Well, here we are. It's going to take me awhile to state that I'm working on Burning Roses, Silver Thorns and not Every Rose Has Its Thorns, that's for sure! Well, here we are. A bunch of you reviewed the allegiances – thankies! I hope you enjoy the sequel. Er…if there are any new readers…I'd just like to say 'hi'. That matter out of the way, I hope you all enjoy seeing Rosethorn, and Thorntail get even closer/further away from one another, in the next installment. I sincerely hope you all enjoy Burning Roses, Silver Thorns. If you don't…well…tell me what I could do better, yes?

Pearl.H.Sweden-...-gasp- ThAT IS AN HONOR! THANK YOU FOR SAYING SUCH A THING! -hugs-

Watersoul Head of the Star Walkers - I hope I'm not too late...

lmblovesmilk- Well...anything is better than biology. -shivers-

Loyalflame- Shadedhope getting an apprentice? She might...I'm kind of saving that for if I ever need a medicine cat apprentice to come into play.

Thank you ALL For reviewing -tap dances- Not very often do you get so many reviews for the allegiances! I'm overjoyed!

Note: This story takes place the NIGHT of where the last chapter in Every Rose Has Its Thorns ended...so...yeah. Accept it! lol. You've all be wondering where Spottedlight's kits were... Well, here they are.


The dark, ginger-coated tom curled his tail in delight, as he rested his cruel and malicious eyes on her. "It's okay, Rosethorn. I won't hurt you," he purred, his voice so smooth and sweet – like honey- and Rosethorn almost gagged as she backed away from the big, broad-shouldered tom.

"Yes you will…" she growled, contradicting the tom's statement with a ferocious flick of her tail.

For a moment, he actually looked hurt. "No," the flame-colored tom rose to his paws and took two paw-steps towards her, his muscles rippling under his pelt. "I love you, Rosethorn. Can't you see that?"

Rosethorn shook her head, violently. That wasn't true! She knew…it wasn't… "Stay away from me!" she hissed, unsheathing her claws. "I swear by StarClan that I'll kill you…"

To her surprise, the ginger tom just looked confused. "Why would you kill me, Rosethorn? I'm just telling you that Spottedlight's kits are coming."

Rosethorn's ice-blue eyes jolted open, and she found herself staring into the confused tawny-colored face of the ThunderClan deputy, Sandpelt. Sandpelt had a look on in her eyes that was a HalfClan cat – half AngryClan, half ConfusedClan, and Rosethorn flattened her ears, embarrassed.

"Wait…wha?" Rosethorn mewed, blinking furiously as she tried to completely regain consciousness from her sleep.

Sandpelt let out an exasperated snort. "Like I said," she growled, "Spottedlight. Is. Having. Her. Kits. Do. You. Under. Stand?" Sandpelt separated each syllable as she spoke.

For a fleeting instant Rosethorn wondered why Sandpelt was taking her time in telling her medicine cat of the birth of the kits. Then she remembered. Spottedlight, the queen currently having her kits, had led a coup against the ThunderClan leader, Streamstar – as well as the whole WindClan and ThunderClan. She had, in fact, planned to become the leader of both Clans by tricking Runningstar, the leader of WindClan, and her own birth-Clan leader, Streamstar, into making her deputy. Evidently, from the kits, Spottedlight had gotten into WindClan's allegiances by slipping into Runningstar's heart – and Spottedlight had rigged a sign from 'StarClan' so that Streamstar would choose her as the second-in-command. Luckily, however, before Spottedlight could kill Streamstar as she had Runningstar, one of the ThunderClan warriors stopped her. But because of Spottedlight's becoming a queen, Rosethorn had advised Streamstar to spare the deputy's life – just until she gave birth – so that they wouldn't risk StarClan's wrath. No cat had exactly been overjoyed by the news, and it was clear by Sandpelt's reaction to the birth that the deputy really didn't care if Spottedlight imploded during giving her kittens life.

"I understand." Rosethorn growled, leaping to her paws in an instant, fully awake. She flashed her sapphire gaze over to her apprentice, Ebonypaw, who had apparently woken up from the commotion – the black she-cat was sitting on her haunches, her dark green eyes missing nothing. "Ebonypaw," Rosethorn purred, "Remember the herbs I set out earlier? Grab them. Spottedlight's having her kits."

