#rushseed

"How dare you!" Antlerfleck began bristling. He lunged forward, claws unsheathed. He was only held back from striking Rushseed by Sleekbloom, who was blocking him with his wide body.

"Let the two of them sort this out, Antlerfleck. If Shadowstar is to be out leader, she needs to stand up for herself on her own merit," Sleekbloom whispered. Wisteriastripe could only just hear his voice over the rumble of the other murmurs from the gathered cats. "For too long she has let Rushseed run this clan, it is time she put her in her place."

"Rushseed, I agree with you," Shadowstar sighed.

Gasps filled the air. Clearly BleakClan did not expect Shadowstar to give in so easily. Rushseed was watching Shadowstar with orange eyes as hungry as fire. Wisteriastripe was almost certain she could see her mother's tongue swiping across her lips, but even in the light of the full moon, it was too dark to tell.

"Really? I didn't think this would be so easy," Rushseed's eyes gleamed. "You really are a pathetic leader, just like your mother."

"You are heartless, Rushseed," Primrosestripe spat, suddenly stepping out from the gathered cats. "Dapplestar was your best friend, that's why she made you deputy, and why Shadowstar trusted you enough to make you deputy again. All you are is because of her."

"I appreciate it, Primrosestripe, but really, there is no need," Shadowstar said, meeting the healer's eyes for only a moment before flashing her gaze back down at the ground. "Rushseed is right, I have been a weak leader. I believe my mother was honourable, and I will never be able to live up to her example, but Rushseed is right. Dapplestar broke the code, and I should not exist. She does not get her heir. Besides, I am tired. I just want to be an ordinary warrior, I want to keep my family safe, and fight alongside you all as an ordinary clanmate. Rushseed should have been leader all along, she has always been the stronger cat. I accept my fate, from now on, call me Shadowblaze. Rushseed and I will travel to the Moonhollow in two days time, and I will give up my lives."

"This has not ever been done before," Sleekbloom said quietly. "What if StarClan does not honour the switch?"

"Then we will accept StarClan's wishes, their will should be followed above all else," Shadowblaze flashed a wary gaze at Rushseed.

Wisteriastripe did not believe for a second that Rushseed would let StarClan tell her what to do, but to her credit, she did not say so.

"Of course," Rushseed dipped her head. "Until then, I will continue to lead this clan, as I have while Shadowblaze has been in the nursery. Once I gain my nine lives, I will be making some changes around here. BleakClan has become a tainted clan, with all of its outsider blood. We must remember who we are, and value pure-clan blood above all else."

"What will come of those of us who are not BleakClan-born?" Blueclaw asked. He stood bravely resolute, gray fur bleached silver in the moonlight, but Wisteriastripe could smell his fear-scent.

"We have lost too many cats to drive out any of our number, as tainted as we are, but I will be expecting us to make a concentrated effort to increase our number," Rushseed's eyes flashed to Antlerfleck and Sleekbloom.

"I get what you are implying, Rushseed, but Shadowstar is my mate. I will not betray her," Anterfleck warned. His green-yellow eyes gleamed sharply, and Wisteriastripe had never seen her former mentor look so serious.

"Then I shall blame you when BleakClan has become nothing more than a band of rogues," Rushseed hissed.

"We are already a band of rogues!" Violetpaw piped up, and Wisteriastripe immediately cringed. She wanted to rush over to her sister and stuff her paws in her mouth so she would stop speaking, but she was frozen to the spot, watching her clan crumble before her eyes. "Even if Sleekbloom and Antlerfleck fathered a thousand kits with pure BleakClan cats, it would only be a generation or two until the only choice would be to mate with cousins or outsiders. Shouldn't a cat be judged by their deeds, rather than where they came from? Face it, Rushseed, your perfect BleakClan is already dead and gone."

"Is that any way to speak to your leader? To your mother?" Rushseed's eyes were sparking balls of fury as she stalked over to face her daughter. For a second, Wisteriastripe was certain she was going to kill her where she stood, but the gray molly only chuckled. "You have guts. I may not agree with what you have said, but I like your spirit. It's about time you were made a warrior, I will give you your name when I return to the Moonhollow. However, be warned, continue speaking such blasphemy and I won't be so generous."

Thankfully, Violetpaw had the good sense to not say anything more. She simply dipped her head, though Wisteriastripe could still see the spark of defiance in her gaze. The sight made her feel like her heart was going to leap out of her chest like a fish.

"Violetpaw makes a good point. Perhaps we will have to look past bloodlines for our survival. I will accept those with outsider blood as my allies if you prove yourself worthy of it. Show me you have left the weakness in your lineage behind, turn your back on it completely. Be brutal, give everything to me and to this clan, and you have a place here," Rushseed growled. "If you show softness, if you betray us, exiling you will be the nicest thing I can do for you. I will not hesitate to kill anyone who is a threat to our survival, and I expect you all to do the same."

Blood rushed in Wisteriastripe's ears as her heart pounded even harder. She could not tell if it was from excitement or fear. Her time was coming, she knew it. She just had to prove it, she knew just how badly she wanted to succeed, and how much she stood to lose if she failed. She would not end up the next splash of blood on Rushseed's claws.

Looking around the camp, she could see both Yewswoop and Puddlebud were inspired by Rushseed's speech. Gingerpath, who was sitting at the entrance to the Healer's Clearing tunnel, wound still wrapped in cobwebs, met Wisteriastripe's gaze. She did not need to speak with him to know that they were swearing an oath to one another, a vow to be the strongest warriors BleakClan had ever seen.

"Thank you Rushseed," Shadowblaze dipped her head. "You will make this clan powerful, I know you will. Let's all go to bed, it has been a busy night."

The clan dispersed, but Wisteriastripe could tell from the chatter that no one would be sleeping anytime soon.

***

Two nights had passed since the fateful gathering. The energy in the camp had shifted since Shadowblaze had stepped down. Rushseed was already ruling the clan with an iron claw, and everyone seemed determined to show off their strength. There had been more prey brought back than ever before, and cats were far more likely to return from patrols bearing wounds from scuffles with TigerClan or Fringe cats.

Wisteriastripe was exhausted. Both she and Lilacfrond had remembered Rushseed's promise to them. Neither of them had trained an apprentice yet, but neither wanted to take the chance that the other might be given the position of deputy once Rushseed gained her nine lives. Wisteriastripe felt like she was constantly bickering with her sister, but she could not bear to let Lilacfrond outrank her. She had sent herself on as many patrols as she could fit in a day, and was not willing to slow down anytime soon.

As Wisteriastripe emerged from the warrior's den, she ran into Elkkit. The white and brown tom was carrying thorns in his mouth, and was staring up at Wisteriastripe guiltily.

"What might you be doing with those?" Wisteriastripe asked. Elkkit always seemed to be getting into trouble one way or another.

"Nothing," Elkkit's yellow eyes did not meet her gaze.

"You weren't planning on putting them in some brave warrior's nest, were you?" Wisteriastripe narrowed her eyes.

"Noooooo, I was taking them out of camp so no one would step on them!" Elkkit insisted.

"How brave!" Wisteriastripe chuckled. "How about you give them to me to throw out, and lets go back to the nursery." Despite herself, she admired the kit's gall. She would never have intentionally pissed off a warrior like that when she was a kit.

Sulking a little, Elkkit trailed behind Wisteriastripe as she returned him to the nursery.

"I found this little one 'helping out' with some thorns," Wisteriastripe told Trouthowl, nudging Elkkit towards her.

"Well, how brave of him!" Trouthowl said, catching Wisteriastripe's meaning. "I hope he did not get in the way of any of the warriors."

"No, I helped him get them out of camp safely," Wisteriastripe said. She looked around, figuring she should say hello to Lavenderpaw before she found a patrol to join. Her sister was nowhere to be seen.

"Lavenderpaw hasn't been doing too well," Trouthowl said, noticing how Wisteriastripe was scanning the nursery. "Between you and me, Rushseed has always scared her, and the thought of her running this clan has left her a mess. I can't say I'm too happy about our noble deputy becoming leader myself, but Lavenderpaw has always been a particularly sensitive one."

"You shouldn't be saying such things," Wisteriastripe said, looking over her shoulder to see if anyone had overheard.

"See, I think a clan where a cat can't say what is on their mind is dangerous," Trouthowl said in a low voice. "Come on, Wisteriastripe, I know you have always wanted Rushseed's approval, but you are smarter than this. I raised you, you know. I know your heart, and it does not truly lie in ceaseless violence."

