A/N- Here's the next chapter! Thanks to everyone who has reviewed! By the way, the next chapter is very long so beware!

Disclaimer- I don't own warriors!

Chapter 10

As the horizon began to turn pink, Silverpelt stood up. It was dawn and his long vigil by Redpaw's body was over. Swiftwind had been there too. He had been doing two vigils. His warrior vigil, and a vigil with Redpaw. Silverpelt was tired, but he couldn't sleep yet. He had to hunt and fill his empty stomach. He felt like he hadn't eaten for a moon.

Whitefoot had gone to the Moonpool that night. He hadn't been able to sit a vigil with his dead apprentice. Everyone in the clan had agreed, Redpaw would be greatly missed.

There was one problem though. Who was going to be an apprentice medicine cat now? None of the apprentices seemed like they would be suitable. Icepaw was too bouncy and energetic, Mousepaw much preferred hunting and Brokenpaw, he liked fighting too much.

As the cats began to emerge from their dens, Whitestar padded out of his den and looked around. Brokenpaw saw him and walked quietly over. He whispered something to his leader. Whitestar looked shocked. Brokenpaw whispered something else and Whitestar's expression changed to one of understanding. The leader nodded, said something and leapt up onto the highrock. He called the cats for a meeting.

"I have just had some news." he said, "Brokenpaw wishes to become an apprentice medicine cat. He wants to be able to remember Redpaw in this way and make the journey into a medicine cat for both of them."

Many cats nodded in understanding and some cheered. Brokenpaw smiled as he looked around. Whitefoot had returned not too long ago and Brokenpaw had spoken to him. They must have been agreeing to this.

Silverpelt nodded his agreement and turned away. He looked at the group of warriors sat around. There were four others, so only five warriors. He looked across at Icepaw and Mousepaw. They were as good as warriors and they could remember almost everything.

They should be warriors, he thought.

Silverpelt walked over to Orangestripe and said to her,

"Our apprentices should be warriors."

She nodded and the two cats walked over to Whitestar.

"Um, Whitestar," began Silverpelt. His leader turned around.

"We think our apprentices should be warriors. We have assed their skills and they are excellent. They can learn no more."

Whitestar looked across at the two cats, they were sharing tongues. He nodded.

"You're right. I'll perform the ceremony at midnight." The two mentors turned away and walked over to their apprentices. They looked up as they saw them approach.

"Guess what," said Orangestripe.

"What?" asked Icepaw.

"You're going to be warriors." finished Silverpelt.

The two young cats looked at each other, eyes wide in astonishment. They dashed away to tell Brokenpaw.

"Well, soon we shall have no apprentices. We have almost no cats left." he said, turning to look at Orangestripe.

She gazed at him with compassionate eyes, then turned and walked away.

Suddenly a wail sounded from the nursery. Greystripe rushed out of it and cried,

"The kits are coming!"

Whitefoot and Brokenpaw looked up then sprinted over. They whispered questions to Greystripe who answered then led them into the nursery. Orangestripe dashed in to help, and to see what she would have to do when it was her turn.

Silverpelt felt uneasy. Her fur prickled and he didn't feel comfortable. He quietly padded out of camp and went to hunt.

Silverpelt smelt something. He couldn't quite place it though. He opened his mouth and drew in the scent. Then he recognised it. Swiftwind!

Then he smelt another cat. Ferneyes was there too!

He crept closer until he could clearly see them. They were sat close together, talking.

Silverpelt listened.

"I'm expecting kits soon." said Ferneyes.

"Who's?" asked Swiftwind, moving closer.

"Yours, of course." she replied, laughing softly.

Silverpelt gasped. The pair must have noticed because they pricked up their ears then bolted away.

Silverpelt sat there, astonished at what he'd heard. He couldn't believe it. It was a disaster!

He looked around, to see where he was. He noticed a familiar tree with claw marks running down the trunk. He must be near the Shadowclan border. Suddenly, he felt the fur on the back of his neck blow in a faint wind. He spun around, and saw Redpaw standing behind him.

"Have you told them yet?" Redpaw asked, anxiously.

"No."

"Good. Wait until your apprentice is a warrior."

"What should we do about apprentices? We have none."

"Starclan will send you some."

"But…" said Silverpelt, but Redpaw was already turning away. He walked into the bushes and vanished.

Silverpelt walked away. He couldn't do anything. He would have to return to camp. Hopefully, Tawnypelt would have had her kits by now.

Silverpelt wondered what she would name them. She had always said she liked the names of historic cats. Maybe she would choose names that the elders had mentioned in their stories. Is that why she had been listening to their tales?

He trotted down the slope and into camp. Greystripe was sat in the clearing, looking proud.

Silverpelt walked up to him.

"How are the kits?"

"Fine." replied Greystripe, head held high. "There are four of them. We've already chosen names. Come and see."

He led Silverpelt across the camp and into the nursery. Tawnypelt looked up as they entered. She smiled at them. Four little kits were pressed up against her, feeding.

"Let me introduce them." she purred. Pointing at a little brown tabby she said, "This is Brindlekit." Greystripe purred.

Tawnypelt continued, this time pointing at a small, dull grey kit. "This one's called Stonekit."

Next she introduced a pale grey kit. "This is Willowkit." Finally, she pointed at a small pale ginger tabby. "And she is called Dawnkit."

Silverpelt purred. It was a comforting feeling, looking at the future of your clan.

