I am so sorry this took so long!

- Mossy

Review Replies:

ThatOneVirgo- Awww, thank you that means a lot! I love Milkpaw and her kin. And nope, no happiness for RedMistle at the moment. Poor Redpaw :(

jabaredjf- Milkpaw is a great character, and she's personally my favorite POV to write, but Redpaw is also pretty fun. I don't think Goldenpaw and Echopaw will kill her... although Goldenpaw had probably thought about it. And Heatherpaw does have an actual power! It will be revealed in time.

SomeStormLeaf- Oh my God, Milkpaw is so oblivious that I want to smack her over the head with a brick. Firepaw likes her, it's so obvious! And actually, Firepaw is bi lol, so he's sort of gay.

dragonbreathjr- Just a little bit, and trust me, it will. How you had a great holiday!

The dawn made the sky burn orange and red. Heatherpaw wasn't ready to get up, but training called. She had already been out with Leafcatcher that morning. The apprentice den had been quieter since Hawkpaw had left. Birdpaw was a lot more subdued than she used to be. Comfrykit had taken it the hardest, being upset with his brother. The kit was very verbal about how he felt abandoned. Dovehop couldn't console him and Thistleflight wasn't much better- he was also heartbroken by the loss of his son. Mousenose seemed to be the only functioning parent out of the three of them sometimes.

Heatherpaw sighed, walking out of the den while Thistleflight tried to stop Comfrykit from bad mouthing his brother again. Coltskit had just buried herself in the medicine den with Rootpaw who actually seemed to be… comforting her somewhat. Heatherpaw snorted as she saw him teach her the difference between two herbs without being condescending. It was quite the sight. She was so absorbed she realized she had walked right into Icestrike.

"Heatherpaw," the deputy nodded at her gruffly, "Please watch where you're walking." He followed her gaze and narrowed his eyes, "Are you interested in my son? You are aware he is a medicine cat apprentice."

"Of course," Heatherpaw nodded quickly and then her eyes widened, "No Icestrike! Rootpaw… I don't like him like that."

"Good," Icestrike nodded, "I want to see that he remains focused on his path."

"We're just friends!" Heatherpaw exclaimed, her fur fluffing out, "I promise."

Icestrike glared at her before breaking out into a small smile. "I know," he whispered, "I'm just teasing you."

"O-Okay," Heatherpaw nodded quickly, still shaken. She didn't want to incite the deputy's wrath. Icestrike had always been a cold and unwavering tom and when it came to his family, he was dead serious. He had always regarded Heatherpaw with a cautious nature. She was good friends with all of his kits, having grown up with them after the death of her own mother. Stormbright cared about her almost like another daughter, but to Icestrike… she was finally starting to earn his trust.

She looked and noticed Pinefall and Mintpaw had just returned from training. Heatherpaw quickly raced over to see her friend. "Mintpaw!" she exclaimed happily, "Hello!"

"Hey Heatherpaw," Mintpaw looked at her and smiled softly.

"Mintpaw, you did well this morning, I think you should be allowed to go to the gathering tonight," Pinefall purred to his apprentice.

Heatherpaw looked at the way Mintpaw's green eyes lit up and couldn't help but feel happy herself. She hoped Leafcatcher would let her go, it would be her first gathering as an apprentice. Birdpaw, Swiftpaw, Smallpaw, and… Hawkpaw had gone to the last one.

Hawkpaw, where are you?

She looked at the ledge where Silverstar was standing. Icestrike was beside him, diligently observing the bustling cats below.

The old leader cleared his throat, "The cats that will be heading to the gathering are Vinefrost, Stormbright, Leafcatcher, Pinefall, Mousenose, Sedgewing, Sweettail, Thistleflight, Eagletalon, Mistflight, Rosepaw, Mintpaw, and Heatherpaw."

Heatherpaw looked at Mintpaw with excitement. Our first gathering! Silverstar looked over his clan and continued, "And another warrior will be joining us at the gathering. Cats started to look around and whisper and Heatherpaw saw Birdpaw look apprehensive.

They were about the right age to become a warrior, Heatherpaw realized.

Silverstar looked down at the apprentice and gave them a warm smile, "I, Silverstar, leader of Cliffclan, call upon my warrior ancestors to look down on this apprentice. They have trained hard to understand the ways of your noble code, and I commend them to you as a warrior in their turn."

Birdpaw met Heatherpaw's eyes and Heatherpaw beamed at her. She saw Thistleflight lay his head on Mousenose's shoulder while Dovehop sat with Coltskit and Comfrykit, who watched their sibling's ceremony with awe.

Silverstar looked at the family and continued, "Birdpaw, do you promise to uphold the warrior code and to protect and defend your Clan, even at the cost of your life?"

Birdpaw's voice rang out strong and true, it was the happiest Heatherpaw had seen them since Hawkpaw left.

Silverstar nodded at Birdpaw, "Then by the powers of StarClan, I give you your warrior name. Birdpaw, from this moment on you will be known as Birdhop. StarClan honors your perseverance and kindness, and we welcome you as a full warrior of Cliffclan."

The clan started to cheer Birdhop's name and Heatherpaw made sure her voice was one of the loudest for her friend (though no one could overpower Mousenose).

"I'm so proud of you," Thistleflight told his kit, tears shining in his eyes.

"We all are," Dovehop came up beside him and twined her tail with his, giving Birdhop a rare smile.

Mousenose rested her head on top of Birdhop and her siblings hugged her legs. Amidst all the attention they were getting from their family, Birdhop's eyes found Heatherpaw's.