"You may have raised me, but that was your job, nothing more, you are not my mother," Wisteriastripe said curtly, suddenly feeling uncomfortable. "It's different as a warrior. I would not expect a queen to understand. Make sure Lavenderpaw sees her senses, I do not want to see her blood spilled."

"That is not a threat, is it?" Trouthowl said in a low growl, tail swishing. Her eyes betrayed the hurt she felt at Wisteriastripe's retort, but she did not challenge her. "Think about the cat you want to become, Wisteriastripe. Some bloodstains can never be licked away."

"It is not a threat," Wisteriastripe said quietly, throat suddenly feeling tight. She had to leave here, and get as far away as she could. She did not like the way Trouthowl was staring at her.

She left quickly, without saying anything more, feeling like a coward. What kind of warrior got unnerved by a queen? She almost tripped over Dapplekit as she went.

"What do you mean I can't be deputy?" The cream and ginger molly was demanding of Shadowblaze. "I was gonna be your deputy when I grew up!"

"Things have changed, my love. I'm not saying you can't ever be deputy, but I am not leader anymore," Shadowblaze said. "Now, you be good for your father. Make sure your brother doesn't get into too much trouble while I am gone, I have to take a little trip."

"But when will you be back? Can I be deputy when you get back?" Dapplekit asked.

"I'll be back tomorrow, before the sun goes down," Shadowblaze promised, "and you are still too young to be deputy."

Wisteriastripe did not stick around to hear anything more. She didn't want to be anywhere near the nursery. She was concentrating so hard on leaving that she almost ran into Rushseed.

"Ah, there you are, Wisteriastripe," Rushseed said. "I've been looking for you. I want you and Lilacfrond to accompany us to the Moonhollow. I think it would be a great opportunity to show me what you are capable of."

"I would be honoured, thank you," Wisteriastripe could hardly believe what she was hearing.

"Well, don't just sit there like a wide-eyed squirrel," Rushseed said. "Go get your travelling herbs from the healers. We have a long journey ahead of us."

***

So far, the journey to the Moonhollow had been uneventful. However, that had not stopped Lilacfrond from challenging Wisteriastripe at every step.

"I'll race you to that big tree!" Lilacfrond flicked her tail down the path between TigerClan and MulberryClan.

"You run on ahead and use up all your energy right at the beginning of our journey!" Wisteriastripe taunted. "I'm going to keep a nice even pace and you can explain to Rushseed why you collapse before we reach the Moonhollow."

"Sounds like you think you can't do it, I can race all the way down this border and back and still not be tired," Lilacfrond boasted.

"Alright then, you show me," Wisteriastripe challenged. "You'll look just like an apprentice on their first day out of camp!"

Despite her bold words, Lilacfrond did not run ahead. Instead she stewed next to Wisteriastripe. The two sisters walked in silence for a little while.

"TigerClan," Rushseed suddenly growled from in front of them. "A patrol is nearby."

Sure enough, Icystar and Tuftedwhisker emerged onto the path. It was then that Wisteriastripe noticed that Tuftedwhisker's tail was now marred by a frostbite scar. It had been a hard winter for TigerClan.

"Rushseed, Shadowstar, what brings you to our neck of the woods?" Icystar asked, staring down the patrol menacingly.

"You cannot stop us, Icystar, you know the code," Primrosestripe said evenly.

"And I am no longer Shadowstar, I am Shadowblaze. We are going to the Moonhollow so I can give up my lives, and Rushseed can get hers," The former BleakClan leader said quietly.

"So, you actually did it," Icystar looked impressed as she sized up BleakClan's new leader. "Good on you, sometimes you need to take things into your own paws. It's a good choice too, we exiled Rimestripe after the gathering. If you come across him, know he is no longer a clan cat."

"I agree," Rushseed dipped her head, a sickeningly satisfied look entering her eyes. "You and I have much to discuss. Perhaps, now that BleakClan has a much more level-headed leader, our two clans can see peace."

"Yes, come by once you have your lives, it is time this war is ended." Icystar dipped her head in agreement.

Wisteriastripe stared at the two leaders in shock. Icystar was talking as if Rushseed hadn't started the war with TigerClan in the first place. She had scolded Rushseed for it during the first raid, and now she was acting like it had all been Shadowblaze's fault. Her mind also kept catching on what Icystar had said about 'taking things into her own paws.' Did she have something to do with Bristlestar's passing?

Wisteriastripe suddenly felt sick. Clan cats were supposed to be honourable, and to stand up for one another. Wasn't that the whole point?

"Psst!" A voice suddenly sounded from the bramble wall of the border path. Wisteriastripe turned to see Crocuspaw beckoning her towards him.

Wisteriastripe looked over her shoulder to see if anyone was watching her. Everyone was so engrossed in the conversation with Icystar they would not notice her slipping away.

"What do you want?" Wisteriastripe hissed.

"Believe me, you are the last cat you want to talk to." The fur along the back of Crocuspaw's spine prickled. "But I can't stop having that dream. I need to tell you about the prophecy."

"Quickly, I can't have my patrol seeing me disappear! Rushseed will have my pelt if she knows I am talking to you," Wisteriastripe urged.

"I keep being visited by a ginger tom. He does not smell of any of the clans, I do not think he is from StarClan. Whenever he speaks, I see the whole forest blanketed with wisteria, covering everything like kudzu." Crocuspaw explained. "At first, it looks as though the clans are destroyed, but that's when I see them. There are still cats, and they still smell of the six clans, but some of them are wearing kittypet collars, and some look like rogues or loners. Then the ginger cat speaks to me, and he tells me 'Wisteria will take root in the forest, and the forest will be changed.' I think you are going to change the clans, and I think you are going to save us all."

"You have to be joking," Wisteriastripe felt sick to her stomach. Kittypet warriors? Surely Crocuspaw was mistaken. Perhaps the prophecy was warning that she couldn't be too weak, or else the clans would grow too soft and be taken over by kittypets.

"I swear on StarClan that I am not. The ginger cat then tells me that I have to tell you about my vision, because you will not hear him," Crocuspaw said. "So I am fulfilling my duties."

Will not hear him? If Crocuspaw was talking about the ginger cat that kept appearing in Wisteriastripe's dreams, she had tried to hear him. It wasn't that she wouldn't, it was that she couldn't. She felt a prickle run up her spine at the accusation.

"You have bees in your brain. Why would you listen to a dead cat who is not even a StarClan cat?" Wisteriastripe asked.

"Because I am an outsider, and so are you. We got lucky, and we found a home in our clans, that's all the separates us from any kittypet or loner." Crocuspaw was starting to sound a lot like Violetpaw. "Why should we get to live while they die at our claws? Why should we find a home in the clans while they are barred? I love TigerClan, and I will give everything I have to serve them, but every cat should be given that opportunity, if they want it."

Wisteriastripe's head was starting to hurt. This was the second time she had been challenged today. She wanted to snap back at him, like she had with Trouthowl, to push all this nonsense away, but there was something in his intense blue gaze that made every word die in her throat.

"Just think about it, okay?" Crocuspaw said. "I don't know why it's you. I think Violetpaw would make a lot more sense, but I have heard this prophecy enough to know that it is undeniably you. The ginger cat even said so himself."

"Who even is this ginger dream cat?" Wisteriastripe asked, hoping that Crocuspaw could not smell the fear-scent she knew was emanating from her.

"All I know is that he told me his name is Dixie," Crocuspaw said, shrugging. "Though that name means nothing to me."

"Dixie?" Wisteriastripe said quietly as her throat tightened.

"Do you know him?" Crocuspaw asked, tilting his head slightly.

"I never met him, but he is one of my fathers," Wisteriastripe said, unsure why she was telling a TigerClan cat this. "I need to go. The patrol is going to notice I am gone soon."

She was glad Crocuspaw didn't say anything more to her as she left through the brambles, though she could feel his burning gaze on her pelt every step of the way.

***

Wisteriastripe was exhausted by the time the patrol reached the Moonhollow. The waning moon was just rising over the horizon as they exited the tunnel into the hollow, and the night-chill of the air was only slightly warmer than the cold of the tunnels.

She was grateful to have finally arrived. Between all her extra patrols and the weight of her conversation with Crocuspaw, she wanted to curl herself into a ball and never wake up, but she could hardly show weakness in front of Rushseed and Lilacfrond. Her sister in particular had been prodding her the entire journey with various challenges, and it had been difficult to give excuses without coming off as weak.

