"That is correct!" snarled Shadow.

"But our grandmother is dead!" exclaimed Silverfur. "Why still hold the grudge?"

"I'd like to eliminate her descendants," Shadow explained.

"We didn't do anything to you! Bloomseal should be the only one that you should hold a grudge against, now she's dead. Isn't that enough?" demanded Petalstar.

"Anyone carrying her blood could do the same thing!" Shadow snarled. "And if I recall, you had two kits who died young…"

"Frostkit was stillborn, and Featherkit wandered off while my guard was down. That's not abandoning them," Petalheart mewed firmly.

"Okay, fine. But don't think you can rest easily. I'll be back!"

The rogues left.

"Okay, that was weird," Maidentail murmured.

"What did he mean when he said he wanted to eliminate Bloomseal's descendants, though?" asked Larkspur.

"Who is connected by blood?" asked Tabbypaw.

"I am connected through Slickback," answered Arrowstar.

"Silverfur and I are connected through Snowstar," mewed Petalheart.

"That's all, right?" asked Larkspur.

"The thing is, Snowstar and Slickback still have granddaughters, who are Maidentail and Sweetpea, they're connected by blood," Silverfur pointed out.

"Is Nightwhisker technically connected due to the fact that he's Silverfur's mate?" asked Sweetpea.

"We can worry about that later," mewed Petalheart. "Let's return to camp. Any other news besides the rogues?"

"A fox was seen on our territory," mewed Sweetpea. "And it…it had kitscent on it."

"Kitscent?" asked Arrowstar.

Sweetpea nodded.

"It must have been the same fox that killed Featherkit," Petalheart mewed.

As soon as they entered camp, Growlpelt appeared to greet them.

"I hope everything's fine here," mewed Petalheart.

"Somewhat," mewed Growlpelt.

"What do you mean?" asked Arrowstar.

"Sleepyheart…he died."

"You're joking!" exclaimed Tabbypaw.

"I'm afraid not, Tabbypaw, it's true."

Arrowstar sighed. "He will be remembered by us, always. Other than that, though, is everything else okay?"

"Yes, Arrowstar, everything else is okay."

Arrowstar nodded. "Good." As Growlpelt bounded off, the yellow tabby tom turned to the rest of the patrol. "Get something to eat, then rest up. We're going to need our strength. Remember, we still have afternoon patrols."

Petalheart flicked her mate's ear with her tail as she passed by, and went to the fresh-kill pile. She chose a mouse and a vole, and went to settle next to Whiteflight, who was outside of the den, watching her kits play.

Lovekit looked over and spotted Petalheart. "RainClan warrior!" she screeched, preparing to leap.

Petalheart purred, and sidestepped when Lovekit leapt at her. "I'm not invading!" she mewed through the fresh-kill. "I'm here to deliver some fresh-kill to your mother." She padded over and set the vole at Whiteflight's paws.

Whiteflight purred. "Thanks, Petalheart. It seems that despite me not being your apprentice any longer, you still care for me."

"You know it's in my personality," Petalheart purred. "Mind if I sit next to you?"

"No worries."

The two watched the kits play.

"Who wants to be leader, deputy, and medicine cat in this game?" asked Graykit.

"Can I be medicine cat?" asked Blackkit,

"I'll be deputy," mewed Lovekit. "Unless you want to be deputy, Graykit…"

"No, you can take that role," assured Graykit.

Petalheart gulped down the rest of her mouse. "Those three work well together."

Whiteflight finished the last bite of her vole. "I agree," she mewed.

"So what are we trying to do?" asked Blackkit.

"That's a good question," Lovekit mewed. She looked thoughtful. Then, she mewed, "We're trying to protect our Clan from intruders. And I know one…" She eyed her mother.

Whiteflight purred. "Good eye, Lovekit. Yes, because Petalheart cleared herself, you can pretend I'm the intruder."

"Thanks for volunteering, Whiteflight, because I just got back from patrol. Have fun with your kits–I need a nap."

