**I hadn't intended to switch POV this late in the game, but I really think you'll appreciate seeing what's going on in the Clans while Mapledawn's so far away. Hope you enjoy! Thanks to Kuroimori for the idea.*

Yellowstar padded in circles around her den. She'd worn a circle in the bedding from all her pacing, ever since Mapledawn abandoned the Clan. If she even did. It was hard to believe anything Frecklefang or Wrencatcher said anymore. Yellowstar couldn't understand why the two cats hated one of her warriors so violently. At first she'd thought it was simple denmate rivalry, but now it was clear it was something far worse.

Yellowstar sat down with a huff and began mechanically cleaning her fur. She couldn't let the Clan see her disheveled. It's bad enough not knowing if you can trust your Clanmates, but they must be able to trust their leader's judgement. She readjusted the leader crown on her head so it rested more comfortably between her ears.

She went through the facts: Mapledawn was gone. Her scent had been found at the BlackClan border. Frecklefang had returned home with fresh wounds and an incredible story. True, her wounds had smelled of Mapledawn, but Yellowstar knew full well how much Frecklefang loved to goad the red-and-white queen. It could have easily been self-defense, too; even wounded, Frecklefang could be vicious, and Mapledawn wasn't there to show whether she had worse, or matching, wounds.

And things with BlackClan were still tense. She'd increased border patrols as much as she could, but with so few warriors… A tremor went up Yellowstar's tail-tip. We really couldn't afford to lose Mapledawn. It was almost time to apprentice Fallensnow's litter, and FireClan hardly had enough mentors. Plus, she'd already intended Mapledawn to take one of them as her apprentice. With her oddly keen fighting skills, coupled with Redpoppy's kindness and Dawncreek's patience, she would be a model mentor.

Now that's gone. Part of her hoped she'd see Mapledawn padding nervously through the thorn tunnel. The queen had always run from her problems, but she always came back. Why should this time be any different?

"Yellowstar."

The leader flicked her tail. "Come on." Cloudstep pushed through the hanging lichen and dipped his head.

"Did you ask them what I told you?"

Cloudstep nodded. "Reticent as always." His tail tip flicked angrily. "What's the point of having a Moonpool if the Ageless Ones won't give guidance when we ask for it?"

"Hush, Cloudstep. Don't talk badly about the Ageless Ones."

"What can a few dead cats do to us?"

Yellowstar shook her head. At this point, she was used to Cloudstep's barbed tongue, in privacy at least. In front of the Clan he preferred to set a good example, but in the privacy of the leader's den, he always spoke his mind.

"I'm just saying," Cloudstep continued, "we shouldn't fear our dead kin. That's a load of mouse droppings."

"That's beside the point." Yellowstar started pacing again. "The old SkyClan didn't last for a lot of reasons, but partly because it allowed so many kittypets and rogues in its ranks. Yet allowing kittypets into ThunderClan saved it those many generations ago. It would not have become FireClan at all without the inclusion of one little orange kittypet with a curious heart. What do I do, as leader, when it will be seasons before we have new warriors? When my warriors that remain are almost all close to the elder's den? When war is still looming over us?"

"Have you talked to Sweetie?"

"It's been moons. But I can't leave my Clan undefended to go ask her if she'd like to join our ranks… Nor can I send one of my few warriors. Maybe in a few moons when Fallensnow's kits are old enough." Yellowstar sighed heavily. "I had hoped the Ageless Ones would take pity on us and send us some form of guidance."

"They gave you nine lives, Yellowstar--"

"Of which I only have three left."

Cloudstep dipped his head. "I'm sure they trusted you to make these sorts of decisions yourself."

"Not just by myself." Yellowstar purred. "I'll always have my faithful medicine cat to guide me with his barbed tongue."

"I won't be around forever, Yellowstar."

"You don't even have gray fur! How many moons are you? A hundred?"

"Around there. It's past time for me to take an apprentice."

"As soon as Freezekit is six moons, she'll be yours."

