AN: Sorry for the short chapter, but when I take a while to write my chapters tend to get longer. Thanks everyone for your reviews though, I really appreciate them! I'm proud to announce that I am planning a new story once this is halfway finished - the summary is on my profile at the moment.

-Chapter 24-

Light filtered in through the brambles that shielded Dovestar's den. It felt strange to be sleeping on her own again. She missed the warmth that her kits brought her every morning she woke up to see them. Now that they were apprentices she had returned to her own den. After overhearing Minnowtail's rage about not getting an apprentice of her own, Dovestar had been extra cautious of her kits' safety. She knew that Minnowtail was capable of killing.

Her claws scraped against the hard ground when she got out of her nest. Cats were milling about outside. She could hear their mutterings as if they were inside her den. Her whiskers twitched when she grazed them against the entrance of her den. To her surprise Smokefur and Flosspelt were outside her den, whispering to one another.

"How is your training with Snowpaw going?" Dovestar asked when she greeted the pair. Smokefur and Flosspelt had once been kittypets living on the Horseplace. But when they learned what had happened to the Clans, they decided to join LakeClan and allow their kits to become apprentices. Snowpaw was Smokefur's first apprentice, and he was trying to make a good impression to the Clan cats.

"Snowpaw has progressed well throughout her training," Smokefur replied. His voice was filled with pride when he spoke to her. "Pineheart has been trying to help with the training, but he just gets in the way."

Dovestar suppressed a purr when Smokefur mentioned Pineheart's name. The young tom had taken a liking to Snowpaw. She remembered that Snowpaw was named thanks to him.

"The Clan is growing in both strength and number," she murmured when Flosspelt joined the dawn patrol. Though she was a former kittypet she took her duties as a warrior seriously, much to Dovestar's disbelief. She was so used to seeing Daisy's lazy form outside the nursery. "I hope that doesn't provoke the Dark Forest into attacking us."

"If what you say about them is true, than may the stars help us all," the large dark gray tom sighed. "I may not have been part of the Clan for very long, but it feels like family now. I will protect this Clan with tooth and claw."

Surprise flared within Dovestar's chest when he said those words. Smokefur sent her an odd look before trotting off to approach his apprentice. Snowpaw's eyes glowed when she touched noses with her mentor. For the first time since he'd joined the Clan, Smokefur didn't look like the timid kittypet she had known.

Maybe the change is good, she thought as she groomed her chest fur in embarrassment. When the Dark Forest returns, we will be stronger. United, we will stand against the rising darkness.

She shook her head and followed the path that Mothwing often took to gather herbs. Because she now had an apprentice of her own, Rainpaw often gathered most of the herbs Mothwing needed. Dovestar wanted to confide with Mothwing about her worries over Minnowtail.

They may have been Clanmates in the past, but Mothwing and Minnowtail were distant towards each other. Mothwing was older and had more sense. Minnowtail was younger and foolish. She made unwise choices that would eventually lead to her ultimate downfall.

Sure enough Dovestar spotted Mothwing sorting through a pile of herbs Rainpaw had gathered for her. Dovestar waited until Rainpaw left before telling Mothwing what she had heard. Rainpaw was Minnowtail's daughter, and she most likely wouldn't take the words Dovestar was about to say kindly. Mothwing glanced up in surprise when Dovestar let out a quiet cough. The dappled golden she-cat was still holding a patch of bitter-smelling leaves between her teeth.

"Dovestar, what brings you here?" Mothwing asked after placing the plants into a pile. "As you can see I'm preparing for leafbare... something tells me it's going to be tough on us all."

"I... I wanted to tell you what I heard from Minnowtail," Dovestar whispered. Mothwing's eyes brightened for a moment before she nodded and wrapped her tail around her paws. Within heartbeats Dovestar found herself explaining everything that had happened so far. She told Mothwing what Tigerheart had overheard days before her kits became apprentices. Mothwing's expression grew serious after Dovestar held her breath and finished speaking.

"That's a serious accusation," Mothwing murmured. "Are you sure it's all true? Minnowtail has always been a loyal cat to the warrior code."

You didn't hear what I heard, Dovestar thought. She held back the frustrated sigh that threatened to escape her lungs. Of course Mothwing would have wanted to support her Clanmate. But LakeClan was one Clan. The cats that survived the battle were bound together by spirit and the need to protect the warrior code.

"It's what I've heard," Dovestar mewed. "She's already gained some followers. Tinyflower, Maroonpelt and Pounceclaw were with her."

Mothwing's eyes were still dark with disbelief. By the time Dovestar had finished spilling everything out, Rainpaw returned. Rainpaw's eyes were filled with pride when she looked at Mothwing.

"Mother says I'm going to make the best medicine cat apprentice," she purred.

"I'm sure she did," Mothwing replied. She nuzzled her apprentice affectionately before watching Rainpaw scamper off to join Mintpaw beside the fresh-kill pile. "Minnowtail cares deeply for her kits. I doubt she would want to turn on the Clan they were raised in," she added to Dovestar. "Why don't you try and get some fresh-kill, maybe that will put those worries out of your mind."

Dovestar's pelt bristled slightly when Mothwing grabbed the herbs and returned to her nest beside the bed of reeds.

What does it take to get someone to believe you? Dovestar wondered as she headed for the fresh-kill pile. Her belly was grumbling with hunger as she sniffed the mice and birds that were caught. Minnowtail, despite her aggression towards the Clan, managed to bring back a couple of fish. Dovestar's lips curled at the thought of eating fish. We may be one Clan, but we have different tastes, she reminded herself.

She chose a sparrow from the variety of birds that were brought back by the apprentices. Leafpaw had returned from her first hunting trip with a squirrel and mouse the other day. It looked as though someone had chosen them both. Despite her sudden argument with Mothwing, she felt pride swell within her chest. All of her children were proving to become skilled apprentices.

So why does it feel as though everything is unraveling? she asked herself. She pulled at the feathers before swallowing a bit of meat. Only time would tell if Minnowtail's meeting with Lightning went as planned. Only then would Mothwing realize the full extent of Minnowtail's ambition.

AN: So what did you think? This story is finally making progress! I'm not even sure how many chapters there will be, but hopefully enough to keep everyone satisfied.