A/N: Aftermath chapter, and also where the Plot of this SPECIFIC book starts to poke its head through~

Chapter Six

"You were both extremely lucky," WhisperStar informed Sparrowpaw and Nightpaw solemnly. "Your wounds will heal, and scar, but you will not be crippled." Sparrowpaw and Nightpaw bowed their heads silently, lying in their designated nests in the Medicine Den. "You will not be hunting, patrolling, or training for a the next several sunrises, but you will return to your duties soon enough." They nodded silently; WhisperStar's yellow eyes narrowed with stern disapproval. "However, your actions have consequences." The two apprentices winced and nodded miserably; Foxtail stepped forward, nose up as she glared coldly down at the two young cats.

"Not only did you decide to play while hunting so near a border," she said grimly, making the two cats shrink down further, "but you proceeded into a dangerous situation, where you could not scent anything except the border scent, and decided to continue, by your selves, into said situation! Had Sparrowpaw's brother not noticed she had left with you, Nightpaw, you would have died and, from what we've been able to find, Sparrowpaw, you would have been taken into the Junkyard, or wherever those Rogues had set up their base in No-Clan Territory, and kept as a kit-bearer, to build their numbers." Sparrowpaw cringed instinctively with a shudder, and Nightpaw shifted to uncertainly nudged his shoulder gently against hers, shuddering as well.

"And, to make things worse," Palestripe meowed gravely from his place next to Windclaw at the entrance of the den (Rainstorm was only allowing so many cats into his workplace because he was helping Softtail kit her late litter. It was unlikely that they would survive the winter, but more kits were always something to celebrate), "We've discovered that there is a traitor in one of the Clans, teaching Rogues Clan techniques." Sparrowpaw and Nightpaw stilled, ears perking forward in shock, eyes wide. Windclaw nodded seriously and continued the explanation, his deep meows echoing faintly in the large den.

"The reason neither of you heard these Rogues approach, despite the fact that most Rogues have proven themselves as stealthy as a moose, is because this Traitor has taught them MeadowClan stealth techniques," he informed them. "Once in WoodClan Territory, their response patrol informed us that the Rogues switched from MeadowClan techniques to their own, able to run through bushes and twigs as well as a young Warrior." WhisperStar nodded at the tall Warrior, who bowed his head respectfully, before turning back to the wounded apprentices.

"This is disturbing news," he meowed somberly, "and shall be brought up at the next Gathering. However, you two still need to be punished." His yellow eyes were strict and calm, and Sparrowpaw bowed her head in response, Nightpaw not far behind. "While your actions led to us discovering the existence of this Traitor, they also gravely endangered not only yourselves, but the response patrol and, as a whole, the Clan itself. Not only that, but your actions leading to that point were completely unbecoming of soon-to-be Warriors. Not only that, but you chose the border of another Clan to enact such actions, and, by doing so, risked showing possible enemies our techniques and also risked damaging the integrity of our Clan." Sparrowpaw and Nightpaw were cringed close to the ground, ears pinned and eyes down in shame.

"Your punishments will be separate, and chosen by your mentors," Foxtail informed them icily, green-gold eyes flashing in the dim lighting. Palestripe stepped forward, and looked down at Sparrowpaw in disappointment, making her flinch slightly, guild tightening her throat.

"You, Sparrowpaw, will be on Nursery Duty for the next two moons," he said seriously. "You will not eat until all the kits and their queens have eaten. You will watch over and guard the kits while their queens rest or hunt or patrol. You will make sure that all injuries or sickness or threats are taken care of, and will gather bedding for them as needed. From now on, you will only hunt at sun-rise and sun-high, and no other time. Those kits and their queens are now your responsibility, for the next two moons. It would have been longer, but it has been agreed that your defense and continued protection of an injured Clanmate in a hostile situation, as well as your obvious regret of your actions leading to that point, has earned you some leniency. Understand?" Sparrowpaw bowed her head.

"I understand," she mewed; he nodded and slipped out the door. Windclaw stepped forward with a cool expression, and Sparrowpaw felt Nightpaw curl against her instinctively.

