300 REVIEWS?!

Thank you all so much for 300 reviews! :D I'm sorry I don't have a "special" for this milestone, but I sure hope this chapter is good enough for now. I may take a picture of my final art project and upload that to Deviantart.

Anyway, here's the extra-long chapter as repayment for a week of no uploads due to homework overload!

The Story Of Your Life: Yeah, before I started the Misty series I posted a bunch of one-shots about what a terrible mother Millie was. And I think a bunch of people are starting to ship Aspen x Rain (Raspen? Aspain?) And yeah, when they all die and go to StarClan there could be some tension between Hyperion and Ashthorn...

walkswithwheels: I didn't mean to sound like I completely pity you. I don't, but my first reaction when I hear/read/etc. about someone less fortunate than me, with all my limbs working properly, is to feel sorry for them. It's just an initial reaction, though, and in this case has faded to be replaced with admiration. You're making the most of your life even though you can't join the military and I admire you for that. I've never ridden a motor scooter but it sounds like fun. :) And I agree, I think the Erins put in as many disabled cats as they could (I can think of 3 at the moment-Cinderpelt, Brightheart, and Jayfeather) without it being realistic.

Willowdream of ForestClan: Yeah, Rainsky's going through a bit of a phase, isn't he? And yes, you did spell that right! :) Hyperion... it's spelled like Hyper-ion. I never noticed that but it would make spelling the name much easier.

Nightfeather: *gasp* Lightwing is Graystripe? And you plus a good deal of other people now support that Aspen x Rain ship. I suppose he needs another ship now that he's had sufficient time to grieve for Silverdapple. And if I could, then I would read that fanfiction. For sure. I just make sure to learn from Lincoln to never give up. And Cinderpelt is a pretty great cat. *sniffles* Gorsepaw... I will for sure stay cloudy! :P

EradrinSkyleaf: Mice would be better for Rainsky. XD My favorite prefixes are probably... eh, I'm feeling uninspired. Snow and Raven. My favorite suffixes would be fall, flight, and star because who wouldn't want to be a leader? And I certainly would be interested to see what an Orcendell would look like. I wouldn't visit, mind, because I'd probably be murdered by orcs, but it would be cool to see. What if it was like an inverted version, like you look in the reflection of Rivendell in the river and see Orcendell...

ShadowHawk540: Ah, okay. I think you were the only one who thought Lightwing shouldn't be with Hyperion. One person was undecided, but that was it. And I don't think any words were taken out of your review this time! :D

QLKwriter: Yeah, that would be really weird when they all went to StarClan. It would be awkward between all three of them.

ilovewarriorcats: Man, you're shipping everyone now! XD First Aspenpaw x Rainsky, then Hyperion x Lightwing.

Sootthorn's POV

Needless to say, after the ceremony I was utterly exhausted. After a night of no sleep, I was so dizzy and disoriented I could barely make my way up the Rockfall. My eyes already half-closed, I collapsed into my nest, barely pausing to make room in my sleep-obsessed mind for the last thought that drifted across it.

I wonder if there are any other cats who've been apprentices for a little too long?

I woke in StarClan. Glancing around, in confusion, I took in the strangely-close stars and moon, the Greenleaf trees, and the dark gray tom with stars in his fur.

"Ashthorn?" I asked uncertainly. "What are you doing here?"

Ashthorn looked up at me, his dark blue eyes piercing through me. This wasn't the proud, purring father I'd met before. What had happened to Ashthorn?

"Sootpaw," he greeted me.

"Sootthorn," I corrected him, suppressing a smile. "I got my warrior name just as you asked."

Ashthorn glanced away. "I can't believe you accepted that as a name," he muttered. "You should have demanded a change."

"But why?" I felt hurt. Why was Ashthorn acting so much like the dreaded Grayheart? What had happened to my father?

"You can't be me, Sootpaw!" Ashthorn kicked at a stick on the ground. "You have to be your own self. Sure, you're following in my footsteps by leading LeopardClan, but you shouldn't try to do everything like me! I want you to change your name."

Outrage bubbled up from somewhere around my stomach at his words. Who was he to tell me what to do? Making my name similar to his wasn't me trying to become him! It was only me showing my admiration for him! I wasn't about to make the same mistakes he did—letting his mate and kits go off without him because of some duty back at the lake!

"You're wrong," I hissed. "I'm nothing like you. We might share looks and responsibilities, but the similarities end there."

Ashthorn spun around, eyes flashing. "Prove it!" he growled. "How are you different from me?"

"I'm trying to get my leader name," I replied instantly. "You never did and look where it got you! I'm also coming up with actual plans to defeat NightClan, not hold them off for a little longer!" I paused for the dramatic effect, taking a deep breath. "I also would never abandon those I loved for some stupid duty I have to others. Family comes first, whatever the cost."