The cats ascended the stone path towards the basin, and Shadowblaze and Rushseed knelt down to drink from the water before curling up and falling asleep.

"You two keep watch," Primrosestripe told Wisteriastripe and Lilacfrond before bending down to take her own drink of water, leaving the two sisters awake and watching over the dreaming cats.

"Do you think it is going to work?" Wisteriastripe asked.

"Of course it will. StarClan would have bees in their brain to think that Shadowblaze makes the better leader," Lilacfrond huffed.

"Are you just saying that because you want to be deputy?" Wisteriastripe challenged.

"No, I'm saying that because I have eyes in my head." Lilacfrond narrowed her eyes. "You're not going soft on me, are you?"

"Of course not!" Wisteriastripe balked.

"Good, because I can't lose my competition!" Lilacfrond said, looking away.

Was that a compliment? Wisteriastripe stared at her sister, trying to get a read on her, but she wasn't meeting her gaze.

Her eyelids suddenly felt very heavy. She fought to keep them open, feeling like she would rather die than be caught shirking the duty bestowed upon her. However, despite her best efforts, she just could not stop them from closing, and she half-collapsed, half-lay down as she drifted off to sleep.

***

A different ginger cat was awaiting Wisteriastripe in her dreams. This one had a darker pelt, like a more vibrant version of Violetpaw's. His eyes were violet, looking very much like Wisteriastripe's. He had a similar lack of jowls to Blueclaw, though Wisteriastripe noticed he had fluffed up his long face fur to give the impression of jowls.

"I figured I might have an easier time getting through to you than Dixie, as you and I are very much alike," He said. "I'm doing this as a favour to him. I don't think any of you should have anything to do with the clans, you should be Fringe cats, but he is convinced you have a destiny there."

"...Shari?" Wisteriastripe asked, eyes widening. Was this the cat who bore her?

Shari dipped his head in acknowledgement. "You have grown up well, Wisteriastripe. I have been watching you. I wish you could have given your prowess to The Fringe, but I am still proud of your strength. Come, I have something to show you."

As the two cats walked, the void around them solidified into forest. They eventually found themselves on the rim of the Moonhollow, looking down into it. Wisteriastripe had never seen it from this angle, as the clifftops were strictly SnowyClan territory. Down on the stone platform by the pool, Shadowblaze, Rushseed and Primrosestripe stood together. A crowd of starry cats surrounded them. This must be the Moonhollow from StarClan's side.

"You can walk in StarClan?" Wisteriastripe breathed, staring wide-eyed at her father.

"If you know what you're doing, a cat can walk in any afterlife. I learned to do it so I could visit Dixie," Shari explained, "and to keep an eye on my daughters."

"Why are we here?" Wisteriastripe asked.

"Dixie wanted you to see it," Shari said, shrugging. "Something about watching as your clan turns onto the path of destruction."

"What does that mean?" Wisteriastripe's eyebrows furrowed.

"Look, if you keep asking questions we will miss what is happening below. Let's just watch," Shari sighed.

In the depths of the Moonhollow, Shadowblaze was standing in front of the other two living cats. In front of her was a tortoiseshell cat with a white belly and star on her forehead. She could see enough family resemblance to tell this was Dapplestar.

"I am very disappointed about this, you know," Dapplestar said to Shadowblaze, who could not meet her mother's gaze. "You had a legacy to carry, and now you are giving it up. It is not too late to turn back."

"I can't remain BleakClan's leader knowing I am half-clan," Shadowblaze said quietly. "Besides, I was not cut out to be leader. I have tried, and I am just not strong enough."

Dapplestar stared at her daughter for a long time, like there was more she wanted to say. She then looked at the StarClan cats behind her. Wisteriastripe could tell from the way that they looked back at her that Dapplestar's disloyalty was not going unpunished here either. She did not have as much power here as she was positing.

Dapplestar sighed. "Very well. Shadowstar, we revoke your lives. From this moment on you will once more be known as Shadowblaze. May you continue to serve your clan with all the strength of a leader, even in your diminished role."

Dapplestar touched her nose to Shadowblaze's and a light emerged from the former BleakClan leader's chest, returning to her mother's body. The ginger molly gasped, as if in pain, but she did not pull back as seven more cats stepped forward and removed their lives from her one by one. By the time it was over, Shadowblaze was shaking, almost unable to stand. Primrosestripe moved forward to support her, licking her comfortingly on her shoulder.

Dapplestar rejoined the crowd, and a brown rosette molly with cream patches stepped forward, beckoning Rushseed forwards. The gray molly's eyes gleamed hungrily as she stepped up to join the StarClan warrior.

"Applegaze, you look well," Rushseed grinned.

A jolt flashed through Wisteriastripe. Applegaze! This was Seedpaw's mother, who had died in the same battle Wisteriastripe and her sisters had been born in.

"I could not have asked for a more honourable way to die," Applegaze dipped her head. "Thank you for leading us into battle, it is my honour to give you your first life. I give you this life for sympathy for your clanmates. You must be strong together if you hope to stand against the forces of those outside your borders."

Wisteriastripe could tell from the flash in Rushseed's eyes that gaining a life was just as painful as losing one, though Rushseed held herself strong, showing none of the same weariness Shadowblaze had displayed.

Applegaze then rejoined the crowd of starry cats, and Seedpaw stepped forward, brushing pelts with her mother on the way. Wisteriastripe's breath caught in her chest. Even now, her heart ached with grief for her lost friend.

"I give you this life for honesty," Seedpaw says. "Some secrets should not be kept hidden." She had to reach up to make contact with Rushseed's nose. It was strange to realize that the apprentice was now smaller than Wisteriastripe, now that the warrior was fully-grown. In life, the apprentice had been older and larger.

The next cat was an elderly silver sokoke tabby tom with yellow eyes. Though he was old, his eyes were sharp and every move was clearly calculated.

"I am Rainfeather, BleakClan's StarClan guide. I give you a life for precision. Every claw-strike is valuable, and comes with consequences." The old tom said, touching noses with Rushseed.

It was strange, seeing a cat Wisteriastripe had only heard of in Trouthowl's nursery stories. Rainfeather had been a sickly cat, who had spent most of his life in the elder's den, but he was respected for the way he had watched over BleakClan in life, just as he now lead the BleakClan cats of StarClan in death.

Next was a silver rosette tom. His muscles rippled with strength and his eyes gleamed with a look she had seen on Rushseed's face many times before.

"I am proud to call you a descendant of mine, I am Downydapple, the warrior who felled a thousand enemies," The silver tom said. "I give you a life for accountability. Remember the legacy you are carrying as your forge a new path for BleakClan."

A shiver ran down Wisteriastripe's spine. Downydapple was the greatest warrior in BleakClan's history, the hero of many stories and the victor of many impossible battles. She couldn't help but quiver in the presence of such a powerful cat, and she wondered if she would ever be as powerful as he was.

The next cat to come forward was a soft-looking pale ginger tabby tom with golden eyes. He looked out of place among the other, fiercer warriors, and Wisteriastripe realized that he must be Sporefur. The tom was the protagonist in many a cautionary tale about trusting twolegs. He had been taken away, and had never been seen again by BleakClan.

"I give you a life for courage," Sporefur said. "Though I know you lack none of it, life throws twists and turns, and you must always be strong."

Rushseed's face showed clear distaste at being given a life by a warrior-turned-kittypet, but she accepted the life without comment.

The sixth cat was a solid gray tom with pale green eyes. He was extremely thin, almost unhealthily so, though he walked with his head held high and green eyes gleaming with wisdom.

"I am Irisflood. I lost my life during a redcough outbreak, where I chose to leave camp with the other sick cats and care for them to spare those still strong and healthy back at camp. I give you this life for empathy. Sometimes the survival of a clan comes at great sacrifice, and strength does not always look like claws and teeth. There are many ways to serve your clan."

Rushseed accepted his life, though Wisteriastripe could tell without her mother saying anything that she would not be taking Irisflood's advice.

The next cat was a speckled golden tom with golden eyes. Rushseed's eyes flashed in recognition as he stepped forward to grant his life, though Wisteriastripe could not recall him from any nursery tales.

"Canaryfur, I remember the battle that killed you," Rushseed dipped her head.

"I did not need to die. I rushed into battle trying to please cats older and stronger than me," Canaryfur's eyes flashed sharply at Rushseed, as if trying to pass on a warning. "With this life I give you mercy. Not every battle needs to be fought."

