Author's Note: Warrior Cats belongs to Erin Hunter. All characters depicted belong to Erin Hunter. Any dialog used from the books is simply for weaving a complete thread through Goldenflower's story, where her life intersects with Firestar's. Unnamed characters as mentioned in Into the Wild have been given a name and added into the fabric of the story as makes sense to me and hopefully fits into the wider world of warrior cats. Enjoy!

"Stay close," Goldenflower fretted, sitting outside the nursery. Lynxkit glanced back at her and quietly nodded. Sunlight dappled her pelt and she looked so small standing next to her brother. Swiftkit rolled his eyes.

"Where would we go, momma?" he whined. "We're not allowed out of the camp."

Goldenflower's whiskers twitched despite herself. Swiftkit had a fire in him that reminded her of when she was younger. "Just stay close, dear."

"He's a pawful," Frostfur commented. The white queen lay outside the nursery on her back. Her forepaws were tucked up on her chest. Her belly was swollen with kits. Goldenflower was excited for her friend and Lionheart.

"You'll be saying that about your own kits," Goldenflower promised the queen.

"I know." Frostfur's blue eyes widened with excitement. "I wonder how many I'll have."

"You're bigger than I ever was…" Goldenflower had more to say, but an unfamiliar scent washed over her. That was not a ThunderClan cat. "Get back here," she called to her kits. "Get in the nursery!"

Ignoring their protests, she bundled them inside the brambles. Frostfur followed, puffing as she slipped under the thorny branches that sheltered the den. "Goldenflower," she murmured. "There's plenty of cats in the camp. They're safe."

Goldenflower blinked at the queen, suddenly feeling quite sheepish. Maybe she had overreacted. There were no cats yowling in alarm. No hurried pawsteps. Frostfur looked towards the nursery entrance. "Go see for yourself. I'll stay with them"

Goldenflower brushed her muzzle against the white queen's. Her friend swept her tail around the kits and asked them if they'd ever heard of LionClan. Goldenflower squeezed through the branches and locked gazes with a fiery ginger tom. His green eyes were wide with excitement. Goldenflower scented his fear, yet he looked around the camp, seemingly eager to take in the sight of the ThunderClan camp. Lionheart and Whitestorm flanked the tom.

"Curious about the newcomer?" Duskpetal licked Goldenflower between the ears.

"Just wary." Goldenflower replied quietly. She was too far away to hear what Whitestorm had to say to the young tom. "Frostfur's with Swiftkit and Lynxkit."

"And my kits too?"

"Yes," Goldenflower confirmed. "They're still sleeping."

"Good." Duskpetal's tail curled with delight and she slipped into the nursery.

Goldenflower crouched outside the nursery, watching as Bluestar slipped out of the den beneath Highrock. The regal blue-gray she-cat strolled across the camp, her head held high.

"He came." Goldenflower was shocked to hear the purr in Bluestar's voice. Her lips drew back in the start of a snarl. Bluestar was expecting this kittypet?

"Lionheart was concerned he would not."

Bluestar's tail twitched impatiently. Goldenflower's snarl faded as she realized the ThunderClan leader was not as welcoming as she seemed. "Well, what do you think of him?"

"He kept up well on the return journey despite his puny size." Whitestorm paused. "He certainly seems strong for a kittypet."

"So it is agreed?" Bluestar's gaze met each warrior's eyes in turn. Both Whitestorm and Lionheart nodded.

"Then I shall announce his arrival to the clan." Bluestar turned, swiftly making her way back to Highrock. In one, fluid motion, she leaped to the top, where she stood looking down at the clan. Most cats already had their eyes on her, drawn out of their dens by the kittypet scent, but she yowled the traditional summons anyways. "Let all cats old enough to catch their own prey join here beneath the Highrock for a clan meeting."

There was Graypaw and Spottedleaf and Darkstripe. And then Speckletail sitting next to Smallear. Longtail sat at attention nearby, Mousefur crouched in front of him, hostility in her gaze. Brindleface and Frostfur joined Goldenflower. She started to rise to her paws, but Brindleface stopped her.

"They're sleeping."

"That quickly?" Goldenflower couldn't hide her disbelief.

"That quickly," Frostfur reaffirmed. "They're still really young, Goldenflower. Dustpaw and Ravenpaw slept a lot at that age. Duskpetal is staying with them."

Goldenflower turned her attention back towards Bluestar. "ThunderClan needs more warriors. Never before have we had so few apprentices in training. It has been decided that ThunderClan will take in an outsider to train as a warrior…"

Goldenflower was glad to see that she was not the only cat that felt indignant. "We don't have that few apprentices," she hissed to her friends.

