That morning, the silver trainee was not woken by the gentle voice of her mentor.

No, today she was woken by a rarity-- the sun and the chattering of the few birds that lived anywhere near the FloraClan camp.

Robinpaw yawned and stretched, a sudden wave of worry shooting through her. Why hasn't Foxtail woken me up?

"Robinpaw! Quailpaw's going to become a full member today!" The excited voice of Thrushpaw caused the silver she-cat to turn and face her friend.

Wow! How exciting! thought Robinpaw giddily, sleepiness for once not clouding her thoughts. "So, are our training sessions not happening today?"

Thrushpaw nodded enthusiastically. "It's one of the only days we can sleep in and play all day!"

"And talk," mewed a new voice.

Robinpaw turned to face the light grey she-cat, curious. For a moment the hunter was unfamiliar, then something clicked as she recognized her as the cat that had taught her how to properly pounce. "Larkfoot! I haven't spoken to you in moons!"

Larkfoot purred. "Not moons, Robinpaw. It hasn't even been two moons yet."

Robinpaw flicked her tail in dismissal. "What does it matter?" She paused, turning and studying the other cats in the den. "Where's Quailpaw?"

"Hunting, I'd imagine," mewed a black-and-white tom gruffly. "Isn't that all you hunters ever do?"

Deerleg purred, twining her tail with his. "Now, now. Be nice, Crowclaw. We're the ones feeding you, after all."

"Fine," he muttered, acting offended, but Robinpaw noted that he didn't retract his tail from hers.

"Are the others hunting as well?" asked Robinpaw, looking curiously for her mentor.

Larkfoot nodded. "With less of us hunting than usual, the others have to hunt more." She must have noticed the look of guilt that covered Robinpaw's features, as she quickly added: "The trainees always have the day off, as they're working harder than the rest of us, and everyone else has a rotating schedule."

Robinpaw nodded. "Then why is Quailpaw hunting?"

"It's her last day," Larkfoot explained. "I suppose she wants too. Besides, I'm sure she wants to spend time with my brother."

"Owltalon?" inquired Thrushpaw curiously. "But isn't he a fighter? Why would he be hunting?"

"I'm sure he's there to 'protect' her," Larkfoot explained. "That's what they do." She rolled her eyes. "And of course he would. Haven't you seen the way they look at each other?"

Robinpaw pricked her ears. This was news to her.

"Oh, come on! Has no one else put together that that's why they're both so sulky? They're not allowed to be mates until they're both full members." Larkfoot sounded almost insulted that she was the only one who'd figured it out.

Deerfoot, on the other hand, looked a little doubtful. "Sure. We'll see."

There was a sudden thundering of pawsteps outside the den, and the rest of the hunters and fighters walked in.

Swallowpaw sat down next to Robinpaw and gave her a weary sigh. "Hi."

Robinpaw nodded in greeting, searching the den for Quailpaw. Her gaze locked with Kestrelwing's, and she broke away awkwardly. Turning to Thrushpaw, she prodded her with her tail. "Where's Quailpaw?"

Thrushpaw flicked her tail helplessly. "I don't know."

"All cats old enough to serve meet under the Great Tree!"

Robinpaw and the rest of her den padded toward the Great Tree, where Quailpaw was already waiting, Owltalon beside her. Larkfoot sat down next to her littermate, mewing something the silver she-cat couldn't make out and gesturing towards Quailpaw teasingly.

Robinpaw settled down next to Thrushpaw and Swallowpaw, full of anticipation. Someday she would be having this same ceremony. It seemed impossible.

"Thrushpaw," she said softly, "can you believe that we'll have do this someday too?"

Thrushpaw shook her head, purring. "No, I can't."

A grey pelt brushed against her own, stopping and sitting down almost reluctantly. "Robinpaw? C-can I sit here?"

"Greypaw!" exclaimed Robinpaw, recognizing her brother. "Of course!"

Marigoldflower lifted her tail to silence the Clan. "FloraClan gathers here today to witness the ascension of ranks of one cat from trainee to full member. Quailpaw, step forward"

Quailpaw did so obediently, her tail twitching with either excitement or nervousness; Robinpaw wasn't sure.

Roseflower leapt down gracefully from her spot on the tree, stopping in front of Quailpaw. She looked at her with something akin to pride, and Robinpaw wondered curiously if she had been Quailpaw's Tester.

Roseflower placed her paw on Quailpaw's head, closing her eyes to remember the words. "Oh, Sun and Moon, the givers of light and life, look down upon me to approve my choice. Quailpaw, you have proved an excellent contributor to the Den of Hunters and Warriors. Your excellent fish-catching and patience are held in the highest regard by every member of FloraClan. Deerfoot, is your trainee Quailpaw prepared to take on the role of a full member of the Den of Hunters and Warriors?"