"It was your own fault you got killed," Rushseed snorted after she received the life. "You were too reckless for your own good."

Canaryfur bristled at her, but did not interrupt the ceremony, returning to the crowd with his golden fur fluffed up and tail swishing angrily. Wisteriastripe wondered if he regretting giving that life to Rushseed. After all, until Rushseed lost her seventh life, a piece of his soul would dwell within her body.

The eighth cat to present a life was a tortoiseshell tom with cream ear and tailtips. Cream also covered his paws and splashed across his chest. He walked up and bestowed his life upon Rushseed.

"With this life I give you spontaneity. You may be old in age, but you must be vigorous and open to move with the flows of time," He said. "I am Crowriver, and I spent my life advocating for changes to the warrior code to allow cats to change their gender. Change is coming, and you must be ready for it."

Wisteriastripe was almost certain Crowriver had turned to wink at her before returning into the crowd, though she did not understand why he should pick her out of all the cats gathered.

The final cat to step forward was Dapplestar.

"Rushseed, despite your betrayal to my bloodline, you have always been my best friend. It is my honour to give you your final life. With this life I give you loyalty. Do not forget those who have stood by your side."

Rushseed gritted her teeth as the final life flowed through her. Of all the lives, it seemed to be the most painful. Once the pain ebbed, she held her head high. A black star, the same colour as the stripe along her back, now sat on her chest. As Wisteriastripe looked closer, she noticed that the star marking on Shadowblaze's shoulder was gone, replaced by a single speckle.

"Let me be first the one to welcome you as Rushstar, BleakClan's new leader." Dapplestar said. "Lead well, and remember the weight of responsibility that sits on your shoulders."

"Rushstar! Rushstar! Rushstar!" The name echoed around the hollow as the starry cats welcomed the new leader, and with that the ceremony was done.

"A cat like that as leader only spells doom," Shari sighed, eyes darkening as he got to his feet. "Not for your clan, but for all who live outside their borders." He turned to look at Wisteriastripe. "You walk a narrow, treacherous path, be careful which way you fall."

The Fringe cat walked away, leaving his daughter alone at the rim of the Moonhollow. Wisteriastripe wanted to call after him, but the scenery around her was fading, and soon she found herself waking up on cold stone.

She quickly got to her feet, relieved that Rushstar, Shadowblaze and Primrosestripe were still asleep.

"Have a nice nap?" Lilacfrond sniffed. "Don't worry, I kept us all safe all on my own."

Wisteriastripe's thought were too consumed with the dream she had just woken from to form a retort. This was the third warning she had received today about following in Rushstar's footsteps, and she did not know what to think of it.

***

"From this moment on, you will be known as Violetbark. StarClan honours you determination, and we welcome you as a full warrior of BleakClan. Congratulations on being the first warrior I have named during my leadership, I hope you take it for the honour that it is," Rushstar announced, touching noses with Violetbark. Wisteriastripe could see the hesitation on her sister's face that most others would miss. Still, she couldn't help but feel relief that Violetbark had finally earned her name. It meant she had finally been accepted into the clan.

"Violetbark! Violetbark! Violetbark!" The clan chanted. Though their voices were enthusiastic, there was an apprehension in the air, as heavy and electric as the sky before a thunderstorm.

The patrol had returned from the Moonhollow as the sun was setting, and Rushstar had immediately called a clan meeting announcing her new status as leader.

"Will Lavenderpaw be getting her full name?" Trouthowl asked, standing up and stepping towards the Tallbranch. Lavenderpaw lingered near the back of the crowd, hunched over and shaking, not making eye contact with any cat.

Rushstar's face stretched into a disgusted sneer. "She has done nothing to earn it. Even by a queen's standard, she is weak and useless. She will remain an apprentice until she grows a spine, I am willing to leave her a 'paw her whole life if she doesn't smarten up."

Wisteriastripe could see tears forming in Lavenderpaw's eyes, and her sister began shaking harder. Trouthowl opened her mouth to challenge Rushstar further, but the leader gave the queen such a glare that she clamped it shut, teeth clenched, and returned to Lavenderpaw's side. Trouthowl began stroking her apprentice's back, speaking calming words that Wisteriastripe could not hear.

"Next matter of business, my deputy," Rushstar said, sitting up straighter and surveying her clan. "Since I have taken leadership so suddenly, I do not feel prepared to name a deputy quite yet. I will take the next moon to keep an eye on everyone, and will name a deputy once I am satisfied I have a strong and capable choice."

The crowd bust into an uproar.

"This is nonsense! A new deputy must be named before moonhigh!" Sleekbloom yowled, mouth agape.

"You must not anger StarClan so early in your leadership by breaking the code," Primrosestripe snapped, ears back.

"StarClan may be angry, but they cannot take my lives away from me. I am doing what I think is best for this clan, regardless of if StarClan agrees. If anyone wants to challenge me further, be my guest." Rushstar glowered.

The camp fell silent, and no one said anything more. They knew better than to challenge their new leader.

"Then, with that, I conclude-" Rushstar began.

"Wait!" Fallowcrawl interrupted, stepping forward in front of the gathered cats. "While everyone is here, I have something to confess. I've been hiding it since I was an apprentice, but I can't stay silent anymore!"

Wisteriastripe opened her jaws to yowl at her friend to stop, but the young healer met her gaze and shook her head. Heart pounding, Wisteriastripe fought every instinct rushing through her nerves and shut her mouth. She could only watch in horror as her friend destroyed her entire life.

"Seedpaw did not die from eating a poisoned rabbit," Fallowcrawl said, now making pleading eye contact with Pondskip. Her mate was staring at her wide-eyed, pupils nothing more than pinpricks. "It's my fault she is dead. I was trying an experimental treatment, I didn't realize that what I was feeding her was poison."

"So it wasn't my rabbit that killed her?" Pondskip took a step back, staring blankly ahead. Her voice shook as she spoke. "All this time, I thought it was me-"

"That's why I had to confess the truth," Fallowcrawl was looking at Pondskip with eyes brimming with a soft affection. "I couldn't let you carry that guilt anymore, not when it is my burden to bear." She turned to address Rushstar and the rest of the clan again. "I have learned from my mistakes, I have worked hard to learn how to heal properly, and no longer take risks with herbs I don't understand. I would love to keep serving you as your healer, but understand if you want me to step away from my duties and become a warrior instead."

Primrosestripe was staring at Fallowcrawl with an intense look of loathing. Wisteriastripe had never seen the head healer look at someone with such venom.

"I trusted you," She spat, arching her back as she raised her lips in a hiss. "I knew there was something that didn't line up about Seedpaw's death, but I figured my apprentice wouldn't lie to me. If you had only come clean in the moment-"

"Then you would have made me become a warrior apprentice!" Fallowcrawl wailed. "I love healing, I don't want to be anything else, but it's worth it now, if it means that Pondskip can stop feeling guilty about killing Seedpaw."

"If you had trusted me, we could have worked something out. I would not have demoted you immediately, mistakes happen, and it is possible to learn from them. Instead you lied to me and lied to your whole clan and put them in danger by being a mediocre healer," Primrosestripe's face was consumed with fury. "Do you ever wonder why I named you Fallowcrawl? It's because you crawled your way to becoming a healer, your guilt weighed you down so much your healing skills suffered. It's a miracle no one else was killed at your paws. The only reason I made you a full healer is because your mother begged me, and I could not say no to my leader."

"Fallowcrawl, you are responsible for the death of one of the few full-blooded BleakClan cats we had left," Rushseed's eyes were nothing but slits as she seethed with her own rage. "If only you had killed one of our outsiders, your sentence would be lessened."

"Please, I promise I will be a good warrior. Just let me learn. I'll give up my title," Fallowcrawl pleaded, cowering under the looks of shock and rage from her clanmates. Wisteriastripe's heart broke for her friend. It was an accident, she didn't deserve this. She wanted to yowl across the camp and defend her clan, but she knew doing so would be suicide.

"You are definitely not becoming a healer while I am alive," Primrosestripe spat. "I would like to propose that Fallowcrawl not even be allowed to train as a warrior until we figure out a suitable punishment. I will of course leave that up to you, Rushstar."

"Very well, Fallowcrawl, you shall be treated as a prisoner until I decide what to do with you. You will only eat when I give permission for a warrior to bring you food, and you will not contribute to the clan as a warrior or a healer. You will be confined to the camp, under a constant guard, and no one will be allowed to speak to you unless I command them to do so." Rushstar announced. "You must be punished for taking the life of Seedpaw, but I do not want to be hasty in removing someone with BleakClan blood from the clan, even if it is tainted by TigerClan filth. I need some time to think."

