OMG OMG OMG GUYS ILY SO MUCH and the last chapter gave me the feels. I'm glad some of you felt it too :3

Whitefang struggled to watch her apprentice through the rain. Still pouring, though slightly less so than last night, the apprentices had insisted upon completing their assesments. She could barely make out the twitch of Timbermask's tail in an adjacent tree, let alone her apprentice. Stormpaw's pelt blended well with the gray day, and though his green eyes occasionally flashed through the darkness, Whitefang could only strain herself to watch his progress. So far, he had caught a squirrel and a magpie, both foolish to be out in this weather. He merely needed a mouse, and they would be done for the day. Already, she knew he would pass with flying colors. They fought earlier, first thing in the drizzly, damp morning, and he was able to finish it, which made her heart burn with pride. Through the downpour, she heard a triumphant yowl. She lept from the slippery oaken branch she'd been crouching on and stretched her cramped legs. Stormpaw appeared through the mist, carrying in his jaws three sodden pieces of prey, but prey nonetheless. A magpie, a squirrel, and a plump mouse. No, three plump mice!

"I found a nest of them!" He purred happily through the mouthful.

"That's fantastic!" Whitefang grinned, "Now, let's get back and see if the others have arrived yet. Then, I'm sure Hollowstar won't wait a moment further for your ceremonies."

"What do you think my name will be, Whitefang?" Stormpaw asked eagerly.

"I haven't the foggiest idea." She answered truthfully as they trekked through the downtrodden ferns and their paws squished deep into the mud. Dead leaves clung to their legs as they splashed through the marsh, the Leaffall foliage no longer looking bright with color, but instead a drab, drained few shades of brownish orange.

"I hope it's something memorable. Stormfall, or Stormstrike! But you know what I want most of all?" Stormpaw asked her. She shook her head, and then, remembering they both were blinded by the torrent of droplets, replied with a quick "No."

"I want to be called Stormfang. Like you." He grinned.

"That's sweet, Stormpaw. I'm touched." Whitefang smiled, thinking back to her dream. Her heart clenched up as she remembered.

"Auntie Whitefang! You're my mentor!" Streampaw squealed happily as Whitefang bent to touch her nose to the berry pink one of her niece. She chuckled softly.

"Don't think that means I'll go easy on you!" Whitefang admonished lightly as the Clan cheered the apprentices' names. Streampaw grinned.

"I want you to train me just like your stories, and the way Addershriek trained you!" Streampaw mewed eagerly. Whitefang shook her head.

"We'll start off like Waterfall. Addershriek's training style was intense. We will save that for later!" Whitefang winked. Streampaw bounced a little in excitement.

"Oh, I can't wait!" She squeaked, "D'you think my warrior name will be good? I think I want to be named Streamfang. That way I'll be just like you, Whitefang!" She smiled, looking up at her aunt. Whitefang looked down at the apprentice lovingly.

"I think you might prefer a name of your own, though. Something to go down in legacies." Whitefang murmured.

"Maybe. But if my name's Stormfang, you'll be proud, won't you?" He asked beseechingly.

"I'm already proud." Whitefang sighed happily. The two pushed through the bramble tunnel entrance, Whitefang allowing her apprentice to go first. It was his special day, not hers. She remembered when he was merely a little ball of gray fluff, twitching his one white ear as he chased rabbits that ran through his dreams in the darkness of the nursery. She'd had him as her own ever since Riverclan's first attack, it felt as though that had been eons ago. Before she walked through the tunnel, she heard cheers, as if her apprentice were a returning hero. She smiled to herself. Stormpaw deserved every good that was ever given to him. As she emerged as well, there were words of congratulations whispered in her ears. There hadn't been a warrior ceremony in so many moons, not since Cherrynose was named, and she already had kits of her own. It was a big moment, in a day of dim weather.

She glanced around, noticing that Blizzardpelt and Lightpaw were already there, waiting. The only ones not back yet were Fadingpaw and Timbermask, though Whitefang knew they'd arrive soon. Fadingpaw was never one for hunting, and the storm would make it even more difficult, but the thunder had passed, and the only things foolish enough to be out in the forest were those taking assessments.

"We're back!" Timbermask called out from behind her. The brown tabby nearly ran Whitefang over in his haste.

"Watch it!" she laughed, pushing him away. Her paws slid in the slick mud of the clearing and she fell to the ground with a thud, taking Timbermask with her.

"Aw, gross!" The tabby cried, looking down at his muddied pelt with disgust. His legs, tangled with Whitefang's, flailed ceaselessly in the dirty puddle they'd landed in. Whitefang laughed hysterically, crawling away. Timbermask lept at her and pushed her back into the muck, nearly drowning her.

