AN: Nothing too important happening here, just a filler chapter. I'm sorry for the two month break. I've been really busy lately (getting a job, training and all that junk), but I finally managed to find some free time and wrote this up. Thanks to everyone who reviewed, they're greatly appreciated :)

CHAPTER THIRTEEN

Excitement coursed through Sprucepaw as she bounded after her mentor. Wildheart was just as eager to get out of camp.

It felt like moons had passed before anything exciting happened. Sprucepaw knew that Wildheart was just trying to keep an eye on her. The last thing he wanted was to over train his apprentice like some mentors did. She'd heard enough stories to know that some mentors had a tendency to train their apprentices to the point of exhaustion. Yet Sprucepaw knew that she wasn't going to get anywhere if she didn't keep pushing herself.

He's thinking of my father, she decided after noticing the worried looks he kept giving her.

She was getting tired of being treated like a lesser apprentice. Just because her father had died in battle didn't mean she wasn't fit for training! If anything, Sprucepaw wanted to hone in on her fighting skills because of what had happened. She wanted nothing more than to prove that she was fully capable of defending herself in a battle. After hearing so many stories about her father and his acts of bravery, she wanted to be just like him.

"Can we do some real training now?" she asked when she was led to the training spot.

Wildheart looked at her doubtfully, and for a moment, she was afraid he would say no. But then he gave her a nod after thinking it through. Sprucepaw's eyes widened in excitement as she realized what they were here for. Finally she was going to learn some fighting moves! Blood roared in her ears as she thought of what she could learn. Leafshine and Sootpaw were already in the clearing, but they were further away.

Because she didn't have the same training experience as Sootpaw, Wildheart wanted to keep her away for the time being. Though, Sprucepaw tried to remind herself that it wouldn't be long before she finally joined them. She planned on continuing her training regardless of the way Wildheart handled it.

"We'll be learning the most basic moves for now," Wildheart meowed when he caught the longing gaze in Sprucepaw's eyes.

She glanced at him in annoyance before nodding. At least she could actually learn something instead of feeling like a helpless kit. She knew that she needed to learn everything she could in order to protect the Clan and herself.

Sprucepaw sat in the clearing while she waited for Wildheart to teach her something. He suddenly dropped to a hunter's crouch and stared at her expectantly. Sprucepaw tilted her head to one side until he suddenly leaped forward, paws sheathed as he reached for her. She let out a yelp of surprise when he pinned her to the ground.

"First thing is first, you must know what your enemy is going to do," he meowed when she struggled free from his grip.

Sprucepaw let her sides go limp as she thought of something quick. Wildheart stared at her in alarm before she suddenly sprang up and batted him on the nose with her paw.

He staggered back just as she managed to swipe a paw across his chest, then she moved to nip at his paws. Sprucepaw's eyes gleamed with excitement as she managed to keep her mentor at bay. Any time he tried getting away, she managed to stop him by nipping at his paws. She had been watching the other apprentice practice their fighting moves, and when she had the chance, she tried them out herself. She wanted to surprise Wildheart with what she had learned in such a short time.

"How's that for unpredictable?" she demanded when she finally stopped.

"Okay, okay, not bad," Wildheart admitted. He grinned at her after she let her shoulders relax. "You've got spirit, and that will help guide you in battle."

Finally, it seemed that Wildheart understood she was ready for more advanced moves. Sprucepaw's claws kneaded the ground as she thought of what she could do once her training was finished. She wasn't going to back down from a challenge once it was presented to her. She planned on showing the Clan just how strong she was, and that she could live up to her father's reputation.

"Alright, let's go again," Wildheart told her.

Sprucepaw nodded and she began to spar with him once more. Once she even managed to pin him to the ground, giving her more confidence than she needed. Sprucepaw let out a startled gasp when Wildheart tripped her with his longer legs as she was running towards him. She landed on her belly, giving him enough time to place a paw on her neck.

They continued training like that for most of the day. Leafshine and Sootpaw had left earlier on when Harewhisker and Antpaw approached. Sprucepaw did her best to ignore the reproachful looks Antpaw kept giving her. He never thought she would amount to much, even if she was bigger than him.

And it's because my father died in battle, she thought bitterly. Most cats in the Clan treated her mother respectfully because of it, but there were a few who thought she wouldn't survive without him. Leopardheart was a courageous warrior, where she was just a weak little apprentices.

"We should get going," Wildheart meowed when Harewhisker began instructing his apprentice.

Sprucepaw had noticed the tension between the two toms. Her eyes narrowed into tiny slits as she wondered what was going on between them.

Her mentor led the way out of the clearing, and Sprucepaw cast one last look over her shoulder. She noticed the way Harewhisker was glaring at Wildheart for the first time. Something was definitely going on between them, and she wanted to know what it was.

"Harewhisker's just angry that I'm your mentor," Wildheart explained when he noticed the look of concern in her eyes. "He thinks that someone 'more suited' should be your mentor."

