Chapter 16

Squirrelflight's PoV

Squirrelflight woke up to Jayfeather rushing into the Nursery, sniffing Tawnykit. "What's wrong, Jayfeather?"

Jayfeather let out a gusty breath. "Echosong was wrong about which of your kits was affected. It wasn't your daughter. It's your son; this one." He pointed his tail to Tawnykit. "Your son is dying from blindness and deafness. Your other son and daughter are fine. It's this one that's affected. Echosong was thinking about Frecklefur and her litter that's about to be born. Her daughter is affected by something. Not yours."

"Leopardkit is okay? It's Tawnykit that's affected?" Jayfeather nodded. "NO! And he's dying as we speak?" Again, Jayfeather nodded. "Get Brambleclaw." Jayfeather immediately turned around and ran out of the Nursery. She looked down fearfully at Tawnykit. Please StarClan. Don't let Tawnykit die. But she knew it was hopeless; if Tawnykit was destined to die, then he would. She couldn't change his destiny, no matter how much she wanted to.

Then she scented Brambleclaw and his fearscent. He appeared a moment later. "I heard the news. What are we going to do? We have to stop this."

Squirrelflight returned his gaze with one of despair and hopelessness. "There's nothing we can do, Brambleclaw. He's in the paws of StarClan now." Squirrelflight bent down to breathe in Tawnykit's scent one last time as he breathed in one last breath before his breathing stilled. Squirrelflight let an anguished wail, waking up Sandstorm, Mintfur, Tinycloud, and Cherrytail.

Sandstorm sniffed her kits, making sure they were still asleep, then got up and padded toward her. "What's wrong? Is it Leopardkit?"

Squirrelflight shook her head. "It's Tawnykit. He's dead."

"Why what's wrong with him? I thought Leopardkit was affected."

"No, our daughter is fine. It was Tawnykit that was affected. Echosong was just thinking of a different she-cat's daughter. Tawnykit hunts with StarClan now. We must sit vigil tonight. Stay, my kits. I must tell Firestar." Squirrelflight rose to her paws, picked up the lifeless Tawnykit, and padded out of the Nursery. She padded down the stony path, wincing when it cut her pads. She padded over to her father, and set down her kit, where he lay motionless. "Daddy." Firestar turned to look at her. "My son is dead."

Firestar's green eyes grew wide and he looked down at Tawnykit. "Which one is this?"

"This one is Tawnykit. The other son that is alive is Adderkit, and my daughter is Leopardkit."

Firestar twitched his ears. "We'll hold vigil tonight. It's too bad we can't bury him in our territory."

"Who says we can't? I want to leave today. We carried Oakkit, Bluekit, Ivykit, and Dovekit on the way here. Why can't we do the same for Adderkit, Tawnykit, and Leopardkit? I'm not leaving Tawnykit here. We're leaving to at sunhigh. We've been here long enough."

"Squirrelflight, we can't move Adderkit and Leopardkit yet, right?"

"I'm their mother, and they'll be fine, besides, they've opened they're eyes and Adderkit has amber eyes and Leopardkit had blue eyes. We can carry them now."

"But they're only a day old. Are you sure they can be picked up?"

"Yes, we just have to move when they're sleeping. We have to get moving. Our beloved lake is in danger. Me and Brambleclaw have to be there when the Dark forest attacks. But the war won't start until Ivykit joins them. We have to get back before she joins. We leave today at sunhigh, and that's final. Go tell Leafstar."

Firestar nodded and went to tell Leafstar. Squirrelflight turned around and came face-to-face with Princess. "I heard what happened. I'm sorry."

"It's okay. Hey can you get Hollyleaf, Lionblaze, Ravenpaw, Barley, and Jayfeather, and tell them to get my kits. Tell the SkyClan queens we need to leave." Princess nodded her head and went up the stony trail to the Nursery. A cat calling her name caught her attention. She turned and saw Leafstar. Squirrelflight dipped her head. "Greetings, Leafstar. What do you want?"

"I was going to ask you if, before we leave, if we could make our older apprentices warriors."

Squirrelflight flicked her ears in surprise. "Why would you ask me that? It's your Clan."

"Because you want to leave at sunhigh."

"Oh, well, yeah. Of course."

