishonorable. We came in peace."

Oakstar pointed his tail towards the warrior's den. "Go rest. I'll call a Clan meeting so we can discuss this."

Nightkit stared at the warriors, rage on her face. How dare they? She knew that honor in ThunderClan was rare, but not to this degree.

Fawnfur glanced at her kit. "Let's get back to the nursery. They need their rest."

As Nightkit padded back to the bramble den, her tail lashed. "Are we going to attack?" She asked her mother.

Fawnfur stared at her daughter for a few heartbeats, deep in thought. "We might. If I were Oakstar, I would want to wait until the Clan recovers. Then, when ThunderClan thinks we forgot..." She slashed a thorn-sharp claw through the air.

Nightkit observed her mother, grinning. "You'd make a good deputy."

Fawnfur smiled. "I'm flattered, but we already have a great deputy." She nosed Nightkit towards the nursery. "Now come on. We need to sleep."

Nightkit sighed. "But I'm not tired. And I want to hear Oakstar's announcement."

Fawnfur yawned, her eyes slits. "Fine. We'll stay up. But only for tonight. And don't tell Duskkit." She glanced  her other kit, love shining in her eyes.

Nightkit observed her mother. She was the role model queen, sweet and kind towards her kits, but protective and loyal to her Clan. It was a shame her father couldn't be the same. Beetlewing never really paid attention to his kits anymore. Fawnfur said he was busy with his warrior duties, but Nightkit doubted it. All the other toms had time for their sons and daughters.

Fawnfur padded outside. "Ok. You can come out now."

Bouncing around outside, Nightkit closed her eyes and breathed in the crisp scents of ShadowClan. Pine with a hint of prey drifting from the fresh-kill pile. She loved the way the grass feels beneath her paws and the way the fallen leaves of leaf-bare crunched. She opened her eyes, ear hot. Fawnfur was staring at her, amused. "Where do you want to go?"

"Can we visit Blazefur and Foxpaw? I want to watch them sort herbs. Or better yet, treat a cat!"

Fawnfur curled her tail. "I'm sorry, Nightkit, but I don't think we should bother them."

Nightkit studied her paws, dissapointed. "Ok. Maybe we can get out of the camp?" She asked hopefully.

Fawnfur purred. "Nice try, but you have to wait until you're an apprentice. You only have a few days left, be patient."

Nightkit's ears pricked. "I can't wait! But I'm going to miss you."

"I'll still be here," Fawnfur meowed.

She looked up, hearing a yowl, just to see Oakstar calling the Clan together. The muscular tom dipped his head when a crowd began to form.

Nightkit trotted over, Fawnfur behind her. Spotting her father, she wondered if her mother would join her mate, but Fawnfur's gaze turned cold when she spotted him. Were they fighting? Nightkit shivered and tried to ignore it. She noted how much smaller the crowd seemed whithout most of the warriors.

Nightkit looked up when her leader began to speak. His eyes were tired and empty, missing their usual gleam.

"As most of you know, a peaceful patrol was sent out earlier today to communicate with ThunderClan. That patrol was composed of me, Honeyheart, Rosefeather, Wolffur, Pebblepelt, and Addertooth." He meowed grimly. "ThunderClan refused to listen to us and chased us out. We were very close to getting injured."

Yowls of outrage rose from the cats, disapproving of this news. Shadeclaw stepped forward. "We should attack!"

Birdsong nodded. "They should be punished."

Fawnfur rounded on her Clanmates, hissing. Nightkit could see the similarities between her mother and her sister, Rosefeather.

"Nonsense! Our Clan can't handle another battle! Have you forgotten our most recent battle? Do you believe ShadowClan can handle that again?" Fawnfur reasoned furiously.

Oakstar nodded thoughtfully at the queen's words. "That does make sense. But how do we get the message across that this was unacceptable?"

Pebblepelt lifted his tail. "We could mention it at the gathering. Surely the other Clans wouldn't approve?"

Nightkit observed her Clanmates going back and forth in admiration. This was how a Clan really needed to function, with every warrior providing.

Oakstar stood, silencing the murmurs coming from the crowd. "It's settled then.  We'll wait, then mention it at the gathering. After that," he narrowed his eyes, "they'll pay."

