Concern

It had been a quarter moon since everything that happened. Tigerclaw had been exiled for trying to kill Bluestar and Fireheart became deputy in his place. Graystripe had left for Riverclan to be with his kits. The forest had been dry with little rain since the flood. Nightfrost flicked his ear as he watched Bluestar left the half-eaten robin to her den. It seems like the omen with the magpie was true.

Nightfrost padded to Yellowfang and Fireheart, who were crowd around a magpie. "What's wrong? Weren't you going to-?"

Nightfrost stopped as he stared at the maggots in the stomach of the bird.

"Crowfood among the fresh-kill. What does it mean?" Yellowfang murmured. There is no way any cat would have brought it in.

"What does it mean?" the medicine cat repeated. Fireheart's eyes were wide as he realized something.

"Do you think it's an omen?" he croaked. "A message from StarClan?"

"It is an omen. You were going to bring it to Bluestar, weren't you, Fireheart?" asked Yellowfang.

"Yes."

"Then Bluestar's leadership will slowly fall apart."

"What?! No! Impossible! Bluestar's problems are already over!" Fireheart mewed fiercely. His eyes betrayed his emotions, horrified about the omen.

"Don't tell any cat about this, Fireheart, Nightfrost. The clan already has much to worry."

He felt something jumped on his tail. Nightfrost turned to see in shock. What he had thought was Tigerclaw was Bramblekit on his tail, playing with it. Goldenflower stood nearby with Tawnykit, worried. The Tigerclaw look-alike batted his tail playfully. Nightfrost simply became amused as he waved his tail a bit. Bramblekit hopped after the black tail before finally landing on it. Goldenflower padded up to him, surprised.

"You're not angry with him? You do loathe Tigerclaw."

"No, even though the two look alike, they are not the same. Bramblekit is not him," Nightfrost mewed, waving his tail every so often as Bramblekit leap after it. "But they look so similar that I accidently mistake him for Tigerclaw."

"Oh."

"Nightfrost!" yowled a white tom.

Nightfrost got up on his paws. "I have to go out now, Goldenflower. It was good talking to you."

"Goodbye, Nightfrost."

The warrior headed to his friend when someone called out. He turn to see Brackenpaw heading to him and his friend.

"What is wrong, Brackenpaw?" Nightfrost mewed. The golden-brown tabby stood there, his ears flat and tail drooped. Whitestorm flicked his ears back and forth, waiting patiently on their deceased friend's son.

"Why did Graystripe leave the clan?"

Nightfrost and Whitestorm glance at each other before Whitestorm spoke. "He choose to be with his mate's kits."

"I know...but what about his apprentice? Me?"

"He still worries about you, Brackenpaw," the deputy meowed from behind the apprentice. Brackenpaw turned to Fireheart.

"Graystripe was? How did you know?"

"I sometimes talk with the Riverclan patrols. Now, why don't we train with Cloudpaw?"

"Of course!"

Whitestorm turned expectantly to Nightfrost. "I believe you have something to ask?"

Nightfrost blinked. "Ah, yes...about that...can we talk somewhere else?"

Whitestorm twitched his ears, his amber eyes narrowed. "Yes, lead the way."

Nightfrost lead his friend to the Twolegplace. They met up with Red and explained everything to Whitestorm.

The black tom returned later in the evening with a robin and a rabbit, just in time for a ceremony. Bluestar was standing on the Highrock, with two grey kits at the Highrock. He let his fresh-kill at the pile and padded to Frostfur.

"What's going on?"

Whitestorm leaned to him. "Brindleface's kits are ready to be apprentices."

"We are here today to give two Clan kits their apprentice names," Bluestar began formally, glancing down to where Brindleface sat with a kit on either side of her.

One of the kits leaned toward its mother, its whiskers trembling with nervous excitement. The larger kit kneaded the ground with its paws.

An expectant hush fell over the rest of the Clan. "Come forward."

The kits padded side by side to the center of the clearing, their mottled gray coats bristling with anticipation.

"Dustpelt," rasped Bluestar. "You will be mentor to Ashpaw."

Dustpelt walked toward the larger gray kit and stood beside him.

"Dustpelt," Bluestar went on, "this will be your first apprentice. Share your courage and determination with him. I know you will train him well, but don't be afraid to turn to the senior warriors for advice."

Dustpelt's eyes gleamed with pride, and he leaned down to touch Ashpaw's nose with his own. Ashpaw purred loudly as he followed his new mentor to the edge of the circle. The smaller kit remained in the center of the clearing, her eyes shining and her little chest quivering. The kit turned to Fireheart as he caught her eye and blinked warmly in return.

"Darkstripe." Bluestar paused when she meowed the warrior's name, a glimmer of fear in her eyes. Nightfrost narrowed his eyes. "Darkstripe? Why him of all cats?" "You will be mentor to Fernpaw." The kit's eyes widened, and she spun around to see the big tabby warrior padding toward her.

"Darkstripe," meowed Bluestar, "you are intelligent and bold. Pass on all you can to this young apprentice."

"Certainly," promised Darkstripe. He bent to touch noses with Fernpaw, who seemed to shrink back for a heartbeat before stretching up to accept his greeting. As the new apprentice followed Darkstripe to the edge of the clearing, she cast an anxious look over her shoulder at Fireheart. His brother nodded back encouragingly. Nightfrost padded to the orange tabby.

"Fireheart, have you decide who will be in the dawn patrol?" the black tom asked.

Fireheart hesitated before meowing. "No."

"Think about it. You still have until then."

"I'll lead the patrol," Fireheart decided quickly. "I'll take Longtail and Mousefur."

"Good idea," purred Nightfrost. "Shall I tell them?" He glanced over at the fresh-kill pile, where the cats were beginning to gather.

"Yes," answered Fireheart. "Thank you."

Nightfrost padded away to the pale tabby and the brown she-cat.

"Longtail. Mousefur. You two have dawn patrol tomorrow with Fireheart," he mewed, with both warriors nodding. He watched Cloudpaw took a fat mouse and padded to the elders den. Princess's son has been training hard and learning the warrior code, but somehow, he just believed that Starclan is nothing more than stories to scared little kits.