Vinekit was given the pleasure of becoming an apprentice on time, but she didn't seem as excited as everyone expected. She went on about how she had a dream where she sat on the high tree above everyone else. Yellowstone was calling to her, but the tree grew and grew and Vinekit was too scared to jump down. The kit then found herself in StarClan and woke up scared. Silverkit, Midnightkit, and Ravenkit were getting worried about there sister and wanted her to play, but she remained serious and calm.

Goldenpelt then had Mousepelt join her for hunting. They were the only ones walking out camp and Mousepelt wondered what the she-cat was thinking. Was she going to tell her something. The golden she-cat pranced through the forest happily, even humming.

"Goldenpelt," Mousepelt finally spoke, "what's gotten in to you?"

"Oh, Mousepelt, I'm expecting Frightwing's kits!" Goldenpelt mewed happily.

"You are?" Mousepelt was shocked by how fast that happened.

"Isn't it great?" Goldenpelt mewed excitingly. "I'm going to be a mother!"

"Congratulations, Goldenpelt," Mousepelt purred, licking the golden she-cat's cheek, "to you and Frightwing."

"But I wish I didn't have to leave the warrior's den," Goldenpelt sighed, "I wish you were in the nursery with Ravenclaw's kits."

Mousepelt lowered her ears sadly. She still wasn't sure if she even wanted kits. Especially now that Ravenclaw was taken away. "Yeah, and I wish I was too." Limptail then walked through the bracken with Viperfang, Snaketooth, and Brokenjaw.  Mousepelt lowered her head. The last cats she wanted to see. "Thank you for telling me and I'm sure the others Clans will be happy for you."  Mousepelt told her friend before walking off.

When she got the camp, Frightwing invited her on the sun high patrol with Blackclaw, Stoneheart, and Figitfoot. Mousepelt went along and congratulated Frightwing. His eyes shined with pride as he wondered what his kits would look like and what their names would be.

Mousepelt made her border marking at ThunderClan borders. She sniffed the air as Limptail bounded out some bushes with an adder. Mousepelt ignored his greeting and went her own way. Viperfang, Snaketooth, and Brokenjaw weren't far off, but Mousepelt was able to avoid them too.

When she returned, Jumbledstar had jumped up to the Hazel Branch and called a Clan meeting. "Limptail, Morningflower, Trampleheart, Frightwing, Moonpaw, Ashpaw, Mousepelt, and Smoothpelt, you're all attending the Gathering tonight and don't forget, tomorrow is the Daylight Gathering!" Jumbledstar then jumped off the low branch and went to the nursery to see Yellowstone and his kits.

Mousepelt headed to the fresh-kill pile and grabbed a frog. She sat with Smoothpelt and Moonpaw as they shared tongues, while Blackclaw, Moonpaw's mentor slept. Moonpaw and Ashpaw were getting close to becoming warriors and it wouldn't be long until Vinekit, Silverkit, Midnightkit, and Ravenkit would be appreciated. Then Goldenpelt would have her kits. ShadowClan seemed to be getting bigger, but it still felt small to Mousepelt without Ravenclaw.

Mousepelt padded toward the island with Ashpaw and Moonpaw close behind. Morningflower and Trampleheart were meowing back and forth about it being their first Gathering as warriors. It wasn't as exciting for Mousepelt. She was too shy and surprised how quickly ShadowClan accepted her after saving all the Clans' kits.

She left up the tree bridge and helped Ashpaw, pull Moonpaw up. She was a great jumper, but her stubby legs made it hard to jump the tree branches. Mousepelt bounced down and looked to see RiverClan and ThunderClan had arrived. The brown warrior could smell WindClan coming not far from them.

Smoothpelt and Frightwing quickly made their way to a small group of RiverClan warriors, probably to tell them about Goldenpelt's big news. Snaketooth headed off to the deputies, where Mudfur, RiverClan's deputy, looked distracted. Tallstar, the new WindClan leader, came jumping down from the tree followed by Larkfeather and the rest of the WindClan cats. Larkfeather made her way to the deputies, signaling that she was the new deputy.

As Mousepelt looked around she noticed that Flowerstem was the only one talking to the other medicine cats. Where was Silvertail? Mousepelt quickly searched for Amberheart and saw the golden she-cat sharing tongues with Vineflower, a SkyClan warrior.

Mousepelt ran over and stood in front of the two she-cats. "Can I speak to you for a moment?" Mousepelt asked her old denmate. Vineflower got up and made her way to Fishstench, a RiverClan warrior. "Where's Silvertail?" Mousepelt asked.

Amberheart lowered her ears and looked up at her brown speckled friend. "Well-" Amberheart was cut off when Rippledstar called out for the Gathering to start. "You'll see..."