"Yes Rushstar, I understand," Fallowcrawl was crouched low on the ground. She cast a desperate glance at Pondskip, who would not meet her gaze. She then looked to Wisteriastripe. The warrior knew she could not draw any attention to her support of her friend, but she nodded, hoping that she understood.

The former healer was then shuffled away by Yewswoop and Puddlebud, who took her to a rotten log at the edge of camp. Wisteriastripe had been told it once was the apprentice's den, but many seasons ago it had fallen into disrepair. Even now, she could see puddles from where a recent rain had leaked through the roof.

"Well, with that out of the way, the meeting is adjourned." Rushseed sighed. "I will organize the moonhigh patrol and guards for the night, and the rest of you may go to sleep."

Wisteriastripe knew she should be tired after travelling to the Moonhollow and back within the past couple of days, but after all the excitement of the meeting, she felt wired. She instead turned to Violetbark, who was getting ready to sit her vigil at the entrance of the den.

"Congratulations on your warrior name, it suits you," Wisteriastripe said, finally breaking the silence between her and her sister. Violetbark simply looked at her and did not respond. Wisteriastripe could not tell if it was because Violetbark had already begun her vigil, or if she was refusing to speak to her on principle.

Sighing, Wisteriastripe turned to go settle down in the warriors' den. Maybe sleep would come for her if she lay down in her nice mossy bed. Her head was spinning with all that had happened within the past several days, and she didn't know what to make of half of it. Perhaps things would be clearer in the morning. As she curled up in her nest, she screwed her eyes shut, begging everything whirling around her mind to stop. It took a while before her head was empty enough to allow her to doze off into a fitful slumber.

"So what? They'll drive me out of BleakClan? There are lots of other ways to live. Maybe I'll like being a kittypet! Or maybe I'll go and join The Fringe!" Violetpaw unsheathed her claws at the thought. "But seriously, don't worry about me. I'll be careful, I'll spend some time out in the woods to get rid of the twoleg stench when I'm done, and with any luck I'll be back before Pondskip recovers from whitecough so I won't even miss any training!"

"Just..." Wisteriapaw paused to let her anxieties wash over her. She took a deep breath. "You're my sister, I care about you."

"And I care about you!" Violetpaw pressed her muzzle into Wisteriapaw's fur. "No matter what happens, I'll stay in touch. I won't be gone forever."

With that, Violetpaw leaped up onto the fence, taking one last look at Wisteriapaw before she disappeared over the other side. Wisteriapaw stared at the fence until she thought her heart would pound right out of her chest, then she turned and bounded back into the snow-covered forest.

***

"Wisteriapaw! Where have you been! Is Violetpaw with you?" Antlerfleck bounded over to the apprentice as she walked through the entrance tunnel into the camp.

Wisteriapaw dropped the shrew in her mouth before responding. "Is Violetpaw not back yet?" She didn't have to work hard to feign worry. "Prey has been so sparse lately, we thought we'd get a head start on some hunting. We got separated, I thought she made it back on her own."

"We don't have time to worry about that," Rushseed snapped. Her tail flicked with irritation as she talked over to her daughter. "Food can wait. We've been looking for you, I want you to join the attack on TigerClan's camp."

"We're attacking TigerClan?!" Alarm flooded Wisteriapaw, making her fur stand on end. "Did they attack while I was out?" She looked around, tasting the air for the scent of blood, but there was none.

"They don't need to. I'm done sitting around while Icystar makes idle threats. Their scent has crossed the border too many times since the first snow fell. BleakClan will strike first, as a show of strength." Rushseed's claws dug into the snow as she spoke.

Wisteriapaw looked over at the nursery, wondering what Shadowstar thought about all of this. The leader had left Rushseed in charge while she waited for her kits to be born, but surely she would have something to say about starting a war at the beginning of Leafbare, when the clan would need their strength the most. Shadowstar sat in the entrance to the nursery, watching everything unfold, but saying nothing.

"Come on Wisteriapaw, are your paws frozen to the ground?" Rushseed growled. "This is what we talked about, your chance to be a true warrior! Or do you want Lilacpaw to get all the glory?"

Wisteriapaw looked over to where her sister was pacing, practicing her swipes and slashes. Her blood coursed hot through her veins. Rushseed was right, this was what she had been training for. She would protect her clan, and prove to Rushseed for once and for all that she was her daughter.

"I'm ready," Wisteriapaw growled, baring her teeth.

"Atta girl," Rushseed purred. "Come join the others. If Violetpaw isn't here, we march without her."

***

"BleakClan, attack!" Rushseed's voice boomed out as BleakClan cats poured into the TigerClan camp like a wave.

The TigerClan camp was in a cave, the entrance sealed with brambles save for a small tunnel. Wisteriapaw could feel the thorns scratch at her flank, but the adrenaline prevented her from slowing.

As she burst into the cave, she could already see Rushseed and Yewswoop tussling with a pair of gray warriors. Looking out over the camp, the majority of TigerClan's cats looked to be in various shades of gray and black, though she could see Puddlebud charging for a ginger molly, and a couple more ginger cats ran around with herbs.

Though BleakClan had fewer warriors, they clearly had advantage in the element of surprise. The TigerClan warriors had not had the chance to adorn the thorn and bone enhancements they were known for, though some warriors were hastily attaching them to their paws before joining the fray.

Wisteriapaw glanced around, trying to decide who to fight, when she was bowled over by a young white tom with a few gray patches and golden eyes. He must have only been made a warrior in the past few moons, but he was clearly far better trained than she was. Wisteriapaw soon found herself pinned down, and for a moment she wondered if she would be killed before she had the chance to taste battle properly.

Wisteriapaw flailed, trying to remember her training. She kicked her hind legs, hoping to make purchase with his vulnerable underbelly. She could feel her claws colliding with legs, but knew her scratches were not enough to dissuade him. He lunged for her throat, and she braced herself for the end.

His teeth, however, did not make their mark. He was instead bowled over by an gray and gold blur. A growl rose in Wisteriapaw's throat as she realized she had been saved by Lilacpaw.

"Pathetic," Lilacpaw sneered at Wisteriapaw. "Were you just going to curl up and die without a fight? It would have been a mercy to let him kill you, you owe me one."

Wisteriapaw scrambled away, breathing too heavily to snap back a retort. She couldn't let that be her only battle story, she needed to prove herself. She left Lilacpaw to fight the warrior on her own, she could clearly handle herself and Wisteriapaw did not need to embarrass herself in front of her sister anymore.

"Come on, I bet you and I could take that warrior together," Gingerpaw said as he came up alongside Wisteriapaw. He was pointing at a nearby black warrior with a gray stripe down his back and deep blue eyes.

Wisteriapaw nodded in agreement as she caught her breath, and without needing to saw a word, the two apprentices split up to surprise the warrior from opposite sides.

Fighting with Gingerpaw felt as easy as breathing. Wisteriapaw found her confidence as they matched each other blow by blow, just as they had trained. The black warrior whipped his head around in confusion, taking a moment to gather himself. He tried to fight off both apprentices, but was unable to keep up and eventually was sent fleeing to the healer's den. Wisteriapaw and Gingerpaw nodded to each other in victory before preparing themselves to face their next opponent.

A pair of cats awaited them now, a mentor and apprentice duo. The mentor was a gray tabby molly with one white paw, tailtip and chest. Gingerpaw, being the bigger of the two, immediately lunged at her, leaving Wisteriapaw to face the apprentice.

The apprentice looked to be about her age. He had a gray tabby pelt and silver eyes. This was probably his first fight as well, Wisteriapaw observed, given the nervous-but-excited gleam in his eyes. His claws were enforced with fangs, and he wore strands of brambles around his neck.

Wisteriapaw did not hold back. She charged at him full force, bowling him over. She winced as her flesh met brambles, she had miscalculated. Still, she would not give Lilacpaw another chance to mock her.

The two apprentices became a whirlwind of fangs and claws. Wisteriapaw did not notice when they became separated from Gingerpaw and the mentor, but she soon found the two of them lost in a sea of fighting cats. The apprentice's blows stung, she was aware of many bleeding wounds in her own skin, but she would not give in.