Ebonypaw let out a small purr of amusement. "It's time for them to 'pop out like daisies,'" she quoted herself from when she had first become an apprentice hardly even a half-moon ago, and she rose to her paws. As the night-colored she-cat started to collect the herbs, Rosethorn gave Sandpelt a curt nod and the dark ginger medicine cat slipped through the entrance to her den, and pelted towards the fallen tree by the Elder's – okay, Swiftfoot's – den, that had been made into Spottedlight's makeshift nest.

It was only as Rosethorn found herself rushing towards the den at full-speed, that she noticed that it was raining – and that wasn't because she felt her fur getting sprinkled with a drizzle, it was because she heard the sharp 'plops' as the rain fell down to the earth.

She stumbled to a halt, as she came to the nest, and she slipped into the hollowed-out tree, and out of the rain. Instantly, she noticed the golden-dappled pelt of Spottedlight, as the traitorous deputy's claws scraped the earth…as she began her labor.

For a fleeting instant, the thought occurred to Rosethorn to just watch Spottedlight suffer – but she chased the thought away. Streamstar had ordered that Spottedlight's kits become warriors… and Rosethorn would make sure - even if she believed that the Half-Clan kits couldn't have come from a worse heritage – that the kits were born safely, and healthily.

"Okay, Spottedlight." Rosethorn bent down and forced herself to gently lick the former-deputy and technical leader of WindClan's ear, as she urged the she-cat through the birth. "You're doing fine so far. Ebonypaw will be here soon with some herbs to help you through this,"

Even as Rosethorn spoke, the black apprentice slipped into the den, her jaws clutching a bundle. Ebonypaw dropped them at Rosethorn's paws, and glanced at Spottedlight. "The birth is going better than Sandpelt's did," Ebonypaw mewed thoughtfully, and Rosethorn nodded in agreement. The day before had been a rather exciting one. Not only did Streamstar let three new cats join the Clan – the siblings, Silverpaw, Twilightfur, and Gingerkit – that night Sandpelt had given birth. She had given birth to five kits, however, two were born dead, and the other died while still suckling from its mother's milk. Luckily, however, Sandpelt's two other kits – Robinkit, who was named after the deceased Robinwing, and Tiberkit – were strong and healthy, and would probably live to reach adulthood, considering Leaf-bare was nearing its final days.

Rosethorn mewed some soft words of reassurance to Spottedlight as she saw the crimson color of blood start to spread around…as the kits started to come.

"Ebonypaw," she growled, jerking her head over to her apprentice. "Feed Spottedlight from of the Chewed up WaterReed that Blueherb gave us, would you?" she asked, suddenly thankful that the RiverClan medicine had been so thoughtful to leave some at the border after hearing at the Gathering about how many queens ThunderClan had developed. RiverClan had been a little bothersome to Rosethorn recently, however, with the warriors Shadenight and Owlpelt constantly poking their muzzles where they didn't belong. However, other then those two exceptions, RiverClan had been very friendly to ThunderClan recently.

"WaterReed," Ebonypaw quoted quickly as she began looking through the herbs. "That makes Spottedlight not go 'ouchie ouchie' as much, right?"

"Right," Rosethorn purred, as Ebonypaw crouched over Spottedlight, and urged her to eat them. The golden she-cat hesitated for a moment, but finally she began to eat the funny green-reeds that RiverClan cats sometimes got on their paws when they dove their claws into the water for fish.

Rosethorn felt a surge of pride as she glanced from Spottedlight to Ebonypaw. Her apprentice had been through so many births now – Applefur's, Dusktail's, Sandpelt's, and now Spottedlight's all in the course of a few days - the black cat didn't really need much direction from her mentor.

Rosethorn shook her head, and crouched beside Spottedlight, keeping her eyes on the area out of which the kits would come. "Come on, Spottedlight. These are your kits…c'mon…"

Rosethorn almost doubled back, as she noticed the first kit poke his muzzle out of his mother. Oh, Rosethorn had seen kits be born before…but this kit was so painstakingly familiar. Even though she could only see his head, and his eyes were closed, it was obvious who his father was. Runningstar, leader of WindClan. Runningstar hadn't exactly been Rosethorn's favorite cat before he died. Not only did he act inappropriately and tried to shame her on the way back from HighStones at one point, he poisoned ShadowClan, RiverClan, and ThunderClan with a disease – The Blood – that had seemed incurable at the time.

