Bloodfur padded into the camp carrying a thrush, his head held high. Two of his clanmates, Copperstripe and Ashcloud, flanked him. He had been a warrior for two moons now, and he had not lost the feeling of pride that seized him whenever he returned with prey for his clan. He remembered the excitement he'd felt when Cobratail had first assigned him to a patrol. He was finally a warrior. He could leave the camp whenever he wanted to hunt and patrol the borders.

He deposited his thrush onto the fresh kill pile, then paused, noticing Mistypaw and Coldpaw near the apprentices den practicing battle moves. He felt a pang of guilt. Why did I tell them I didn't have time for them? I was so stupid!

After a moment of hesitation, he called out to them. "Mistypaw, Coldpaw!" The two apprentices looked at him, showing no sign of friendliness. "Would you like this thrush?"

They exchanged a glance before Mistypaw spoke. "No thanks, Bloodfur." He saw her murmur something to Coldpaw, who shot Bloodfur a glare before they padded away toward Revengeheart and Swiftstalker.

Bloodfur's heart sunk. Will they ever forgive me? He had to give the thrush to some cat. He was going to go crazy if he didn't make someone happy today. He picked up the thrush and headed to the mouth of the medicine den. He saw Dewstorm organizing some leaves into piles with his new apprentice, Creampaw.

The clan was relieved that Dewstorm had recovered from the violent attack he'd suffered at highstones. As he recovered, he explained to the clan what had happened. He and Starfaith had been speaking together when they were attacked by three rogues. Depthstar pressed for information on their appearances, but Dewstorm said it was too dark and everything had happened too fast for him to tell. He said he'd been trying to defend Starfaith when he was attacked by more rogues that arrived. Dewstorm hadn't seemed surprised when Depthstar explained that Starfaith had told him to go to highstones. Since that night, Dewstorm continued to claim that Starfaith was the reason he hadn't died there.

Half a moon ago, Brownstripe and Rosebreeze's kits had been apprenticed. While Dewstorm's wounds were healing, Creamkit had constantly been at the medicine cat's side, helping him with minor injuries and asking about herbs and remedies. A blind mouse could see that the kit wanted to be a medicine cat, and when it was time for her and her littermates to be apprenticed, Depthstar made sure her wish came true. Tinypaw had been apprenticed to Crowmask, and Honeypaw to Bloodfur's father, Flameheart.

"Now, what's this?" Dewstorm prompted, pushing a pile of blue flowers toward her.

Creampaw narrowed her eyes as she thought. "Borage?"

"Yes!" The gray spotted tom nodded approvingly. "And what's it used for?"

"Ummm I saw you give some to Bloomfire," She responded. "So it must do something for queens."

Dewstorm purred. "That's right, it helps them produce more milk for their kits." He paused, noticing Bloodfur standing outside of the den. "Bloodfur, how can I help you?"

He stepped into the den and dipped his head, dropping the thrush. "I thought you two could use some food."

Creampaw turned to him, her ears perking up. "Thank StarClan, I'm starving!" She exclaimed, crouching over the thrush and sinking her teeth into it. "Thanks, Bloodfur!"

"Yes, thank you," Dewstorm added. "You've done a lot for us lately." Since the attack at highstones, Depthstar had suggested that each leader send a warrior with their medicine cat at the half moon meeting until they were sure the medicine cats would be safe traveling alone. Bloodfur had volunteered and went to highstones twice to escort Dewstorm.

"Anytime," Bloodfur purred, glad that he had managed to make some cat happy today. He turned away, deciding to go visit Bloomfire's kits. He couldn't believe how much they'd grown in just two moons. It felt like yesterday they were the size of mice. He ducked into the nursery and was met by the swarm of kits almost immediately.

"Bloodfur!" They squeaked and leaped at him, and he let out an amused purr as they pinned him and padded over his belly.

"Did you go hunting today?" Heatkit asked, his dark ginger tail waving eagerly. "What did you catch?"

Applekit bounced on his chest. "Show us a hunting crouch!"

"Please?" then Cardinalkit was standing alongside his head, green eyes shining.

