Littlepaw curled up in his nest after the gathering, ready to go to sleep, but even his exhaustion couldn't stop his mind from racing after everything that had happened at the gathering that night.

As it turns out, Windclan hadn't come back after they fled over the hills at the edge of the moor. Some of Brokenstar's most trusted warriors, Littlepaw's mentor included, had driven them out of their territory completely so Shadowclan could take it over.

The thought of what his clan had done kept bringing him back to what Shadepaw had said. She had hated him because of his clan, and he couldn't help understanding why now.

Did he hate his clanmates for what they had done? Was he embarrassed of them? He didn't know.

He sat in his nest, wide awake, all night until the sun rose over the horizon, and Clawface poked his head into the den, motioning for him to get up to start training.

Littlepaw yawned and got up, reluctantly following his mentor to the training hollow. He hadn't been able to look at Clawface the same ever since he lied to him about driving out Windclan. Well, not lied exactly, since he never actually told him otherwise, but he had dodged any questions about what happened after Littlepaw left the battle, and he had never, ever told him the truth. He didn't feel comfortable around him anymore, or around most of his clan.

Littlepaw trailed behind his mentor, still dizzy with exhaustion. His vision blurred as he walked, and when he finally reached the clearing he discovered that he couldn't go a step farther, and collapsed in exhaustion.

"Littlepaw!"

He heard Clawface's frightened meow ring in his ears just before everything went dark.

He woke up in Runningnose's den later that same day, dizzy and confused.

"Oh, you're finally awake!"

Runningnose's cheerful mew erupted from somewhere in the den, but Littlepaw's vision was still blurry, so he couldn't make out exactly where it came from. He nodded uncertainly as his vision cleared and he was able to make out the smiling medicine cat in the back corner or the den.

"You gave Clawface quite a scare this morning," Runningnose told him. "But don't worry, you aren't sick, just tired, but I expect you knew that." The medicine cat smiled at him, but he was also questioning and serious. "Is something bothering you?"

"N-No," Littlepaw stuttered, averting his eyes. He couldn't tell Runningnose about his thoughts on Brokenstar, he wouldn't understand, or at least, Littlepaw didn't think he would.

The black and white tom didn't look convinced, but he waved Littlepaw out of his den without pressing any farther other than to mention that he would always be there if Littlepaw ever wanted to talk, but he had no intention of ever telling Runningnose about his fears.

He stepped out into the sunshine, blinking as his eyes adjusted to the new light. The first thing his eyes focused on when his vision cleared was Rowanberry and Clawface's new litter of kits, Whitekit, Blossomkit, Wildkit, and Tallkit, who were attacking a ball of moss ferociously outside the nursery. Behind them, Oakkit, Darkkit, and Nightkit were all asleep in the nursery next to their mother, Russetfur. Their father, Flintfang, was off hunting for them, but as soon as he was done he would be back in the nursery. The kits had just been born at halfmoon, and Rowanberry's litter had been born just one sunrise before. Meanwhile, Amberleaf was pregnant with Mousewing's kits and was due in about a moon.

Shadowclan was thriving.

"Littlepaw!" Blossomkit cried happily, noticing the small tom. She darted over, abandoning the game with the ball of moss, which she really didn't seem that into anyway. "You're going to be my mentor when I'm an apprentice, aren't you?" She blinked up at him, her blue eyes wide and shining.

Littlepaw smiled at her. "I'm just an apprentice myself," he mewed sheepishly, a bit surprised by the she-cat's affection for him. Of course, he did hang out in the nursery quite often, sometimes because Clawface was there, and sometimes because he just liked being around kits, he couldn't wait to have some of his own. His eyes flicked over to Dawncloud's on their own, and he quickly brought them back to Blossomkit, feeling heat rise in his cheeks.

"Not for long!" she mewed happily, not noticing the tom's embarrassment. "I heard Clawface telling Rowanberry that it's time for your warrior assessment!"

Littlepaw blinked in shock. Already? He wasn't even six moons old yet! In spite of that, he was suddenly happier than he had been since Yellowfang's exile. He was going to be a warrior! He regretted every time he had criticized Brokenstar or Shadowclan; if he got to be a warrior six moons early because of Brokenstar's new system, then it couldn't be all wrong.

