"Redhawk! Come quickly! Sablecoat's started to have her kits and all she'll ask for is you! "

That was the first thing that met Ravenstar's ears as both her patrol and Redhawk's patrol entered the camp. Ravenstar twitched her jet-black ears and moved off after her dear friend in the hopes that she could do something for the abused and untrusting queen. Ravenstar's emerald eyes watched as Ashrain hurried across the clearing and disappeared into the nursery followed closely by Redhawk.

Ravenstar followed her best friend and medicine cat more slowly. She was concerned for Sablecoat, but she knew that to many cats entering in rapid succession would do more harm then good. The queen would only speak to Redhawk, as he was the one that had found her. Sablecoat had been raped and abused by two-legs and other cats alike before she had finally found her way to ThunderClan. Redhawk had been the only one who could come near her for a very long time and he had only recently been able to take up his warrior duties again.

Ravenstar pushed her way into the nursery to find Redhawk looking slightly worried, Ashrain murmuring quietly and Sablecoat straining to push a 4th kit from her body. The little kit was calico, and looked out of place next to 3 black brothers. There was a slight lapse, and Ravenstar assumed that Sablecoat was done giving birth. Ashrain though, saw her approach and shook his head. Ravenstar watched the other female give birth to one healthy black female and then 2 stillborn kits. One was a tabby male and the other a tortishell female. Finally, Sable was finished.

Ravenstar watched Redhawk give the exhausted queen a comforting lick behind the ears and then begin to wash her neck. Ashrain bustled about, checking the living kits and calling in Shadowpaw and Rosepaw who had just returned to bury the stillborn kits. He turned to Sablecoat and pronounced the other kits healthy.

"What will you call them?" The medicine cat questioned.

Sablecoat looked at him, ears flat against her skull. She turned to Redhawk, ears twitching. He repeated the question and she smiled softly. The cat looked down at the 5 surviving kits, and she touched the tiny calico first. "Littlekit. " Moving her gaze to the black female she pronouced her Coalkit. Then, she touched each of the black males in turn, calling them Scorchkit, Burnkit and Nightkit.

"Fabulous names for the little dears. " Ravenstar jumped in. She smiled softly at the new mother and then turned to Redhawk. "If you like, you can stay with Sablecoat for a few days. I do need you with me at the gathering though. " The red cat nodded and promised his leader and friend that he would be ready to go. Then he moved back to washing the new mother, looking every inch the proud father that he most certainly was not.

---

"ThunderClan, lets move. "

Ravenstar led her small group of cat down the dip and into the clearing below. She headed for the high rock as her warriors dispersed into the throng of cats. The scents of RiverClan and WindClan were thick, but there was no hint of ShadowClan as of yet. Ravenstar moved off to speak to her friend, Featherstar. The she-cats greeted each other by butting heads and rubbing up against each other.

Though they were from different Clans, the females were very good friends. They had met as apprentices and been through many things together. Ravenstar had been ecstatic when her friend had been made the deputy and eventually the leader. "How are things on the moor?" Raven questioned as she sat down. Featherstar smiled softly, "Fairly good. We've just gained 3 new apprentices. " Ravenstar dipped her head in acknowledgement, glad to see that WindClan was thriving.

Ravenstar opened her mouth to carry on the conversation, but caught the scent of ShadowClan. Indeed, the cats were dispersing into the crowd and Emberstar was making his way through the cats, saying hello as he went. The tabby tom was fairly popular with the cats from all the clans, as he was the most noble and levelheaded leader ShadowClan had had in years. Not to mention how young and handsome he was.

"Hello ladies. " Said male leader cooed as he made his way over to Featherstar and Ravenstar. His rich masculine tones were far deeper then Raven's or Featherstar's. Ravenstar greeted him as two leaders would greet each other, rather then deputy to leader as she always had before. Both Emberstar and Featherstar blinked in confusion and surprise. It was silent for several moments then Featherstar ventured softly, "Ravenwing, has something happened to Hawkstar?"

Ravenstar flattened her ears and looked from Emberstar to Featherstar and back again. "He passed away, yesterday morning, or at least that's when we found him. " Emberstar and Featherstar dipped their heads in silent acknowledgment of the once formidable leader moving on to lend his strength to StarClan. Emberstar looked up suddenly, whickers twitching with barely concealed amusement. " Then let me be the first to congratulate you, on your new appointment of leader. " He grinned at her, making his amber eyes shine in the moonlight. "Welcome to the club. "

Ravenstar nodded her thanks, and looked over to Featherstar who was smiling softly as well. "Yes, Congratulations my friend. "

All heads turned to the rock as Stormstar leapt on to it, his lithe gray body looking silver in the eerie light of the moon. Featherstar followed suite and Ravenstar was about to leap on to the rock when she felt the soft tickle of fur and heard the whispered voice of the ShadowClan leader in her ear. "Watch what you say Ravenstar, and if you must tell the truth, never tell all of it; Then you always have something to bargain with. " Her ears flattened in surprise and she turned to make a sharp retort, but he had already taken his place on the rock.

