Petalheart woke up before Arrowstar, and padded out of the leader's den. Everyone was getting out of the warrior's den. It was time for patrols.

"Silverfur, Maidentail, Sweetpea, Growlpelt, head out and check the borders. Keep an eye out for the rogues. Tabbytail, Sheersong, find some other cats and lead a hunting patrol. If a battle does happen, we want to have as much strength as we can before we're caught by surprise," she called to the cats that looked on their paws.

Silverfur, Maidentail, Sweetpea, and Growlpelt headed out, while Tabbytail and Sheersong headed out and got Streakside and Smallfur to come with them. Petalheart noticed that Smallfur was moving slowly, and more stiffly. It won't be long before he joins the elders, she thought.

Arrowstar padded out of the den, still blinking sleepily. "Did I miss something?"

"I sent out patrols," she answered.

Arrowstar nodded. "Thanks, Petalheart. I was right to choose you as deputy. Even if you are my mate," he mewed.

Petalheart purred and flicked her mate's ear with her tail.

"I wonder what the peace will bring," she commented.

"I agree with you, but the rogues will stop at nothing to stop until they've fulfilled their goal," Arrowstar mewed. "We'll have to be ready. It's a good thing we have someone to break through the ice." As he said that, he instantly winked, and Petalheart was confused. Had Palefur told Arrowstar the prophecy?

"In other news," Arrowstar mewed, "a few things might happen. I think I should get Smallfur's elder ceremony done soon. He's been slower than usual today."

Just then, a wail happened, and Lovekit stumbled towards the two.

Arrowstar put his paw out to cushion her fall. "What happened, Lovekit?"

Blackkit rushed forward carrying something in his mouth, with Sugarshore close behind.

"Did something happen?" asked Petalheart.

"Lovekit treaded on a thorn," explained Sugarshore

"It hurts!" whimpered Lovekit.

Sugarshore gently knelt down beside Lovekit. "Hold out your paw," she instructed.

Lovekit nodded, and held out her paw. Then, Sugarshore glanced at Blackkit. "Chew the dock leaves into a poultice."

Blackkit nodded, and began to do so, while Sugarshore gripped at the thorn with her teeth, and pulled at it.

"Ouch!" cried Lovekit.

Sugarshore gently licked the paw. "It'll hurt, but we're going to make it better," she murmured. "Blackkit, can you give me the poultice?"

Blackkit handed Sugarshore the finished poultice. She gently washed it into the wound. A moment later, Lovekit stopped whimpering.

"You made it better!"

"Of course I did," Sugarshore mewed teasingly, though she sounded rather proud of herself. "Head back to your mother now, and look out for any thorns."

Lovekit limped over to the nursery, while Petalheart glanced at the two, impressed. "That was great!"

Sugarshore purred. "Why thank you, Petalheart!"

"And also," mewed Blackkit, "can I say something?"

"Of course you may," mewed Arrowstar. "Go ahead."

Blackkit nodded, then spoke. "I learned something today. I just helped save my sister's life. It wasn't a severe injury, but I still helped. I know what path I want to take now. Sugarshore, when I become of age, can I be your apprentice?"

This didn't surprise Petalheart. When she had watched the kits play earlier, Blackkit had wanted to be the medicine cat. And times before that, despite him being the medicine cat every time, Lovekit and Graykit allowed him to have that role. And much too often, she'd seen him near the medicine den a lot.

"Of course!" mewed Sugarshore.

The hunting patrol had just returned, with mouths full of prey, and had placed their fresh-kill on the pile. The border patrol was straight behind, and all of them like they'd been in a fight. In addition, Growlpelt had a clump of fur missing from his shoulder and it was bleeding.

"Great StarClan!" exclaimed Sugarshore. "What happened?"

"The rogues decided to catch us by surprise and attack us," explained Silverfur. "They didn't have as many as the amount seen in the recent patrols, but we had to go into a hard fight in order to shake them off."

"You'd better come to the medicine den with me, Growlpelt, so I can take a look at your shoulder," mewed Sugarshore.

Growlpelt nodded, and followed Sugarshore, while Arrowstar turned to the other three of the border patrol, and the hunting patrol. "Go get something to eat. You have had a long day, and you need your energy," he mewed.

The seven cats nodded, and padded to the fresh-kill pile.

"I can't believe it," growled Petalheart.

"I know how it feels," assured Arrowstar. "Those rogues are a problem, but we can't get all heated up about it."

"That's true," Petalheart mewed. "But we have to be careful, you know."

"I know, I know. But we can't act rashly. Thankfully, we should have the support of the other Clans, should we need it."

"True."

Smallfur staggered towards the two just then.

"Smallfur," greeted Arrowstar.

"Hello, Arrowstar. Hello, Petalheart," greeted Smallfur.

"Is anything wrong?" Petalheart asked.

"I am feeling my age," answered Smallfur. "I wish to retire to the elder's den."

"We will hold the ceremony," Arrowstar promised.

He leapt up onto the Ice Ledge and called, "May all cats old enough to catch their own prey join here beneath the Ice Ledge for a Clan Meeting!"

Immediately, everyone stopped what they were doing, and padded over. Whiteflight sat down with her three kits, and Blueglow stiffly padded out and went to sit next to Streakside.

Arrowstar spoke once everyone was settled. "Thank you, everyone, for joining us at a time like this. Things have been rough with all the rogues, and I understand how everyone feels. However, we must make sure we're ready to combat the rogues once and for all when we are threatened."

"How do we know when they will strike again?" asked Whiteflight, curling her tail around her kits.

"We don't know for sure, Whiteflight," Petalheart answered.

"We do have a ceremony to perform, however," mewed Arrowstar. "Smallfur, step forward."

Smallfur stiffly walked forward to sit in front of the Ice Ledge.

"Smallfur, is it your wish to give up the name of a warrior and go to join the elders?"

Smallfur nodded. "It is," he answered.

"Your Clan honors you and all the service you have given to us. I call upon StarClan to give you many moons of rest."

"Smallfur! Smallfur!"

Smallfur simply dipped his head in response to the chant.

"Clan dismissed," Arrowstar mewed, before jumping off the Ice Ledge.

Blueglow immediately padded over, and Petalheart heard him say to Smallfur, "Do you want me to help you with a nest?"

Arrowstar padded over, smiling. "Things are looking good."

"For now, Arrowstar," Petalheart mewed. "For now."