"Your punishment, Nightpaw, will be to be a temporary apprentice for Rainstorm," he intoned. "You will help him gather ingredients, memorize the duties of a medicine cat, and, for all intents and purposes, act like one, though you shall not commune with StarClan. You will not hunt for food, except in the time before sun-down, and you will obey Rainstorm as if he was your only mentor. You will do this for the next three moons, as it was your challenge that led to these issues. Understood?" Nightpaw nodded meekly, and meowed an agreement. Windclaw nodded, shot Sparrowpaw an inscrutable look, before taking his leave of the Medicine Den.

"Due to your injuries," WhisperStar meowed as Foxtail slipped out after the other Warrior, "your punishments will not start in full immediately. Sparrowpaw, you will be moved into the Nursery Den, and help where you can until fully healed. Nightpaw, you will be staying here, and learning as you can until you are able to leave the camp to assist Rainstorm."

"Yes, WhisperStar," the two apprentices replied softly; he nodded his large head, and slipped out of the den. Miserable, Sparrowpaw curled her body against Nightpaw, and, for once, the usually cantankerous tom didn't make a noise in complaint, curling lightly against her as well.

"…I'm sorry," he uttered softly; she purred quietly.

"Me too," she murmured, and the two of them, still tired from the previous day's ordeal, fell asleep quickly.

Sparrowpaw was moved to the Nursery Den the next day, and found herself quickly exhausted. There were six kits and three queens in the Nursery (although there was usually only queen at any given time). Two were in their fifth moon, three were barely two moons, and, of Softtail's late litter, only one survived, an all white tom aptly named Whitekit, who was actually WhisperStar's only current kit. While Sparrowpaw would admit that she cared for the kits, as they were the future of her Clan, she found herself wondering just how she was to take care of such demanding little creatures.

The two oldest kits were Blossomheart's and Stonefang's kits, and always wanting something from her. Stormkit, a gray tabby queen with black stripes, was always wanting a lesson on how to be a Warrior. Specklekit, her younger sister, was a silver tortoiseshell that wanted stories about Sparrowpaw's training as much as possible. If they weren't sleeping or eating, they were crawling on her despite her wounds and waking her up with their demands.

The three other kits were easier, but still demanding. These three were actually her relatives, as their mother, Sunset (an orange queen with a white chest, muzzle, and tail-tip, who Sunpaw was actually named after) was Daisyheart's sister. Their father was Palestripe, so that added to her interest in keeping them healthy and happy. The oldest of the three was little Tigerkit, who looked like an orange version of his father, with pale orange stripes and white paws instead of a blaze on his head. His sister Flowerkit was all yellow with Palestripe's head blaze, but no stripes. The final kit, Pebblekit, was actually extremely lucky to be alive. She was extremely small, and had been very week in her first moon, nothing but soft golden-brown fur and too-big limbs. She was stronger, now, and catching up to her siblings in moving around. The three siblings were rather easy to care for, but they never wanted their mother out of their sight, always demanding her return or crying themselves into an exhausted sleep.

Sparrowpaw thanked StarClan for Whitekit, because without the little tom, she was positive she would have been left without any form of peace. Whitekit never made a single unhappy sound unless it was time for his milk. He never demanded her attention or cried and fought with her when she attempted to clean him. No, when Softtail needed a little peace from the kits, Sparrowpaw was overjoyed, because Blossomheart and Sunset never left their kits when Softtail was gone, and so the apprentice only had to worry about the small newborn. So, when she watched over him, all she had to do was curl around his tiny body, clean him, and make sure he continued to breath and didn't slip away to StarClan in his sleep, which sometimes happened.

She prayed to StarClan that he survived Leafbare…

That all the kits survived. The Clan was too small already, and with the loss of Softtail's other three kits, they truly couldn't afford to lose any more potential Warriors or Queens.

Leaffall was getting closer, the nights longer and days shorter. Sparrowpaw and Nightpaw were healing, though they'd bare their scars. Sparrowpaw now had claim to a set of thin scars across her right shoulder, ending at her chest. Nightpaw now had almost as many scars as Stonefang, a tattered ear, and a slightly less aggressive attitude. If anything, he became somewhat withdrawn, and yet he seemed more comfortable in his skin as well.

