"When do you think ShadowClan will attack again?" Moonfur lashed her tail quietly. "I had been on the hunting patrol near RiverClan and I want to teach that Clan a lesson."

"I'm sure that they will attack soon," Smokefrost huffed. "What are you, a new apprentice? You younger warriors are always ready to fight."

"You aren't old," Willowleaf told him. "If any cat is old, it's Roseclaw."

"I think Bumblestar sensed that," Moonfur replied. "Giving her one last cat to train before she joins my mother and the others."

"I wonder if we will ever have our own apprentices," Willowleaf pondered. "We have no queens at the moment."

"With my brother and Mousetail, trust me, there will be kits."

"She might want to be a warrior for a bit first."

"What about you?" Moonfur licked a paw. "Don't you want kits, Willowleaf?"

"I don't know."

Kits were never in Willowleaf's thoughts. She wouldn't mind having them. Cute little bundles that turned into brave warriors. Would they look like her or their father? Was she ready for a mate? She liked Redbreeze and he liked her. But was it love? They didn't connect at first like Whitefrost and Mousetail, but she could feel the spark between her and Redbreeze. Could she even confess her love?

Her thoughts were interrupted by Ravenfeather's voice. The deputy had padded up to them without her noticing.

"Willowleaf, I would like to apologize," the black she-cat admitted, keeping her head up. "When you were first brought to the Clan, I was one of the first cats to disagree with Bumblestar. But you have become a great warrior. I saw how you fought against ShadowClan. You are a true warrior."

"Thank you," she felt awkward when she saw a couple of warriors watching the encounter. Sweetpaw seemed irritated that the deputy was giving her praise. She ignored the spoiled apprentice.

"I say we have a feast," Bumblestar addressed his Clan from the middle of camp. He climbed on top of the Highrock to continue. "In three nights, we will attack ShadowClan before they can attack us!"

"Will we wait for a border patrol?" Ravenfeather turned away from Willowleaf to address her leader.

"We will attack the camp directly."

"The camp?" Rainfall looked worried. "What about the kits and elders?"

"What about our cats?" Ratwhisker retorted. "It's better to get their kits while they are still young and stupid!"

"No cat will attack their queens or kits," Bumblestar glared at the gray tabby tom. "Got it, Ratwhisker?"

"Fine," Ratwhisker had annoyance in his eyes, sharp blue and deadly.

"That is all," the ginger tom jumped down from the rock and called Ravenfeather, Roseclaw, Appletail, Swiftfeather, and Owlwing into his den. They must be the senior warriors. Willowleaf didn't realize how much older her foster mother was compared to the two toms. She and Roseclaw were closer to the elders' den than she had thought.

"I'm so going to that battle," Moonfur clawed at the ground. "Do you think our patrol will be big?"

"It will be the camp," Willowleaf reminded her. "I want to go to. There's a score that I want to settle." Nightfang and his Clan would be getting what was coming to them. But if Ratwhisker went as well, would the gray tabby go against his leader's orders and attack the kits?

"Can we talk alone?" Mousetail went up to Willowleaf as she was in the middle of cleaning herself. The brown tabby seemed a bit uncomfortable as she shifted from paw to paw. Was Mousetail always that. . . fat?

"Of course," she put her tail on her sister's side. Mousetail lightly winced, but said nothing about it. Since they were both warriors, they could go alone in the forest. Making sure they were far from camp, they stopped at the river. Willowleaf took a drink as she waited.

"How do you feel about kits?"

"Huh?" Willowleaf stopped to look up at her foster sister. She was nervous, Willowleaf could tell. "Kits are pretty cute. I'm not ready for some of my own."

"Is that so? Willowleaf, I'm going to be having kits."

"You are?" Willowleaf wrapped her tail around hers. "Does Whitefrost know?"

Mousetail shook her head, "I wanted you to be the first to know. I know we just became warriors too. And I don't know how Whitefrost will be as a father. It'll be pretty boring all alone in the nursery and it's my first litter."

"Breathe," Willowleaf stopped her. "Whitefrost will be proud. I'll tell our mother for you."

"Will you? Thank you!" Mousetail rubbed her head against hers. "I wish you really were my sister. You would be a sibling that I'm proud of. I already am proud."

When they got back to camp, the pair of she-cats froze. The Clan was gathering around a tortoiseshell body laying on the ground. Moonfur!

"What happened?" Willowleaf made her way over to Snowpelt, Redbreeze, Roseclaw, and Sweetpaw. They all had wounds.

"We were attacked by Frost," Snowpelt panted. "They had a huge patrol. They had three cats to one warrior. They had killed Moonfur in front of us and demanded that we share land and prey or another one of us will die."

"Go to Thornberry's den," Bumblestar address his warriors as Mousetail joined her mate. Whitefrost leaned against her side.

Redbreeze didn't budge, "I refuse to leave my sister's side."

"Her body isn't going anywhere," Willowleaf's voice shook, her tongue feeling heavy. "I'll watch her."

"Fine," Redbreeze's tone was flat as he joined the rest of his bloodied patrol. Her heart hurt when she saw him limp.

She moved her gaze back to Moonfur with a heavy heart. The tortoiseshell she-cat did not deserve this! She should be alive and with her Clanmates, preparing to fight ShadowClan with her. Did her best friend make it to StarClan?

Willowleaf looked up at the sky and saw one of the stars sparkling more than the others.

Author's Note

This chapter was interesting to write. Moonfur is dead and Mousetail is having kits! Looks like Ratwhisker is the most hated character (although I'm not sure. I can think of a white she-cat who could take his place).

What are you top three least favorite Under the Willow characters?