AN: Alright here's chapter thirty three! I apologize for how slow this story is moving. But even the Super Editions can be slow, right? Anyways, thanks tufted titmouse, Amber342, mixandmingle, and Peaches for reviewing! Wow, that's a total of four reviews! A new record for this story, which is kind of sad when you think about it ^^" You all get Applepaw plushies for being so kind!

-CHAPTER 33-

A moon had passed since the ShadowClan patrol had ambushed Blizzardstar. Since then he'd never fully recovered from the fight. Stonebrook spent as much time as she could with the ThunderClan leader, but she knew that his death was fast coming. Larksong had gotten sick as well, and it was taking everything she had to stop the deputy from overworking herself. Appleheart, Duskfeather and Boulderfrost had all earned their warrior names. Jadeleaf herself was still mentoring Dawnpaw, though each day her apprentice grew stronger.

Even with the past moon's events that had taken a toll on the Clan, life went on. Freezemist had returned to the nursery soon after her kits became warriors. Kindlefur's kits became apprentices. Emberpaw had become Shrewtail's apprentice, while Ashpaw became Stonebrook's. Kindlefur had been shocked when Ashpaw became Stonebrook's apprentice. Eventually he learned that it was best to let life take its toll.

Jadeleaf sighed as she stretched across the halfrock. With newleaf in full swing life had become easier for her. She spent most of her time taking Dawnpaw out for training. Her apprentice had shown great improvement since the battle against ShadowClan, and she knew that it wouldn't be long until Dawnpaw earned her warrior name.

"Can we go training now?" Emberpaw was bouncing beside Shrewtail's feet, eyes gleaming with excitement as she watched him. "I wanna learn that move Dawnpaw was using!"

She's enthusiastic, Jadeleaf thought with a purr rising in her throat. Emberpaw reminded her of Whitesnow before their parents had died. Whitesnow had been just as excited about beginning her days as a ThunderClan apprentice. All of that had changed after the Great Battle. She only hoped and prayed that Emberpaw wouldn't turn out the same way.

"Come on, let's go before her ears fall off," Shrewtail muttered with a shake of his head.

Jadeleaf stared at them as they left the hollow. This was Shrewtail's first time mentoring an apprentice. There had been so many other choices available. Pineroot may have been rash and ambitious, but he was a good choice. Now he was in the elders' den with Coalfire and Petalcloud. With him out of the way, Shrewtail had the chance to prove himself.

She watched as the Clan worked around her. Dens were being patched up since new growth had spread across the forest. Since he recovered from the lost life, Blizzardstar had ordered that the dens be patched firmly. He didn't want to take any risks when it came to fights that might break out in the forest. ShadowClan's presence continued to pose a threat each time a patrol went by. She herself had seen Heatherpelt glaring across the clearing as the tabby waited for the perfect chance to strike.

A sigh escaped her jaws as Dawnpaw bounded forward with Toadpaw at her side. Appleheart and Marshstep were sharing tongues, though the youngest warrior kept a close eye on the apprentices. Jadeleaf wondered if Appleheart had sent them to her for peace and quiet.

"Anything wrong?" she asked when Dawnpaw met her gaze.

"We were wondering if we could see Blizzardstar's wounds!" Dawnpaw mewed after pacing around Jadeleaf's paws.

"Why in StarClan's name would you ask such a thing?" Jadeleaf glared at her apprentice, suddenly wondering where her training had gone wrong. Never in her life had she asked such a question. She forced her fur to lay flat as she reminded herself that Dawnpaw and Toadpaw were only curious. They would likely ask dumber questions as time moved on. "Blizzardstar is busy speaking to Larksong, at the moment," she told them. "Let's go hunting," she added when Dawnpaw's ears flattened.

Her apprentice gave an excited bounce, though Toadpaw's eyes were drawn to his paws. When she looked at the Highledge, she saw that Larksong was emerging from Blizzardstar's den. The deputy's gaze was dark with worry as she padded down the slope and into the clearing.

"Is everything alright?" Jadeleaf asked when Larksong pushed her aside.

"Stonebrook doesn't think Blizzardstar will get any better," the black and white she-cat murmured.

Horror surged through Jadeleaf. He wasn't getting any better? She couldn't imagine anything worse than losing her leader. Blizzardstar had been the leader long before she was born. Snowstorm and Cloudfur had told her that he was the deputy long before they expected kits. Was he really so old that he couldn't fight off what infections Heatherpelt had given him?

She flinched when a pelt brushed against her own. Kindlefur stood by her side. His eyes were dark when he met her gaze.

