Tigerpaw couldn't sleep that night. She had trained but still had energy. Tigerpaw was incredibly restless. She shifted her head, uncomfortably.

"Stop," yawned Stormpaw, kicking his back legs. "Stay still you mouse! I've got you now!" Tigerpaw sighed and stood up. She padded out of the den, carefully padding past her cranky and irritable leader's, Snowstar, den.

"Tigerpaw?" whispered a voice. Tigerpaw turned around and saw Tigerpelt. "Where are you going?"

"To sit by the river," Tigerpaw whispered.

"I'll come too." Tigerpelt walked with his sister to the river. They sat by its edge in silence. "Windytail's kits are going to be here in only a few days."

"Really?" Tigerpaw gasped. "That's great!"

"Yeah," sighed Tigerpelt. "I guess."

"What do you mean?" Tigerpaw asked.

"I don't think I'm fit to raise kits," Tigerpelt murmured.

"Sure you are," Tigerpaw mewed. "You just have to love them like you do Windytail."

"Yeah," Tigerpelt sighed.

"What's up?" Tigerpaw asked.

"I think I should leave."

Tigerpaw wanted to claw him to pieces for that. "You what?"

"I'm leaving," Tigerpelt stood up. "I can't be a father. You're right. I care for Windytail too much to teach the kits wrong or something."

"No!" Tigerpaw scrambled to her paws. "I won't let you."

"Get out of my way!" seethed Tigerpelt.

"No," Tigerpaw growled. "You can't abandon them! Some other cat would raise them and Windytail might fall for them!"

"That's the point," Tigerpelt mewed, coldly. "I'm no good for them." Tigerpaw tackled her brother and pinned him.

She hissed at him. "No. They need you. Windytail made the decision to become your mate now you have to raise your kits."

Tigerpelt struggled then stopped. "O-ok. Y-you're right. I'm sorry. Get off!" Tigerpaw narrowed her eyes then got off.

Tigerpelt sprinted off. Tigerpaw was ready. She leaped onto his back and sent him crashing down.

"They- need- you!" she panted, pinning him.

Tigerpelt struggled then stopped again. His eyes became calm and he chuckled. "You're right. I swear to Starclan that I'm staying." Tigerpaw got off and Tigerpelt sat up.

"See? You're right. They need me. I'm going to the Nursery to check on Windytail." Tigerpelt padded back to camp and Tigerpaw sighed. Her brother had really found a she-cat he could happily spend his life with. Tigerpaw wouldn't be surprised if they died as elders, side by side.

"Tigerpaw. What was that about?" Springpaw padded out of the bush. Tigerpaw explained quickly. Springpaw sighed. "At least he's staying."

"Yeah," agreed Tigerpaw. "I'm glad. He got the she-cat of his dreams and was about to walk out on her!"

"I know. It's stupid," mewed a new voice. "If I could get the she-cat of my dreams, I'd stay." Ghostface came out of the bushes. "Hi."

"Hi," Tigerpaw meowed, breathing in his scent. "There's a she-cat that you like?"

"Ya," Ghostface said. "But only I know who. Well, and your brother."

"What will stop him from telling me?" grinned Tigerpaw.

"He's my best friend," Ghostface replied.

"Good point," Tigerpaw groaned, to laughter from Springpaw. Springpaw was Tigerpaw's best friend and for good reason. They acted alike sometimes and they looked quite alike.

"I can depend on him," Ghostface continued. "You've got a loyal brother."

"I know," Tigerpaw murmured. She looked up at the stars.

"I'm tired," yawned Springpaw. "Let's go."

"Yeah," Ghostface agreed.

"Well, alright," Tigerpaw agreed.

The next morning, Tigerpaw stretched. She padded out of the den and saw Ghostface and Mousepaw padding out to train. Ghostface turned around and saw her. "Morning." They continued to pad away.

"Hi," Tigerpaw replied. Ghostface turned once more to smile at her, before disappearing out of sight.

"Tigerpaw." Tigerpelt joined her. "Guess what!"

"What?" Tigerpaw asked.

"Windytail is doing fine!" Tigerpelt purred. "She's perfectly healthy!"

"That's awesome, Tigerpelt!" Tigerpaw grinned.

"Yeah. I'm actually rather excited," Tigerpelt admitted. "I wasn't but after you spoke to me, I felt better."

"That's great!" Tigerpaw purred. "So you're staying?"

"Yeah," Tigerpelt meowed. "I'm staying in Riverclan."

Tigerpaw smiled. "Good."

"Guys." Lionheart padded to them. "You two are going tot he gathering tonight." Lionheart was the deputy. At a Gathering, the clans can talk to each other and be social with each other.

"Sweet," Tigerpaw mewed. "I love going."

"Me too." Darkstream, a very dark tabby tom, padded to them. Lionheart passed him a worried look that Darkstream seemed to understand because the tabby nodded.

Lionheart looked at his friend with concern for a moment then mewed, "You're coming too."

"Ok." Darkstream padded away.

"This is my first gathering as a warrior!" Tigerpelt exclaimed.

"That's awesome!" Tigerpaw mewed. "Want to hunt?"

"Sure," Tigerpelt agreed. "How about we ask if we can take a hunting patrol?"

"Ok!" Tigerpaw ran to Lionheart. "Can I take out a patrol with Tigerpelt?"

"Sure," Lionheart shrugged. "Take whoever you want."

Soon, Stormpaw, Wolfwind, Blaziepaw, Patchypaw, and Springpaw were padding by the river. Stormpaw was Lionheart and Stonecloud's gray tabby son and Wolfwind was black and white. Stonecloud was gray like her son.

"Hi!" Ghostface and Mousepaw ran to them.

"Hi," Tigerpelt purred. "Wolfwind and I felt lonely with all of these apprentices." He turned to his sister. "This is the last time you pick the patrol." Everyone laughed, including Tigerpaw. Suddenly a water vole caught her eye. Tigerpaw spun to it and killed it quickly.

"Well, we're supposed to hunt, right?" she meowed, when she saw the surprised looks that she was getting. The others agreed and the group spent the day hunting.

Tigerpaw looked around her. She was at the Gathering. Tigerpaw saw Darkstream sneak away from the crowd. Lionheart nodded at him, worriedly. Curious, Tigerpaw crept after the dark warrior. He padded behind the Great Rock and turned to a light brown she-cat.

"Lionheart knows," he breathed. "He's my best friend. He won't tell."

"I know." The she-cat nuzzled him, purring. "It shouldn't matter that I'm from Thunderclan, right?"

"You're right, Ferntooth," Darkstream mewed. Tigerpaw froze. Darkstream, one of the most honorable warriors, was breaking the warrior code!