AtlierSky- Gray Wing is going to stay SkyClan deputy, but I have plans for him and Slate. And yes, we love Gorsepaw POV.

Gray Wing had returned the next day as promised. And had taken the apprentices out for a little assessment.

"Ack! Sparrow Fur, get off!"

"Did I hurt you?" she asked anxiously as she climbed off of him. She had literally flung herself at him, and she was the size of a warrior now.

"I'm fine," he gasped. "Show me a real move."

"Nettle told me to use my brain," she meowed. Gray Wing sighed, but they were growing into formidable warriors. Even Birch and Alder, who had only been training for two moons, had done very well.

"I'm glad you're all in SkyClan," Gray Wing said. "I'd hate to meet you in battle. I'll tell your mentors how you did. Hunt on your way back to camp, then make sure the kits are fed. Then, you can eat."

"Okie-dokie!" Owl Eyes skipped off in his own direction. He had been very cheerful all morning like he was up to something. Gray Wing knew his son. But right now he had other matters to attend to.

Thistlestar crouched on the Highrock, completely ignoring the faded she-cat beside him. His eyes roamed around the Clan before they landed on the kits.

Kits were the future of a Clan.

They just needed time to grow.

And of course, cats had to have patience with them and dote over them and such.

Which is why even he would never have thought of killing little Featherkit. He probably would have just shoved the deaf kit into the medicine den to help Spottedleaf, (because even he knew how low it was to harm kits when they couldn't fight back) but someone (Mapleshade) had acted like she owned him.

"I know what you're thinking," the tortoiseshell she-cat crooned. She then picked out a white pelt among the group of kits who all seemed to be playing Clan versus Clan. "And there's another one you should get rid of."

"I'm good! Just because you lost your kits doesn't mean I'm taking kits from their mothers to make you feel better!"

Mapleshade growled lowly but had the brain not to try anything with so many cats around. (Some like Spottedleaf had noticed his strange behavior).

Instead they both settled down and watched as Bramblekit tackled the deaf Snowkit, who squealed as if he was being murdered.

Thistlestar jumped down and stalked over to the kits and queens, who watched over them.

"Bramblekit, let go!" Goldenflower said as he approached. "Remember what I said about being gentle."

"...sorry, ma." The tabby kit, who was big and bulky like his father, dropped his gaze politely.

Tawnykit and Sootkit were staring at Snowkit like he was crazy as Rainkit asked, "why does he never play games right?"

"Shush!" Willowpelt flicked the dark gray kit's ear.

"It's because he's stupid!" Tawnykit snapped, ignoring her mother's gasp. Before she could reprimand the tortoiseshell kit, Thistlestar spoke to her.

"Hey, now, Tawnykit. You know you should respect your clanmates."

Tawnykit glared at her paws while Thistlestar glanced at the deaf kit. Speckletail glanced at him almost fearfully (he was sure) as she nudged him to his paws. She didn't know that he already knew.

Fine, I'll prove that she shouldn't worry. When it's time for him to be apprenticed I'll give him to Spottedleaf.

Mapleshade snorted beside him. "He's useless, end of story."

"I wasn't asking you."

"It's boring staying in camp!" Tawnykit whined. "Can't you take us outside?"

"If you ask Tigerclaw then you can go."

Goldenflower looked up with wide eyes, but he turned away, not trying to reassure her. Her kits were almost ready to be apprentices soon, too. No need to be so protective.

As he headed back to his den, his gaze caught Bluefur. Mapleshade…had told him something interesting about the she-cat…so very interesting that the tortoiseshell herself had related.

His gaze went to Stonefur, Mistyfoot, and Mossflower nearby, sharing a squirrel.

They looked so much like their mother to the point it annoyed him. Exactly alike!

But he could define another Clan's aspects in them too.

Like swimming through the floods like otters during that one dramatic greenleaf Gathering while everyone else struggled.

While he wouldn't kill kits just because…

He couldn't tolerate those fish-faced halfbloods!

"That's…strange," Thunder murmured. Lightning Tail, Owl Eyes, Leaf and Pink Eyes were peeking over his back, all of them in an overhanging tree branch, as they stared down into the camp at the tussling kits.

They all stank of mushrooms and herbs, so their scent wouldn't stick out.

Bramblekit and Tawnykit scampered over to Tigerclaw, begging him to take them out into the forest. The deputy complied with an indulgent purr after sorting a patrol and he led his kits out of camp.

Sootkit, Sorrelkit, and Rainkit continued to wrestle in front of their mother while Speckletail had shoved herself and Snowkit back into the nursery.

"What is?" Owl Eyes asked.

"Snowkit. Wasn't he acting strange?"

"I can't see over your big head!" Leaf snapped.

"And I can't see over yours!" Pink Eyes growled.

Thunder sighed. They needed a better place to watch without being spotted.

"Okay, but what about Snowkit? He looks kind of slow, no?" Thunder asked.

"Come to think of it…he does!" Lightning Tail gasped. "Thunder, we have to do something! What if Thistlestar does something to him?"

"I don't think they died from the…sickness."

"What?"

"Wh–when I came back from gathering herbs…I checked them over even if I knew they were obviously dead and…" she lowered her voice even more. "They were foaming at the mouth!" Her eyes were wide with despair.

Thunder blinked as he remembered Spottedleaf's discovery over Tulipkit and Elderkit's deaths, not to mention Featherkit's mysterious one, the day he had 'joined' ThunderClan.

Oh, no.

The sun was going down, casting long shadows across the clearing. Cloud Spots waited as Acorn Fur exchanged words with Skystar, pride lighting him up.

He was going to give her her full status today at the medicine cat meeting.

Acorn Fur looked around. "Where're Lightning Tail and Thunder?" She asked, looking faintly disappointed.

"They went on patrol with Leaf and Owl Eyes," Sparrow Fur meowed loudly.

For some reason, Cloud Spots could tell she was lying. Her green eyes quickly darted to the side after her proclamation, not meeting anyone's gaze.

"Oh, well," Acorn Fur sighed. "They'll know by tomorrow."

"Good luck, Acorn Fur!" Alder called after her and Clover scampered over, repeating, "good luck!"

Acorn Fur purred her thanks and followed Cloud Spots out. As they crossed the moor, Acorn Fur was looking out onto WindClan land excitedly.

Cloud Spots could guess she was hoping to see one of their former clanmates, but they reached Highstones uninterrupted.

Runningnose and Pebble Heart were already there. Runningnose dipped his head in greeting as Pebble Heart bounded over to Acorn Fur, grinning.

"Hello!" Runningnose greeted cheerfully. "Good to see you."

"Hi, Runningnose," Cloud Spots greeted, dipping his head as well. He turned to Pebble Heart. "It's good to see you too."

Pebble Heart grinned. "You too!"

Just then, Barkface and Mudfur arrived.

Acorn Fur wriggled with excitement. "Cloud Spots is giving me my full status!"

"Congratulations!" Pebble Heart purred as the other medicine cats rumbled their own congratulations.

"Well, shall we?" Cloud Spots looked at Acorn Fur.

"Let's!"

So there it is. Bluefur's big secret Thistlestar knows. As for Snowkit's fate...just wait. (Title refers to Snowkit and the half RiverClan kits)

I won't be posting next week because it is Thanksgiving Break for me and I'll be busy, but the week after I should have new chapters ready to post for you all.

Thanks for reading! And happy early Thanksgiving!