Disclaimer-Red cat, Blue cat, One cat, Two cats. Still don't own much.

The Fifth Challenge

Applepetal lay in the beneath branches of the sole source of coverage in SandClan's camp. SandClan was unafraid of the sky, unlike FireClan and LeafClan. Applepetal was within the nursery, her large belly was full of kits. She was happy to be a queen, even if her beloved was in another clan. He would love their kits even so. She was the only queen in SandClan. They hadn't had a new litter of kits in moons. Some of the cats were sad that they were unable to become mentors. The apprentices were nearing their time to become warriors, but there was no kits to take over their duties as apprentices. It was slightly depressing.

Regardless, Applepetal had pride in her becoming a queen. Not only was her clan happy with her, but she was going to grow closer to Smoketail. The handsome gray tom was the father of her kits. He may have been a FireClan warrior, but that didn't prevent their love. She was going to visit him that night too. Applepetal loved to sit under the stars with him, their tails intertwined. It made her heart swell with joy. She just loved him so much! She couldn't help it. The warrior code just didn't apply when it came to Smoketail.

Duskclaw padded into the nursery. Her yellow-green eyes were practically glowing with excitement. Applepetal purred in amusement. She had no idea what was up with her best friend, but Applepetal felt happy for Duskclaw regardless.

"Applepetal, you'll never guess what just happened!" Duskclaw meowed excitedly. She was practically bouncing with alacrity, and Applepetal hadn't even uttered a single word of reply. She shook her dappled head, amused by her best friend's silliness. Surely it couldn't be greater than Applepetal's plans to meet Smoketail again.

"What is it?" she asked, trying to express a genuine curiosity that simply wasn't there. Duskclaw didn't seem to notice though, which Applepetal was quite thankful for. It would have been awkward to explain why she didn't really care to Duskclaw.

"Frozenstep asked me to be his mate!" she practically yowled. Applepetal's pelt heated up. Frozenstep? The deputy was Applepetal's brother! She couldn't believe he hadn't discussed it with her first. Applepetal had known Duskclaw had liked the withdrawn and cold cat for a long time, but she couldn't imagine her brother actually reciprocating the she-cat's feelings. Something just didn't match up to her.

"That's... wonderful, Duskclaw," Applepetal mewed in a weak voice. Her mind was clouded with so many doubts. She probably would just have to see it with her own eyes first. Duskclaw stared at her friend for a long moment.

"You seem a bit... reluctant," she commented. Applepetal stared at Duskclaw in shock. She had been, but that didn't mean Duskclaw had to point it out. Applepetal sighed softly.

"I'm just shocked, that's all," she told her friend quietly. Duskclaw then smiled understandingly.

"That's how I felt when he asked me," she told Applepetal. Applepetal purred.

"I'm sure you two will be wonderful for each other," she replied. Duskclaw nodded curtly and padded off to attend to her duties. Applepetal could've sworn she saw a bounce in Duskclaw's step. Her friend was happy, and that should've been all she wanted, but Applepetal couldn't shake that foreboding feeling she had about it all. Frozenstep just wasn't the type to fall in love. Applepetal knew this for a long time, and as did Duskclaw. Neither of them understood the tom's sudden proposal. Duskclaw had waited for him to tell her something of her feelings for a long time though, so Applepetal couldn't be shocked that she just jumped at the chance to be his mate. Frozenstep had probably been really nervous, the thought made Applepetal purr in amusement. Her brother would be a great leader one day.

Applepetal padded out of the nursery at dusk to make her short journey over to the FireClan border where she'd meet Smoketail. Everyday the journey became harder to walk for her. Her kits were really weighing her down, but that was alright. It only meant that their time to enter into the world was coming closer. She sat at the border, allowing the night breeze to seep into her fur. She could scent newleaf in the wind, and it was already beginning to get warmer. Applepetal wanted her kits to know newleaf, not the horrors of leafbare in their first moments. Smoketail appeared, the shadows of the forest peeled off of him by moonlight. The dark gray tom was incredibly handsome under the moon's lighting.

"Applepetal," he purred, pressing his muzzle to her cheek. His tail brushed over her swelled stomach. Applepetal gazed at him, unable to hide the sheer joy that filled her body with his arrival. Smoketail looked into her green eyes lovingly.

"They're close to joining us," she meowed softly. Smoketail pressed his flank to hers, allowing their pelts to intermingle. Applepetal leaned into him, closing her eyes and allowing his scent to wrap around her and fill her to the brim. Love swelled in her heart. She hated being away from him, but they had their duties in their own clans. They had to remain loyal. It saddened Applepetal, but she was willing to do it because she was loyal to her clan with every fiber of her being. She was loyal to Smoketail as well, but just Smoketail, not his clan.

"I can't wait," he told her softly, his muzzle close to her ear. Applepetal flenched away, a giggle rippling through her. The air that escaped him when he spoke tickled and sent shivers through her. Applepetal couldn't tell if she liked it or not. Smoketail purred and touched his nose to hers. Applepetal sighed softly. She loved being close to him, around and near him. They rarely saw each other at gatherings, and when they did, they never really had a chance to talk. Applepetal cherished those moments by the FireClan border with Smoketail.

