Hi, everybody, BlindSeer here!

Thanks to all my reviewers!

Disclaimer: If I owned warriors, dragons would rule the world, but that isn't happening anytime soon.

OOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO

Leafpool was tired.

Every time she woke up, Squirrelflight was there. There asking if there was any sign. A sign from Starclan telling them that the pup could stay. And every time she answered no.

She didn't blame her. She'd be worried too, if she were in Squirrelflight's paws.

But she wasn't. She was in her own paws, and on her paws. Sorreltail's kitting, Cinderpelts death, Crowfeather...oh, Crowfeather. She missed him so much. But she was a medicine cat. She was needed here, in her clan.

Follow your heart.

It's hard to follow when it's broken.

OOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO

"Okay, Sorreltail, here's some herbs to help you make more milk. That pup sure has on appetite!" Placing the herbs by Sorreltail's mouth, Leafpool saw how tired Sorreltail was as well. Anytime Squirrelflight hadn't been doing warrior duties and questioning Leafpool, she was watching the pup. And she could see that having to nurse 4 growing kits and a growing pup was taking a strain.

"Thanks, Leafpool," She had sounded strong when she had accepted the pup, but the pain of losing her brother and the strain of feeding was taking a toll.

Trying to distract her friend, Leafpool asked, "Have you thought of names?"

"Yes," a gleam of pride entered the queen's eyes. Pointing to a sooty-colored kit that looked a lot like Sorreltail's brother, she said, "Sootkit," Pain entered her eyes as she grieved for her lost brother.

Pointing to a golden-brown kit that looked exactly like the father, she continued, "Sunkit." Then, pointing to one golden kit with a white stripe like a badgers, she said quietly, "Badgerkit." She looked up, uncertain, at Leafpool. Nodding to show she approved, Sorreltail brightened. Then, pointing to the last kit, a white kit with golden paws and grey splotches along the back, she whispered, "Cinderkit."

A taken back by the kits name, pain washed afresh into Leafpool's mending hearts. Cinderpelt. She named one of her kits after Cinderpelt. "Thanks," she whispered back.

Sorreltail twitched her tail in response, and then looked at the pup.

"I don't know what to name it. I don't want to name it Then I'll start loving it, and if we can't keep it, I'll feel like I'm giving up one of my own. I don't want that, atop of everything else."

Pausing, she added, "and I think Squirrelflight might want to have the honors of choosing its name. That is, if we are keeping it?" she looked expectantly at Leafpool.

She shrugged in response. "But tonight is the half moon. I think I might get something then." Turning, she headed towards the entrance. "Shall I tell Brackenfur you've found names?"

Sorreltail nodded, then proceeded to start grooming her kits and the pup again.

Leaving the nursery, she went in search of Brackenfur.

OOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO

It was almost moon-high when she met up with the other medicine cats. She saw Littlecloud bowing his head in grief, and Barkface's short tail was drooping. Riverclan still hadn't arrived.

Minutes later Mothwing emerged from a clump of bracken, shaking the leaves out of her beautiful pelt. Padding up to Leafpool, she brushed her muzzle comfortingly along her side.

Turning, they then started walking silently towards moonpool, no words spoken. Arriving at the silvery surface of the pool, they all bent forward to drink. Icy cold fire blazed through her, and she settled down to await the dreams Starclan would send her.

OOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO

Almost immediately she smelt the sweet scent of her mentor. Looking at where it come from, she saw Cinderpelt, with all her glory, her old wound healed. Walking without limping, she approached Leafpool, the sparkle back in her eyes.

"Oh, Cinderpelt, I've missed you so," Leafpool whispered.

Smiling sadly, she beckoned with her tail. Paddig silently, Leafpool followed her former mentor. Soon the starry trees disapeared, and dark ones replaced them. Suddenly, Cinderpelt disapeared, but her scent remained. Together, they entered a clearing, and in it was a pool. With a gasp, Leafpool recognized the place Tigerstar had been teaching his two sons, Hawkfrost and Brambleclaw, to follow in his pawsteps.

But the pool hadn't been there last time. She remembered that much.

"Go, look into the pool." It was the first time Cinderpelt had spoken since her death.

Padding forward, she gazed into its dark surface. Shadowy figures were stalking through drakness. Then, abruptly, the scene changed, and Leafpool saw a battle, blood spilling everywhere, the lake running red. Through it all, she saw Squirrelflight fighting alongside a beast bigger than any dog she had ever seen, and she could see it looked like the pup, only bigger, stronger, and on their side.

