*Note: If you find and spelling errors or incorrect words please tell me, I'm a horrible proof-reader ^^'*

Lionblaze awoke the next morning where he'd fallen asleep. The musty tree hollow where he'd sheltered with Heathertail was occasionally dripping. It must have rained overnight. He lifted his head. An icy drop fell on his nose, sending a shiver through Lionblaze's body. He glanced over at Heathertail, she was still asleep. Her fluffy light brown fur puffed out and fading into his glossy golden pelt. Lionblaze felt comforted in watching the steady rise and fall of her flank. I wonder what's she's dreaming about. He licked his chest self consciously and diverted his gaze to the outside. The forest floor was awash with mud and leaves. Prey will be scarce today. Lionblaze then noticed something else; the sun was rising. He was transfixed at the dazzling array of colors; red, orange, pink, white and yellow, all blended together like some wonderful painting. Heathertail had to see this. He carefully ran his tongue over her head and rubbed his head on her back. Slowly, Heathertail eased back into consciousness. She slowly lifted her head and opened her beautiful heather blue eyes. Lionblaze was reminded with a jolt how much he loved the pretty WindClan she cat.

"Heathertail," He whispered gently. Heathertail flicked an ear in acknowledgement. "Look at this," He breathed. Heathertail turned to look at the sunrise. Lionblaze to see the mirror image of his awe in her eyes.

"Lionblaze…it's so beautiful," She mewed softly. Lionblaze turned away from her.

"Not as beautiful as you," He shyly whispered. He felt Heathertail's purr as she ran her tail along his spine.

"That means so much to me, coming from you," She admitted. Lionblaze turned around to look at her; he didn't realize how close their faces were until they touched noses. Heathertail slowly closed her eyes.

"I wish everything wasn't so complicated, I wish we could be together and not have to hide it," She opened up.

"I do too," Lionblaze mewed. Heathertail pushed her head against his and purred loudly. Lionblaze pushed back and purred. He felt as if nothing in the world could shatter this perfect moment.

"I can't track the scent any farther than this,"

Cloudtail's angry voice came from the stream. Lionblaze's ears flattened against his head. Oh no. Not here. Not now!

"What do you mean you can't track it anymore?" Leafpool's anxious mew demanded.

"I can't track what I can't smell," Cloudtail spat, "He's your kit, you should keep an eye on him!"

Lionblaze heard his mother hiss loudly. He glanced at Heathertail, she was visibly nervous. Her tail was flickering in agitation and her blue eyes were round with worry. Lionblaze racked his brains. It was possible that Heathertail could take a different route over the stream if she was fast enough but it was more likely that she'd be caught. Suddenly, Lionblaze had a brainwave.

"Heathertail," He mewed. He saw her turn around to face him, "This is what we're going to do….."

Lionblaze stuck his head out the hollow and looked around cautiously. He couldn't see his mother and Cloudtail but instinct told him they were nearby. He slightly opened his jaws and crept out, stealthier than a fox. He heaved a quiet sigh of relief when nothing had changed. He swiftly trotted to a muddy heap of dead leaves and rolled around as silently as possible, hoping to mask Heathertail's scent. When Lionblaze was confident all the evidence was erased, he looked around for his clan mates. He knew that Cloudtail's white pelt was more likely to stand out than Leafpool's brown tabby one so he carefully scanned the environment for a flash of white fur. Lionblaze strained his ears for the sound of movement, just as he thought his brain would explode, he heard a twig snap and some leaves rustle. Lionblaze jerked his head sharply and braced himself for the confrontation. Cloudtail eyed him up like a naughty kit. Leafpool just looked relieved.

"Leafpool," He acknowledged, "Cloudtail."

Cloudtail nodded.

"And where do you think you've been?" He spat crossly. Lionblaze tried hard to find something interesting about his paws.

"I-" He started.

"It doesn't matter!" Cloudtail cut in. The white warrior turned around and started strolling back to the camp, muttering angrily under his breath. Leafpool gave him a sympathetic glance before bounding after Cloudtail. Before following them, Lionblaze glanced at the stream and saw the pretty brown tabby he loved crossing it. He was tempted to mewl a farewell but managed to keep his jaws shut. Lionblaze padded after his kin.

Nobody really paid much attention to the party of three as they entered the camp. Lionblaze glanced around. Sorreltail and Brackenfur were sharing a squirrel by the fresh kill pile and a couple of the apprentices were play fighting outside their den. Lionblaze scrolled over to the Highledge and saw Firestar's striking ginger pelt moving towards the tip of the Highledge. Lionblaze almost instinctively moved to sit by it. He looked up at his leader and awaited the announcement.

"Let all cats old enough to cat their own prey gather beneath the Highledge," Firestar yowled. As quickly as if some cat had killed a mouse, the ThunderClan cats gathered around Firestar. Cinderheart sat down next to Lionblaze. He purred in greeting before looking back up at Firestar. Birchfall had a distinctly proud expression as he made a big fuss out of standing up and padding over to Whitewing and two gray kits. One, the littlest gray one was pouncing all over the place and trying to attack Birchfall whilst the bigger one with white splotches. Was trying to stay calm with only her eyes giving away that she was just as excited as her sister. Whitewing touched her muzzle to Birchfall's then licked his ear carefully. Lionblaze was reminded with a pang of Heathertail and the kits they could have had if they'd been in the same clan. Birchfall shepherded his kits towards the Highledge looking as proud as ever. Lionblaze tried not to betray his thoughts.

"I've called you together for one of the most important moments in the life of a Clan," Firestar began. Lionblaze could see that Whitewing was struggling to keep the littlest gray kit clean as she fidgeted excitedly.

