"Tell me why you have brought a loner in our clan," Brownstar mewed, with no hint of anger in his voice.

"She has potential to be a true warrior," Frostleaf replied. "I'm sure that she will be a valuable member to our clan." Brownstar narrowed his eyes in thought.

"I will ask Stagwind to ask our warrior ancestors," he finally mewed. Frostleaf nodded as they went out of the den.

Brownstar headed to the medicine cat den and asked, "Did StarClan give you any sign that we bring in the loner?"

"I'm not sure," the medicine cat mewed. "But I received a sign that a white cat, not from this clan, will save the clan from a wall of fire."

Brownstar nodded. "Let it be so, I will make her an apprentice."

Frostleaf gestured for Snowy to come into the camp as Brownstar called for the clan to gather.

"StarClan has shown me the approval to accept this cat into our clan," he mewed, gesturing to Snowy. "And Frostleaf have told me that she fought well."

"From this moment on, before you receive your warrior name," Brownstar mewed to Snowy, "you will be known as Softpaw."

Brownstar's amber gaze looked around for suitable mentors. "Grassheart," he announced. "you are a brave warrior that overcame obstacles in your way. You will be Softpaw's mentor. Teach her all you know."

Grassheart looked surprised to be chosen and he dipped his head. "I will," he promised, touching noses with his new apprentice.

"Softpaw! Softpaw!" the clan called out the name of the new apprentice. Frostleaf smiled. More warriors for ThunderClan, she thought.

~~~~

"My kits are coming!" a screech sounded from the nursery. Icetail tried to rush in, but Frostleaf blocked him. "Stagwind needs space to work," she mewed firmly.

The white tom looked like he was about to argue, but it was obvious that she had given him an order. Instead, he paced around nervously as Stagwind quickly gave Specklebreeze a stick.

She screeched again as a single wet bundle of fur slid out. The medicine cat touched her belly. "That's all," Stagwind mewed.

Frostleaf let Icetail pass to see his kit, who is a she-kit. Will I have kits of my own? She wondered as Specklebreeze licked her kit affectionately.

"Our kit is beautiful," Icetail whispered. "What are you going to name her?" His mate smiled. "Her name will be Lilykit."

"That's a nice name," Frostleaf commented as Brownstar went in the den to greet the new arrival to ThunderClan.

"She looks like you," Specklebreeze purred to her. The tiny kit had a light gray pelt like her mother, and lighter blue eyes.

"Can I see the new kit?" Honeykit asked excitedly. When she saw the sleeping bundle of fur, she jumped in excitement. "Did I look like that last time?"

"Yes you did," Goldenfeather purred. "But now you have to give her some space. Don't rush into things." Honeykit nodded and bounced towards Frostleaf.

"You are back! You will be my mentor, right?" she mewed happily. "I will ask Brownstar for that," Frostleaf smiled.

~~~~

"Frostleaf!" Softpaw called. "I need to talk to you." The deputy licked her lips and asked, "What is it then?"

"I think you need to know," she mewed. "That my father asked me to join the clan." Frostleaf looked shocked. "Who is your father?"

Softpaw smiled. "Isn't is obvious?" she asked. "He knows you and you know him. He was the one who told me all about the clans."

Frostleaf still feel confused. "I don't get it," she admitted. Softpaw rolled her eyes in amusement. "His name is..."

"Intruders!" a yowl came from the clearing. Frostleaf immediately ran out and saw the same rogues that had attacked ThunderClan before.

"ThunderClan, attack! Defend the camp!" she yowled. She turned to Softpaw. "Find Brownstar's patrol that is along the ShadowClan border, hurry!"

The camp was filled with rogues, for a moment Frostleaf wondered if there was even any ThunderClan cats fighting.

On her way to the nursery, she spotted Grassheart locked in combat with two rogues and Appleshade swiping at another near the elder's den.

"Help!" a wail of a kit gave Frostleaf the encouragement to get to the nursery faster. She jumped over the heads of the rogues blocking her and shoved another side.

"Lilykit!" Specklebreeze screeched. The little light gray kit was mewing in fear as a rogue lunged at her.

Frostleaf jumped with all her might and crashed into the rogue, pushing him into the nursery wall.

She grabbed Lilykit gently back to her nest while Rockkit was taunting a rogue that was fighting Goldenfeather. "You can't catch me!"

I can't imagine the trouble that the kit is going to get into, she thought as Goldenfeather chased the rogue away with a fury of swipes.

"Are you ok?" she asked her friend as she panted, taking in rapid breaths. Goldenfeather nodded.

Frostleaf pounced back into the fray and felt relieved that Webfoot's hunting patrol have returned to help.

Two rogues pounced onto her with snapping jaws, one aiming for her neck. She let herself go limp and when they slowly rised their claws, she jumped up, throwing them off.

They looked winded and with a snarl, Frostleaf tore at their muzzle. "Go now before I bite your throat!" she growled.

They quickly fleed. Finally, Brownstar's patrol arrived, attacking the rogues with fury. The rogues quickly ran off at the sight of heavy reinforcements.

Suddenly, she heard a familiar yowl. "This is never over!"

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A/N: Take a guess. :) Who is Softpaw's father?