That left only Ravenstar. She could already hear the yells from the other Clans, asking where Hawkstar was. Taking a deep breath, she bunched her muscles and followed in the steps of ThunderClan's former leader. Cold stone made standing on the rock uncomfortable, despite the fact that it was summer. Ravenstar settled herself down, and the sight took her breath away. She could see everything. Emberstar was on her left and Featherstar on her right. Stormstar sat on the other side of Featherstar. He titled his head in surprise.

"Ravenwing, has something happened to Hawkstar?" Stormstar questioned.

The black female cleared her throat and immediately the assembled cats quieted. "I regret to inform the assembled cats that my father has gone to hunt with StarClan." The silence that filled the clearing rang louder then the voices that had filled it only moments before. Stormstar regained his composure first and when he spoke again, his voice was soft. "His death is something which all Clans should mourn, Hawkstar was a great leader, worthy of remembrance and praise. " The assembled cats yowled their agreement.

Stormstar spoke first; telling of newly made warriors and how they had discovered a new type of fish in the River. Then Emberstar spoke, masculine tones carrying over the assembled cats. Work on the Thunderpath had mysteriously ceased and no cat knew why. But, the prey had begun to return and so it was a blessing in disguise. Featherstar repeated the new of 3 new apprentices in WindClan and trivial other news, that meant little to any of the cats. She said something then that caught every cat's attention.

" We've sighted more winged carries for two-legs then ever before." The cat word for airplane caught Ravenstar's attention. "They also look different then the normal ones. Green, with some sort of design on the side. They're also smaller and make less noise then the big silver ones that we've seen before. " Stormstar nodded, and assured the female that all the Clans would keep watch on the new carries, though he suspected it was nothing of great importance.

Ravenstar spoke next. She took a deep breath, and moved forward, so that she could be heard well. Out of the corner of her eye, she caught Emberstar watching her intently. "ThunderClan has been gifted with 3 new warriors, Midnightstorm, Firefly and Quickbreeze. Both Midnightstorm and Firefly are here with us tonight. " There was a murmur of voices as the cats around the pair turned to congratulate them. "We have also been gifted with 5 new kits from Sablecoat, the abused queen we had taken in the day of the last gathering. They are Littlekit, Burnkit, Scorchkit, Coalkit and Nightkit. "

News of Sablecoat finding refuge in ThunderClan had circulated throughout the Clans and so there was no need for Ravenstar to elaborate on who exactly the newest mother was. With that, the gathering was ended. Ravenstar leapt off the rock, trying to suppress the shaking in her legs. Her first gathering was not near as bad as she thought it would have been. Ravenstar gave herself a good shake and turned to say goodbye to Featherstar.

Purring softly, the she-cats butted heads and rubbed up against each other. Featherstar wished her friend good luck and then turned to leader her Clan back home. Moving off to escort her Clan, Ravenstar was intercepted by the ShadowClan leader. "You did well, Ravenstar. " She thanked him, dipping her head slightly. Without another word, he brushed past her, the soft tickle of his ginger fur against his made her breath catch. Mentally scolding herself, she broke into a three-beated gait and met up with her warriors. Ravenstar turned to lead them up the hill and into ThunderClan once more.

---

"Hey handsome, I've seen that you've taken a liking to Ravenstar. Good eye… "

Emberstar turned, and caught Otterpelt grinning at him. He stopped and let the warriors and apprentices go on ahead of him. They knew of the almost brother/sister bond the medicine cat and the young leader shared. He grinned back at her, tail twitching. "What if I have gorgeous? Jealous?" The longhaired brown queen let out a laugh. "Psh… you wish..." she returned, whiskers twitching with good humor.

Emberstar laughed outright at that. "Maybe I do and maybe I don't. " He said reaching out a paw to cuff her in an affectionate, almost brotherly manor. Otterpelt snorted at the soft cuff on her head and shoved up against him. That sent both cats staggering toward the side of the path that led to the heart of ShadowClan. That of course, caused the pair of them to laugh. Emberstar savored the moment, wanting it to last forever. Otterpelt was the only one who ever saw this side of him. The only one he ever joked with.

