Thanks for reading guys! The more I write this story the more I love it, so I hope you don't get tired of reading it any time soon! xD Anyways, to my dear Reviewers:

Pandean: I'm glad you like her! I tried to give her as much sass as I could xD

Russian Pickle: I think you're going to like this chapter :3 Or at least, I hope you will xD

ALSO, taking name/appearance suggestions for Squirrelflight's kits. I want her to have 4, I think. I'm only naming one, and that's Redkit (a pale ginger tom with dark red stripes). Send names, genders, appearances, or whatever other suggestions you might have and I will love you forever!

Without further ado, here's the chapter.

Chapter 17

Hollystep growled impatiently as she struggled through the snow. She had only a scrawny crow to show for her hunting efforts, but it was better than nothing. It had been a moon since they had returned from the mountains, and whitecough had seized ThunderClan's camp. Already Cloudtail and Sandstorm were ill, as well as Spottedkit and Whitewing. The cats that were sick were confined to camp, leaving ThunderClan without two of its best hunters. We can't afford to let this leaf-bare weaken us anymore.

The dark tabby pushed her way gratefully through the thorn tunnel, knowing that Thornclaw and Rainwhisker had ordered their apprentices to clear the snow from the center of the camp. They had done good work—the ThunderClan camp seemed to be the only place the snow didn't brush Hollystep's belly fur.

"Hollystep, there you are." Brambleclaw bounded from the Highledge to meet her at the fresh-kill pile, which consisted only of a squirrel. "Firestar wants to speak with you."

Hollystep dropped her crow and shook the snow from her pelt. "Alright. Is he in his den?"

The deputy nodded. "Don't get too close, he's been to see Whitewing and Spottedkit."

"Yes, Brambleclaw," she dipped her head respectfully and turned towards Firestar's den. ThunderClan's leader was nestled comfortably in his nest, his fur fluffed out against the chill in the air and his eyes bright.

"Hollystep, just the warrior I wanted to see." He beckoned her closer with a wave of his tail. "I wanted a word with you."

"Brambleclaw told me," the young warrior sat across from her leader at a comfortable distance and tucked her tail neatly around her paws. "What can I do for you?"

Firestar blinked proudly at her. "I've just had a word with Whitewing, and we've agreed it's about time Snowkit was made an apprentice. Would you still like to mentor him?"

A thrill shot through Hollystep, making her fur bristle in excitement. "Of course!" She exclaimed, jumping to her paws. "When will the ceremony be?"

Amusement glinted in her leader's green eyes. "Now, if you're ready."

"Yes, Firestar!"

The flame-pelted warrior stood stiffly and stretched. "I'll call for the Clan, then."

Hollystep bounced out of the den like a newly-named apprentice. I'm going to be a mentor! She could see Ferncloud fussing over the white-furred kit outside the nursery as Firestar's voice rang out in the familiar summons.

"Let all cats old enough to catch their own prey gather here beneath the Highledge for a Clan meeting." His strong yowl trailed into a small bought of coughing, but he shook it off as quickly as it started. Hollystep took a place near the front, her chest puffed out in pride.

"What's going on?" Rainwhisker's warm breath brushed her ear as he sat next to her.

"You'll see," Hollystep shivered in anticipation, pressing close against Rainwhisker as if to let him feel the excitement pulsing through her pelt.

"Today I've called you here for one of the most exciting duties I have as a leader. Snowkit, step forward." The big white kit rushed forward, nearly tripping over his gray paws. "From this moment forward, until you have earned your warrior name, you will be known as Snowpaw. Hollystep, Cloudtail trained you well, and you've shown yourself to be a warrior of great skill and determination; you will be his mentor."

Hollystep joined her new apprentice at the front of the gathered Clan and bent to touch noses with him. His amber eyes blazed more brightly than the sun, and another rush of pride shot through the new mentor.

"Snowpaw! Snowpaw!" The Clan pressed around them and called him by his new name, distracted by the hardships of leaf-bare by the good news.

"Snowpaw," Sunpaw waved her tail at the newest apprentice. "Come make a nest in the apprentices' den!"

"May I?" Snowpaw blinked hopefully at Hollystep.

"Go on," she purred. "Once you're done, meet me by the thorn tunnel."

"Yes, Hollystep!"

"Congratulations!" Birchfall gave his sister a playful nudge as her apprentice scampered after Sunpaw and Fennelpaw. "You're going to make a great mentor."

Hollystep licked her brother's shoulder. "I'm sure you'll be a mentor soon," she tried to sound encouraging. Birchfall shrugged. "Honestly I'm okay with waiting. Maybe one of Squirrelflight's litter."

"That's ages from now, though," Hollystep couldn't keep the shock from her voice. "Why not try to get Spottedkit or Nettlekit?"

The lighter tabby warrior rolled his eyes. "Not every cat wants to jump straight into mentoring," he teased her lightly. "Besides, I've already got to deal with you—I don't think I could handle mentoring Nettlekit on top of that!"

