AN: Sorry for the wait, I moved again and started a new school that unfortunately has way more homework and projects than my previous school, plus it is half an hour longer

Oh, and since I am at the 25th chapter, it's time to begin "The fifth clan" I am proud to use most all of the OC's sent in, and the only reasons I won't use them is if the name is too unrealistic or if it is already used for another planned character. Join Thorn on his journey to make a clan of his own!

Sparrowsong woke to a gentle nudge. She blinked open her eyes to see Oakfur, pressing his muzzle against her side. He turned to her, and smiled gently. "Good, your awake," He meowed, "You've been asleep almost all day."

Sparrowsong looked around her. No one was in the den but her and Oakfur. Sunlight was penetrating through the translucent roof, signaling the sun was at its high point of the day. "Oh my gosh, I didn't realize how late it was!"

"It's alright, you only just recovered from sickness, I'm sure you just needed to rest it off," Oakfur assured her gallantly. Sparrowsong gave him a grateful nod, and pulled herself to her paws. She stretched luxuriously before leaving the den, dragging herself beside Oakfur to head outside.

Oceanfall was grooming herself in the middle of the camp, and Sparrowsong left Oakfur's side to greet her. "Oceanfall, what are the patrols for today?" She asked, "And was I assigned to any of them?"

Oceanfall turned her attention away from lapping at her paws to Sparrowsong, and answered; "There are three patrols today, the dawn patrol left already, which was Mousefoot, Dawnheart, Creamfur, and Rileyheart. The hunting patrol is about to leave, and that will be Twistedear, Onefang, Lilyfeather, and Smudgepaw. And the night patrol I haven't decided yet… but no, you aren't part of any for now."

Sparrowsong flattened her ears. "I'll just go train with Sandpaw," she said, but Oceanfall shook her head. "Sandpaw is training with Rileyheart, like she's been for the past moon you've been sick, but I'm sure you can train tomorrow."

"Oh, okay," Sparrowsong turned back to Oakfur, who shrugged his shoulders. She just about to leave, but then an idea came to her. "Are you sure one hunting patrol is enough for the whole day?" She asked, looking back at Oceanfall.

"Well, I'd believe so," The deputy responded casually. Sparrowsong shuffled her paws, "I think we need another, why not have a second one go?"

Oceanfall glowered at Sparrowsong. "Are you trying to tell me how to do my own job?" She spat. Sparrowsong kept herself calm, swallowing a sharp retort, "No, I just thought you, Pricklestar, and I could go hunt for more prey," She responded awkwardly. There could not be anyone worse at acting than me…

"Okay, fine," Oceanfall grumbled, though a small smile began creeping upon her face, "We will leave before sundown." I knew she'd want to go with him, thought Sparrowsong proudly.

…

It was time for the patrol. Sparrowsong couldn't stop herself from being nervous. These cats were older than her, and she didn't know whether or not they could be swayed together just like that. Help me with this, Starclan, I just want them to be happy.

Pricklestar and Oceanfall came to the threshold of the camp, ready to leave. Pricklestar gave a nod, and began to depart, leaving Oceanfall and Sparrowsong to follow. They started moving, walking next to each other. Oceanfall was slowly creeping ahead, pacing herself near her leader. "So how are we going to do this?" She queried, "Will we split up or hunt in groups?"

Pricklestar's tail flicked. "You are the deputy, and head of the patrol, so you decide."

Oceanfall nodded. "How about Sparrowsong, as a newer warrior, go hunt near the owl tree," She stopped for a moment, "And you and I can hunt near the gorge, since nobody has hunted there in a while"

Pricklestar grunted in agreement, "Sounds good to me,"

Sparrowsong dipped her head as well. Though she didn't like to be treated as "a new warrior", she wanted Pricklestar and Oceanfall to be happy without her. Before they parted, Sparrowsong winked at Oceanfall, and the deputy smiled gently back. This will work, I know it will…

…

Sparrowsong raised her muzzle to draw in scents. Sure, the reason for this patrol was mainly for Pricklestar and Oceanfall, but it would look stupid for Sparrowsong to bring back nothing. I'm tired of being treated helplessly, like I was when I was sick.

At first, no scents came to her, but then she heard a rustling, and focused her senses to the bush the sound came from. Perfect, a wood mouse, she said to herself.

The rustling stopped, but the scent remained. Sparrowsong crept to the bush, putting her paws down slowly and silently. She stopped, realizing the mouse could simply run away through the other side of the bush. Mouse dung, if only I went with someone else, I could catch the mouse!

She was about to give up and hunt somewhere else, until she heard a gentle meow; "What are you up to, Sparrowsong?"