Deerfoot straightened in her place next to Crowclaw. "She is, Leader of the Flowers."

"Then by the power granted to me by my position, I give you your name. Quailpaw, from this moment on, your name shall be Quailwhisker, in honor of your careful planning and infinite patience. The Den of Hunters and Warriors welcomes you as a full member."

Quailwhisker stood high and proud, her eyes sparkling with emotion as the Clan called out her new name, "Quailwhisker! Quailwhisker! Quailwhisker!"

"As is the custom, tonight you will stand guard for the Den of the Lesser Leaders. I am sure that the Lesser Leaders will sleep safer knowing that you are guarding them," mewed Marigoldflower from the tree, before hopping down. "Dismissed."

The other nine leaders descended as well, landing lightly on their feet and returning to their den.

Robinpaw noted keenly that Quailwhisker walked almost immediately over to Owltalon, where they quickly twined tails. It seems that Larkfoot was right, she thought, purring at the thought.

Slowly, the rest of FloraClan began to disperse, and Robinpaw felt Greypaw get up to leave.

Robinpaw laid her tail across his back, forcing him to sit back down. "Do you have to work today?" she asked curiously. Was the practice of trainees getting the day off only in her den?

Greypaw hesitated, then shook his head. "Not right away."

"Then...will you talk to me?" asked Robinpaw.

Greypaw flicked his tail. "Sure." He paused, turning to look at someone waiting patiently beside her. "Um, who's your friend?"

Robinpaw suddenly remembered that Thrushpaw was still beside her, Swallowpaw having left quietly sometime before. "Oh! Right. Uh, Thrushpaw, this is my brother Greypaw. Greypaw, this is my friend Thrushpaw."

"Nice to meet you," mewed her friend politely, inclining her white head.

"Likewise," muttered Greypaw, staring determinedly at his paws.

Robinpaw turned her gaze back to her brother. Something was off. "Greypaw? What's wrong?"

"Nothing," he replied, still not meeting her gaze. "It's just...you're a hunter, you know?"

How is that a problem? "So?"

"I'm not supposed to talk with my superiors."

Oh. All of a sudden, everything made sense-- him cautiously making sure he could sit next to her, then his reluctance to talk to her...all because someone said she was better than him.

Suddenly FloraClan didn't seem so great anymore.

"I'm your sister," insisted Robinpaw, guilt and anger coursing through her veins. "You can always talk to me."

"You can always talk to me too," put in Thrushpaw, who Robinpaw had nearly forgotten was there. She felt a rush of gratitude towards the white she-cat for being so kind. There was some kind of pity and empathy in her eyes as well, almost as if she knew how he was feeling.

Robinpaw wondered which of the Lesser Leader trainees was her sibling.

"Thanks," mewed Greypaw, finally meeting their gazes.

Robinpaw purred. "No problem." The silver she-cat paused, wondering whether or not to ask the question she was yearning to ask. "What's it like? Being a Servant."

Greypaw flicked his tail non-comitantly. "It's fine. Exhausting, I guess. But fine."

Clearly, that was all he had to say on the matter. Robinpaw exhaled sharply and dropped the matter. "More importantly, Greypaw, how are you?" she asked.

He twitched his ears thoughtfully. "Not bad. Not the happiest, I suppose, but there are things that make it not as bad."

As he spoke, his eyes flicked toward someone over Robinpaw's shoulder, and she poked his shoulder teasingly. "Does my brother like somebody?"

Greypaw licked his chest, embarrassed. "Be quiet, Robinpaw."

Thrushpaw turned to look in the direction that Greypaw had. "I wonder who it is...hmm, Fawnpaw, perhaps?"

The reaction was unmistakeable; Greypaw ducking his head head and shrinking back. "Shh."

Robinpaw purred along with Thrushpaw, stopping only when Larkfoot gently prodded her shoulder. "Robinpaw? Thrushpaw? It's time to go."

With a wave of her tail as she departed, Robinpaw's dark thoughts once away spiraled away into the wind.

Happy Holidays, everyone! I hope you've enjoyed this chapter! Sorry it's one day late (because YES, procrastinating Ember has made herself a schedule-- every Saturday!). Agh I have so many ships...

Yes, authors can ship their own characters. I'm not weird or something. I think.

Anyway, what do you think of the new characters I've introduced? Reactions to Greypaw's return? And, ah, do you have a favorite ship?

I just realized that maybe I'm the only one with ships. And I'm the author.

Kay, enough rambling! Merry Christmas, Hanukkah and Kwanzaa!

~Ember