The kit fell to the earth – and it amazed Rosethorn that even though Spottedlight was going through another spasm of pain for another kit, she somehow was able to use her tail to urge the young kitten towards her, and then was able to lick the kit until it began to breathe. Once it had air in its lungs, it instantly began to mewl for milk.

"Ebonypaw," Rosethorn meowed instantly, glancing up from the laboring she-cat, "Take him to the Nursery. Give him to Applefur…isn't she the cat who Streamstar ordered to nurse the kits?"

Ebonypaw looked doubtful. "Applefur said she only would nurse them if the kit was her kin, and Bearmoon's son." Bearmoon was Applefur's now-dead brother, who had been Spottedlight's mate for a time. There had been some speculation of who the kits' father was. "Does that look anything like Bearmoon to you?" Ebonypaw's tone wasn't sarcastic – just hopeless as she jerked her head towards Spottedlight's dark-brown tabby kit.

Rosethorn sighed. Bearmoon had been a brown tom – not a tabby – and his pelt had been much lighter. And Rosethorn had seen Runningstar more than she had cared to. There was no question that this kit was a copy of its father.

"Maybe she'll change her mind." Rosethorn meowed thoughtfully. "Or maybe Dusktail will nurse it. Just find the kit a queen." Rosethorn doubted that Applefur would change her mind – and Dusktail had much more of a reason to hate the WindClan leader – and Spottedlight - considering her mate had practically died at their claws.

Ebonypaw shrugged her shoulders, and even though Spottedlight let out a faint hiss, she scooped up the kit, and scurried off in a zigzag pattern, as if she was trying to dodge the rain drops.

The medicine cat switched her attention back to Spottedlight, and felt a burst of surprise as she noticed that Spottedlight had already pushed out another small kit, and had commenced grooming it so it would begin to breath.

Rosethorn sat on her haunches, and watched them for a moment. She could scent the pulsating fear-scent rising from within the former ThunderClan deputy – but for some reason, Rosethorn also sensed joy. For a fleeting heartbeat she actually wondered why, but quickly assessed that any queen must feel some hopeless feeling of glee when they give birth.

The kit that Spottedlight was grooming, had a lovely white pelt, and Rosethorn couldn't help but wonder where the kit had gotten that. Then she remembered that Spottedlight's father, Howlingheart, had been Streamstar's elder brother – and therefore, the kit and the ThunderClan leader were kin. Streamstar had a lovely white pelt, and Rosethorn quickly assessed that the kit must've gotten it from the same ancestor Streamstar had.

The medicine cat actually felt sorry for Spottedlight, as she tore the kit away from the young mother. Spottedlight was far too weak to do anything about it, however, and all she did was vainly flick her claws in the air, and let out a faint hiss. Still, however, Rosethorn grabbed the white kit, and bolted from the den.

As she slipped into the Nursery with the white kitten in her jaws, she instantly heard Applefur's furious hiss.

"No," the ginger queen was saying, her voice firm as she glared at Ebonypaw like she was an enemy warrior. "I will not have that thing by my kits." As she spoke, Applefur swept her tail over her four kits, as if making a point. The only kit of Applefur's that had been awoken from the commotion, Baykit, a white and golden-dappled she-cat, stared at the tabby at Ebonypaw's paws like it was the most astounding thing she had ever saw. And considering Baykit's tender age…it might've been.

"Kit!" Baykit squeaked, excitedly as she flicked her tail at Spottedlight's son. "Kit!"

Applefur shook her head, and instantly corrected Baykit's pointing out what the poor scrap of fur was. She rested her tail on the brown tabby. "Evil."

Baykit blinked her wide blue eyes in amazement. "Evil?" she echoed. She stared in awe at the kit. "Evil!" she purred, and stared at her mother for approval, and Applefur was quick to give it to her by licking her on the head. Rosethorn doubted that Baykit even knew what the word 'evil' meant yet.

Rosethorn gently placed the white kit – that, from the smell, was a she-cat – on the ground and sighed at Applefur's stubbornness. Applefur was Rosethorn's closest friends, but Applefur was very feisty, and scornful. Rosethorn knew from experience.

"If you don't nurse them, Applefur, they'll die."

"Good riddance." Applefur muttered, and then she meowed, louder, "I have four kits to look after already. Sandpelt and Dusktail don't. Why don't you get one of them to nurse the evil little things?"

"Dusktail has Gingerkit to watch now, yes she does." Ebonypaw meowed, referring to the young kit that Streamstar allowed to the Clan the day before.