"Yellowstar." Cloudstep flicked his tail. "She is six moons."

"Since--"

"Since yesterday's crescent moon."

Yellowstar shook her head. "Where has the time gone? Okay. Okay, Cloudstep. But I have to decide who will mentor Stormykit and Skykit."

"I know Mapledawn's gone. But we have several fine warriors. Jaggedclaw never had an apprentice. And Acorntail has proven to be a good, loyal warrior. He was kind to Mapledawn even when both his siblings rejected her, and even now he hasn't said a word against her."

"You're right." Yellowstar had noticed Acorntail's even temper, too. Even though he was grieving Foxjump still, he never shirked his warriors duties or snapped at any cat in anger. With Mapledawn gone… In a few seasons, he may prove to be deputy material. She flicked her ear to dismiss Cloudstep. "Send in Paletuft when she's done remarking the BlackClan border. And Jaggedclaw and Acorntail when they've finished hunting. And Cloudstep?"

"Yes?"

"Get paw wreaths ready."

Jaggedclaw seemed surprised to be summoned to the leader's den. He was an older cat and she'd never seen fit to give him an apprentice. It wasn't because he'd be a bad mentor; but he was a strict and irritable cat, and she'd been waiting for an apprentice that would fit his personality. Skykit would do well, she thought. The kit was rambunctious and curious, but serious, too, and fearless. He wouldn't be daunted by his mentor's ferocity, but he wouldn't irritate Jaggedclaw too much, either. Stormykit was a bit of a joker; perhaps his joyful attitude would lift Acorntail's spirits.

"Is there something wrong?" Asked Jaggedclaw.

"Not today," said Yellowstar. "How would you like an apprentice, Jaggedclaw?"

Jaggedclaw's eyes widened in surprise. "Now?"

Yellowstar purred. "If you're ready, Stormykit is yours."

"Yellowstar, I promise to do my best to teach the kit our ways. Thank you for this opportunity."

Yellowstar dipped her head. "It's past time you had your own pupil, Jaggedclaw. Send in Acorntail next."

Jaggedclaw dipped his head. Though his eyes remained as severe as ever, as he walked out of the den, Yellowstar saw his tail held high over his back.

Yellowstar sighed deeply to prepare herself. Mapledawn would have been such a fit mentor… But Mapledawn was gone, and she had to accept it. In her heart, she believed the queen was blameless, at least partly. She definitely didn't believe any kit of Redpoppy's would share FireClan secrets with BlackClan. But she had abandoned them. That was the truth. Acorntail would do just fine.

The tom seemed shocked and delighted to become a mentor, even moreso than Jaggedclaw. Paletuft agreed with her and Cloudstep's mentor selections. Yellowstar purred as she leapt onto Highrock and looked down at her Clan. Apprentice ceremonies had always been her favorite duty as leader.

She waited for Cloudstep to set out the wreaths and take his place next to the two new mentors beneath the stone. By the look on Freezekit, Stormykit, and Skykit's faces, they knew what was coming. Fallensnow coming from the nursery to fuss and groom her kits was as much a warriors tradition as the paw wreaths. Downtail came and licked each one's head in turn, his eyes shining. Fallensnow will be back to warrior duties now… Yellowstar knew she should be glad to have another warrior available to help the Clan, but the thought of putting Fallensnow in danger always made her tail tip tremble. Paletuft touched noses with her mother, and gave her three younger siblings and warm purr. Redpoppy and Thrushpelt poked their heads out of the nursery just enough to watch the ceremony. Redpoppy's belly was so swollen she looked like she could hardly stand; it wouldn't be long now.

"May the Ageless Ones bless you," Yellowstar yowled.

"May StarClan guide you!"

"Today we gather for the Ceremony of Paws. Freezekit, Stormykit, Skykit, come forward." The three kits took a step closer to the stone; Stormykit's chin was raised, Freezekit looked thoughtful, and Skykit's pelt was bushed out with excitement.

"Cloudstep. You have been a faithful medicine cat for many seasons. I know you will pass on everything Silverpond taught you to Freezepaw."

