Chapter 19- Building Blocks

The camp had never looked less alive, Gingertail thought as she followed Soddenpelt's patrol through the barbs and into the clearing. Molefoot followed her through and stood beside her, their pelts brushing. They didn't say anything, grief taking their words away from them. Not a moment too soon, she thought, for as soon as they were in the clearing, they were attacked by their families.

"Molefoot!" called two little voices, and Gingertail watched in dry amusement as Leapwing and her kits ran over to him. Frecklekit, the bigger of the two, placed her front paws on Molefoot's broad shoulders and balanced precariously on her hind legs. Petalkit wove herself between his legs, her pretty eyes troubled. "We're so glad you're back."

"Where were you?" Frecklekit asked. "We were so worried!"

"Yes," Leapwing spoke, her eyes raw with grief. "Where were you Molefoot? You had us so worried."

The brown tom nudged the little kits back to their mother, his eyes brimming with love as he gently poked each one into place. "I was out with Gingertail. It's not like we can't handle ourselves." The look he gave Leapwing was filling in the whole story that he didn't say. Gingertail flushed in embarrassment and looked at her mother and brother.

"Really, we were fine," she murmured to Spottedwhisker. He nodded, his face solemn. Whitebirch was the first to catch on, Gingertail thought. She narrowed her eyes thoughtfully, watching her daughter without saying a thing. She didn't have to. Gingertail was embarrassed enough.

The greeting party was all that was active. Skydapple had been laid out in the clearing, looking as peaceful as if he had simply been sleeping. Cloverspirit lay next to him, wailing in a grief so powerful Gingertail wasn't sure she could ever really understand what it felt like. Snakepaw paced restless beside them, his eyes angered deeply, as though he were ready to take on a full Clan of enemies. Violetpaw sat a little beyond them, staring blankly at her father. Hailfur was beside her, licking her ear and murmuring something in a low voice. Gingertail knew exactly what the young she-cat was going through. After all, it wasn't all that long ago that she'd lost her father, Marshwhisker, to the Thunderpath.

Molefoot padded past Gingertail, heading toward the Medicine den. The young warrior guessed he was visiting his apprentice, who was still sick. Slypaw, Skydapple's last kit, was sitting next to his mentor watching the scene with a sort of blank expression. Swishtail leaned against Beeflight as he sat next to her and murmured something soft. He didn't say anything, just flicked his ears to show he'd heard.

"What will we do now?" murmured Shellpaw, her eyes blank with grief. "Briarstar's very sick and Skydapple is dead. We've got no one to lead us!"

Acornblaze looked at her in mild surprise. "Briarstar is still our leader!"

"But she's dying!" wailed Shellpaw, panic entering her voice. "And she hasn't named a new deputy!" By now, more cats were calling in agreement. Gingertail could easily see the Clan panicing.

Brightblaze leaped up onto the Speakrock. "Cats of ShadowClan, please calm down!" she called loudly. "This is a very hard time for us! You've just got to be patient. Briarstar's going to name the new deputy before moonhigh. Swanfeather said she's already getting better."

"But what if she doesn't?" Gingertail asked aloud. She hadn't meant that to come out, but it was too late to take it back now.

"She will," Brightblaze said. "And if she can't, well then I expect they'll send Swanfeather a sign to tell us who the next deputy should be."

"Yeah!" Rushpaw spoke up, standing from his place. "StarClan's not going to let us go without someone to lead us."

Brightblaze glared at him for silence. "Rushpaw has a point. StarClan has never abandoned us, and they're not going to start now. If Briarstar can't name the new deputy, StarClan themselves will select one."

That seemed to calm the Clan down enough, although there were still whispers and murmurs in different groups. Gingertail stared at the sky. It was just beginning to get dark. Hailfur went around and made sure that tasks had been taken care of—such as the elders' nests had been cleaned, the fresh-kill pile had been stocked. For a moment, Gingertail watched him and wondered if he would be named the new deputy. It seemed fair enough, she concluded. He was a great warrior, and he'd already had his first apprentice. Briarstar would want someone young and strong to lead the Clan with her as she recovered from her illness. Did Hailfur want to be deputy? She didn't see why he wouldn't want to be. It was a great privilege and it said a lot about his character if he was named deputy.

