At first Skystar completely avoided his son, thinking he would only die if he was anywhere near him, but after a couple of cuffs and reprimandings from his Clanmates, he visited him. And realized he had no milk. And freaked out. Rainswept Flower had been mashing up fresh-kill and feeding the pulp to him but it wasn't good enough and kits needed their milk.

"Maybe we can ask another queen from another Clan?" Hawk Swoop suggested. Skystar snorted as he paced outside of the nursery. "The other Clans hate us."

"Well for now we'll just continue giving him fresh-kill. Either that or he'll starve," Dappled Pelt mewed.

"But kits need their milk!" Hawk Swoop protested.

"Oh? Should we starve him?" Shattered Ice asked, snarkily. "We'll give him whatever will keep him alive!"

"Shattered Ice, you–" Hawk Swoop began.

"Hush!" Shaded Moss appeared from the warriors' den. "We can't come up with ideas if we can't work together," the black-and-white tom meowed, exasperated.

"Yes." Dappled Pelt looked around. "Has anyone seen Cloud Spots?" The black and white spotted tom was nowhere to be found. "I haven't seen him for a moon now."

"Wait, wait, wait," Jackdaw's Cry began. "You mean to say you didn't notice your own denmate missing for a moon?" The black tom started laughing like it was the funniest thing in the world.

Dappled Pelt rolled her eyes. "No, I noticed and assumed he just wanted to be alone but now he's been gone too long and I'm worried. Losing cats is one of the hardest things about being a medicine cat."

"Well, don't worry about it," Moon Shadow spoke up. "I'll keep a lookout for him while I hunt." He headed towards the entrance. Gray Wing beckoned Fire Heart with his tail and bounded over to Moon Shadow. "Mind if we join?" He asked. Moon Shadow agreed and the three toms left.

Skystar, meanwhile, had pushed his way back into the nursery to check on his kit. He had been doing so every few moments as if he would drop dead.

Fire Heart followed his mentor and clanmate as they walked through the forest. The sun shined beautifully from where it broke through some trees up ahead, turning everything golden around them. Fire Heart had wanted to hear about the Gathering from Falling Feather, who had gone the other day, but had fallen asleep. He made a mental note to ask his friend to ask her later.

"Okay, let's stop here and scent for prey," Gray Wing began as they came upon a clearing. "But first let me see your crouch. You need to perfect it."

Fire Heart crouched and stalked along the forest floor, trying to mimic what Gray Wing had shown him a few days ago. He crept as silently and lightly as he could, feeling a glow of pride that his muscles felt ready and smooth.

"Wow. Not bad for a kittypet." Moon Shadow smiled from nearby. Fire Heart rolled his eyes at the reminded status.

"You're balanced well," Gray Wing commented. "Your pace will come later."

"It's better than Jackdaw's Cry, I suppose," Moon Shadow added.

"He just doesn't adapt well to the forest," Gray Wing meowed. "Like me."

"And Hawk Swoop and Turtle Tail although Tall Shadow and Rainswept Flower are alright."

"Okay, are we gonna stand here comparing Clanmates' hunting preferences all day or actually hunt prey?" Gray Wing demanded. Fire Heart snickered as Moon Shadow stalked off on his own. Gray Wing rolled his eyes good-naturedly at Fire Heart before instructing him to start scenting for prey.

As Fire Heart reported what he could smell there was a dreadful snarling and yowling that suddenly erupted from farther up ahead. Fire Heart gave his mentor a wide-eyed look.

Gray Wing raced away and Fire Heart followed quickly, scrambling over a log as he followed.

Up ahead at the ThunderClan border, Moon Shadow was fighting with two tabbies while two blue-gray cats watched from the side, uncertain.

Gray Wing launched himself at the nearest tabby, a big black one with yellow glaring eyes. Hesitantly, Fire Heart jumped the pale one with black stripes.

The tom gasped in surprise and stumbled back, slamming Fire Heart against a tree trunk. Fire Heart slashed at his shoulder. He isn't that good of a fighter. Fire Heart thought in surprise before grinning. And they say kittypets can't fight. Ha!

He butted his head against the pale tabby's and the tom screeched in pain and shock as he fell backwards. Fire Heart's head hurt as he tried to shake off the pain and stars appearing all around him. He fell to the ground with a 'thud' and passed out.