There is dark times up ahead. Creatures with more ambition than good will slowly but surely gain power. To defeat it, enemies must become allies, and grudges must be put aside for love.

With a gasp of fear, she turned and ran back towards the trees. Almost as soon as she was covered by bushes, Tigerstar appeared. Sitting, he started grooming his dark pelt. Minutes later, Hawkfrost appeared, then Brambleclaw.

"Greetings, sons."

"Greetings, Father," the two brothers answered simultaniously. Leafpool shivered. That was kinda creepy.

"What's the status with the filth spawn, Brambleclaw?"

Filth spawn, that must be the pup!

"Our medecine cat went to moonpool to see if it is to be accepted into the clan tonight."

"Ahh. You do know that you must not let it become one of the clan? That could spell disaster for all we've been planning."

Planning? What have you been planning?!

"Yes, father."

Disgusted, Leafpool turned and fled back to the starry trees and sky. Once there, she saw Cinderpelt and Spottedleaf waiting.

"Why do you let them have meatings like that?! Why can't you stop them?" She spat, no longer in awe of her warrior ancestors.

Cinderpelt padded up to her former apprentice. "Because if we controled everything, yould you truly be free?"

Leafpool was still pondering what that meant when she awoke.

OOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO

She returned to camp still thinking. The other medicine cats hadn't gotten anything unusual, save Leafpool and Mothwing, the latter not believing in Starclan at all.

The first being she met when she returned was, of course, Squirrelflight. Before she could open her mouth, Leafpool covered it with her tail, then proceeded to Firestars den.

"May I come?" she sounded indiferent, but anxiaty was underneath.

She started to say no, but saw the worry in her sister's eyes, and gave in.

"I guess," Leafpool muttered.

Squirrelflight brightened imeadeatly, and followed her sister into Firestar's den.

OOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO

Firestar looked up from his vole as Squirrelflight and Leafpool entered his den.

"So, have you seen something?"

Nodding, Leafpool said, "Yes."

She felt Squirrelflight stiffen beside her, and Leafpool knew she was about to burst.

"And?"

"I can't tell you what I saw, exactly," she said slowly, not sure of how much to give away. "But I did see the pup with our clan, along side us." She struggled to explain, without having to have to explain everything.

"I understand, Leafpool." Her father seemed to know exactly what Leafpool was feeling.

"So, what does it mean?" Squirrelflight tried to appear calm, but wasn't succeding.

"It means...it can stay."

OOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO

"Let all cats old enough to catch their own prey gather for a clan meeting." Firestar yowled.

Leafpool shivered nervously as she stood by her fathers side. All the cats were already assembled regardless of the call, and were looking up expectantly.

"Last night Leafpool traveled to Moonpool to dream with our warrior ancestors," he began. "She has told me Starclan came."

A tense, eager silence awaited the rest.

"Starclan want us to accept the pup into the clan."

Silence. No one yowled for joy, but no one objected either.

"I have other news as well."

This surprised Leafpool. She hasn't told him anything else.

"All fought bravely in the attack of the badgers. We honor all who gave their lives to protect their clan." He bowed his head, as did the rest of the clan.

"One apprentice fought bravely, and has earned her right to be a warrior. Whitepaw, please come forward."

Of course! Whitepaws warrior serimony!

Surprise, excitement, and pleasure crossed Whitepaws face. So she didn't know either, Leafpool thought, amused.

Shaking, Whitepaw stepped forward.

"I, Firestar, leader of Thunderclan, ask our warrior ancestors to look down on this appretice. She has strived hard to learn you ways, and I ask you to make her a warrior in turn.

"Whitepaw, do promise to uphold the warrior code and protect your clan, even at the cost of your life?"

Her whole body was shaking, but she replied with a steady, "I do."

"Then at this moment forward you will be known as Whitebadger. Remember what has happened in the past, but always protect the future."

Padding forward, Firestar laid his head on the new warrior, and Whitebadger gave his shoulder a respectful lick.

"Whitebadger, Whitebadger!" The whole clan was chanting her name, and Whitebadger raised her head proudly.

Brightheart appeared and started congratulating her only kit, and Cloudtail sat by Daisy, watching proudly.

Leafpool saw Squirrelflight congratulate Whitebadger, then go directly towards Firestar. She was close enough to hear her sister ask, "May I name the pup?"

Firestar nodded.

"Will there be a naming ceremony?" she asked hopefully.

He responded with one word.

"No."

OOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO

Well, thats all for this chappie!

I know that whitepaw probably wouldn't be named that, but i thought it sounded cool. :)

BlindSeer