WARNING: Fuzzy romantic stuff which I'm not good at writing features in this chapter. Enjoy!

Life would be dull without Gorsepaw. Dawnsky thought to herself. She sat with Skypaw next to his body. Poor Skypaw, Gorsepaw had been her unofficial mate."May you find good hunting in Starclan Gorsepaw." She murmured to the dead apprentice. Although losing Gorsepaw was sad for her, she wasn't immobilised by grief as Skypaw and Morningflower were. "Duskfur do you want to go hunting with me?" Duskfur looked up from where he'd been sharing the hawk Darkface had caught with Tornear and Harenose. "Er, no thanks Dawnsky." Dawnsky's heart plummeted. "But-" he added with a mischievous glint in his eyes, "you might want to stay in camp too..." She noticed him cast a glance at Skypaw and Rabbitpaw. Understanding dawned on her, Skypaw and Rabbitpaw had both fought well in the battle with Tigerclan, they were well ready to become warriors. At that moment, Tallstar climbed the Tall-rock. "Let all cats gather in the meeting hollow!" He yowled to his clan. Dawnsky turned around and ran to the meeting hollow.

"Skypaw, Rabbitpaw. Please come forward." The two apprentices did so. Ashfoot, who had slipped out of the nursery padded over and gave Skypaw's dishevelled fur a few brisk licks before she let Skypaw take her place at the foot of the rock. Tallstar gazed fondly at his clan and at the apprentices below him. "These apprentices have trained hard to understand the ways of the warrior code. Webfoot, Duskfur, are they ready to become warriors?" Both mentors nodded. Tallstar raised his head to Starclan. "Then by the power of our warrior ancestors, I grant you your warrior names. Rabbitpaw! You fought well in the last battle and I know you will fight well again and again in defence of your clan, with tireless energy. I name you Rabbitfoot in honour of your speed and energy!" Tallstar paused to place his head on Rabbitfoot's, respecting the ancient code. "Skypaw! You fight with the ferocity of a lion and hunt the small creatures with the deftness of a leopard. I name you Skyblossom, we honour your thoughtfulness and ferocity to protect your clan."

"Rabbitfoot! Skyblossom! Rabbitfoot! Skyblossom!" Dawnsky yowled her friends' names as loud as she could. "We meet Tigerstar tomorrow with two new warriors!" Tallstar yowled triumphantly. Dawnsky felt a surge of satisfaction, it was true, there would be more warriors fighting for Windclan then Tigerstar expected. Skyblossom padded up to her, "Dawnsky, there's something I have to tell you." Dawnsky's adrenalin faded. Skyblossom sounded grim. She followed her friend into the medicine cat's den. Dawnsky's blood froze. Skyblossom didn't want to be a medicine cat, did she? "Why are we here Skyblossom?" But when she looked into Skyblossom's eyes, there was pure joy in them. "Dawnsky, I think I'm expecting kits." Hot joy for her friend, tempered with fear, raced through Dawnsky's veins. What was her friend thinking, apprentices weren't meant to take mates. "They're Gorsepaw's aren't they." She mewed, her tone flat. What would the clan do to her friend? Skyblossom nodded, "whose else could they be?" Her tone was... Dawnsky couldn't explain it. "Why are we here then?"
"To make sure, I could just be overacting you know. I want Barkface to, you know, check." An irritable sigh came from behind them."Check what?"

Dawnsky spun around, her tail bristling with surprise. Skyblossom shouldered her aside. "I want to know if I'm having kits." She mewed matter-of-factly. Barkface cast his gaze over her. He grunted. "Lie down." Skyblossom did so. Dawnsky couldn't help noticing that her belly did stick out a little further than normal. Barkface pressed his paws to her belly. He narrowed his eyes. "Yes." He mewed finally. "You are expecting kits." Skyblossom's eyes lit up. "So far, I think there are three, but I can't be sure." Skyblossom turned to Dawnsky, "can you believe it, Dawnsky! Me and Gorsepaw are having kits!" Dawnsky couldn't believe her ears. Skyblossom could see nothing bad about this! Her reputation as a warrior could be ruined! "I think you should tell Morningflower." She managed weakly. "She will be the kits' grandmother after all." Dawnsky could tell Skyblossom thought it was a good idea, she turned around and raced out of the medicine den. She didn't even thank Barkface. The medicine cat threw her a sympathetic glance before turning and walking further into the den. It's at times like this, Dawnsky thought, she wished she had a mate.

