DOVEPAW SAT AT the edge of the medicine den. Golden rays of sunlight shone down on the clearing of the camp, bright and clear. The snow was beginning to melt away, making way for new-leaf. She breathed in the scents of the sunny morning and the melting snow. The Clan was busy: The dawn patrols were just coming in, Flykit and Icekit were playing in the melting snow while Rosefeather watched them. Her eyes were still dark with grief for her mate, Sparrowfeather. She had been watching over them halftime ever since Tawnyflight died.

     Paws fell and rose behind Dovepaw. She turned around. Badgertooth was approaching her. "Are you ready for some training? You know, even medicine cats need to learn self-defense."

     "I know." Dovepaw stood up. "I'm coming."

     Badgertooth left and disappeared in the shadows that led to the back clearing where he trained Dovepaw sometimes. Dovepaw followed his paw steps and emerged into the sunny clearing. "Ready."

     Badgertooth's blue eyes sparkled in the sunlight. "Okay. Let's practice the belly rake. You are really perfecting it, but I think you can do better. Make sure your claws are sheathed. Remember: This is only training." He backed away a few tail-lengths. Without warning he leaped at Dovepaw, his paws outstretched.

     Instinctively Dovepaw slashed downward at his head with a nimble paw. She felt a rush of pride as her blow hit Badgertooth squarely in the head. "I got it!" she exclaimed.

     Badgertooth licked his ruffled chest fur. "Yes, you did. Great job."

     Dovepaw's heart leaped. Next time I get into scrimmage with a MoonClan warrior, I'll be more prepared with one extra skill! "Can I surprise Mousepaw? She needs some cheering up."

     Badgertooth purred. "Mousepaw needing help cheering up? You're joking." He flicked his tail-tip. "Go ahead. But then be back. We have more training to do."

     Dovepaw rushed out of the clearing and darted towards where Mousepaw and Hollypaw were meowing quietly to each other, their heads low and close together. She tiptoed over to her and jumped on her back with a playful yowl. Mousepaw let out a yelp and rolled over, dispatching Dovepaw from her back. "I got you!" Dovepaw teased. "You need to practice more."

     Mousepaw purred. "I bet I can beat you in a fair fight."

     "That was a fair fight!" Dovepaw retorted.

     Mousepaw shrugged carelessly. "That doesn't matter. I—"

     "All cats old enough to catch their own prey come gather beneath the Snowrock!" Lynxstar was standing at the edge of the rock, the waterfall, now unfrozen, cascading into the pool that surrounded the rock.

     Dovepaw glanced at Hollypaw and Mousepaw. They padded to where the Clan was gathering around the Snowrock.

     When the Clan cats quieted down, Lynxstar continued. "Three apprentices have completed their apprentice assessment, and their mentors are satisfied with their skills. I would like to give Foxpaw, Hollypaw, and Gorsepaw their warrior names."

     The three littermates stepped forward and looked up at their leader.

     "I, Lynxstar, leader of FrostClan, call upon my warrior ancestors to look down on these apprentices. They have trained hard to understand the ways of your noble code, and I commend them to you as a warrior in return." Lynxstar gazed at the three apprentices. "Foxpaw, Hollypaw, Gorsepaw, do you promise to uphold the warrior code and to protect and defend your Clan, even at the cost of your lives?"

     The three apprentices glanced at each other excitedly. "I do," Gorsepaw and Hollypaw agreed at the same time.

     Foxpaw glanced over his shoulder at Dovepaw, his eyes sparkling with happiness. He turned back to Lynxstar. "I do," he responded.

     "Then by the powers of StarClan, I give you your warrior names. Hollypaw," the tortoiseshell apprentice was practically dancing on her paws, "from this moment on, you will be known as Hollyfern. StarClan honors your bravery and your cheerfulness, and we welcome you as a full warrior of FrostClan." She rested her muzzle on Hollyfern's head and Hollyfern licked Lynxstar's shoulder in return.

     Hollyfern's green eyes were alight with gratitude and joy. She dipped her head to her leader. She glanced at Gorespaw excitedly.

     "Gorsepaw, from this moment on, you will be known as Gorseberry. StarClan honors your gentleness and your loyalty, and we welcome you as a full warrior of FrostClan." Lynxstar rested her muzzle on the newly named Gorseberry's head and the tabby tom licked her shoulder in return.

     Lynxstar smiled at Gorseberry before moving on to Foxpaw. "Foxpaw, from this moment on, you will be known as Foxclaw. StarClan honors your loyalty and your strength, and we welcome you as a full warrior of FrostClan." She rested her muzzle on the top of the brown tabby's head, and Foxclaw gave her shoulder a respectful lick in return.

     The Clan burst into cheers for the three new warriors. "Hollyfern! Gorseberry! Foxclaw!"

     Dovepaw noticed that Foxclaw had a grieving glitter in his eyes. He must be thinking of Leafpaw. She fought the urge to walk over to him and comfort him.

     When the Clan began to leave and return to their duties, Dovepaw strode over to Foxclaw. She pressed close to him and gazed up at him. "Great job," she purred. "A warrior at last!"

     Foxclaw let out a proud mrrow. "Thank you very much. I just wish that Leafpaw was here, too. She deserved a warrior name. Lynxstar should have given her one at her burial so that her spirit would go to StarClan with a dignified name."

     "Her name was dignified. And names aren't everything. You know that."

     "Names show how important you are to the Clan. That's why we have ceremonies that come with a new name." He flicked his tail crossly. "My point is, I miss her." He gazed up at the brightening sky. Dovepaw searched his gaze and found a wistful glimmer in them.

