"From this moment you will be known as Revengeheart and Swiftstalker. StarClan honors your courage and strength, and we welcome you as full warriors of ShadowClan."

Bloodpaw sat near the edge of the clearing, watching as the clan began to chant the names of the new warriors. They had certainly grown. Revengeheart stood tall, muscles rippling under his white pelt as he observed the clan, his thick tail twitching slowly back and forth. Swiftstalker was leaner than his brother, but still had some muscle under his sleek black and white pelt. Despite not being as strong as Revengeheart, Swiftstalker had grown into a fantastic hunter, hence his name. While training with Brownstripe, Bloodpaw would sometimes see his old friend stalking prey with an incredible amount of patience and strategy. He rarely missed a catch.

He longed to join in and congratulate his former friend, but he didn't think Swiftstalker wanted him to be anywhere near him.

Several moons had passed since the night Swiftstalker had yelled at him, and Bloodpaw hadn't received a word from him since. He had tried to approach the tom once to offer him a mouse, but he had quickly turned away to join Revengeheart, Poisonedsap, Blackstorm, Mottledface, and Foxshadow, a group of cats who had become inseparable. Bloodpaw found it strange that Poisonedsap wanted to hang out with so many younger warriors, but he assumed she just wanted to be around her kits.

For moons now, Bloodpaw kept himself quiet and isolated within the clan. Part of it was because of how Tornadopaw and Darkpaw had made fun of him at that gathering. Part of it was because of Swiftstalker's rejection of him. Part of it was how harshly he'd been to Mistypaw and Coldpaw, who didn't speak to him either. Part of it was knowing that no cat would ever trust him because of his name. The only cats he spoke to these days were his parents, and of course, Brownstripe during training.

But recently, even Flameheart and Bloomfire pushed him away, constantly asking to give them time to be alone. Bloodpaw was hurt by that, and he couldn't understand why they didn't want him around.

"Revengeheart! Swiftstalker!" Poisonedsap trotted out of the nursery to greet her sons, who now matched her height. Her eyes gleamed as she nuzzled them both. "I'm so proud of you."

A moon ago, Poisonedsap and Cougarfoot's kits had arrived. The little gray and black tom was Spiderkit. His sister was an orange and gold she-cat named Amberkit. The last kit was Falconkit, a dark ginger tabby tom with black tufted ears.

Depthstar dipped his head and prepared to leap down from the meeting rock when Bloomfire stood. "I have something to say," She announced.

The dark blue-gray tom paused and sat back down as several cats turned to look at the orange and white warrior. "What is it, Bloomfire?"

Bloodpaw looked at his mother, blinking. She and Flameheart sat close together, looking excited and proud. What's going on? He wondered.

His parents exchanged a warm look before Bloomfire spoke. "Flameheart and I are expecting kits," She purred. As the clan began to crowd the two cats, purring congratulations, Bloodpaw stared in shock. Kits! Of course! That's why they wanted me to give them time alone! His heart raced with delight for the first time in moons. I'm going to have brothers and sisters! I'll have more kin!

He let out a purr and bounded over to his parents, pushing through Greenpine and Ashcloud to press his head against his mother's. "This is great!" He blurted out. "I'm so happy for you!" He turned and bumped his head affectionately against Flameheart's shoulder, and his parents purred loudly.

Bloomfire wrapped her tail around Bloodpaw, nuzzling him. "You're going to be a great brother, Bloodpaw," She purred.

***

Later that day, Bloodpaw went out into the forest to hunt with Brownstripe. He sprang onto a mouse and swiftly delivered the killing bite, the sharp tang of blood hitting his tongue.

"Well done," Brownstripe praised, padding to his apprentice's side. "You've become a fine hunter. I don't think there's much more I can teach you."

Bloodpaw looked up at his mentor, pricking his ears forward. It wasn't often he got a compliment out of Brownstripe. "Really?"

The tabby nodded. "Why don't you go hunting over there?" He suggested, waving his tail toward the marsh. "There should be plenty of frogs out with green-leaf on the way."

"Okay." Bloodpaw headed for the marsh, crouching in the tall grass. He slowly began to stalk forward.

Crrrooooaaak

Bloodpaw froze. Frog! He spotted the rubbery creature crouched ahead of him close to the water's edge, throat puffing in and out as it croaked. He narrowed his eyes and crept closer, but the frog seemed to hear him and sprang into a tall clump of grass by the shore. With a soft growl, Bloodpaw leaped after it, claws outstretched as he crashed through the other side of the grass. To his surprise, a tabby tom spun to face him, nearly jumping out of his pelt as he yowled out, dropping the herbs he'd been carrying.

Bloodpaw awkwardly stumbled to the ground in front of him, sheathing his claws. "Hawkfeather!"

The medicine cat leaned away from Bloodpaw, staring at him with wide, stunned eyes. His fur was fluffed up twice his size. "Great StarClan, Bloodpaw!" He gasped. "Are you trying to give me a heart attack?"

"Sorry!" Bloodpaw apologized awkwardly, ducking his head. "I-I was chasing a frog." The mottled tom still looked like he was in shock. Bloodpaw could only imagine how Hawkfeather had felt, quietly gathering herbs, then having the cat he despised leap out at him.

Hawkfeather eyed him warily, still looking on guard. "Shouldn't you be with your mentor?"

"Brownstripe sent me to hunt on my own," Bloodpaw responded.

The tabby nodded and glanced down, his thick tail lashing slowly. Bloodpaw shuffled his paws as an awkward silence built between them. "So..." Bloodpaw dared to break the silence, staring at Hawkfeather nervously. "What are you doing?"

Hawkfeather flattened his ears. "I was gathering herbs, until you scared me out of my fur," He growled.

He looked down and saw the tall, bristly leaves he'd caused him to drop scattered on the ground. "Oh." He quickly crouched and began gathering them together. "Let me help you with-"

Be careful!" Hawkfeather spat, and Bloodpaw drew back nervously.

"Sorry," Bloodpaw hesitated. "Can I help with anything?"

Hawkfeather hesitated, his tail swishing slowly back and forth as he studied him. "I suppose you could look for more horsetail."

"Okay." He hesitated. "W-what does horsetail look like?"

The medicine cat huffed out a sigh. "What do you think, mouse-brain?" He growled, flicking his tail at the bristly leaves by his paws.

"Oh." Bloodpaw dipped his head and began sniffing along the marsh for the plant. He noticed Hawkfeather constantly eying him, as though he expected Bloodpaw to attack when his back was turned. He tried to ignore the medicine cat's menacing stare, nipping off a stalk of horsetail. But as he returned to Hawkfeather with it, he felt that it was time he asked him the question that had been burning in his mind since he was a kit.

"You've never liked me," Bloodpaw meowed, meeting his gaze. "Why?"

Hawkfeather's fur bristled for a moment. He stared back at Bloodpaw steadily, but seemed hesitant to respond.

Bloodpaw twitched his tail. "What did I ever do wrong?" He asked.

The mottled tabby lowered his head, and Bloodpaw thought he saw guilt in his eyes, but it only lasted for a moment. "Nothing." He murmured. "Yet." Bloodpaw was about to press for more information, but the medicine cat picked up his herbs and started walking away. "You should get back to your mentor."

He stared after the medicine cat, his mind whirling with questions. Why does Hawkfeather think I'll do harm one day? I would never hurt anyone! Ever!