"Gingerkit will be made an apprentice in the next moon." Applefur pointed out. "Gingerkit really doesn't need any milk, or nursing. Dusktail can handle one more."

"Dusktail doesn't have enough milk." Rosethorn burst out. "It's a miracle that she can feed Cloverkit and Bramblekit!"

"And Sandpelt?" Applefur growled, her hackles rising, and Rosethorn was startled at how angry her friend was. Applefur was testy at times, yes, but she had never acted so…mad at Rosethorn since well…she had tried to kill her that one time at SunningRocks! Then it hit Rosethorn – Applefur's old best friend, Dawnshimmer, had died due to the father of the kits – Runningstar, while her other friend, Featherfrost, had betrayed her to join with Spottedlight. These kits didn't even have any thing-half good about them, in Applefur's eyes.

"Sandpelt is the Clan deputy," Rosethorn growled. "She can't possibly look after two more."

"Oh." Applefur looked thoughtful. "Well, I guess they'll die. Night, night, Rosethorn."

The ginger queen fluttered her blue eyes closed, but Ebonypaw let out a loud squeak – alerting the queen.

"But, Applefur!" Ebonypaw whined. "If the kits don't get milk, their heads will fall off."

Rosethorn stared blankly at the black she-cat, and all things considered, Rosethorn was able to let out a purr of amusement. Ebonypaw was a fantastic medicine cat in the making and knew almost all the herbs and remedies already, but sometimes she seemed so…so…well, confused.

Applefur was also looking at Ebonypaw rather oddly, and the apprentice looked around self-consciously. "That's…that's what Flowertail told me when I was kit…" Flowertail wasn't Ebonypaw's mother, but had looked after her when Turtlefeather, Ebonypaw's mother, had died.

"Their heads won't fall off." Rosethorn pointed out, but then turned her attention back to Applefur. "But they will die."

"Oh." Ebonypaw looked embarrassed that she had said something as silly as stating that their heads would fall off, but quickly regained her composure. "Come on, Applefur. Whatever we say about their parents, these kits are innocent."

"That's what they said about Dawnleaf!" Applefur snapped, and Rosethorn could only stare blankly at her, unsure of what Applefur meant – or who in the name of StarClan Dawnleaf was. Applefur sighed, and rolled her eyes. "Dawnleaf had evil parents, but everyone in her Clan said to themselves that she was innocent, and you know what Dawnleaf did?"

"Steal prey?" Ebonypaw gasped, and Applefur shook her head.

"She destroyed the forest, and the Warrior Code."

Ebonypaw's green eyes rounded in fear as she glanced at the kits, and Applefur continued. "What's more, Runningstar caused The Blood. Ebonypaw how did your brother, Raykit, and your mother, die?"

Ebonypaw's mouth rounded into a gape, as she remembered, and Rosethorn closed her eyes, pained. In a way, she agreed with everyone Applefur was saying, but on the other paw…she didn't really know. She was sort of just blindly following Streamstar's orders…

"Applefur, there are a few flaws in your statement." Rosethorn sighed. "If this Dawnleaf cat destroyed the forest and the Warrior Code…how are we still here, in the forest, following the Warrior Code that she destroyed?"

"Okay, so I made the story up!" Applefur growled, and Rosethorn flattened her ears. Applefur really didn't want the kits – she had never really seen Applefur act like this – angry and mouse-brained at the same time.

"Applefur, take the kits."

Rosethorn nearly leapt out of her fur, as she heard her mother, Streamstar's voice as the ThunderClan leader slipped into the nursery, her pelt wet with the rain. "It'll make things easier in the long run."

"And in the short run?" Applefur queried, and Streamstar didn't answer – possibly thinking it was rhetorical question.

Instead, it was Dusktail, the other nursery queen, who Rosethorn had forgotten was even there, who answered. "Applefur," the black-and-gold she-cat mumbled, her voice slow and drawling, possibly because the queen was half-asleep, "These kits are Robinwing's grandkits…and Hollowstar and Heatherpelt's great-grandkits…."

Rosethorn pricked her ears. She hadn't ever thought of that. Robinwing had been Spottedlight's mother, but Spottedlight had indirectly murdered her by framing her for treason – and, in a claw-jerk reaction, the Clan had executed her. However, Robinwing had been a great deputy of ThunderClan, even if it had been for such a short period of about a quarter-moon. And Hollowstar, though Rosethorn had never met him, had been the leader before Streamstar. He was legendary in all the Clans for his wisdom and heroic deeds – and his mate, Heatherpelt, was equally honored and respected. Rosethorn had had the honor to know her before she died.

