Goldenflower slipped out of the nursery. She nodded at Whitestorm who was talking Sandpaw out. Firepaw was sitting in the ferns by the medicine cat den, quietly murmuring to Spottedleaf. Goldenflower purred, amusement overcoming the irritation that was prickling at her pelt. It was obvious that the young flame-colored tom had a crush on the she-cat.

Bluestar was seated beneath Highrock, watching the clan. Her tail was tucked tightly over her paws. "Goldenflower," Bluestar mewed.

"Bluestar." Goldenflower sat down next to the she-cat, bowing her head deferentially. "The kits are very restless since they've been confined to the nursery."

"It's only been two sunrises." Bluestar narrowed her eyes. "Are you telling me that the queens can't keep their kits occupied?"

"It's not that, Bluestar." Goldenflower meowed patiently. "They're rapidly growing kits and I don't think confining them to the nursery is the solution. Or even the right way to protect them."

Bluestar flicked her tail, indicating that Goldenflower should keep talking.

"I was thinking they could be let out of the nursery to play, as long as they go back inside immediately at the first sign of danger." Goldenflower suggested. "Swiftkit said he would help make sure Duskpetal's kits and Frostfur's kits get inside okay."

"And the other queens agree?"

"Yes. And Rosetail and Speckletail will help."

"Of course. I see how they dote on their grandkits." Bluestar sighed. "I may have been overzealous initially. You can let the other queens know that the kits aren't to be confined."

"Thank you, Bluestar." Goldenflower rose to her paws and started to walk away.

"I want you to attend the next gathering," Bluestar said.

Goldenflower turned and stared at her leader. She still had a kit in the nursery and had no plans to leave him for a night.

"Before you protest, know that I trust your judgment. I'd also like Frostfur and Willowpelt to come as well."

"I'll let them know, Bluestar." She noticed Yellowfang watching her from her nest nearby. Goldenflower wrinkled her nose at the ShadowClan stench that clung to the older cat.

"So Bluestar is concerned?" Yellowfang wheezed. "I would be too. Brokenstar is a brute."

"I thought you said you weren't a traitor to ShadowClan." Goldenflower quoted the she-cat's words to her.

"There are good cats in ShadowClan still," Yellowfang whispered so quietly, Goldenflower thought she imagined it. Louder, the she-cat continued. "Hold your kit close and tell the other queens to do the same."

"What would you know about kits?" Goldenflower snarled, the fur on her back prickling with fury.

The matted she-cat hissed back and turned away. Goldenflower hurried back to the nursery, trying to let go of her anger.

—

The next morning dawned bright and clear, with dew that clung to the brambles of the nursery. Despite the warm air, Goldenflower's paws were numb from the dew that collected on them.

The kits played nearby. Swiftkit was locked in a tussle with Deepkit, Duskpetal's oldest kit. Frostfur's four scampered around, sticking close to each other. Cinderkit and Brackenkit were a pair and so were Thornkit and Brightkit. They were still wobbly, their eyes having opened the day before.

Duskpetal called out a warning to her other two kits, Smokekit and Sleetkit. They ignored her and continued to fight, rolling over and over each other.

"They're getting too close to Yellowfang," Goldenflower murmured. Firepaw was grooming the she-cat, going through her pelt and cracking fleas and removing ticks. She didn't envy the young tom's punishment, but was glad he was nearby at the moment. She didn't trust the prisoner and didn't think that she'd hurt the kits, but there was no way to know for sure.

A small gray tabby pounced on the back of a little gray and white tom. The two kits rolled over and over, heading directly towards Yellowfang. Goldenflower stiffened, ready to intervene if needed. Sleetkit kicked out and sent Smokekit flying. Smokekit careened into Yellowfang's side.

The old she-cat moved faster than she seemed like she could. Spitting with fury, Goldenflower heard the old medicine cat's words. "Stay away from me, you scrap of fur!"

Smokekit bounded away, running behind Duskpetal, where he crouched, trembling. Duskpetal glared at Yellowfang, undisguised fury in her eyes. Sleetkit backed up, little by little, until he reached the nursery where he disappeared inside with his sisters.

Goldenflower watched as Firepaw spoke to the ragged sack of bones, soothing her. Yellowfang rested her chin on her paws and there was a glimmer of wistfulness in those angry eyes.

"Deepkit, come." Duskpetal called to her oldest kit. The tiny black tom followed his mom, nudging Smokekit reassuringly.

Sighing, Goldenflower told Swiftkit to stay close. She suggested he teach Frostfur's kits the hunter's crouch. The queens kept one eye on the kits as they fortified the nursery, working to make it impenetrable.

