"Don't walk behind me; I may not lead. Don't walk in front of me; I may not follow. Just walk beside me and be my friend."
― Albert Camus

One sunrise had passed since the battle, I was upset still that Splotchstar had "finally saw potential in Jiovepaw" and made her a warrior.

"Mom!" Jioveheart leaped out of the den and towards Weaselberry. "I want to lead a patrol! I want to have an apprentice! I want to be deputy next!"

"I want her to shut up!" Flypaw muttered beside me, his paw on his head.

"You should dear." Weaselberry purred. "But you still have lots of time to test those powers of yours a bit!"

"I did in the battle! Did you see it mom? I killed eight cats!" Jioveheart lifted her head in pride.

Volepaw lead Songpaw, the former ThunderClan apprentice, out of the den and into our group including me, Flypaw, Brownpaw, and Spiderkit.

"Isn't she a little too young to be around apprentices?" Songpaw whispered referring to Spiderkit. We learned in the short time of knowing her that she was very quiet and shy, and when she did speak, she had a wispy voice.

"Well, she's Brownpaw's 'friend'" Volepaw giggled, earning a glare from Brownpaw. Everyone except for Spiderkit seemed to know that he had a crush on her, they were only two moons apart in age.

"Of course!" Spiderkit purred obliviously. Brownpaw sighed a sigh of relief next to her.

"RiverClan!" Splotchstar called the whole Clan. "I have some great news!"

Everyone gathered around to hear, including Darkpuddle and Duskbright, whom were very close and purring.

I unsheathed my claws in frustration.

"You like Darkpuddle I heard?" Flypaw asked warily.

"Who told you?!" I looked over my shoulder at Flypaw and curled my lip. "Sorry, I do but there's no point in telling you."

"Oh." Flypaw flinched a little. "OK."

My ears flattened, it sucks. I didn't want this to happen, I didn't want to hurt my friend's feelings.

But I just stayed quiet, I didn't think saying anything would make it better.

"First of all, we have two new queens!" Splotchstar purred. "Amberfern has moved to the Nursery expecting Clovertalon's kits!"

Flypaw's mouth dropped and Volepaw's eyes widened. I could understand, cause that was their mom!

"But, but, but." Flypaw stammered, Volepaw put a paw over his mouth.

"We've never even seen her with him!" Volepaw growled. "She probably mated with the same rogue that created us!"

Flypaw bit down on Volepaw's paw.

"OW!" Volepaw snapped.

"Our mother wouldn't do that!" Flypaw growled quietly.

"You two! Quiet!" Splotchstar hissed. "Also, Duskbright has moved to the Nursery expecting Darkpuddle's kits!"

It hit me like a cold wave, I crawled behind Brownpaw and Spiderkit to hide and cry quietly.

"And one more thing, since Amberfern has moved into the Nursery, Jioveheart will be leading the Queen-Napping Patrol to Twolegplace instead. And Stormbright and Songpaw will be joining us." Splotchstar announced. "Pebblebird, Emberstem. Come see me in my den. Clan dismissed."

"Queen-Napping Patrol...?" Songpaw stammered. "That doesn't sound good!"

"It's not." Flypaw growled. "Our Clan kidnaps expecting queens and she-cats from Twolegplace whenever the Clan number is low."

"But Amberfern and Duskbright are both expecting kits!" Brownpaw meowed.

"Don't remind me!" Me and Flypaw said at the same time.

"Great StarClan, you're such a grump!" Jioveheart sneered tauntingly as she walked over to our group. "C'mon Flypaw, join the patrol with me."

"I'll join another patrol, thanks." Flypaw said sternly.

"Don't be so butthurt about another rogue screwing your mother-"

"DON'T YOU DARE TALK ABOUT MY MOM THAT WAY!" Flypaw snarled, getting the whole Clan's attention.

"Who's talking about Amberfern in a bad way?" Clovertalon growled, glaring at the cats around him.

"Jioveheart is!" I snapped. "She said Amberfern got screwed by a rogue!"

"Weaselberry!" Clovertalon called.

"Yes, Clovertalon?" Weaselberry trotted over from talking to her sister.

"Your daughter is insulting my mate, you need to keep her in line." Clovertalon growled. "I'm so sorry, Flypaw. That was an incredibly rude thing for Jioveheart to say. Would you like to join a patrol with me and my apprentice?"

"Sure." Flypaw sighed.

"He seems like he will be a great stepfather." Songpaw meowed about Clovertalon.

"Don't count on it, he'll never be my dad." Volepaw hissed.

Me, Volepaw, and Songpaw were put in charge of preparing nests for Amberfern and Duskbright.

Hmm, maybe I should put spiders in Duskbright's...very tempting, but I'd get into trouble.

"Excuse me, Redpaw."

I turned around and saw Darkpuddle heading my way.

"Y-Yes, Darkpuddle?" I slightly stuttered.

"You're in my way." Darkpuddle said as I was picking up reeds.

"Oh, er, sorry." I moved out of the way and saw he was joining Duskbright in front of the Nursery.

"You like him." Songpaw whispered as she joined me in picking up reeds.

"Liked, past tense." I growled. "He's with her, not me."

"I'm sorry." Songpaw looked up with apologetic amber eyes.

"You're so quiet and kind, why is that?" I asked.

"Was raised by my Ma to hold my tongue unless it was really important." Songpaw explained. "The other apprentices picked on me for it. My patience and silence is my strength, but they treated it like it was my weakness."

"Oh, well we'll try to make it feel like home for you." I smiled. "You must miss your mother."

"Only a little, she slapped me sometimes and blames me for my sister dying." Songpaw frowned.

I was about to say something when Songpaw gave a weak smile and took a mouthful of reeds to the Nursery.

"Your apprentice is such a weirdo!" Willowtail growled at Stormbright, the two were sharing a trout.

"She is not." Stormbright growled, yanking a chunk of fish and eating it. "She's just really quiet."

"We're back from patrol!" Clovertalon purred. Him, Brownpaw, and Flypaw bringing more fish to the fresh-kill pile.

I saw a huge cod and I split it in half with one claw, carrying it to the elder's den.

I carried the other half to Volepaw and Songpaw.

"We worked pretty hard today." I purred to my friends. "Here. Let's share this."

Songpaw was pretty apprehensive about eating fish, but Volepaw encouraged her and she liked it.

It had been a pretty good day.

Now if only I can survive tomorrow's Queen-Napping Patrol...