"I'm glad you're back," Stormgaze murmured, her purr rumbling in her throat.

"I'm glad to see you," Sharptalon purred, licking her in between her ears. 

Dustkit, Wingkit, and Lilykit played together, their excited mews echoing in the den.

"Why don't you visit the elders? Maybe they'll have a story to tell," Phoenixwing mewed, her eyes shimmering.

"But the elders are sometimes boring," Graykit mumbled. His gray-silver eyes were a unique feature. 

"They aren't boring," Phoenixwing mewed. 

"Sometimes they tell the same stories," Graykit argued.

"Has Flower told you her story of how she became blind?" Sharptalon asked, sitting down beside Stormgaze.

"No," Graykit mewed. "But I don't care. All I want to do is stay in the den with Grasskit."

Grasskit was the smallest of her siblings. She always wanted to sleep and acted like she couldn't walk. She always seemed so weak.

"Grasskit will get better. Don't worry," Phoenixwing soothed. Grief clouded her eyes. "Poor Echostrike," she murmured. 

A moon and a half had passed since Sharptalon had gotten back. Leafpool had moved from the den when her kits became apprentices, which was three days ago. Peachpaw was Flamedawn's apprentice and Auburnpaw's mentor was Firestorm.

"Wingkit's apprenticeship ceremony is today," Stormgaze purred. "Stalkfire would be an amazing mentor for her," she suggested.

"He hasn't even had an apprentice yet anyways," Sharptalon meowed, curling his tail around his paws.

"Then maybe Squirrelstar will let him train Wingkit, you think?" Stormgaze asked, her beautiful green eyes shimmering.

"We'll have to see," Sharptalon murmured.

Lighttail suddenly padded into the den. "Wingkit," he called softly. "Squirrelstar would like to see you."

"All cats old enough to hunt, join beneath the High-Ledge for a Clan meeting!" Squirrelstar's voice rang outside.

Wingkit jumped in excitement.  "My apprentice ceremony!" She squeaked, scampering from the den.

Sharptalon got to his paws. "I've gotta see her ceremony," he purred to Stormgaze.

Stormgaze purred. "I'm coming too." She grunted as she tried to get to her paws.

"Let me help," Sharptalon murmured. He let her lean on his shoulder as she stood up. Her flanks were very swollen now. Her kits would be due soon. 

Stormgaze slightly stumbled to the entrance of the den. 

Sharptalon padded out from the den, blinking in the bright sunshine. He took a seat beside his brother, Stormgaze sitting on his other side. 

"Wingkit has reached the age of six moons and is now ready to be an apprentice," Squirrelstar meowed. "Wingkit, step forward, please."

Wingkit stumbled forward, her eyes round with fright and loneliness as she stared around at the crowd.

Squirrelstar's gaze flashed with sympathy. "Wingkit, you have reached the age of six moons, and it is time for you to be apprenticed. From this day on, until you receive your warrior name, you will be known as Wingpaw. Your mentor will be Ivypool. I hope Ivypool will pass down all she knows on to you."

Wingpaw looked up at Ivypool, who was beside Squirrelstar, looking a bit surprised. She jumped down.

"Ivypool, you are ready to take on an apprentice. You have received excellent training from Ferncloud and have shown yourself to be loyal and courageous. You will be the mentor of Wingpaw, and I expect you to pass on all you know to Wingpaw," Squirrelstar called, lifting her tail.

Wingpaw stretched forward to touch noses with Ivypool.

"Wingpaw! Wingpaw!" The Clan cheered.

Sharptalon felt a sense of pride. He wondered how he would feel once his kits went up there. 

Lighttail scampered forward, his eyes shining. "Congratulations, Wingpaw!" He purred, licking his daughter's cheek. 

Sharptalon looked at Stormgaze. "I'm gonna welcome Wingpaw's new name," he meowed to his mate. "Do you want to come?" 

"Of course," Stormgaze purred, grunting as she got to her paws. Her swollen flanks swung from side to side. 

"Are you ok?" Sharptalon asked.

"Yes, just tired. I guess I'm not used to being out of my nest this long," Stormgaze sighed. She leaned against Sharptalon's shoulder as they walked towards Wingpaw and Ivypool.

"Congrats, Wingpaw," Sharptalon purred.

Wingpaw turned towards him, her eyes brightening. "I can't wait to start training!" She squeaked. 

"Well you'll be cleaning out the Elders' den first," Ivypool meowed. 

Wingpaw flattened her ears in disbelief. She brightened as she saw Beechpaw and Rookpaw slide from the Apprentices' den. Jaywing and Moonshine, their mentors, were waiting by the camp entrance for them.

"But Beechpaw and Rookpaw don't have to," Wingpaw complained. 

"That's because they're about to have their warrior assessments," Ivypool explained.

Blazepaw scampered forward. "I'll help you clean out the Elders' den, Wingpaw!" He called, lifting his tail.

Wingpaw scampered forward with shimmering amber eyes. "Thank you!"

Sharptalon turned back to Lighttail, Stormgaze, and Ivypool.

"Monarchwing would be so proud," Stormgaze murmured, her eyes glistening.

Ivypool smiled at her. "She would indeed. Now I should be ordering patrols."

Sharptalon stared after her as she went to the Warriors' den and later returned with Berrynose, Blossomfall, Sootpaw, and Mistfang. 

"I want you four to patrol our border with the rogues. Report back to me if you find anything," Ivypool meowed, flicking her tail. "Berrynose, you'll be the leader of the patrol."

"Let's go back to the nursery," Stormgaze puffed, beginning to pad over to the den.

Lighttail shifted his paws. 

"Is something wrong?" Sharptalon asked his brother.

"I'm worried about Flamedawn, and why he seemed to be in such a hurry to speak with the other medicine cats," Lighttail admitted. "He said something about StarClan...."

"Don't worry about it, it's probably nothing," Sharptalon soothed. He turned away and padded  towards the fresh-kill pile, pawing through the prey until he found a plump mouse. He picked it up in his jaws. He turned back around, passing the Medicine cat's den.

"-came to me in a dream? He said Softpaw had disappeared."

Sharptalon said topped as he recognized Flamedawn's voice. His heart skipped a beat, realizing what the orange tabby was talking about. He padded closer to the den. Squinting his eyes to peek through. 

Flamedawn was speaking with Mothstripe and Twistedfoot, his gaze frantic.

"It was probably just a dream," Mothstripe soothed. "Like we said."

"But I had another vision! Ashstar came to me again! He said he found brown fur by the barrier!" Flamedawn meowed. "Think about this! A Dark Forest cat came through the barrier! The Dark Forest is getting stronger!" 

"Nonsense. Firestar had made sure the barrier couldn't be breakable," Twistedfoot chipped in.

"Well he sure did do a terrible job," Flamedawn growled. 

"What are you talking about?" Peachpaw asked, her eyes rounding. "Slow down please."

"It doesn't matter anymore, Peachpaw. Come on, lets collect herbs," Flamedawn meowed

"We have plenty," Mothstripe pointed out. 

"Come on, Flamedawn, you said you'd teach me about marigold and horsetail today!" Peachpaw squeaked.

Sharptalon backed away, trotting over to the nursery. What will they do if they find out that I killed Softpaw?