—

The next day was misty. A chill soaked into her pelt as she paced around the nursery, scrutinizing the brambles for any weakness. Swiftkit was at her heels, his amber eyes serious. His fur was fluffed up against the cold.

"Are we really going to be attacked?"

"We never know." Goldenflower paused and tugged at a wayward bramble tendril. It quivered, but yielded to her direction as she tucked it into the other woven branches. "It's always good to be prepared."

Swiftkit grabbed another bramble tendril and tugged it, trying to copy Goldenflower. "Like this?"

"Yes, like that." Goldenflower purred. Out of the corner of her eye, she saw a blur of orange. Firepaw darted towards the apprentice's den, his tail waving excitedly in the air. Bluestar must've released him from his punishment of tending to Yellowfang.

Speckletail hissed with frustration and Goldenflower turned towards her mother.

"I don't know why we harbor cats from other clans," Speckletail hissed.

"Are you still mad about yesterday?" Goldenflower asked. All the queens had seen how Yellowfang snapped at Smokekit and Sleetkit.

"Yes." Speckletail rolled her shoulders, trying and failing to release the tension in them. "It's just one more thing for us to deal with."

"I know," Goldenflower mewed amicably. "What does Smallear think?"

"The same as me," Speckletail muttered. "I should go see him. Give him an update."

"She's grumpy," Swiftkit squeaked behind Goldenflower.

She slapped her tail over his mouth and gently shushed him. "Don't let her hear that. Besides," she added. "She has a lot on her mind. Grumpy cats often do."

"Wise words, Goldenflower," purred Bluestar. "If Swiftkit grows up to be half as wise as you, he will be a great credit to the clan. I hope you're listening to your mother, little one."

Swiftkit shrank back as the clan leader addressed him directly. He nodded and hid behind Goldenflower.

"Can you clear away Yellowfang's bedding and get her fresh moss from the medicine den?" Bluestar turned her attention to Goldenflower again. "I released Firepaw to resume training again, but Yellowfang still needs some assistance."

"Yes, Bluestar. I'll take care of it right away."

"Why can't she do it?"

"You're full of questions today." Goldenflower hesitated for a moment. She did not trust Yellowfang around her kit, but also wanted to keep Swiftkit close to her. "Firepaw injured her when he captured her and she is not well enough to care for herself."

"Oh." Swiftkit padded around her. "Can I go play?"

"How about you help me?" Goldenflower suggested.

Swiftkit blinked at her, amber eyes wide. Goldenflower narrowed her eyes and he shrugged. "I suppose so."

"It's time you learned to clear out bedding properly."

Yellowfang was glowering as they approached, her lips drawn back in the hint of a snarl. Her pelt was looking better. Firepaw has done a good job taking care of the old she-cat.

"Bluestar sent me to change your bedding."

"Firepaw's too good for me now?" Yellowfang spat.

Ignoring her, Goldenflower began to gather up the bedding. It was cold and soaked with rainwater. She hissed with distaste. Yellowfang rose shakily to her paws and staggered a few steps away, her hind leg held close to her body for protection. Quietly, she showed Swiftkit how to take up the moss and ball it up. She also showed him how to squeeze the water out of it so it wouldn't dampen his fur.

"Go dispose of it in the dirtplace," she instructed him. "I'll continue balling it up."

She watched Swiftkit go, his black and white tail sticking straight up into the air. "How old is he?" Yellowfang rasped.

"Three, almost four moons," Goldenflower answered.

Pain and grief twisted the flat broad face of the ShadowClan cat. "He's big for his age."

"ThunderClan cares for its kits well."

"So did ShadowClan."

Goldenflower wondered at the melancholy in the she-cat's voice, but did not probe. She gathered up the last of the moss. "We'll be back with fresh bedding."

Yellowfang flicked her tail in acknowledgement. Suppressing a hiss of irritation at the she-cat's rudeness, Goldenflower went to join her kit.

—

"Are you able to go hunting?" Goldenflower looked up from the kits she was watching to see Tigerclaw's amber gaze as he waited for her answer. "The clan needs to stock up."

Goldenflower ignored the fluttering in her belly as she nodded. "Let me tell Swiftkit and Speckletail where I'm going," she meowed. "And get Duskpetal to watch these little ones."

Tigerclaw waited for her. As she followed him through the barrier to the camp into an empty ravine, she was surprised to see no other cats waiting. "I thought Bluestar said we were supposed to go out in larger groups."

Tigerclaw's ear twitched. "I think we're both capable warriors." He stepped closer. "And I don't want to hunt with any other cat. I want to hunt with you."

"Me?" Why did her voice have to squeak?

"Yes, you," he purred.