However, Rosethorn couldn't help but be surprised at Dusktail's defense. Dusktail had lost her mate, Shadowfire, because of Spottedlight! However, Dusktail had always been a kind young she-cat.

Applefur hesitated for a moment, but finally gave into the pressure of her peers. "Fine." She mewed. "I'll nurse them." She used her tail, to gently move two of her kits, Blazekit and Petalkit, over in their sleep slightly so there would be room for two more.

Rosethorn let out a joyous purr, and scooped up the nameless white kitten, and placed it by Applefur's other kittens – while Ebonypaw did the same to the brown tabby.

"What are their names?" Streamstar asked the ginger queen curiously.

Baykit suddenly piped up, "Evil!" and crawled over her brothers and sisters, to gently touch the two younger kits with a small white paw. Rosethorn sighed. Baykit would probably call the kits evil for the rest of her life. Sure, Baykit had no clue what the word meant now, and was only calling them as her mother told her to, but soon enough the young kit would figure it out.

"That's a good idea, Baykit!" Applefur gently licked her daughter's ear. "I'll name this one Evilkit," she rested her tail on the brown tabby tom, and she flicked her eyes to the white kitten. "And this one can be Cruelkit."

"Oh, I see those kits will grow up in a loving environment." Dusktail muttered sarcastically.

"Evilkit!" Baykit squeaked. "Evilkit! Evilkit! Evilkit! Evilkit!"

"I'll name them." Streamstar announced, clearly dissatisfied by Applefur's choice of names. Rosethorn found that surprising. Streamstar usually was rather cold…and never seemed like the kind of cat that would care about kits. Rosethorn wondered if a fleeting instant if every cat was just acting a little odd because they were tired.

The white she-cat settled herself beside Applefur – who didn't object - and glanced at the dark brown tabby tom first.

"He looks a lot like Hollowstar." Streamstar meowed thoughtfully, and Rosethorn blinked. It was rather interesting that her mother saw a hero in the tom, while Rosethorn could only see the sick tom that had been Runningstar. "I name him Hollowkit."

Streamstar looked at the she-cat thoughtfully. "Iriskit." She purred.

"Hollowkit?" Baykit looked confused at the sudden turn of events, and she flashed a curious look at her mother. "Hollowkit? Evilkit? Hollowkit?"

"Whatever name you prefer, Baykit." Applefur yawned, resting her head on her paws to go to sleep. "Personally, I like Evilkit…it suits him more."

Baykit seemed to have a different preference however, and she rubbed against her new step-brother, and purred, "Hollowkit."

"Hollowkit and Iriskit?" Ebonypaw echoed, flicking her tail with delight, and Rosethorn was relieved that Ebonypaw wasn't holding a grudge against the kits about the murder of her mother. "Those are nice names."

"Yes." Streamstar's voice was sharp, and Rosethorn was relieved that everyone was starting to act…normal again. "I'm going to go to sleep and then organize Spottedlight's execution…" she stopped in her tracks. "Not in that order." She muttered, and slithered out of the den, and Rosethorn couldn't help but notice how cold her mother could be at times…and eerily calm.

"Well, I'm just going to go sleep. I don't want to organize no executions." Ebonypaw meowed firmly. "Can I, Rosethorn?"

"Organize an execution?"

"Sleep." Ebonypaw growled, fluffing out her fur. "We had to go to sleep late because of Sandpelt's kits, and then we had to get up in the middle of a well-deserved rest, and help Hollowkit and Iriskit pop out." Her voice rose into a pitiful mew. "I'm sleepy!"

"Go for it," Rosethorn yawned, and watched the night-colored she-cat slither out of the den and into the moonlight, before she turned her attention back to Applefur. "You okay?" she asked her friend.

"Eh." Applefur mumbled, her eyes still closed. "I'm doing this for Robinwing…"

"And Robinwing would be very happy." Rosethorn purred, licking her friend's ear.

Applefur gave non-committal grunt, before she mewed, "How's Thorntail and his new apprentice going?"

