Rainheart lay against Poppywing by the side of the clearing, basking in the sunlight. The two cats purred loudly as they relaxed together, watching their clanmates contently. 

Hawkfeather and Dewpaw were organizing herbs by the entrance to the medicine den, laying out oak leaves in the sunlight. Maplefur and Poisonedsap lay near the warriors den. The creamy tabby was grooming her golden brown fur, but she looked far from comfortable.

"It's a lovely day today," Poppywing purred, her blue eyes shining. "The heat feels nice."

Rainheart purred his agreement and licked her ear. "It feels great, especially when you're here with me."

As Poppywing began lapping at his fur, he saw Cobratail pad to the center of the clearing, surveying his clanmates. Three moons had passed since Stormstar's death. Depthstar was proving himself a worthy successor of the previous leader of ShadowClan. And though many cats had doubted Cobratail due to his youth, the red and black tom quickly proved them wrong. He was as wise as any cat twice his age, and carried out his duties as well as any deputy.

A quarter moon ago, Bluerain had made the decision to retire and move into the elders den. It had been difficult for Rainheart to see his mother give up her warrior duties. But after recent events, she'd felt that it was best for her. Carrottail seemed more than pleased to be able to share a nest with his mate again. 

Rainheart looked toward the elders den and saw his parents now, laying outside the den together. Blackkit and Brownkit sat in front of them as Carrottail spoke.

"I was out on patrol with Crowmask, Rosebreeze, and Cliffshade," The orange tabby was meowing to the kits. "Then out of nowhere came the rogues, even Bone Shred himself!"

Blackkit let out a gasp. "What did you do?"

Beside him, Brownkit let out a playful growl. "You ripped him to shreds, didn't you?"

"Oh, no," Carrottail shook his head. Bluerain watched him, her eyes warm with amusement as he went on. "We were outnumbered. We fought as hard as we could, but we were doomed. Just when we thought we were done for, your father, Depthstar arrived! He was Depthwater then. He came with his own patrol, and together we fought off the rogues!"

Brownkit gave a little bounce. "Yeah! Rogues don't have a chance against warriors!"

"Warriors rule!" Blackkit cheered. 

Bluerain chuckled and looked at her mate. "You're a very good storyteller," She purred.

"Don't worry, soon you will be too." He gave her a flick on the shoulder with his tail, then returned his gaze to the kits. "Now, have I told you about the time me and Bluerain fought off a badger?"

"No! Tell us!"

As Carrottail began telling his next story, Rainheart noticed Sunflower sitting by the nursery, watching her kits from a distance. A look of sadness and loss filled her eyes. Depthstar padded up to her, murmuring something. Sunflower shut her eyes and pressed her head into his neck fur. 

Many days ago, a rogue came to ShadowClan with her three starving kits, begging them to give the kits a home. Depthstar had decided to take them in. Though many questioned if the kits came from Bone Shred's gang, Depthstar dismissed this possibility with the fact that the kits didn't carry the scent of twolegplace. 

Sunflower had taken in the three named Deserve, Boost, and Song to raise with her own kits. Everything seemed fine until just a few days ago, when the clan made a horrific discovery. Just outside the camp, Deserve had killed Snakekit, then ran away. Every cat had been stunned that a kit would commit murder, and many cats wanted Boost and Song thrown out of the clan. 

But Depthstar insisted that whatever their brother had done wasn't their fault. Boost and Song had been allowed to stay, however Sunflower refused to even look at the kits whose brother had killed her son. But Milkblaze had defended the kits and supported them like a father. Though Boost and Song were terrified at the clan's distrust and devastated at the loss of Deserve, Milkblaze seemed to make them feel safe and help them cope with the recent tragedy.

And that wasn't the only loss in ShadowClan. Just after the kits were taken into the clan, a badger attack had cost Silverblossom her life. Dewpaw and Diamondpaw grieved deeply for the loss of their mother, so soon after Stormstar's death. 

She's with Stormstar now. Rainheart thought. They're hunting together in StarClan, just as Silverblossom said they would. 

Ashcloud and Greenpine's kits had recently been made apprentices. One of the newest warriors, Flameheart, had received the playful and fun Stripedpaw as an apprentice. Cougarfoot became mentor to Mottledpaw, and Crowmask to Foxpaw.

Strangely enough, just after their kits were apprenticed, Ashcloud and Greenpine stopped being mates. No cat was sure what had happened between them. But there seemed to be no hard feelings between the two cats. Rainheart supposed that as long as they were on good terms, whatever had split them up wasn't anything serious.

"Hey, Rainheart!" 

He broke out of his thoughts and looked up to see Bloomfire and Flameheart padding toward them, their pelts brushing. Stripedpaw trotted happily alongside his mentor. His sister's green eyes shone with happiness as they reached them. "Flameheart is going out for a hunting session with Stripedpaw," She meowed. "I'm going along. Would you and Poppywing like to join us?"

"That sounds great!" Rainheart purred, then hesitated, turning to his mate. "If you'd like to, of course."

Poppywing looked at him warmly. "Of course!" She rose to her paws, and he quickly joined her, arching his back as he stretched.