Oakfur. His voice was unmistakable. He always had his tone perfectly controlled, though he could easily sounds gruff and scary. That is one thing Sparrowsong loved about him, the way he sounds so approachable despite his fierce appearance. She turned around, blowing through closed jaws to make a shhhh sound. "Do you want to scare away all the prey in the forest?" She whispered with annoyance, "I'm certain that mouse I was trying to catch is gone now."

"Sorry, "Oakfur whispered back. Sparrowsong gave her ear a flick and scented the air, her mouth open to draw in scents around them. The mouse was gone, its fear scent becoming slightly stale, but its scent trail lingered in the air. "I'm going to follow the mouse, it couldn't have gone too far, and this time don't scare it away!"

Oakfur dipped his head with mock respect, "Alright Sparrowstar ma'am, I will follow your orders without question because you are - !"

Sparrowsong shot him a glare, and he stopped talking, though she couldn't resist a small chuckle. "Whatever, Oakfur, just keep your mouth shut," She smiled as she added; "Please."

Oakfur shrugged and nodded, closing his mouth and pretending it was stuck that way. Sparrowsong nuzzled him with a grin, "You can stop doing that,"

Oakfur opened his mouth and gasped for air. Sparrowsong shook her head slowly with a smirk. "You toms are so weird sometimes," And before Oakfur could reply, she turned and stalked away in a hunting crouch.

She inhaled to get a better feel of where the mouse was, and exhaled silently before creeping across the clearing. She tensed as she felt Oakfur brush against her, but she let him stay there. They slowed as they reached the new hiding place of the mouse. Its scent came from a small burrow in the ground, and Sparrowsong grumbled irritably. "Great, now it's safe and hidden in its burrow."

Oakfur ducked his head and peered into the burrow. "Actually, the burrow is shallow, for the mouse is a mother."

Sparrowsong looked in as well, and Oakfur was right, in the shallow burrow were three baby mice and their mother, the mouse she was previously trying to catch. "Should we catch the mice?" Sparrowsong asked, but Oakfur shook his head. "We should let them grow, so they will be bigger and better prey when Leafbare arrives."

Sparrowsong nodded, "Your right."

"We can find other prey here, we just need to look around more," Oakfur meowed thoughtfully.

Sparrowsong nodded again. "Then let's work,"

…

After a while, Oakfur and Sparrowsong each found a few morsels of prey, and it was nearly sundown. Pricklestar and Oceanfall emerged into the clearing the younger warriors were standing in side-by-side, both holding large pieces of prey.

"How did the hunt go?" Sparrowsong asked politely. Oceanfall simply smiled and blushed, which was a message for itself. I'm guessing it worked somehow.

"It was great, we found a lot of fresh kill, the clan will be well fed today," Pricklestar rumbled happily, "Now, Oceanfall, take Oakfur back to camp with you, I need to speak with Sparrowsong quickly."

Oceanfall dipped her head and nudged Oakfur to move with her. They both pelted away, each shooting a glance behind them before receding to the distance. What are they so worried about, wondered Sparrowsong, her ears twitching.

Pricklestar was watching the horizon for any of the other cats, then turned to Sparrowsong. "So I'm guessing you want me to tell you what I wanted you here for?" He asked suddenly.

Sparrowsong shrugged. "I guess," She huffed, "So what is it?"

Pricklestar let out a mrrow of amusement, before opening his mouth to speak. "I know what you did," He said, and to Sparrowsong's confused expression, he added, "With Oceanfall and I. You purposely set us up, didn't you?"

Sparrowsong shuffled her paws, but before she could defend herself, Pricklestar spoke again: "And I thank you for it, I never realized how great Oceanfall was, being busy with no other shecat than you. I'm going to be with her a lot more, and happy with it, thanks to you."

Sparrowsong smiled, pride surging through her. This was so much easier than I expected! She thought happily, but will it be this easy is Fireblaze and Airwing?

Pricklestar swished his tail, beckoning for them to leave, and they both padded back to the camp in silence. When they arrived, Sparrowsong was greeted by Oakfur, who gave her an affectionate nuzzle. She gave him another nuzzle back, and let her gaze fall onto his.

"I love you, you know," Oakfur meowed, twining his tail with Sparrowsong's.

She rested her head on his shoulder. "I love you too," She mewed lovingly, though she couldn't help but look at Pricklestar and Oceanfall, both chattering happily about the patrol.

A job well done deserves a prize, she thought, suddenly aware of are a squirming in her belly, and the prize should be arriving soon!

So guess what? Sparrowsong is expecting! This part of the story will be fun to write, and I hope you enjoy it too!

Thank you all for reading! Have a nice day

~Lisa