     "Badgertooth is expecting me," Dovepaw mewed. She touched Foxclaw's ear with her nose affectionately. "Congratulations, Foxclaw." She turned and limped towards the medicine den. She glanced over her shoulder one more time. Foxclaw was staring after her. There's something about that look he always gives me. Something that tells me that he thinks I'm the only special thing left in his life. She hated how selfish it sounded, but from the looks of it, it was likely true.

***

     Dovepaw stood in the clearing, panting. She had been training with Badgertooth for almost the whole day catching up on the training that they forgot to do with all of the things they had been doing recently. Crimson and pink light were taking over the horizon, clouds were floating as thin wisps of white in the sky, and the moon was faintly visible. "That was great!"

     Badgertooth nodded. "Yes, it was. You are a natural medicine cat and warrior."

     It was impossible to hold back a loud purr at his praise. Dovepaw flicked her tail-tip in the air and gave her chest a couple of quick, embarrassed licks. "Sure, but I'm a medicine cat now."

     There was an impressed mew from Badgertooth. "I'm glad you believe that. You know, I thought that you would be discouraged that you couldn't be a warrior anymore, but hearing you now helps raise my spirits. But in the meantime, let's check on Frozenfang and get some rest."

     Dovepaw sighed. She was exhausted, she had to admit. She and Badgertooth padded into the medicine den. "Hey, Frozenfang, are you okay for now?" she asked.

     Frozenfang lifted her head, blinking sleepily. "Yeah, fine. When should I be able to go to warrior duties? Will Lynxstar let me?"

     Badgertooth was just settling down when he shot upright again. "I—I don't know. Lynxstar never really agreed with us on letting you come here."

     Dovepaw shot a look at Badgertooth. She dropped her voice to a quiet mew. "Well, that's true . . ." She glanced at Frozenfang again, expecting an answer.

     The dark gray she-cat replied with a nod. "Okay. Well, we'll find out what happens when it happens." She put her head on her paws and closed her eyes.

     Exchanging shrugs with Badgertooth, Dovepaw slipped into her nest and curled her tail over her nose. As she began to drift into sleep, she thought about Foxclaw and his grief for Leafpaw that day.

     Dovepaw was standing in a sunny clearing with flowers blossoming around her. The sun's rays shone through the treetops, shining warmly on her pelt. She looked around at the landscape. It was a wonderful scene, and she wished that her Clan lived somewhere like this. Maybe they did, and they just didn't know because it wasn't time yet.

     When there was a gentle rustle from the undergrowth behind her, Dovepaw whipped around. For a second she thought that this was one of her nightmares, disguised in something beautiful. But the cat that stepped into the clearing was Tawnyflight. Her amber eyes sparkled as she stepped into the sun-warmed clearing. "Welcome," she greeted Dovepaw.

     "It's been a while." Dovepaw dipped her head, not knowing exactly what to say. She could tell that Tawnyflight had something on her mind; she had that look in her eyes.

     "You're worried about Foxclaw," Tawnyflight mewed matter-of-factly yet compassionately. "I understand your concern, but this is dangerous. I cannot see into the future, but I can predict that many consequences are approaching."

     "What do you mean? Foxclaw is a great cat, I don't know why you're saying this."

     Tawnyflight shook her head. "It's not about the code. It's about him. He has dangerous intentions. You both just don't know it yet. So beware. Something beautiful can always turn into something hideous."

     Hot with shame, Dovepaw looked at her paws. "He can't. He's such a great cat. He's so nice, and he cares so much about me and his Clan. What could go wrong?"

     "You can never judge a cat from the outside." Tawnyflight gazed steadily at her.

     Dovepaw sighed. "I understand that . . ."

     Tawnyflight brushed her tail over Dovepaw's flank. "Think about it. Think about the consequences of your actions. Any paw step you take could you lead down a terrible path."

     Dovepaw gazed at the white-and-tortoiseshell she-cat. What does that mean? Instead she meowed, "Thank you. I will be more careful next time."

     Moonlight shone into the small den, glowing silver on the cats' fur. Dovepaw looked around. What had Tawnyflight meant? What harm could Foxclaw cause? He was kind, loyal, and respectful. He would never do something to betray his Clan or those that he cares about. She curled up again and slipped back into sleep, praying for peaceful dreams instead of nightmares.

     Dovepaw held back a groan of dread when she opened her eyes again in a dark moonlit field. It was abandoned, with no sign of life. She opened her mouth and tried to find a hint of her Clan but smelled nothing but death.

     "Hello? Is anyone still here?" Dovepaw called into the darkness. There were a few shadows in the darkening distance, close enough to tell that it was a cat.

     The shadows stopped and turned to chase after Dovepaw. Dovepaw turned tail and fled in the opposite direction. She ran as fast as her legs could carry her.

     Yowls of outrage came from the cats behind her as they came closer and closer. Dovepaw's paws pounded on the ground as she ran faster.

     There was a huge gap in the ground ahead, but before Dovepaw could stop she slipped off the edge and fell into the endless abyss. She thought she saw the transparent pelts of her Clanmates, but not like they would look like in the hunting grounds of StarClan. This was something different.

     Dovepaw's eyes shot open. She was safe in her nest. She sat up and tried to cool herself off; she felt hot with panic and fear. The other apprentices were sleeping around her. She looked at Mousepaw, who was sleeping beside her, and she hadn't moved.

     Laying down again, Dovepaw couldn't help but wonder if these dreams really meant this was her fate. Was her Clan going to be killed off and leave her to fend for herself, or was this all a figment of her imagination, which was very unlikely?