Unfortunately, how LionClan treats their "inter-Clan" mating is something that will be covered so I can't directly answer that question. However, something to think about - LionClan was formed on the basis of defeating TigerClan; but what will happen when or if TigerClan is defeated? Will LionClan remain, or will they separate? It will depend on what happens to TigerClan in the end… and who is in charge of LionClan.

Lionpaw and Heatherpaw are really young so there's no need to put any sort of stress on their relationship with each other, or anyone else. They're simply friends – but when they're older? Who knows? I haven't actually decided who Lionpaw's mate will be or if he ends up with one.

This chapter is a little short, but I think that's fitting since the next one is actually pretty long.

Chapter 35

Robinpaw opened his eyes to the glittering plains of StarClan – a stark contrast to the lands where he usually spent his nights. Clouds swirled in the surreal sky, stars peeking through the gaps. The moon was full, large, and bright.

The grass was soft underneath Robinpaw's paws and he slowly turned himself around, getting his bearings. His eyes were used to the dimness of the forest where he trained with Silverhawk. Robinpaw swallowed nervously.

"Hello?" he asked tentatively. It hadn't taken long for someone to meet him last time. Had he offended?

Relief flooded him as Firestar appeared, his bright ginger pelt like a beacon. Robinpaw's tail trembled with memory as Firestar sat a fox-length before him and wrapped his tail around his paws. Robinpaw lifted his paw to step closer, but he placed it back down on the ground. Firestar had an air of nobility around him, like a powerful force keeping Robinpaw – and other lesser cats – back.

"Hello, Robinpaw," Firestar meowed. "How have things been?"

Robinpaw tipped his head. "Don't you know?" he wondered.

"I do; but I'm interested to hear your opinion," Firestar answered. "Please – tell me what you think of the events of the Gathering, and what is happening both to you and your Clan."

"Well, the Gathering… I saw that coming," Robinpaw admitted. He scuffled his paws. "I mean, did they really think that LionClan and TigerClan could coexist in peace? Eventually someone was going to start a fight."

"Do you wish it hadn't happened?"

Robinpaw looked at his paws. "Of course," he replied. "My Clanmates were hurt – but they were being mouse-brained."

"Dustpelt has always been the one to speak his mind," Firestar assured him. "It's nice to know that this hasn't changed."

"It's so strange, though," Robinpaw went on.

"Oh?"

"It feels like the Clan's almost… divided," Robinpaw stressed. "I don't know why, but some cats see TigerClan as a collective enemy that needs to be utterly destroyed – and anyone who doesn't think so is somehow weaker for it."

"There is nothing weak about humility and mercy," Firestar told him.

"But we should stop them, right?" Robinpaw asked. "If TigerClan were a pack of foxes, wouldn't we want to kill them all?"

Firestar flicked his ear and his eyes darkened with concern. "There is more to being a warrior than killing, Robinpaw," he meowed. "We drive away our foes; we don't slaughter them in their sleep. There is quite the difference."

"But shouldn't we stop them?" Robinpaw wondered. "As utterly as possible?"

Firestar gave him a long look. "Robinpaw, you know as well as I do that the solution to this problem isn't as black and white as that," he said carefully. "This will be a long, complicated battle and LionClan has a choice – adhere to the warrior code or fall into darkness."

Darkness… Robinpaw thought. He rubbed his paws against the grass. The darkness that Firestar mentioned, the darkness that Robinpaw was apparently at risk of falling into – what was it? Why did he feel like he was missing something important?

"No one in StarClan blames you, Robinpaw," Firestar meowed.

Robinpaw's ears pricked. "Blame me…? For what?"

Firestar looked away. "Something bad is coming, Robinpaw," he went on. "Dark times are ahead for LionClan, darker than this time now. The Three will be put to the test and you, Robinpaw, must choose."

"Choose?"

"You are on a path with a split before you," Firestar explained, looking back at Robinpaw. His eyes were blazing green flames, and Robinpaw felt himself tremble before him. "Which path you take will decide the fate of the Clans around the lake."

"Why me, though?" Robinpaw wondered. "Is it because I'm blind? Because I'm a medicine cat?"

Firestar did not answer.

Robinpaw's mind trembled with questions, whirling like a storm. He dug his claws into the earth and snapped, "Why did you do this to me? I never wanted to be a medicine cat!"

Firestar's eyes softened with sympathy. "Sometimes a cat's destiny isn't always what they want, Robinpaw," he replied. "We did not cause your blindness."

"But you caused my destiny," Robinpaw grumbled. His tail flicked, and though he wanted to be frustrated, some part of him was just so tired of it all. He wanted to be a warrior, but was it really worth it fighting so hard against the current he'd been pushed into?

"I will not lie," Firestar sighed, "we had little to do with which kit Leafpool chose as her apprentice – but we knew that one of the Three must take a different path. Not all of your powers will be related to fighting foes with tooth and claw – some foes must be fought with a little more thought and ingenuity."

Firestar stood up and padded forward. He pressed his nose against Robinpaw's forehead – the contact burned against the young cat's skin.

"The choice, in the end, is yours Robinpaw," he meowed. "The path ahead for the Three will not be easy. I cannot save the lake or the Clans – you must be the fire. The Three must blaze through the Clans and cleanse them of the darkness… or they will be lost to it forever."

Robinpaw jolted awake. He dug his claws into the mud as the searing heat from Firestar's touch left his body. Eyes still open, he flung his head around in the darkness as the sounds of the night filtered back into his ears.