She wasn't the only cat who thought so. Violetpaw was sitting next to Shellpaw, whispering about him and watching him work with bright eyes. Leapwing dipped her head to him as he passed, already acting as though he were given that status.

But he wasn't the only suitable option. "I just know that Briarstar's going to choose Cedartail as the next deputy," Talonclaw was boasting. "He's a strong, healthy warrior, and he follows the warrior code the strictest. He's the most capable of whipping this Clan back into shape."

"Wouldn't Briarstar want to choose someone a little more open-minded?" Spottedwhisker asked. "I mean, Cedartail's a loyal warrior, but he's a bit stubborn if you ask me."

Gingertail half agreed with him, half agreed with Talonclaw. Cedartail was stubborn, but wouldn't his stubbornness make him a more decisive leader? Things would get done under his iron paw.

"Feeling a little jealous, Spottedwhisker?" Talonclaw asked, mild amusement tainting his voice. "That my father's going to be named deputy while yours is dead?"

Vicious anger bubbled inside Gingertail as soon as the words left his mouth. She rose to her paws and stormed over to him. "Or maybe your jealous," she hissed, joining the crowd. "That our father died a noble warrior while yours waits to boss people around all day!"

Talonclaw hissed at her, drawing his lips back, a glint of war coming to his eyes.

"Please!" snapped a voice. They turned to look at Lichentooth. "Will you all just shut up? Can't you see that all of this fighting helps no one? Talonclaw, do make sure that the fresh-kill has been distributed equally, and Gingertail, go check up on the elders at vigil!"

Gingertail felt shame course through her. Why was she fighting with a Clanmate? Talonclaw was too stupid to hold much of an argument anyway, she told herself, and ran to find her mother.

The elders were sitting around Skydapple. Cloverspirit was not there. Gingertail wasn't sure where she was. "Is everything all right?" Gingertail asked them in a quiet voice. Galefur nodded at her and looked back at Skydapple.

"We're fine, Gingertail," Whitebirch whispered. "Other than our Clan slowly falling apart, we're fine." Without so much as a pause to breathe, Whitebirch kept going. "What happened today between you and Molefoot?" Gingertail blinked, looking at her paws. She could not bring herself to look at her mother, let alone to answer her question. It was all she needed to say. "You'd better be ready, and so should he. The queens make it look so easy, but kits can be a real hassle."

Gingertail's eyes widened, and she looked at her mother. "Kits?"

Whitebirch laughed dryly. "You bet. And no matter what you think, you're body is ready to handle kits, so more than likely you'll be having them."

Gingertail drew back. Kits? Already? She wasn't sure she was ready for the responsibility. She wondered what it would feel like to be carrying kits. She couldn't help but glance over at the nursery, where Leapwing was laying watching her kits with fond eyes. Palemist sat next to her, her large stomach looking unnaturally swollen with the unborn litter she still carried. She tried to picture herself laying next to them, sunning herself and relaxing while around her her Clan fought hard to protect. She found that she couldn't see herself doing that.

Whitebirch followed her gaze. "It's a little frightening, yes. But isn't that what our mates are for?"

Gingertail shrugged helplessly. "I guess."

Whitebirch brushed her daughter's cheek gently with her tail. "Don't worry, my sweet. Whatever happens, I'll be there to support you. And I'm sure that Spottedwhisker and Molefoot would be too."

Gingertail purred, knowing that the whole Clan would be there for her if she needed them to be. She looked over again at the queens laying outside the nursery and tried again to picture a life for her there. Palemist purred as Frecklekit tumbled into Petalkit, who squeaked in surprise. Gingertail remembered that this wasn't going to be Palemist's first litter, and saw the look of ongoing love for her unborn kits. Leapwing, who was a first time mother, looked just as happy where she was. Gingertail realized with a jolt she was a little jealous.

