NB: Mistyfoot had four kits. The Erins admitted they forgot about them but made clear in later books that Reedwhisker was one. Kate Carey also suggests that Rippletail and Graymist were also two of her kits. The last one has never been identified and there are no warriors that are old enough to fit into the timeline. So I made her up. I have no idea how old Pebblefoot really is. I gather that he's actually quite young, but there are no old warriors in RiverClan. The last thing is that I'm basing Mistystar's personality on everything that I've read. One of the problems with Warriors, in my opinion, is that cats from other Clans are given no personality except for 'aggressive' 'hostile' and 'loyal'.

Mistystar, daughter of a forbidden love between two mighty warriors of RiverClan and ThunderClan, shook her head to clear her thoughts of the troubling doubts that nagged at her.
Every leader had doubts. If Leopardstar, the previous leader, had taught her anything, it was that a cat who never thought twice about things would lead her Clan into destruction. Mistystar had been there. She'd watched in silent horror as the tyrannical Tigerstar had taken over RiverClan and attempted to purge them of half-Clan cats-meaning herself.
Her brother Stonefur walked now in StarClan, the result of an overconfident leader. But Leopardstar had lived to redeem her mistake and made RiverClan as strong as any Clan. Towards the end of her nine lives madness had reclaimed her once more, but Mistystar chose to remember her as the stalwart, brave she-cat who remained loyal to her Clan to the bitter end.
She remembered Leopardstar's form of leadership perfectly. Leopardstar acted detached from the problems of every cat around her. Deep inside, she winced for every thorn in the pad of a warrior, licked the ears of troubled apprentices, and broke her heart over sickly kits. But she never showed it on the outside; it was what gave the Clan faith in her, and trust that her decisions were crisp and sensible.

It was Leopardstar's cold façade Mistystar wore on her face now as she summoned her eldest warrior and close friend Pebblefoot, twitching her tail slightly in a pretence of impatience.
Pebblefoot limped towards her, a long scar that curved up his front paw hampering his natural stride. "Mistystar?" he mewed in a tone that irritated her. Clan leaders were not meant to be spoken to as friends. They were to be treated with respect and dignity. She sat down and curled her tail around her paws, feeling miserable about what she was about to do, but seeing no other option.
"Pebblefoot," she mewed calmly, "you're getting old."
Something in his posture shifted as he understood that this was not an idle conversation. Mistystar was gratified to see that he remained standing.
"I…I suppose," the mottled grey tom mewed uneasily.
"You suppose? No, Pebblefoot, you are old. In fact, you're older than me. Considerably." She put emphasis on the last word. "I think it's time we started discussing your retirement."

Pebblefoot seemed to crumble before her. He was an average-sized tomcat, larger than she was, but he seemed smaller than an apprentice when he spoke again.
"You would do that to me, Mistystar?"
Again, that tone! Mistystar twitched her tail. "Yes, I would," she said in a brittle tone. "Since you won't. You lag behind the others in everything you do. You catch less fish than the apprentices-"
"With all due respect, Mistystar, there is no prey-"
"Do not interrupt me! You are a poor hunter, a liability in a fight, and an embarrassment at Gatherings. I'm sorry, Pebblefoot, but I don't have a choice. I can keep you hidden during good moons, but not at a time like this when even my strongest warriors are going lame."
Throughout her speech Pebblefoot had flinched as though each word was a physical blow. Mistystar felt unbearably guilty. She softened her tone.
"You've been a good friend to me, Pebblefoot. I don't think I would be where I am right now if you hadn't believed in me. Leopardstar, may her soul have fair hunting, always trusted you and valued your advice. You have been as loyal as any RiverClan warrior and better than most. In another time, you would have, perhaps, been a fine leader in your own right."
Pebblefoot's head snapped up. "Mistystar…I am but a simple warrior, as you say. Please, I don't…understand. Do you want me to retire…?"

Mistystar held up a paw to silence him. "What do you think of my kits, Pebblefoot?"
The old tom looked bewildered. "They are fine warriors, of course."
Mistystar shook her head. "Answer me truthfully. I want your advice."
Pebblefoot shrugged his shoulders. "Reedwhisker is an excellent fisher and fighter and is more or less the perfect deputy. Graymist has mothered strong, healthy kits. Rippletail…" and here he stopped, for what was there to say about Rippletail? What needed to be said about the brave tabby that had not already been spoken? Rippletail had died to save RiverClan and was undoubtedly in the highest halls of StarClan.

Mistystar shook off her grief and rescued her floundering warrior. "And Waterfall?"
Pebblefoot actually gulped. "She…she has the makings…"
"Sure she does." mewed Mistystar with a trace of irony in her mew. "She had the makings seasons ago when she was an apprentice. I have yet to see anything from her apart from a foul temper and clumsy paws. Never let it be said that a RiverClan cat is ugly, but StarClan knows, she comes close."
Pebblefoot's eyes were as wide as the stones that gave him his name. "That's a little harsh, Mistystar."
Mistystar sighed. "Perhaps. But she has not proven anything to me yet."
Pebblefoot looked confused. "What do you want from me?"
The grey she-cat looked him carefully in the eyes. "I agree with you. Waterfall has talent, but she has not had the discipline required to harness it. Leopardstar gave her to a soft-hearted fool who treated her like she was deputy herself. She needs to learn how to be a proper RiverClan cat. She needs a mentor."
"Mistystar-no, you can't make her an apprentice again. She won't stand for it-"
"I am aware of that, Pebblefoot. So here is my judgement. I will give my daughter an apprentice. Let the Clan mutter that I am favouring my kin; she is the oldest warrior who has yet to have one. And you, you will be there, to give her your wisdom and advice, to help her shape her apprentice. And, perhaps, Waterfall herself."

Pebblefoot was sitting bolt upright. "You can count on me, Mistystar! I'll make them both warriors to be proud of."
Mistystar smiled. "I know you will. Once Waterfall and her apprentice are both behaving properly, you will retire. By then, I think, you would probably wish for it!"
Pebblefoot could not hide his joy. "Thank you, thank you…" He sank to her paws.
"Oh, get up!" Mistystar felt her ears warm. "Go and take a look at one of Mosspelt's kits, they'll be ready in a quarter-moon. Tell me which one is most suited for Waterfall. And start making friends with my daughter. She won't turn to a cat she doesn't trust."
The old tom nodded eagerly and practically bounced away. Mistystar sighed and shook her head. Another day, another crisis, she thought to herself. The leader was pleased, though. Throughout her conversation with her friend she had not betrayed once the flame of pride that burned in her.
For all her kits.

The sound of an approaching patrol rattled the reeds by the stream, and Mistystar turned to receive the hunting patrol she'd sent out. She wasn't expecting them to be carrying anything, but she'd never been so happy to be wrong in her life.
Every cat was carrying fish. Small fish, skinny, barely more than a few mouthfuls. But food!
"Thank StarClan!" cried Mistystar, bouncing over. "Reedwhisker's patrol must have found the wolf!"