AN: Not much in this chapter. Thanks to everyone for your reviews, I'm glad to read them all of the time :) And hopefully by the next chapter I'll get ten reviews...but I doubt that would happen unless I somehow became popular over night.


-Chapter 3-

There were several things that Dovestar needed to do when she reached the old RiverClan camp. First she needed to assign mentors to Duskfur's kits. They were old enough now to become apprentices, whereas Floss's kits were only two moons old. Having apprentices would make LakeClan stronger. She knew that by following the warrior code she would have to take one of the kits herself. Hollyleaf and Minnowtail could mentor the other kits.

The gray she-cat sighed as she followed Tigerheart and Hollyleaf into the camp. Sure enough Duskfur's kits were prancing around Smoky and Floss. Minnowtail kept an eye on them while she sunned herself. Her eyes flashed when she spotted Mothwing padding forward.

"So... who's the new leader?" Minnowtail asked.

"You're looking at her," Mothwing meowed when Minnowtail looked at Dovestar.

"You?" Minnowtail's voice was stiff with disbelief. "How could StarClan let her lead us?"

The venom in her voice made Dovestar recoil in shock. Though Minnowtail was not too fond of her Dovestar did not expect such a reaction. Mothwing bared her teeth at Minnowtail and stepped forward. The dark gray she-cat cringed at the medicine cat and flattened her ears.

"Dovestar is now your leader... unless you believe that living in this Clan is not a good idea than you'd better listen," she hissed.

"Yes Mothwing," Minnowtail growled.

Dovestar blinked when she stalked away, tail lashing with anger as she sat beside Duskfur. The brown tabby queen simply ignored her and watched her three kits. Nightkit, Honeykit and Shellkit. The queen was more than ready to let them become apprentices.

"I think it's time this Clan had territories and names established," Dovestar meowed when Tigerheart and Hollyleaf looked at her. Olivenose had even limped forward to see what was happening. "Smoky and Floss will need warrior names if they are willing to take on Clan traditions."

"I am willing to accept it if it means my kits can stay with me," Smoky announced when he overheard them. "I've spoken with Floss and we wish to assist the Clan in any way possible."

"Good, than I will hold your naming ceremony right away," Dovestar replied with a dip of her head. "Your kits will need Clan names, but they will have kit in their name endings, like Nightkit and Shellkit."

Smoky seemed to agree with her idea and nodded. Dovestar padded over to the center of the clearing and stood tall and proud. She was more than ready for this, though a sense of nervousness suddenly washed over her as the Clan watched.

"Smoky, Floss, do you promise to uphold the warrior code, and defend this Clan, even at the cost of your lives?" Dovestar recited the words that Firestar used to say when it came to naming new warriors.

"I do," Smoky and Floss mewed together.

"Then by the powers of StarClan I give you your warrior names. Smoky, from now on you will be known as Smokefur. StarClan honors you for your courage and facing up to your fear, and we welcome you as a full member of LakeClan."

Smokefur lifted his chin when she touched his forehead with her muzzle. For the first time Dovestar realized just how this must have felt when Firestar led his Clan.

"Floss, from this moment on you will be known as Flosspelt. StarClan honors you for your kindness and facing up to your fear, and we welcome you as a full member of LakeClan."

She wasn't sure if Flosspelt would have accepted any different name, so she would have to compromise. For now Floss would be known as Flosspelt. She was afraid that changing names would make Flosspelt want to leave the Clan with her kits.

"And there is a few more things I must do," Dovestar added when the cheers for the newly named warriors died. "Duskfur's kits are ready to become apprentices, and I believe it is time for their ceremony. Come forward you three."

Duskfur looked surprised that the ceremony would happen so quickly. But she also looked happy that she didn't have to take care of them as much.

"By naming apprentices we show that our Clan will remain strong. Nightkit, until you have received your warrior name you will be known as Nightpaw. I have not yet had an apprentice, and by the warrior code I must if I am leader. I will mentor Nightpaw." Nightpaw looked shocked to have the Clan leader as his mentor. He ducked his head and waved his tail happily as she touched noses with him.

"Honeykit, until you have received your warrior name you will be known as Honeypaw. Hollyleaf, you are more than ready for an apprentice. You have shown great courage and have never turned your back on the warrior code. I expect you to pass on your knowledge of life to Honeypaw."

Hollyleaf's eyes glowed when she touched noses with her new apprentice. Dovestar knew that she was the perfect choice for Honeypaw. Her patience would win over the young cat quickly. As for making Minnowtail a mentor, Dovestar had quickly changed her mind.

That cat needs to learn some patience, Dovestar thought as Minnowtail watched her expectantly. She already knew who would mentor Shellkit.

"Shellkit, until you have received your warrior name you will be known as Shellpaw. Tigerheart, you are more than ready for an apprentice. You have shown loyalty and fighting spirit that I hope you will pass on to Shellpaw."

Tigerheart looked like he was ready to burst with pride when he touched noses with Shellpaw. Dovestar hoped that he was a good choice for Shellpaw. The mottled tabby tom looked like he could use the support of a friend.

"Now that that's settled, we need to think of which territory we can use," Dovestar meowed when the ceremonies were finished.

"There's a lot forest and undergrowth in parts of our territory," Mothwing explained. "I bet if we scoured that area enough you ThunderClan cats would find lots of fresh-kill for us."

"And we can fish in the streams and the lake," Minnowtail added proudly. She seemed to have forgotten that she still had no apprentice at the moment. Dovestar knew that she would have to keep an eye on Minnowtail after what had happened today.

"Is it really necessary for boundaries to be created? We are just one Clan," Duskfur pointed out.

At her words Hollyleaf's pelt bristled. Dovestar understood why Hollyleaf was so protective of the warrior code. She remembered Lionblaze and Jayfeather once telling her that Hollyleaf had practically worshiped the warrior code. Now Hollyleaf had changed as well.

"We are bound by the warrior code, and we must honor it for those who gave their lives for us," Dovestar meowed. She was careful not to make it sound as though Duskfur had made a mistake. "Speaking of the warrior code there is also something else I must do before moonhigh comes. A new deputy must be named." As she said this she looked around to see their reactions. Smokefur raised an eyebrow while Minnowtail gave her chest fur a few quick licks. "I say these words before the spirits of StarClan so that they may hear and approve my choice. Hollyleaf will be my deputy."

"Yay Hollyleaf!" Honeypaw's squeak made Hollyleaf blink in both shock and embarrassment.

A purr rose in Dovestar's throat as she watched the Clan congratulate Hollyleaf. Dovestar knew that Hollyleaf would lead the Clan well through the moons to come. The black she-cat had shown signs of courage and loyalty that no other cat could ever wish to have.

"Now we must establish the borders and see which territory will be ours," Dovestar murmured. She padded over to where Mothwing was sitting, eyes bright with curiosity. "Mothwing, do you think this would make a good place for a permanent camp?"

"This area often floods during storms," Mothwing explained with a shrug. "I've had to move the kits, their mothers and the elders to my den during those storms. It might be a good idea to search further upstream."

"Then we must search for a new camp, one that is safe from predators and from rogues or Twolegs." She looked at Flosspelt and sighed. Convincing the former kittypet to move would not be an easy task. Now she had real work to do as leader of LakeClan.


AN: Ah Minnowtail...even as a regular character she has always caught me as someone who's a little too smug and proud for her own good. But I do like her for some reason. She's just some random character that I allowed to live. I also apologize for the shortness of this chapter, they will hopefully be getting longer by the next few chapters...