Approximately Half a Moon Later


Hollypetal couldn't tell what was heavier as she headed back to camp, her paws or Dustpelt's limp body.

No cat talked. There was nothing to say about what had happened. ThunderClan had simply meddled again – the loss of a ThunderClan warrior hadn't seemed to soften Rowanstar any. She wondered how he could be mad at them after everything. Was he too proud to accept ThunderClan help? Did he not want to seem like a weak leader?

Wasn't the real weakness being too proud to ask for help?

ShadowClan was still in bad shape – how could Rowanstar choose pride over the safety of his clan? She couldn't understand. It was like they hadn't even been at the same battle. Could he not see his clan-mates being defeated around him?

Hollypetal couldn't stop seeing Roseleaf, pinned to the ground by a badger, it's teeth in her shoulder. Bramblestar had gotten to the badger before she could, had fought it off with Bumblestripe, and Hollypetal had run over to her sister's side.

She'd hardly been breathing. Hollypetal had dragged her away from the battle, and Pinenose had blocked her path. There was a moment where Hollypetal thought Pinenose was going to snap at her, but the former hostility in the she-cat's eyes had all but disappeared.

"I'll take her to Littlecloud," she'd mewed simply, flicking her tail at one of her clan-mates. They'd wrestled Roseleaf to her paws and led her away from the battle.

Roseleaf had looked back once, expression dazed, and nodded at Hollypetal. She couldn't read what the nod had meant. Thank you? I'll be fine? But Roseleaf was already gone.

And now Hollypetal was here, helping carry Dustpelt back to their temporary camp.

There had been a strange relief in him dying – he had been suffering so much after Ferncloud had died, and she'd been there to meet him and take him to StarClan. It wasn't Dustpelt being dead that felt strangling – it was having to bring his body back to his family and friends. The scene at the battle wouldn't be as much of a relief for the cats that hadn't seen it.

Really, what it had been was just a missed opportunity. A missed chance for Dustpelt's family to see him and Ferncloud together once more, to know that it was fine.

Spiderleg was ahead of her, carrying his father's scruff, his expression blank with the surprise of his death.

Hollypetal wanted to walk forever, to never reach camp, because she wasn't sure how she could handle seeing her friends reactions. She was so tired of grief, of pain, of seeing her friends feel anything negative. Every time she thought something might be going right, something would happen, and she'd remember how much pain there was in the world, and she'd feel like she was losing herself to grief for anyone who had ever felt sad.

Her stomach rolled as they walked through the tunnel. Her and Spiderleg brought up the rear with the one lost warrior, a sad last sight.

Rainpaw and Dawnpaw had chosen to stay at camp during the fight because Frostpaw was finally recovering. They'd been planning on going on a hunting patrol and Hollypetal wondered if they were back yet. She didn't know what would be easier, to tell them first, or to just bring the body in.

The choice was made when they arrived at the camp. She spotted Rainpaw before he saw her. He was standing next to Dawnpaw and Frostpaw. Frostpaw was back in his nest, but his eyes had a brightness to them that Hollypetal didn't want to see disappear. Dawnpaw was sitting, ears perked. Rainpaw's paws were kneading the ground, his eyes trailing over the returning cats until they finally landed on Dustpelt.

She watched as his paws seemed to give out beneath him and he was suddenly laying there, his eyes following the body as Spiderleg and her brought it to the centre of the cave. Dawnpaw's jaw opened in a bewildered mew, but then she followed his eyes and stopped whatever she'd been starting to say, her mouth forming the word Dad?

Frostpaw struggled to his paws, all the brightness gone, and was trotting towards her, his face twisted in grief. "What happened?" he whispered as she set Dustpelt's body down. "What happened? What happened?" He was looking between her and Spiderleg quickly, like he was waiting for one of them to tell him that Dustpelt would be fine, was only knocked out.

Spiderleg cleared his throat, tucking his paws under himself as he settled down to sit with his father one last time. "He's with Ferncloud now," he said. His voice was gruff but trembling. He continued as more cats gathered around, "He didn't want us to get help." His voice broke off.

Hollypetal stepped forward, sucking in a sharp breath. "Ferncloud came and took Dustpelt to StarClan. Foxleap and Icecloud were there, too. All of their lost kits were." She squeezed her eyes shut. "He... he was happy."