"That's wonderful!" he told her happily, touching noses with the young she-cat. "I promise, as soon as I'm a warrior, I'll ask Brokenstar about being your mentor."

The she-cat's eyes lit up and she nodded enthusiastically. "I only have to wait two-and-a-half moons! You'll definitely be a warrior by then!" she mewed happily.

Littlepaw smiled. "Until then you keep practicing your battle moves with your siblings," he instructed, pointing with his tail over at Whitekit, Tallkit, and Wildkit.

"Okay!" she agreed instantly, running back towards her siblings and pouncing on the ball of moss with all the fire and determination of Lionclan. Littlepaw grinned; Blossomkit couldn't be more perfect, and he was sure Brokenstar would make him her mentor when she reached three moons.

Three moons. The phrase echoed in his head. She'll still be awfully small by then. He shook the thought out of his head firmly. She would make a fine apprentice in two-and-a-half moons, and he wasn't going to let something as insignificant as her size get in the way of that. He padded away from the nursery to try to find Clawface.

When he finally did locate his mentor, he hesitated to greet him. He was in a tight group with the rest of Brokenstar's inner circle discussing something that Littlepaw couldn't make out. Brokenstar looked furious, and Littlepaw backed away, hoping not to be noticed by the intimidating tom, but it didn't work.

Brokenstar glanced up, and, seeing Littlepaw, motioned him over to the group. Littlepaw obeyed with slight hesitation but forced his pelt to lie flat as he made his way over.

"Fetch Wetpaw and Brownpaw for me, Littlepaw," Brokenstar ordered casually. "We were just talking about your warrior assessments."

Clawface nodded at him encouragingly, and Littlepaw nodded his agreement happily, racing off to find his littermates.

He found Brownpaw sleeping in the apprentice's den alone and Wetpaw talking to Dawncloud happily over by the warrior's den. He ignored the pang of jealousy that pierced his stomach. Moments later the three of them were back in front of Brokenstar, Clawface, Tangleburr, and Blackfoot waiting to know what they had to do for their warrior assessment. They talked excitedly to themselves, stopping only when Brokenstar raised his tail for silence.

"You three have trained long and hard these past moons, and now you are almost ready to become warriors." Brokenstar's voice was brisk and commanding, and it held onto Littlepaw and forced him to listen closely. "Tonight, while the moon is full and high in the sky, we will attack Thunderclan. They will regret rejecting our demands at the gathering." His claw sunk into the wet earth, and eyes burned with rage. Littlepaw was a bit frightened by this, but it didn't seem to bother Wetpaw or Brownpaw, so he simply followed their lead and nodded happily at his leader.

"Great, there will be three patrols, and each of you will be in one of them," he continued briskly, as if he had been planning this attack for moons. "Wetpaw, you will be in my patrol along with Fernshade and Mousewing. We will be the first attack, followed by the second patrol who will join us when I give the signal. Littlepaw, that will be the patrol you are in along with Tangleburr, Clawface, and Scorchwind. Last is Brownpaw's group who has the most essential job, which Blackfoot will tell that patrol, and that patrol alone, just before they enter the battle. Boulder and Frogtail will also be with the last group. Any questions?"

Littlepaw blinked at him, impressed. He must have been planning this for a while; Shadowclan had never used a complicated battle strategy before. Littlepaw was getting excited just thinking about it.

"When are we leaving?" Brownpaw asked, unable to contain his excitement.

Brokenstar smiled at the young tom's enthusiasm. "Now."

He rose to his paws and summoned the remaining members of the three patrols. After a brief speech about defending Shadowclan's honor and defeating all who oppose the clan, the cats were off.

Tangleburr led Littlepaw's patrol through the pine forest, across the Thunderpath, and into Thunderclan territory. Their patrol moved through the trees silently and cautiously; their target was the Thunderclan camp, and the attack might not work if one of the patrols was spotted before they reached their destination.

Before long, Tangleburr raised her tail, indicating to the group that they had reached the place where they were supposed to wait for Brokenstar's signal. The patrol couched low to the ground, hoping to stay hidden as long as possible. They waited through the shrieks and growls coming from the Thunderclan camp until one call rang out above all of the others. Brokenstar!

Tangleburr stood up instantly, lashing he tail back and forth, ready for battle. She raised her head and shouted two words, sending Littlepaw's patrol into the throng of cats below.

"Shadowclan, attack!"