"From this moment, you will now be known as Sweetfang. We honor your dedication and bravery."

"Sweetfang! Sweetfang!"

Willowleaf joined in as the Clan announced the white she-cat's new name. She didn't mentor her for long, but she was proud. Roseclaw must have been watching this from StarClan. Willowleaf hoped that she impressed the fallen warrior by finishing her apprentice's training. She owed her that much.

Sweetfang licked Bumblestar's shoulder, casting a hopeful glance at her Clanmates. Snowpelt nodded at her daughter, joy in her eyes. It was the happiest that Willowleaf had seen the former queen since Ratwhisker's betrayal. But Smokefrost would be at her side.

Redbreeze was the only cat who didn't cheer her on, his back turned. Willowleaf knew her mate hated Sweetfang, but he didn't need to worry. Sweetfang knew that they were mates.

"You could at least look at her," she lightly scolded into his ear. "She's grown."

"Rats grow too," Redbreeze huffed. "I just hope she doesn't try moving her nest next to mine again. I'd rather not deal with that again."

"She wouldn't fit with Appletail and me next to you."

"You just eat a lot, kittypet."

"Hmph," She ignored the teasing gleam in his eyes and went over to congratulate the newest warrior.

"Thanks, kittypet," Sweetfang purred when she turned to face her. "You did Roseclaw's job for her and I'm sure she's watching this day. I miss her. She taught me so much."

Willowleaf put her tail on her back quickly as others came to give her their own personal thanks. She could feel the Clan's happiness all around her, purrs vibrating through every cat. Warrior ceremonies were important.


"Can we ride your back?" Dewkit looked up at her with hopeful blue eyes as her sisters circled Willowleaf. "Whitefrost is on a patrol and Mousetail's sleeping."

"Please?" Oatkit squeaked.

"We won't claw too badly," Lilykit puffed out her tortoiseshell fur. "At least we will try anyways."

"Well. . . " Willowleaf tested them. "If you can tell me what your father's favorite food is."

"It's mouse," Lilykit guessed. "That's why he likes our mother."

"No, it's thrush," Oatkit argued. "But he hates the feathers."

"Rabbit!" Dewkit licked her lips as her brown-furred gave a slightly annoyed face at the thought. "He shares them with Mousetail all the time. I like vole best."

"Blackbirds are better. They're fatter and tastier!"

"Rabbits feed more and are better!"

"Rabbits are mouse-brained!"

"Mice are the best," Lilykit got in the way of her sisters. "But all prey keeps us all feed. We need to remember what Mousetail told us."

"True," Dewkit's fur flattened down as she took in her sister's words. The white she-cat nodded.

"I'm still right," Oatkit huffed, her small striped tail still lashing back and forth. Willowleaf knew that the brown tabby kit was stubborn. She reminded her of Redbreeze as a kit. It made since, the ginger tom being her kin.

"How about you three get on my back?" Willowleaf broke the tension between the kits. "I'll even ask Leopardclaw to tell you a story."

"Yes! Yes! Yes!"

The kits exciting climbed over her shoulders to get on her back, any traces of a fight disappearing in the process. Willowleaf tried to not flinch when she felt their tiny kit claws digging into her back. The back that has been scratched at so many times.

"I'm a great big badger," Willowleaf playful teased as she stumbled around camp, keeping a steady pace so that they don't go flying.

"You won't be to our camp," Lilykit chuckled a little bit. "ThunderClan is strong and brave!"

"No stinky badger can get passed us!" Oatkit boasted.

"Yeah," Dewkit squealed in delight as Willowleaf made a sharp turn. "Our warriors are the best! Nothing will be able to get past us!"

She played with the kits all day to let her sister sleep and she enjoyed every moment of it. These kits would grow up to be great warriors just like their parents.


"I think we should keep an eye out for RiverClan," Owlwing frowned at Willowleaf and Swiftfeather. "They've started to hunt closer and closer to Sunningrocks."

"Exactly what we need," Swiftfeather muttered, the one-eyed tom sighing in defeat. RiverClan getting greedy once the prey comes back again."

"It could just be a coincidence," Willowleaf shrugged. "We might have to report it to Bumblestar just in case. Better safe than sorry."

"And we need the moons of peace," Owlwing began to agree with her. "The affect of Frost and leaf-bare have been hard on ThunderClan."

"We'll beat any cat, Clan or rouge. ThunderClan is strong. Even if we lost a bunch of warriors."

"In a few moons, Mousetail and her kits will be out of the nursery," Willowleaf mentioned.

"Kits are the one thing we need," Owlwing glanced up at the clouds. "We don't have any apprentices at the moment and we'll only have Lilykit, Oatkit, and Dewkit."

"Snowpelt might join them soon," Swiftfeather nudged him. "I've seen how Smokefrost is around her. I'd be surprised if they weren't mates yet."

"Mates do lead to kits," Willowleaf felt a shiver go through her stomach at those words. She almost stumbled, her head beginning to feel a bit fuzzy.

"You alright, Willowleaf?" Owlwing tilted his head at her. "You seem a bit sluggish today."

"I'm fine," she shook her head, trying to get the feeling to go away. But why in StarClan did she suddenly feel so dizzy?

"We can take you to Thornberry," Swiftfeather had a look of concern on his face. "We should almost be done with our patrol."

"I'm fine," she repeated as her heart began to pound in her chest. "We have a patrol to do."

"Alright."

"If you think you're fine, then I won't pressure you."

Hopefully Willowleaf was fine. She didn't seem to be sick, and no other Clanmate was either. It must be in her head. Letting the dizziness go away, she kept up with the toms. Surely it was nothing bad.