When he came around, Gray Wing was shaking him worriedly. "I'm okay," he mumbled, scrambling to his paws. He looked around. The two tabbies were gone along with one of the blue-gray cats but there was still the blue-gray tom.

"Stonefur," Gray Wing mewed in greeting and gestured his tail at Moon Shadow, who was practically vibrating with triumph. "What the hell is going on?"

"He attacked them first," Stonefur meowed, dipping his head. "They were just remarking the borders, Longtail and Darkstripe." Wait. I remember Darkstripe! He was one of those cats that attacked me on my first day into the wild! Fire Heart felt even more proud of himself for beating them.

"They were looking across the border and looked suspicious to me, so…" Moon Shadow shrugged. Stonefur stared at him oddly and looked at Gray Wing. "Um, okay. I have to get going now." He quickly left and Fire Heart heard him mutter, "weirdos." Under his breath as he left.

Gray Wing rounded on Moon Shadow. "Seriously?"

The black tom sniffed. "I was just doing my duty. ThunderClan can't push us all around forever."

Gray Wing stared at him like he was an idiot before he left without a word. Fire Heart quickly scrambled after him. "Okay. How about you try hunting real prey?" Gray Wing sighed. Fire Heart gave him a worried look but Gray Wing just smiled encouragingly at him. The ginger tom dipped his head and scampered off towards the Huge Oak. A big tree where most apprentices practiced their climbing.

And there was a variety of prey there.

Fire Heart snuck up the hill and peeked over to see the Huge Oak. Sure enough, mice scampered here and there and a sparrow pecked at the ground a little ways away. Even a rabbit poked its head out of some long grass close by.

Fire Heart dropped into his crouch and stalked quietly along the ground. Every sense was on fire with tension. Silently, he pondered which prey to catch and settled for the sparrow. It wouldn't be as hard to catch as a rabbit and big enough to feed a couple of cats, but he could still lose it, too. Gray Wing had never taught him how to catch birds or squirrels yet.

Wild energy surged through him, desperate to prove himself but he remained motionless, trying to pinpoint the bird's position. Then, he sprang forward.

The sparrow didn't even notice until he was on top of it. He quickly killed it and thanked StarClan as Gray Wing had chided him to do so. Carefully, he picked up the warm body of the bird and headed back to camp, pleased.

He had made his first catch.

Cloud Spots dug his claws into the bark to keep himself steady. He held his breath as Moon Shadow stalked about underneath him calling out for him. He could only guess that Dappled Pelt had sent him.

After Bright Stream had died he had spent his days brooding in the forest. He didn't want to face Skystar's accusing glares or anyone else.

"Cloudy Spots!" Moon Shadow suddenly bellowed. "Spotty Cloud!" The medicine cat rolled his eyes at the stupid nicknames the stupid tom was giving him.

Suddenly, the tree branch he was sitting on cracked and he fell on top of Moon Shadow. Maybe he shouldn't have sat on the same branch for three days straight. "Cloud Spots! You're alive!" Moon Shadow exclaimed from underneath him. "And you look like dung!"

Cloud Spots looked down at his unkempt pelt and was pretty sure his eyes looked hollow, making him appear wild. "I'm not coming back to camp, okay? Can you just tell them I'm living in the trees from now on?"

"You're funny, bro. Anyway, we need your help. Dappled Pelt doesn't know how to get milk sources for Skystar's son."

"Wait. He's not mad?"

"At you? No! He was mad that he couldn't be there."

"Well, honestly I was keeping him out. Didn't need anyone crowding the den."

"Anyway, do you have any suggestions?" Moon Shadow asked.

"We need to ask ThunderClan to spare a queen," Cloud Spots mewed. Moon Shadow sighed at him, disappointed.

"We'll be crowfood if we're caught!"

"Okay…um…do you have an idea?" He asked the black warrior.

"What? You're the genius!" Moon Shadow retorted. "Just think up the first thing that comes to your mind."

"Okay…uh, we go to the border and wait for the first cat that comes. I know most of the ThunderClan cats. They're actually quite friendly."

"So it's just Thistlestar and his minions we have to worry about?" Moon Shadow asked and Cloud Spots nodded in confirmation. "All right, let's roll!"