Bluestar yowled, demanding the clan's attention. Frostfur's reply never made it to Goldenflower's ears. "I have found a cat who is willing to become an apprentice of ThunderClan."

"Lucky to become an apprentice!" Longtail rose to his paws, defiance burning in his blue eyes.

Bluestar ignored him and continued. "Lionheart and Whitestorm have met this young cat, and they agree with me that we should train him with the other apprentices."

The kittypet glanced at Goldenflower's brother, the fur rippling nervously along his back. The clan was silent, shocked and then all at once, there were protests.

"Where does he come from?" Speckletail's fur was bristling.

"Which clan does he belong to?" Mousefur hissed.

"What a strange scent he carries. That's not the scent of any clan I know," Smallear spat.

Longtail's cry rose above the rest. "Look at his collar! He's a kittypet! Once a kittypet, always a kittypet!" Cats turned towards Longtail and the young warrior continued. "This clan needs more wildborn warriors to defend it, not another soft mouth to feed."

Goldenflower watched as Lionheart bent his head to speak to the kittypet. Goldenflower could guess what her brother was saying. Probably encouraging the kittypet to stick up for himself. Lionheart would. He brought the young tom to the camp, which meant that he agreed with Bluestar's mouse-brained plan.

Longtail continued. "Your collar is a mark of the twolegs, and that noisy jingling will make you a poor hunter at best. At worst, it will bring the twolegs into our territory looking for the poor lost kittypet who fills the woods with his pitiful tinkling." A howl of agreement from the clan. "The noise of your treacherous bell will alert our enemies even if your twoleg stench doesn't."

Goldenflower's eyes narrowed. Lionheart was speaking to the tom again. "He's going to attack," she murmured to Brindleface. The young tom's ginger fur was prickling along his spine.

"He should have never come here," Brindleface hissed.

A collective gasp rose from the clan as ginger fur blazed past and Longtail went staggering. The smaller, red tom sank his claws into Longtail's pelt and bit his shoulders. The two cats were a writhing ball of screeching fury. As other cats leaped away, Goldenflower was glad to be sitting by the nursery, away from the tussle.

"Longtail's going to kill him," Brindleface rose to her paws, anxiety causing her fur to bristle.

"Bluestar won't allow that." Goldenflower knew her leader did not want to see more death. She'd been strangely haunted by Thistleclaw's death a few short moons ago. Last moon, she'd been deeply troubled when Mousefur was grievously wounded by RiverClan in yet another battle over Sunningrocks, but the young she-cat recovered, her scar now hidden by her belly fur.

The flame colored tom struggled against his collar, choking as Longtail pulled it tight. The cats were locked in the struggle, the horrible retching sounds the only sound in the clearing. With a loud snap, the collar broke and the kittypet stumbled away. Longtail stumbled back, the collar dangling in his mouth.

Bluestar leaped down between the toms, her tail lifted high. Longtail and the kittypet remained where they were. Their fur was ruffled and Goldenflower could smell the tang of blood. Bluestar took the collar from the pale tabby warrior and set it at her paws.

"The newcomer has lost his twoleg collar in a battle for his honor. StarClan has spoken its approval - this cat has been released from the hold of his Twoleg owners and is free to join ThunderClan as an apprentice."

Solemnly, the kittypet nodded his acceptance to Bluestar. Goldenflower couldn't help but admire the young tom's composure. He looked around at the cats of ThunderClan as the sun touched his pelt, making it shine.

Bluestar studied the kittypet for a long moment. She turned and addressed the clan, her blue gaze challenging any cat to argue with her. "From this day forward, until he has earned his warrior name, this apprentice will be called Firepaw, in honor of his flame colored coat."

The clan watched as the kittypet kicked dirt over his collar, burying it. Goldenflower wondered if the tom was truly turning his back on his twolegs. The soft life of a kittypet was tempting. Even warriors fell for the twolegs' tricks and the lure of what, she wasn't even sure. Hard pellets, strange scents, no more freedom. She remembered Pinestar's departure. How the ThunderClan leader had turned away from the life of a warrior was beyond her.

Maybe there was something admirable in Firepaw's courage. But the tom was young - barely older than kit age. Young cats could be fickle, but he was here now.

"Firepaw!" Goldenflower called the tom's name once with the rest of the clan, a cordial greeting.

Frostfur sniffed disdainfully next to her. "Bluestar's got bees in her brain if she thinks that a kittypet will be able to make it as a warrior."

