Lilypetal's POV

I was in a crouched position, my unsheathed claws just barely sinking into the soft earth to keep myself still and steady. The slightly cool breeze just barely brushed my calm, cool and collected fur as it lied flat on my back.

My hazel eyes were narrowed and staring straight ahead, my target just barely visible through the brambles I was hiding behind. That's right. Stay oblivious and confused...

I then crouched down just a bit more, lashing my tail back and forth just slightly - half to make sure the breeze was still blowing my way, but also just out of excitement, before finally leaping forward to reveal myself. But instead of diving straight for my target, I let myself fly above it and then skid back onto the ground gracefully.

"Surprise!" I exclaimed enthusiastically, my voice not being able to suppress laughter as my gaze met large, bewildered blue eyes. "Better luck next time, Lilypaw!"

I then fully forced myself to hold back mrrows of laughter as my apprentice seemed to let out a frustrated huff. "Foxdung! I didn't see you coming at all!" the gray and white she-cat sighed as I touched my tail to her shoulder. "How did you do that?"

I gave a simple shrug before leading Lilypaw to the brambles I had just been behind. "I approached it pretty much how I would approach hunting prey – keeping low, keeping hidden, and keeping quiet until I'm ready to strike," I explained as I flashed the she-cat an encouraging look. "And, of course, I have to make sure my target is distracted." I then gave a small wink.

Lilypaw then managed to let out a purr. "And how does any cat expect me to be better than prey at making sure that I'm not attacked or ambushed? I didn't even see you!"

I also let out a purr as I affectionately flicked my apprentice's ear. "Well, because you are much, much smarter than a shrew or a thrush, Lilypaw," I muttered. "Once you know how to go about catching someone who may be sneaking up on you, I promise that you'll be able to sense them from several fox-lengths away!"

With a nod of my head, I then gestured for Lilypaw to return to her original spot in the clearing ahead of my clump of bramble bushes. "First off, it's not just about seeing at all. If you just rely on your sight, you're done for."

"Uh, oh," Lilypaw breathed, her eyes widening again.

"But this is why we train!" I purred before then crouching back down into the brambles. "You can't just look and hope to find your attacker – you have to smell... listen..."

I then narrowed my eyes again, my fur slightly tingling with mischief as I began to sneak around and leave my spot, still making sure I was out of sight. "Smell or hear anything?"

I gave the slightest nod of approval, even though my apprentice couldn't see it, when I saw Lilypaw give a flick of her ears and raise her muzzle in the air, her pink nose twitching. "...movement," she seemed to murmur half to herself.

I then fell completely quiet, hoping to StarClan that I could let my apprentice make her own way from here. "Your scent is slightly drifting from where it originally was..." she continued.

Good. Good...

"These brambles are thick, and I can't be sure, but..."

I then let out a startled, yet excited yelp when suddenly I saw a flash of grey and white above me, and I stood up in my spot and turned around to see Lilypaw making her own graceful landing, her blue eyes gleaming with satisfaction and elation. "Surprise!" she then cried out, her tail lashing back and forth excitedly. "How was that?"

I stared back at my apprentice in amazement. "As perfect as perfect can be, Lilypaw!" I purred to her. "Wonderful, wonderful job. I promise that with even more practice, being cautious like that will become instinctual."

The smaller she-cat gave me the sweetest, most enthusiastic nod. "Thank you, thank you, Lilypetal!" Lilypaw meowed to me, as she did after pretty much anything that I'd ever taught her. "I can't wait to practice that more."

"And you will! Tomorrow," I meowed to my apprentice with a snort, glancing up at the sky, just barely being able to see the glowing sun crossing the sky through the blooming oak trees. "The sun will be down fairly soon – you deserve to grab something to eat before you go to sleep, and I've got to make sure there's nothing Bramblestar needs me to take care of before I go to sleep."

"Okay!" Lilypaw mewed, licking her lips just once. I then was surprised to see her flash me a concerned look. "But are you sure you shouldn't go to sleep as soon as we return to camp?"

