"Wise are they who have learned these truths: Trouble is temporary. Time is tonic. Tribulation is a test tube."
-William Arthur Ward

One moon later

"Morning, Redblossom." Antpad purred. "Since Pebblebird moved into the Nursery, we should be sending more hunting patrols."

"I haven't lead one yet." I suggested.

I remembered only sunrises ago that Pebblebird announced she has expected kits for a moon, and Splotchstar decided to lift all the she-cats from their punishment.

When asked who was the father, she would just glare and look away.

"True, maybe you should." Antpad purred. "Take who you want."

She gave me a knowing look, that I would choose my friends for a hunting patrol. And she wasn't wrong.

I brought Flyfur, Voletooth, and Songpool, knowing that Brownpelt and Spidermoon would be cuddling in the warrior's den.

Flyfur grinned at me, we planned on setting up his sister and Voletooth and always made sure they were on patrols together.

Songpool and Voletooth whispered and the latter snickered, looking at us.

"Teasing I'm guessing?" I purred. "Get a den you two."

"What?" Voletooth gasped.

"Nope, she didn't mean anything by that." Flyfur reassured her sister quickly.

Songpool looked down and Voletooth stormed off to hunt.

"Songpool, I didn't mean-"

"Save it." Songpool whispered over me. "I'm heading back to camp."

I was worried in the warrior's den till I saw Voletooth and Songpool talking casually again. I put my paws over my face and sighed with relief.

"Hello again Redblossom." Flyfur purred. "I saw your Dad and the leader talking."

"Well of course they would, he's the deputy." I replied.

"Well, they were talking about you and me." He purred.

"Gossiping?" I asked, puzzled.

"No, I don't think so." Flyfur chuckled. "That's all I know."

Flyfur laid beside me and yawned.

"Not sure what's going to happen." Flyfur whispered.

"Only good things." I whispered back. "Only good things."

"All cats of RiverClan come forward!"

Everyone but Giselle and her kits came forward, Jioveheart snarled at them and Willowtail clawed Giselle, making her jump forward.

"Wonder what it is?" Flyfur wondered as we walked out the warrior's den.

"Giselle's kits are ready to become apprentices." Splotchstar announced. "Special for the night of the Gathering."

Giselle's kits jumped and squealed but Giselle glared at the leader before running off into the warrior's den.

"Birdkit, you will be Birdpaw. Flyfur, hope you use your patience for your first apprentice."

Flyfur's eyes lit up and Birdpaw touched her nose to his.

"Petalkit, you will now be Petalpaw. Redblossom, I hope you teach this petal to become a flower in full bloom." Dad purred.

Splotchstar rolled her eyes but Petalpaw leaped toward me and nuzzled me.

"Can't wait!" My new apprentice purred. I could hardly believe it.

"ARE YOU KIDDING ME." Jioveheart roared. "Where's my apprentice?! I'm part of the prophecy."

"And you don't need an apprentice to drag you down." Splotchstar added.

"I guess." Jioveheart growled.

I turned and saw Birdpaw glaring at her mentor.

"Toadkit told me battling was most important! Not some silly tour of the territory!" Birdpaw protested.

"Be quiet." Flyfur growled.

Birdpaw looked at him in shock and fell silent.

"Want us to go with you two?" I asked him softly.

"Yes." Flyfur whispered.

After we came back, Petalpaw eagerly told Amberfern's kits about the tour, while Birdpaw looked at her mentor before trudging into the apprentice's den.

"She's going to be a delight." Flyfur hissed sarcastically.

"Just stubborn, that's all." I reassured him. "Give her time."

"Attention RiverClan! Me, Stonewater, Morningpool, Weaselberry, Mothleap, Jioveheart, Songpool, Voletooth, Brownpelt, Spidermoon, Redblossom, Flyfur, Rowanpaw, Birdpaw, and Petalpaw will be going to the Gathering." Splotchstar announced.

Me and my friends gathered as soon as we heard our names, and followed Splotchstar.

We got onto the island and I froze as my eyes met a set of red ones.

"What?" The gray she-cat hissed. "I'm hideous?"

She hid her twisted paw behind her good one and looked to me for an answer.

"No! I've just never met a she-cat with...red eyes." I answered softly.

"Well then." The she-cat muttered. "That's why they call me Sharpglare."

"You're the one who had kits six moons ago in WindClan." I replied.

"Perceptive, yes. And they're all charming apprentices." Sharpglare purred. "They're over there."

I looked to see an eager white tom with amber, a black she-cat with green eyes, and a gray tom with white paws.

"Luckpaw, Moonpaw, and Dustpaw." She purred. "Their father is so happy to have joined the Clan I tell you."

I eagerly nodded and saw Hailflower and the recently made warrior Waspwing, who didn't fail to surprise me when the former told practically everyone that they became mates.

I saw Jioveheart preparing to retreat the main area. I growled and pinned her tail with my claws.

"Ow! Great StarClan, what's the matter with you?" Jioveheart snapped.

"What's the matter with you?" I snarled. "You're going to see Sandytuft, are you?"

"None of your business!" Jioveheart was about to continue but both of us froze when we heard a screech.

I turned around slowly I flinched when I saw Birdpaw and Moonpaw facing each other, a clump of her fur in Birdpaw's claws.

"Moonpaw!" I heard the leader hiss to my surprise. "Why did you provoke her?!"

"I didn't I promise!" Moonpaw gasped. "I asked her what was wrong when she clawed me!"

Jioveheart looked frantically for Sandytuft as the fight was ending.

"Course Sharpglare and Fortune's kits would mess up this Gathering." A dark brown tabby she-cat snarled.

A black and white tom with one blue eye and one green eye who appeared to be Fortune snarled.

"Shut up, Owlflight." Sharpglare snarled.

I turned around and joined my friends, who were talking to Hailflower and Waspwing.

"That was some drama, am I right?" Hailflower giggled.

"That was Flyfur's apprentice!" Spidermoon laughed, making Flyfur hang his head.

"Wasn't funny, she's probably going to get in trouble for that." Flyfur growled.

"Well, me and Waspwing were thinking about kits." Hailflower purred. "One will be Hogkit after my deceased best friend."

"Never agreed to that." Waspwing replied, rolling her eyes. "Not naming one of our kits after a hog."

"Well, she'll change her mind." Hailflower meowed to us, Waspwing shaking her head.

"How's Mom?" Songpool asked Hailflower.

"Her and her two kits are great!" Hailflower purred.

"Wait..." I whispered. "What happened to there being three?"

"Blind one died of complications." Waspwing explained.

I narrowed my eyes but said nothing of it.

The leaders made their announcements, and my eyes caught Luckpaw and Dustpaw comforting their upset sister.

The Clans each left back to their own territories, but Jioveheart looked frantic. As if she had something really important she needed to say but couldn't...