"I don't know what she's thinking," Goldenflower murmured. "Kits grow quickly and my two will be apprentices before we know it. And so will yours."

"I wonder…"

"Wonder what?" Goldenflower turned to look at Brindleface when she didn't finish her thought.

"Nothing." Brindleface rose to her paws. "I'm going to check on the kits."

"Okay."

Smallear yowled, a sharp warning to be alert. She rose to her paws, unsheathing her claws as Ravenpaw burst into the camp. The sharp tang of blood clung to him and his green eyes were wide and wild. He panted as he searched for Bluestar.

"Ravenpaw?" the clan leader mewed, leaping back onto Highrock. "What has happened? Speak, Ravenpaw!" she urged, when he didn't answer immediately.

Despite the blood dripping from the wounds covering his skinny frame, the tom leapt up Highrock. Looking small next to Bluestar, he spoke. "Redtail is dead!"

"No!" Willowpelt's screech rose above the other clan cats, her pale blue eyes wide. Spottedleaf looked stricken, her gaze fixed on Ravenpaw.

"We m-met five RiverClan warriors beside the stream, not far from the Sunningrocks. Oakheart was among them." His voice quivered. "Redtail warned Oakheart to keep his hunting parties out of ThunderClan territory. He said the next RiverClan warrior to be caught in ThunderClan territory would be killed, but Oak… Oakheart would not back down. He said his cl-clan had to be fed, whatever we threatened."

Ravenpaw shifted his weight off his injured leg and Goldenflower took half a step forward. She pitied the small tom. Neither Brindleface nor Frostfur moved, rooted to the ground with shock.

"That's when the RiverClan cats attacked. It was hard to see what was happening. The fighting was vicious. I saw Oakheart had Redtail pinned to the ground, but then Redtail…" Ravenpaw lurched sideways, bright green eyes rolling back in his head. He scrambled, trying to keep his balance, but slithered off Highrock. His body hit the ground with a thud.

Goldenflower darted forward. She crouched next to Ravenpaw and licked his cheek tenderly. Raising her head, she saw Spottedleaf had not moved. Her green eyes were unfocused - shocked to hear about the death of her brother. "Spottedleaf!"

Spottedleaf's gaze sharpened and she trotted out of the ferns that shielded her. Swiftly, the she-cat rolled Ravenpaw over, exposing the wound. Spottedleaf's amber eyes met Goldenflower's gaze. "It's alright Goldenflower," the medicine cat reassured her. "His wounds aren't fatal. But I'll need to fetch some cobwebs to stop the bleeding."

Goldenflower stayed by the small apprentice as Spottedleaf darted back towards her den. A mournful howl sounded behind them and she turned to see Tigerclaw staggering through the camp entrance, Redtail's limp body dangling from his jaws. The bright ginger tail the tom was named for left a thin trail in the dust.

"How did this happen, Tigerclaw?" Bluestar's mew demanded answers.

The dark tabby released Redtail's scruff. The deputy's body thudded to the earth. Amber eyes burned bright.

"He died with honor, struck down by Oakheart. I couldn't save him, but I managed to take Oakheart's life while he was still gloating over his victory. Redtail's death was not in vain, for I doubt we will see RiverClan hunters in our territory again." Tigerclaw's teeth were bared in a snarl. He flexed his claws, digging them into the earth.

Silence fell across the clan. There had been so much change so quickly. Goldenflower remained next to Ravenpaw as the clan moved to share tongues with Redtail, smoothing his dusty, blood soaked fur back into the gleaming red and black pelt that used to stride around the camp so confidently.

Willowpelt was grooming her brother for the last time. Goldenflower's heart twisted with sympathy as she met Lionheart's shocked gaze. She couldn't imagine life without her brother. Lionheart blinked slowly back at her and dipped his head to share tongues with Redtail.

Goldenflower's ears twitched as she heard Bluestar leap down from Highrock once more. The clan leader slowly made her way over to Redtail and crouched down, sharing tongues with the young tom. Ravenpaw moaned and Goldenflower licked the top of his head, murmuring to him like she did her own kits.

Bluestar's grief stricken voice carried to the edges of the camp, low and tired. "Redtail was a brave warrior. His loyalty to ThunderClan could never be doubted. I always relied on his judgment because it bore witness to the needs of the clan, and was never swayed by self-interest or pride. He would have made a fine leader." The she-cat slowly lowered herself to the ground, paws outstretched, head bowed in mourning.

