Disclaimer: I don't own the Warrior Cats series!

Title: Berry Paint

Summary: Sandkit wants to look pretty for his apprentice ceremony, so he wears berry paint; Lightkit feels alone in RiverClan for her messy pelt and gruff demeanor, save for two elders, and strives to outdo Rosepaw; Hoptail's known who they are all along, but they're hesitant to tell their mate, Mintpelt; and Smallkit of ShadowClan is scared to face who he really is- is it a tom at all?

Chapter Title: Mousepoppy (Smallpelt)

...

Splash of Thunder in Mist- Charlie was born deaf, yes. For some reason, I always hear him as slightly Southern, but that makes literally no sense in the world of feral cats that are supposed to be set in England, I think?

iDragonSpyro- Thanks! I'm honored you like it so much. =)

Chara Dreemurr (February 22)- Hello, fellow gay woman here. The point of the story isn't homophobia, I'm afraid (it's an important topic to handle)- it's to make the point that a story can have LGBT warriors, can have them be everyday warriors, even. And there is some in the background- Sandpetal was constantly ignored by the other Clans from a young age (Nutjaw and Brownstep because they're believed to be half-Clan, but that's not why Sandpetal was); Silverear and Darkstream, Lightstripe and Rosetuft's mothers, haven't spoken to either of them since they came home, and, while Darkstream is somewhat warming up, she isn't comfortable with her. Hoptail has only come out to their sister, as they're afraid of rejection, and Smallpelt doesn't intend to come out to any of the other Clans.

I'm sorry if that's not realistic, or enough. That's just the story I'm presenting here.

...

"Nice catch." Mousepoppy told Foxpaw. The 'paw had a fat frog clamped in his jaws, chest puffed out with pride. "Badgerpaw, did you help?"

The black and white she-cat shook her head, a limp mouse at her paws. "I probably would've just gotten in the way."

"Nonsense," Smallpelt chided, draping her tail across Badgerpaw's shoulders. "Frog hunting is a two-cat exercise."

"I don't think I'm a very good hunter," she admitted.

"Perhaps not. But you're still a hunter, nonetheless, and ShadowClan needs all the fresh-kill it can get." Smallpelt told her. "Just imagine how sneaky you'll get with all this stalking. The other Clans won't want to mess with you."

Badgerpaw perked up. "Really?"

"Really." She promised.

Mousepoppy took a moment to admire Smallpelt's way with words. Ever since the warrior had announced herself to the Clan, she'd been happier. He'd noticed a newfound trot in her step, like perhaps the weight of the world had slightly receded from her shoulders. I've never seen her this comfortable before. I really hope she can stay this way forever.

"Shouldn't we be heading back?" Foxpaw asked him. "The ceremony oughta be soon."

They all agreed and started back to camp. Mousepoppy hung back, letting Smallpelt lead their little group. Foxpaw hummed contentedly beside him. They dismissed the apprentices and grabbed some prey off the pile, eating in quick bites.

"It's about time." Mousepoppy meowed finally. "Rockpaw and Lizardpaw always seem to be stuck waiting. They waited to be made apprentices, and now they're waiting to be made warriors."

"Wingstar thought they needed more time." Smallpelt reminded him calmly. "It sucks, but there's nothing we can do about it now."

He knew it was more than that. Mousepoppy saw the way she shuffled, tail flicking just once, eyes narrowed at her prey. There was always something more than that, with Smallpelt.

But that's the fun of it, he thought. There's always something new to discover with Smallpelt by my side.

Spiderberry and Rocktail exited the medicine den, quietly conversing with each other. They found their places and sat down, waiting patiently for Wingstar to appear and call the Clan together. "It should be nice; not sleeping at the very edge of the warriors' den."

"I'm kind of glad, honestly." Smallpelt admitted sheepishly, craning her neck to clean the fur on her arm. "I'm not good with cold."

Mousepoppy blinked at the she-cat morosely. He didn't think he would ever forget the Leaf-bare Smallpelt fell ill, no matter how many seasons passed. Ever since then, the warrior was quick to get a cough or sneeze, and slow to approach the medicine den. He wondered if the smell of herbs sickened her.

"Yes," he said. "I suppose you wouldn't be."

"Let all cats old enough to catch their own prey meet me in the clearing for a Clan meeting!"

Mousepoppy jumped to his paws, thankful to move on from that horrid memory. Smallpelt inclined her head, then went to the elders' den to help Mosswhisker into the clearing. The tom was slow and weak, soon bound for a peaceful journey to StarClan. It's hard to picture ShadowClan without him, Mousepoppy realized. But soon I won't have to imagine it.