My eyes widened back at my apprentice in shock. "What do you mean?"

"Oh, you just look a little tired, that's all!" the she-cat answered me, her demeanor now becoming a little more shy as she seemed to force out her words. "You have been for a bit now."

And whether or not I actually am is a secret I'm taking to my burial spot.

After adjusting myself and shifting a bit uncomfortably, I cleared my throat and gave my concerned apprentice a sharp shake of my head. "Oh, that's just getting older, Lilypaw." Oh, StarClan forbid. That's almost worse than Lilypaw thinking I'm tired.

But nevertheless, I went on. "Plus, if I was tired at all, you woke me up when you ambushed me earlier! Hey..." I then narrowed my eyes once again, glancing at my apprentice with excitement and mischief as I lowered down into a crouch once again. "How about we race back to camp, and I'll show you how not tired your mentor is?"

Lilypaw immediately let out an excited gasp and mirrored my position. "You're on! Prepare to be beat!"

No way.

I then forced myself to give my head a violent shake, bringing myself fully into consciousness and focus once again. "Alright. Three, two, one..."

I then pelted forward. "Go!"

It then became a race of the two lilies as our two running blurred figures ran through the forest. Like the two ThunderClan cats we were, the multitude of trees and bushes were no burden to us, and skidding past them was no problem.

The trees blur past as I sprinted through the forest, paws pounding against the slightly damp earth. Lilypaw's gray and white-patched pelt flickered in and out of sight, like a darting squirrel just ahead of me. I forced my legs to keep moving, muscles aching in protest, but the energy just wasn't there, to my complete dismay. StarClan, when did I get this tired?

"Come on, Lilypetal!" Lilypaw's voice rang out from up ahead, full of teasing and excitement.

I couldn't help but stare ahead of her in bewilderment. She's got the energy of a kit on their first day out of the nursery, I thought to myself.

Meanwhile, I'm struggling to breathe.

I pushed harder, trying to ignore the burn in my chest and the heaviness in my limbs.

The ground slopped upward, roots jutting out like claws, and I nearly tripped on one, catching myself at the last moment. "You're not getting away that easily!" I called out, forcing a purr that felt a bit too strained for my liking.

But contradicting my words, Lilypaw was already pulling ahead, her small paws gliding effortlessly over the forest floor.

I wished I could have said that I was just letting her win, you know, because mentors are supposed to be generous like that, but nope. My legs were about to give out. But will I let them? No!

As I leapt over a fallen log, I felt a sharp twinge of frustration rising up like a bramble. How is she so fast? I asked myself. I used to be the best at this, zipping through these woods like I was fresh out of the nursery.

Now, it's like my paws are made of stone.

I began to grit my teeth, trying to push past the exhaustion, but no matter how hard I tried, Lilypaw's gray and white pelt was getting smaller and smaller in the distance.

The edges of my vision were now starting to blur, and I could feel the fatigue creeping into my bones.

So, I was almost thankful to then hear Lilypaw's excited yowl as she reached the top of the ridge first, spinning around to face me with a triumphant grin. I stumble up behind her, panting, trying to hide just how out of breath I was.

"See, I told you I could beat you!" Lilypaw squealed, eyes gleaming with pride. "Wow, I beat the Clan deputy in a race!"

Oh, wow, that does sound bad.

I managed a weak grin, trying to cover my disdain. "Yeah, yeah, don't get too cocky. I'm just... giving you some practice. Gotta keep you on your paws!" StarClan help me, I'm going to need a nap the moment we get inside of camp.

I then had to hold back a growl of frustration. But there's no way that can happen. I've still got an entire day's worth of work ahead!

I forced myself to give a shake of my fur, and once again, a violent shake of my head to keep myself awake. "Alright," I then breathed as I flashed Lilypaw a proud look, making sure she knew that she had done a wonderful job. "Amazing work today, Lilypaw, as always, and great job on winning the race!"