When she opened her eyes again, she met Rainpaw's across the cave. She got to her paws and moved out of the way of the cats coming to say their goodbyes, heading to Rainpaw and Dawnpaw, neither of which had moved.

Rainpaw looked confused, uncomprehending. He was staring at Dustpelt, his expression somewhere between confusion and sadness and fear. His ears were pressed against his head, and when he met her eyes, they were round with grief. "He didn't... want help?"

She settled between him and Dawnpaw, shaking her head slowly. It felt like it weighed too much, like it was filled with water and if she tilted her head it would pour out of her ear and she'd drown everyone in it.

Dawnpaw stood and joined Frostpaw, her steps slow and unsteady. Hollypetal wanted to join her, but didn't want to leave Rainpaw. She was glad when Seedpaw appeared beside Dawnpaw and pressed her pelt against her's.

"I should've gone with you," Rainpaw whispered, his pupils shrinking. "Dawnpaw and Frostpaw are recovering from being sick, but I wasn't sick, I should've gone with you." He looked at her helplessly. "If I'd gone with you then—then he'd have come back from the battle alive, I know he would've."

She swallowed painfully. "Rainpaw... he didn't want to come back alive."

He looked to the ground. "Do you think... that he died on purpose?"

"No," she answered immediately. "No, Dustpelt wasn't like that. He was sad, but he wasn't... he didn't think about dying until he was."

He didn't look up, just whispered so quietly she wasn't sure she was supposed to hear it: "I don't have any parents anymore."


Hollypetal was very tired of dealing with bedding. It felt like the moss would never leave her claws, but she had offered to help with the nursery.

"Minty, make sure there aren't any thorns in there," Daisy mewed. "We don't want Squirrelflight's or Cinderheart's kits to get scratched."

Hollypetal flicked her tail as she pulled a thorn out of the pile and was putting it aside when she spotted her parents peering in.

"It's great in here," Lionblaze meowed. "I can't wait for our kits to be born," he added quietly to Cinderheart. "I'll visit as often as I can."

Daisy flicked her tail at him. "You'll visit if I say you can. We all have to put the mothers and kits first."

Lionblaze nodded. "Of course, Daisy." His eyes fell to Hollypetal. "I wasn't expecting to find you here."

"I'm good at collecting moss," she told him. There was a teasing glint in his eye that made her feel suspicious.

"Is that so," he purred. "I thought you were just familiarizing yourself with the den."

She frowned. "I know what the nursery is like. I grew up here."

Cinderheart bumped Lionblaze with her shoulder. "I think what he's trying to say is, maybe you'll be having kits soon."

She lifted her ears, feeling confused. "Me? I don't even have a mate."

Lionblaze and Cinderheart shared a look. Hollypetal realized that Daisy and the kittypets were also looking at her.

Minty broke the silence. "I thought Rainpaw was your mate."

She blinked.

Minty shuffled her paws. "I mean, the whole time I've been with the clan, you two have spent every night, well... not in camp."

For a few moments she couldn't speak, feeling as if her tongue had swollen to twice it's size and her pelt was suddenly burning. "No," she choked. "No, I just... I didn't want to stay in the tunnels."

"Oh," Minty said and paused. "Does Rainpaw know that?"

"Of course Rainpaw knows that!" she spat, fur bristling. "Did... does everyone think that?"

Lionblaze disappeared quickly and Cinderheart's eyes widened before she also disappeared.

"I've heard lots of cats talking about it," Daisy mewed. "But nothing ever solid."

Hollypetal pawed through the moss anxiously. A thorn got caught between her claws and she almost jumped in surprise. "I'm going to move these out of the nursery," she mewed quickly, and scooped the small pile of thorns they had gathered into her mouth.

She trotted out of the nursery and towards the entrance to the camp. Their barrier had been washed away in the flood and she knew that they'd like to add thorns for any intruders. She dropped them at Sparrowflight's paws.

He flicked his ear, letting go of one of the branches he'd been working with. "Are those thorns?" he asked, eyes sparking with interest.

Molenose poked his head out from behind a large branch. "Yup, those are thorns," he confirmed before she could.

