Author's Note: Since ya'll hate me, let's see if we can… patch up per say Snow's death. So what can I do for you guys in the story that'll make you happy?

Pinepaw's body shook as he ventured out into the forest. The four cats stopped and Smokefoot directed the apprentices which way they should go. Flamepaw bolted off without hesitation while Pinepaw slowly walked north. To get himself started, he raised his head and sniffed the air, his tail twitching.

He heard a quiet cry of a bird, but he shook his head.

Has Fawnpaw forgiven Fallenstar for her orders? Did she realize that she was doing what was best for her?

He shook himself out of his own thoughts and darted into the undergrowth. He inhaled the air deeply and laid back his ears and flattened his tail. Pinepaw's eyes narrowed as he scooted forward, seeing a thrush pecking at the roots of a large pine tree.

The apprentice slowly inched forward before he finally wound up his muscles tightly. He leaped toward the bird and he quickly slammed his paws down on the tail feathers. It chirped loudly, making Pinepaw flinch in bad memories.

As the memories flooded into his mind, he snapped the thrush's neck. He built a small dam, quickly blockading the flow of his mind.

The thrush hung limp in his jaws as he glanced down at the brown dappled feathers of the bird. He turned over to a holly bush and set the limp bird in there. He covered it in pine needles and he marked the area.

Pinepaw whirled around and continued to walk in the forest, successfully giving chase to a squirrel, catching his claws in its tail before it could climb any higher. One mouse got away, but he eventually found another one to make up for it.

As Pinepaw set the mouse back in the pile of prey he left at the holly bush, he was suddenly slammed and out of breath. Pinepaw's face as smashed into the dirt by a forceful claw. He glanced up to see Ferretclaw's dim figure in the shadows.

Pinepaw was too small and lithe to kick the much larger tom off, so he rolled over and thrust Ferretclaw into the ground. Pinepaw then swiped his tail underneath Ferretclaw's back leg making him trip. The small brown tabby apprentice leaped on top of Ferretclaw and shoved the other tom's face into the ground. He spat out dirt and meowed, "Well done, Pinepaw. You have evened out your defense and offense, and was too quick for me to simply keep on eye on you. You do have the skill of your father, maybe even better."

Pinepaw let the cream and grey tom up. The cats smiled at each other as Ferretclaw looked in the direction of the camp, "It's evening now, so the assessment is over. Come on, let's head back with your prey."

Pinepaw nodded and gathered up the large squirrel while Ferretclaw picked up the mouse and thrush.

Their paws thumped on the ground in harmony, stirring up the orange leaves and dead pine needles, and Pinepaw's fur prickled. He's going to finally become a warrior by tonight! He'll be a warrior standing by his brother. One day, he'll be able to stand next to his sister as well when she gets her medicine cat name.

When the walked into the camp, Pinepaw gasped when he spotted Flamepaw. Eagerly, Pinepaw set his prey down onto the fresh-kill pile and rushed over to his brother.

"How did you do, Flamepaw?"

"I think I did fine. I struggled a little with hunting though. But I made up what I lack in hunting with fighting. Smokefoot said I fight just like Fallenstar did when she was a warrior and apprentice." Then he turned to his brother fully, "What about you?"

"I did great on the hunting." Said Pinepaw grinning, "And I think I fought off Ferretclaw easily enough."

The brothers were about to continue the conversation, but Fallenstar said loudly, "All cats old enough to catch their own prey, join here beneath the High Branch for a Clan meeting!"

Flamepaw and Pinepaw quickly exchanged overjoyed glances before rushing to join the rest of the Clan, sitting in the front of the crowd with Smokefoot and Ferretclaw.

Fallenstar turned her gaze to Smokefoot, "How did Flamepaw do on his assessment?"

Smokefoot dipped his fluffy black head before saying, "Flamepaw is an excellent fighter. However, he wasn't the best with hunting, catching a sloppy mouse and a large toad. But like I have previously stated, he is a very good fighter and deserves to be a warrior for what he makes up in that set."

Fallenstar nodded then looked over at Ferretclaw, "How did Pinepaw do?"

"Pinepaw was very focused on catching his prey and he brought back a good haul; a mouse, a squirrel, and a thrush. He fights like even if the prey is escaping it's merely a challenge given to him. He doesn't give up the prey until it is completely out of sight. In fighting, he has defended himself well given he is a lithe cat. He fights like it's the same thing as hunting."

Fallenstar smiled at her kits then stood up. "I have decided that both apprentices will become warriors."

