Finally! I've been waiting for this chapter as long as you have, the only difference is that I've had the responsibility of writing this thing. I'm really sorry I couldn't get it to you sooner, but I've sort of had writer's block, the bane of every author. You never know when it's going to strike, and when it does, you have no idea how long it's going to last. But anyway, here's the next chapter, so enjoy!

Chapter One

"Onekit!" called out Whitenose, exiting the nursery. Behind her spilled out her two other kits, a pale sandy brown she-kit and a black-and-white tom, Whitenose turned to them and asked, "Sandkit, Patchkit, do you know where that pesky Onekit went? I swear, he gives me more trouble than the rest of you combined!"

"No, we don't know where he is," answered Sandkit, "but I do think he said that he was going to be hanging out with the apprentices."

"Hmm. Thank you. Here," she said, tossing them a moss ball that had been left lying around outside the nursery. While the two kits busied themselves throwing the ball of moss back and forth, Whitenose headed over to the apprentice's den on the other side of the clearing. Sure enough, as she got closer she was able to distinguish three voices, one of them Onekit's.

"Really?" he was asking, his voice squeaking with excitement.

"Yep." replied a voice, full of self-importance. "Those ShadowClan warriors didn't know what hit them."

"Cool!" exclaimed Onekit again. This time, Whitenose was able to see the other two cats, a small white she-cat named Whitepaw and a mottled dark brown tom named Mudpaw.

"Oh, don't listen to him," mewed Whitepaw, hitting Mudpaw gently on the side with her tail tip. "He's just showing off. I was there at that border skirmish and I'll tell you, the only cats he attacked were a couple of young apprentices scared witless at the fact that they were actually in a battle. I actually feel rather sorry for them."

Mudpaw glared indignantly at Whitepaw as she and Onekit burst out laughing at his expense. "They have been just a couple of scared apprentices this time, Whitepaw, but next time, I will show you that I can drive away a warrior."

"Oh come on Mudpaw! Lighten up! There's never even gonna be a next time! Judging by the state that those cats were in when we sent them off I'll be surprised if they even have the nerve let alone the courage to show their whiskers around our border again!" exclaimed Whitepaw.

"Yeah well, we'll just see about that, now won't we?" asked Mudpaw cryptically.

"What do you mean?" asked Whitepaw sharply, all the laughter disappearing from her voice. The fact that one of her best friends might know something she didn't really set her fur on end, and she didn't like it one bit.

"Yeah, what do you mean?" inquired Onekit, sensing the sudden seriousness of the conversation and wanting to remind the two older apprentices that he was still there.

"Well," Mudpaw leaned in closer as if he were about to tell them a big secret, "My mentor, Crowpelt, told me that ShadowClan has a new leader, Raggedstar, and that we should be weary of him. He says that he is a lot worse than most of the previous ShadowClan leaders, and probably won't hesitate to take something of ours if he feels he or his Clan needs it."

"But he can't do that!" burst out Onekit indignantly. His back was arched, his brown tabby fur standing up, and his eyes blazing. "I'd just like to see that piece of foxdung try to take a single pawstep of WindClan territory!"

"Hmmph. Calm down youngster, I only said he might try to do that. Nothing's set in stone just yet."

"Yeah, well, like Onekit said, I'd just like to see him try!" growled Whitepaw, sinking her claws into the dry moorland soil.

"Well, we should find out his intentions soon enough." said Mudclaw, lifting his head higher. "Crowpelt said I could attend the Gathering tonight, it'll be my first. Has Sparrowflight said if you could come yet?"

Whitepaw hung her head and shook it sadly. "No," she mewed, "she said I haven't earned the right to attend a Gathering yet."

"What!" exclaimed Mudpaw. "That's outrageous! You work harder than most of the other apprentices put together!"

"You know, I won't be going to the Gathering either," mewed Onekit. "I'll be able to keep you company, Whitepaw."

"Only if your mother let's you," Whitepaw pointed out, nodding toward Whitenose, who had been quietly sitting by apprentice's den, watching them without their even noticing it.

Mudpaw and Onekit turned their heads sharply to look at her, and then Onekit stood up and bounded over to her. "Hey, mom!" he cried, "Do you mind if I keep Whitepaw company tonight? Mudpaw is going to the Gathering but neither of us can come. Can I can I can I?" he begged.

Whitenose looked at the eager faces of both Onekit and Whitepaw, then shrugged and said, "Sure, knock yourselves out." Then, in a more motherly tone of voice, she added, "But you, Onekit, had better be back in the nursery before moonhigh. Any later and I'll ask Cottonstar to delay your apprenticeship for a day."

"What!? You can't do that! The ceremony's tomorrow!" cried Onekit in outrage.

"Well then, you'd better hope you make the deadline then, hadn't you?" asked Whitenose, and, smiling slightly in amusement at the indignant look on Onekit's face, turned and headed back to the nursery.

"All cats coming to the Gathering, prepare to leave now!" yowled Cottonstar from atop the tall rock in the center of the WindClan camp. As soon as she said this, she leaped off and went to wait at the entrance to camp for the rest of her party.

"Well, I guess I'd best be going," said Mudpaw. "Don't worry though, I'll be sure to tell you guys everything that happens. Well, bye, I guess."

"Bye, Mudpaw!" chirped Whitepaw and Onekit together as he ran off to join Cottonstar and the rest of the cats going to the Gathering. They remained watching him until they left and then Whitepaw turned to Onekit, smiling, "So, what exactly does this 'keeping company' of yours entail?" she asked jokingly. In reply Onekit playfully butted her side with his head and then the two of them began rolling around the camp. playfully fighting each other.

From the entrance to the nursery, Whitenose watched and smiled for a while before turning inside to see to her other kittens.