It had been a moon since Redtail died and Lionheart had been made deputy in his place. Graypaw and Ravenpaw were being taught how to stalk prey today by Tigerclaw. Ravenpaw was worried. Graypaw noticed sometimes he would give Tigerclaw horrified looks as if he knew something he shouldn't. And Tigerclaw would glare right back, threateningly.

"Cheer up, Ravenpaw," Graypaw meowed as he skidded into a pile of crisp, fallen leaves. Ravenpaw was crouched in the corner of the hollow as they waited for Tigerclaw. "Have you seen Mistyfoot and Runningwind's new kits?"

They had been born a moon after Frostfur's kits. One was a blue-gray she-cat they called Cricketkit and the other a snowy white tom named Featherkit. They both had their mothers blue eyes but their father's slim build.

"No…not yet…" Ravenpaw mumbled, shuffling his paws only to jump, fur puffed as Tigerclaw suddenly appeared. He glared at Ravenpaw, completely ignored Graypaw and immediately snapped them into business.

"Show me your crouches! And if they're pathetic you'll be running around until your legs break!" He barked.

Ravenpaw gulped.

Cloud Spots and Moon Shadow waited at the border. So far they had to hide from Darkstripe and Longtail, prowling around like always, Stonefur, who was mild with other Clans, but you could never tell if he would be in the friendly mood or enemy mood, and two apprentices, Ravenpaw and Graypaw, who they would have called out to if it hadn't been for Tigerclaw appearing behind them after the last moment.

"Where is Spottedleaf? We can talk to her at least!" Cloud Spots hissed.

"Who're our other options?" Moon Shadow asked.

"Good question…I'll come back to you when I find out."

Finally, another cat appeared. It was that one warrior, Willowpelt. "Do you know her? Is she friendly?" Moon Shadow whispered.

"Yes. She's pretty nice."

"Um, is she okay then?"

"Sure."

Cloud Spots raised up from his hiding spot and Moon Shadow followed his lead. Willowpelt spotted them and stared with wide eyes, looked around worriedly before heading over. "Um, hello?"

"Wassup?" Moon Shadow nodded at her. Cloud Spots rolled his eyes.

Skystar watched his brown tabby son scramble around with his younger brother and hurl themselves off a rock. When his kit took his turn he jumped off so high he could have snatched an eagle from the sky. Skystar's eyes widened. He had his jump. His son leaped like him.

"Air Leap!" He called out, trying the name that had suddenly come to mind after he saw his son's leap. The tabby tom looked up, confused before he squealed with excitement and barreled over to Skystar, pressing his head into his front legs.

Skystar trembled as he gave the kit a tender lick. He looked so much like Bright Stream. He promised himself he would be a good father.

Moon Shadow and Cloud Spots waited for Willowpelt. She had gone back to camp to talk to one of the queens right now.

Finally, the gray she-cat appeared with a pale ginger queen. After hearing about the situation–Goldenflower–her name was accepted.

"But Thistlestar can't find out…so, um, can you bring him to the border and I'll feed him that way?" She asked. Cloud Spots nodded, but Moon Shadow wondered if Skystar would ever let his son go again.

"Thank you so much," Cloud Spots dipped his head. The two toms turned and plunged back into their territory. "We could be in trouble."

Moon Shadow nodded.

The things they did for help.

Fire Heart was on the evening patrol when they passed the ThunderClan border a black apprentice raced by, expression panicked. "What's up with him?" He asked.

Tall Shadow shrugged when suddenly, Tigerclaw also dashed past. A moment later a fluffy gray apprentice appeared. He spotted the SkyClan cats and then noticed Fire Heart. "Hi! Are you an apprentice too?"

Fire Heart nodded warily.

"I'm Graypaw," the tom mewed.

"Fire Heart."

They heard screeching in the distance but Graypaw was indifferent to it. Tall Shadow and Rainswept Flower, who were also on the patrol, exchanged bewildered looks.

"So, um, what're you doing?" Fire Heart asked because really the silence was awkward especially with all the weird noises coming from ThunderClan territory.

"Running…" Graypaw shrugged. "From Tigerclaw." He added more quietly.

GRAYPAW!" Sounded from farther away and the apprentice jumped.

"Welp. Looks like he found me. Gotta run! See ya around, Fireheart. Or…Fire Heart…with a space…okay I'm just gonna go."

They watched the apprentice sprint away.

"ThunderClan…is…strange…" Rainswept Flower came up with the conclusion in the end.

This was one of my favorite chapters to write.