Two moons and two Gatherings passed, and news of more Rogue activity, and hints of a Traitor grew stronger, leaving all the cats on edge. Sparrowpaw didn't know what to do, though she welcomed Stormkit and Specklekit as the two became apprentices. Stormkit became Stormpaw, and gained Rabbitfoot as her mentor, while Specklekit, now Specklepaw, was mentored by Blacktail. So far, they both showed promise in speed and stealth, though they were easily distracted, and got lost several times in their first moon as apprentices.

Still, she welcomed them into the Apprentice Den, and they made a large nest to the side of the den to share.

The third moon, the last Leaffall moon, marked both the end of Nightpaw's punishment, and Apprenticeship.

"Let all those cats old enough to catch their own prey join here beneath the Tallstump for a Clan Meeting," WhisperStar yowled, and, quickly, all the cats gathered at the base, looking up at the white tom as Foxtail took her place on the stump to his right. WhisperStar waited until they were quiet, and Sparrowpaw absently swatted Stormpaw and Specklepaw over the head when they started murmuring to one another, hissing at them to be quiet and pay attention. Rabbitfoot gave her an approving nod, which The young cat returned silently, before turning her gray eyes to the Clan Leader.

"Today, we will be gaining a new Warrior," WhisperStar meowed calmly, though his whiskers were lifted and his yellow eyes were both proud and pleased. "He has spent the last seven moons training under both Windclaw and, recently, Rainstorm. He was, at the beginning of his training, a rash, aggressive tom, but has since learned patience and diligence, and has proved himself a capable Warrior." Yowls and caterwauls and screeches rose from the crowd, cheering joyfully for the young cat. WhisperStar indulged them, letting them cheer, before a sharp movement of his tail silenced them.

"Nightpaw, step forward," he called; the sleek, scarred tom obeyed, silently stepping out of the crowd, head high and eyes locked on the Leader, before he leaped onto the low stump to WhisperStar's left, and turned to sit, looking out at his Clan with whiskers lifted and happy green eyes. WhisperStar looked towards the sky, where stars were just beginning to show as the sun went down. The moon was half-full, and snow would come before the next gathering. WhisperStar lowered his eyes back to his Clan, and lifted his whiskers.

"Tonight, our new Warrior will hold vigil," the white tom called. "He will guard us while we sleep, with only StarClan as company. Tonight, we honor him, and place our lives and the lives of our future kits, in his paws. StarClan guide you and may your life be long and filled with many kits," WhisperStar meowed directly to Nightpaw, who inclined his head in a rather regal fashion, which had Sparrowpaw's whiskers lifting in amusement.

"We welcome you, Nightfur!" WhisperStar yowled; and the Clan raised their own cries, the falling night echoing with their cheers as the newly named Nightfur preened and purred. "May StarClan watch over and guide us!" WhisperStar announced, dismissing the meeting; Nightfur leaped from his stump and joined the Clan, rubbing against one another joyfully and sharing companionable licks.

"Well done," Sparrowpaw purred as they rubbed their heads together.

"You'll come after Grasspaw, no worries," he assured her, and she purred before breaking away from the crowd, joining her brother in the Apprentice Den for sleep.

It was a good night.

A/N: Ta-da! Okay, brief Ages thing:

A MOON IS A MONTH

(Example: 3 moons = 3 months)

Sparrowpaw & Sunpaw: 11 moons

Nightfur: 13 moons

Grasspaw: 12 moons

Stormpaw & Specklepaw: 7 moons

Tigerkit, Flowerkit, & Pebblekit: 5 moons

Whitekit: 3 moons

If you want to know a specific cats age, just ask!

Also, I know that the amount of time they spend as Apprentices is ridiculous, but my Clan's would rather their Warriors have plenty of experience rather than one honorable act. There are exceptions, of course (Saving the Clan or the Nursery, for example) but most Apprentices have to wait anywhere between six-to-ten moons before they become Warriors. This way, they're completely grown up before they become the main defense & fighters of the Clan.

Remember, please Review!