Foxkit stretched out a black paw and tapped Bloodfur on the nose. "Show us, Bloodfur!"

They love me! Bloodfur thought with a purr. It's so great to have more kin in the clan! "Alright, alright," He chuckled.

"Yay!" Cardinalkit squeaked excitedly. "Show us, show us!'

"Kits!"

He saw Bloomfire laying in her nest at the back of the den, green eyes lit with warmth. "Bloodfur can't show you anything if you're clinging to him like fleas," She purred.

The kits quickly scrambled off of him, and Bloodfur got to his paws, shaking out his pelt. "Okay, but you have to come outside," He purred. "I don't think Poisonedsap and Greenpine will appreciate you leaping about the den like frogs on catmint."

"You've got that right," Poisonedsap grunted from where she lay, watching her kits playing. "These three drive me crazy enough as it is!"

"And I'll have my own to bother me soon enough," Greenpine added. She had just moved into the nursery two moons ago. She was expecting Cliffshade's kits. "I could use some fresh air though." She stretched out before padding out of the nursery.

Foxkit stared up at Bloodfur with bright green eyes. "Can we go, can we go?"

"Of course, come on." Bloodfur headed out of the den, and his four siblings bounded after him. Bloomfire followed and sat outside of the den, watching her kits warmly. He led them deeper into the clearing, them turned to them. "Alright," He meowed. "Show me a hunting crouch."

Cardinalkit frowned. "I thought you were going to show us?"

"I will," He assured the little red-orange tabby. "But first I want to see what you already know."

"Oh, okay." The tom-kit sat down, staring up at Bloodfur eagerly.

Bloodfur looked down at the kits, purring as they stared up at him with wide, eager eyes. I mean a lot to them. "Okay, show me your hunting crouches."

The four kits immediately dropped into crouches, none of which were a proper hunting crouch. Foxkit's tail was sticking straight up into the air like a reed, and Heatkit's legs were spread so far apart Bloodfur was sure he would fall onto his stomach. "Okay," Bloodfur resisted laughing at them. "Foxkit, lower your tail. Heatkit, you're hunting, not getting ready to hug a badger." He looked to the other two kits. "Applekit, your rump is far too high in the air. Cardinalkit, I don't even know what you're trying to do."

The kits looked disappointed and embarrassed. "Sorry, Bloodfur," Applekit mumbled.

Oh no, I hope I haven't hurt their feelings! Bloodfur leaned forward and licked the yellow tabby between her ears. "You all did fine for a first try!" He promised. "You should have seen my first hunting crouch."

"It must have been really bad," Heatkit whispered to Foxkit, who giggled.

Bloodfur gently cuffed the tom over the ear. "Alright, let me show you a proper crouch." He dropped into a crouch. "See how I'm balancing my weight and keeping my tail just above the ground?" The kits tried to copy him. Cardinalkit and Foxkit seemed to be getting it, but Heatkit and Applekit were a bit off.

"That's good!" He praised. "Heatkit, lower yourself a bit closer to the ground. You too, Applekit." The kits obeyed, and Bloodfur nodded approvingly. "Good job, you'll be ahead of any other apprentice at this rate!"

"I was going to see them, but you seem to be doing the fathering for me."

Bloodfur turned to see Flameheart padding over, his green eyes gleaming with amusement. He guessed his father had just returned from a training session with Honeypaw. "Oh," He ducked his head in embarrassment, straightening. "Sorry."

"Don't be," Flameheart purred as the kits ran to meet their father. "Training with Honeypaw keeps me away from them. I'm glad they have you to be there for them."

"Flameheart, guess what?" Cardinalkit exclaimed, weaving around the ginger tabby's legs. "Bloodfur taught us the hunting crouch!"

Flameheart purred. "Did he?"

While the kits pestered Flameheart, Bloodfur heard Poisonedsap's kits playing inside the nursery.

"Ha! got you!"

He looked inside and saw Spiderkit and Amberkit play fighting, batting at each other's ears. Bloodfur purred. Poisonedsap's kits were getting big, too. They'd be made apprentices in a few moons.