Cherryfall approached her. "We aren't ready for thorns yet, but Brackenfur has a pile over there." She flicked her tail towards a clump of branches and ivy. There was a small pile of thorns gathered by the larger piles.

Molenose bounded to her. "I'll take them over," he purred, flicking Hollypetal's pelt with his tail affectionately. He picked them up carefully, and started away. She saw him glare at Cherryfall as he passed her, ears flattening abruptly.

"Sorry," Hollypetal mewed quietly.

If Cherryfall heard her, she didn't show it. "Are you finished securing that branch yet, Sparrowflight?"

"Not quite."

Cherryfall flicked her tail and turned away. She faced Hollypetal and looked surprised that she hadn't left. Her ears turned forward. "What?"

She felt stupid and embarrassed again suddenly. "Um... I said I was sorry."

Cherryfall's face twisted with confusion. "About what? Molenose? That doesn't involve you."

She felt even stupider. "No, I... about fighting you."

Now Cherryfall looked impatient. "What, when we were apprentices?" When Hollypetal nodded, Cherryfall sighed. "I don't think that matters anymore, does it? I was just mad because you kept showing me up." She scowled suddenly, fur prickling along her spine. "That wasn't you though, that was Hollyleaf, so don't you think you're better than me!"

Hollypetal blinked, realizing suddenly that Cherryfall hadn't been that rude to her in quite some time. She felt strangely relieved, though she wasn't sure Cherryfall had quite understood what she was saying.

"I didn't mean to delay your warriors ceremony," she meowed, keeping her tone calm so Cherryfall wouldn't take what she was saying the wrong way somehow.

She flicked an ear. "Yeah, well, I shouldn't have attacked you, anyway."

Their attentions turned to the entrance as Cloudtail walked through it, his hunting patrol behind him and loaded with prey. He dropped his catch in the centre of camp and looked to Bramblestar. "Hey, Bramblestar! We brought our fresh-kill so we can eat here!"

"Good idea," Bramblestar rumbled.

The clan erupted into excited howls and cheers and they converged on the pile like rabid animals. Hollypetal watched, not feeling hungry after the earlier nursery incident, then realized that Molenose was bringing a squirrel over to share with her. She sent a quick look around—cursing herself internally—for Rainpaw. He was nowhere in sight, and Molenose came to a halt in front of her, dropping the squirrel.

"Would you like to share?" he offered, blinking shyly.

"I'm not really hungry," she said shuffling her paws uncomfortably. She had already rudely rejected Molenose's advances many times, and she felt her muscles tightening with the urge to leave.

"You should eat, anyway."

Hollypetal jerked as Rainpaw appeared beside her, seemingly out of nowhere.

"Sorry," he added, noticing her surprise. "I was tidying up the elders den."

She started to duck into him, to hide in his long fur, then stopped herself as she realized what she was doing. I'm an idiot, she thought, mortified. I'm a total idiot and this is why they thought Rainpaw was my mate.

"I'm fine, really," she said. "I'm not hungry. You two can go ahead."

Rainpaw shrugged and took a bite out of the squirrel. Molenose looked appalled.

"Are you okay?" Rainpaw asked after he'd swallowed.

Molenose pulled the squirrel away from him while he wasn't paying attention.

"You get this really specific look on your face when you think something is stupid," Rainpaw finished. He looked back to the squirrel and saw that Molenose had pulled it away. His eyes narrowed but he refrained from making any rude comments.

"Yeah," she meowed dryly, "I'm fine. Just thinking things were stupid."

His whiskers twitched and he moved forward to take another bite from the squirrel. Molenose leaned away uncomfortably. "Well, you should still at least have a bite to eat, you know."

"I can take care of myself," she muttered, but took a bite from the squirrel so he'd shut up about it.

"Well, I find that hard to believe."

She gave him an irritated look.

"Since we're all here..." They all turned away from the squirrel as Bramblestar's voice rang out. "I'm going to hold a clan meeting. I've got something important to do." He padded to the front of the Highrock. "Rainpaw, Dawnpaw, Frostpaw, Lilypaw, and Seedpaw, please join me."

Rainpaw sent her a baffled look, like he couldn't believe he was finally being called. She nudged him gently and he started forward, still looking surprised. He joined his siblings and Lilypaw and Seedpaw in front of Bramblestar.

