Goldenshine's POV

Even through just the slits of my eyelids, I could see that the sun was already bright and high in the sky.

Despite how bright things clearly were even just through my eyelids, I had the audacity to fully open my eyes and face the sunlight. Considering how close to blind I now was, I could tell that sunhigh was fast approaching.

After letting out the smallest stretch and yawned, I looked down to see that Swiftkit was still at my side, fast asleep, his breaths still slow and steady.

I couldn't help but let out a small grunt and narrow my eyes at this sight. That's strange, I said to myself, usually he's bouncing off of the den walls at this time of day.

I then slowly glanced back at the nursery entrance again, where the sun was still violently leaking through. Is that part of the reason why I slept in too? Because he didn't wake up begging me for food or asking me to play like he usually does?

I then looked back down at my son. Strange.

Though I was worried, I just tried to tell myself that he'd worn himself out playing with the new it yesterday, and just needed some extra sleep.

So, I decided to let him have that as I slowly and quietly stood up. But despite my cautiousness, Swiftkit's eyes still began to open in our nest. I then watched, actually feeling kind of relieved as his mouth gaped into a huge yawn.

I then let out a mrrow of laughter as he slowly began to rise from his slumber, looking groggier than usual too.

I then sniffed as I gave him a little poke with my tail. "Great StarClan, you aren't going to be able to sleep at all this moonhigh if you slept as long as I think you did," I commented to him.

He turned to me, his eyes looking heavy with fatigue. "I didn't," he said groggily.

I tilted my head in confusion. Wait, so he didn't sleep?

And my heart was beginning to rush with panic as he let out another huge yawn. "I woke up just before dawn and couldn't fall back asleep for what felt like moons."

I let out a sigh of relief just at receiving an explanation, and I stroked Swiftkit;s small head with my tail and then licked his ears. "Well, get some sleep then, for StarClan's sake!" I told him. "Strong warriors need to be well rested if they want to grow up big and strong."

As it always did, I think the thought of a warrior got through to Swiftkit. His gray-blue eyes brightening for a moment, he then let out one last yawn and then lied his head back down in the nest. I stared worriedly down at my son's sleeping figure for a moment, gently stroking his head with my tail before shifting my gaze over to Poppyfrost and her kits, where they were playing.

My heart nearly stopped again as I looked at the white kit, now named Snowkit.

I remember my heart skipping a beat as Poppyfrost told me that this shy little she-cat would be sharing the same name as my sister. Especially when... I then thought. When Jayfeather thinks that... Snowflight is in that little kit somewhere. Great StarClan, what if it's true?

As Cherrykit, Molekit, and Snowkit were playing, my gaze then locked with Snowkit's. Snowkit paused where she was, and I froze as gray eyes met blue.

And as I practically dove into her gaze, I found myself overwhelmed by a wave of longing and love that I could hardly contain. Her eyes, so round and bright, seemed to shimmer with an innocent warmth that pulled at something deep inside me. It was almost as if Snowflight herself were there, her presence encapsulating me and this den.

The thought sent a shiver through me, both comforting and bittersweet. How could it be possible that part of her soul lived on in this tiny kit?

But at the same time, I knew with a hollow ache that I would never see the real Snowflight again. Her voice, her scent, her white fur—those were gone forever. It was such a strange and painful feeling, like holding onto a shadow that was slipping through my paws. The kit before me was real, full of life and possibilities, and yet she was also a reminder of what I had lost.

I then was pulled out of this spiral of thoughts when Snowkit then shook her head quickly, and she continued to play with her new siblings.

I simply stared off in the same place for a moment, even though Snowkit's eyeballs weren't there anymore.

I was flabbergasted. Jayfeather was right – clearly something was going on here. The fact that Snowkit kind of looked like Snowflight wasn't enough to explain this.

After giving Swiftkit one last lick on the head, I practically bolted out of the nursery and traveled over to the medicine den to see how Jayfeather was doing, and maybe get more of his grasp on this entire Snowflight thing.

I entered the den to see that Jayfeather was organizing herbs - shocker. He acknowledged my presence by simply flicking his tail.

I waited a few heartbeats before he finally broke the silence. "What do you want?" he asked, his tone as sharp as a thorn.

I shrugged nonchalantly, keeping my tone light. "I just wanted to see how you were doing with the whole Snowkit deal?" I asked the question casually, but my heart was still racing with the experience I'd just had.

But luckily, as I had expected, that question got his attention. His head snapped toward me so fast I thought he might give himself whiplash. "What do you mean, 'how am I doing?' I'm perfectly fine, and it's not bothering me anymore!"

I opened my mouth to press him further when the sound of high-pitched squeals cut through the den like a screeching jay. I turned just in time to see Poppyfrost padding in, Snowkit dangling from her mouth and wailing like she'd just lost her favorite moss ball. The little scrap's paw was held awkwardly, and a quick glance told me why—a thorn was stuck right in her pad. Poor thing.