"Great!" Flameheart purred and turned away. "Come on, Stripedpaw. You'll get to learn from four warriors today."

Stripedpaw's tail was high in the air. "Awesome!" He hurried after his mentor, and Bloomfire, Rainheart, and Poppywing followed.

***

"Very good! Now show me your hunting crouch."

Flameheart watched as Stripedpaw dropped into a crouch. "Like this?" He prompted, his eyes flashing up to his mentor.

The ginger tabby crouched beside him, studying his position. "Very good," He praised. "Just remember not to let your tail touch the ground. If it brushes against leaves or twigs, you'll give yourself away."

"Oh, right." Stripedpaw quickly lifted his tail from the ground.

Rainheart sat between Poppywing and Bloomfire near the trunk of a pine tree, watching as Flameheart instructed his apprentice. I wonder if I'll ever have an apprentice? He thought.

Beside him, Bloomfire let out a purr. "Flameheart is such a great mentor," She meowed warmly as she gazed at him. "Isn't he?"

"Yes," Poppywing purred and exchanged a warm look with Rainheart. His sister made it very clear how much she admired Flameheart. "Rainheart will be too."

He shook his head. "You'll be a much better mentor than I could ever be. You're the best hunter in ShadowClan," He reminded her with a purr.

As Poppywing gently flicked him on the shoulder with her tail, Bloomfire flicked her ear back at a rustling sound and turned her head, looking up into the branches of the tree. "There's a bird up there," She commented.

"Is there?" Poppywing's ears pricked forward, and she turned to face the trunk, peering up into the tree. "Not for long!" With a mighty leap, she was on the first branch of the tree, making her way up the trunk.

She's so talented and brave. Rainheart thought as he watched her admiringly. She could catch anything!

"Whoa!" Stripedpaw had forgotten about his hunting lesson, his blue eyes wide as he stared up after her. "Look at Poppywing go!"

Flameheart followed his apprentice's gaze. "That's Poppywing for you," He purred. "She's part squirrel."

She was halfway up the tree now, her tail hanging from the branch she was crouched on. Her attention was fixed on a sparrow perched on another branch above her.

Rainheart felt himself tense as he watched her. Though he'd seen her hunt in the treetops many times before, he still worried about the possibility of her falling. She could break a paw, a leg... She could fall to her death. The thought of losing her terrified him. He gave himself a shake. Poppywing isn't going anywhere. He told himself. 

He waited for Poppywing to leap at the bird. But suddenly, she hesitated and began climbing back down the tree. Above her, the bird flew away. 

What? Rainheart blinked, surprised. She could have caught that! It wasn't like Poppywing to give up on a catch. 

"Huh?" Stripedpaw stared up in confusion. "Why didn't she catch it?"

When Poppywing reached the lowest branch, she leaped back onto the ground, looking embarrassed. "I'm sorry, that was silly of me."

"What happened?" Rainheart stepped forward, staring at her anxiously. "Are you okay?"

The reddish tabby purred. "Yes, Rainheart, I'm fine. I just... I didn't want to risk it."

"Risk what?" Rainheart stared at her, puzzled. She's never been afraid of falling before. Did something happen?

Poppywing hesitated, casting a look at the others. "Would you excuse us? I'd like to talk to Rainheart alone."

"Of course." Flameheart dipped his head and turned away, flicking his tail. "Come on, Stripedpaw. We'll try hunting frogs in the marsh." 

His apprentice hesitated before following. Bloomfire cast Rainheart and Poppywing a worried look before she turned and joined Stripedpaw and Flameheart.

Poppywing sat down and watched until the three cats disappeared through the trees. Rainheart stared at her, his stomach turning with anxiety. Something is wrong. What is it? Is she hurt? Does she not want to be mates anymore? Oh, StarClan!

She met his gaze, and Rainheart's fur prickled. "What is it?" He asked worriedly. "What's wrong?"

To his surprise, she let out a purr. "Nothing is wrong, Rainheart." She leaned forward and licked his ear. "I've been meaning to tell you something. I wanted to wait until I was sure."

Sure about what? He blinked at her curiously. "What is it?" He asked, his heart pounding nervously.

Poppywing gazed at him for a moment before letting out a purr. "I'm expecting kits."

For a moment, Rainheart just stared back at her, his mind blanking as he tried to understand her words. Kits? His heart skipped a beat, then began to race. Kits! "Really?" He gasped. "Our kits?"

She snorted in amusement. "Yes, our kits! Who else's?"

For a moment, he remained frozen. Then he let out a purr and pushed forward, rubbing his head against hers. "I can't believe it!" He blurted out excitedly. "That's fantastic!" 

A loud purr rumbled in Poppywing's throat as she nuzzled his neck fur. "I'm so excited," She meowed happily. "You're going to be a great father."

"I hope so," He purred and licked her head. "You'll be an even better mother." His heart swelled with warmth and excitement, spreading through his whole body. We're having kits! I'm going to be a father! Suddenly, the world around him changed into something new and exciting. Nothing felt more perfect. "Our kits will be the best ShadowClan has ever seen!"