"Ow!" Amberkit yelped and jerked back, and Bloodfur saw crimson on her ear tip. For a heartbeat, he thought he imagined it. But as he watched, he realized that the kits weren't playing at all. They were fighting.

"Good job, Spiderkit," Poisonedsap purred. "Amberkit, you've got to be quicker! Go for his belly." The orange kit obediently leaped at her brother and pinned him, swiping her claws across his smoky belly fur, and he gasped out. Falconkit sat close to his mother, staring at his littermates wide eyed.

"What are you waiting for, Falconkit?" Poisonedsap demanded.

"I don't want to hurt them," The dark ginger tabby meowed.

Poisonedsap narrowed her eyes. "Do you want to be a warrior?"

Falconkit blinked. "Of course!"

"Then practice with your brother and sister," Poisonedsap growled. "Or I'll tell Depthstar not to make you a warrior."

Bloodfur gaped in shock. She can't say that to a kit! And she certainly shouldn't be forcing them to fight like that! He was immediately reminded of how roughly Poisonedsap had made Revengeheart and Swiftstalker play when they were kits. This isn't right!

As Falconkit lowered his head and approached his littermates, Bloodfur confronted the queen. "What do you think you're doing?" He asked, and the she-cat glared at him. "You can't make them fight like that. They're only kits!"

"Don't tell me how to raise my kits, Bloodfur," Poisonedsap growled softly. "You're not a father."

Bloodfur twitched his tail. "I don't need to be to know this is wrong."

The golden brown queen's eyes narrowed to slits. "You'd better mind your own business," She growled. "If you know what's best for you?"

He bristled. Is that a threat?

"Bloodfur,"

Hearing that voice startled him. He turned and saw Swiftstalker outside the nursery, looking at him. "Come on," He meowed. "Let Poisonedsap do what she wants."

Bloodfur hesitated, glaring at Poisonedsap. The she-cat's amber eyes were fixed on him, her tail lashing. Her eyes gave nothing away. But Bloodfur knew she was angry. After a moment, he turned away and left the den.

He became face to face with Swiftstalker and hesitated, unsure of what to say. They hadn't spoken in so long. He met his old friend's gaze and saw that his emotions looked just as hidden as Poisonedsap's. "You must know what she's doing isn't right." Bloodfur lashed his tail. "You of all cats should know."

Swiftstalker looked away. "What I know is that you shouldn't cause trouble with Poisonedsap," He muttered.

"Why?" Bloodfur asked, unable to hide his irritation. You don't speak to me for moons until now, and it's to defend your fox-hearted mother!

The black and white tom's eyes narrowed. "Just stay away from her, Bloodfur. Okay?" With that, he turned away to join Revengeheart and Blackstorm by the fresh kill pile. Bloodfur stared after his old friend, feeling bitter with agitation.

"Bloodfur! Bloodfur!"

He turned to see Bloomfire's kits racing over to him, eyes shining.

"Will you show us something else tomorrow?" Cardinalkit asked hopefully.

Applekit waved her yellow striped tail. "Please, please!"

He let out a purr, deciding not to let Swiftstalker's words bother him. I did that before, and look how it effected my relationship with Mistypaw and Coldpaw. "Of course I will," He promised. "I'll always be there for you."

"Really?" Cardinalkit stared up at him. "You promise?"

"I promise." Bloodfur nuzzled him. "I'm your brother."

The kits purred before racing away, and Bloodfur stared after them, his chest swelling with warmth. I'll keep you safe. I won't let anything harm you, ever. But they won't stay in the nursery forever. He remembered with a pang of sadness. They'll have mentors, and they won't want to see me. I love spending time with them, and they look up to me!

He looked across the clearing and saw Crowmask demonstrating a battle move for his apprentice, Tinypaw. As he watched, he remembered his training with Brownstripe, and how he'd seen Dewstorm telling Creampaw about herbs and their uses in the medicine den. It must be great to have an apprentice. Bloodfur thought. To pass on everything you've learned, and teach them what it means to be a warrior... A sudden thought struck him. I wonder if Depthstar would let me mentor one of Bloomfire's kits? He immediately headed to Depthstar's den.

