Sweettooth was woken up by the gentle passings of a tongue on his flanks and spine. Without opening his eyes he already knew it was just about to be dawn and Shelldawn, his mate, was waking him up.

"Good morning beautiful," Sweettooth meowed quietly to the silver tabby sitting in their enlarged nest, and stood up before continuing. "Shall we wait for the others outside?"

"Yes," Shelldawn whispered, careful not to wake the sleeping warriors, in a satisfied tone. "Let's do that."

The two warriors padded side by side out of the bramble thicket that set the warriors' den. The clearing outside was still devoid of cats and sunlight. Sweettooth and Shelldawn went over to a willow-shaded corner where the entrance to the warriors' den was barely visible, and began to groom each other's fur.

"Did you dream anything last night?" Shelldawn asked Sweettooth.

"I only dreamt of the moment you'd wake me up." Sweettooth meowed back charmingly. "Did you notice Frostfur and Splashpelt are sharing a nest now?"

"Yes, our kits might be denmates with theirs." As Shelldawn paused, Icewing appeared at the entrance to the warriors' den, walking out and waiting next to it to organize the day's patrols. "How do you think Icewing would be as leader?"

"I think she would be a great leader," Sweettooth supported his kin. "She's a good warrior and she talks well with cats from other clans."

"I'm glad that no cat in the clan holds a grudge against her from when she was exiled." Shelldawn added. "I've also heard she trained with the Dark Forest. She's very nice, I'm surprised she has such a troubled past."

The couple got quiet, and kept grooming each other's fur until they noticed Icewing beckoning them with her tail. Sweettooth and Shelldawn trotted over to where Icewing was organizing patrols near the warriors' den.

"Sweettooth," The clan deputy called to him in a stern tone. "I want you to lead the dawn patrol to the WindClan border. Take Harelight, Sneezecloud, and Shimmerpelt with you, but don't leave yet. I want to ask you something."

I never led a patrol with so many experienced warriors before. Sweettooth's mind whirled with thoughts. Does she want to talk to me about last night's gathering? Sweettooth managed to nod respectfully as a reply to Icewing's orders, and listened as she organized the rest of the patrols.

"Mallownose, lead a border patrol to the ShadowClan border. Take Havenpelt and Shelldawn with you. Podlight, you can take a patrol to refresh the markers on the far border of our territory. Take Owlnose and Brackenpelt, but watch out for trouble, now that New-Leaf is here, we might find some very quickly. Jayclaw, lead a fishing patrol, take Mudstripe and Gorseclaw. Lizardtail, lead another one with Curlfeather and Nightsky. The rest of you, begin camp duties. We'll be practicing fighting later, when all the patrols return. Patrols can go now. Sweettooth," The deputy beckoned him with her tail, whilst leading him to a quieter corner on the other side of the warriors' den. "Last night, at the gathering," The white she-cat meowed. "You said you might be in the nursery when Mistfeather's kits are apprenticed. Why would you be in the nursery? You're a tom."

"Shelldawn and I agreed that when we have kits, I'll nurse them after they are weaned." Sweettooth began. "She doesn't want to give up on warrior duties for such a long time, and I want to raise my kits and spend as much time with them as I can."

"Mistfeather's kits will be apprenticed in just three moons." Icewing meowed in objection. "Is Shelldawn already expecting?"

"She hasn't told me yet," Sweettooth answered, a strange feeling over his head. "But something tells me the kits will come soon. Even if they aren't here in the next few moons, how will I finish teaching an apprentice in the time that I have?"

"I understand what you're feeling Sweettooth," Icewing meowed with understanding and acceptance in her tone. "It might even be good for you, the experience of being a queen, I know it made me a better warrior." The clan deputy looked down at her fore-paws, heaved a deep sigh and returned her compassionate gaze towards Sweettooth. "Just don't get too used to the idea of being a queen when you're in the nursery, you're a strong warrior and the clan needs you, maybe even as deputy or leader. I'll tell Reedstar about how you wish to move to the nursery for a while, don't worry, he will understand."

"Thank you Icewing," Sweettooth meowed back gratefully. "I appreciate that very much. I'll take out my patrol now." Sweettooth padded back to where Icewing managed the patrols earlier and rounded up the cats in the clearing assigned to him.

"Have you decided where we'll start the patrol?" Harespring asked as if he was testing Sweettooth.

"We'll start from the side farther from the lake." Sweettooth answered confidently. "We'll mark some parts of the Horseplace Twoleg markers on the way to the border with WindClan. That way if any rogues or loners pass through the Horseplace they'll know not to trespass inside our territory." Sweettooth paused as the warriors of his patrol nodded in agreement, and resumed shortly after. "Let's head out."

