"Forestkit, Mintkit, and Mistlekit," Manglethorn whispered. "Beautiful names." Applewing rested on the feathery ground, her eyes drooping with tiredness. The entire world seemed to stop at the moment. Manglethorn licked his kits frantically while Applewing rested. Those kits had taken her all morning, and Manglethorn will care about them with all his heart.

Beside him, Yarrowtail, the newly-appointed medicine cat, stared at Applewing in satisfaction.

"Did I do well?" He asked, hope gleaming in his eyes.

Manglethorn nodded. "Perfect," he meowed. Yarrowtail nearly collapsed in response. He limped back to his den and immediately fell asleep.

Two daughters and a son. Manglethorn couldn't have had better kits.

Forestkit was a ginger tom, his fur coming from Applewing's. His eyes were big and amber, and he was like the little version of Applewing. He started pawing Applewing's belly as soon as he was born, yowling at a high pitch.

Mintkit was a tan she-cat with large yellow eyes, and she looked the cutest of them all now that Manglethorn examined her. Her cream-colored fur stood out in puffs, and her high-pitch mewl nearly poked all of Manglethorn's heartstrings until he examined the third kit.

Then there was Mistlekit, the white tabby she-cat with green eyes; she looked like Manglethorn, except with gray stripes and more beautiful eyes. She was quietly wriggling among her siblings, searching her way to navigate around this new world. Manglethorn purred with pride and his heart softened. Mistlekit was amazing. So were Forestkit and Mintkit. All three of his kits would become the best warriors of ThunderClan. He licked Applewing's ears, thankful for her to give birth of such beautiful kits. She purred back, nuzzling his muzzle with her own.

The Clan cheered as new kits arrived to the ThunderClan. For once, the Mapleshade incident seemed forgotten.

—.—

Manglethorn rested soundly in his den, his eyes half closed, his mind repeatedly thinking about Applewing's newborn kits. Mintkit was beautiful, he thought. And Mistlekit got my eyes! Forestkit kept pushing aside his sisters for milk; look at his little paws! He purred at the memory, a deep, rumbly purr. They will grow into strong, healthy warriors, he thought. And help the Clan through their darkest days.

He imagined them, growing strong and big. It was a dreamy thought. Forestkit, the big brother, ran around the forest, kicking up clouds of autumn leaves and yowling a fierce battle cry as he sank his teeth into the scruff of a RiverClan trespasser. Mintkit, the second kit, leaping around gracefully and purring as the Rabbitfur, the ThunderClan elder, told her all kinds of stories about the old ThunderClan. And then Mistlekit, hunting with his father Manglethorn, nodding at a scuttling mouse by the edge of the tree, then pouncing on the little gray body with the skill of the most experienced hunters in the Clans. Manglethorn imagined his whole family together—him, Applewing, Forestkit, Mintkit, and Mistlekit, on a patrol to mark the ShadowClan boundary.

He didn't notice Dawnfeather and Nettlebreeze heading into the warriors' den and nodding to him. "Congratulations," Dawnfeather purred to him. Manglethorn's attention snapped back to reality, and he saw mother and son watching him. "It must be such a great experience to see your kits born!" Nettlebreeze exclaimed.

"Yes, it is," he purred. The other warriors in the den nodded to him, as if sharing his joy that new kits were born to the clan.

I should also thank Yarrowtail. The exhausted medicine cat was resting now. His hard work paid off.

Manglethorn rested his head on his paws in a sigh of happiness.

Of course someone would come to disturb him.

Manglethorn!

The familiar, hoarse voice of Maggottail flashed in Manglethorn's ears. It's time to continue with your destiny.

Manglethorn blinked open his eyes in surprise. Maggottail? He disappeared for many sunrises! But why does he have to appear in moments like this? Maggottail! He thought. Where have you been? He made sure he did not disturb his Clanmates as he padded out to an empty patch by the corner of the camp and settled down. He dragged a rabbit to his paws, then stared up in confusion as the pale shape of Maggottail materialized in the air.

You don't have to care, Maggottail answered curtly. But one thing was that it sure was time to continue to work for your big dream.

Manglethorn looked down as realization started hitting him, but his lashing tail didn't hide his frustration. But my kits are just born! Manglethorn thought. I wanted to have a normal life for some days, please. I wanted to see my kits!

It was only for a few days, but he liked the feeling of having no pressure over the risky missions he've been through. Mapleshade's promised rest for him seemed to end way too quickly. He needed time for the next mission, whatever it is, but his kits' birth mattered more than anything he could think of for at least a moon. What if Maggottail doesn't give Manglethorn a moon for it?

He wouldn't stop me from caring about my family, he thought in a low voice, careful to hide it from his secondary mentor.

Maggottail snorted. You'll have plenty of time for that, he said. But I have a message to deliver: You have to be more careful next time.

Manglethorn's tail stopped lashing. Why? He asked. You sounded like Yarrowtail right now. Maggottail scraped the ground beneath his claws. You were being followed, he hissed. I saw a cat staring at you as you washed yourself by the river. He was staring at you and running away! "What?" Manglethorn meowed out loud. He was relieved he was at the corner of the camp, or else everybody would have stared at him now.

Yes, Maggottail repeated. You were being followed.

"Everything's not easy to do when I'm deputy," Manglethorn meowed once again. He knew that arguing with the cranky elder was useless, but he still wanted to see his kits for some days. At least spend some time with his family or rest on his paws safely without dreams more than usual.

Yet Maggottail's message still chilled him to the bone. Somebody saw me? He also knew that, now that he was deputy, any wrong action could direct his whole plan the wrong way. Everything he did before would be wasted on nothing. Who saw him anyway? Some cat from ThunderClan? No one so far seemed to know what happened, but who could it be? Manglethorn hoped nothing would happen to him, because if it did, he would be in more trouble than he could ever think of.

—.—

Maggottail was seated on a low rock in front of Manglethorn, above the small stems that sprouted on the ground.

The two cats were outside the camp, inside the forest. Under a patch of sunlight, talking alone. The sky was pale blue mixed with a few lumpy clouds, and the distant mountains lined the edge of the forest. Birds chirped their morning song, bringing the first beauty of leaf-bare onto the forest. The breeze was cold, but Manglethorn's thick pelt helped him cope. He faced Maggottail, his whiskers pressed to his muzzle.

Here it goes again, he sighed innerly.

You become deputy to become leader, Maggottail replied. So listen up. Your next mission was a very dangerous one; perhaps the most dangerous among the ones you have completed—"What?" Manglethorn asked, irritated. "Most dangerous? What other harms would you do to WindClan? What other accusations could you attract and direct at me? What other life-risking mission is it again that might lead to certain death for me?"

Do you think it is so easy to become leader? Maggottail snarled. I told you—shut up and listen! This next mission was where you have to take some WindClan cats hostage. You will lead Midgepelt and Swiftrabbit to their deaths—Manglethorn widened his eyes at the thought of it—and this will attract Laurelleaf to a certain location. Soon, you will fight a battle, and you will win it. "So I'm finally killing Laurelleaf," Manglethorn meowed, shocked.

Maggottail chuckled and sneered. Yes, he answered. But he got forces as well.