Whiteflight purred. "No problem." Then, she turned to her kits. "I'll play with you, my kits. And before you get on with defense, we need to do a few things before you defend the Clan from me. Let's just say your previous deputy died…"

Petalheart rose to her paws and padded into the warrior's den, where she settled into her nest. She closed her eyes, and let sleep overtake her.

When she woke up, it turned out to be evening. She rose to her paws. The cats were already pacing about outside. Petalheart padded outside, and padded over to the group of cats.

"Time for patrols?" asked Silverfur.

Petalehart nodded.

"Silverfur, take Tabbypaw, Nightwhisker, and Larkspur out on a hunting patrol. Try to avoid hunting close to the borders, especially near the Gathering area. If land hunting is not an option, check the rivers, the ice may have cracked in some areas. Sweetpea, Maidentail, Sheerpaw, you three will be coming with me on border patrol. We don't want any rogue confrontations right now, but we still need to check for the fox."

The patrols headed out. Maidentail took the lead, and Sweetpea and Sheerpaw stayed at the end.

Petalheart glanced around. It seemed so peaceful, it was hard to imagine the dangers. But then again, rogues were threatening them, and there was a fox that was possibly on SnowClan territory.

Just then, Maidentail sniffed the air. "Fox!" she hissed. "And kitscent!"

"It's got to be the fox I spotted earlier," Sweetpea mewed.

"Everyone, keep your guard up," mewed Petalheart.

Just then, an orange blur flew straight at them. Petalheart dove out of the way, and when she'd regained her balance, she checked to see that the others were okay.

"Is everyone okay?" asked Maidentail.

"I'm fine, thanks for asking," answered Sheerpaw. "What about you, Sweetpea?"

"I'm okay!"

"I'm fine," Petalheart assured. Then, she added, "But this is not going to be an easy battle. Remember what you were taught when you were apprentices, about fighting foxes. And Sweetpea, I hope you taught Sheerpaw as well."

"I did, don't worry."

Before Petalheart could say any more, the fox jumped at her, and caught her off guard. Its weight squished her, and she helplessly batted at it with her front paws.

"Petalheart!" Maidentail yowled.

The fox raised its paws for the killing blow, but something rammed into it. Sheerpaw, whose claws were unsheathed, stood in front of the fox as Petalheart regained her balance.

"Get away from Petalheart, you fox!" Sheerpaw snarled, leaping up and landing on the fox's back, scratching at it. Maidentail, who had snuck behind it, bit its back leg, and Petalheart unsheathed her claws and scratched its side. Sheerpaw leapt off, and Sweetpea finished the fox off with a killing blow.

"Good job, everyone," Petalheart mewed.

"You say that, but there's someone who saved you from joining StarClan," mewed Sweetpea. "I think Sheerpaw deserves his warrior name. I wonder if Tabbypaw did anything courageous."

"I'm sure she did," mewed Petalheart. "It's time to head back and report that the fox is dead."

The patrol returned to camp at the same time as the hunting patrol. Silverfur, Nightwhisker, and Larkspur carried prey, and Tabbypaw followed close behind. She carried a shrew, but she looked pleased with herself.

"How did the patrols go?" asked Arrowstar.

"The fox is dead," mewed Sweetpea. "And Sheerpaw saved Petalheart."

"We managed to get a lot of prey," mewed Silverfur. "Also, we got in a conflict with a rogue–no, not the ones that have that leader that wants revenge on Bloomseal's bloodline, a different rogue–and Tabbypaw saved Larkspur."

"I think this calls for warrior ceremonies," mewed Petalheart. "They didn't have their assessments, but look, they did courageous acts."

"And I agree with you," mewed Arrowstar. "Let's head in, and call the Clan together."

"Let the hunting patrol put their prey down on the fresh-kill pile first," mewed Maidentail.

Once that had been done, Arrowstar bounded towards his den, and leapt up on a ledge, and yowled, "Let all cats old enough to catch their own prey join here beneath the Ice Ledge for a Clan Meeting!"

Cats swarmed from the dens and from places around the camp. Petalheart padded over to sit next to her sister. Once the chatter had quieted, Arrowstar spoke.