She had just sat down to watch when there were yowls of surprise. Gingertail turned in time to see Briarstar come out of her den, eyes dull with grief. She leaned on Swanfeather's shoulder as she crossed the camp, but when she bunched her muscles to leap onto the Speakrock, Gingertail could see the strength in her sleek body. She was still recovering, but she was growing strong again rather quickly.

As soon as she turned to face the Clan, she gave the yowl that signaled the Clan meeting. She didn't have to wait long. Most of the Clan were already there. Hailfur turned from the entrance of the camp, leading his border patrol back to the center. Spottedwhisker came and sat beside her, flicking his tail. "I wonder who's going to be the new deputy," he wondered out loud. Gingertail flicked her tail in mild surprise.

"I'm still at a loss over the old one to really wonder all that much."

Spottedwhisker blinked at her shamefully before looking up at Briarstar as she began.

"Today is a mournful day for ShadowClan," she began. "I have grown so sick that StarClan have called me to them to take yet another life, and on top of that, we have lost a dear and precious friend. Not only was Skydapple a wonderful deputy, but he was a good and loyal warrior, and a fiercely loving father." She nodded to Violetpaw and Snakepaw, who sat side by side. The mottled gray she-cat bowed her head, her shoulders shaking in grief. "But after calling me to them in my weakest hour, I have started to recover. I grow strong again. And although we'll never for get Skydapple, a new deputy must be named."

She paused, looking over the Clan as the last rays of the sun died from the sky. Now, the only source of light was with the stars of StarClan, and the moon. Are you up there Skydapple? Marshwhisker? Timidly, she added, Fallenwind?

"I say these words before the body of Skydapple, so he may hear and approve my choice." Her amber eyes pierced through the darkness, singling out the cat of her choosing. "Gorsefur, you are a loyal and thoughtful senior warrior. You will be the next deputy of ShadowClan."

The gray and white tom stood up, surprise making his pelt prickle. A murmur of approval seemed to travel through the Clan as he faced Briarstar. "Are...are you sure?"

Briarstar dipped her broad head. "Couldn't be more sure."

Palemist ran over to her mate and leaned against him, licking his ears lovingly. Soddenpelt dipped his head respectfully to him. The Clan was calling his name, and Gingertail joined in. She noticed Spottedwhisker shoot Talonclaw a glance. The broad dark tabby was watching the whole scene with a dark look. Cedartail sat beside him, calling his Clanmates name with hospital earnestness. Gingertail looked back at her brother to find him glaring at them thoughtfully. What's his problem?

Briarstar slid down from her perch on the Speakrock and walked up to him. "Would you care to join me in vigil, Gorsefur?"

The new deputy's eyes narrowed in thought for a moment, then he shook his head. "I wish I could, Briarstar, but I've got to make sure that normal duties are still tended to." With that said, he dipped his head to his leader and padded away, speaking briefly with Hailfur's patrol before sending them away.

Gingertail watched him go, flicking her tail in wonder. Was Hailfur jealous, or upset? If he was, he didn't show any sign of it as he lead Swishtail, Slypaw, and Shellpaw out of the camp. She supposed that he was almost happy about it. It meant that he wouldn't have to lead the Clan while Briarstar recovered. That was a lot of responsibility that Hailfur probably wasn't ready for. Gingertail looked back at her brother to see him walking away. She hissed in disbelief as head headed straight for Sagepaw. There was no problem with him liking her, she reminded herself. After all, she was spending a lot of time with Molefoot now that they were both warriors. She looked around for the brown warrior and found him padding out of camp on a hunting patrol with Weedfoot and Brightblaze. Sighing in defeat, Gingertail sat next to her mother and watched the stars twinkling in the dark sky.

...

Gingertail stalked through the dark forest with prowess, following the tiny mouse before her without even the slightest twitch of the leaves around her. She wanted to catch the little sucker without it even realizing it had been killed. She was just about to take the leap that would end it's life when her stomach squeezed. Gasping in pain and shock, Gingertail opened her eyes to see the familiar brambles that made up the wall of the warriors den.

She tried to sit up and felt a paw prod her back into place. "Don't move," Bloomleaf murmured. Her eyes were both sympathetic and worried. Swishtail was leaning over her on the other side.

"Your stomach looks...distended. Unwell," she commented. "Are you feeling all right?"