Ashthorn stared at me, his eyes pits of blue fire. But both of us knew he didn't have legitimate comebacks for my statements. I glared at him fiercely, then said, "I don't think Lightwing deserves you. I don't think any of us deserves you. Cinderpaw and Rainpaw and I had to grow up without a father because of you. Lightwing had to watch her mate abandon her because of you."

I turned away, acting as though the sight of Ashthorn suddenly disgusted me. "Let me sleep in peace," I whispered. "I'll lead LeopardClan how I see fit. And from now on, I'll never look up to you again."

The next morning dawned clear and cold. I fluffed up my fur as I exited the den. Leaf-fall had completely set in, it seemed.

Dawnpaw met me at the bottom of the Rockfall. "Congratulations on your new name," she purred, her eyes bright. "It really suits you."

"It suited Ashthorn better," I muttered, glancing around the camp. "He really was a thorn."

Dawnpaw looked confused. "But wasn't he a great leader?" She bounded forward to keep up with me as I'd started padding swiftly across the camp. "He kept us together and surviving throughout NightClan's constant attacks!"

"Yeah, that's all he ever did—keep you alive. He didn't manage to kill Nightstar or restore peace to the lake."

Distraught, Dawnpaw stopped. I turned around to look at her. "Sootthorn, what's wrong with you? You've changed."

I looked at the ground, my fur ruffling. Had Ashthorn really changed me overnight? It wouldn't surprise me—he brought destruction wherever he set foot. Instead of answering, I called, "Larkwing!"

The senior warrior bounded across camp to meet me. "What is it?" she asked.

"I want you to organize the patrols today."

Larkwing blinked in surprise, but dipped her head all the same. "Of course, Sootthorn," she meowed, her gaze sliding onto Dawnpaw. Without another word, she bounded off to the flat rocks by the edge of camp.

"Come on," I muttered to Dawnpaw. "Come with me."

"Where are we going?" she asked.

"Battle training."

The mossy clearing was, thankfully, deserted. I paced to the opposite side, leaving Dawnpaw by the edge. Crouching down, I flicked my tail back and forth and waited for her to spring. Obviously taking my hint, she mirrored my movements, crouching and beginning to circle me. I shuffled around to keep her in front of me.

"So why are you so uptight and snappish?" Dawnpaw asked, her eyes focused on my paws. She leaped high into the air.

I watched her hurtle toward me, waiting until the opportune moment to roll out of the way. As I came up on my paws again, I replied, "I had a dream from Ashthorn last night. He…" I dodged a well-aimed blow. "He said he didn't like my warrior name." I darted around her and pounced on her tail.

Pulling free, Dawnpaw battered at my ears before retreating a short distance and beginning to circle again. "But why would he say that? You were named after him, for StarClan's sake!"

"He doesn't want me to become exactly like him." I leaped at Dawnpaw, landing squarely on her back. "Ha!" I crowed in triumph.

"You distracted me!" Dawnpaw protested, laughing as she rolled over, trying to crush me beneath her. Successfully dislodging my paws, she rolled back onto her belly and looked over at me. "Why doesn't Ashthorn want you to become like him? He was a great and noble leader."

I shook my head, swatting a paw at her lashing tail. "No. He and I both know he's made many mistakes in his time."

"Like what?"

Somehow we'd stopped practicing our battle moves. I rolled onto my back and looked at the clear, light blue sky. "He never got his nine lives. He never tried to actually defeat NightClan. He… he abandoned Lightwing. He abandoned his kits." I lifted my chin to look at Dawnpaw upside-down. "Remember how he put Cinderpaw and Rainpaw and I through all those tests when we first got here? He was testing us to see if we were worthy enough to be his kits."

I rolled back onto my paws, standing up to pace around the clearing, my tail lashing back and forth in anger. "He thought he deserved some super-kits or something," I hissed. "No. He didn't deserve any kits at all."

Dawnpaw's paw touched my shoulder. I glanced around in surprise—I'd been so focused on Ashthorn I hadn't noticed her get up.

"You're working yourself up," she meowed softly. "Come on, let's go for a run. We can work off some of that extra energy."

I nodded. It was a good idea. As I left the mossy clearing, I kicked up a couple lumps of moss, imagining Ashthorn stood behind me. Then Dawnpaw started running and I was able to focus more on keeping up with her than reminiscing about my dream.

I pounded through the trees, following the pale gray snake, whipping through the foliage, that was Dawnpaw's tail. I sped after her, my panting breaths one of the only sounds in the quiet forest apart from pounding pawsteps and the crunch of dry leaves. After racing across half the territory, I finally managed to overtake Dawnpaw.