"ThunderClan has grim news to share," Whisperstar announced, "Silvertail, our beloved medicine cat was found dead near ShadowClan's border, Flowerstem is now our medicine cat!" sad murmurs were heard throughout the Clan as Flowerstem bowed her head. "We have new warriors and new apprentices; Snowsong, Ravencall, Mosseye, Birchfoot, and Grasspelt Cherrypaw, Breezepaw, and Thistlepaw!"

Congratulatory mews were spread throughout the Clan as the new warriors and apprentices puffed their chests out proudly.

"That is all from ThunderClan," Whisperstar bowed her head and looked to Ripplestar.

"There is no news from RiverClan," The older leader announced, "fish are plentiful and we are prepared for a long leaf-bare!"

I'm not! Mousepelt yowled in her head as she shuffled her paws under the cold snow.

"WindClan, has no news as well," Tallstar called out, "I've received my nine lives and Larkfeather is my deputy!" congratulations went to the tortoise shell she-cat at the roots of the Great Oak.

"A few of our elders and kits have caught white cough and we ask to use ThunderClan's Twoleg nest to retrieve mint." Lionstar looked to Whisperstar for her answer.

"Very well," the light grey leader nodded, "but no prey!"

"Of course," Lionstar bowed his head.

Jumbledstar then got to his paws. "We have new warriors to our Clan and a few kits, expected and arrived; Morningflower, Quakefoot, and Trampleheart, Vinekit, Silverkit, Midnightkit, and Ravenkit, Goldenpelt is expecting Frightwing's kits!"

Sad glances to Mousepelt and congratulations to Frightwing were shared throughout the clearing. Mousepelt lowered her head to avoid the looks and sent a silent prayer to StarClan.

Mousepelt was woken by Frightwing, who had brought two rats for them. Mousepelt gobbled up her share and thanked her scarred friend. She walked out the warrior's den to see Silverkit, Midnightkit, and Ravenkit play in the snow while Yellowstone and Goldenpelt shared tongues.

Moonpaw and Ashpaw were already practicing for the battle trainings. Quakefoot was showing Morningflower a better way of hunting if she was given that exercise, especially if she had to face a WindClan cat. Jumbledstar was speaking to Limptail and Snaketooth, while Brokenjaw looked down and distracted. His mate, Silvertongue, was licking his cheek to get him to speak to her, but he looked as if he hadn't been sleeping for moons. Blackclaw was mewing happily with Frightwing, Smoothpelt, and Crazyfeather, excited the kit she cared for was going to be a father. Viperfang, Stoneheart, Figitfoot, and Turtlefur were chatting amongst themselves, while finishing off their prey.

Finally, Jumbledstar motioned with his tail for his Clan to follow him. ShadowClan made their way through RiverClan's and WindClan's territories to the barn near the moorland. Ashpaw and Moonpaw bolted to the other apprentices and waited for their training sessions.

Limptail decided to do battle training with Badgergrowl. Mousepelt sat back and waited for her turn. By the look of it, she was going to have to fight Foxtail. She decided to go easy for Amberheart on that cat she loved. Mousepelt noticed that Limptail would take a quick glance to her, to see if she was impressed or just watching him. Mousepelt wrapped her tail around her paws and let out a long yawn.

Amberheart then came to sit next to her. "How are you?"

"Tired," Mousepelt admitted, "I don't understand why Clan cats should get up early for this after a late night at the island."

"It's called the Daylight Gathering for a reason," Amberheart let out a mrrow of amusement.

"Get off of me!" Badgergrowl spat. Both Amberheart and Mousepelt looked to see limptail had the black tom pinned down with unsheathed claws.

"Badgergrowl is down!" Mudfur called out. "Limptail is the winner!" The cream tabby tom took his paws off the ThunderClan warrior and made his way to Mousepelt.

"ThunderClan cats are always too easy," he growled, looking at Amberheart.

"Hey!" the beautiful golden she-cat hissed, spinning around to face him. "You want to challenge that?"

"I've already fought one of your Clanmates, don't make me practice killing you too!" Limptail called back, not turning around.

"We're not trying to kill each other!" Mousepelt could hear the fear in her friend's voice.

"No, but what if you fail in killing Silversol?" Limptail spun around raising his hackles.

"If you kill her, you'll be killing Mousepelt as well!" Amberheart pointed out.

"If you fail Mousepelt will die and I'll be the only one to avenge her death!" Limptail spat.

Amberheart was about to shout a retort, but stopped. Her eyes narrowed and she kept her mouth opened, scenting the air. Her claws unsheathed suddenly as realization gleamed in her green eyes. Mousepelt was about to ask her friend what was the matter, but was stopped when the bushes to the forest were disturbed.

The Clan cats stopped what they were doing and looked to the forest. A familiar scent overcame Mousepelt, mixed with a long forgotten one. A black tom and a cream colored she-cat elder with a white muzzle and white under belly. Mousepelt's heart beat fast and she blinked her eyes over and over, wondering if it was a dream.

Then, with a mixed emotioned wail, Mousepelt bolted to the tom, "Ravenclaw!"