Gingertail blinked and looked at her stomach. They were right, it had grown. It rippled uneasily under Bloomleaf's gentle touch and she gagged. The wiry brown warrior's face twisted. "Swishtail, fetch Swanfeather. She'll know what to do." She sat back, watching Gingertail with a worried face as Swishtail raced to find the medicine cat.

"Thanks for watching out for me, Bloomleaf," Gingertail whispered. Bloomleaf smiled, and the resemblance between her and her sister—the medicine cat herself—was most prominent. She reminded Gingertail briefly of her son, Rushpaw. He was just as sweet and gentle, and the tortoiseshell she-cat and no problem believing that they were related.

Swanfeather's scent washed over her as the Swishtail returned, the medicine cat right behind her. "..and with greencough going around, we were getting really worried." Gingertail stiffened, remembering Skydapple having trouble sleeping in his last few days.

Swanfeather pushed her way between the warrior she-cat and leaned down to sniff Gingertail. Her eyes gleamed and a smile formed on her face. "Let me feel..." she ordered, putting her paw gently on Gingertail's stomach and flicking her ears. "Well Gingertail, I can tell you that you're not sick."

Relief swamped Gingertail. "If I'm not sick, what's wrong with me?"

"Nothing's wrong, my dear. StarClan are sending you a gift. You're carrying kits!"

Bloomleaf smiled. "That's what I thought, but I had to be sure."

Gingertail sat up. "Kits? Already?"

Swishtail lashed her plumy tail. "Molefoot will be so happy! When are you going to tell him?"

Too much was going on. Gingertail was just getting confused. She felt awful, but she was only pregnant, and her Clanmates were acting bipolar, going from being worried to being ecstatic. She had just woken up for StarClan's sake!

"I can see that she needs time to take it in," Swanfeather murmured. "Let's leave her to it, but don't take too long, Gingertail. It's soon that you'll need to start taking off your duties and resting for the sake of your kits."

Gingertail looked at her paws. Taking off duties? A family? Her whiskers twitched as she felt a small nudge in her slightly rounder stomach. Kits and a family, she thought, warmth filling her. She could live with that. Oh yes, she could live with that.

...

Molefoot leaned against her. "Are you sure you want to go tonight?" he asked in her ear. Gingertail nodded.

"Why wouldn't I? It'll be my last for a while, won't it?" She looked up at the full moon as it floated in the sky with StarClan. "It'll be the last spark of interesting for a while yet."

Molefoot's worried green eyes bore into her. "What if something happens? What if there's a fight? What if the stress of running makes you lose the kits? What if-"

She cut him off there. "There are a million what-ifs? But be serious. The chance of something bad happening tonight is the same as the chance of something bad happening at the last Gathering, or the next."

Molefoot flattened his ears. "I'm just worried about you," he murmured. "I don't want anything bad to happen to my family." He pressed his nose into her ear.

"Your family can defend itself," she said sternly, stepping away. She touched her nose to his. "I'm stronger than I look."

Molefoot nodded. "I know. And before you say anything, I know that Whitebirch, Spottedwhisker, Sagepaw, and everyone else would take care of you. But asking me not to worry...that's like asking the moon not to shine brightly in the sky." He pointed to the moon with his nose.

"Once every moon," Gingertail murmured, looking right at him. "It does."

He looked at her, his eyes bright like flint.

Right then, Briarstar gave the call. Gorsefur touched noses with Palemist, who would not be going to the Gathering, then joined the departing crowd. Leapwing padded up to Gingertail and rested her tail on her flank. "Good luck," she breathed, then turned and joined Palemist in the nursery. Gingertail's stomach quivered. Tonight, she alone would be representing the queens of ShadowClan.

Gingertail had moved into the nursery two days ago. Ever since, Leapwing had become a good friend to her. Palemist would sleep a lot of the time, and when she wasn't, she quite cheery and chatful. Leapwing also slept when she could. That would leave Gingertail responsible for Petalkit and Frecklekit. The two she-kit were a hassle. They were two moons already, and quite eager for a playing. They would run through the camp like fire through a dry field, sometimes disturbing the cats that were hard at work. Gingertail found herself scolding them more and more, getting over the soft kitten cuteness and becoming more stern.

