Deerstar sniffed the air, and narrowed her eyes.

The tang of PineClan was in the air.

She beckoned Cherryflight and Nettlefang, the two warriors appearing behind her.

Cherryflight held a plump mouse in her jaws, and cocked her head.

" I've scented PineClan. " Deerstar whispered, motioning towards the direction of their border.

Nettlefang nodded, and parted his jaw to sniff the air as well.

" Should I alert Swiftstripe? " the senior warrior asked, looking her over. " I know he didn't want you out as much now that the kits will be coming any day now. "

Deerstar shook her head.

Nettlefang gave her a disapproving look, but Cherryflight stayed quiet and began to stalk forward.

Deerstar followed the young she-cat, until they had reached the PineClan border.

It was drenched in their scent, clearly showing that it was recently marked.

Out of the shadows, three warriors appeared

Their dark fur was slicked with sticky amber sap.

" Fallenclaw, Cloudstrike, Honeymilk. " Deerstar meowed, addressing each cat. " I hope there's not a problem? "

Cloudstrike gave a weak snarl, but Fallenclaw shushed him.

" No, we were actually waiting here to warn your Clan. " he sighed. The glint in his eyes told Deerstar otherwise.

" Of what, exactly? " Deerstar questioned, keeping a calm tone to her voice.

The PineClan warrior glanced at Honeymilk.

" MarshClan has been hosting a rogue for the past few days. We don't know full details, but we've heard that he's the son of Spiderstep and Pebblebrook. " Honeymilk mewed, worry etched in her fluffy face.

Cherryflight sucked in air next to her, yet Nettlefang growled.

Before Deerstar could reply, Nettlefang had read her mind.

" We have no business with that traitor of a she-cat. " Nettlefang replied. " She's clearly chosen her path. "

Honeymilk shook her head.

" No, that's not what we mean. They think she's been part of a rogue group. According to their son, Glint, it's called Gallant, and they have enemies named Valiant. "

Deerstar furrowed her brow. Rogue groups usually meant attacks.

" So you're saying that these rogue groups may attack the Clans? " she asked.

The three PineClan cats nodded.

" Well, " she began, forcing a smile. " LeafClan will cross that bridge when it comes to it. "

Before Cloudstrike gave a wide smile, Deerstar caught the slightest smirk on his face.

She narrowed her eyes, and said farewells to the cats, turning back towards camp.

As soon as the three LeafClan cats were out of PineClan's sight, Deerstar sprinted through the undergrowth. She wasn't dumb enough to fully believe the word of an enemy Clan.

Once they reached the camp, the chocolate and white she-cat flicked her tail harshly and approached Poppytail's den.

The medicine cat was sorting what seemed to be chamomile and burdock with Blackpaw, until Deerstar cleared her throat.

Poppytail turned her amber eyes toward Deerstar, with a questioning look.

Deerstar explained, simply, what PineClan had said.

" What is your input on this? " Deerstar meowed, settling on the stone floor.

Poppytail turned away from her and rolled up a small ball of moss, tossing it to the side while she thought.

Moments later, the ginger she-cat came up with an answer.

" I know there's a rogue, Stonewhisker informed me of that, but I think they're trying to distract you while they prepare for battle. " Poppytail mewed, a mischievous smirk on her face.

" So, " Deerstar purred. " What you're saying is that I need to prepare my warriors for battle just the same? I'm quite excited. "

Poppytail nodded, and dropped her smirk. " You aren't aloud to fight, whatever happens. I may very well be wrong. "

Deerstar reluctantly agreed, and shot out of the den, brushing the lichen on the way out.

The beautiful leader leaped up the rocks to her Sunledge, gazing out across the camp like she'd loved to.

She sat back on her haunches as she simply observed the beautiful scene, grinning at the sun in the corner of her eye.

" LeafClan! " she called out, her voice crystal clear. " Please, gather beneath the Sunledge for an important meeting. "

The cats of her Clan slowly gathered, a few staying at the edge of camp while having their eyes on Deerstar.

She cocked her head slightly to the right. " Midday patrol is out, yes? "

The cats below her nodded.

" It's come to my attention that we have a need to prepare for battle. PineClan seems to be up to no good, and I'll let Nettlefang explain. " she called, signaling to the senior warrior.

The tom joined her quickly on the Sunledge, and gave a speech about what PineClan had said.

The Clan stayed absolutely silent, seeming to capture every word with interest.

Reactions were indeed mixed, as Deerstar observed cheering apprentices, frightened warriors and elders, and even some planning going on.

Hollykit squeaked loudly from below her, and she shushed the Clan.

" Yes, my dear Hollykit? " she purred, fixing her yellow gaze on the dark kit.

The five moon old kit huffed and plopped down onto her haunches. " You know, " she mewled, " Practicing more isn't enough. I, um, may or may not have snuck out of camp and saw some mean, bright eyes in the shadows near twolegpatch. They looked ready to claw my ears off. "

Deerstar's eyes widened, only slightly, at the kit.

Sleetcloud, Hollykit's mother, began to scold the kit for her actions.

Deerstar twitched an ear and narrowed her eyes to mere slits. " No, Sleetcloud. I see what she means by this. If she did leave camp and see this, then I know what we need to do. "

The queen opened her mouth to protest but closed it again, sighing.

Deerstar took a breath. " LeafClan will have extra training during the evening and early morning. Along with this, Hollykit and Graykit, please come here. "

The two kits shot up the rocks and settled next to their leader with ruffled fur.

LeafClan gasped in unison, fur fluffing up slowly.

" It's come to my attention that these kits are ready for apprenticeship, and they will be six moons old in less than a quarter moon. Because of the possible situation, and that it is only a few days shy of their sixth moon, Hollykit and Graykit will be apprenticed today. "

Ignoring shouts of protest from below her, Deerstar faced the two intelligent kits.

" Hollykit. You are ready to become an apprentice. From this day on, until you receive your warrior name, you shall be known as Hollypaw. Your mentor will be.. " Deerstar gazed around the camp until she landed on a certain cat, politely ignoring the new SkyClan cats begging for an apprentice. " Spottedfoot. I hope he will pass down all he knows on to you. "

She beckoned small Spottedfoot up to the Sunledge, and the tom nodded to her in a thankful manner.

" Spottedfoot, you are ready to take on an apprentice. You have received excellent training from Lizardcloud, and you have shown yourself to be clever and dedicated. You will be the mentor of Hollypaw, and I expect you to pass on all you know to her. "

The two touched noses, and climbed down the rocky path to watch Graykit's ceremony.

" Graykit, you are ready to become an apprentice. From this day on, until you receive your warrior name, you shall be known as Graypaw. Your mentor will be Cherryflight, and I hope she passes down everything she knows to you. "

Cherryflight leaped up to the ledge in excitement.

" Cherryflight, you are ready to take on an apprentice. You had received excellent training from Cormorant, and have shown yourself to be brave and patient. You will be the mentor of Graypaw, and I expect you to pass on all you know to him. " Deerstar finished, and smiled warmly at the two, who touched noses.

" Prepare for evening training! " the leader called gleefully. " LeafClan, disperse! "


lol im so cheesy

help I want thanksgiving food

literally have such good ideas and backstories and futures for these cats.

I wuv you, my dear readers.

-reapinq