He's not my mate, yet I feel closer to him than ever, she thought. Kindlefur had helped her in more ways than even he knew. His need to help his kits fit in had proved that he was loyal to ThunderClan. She recalled the many times when Petalcloud had spat at him each time he tried to clean out her nest. Even Petalcloud had learned to accept him through the times he'd spent with her. She trusted him enough to tell stories that were passed on from elder to elder.

"Blizzardstar will be fully accepted by StarClan," he murmured. "He's lived a long life, one filled with expectations and love." He nodded to Larksong, whose fur was bristling when the former ShadowClan warrior stared at her. "I'm sure he's ready to join them."

"I sure hope you're right," Jadeleaf whispered.

She pressed her muzzle on his fur for a moment before leading Dawnpaw out of the clearing. Silently she hoped that he was right. Blizzardstar deserved to join StarClan after all he went through.

…

Dawnpaw's ears were pricked towards a mouse that had emerged from its burrow. Jadeleaf narrowed her eyes as she watched her apprentice hunt. Dawnpaw had dropped to a crouch the moment she spotted the mouse. Her ears and eyes were locked on the target in question. Dawnpaw leaped forward with her claws unsheathed. Jadeleaf watched them curiously as she plucked the mouse from the ground. It didn't have time to squeal in shock as its life was taken away.

The pale gray warrior padded towards her apprentice. Excitement coursed through Jadeleaf when she realized that Dawnpaw was almost ready to become a warrior. Dawnpaw had the same skills and courage that Appleheart and her siblings shared. In fact, Dawnpaw was one of the best trackers in the Clan. She'd managed to track down a fox during the last moon when Appleheart's patrol found it scouring through the territory. Jadeleaf had wondered if it was the same fox that had lost its cub. But she cast the thought away, realizing that the fox cub had been seen over a season ago.

"Well done!" she purred when Dawnpaw approached her. "You're one of the best hunters I've seen." When her apprentice stared at her in surprise, Jadeleaf's tail brushed against her shoulder. "Come on; let's get back to the hollow before night fall."

The sun had begun to set behind the mountains as she returned to the hollow with Dawnpaw behind her. She glanced over her shoulder as Dawnpaw lifted her muzzle.

The two of them had managed to bring back a fair amount of fresh-kill. Jadeleaf had caught two mice and a squirrel, while Dawnpaw had her own mouse and a wren that had already been injured. The Clan would eat well tonight, as far as Jadeleaf was concerned.

A hiss sounded from the Highledge when she dropped her catch on the fresh-kill pile. Blizzardstar was sitting outside the den, looking at Jadeleaf through a pair of narrowed eyes. Jadeleaf stiffened when she realized that he was signaling her out. She glanced at Dawnpaw, and the apprentice nodded when she realized what Blizzardstar wanted.

Jadeleaf padded towards him, suddenly wondering what he wanted. Had she done something that caught his attention? She couldn't recall doing anything that would get her in trouble. Her fur bristled when she thought of what he might see if he caught Snowstorm and Cloudfur whispering to her. Did he think that she wasn't the best choice as a warrior?

The den itself was dark when Blizzardstar padded back inside. He sat down on a pile of moss and wrapped his tail around his feet. Jadeleaf sat down in front of him, aware that anything could happen at this moment.

"I've known for some time that Stonebrook has kept an eye on you," Blizzardstar rasped. "Even before you were born I was told that two kits would come during a time of darkness and trouble. I wasn't sure who those kits would be, but now I have a feeling…" His voice broke off when he reminded her of Whitesnow. Jadeleaf stared at her paws while he looked at her sharply. "Snowstorm came to me the night after he was murdered in the Great Battle. He told me that one of his kits would hold the future of the Clans in their paws."

Silence fell upon them as Jadeleaf shifted uncomfortably. Snowstorm had come to see him. Did that mean he knew about their meetings? She shook her head at the thought. Perhaps Snowstorm was just trying to comfort Blizzardstar. After all, they were kin and that had to mean something.

"Larksong is going to join me in StarClan soon," he meowed. Surprise gleamed within Jadeleaf's eyes when he held her stare. "I've known all along that she would never lead the Clan. It was one of Snowstorm's kits that would lead the Clan. The snowdrop on top of the jade leaf was enough to convince me."

Jadeleaf took a step back out of fear. Blizzardstar had…He'd known this would happen? She shook her head furiously as she tried to push the thought away. Blizzardstar knew that Larksong was going to die. Why did he name her as his deputy?

She raced out of the den before he could say anything else. Blood roared in her ears as she bounded away. She wasn't ready to face what prophecies StarClan had sent him. She barely made it to the life of a warrior.

I will never be the leader of ThunderClan, she thought determinedly. Blizzardstar couldn't make her. She would do everything she could to prevent him from naming her as his deputy.