"I have been told that two apprentices are ready for their warrior names. They fought to protect the members of their patrol, and are ready to become warriors."

However, this caused some outrage.

"How can you be so sure?" asked Whiteflight. "They haven't had their assessments."

"They haven't, but they fought bravely against their enemies. Sheerpaw rescued Petalheart from an untimely death to a fox, and Tabbypaw saved the members of her patrol from a rogue," mewed Arrowstar.

Whiteflight's eyes widened.

Arrowstar immediately jumped down from the Ice Ledge, and mewed, "I, Arrowstar, leader of SnowClan, call upon my ancestors to look down upon these two apprentices. They have trained hard to understand the ways of the warrior code, and I commend them to you as warriors in turn. Tabbypaw, Sheerpaw, do you promise to uphold the warrior code and to protect and defend this Clan even at the cost of your lives?"

Tabbypaw replied firmly. "I do."

Sheerpaw nodded, and replied, "I do."

"Then by powers of StarClan, I give you your warrior names. Tabbypaw, you will be known as Tabbytail. StarClan honors your kindness and your cleverness, and we welcome you as a full member of SnowClan." He rested his muzzle on Tabbytail's head, and she licked his shoulder.

"Tabbytail! Tabbytail!" the Clan cheered. Even Whiteflight's three kits were chanting it at the top of their lungs.

Arrowstar continued. "Sheerpaw, from now on, you will be known as Sheersong. StarClan honors your loyalty and your strength, and we welcome you as a full member of SnowClan." Arrowstar rested his muzzle on Sheersong's head, who licked his shoulder in response.

"Sheersong! Sheersong!" the Clan chanted.

Petalheart purred. "Sparkleshine would be so proud of you two," she mewed to the newly named warriors. "You both have come so far."

"You certainly have," mewed Silverfur.

Arrowstar glanced up at the sky. "It is time for your vigil," he mewed to Tabbytail and Sheersong. "Remember, only speak if it's an emergency, nothing else."

The two nodded, and moved to the center of the camp. Arrowstar moved to his den, and Petalheart and Silverfur crossed the clearing and headed to their nests.

"We don't have any apprentices now," mewed Silverfur. "Sugarshore is now the sole medicine cat, and both Tabbytail and Sheersong are now warriors."

"I know how it feels, but Whiteflight's kits are four moons old–their two moons away from becoming apprentices. And at some point, the Clan may get new kits."

Silverfur purred. "You're right, Petalheart." She snuggled up in the nest. "Arrowstar was right to choose you as deputy. You've pushed through many hardships, and now look at you, knowing the right choices, such as making Tabbytail and Sheersong warriors. This is the type of personality that would be fitting not just for a deputy, but for a leader when the time comes."

When the time comes. Those words sent a chill through Petalheart's bones. She repeated the words in her mind as she drifted off into sleep.

When she opened her eyes, she was back in StarClan. A ginger tabby she-cat appeared in front of her.

"Bloomseal," Petalheart greeted.

"Hello, Petalheart," greeted Bloomseal. "I'm sorry for intruding on your dreams like this, but it's important."

"Don't apologize for that, Bloomseal. Is this about Shadow?"

"Indeed it is."

Petalheart's mind was spinning, but she asked one question that had been nagging her. "Shadow said you abandoned him, is this true?"

"It is. But it was already enough trouble without my former mate, and I was having a hard time raising a kit. That's why I left him when he was six moons old."

"But he must have been weaned already, right?" asked Petalheart.

"Yes, weaned, but it wasn't just giving him enough milk that was the problem. He was already causing chaos. Leaving him to fend for himself was my only option.

"He's been poking at SnowClan's borders ever since, though."

"He–wait, what?"

"He was poking at SnowClan's borders. Said something about eliminating your descendants."

Bloomseal sighed. "He probably thinks that you will do the same thing to your own family as I did to him. But I know you wouldn't dare do that." She rested her tail tip on Petalheart's shoulder. "Now, you are returning to the waking world. I hope you are ready."