A/N: Here we go!

Only 11 more chapters guys! (Well, technically 10 chapters bc the last is gonna be the Character Information chapter but still)

8D

Chapter Seventeen

It had been almost a full moon when Green-Leaf arrived in the three Clans in the form of a devastating storm. Harsh rain and winds, strong enough that it was dangerous for cats to leave their dens, pummeled the entirety of the three Clans. But there was no choice when there were things to do, no safely hiding away when every paw was needed to one degree or another. Sparrowwing, eyes almost closed from trying to peer through the weather, hunched as she slowly crawled her way towards the Medicine Den, where all the Apprentices were held up, along with Stonefang, a squirrel pelt filled with wet poppy flowers hanging from her mouth. It had taken her ages to find any that hadn't been completely ruined or filthy, but she had, and she was looking forward to resting, even if all the dens were getting cramped in the attempt to keep every cat warm.

Thankfully, the remaining kits from a moon ago had been Named and given Mentors not even the day before, when the sky had been cloudy but not so dark as it was now. So, there was no need to worry for any kits but the unborn litter Blossomheart was carrying, and Windclaw had that well in paw, hovering over the silver tortoiseshell as much as he could. Sparrowwing was rather relieved about the Naming Ceremony, even if Naming all four kits into Paws had taken more time than usual, as they'd had to have a Clan Meeting about Wolf sightings near the CreekClan Border and Two-Leg traps near WoodClan.

Nightfur and Robinheart's remaining kit, Quailpaw, had gotten Rabbitfoot as her Mentor, and the fluffy black queen had also grown into a rather startling set of large, pointy ears and wide gold eyes. Windclaw's kits had also all grown and gotten Mentors. His first-born, Mosspaw, had grown into her thick, fluffy fur, and sharp gold eyes, and had gotten Palestripe as her Mentor. Barkpaw, on the other hand, had sleek short fur, and wide gold eyes, and had gotten Nightfur as his own Mentor. And, smallest of all, Rainpaw had grown into her tortoiseshell fur, and her own gold eyes tended to be half-lidded with thoughtful concentration. She'd gotten Softtail as her Mentor and liked to spend her time teasing Volepaw whenever she could.

But their capabilities as young Apprentices meant nothing in this weather, Sparrowwing mused as she crawled into the Medicine Den, taking in the huddled mass of mixed furs as the Paws slept surrounding the massive, scarred form of Stonefang as the blind Elder dozed. Pebblepaw and Rainstorm were hard at work, chewing and handing out leaves to fight off any of the dreaded coughs and colds that could kill or cripple cats of any age, and Sparrowwing gratefully handed off her bundle of wet flowers to be placed aside to dry, shivering faintly as she turned to head back out.

"Don't even think about it, kit," Rainstorm growled, barely even glancing at her over his shoulder as he gave Stonefang a leaf covered in a mix of chewed berries and leaves to eat. "You've been out in the rain and wind all morning and its well past sun-high right now, even if you can't tell." Sparrowwing pinned her ears back and reluctantly turned around in time for a tired but amused Pebblepaw to present her with her own chewed berry mix. Whiskers twitching in displeasure but knowing better than to argue with the Medicine Cats, Sparrowwing quickly chewed up and swallowed the mixture. It tasted like the smell of moldy bark with something tart and sharp on it, making her nose wrinkle in distaste.

"Now, get yourself something to eat and then straight to your den for a rest," Rainstorm meowed from the other side of the den, where he was carefully poking through his piles of mouse-bile moss and carefully collected furs for carrying. Sparrowwing mewed her acceptance of the orders, ears pinned, and carefully slunk back out into the howling wind and rain, slinking her way to the Fresh Kill Stone, where most of the Clan's food had been hidden beneath the stones lip with a small trench had been dug before it to lead the water away from their food. There was very little to be had that hadn't been claimed by some cat or another, but Sparrowwing was pleased to find a small vole that hadn't been touched yet. Quickly grabbing her meal up, the young Warrior padded towards the Warrior Den and slunk straight to her nest.

Nightfur and Grassrunner were miserably cleaning their thick, soaked fur as best as they could, hoping to prevent any matting before it took place, and, not for the first time, Sparrowwing was relieved to have her short fur. It made winter harsher, yes, but she didn't cook under the Green-Leaf sun or worry about matting or burrs as much as the other two, which was a blessing.

"Any luck?" Grassrunner asked as Sparrowwing finished eating; the tabby queen licked her whiskers and nodded.

"I found a few flowers that weren't drowned by the rain," she told the two simply. "Thank you for the advice on where to look, Nightfur," she added; the black tom purred in response, before stretching and reluctantly getting to his paws.

"I'm due for Patrol with FoxStar, Palestripe, and Robinheart," he sighed, ears flicking unhappily as he peered towards the den entrance, grimacing at the rain. "I'll see you later," he told them.

"Stay safe," the two queens mewed in reply; Nightfur purred before padding out the den and into the rain.

"He's really grown into his fur, hasn't he," Grassrunner murmured as she turned in her nest to press against Sparrowwing's side; Sparrowwing purred in agreement, cleaning the mud from between her paw pads. "Having kits has been good for him."