"Snowkit was playing a little too hard. Poor thing got a thorn stuck in her paw," Poppyfrost explained, gently setting Snowkit down. She looked at Jayfeather with a pleading expression. "Jayfeather, think you can fix it?"

Jayfeather didn't even bother answering her. He just stalked over to Snowkit, pulled the thorn out in one swift motion—without so much as a warning—and then turned back to his herbs like nothing had happened.

Snowkit let out a heart-wrenching squeal that made my fur prickle, but Jayfeather didn't flinch. I watched him, my jaw practically hitting the floor. "She's done," he then muttered. "Now let me get back to my herbs, please."

"What about the bleeding?" I asked, my voice rising in disbelief. Before he could answer (or not answer), I snatched a clump of spiderweb without asking and began dabbing it on Snowkit's paw. Her cries softened with each touch until they finally faded altogether, and the bleeding stopped.

Jayfeather whipped around, grabbed the cobwebs out of my paw with a huff, and flicked his tail like he was shooing away a fly. "Okay, she's fine. Now, please leave my den. Thank you," he meowed, his tail still flicking in annoyance.

Poppyfrost stared at him for a few moments, her expression unreadable, before picking up Snowkit and leaving the den without another word.

As soon as they were gone, I couldn't resist quoting him back to himself. "'I'm perfectly fine, and it's not bothering me anymore!'"

"Shut up," he shot back immediately.

"What in the name of StarClan was that all about?" I pressed, still absolutely bewildered at the way the medicine cat had handled that situation.

He took a deep breath, as though he was gathering the strength to explain himself. "I can't just have her around me, Goldenshine," he confessed, his voice quieter now. "Knowing that Snowflight is in there... it's too much for me."

I blinked, caught off guard by the rawness in his tone. But I nodded slowly, trying to show that I understood. After all, with what I had dealt with in the nursery just now... this was clearly going to be a lot for me too. But dang, Jayfeather...

I glanced down at the ground and muttered bitterly, "Well, I'm sure Snowflight would appreciate it if you didn't yank a thorn out of her paw and then kick her out."

He didn't respond to that, just let out another sigh that seemed to carry the weight of all of StarClan.

You strange medicine cat, you.

Deciding he'd had enough of my company, I got to my paws and left the den without another word. I didn't think Jayfeather could handle much more of me today, and honestly, I wasn't sure I wanted to be in the middle of whatever storm was brewing in his head.

The first thing that caught my eye when I stepped out was Firestar speaking to Smudge and the two kittypet newcomers, Pippy and Dusty. Since Swiftkit was still fast asleep back in the nursery, I figured I had some time to kill. Stretching my legs, I padded excitedly over to the group, my tail waving lazily behind me.

"Hey, if you all aren't busy right now, how would these two youngsters like to go out for a little hunt?" I asked, resting the tip of my tail on Pippy's shoulder with a warm gaze. The word "youngsters" rolled off my tongue with just enough teasing to make Dusty's ears twitch. Truth be told, they were probably both a bit older than me, but who was counting?

Firestar luckily looked quite pleased with my proposition, Smudge's eyes seemed to glow at the fact that his two friends were given something to do, and Pippy's eyes widened like she wasn't sure if I was serious. Perfect. This was going to be fun.

Both of the housecats looked at me with wide eyes, and then they turned to Smudge for approval, and he gave them a nod. "Go have fun," he meowed, gesturing them towards the camp entrance.

Pippy jumped up in the air and squealed while Dusty just immediately ran towards the camp entrance, eager to get started.

I purred as I saw how excited they were. They were already way ahead of me by the time I began to follow them into the forest.

By the time I had crawled through the camp entrance and into the forest, Pippy was already scanning her surroundings. "So, where do we go first?" she asked, almost seeming to be spinning in circles by how fast she was turning to look at everything.

"What are we going to catch?" asked Dusty.

I almost felt dizzy watching and listening to them. I couldn't believe that I was ever like that, but that's what Sorreltail always told me when I was an apprentice. I suppose I'm like this now... but to keep it tame...er.

I couldn't help but watch the two in admiration as they slowly began to explore the forest and sniff everything out, and I followed close behind. I actually found myself stepping back and not saying much for a bit – clearly they were concentrated and so excited to have this opportunity, so I let them enjoy it themselves for a bit.

And while I did so, I was actually able to observe their appearances for the first time since they'd arrived last night.

Pippy was a striking she-cat, her sleek black fur shimmering like rain on a raven's feathers. Her big, round green eyes glimmered with curiosity and a hint of mischief. She carried herself with a delicate grace, her movements fluid and precise like she was meant for something more than just kittypet life.

Dusty, on the other paw, had a rugged charm about him. His sandy-gray fur was an intricate mix of pale silver and a light, sandy brown. The pale blue of his eyes stood out sharply against his fur, giving him an almost icy, intense stare. And his build—StarClan above!—he was muscular in a way I didn't expect from a kittypet. Every stride of his rippled with strength, his broad shoulders and well-defined frame making me wonder just what kind of kittypet training routine he'd been on.

