Spreading the warmth turned out to be a much harder feat than Greenkit thought possible. She had temporarily forgotten how unforthcoming cats of the Clifflands were. She forgot how proud beach-cats were, in particular.

The cat that Twilightfur was trying to persuade at this moment in time was a particularly fierce-looking ginger she-cat. She looked very close to kitting. So far, Twilightfur had asked Greenkit to simply keep quiet company, but it was becoming increasingly more difficult to do so when these cats were being so mouse-brained.

"I'm not leaving this beach," the she-cat hissed stubbornly, arching her back. "Not to tromp off to meet a stranger to this land, demanding that I listen and abide."

"She's not demanding anything, you old furball! She's trying to help!" Greenkit hissed indignantly, unsheathing and sheathing her claws in frustration.

Twilightfur whipped her head to the side, staring hardly at Greenkit with blazing eyes. Greenkit held her chin high for a moment, but felt Twilightfur's bright eyes burning into her fur, and dropped her head, abashed.

The ginger she-cat hissed at Greenkit, shock, disdain, and anger all coming together in her eyes. "Hrmph!" she finally growled, turning away as swiftly as her pregnant belly would let her. She trotted off, her fur bristling and tail stuck high in the air.

Twilightfur sighed, sitting with her tail wrapped around her paws. "That's the third to storm off," she mewed, as if to herself. She then turned her head to Greenkit. "If you're to be a part of a clan, you will learn to respect your elders." She mewed sternly. "The clans shall only grow successfully if built upon a foundation of mutual trust and respect."

Greenkit kneaded the ground. "But how am I suppose to respect a cat so mouse-brained?" She flattened her ears against her head. "And one who doesn't respect me," she added.

"You are a kit," Twilightfur answered simply. "So long as the meeting at the Steppingstone-place tonight goes well, your only job will be to learn and adjust to the ways of the Warrior Code. And you can start with respect!"

"It's a load of barnacles," Greenkit muttered, looking at the cracked land beneath her feet. "She was ready to rip our fur off!"

"If I remember correctly, you tried to rip our fur off," Twilightfur reminded her. Greenkit glanced up at Twilightfur, but her eyes were now glowing with a sense of amusement, the same amusement that she had when Greenkit had first tried to attack the group of cats. "Attack" being a relative term, of course.

"Okay," Greenkit finally mewed. "I suppose it's not so simple."

Twilightfur nodded, satisfied with the kit's response. "I expect word of our story and our request will have flown around the beach, now. We shall hunt and regroup at the hollow with Pearl. There's something important I must discuss with her."

Greenkit's ears perked. "What about? Will she be our medicine cat?" Greenkit asked, reflecting on their conversation about the clans early in the morning on the beach. Questions flew through her mind like the beach wind. "What about Waterpaw? Will she join us as well?"

"Never you mind," Twilightfur chided, standing to her paws and padding down the brush behind the Dunes, toward the hollow. "All you need to worry about is fresh-kill. To start early with your lessons of the Warrior Code, you will hunt for Pearl, and make sure she is fed before hunting for yourself. That's one of the most fundamental codes. The Clan eats first. You may be a kit, but you are able."

Greenkit nodded obediently, but felt a flurry inside that made her unable to accept the answer completely. "Yes, I will, but why? Can't Pearl hunt for herself? Can't Waterpaw –"

"All in good time, Greenkit." Twilightfur cut her off, answering purposefully. Greenkit sensed she had pushed far enough, and resolved all of her willpower to remain quiet as she padded in the opposite direction than Twilightfur, back toward the Saltmarsh to hunt for prey. All in good time, she promised herself. All in good time.

Greenkit watched Pearl accept the sparrow she had caught her, dragging it into her den in the hollow. Greenkit's belly was rumbling.

Greenkit had spent the last half moon hunting for herself and only herself, but still did not have much hunting skill. Some nights she went hungry. Greenkit had caught the sparrow with some difficulty, and had not managed to catch anything for herself.

She considered eating the sparrow herself, and coming back empty-pawed. But Greenkit had no idea where Twilightfur had wandered off to hunt, and wasn't going to take any chances in case she was secretly watching her.

Greenkit laid herself down near the nest she had made in the hollow, licking her muzzle hungrily. It was well past sun-high, and no more bright rays of sunshine reached the hollow. She could go out and hunt later on, Greenkit reasoned, but she felt anxious being away from Twilightfur. Greenkit didn't want to miss anything important.