"That tickled," she laughed, her tail curling around his. Smoketail chuckled, his yellow eyes glinting mischievously. Applepetal adored that look in his eyes. It always meant something more was to come. She pressed up against him happily, wishing they could stay together the entire night. Smoketail pulled away slightly.

"I have the dawn border patrol tomorrow, so I have now," he whispered to Applepetal. She sighed sadly.

"Alright," she nodded slightly, her green eyes guarded heavily. Smoketail touched his muzzle to hers once more then ran off into his territory. Applepetal watched him go in silence. She would miss him, but she had to return to camp as well. The clan's first queen in moons had much to take care of, as in be fawned over all day. She assumed her clan mates couldn't help it, a new queen was a precious thing to them. Applepetal slipped into camp unnoticed. She returned to her nest with a sigh, happy to give her aching paws a rest. Her kits were being expected any day at the time.

...

Newleaf brought new life to the clans. Sweetgum trees bloomed with flowers and the forest smelt soft and inviting. The moors where SandClan resided was full of wild flowers and fresh herbs that were creeping through the melting snow. Applepetal lay in her nest with three adorable balls of fluff curled up next to her. The trio had yet to be named because Applepetal wanted to name them with Smoketail, but she also did want to leave them on their own.

"May all cats old enough to catch their own prey gather beneath the high rock!" Lionstar yowled. Applepetal sat up and came close to the entrance of the nursery. She wondered if Gingerpaw and Duckpaw were finally becoming warriors, thus leaving the apprentices' den empty. It was a happy and sad thought. SandClan would have new, strong warriors, but no apprentices to follow after. Applepetal looked up at their leader in silence. The beautiful golden tom stared down at the gathered cats proudly.

"Our apprentices have grown into strong warriors and passed their assessments multiple times. They are ready to join the warriors as warriors themselves," Lionstar began. Applepetal smiled. That was wonderful news! Maybe there would be a new queen joining her soon. She knew the way Brackenfur looked at Gingerpaw. It was with the same eyes Smoketail gave to her, "Gingerpaw and Duckpaw, please step forward. I, Lionstar, call upon StarClan to gaze upon these two young apprentices. They have trained long and hard to become warriors, and so I will commend them for all their hard work." Applepetal nodded, practically hanging onto her leader's every word.

"Gingerpaw, do you promise to uphold the Warrior Code and protect your clan, even at the cost of your life?" Lionstar asked the sandy colored she-cat. Gingerpaw was practically shaking with nervousness and excitement. Brackenfur was staring at her lovingly. Applepetal ached to have the same openness with Smoketail as the other two.

"I do," Gingerpaw squeaked. Lionstar smiled at her reassuringly. Then his gaze swept over to Duckpaw, who seemed much more confident than Gingerpaw at that moment. The tom could barely keep himself composed.

"And do you, Duckpaw, promise to uphold the Warrior Code and to protect your clan, even at the cost of your life?" Lionstar asked, amusement glittering in his amber eyes. Duckpaw practically jumped to answer his leader.

"I do!" He meowed excitedly. Applepetal purred in amusement. One of her kits wriggled and peered at the apprentice through bleary eyes. Applepetal licked the little tom's head lovingly. She didn't want to miss the announcing of the two apprentice's new names. That could end up rather embarrassing.

"Then I am proud to give you your warrior names. Gingerpaw, you will be now know as Gingerblossom. Duckpaw, you will now be known as Duckflight," Lionstar declared. The whole clan jumped to begin the chorus of the warriors' names.

"Gingerblossom! Duckflight!" Applepetal felt her clan's joy rise up through her like waves crashing against a beach. She knew she was wholly loyal to her clan. Applepetal knew it better than every other cat around her. Gingerblossom had run to Brackenfur in excitement, pressing her flank to his. She was bursting with joy. Applepetal felt bitterly happy for the couple. She ushered her kits back into the den, barely able to wait until dusk. Applepetal had asked Duskclaw to watch over her kits while she took a midnight walk through the forest. Applepetal used the excuse of needing to stretch her legs. She and Smoketail met at the border as usual, and together they named her kits. Cherrykit, Harvestkit, Treekit.

...

A fox gazed from a hill above SandClan. It watched the small shapes move about the land curiously, a slight froth gathered at its lips. Its eyes wild with blood lust. Every one of those shapes looked tasty.

A nice allusion here. The next prompt will be a bit of fun to write. I will be working quite hard on it today. I hope you enjoyed the snippet of SandClan, we're actually just about finished with SandClan. Almost, but not quite. :)

Do you guys like Applepetal? I think she's a sweet cat. Gingerblossom is cute too. Agh! I'm falling in love with my cats! Dx It'll make it harder to do the next chapter now...

I kinda miss writing about Amberclaw. She's such a fun cat. She's having a bit of trouble with her last challenge of growing up though. Will she end up good or bad...? You can always guess~

Review Please! And Merry Christmas!

~AS