Disclaimer: I based the Clan structure on the Warriors books by Erin Hunter.

Thanks for reading my story..., and sorry for the delay in updating.

Here is the next chapter. Enjoy and please review.

Chapter 17

The brown-and-black ForestClan leader sat down in front of the two lovers and looked at them silently. Hawkfeather wished she would say something, but Talonwing's mother simply sat there and watched them.

"Falconstar's proposal is very good. I am sure it will work." Hawkstar mewed at last.

Hawkfeather blinked in confusion. The ForestClan leader had overheard their previous conversation, but wasn't she going to comment on the forbidden relationship between Hawkfeather and Talonwing? They were breaking the warrior code by secretly meeting. When Falconstar had found out about them, she had scolded her sister for moons.

"I always thought that Cloudpaw looked a lot like you, Talonwing. Now I know why." Hawkstar mewed warmly. Then she rose to her paws and gave them one last look. "I expect you back in camp at dawn." She told her deputy.

Talonwing dipped his head. "I will be there, Hawkstar."

After the ForestClan leader had left, Hawkfeather looked at her mate questionably. Talonwing's gaze was still fixed on the spot where his mother had sat. The black she-cat gently nudged the tom beside her to get his attention.

"Do you think she will cause any trouble for us, Talonwing?"

"No." the tom mewed quietly. "She behaved weird just now. I only hope that she doesn't rip my fur off when I get back to camp."

xxx

Hawkfeather had caught up with her sister a little while later. Dawn hadn't come yet. Before the two sisters returned to their camp, Hawkfeather told Falconstar about her encounter with Hawkstar.

"Talonwing said that she behaved weird, but he doesn't think it will be a problem for us."

"Trust me Hawkfeather, your relationship with Talonwing is a problem." The black-and-ginger she-cat mewed sternly. "The more cats find out about it, the more problematic it gets."

Hawkfeather sighed. She had to admit that her sister was probably right. Her relationship with Talonwing was bound to cause more problems the longer it lasted. But she couldn't stop seeing the ForestClan tom.

Falconstar slipped into the warm nursery and settled in her nest. It was a difficult job, because her kits were spread out all over the place. Redkit, Nightkit and Rockkit were getting too big for the nursery. She had to decide who she wanted as their mentors. The kits were getting old enough to start their warrior training.

xxx

Over a moon had passed since Falconstar and Hawkfeather had rescued Talonwing. By the time of the next Gathering, the tom's wounds had healed. Hawkstar had decided to not accuse Leafstar of corrupting ForestClan. She had reported to dead of so many of her Clanmates as an unfortunate destiny that StarClan had brought unto them. She had said that a fox killed Mousetail and Pineflower, and that the others were killed by greencough.

MeadowClan, on the other hand, was thriving. Falconstar's kits were old enough to be apprenticed. However, she had to postpone the naming ceremony for half a moon when Nightkit came down with whitecough. Her littermates wanted to wait for the black kit to get better. Rockkit said that they'll all be apprentices together. Now Falconstar's daughter was healthy again and it was a beautiful day to hold a naming ceremony. Leaf-bare was coming to an end and the sun warmed their pelts.

"Let all cats old enough to catch their own prey come here for a Clan meeting." Falconstar called across the camp. Her Clan had anticipated this meeting. Foxstep, Honeyflower and Petalflower emerged from the elders' den. Pebblepaw and Stonepaw, the Clan's only apprentices dashed out of their den and sat with their mentors. Grasswhisker and Cloudpaw came out of the medicine cat's den and sat down with their Clanmates. Whiskerheart was leading Falconstar's three kits from the nursery to the center of the camp. Rainkit bounced after her denmates and her mother Sweetcloud had to call her back. "It's not your turn now, dear."

Falconstar had thought a long time about who she wanted to mentor her kits. It was a great honor to mentor the Clan leader's kits; whoever she would choose, it would strengthen the position of that cat within the Clan.

"Today is an important day for MeadowClan. We will hold the naming ceremony of three new apprentices and two new warriors. But first, I want to give these young cats their apprentice names." She flicked her tail towards her kits who sat nicely groomed next to Whiskerheart. Their eyes were shining and their bodies shivered with excitement.

"Rockkit, you will now be known as Rockpaw and Grayfeather will be your mentor. Grayfeather, I taught you well and I hope that you will pass on what you learned to this young cat." The gray tabby tom had been thrilled when Falconstar told him he would get to mentor Rockpaw; he never had an apprentice before. The two gray toms touched noses and withdrew to sit with Grayfeather's mate Sweetcloud and their daughter.

"Nightkit, from this day you will be known as Nightpaw. Your mentor will be Birdflight. Birdflight, you are a great warrior and a sensible cat and I know that will pass on everything that you know to this young cat." The small brown tabby she-cat was one of Falconstar's most trusted senior warriors. Birdflight had stepped forward and touched noses with her black apprentice. Once to two she-cat had withdrawn, Falconstar flicked her tail to her third kit.

"Redkit, from this day you will be known as Redpaw and Featherstorm will be your mentor. Featherstorm, you are an experienced warrior and I trust that will pass everything that you know to this young cat." The pale gray-and-black tom touched noses with Redpaw. Falconstar was happy to see her kits with their mentors.

"And now it is my pleasure to give two apprentices their warrior names. They have trained hard in the ways of our ancestors and deserve to be recognized as full warriors. Mudheart, Mousepelt, are you satisfisfied with your apprentices?" Falconstar looked expectantly at her warriors.

"Yes, Falconstar, they have trained in the ways of the warrior code." Mudheart said clear and strong. Mousepelt nodded at the younger tom's words. "They have work hard and will be a credit to their Clan." She mewed.

Falconstar gazed between her warriors and the two gray apprentices. Pebblepaw and Stonepaw had really trained hard and deserved to be made warriors. It was sad that Lilyheart, their mother, couldn't see them now. The pretty tortoiseshell was killed by greencough two moons ago. Her kits had vowed to be the best warriors ever, so that she could be proud of them. Featherstorm's eyes shone with pride at his kits.

"I, Falconstar, leader of MeadowClan, 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 comment them to you as a warrior in their turn. Pebblepaw, Stonepaw. Do you promise to uphold the warrior code and protect your Clan even at the cost of your life?"

"I do." Stonepelt mewed solemnly and his sister echoed him.

"Pebblepaw, from this day you will be known as Pebblefur. The Clan honors your skill and patience." Falconstar placed her muzzle on the she-cat's forehead and Pebblefur gave her Clan leader's shoulder a respectful lick.

"Stonepaw, from this day you will be known as Stonepelt. The Clan honors your loyalty and perseverance." Again, Falconstar placed her muzzle on the younger cat's forehead. Stonepelt copied his sister and gave the Clan leader's shoulder a respectful lick.

"Stonepelt, Pebblefur. Stonepelt, Pebblefur." The Clan cheered.

"Now as it is tradition of the warrior code, Stonepelt and Pebblefur will keep a silent vigil tonight and guard the camp." Falconstar mewed and dismissed her Clan with a flick of her tail. She watched her kits listen to their mentors for a few moments before dashing off to the apprentices' den. Their training would begin tomorrow, Falconstar thought fondly. StarClan, help my kits to be the best warriors they can be.

Continues soon...