I then gave a nod to the brambles and gorse that made up the ThunderClan camp entrance. "Go on in and grab something to eat. I'll be right behind you!"

"Okay!" Lilypaw purred, padding up to me for a moment and touching her nose to mine. "Thank you so much for today, Lilypetal," she then meowed. "You are the most wonderful mentor I could ever ask for."

"Aw, shucks," I purred as I gave my apprentice a quick lick on the head. "Thank you. Now go feast!"

Lilypaw let out a purr, then giving me one last farewell nod before excitedly running through the camp entrance.

I padded just a few pawsteps forward, peering through the tunnel and watching until her tail disappeared from sight.

And as soon as she was gone, I backed up a few pawsteps, sat down, and let out a long, exhausted huff. The most wonderful mentor she could ask for, huh? I repeated to myself. The most wonderful mentors don't lose that easily, I'm sure of it.

I then let out an annoyed huff. I suppose I don't even care that I was beaten, I told myself. My apprentice being able to beat me is very impressive, and I am so, so proud of Lilypaw's progress, but...

I still care that I lost, since I lost simply because I was tired.

Tired. Something that I'd unfortunately felt for several days now.

To be honest, since the Dark Forest battle a few quarter moons ago, and since becoming the ThunderClan deputy, sleeping had felt like quite the luxury. As much as I was willing to do it for the rest of my life – this position asked for lots of late nights and early mornings.

And even when I did get time to sleep, it was hard, I had to admit.

Listen, I knew that the worst of everything was behind me – the Clans were all at peace, the Clans were all safe from the treachery of the Dark Forest cats, my family was safe.

And best of all, Ashfur – that treacherous, sicko, crowfood-eating Ashfur – was dead, for good. Dead from this world, and dead from any world. It's more than I ever could have asked for, I told myself. And now, I don't have to live every day so scared, and so angry with what that fox-heart might do. He's gone for good.

I then managed to feel a strong wave of gratitude and love as I was brought back to the night of Ashfur's last moments – the same night of that intense, life-changing Dark Forest battle. If it weren't for Snowstorm and Snowflight fulfilling their destiny that night and taking him down for good... I don't know what life would have been like right now.

I then took a moment to close my eyes and take a deep breath. Not this wonderful, to say the least, I then thought. I am so thankful.

I then opened my eyes again, but my lids stopped only after they were at a tight narrow. Then why do I still stir at night? Why am I losing sleep?

I then let out a huff and gave another violent shake of my head. It's not worth thinking over right now, I then told myself. I don't have time to, even if I wanted to.

I then gave another shake of my fur, bringing myself to start walking through the bramble camp entrance. The worst is over now.

As I eventually made it to the other side of that deep tunnel, I found myself having to squint my eyes and blink for just a moment as the sunlight of the day broke through, eventually clearing and revealing the large, beautiful stone hollow that was the ThunderClan camp, and my home.

And walking into this camp, and seeing all of these cats that I cared about and loved so much, makes all of it – even the worst of times - all of it worth it. And the fact that I get to lead them as their deputy means so much.

At least when I feel that I'm doing the job correctly.

Because goodness, I still hadn't gotten over the fact that Bramblestar – ThunderClan's newest leader after losing Firestar in the Great Battle – had chosen me as his deputy and successor, and apparently had been considering it for a while. I'm still wondering if it's just a really long-winded joke.

It was the absolute highest honor, don't get me wrong, and the fact that the rest of the Clan also seemed supportive meant more to me than anything else.

But at the same time, it also felt like little ThunderClan eyeballs were on me. Constantly. I just hoped that I was living up to their expectations.

Which is why, I knew, sleeping was the last thing I could do right now, as much as I needed to.

So, putting on the most energetic demeanor that I could, I began to pad through the ravine, my head held high as I greeted my Clanmates. Lilypaw was already settled next to Seedpaw sharing a meal near the Highledge, some of the senior warriors – Cloudtail, Dustpelt and Brackenfur were chatting near the warriors den...