"There! That's what you get!" He grinned.

"Hey, no fair!" Whitefang choked gleefully, twisting around and pushing the handsome tom's face deep into the sludge of dirt and grime.

"Ack!" He spluttered, jumping away like a frightened toad. The entire Clan snickered at their antics, and Stonetail padded over to lift his daughter from the mud. He, too, slipped on his way, and slid, agonizingly slowly, into the clouded puddle.

"Gah, what a mess!" He shouted through the pouring rain, scrabbling to get away from the watered dirt.

"Darling!" Paledove called, hurrying to her mate's side. As she took his scruff in her teeth, her hind paws fumbled in the mire beneath her, skittering this way and that until she fell as well, and both mates were drenched in mud and slime. Whitefang howled with laughter, watching her parents struggle over each other to get out of the dip in the ground that had captured them. Soon, Stonetail began laughing, and Paledove joined as they realized the ridiculousness of it all. Timbermask helped Stonetail out, and Whitefang reached down for her mother. Golden eyes met crystal blue as daughter fetched mother from the depths of the dirtied pool.

"Thank you," Paledove wheezed, breathless from mirth and struggle.

"You're welcome," Whitefang smiled gently, "Mother." Paledove's blue eyes widened and flooded with tears, and she rushed forward to embrace her muddied daughter full heartedly.

"Thank you," She cried, the salty tears flowing down her cheeks onto Whitefang's pelt, tracing trails over the now brown warrior's thick fur. The words meant so much more than gratitude from a helping paw. "Thank you."

"Mother," Whitefang whispered softly, for now she was crying, crying of relief and release. Paledove broke away to look into her daughter's eyes, and there she saw something brilliant, a spark she'd overlooked for far too many moons.

"Whitefang," She choked, "My daughter." Stonetail wrapped himself around his mate and only kit, adding to the wealth of tears. Others watched plaintively, hearts warming with the scene of muddy affection. Even Grayshadow and Icegaze managed to dip their heads. The threesome turned from each other to their leader, and the dark tortie stood proudly at the head of his Clan.

"I'm pleased to announce today the creation of three new warriors under our ancestors," the rain still beat down upon the gathered cats mercilessly, but they no longer noticed, "Though one may not have been born into us, no doubt has ever crossed my mind that you were not watching over him, and that we have all accepted him as a true warrior of Shadowclan. Lightpaw, please step forward." The white and gold apprentice, fur splattered with much and leaves but nonetheless bright as the day Whitefang had met him, took a few sturdy steps toward his leader.

"Lightpaw, do you promise to uphold the warrior code and protect the Clan, even at the cost of your life?" Hollowstar asked. Lightpaw blinked once, very slowly, and when he opened his eyes, it was with a strong voice that he answered:

"I do."

"Lightpaw, you came to us as Dolan, a young kittypet paying tribute to his father. It is with us you stayed, and for that, and your skill and loyalty, we bestow upon you your warrior name. From now on, you shall be known as Lightheart, for Starclan recognizes in you the heart and strength of a Shadowclan warrior!" Hollowstar announces, tipping his head up to the sky as though he were trying to call to Darkclaw. Whitefang's heart swelled with pride as she watched her friend lick his leader's shoulder and then turn to the Clan, who greeted him with wild cheers.

"Lightheart! Lightheart! Lightheart!" they called to the absent stars.

"And now, Stormpaw, please come forward." Whitefang watched with bated breath as her apprentice looked to his leader and went to him eagerly, but with steady, measured steps. "As leader of Shadowclan, I call upon our warrior ancestors to look down upon this apprentice favorably. He has trained long and hard to understand the ways of your noble code, and I commend him as a warrior to you in turn. Do you, Stormpaw, promise to uphold the warrior code and protect Shadowclan, even at the cost of your life?"

"I do." Stormpaw said, not a single waver in his voice.

"Then by the power vested in me, your warrior name is Stormfall. Starclan honors your grit and determination, and welcomes you as a full warrior of Shadowclan." Hollowstar finished with a flourish of his tail. The Clan cheered Stormfall's name as he licks Hollowstar's shoulder and steps back; Whitefang held her head even higher as her clanmates congratulated her apprentice.

"Finally, Fadingpaw." Hollowstar addresses the smallest apprentice, her blue-silver eyes shining with anticipation, "You, too, have excelled in training and have brought honor to our Clan. Do you promise to uphold the noble warrior code and defend your Clan even at the cost of your life?"

"I do." Her voice is firm as stone.