"Dovekit and Ivykit have reached their sixth moon and it's time for them to become apprentices," Firestar yowled. He beckoned the two kits forewords with his tail. Lionblaze remembered his own apprentice ceremony and the raw joy and anticipation that he had felt then, he could see these feelings mirrored in the eyes of Dovekit.

"Come foreward," Firestar instructed. The two kits pottered forwards.

"Dovekit," Firestar meowed, "from this day till you receive your warrior name, you will be called Dovepaw"

"Dovepaw! Dovepaw!" The Clan yowled. Lionblaze suddenly snapped back to reality. The prophecy! One of these kits is the one in the prophecy! How could I have forgotten?

"StarClan, I ask you to guide this new apprentice," Firestar went on, gazing up at the hot blue sky above the hollow. "Set her paws on the path she must follow to become a warrior."

Lionblaze saw Dovepaw glancing around as if trying to guess who her mentor would be. He decided he liked this little she-cat, her bubbly and eager personality reminded him of his sister.

"Lionblaze," Firestar flicked his tail towards him, "You will be mentor to Dovepaw. You are a loyal warrior and your battle skills are outstanding. I know you will pass on these qualities to Dovepaw."

Lionblaze could see that Dovepaw couldn't suppress her excitement. Loyal. Lionblaze played the word over and over again in his head. Would such a loyal warrior be seeing a cat from another clan? For once, Lionblaze had something other than Heathertail to think about. Dovepaw bounded up to him and gazed into his eyes. Lionblaze's whiskers twitched in welcome as he bent down to touch noses with his new apprentice. Dovepaw sat beside him. Lionblaze could feel her body twitch with excitement as Ivykit- now Ivypaw's mentor was to be Cinderheart. He knew he needed to find out as much about this young cat as possible.

Lionblaze waited for the meeting to break up before consulting his new apprentice.

"So Dovepaw…er-" He started.

"Can we explore the territory? Can we go on patrol? Can you teach me to fight well like you? Can we go beat up ShadowClan?" Dovepaw butt in. Lionblaze had to admit; even he felt a little overwhelmed by all these requests.

"We can explore the territory if you like," He began, trying to sound authoritive.

"Can Ivypaw come too?" Dovepaw asked.

"Ask Cinderheart," Lionblaze suggested, "its fine with me."

Dovepaw's green eyes shone as she ran over to her sister. Lionblaze could faintly hear the young apprentice rambling on to Cinderheart. His whiskers twitched with amusement. Cinderheart padded over to him, her fluffy gray pelt standing on end as if she'd been given a real fright. Lionblaze looked at her eyes; they were a soft blue and glinting with happiness. She sat down next to him and licked his cheek in welcome.

"Can we go now?" Ivypaw asked calmly. Lionblaze nodded and began making for the exit. Dovepaw followed automatically. Lionblaze padded through the tunnel and started walking through the woods. He looked up and around at every tree as if he was an apprentice again himself. Dovepaw was excitedly talking to Ivypaw whilst Cinderheart brought up the rear. Lionblaze made for the WndClan border, they were the clan closest to the ThunderClan camp so the rivals most likely to attack. Lionblaze padded to the stream.

"Dovepaw, Ivypaw," He said, "Take a good whiff here. This is the border with WindClan."

Ivypaw tentatively put her paws in the stream and tasted the air. Dovepaw, however, leaped into the water, totally underestimating its depth. The little gray apprentice was flailing helplessly as the freezing water lapped at her fur. Soaking everything below her neck. Without thinking, Lionblaze dived in to save his apprentice. He grabbed the little she-cat's scruff and hauled her with little effort onto the shore. Dovepaw coughed and shook herself.

"Dovepaw!" Ivypaw mewed as she started frantically licking her sister's wet pelt.

"I'm OK!" Dovepaw insisted, "Besides, there's a WindClan patrol coming!"

Lionblaze turned his attention to the other side of the stream. Crowfeather, Heathertail, Tornear and a black and white apprentice Lionblaze didn't recognize were renewing markers a few fox-lengths away. Lionblaze flicked is tail at Cinderheart to get her attention. The gray she-cat watched the patrol like a hawk watches a mouse. Lionblaze helped his apprentice to her feet before licking her fur the wrong way to help it dry. Dovepaw looked thoroughly annoyed but didn't make a move to react. Tornear must have spotted them because he was leading the patrol towards them now. Lionblaze looked at Heathertail. She looked away.

"Cinderheart," Tornear mewed cautiously, "Lionblaze, what are you doing so close to the WindClan border?"

"Showing our apprentices the ropes," Cinderheart answered, making it clear in her tone that any comments about their little size would not be tolerated. Tornear didn't look convinced.

"I didn't know ThunderClan cats took swimming lessons," He taunted, aiming for Dovepaw. Lionblaze glanced at his apprentice; he could see that she'd gone nearly red with anger.

"No!" Dovepaw spat, "I don't know you! Don't judge me WindClan cat!"

As much as he admired Dovepaw's courage, he knew that arguing with a senior warrior from a different clan was a bad move for such a young apprentice.

"Dovepaw, Ivypaw," He mewed, "This is Tornear, Crowfeather, Heathertail and…and…"

"Furzepaw," Heathertail finished for him, "She's my apprentice."

Lionblaze nodded.

"Thank you Heathertail," He meowed.

"We'll be going now," Cinderheart said. Ivypaw nodded and stood up. Dovepaw however rolled her eyes and quickly glared at Tornear before following Cinderheart as she walked along the lake. Lionblaze nodded at the WindClan cats and bounded after his Clan mates. He didn't look back.