Her eyes narrowed into tiny slits as Sprucepaw thought of what to say to that.

"He's just jealous," she muttered crossly.

Wildheart's whiskers twitched in amusement at her response.

"I think you're right," he purred.

They returned to camp without anything else to say. Sprucepaw was happy her training had gone well. Wildheart may not have started off well, but she knew that he was the right mentor for her. He had patience as well as understanding. That was something Harewhisker didn't have, and she doubted he would ever realize that was what he did wrong.

She wasn't surprised to see her mother, Larksong, sitting near the nursery. Her head tilted to one side until she saw Furzewhisker emerge from the nursery. Wildheart's eyes widened in horror when he realized that something was up with Palemist. He bounded forward until Berrystripe stopped him with a flick of his tail.

"Palemist is just kitting," the young warrior explained.

"'Just kitting'? What sort of phrase is that?" Sprucepaw's whiskers twitched in amusement when Wildheart pushed past the young warrior.

Sprucepaw followed him until she reached her mother, who was constantly looking over her shoulder. A wail sounded heartbeats later, and Sprucepaw winced at the piercing sound. She couldn't imagine what sort of pain was felt when a queen gave birth. It was the first time she realized that she could have caused that kind of pain when Larksong gave birth to her.

"Did you do that for me?" she asked warily.

Larksong looked at her in surprise before purring.

"Of course," she whispered comfortingly. "But it's a wail of love, not pain. Every queen goes through it."

A sigh of relief escaped from Sprucepaw's lungs before another wail followed. She jumped in surprise when Furzewhisker emerged from the nursery heartbeats later. She watched the medicine cat anxiously as she braced herself for the worst possible news. Wildheart's eyes were filled with worry when he looked at the medicine cat.

"She has four healthy kits," Furzewhisker announced.

Sprucepaw glanced at Wildheart in surprise. He looked like he was ready to burst with excitement. Furzewhisker's tail brushed against his shoulder in amusement before she padded away. Sprucepaw had to restrain a purr of amusement at the look written across his face.

"Congratulations," Larksong purred. "Leopardheart would have been proud."

Leopardheart… Sprucepaw wondered if her father would approve of his brother's kits. And now she had more kin in the Clan. News of the new kits would spread like wildfire as Wildheart padded into the nursery. Sprucepaw was surprised that Larksong had followed, but she knew that Larksong and Palemist were close friends. She glanced over her shoulder nervously before following.

The nursery seemed smaller than she remembered, but Sprucepaw thought that might be because she was bigger. It wasn't meant to hold a lot of cats. Inside Sprucepaw spotted Palemist laying on a nest of moss and feathers collected by Wildheart. Four tiny bundles of fur were nestled at Palemist's belly.

"They're beautiful," Wildheart whispered when he nuzzled his mate affectionately.

"This one looks like you," Palemist murmured.

She was looking at a mottled ginger kit with faint patches of gray mixed in.

Sprucepaw stifled a purr of amusement when Wildheart looked at the tiny she-kit fondly. She realized with a start that Palemist was right about the kit. She did look a lot like her father, and Sprucepaw suddenly felt a pang as she wondered how much she looked like her father.

"I'd say Mosskit is a good name for the she-kit," he suggested after giving it some thought.

His mate let out a raspy purr at that, knowing how much he loved the comfortable moss that often lined their nests. Though WindClan slept outside instead of under the protection of a den, they still had mossy nests that were far more comfortable than they looked.

"And this one will be Gorsekit," Palemist meowed. Sprucepaw glanced at the kit that was beside Gorsekit. It was a gray and white tom with faint brown patches mixed into his fur. "And this one will be called Harekit."

Wildheart purred in agreement before looking back at Larksong.

"Why don't you name the last kit," he suggested.

Sprucepaw looked at her mother hopefully before Larksong nodded in agreement. She looked back at the fourth kit and saw that it was a light brown tabby kit. The tip of it's tail had darker tabby markings, while one of it's paws was pure white.

"How about Hawkkit?" Sprucepaw mewed.

Her voice was filled with anxiety as she looked at her mother for approval. Both Larksong and Wildheart seemed pleased with her choice, and Sprucepaw couldn't help but show a bit of pride. Naming kits had never been something she was given the chance to do, and she suddenly felt as if she belonged in the large family.

"Welcome to the Clan, little ones," Palemist purred.

Sprucepaw backed out of the nursery after that. By now most of the Clan had heard the news, and even Icestar was approaching the nursery with Rowantail close behind. More kits meant more warriors for WindClan. And they were desperately needed.

I hope these kits will grow up big and strong like their father, Sprucepaw prayed silently as she looked down at her paws. She wondered if her own father had hoped the same thing when she was born. Did Leopardheart approve of her, or did he want a strong and powerful son instead?

Something told her that Leopardheart was proud of her. And that he was watching over her. Even if she couldn't see him, she could feel him. And that was good enough for her.

AN: So yeah, Palemist's kits came, and an allegiance update will be in Flamepaw's chapter.