Brackentuft took her place next to him, blinking proudly. Foxpaw sat on his other side, craning his head to see better. His former mentor, Darkflame, sat under Wingstar's perch. Badgerpaw half-laid on Smallpelt, talking animatedly with Ivyclaw. Skycloud and Boltgorse sat just behind their apprentices. Mousepoppy noticed a distinct shine to Rockpaw and Lizardpaw's pelts.

"ShadowClan," Wingstar called, and they all fell silent. "It is time for great change in our Clan. A new generation of warriors is upon us, from Mousepoppy to Rockpaw and Lizardpaw. Our elder, Mosswhisker, is soon to join Bronzewind in StarClan, and our deputy is getting white around the muzzle."

"Hey!" Darkflame meowed. A few cats laughed.

"With such change, I start our gathering with this; Brackentuft, step forward."

The brown she-cat stood from beside him and padded out to stand before Wingstar, ears pricked. There was no surprise on her features.

"Brackentuft, is it your wish to give up the name of a warrior and go to join the elders?"

"It is." Brackentuft responded. "Lizardpaw and Rockpaw were my last litter. Now that they're grown, it's time that I rest."

"Very well. Your Clan honors you and all the service you have given to us. I call upon StarClan to give you many moons of rest."

Already? It feels like just yesterday she announced she was kitting.

"Brackentuft! Brackentuft! Brackentuft! Brackentuft!"

She turned to the warriors. "It was an honor to be a warrior. There was no other Clan I could have wished to be born in." Brackentuft looked to her kits and nodded. "I'm so proud of you two. Even after I'm long gone, I'll always be there for you."

Rockpaw didn't answer. Lizardpaw's ears drooped. "We love you, mom."

"I know you do," she answered mildly, then went to join Mosswhisker near the back. The elder cracked open his eyes as she approached, but didn't left his head from his paws.

"Here to help an old tom die comfortably?" He rasped.

"That and more, old friend." She sunk down beside him with a sigh. "It's nice to relax."

"You'll go stir-crazy eventually. We all do."

"That out of the way, let's move on." Wingstar reclaimed their attention effortlessly. "Skycloud, is Rockpaw ready to be a warrior?"

"Yes, Wingstar." Skycloud answered, back perfectly straight.

"Good. Boltgorse, is Lizardpaw ready to be a warrior?"

"Yes, Wingstar." Mousepoppy admired the strength in his mother's voice. No cat could ever doubt her courage.

"Good. I, Wingstar, leader of ShadowClan, call upon my warrior ancestors to look down upon these apprentices. They have trained hard to understand the ways of your noble code, and I commend them to you in turn. Rockpaw, Lizardpaw, do you promise to uphold the warrior code, and protect and defend this Clan, even at the cost of your life?"

"I do." Rockpaw meowed solemnly.

"I do." Lizardpaw vowed.

"Then by the powers of StarClan, I give you your warrior names. Rockpaw, from this moment on you will be known as Rockfall. StarClan honors your strength and bravery, and we welcome you as a full warrior of ShadowClan."

Rockfall got her paws, confidently padding over to Wingstar to lick her shoulder, bending her head for the leader to press her nose to it. She stepped back.

"Lizardpaw, from this moment on you will be known as Lizardeye. StarClan honors your energy and kindness, and we welcome you as a full warrior of ShadowClan."

Lizardeye stepped forward to lick Wingstar's shoulder. Wingstar pressed her muzzle to the new warrior's head.

"Rockfall! Lizardeye! Rockfall! Lizardeye!"

Wingstar called for their vigil, then declared the meeting adjourned. Smallpelt bounded over to congratulate Skycloud, brown eyes bright.

"Alright, old timer." Brackentuft meowed, nudging Mosswhisker. "Let's get you back to your nest."

Mousepoppy turned to Foxpaw. "Go get your sister and make Brackentuft a nest."

Foxpaw scrambled to his paws. "Will do."

Mousepoppy watched the apprentice sprint across the clearing, meeting up with Badgerpaw halfway.

"Want to go for a walk?" He asked when Smallpelt returned.

She shrugged. "Sure."

Waves lapped at the grass as they settled in by the shore. The island sat motionless in the center of the lake, unused by cats until the night of the full moon. Mousepoppy squinted his eyes in a vain attempt to place the dots on the shore with names, but they were too far away. "Is that a patrol? I think that's a patrol."

"Probably." Smallpelt agreed, whiskers quivering. "Have you ever been swimming before?"

"No. You?"

"Never in water." She meowed, then leapt into the spray. Smallpelt's head bobbed to the surface soon after. "Come on in. It's nice." Mousepoppy hesitated, then dove in after her. The water was chilly, sucking on his pelt to try and drag him down. He spluttered, clumsily kicking over to her.