The dark tom was sitting in his nest. He heard Bloodfur and twitched his ear, looking up. "Bloodfur, yes?"

He dipped his head and padded into the den. "Depthstar, I was wondering if I could possibly mentor one of Bloomfire's kits when the time comes for them to start training."

Depthstar hesitated, looking thoughtful. "You're a very young warrior. And you might go easy on an apprentice who is your kin. Mentor's need to be able to be tough on an apprentice if necessary."

"I can do that," Bloodfur assured him. "I'd train my apprentice as hard as any cat, I promise." The tom studied him for a long moment. Bloodfur's heart raced with hope. Will he let me be a mentor?

"Very well," Depthstar decided, and Bloodfur felt a rush of joy. "When Bloomfire's kits are six moons old, I promise you an apprentice."

Yes! I'm going to be a mentor! But to which one? Cardinalkit? Heatkit? Foxkit? Applekit? Oh, it doesn't matter, they're all great. "Thank you!" Bloodfur purred, dipping his head. "I won't disappoint you."

Depthstar tipped his head, and Bloodfur left the den, feeling overjoyed. I'm going to be a mentor! This is-

"Depthstar!"

He looked to the thorn tunnel and gasped. Cobratail was limping into camp, a clump of black for missing from his shoulder. Blood trickled from a cut above his eye. Behind him, Song followed, bearing similar scratches.

Depthstar rushed past Bloodfur to his deputy as cats gathered, anxiously murmuring. "What's happened?" The clan leader demanded. As he spoke, Stripednose padded into camp, carrying a limp cream tabby on his shoulders. Bloodfur froze. Rosebreeze!

"No!" Tinypaw, who had been training with Crowmask, raced across the clearing to her mother, her eyes round with alarm as Stripednose lowered the she-cat to the ground. Blood pulsed from her throat.

"We were attacked by rogues," Cobratail rasped. "A whole group, at least six, I would say. They attacked us, and Rosebreeze..." He trailed off and lowered his head.

"Rosebreeze!" Creampaw pelted out of the medicine den and stared down at her mother. "She's hurt!" She spun as Dewstorm followed. He looked at Rosebreeze for a moment, then turned to Cobratail. "Come on, I'll-"

"Dewstorm, what are you doing?" Creampaw wailed, pressing cobwebs to her mother's throat. "Rosebreeze is hurt badly! We have to save her!"

The tom looked at his apprentice solemnly. "I'm sorry, Creampaw." He murmured, resting his tail around his apprentice's shoulders. "She's gone."

Creampaw stared at him as though she couldn't understand. "But we're medicine cats! We're supposed to save cats!"

"There's a lot that a medicine cat can do," Dewstorm murmured. "But we cannot change the path StarClan has laid out for us."

The cream and brown tabby ignored him, staring down at her mother and pawing her shoulder. "Get up..." She breathed.

"Creampaw. She's dead." Dewstorm meowed quietly. "She's safe in StarClan now."

She let out a wail and pushed her muzzle into Rosebreeze's fur.

Bloodfur's heart ached for her. She's only been an apprentice for half a moon! She shouldn't have lost her mother so soon. He watched as Brownstripe and Honeypaw joined Tinypaw and Creampaw, pressing their muzzles to the body.

Depthstar was quiet for a moment. "Cobratail, do you have any idea who did this?"

"I saw the rogues," Cobratail meowed quietly as Dewstorm dabbed cobwebs at his shoulder. "But I didn't recognize any of them."

"Song? Stripednose?" Depthstar turned his attention to the two young warriors. "What about you?"

They shook their heads, though Song's eyes flared with uncertainty. As the clan murmured quietly and went to Rosebreeze's body, Bloodfur saw two cats enter the camp. He looked to the thorn tunnel and saw Mottledface and Foxshadow slip into camp, casting swift glances around the clearing as though they didn't want any cat to see them. What in StarcCan's name is going on?