A/N: So I was bored yet again. Here's the next chapter!

~Chapter 12~

"Let all cats old enough gather around the Highledge for a Clan meeting!" Bramblestar's yowl rang throughout camp, waking Hollyheart up. She sighed and yawned, then rose to her paws. A quarter moon had passed since Lynxclaw became a warrior, since then, WindClan had shown no signs of attacking, though Hollyheart was sure a battle would soon come. ShadowClan had grown more aggressive by doubling their border patrols. Hollyheart even caught Dawnfrost, ShadowClan's deputy crossing the border. It was only thanks to Brackenfur that the cream-furred she-cat didn't get her ears clawed off.

The black she-cat padded out of the den, with Muskedfur close behind her. Since he had shown his affection towards her, Hollyheart realized that there was more to him then she remembered. Everytime his tail touched her shoulder, Hollyheart would feel her fur crawl with a strange sensation. And his scent changed to - it was much stronger now, more inviting to her.

Hollyheart sat down next to Lynxclaw and Muskedfur. Squirrelflight, whose belly was now bulging sat outside the nursery. Poppyfrost was laying next to her. Both she-cats would be expecting kits very soon, and the thought of it made Hollyheart feel better knowing that ThunderClan would have plenty of kits. It also meant that there would be more apprentices to train.

She gazed at the side of the clearing and saw that Briarleaf was sitting with her four kits, and Branchkit as well. Hollyheart had almost forgotten that these kits were ready to become apprentices. And that means I will mentor Branchkit, she thought as she gazed at the brown tabby tom.

"It is time for one of my favorite duties," Bramblestar meowed as the Clan settled down. "These kits have reached their sixth moon, and they are now ready to become apprentices. Come forward you four," he flicked his tail, beckoning the kits forward. Lightningkit was the fastest, and she approached first. Mudkit, Hazekit, Sunkit and Branchkit followed more slowly. Their tails stuck out in the air as they approached though, and there was no doubt that these kits were excited. "Lightningkit, from this moment forward, until you have recieved your warrior name, you will be known as Lightningpaw. Spiderleg, you are ready for an apprentice. You are both brave and skilled as a hunter, and I expect you to pass this on to Lightningpaw." Hollyheart watched as the two cats touched muzzles, and Spiderleg led Lightningpaw into the group.

"Hazekit, from this moment forward, you will be known as Hazepaw. Foxwhisker, you are ready for your first apprentice. Squirrelflight has taught you well, and I expect you to pass on what you learned from her to Hazepaw." As the Clan chanted the pale gray tom's new name, he touched noses with Foxwhisker.

Soon, Mudkit became Mudpaw, and Bumblestripe became his mentor. Sunkit became Sunpaw, and of all cats, Muskedfur became her mentor. Hollyheart purred her congradulations to him as Bramblestar went on. "Branchkit, from this moment on, until you receive your warrior name, you will be known as Branchpaw. Hollyheart, you are a strong and loyal warrior, always willing to defend your Clan. I expect you to pass on what Brackenfur taught you to Branchpaw."

Branchpaw looked truly surprised to have Hollyheart as his mentor. He stepped up and touched noses with her, and she flicked her tail over his ear. Hollyheart noticed some warriors glance at her with narrowed eyes. She sighed, knowing that they would have expected an older warrior to train Branchpaw. But Hollyheart was determined to prove herself, and she knew that in time, Branchpaw would be the best warrior in the Clan.

"Hey, would you like to show our apprentices around?" Muskedfur asked as he approached her.

Hollyheart purred as she took in his warm scent and replied, "yes."

---------------

The forest was unusually quiet as Hollyheart and Muskedfur led the way. A fresh blanket of snow had fallen last night, showing that even now, despite that fact that leaf-bare was almost over, the cold bitter winds could still penetrate even the forest.

Branchpaw and Sunpaw were bouncing around like excited kits. Hollyheart stopped near the edge of the ShadowClan border. She could already detect the faint markers, and from here, she spotted Crowfrost, Toadfoot and Kinkfur slinking through their pine forest. She was well aware of the mutinous looks they gave her - they were evenly matched, despite the fact that there were three warriors. Hollyheart knew that Crowfrost wasn't as mouse-brained as some of the ShadowClan warriors. He wouldn't attack unless he saw an advantage.

"This is the ShadowClan border," Muskedfur explained as Sunpaw began to wrinkle her nose. "If you're careful, you won't run into any patrols. They can be fierce when they want to be," he added as he licked the tortoiseshell she-cat's shoulder.

Sunpaw nodded, and Hollyheart knew that his apprentice would listen. Branchpaw was also listening, and his eyes widened as Muskedfur added the effect of the fierce attacks. Hollyheart purred and continued to lead the way through the territory.

Soon they reached the Ancient Oak, the tallest tree in ThunderClan. Hollyheart remembered hearing how her mother had gotten stuck in the tree, and it had only been thanks to the help of Leafpool that her mother survived. I wouldn't be here had it not been for her, Hollyheart suddenly thought.

"This is the Ancient Oak," she explained as Sunpaw and Branchpaw approached. "Prey is always easy to find here, even during leaf-bare." But you'll have to learn how to catch it, she thought as she watched Branchpaw try and stalk a squirrel. It's long fuzzy tail stuck up in the air, and it immediately made a run for it. Before Branchpaw could catch it though, Muskedfur killed it with one swipe of his claw. Hollyheart felt a pain strike her neck as his claws scored the squirrels'. She had to dig her claws into the ground to stop herself from yowling out. Muskedfur's eyes were suddenly bright with worry as he saw her.

"Are you okay?" He asked in a concerned tone as he dropped the squirrel. He licked her cheek, and Hollyheart felt dizzy again as his warm tongue rasped over her fur.

"I'm fine," she replied hastily.

Too late, Muskedfur stared at her for a moment, then grabbed the squirrel and trotted off with Sunpaw close behind him. Hollyheart sighed and followed him, with Branchpaw at her side. "What was that about?" The brown tabby apprentice asked as they padded on.

"It's complicated," Hollyheart mewed. What she didn't want to say, was that Muskedfur could be such a mouse-brain sometimes. Even though he was mad now, he would forgive her in a short time. She just had to give him a chance to cool off.

--------------

A/N: Sorry this wasn't as long, I didn't know what else to add. Please let me know what you thought of it, I could really use some more reviews!