I then quickly caught sight of the golden brown tabby pelt of my firstborn daughter, Goldenshine, walking into the medicine den with Mousewhisker and Dustystorm behind her, all with herbs in their mouths. Oh, how that Jayfeather loves to send my daughter out to get herbs for him...

I then let out a purr as my gaze then fell on the three pelts of my second litter – Wrenfeather, Lightningstrike, and Emberheart, who were all surrounding Brightheart's most recent litter of kits.

"Alright," I heard Wrenfeather meow firmly to the three kits in front of him, "It's three against three – what are you all going to do first?"

"Choose carefully!" Emberheart then purred, giving the kits a wink.

I then myself had to hold back a purr as I watched the three kits simply exchange looks with each other – looking utterly lost and confused.

"Uh..." I then heard little Snowkit mew. "Is there a right answer?"

Lightningstrike then let out a snort. "Here's a hint – don't just stand there," my son told the kits, his yellow eyes gleaming with humor and his whiskers twitching. "It's an even playing field, so each cat gets an opponent!"

I then widened my eyes back at Lightningstrike in warning, and he luckily caught my gaze at the same moment. "At least, if this were real," Lightningstrike corrected himself before looking back at the kits. "Which this is not."

"Exactly," Emberheart purred as she gave her brother a nudge. "Let's stick to playful nudges and light hitting with sheathed paws."

"Exactly what I was going to say!" Lightningstrike then meowed with a sharp nod before looking up at me again. "Are you seeing this, mother? Is this good stuff? Is Bramblestar going to make me a mentor when these kits become apprentices?"

"Good grief," Wrenfeather then muttered.

"Us, you mean?" Emberheart then murmured.

"Sure, right," Lightningstrike replied, flashing his siblings a teasing, affectionate look. He then looked back over to me. "Put in a good word for us!"

Before I could even answer, I flicked my ears as I saw a white pelt approach my three kits, and I let out another purr as I immediately recognized Snowstorm giving Lightningstrike an amused, skeptical look. "You realize that being a mentor requires training, right?" she then murmured to him.

As Lightningstrike's mouth dropped open, Wrenfeather and Emberheart let out quiet mrrows of laughter, while the kits more reflected Lightningstrike's expression. "Hey!" he then retorted, though there was laughter in his voice. "Who says I wouldn't train my apprentice? I'd train!"

Snowstorm then rolled her eyes and gave Lightningstrike a flick on the ear, causing his eyes to begin gleaming. "I know, mouse-brain, but I still think Bramblestar and Lilypetal should proceed with caution," she purred. "But anyway, do any of you know where Swiftflight is?"

Lightningstrike didn't move, but Emberheart and Wrenfeather both gave a nod. "I think he went out hunting with Cherryfall earlier," Wrenfeather murmured. "I guess they're still gone."

Snowstorm let out a purr and began to slowly shake her head. I then let out a sniff as she exchanged a glance with me. "Should have known. I'll catch up with that love-sick cat later then."

Oh, love-sick indeed, I thought to myself fondly, still so, so thankful that my daughter's kit who had once been so cold and unwilling to connect with anybody had managed to find the sweetest, most wonderful mate that he clearly cared about so much. There were plenty of factors, but that Cherryfall definitely brought him back down to earth.

Snowstorm then proceeded to nod to my three youngest kits, touching her nose to Emberheart's briefly. "See you all! Good luck training these rascals."

Then, as Snowstorm began to pad off towards Jayfeather and Leafpool's den, Lightningstrike's gaze seemed to continue to follow her pelt. "Bye..." he meowed probably too quietly for her to hear, his eyes still glittering.

"What are you staring off at her for?" Emberheart purred as she gave her brother another nudge. "We've got kits to teach!"

"Yeah!" Snowkit cried out as his two siblings squealed.

