Chapter 80

"Jaystar!" Jaystar turned around as Mousewhisker came trotting over to her. It had been half a moon since Stripepool and Rosestripe's deaths and the new ThunderClan deputy had worked hard to make sure his Clan didn't dwell too much on the past. Mousewhisker had wasted no time in fixing Rosestripe's mistakes and Jaystar was once again reminded that she made a good choice in picking her new deputy. It just went to show you that kittypets could be just as important as Clan warriors. "Jaystar, the sunhigh patrol just returned and I was wondering if I should send out a hunting patrol?" Jaystar glanced at the freshkill pile: it was piled high with squirrels, mice, and rabbits.

"There is no need, Mousewhisker. Anyway its time for Rustkit, Tigerkit, Butterflykit, and Coalkit to recieve their apprentice names." Even though Rustkit and Tigerkit were a couple days older than Butterflykit and Coalkit, Jaystar thought they should become apprentices together. It was Rushleaf- Butterflykit and Coalkit's mother- who had adopted Rustkit and Tigerkit after Stripepool's death. The four kits had become very close and Jaystar knew that they saw each other as littermates. And like true littermates they should be apprenticed together just as Jaystar was with Stripepool seasons upon seasons ago. "But there is something you can do for me. Can you fetch Hazeltail, Poppyfrost, Foxfang, and Sandstorm? I have chosen the four of them as the mentors of the new apprentices."

Mousewhisker dipped his head and Jaystar padded to her den, waiting for the chosen mentors. Jaystar didn't have to wait long because Mousewhisker returned with the four warriors. Mousewhisker dipped his head to Jaystar and backed out of her den, his tail the last thing she saw before he completely disappeared. "I have chosen the four of you as mentors for Rustkit, Tigerkit, Butterflykit, and Coalkit. You all have had apprentices before so you know how this ceremony is done. We will hold it soon so make sure you all look extra nice." Jaystar blinked at her clanmates and watched them disappear.

*

"Tonight, we begin with a ceremony that will once again prove ThunderClan's strength. Rustkit, Tigerkit, Butterflykit, Coalkit, please come forward. Hazeltail, you mentored Brownfeather and he has become a loyal warrior." Jaystar didn't mention that Hazeltail had also mentored Rosestripe, but knew a lot of her clanmates were probably thinking that. "You will mentor Rustpaw." Jaystar watched as the two cats touched noses before padding away. Jaystar wanted to believe that Rustpaw would earn Hazeltail's respect back that she had lost because of Rosestripe's betrayal.

"Poppyfrost, you have mentored Toadflower and Airsong and the two of them have become great warriors. Please allow Tigerpaw to follow in their footsteps." Like the pair before, the new mentor and apprentice were items of gossip, but it was because of Tigerpaw instead of Poppyfrost. A lot of cats were nervous being around Tigerpaw since he bore Tigerstar's name. Jaystar wondered why her clanmates didn't understand that a name was just a name. Tigerfur was named for Tigerstar and he was a credit to ShadowClan.

"Foxfang, you are a courageous warrior and it has been a while since you had an apprentice. Because of that I give you Butterflypaw." Jaystar didn't mention Foxfang's apprentice because most of her clanmates still missed Stripepool terribly. Spiderleg was in the warriors' den, not even coming out to see his youngest kits made into apprentices. Jaystar thought that the dark warrior should move on, but remembered how much she too missed Stripepool. If Jaystar still hadn't moved on why should Spiderleg?

"Sandstorm, you mentored Ashgaze and she is a credit to her Clan." Sandstorm had also mentored Sorreltail and Honeyfern who both hunted with StarClan while their mentor still walked the Earth. "I trust you to do the same with Coalpaw." Even though Sandstorm was closer to an elder than a warrior, Jaystar knew she could still train an apprentice. Jaystar also wanted Coalpaw to have a good mentor since the gray-black kit was her kin. Since she couldn't determine who Brookclaw and Brokenheart's mentors were, Jaystar wanted to make sure she got to choose her other grandkits' mentors.

Now that the ceremony was over, Jaystar padded over to the new mentors and apprentices. Hazeltail was talking with Poppyfrost while Rushleaf was congratulating Foxfang and Sandstorm. Rustpaw was playfighting with her new denmate, Bearpaw, while Badgerpaw and Tigerpaw looked on. Jaystar glanced at the four of them and realized they were kin. Except for Jaystar and her fellow kittypets, it seemed like almost every warrior was related if you went back far enough. Butterflypaw and Tigerpaw were talking to Crookedkit and Cedarkit who had followed Blossomwhisker out for the meeting. Jaystar was pleased to see that Toadflower was with them, his pelt brushing Blossomwhisker's. It was odd seeing Toadflower with Blossomwhisker since he had been in love with Flowerpaw- the ShadowClan apprentice who had died moons ago- for moons but Jaystar was happy for her friend all the same.

Jaystar glanced around for Toadflower and Blossomwhisker's third daughter and spotted Stripekit playing with a tiny ball of moss while Applefrost watched her, his amber eyes narrowed. Padding over to Applefrost, Jaystar meowed, "What's wrong, Applefrost? You look like as though you lost all of Leafpool's supplies." Jaystar purred, but the mewed seriously, "You didn't did you?" Applefrost was a great medicine cat- much better than Jaystar had been- and it would seem odd if he messed up. Applefrost was a perfect medicine cat.

"No I'm just looking at Stripekit. Doesn't she remind you a lot of Stripepool?" Jaystar nodded, having thought the same thing when Stripekit was born. Jaystar wondered if any of her clanmates aw the same thing that she and Applefrost saw. Or if they thought it was best not to remember Stripepool even though one of the new kits in the Clan looked just like her. As Stripekit glanced at them- her amber eyes glowing with amusement- Jaystar realized that the warm gaze of her sister, Stripepool, would never glance her way again.