"Nothing." Rosethorn chuckled. "Apparently Badgerclaw and Thorntail got into an argument earlier about who could catch the most, and they were going to have a min-contest with one another. All Thorntail did with Silverpaw was get Aquapaw and Morningpaw to show her around the camp." Rosethorn let out a purr of amusement. Thorntail was a very good mentor – his old apprentice, Scornpaw, had been developing into a fantastic warrior before he was murdered – but sometimes he was a little…flaky. However, Silverpaw had received most of her training in ShadowClan – Silverpaw had been a loner, but joined ShadowClan with her two siblings. However, Silverpaw, Twilightfur, and Gingerkit fled from ShadowClan, and had joined the ranks of ThunderClan for reasons that Rosethorn had yet to figure out.

"Her?" Applefur asked.

"What?" Rosethorn blinked, not sure what Applefur meant.

"Did you just say 'All Thorntail did with Silverpaw was get Aquapaw and Morningpaw to show her around the camp?'" the queen murmured.

Rosethorn blinked, confused. "Yeah, why?"

Applefur let out a raspy purr, and blinked open her ice-blue eyes – and Rosethorn was relieved to see that they were no longer burning with fury of having to raise Spottedlight's kits, but brimming with humor. "Rosethorn, Silverpaw's a tom."

"No way!" Rosethorn burst out. "I…I…I saw her...I mean him…or her! She has lovely silver fur, leaf-green eyes…and…has the same build as one! She can't be a tom."

"But he is." Applefur muttered. "I spoke to Aquapaw. Apparently, she and Morningpaw watched Silverpaw make rain – just to make sure it was true. He's a tom, through and through. I think those two have a crush on him."

Rosethorn felt herself turn as red under her fur as her namesake, the rose. Silverpaw…was a tom…But he looked like a pretty she-cat. Not beautiful, but a pretty one! Golly lolly! That poor tom.

"You should probably go to your den and go to sleep," Applefur muttered, closing her eyes again. "I'm tired, and you will be by the time the sun rises and every cat is flocking into your den for some reason or another."

"Or just Beakpaw flocking in for all the Clans." Rosethorn joked. Shrewtail's young son always seemed to think that he had some sort of deadly disease, and would come to Rosethorn at least as many times as Rosethorn had paws.

The medicine cat gave Applefur a quick lick goodbye, and gave Dusktail a curt nod of respect, before she slipped out of the brambles of the nursery, and into the rain.

She almost toddled right into her den; to go back to sleep, but movement near the Warrior's den caught her eye. She turned her head, and noticed her forbidden mate, Thorntail, slipping out and rushing like there was no tomorrow towards the fresh-kill pile. Rosethorn purred, and padded over to him.

"Hey, Thorntail." She chuckled, flicking her tail in greeting, as she stumbled to a halt beside him while the gray tom sniffed suspiciously at some of the leaf-over prey. "Hungry?" she asked bluntly.

"Yes." Thorntail muttered. "Very. And now I'm getting wet…"

"That's because it's raining," Rosethorn pointed out the obvious, with a mischievous look in her eyes.

"I thought it was supposed to snow in leaf-bare, not rain!" Thorntail hissed, as she used on of his claws to pull a robin from the pile.

"You'd prefer to have to get your MoonHigh snack in the snow instead of the rain?"

"Sometimes. You don't get as wet as fast in snow." Thorntail pointed out, as he took a quick bite from his robin.

"Unless the snow is deep, and you have to run through it to get to the fresh-kill pile." Rosethorn argued, and the gray tom could figure out no way to disregard that.

Thorntail quickly finished his robin, and as he swiped his tongue around his jaws, Rosethorn meowed, "You didn't train Silverpaw."

"I just got him as my apprentice today." Thorntail growled. "And he looks like an elder apprentice. I bet'cha he knows how to hunt and fight pretty well already. Once I show him the territory, he'll be made a warrior, I'm sure."

"Don't you have to test his skills to make sure?" Rosethorn asked.

"I had to prove to Badgerclaw that I'm a better hunter!" Thorntail huffed, with a roll of his ice-blue eyes. "I have priorities, Rosethorn. You have to do the important stuff first."

Rosethorn purred with amusement. "The kits were born," she announced.

"I know," Thorntail purred. "Sandpelt'll be a great mother, I know."

The medicine cat shook her head, "That's not what I meant. Spottedlight's kits were born."

The gray tom blinked in surprise. "How many?"

"Two."

He shook his head, "Tom…" he muttered in awe. "I guess Streamstar's gonna kill 'er now, eh?"