"Then your name from this day forward is Fadingmist. Starclan welcomes you, and honors your strength ad courage." Hollowstar dips his head to the newly made warrior, and she licks his shoulder respectfully, as did the other two before her. Through the rain, the three names are chanted.

"Fadingmist, Stormfall, Lightheart! Fadingmist, Stormfall, Lightheart! Fadingmist, Stormfall, Lightheart!" The Clan called out to the sky, rain crashing down onto their muzzles, yet they yowled, undaunted. Whitefang watched as Stormfall's clover-green eyes lit up in the gray fog of the evening. The entire day spent with assessments, the three apprentices deserved their names. She smiled as Hollowstar walked up to the trio.

"You did well, I'm proud of you." The leader purred, "And it pains me to say that you will have to keep vigil out in this nasty weather."

"Nothing three new warriors can't handle, Hollowstar." Fadingmist said, puffing up proudly despite the rain. Whitefang padded up to them as Hollowstar left to find Featherfall.

"Congratulations," She purred, tapping her former apprentice on the shoulder with the tip of her mud covered tail. He grinned. Whitefang remembered when he was only a young apprentice, eager to learn and about as tall as half of her leg. Now, he matched her in height, and outdid her in muscle.

"Thank you, Whitefang. You were the best mentor I could've asked for." Stormfall sighed.

"I'm going to look forward to patrolling with you, Stormfall." Whitefang laughed, "And you, Fadingmist and Lightheart." She put emphasis on their names proudly.

"Well, might as well warm up a little before going out to sit in the rain all night." Lightheart mewed.

"I've made you a nest already," Said Doestep softly, coming up behind the muddied gold and white warrior.

"I'm coming quickly then!" Lightheart grinned, padding off into the gray with the dappled brown she-cat by his side. Fadingmist and Stormfall rolled their eyes, but hurried after him. Whitefang watched them go, a little sad that she would never sit in the training hollow with them again, or correct their crouches, or say: 'My apprentice…' in such a way ever again. It was sad, but it was also a relief. And now she had no idea how she would ever occupy her time so well, without a cat to train. She glanced unconsciously toward the nursery, and thought hopefully of Rosekit and Pinekit, and even the three littlest kittens: Aspenkit, Sorrelkit, and Honeykit would be wonderful to mentor.

"Whitefang? We should probably wash up and get some sleep." Timbermask chuckled, appearing by her side.

"Yes, we-" She agreed, only to be interrupted by her father.

"Whitefang!" He called.

"I'll see you later, Timbermask, I've got to go!" She mewed quickly, darting through the heavy downpour to reach her father's voice. I had come from the warrior's den. When she entered, she was relieved to see glowing golden eyes appear in the dim light, and even more so to realize that it was cozy and dry in the den. The rain had washed most of the dirt from her pelt, as well, but it was still rather grimy. She blinked to adjust to the muted light, and she found that her mother was lying beside her father in their nest. Paledove beckoned her daughter closer and Whitefang purred. As she sat down on the edge of her parent's nest, she felt a strange sensation.

It was a rough lapping at her pelt; yet, in the same way that it was rough, it was gentle and loving. Glancing over her shoulder, Whitefang saw that her mother was grooming her messy white pelt. She was lulled by the rhythm, and soon her eyes began to close. Paledove's tongue made its way over her back and shoulders to her tail and head, even over the tips of her ears. Whitefang had never been groomed by her mother before. It felt…good. Like she was loved. I am loved, She realized, I am loved by my parents and by my mate. I have friends. My clanmates are by my side. There is nothing I can't do! It's everything I've ever wanted…As Paledove finished, she purred and nuzzled Whitefang's cheek gently. No words needed to be said, no looks exchanged. Everything was felt. White fang got up drowsily and made her way over to her own nest. It was colder in the corner of the den than it was in the center, and Whitefang felt a slight chill as she settled in. She fell asleep anyway, dreaming that Falconshade was coming from Riverclan to lie with her in the dark, wrap himself around her and keep her warm. She felt warmer, too, as she envisioned it in her dreams.

It was only in the morning that she found Timbermask had slept by her side as she shivered, and kept her warm the whole night through.

This chapter got me too. Anyway, moving on...

QOTD: Paledove has revealed herself to be...what, exactly? And did you like the mud? I need feedback for scenes like that.

We shall return next time, and keep your PM's open! I'll message the 1000th reviewer to see what they want as their One-Shot (can be Promise related, can be WCC, can be random OCness, whatever! Their choice for being fabulous!) and what they would like as a kit name. It can't be anything like Rubykit or Limekit, though, because cats have no clue what rubies or limes or anything like that is. So yeah.

Lots of love and same such things,

~Bright~