Lightningstrike's eyes widened, and he then proceeded to give a big shake of his head. Just like his mother... "Sorry!" he meowed sharply, truly seeming to be back in focus. "Let's do it!"

Fascinating...

I then pulled myself away from my thoughts as the black tom glanced back over at me for just a moment. "Remember what I said, mother!"

I let out a purr of amusement. "Sure thing, my love. I'll put in a good word for all of you!" I called out to my precious kits as I began to pad towards the Highledge. "Hopefully I won't be biased!"

Luckily, as soon as I turned around to face the Highledge, my gaze immediately fell on the dark brown tabby pelt of ThunderClan's leader – and my commander-in-chief, I suppose – Bramblestar, who was chatting under the shade of the rock with his mate and my best friend, Squirrelflight. Part of the reason why I got into the whole Ashfur mess in the first place, I recalled as a shiver ran down my spine. But again, infinitely worth it.

Green eyes and amber eyes then fell on me as I approached them, and I lashed my tail at the two of them in greeting. "Hey, you two!" I meowed to them, then letting out a purr as Squirrelflight let out an excited squeal and touched her nose to me. "Just returned from training with Lilypaw. Is..."

I then had to give a shake of my fur to cover up the yawn that dared tried to creep up in my jaws. "Is there anything you need me to do right now, Bramblestar?"

"Oh! I have something!" Squirrelflight blurted out just as Bramblestar was opening his mouth. "Drop everything and hang out with me."

"Oh! Nice try," Bramblestar meowed, flashing his mate a warning but amused look as he nudged her on the shoulder with his tail. "Actually, since the Gathering is tonight, would you like to select some cats to go, Lilypetal?"

Bramblestar then let out a purr as he noticed my eyes immediately widen with alarm. "I trust your judgement," he reassured me. "Make your picks and then report to me later. Also,"

My eyes widened more, my heart already pounding in my ears at the thought of having full power of picking who would go to tonight's Gathering. "I know we have a border patrol out right now checking out the area around ShadowClan, but I'm thinking I'd like another to go out to check out the WindClan border."

The ThunderClan leader then exchanged a somewhat nervous glance with Squirrelflight. "I'm sure we'll find something out at the Gathering tonight, but tensions seem to be rising over there, for whatever reason. I think we need to make sure that everything is okay."

For a moment, I simply shook my head in amazement, forgetting about my nerves for a bit as a realized just how Firestar-like Bramblestar already was. "Sure thing!" I purred enthusiastically to my leader, hiding my nerves as much as I could. "I'm on both of those things."

"Thank you, Lilypetal," Bramblestar meowed, his amber eyes full of genuine gratitude as he gave me a nod. "I know that's a lot, but I know you can do it."

Goodness, can I?

I nodded back to the leader, trying to keep my fur flat. "That means so, so much, thank you, and I'll see you two later today!" I then turned around and began to walk deeper into camp, honestly having no idea where my destination was at first. "And Squirrelflight and I will just have to hang out behind your back later, I guess!"

"Ooo, we can just stay up late and talk in our nests at moonhigh!" Squirrelflight called out behind me, her voice full of laughter.

I then heard Bramblestar let out a groan. "There are other times for you two to speak with each other, you know!"

"Apparently not! We could right now, but no – she has to be a deputy!"

I then let out a purr of amusement to myself as their lighthearted bickering fell out of my earshot.

But as soon as it did, the tasks in front of me and their gravity hit me all over again – one of them in particular. I have to choose what cats are going to the Gathering tonight? That's a big deal!

Although it was still a bit daunting, picking cats for a patrol was routine for me now. And after all, I think I already know who I'm picking for it, and it includes me...

But since becoming deputy, I'd never had to select cats for the Gathering. Why was it bugging me so much? Because I want to pick the right cats, I suppose, I thought. But what is the "right" cat to go to the Gathering?

I then began to shake my head slowly as I scanned my eyes around the camp. Goodness, does Bramblestar have a lot of faith in me, I thought to myself. Don't get me wrong, Bramblestar had been a brilliant leader since he stepped up – he led his Clan with such grace and confidence, and it truly was an honor that he had faith in me. But I don't want to fail him.