Still, the thought crossed my mind, Do they even know how to hunt?

I picked up my pace, trotting to catch up to the pair, and without a trace of subtlety, blurted out my thoughts and likely breaking their focus. "Do you all even know what you're doing?"

Dusty turned to face me with a grin as casual as his answer. "Nope!"

Then Pippy turned her head, her whiskers twitching with amusement. "Absolutely nothing!" she chirped, not missing a beat.

I rolled my eyes, still chuckling as I padded closer. "Well then, that's what I'm here for!" I announced dramatically, puffing out my chest for good measure. Then, with a flick of my tail, I bolted ahead, motioning for them to follow me deeper into the forest.

The trees stretched tall and wide around us, their bare branches creaking slightly in the growing breeze. The first drops of rain began to land on my fur, but I ignored it. Instead, I lifted my tail, signaling for silence, and lowered my nose to the ground. My ears swiveled as I focused on the rustle of leaves and the soft scurrying of tiny paws.

And as I did so, a fresh scent hit me—mouse! It sure was faint, but unmistakable, and I quickly located it through the undergrowth. The small creature was nibbling on a leaf, completely unaware of the predator watching from the shadows.

I crouched low, every muscle in my body tightening. Rain was starting to fall heavier now, making it harder to pick up scents, but this mouse had no idea I was there – and the sound of the rain made that all even easier.

I turned my head to glance at the kittypets, who were watching me with wide, expectant eyes. "As soon as you catch sight of your prey," I whispered, keeping my voice soft but firm, "bend down, and be as quiet as you can."

They nodded, their heads bobbing like eager apprentices hanging on their mentor's every word.

"Now watch closely," I murmured, still crouched low.

I moved forward with deliberate precision, making sure not to step on any twigs or dry leaves that might give me away. My movements were slow, measured, and patient. When I was close enough, I tensed my hind legs, calculating the perfect moment. Then, like a flash of golden brown lightning, I leaped forward.

The mouse didn't stand a chance. I landed directly in front of it and ended its life with a swift paw strike. Triumphantly, I scooped up my catch and turned back to Pippy and Dusty.

Their faces were priceless. Dusty's eyes were impossibly wide, and his jaw hung open in amazement. "That was amazing!" he exclaimed as I dropped the mouse at their paws.

I dipped my head in gratitude, flicking my tail toward the fresh-kill. "Taste it! This isn't a hunting patrol, so you can try it if you'd like."

They exchanged glances, their excitement evident, before diving in.

"That is fantastic!" Pippy purred through a mouthful of mouse, her voice muffled but delighted.

"Can we practice hunting?" Dusty asked eagerly as soon as they had finished, his eyes practically glowing with anticipation.

"Of course!" I meowed, stepping back to give them room.

Without hesitation, the two kittypets dropped low to the ground, mimicking the crouch they had just seen me use. Their forms were... well, rough, but the effort was there, and I couldn't help but feel a twinge of pride. They were trying, and clearly wanted to learn. Hm... I thought as I felt my eyes narrow. They seem pretty enthusiastic about learning the ways of a warrior...

As they practiced, I decided to strike up a bit of conversation. "So, have you all enjoyed being around the Clan cats?"

Pippy straightened up, her tail swishing happily. "It's been amazing!" she exclaimed, her green eyes sparkling with sincerity. "I don't think I ever want to leave!"

Dusty, still crouched in what I could only generously call a hunting stance, added, "You wild cats are so neat! You know so many things about the wild!"

He then more directly met my gaze, and I blinked in surprise as he stared back at me, his eyes glowing. "I wish I could learn from you every day!"

For some reason, his words made my ears grow hot, and I quickly turned my head to hide it. Get it together, Goldenshine, I scolded myself.

It was remarkable how much these two had changed in such. When I first saw them, they had been timid and unsure, their eyes darting around like they were ready to bolt at the first sign of trouble. Now, they were confident and eager, fully embracing life in the Clan. It was almost... endearing.

I watched them continue to sneak and pounce, their forms improving bit by bit. Pippy was mid-pounce, about to say something, when I heard loud screeches erupted from the direction of camp.

Oh, no.

My heart sank as a loud crash followed the cries, and I turned to the kittypets, my eyes wide with alarm. "Follow me!" I hissed, signaling for them to stay close.

Rain poured harder as we bolted through the forest, branches whipping against my fur. Thunder rumbled overhead, and the wind howled like a restless spirit. I didn't even look back to see if Pippy and Dusty were keeping up. I just had to hope - my focus was entirely on the dreadful noise coming from camp.

We burst through the camp entrance, skidding to a halt, and my breath caught in my throat.

A massive tree had fallen, its thick trunk crushing part of the camp. Beneath its gnarled branches, I spotted two motionless figures.

"Longtail and Brairpaw..." I breathed as I realized it out loud. "StarClan, help us."