A flash of white caught his eye – something Robinpaw had never, ever seen. He turned towards it, eyes still open – and there, lighting up the water of the Moonpool, was the glowing white outline of a cat. Firestar!

Stars sparkled around his pelt and though he seemed like nothing but an outline, he shifted and moved as if he were as round or solid as any other creature in the world. His eyes glowed like white flames and Robinpaw stood up in awe – nothing in StarClan compared to the wonder of this, seeing in the real world!

"You're here," whispered Robinpaw. "I… I can… I can see you…"

"You can see far more than that," Firestar murmured, his voice echoing and bouncing off of every rock and rippling across the surface of the water below his paws. "Robinpaw, there is so much to discover, even for one who cannot see. Your powers will guide you – all Three of you."

Firestar disappeared, fading into a darkness that enveloped Robinpaw's eyes. The blackness swallowed Robinpaw whole and suddenly he was back in the world that he knew, dark and mysterious.

Robinpaw's paws trembled with information. He closed his eyes.

Hawkstar looked down on his Clan as all fell silent. Each apprentice faced their foe in their own corner of the clearing, and warriors and Dark Forest cats alike edged away to give them as much space as possible.

Owlpaw circled Maggottail with impatience in his flicking tail. Maggottail seemed unaffected by the young apprentice's intimidation tactics, and his pale yellow eyes never left Owlpaw. Hawkstar flicked his tail – Maggottail was very experienced and knew how to use it. Owlpaw would not get his name easily.

Dapplepaw, on the other hand, was facing the exact opposite – Sparrowfeather was circling her with wide, excited eyes. Hawkstar knew just how much enjoyment Sparrowfeather got from torturing young apprentices, but the warrior was not as fierce as she often claimed. If Dapplepaw kept her head, she would earn her name.

And then there was Starlingpaw. Oh, Starlingpaw – Hawkstar almost couldn't keep his eyes off of her. Her dark pelt lit by the moonlight as she and Thistleclaw stalked around one another. Thistleclaw could just barely contain himself, but Starlingpaw kept the space between them the same at all times.

Thistleclaw is a brutal warrior, Hawkstar thought. Relentless. But Starlingpaw is older, smarter, and more clever than these other apprentices. I'm glad she chose to face him. Though weakness needed to be culled in TigerClan, Hawkstar would rather not bury any more apprentices.

The thought of Starlingpaw not passing this trial crossed his mind – along with the thought that Thistleclaw would brutalize her beyond repair. Hawkstar unsheathed his claws and sank them into his perch unconsciously. He had no idea what he would do if that happened, if Starlingpaw were to be too hurt to go on… and Thistleclaw was just the cat to do something like that.

Hawkstar watched her muscles smoothly slide underneath her pelt, thinking of her standing beside him as a full warrior of TigerClan. She wore her warrior name proud in his thoughts, staying in TigerClan to fight on for their cause. Hawkstar's fur warmed at the thought, and certainty filled him, replacing the doubt and worry.

Starlingpaw would make it.

She was strong.

For a loner. It wasn't something Hawkstar often thought of. His apprentice's origins were known throughout the Clan, but Hawkstar himself hadn't thought of it in some time. Starlingpaw had fit in so well with Clan life it was almost like she was born into it.

Hawkstar frowned. Tigerstar, his father, didn't approve of Hawkstar's interest in Starlingpaw – but this night would prove that the loner was either a waste of time, or possibly the greatest thing to happen to TigerClan… and to Hawkstar.

He reined himself in with a deep breath. Starlingpaw didn't know of Hawkstar's feelings for her, and he had been doing his best to keep these alien feelings from consuming him. Tigerstar had always said affection was a weakness… yet Hawkstar felt it all the same – and for a loner, no less!

Hawkstar pushed the thoughts away, pulling his eyes from Starlingpaw. He couldn't just focus on her – the other apprentices needed to know that he was watching. They needed to feel that pressure. The crowd was murmuring to one another, hushed and excited, and prey was being passed. Hawkstar wondered just how many were betting on a death.

I hope no one dies, Hawkstar thought, looking at Dapplepaw and Owlpaw. Each one was sizing their opponent up in their own way. TigerClan needs these warriors. If they prove themselves, they are worthy of their names. Ah! I need to think of names…

A screech pulled Hawkstar from his thoughts. Across the clearing, Owlpaw had leaped onto Maggottail. The two cats were locked in a struggle and Maggottail quickly had Owlpaw pinned with not a scratch on him. Hawkstar's eyes lit with interest, wondering about Owlpaw's strategy.

"Owlpaw – oof!"

Dapplepaw's concerned cry was cut off as Sparrowfeather used the opportunity to leap. The two she-cats disappeared in a tangle of fur and tail and growling.

"Don't let them distract you!" Starlingpaw called. Hawkstar's eyes snapped to her. She and Thistleclaw were fighting just before the willow log, and Starlingpaw's eyes did not leave her opponent. "Remember what you've practiced!"

Practiced? Hawkstar wondered. He had noticed the apprentices growing closer to Starlingpaw in the last half moon. Had they been putting in extra training behind his back? Clever, loner, he thought. An effective way of earning their trust.

"Stuff a mouse in it," Thistleclaw hissed. He lashed with one paw, and Starlingpaw leaped back so his claws hit empty air. "Fight me, coward!"

Starlingpaw lashed her tail. "I'll show you coward!"

The Clans roared as Thistleclaw leaped at Starlingpaw, only to be dodged. Hawkstar's eyes flitted from group to group as the clearing exploded into three individual battles.

This will be a good show, Hawkstar decided. A very good show.