"So how about you Otterpelt, any toms I have to take out before we can live happily ever after?" She snorted in slight amusement and slight disbelief. " Hordes, I'm having to beat those toms off with a stick these days. " She grinned at him and he returned the smile. "Ah well…I just can't win." The playful banter ceased as they entered camp. The sun was just coming up, and Emberstar dismissed the newly made warrior who had sat vigil since the moon had taken over ruling the sky. "Very good Silentheart." The tawny she-cat blushed at the praise and slipped off to sleep.

Emberstar and Otterpelt said their good-byes and the ginger leader moved off toward his den. Along the way he found himself answering questions and setting problems straight. By the time he made it to his den he was even more tired then he had been before. The big cat flopped down on his nest and shut his amber/orange eyes. Then, the playboy of the forest drifted slowly off to sleep.

---

"How was the gathering?" Shadowpaw heard the question even before he fully entered the warriors den. His ears twitched and he pondered the question before he even thought about an answer. If the truth were to be told, the gathering had been fairly ordinary. There had been nothing that the other apprentices needed to know. Even Featherstar's observation of the giant birds was not something that should cause alarm.

Shadowpaw shook his finely crafted head. "Ordinary…it was ordinary Nettlepaw." The mahogany and brown male sighed softly and moved off to lie down. Shadowpaw turned his head toward the entrance of the den as his best friend entered. The pair of toms moved off toward the nests, carefully picking their way around the sleeping mess of long black fur that was the prickly Rosepaw. Shadowpaw lay down on his side, ears twitching softly and began to share tongues with Twilightpaw.

His ears twitched at the soft sarcasm of a feminine voice moments later. "Excuse you Shadowpaw. "He stopped grooming Twilightpaw and turned to glance at the black female who was looking at him with contempt in her rose eyes. The big brown cat blinked at her in confusion. When he didn't do anything, Rosepaw narrowed her eyes and snorted in disbelief. "You're on my tail dumb ass. " she hissed.Shadowpaw cringed at the curse and shifted so that she could move her tail.

Still glaring at him, Rosepaw pulled her Persian like tail into her body and lay her head back down. With a final glare, she closed her eyes and drifted back to sleep. Shadowpaw flattened his ears and turned back to sharing tongues with his friend. "Bitchy ain't she?" Twilightpaw asked softly. Shadowpaw was about to reply when he heard the feminine voice again. "Twilightpaw, if you don't shut your mouth right now, you'll never be having kits."

Said male cringed and shut his trap fairly quickly. "That's what I thought." Rosepaw murmured softly. Shadowpaw turned his head to look at her and found that she looked as if she were still sleeping. One of her eyes opened. "Don't think I wont do the same to you buddy." Came the whispered threat. Shadowpaw quickly reverted his gaze. It was better not to provoke a fight with the she-cat that could open up a good can of ass whopping real fast.

After he finished sharing tongues with his friend, Shadowpaw curled up in his nest, ears flat against his head. Twilightpaw had fallen asleep next to him, white and tabby side falling in the deep rhythm of sleep. Nettlepaw was asleep as well and rightly so. The unique tabby had a morning patrol with the warriors who were his closest friends. With a last glance at Rosepaw, he drifted off to sweet oblivion.

---

"Shadowpaw, a word with you if you please. "

Ravenstar called softly to the big brown cat that towered over her. Flicking his tail, he moved over toward her. She smiled kindly at the handsome tom and sat down, twitching her tail to signal him to do the same. Shadowpaw sat, muscles rippling beneath his short summer coat. "I think its time you became a warrior."

It was nearly 6 moons since the last gathering. Shadowpaw dipped his head. "I would like that very much Ravenstar." The leader smiled again. "It's settled then. We'll have the ceremony now." Shadowpaw hesitated slightly. "Ravenstar, as much as I would like to be a warrior, I want to wait for Twilightpaw. He was only apprenticed weeks after me and is nearly ready. I'm patient, I can wait. " Ravenstar blinked at him in slight confusion. Why would anyone want to wait? Her ears twitched and she pondered that fact. Ravenstar shifted slightly as the grass was still wet from a particularly loud thunderstorm the night before that seemed to shake all the trees in the forest.

The apprentices were all from different mothers. Rosepaw was younger then the other 3. Shadowpaw was older then Twilightpaw but only by days. Nettlepaw was an orphan as both his parents had died and he was only a month older then Twilightpaw and Shadowpaw. Ah well, why not just make the more then ready Twilightpaw a warrior as well. Ravenstar smiled again at him. "Then Twilightpaw shall be a warrior today. I shall apprentice Sablecoat's kit as well. It is high time they had mentors. "

Ravenstar moved off toward the rock, calling her clan as she went. The gathered quickly before her and she summoned Sablecoat and her kits. Redhawk stuck close to her, murmuring softly in the queen's ear. She would still only listen to him, but she was getting better. The 5 boisterous kits trailed after the pair, throwing questions into the air. Ravenstar grinned softly. "First, I would like to give Twilightpaw and Shadowpaw their warrior names and then we will deal with the kits."