Leafstar nodded and leaped onto the Rockpile. "Let all cats old enough to catch their own prey join beneath the Rockpile for a Clan meeting." Everycat in the Clan and the cats Squirrelflightbrought with her came to stand under the Rockpile. Squirrelflight saw her other kits, newborn and four moons old, scamper up to her. They all croud around Tawnykit and lay beside him while looking up at Leafstar. "First of all, I have some bad news. Squirrelflight if ThunderClan has lost her son Tawnykit this morning and we all grieve for her, and since this happened she wants to leave for the lake at sunhigh. SkyClan needs to go with them, as StarClan wants. Second order of business, the making of warriors: Nettlepaw, Creekpaw, Plumpaw, and Rabbitpaw, come forward." A bracken-colored tom, a black-and-silver tom, and gray she-cat and a brown tabby tom came forward. "I, Leafstar, leader of SkyClan, call upon my warrior ancestors to look down upon these apprentices. They have trained hard to understand the ways of your noble code and I commend them to you as warriors in their turn." She turned her amber gaze on the four apprentices in front of her. "Nettlepaw, Creekpaw, Plumpaw, and Rabbitpaw, do you promise to uphold the warrior code and to protect and defend this Clan, even at the cost of your life?"

Nettlepaw raised his chin, and meowed firmly, "I do."

Creekpaw's tail twitch in excitement, but his meow was steady as he replied, "I do."

Plumpaw raised her blue eyes, and meowed, "I do."

Rabbitpaw's green eyes were blazing with excitement, but he meows clearly, "I do."

"Then by the powers of StarClan, I give you your warrior names: Nettlepaw, from this moment on you will be know as Nettlefang. StarClan honors your determination and your bravery and we welcome you as a full member of SkyClan." Leafstar leaped down fron the Rockpile and put her muzzle between his ears, where Nettlefang licked her shoulder respectfully. He went and stood beside Sparrowpelt. Leafstar turned to Creekpaw. "Creekpaw, from this moment you will be known as Creekfur. StarClan honors you wisdom and your strength and we welcome you as a full member of SkyClan." Leafstar put her muzzle on Creekfur's head and he licked her shoulder respectfully. Then he went to stand beside Billystorm. Leafstar turned to Plumpaw. "Plumpaw, from this moment on you will be know as Plumtail. StarClan honors your bravery and your determination and we welcome you as a full member of SkyClan." Leafstar put her muzzle on Plumtail's head and she licked her leader's shoulder respectfully and went to stand beside Snookthorn. Leafstar turned to Rabbitpaw. "Rabbitpaw, from this moment you will be known as Rabbitclaw. SkyClan honors your forethought and your bravery and we welcome you as a full member of SkyClan." Leafstar put her muzzle on Rabbitclaw's head and he licked her shoulder respectfully. Rabbitclaw goes and stands besides Sharpclaw.

"Nettlefang, Creekfur, Plumtail, Rabbitclaw!" The Clan yells.

Squirrelflight purred her delight halfheartedly with sad eyes. When Leafstar announced that where ever they spent the night is where they would sit their vigil, Squirrelflight picked up Tawnykit's lifeless body and flicked her tail. Lionblaze picked up Dovekit, Jayfeather picked up Ivykit, Hollyleaf picked up Bluekit, Ravenpaw picked up Oakkit, Barley picked up Adderkit, and Princess picked up Leopardkit. Brambleclaw picked up Sunkit, Firestar picked up Robinkit, and Sandstorm picked up Stonekit. The other circled around in a protective circle. Leafstar got the message and had warriors pick up the SkyClan queens kits. Once every kit was picked up, the remaining warriors circled protectively, sending Sandstorm, Squirrelflight and the cats who are carrying their kits to the middle. Leafstar led the way out of their territory, heading for the lake.

Two moons later, they reached the lake and Blackstar and Mistystar went to their territories, wishing Squirrelflight good luck. Squirrelflight decided to stop and rest so she could feed Adderkit and Leopardkit. She kept Tawnykit close, for his vigil every night. When Leopardkit and Adderkit fell asleep again and the rest of her kits had eaten fresh-kill, they continued they're journey home. They dropped off SkyClan and Onestar on WindClan's territory, now SkyClan's territory, too. The ThunderClan cats, including Barley, Ravenpaw, and Princess, continued on to their territory.

By sunhigh, they reached the edge of their territory. Squirrelflight pricked her ears as she scented a hunting patrol and flicked her tail in warning. The hunting party came into view and the party consist of Graystripe, Brackenfur, Mouseclaw, and Badgerpaw. They pricked their ears as they saw the bedraggled group.