"I'll leave you in peace now." he said.

He backed out of the nursery and turned around, just in time to see a strange she-cat limp wearily into the camp. She was pushing three kits infront of her. They looked almost six moons old and all looked incredibly scared.

Whitestar walked forwards and looked at the cat.

"Shadowmask. What do you want?"

She looked up at him with a steady gaze.

"You know. Here are your kits."

The clan gasped. The kits backed away, towards their mother.

"Why did you bring them to me?" Whitestar asked.

"Tigerpelt wants them dead. He knows you're their father. He will kill them if they remain there. He has already tried to kill me."

Whitestar's gaze flicked from the kits, to the mother, and back again.

"Of course we'll take them." he said.

His expression was unreadable as he nudged the kits towards the highrock.

Shadowmask collapsed on the ground. Whitestar rushed to her.

"No." she said. "My time has come." She shuddered, then died.

Whitestar gazed at the dead she-cat for a moment, then walked over to the highrock and climbed onto it. He didn't need to call the clan, they had already gathered. None of them protested. They needed these cats, and they were half Thunderclan.

"We gather here to give these kits there apprentice names."

The kits edged forwards.

"Greystripe. You have no apprentice. You shall be mentor to Hollypaw."

Greystripe stepped up next to his dark ginger apprentice.

"Greystripe, you are a brave and noble warrior. I trust that you will pass on your skills and bravery to your new apprentice."

The pair touched noses, then stepped backwards.

Whitestar continued,

"Swiftwind, it is time for your first apprentice. You shall be mentor to Specklepaw."

The young warrior stepped up to his apprentice. Specklepaw was white with black flecks.

"Swiftwind, you are a fast and heroic warrior. See that you pass on these qualities to your apprentice." The warrior and apprentice touched noses, then backed away, leaving just one kit left.

Silverpelt wondered who would mentor this kit. It was a pale silver colour, with flecks of white. The problem was, there were no free warriors left.

"I have no current apprentice." announced Whitestar.

"Therefore, I shall be mentor to Thistlepaw."

He leapt off the highrock and touched noses with his apprentice. They joined the other mentors and apprentices and the clan cheered,

"Specklepaw! Hollypaw! Thistlepaw!"

Silverpelt looked at them. He could clearly see how Specklepaw and Thistlepaw were related to Whitestar and Shadowmask. But Hollypaw's colouring was a mystery. Another question to add to the list. Along with, why would Tigerpelt openly try to kill these cats?

He turned and padded away to his den. He didn't have time for this. He would get some sleep before Icepaw's warrior ceremony at midnight.

"Let all cats old enough to catch their own prey gather here, beneath the highrock, for a clan meeting."

All the cats sat down to watch. Icepaw and Mousepaw walked up to the base of the rock.

"I, Whitestar, 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."

He looked at Icepaw.

"Icepaw, do you promise to uphold the warrior code and to protect and defend this clan, even at the cost of your life?"

Icepaw replied, eyes gleaming,

"I do."

Then by the powers of Starclan, I give you your warrior name. Icepaw, from this moment you will be known as Icepelt. Starclan honours your skills and courage, and we welcome you as a full warrior of Thunderclan."

Then he looked at Mousepaw.

"Mousepaw, do you promise to uphold the warrior code and to protect and defend this clan, even at the cost of your life?"

Mousepaw was much calmer and replied steadily,

"I do."

Then by the powers of Starclan, I give you your warrior name. Mousepaw, from this moment you will be known as Mousewhisker. Starclan honours your patience and memory, and we welcome you as a full warrior of Thunderclan."

The Thunderclan cats cheered and the two newest warriors and they sat down to begin their vigil. The clan chanted their new names,

"Icepelt! Mousewhisker!"

As the cats began to disperse, Silverpelt looked around for Orangestripe. He found her sleeping in the warriors den. He didn't want to disturb her, but…

Silverpelt turned and walked across the clearing, over to Whitestar.

"I need to tell the clan something, and it can't wait."

Whitestar looked at him closely then leapt up onto the highrock.

"Cats of Thunderclan! Silverpelt has an announcement!"

He signalled for Silverpelt to join him.

Silverpelt sprang up, onto the highrock, and began.

"Before Redpaw died, he told me something."

This got the attention of all the cats.

"He told me that Orangestripe didn't kill Heavyfur."

He paused as some cats jeered. It was the elders, Greystripe and Tawnypelt, who had come out of the nursery.

"He received a message from Starclan." continued Silverpelt, "They told him that he must kill Heavyfur. So he did…"

Silverpelt trailed off. He hadn't even planned what he had been going to say. He felt like he'd just said everything wrong

The clan was silent. They could all just believe it. And they knew that Redpaw had the same colour fur as Orangestripe. It all made sense.

"Why didn't you tell us sooner?" asked Whitestar, soothingly.

"Redpaw appeared to me. He said I should wait until Icepelt and Mousewhisker became warriors."

Silverpelt felt tired and heavy as a boulder. He jumped down, off the highrock, and padded away to the warriors den.

He saw several cats looking at Orangestripe. Tawnypelt walked up to her, licked her shoulder, and said,

"I'm sorry."

Silverpelt purred. Even if he had just disgraced Redpaw, Orangestripe was now free.

He padded into the den and curled up in his nest. He tried to sleep, but he couldn't. Something wasn't right.