He must know how she felt. And he must feel that way about her. At least a little bit. "Where do you want to hunt?"

Rocks clattered down the ravine as they hauled themselves over the last jutting ledge. Tigerclaw scanned the forest. "Far away from the ShadowClan border," he growled. "Prey should be plentiful by RiverClan."

"Race you to Sunningrocks?" It was such a juvenile suggestion, but the glean in Tigerclaw's eyes emboldened her. "Loser has to catch prey for the other."

"And you're so confident you'll win?"

Goldenflower flicked her tail and rocketed forward. She was aching to stretch her legs and run for the joy of it. She heard Tigerclaw's pawsteps thumping down behind her. Her limbs began to burn the longer she ran, air getting harder to gulp down. Tigerclaw remained steadily behind her shoulder.

I'm soft from being in the nursery. She dug her claws into the soil, pushing harder. I won't let him beat me.

The trees began to thin as they reached Sunningrocks and Goldenflower exploded out of the brush, slamming into the stone. Tigerclaw skidded to a halt behind her, a gleam of amusement in his eyes. "Was that worth it?" he asked, hardly out of breath while she stood there, legs trembling, panting.

She glared at him and sank to the ground. "I. Still. Beat. You. Here. Even. If. You. Let. Me. Win." She said each word between a gulping breath.

Tigerclaw smirked at her and disappeared among the trees. Goldenflower rested her head against the smooth stone. It was cool against her fur. She closed her eyes, savoring the quiet sounds of the forest. It felt strange to be somewhere with no kits mewling in her ears or clambering underfoot. When her lungs no longer burned, she rose to her paws and scrambled to the top of Sunningrocks, standing on the sun-warmed stone.

The grass on either side of the rocks sloped down to a muddy, pebbly riverbank that marked the barrier. There was a small vole on the lip of the stones where they met the water. Crouching, she silently moved forward, her blood thrumming with the thrill of the hunt once more. The vole noticed her far too late. Her paws slammed into it and a quick nip severed its spine at the base of its skull.

She was searching for a spot to bury it when Tigerclaw reappeared, a squirrel dangling from his jaws. "I thought I was supposed to catch prey for you," he meowed around his catch.

"Like you said, the clan needs to stock up." She pressed the vole's body into a crevice between two roots, bending blades of grass over it.

"That's what I like about you," Tigerclaw rumbled. "You're always thinking of the clan."

"So is every cat," Goldenflower mewed. "Do you want to keep hunting?"

"A bargain is a bargain." The dark tabby laid down, pushing the squirrel towards her. "Let's eat first. The clan has already been fed by the apprentices."

"I heard you were assessing them." The squirrel tasted so much better fresh. The wildness of the blood sang to her and she closed her eyes with delight. "How'd they do?"

"Well, except I caught the kittypet sharing tongues with a trespasser. One of his old kittypet friends."

"Really?"

Tigerclaw growled in affirmation. She pushed the squirrel towards him, offering him a bite. He took a large bite and swallowed before answering. "I reported it to Bluestar, but she doesn't seem too concerned."

"I'm sure Bluestar knows best." At the flash of irritation in his eyes she quickly amended her statement. "If Bluestar thought there was something to worry about, she would say something."

"Indeed." His curved claws sank into the ground. "Are you going to the gathering tonight?"

"Bluestar asked me to a few days ago." Goldenflower nibbled at the squirrel, thinking. "It'll be good to stretch my legs and see the other queens. It's been too long since I've gone to a gathering."

"How long?" Tigerclaw tipped his head.

His amber gaze was deep. Goldenflower realized that a cat could get lost in those depths and looked away. "It's been more than a season," she meowed.

"That long?" The dark warrior shuddered. "I could never go that long without attending. Even for kits."

"It's different for queens. Besides, Swiftkit is old enough now I can leave him for a night." She stretched, enjoying the feel of her muscles pulling tight and then relaxing. "It will be good to see the other clans again."

"This will be an important gathering." Tigerclaw's gaze was dark. "WindClan still has not been seen."

"That seems almost impossible." Goldenflower flickered her ears anxiously. All the lightness and enjoyment she had been feeling evaporated like the last drops of a puddle under the sun. "We better hunt. The clan must be well fed."

"Indeed." Tigerclaw touched his nose to her ear. "I'll be nearby if you need me."

She unsheathed her claws. "I can defend myself."

"Of course," Tigerclaw purred. He turned away without saying anything more and vanished into the trees.

Goldenflower watched him go. She could defend herself, but not against him. Not against those amber eyes, that deep, rich purr. With Patchpelt, she had always felt steady and calm. With Tigerclaw, she felt alive