Greenkit's anxiety was eased fairly quickly as Twilightfur arrived in the hollow. Greenkit scrambled to her paws as Twilightfur slithered through the entrance. "Did you come across any more cats? When are we leaving for the Steppingstone-place? Are you –"

Twilightfur silenced her with a flick of her tail. "It's time Pearl and I were aquianted." She mewed, striding over to the herb cat's den. Greenkit stumbled over her paws to follow, but again, Twilightfur stopped her with a tail flick. "Just Pearl and I. Why don't you wait for Waterpaw to return? She should be back soon; evening is upon us."

Greenkit's tail and chin drooped, crestfallen. Twilightfur had been so open to the kit's involvement, and Greenkit was surprised she wasn't invited into the conversation. But, thinking quickly, she made a show of pushing through the hollow entrance, kicking up bits of sand and making noise as she went. She waited more than a few moments outside the hollow, until she heard nothing inside; slowly, stealthily she slunk back through, taking heed to move silently.

She was rather good at sneaking, despite her loud tongue. Greenkit found that sneaking was the best way to guide herself through adventures. Dropping into a hunting crouch, she slowly slid across the edge of the hollow closest to the herb cat's den. Carefully, so carefully, she propped herself on the edge, and strained her ears.

It wasn't difficult to hear them, and Greenkit supposed the den was not carved too deepily into the cliffside, or else they were not tucked in too far for their chat. Greenkit didn't have to strain her ears too hard to hear the two cats mew, and settled on her belly, but tensed her legs, ready to jump away once she heard any sign of an exit.

"Waiting for Waterpaw," Twilightfur mewed, an amused edge on her tone. "Though I wouldn't put it above her to be listening right now."

Greenkit froze, her heart pounding. The hollow was sheltered from the beach winds, so there was no chance her scent would be blowing toward her. Was she really so predictable?

"She'll need close attending to; a strong mentor to smooth her edges. And her tongue," Twilightfur added, continuing with a purr. Greenkit's heart pitter-pattered. A mentor! She could hardly relieve her excitement. "But never mind Greenkit. I have an important question to ask of you, Pearl."

The old she-cat was silent, but Greenkit could imagine her nod, because Twilightfur continued after a small, small pause. "Each clan will be in an area accustomed to each of the leader's. We've been lucky in that the clifflands seem to accommodate each of the traditional clans – River, Wind, Shadow, and Thunder. I come from RiverClan. And I will be claiming the beach, Dunes, Saltmarsh and Snakeroot-trees as my territory, so long as everything goes well tonight."

"To the point, young one. I have shared dreams with the Tribe of Endless Hunting, and StarClan both. I was prepared for you and your siblings arrival." Pearl rasped, patiently despite her pressing words.

Pearl had helped Greenkit when her mam had first died. Greenkit had come down with a nasty case of sand fleas after making a nest under an infested brush bush. Pearl had rubbed smartweed over her pelt; a spicy herb that Pearl explained would repel the fleas. Then she applied broomsedge over each of her bites to relieve her of itching. She was quiet, but radiated wisdom. Greenkit found her very intimidating, which was a brand new sensation. She usually didn't fright or be made uncomfortable easily.

"First, I would like to invite you to be SaltClan's – my clan, that is – SaltClan's medicine cat. Usually medicine cats are forbidden from having kits, but while the cats of the land are adjusting to the ways of the Warrior Code, I'd like to make an exception. You are an exceptionally well-learned herb cat, and I would be honored to lead with you by my side."

Pearl let out a dusty mrrow of laughter. "No need to flatter. I have faith in my healing abilities. Now, what is the second request?"

Pearl had proceeded without answering Twilightfur, and her tone made Greenkit feel as if she already knew what was coming next, and was allowing Twilightfur to ask out of politeness. Greenkit wondered if Twilightfur sensed the same thing.

But if she did, she didn't sound like it. "Next, I'd like to ask to use this hollow as the Clan camp. It's wonderfully protected, from the elements as well as any threats. It is very spacious, but not too large, either. It would be a fairly straightforward process of renovation."

"Renovation," Pearl repeated sharply. Greenkit tensed up. "I have been preparing myself for this request for some time, and have planned on accepting your offer fully. However, I must ask what renovations you speak of, as well as their necessity."