Fawnfur nodded in satisfaction at this plan.

"Echowing and Shadeclaw, you'll be guarding the camp. That is all."

The two warriors took their places in front off the camp entrance, ears pricked and eyes narrowed. Nightkit noticed how jumpy the whole Clan seemed to be. Although no cat would admit it, ThunderClan's actions had shaken them.

Nightkit followed her mother into the nursery. Her head swarming with thoughts, she sunk deep into the moss nest. Yawning, she closed her eyes. Fawnfur curled around her kits.

Nightkit faded off, breathing slow, just as her mother whispered a soft "Goodnight."

》》》》》》》》》

Nightkit groaned as she felt a paw prodding her awake. Blinking her dark blue eyes open, she looked up. Foxpaw was standing above her. "You're finally awake. I need you to come with me." Her voice cracked. "Something horrible has happened."

Nightkit shot out of her nest, fur bristling as she processesed this new information. "What? What's happened?"

Foxpaw lowered her head. "Your father was out on patrol. They spotted a badger. He fought bravely, but he is severely injured. He might not make it. We thought you should see him. Your mother and brother are already with him."

Nightkit's eyes flashed with shock. "Why didn't they wake me up before?!"

Foxpaw shrugged. "T-they thought you should sleep," she stammered.

"Thought I should sleep?" Nightkit hissed. She sprinted out of the nursery, not caring when she bumped into several warriors. Foxpaw ran after her.

"Nightkit, wait!"

Nightkit ignored the red apprentice, ran into the medicine den and gasped at the sight in front of her

Beetlewing laid in a moss nest, his fur matted with blood and mangled. His eyes were open and glassy. Fawnfur sat by her mate, eyes pained. She didn't even look up when Nightkit entered.

Next to him lay Honeyheart. Rosefeather was next to her sister, russet fur ruffled.

Nightkit felt a pang of anguish for her mother. To have two cats you loved... she couldn't even bear to think of the word. Her whole world felt as if it was crashing down on her. She screwed her eyes shut.

"Nightkit?"

She opened her eyes to see Duskkit staring at her.

Nightkit opened her eyes as she took in the scene. Blazefur had approached Fawnfur and Rosefeather. He whispered something in their ears.

Fawnfur let out a wail of grief. Rosefeather just closed her eyes and looked away, pain plastered on her face.

Nightkit understood after a few seconds. Her father had gone to StarClan. Judging by Rosefeather's reaction, Honeyheart had faced the same fate.

The black she-kit felt numb. Somewhere, deep inside there was grief, but for now, all she could feel was nothing.

Duskkit's ears folded against his head and he exited the medicine den. Nightkit was tempted to follow him, to share the burden of their crushing grief, but she decided not to disturb him.

Nightkit also realized she felt...guilt? She felt guilty that she didn't feel sadder. How come she hadn't broken down like Fawnfur, or at least showed some sign of pain like Rosefeather? Disgusted by her own reaction, she turned around, unable to look at the two bodies being dragged into the clearing for the vigil.

A voice echoed in her ears: "The night will be filled with rain many times, but the rose will come. It will come very soon."

Nightkit let out a yelp as the chilling voice filled her mind. She frantically looked around, wondering what the source of the voice had been. She narrowed her eyes. It must have come from somewhere. Though she doubted it, it could have just been her imagnation. As she dismissed the strange occurrence, the pain returned. It wrapped around her like tendrils, digging thorns into her so it was almost impossible to pull away.

She padded outside just in time to hear Oakstar finish.

"...The new deputy will be announced at moonhigh, when I make my decision. Now, let us grieve for our fallen Clanmates." He leaped down from the Dark Rock, grief plastered on his face.

Nightkit joined the cats, her tail low. This was a sad time for the whole Clan. Maybe sharing her grief with her Clanmates was best.

Fawnfur wailed softly for her sister and mate. Rosefeather just stared at the two bodies, eyes slits. Nightkit sensed she was hurting, just on the inside.

Duskkit had dissapeared into the nursery and still hadn't come out. Concern for her brother weighed Nightkit down even more.

She closed her eyes and silently prayed to StarClan for their safe passage.

