Atliersky- Yeah, I think I made Thistlestar a little too evil because most villains try and hide their cruelty, so I guess guess can say he's being very manipulated by someone and his own attitude only makes it worse.

As for SkyClan...well now I'm afraid to post the last few chapters of this book because...they do not do in any of SkyClan's favor, but I promise in the end they will win...soon.

Anyway, here's a short chappie of Cloud and his siblings ceremony. And his first meeting with his birth mom.

A moon passed, leaving one more to go before the meeting with ThunderClan. But right now Gray Wing was more worried about his kits' apprentice's ceremonies. They still had a dullness in their eyes after Turtle Tail's death, similar to Gray Wing himself, but right now their eyes shined and they bounced around excitedly like any other kits would.

Birch and Alder tumbled out of the nursery to their soon-to-be former denmates. "I'll miss you guys," Alder said.

"Don't worry, we'll still be here, just in another den," Owl Eyes reassured the mottled kit kindly.

"I can't believe it!" Sparrow Fur squeaked. "It seemed like forever before we could start actual apprentice training and now here I am!"

"Here we are!" Cloud Tail corrected, blue eyes gleaming.

"Stay still," Rainswept Flower purred as she held the white kit still, grooming his fluffy pelt. Beside her, Hawk Swoop got Owl Eyes ready but Sparrow Fur had groomed herself.

Meanwhile, Pebble Heart sat calmly at Gray Wing's paws and he purred as he brushed a paw over his calm son's gray tabby fur. "Ready?" He asked the quiet kit.

He had requested to train as a medicine cat and Skystar had promised him Cloud Spots. Falling Feather would mentor Cloud Tail as suggested by Fire Heart because of the white fur thing, Nettle would mentor Sparrow Fur and Gorse Fur was promised Owl Eyes.

"Yes," Pebble Heart purred.

Cloud Tail wriggled out of Rainswept Flower's grasp and darted away, yowling, "I'm gonna talk to Fire Heart!" As the ginger warrior emerged from the warrior's den.

Pebble Heart had slinked away to the medicine den when Gray Wing had been distracted. Gray Wing sighed. Why are my kits always all over the place? He'd have to round them up soon before Skystar called.

Wind Runner appeared from the nursery with her young kits stumbling after her on unsteady legs. She looked around and then at Gray Wing.

"Where are the kits?" She asked.

Gray Wing rolled his eyes while Hawk Swoop laughed. "There's one there," the orange tabby flicked a tail towards the medicine den. "And there." She flicked a tail at Fire Heart as her friend approached with Cloud Tail at his heels.

Just then, Skystar bounded out of his den and jumped up the Flat Boulder. "Let all cats old enough to hunt gather beneath the Flat Boulder for a Clan meeting!"

Fire Heart and Hawk Swoop smiled as Gray Wing grumbled, "I need to find the others." He looked at Cloud Tail. "You. Stay put." And left.

"Pebble Heart!" He called as he approached the medicine den. "Peb–" the tabby kit charged out of the den at that moment covered in herbs. "Seriously? Look at you!"

"At least he smells nice," Dappled Pelt purred, pushing her way out the den. The kit smelled of lavender and catmint.

"I suppose," Gray Wing sighed and brushed the herbs out of his pelt. "Let's go round up the rest of your siblings."

He found Owl Eyes and Sparrow Fur in the apprentice's den, covered in moss. "Are you all trying to look bad during your ceremony?"

"We were trying to make our nests now," Owl Eyes mewed sheepishly. Gray Wing smiled fondly and nosed the kits over to Cloud Tail. "C'mon. And no running."

He led his four kits to the crowd that had gathered and made it to the front. Hawk Swoop and Rainswept Flower had claimed spots in the front. They'd babied Turtle Tail's kits the most after she'd passed and now watched with pride as if it were their own kits ceremony.

Skystar beckoned Cloud Tail forward first and the white kit charged forward, blue eyes sparkling like stars.

"Falling Feather, you are ready for your first apprentice and will mentor Cloud Tail."

Falling Feather joined her apprentice in the middle and nudged Cloud Tail as the kit tried to touch noses with her early. Gray Wing shook his head with a smile.

"Falling Feather, I rely on you to pass on all you have learned to Cloud Tail, and help him become a warrior the Clan can be proud of."

"Yes, Skystar." Falling Feather dipped her head and touched noses with her apprentice before leading him out of the way.

"I'm an apprentice now!" Cloud Tail exclaimed.

"Pebble Heart!" Skystar called and the calm kit walked slowly into the middle. "Your mentor will be Cloud Spots."

The black and white-spotted tom stepped forward with just as much calmness.

"Cloud Spots, I trust that you can guide him on his path to be a talented healer," Skystar said.

"Of course." Cloud Spots touched noses with Pebble Heart, who's yellow eyes shined brighter with enthusiasm.

"Sparrow Fur."

The tortoiseshell kit, much like Cloud Tail had, charged into the clearing and skidded to a halt. Skystar watched his niece with amusement.

"Your mentor will be Nettle." The gray tom stepped up to the tortoiseshell, who looked just as delighted.

"Nettle, this'll be your first apprentice, but I know you can make her a great warrior in no time."

Nettle nodded and touched noses with Sparrow Fur.