I then took a deep breath. And I won't. Right?

Well, here we go. Let's speedrun this.

First, I approached Brightheart, Cloudtail and Brackenfur. They were good to go. Off to a good start.

Jayfeather and Leafpool were also automatics, of course.

I then approached Dustpelt, who was now near the medicine den licking one of his healing Dark Forest wounds. "Hi, Dustpelt!" I tried to purr to the older tom enthusiastically. "Interested in going to the Gathering tonight?"

To my surprise, the tom had let out a frustrated huff. "No, I am not interested," he muttered to me. "Do you not see this wound on my leg? It's gotten infected two different times, and if I try to walk on it, it just might fall off."

"Yikes, that does look rough..." I murmured, and when Dustpelt gave me an alarmed look, I flicked my ears back at him. "I mean, I'm so sorry! I should have known. Yes, please rest up tonight."

"Thanks for giving me permission," Dustpelt meowed coldly, his voice full of bitterness before he continued to tend to his wound.

Bit of a mistake on my part with that one, but I tried to push on.

I asked my daughter, Goldenshine, who of course was more than willing. "Darn right I'm coming!" my daughter purred, her enthusiasm lifting up my spirits just a bit. "Would never miss it."

"Wonderful," I meowed in reply, giving her a quick lick on the cheek. "Would Dustystorm or Nightwing like to come too?"

Goldenshine immediately gave me an eager nod. "Oh, I'd drag Dustystorm even if he for some outrageous reason didn't want to go, and I'll ask Nightwing when she gets back from her walk in the forest!"

"Walk in the forest?" I pressed my daughter, my deputy curiosity for my Clanmates beginning to rise. "Is she with the patrol, or is she just taking a stroll?" Ha, that rhymed.

"I think she's out on her own. She does that sometimes," Goldenshine explained to me. "But she'll be so excited to hear that my mother the deputy invited her to the Gathering. Count us all in!"

"Perfect!" I purred to her, flashing her a bashful look. I then found myself having to shake my head to "shake" myself awake again. "I'll tell Bramblestar soon."

And like the quick, brilliant she-cat that she was, she knew what that meant for me. "Are you alright, mother? You seem a bit tired."

I tilted my head back at her, still trying to hide my fatigue from others. "What makes you think that? Because I shook my head?"

Goldenshine let out an amused snort. "Your tired eyes also kind of give it away..."

Give to Goldenshine to always be brutally honest.

I let out a sigh and rolled my eyes. "Life of a deputy, my love," I told her quickly. "Anyway,"

I then gave the golden brown tabby she-cat a lick on her head before beginning to pad away. "I've got to speak to some more cats, so I'll see you later. I love you!"

"Love you too!" Goldenshine called out to me. "Rest up tonight!"

That's funny.

I then ran into Spiderleg, who was just leaving the nursery when I passed it. "Hi, Spiderleg!" I greeted him brightly, hoping some positivity would burn out all of the nastiness he might show me. "Would you like to go to the Gathering tonight?"

Not to my surprise at all, the dark brown tom let out a snort, and he rolled his amber eyes. "Since when do you get to ask me that?"

I narrowed my eyes back at him. "Since Bramblestar told me to? Since he chose me as deputy?" I pressed to him. "You didn't answer my question."

"For StarClan's sake! Yes, I'm coming," Spiderleg muttered. "Thanks for the invite, O Deputy."

"I appreciate the curtesy," I sighed as I then began to walk away. "Okay, I'm leaving now."

"Such a shame."

I shot the cranky tom one last bitter look before walking away deeper into camp once again.

And after also consulting Lionblaze, Sandstorm, Dovewing, and Ivypool, I returned to Bramblestar to give him my list.

