Yellowfang lifted her head off her paws, senses alert. She sniffed the air and narrowed her eyes as a familiar scent hit her, before getting to her paws and leaving the barn.

An old black tom, a thin gray tom, and a small gray and white tom all froze as she materialized out of the gloom, eyes wide, pelts spiked, and muscles tensed to flee.

"Congratulations on your ascension, Nightstar," Yellowfang mewed, dipping her head to the old black tom. "And I guess that'd make Cinderfur your deputy-" The thin gray tom flinched. "-and Runningnose to make it official." Her eyes slid back to Nightstar. "Given what was left after the sickness took so many from all the clans, I guess I shouldn't be surprised."

"Thank you," Nightstar said, finding his voice. "That means a lot, coming from you."

Yellowfang blinked at him. "I still care about my clan, even if I am no longer part of it."

Cinderfur fidgeted nervously, ears twitching and flicking at every night noise. He glanced at his leader. "We should get back and tell the others." Nightstar looked at him and nodded, turning to leave. He paused when Runningnose hesitated, and looked at him.

"I'll be along shortly," Runningnose said. "I'd like to talk to Yellowfang."

Nightstar and Cinderfur exchanged glances before nodding and disappearing into the night.

"He doesn't have his nine lives," Yellowfang noted. "How are you going to explain that to the clan when he dies?"

"He's old, and StarClan can't do anything about that," Runningnose said quietly. "This is a stopgap, at best." His shoulders slumped as he stared up at the sky, which was covered in thick black clouds, yet refusing to rain. "Such is the fate of ShadowClan, I suppose."

"The sickness took many great or promising cats from all the clans," Yellowfang murmured.

Runningnose shook his head. "Perhaps it's StarClan's way of keeping the clans at peace. Remove enough from all the clans, and then there's no point to fighting because everyone's too weak to really push one another around. I just hope everyone else sees it that way rather than a sign that ShadowClan is easy pickings now."

"The clans know Nightstar is no Brokenstar," Yellowfang pointed out. "You should be safe, for now."

Runningnose didn't look convinced, but he bid farewell and followed after his clanmates, and Yellowfang then turned back to the barn, padding inside.

Spottedleaf sat with the cats of ThunderClan as Bluestar sat on the Highrock, lit by the setting sun. Graypaw, Ravenpaw, Sandpaw, and Dustpaw were lined up below her and she looked down at them, tailtip twitching.

"These four cats have proven themselves loyal to the clan during their apprenticeship, and have at last earned their rightful place among our warriors. Do you promise to uphold the warrior code and to protect and defend this Clan, even at the cost of your life?"

"I do," the four apprentices mewed.

"Then by the powers of StarClan I give you your warrior names: Sandstorm, Graystripe, Dustpelt, and Raventhroat. StarClan honors your courage, honesty, spirit, and conviction. You will sit vigil tonight, and be silent while doing so." Amusement danced in Bluestar's eyes. "So get whatever talking you need out of your system before then."

The gathered clan cats chanted the newly-appointed warrior's names and moved to offer their congratulations.

Spottedleaf felt a pelt brush against hers and she glanced at Firepaw curiously. "You're weirdly calm about this. I thought you'd be more upset about not being named alongside them."

Firepaw shook her head. "I've known that I'm not cut out to be a warrior. My apprenticeship and training with Rusty have proven that." She met Spottedleaf's amber gaze. "I want to be a medicine cat, if that's fine with you."

Spottedleaf frowned, opening her mouth, but before she could say anything, Bluestar padded up to join them. Her blue eyes met Firepaw's green and the leader dipped her head to the young cat.

"If you plan on being a medicine cat, you'll have to go to the Moonstone to get your name," she mewed. "Sooner rather than later."

"Of course, Bluestar," Firepaw mewed. The leader padded off and the new warriors came over.

"Really, you of all cats, a medicine cat?" Sandstorm mewed in disbelief.

"Oh come off it," Graystripe growled. "It suits her perfectly."

"I'm glad you've found a place for yourself," Raventhroat offered, and Dustpelt said nothing, simply nodding politely, which caused Sandstorm to glare at him before she reluctantly followed suit.

"I just hope I can live up to Spottedleaf's standards," Firepaw mewed, blinking at her. "She's been a great help these past moons, and the best teacher anyone could ask for."

Spottedleaf's ears warmed and she looked away. "You're the one who's been picking it up faster than I can put it down," she mewed. "There's times I forget who's the teacher."

"Learning from one another is how all mentorships work," Raventhroat mewed. "Taking what we learn, passing it down to the next generation while taking what they can teach us to better ourselves."

"As limited as that knowledge or useful that skill might be," Longtail meowed as he walked by with his apprentice Swiftpaw, flanked by Mousefur, who shot him a reproachful look, and Runningwind, who was carrying some fresh-kill for the queens and doing his best to be ignored.

"Thank you, Longtail," Spottedleaf called. "Your insight is as welcome as ever."

Graystripe watched the warriors with their apprentices enviously. "How long do you think it'll be before we're allowed apprentices of our own?"

"All in due time, I suspect," Firepaw mewed soothingly. "Probably once Frostfur's kits are ready."

"Cinderkit, Brackenkit, Brightkit and…Thornkit, right?" Graystripe mewed thoughtfully. "One for each of us."

"Then you might want to work on keeping your yap shut so you can prove that you'd make a good mentor," Sandstorm mewed dryly. Dustpelt stifled an amused sneeze and shook his head, tailtip twitching to and fro.

Spottedleaf brushed her tail over Firepaw's shoulders. "Come on, let's get some traveling herbs together. We should be able to reach Highstones by Moonhigh if we leave now." Firepaw bid farewell to the new warriors and trotted after Spottedleaf, tail high.

Spottedleaf pricked her ears as a dark tabby crossed her path. "Tigerclaw, would you care to accompany us to Highstones?"

The warrior blinked, ears swiveling towards her, before nodding. "It would be an honor." His eyes landed on Firepaw and his lip curled slightly. "I believe congratulations are in order. Even though you cannot serve ThunderClan as a warrior, I feel you will do well as a medicine cat."

"Thanks?" Firepaw mewed, tilting her head.

"Every cat serves its clan in some way, however slight." His gaze moved to the four apprentices getting ready for their vigil. "However…unlikely."

"I don't think anyone expected Graystripe to pass his assessment. He had a good teacher," Firepaw mewed, dipping her head. "I'm sorry I couldn't reach your standards."

Tigerclaw flicked an ear dismissively. "It is of no concern to me." He wrinkled his nose at the herbs Spottedleaf deposited in front of him. "These, however, are." He pushed them away. "I shall hunt at the barn while you commune with StarClan, if that's alright with you?"

Spottedleaf and Firepaw exchanged glances before the latter shrugged. "We should be fine."

Spottedleaf gazed up at the night sky, then nodded. "Then shall we go?"