Shadowpaw and Twilightpaw came forward while their mentors; Redhawk and Tangleweb looked on. "First Shadowpaw." Said male came forward, ears flat. Ravenstar looked down at him with her emerald eyes. His large frame betrayed the fact that he was abnormally light boned and very fast. Her ears twitched as she looked at him, pondering.

"Shadowpaw, we all know how your past troubles you. You are a valuable asset to ThunderClan and we would never cast you out because you are not Clan born. Shadowpaw, from this moment on you shall be known as Shadowspirit. ThunderClan honors your bravery and patience; you'll make a fine mentor one day."

He dipped his head to touch his nose to her shoulder and Ravenstar dismissed the newly made warrior with a flick of her tail. Twilightpaw moved forward, a goofy grin on his face. Twilightpaw was everything Shadowpaw was not. He was bouncy, amiable and a favorite with the ladies. Shadowpaw was reserved, quiet and though he was handsome, not many females gave him more then a second glance.

"Twilightpaw, you are a fun loving, goofy individual with superb fighting skills. Twilightpaw, from this moment on you shall be known as Twilightmagic. ThunderClan honors your fighting skills and your wonderful personality."

Said cat grinned widely at her. He touched his nose to her shoulder and then moved off to join the other warriors. Ravenstar's ears twitched at the chanting of the warrior's new names. She turned her attention to the 5 little kits as the cheering began to die down. Who to mentor them? Tangleweb would have one and she herself would. Ashrain had asked for the little calico and that left 2 of them.

"Burnkit, Scorchkit, Nightkit, Coalkit and Littlekit please come forward. It is time you were apprentices."

She watched the kits trot forward. Littlekit actually tripped over her feet and only some fancy footwork managed to save the little calico from falling flat on her face. Ravenstar watched as they assembled themselves before her. She smiled kindly down at the future of ThunderClan. Lightspark's litter had been born 2 moons ago and before they knew it, those kits would be apprentices.

"Littlekit. Ashrain our beloved medicine cat is in need of an apprentice. He has told me that you have already begun to take an interest in herbs and he believes that you would make a fine medicine cat. Hence, from this day forward until you earn your medicine cat name, you shall be called Littlepaw. "

The calico reached up to touch the old medicine cats nose and he blinked kindly at her. The pair moved off away from the other cats and sat down. Littlepaw had agreed early to be a medicine cat apprentice, in fact it had been what she had wanted. The calico female had far to slight a build to be a warrior and she was already the runt.

"Burnkit, Firefly has been asking me for quiet sometime when she has been going to get an apprentice. The time is now my anxious pair. Burnkit, from this day forth, until you've earned your warrior name you shall be known as Burnpaw."

Burnpaw was the largest of the black kits and he was as outgoing as his mentor was. The pair was well matched. Ravenstar called the only other female, Coalkit forward next. The little kit was a near replica of Ravenstar. Except, Coalkit's eyes were deep blue where Ravenstar's were emerald green.

"Coalkit. From this day forward until you earn your warrior name, you shall be called Coalpaw. It is time I took another apprentice and so I will be your mentor."

Ravenstar touched noses with her new apprentice and then continued on. There were 2 more kits left to assign. She was not sure who would mentor the last kit but Tangleweb would be getting the next kit.

"Nightkit. From this day forward until you earn your warrior name, you shall be known as Nightpaw. Our deputy, Tangleweb shall be your mentor."

Her nephew blinked in surprise at his new apprentice and then moved over to touch noses with the quietest of the bunch who had his sisters navy blue eyes. Perhaps Tangleweb would be able to bring out the slender kit's personality.

"Scorchkit. From this day forth until you earn your warrior name you shall be known as Scorchpaw. I would like for Redhawk, my dear friend to mentor you. "

Her friend moved over and smiled down at the black kit. They touched noses and then Redhawk turned to lead his newest apprentice back toward the group of cats. There, that was out of the way. Ravenstar was about to dismiss the cats when Midnightstorm, Comettail and Rosepaw burst into the clearing. Their fur was disheveled and Rosepaw was limping slightly.

Midnightstorm spoke in a soft voice that carried clearly to Ravenstar.

"Ravenstar… its gone… Snake Rocks…just a hole… gone… "

Then, the black cat collapsed.