Emberkit stepped out of the nursery with Owlkit tumbling after as Mistfall attempted to pull them back into the nursery.

"What's a warrior, Momma?" Asked Emberkit.

"A warrior is a cat that defends and cares for the Clan. They are the very backbone of ShadowClan." Mistfall said softly.

Owlkit's blue eyes got wide as she gasped, "Then I want to be a warrior!"

Mistfall nervously scrambled her kits back into the nursery before glancing sheepishly at Fallenstar. Fallenstar grinned then cleared her throat. "Anyway, I must ask the sacred words now before my own children, Flamepaw, do you promise to uphold the warrior code and defend ShadowClan, even at the cost of your life?"

Flamepaw stepped up and puffed out his chest as his voice rang out clearly, "I do."

Fallenstar turned her head to Pinepaw. Pinepaw's paws shuffled uneasily.

"And do you, Pinepaw, promise to uphold the warrior and defend ShadowClan, even at the cost of your life?"

Pinepaw was quiet for a moment. Then he took a deep breath and declared, "Yes."

"Then from this day onward, You shall be known as Flamebranch and Pineleaf. May StarClan view Flamebranch with his prowess in battle and see Pineleaf with his wit. Tonight, both of you shall hold vigil for the Clan."

Pineleaf turned to see the Clan cheering loudly for them, Fawnpaw and Twigtail included, "Flamebranch, Pineleaf! Flamebranch, Pineleaf!"

"Clan dismissed."

The cats began to swarm around Pineleaf and Flamebranch. Plumpaw stepped up and purred to Pineleaf, "Congratulations, Pineleaf."

"Thanks, Plumpaw." Replied the brown tabby tilting his head and smiling.

Stemtalon and Birchwillow surrounded Flamebranch as Birchwillow cried out, "No way! Flamebranch is such a cool name!"

Flamebranch grinned and swished his tail, "So is Birchwillow and Stemtalon."

Fawnpaw pushed and shoved through the crowd to get to Pineleaf. "Hey there, Pinepa- I mean… Pineleaf!" She chuckled, "No offense, but pine trees don't even have leaves."

"Still sounds good." Pineleaf protested.

Fawnpaw beamed then glanced at the entrance of the Clan. "You should probably get ready to hold vigil tonight."

Pineleaf nodded. "Will do."

The night was freezing. Leaf-fall has finally came by, and it hit hard. The night before was warm and full of chirping crickets. Pineleaf shivered in the darkness, separated from his brother guarding the other side of the camp.

It was a night of listening and silence, to stay awake until the warm sun came up from over the pine trees.

The half moon rose higher, signaling it was time for Fawnpaw to head out to the moonpool.

Pineleaf watched as the moonlight patrol walked out. He spotted Toadfoot, Fallenstar, Starlingwing, and Crowfrost. The warriors and one leader all nodded at Pineleaf.

While the warriors headed over to the ThunderClan territory, Pineleaf resisting nodding off.

Shadows swirled around him, and he wondered if Fawnpaw will get her name tonight. He shook it away. Probably not tonight in all honestly. She has clearly stated herself that she's going to need to wait a lot longer. For her name to come along.

Pineleaf was lonely, and to pass the time, he thought about Swallowpaw. He sighed dreamily. Swallowpaw was such a pretty she-cat, and he could possibly even be in love with her. He lowered his head.

No. She is simply a half-clan cat that is expected of the best.

Suddenly, Pineleaf realized that he is as well; half-clan. This was because Fallenstar was originally a loner that simply wandered until she stumbled across ShadowClan. Starlingwing was a pure-bred ShadowClan warrior. Therefore, making Pineleaf and his siblings half-clan.

A dim light shone in the corner of Pineleaf's amber eyes. He looked up at the sky to see it beginning to turn orange and a pale sun slowly rising over the tree tops. He felt a tap on his shoulder and he turned around to see Smokefoot.

"Your vigil is over." The black tom said. He turned around and walked back into the camp. Pineleaf yawned and stretched his cramped up legs. He turned around and walked back into the camp to see Flamebranch trotting in slowly as well.

"Hey there, Flamebranch." Yawned Pineleaf, "You tired?"

Flamebranch nodded in reply and the brothers walked into the warriors den together.

Even though he was now curled in his new nest with his brother, a sick feeling in his gut told him something was wrong with Flamebranch.

Quietly, Flamebranch said quietly, "Now we can protect the Clan…" then he added, "Forever."