Speedrun over. "... Thornclaw, Brackenfur... Cloudtail... and that's it. Oh, wait!" I meowed to Bramblestar as I was running over all of the different cats I had selected. "What about Lilypaw too? I know that she was more than excited to go to the Gathering the last time."

To my surprise, Bramblestar immediately shook his head from his resting spot right outside of his den on the Highledge. "That sounds like a wonderful idea, but since Lilypaw just went to the Gathering last full moon, I think it should be a couple before she gets to go to another one," the ThunderClan leader explained to me. "I mean, you know this – apprentices need to understand the privilege it is to go to the Gathering."

Shoot! It was just a moon ago that Lilypaw went, wasn't it? Whoops. I immediately nodded back at the dark brown tabby tom in understanding. "Got it. No worries," I meowed evenly. "That's..."

I then found myself having to take a deep breath. "That's all I had."

Bramblestar gave me a single nod of approval. "Sounds great, Lilypetal. Thank you," the tom purred. "You know the drill, we'll begin heading out right as the moon begins to rise. Take a break until then!"

Break? I've forgotten the word. After another deep breath, I nodded back to my leader. "Oh, will do! Thank you, and see you later!"

I then made my swift leap off of the Highledge, taking no shortcuts and leaping from the top straight to the stone hollow floor. At least I didn't mess that up.

Practically as soon as my paws touched the ground, I lied down right where I was, the warm stone hollow floor warming my belly, and the soon-to-be setting sun warming up my back.

I tucked my paws until my chest, proceeding to let out one long, exhausted huff. That had been a lot to say the least, and the fact that I hadn't done it perfectly wasn't going to haunt me for days.

I then forced myself to take a deep breath. Calm down. Take this time to get your bearings.

"Hey, stranger."

My ears flicked and my heart suddenly seemed to flutter out of my chest at the voice that I heard next to me, and I found myself immediately jumping up from my spot.

And for a moment, all of my worries seemed to disintegrate like morning fog once my gaze fell on my favorite pair of beautiful, comforting pale blue eyes. Just like he always does, and has for so, so many moons now. "Stranger?" I repeated to the tom in front of me. "Well, brace yourself for a stranger coming up and smothering you!"

I ran forward, a purr rising in my throat as I touched my muzzle to my mate's. "Hi there, Thornclaw," I meowed warmly, now digging my head into the golden brown tabby tom's chest.

My stomach then seemed to twist up in the best way when Thornclaw let out a small chuckle and wrapped his tail around my back. "Wow, this is a lot for a stranger," he teased me. "Thanks for giving me a heads-up."

After the two of us exchanged another purr, I then felt my mate give me a lick on the head. "Hi there, Lilypetal," he then meowed to me. "Oh, I missed you today so much."

"I missed you too," I purred Thornclaw, pulling away so that I could look into his eyes. "Is that what warranted the 'stranger' comment?"

"Of course! It feels like it's been moons – you might as well be a stranger!"

"StarClan forbid!" I meowed, flicking Thornclaw on the ear with my tail. "How was the border patrol? Anything suspicious?"

Thornclaw immediately shook his head, but I saw his nose wrinkle just slightly. "Nope. Just the typical ShadowClan stink."

"Aw, your life is so hard," I teased my mate, nuzzling his head with my tail. "Alright, I've got a couple more questions for you."

Thornclaw shook his head. "Sorry, I've limited questions to just one a day."

"Thornclaw."

"Okay, shoot," he then purred to me, his eyes gleaming with humor.

"Thank you," I meowed back to Thornclaw, my eyes narrowed but a large smirk on my face. "First, I assume you'd like to go to the Gathering tonight?"

"Count me in!" Thornclaw said in a way that sounded so much like Goldenshine had said it that it warmed my heart.

"Perfect, thank goodness," I purred to him. "And secondly, do you like going on border patrols back to back?"

Thornclaw let out a sniff. "Have you met me?" he meowed to me with laughter in his voice. "You know I'd be glad to. How come?"