Finally, she saw an opening, and knocked the apprentice of balance. She pinned him down, belly exposed, and gave him a nasty bite to his shoulder. His blood tasted warm in her mouth, and the satisfaction tasted sweet in her mouth. She paused for a moment, relishing that he was at her mercy. He would flee if she let him go, she knew it, but Rushseed's words to her outside The Fringe borders rang clear in her mind. She needed to prove herself. She needed to be strong.

Lifting a paw, claws, unsheathed, she ripped open the apprentice's belly. She could feel her claws rip through skin and organ, and blood gushed out, painting the stone beneath him red. His screams filled Wisteriapaw's ears, both a terrible and beautiful song. He writhed, gurgling, and then he was still, save for the pool of blood growing beneath him.

Everything fell silent around Wisteriapaw. Had she actually done it? Had she killed him? She felt like she wanted to vomit and celebrate at the exact same time, and she was not sure which urge would win. She felt dizzy on her paws, and she wasn't sure if it was because of her own bloodloss or the weight of what she had done.

"Almondpaw!" The scream broke through her trance, and she looked up to see another apprentice, this one with a silver and white bengal pelt. Tears were falling from his dark blue eyes, and he had dropped a bundle of herbs at his feet.

"I-" Wisteriapaw began, feeling like she was about to fall over. Oh StarClan, she really was about to be sick.

"That was my brother!" The apprentice screamed. "What kind of monster are you? You don't kill cats to win battles, I saw him, he would have run away! I'll kill you! I don't care if I'm a healer, I'll make sure your blood-"

"Wisteriapaw, let's go," She was suddenly aware of Antlerfleck gently pushing her away.

Her mentor guided her towards the entrance, fighting off any cat who tried to stop them.

"But-" Wisteriapaw began.

"You will have other battles, you have done enough," Antlerfleck urged. "Besides, this one if just about done."

As if on cue, the voice of TigerClan's deputy, Tuftedwhisker, rang out. "You killed my apprentice, you bitch!"

At first, Wisteriapaw thought she had been mistaken about Almondpaw's mentor, but as she turned to look, she saw Rushseed standing over the body of a long-furred gray molly with cardinal feathers adorning her tail.

"Oh yeah, you wanna fight me about it? I'll kill you too!" Blood dripped from the BleakClan deputy's mouth as she laughed. There was a sickeningly happy look in her eyes as she advanced towards Tuftedwhisker.

"Enough, this battle is done," Icystar's voice rang out. The TigerClan leader had leaped up onto a high ledge and was snarling down at the attacking BleakClan cats. The scar across the bridge of her nose made her gray and white face all the more fearsome, and Wisteriapaw couldn't help but tremble.

"TigerClan, admitting defeat so soon?" Rushseed jeered. "How the mighty have fallen."

"We will concede the victory to BleakClan today, but be aware that it is war that you have started," Icystar yowled. "You have slain some fine cats. Heatherdash. Patchoulispider. Almondpaw. Their blood is on your paws, but so is the blood of every BleakClan cat who will die as revenge."

Wisteriapaw looked around. Who was the third cat who had died? She felt a jolt as she recognized the slumped form of the tom who had attacked her when the battle first started. She wondered who had dealt the finishing blow, but she did not have time to ponder it before Rushseed piped up.

"Are you afraid, Icystar? Come down and fight me yourself if you want revenge? I have some fight left in me," The BleakClan deputy snarled, a twisted look filling her eyes.

"Go home, Rushseed, and next time you want to start a war, bring your leader," Icystar growled. "You're forgetting your place."

Rushseed bared her teeth, and for a moment Wisteriapaw thought she was going to spring at Icystar anyways, but she turned back towards the TigerClan camp entrance. "BleakClan, let's go home."

the BleakClan patrol picked themselves up and followed Rushseed's lead out of the cave. All of them were still alive, and Wisteriapaw let out a sigh she didn't know she had been holding.

Wisteriapaw was keenly aware of the glares of TigerClan on their backs as they went. She turned her head, making eye contact once more with the healer's apprentice -- Almondpaw's brother. He snarled at her, and Wisteriapaw looked away, stomach churning.

"Still alive?" Lilacpaw taunted, coming up alongside Wisteriapaw as they walked through TigerClan territory back to the border.

"Yeah," Wisteriapaw lifted her head, pride brimming in her chest. "And I killed a cat. Almondpaw." She pushed down the bile that was rising in her throat.

"Just an apprentice?" Lilacpaw sneered, "I killed a warrior. The same one that almost did you in, actually."

Wisteriapaw felt a pit in her stomach.

"There's no need to brag," Antlerfleck piped up. "There's no pride in killing another warrior, the warrior code says-"

"Oh Antlerfleck," Rushseed said, turning around to join the conversation. "Don't diminish my daughters' accomplishments. They fought well, and I am proud of them."

Antlerfleck opened his mouth like he wanted to respond, but thought better of it. Wisteriapaw was too excited to care. Her mother had said she was proud of her, and suddenly it all was worth it.

***

"You're alive!" Fallowpaw exclaimed as the patrol limped into the BleakClan camp.

The healer's apprentice raced forwards, pulling cobwebs and marigold out of her pouch as she began to tend to everyone's wounds. Primrosestripe moved to join more slowly, her stiff joints betraying her age. Wisteriapaw found a patch of snow to flop down on while she waited for her turn to be treated.

She watched as Antlerfleck raced over to Shadowstar in the nursery, nuzzling her enthusiastically.

"You made it home," Shadowstar purred.

"I'd never leave you, my love," Antlerfleck purred back.

"You'd better get these looked at," Shadowstar said, licking some of the cuts on Antlerfleck's flank.

"I'm glad you made it back," Fallowpaw said, breaking Wisteriapaw's focus away from the lovers' reunion. "Let me see what shape you are in."

The healer's apprentice sniffed Wisteriapaw over, prodding at certain spots. She then began to mix a marigold poultice, slathering over Wisteriapaw's wounds and holding them in place with cobwebs.

"How did the fight go?" Fallowpaw asked.

"We won!" Wisteriapaw purred. She paused, wondering whether to mention Almondpaw's death. She decided not to. "You seem to be a lot more comfortable with healing."

"Yeah," Fallowpaw said sheepishly. She looked over her shoulder before whispering to Wisteriapaw. "I've been visiting Raven. He's been teaching me some things."

"I won't tell anyone," Wisteriapaw vowed, secretly surprised that Fallowpaw had sought help outside of BleakClan. The healer apprentice's eyes brimmed with appreciation.

"Yes, I'm very impressed with Fallowpaw's work," Primrosestripe purred, walking up to tend to Blueclaw, who was nearby. "I won't be around forever, and she's stuck with it this long. I'd say it's time she earned her full name."

"You mean it?" Fallowpaw's eyes lit up.

"Do I have any other apprentice?" Primrosestripe teased. "The half moon meeting is tomorrow night, we'll do the ceremony then."

***

Wisteriapaw couldn't sleep. It was the night of the half moon, and she wanted to wait up to see Fallowpaw's new name. At least, that was what she had told her denmates. The truth was, she couldn't get the TigerClan healer apprentice out of her mind.

How would she feel if one of her own sisters was killed? Lilacpaw was one thing, but what about innocent Lavenderpaw? Or Irispaw, who showed she cared in her own quiet way. What if Violetpaw was died out there in the twolegplace, and never came back?

Killing a cat had been exhilarating, she couldn't deny it. She could see why Rushseed liked it so much, but what about the grieving cats left behind? What about the lives torn apart by the loss, or the lives that were cut short? Antlerfleck seemed to think she had gone too far, though he hadn't punished her for it. Was this different because it was a clan cat she had killed? But if that was the case, what made it alright to kill outsiders? It was too confusing. Then, there was the big scary question: how could she carve a place in this clan and earn her mother's affection if she didn't kill. What would stop her from being the next outsider killed at the claws of a BleakClan cat?

She had done the right thing, hadn't she? She was training to be a warrior. So was Almondpaw. Dying in battle was a risk that all warriors took, it was the greatest sacrifice. She had given Almondpaw the chance to die a hero's death, he would be honoured by his clan forever.

Yet, the doubt persisted.

She turned the quandary over in her mind over in her mind until the sun rose above the horizon. The dawn patrol assembled and left. Finally, her friend returned through the entrance tunnel with Primrosestripe.

"So?" Wisteriapaw asked, bounding towards the healers.

"I'm Fallowcrawl!" The molly beamed. Wisteriapaw had never seen her friend look so happy.