Spottedleaf returned to Ravenpaw. Goldenflower touched a sympathetic nose to the younger she-cat's ear. Redtail was her brother, but the medicine cat would have no opportunity to mourn with the clan. Her duties to the injured came first.

"Go, share tongues with him," Spottedleaf murmured. "I will take care of Ravenpaw."

Goldenflower nodded and joined Bluestar and the others. Dustpaw was crouched nearby, staring sightlessly at the ground.

"Good hunting, Redtail," Goldenflower whispered, pressing her muzzle to her friend's pelt. His body was already cooling. "You served the clan well. Goodbye my friend."

She slipped away, knowing her kits would need to be checked on and fed. And she wanted to see them before Bluestar appointed ThunderClan's next deputy. Swiftkit and Lynxkit were still sound asleep in moss. Gently, she roused them and guided them to her belly. As they suckled, she sank deep into her thoughts. Bluestar would already have a good idea of who the next deputy of ThunderClan would be. Privately, Goldenflower thought Whitestorm would be the best choice. Or even fierce Tigerclaw.

Her kits ate their fill and settled to sleep as she groomed them. They made small, happy snuffling noises. So innocent, Goldenflower thought. Suddenly, fear gripped her with icy claws as she pictured Swiftkit and Lynxkit, still young, but covered in dust and blood, ripped apart by enemy warriors. As long as I am around, I will protect you, she promised silently.

Bluestar's call summoned her and once more, she left her kits behind, sleeping, as she joined the clan. Redtail's body lay still in the clearing, the falling night hiding his markings. Willowpelt crouched by her brother, her face twisted with grief. Spottedleaf was next to Willowpelt, but her gaze was fixed on Bluestar.

"A new deputy must be appointed, but first, let us give thanks to StarClan for the life of Redtail. Tonight he takes his place with his fellow warriors among the stars." The clan cats turned their gaze towards Silverpelt, a moment of silence falling between them.

Bluestar let the silence linger for a moment before continuing. "And now, I shall name ThunderClan's new deputy. I say these words before the body of Redtail so that his spirit may hear and approve of my choice."

Silence once more, but bristling with anticipation. It was rare that a new deputy was appointed, though there were many cats who dreamed of being leader. "Lionheart," Bluestar mewed, "will be the new deputy of ThunderClan."

Goldenflower purred loudly. Her brother was worthy of being deputy. She saw Tigerclaw nudge her brother heartily, nearly knocking him off balance. Surprise and pleasure shone in Lionheart's green eyes.

Bluestar continued. "Redtail was also mentor to young Dustpaw. Since there must be no delay in the training of our apprentices, I shall appoint Dustpaw's new mentor immediately. Darkstripe, you are ready for another apprentice, so you will continue Dustpaw's training. You had a fine mentor in Tigerclaw and I expect you to pass on some of the excellent skills you were taught."

Dustpaw and Darkstripe awkwardly touched noses. Grief dulled Dustpaw's eyes and Goldenflower guessed that he could care less who his new mentor was. He would always want Redtail back. Don't we all, she thought, wrapping her tail over her paws.

"I shall keep vigil with Redtail's body tonight before we bury him at sunrise." Bluestar leaped down from Highrock, ending the clan meeting.

Goldenflower made her way across the camp, weaving through the cats. She noticed the new Firepaw talking with Graypaw, but dismissed the prickle of irritation she felt. Now was not the time. Lionheart stood before her, his green eyes gleaming.

"Congratulations," Goldenflower purred, rubbing her head along his shoulder.

Her brother reciprocated. His deep mew was solemn. "I wish it were under better circumstances."

"We all do. But ThunderClan could not ask for a better deputy now."

Lionheart shook out his thick mane. "I'll do my best to be the deputy you think I can be."

"We have no doubt," Frostfur's purr sounded from behind Goldenflower. The white she-cat twined around her mate, affection brimming in her blue eyes.

"None at all," Goldenflower added, pressing her head against his. "I can't sit vigil," she added, changing the subject. "I've got to be with my kits."

"Redtail would understand," Lionheart reassured her. "Kits are the future of the clan."

"Indeed." She dipped her head to him in farewell, stalking silently back to the nursery. Whitestorm nodded respectfully to her on his way back from the apprentice den and she nodded back.

Duskpetal had not attended the clan meeting. She was asleep, curled around her large litter. Swiftkit and Lynxkit were sound asleep still. Goldenflower delicately stepped into the nest and curled around them. StarClan, watch over us tonight. May Redtail journey safely to you and find rest in your paws.