"Whoa! What happened to you guys?" Graystripe asked.

"Journeying. And I had two litters three moons apart, so it natural for me to look more tired and bedraggled. Can we just get to the camp?"

Graystripe nodded, turned around, and led them to the camp. The Clan welcomed them home, then saw the lifeless kit in Squirrelflight's mouth and their faces grew grave. Silverpelt was now out and Squirrelflight could have an actual vigil for Tawnykit. She saw her kits circle around to grieve for their lost brother. She saw Firestar leap onto the Highledge and called the familiar summons. Squirrelflight knew this was about Silverflower's, Sandstorm's and her four eldest kits' apprentice ceremony, but she also knew that he wouldn't do all their kits in one day. Silverflower's was today and she sat with a kit on each side. Squirrelflight told her kits to stay by Tawnykit and padded over to sit by Graystripe.

"Cats of ThunderClan, I'm pleased to be back with my Clan. The journeying cats have completed their journey and SkyClan is here in their new territory. Expecially the Tribe cats. Leafstar has promised to send a messenger when Squirrelflight knows when the battle happens. Or Jayfeather. Now, come forward you two." Stormkit, and Featherkit padded forward. "Until he has earned his warrior name, he shall be known as Stormpaw. Graystripe, you have shown yourself to be a warrior of intelligence and quick thinking. I expect you to pass on all you know to this apprentice." Graystripe touched noses with his son and padded over to join the other mentors. "Until she has earned her warrior name, she will be known as Featherpaw. Brambleclaw, you have shown yourself to be a warrior of bravery and intelligence. I trust you to pass on all you know to this apprentice." Brambleclaw touched noses with Featherpaw and padded over to stand by Graystripe.

Firestar leaped down from the Highledge and padded over to Sandstorm to talk with her. Squirrelflight gave her congratulations with her sad eyes. She looked at Brambleclaw and knew he knew what she was thinking. She padded slowly over to her kits, fed Adderkit and Leopardkit, and stayed up for Tawnykit's proper vigil. Her kits fell asleep by her side. Brambleclaw, her adopted kits, Firestar, Sandstorm, Ravenpaw, Barley, and Princess laid by her; Sandstorm's kits fell asleep by her. Squirrelflight looked up at the stars and uttered a silent prayer to StarClan: Receive him with honor and help me bear the loss of my son.

The sun was just rising as Squirrelflight saw Mousefur and Longtail come out to bury Tawnykit. Her heart grew heavy as she knew he would never be an apprentice and he would never be a warrior. She woke her kits and padded heavily to the Nursery, ushering her kits inside and Sandstorm following her, but at that moment Firestar called another meeting for Sandstorm's kits' apprentice ceremony. She made sure her six kits were asleep before following Sandstorm and her three kits. Sandstorm took her kits by the Highledge. Firestar looked down proudly at his kits.

"Come forward, you three." His son and ginger-furred daughter ran to the Highledge, but Robinkit padded calmly toward the Highledge. Firestar leaped down from the Highledge, "Until he has earned his warrior name, he shall be known as Stonepaw. Brackenfur, you are intelligent and think before you do something; teach all you know to this apprentice." Brackenfur padded toward his apprentice and touched noses with him. They padded toward Graystripe, and Brambleclaw. "Until she had earned her warrior name, she shall be known as Sunpaw. Dustpelt, you are brave and smart, teach all you know to this young apprentice." Dustpelt touched noses with Sunpaw and padded over to Brackenfur. Squirrelflight was glad her old mentor had a new apprentice, but she was still shocked by the loss of her son, Tawnykit and was still grieving for him. She flicked her tail in his direction; he acknowledged her happy-but-sad greeting with a nod of his head. Then turned her attention to Firestar. "Until she has earned her warrior name, she will be known as Robinpaw. Thornclaw, you will mentor her. You are a warrior of bravery and quick thinking. Pass on all you know to this apprentice." Thornclaw touched noses with Robinpaw and padded over to Dustpelt. "Before you guys congratulate the newest apprentices, I want you guys to welcome three cats: Barley, and Princess, my sister and Cloudtail's mother, and Ravenpaw. And that reminds me. Ravenpaw, Princess, and Barley, please step forward." The three cats stepped forward. "Until he has earned her warrior name, he shall be known as Snakepaw. Ashfur, you will mentor him. You have shown yourself worthy of an apprentice many times, for you are strong and loyal. I trust you pass on all you know to this apprentice." Ashfur padded toward Snakepaw (AN: Snakepaw is Barley) and touched noses with him. Then they padded toward Thornclaw. "Until she has earned her warrior name, she will be known as Cloverpaw. Sandstorm, now that you're out of the Nursery, you're free to take on an apprentice. You are a brilliant hunter and bright. I trust you to pass on all you know to this apprentice." Sandstorm touched noses with Cloverpaw (AN: Cloverpaw is Princess) and padded over to stand beside Ashfur. "Finally, Ravenpaw, you have already begun you're apprenticeship, but now you must learn the ways of a warrior through a different mentor. Foxleap, you are ready for your first apprentice. You will finish Ravenpaw's training. You have proven yourself brave and fast. Teach all you know to this apprentice." Foxleap touched noses with Ravenpaw and padded to stand beside Sandstorm.