Hollystep swatted at her brother half-heartedly. "If you say so."

"Anyways, I'm off to see what I can catch before the sun goes down," Birchfall retreated with twitching whiskers. Hollystep was confused until Rainwhisker's warm, familiar scent wreathed around her.

"Congratulations," he purred, ducking to rasp his tongue across her ear. "You've definitely earned this."

"Thanks," Hollystep pressed her muzzle against Rainwhisker's shoulder. "I wish I could show him the territory today, but it's already past sunhigh, so I don't think we'll have time."

"There'll be plenty of time for that tomorrow," Rainwhisker reminded her, his eyes flashing with laughter. "What will you have him do tonight?"

Hollystep thought for a moment before answering, "I think we'll work on his hunting crouch in the mossy hollow tonight. Tomorrow we'll start with a tour of the territory and then tend to the elders."

"Sounds good," the dark gray tom nodded. "Mind if Fennelpaw and I join you in the morning? Sunpaw's on the dawn patrol and Thornclaw wants Hazelpaw for battle training, so we've got hunting duty."

"Sure," Hollystep shrugged. "It could do him some good to watch Fennelpaw—he's shaping into a fine hunter." She spotted Snowpaw emerging from the apprentices' den. "There he is, looks like it's time to go." She flicked her tail across Rainwhisker's ears as she trotted to the thorn tunnel to wait for her apprentice. He scampered eagerly towards her, his tail fluffed out in excitement.

"What are we going to be doing, Hollystep?"

"I'm going to show you the training hollow, and we're going to see if we can't work on a hunting crouch." With a twitch of her ears, Hollystep led the way out of camp. Her whole body quivered. I'm finally a mentor!

"Snowpaw! Fennelpaw!" Hollystep flicked her ears irately as she stuck her head in the apprentices' den. "It's time for training!"

"Coming," Snowpaw yawned. Rolling her eyes, Hollystep backed out of their den to wait.

The dawn patrol had just left, Brambleclaw at its head and Spiderleg and Sunpaw just behind him. Rainwhisker was waiting at the thorn tunnel, his paws tucked comfortably beneath him and snow slowly gathering on his broad shoulders.

"They're coming," the dark tabby sighed as she approached.

"Good," Rainwhisker's eyes were bright. "Fennelpaw's not usually tardy—if I had to guess I'd have to say he's taking advantage of Snowpaw not knowing when to be awake."

Hollystep rolled her eyes. "He's always been a sly one." She sat next to her companion, warmth sparking through her as their fur brushed. It was welcome on such a snowy morning. As they watched, Snowpaw bounced out of the apprentices' den, followed by a less-enthusiastic Fennelpaw.

"It's just a border patrol," the dark tortoiseshell was explaining, his words followed by a disinterested yawn. "Hunting's much more fun."

"I'm glad you think so," Rainwhisker stood as he addressed the apprentices. "Because we're also going to try to pick up some fresh-kill while we're out. The Clan needs it desperately, and you're in charge of the elders today."

"I'll really get to hunt?" Snowpaw turned eager amber eyes to Hollystep.

"Of course you will," she snorted. "What else are you going to do with that hunting crouch we worked on yesterday?"

The white apprentice ducked his head sheepishly, but his momentary embarrassment didn't dull his excitement. "Let's go then!"

Hollystep took the lead as they left, heading towards the ShadowClan border. When they were in sight of the first border marking she raised her tail to make the patrol stop. "Alright Snowpaw," she beckoned him forward. "What can you smell?"

Snowpaw lifted his head and inhaled deeply. Moments later he wrinkled his nose and curled his lip, taking a pace backwards. "Pines," he reported. "And other cats—they don't smell familiar at all."

"Very good," Rainwhisker nodded. He angled his ears towards the stream. "That's the ShadowClan border."

"They're nothing but trouble," Fennelpaw spat scornfully. "They think the entire forest belongs to them."

"Through most of green-leaf and leaf-fall they tried to move our border," Hollystep added, narrowing her eyes and scanning the other side of the stream carefully. "But I don't think we'll have much to worry about with them for a while—I think they finally got tired of being defeated."

"Still," Rainwhisker mewed gravely. "You can never be too careful with ShadowClan."

Hollystep kicked dirt over the border as she were burying dirt before beckoning with her tail for them to keep going. "Keep your eyes forward," she advised, watching Snowpaw nod seriously and watch the trees ahead of them carefully. A soft gasp escaped his throat.

"Is that the lake?" He sounded awestruck. Hollystep couldn't blame him, she still remembered the wonder of seeing so much water for the first time. Through the leafless trees it was even easier to see, cold leaf-bare sunlight dancing across its shimmering blue surface. Little wind disturbed the water today, and the color reminded Hollystep suddenly of Rainwhisker's eyes.