Twilightfur was not tripped up by the old cat's sharp tone. "Simple ones. We need to make a very well protected nursery, to begin with. A fresh-kill pile would be quite necessary as well, out of the heat of the cliffs and sun, but placed far enough in camp to avoid the raccoons and minxes that Waterpaw has warned me so fully of. Aside from that, the camp is reasonably well protected. Simple, straightforward changes. You, of course, would remain in your den. Waterpaw as well."

"Ah," the old cat meowed, her mew sounding satisfied with Twilightfur's answer. She moved the topic quite quickly. "Waterpaw. Now, I have a suggestion for you, as the Clan leader."

"Yes?" Greenkit could hear the off-handed curiosity in her tone. She didn't sound threatened, but genuinely curious regarding the old she-cat's suggestion.

"Waterpaw is the only fully-trained herb cat in the land, aside from myself. The other clans must be trained in the ways of medicine. Should you like, sending Waterpaw to each Clan for an allotted time to train their chosen medicine cats will drastically help. Some cats around here, I have seen very regularly, and help me fetch herbs and such. She may seek out these cats and train them the further basics."

Greenkit was almost appauled. Twilightfur had told her stories of battle, of ingrained Clan rivalry. Wouldn't training their medicine cats end an advantage SaltClan – SaltClan! – had over the others?

Twilightfur was silent for a moment, and then replied with an even mew. Greenkit could sense no doubt, no disagreement in her tone. "Yes," she agreed. "How long should suffice?"

"Waterpaw is a good cat. Very well learned, patient enough to teach even the most incompetent, and swift in her teachings. Something she definitely did not pick up from me," Pearl laughed with a heavy mrrow. "She is a natural-born teacher. A quarter-moon for each Clan will be sufficient. She may return to us on a full moon, following StarClan's approval."

StarClan. Right, Greenkit thought. StarClan surely would display their displeasure if they withheld Waterpaw from training other medicine cats. It would be cruel, Greenkit decided. Very cruel.

"So it shall be," Twilightfur mewed. "Do you accept the position as our medicine cat?"

Greenkit held her breathe, but Pearl began to purr. "I accept."

Greenkit could hear Twilightfur relax. She let out a breath. "Excellent. Your presence as the Gathering tonight should be something of a comfort, having a respected, well-known cat's approval. As smooth as honey!"

"Oh," Pearl was the tense one now. Greenkit could smell her fear-scent from outside the den. "Oh, no, young one. I will not be attending the Gathering tonight."

Twilightfur was silent. Greenkit could guess she was wondering whether to pursue the conversation and get a real response, or to accept Pearl's discomfort without question.

It was at this thought that Twilightfur was suddenly looming over Greenkit. Her dark fur seemed to create an even darker shadow over Greenkit, Twilightfur's bright, bright green eyes piercing Greenkit's with disapproval. Greenkit could not sense any amusement in her eyes this time.

"Greenkit." Twilightfur mewed sternly. "I do not recall inviting you to the conversation. As a matter of fact, I recall doing just the opposite."

Greenkit bowed her head, her ears pressed down to her head, her tail still. "Sorry, Twilightfur." She didn't offer any explanation. She didn't have one. She was eavesdropping.

Twilightfur sighed, padding out of the den completely. "The leader's words are Code, Greenkit. You must learn to channel your curiosity, and learn some patience, as well."

Greenkit risked a peek up. "Well, I didn't know your word was Code!" she mewed defiantly, but brought her head back down to avoid Twilightfur's shocked eyes.

"Should it be Code or not, I believe we've already had a conversation regarding respecting your elders." She mewed sterly. "Under normal circumstance, I would not allow you to attend the Gathering tonight. But, seeing as you are not technically an apprentice, as you are too young, and seeing as the future of the cliffland Clans teeters on tonight's Gathering, I will not restrict your attendance."

Greenkit kneaded the ground with sheathed claws. Would Twilightfur really not let her go? Greenkit wondered. Then she had a new thought, whispering to her quietly…Greenkit knew she was very sneaky; even if Twilightfur did restrict her, she could attend any Gathering unnoticed anyway, she was sure.

It was this thought that comforted her. Greenkit retreated to the nest she had slept in the previous night and began grooming herself as Twilightfur recoiled to her den. She quivered with excitement. Tonight, the Gathering. Tomorrow, a Clan. Friends. A mentor.

A family.