Chapter Seven:

Tendereye touched his nose with hers lightly. "Lets go be with the other medicine cats."

Tinypaw followed, and then turned around at a familiar scent. "Rainpaw! Poppyshade!"

"You forgot me!" whined a voice.

"Marshpaw," he grinned affectionately, "How could I forget you?"

Rainpaw purred and brushed against him.

"Yeah, you are related after all," Poppyshade meowed easily.

Tinypaw glanced at her quickly. "They know?"

"Most of SkyClan does. It was kept from other clans due to a prophecy from Waterwing."

Tinypaw flicked his tail. "Oh."

Rainpaw giggled. "Cousins."

Marshpaw grinned. "I guess I'm like you're uncle or something like that."

"Then you should meet the rest of your nephews and nieces," Tinypaw meowed, "You forgot Briarshine, Echovalley, and Whirlwind."

"Shh, they're starting," grunted a SkyClan cat.

"Jaggedclaw, this is my sister's son, Tinypaw. His siblings just became warriors."

"Oh, a medicine cat apprentice, are you?" asked the dark ginger tom.

"Yep!"

"...And Russetstar will be speaking first," Streamstar meowed, stepping back.

Russetstar stepped up. "As half of you know, SkyClan was brutally attacked by rogues. Two cats died, Hawkclaw and Gorseleaf." She paused, allowing a moment of grief. Poppyshade whimpered, and Tinypaw licked her cheek in comfort. Rainpaw pressed against Poppy in silence. Jaggedclaw's soft cries were barely audible. "On the happier note, Poppyshade had her second litter of kits. That is it."

Russetstar stepped back, Streamstar stepped forward, "My clan was also attacked over the last moon. We mourn the loss of our..." she had to break off from anxiety and emotion. "We mourn the loss of our beloved leader, Clawstar, who lost his life protecting his clan." She paused for other cats to have a moment of grief, but hers was profound. "Otherwise, Briarpaw, Echopaw, and Whirlpaw became warriors. They are now Whirlwind, Echovalley, and Briarshine. I am now leader, and my deputy is Followriver." She stopped, looking up at the sky briefly, and stepped back.

The NightClan leader, Blackstar, stepped forward, "We lost our deputy Littleclimb to a poisonous snake. The other victim of the snake, Creeklight, has thankfully and surpisingly lived, though she is sick at the moment. Our new deputy is Lilyflower." He paused too, and then continued. "Sootpaw, Creekpaw, and Blizzardpaw have become warriors. They are now Sootclaw, Creeklight, and Blizzardstream."

The LightningClan leader stepped up. "Well," Moonstar looked at the other leaders sorrowfully, "I am sorry to hear of the many deaths that occured in the other clans while my clan has been flourishing. We have suffered some patrol attacks from rogues, but otherwise, we are happy and healthy." She finished and stepped back as well.

"Everything's happening to my sisters," muttered Poppyshade, flicking her tail with a pained smile.

"Sisters?" he meowed attentively.

"Oh, Streamstar and-" she broke off quickly, "I'm not permitted to say the other's at this moment. She is your mother."

"Poppyshade, I'm glad you've gotten to know Tinypaw so well," Tendereye meowed, "After all, it is your destiny to assist them to fulfil theirs."

"I know. Streamstar has her own to fill. It was never her job." Poppyshade sighed sadly, and when she looked up, her expression was torn with grief. "But sometimes, I feel like others would do it better. I feel like I can't do it without Hawkclaw."

"I know," Tendereye sighed, "There was a tom that I was-and still am-in love with, but I can't have him. I can't bring the fact that it is dangerous down upon him. At least you had him, and you still will. When you get to StarClan."

"And you can have him when you get to StarClan too," mewed Poppyshade in reply, touching Tendereye's nose, "Thanks."

Poppyshade sighed very softly, and nosed Rainpaw. "Come on, lets go catch up with Russetstar."

"Bye!" Rainpaw and Marshpaw chorused brightly.