"Follow me," I meowed in her ear before turning off-course, heading back the way we'd come. I slowed to what was more of a bound than an actual run, glancing over my shoulder to make sure Dawnpaw was able to keep up with my pace. An idea was forming in my mind.

Finally, my destination came into sight between the trees. I slowed to a walk as Dawnpaw and I emerged onto the lakeshore.

It wasn't the most romantic place, but it would do. Sure, it would have looked better if it was nighttime instead of nearing sunhigh, but that didn't matter too much. The setting didn't really matter that much anyway.

Dawnpaw sat on the smooth, shifting pebbles at the edge of the lake, looking at me. "It's the lake," she said helpfully.

"Yeah," I meowed. Now that we were actually here, I found it was suddenly hard to talk. My tongue seemed to be tied in a knot.

"So…" Dawnpaw tilted her head to one side. "What are we doing here?"

I swallowed hard. I had to say it. I was not going to keep dancing around her on my toes. I was going to be committed and make something that would last. I would do what Ashthorn couldn't do.

"Dawnpaw, will you be my mate?"

It came out a much too rushed and slurred together for my liking and Dawnpaw snorted with laughter. I blinked at her response. I'd honestly expected her to be more surprised, possibly even speechless. But definitely not amused!

"I'm an apprentice!" she laughed. "Apprentices can't become mates with warriors!"

I thought back to that last thought I'd had before I fell asleep the previous night. "Maybe it's about time to change that," I murmured.

Dawnpaw and I bounded back into the camp. I left her at the bottom of the Rockfall as I leaped up the slope of boulders to the Highledge. Before I'd even reached the ledge, I called, "Let all cats old enough to catch their own prey join here beneath the Highledge for a Clan meeting!"

The Clan slowly oozed from the dens and the edges of camp, seemingly as slow as slugs to me as I kneaded the ground in excitement, claws futilely working the dust and rocks. Finally, the cats had gathered in a ragged semicircle.

"It is time for LeopardClan to welcome another warrior into its ranks," I began, my voice surprisingly loud, sounding more like a leader than I had before. "Dawnpaw's name is long overdue. She has shown both physical and emotional strength in battle and in coping with the death of her sister, Featherpaw."

I glanced down at the pale gray figure below me as I bounded down the Rockfall, padding over to stand in front of her. Dawnpaw's pale blue eyes looked a little misty. She must still miss her sister terribly.

"I, Sootthorn, leader of LeopardClan," I began, "call upon my warrior ancestors to look down on this apprentice. She has trained hard to understand the ways of your warrior code and I commend her to you as a warrior in her turn. Dawnpaw, do you promise to uphold the warrior code and to protect and defend your Clan, even at the cost of your life?"

Dawnpaw blinked several times and I heard her herm herm a little as she cleared her throat. "I do," she said in a clear, ringing voice.

"Then, by the powers of StarClan, I give you your warrior name. From this moment, you will be known as…"

My mind went blank.

Did every leader experience this? Did some leaders scramble frantically for a good name mid-ceremony? Why had I not thought of this before?

Dawnpaw's eyes were still shining from thinking of Featherpaw. Hang on… I thought.

"Dawnshine," I blurted out. Yes! I'd thought up a good name on the spot! But if it was such a good name, then why was the Clan still looking at me expectantly? Oh… right. I had to say why I picked that particular name. "Because… um, her spirit shines with generosity and kindness," I meowed in a semi-awkward afterthought.

Finally the ceremony was over. The Clan began cheering, "Dawnshine! Dawnshine! Dawnshine!"

Dawnshine leaned forward to lick my shoulder as I touched my nose to her forehead. Then she raised her head slightly so our cheeks were right next to each other.

"Congratulations," she murmured in my ear. Out of the corner of my eye I saw her smiling. "You've just got yourself a mate."

Annnnnnnd...

Soot x Dawn has now officially become canon! :D What do you think of Dawnshine's name?

I'm sorry if this chapter seemed sort of rushed at times. I wrote it a little strangely-I kept writing one or two sentences ahead because I wanted to make sure I remembered to put those parts in. It still ended up being about 2,000 words long, so I hope you enjoyed that long chapter anyway!

AOTD: I support Lightwing x Hyperion (otherwise why would it be in the story?) but I still think it would be tough for Ashthorn, Sootthorn, Cinderstrike, and Rainsky to adjust to having Hyperion as Lightwing's mate.

QOTD: If cats were people they'd become warriors at about 15 years old, I think. Do you support Sootthorn and Dawnshine becoming mates this early or do you think it's fine anyway? (Snowfur was the warrior cat version of a teen mom, I think the Erins said)

QOTD2: (yes, you get two) What do you think of Ashthorn now? Do you think of him any differently now that you've seen this side of him?