Bramblestar approached Seedpaw first. "I, Bramblestar, leader of ThunderClan, call upon my warrior ancestors to look down upon this apprentice. She has trained hard to understand the ways of your noble code, and I commend her to you as a warrior in her turn." He paused, looking down to Seedpaw. Her pelt was fluffed out to twice its normal size. "Seedpaw, do you promise to uphold the warrior code and to protect and defend this Clan, even at the cost of your life?"

Seedpaw gave a massive shudder as she meowed loudly, "I do."

"Then by the power of StarClan, I give you your warrior name. Seedpaw, from this moment on you will be known as Seedheart. StarClan honours your bravery and dedication, and we welcome you as a full warrior of ThunderClan."

She licked his shoulder as he rested his muzzle on her head. A few heartbeats passed before he moved onto Lilypaw.

"I, Bramblestar, leader of ThunderClan, call upon my warrior ancestors to look down upon this apprentice. She has trained hard to understand the ways of your noble code, and I commend her to you as a warrior in her turn." He met Lilypaw's eager eyes. "Lilypaw, do you promise to uphold the warrior code and to protect and defend this Clan, even at the cost of your life?"

Lilypaw's answer rang confidently through the camp. "I do."

"Then by the power of StarClan, I give you your warrior name. Lilypaw, from this moment on you will be known as Lilytail. StarClan honours your enthusiasm and independence, and we welcome you as a full warrior of ThunderClan."

He leaned his muzzle against her and she licked his shoulder. He moved forward to Dawnpaw.

"I, Bramblestar, leader of ThunderClan, call upon my warrior ancestors to look down upon this apprentice. She has trained hard to understand the ways of your noble code, and I commend her to you as a warrior in her turn." Dawnpaw trembled excitedly, seeming unable to sit still. "Dawnpaw, do you promise to uphold the warrior code and to protect and defend this Clan, even at the cost of your life?"

Her voice came out as a yell. "I do!"

Bramblestar's eyes flashed with amusement. "Then by the power of StarClan, I give you your warrior name. Dawnpaw, from this moment on you will be known as Dawnstreak. StarClan honours your patience and warmth, and we welcome you as a full warrior of ThunderClan."

Dawnstreak almost knocked her head against Bramblestar's as she leaned forward to lick his shoulder. He moved onward to Frostpaw.

"I, Bramblestar, leader of ThunderClan, call upon my warrior ancestors to look down upon this apprentice. He has trained hard to understand the ways of your noble code, and I commend him to you as a warrior in his turn. Frostpaw, do you promise to uphold the warrior code and to protect and defend this Clan, even at the cost of your life?"

"I do," Frostpaw answered, strangely being the calmest of the group.

"Then by the power of StarClan, I give you your warrior name. Frostpaw, from this moment on you will be known as Froststep. StarClan honours your spirit and honesty, and we welcome you as a full warrior of ThunderClan."

Bramblestar leaned his muzzle against Froststep's head. Froststep licked his shoulder gently.

Hollypetal gave a small squirm of excitement as Bramblestar finally stopped in front of his apprentice. Rainpaw blinked at him evenly and Hollypetal was surprised to realize that Rainpaw was almost as big as ThunderClan's leader.

"I, Bramblestar, leader of ThunderClan, call upon my warrior ancestors to look down upon this apprentice. He has trained hard to understand the ways of your noble code, and I commend him to you as a warrior in his turn. Rainpaw, do you promise to uphold the warrior code and to protect and defend this Clan, even at the cost of your life?"

Rainpaw's voice was off an octave when he replied, "I do."

"Then by the power of StarClan, I give you your warrior name. Rainpaw, from this moment on you will be known as Rainstrike. StarClan honours your courage and initiative, and we welcome you as a full warrior of ThunderClan."

Bramblestar rested his muzzle on Rainstrike's head, and Rainstrike licked his shoulder in response.

The whole clan seemed to take in a deep, collective breath. Rainstrike met her gaze, his eyes relieved and pleased. The happiest she'd seen them since the beginning of the flood.

"Seedheart! Lilytail! Dawnstreak! Froststep! Rainstrike!"