》》》》》》》》

After what seemed like an eternity, Oakstar got up and shook out his pelt. Nightkit suppressed a hiss when dust ruffled her fur. He leaped up, taking his place on the rock again.

His voice was sad as he looked down at his Clan. "Honeyheart was an amazing deputy. She waa fierce in battle and a loyal warrior, but held a soft spot for her Clanmates. She will not be forgotten quickly. But now it is moonhigh, and a new deputy must ne chosen to keep the Clan strong."

Nightkit felt her breath catch in her throat as his gaze landed on her for a split second. He scanned the crowd, then stopped next to Fawnfur.

"Rosefeather, you will be the new deputy of ShadowClan."

Rosefeather stepped forward, dipping her head. "I accept." She meowed.

Nightkit detected a hint of pride in her voice.

Rosefeather turned to her Clanmates, her eyes flashing with fire. "I promise to be one of the best deputies this Clan has ever seen." Her voice became soft. "That spot, of course, is reserved for my sister."

Yowls from the cats signaled the Clan's approval. Feeling a rush of excitement pulling at her, Nightkit joined in, her voice loud.

Fawnfur also joined in, yowling for her sister.

Oakstar raised his tail for silence. The Clan instantly quieted.

"There is something else that must also be done tonight. Nightkit, step forward."

Nightkit felt joy course through her. An apprentice at last! Stepping forward, she raised her tail high with pride.

"Nightkit, from this moment on, you will be known as Nightpaw. Your mentor will be Rosefeather. I hope she passes down her bravery and skill in battle to you."

As Nightpaw and her new mentor touched noses, she felt a surge of fear rush through her. She's just the deputy, she mentally calmed herself.

"Duskkit, step forward."

Nightpaw's eyes glittered with panic. Was Duskkit still in the nursery? Was he going to make a fool of himself in front of the whole Clan?

The black she-cat let out a sigh of relief when she witnessed her brother stepping forward. Leaftail had probably fetched him during her ceremony.

"From this moment on, you will be known as Duskpaw. Your mentor will be Pebblepelt. I hope he passes down his strength to you."

Duskpaw stepped forward, his gaze sad as he touched noses with the tom.

Nightpaw felt her heart break for her brother. She hadn't realized how close he had been to their father.

She felt a pelt next to her and nearly jumped out of her fur. Nightpaw relaxed when she relaized it was Foxpaw.

"How does it feel to finally be an apprentice?" She asked, studying the new apprenice.

Nightpaw shrugged. "I guess it's okay. I don't know, I just wish it was at a happier time."

Foxpaw nodded, observing Nightpaw with her strange speckled eyes.

Feeling slightly unnerved at the medicine cat's strange behavior, Nightpaw backed away. "Well, I have to go talk to Fawnfur," she meowed quickly.

Nightpaw hurriedly made her way towards her mother, slamming into some cat on her way. Dazed, she looked up. Her ears grew hot when she realized it was her mentor. "S-sorry," she squeaked like a kit.

Rosefeather looked down at her apprentice. "It's fine. Now, I think you should go rest. I have your nest ready for you in the apprentices den."

"But I want to see Fawnfur!" Nightpaw protested.

Rosefeather raised her tail. "Your mother needs some time."

"But-"

"It wasn't a suggestion." Rosefeather meowed crisply, turning back around.

Nightpaw let out a tiny hiss and trotted into the apprentice's den.

The pine den looked more inviting than the nursery. It was empty except for Sparrowpaw, who was making her den, she presumed. He bunched the last clump of moss together, then turned around.

"Oh, hi, Nightpaw." He greeted the black-furred apprentice.

"Hi." Nightpaw responded. She made her way to the back of the den. "Is that my nest?" She pointed at the one he had made with her tail.

"Yep. I added extra feathers for you." He chirped.

Nightpaw lashed her tail,  still in a bad mood. "Thanks, Sparrowpaw."

He ducked out of the den as she curled up, noting the absence of her mother. Her pelt felt cold without her mother in the same nest.

Stop being such a kit! She scolded herself.

Closing her eyes and trying to clear her mind from the thoughts that kept buzzing around in it, she slipped into a deep sleep.

So this is basically my own Warriors super edition. You won't get anything if you don't read the series!