I am no longer taking suggestions for Sorreltail's kits. I am, however, still taking warrior name ideas for Hollypaw, as well as possible names and appearances for Spiderleg and Whitewing's future litter. That may not happen soon, but keep it in mind and let me know if you all think of any kits for them to have!

Thanks again for reading, and expect updates to keep coming quickly!

Chapter 7

Hollypaw glared mutinously as Whitewing emerged from the warriors' den, her snowy pelt gleaming in the early morning sunlight. Spiderleg was right behind her, his black pelt brushing hers as he greeted her. Almost two moons had passed since she had been wounded by a badger while sneaking out to go hunting, and still she was serving her punishment. Whitewing had been given her warrior name, Sorreltail had kitted successfully, and Birchpaw had been to two Gatherings without her. She brought the elders' dirty bedding to the dirt place, wrinkling her nose as she left. She nearly jumped out of her fur when she turned around to see Sorreltail's kits blinking up at her.

Hazelkit, the only tom and the biggest of the litter, stepped forward. He had a mostly white pelt, marked by splotches of dark gray tabby fur. "Hollypaw?" He squeaked curiously.

"What?" The tabby apprentice already felt her patience wearing thin.

"You're an apprentice, aren't you?" Sunkit cut in, bouncing forward. She looked more like Brackenfur, but her pelt was a paler shade of gold while her tabby stripes were darker. "So why don't you ever go train?"

"She does." Hollypaw blinked incredulously up at Cloudtail as he approached. "In fact, we're just about to leave."

"Really?" Fennelkit's amber eyes widened. She was a tiny copy of Sorreltail, with thick tortoiseshell and white fur.

Really? Hollypaw's jaws gaped in disbelief. She could have yowled her thanks to StarClan as Cloudtail nodded.

"Yes," the white warrior meowed. "So run along now, kits. I think Sorreltail is looking for you." The tiny kits scampered away eagerly, and Hollypaw stared hopefully up at her mentor.

"You mean it?" She demanded. "We're going out into the forest for something other than moss?"

Cloudtail rolled his eyes. "Birchpaw is getting too far ahead of you," he explained. "With WindClan and ShadowClan both being hostile, we need warriors more than ever, and Firestar wants you to start catching up. Are you ready?"

"Yes!" Hollypaw lashed her tail and kneaded the ground eagerly. "What are we going to do today?"

"First we'll hunt," Cloudtail flicked his ears towards the thorn tunnel and began leading the way out of camp. "Then we'll be joining Ashfur and Birchpaw in the training hollow for some catch-up battle training."

Hollypaw felt a rush of satisfaction as Birchpaw landed on the other side of the hollow, his flanks heaving as he fought to regain his breath.

"Well done!" Cloudtail's eyes glowed with approval. "Keep that up and you'll be allowed to go to the next Gathering for sure."

Hollypaw scraped her claws across the mossy ground, excitement welling up inside of her. They had spent every day for nearly half a moon training hard to get her caught up to Birchpaw. She was a good enough hunter, and her sharp sense of smell made her as good of a tracker as Cloudtail, but Hollypaw felt that battle training was where she thrived. She was smaller than nearly every cat in the Clan, but she was quick, and hid surprising strength in the lean muscles that rippled beneath her tabby pelt.

Ashfur had moved to explain how Birchpaw had given Hollypaw her opening, and Hollypaw made herself busy swiping at the air. Finally, the gray warrior spoke to Cloudtail.

"We're to meet the sunhigh patrol," he meowed apologetically. "We should get going."

Cloudtail dipped his head. "Thanks for training with us again, I think it's safe to say she's caught up, we won't need to spar nearly as often now."

Hollypaw sighed and stopped practicing her formal boxing in the air. "But we still can, can't we?"

Cloudtail rolled his eyes. "We'll see. Now come on, if Birchpaw's on the sunhigh patrol he can't very well feed the elders, can he?"

"I suppose not," Hollypaw drawled, exasperation showing in the slouch of her shoulders. "Where shall I hunt?"

Her mentor shrugged. "You decide. Feed the elders first, then take a second trip if you have enough daylight."

Hollypaw felt her tail curl in delight at her mentor's trust in her. "Okay!" She darted eagerly to the edge of the hollow. "I'll bring back enough to feed the whole Clan!"

It didn't take long for her to track down a rabbit and a couple of mice for the elders, and she carried it back to camp with her head high. The elders greeted her warmly when she entered their den. Though she had loathed her punishment, Hollypaw had built strong bonds with the three ThunderClan elders. Giving them each an affectionate farewell, Hollypaw set out to continue her hunt.