Sweettooth led his patrol out of camp and towards the rising sun. The party of cats soon reached the wooden structure that marked the Horseplace, where Sweettooth signaled to Harespring and Sneezecloud with his tail to mark some of the wood stuck in the ground, while He and Shimmerpelt went to mark other parts further ahead.

"So, Sweettooth," Shimmerpelt caught Sweettooth's attention. "Am I going to have more kin in the clan?" His mate's mother asked him with a hint of happiness in her voice. "Shelldawn told me about your decisions regarding the kits' nursing, your suggestion was very generous."

"Thank you Shimmerpelt." Sweettooth meowed half embarrassedly. "Shelldawn hasn't told me she's expecting yet, but I have a feeling the kits will come soon."

"You two would make great parents."

Sweettooth and Shimmerpelt marked the spot where Sweettooth decided the scent markers would be most effective and waited for Sneezecloud and Harespring to catch up.

"Great job," Sweettooth noted his patrol's progression. "Let's keep going."

After a few steps into the marshes, toward the WindClan border, Sweettooth could see a black shape standing where the border should lay. Looking closer, Sweettooth recognized the black pelt as that of the angsty she-cat from last night's gathering, Nightstar, leader of WindClan.

"I can see Nightstar on the border," Sweettooth yowled to his patrol. "Let's hurry and check what she wants."

The patrol began to trot through the drying mud and reached the WindClan leader who was standing on the border with a deep, solemn expression.

"Greetings Nightstar," Sweettooth greeted in the most formal voice he managed to find. "What is your business here?"

"That is for your leader to hear." The black she-cat meowed matter-of-factly and crossed the border. "So take me to him." Sweettooth glanced at his clanmates' irritated eyes at hearing the WindClan leader trying to order them around and nodded to them.

"You and your clan are not in a position to order another clan around," Sweettooth meowed to her before agreeing to anything. "And I'm guessing that is the reason you've come here." Sweettooth saw the anger flaring in the leader's amber eyes and knew he was right. "Harespring," Sweettooth meowed to a warrior of his patrol. "Finish the patrol, I'll take Nightstar to camp."

"Did you just call your warrior Harespring?" Nightstar growled angrily, showing Sweettooth his mistake. Fish-bones! "Harespring was the name of our former leader! is that another one of your insults?"

"No, I'm sorry for the mistake" Sweettooth apologized. "I sometimes remember names incorrectly. Hareflight—" he began calling to his clanmate with a nod as Nightstar interrupted.

"Hareflight is the name of a kin to Onestar, the leader before Harestar, and kin of Breezepelt, my dead kit!" Nightstar growled and turned to the older warriors of Sweettooth's patrol. "Don't you teach your young ones how to respect other clans? I know your name is Harelight, just do as your patrol leader meant so we can stop this nonsense already."

Harelight glanced at Sweettooth questioningly and Sweettooth answered in an embarrassed nod.

Sweettooth turned around and beckoned with his tail for Nightstar to follow, initially walking slowly, letting her catch up to him. "I'm sorry for my confusion." Sweettooth meowed apologetically once the WindClan leader matched pace with him. "I understand how I was disrespectful towards your clanmates, but I want you to know I had no such intentions."

Nightstar responded with a grunt. A few moments later, Nightstar eyes glimmered with slight interest in them. "How come you have such a trouble with names?" The black she-cat questioned Sweettooth. "I've never heard of any other cats with your problem."

"I don't know." Sweettooth answered, amused at his memories. "Shelldawn, my mate, always teases that I know too much about medicine and that clogs my mind."

Nightstar didn't reply, just kept walking forward along with Sweettooth towards camp. Sweettooth and Nightstar reached the stepping stones that lead dryly across the river stream towards the camp.

Sweettooth let Nightstar cross first, allowing him to catch her in case she falls. While still crossing, Sweettooth spotted Icewing racing over to the bank, greeting Nightstar with a question.

"Greeting Nightstar," The clan deputy meowed and asked. "What is your business here?"

Sweettooth watched Nighstar leap off the last stepping stone onto the bank. "I need to speak with Reedstar." Nightstar requested formally.

Icewing nodded and turned towards the leader's den of brambles, walking in its direction and signaling to both Nightstar and Sweettooth to follow. Sweettooth followed his clan's deputy all the way to the leader's den where Reedstar was waiting outside.

"Greetings Nightstar," The RiverClan leader meowed in a familiar start. "What is your business here?"

"I would like for us to speak alone." Nightstar suggested.

Reedstar nodded to Icewing and entered his den, beckoning with his tail for Nightstar to follow him. As the two leaders disappeared behind a bramble screen, Icewing signaled Sweettooth to come with her towards the warriors' den.

"How was your patrol?" Icewing questioned.