"And finally, Badgerpaw, and Snowpaw, please come forward." The white apprentice and her black-and-white brother padded up to Firestar, as sunhigh approached. Firestar looked at the sky. "I, Firestar, leader of ThunderClan, call upon my warrior ancestors to look down on these apprentices. They have trained hard to understand the ways of your noble code and I commend them to you as warriors in their turn." Firestar turned his green gaze to Snowpaw and Badgerpaw. "Snowpaw, Badgerpaw, do you promise to uphold the warrior code and to protect and defend this Clan, even at the cost of your life?"

Badgerpaw's meow was firm as he replied, "I do."

Snowpaw raised her chin as she replied with the same firmness, "I do."

"Then by the powers of StarClan, I give you your warrior name: Badgerpaw, from this moment you will be known as Badgerfang. StarClan honors your bravery and your determination and we welcome you as a full member of ThunderClan." Firestar put his muzzle on Badgerfang's head and Badgerfang licked his shoulder respectfully, and took his place in the warriors side. Firestar turned to Snowpaw. "Snowpaw, from this moment, you will be known as Snowcloud. StarClan honors your forethought and your intelligence and we welcome you as a full member of ThunderClan." Firestar put his muzzle on Snowcloud's head and she liked his shoulder respectfully. She went to her place in the warriors.

"Badgerfang! Snowcloud! Badgerfang! Snowcloud!" The Clan yowled.

"In honor of their warrior ancestors, Badgerfang and Snowcloud must sit in silent vigil and guard the camp while we all sleep tonight. After we feast. Brambleclaw send out the sunhigh patrol. Sandstorm, send out hunting patrols. That is all. The meeting is over."

Squirrelflight gave her congratulations on the mentors and the apprentices. Then she pads towards the Nursery. On the way there, Squirrelflight overheard Hazeltail and Sorreltail talking to each other.

"I'm going into the Nursery today. I'm expecting Brackenfur's kits again," Sorreltail meowed proudly.

"I have to go there to. I'm expecting Ashfur's kits."

"I thought Ashfur was in love with Squirrelflight?"

"He says his feelings changed. He loved her as a sister and he's in love with me. Had has his feelings switched because he thought he loved Squirrelflight the way he loved me." Squirrelflight doubted that Ashfur really loved Hazeltail the way he loved her. The prophecy came to mind again. Beware of the ash that seems not to mind, but is jealous and will do anything to seek the squirrel's affection and love. The bramble and ash will fight to the death. But she had to act as if she didn't know anything, so she congratulated her.

"Congrats, Hazeltail. I'm sure Ashfur is really happy. Come on, let's get you settled, you two. And you, Sorreltail. Brackenfur must be pleased." Squirrelflight led them into the Nursery to settle down.

Squirrelflight awoke to Adderkit, and Leopardkit feeding. Sandstorm padded in. "Squirrelflight, get Oakkit, Bluekit, Ivykit, and Dovekit ready for their apprentice ceremony. It's at sunhigh." She turned and left.

Squirrelflight woke up Oakkit, Bluekit, Ivykit, and Dovekit. They protested at first, but when they learned what was happening, they started to wash themselves. Squirrelflight washed herself as well, and asked Sorreltail to watch her kits, Adderkit and Leopardkit, who had fallen asleep. She said yes, and Squirrelflight took her four kits out of the Nursery and out by the Highledge. Squirrelflight sat between Bluekit and Ivykit. Firestar came out of his den and onto the Highledge and called the familiar call.