"Fallowcrawl!" She repeated, pressing her muzzle into her friend's shoulder. "I love it!"

"I'll leave you two to chat, I'm going to check on Pondskip and get some sleep," Primrosestripe purred.

"I have a question," Wisteriapaw asked, settling down into a loaf beside Fallowcrawl. "The TigerClan healer apprentice, what is his name."

"Oh, that's Crocuspaw," Fallowcrawl explained. "He's usually pretty friendly to me, but all of the TigerClan healers were a bit cold towards us, understandably."

"I think he hates me," Wisteriapaw looked down at her feet. "I killed his brother in the battle."

Fallowcrawl pressed her nose into Wisteriapaw's fur and sat in silence for a while. Wisteriapaw closed her eyes, comforted by the gesture.

"Being responsible for the loss of a life is a heavy thing," Fallowcrawl whispered, understanding filling her sage-green eyes. "I don't know how warriors do it."

"Rushseed is happy," Wisteriapaw looked at the ground.

"But does it make you happy?" Fallowcrawl asked.

Wisteriapaw did not know how to answer that.

Lilacfrond had earned her warrior name not long after Wisteriastripe, and had become increasingly irritating ever since. Wisteriastripe wanted to claw the smug look off of her face, but she restrained herself.

"I guarded the camp last night, remember?" Wisteriastripe flicked her ear.

"That's still no excuse to sleep in until sunhigh," Lilacfrond rolled her eyes. "Puddlebud and Yewswoop want you for a hunting patrol by the way. Be grateful I woke you, I could have let you sleep and get into trouble, but a true deputy would look out for all their clanmates."

Her sister left the warrior's den, tail held high. Wisteriastripe had to stop herself from ripping up her mossy bedding as she stretched and climbed out of her nest. Taking a couple of moments to make sure her fur was presentable, she marched into camp, immediately spotting Yewswoop by the entrance tunnel.

"Lilacfrond said you wanted me for a hunting patrol?" She asked, keeping her head held high and trying not to show how much the other warrior still intimidated her. Sharing a den had not done much to soften her perception of Yewswoop, especially after stepping on her tail on the way back from the dirtplace the other night.

Yewswoop's sharp blue-yellow eyes stared Wisteriastripe down for a moment, remaining silent for a painfully long time before responding.

"It's going to be a moment, Blueclaw is flirting with Puddlebud again," She flicked her tail towards where the gray tom was dropping a mouse at Puddlebud's feet. "I don't know why he thinks she would fall for an outsider. He should just keep flirting with Sleekbloom, the two of them seem keen enough on each other, I thought that's why Sleekbloom brought him here."

"Should we rescue her?" Wisteriastripe asked, noticing how Puddlebud's tail was prickling.

"She can handle it, and she'll claw you if you interfere. Besides, I think she's going to eat the mouse. As much as she dislikes the guy, an outsider bringing a clan cat prey does know their rightful place," Yewswoop grinned smugly. "You just got up, right? Go eat something."

Wisteriastripe started to head towards the fresh-kill pile when she saw Violetpaw picking out a shrew. She and her sister had not spoken to each other much since their argument in the woods. Violetpaw met her gaze evenly, and Wisteriastripe faltered. Guilt pricked at her pawsteps as she turned and walked away. Violetpaw probably hated her now, and she was right to. Wisteriastripe knew she should apologize, but whenever she thought of it her tongue turned to ice in her mouth and she couldn't seem to move her paws.

Maybe instead she would go and visit Gingerpath in the healer's den. She could always eat after the hunting patrol, with newleaf here there was more than enough prey to go around, and she knew her friend was getting a little stir crazy being kept in camp.

Fallowcrawl was changing Gingerpath's cobwebs when Wisteriastripe arrived. The wounds oozed slightly with blood and pus, but the ginger and white warrior did not seem to be fazed. His deep blue eyes lit up as Wisteriastripe entered.

"Wisteriastripe! You've come to save me from my boredom!" Gingerpath purred. "I should be out in the forest with you, fighting TigerClan and filling our bellies with prey!"

Fallowcrawl rolled her eyes. "You are using up enough of my cobweb store already!" She said, eyes glinting with humour. She seemed a lot more comfortable after a moon of working on her own, while Primrosestripe remained with Irispaw, who was still sick with whitecough.

"Hey, it's not my fault I ran right into a den of rats! I was chasing that stupid Fringe cat off of our territory!" Gingerpath swiped his claws across the ground, growling.

"And you had succeeded. You got into the rat den in Fringe territory," Fallowcrawl prodded. "The mangy Fringe cat probably led you there on purpose."

"Look, we're already at war with TigerClan, we don't need more groups encroaching on our border," Gingerpath snorted. "Besides, I know that you get me. If you had kept with training as a warrior, you'd agree with me!"

"Maybe so," Fallowcrawl flashed a look at Wisteriastripe and fell silent, dropping her banter with Gingerpath.

"Aw, come on, this is where you are supposed to talk about some fox-dung like how being a healer is your true calling and so much more noble than being a warrior," Gingerpath complained.

Fallowcrawl was saved from answering by the appearance of Shadowstar at the entrance to the den.

"Mom! Is everything okay? Do you need more herbs? Has something happened to Dapplekit or Elkkit?" Fallowcrawl sprang towards the leader.

"I'm just fine," Shadowstar purred. "You don't need to worry, though I appreciate the concern. You have become a fine healer. No, I'm here because Primrosestripe asked me for a favour. Ah! Wisteriastripe! You're here too! Good, you may want to be here for this."

"You made it!" Primrosestripe called from outside a stone den on the opposite end of the healer's clearing. She waved her tail at the leader. Beside her, Irispaw lay, unconscious.

Wisteriastripe did not like how skinny her sister looked. From what she had heard, newleaf was supposed to chase away the whitecough, but Fallowcrawl said that it sometimes lingered a moon or two. Looking at her sister, she couldn't help thinking she looked like a corpse.

"What's going on?" Wisteriastripe asked, taking her place next to Shadowstar.

"Primrosestripe is concerned that Irispaw won't pull through, and she wanted me to give her a full mediator's name, in case it is her time to join StarClan," Shadowstar said solemnly. "We'll stay over here, but Wisteriastripe, you should witness this. Irispaw should have at least one of her kin here for this moment."

Primrosestripe nudged Irispaw, whispering something to her, though the two of them were too far away to hear. Irispaw barely looked alive as she opened her eyes, and was immediately wracked with a fit of coughing.

"I, Shadowstar, leader of BleakClan, call upon my warrior ancestors to look down upon this apprentice. She has trained hard to understand your noble code, and I commend her to you as a mediator in her turn. Irispaw, do you promise to uphold the warrior code, and to bring peace and order to this clan, even at the cost of your life?"

"I do," Irispaw's voice, barely audible, was more like a croak.

"Then by the powers of StarClan, I give you your mediator name. Irispaw, from this moment on you will be known as Irisdaze. StarClan honours your commitment, and we welcome you as a full mediator of BleakClan, the first we have had in a while."

"Irisdaze! Irisdaze! Irisdaze!" Wisteriastripe made sure to cheer loudly for her sister to make up for how few voices were present. She was glad to hear her friends join in.

Irispaw cracked a brief smile before falling unconscious again. Primrosestripe picked her up and carried her back inside the den.

"I will announce Irisdaze's new name to the clan once all the patrols are back tonight. StarClan willing, Irisdaze will pull through to enjoy it." Though Shadowstar's words were hopeful, Wisteriastripe could see the hollowness in the leader's eyes.

"Well, at the very least she will go to StarClan with her full name," Fallowcrawl said quietly.

Wisteriastripe did not want to think about her sister dying anymore. "I've got a patrol to go on," She said, abruptly turning and leaving. Fallowcrawl and Gingerpath did not try to stop her.

***

Wisteriastripe had caught frustratingly little prey on the patrol. Irisdaze's thin body kept flashing across her mind, haunting her. She had never been particularly close to Irisdaze -- she didn't know if anyone was -- but as she started thinking back to all the small moments where her sister had shown affection to her, she felt guilty for not paying her more attention.

To make everything worse, she could tell that Puddlebud and Yewswoop were not happy with her performance. Though she trailed behind them, they made no effort to lower their voices.

"Why expect a kittypet to catch anything?" Puddlebud sniffed.

Wisteriastripe wanted to hurl herself at the older warrior, but she knew that would not be a fight she could win, especially if Yewswoop stepped in. Aside from Rushseed, these two were BleakClan's most formidable warriors. Instead, she stewed on her anger, hoping to use it to fuel her hunt, but it turned out anger was just as unhelpful as anxiety.