"It went along well." Sweettooth answered. "We sprayed our scent along the wooden structure of the Horseplace. When we got to the WindClan border, we met Nightstar so I left Harelight in charge of the patrol and led Nightstar here. She wants us to support them against ThunderClan."

"Did Nightstar tell you that?" Icewing asked, sounding surprised. "She seemed desperate to speak to Reedstar alone."

"No," Sweettooth responded. "But she tried to order us around and got angry when I questioned her clan's strength."

"Great inference Sweettooth," Icewing meowed cheerfully, clearly amused. "But try not to get on the nerves of clan leaders."

At the end of Icewing's words, Nightstar exited the leader's den, with her face and body betraying neither happiness nor indignance. Reedstar followed at her tail and flicked his tail, ordering Grayfoot and Breezeheart to escort Nightstar out of RiverClan territory.

As Nightstar began crossing the stepping stones, the two RiverClan warriors after her, Icewing trotted over to Reedstar's den and Sweettooth chose to follow her. Sweettooth and Icewing reached the den and sat next to their clan's leader.

"What did Nightstar say?" Icewing asked her leader.

"She wanted our support against ThunderClan," Reedstar answered. "Her clan is weakened now, with such a small amount of warriors, and yet they still insist on fighting ThunderClan." Reedstar paused for a moment before giving his answer to Nightstar. "I've told her we will come in their defense, but they must stop their shameless raids on ThunderClan. I'll tell the rest of the clan before they sleep tonight." Reedstar paused again and turned his gray gaze towards Sweettooth before meowing again. "You've brought Nightstar here in a good mood for agreements, Sweettooth, just the right amount of angry." Reedstar complimented him. "Great job."

Sweettooth decided to gather fresh moss for bedding while he waited for the patrols to return. By the time Sweettooth gathered enough moss to give all the elders and the nursery fresh bedding, the first sign of cats on the other side of the camp streams appeared in Sweettooth's eyes. Sweettooth saw his own patrol returning and hurried to the bank where they would soon arrive.

"Harelight!" Sweettooth called to the newly appointed patrol leader as the patrol began to swim across the stream. "How did the rest of the patrol go? Did anything happen?"

"Nothing special," Harelight responded. "We finished marking the border. We also saw Grayfoot and Breezeheart escorting Nightstar back. What did she want?"

"She wanted support against ThunderClan." Sweettooth answered. "Reedstar is going to explain later."

"I see the fishing patrols haven't come back yet." Sneezecloud meowed, looking at the empty fresh-kill pile. "Sweettooth, do you want to try our luck with fish in the camp streams? We haven't fished together since Green-Leaf when you were my apprentice."

"I'll join you later," Sweettooth replied to his former mentor. "I gathered fresh moss for bedding and I don't want it getting wet."

"Sure thing, just remember it's not entirely your responsibility now that you're not an apprentice anymore."

Sweettooth did not respond to Sneezecloud's final remark and began taking part of his moss towards the elder's den. Reaching the elders' den, Sweettooth saw Duskfur and Minnowtail drowsing outside the den.

"Duskfur, Minnowtail," Sweettooth dropped his moss and greeted the elders with a nod. "I've brought you fresh bedding, do you want help clearing out the old bedding?"

"It's fine Sweettooth," It was Minnowtail that answered. "Thank you."

The elders went inside their den and cleared out the old bedding as Sweettooth came back to where he left the rest of his moss. Sweettooth picked it up and marched over to the nursery, where he saw Mistfeather's two kits running around the den's entrance, stopping when they saw him coming.

"Sweettooth!" the gray-and-brown kit yowled while rushing over to Sweettooth alongside his littermate. "Can you give us a badger ride? Is that moss for us?"

"Yes," Sweettooth answered, the moss under his chin, and with a chuckle at the kits' excitement as they wove beneath his tall legs. "Let me just give Mistfeather this moss first."

Sweettooth entered the bramble thicket that set the nursery and spotted Mistfeather resting awake in a stale nest.

"Hi Sweettooth," Mistfeather sat straight up. "Is that moss for me and the kits?"

"Yes," Sweettooth answered. "I had spare time so I decided to gather some moss for you and the elders."

"Thank you. Is the clan gossip correct? Will I have new denmates here?"

"Shelldawn hasn't told me she's expecting yet, but I have a feeling our kits will come soon."

"That's wonderful. I'll be glad to share the nursery with Shelldawn again, Oakkit and Stormkit would enjoy having younger kits to show around camp. I remember how happy you were when Shelldawn and Mudstripe were born."

"Can I give your kits a badger ride? They asked for one earlier."

"Of course you can."

Sweettooth exited the den to see the two kits wagging their tails from side to side in anticipation. Sweettooth began stomping heavily and loudly "I'm a stinky badger and I'm going to eat you!" Sweettooth yowled and lay down near the kits, letting them climb to his back, and began the badger ride.