"It has," she agreed easily. Grassrunner nibbled on a knot of her chest fur for a moment, before eying Sparrowwing with a sly look.

"Have you ever thought about it?" she asked; Sparrowwing blinked and looked at her.

"About what?" Grassrunner lifted her whiskers.

"Having kits." Sparrowwing blinked again, startled.

"What, with Nightfur?" She asked; Grassrunner flicked her tail idly.

"Or one of the other toms," she said; Sparrowwing shook her head.

"Not for at least another six moons or so," she replied simply. "I don't want to have them too soon, especially not when I've been given my first Apprentice and everything." Grassrunner hummed a little bit in agreement.

"I wish I'd considered that before Palestripe and I paired up last moon," she mused, making Sparrowwing sputter in surprise, eyes wide and ears twitching as she looked at her friend. Grassrunner lifted her chin, amused and bashful at the same time as she glanced away. "Well, I didn't think I'd have gotten an Apprentice already, you know, and the Clan needs more kits," she told the other queen. "And, well, he's a very handsome tom," she murmured sheepishly, and Sparrowwing could only shake her head, bemused.

"Well, congratulations, then," she mewed; Grassrunner purred. "When are they due?"

"The moon after Blossomheart and Windclaw's," she told her, before shaking her head a bit, making her neck and chest fur fluff up a bit. "Anyways, you didn't answer my question. Have you ever thought about having kits, and with who?" Sparrowwing huffed, rolling her eyes before glancing away thoughtfully.

"I thought about it, a few different times," she admitted simply. "And yes, I considered Nightfur, and Palestripe, but really? I wouldn't have minded having kits with WhisperStar, all things considered," she murmured; Grassrunner hummed, laying her tail across the tabby in response.

"Well," she decided after a few moments of silence, "I think you and Nightfur would have adorable kits. Little fluffy tabbies," she teased, eyes glinting, and whiskers lifted, "with green eyes and fierce teeth." Sparrowwing rolled her eyes again and sighed, settling in to listen as Grassrunner began to teasingly describe all the future kits they'd both have, and how they'd all be strong, fierce Warriors and queens and how one or two would be willing to take on Rainstorm to become Medicine Cats. And how the two of them would retire to the Elder's Den when their great-grand-kits were running around, and they'd complain about how the Apprentices were so impatient and loud and how when they were Apprentices it was different...

And, listening to the amused mews of her Clanmate, Sparrowwing drifted off to sleep, resting for her evening duties in the warmth of the den.

It took three days for the storm to abate, much to the Clan's relief, although the clouds promised more storms on the horizon. With the Gathering only a few days away, the need to regain their strength was high, so all those Warriors and Apprentices that were able were sent out on Hunting duties and Patrols, only in groups of three instead of four, and no Apprentices, as they were needed to hunt.

Because of that, Sparrowwing was with Gingerpaw and Flowerpaw, hunting near the CreekClan Border where the tabby was showing her Apprentice the edges of the Territory. Flowerpaw was carrying her catch of a large vole that she'd caught next to a puddle, and Sparrowwing was sniffing at some tracks as Gingerpaw carefully peered over the ravine edge, pupils wide as she took in the large amount of water from the rain-swollen creek.

"Oh, look!" She gasped, making Sparrowwing's head jerk up. "CreekClan cats!" Immediately, Sparrowwing joined her, Flowerpaw dropping her catch to join them as well as the three she-cats stared down across the ravine. Across the muddy, moving water, walking along a ledge of muddy dirt that Sparrowwing wouldn't have felt comfortable standing on, three CreekClan cats paused as they lifted their faces to glare at them, hackles rising and lips quivering with the threat of snarls and hisses.

One was a dark brown tom with darker, almost black, fur on his paws and face, and hazel eyes. Another was a long-haired queen whose white fur was caked with mud and wet plants, her dark eyes narrowed, and teeth bared. And the last cat was an orange queen with a tattered ear and a scar over the bridge of her nose.

The three MeadowClan cats and the three CreekClan cats stared one another down for several tense moments, before the tom snorted and twitched his tail at the two queens beside him, and the three continued on their careful way. Sparrowwing huffed and twitched her ears as Flowerpaw let out a slow breath and padded away to her dropped vole.

"Come on, Gingerpaw," she ordered, turning away from the ravine. "We've got work to do."

"Right," Gingerpaw replied, voice distracted, and Sparrowwing sighed slightly as she began to pad away. No doubt her Apprentice was full of questions about the other Clan, especially now that she'd seen them-

It happened in an instant.

Sparrowwing had barely taken three steps, when the sound of crumbling earth and a startled screech had her leaping into the air in surprise, spinning around just in time to see her Apprentice go over the ledge.

"Gingerpaw!" She yowled, throwing herself to the ledge, claws digging in and just in time to witness the young she-cat tumble straight into the water. She disappeared beneath the surface, flailing as Sparrowwing watched, just in time for the CreekClan patrol to return.

And do nothing.

A/N: This chapter DID NOT want to be written.

Damn filler.

So, yeah, there you go, filler with a dramatic cliffhanger!

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