Like a mother she told herself. She wondered if she'd be that way with her own kits.

Now Petalkit and Frecklekit were asleep in the nursery. Acornblaze had gone in to give them a good sniff before heading out with the patrol heading to Fourtrees. Soddenpelt sat next to Brightblaze, the two of them talking in low voices. Lichentooth sat outside the warrior's den, watching with hard amber eyes. Beside her sat Brindlefern. Gingertail looked around. There were only a few cats going to the Gathering, she realized. Briarstar had left a good bit of the Clan to guard the camp. It was interesting, she thought, that they were prepared for an outside threat, but the sickness came from within.

The great ShadowClan leader headed for the entrance, Gorsefur and Swanfeather on either side of her. Following closely was Cedartail, his son Talonclaw on his right side. Hailfur matched pace for pace with Swishtail. Spottedwhisker caught up with him on the other side and ran with them. Gingertail ran between Molefoot and Whitebirch. Just behind her, bringing up the rear, Soddenpelt ran with Brightblaze.

The moon rose in the sky as they neared Fourtrees. On the air hung the scents of RiverClan and ThunderClan, mingled together in the sticky sky. Gingertail's lip curled at the disgusting mix. She was glad, however, that WindClan weren't there yet. She didn't know if Quailfeather was coming to the Gathering and she would give anything not to run into him. Although they weren't together, and they never would be, she dreaded deep down inside what he would say to her when he found out that she was carrying Molefoot's kits. She flicked her ears, embarrassing thoughts coming to mind. Quailfeather was an interesting cat, no doubt, but she couldn't get over that he was WindClan and she was ShadowClan. She didn't think she'd ever really like him. He would just have to deal with whatever internal problems he'd be facing on his own.

She followed Briarstar into the clearing. The full moon offered them light as they made there way in. Briarstar padded over to the Great Rock and sat down next to Blazeriver. The RiverClan deputy flicked her tail and said something, inaudible to Gingertail, to her leader. Briarstar nodded and said something back. Whitebirch headed straight for a group of RiverClan queens. Molefoot nudged Gingertail, then headed for a group of young warriors. Gingertail noticed Palefoot and Firclaw, of ThunderClan, and Shrewpelt and Leafblaze of RiverClan, in that group. Molefoot sat down beside Swishtail and join the group.

Rootclaw, the ThunderClan deputy, was sitting next to Cedartail and talking animately. Talonclaw sat with them, looking rather light and enthusiastic. Two apprentices sat side by side, ThunderClan scent coming off them in waves.

"Hello, Gingertail," purred a familiar voice. She whirled around to face Sweetbriar of ThunderClan head on. "It's so good to see you again!" She reached over and touched noses. Gingertail smiled.

"Hello Sweetbriar. How are things in ThunderClan?" She felt like she hadn't seen the black tabby she-cat in ages, and in reality, she hadn't. She'd only come to two Gatherings before, and Sweetbriar hadn't been at the last one Gingertail was at. The black tabby warrior shrugged.

"Everything's great. Pinekit is growing so fast!" Gingertail hesitated, then realized with a start that Pinekit must be her kit. Sweetbriar seemed to realize in the same instant that Gingertail wouldn't know much about that. "He's my kit, Gingertail, and he's lovely. Firclaw is so proud..." her eyes trailed over to where the ThunderClan warrior sat, his head high and mighty. He must have been the father, Gingertail thought. "Anyway, I think he'd like you. You're a strong and brave warrior."

Her ears went hot with embarrassment. "Of ShadowClan," she reminded her quickly. Proudly, she added, "And not really anymore. I moved into the nursery two nights ago."

Sweetbriar's eyes lit up. "I thought I saw some roundness to you. Congratulations! Who's the happy father?"

Gingertail was not sure she was comfortable answering that question, but she did anyway, pointing vaguely in the direction of Molefoot. "Molefoot. He's a great warrior."