"I knew it wasn't even worth asking," I told my mate affectionately before I narrowed my eyes, beginning to scan the camp once again to search for some of the other cats on my radar. "Well, Bramblestar says that he wants to send out another patrol to check out the WindClan border. Apparently there might be some suspicious activity?"

Thornclaw's pale blue eyes immediately began to gleam with curiosity. "Oh, I am more than glad to come then," Thornclaw told me sharply, his gaze now gleaming with determination. "Who else are you sending?"

I let out a sniff. "Myself, for one."

"Thank StarClan."

I flashed the tom an amused, fake-annoyed look. "But I was also thinking about bringing along Goldenshine, Swiftflight, and maybe Snowstorm too?" I was glad to immediately see Thornclaw's nod of approval. "Sure, we actually do need to check the border, but I don't think all of us have been able to get together that much since the Dark Forest chaos ensued." And then my own chaos ensued...

"Oh, I couldn't agree more! Let's do it!" Thornclaw purred. He then began to scan around the camp with me. "Are all of them here and accounted for?"

"Goldenshine was helping Jayfeather with herbs, Snowstorm is around here somewhere, and I was told that Swiftflight is hunting out with Cherryfall."

"Shocker."

"Right?"

"Imagine hunting with your mate all of the time," Thornclaw then murmured, his eyes glowing with humor.

"I know. The insanity of that," I then meowed sarcastically as I licked Thornclaw's ear. "Speaking off, since we haven't had our hunting trip today, do you want to do that after the border patrol?"

"Always," Thornclaw purred to me softly. I then watched as he looked over at the camp entrance, his ears flicking. "Ah, there's Swiftflight!"

I followed Thornclaw's gaze, and sure enough, I immediately recognized the dark gray pelt of Swiftflight crawling through the camp entrance, the ginger tabby pelt of his mate, Cherryfall, just behind him. They both had a surplus of prey in their mouths, and as soon as they arrived in the stone hollow, Swiftflight took the prey from Cherryfall's jaws and touched his nose to hers in farewell. He then began to pad up to the fresh-kill pile, giving Thornclaw and I a nod in greeting before dropping all of the catches onto the pile.

He then gave a lash of his tail and padded up to the two of us – his demeanor strong and dignified, and his gray-blue gaze full of genuine warmth. "Hey," he meowed to the both of us. He then lashed his tail to the fresh-kill pile. "Do you think that's enough to feed the Clan tonight, Lilypetal?"

I let out a sniff, pretending to stare down the new additions to the fresh-kill pile. "Hm. You're just about one short," I teased my kin, bringing him to roll his eyes. "I think I'm going to have to punish you by making you go on a border patrol with me, Thornclaw, Goldenshine and Snowstorm."

Swiftflight let out a sniff as well as he began to shake his head. "Oh, my legs are shaking in fear already!" he meowed sarcastically, but his gleaming eyes told another story. "Which border?"

"WindClan!"

"Ah, my favorite one," Swiftflight sighed as he sat down and wrapped his tail around his paws, his eyes narrowed. "I'm sure Goldenshine will be thrilled about it too."

"Oh, you two are stronger and better than... anything that you may encounter at the border," I reassured my kin, well aware of the history that my daughter and her son shared with WindClan. And how that history with a certain black tom with amber eyes turned incredibly sour... "Are you alright with going?"

Swiftflight gave a single sharp nod. "Of course."

"Great," I purred to Swiftflight, pride for the younger tom rising in my heart. "If you could, grab Snowstorm for me, and Thornclaw, go find our daughter!" I then told the two toms.

"Wish me luck trying to find that slippery rascal!" Thornclaw called back to me.

I glanced back at my mate and let out a purr, and I then turned around back towards the Highledge, ready to tell Bramblestar that our patrol had been put together. The best patrol I could ever stand alongside – family or not, I thought to myself as love and affection rushed through my blood. And for one of the first times today, I felt uplifted and awake. After all we've been through together, some more time with them is exactly what I need right now.