She went through the rest of the ceremony with a warm feeling in her chest. Acorntail took Skypaw out of camp toward the lake while Jaggedclaw took Stormypaw on a tour around the hollow. Cloudstep and Freezepaw went straight to the medicine cat den to start their training. Yellowstar stayed perched atop the Highrock for a while, watching restlessly. Frecklefang and Wrencatcher shared a vole by the warrior's den. Frecklefang's wounds were all healed now. She had been sent back to warrior duties just the day before. Rabbitleap and Birchnose shared tongues with Oaktree, Rabbitleap's father, in a sunny spot outside of the elder's den.

Yellowstar leapt off the Highrock, looking for something to do that would distract her from her worries. Paletuft had already organized the day's patrols, and was lounging alone near the fresh-kill pile, grooming her white pelt. Her eyes occasionally fixed on Jaggedclaw and Stormykit. The she-cat would never admit it but, despite her rough exterior, she adored kits and apprentices.

"Yellowstar." The leader's ears pricked. Fallensnow was coming up to her, tail head high.

"Happy to see the little ones apprenticed?"

Fallensnow purred. "Happy to stretch my legs out of the nursery for once. Would you like to hunt with me? It's been seasons since we did anything together."

Yellowstar dipped her head politely. "Good idea. We can recheck the BlackClan border while we hunt." It took some effort to keep her fur from bushing out in anticipation. In all the seasons since Fallensnow's rejection--her kind, considerate rejection--Yellowstar had made hiding her feelings around the queen an art. There was no point in dredging up the past. No point in making such a decent she-cat feel guilty for something that wasn't her fault. But since her recent litter, Yellowstar had rarely been this close to Fallensnow, and now she wanted to spend time alone?

Fallensnow lead the way into Thunder forest. When the noise of camp receded behind them, she broke into a light run, her plumed white tail skating over the undergrowth.

"We'll hardly catch any prey like this!" yowled Yellowstar after the snowy white queen, laughing.

"We have enough prey," Fallensnow called back. "Race me! Like when we were young warriors!"

"You're not in the elder's den yet, Snow!" Yellowstar pulled forward into a sprint. The air whooshing off the sides of her flanks was cool and crisp. She didn't even watch where her paws were taking her. She didn't care. As she ran, she kicked up the first few orange and red leaves of leaf-fall. She followed the white plume of Fallensnow's tail through Thunder forest until the two of them stopped, panting and laughing and totally out of breath.

"Maybe we are getting old," Yellowstar mewed.

"We're all getting old. I'm worried, Yellowstar. We don't have enough young warriors to deal with an all-out war with BlackClan."

Yellowstar tilted her head. "Since when did you worry about these sorts of things?"

"Since I became a mother again."

"You're an amazing mother, Fallensnow." Yellowstar didn't know what compelled her--maybe the nostalgia of a wanton race through the forest or the sweet scent of Fallesnow's fur--but before she could stop herself, she licked the white queen's cheek.

"I'm sorry, I--I know you're still with Downtail."

"He's a good father." Fallensnow took a step back. "But he's not the cat he used to be. I'm not the cat I used to be, either. But you? Somehow you're just the same. Leadership never hardened you. You're the same cat that snuck out of camp at night with me to chase rabbits near the TallClan border."

"Are you saying--what are you saying?"

"Wait." She flicked her tail tip forward. "I hear something."

"We're too close to the BlackClan border." She hadn't realized they'd come this way. "We should go back." Yellowstar shook her head. What am I doing, leading Fallensnow into danger on her first day out of the nursery?

"I think it's too late for that," said Fallesnow. She was right; the air was suddenly thick with BlackClan scent.

Yellowstar ordered Fallensnow back with a twitch of her ear and stepped forward to meet the intruder. She resumed the severe gaze of a true FireClan leader, even though she hadn't had a chance to fix her leader crown.

"Weaselclaw," she meowed coolly. "What are you doing here?"