"Oh I know," purred Sweetbriar. "I'm sure he'll make a great father." Suddenly her entire body seemed to sag. "It's just such a shame that our kits will have to be raised to fight one another. Don't you think our kits should be able to get along?"

Gingertail's fur fluffed up. This conversation was not at all going the way she would have liked. "I'm from ShadowClan, and your from ThunderClan. Surely you'd like your kits to be raised that way."

Sweetbriar bowed her head. "Of course I'm a loyal ThunderClan cat! But I think it's wrong that the Clans fight. I can't imagine watching little Pinekit get hurt over and over, and especially knowing it's your kits he's fighting. Like little Pondleg over there." She indicated a RiverClan queen. "She's such a sweetheart, but on any given day, RiverClan and ThunderClan could go into battle, and then she'd attack me for no reason other than the Clan codes tell her to. What about friendship? Can't we try being friends?"

Gingertail edged away from Sweetbriar non-conspicuously. She had heard once when she was a kit that ThunderClan was the Clan of the brave and proud. Now they were a bunch of softies. Whatever had happened to those fantastic stories of greatness dwelling from within? She knew that deep down, Sweetbriar honestly believed that the Clans shouldn't fight. Gingertail disagreed. The Clans were divided for a reason. If they didn't fight for what they needed, how would they ever survive?

Flicking her ears, as though someone had just called her name, Gingertail nodded to Sweetbriar. "I've got to go. Good to see you again, Sweetbriar." She turned on her paws and raced the other way, fur on end.

She didn't notice WindClan had arrived until she almost slammed into Quailfeather. Backing up, she hissed and drew her ears back. The WindClan warrior's eyes lit up and he dipped his head to her. "Why hello Gingertail," he nearly purred. "Here to give my face a good clawing?"

She sheathed her claws, reminding herself of the full moon truce. "Sorry about that. I didn't see you."

He flipped his tail, eyes shining bright as he reached forward to touch noses with her carefully. "It's all right, I guess," he said decisively. "Just be careful who sees you. You never know who may be watching." He gestured with his tail toward where Cedartail and Talonclaw were talking to Rootclaw. Two ThunderClan apprentices sat side by side, talking to Snakepaw. The orange ShadowClan apprentice was nodding, eyes bright.

Gingertail shrugged. "They're good Clanmates, though I can't speak for Rootclaw."

Quailfeather sat down. "You trust them?"

Gingertail tilted her head. "Well why wouldn't I? Cedartail and Talonclaw have been nothing but good and loyal warriors to ShadowClan, and Snakepaw's worked really hard on his training."

Quailfeather leaned forward, guessing there was something she wasn't saying to him. "And what about Rootclaw and Pantherpaw?"

Gingertail flicked her ears. She had no idea who Pantherpaw was. "I don't know about that apprentice, but Rootclaw's deputy of his Clan. Surely he's got something good going for him."

Quailfeather flicked his ears, but did not reply. After a moment to let their minds process their previous conversation, Quailfeather spoke, "You smell different."

Gingertail's pelt pricked uncomfortably. The change in her scent was because she was carrying kits. She was bound to start showing symptoms some time, she told herself, but she hadn't expected it to be so soon. "Well things have great for me," she said, barely able to stop herself from launching into a full-fledged speech. "I mean...I'm carrying kits."

Quailfeather sat up straight, eyes lighting up. "Oh really? Any idea who the father is?"

Gingertail bristled, suddenly angry. How dare he imply that she didn't know who the father was! How dare he imply that she would just give herself to any drooling tom that crept her way. "Of course I do!" she hissed. "And any cat with a brain wouldn't even ask such a thing!"

Quailfeather rocked back, obviously uncomfortable with Gingertail's reaction. "Sorry! I didn't mean it like that. I just thought..."

Gingertail didn't have time to deliver her scathing reply, for at the moment there was a cry form the Great Rock. She turned her head to see all four leaders silhouetted against the full moon. Nettlestar stepped forward to speak first.

"This has been a great moon for RiverClan," he began. "Tonight we celebrate a new apprentice. Leafblaze was happy to accept Applepaw as her apprentice." There were cheers from the RiverClan cats, and some ThunderClan cats. Leafblaze had been a popular choice. "There is little Twoleg activity on the river, since leafbare, and the Clan is full fed."