They just sat there, gazes locked for several heartbeats, before Birdhop turned to talk to her father.

Heatherpaw felt like she couldn't breathe and couldn't figure out what was going on with her. She was just really proud of Birdhop, after losing her brother and growing up and they weren't a she-cat. Then they had the courage to stand up in front of the whole clan and say so at the age of seven moons, Heatherpaw realized she really admired them.

"Cliffclan, to me!" Silverstar called, meeting Goosefur's gaze. His son had caused a scene at the last gathering, and bringing Mistflight and not Goosefur was probably a punishment for the disrespectful tom.

Goosefur's fur bristled and he glared at Mistflight. "You've always been the favorite," he growled, "Just because you got the deputy's son as a mate now and you all are now the perfect couple you think you're better than me."

Eagletalon stepped in front of Mistflight and hissed a warning at Goosefur, "Back off."

"Brother, I've always been better than you," Mistflight narrowed her eyes, "And my kits will be too!"

Goosefur looked shocked and then bared his teeth, "Of course you would get pregnant with his kits just after you become mates."

"Stop talking to Mistflight that way," Eagletalon snapped, "Come on, we have a gathering to attend." Mistflight huffed and turned to her father, who was watching his children with a disappointed expression.

"Goosefur, you are staying here," he sighed.

Heatherpaw went to go join the gathering patrol, not liking the scene. She fell in with Mintpaw and Rosepaw.

"I'm so excited for our first gathering," Rosepaw squealed.

"I know, I wonder what the other clans will be like," Mintpaw added in a softer tone.

"According to Leafcatcher, both of the other clans live surrounded by trees all the time," Heatherpaw told her friends, "I can't imagine that."

Rosepaw wrinkled her nose, "That sounds so crowded."

They continued to chatter until the patrol arrived at the gathering. "Be on your best behavior," Sedgewing glared at the apprentices from up ahead.

Rosepaw rolled her eyes, "She always acts like she's better than us when she's just a young warrior herself."

Mintpaw snorted in agreement. Heatherpaw saw Rootpaw talking to a black she-cat up ahead. "Who's that?" she asked Mintpaw.

"Oh… that's Ravenpaw," Mintpaw explained, "At least, I think it is. If Rootpaw's to be trusted, she's the Stoneclan medicine cat apprentice."

"That's right," Birdhop said from behind them, causing Heatherpaw to jump. She turned to look at the soft, brown and gray cat.

"A-anyone else I need to know about?" she flushed with embarrassment. Mintpaw frowned and walked over to talk to some other apprentices from the other clans.

"That's the deputies of the other two clans," Birdpaw pointed to the two cats sitting at the bottom of the great rocky ledge the clans met at in the center of the territories.

"That's Featherstep," they explained, "She's supposed to be a great warrior from what I've heard about her. Icepaw, her apprentice, likes her at least." Their brow furrowed at the mention of Icepaw and Heatherpaw didn't know why.

Before she could ask about it, Birdhop continued, "And that's Rabbitfoot, the Runningclan deputy. He's a pain."

"I know," Heatherpaw nodded, "A patrol I was on ran into him. He… he called Mousenose a-a tom."

Birdhop let out a deep growl and flexed their claws, "No one talks to my mother like that, I outta-"

"Birdhop, don't hurt a deputy of another clan on your first gathering as a warrior," Heatherpaw tried to hold them back, "Even if he deserves it."

Blossomstar cleared her throat. "I will begin," she said sharply, "Stoneclan is strong as ever, especially because we have four new apprentices with us tonight, and another back at the clan. Milkpaw, Cinderpaw, Fogpaw, and Dovepaw are here tonight. Our other new apprentice, Waterpaw is back at camp."

Heatherpaw looked at the four cats. The gray and white tom looked proud, and the white and silver tabby she-cat beside him did too but a white she-cat with swirls and a blue-gray tom appears to be at each other's throats. She figured they were siblings by the way they looked. What a big litter! The cats cheered out the new apprentices' names.

"That's wonderful Blossomstar," a kindly dark brown tom purred, "Runningclan is also doing well. With the jubilant promotion of my own nieces and nephew to apprenticeship, I couldn't be prouder. Lilypaw and Mousepaw are here, along with our new medicine cat apprentice, Lowpaw! We also have two new warriors with us, Acornfang and Flameflight."

Heatherpaw noticed that a skinny ginger she-cat with black spots near her cheered Flameflight's name louder than most.

"Ah, we also have a new warrior," Silverstar cleared his throat, "Birdhop, please step forward."

Heatherpaw smiled as everyone cheered Birdhop's name.

"I thought she had a brother," Rabbitfoot sneered, "Don't get me wrong, but can't Cliffclan keep their apprentices alive?"

Birdhop bristled and Heatherpaw stepped in front of them, "He's not worth it."

Silverstar looked at Olivestar, "Can't you control your deputy Olivestar?"

"Rabbitfoot, this is a gathering," the leader sighed, obviously embarrassed.

Mousenose and Thistleflight both hissed in Rabbitfoot's direction.

"We also have some new apprentices," Silverstar continued cautiously, "Icestrike's kits, Rosepaw and Mintpaw are training as warriors and Rootpaw will be our next medicine cat. Heatherpaw, has also joined them in the apprentice den."

Heatherpaw tried to hide behind Birdhop as cats called her name, not liking all the attention.

"It's okay," Birdhop whispered in her ear.

She was exhausted by the time she got back to camp, not hesitating to collapse in her nest.