Some cats moved forward—mentors, family—to congratulate cats personally. Hollypetal was standing before she saw Graystripe and Sandstorm moving through the crowd, towards Bramblestar. Everyone moved back, reforming the circle. Rainstrike sat next to her and licked her ear before Graystripe began a rather personal speech. When he was done, Sandstorm said a few words.

Then Bramblestar stepped forward once more. "Sandstorm, Graystripe," he began, "is it your wish to give up the role of a warrior, and to join the elders?"

There was regret but no uncertainty in Sandstorm's voice as she answered, "It is."

"It is," Graystripe echoed.

"Your Clan honours you and all the service you have given us," Bramblestar murmured. "I call upon StarClan to give you many seasons of rest." He laid his tail across Sandstorm's shoulders and she bowed. When he finished repeating the gesture with Graystripe, they padded over to stand beside Purdy, who seemed delighted and said something to them too quiet for Hollypetal to hear.

"Uh... Bramblestar?" Frankie walked into the circle of cats. "Can I ask you something?"

Bramblestar dipped his head. "Of course."

"I want... that is, I'd like to join ThunderClan, and stay in the forest forever. If you'll have me," Frankie finished humbly.

Murmurs of surprise rose from the crowd, but no voices were hostile.

"We'd be honoured to have you," he responded.

Frankie's eyes shone with pride. "Thank you, Bramblestar!"

"Frankie," Bramblestar went on, "from this moment you will be known as Stormpaw, in recognition of the storm that brought you here, and as a memorial to your brother Benny. Rosepetal, you will be mentor to Stormpaw. I'm sure that you will teach him everything he needs to know."

Rosepetal moved to stand in front of Stormpaw. She whispered something, and they touched noses.

"Stormpaw! Stormpaw!"

As the clamor died away, Minty stepped forward. "Er... I don't want to stay here! No offense—you've all been really kind—but please can I go home now? I want to see if my housefolk have come back."

"Of course," Bramblestar purred. "We'll take you home. Thank you for everything you've done."

Several pairs of eyes turned to Jessy, but she remained quiet.

"We'll take you home now, if you want," Bramblestar offered.

Minty hesitated. "Please, may I stay one more night? I want to finish the nursery, and Purdy said he would tell me a story about a blind chicken, and I promised to help Leafpool sort some herbs, and... oh!" Her voice rose into a wail. "I will miss you all so much!" she blurted out.

Cats swarmed forward to say goodbye to Minty, and Hollypetal let herself fall back out of the crowd, Rainstrike at her side. She pressed herself against him as they moved away from the group and felt his chest rumbling with purrs.

"Congrats on finally becoming a warrior," she mewed. She pressed her muzzle against his and his purring grew louder, and for a moment, it was all she could hear and the world was fine. She pulled away after a few heartbeats, and met Rainstrike's eyes. They seemed to almost be overflowing with affection, and his purring still hummed in her ears.

Then it cut out abruptly and she pulled away further as she heard someone crashing through the barrier that had only just been built.

Rockfur came to a halt in front of her, his eyes wild with desperation, chest heaving. He looked like he had all of WindClan on his tail, and fear scent was pouring off him in waves.

"Rockfur," she whispered, stepping towards him. Behind her, startled calls broke out as ThunderClan realized they had an unwelcome guest.

"Hollypetal," Rockfur gasped for air. "Roseleaf is gone."


Did I mention that my new years resolution was to write once a day at least? First time I've ever bothered with one, but hey, I've written every day! I won't be posting this chapters notes on my blog until the next chapter is out, because the notes for this chapter end with a really big spoiler for the next chapter. Also it's a very rude comment and I am a terrible person.

Also it'd be super cool to get some reviews, wink wink. I didn't get any for the last chapter, which felt bad, since it was so long. I totally get not reviewing though, I hate communication. Love you all!

The Renewed Trilogy: Book Three: Mad World
Chapter Three: I Will Follow You Into the Dark
Word count (excluding A/N): 3,780
Character count (excluding A/N): 18,533

Song: Death Cab for Cutie – I Will Follow You Into the Dark
Started: January 7
th, 2016. 1:25AM.
Finished: January 9
th, 2016. 3:07AM. Edited: January 9th, 2016. 3:39PM.