There were murmurs of approval throughout the clearing. Gingertail sank her claws into the ground, looking up hungrily at the Great Rock. She liked hearing about the other Clans at Gatherings. RiverClan's little problems with Twolegs meant that they were strong and well fed. They were ready for anything. Gingertail hadn't forgotten ShadowClan's previous alliance with the watery Clan. She wondered briefly what had ever happened to their alliance.

Scarletstar stepped forward, her amber eyes glittering. "ThunderClan has ample prey as well," she called, quieting the murmurs of the RiverClan cats. "We have two new warriors: Mapleshade and Birchjumper." There were yowls from the ThunderClan cats, then an eerie silence as Scarletstar's eyes rested on Nettlestar. "ThunderClan has new warriors, and a good amount of food coming in. There are kits in the nursery and strong warriors. We are ready for anything." She turned away then, signaling that she was done. There were anxious murmurs now, and curiosity clawed at Gingertail like a particularly sharp thorn stuck in her side. She regretted in that moment leaving Sweetbriar, and wondering if the queen would have told her what was happening between RiverClan and ThunderClan. She hates borders, Gingertail reminded herself. But that doesn't mean she's not a loyal ThunderClan cat at heart. She probably wouldn't have said anything.

Briarstar stepped forward, sleek in the moonlight. There was no sign of the sickness that had previously ailed her to the point of death. "ShadowClan has a new deputy," she began. The gathered Clans began to whisper, questions of what had happened to Skydapple arousing. "Skydapple was a brave and loyal warrior, but when StarClan called for him he went. Gorsefur is now our deputy." There were cheers around the clearing. Gorsefur was a popular choice.

"We also have two new warriors. Gingertail and Spottedwhisker." Gingertail lifted her head proudly as the cats called for her. "And we have two new queens. Gingertail and Palemist are expecting kits soon."

Quailfeather leaned into her, his warm breath stirring her ear. "Congratulations."

Gingertail angled her ears, edging away from him as Briarstar finished up. "ShadowClan groes stronger every day."

Gingertail wasn't the only ShadowClan cat yowling in agreement as Briarstar stepped back. It seemed that almost every warrior wanted to make an impression.

Breezestar stepped forward, his scrawny form almost intimidating as he stood tall on the Great Rock. "WindClan has been blessed with many kits this season. Rabbits run freely again, making prey more plentiful than it has ever been. WindClan grows strong!"

Cheers and calls rang around the clearing. Gingertail sat down, covering her paws with her tail. It wasn't bad that WindClan was growing strong, she reflected, but she didn't like the sound of ShadowClan's neighbors, cats who had just recently been a threat to ShadowClan, growing stronger. It sent a shiver down her spine as she thought about what would happen if the Clan went to war against them.

"Well, I guess I'll see you around," Quailfeather meowed, looking at her. Gingertail lashed her tail.

"Don't count on it. I'll have to be moving into the nursery soon." She heard a cat call her name and saw Molefoot waiting patiently beside Whitebirch. "I gotta go," she said and began trotting over to her Clanmates.

"See you next moon!" he called after her. Gingertail waved her tail to show she had heard him, though she doubted that she would considering she was soon to be round with her unborn kits. A pang of sadness hit her as she thought about the long days she had ahead of her, held up in the camp. If that's what it takes to be a good mother, than I will do anything. This is a battle I cannot lose.

So my computer is deciding to be a royal b*tch and not function properly. I'm sorry to say it cause it is built from scratch by my father :'( but it doesn't matter because it's not working. It restarted itself at least 8 times tonight alone, not to mention all the times if froze and I had to restart it, only for it to go to a blank screen and have the monitor button flash to show that it was 'asleep'. Try as I might, I do not have an unlimited abundance of patience, and I'm beginning to get very p*ssy with it. The poor thing got a good smacking tonight (and funny enough it worked after that) so anyway, it's a strange occurrence at owl creek bridge and I'm not happy with it. so sorry that my chapters are coming farther and farther apart. hope you like it anyway!

-Cara Lea