"It is," she finally stammered, realizing that Snowpaw and Fennelpaw were both staring at her. "Come on, let's take a closer look." They continued forward until they were near the shore. Fennelpaw hung back at the edge of the trees, his ears pricked as he stared into a brittle thicket of brambles. Probably after a mouse, Hollystep thought. When she stopped, Snowpaw stopped beside her.

"RiverClan is on the other side, right?" Snowpaw flicked his gray-striped tail towards the water.

"Yes." Hollystep glanced at him, watching with faint amusement as he tried to scent the far away Clan. "You won't be able to smell them today," she finally told him. "Do you know why that might be?"

Snowpaw snapped his mouth shut, then narrowed his eyes thoughtfully. Hollystep heard the rustle of undergrowth, but didn't have to turn around to know Fennelpaw had made his catch. "The wind," Snowpaw finally meowed. "It's not blowing strongly today."

"Very good," Hollystep praised him. "Not only that, but we're upwind. The wind that is blowing is carrying our scent to them, not the other way around."

"Oh," Snowpaw blinked, then tasted the air again. "I see, now."

Hollystep purred. "Let's keep moving. Maybe we'll stop and test that hunting crouch once we get to the ancient oak."

By then end of the day, Hollystep's spirits were soaring. Snowpaw was thoughtful and eager to learn, and seemed unfazed by Fennelpaw's snide comments. He had nearly caught a sparrow, and though he'd missed the mouse he'd been stalking, Hollystep managed to finish it off. They'd returned to the camp with prey for the elders and plenty of time to fetch them clean bedding. As the sun sank behind the horizon, Hollystep finally approached the fresh-kill pile. It was still pitifully small, but there was more than there had been the day before.

Hollystep started as Rainwhisker's pelt brushed hers. His fur was ruffled and matted with dust and snow. "Want to share?"

"Sure," the dark tabby picked up the magpie she'd been eyeing and led the way back to a comfortable spot outside the warriors' den. Ashfur and Spiderleg were sharing tongues nearby, while Cloudtail inhaled a bony mouse a few tail-lengths away. His tail curled as the two younger warriors settled down and began eating.

"Glad to see you two are getting on so well," the white warrior teased, his eyes narrowed playfully.

Hollystep flattened her ears, ready to spring to their defense but Rainwhisker let out a deep, rumbling purr. "You always were nosy," the dark gray warrior laughed.

Cloudtail snorted. "How do you think I got to be the best tracker in the Clan? Using my tail?"

"It's not like that," Hollystep mumbled, a frown overtaking her features. Is it?

"Sure it's not," her former mentor rolled his eyes. "Honestly, Hollystep, there's no shame in taking a few moons off to raise kits—we'll certainly need the warriors if ShadowClan starts heckling our border again come new-leaf."

The dark tabby choked on her mouthful of magpie then jumped to her paws, bristling furiously. "You've got the wrong idea if you think I'm going to give up my warrior duties to lay around in the nursery all day," she hissed vehemently.

"Easy," Rainwhisker didn't stand, but touched his nose to her shoulder.

Unwilling to be soothed, the dark tabby rounded on the gray tom. "Do you expect me to spend all my time in the nursery, too? Is that what you were hoping to gain out of this?" The anger burning in her chest flared when Rainwhisker's eyes shimmered with blatant amusement. Before she could call him out on it, he stood and slapped his tail over her mouth.

"No, Hollystep," he purred softly. "I never wanted to gain anything out of this, except maybe to make you happy."

Make me happy? Hollystep heart was pounding in her chest. She could see it in his eyes now, as clearly as she had seen the sunlight dancing on the lake. "But Rainwhisker, I…"

"I don't care," he interrupted, "If you don't want kits. I love you exactly as you are."

Cloudtail made a show of gagging on his last bite of mouse. "Get a den," he snickered. Hollystep hardly heard him.

"Stupid furball," she finally choked out, pushing her muzzle into Rainwhisker's thick fur. She felt more than heard the purr that resonated in his chest as he ducked his head and gave her ears a couple of quick licks. "Are you sure you don't want to love some other cat? One that wants to have kits?"

"Positive." Rainwhisker sat down again his eyes glowing. "You're the only cat for me."

"But I want to be a leader someday," Hollystep objected. "What if…"

The dark gray warrior rolled his eyes. "Who's being a stupid furball now?" He touched his nose to hers. "Nothing will change the way I feel." His gaze smoldered into hers until finally, she sat next to him again, pressing close against his flank.

"You must have thistledown for a brain," she muttered at last. But she couldn't keep the joyous tremor from her voice. She felt as if she could make the Great Journey a thousand times as long as she had Rainwhisker at her side. Is this what love is? For the slightest moment her mind flickered to Smokefoot, and the confession he made to her in the mountain. She couldn't bring herself to hate him now that she felt the strength of the emotion coursing through her own veins, but she knew even more certainly that she could never feel the same for the ShadowClan warrior. My heart lies in ThunderClan. She purred contently as she and Rainwhisker shared tongues in the soft light of dusk. With Rainwhisker.