"How can RiverClan do this every day?" He asked.

"I assume because they've been raised to do it." Smallpelt replied, then sunk under to get her face wet, popping back up after a quick swipe at Mousepoppy's tail.

They played in the waves for what felt like seasons, only getting out when the sun began to droop. Mousepoppy looked and felt like a bedraggled rat, frantically shaking loose drops out of his pelt. "Why did we do that?"

"It was a nice day for a swim." Smallpelt stretched herself out on her side, tail swishing across the dirt. "And now it's a nice day to lie in the grass."

"You're going to get grass stains on your pelt."

"That's not the worst thing I've gotten on my pelt."

Mousepoppy crouched down beside her. His side brushed her spine. "Too close?"

"That's fine." Smallpelt didn't open her eyes. "I'd like to thank you, Mousepoppy."

"Thank me?"

"I've seen the weird looks cats give me. Skycloud is always stumbling over his tongue when I'm around, no matter how hard he tries. Spiderberry doesn't mean to be, but he sounds like I'm a bit of prey to study whenever he asks me questions. You've always just accepted me."

Mousepoppy lowered himself all the way to the ground. He hadn't realized Smallpelt had watched her Clanmates that closely. "I had to correct myself a lot, at first. I ran through the words in my head and changed them before I spoke them. It's like I was correcting my mind. And that's okay, because it was incorrect, and I wanted to fix it."

"Thank you," she repeated.

"Smallpelt?"

"Hmm?"

"Will you be my mate?"

Smallpelt's eyes flickered open. "Excuse me?"

"It's okay," he told her earnestly. "I didn't expect you to say yes."

Smallpelt sat up. Mousepoppy did so as well, ready to edge away should she need more space, but the she-cat leaned into him willingly.

"I'm really sorry." Smallpelt told him. "I don't love you that way."

"I know. Don't be sorry."

"When did you realize?"

"When you were so sick, I guess? I started taking over your duties; helping Mosswhisker and playing with the kits, hunting prey and building nests. It was exhausting. I remember thinking, 'wow, Smallpaw doesn't get enough credit. He (sorry) does so much for us'. I started to admire you, and things just grew from there."

"I'm sorry."

"Don't be, Smallpelt," he pleaded. "I didn't tell you to feel guilty. I just wanted you to know how important you are to me, that's all."

"You're important to me, too."

"I'm glad."

He felt her muzzle rub his side comfortingly. "When I was so sick- the first time, I mean- I was going to give up. I was on the very edge of StarClan, and I was so sick of being sick, so I gave up fighting. But then, I met a queen who never got to see her kits grow up, and I realized I didn't want that ending. I wanted to live."

"Wow." He reached down to lick Smallpelt's ear. "I had no idea."

"Two cats died so that I could live. I don't want their deaths to be for nothing." She finally looked up at him. Her eyes were ablaze, but her voice was calm, offsetting the passion she seemed to hold. "I want to learn. I want to grow. I want to be a warrior who will be remembered, if only a little bit. I want my life to be worth dying for."

"Do you want to become leader?" I'd be your deputy in a heartbeat.

Smallpelt hesitated. "Smallstar does have a nice ring to it, but it's more than that. I want to try different prey and climb trees and learn the history of the other Clans. I want to touch the sky and trip over my own tail. Do everything I can in ShadowClan, for ShadowClan, and to help ShadowClan. I want to do it all, but there's never enough time for that- so I want to do what I can in my lifetime."

They both fell silent, watching the waves push and pull. Mousepoppy heard a beetle take off nearby.

"Well, if you ever want some help in doing everything, I'll always be here." He promised. Why was I blessed to have such a great friend? "I want you to be happy, Smallpelt. I want us both to be happy, catching prey and raising apprentices together."

"I'd like that."

"Me too."

Mousepoppy got to his paws. There was no need to dwell on this. "Let's go check on Foxpaw and Badgerpaw. They might be goofing off."

"I wouldn't put it past them." Smallpelt purred, reaching out to butt her head against his shoulder.

"If you want, we can come back tomorrow and try to catch a fish."

"Tempting, but I don't want ShadowClan to be accused of prey theft."

"There's a stream I know of that's got minnows in it. It's out of sight of the lake."

"That sounds perfect."

Author's Note: Lookit these two dorks, being all mature and stuff.

The original plot to this arc, believe it or not, was that Mousepoppy asked Smallpelt to be his mate while she was so sick, as if to give her another reason to fight, and the whole coming out thing threw a wrench in their relationship. Not because she's trans- because she didn't trust him enough to talk about it. They eventually resolved to stay close friends. This is what evolved out of it instead. I think, ultimately, what made it fail was that they were both still apprentices- too young for that sort of thing.

-Mandaree1