Rosethorn let out a sigh. "Yeah. Nine times." Though they had been able to prevent Spottedlight from killing Streamstar, had killed Runningstar. And as soon as she had, she went to Moonstone and received her nine lives from StarClan before any cat could stop her.

Thorntail shook his head. "Wow." He muttered. "Well, I'm going to go back to sleep." He announced, giving her a quick lick on the ear. "G'night." He purred, as he turned his back on her and began to bound back towards his den.

"Good night." Rosethorn purred, softly, and turned to follow Thorntail's plan and go back to her den and out of the rain before she got sick. She started to trot towards her den, but as she passed the Apprentice's den, she was surprised to notice that most of them seemed to be awake – and Ebonypaw was among them. Curious, she stopped in her tracks and watched them from afar.

The apprentices were – besides Ebonypaw – Morningpaw and Silverpaw, and as Rosethorn glanced at the silver tom, she was once again startled that any cat with that build and looks could possibly be a male!

"Oh, come on!" Ebonypaw was hissing, her soft, kitten-like night-colored fur fluffing out as she glared fiercely at the feminine-tom. "Why can't you?"

Silverpaw flashed a glance down at his paws, and a ferocious growl came out of Ebonypaw's mouth, and Rosethorn could hardly believe that her tender apprentice had been able to make that noise.

"Come on!" Ebonypaw hissed, wrapping her tail around Morningpaw, her sister. "Why can't you let Morningpaw show you the territory tomorrow?"

Silverpaw hesitated for a moment, before he mewed – and Rosethorn had to strain her ears to hear his soft-spoken voice, "…Isn't that something a mentor is supposed to do?"

"Mouse-brain!" Ebonypaw snapped. "Morningpaw wants to take a walk with you because she likes you!" Beside the black apprentice, the tortoise-shell she-cat, Morningpaw made a startled mew that Ebonypaw had come right out to say it.

"I…I know that…" Silverpaw muttered – and Rosethorn blinked. His voice wasn't nearly as deep as most toms'. At first she had thought he was just quiet – but his voice was really a little higher! "But…well…I sort of have two other cats I like right now."

"Who?" Ebonypaw asked curiously, cocking her head to one side. When Silverpaw didn't answer, Ebonypaw growled, "Do you even know? And don't you dare just throw out some random name! I'll know if you do!"

Silverpaw shuffled his paws. "I probably shouldn't say," he admitted.

"Just tell us one! Just one of your two crushes!" Ebonypaw hissed. "You can't, can you? You just don't want to be with Morningpaw! Why don't you just tell us that?"

Silverpaw's leaf-green eyes were fixed on his paws as he spoke. "Well…I sort of have a crush on Rosethorn."

Rosethorn hissed, surprised.

Morningpaw didn't seem to be able to accept that Silverpaw had a crush on the most forbidden and off-limits cat in the Clan, and rushed into the apprentice's den. Ebonypaw called after her, but finally seemed to get sick of standing in the rain, and flashed Silverpaw a furious glare before pelting off into the medicine cat's den.

Rosethorn shrugged. So the cat had a crush. It wasn't exactly a big deal. Lots of cats had crushes. Eventually, he'd probably start padding after some other she-cat – maybe the other cat he said he had a crush on…He said he had two… She turned to pad into the medicine cat's den, and she was surprised to see Thorntail. At first, she was just curious to why he had come out of the Warrior's den – again – but instantly her curiosity turned into fear, as she noticed that the gray cat had his back arched, and he was growling threateningly at the apprentice's den in which Silverpaw had already retreated into.

Thorntail didn't seem to be particularly overjoyed at Silverpaw's news.


I could've ended it better...I know. Anyways, Silverpaw is one of my favorite characters, and I think I'm going to enjoy writing his point of view - which I plan on using once or twice... -chuckles- Anyways, I hope you all enjoyed the first chapter of the sequel! You all were saking if Silverpaw is gay...you know, I sort of picture him as bi...but I don't really explore much of his er...crushes on toms. Well, it will be STRONGLY implied...but I don't think I'll ever come out and say it, since I'm not sure animals...do that. I might change my mind later though.

Anyways, I don't know what plushie to give out now...How about a second-edition Baykit plushie? This time, if you squeeze her, she says 'Evil!'. I don't know...I ran out of ideas. xD Review please! Reviews make me update faster!