"Dawnsky, do you want to come on Dawn patrol with me?" Dawnsky looked up to see Duskfur staring down at her with hopeful eyes. "Sure Duskfur, who's joining us?" Duskfur gave her a sheepish look, "it's just you and me." Dawnsky felt like her fur was glowing. She loved that cat. Dawnsky got straight out of her nest, she didn't feel the need to stretch this morning. Deadfoot nodded to them as they made their way out of camp. Duskfur led the way to outlook rock. "Duskfur? What are we doing here?" Duskfur padded onto the large, flat rock. He didn't reply at first. "Look at the dawn." He mewed. "It's just as beautiful as you." If this had been any other cat, Dawnsky would have felt embarrassed. But this was Duskfur, he had always been special. She padded over to join him on the rock. "Yes, it is beautiful. I was named for its colour." Duskfur just nodded. He turned to face her, his blue eyes looking into her green. "Dawnsky... I don't exactly know how to tell you this... But do you want to be my mate?" Dawnsky felt like she had just raced against the fastest cats in Starclan... And won. "Yes." She rubbed her head against his cheek. "I'll fight beside you if it comes to it today." She purred. He purred back.
"I promise that no cat will hurt you today if my claws are free."
"And I promise the same thing to you."

"Do you want to go back?" Dawnsky shook her head.
"Let's sit here and talk." Duskfur cocked his head to one side.
"What about?" He had a point Dawnsky thought. What did mates talk about?
"If we have kits, what would we name them." Dawnsky already knew what she wanted to name her kits, if she ever had any. Cloudkit for a Tom and Cloverkit for a She-cat.
"Well my mother told me that if I'd been a She-cat, she'd have called me Daisykit, so that if we have a She-kit. If we have a Tom, I'd like to call it Sandkit, after Tallstar's father, Sandgorse." He glanced at her "and what about you?"
"Cloudkit and Cloverkit. Cloudkit to honour the clouds, I've always loved the clouds."
"Why Cloverkit?" Dawnsky gazed at him.
"It's pretty."

Skyblossom nudged her. "Dawnsky, wake up. What happened this morning with Duskfur? Are you expecting his kits?" Dawnsky rolled over and feebly tried to cuff her around the ear.
"Go away Skyblossom! Let me sleep" she muttered. Yet her friend would not let up. Finally, she slithered out of her nest. "If you must know," she mewed irritably, "he asked me to be his mate-" she was cut off as Skyblossom gave a small yowl of delight. Dawnsky thrashed her tail, did Skyblossom want to hear, or not? Seeing the movement, Skyblossom stopped, but Dawnsky could see her trembling with excitement. "I said yes." She finished proudly. Skyblossom's eyes widened. She dashed out of the den, no doubt to tell the warriors of her news. She stretched slowly. Tonight she would go to Four-trees, along with the rest of her clanmates, to confront Tigerstar. Slowly she made a mental list of things to do. Things sorted, she padded out of the den in the direction of Tallstar's den. "Tallstar." She waited respectfully outside his den for an answer. "Come." Dawnsky obeyed. "Ah. Dawnsky. What do you need?" Dawnsky dipped her head in a show of respect.
"I want to talk to you about wether Icepaw and the other apprentices should come to the meeting tonight." Tallstar nodded. "That is good your considering all possibilities. Do you think she is ready?" Dawnsky considered this. Icepaw was a good fighter. When Tigerclan had attacked, she and Foxpaw had seen off Loudbelly and Oakfur when they made their way into camp. "Yes, I think she's ready, but I think we should team them up. Icepaw and Foxpaw like last time and Shrewpaw and Mousepaw. The pairs work in a team and watch each other's backs. They'll be more than a match for any warrior."
"Very well."

Tallstar stood on the Tall-rock. Only Dawnsky knew what he was going to say. "The cats coming with us tomorrow are: Duskfur, Whitetail, Webfoot, Onewhisker, Runningbrook, Morningflower, Dawnsky, Rabbitfoot, Reedsong and Harenose. All apprentices will be coming but if it comes to a fight, Icepaw and Foxpaw will team up and Shrewpaw and Mousepaw will team up." There were murmurs of agreement from the clan, but one voice rose above the rest. "Why aren't I going?" Dawnsky sighed in exasperation, she had discussed this with Tallstar too. "Skyblossom" Tallstar began gently. "You and your kits are the last connection to Gorsepaw Windclan has. Stay here and protect his offspring and his memory." Dawnsky saw all of the aggressiveness drain out of her friend. Skyblossom was nodding. "Yes!" Her voice rang clear. "I will move into the nursery now. These kits are all I have left of my mate, I must protect them!" Tallstar dipped his head
"As you wish." Dawnsky was surprised, none of the clan was openly angry at Skyblossom for taking a mate as an apprentice. She suspected that Mudclaw and some off his 'followers' would no doubt raise the issue later, but for know, Tallstar had openly supported the young queen, so no cat could argue. "Get your rest, we travel for Fourtrees soon!"

Congrats to you DawnskyXDuskfur lovers. IT HAS HAPPENED! Now it's a surprise as to who I'll put Rabbitfoot with... Also! I have decided on Skyblossom's kits names so sorry if any of you wanted to put forward a kit. THERE WILL BE OTHER CHANCES! Thanks to Shadowfur and Amazing TEEN Authoress, your kits will be used in Ashfoot's litter, although I'm not sure if they'll survive or not ;p

May Starclan light your path and grant you good hunting

Farewell, Wishheart