When the Clan was assembled, Firestar began. "Cats of ThunderClan, today we welcome four new apprentices. Come up here, your four." Oakkit, Bluekit, and Ivykit scampered up to Firestar, but Dovekit padded calmly toward him. Firestar leaped down from the Highledge. "From this day forward, until he had earned his warrior name, this apprentice will be known as Oakpaw. Mouseclaw, you are ready for your first apprentice. You are brave and quick witted. Show this young apprentice all you know." Mouseclaw touched noses and padded over to the mentors side. "Until she has earned her warrior, this apprentice shall be know as Bluepaw. Spiderleg, you will mentor her. You are brave and intelligent. Pass on all you know to this young apprentice." Spiderleg touched noses with Bluepaw, and padded over by Mouseclaw. "Until she has earned her warrior name, this apprentice shall be known as Ivypaw. Cinderheart, you will mentor her. You are kind and loyal, and I trust you to pass on all you know to Ivypaw." Cinderheart touched noses with her and padded over to Spiderleg and Mouseclaw. Squirrelflight exchanged a glance with Jayfeather, Lionblaze, and Hollyleaf. "Until she has earned her warrior name, she shall be known as Dovepaw. Lionblaze, you will mentor her, for you are a great fighter and a brilliant hunter. Pass on all you know to this young apprentice."

Squirrelflight padded over with her eyes shining with pride. "Congrats you guys. Make me proud, you guys." She touched her nose to their flanks and then had a word with their mentors. When she turned around, she saw Adderkit and Leopardkit padding toward her. She rolled her eyes and padded toward Jayfeather's den. She padded in asked for borage leaves. She ate them and padded back toward her kits, only to see them cowering in fear as another fox came toward them snarling. All warriors were either on patrol or training their apprentices. Squirrelflight leaped into the air and landed on the fox's shoulders, dug in, flipped him over and flung him across the clearing. She leaped to her paws and crouched, snarling. She ran, and leaped onto the fox. She bit his shoulder as hard as she could. The sunhigh patrol came in as the fox flung Squirrelflight across the clearing, into the Highledge, which consist of Brambleclaw, Graystripe, Poppycloud, and Stormpaw. Squirrelflight struggled to her paws, feeling the fox's teeth in her shoulder. She screeched, flailing her paws. The fox shook Squirrelflight, and she wailed out in pain.

Suddenly, the fox let go of her, and she dropped to the ground. She looked up to see Brambleclaw, Graystripe, Stormpaw, and Poppycloud killing the fox. Then she blacked out.

Squirrelflight awoke to see the Island and the warriors of StarClan. Bluestar stepped forward. "Welcome, Squirrelflight, daughter if the Fire. We have come to thank you. So far, the Ivy is loyal and pure. Well done."

"I'm guessing you didn't bring me here to tell me that."

"No, Tigerstar is growing stronger as we speak. His next target is Tigerheart. Then Ivypaw. Warn them. We have to stop this prophecy from coming true. And even if it does, you will find the strength to save it. And remember: Beware the crow that pounces the leaf."

"Okay, warn Tigerheart and Ivypaw. And Beware the crow that pounces the leaf. Wait, are you talking about Crowfeather and Leafpool?"

"Yes. Crowfeather is coming and Leafpool will not be a medicine cat any longer."

"Why?"

"She still feels for him."

"I knew she was lying when she said her heart belonged to the path of a medicine cat!"

"He's already here. Keep him away from his kits."

Squirrelflight nodded his head. "I will try my best."

"I know you will. You have served your Clan well, young one."

"Thanks, Bluestar."

"Farewell, Squirrelflight. We'll meet again soon."

Squirrelflight woke up to see Firestar, Crowfeather, Leafpool, Sandstorm, her kits (all of them) and Brambleclaw crowding around her. "Why is Crowfeather here?" She mumbled.

"He's apart of the Clan now. And Leafpool's not a medicine cat anymore."

Squirrelflight rolled her eyes and sat up. "I know. I knew she wouldn't stay on the path of a medicine cat if Crowfeather was here."

"How?" Firestar asked.

"Mink-link. I knew she was lying about her heart set on the path of a medicine cat. Her heart never left Crowfeather."

"Okay, well he's a ThunderClan warrior now."

"Alright. Come Adderkit and Leopardkit. It's time to feed." She led her kits to the Nursery to feed them and then they fell asleep. She laid her head on her paws, closed her eyes and fell asleep as well.