She made her way towards the lake, stalking silently through the undergrowth. Before long, she caught sight of a starling. She dropped into a more appropriate hunting crouch and pulled herself forward pawstep by pawstep. The wind changed suddenly, carrying her scent to the bird and urging it to take flight. Hollypaw leaped after it, using every muscle she had built in her hind legs as she sprang into the air. She caught its wing in her claws and landed heavily, the impact taking the birds life and cutting its loud alarm call short.

"Great catch!"

Hollypaw started and tensed, only to relax a moment later as Rainwhisker shouldered his way out of the ferns. The dark tabby apprentice shrugged. "I wasn't going to let it get away."

Rainwhisker's tail curled in amusement. "It's good to see you back in good spirits," he purred.

Hollypaw rolled her eyes. "Let's see you stay in good spirits while you're confined in camp." She knew her sharp words would roll off of Rainwhisker like water from a RiverClan cat's pelt. The dark gray warrior was calm and had a good sense of humor—something it seemed a cat needed to survive an apprenticeship under Cloudtail.

"I've seen how you treat the elders now," Rainwhisker teased, flicking his tail-tip across her ear. "Not to mention how they treat you. You and Mousefur trade snide comments like old mates."

"Do not!" Hollypaw swiped at the gray warrior in mock anger, her whiskers twitching in silent laughter. "Anyways, are you out hunting, too? That bird didn't scare away your catch, did it?"

"No," Rainwhisker shook his head. "I'm on a hunting patrol with Thornclaw, Spiderleg, and Whitewing."

"Spiderleg and Whitewing?" Hollypaw wrinkled her nose. "Those two are like moonstruck rabbits, it's a miracle they even manage to go on patrols!"

"You're not wrong," Rainwhisker sighed. "It's good to see though. It means ThunderClan will have plenty of kits come green-leaf."

"She's hardly a warrior," Hollypaw blinked incredulously at Rainwhisker. "She can't be planning on having kits already!"

His dark blue eyes sparkled with laughter. "Just because you think being a queen is boring doesn't mean Whitewing does, too." Rainwhisker pricked his ears. "Here they come now."

Hollypaw didn't point out that she had already smelled the rest of the patrol. Something else was tickling the roof of her mouth. A familiar scent, but one she couldn't place.

"There you are, Rainwhisker," Thornclaw meowed. "We're about to head back, are you coming?" Behind him, Whitewing and Spiderleg carried fresh-kill.

"Yeah," Rainwhisker started to turn and follow them, but glanced back at Hollypaw. The apprentice stood completely still, her jaws parted, inhaling deeply. "Hollypaw…?"

The fur along her spine began to bristle. "Badger." She rasped. "I smell badger."

"Badger?" Rainwhisker's alarmed meow drew Thornclaw back.

"Are you sure?" The golden brown tabby asked warily.

"Of course I'm sure," Hollypaw snapped. "I've had a mouthful of badger fur before, I think I'd recognize the smell of one!"

"Should we track it?" Rainwhisker glanced around uncertainly.

Thornclaw thought for a moment before nodding. "We'd better. It might be the same one trying its luck again." He flicked his tail at the starling Hollypaw caught. "Spiderleg, take that with you as well. Hollypaw, lead the way."

The tabby apprentice felt her whole pelt tingling in excitement as she drew in another breath and set off on the trail of the badger. Her excitement faded quickly, turning into a chilling dread that seemed to seep into her very bones. The stench got stronger and stronger, as if it hadn't been just one badger, but many, and their scent led unwaveringly towards the heart of ThunderClan's territory—their camp.

They were nearly at the hollow when they heard it: Firestar's fierce caterwaul calling ThunderClan to battle. Hollypaw broke into a run, her short legs easily overtaken by the rest of the patrol as they pelted towards their home. Hollypaw froze as they reached the thorn tunnel, or what remained of it, anyway. Badgers filled the hollow, swiping and snapping at ThunderClan's warriors as they fought for their lives. The walls that had once promised protection now trapped ThunderClan, forcing them to fight against impossible odds.

Spiderleg dropped his prey and threw himself into the battle, Whitewing and Thornclaw beside him. Rainwhisker followed, but Hollypaw couldn't make her paws move. She remembered too clearly how easily a badger's claws cut through a cat's skin.

Don't just stand there! A voice screeched in the back of her head. Do you want to be a warrior or don't you? Are you all talk?! The tabby apprentice remembered suddenly the vow she had made lying in her nest in Cinderpelt's den. This is the "next time" isn't it? So get down there and fight! With a mighty yowl, Hollypaw launched herself into the hollow, ignoring the fear that bubbled in her veins.

I will protect ThunderClan!