Now Owl Eyes was called forward and the last kit stepped forward, trembling with nerves and excitement at the same time, his eyes bigger than usual as he stared up at his uncle.

"Owl Eyes, your mentor will be Gorse Fur," Skystar announced and the gray tabby tom joined the gray kit in the middle. "Gorse Fur, you've been a good friend to the Clan for sometime and are a good warrior. I hope you pass on your skills and kindness to Owl Eyes."

"Will do," Gorse Fur dipped his head, looking embarrassed by the praise before touching noses with Owl Eyes.

Gray Wing sighed in relief. He felt all his kits had good mentors and soon they'd become something great to the Clan in no time.

"Cloud Tail! Owl Eyes! Sparrow Fur! Pebble Heart!" The Clan cheered and Gray Wing moved forward to hail his kits.

I hope Turtle Tail's watching you four, he thought as he gave each of them a lick between the ears. They'll make Clan history yet.

Fire Heart paused at the edge of ThunderClan territory. "Wait a minute," he warned Cloud Tail. "We're about to enter ThunderClan, so we have to be careful of any patrols. What can you smell?"

Cloud Tail raised his nose obediently and sniffed. It was his first expedition out after the tour the other day.

"I can smell lots of cats," Cloud Tail mewed. "I don't recognize any of them, though."

"They're mostly kittypets and maybe some rogues." At least he hoped.

"So are we really gonna visit my real mother?" The white tom asked, eyes bright with curiosity.

"Of course." Fire Heart flicked his tail. "Now follow me." The ginger tom led Cloud Tail towards Princess' garden. With a jolt, he realized the last time he'd seen Princess was to take Cloud Tail to SkyClan with him. It'd been quite a while.

"Princess!" He yelled as he jumped the fence. The little entrance in the bigger entrance of the twoleg nest flapped open and Princess shot out.

"Fire Heart!" She jumped up beside him, giving him a lick. "I haven't seen you forever! What happened?"

What hasn't happened yet? He thought bitterly, but what he said out loud was, "sorry. We've been really busy with…Clan stuff. Anyway, I've brought someone to meet you."

"Your friend…Jackdaw's…something?" She tilted her head curiously. Fire Heart felt his chest tighten and shook his head quickly.

"Not this time. Look down there."

The brown tabby looked down and gasped. "Is that…?"

"Cloud Tail," Fire Heart purred. "Your kit." He beckoned his apprentice to join him and Cloud Tail scrambled up to sit beside them.

"Are you…really my mother?" He asked, eyes wide.

"I really am," she purred. "You've grown so much! And are you two getting enough to eat?" She cast a critical eye over their thin forms.

"As much as we should be grateful for," Fire Heart shrugged with a sigh. "But we're doing well."

Princess purred and started asking Cloud Tail questions. Fire Heart looked around when he heard a rustle and turned to see a ThunderClan patrol.

"Cloud Tail!" He hissed. The white tom followed his gaze and gasped.

"What is it?" Princess asked, eyeing the ThunderClan cats warily.

"ThunderClan! We gotta leave, sorry Princess," Fire Heart muttered, nudging Cloud Tail away, but froze. There was no way they could get past without being spotted.

"Hide in here," Princess nudged them into the garden and under a bush with heavily smelling purple flowers.

Fire Heart held his breath as the patrol neared the fence.

"Hurry up, Cricketpaw!" That was Swiftclaw, a young warrior, who had only been such for a few moons and was already acting like a senior warrior.

"Shut it, Swiftclaw!" Mousefur's voice snapped. "Mind yourself, apprentice!"

"Watch your tongue!" The black-and-white tom spat back.

"Can we just continue this patrol?" Graystripe was the fourth cat on the patrol. "Thistlestar will be calling a meeting soon and he wants everyone there. Do you wanna get on his bad side?"

He sure knows how to calm others down, Fire Heart thought. His somewhat friend had become wiser and more careful from the clumsy oaf he used to be.

"What's it about?" Cricketpaw asked excitedly, not at all deterred by her clanmate's rudeness.

"About the meeting with Skystar," Graystripe said, voice lowering as if afraid someone would hear. "He's actu–"

"Not here!" Mousefur snapped. "If we're caught talking against his plan, we're crowfood."

"I think it's a great plan!" Swiftclaw sniffed and led his patrol away.

"Stupid litte…" they heard Mousefur's meow trail away and then everything was quiet.

Princess turned to them slowly. "What…was that about?"

"ThunderClan being ThunderClan," Fire Heart sighed, but then he frowned. It sounded like Graystripe was about to say something about a change of plans. Was Thistlestar not going to meet them anymore?

Cloud Tail's eyes burned with silent fury and Princess nudged him. "What's wrong, kit?"

"ThunderClan is the reason my foster littermates' mother is dead!" He spat.

Princess gasped quietly. "They killed her?"

Fire Heart shook his head. "It's more complicated than that, but ThunderClan's hated our Clan ever since they came to the forest."

"Then…you're both in danger," Princess whispered, eyes horrified.

"And such is Clan life," Fire Heart sighed again. "We should get going. You don't have to worry about us. We can handle it."

"Fire Heart, wait!" Princess called and he paused on the fence while Cloud Tail raced ahead. "Please come back to visit. Just so I can know you're both alive."

"Okay," he promised. But he wasn't sure he could keep it.

He turned and plunged down the fence and chased after his apprentice back to their territory.