By the time the patrol was nearing its end, Yewswoop and Puddlebud had caught three pieces of prey each, and Wisteriastripe was still empty-pawed. The older warriors had begun to turn back to camp, and Wisteriastripe was growing desperate to catch something, anything.

She focused on her senses, finally pushing all her other thoughts from her mind. She couldn't smell any prey, but she was suddenly aware of a cracking sound. Her eyes shot up to see a branch beginning to fall, heading straight for Yewswoop. The smoky cream warrior was chatting to her former mentor, oblivious to the danger she was in.

Wisteriastripe shot forward, barrelling Yewswoop out of the way. The other warrior snarled, immediately sinking her claws into Wisteriastripe's shoulder and baring her teeth.

"Traitor! I knew we should never trust you!" Yewswoop easily pinned Wisteriastripe down, and she saw her heart stopped as jaws lunged for her throat.

"Yewswoop, stop!" Puddlebud shouted. The gray and white warrior was staring wide-eyed at the branch. "Wisteriastripe just saved your life."

Yewswoop's tail lashed as she turned to look back at the branch, eyes widening. She sheathed her claws, and turned back to Wisteriastripe. "You could have died."

"Maybe you aren't such a kittypet," Puddlebud sheepishly. "Maybe Rushseed was right. Show more guts like that, and you'll be a warrior I'd be glad to fight alongside."

"Next TigerClan battle, you and me are going to fight side by side," Yewswoop grinned, resting her tail of Wisteriastripe's flank. "Let's see who can take down the most cats, eh?"

"You're on!" Wisteriastripe growled playfully. Suddenly, Yewswoop didn't seem like someone she should be afraid of. Maybe someday she would even come to consider these two intimidating warriors to be her friends.

***

"BleakClan welcomes one new warrior, and one new mediator. We are proud to have Lilacfrond and Irisdaze join Wisteriastripe as fully-fledged members of BleakClan," Shadowstar announced. "We hope that Violetpaw and Lavenderpaw will soon join them."

Wisteriastripe was aware of several TigerClan glares burning into her pelt. She caught the gaze of Crocuspaw for a moment before looking away. She'd be sure to wipe that look off of his face next battle.

Around the gathered cats, six tall columnar trees swayed gently in the night. The clearing was bathed in the light of the full moon, signalling a truce. The six leaders stood on a large flat stone in the center of Sixtrees, looking over the gathered clans.

"We have two new warriors, Flitclash and Midnightwhisker," Icystar said, glaring at Shadowstar and she stepped forth to make TigerClan's announcements. "Midnightwhisker completed his training under Mistback, after the loss of his first mentor, Patchoulispider."

Wisteriastripe saw Rushseed snarl in delight at the mention of her kill in the first battle against TigerClan. Icystar turned towards the BleakClan deputy, suddenly looking very tired, but said nothing.

"Auburnsnarl is also expecting kits. That is all." Icystar dipped her head, stepping back.

"You better not kill them too, like you did with Almondpaw," Crocuspaw growled in Wisteriastripe's ear, snaking up behind her. "I don't care if I'm a healer, I'll kill you if you murder another sibling of mine."

"I let Shadegleam go, didn't I?" Wisteriastripe hissed back, unsure why she felt the need to defend herself.

"Only because I was there. I saw how you were looking at him, you would have killed him in a heartbeat," Crocuspaw said. "You are nothing but a murderer, and that's all you will ever be."

"You just don't understand what it is like to be a warrior," Wisteriastripe snarled. "Spilling blood is the greatest glory a cat can achieve."

"You keep telling yourself that," Crocuspaw's cobalt eyes flashed. "I know you and your siblings are outsiders, Almondpaw and I were outsiders too. Out of everyone, you should understand most why warriors must stop shedding so much blood."

"Ah that explains it," Wisteriastripe's tone hardened as she tried to hide her fear. "You're a kittypet."

"My parents were rogues, thank you very much, and friends of TigerClan," Crocuspaw snarled. "Look, I don't know why I am telling you this, but when I went to the Moonhollow for the first time, I received a prophecy-"

Despite herself, Wisteriastripe's ears pricked. The healer apprentice's tone had changed, he was suddenly less hostile, and more furtive. He was looking around, like he was scared he was going to be caught.

"Wisteriastripe, you don't need to be hanging out with this pathetic healer, come sit with me and Puddlebud," Yewswoop suddenly stepped in-between the two young cats. "You look like you're about to rip each other apart anyways, and we can't have you breaking the truce."

Wisteriastripe looked back at Crocuspaw, who was suddenly looking at her desperately. She turned back to Yewswoop, and walked with her to where Puddlebud was sitting. As curious as she was about Crocuspaw's prophecy, she couldn't show any interest with Yewswoop present.

"Be glad I rescued you there. Cats can't fall in love outside of their clans, you are too valuable a warrior to make such a mistake," Yewswoop said seriously.

"What? Ew. Never!" Wisteriastripe balked. "No, Crocuspaw and I hate each other. He's the last cat I would ever-"

"Good." Yewswoop's steely gaze hardened. "Keep it that way. The warrior code only speaks against mates across clans, but even being friends is too dangerous. The other clans are our enemies, remember that."

Wisteriastripe turned her attention back to the leaders. She had missed the news from SnowyClan, MulberryClan and IvyClan. Now, Flurryfern stood at the front of the Announcement Stone, representing KinkClan.

"KinkClan is recovering from yellowcough, though some cats are still sick. We have one new warrior, Batwhistle." Flurryfern said.

"Where is Olivestar? He should be here." Leafstar, the leader of IvyClan interrupted. The silver tabby molly's tail was flicking with irritation.

"Olivestar chose to stay back to be with the ill cats. He is a devoted leader, who wants to see his clan healthy again," Flurryfern said, exchanging and awkward look with Owlfeather. The head healer was staring at him intensely with an unreadable expression.

"That's all well and good, but a leader should be here, to put on a strong front. Olivestar is very young, perhaps he is unsuited to leadership. You seem far better at the role, Flurryfern," Snowstar, the leader of MulberryClan said. The spotted calico had a softness to her gold eyes, but they showed a hint of warning.

"Oh, it looks as though Olivestar has decided to join us after all! Here he comes!" SnowyClan's leader, Daisystar, shouted. The black molly flicked her pale gray tail towards the treeline, where a gray tom with a darker stripe down his back was approaching.

Flurryfern and Owlfeather suddenly looked utterly panicked. Wisteriastripe was certain she could even smell fear-scent from them. Owlfeather rushed forward, and began murmuring something to Olivestar, but the leader pushed her aside and kept walking.

"You really thought you would keep me from joining the gathering?" Olivestar's tail was flicking. Though his body was young, he carried himself with the stiffness and composure of a much older cat. "Pitiful, this is why I will be making Oliveears deputy as soon as we get home."

"Oliveears? But that's Olivestar's warrior name-" Puddlebud gasped, and shut her mouth.

"What do you mean?" Wisteriastripe asked.

"Shhh, I want to listen," Puddlebud hissed.

"Dapplestar, Bristlestar, you disgust me," Olivestar snarled at Shadowstar and Icystar. "You really think your little secret wouldn't come out?"

"He thinks he's Rootstar!" A commotion was beginning among the gathered cats. There were so many whispers, Wisteriastripe couldn't tell where they were coming from. "Olivestar had star fever!"

Wisteriastripe gasped. Trouthowl had told nursery stories of star fever. Sometimes a leader wasn't strong enough to carry nine lives, and they began to lose themselves in the memories of those who had gifted them their lives. Star fever had no cure, and a leader with it would waste away until their body gave out completely, lives draining away rapidly.

"Please, let us take Olivestar back to our clan!" Owlfeather pleaded. "He is not well."

"It is clear he had very few lives left," Snowstar sniffed. "It's pitiful, I thought KinkClan was supposed to be intelligent."

"I want to hear what he has to say, let him stay." Daisystar's eyes gleamed hungrily.

"What are you talking about?" Shadowstar asked, addressing Olivestar directly. "What did Dapplestar do?"

"Yes, what did Dapplestar do?" Wisteriastripe's stomach twisted, she did not like how Rushseed was looking at Shadowstar as she spoke.

"Don't play dumb, Dapplestar. I've seen you and Bristlestar, here at Sixtrees. Do you think no one noticed you were carrying kits, before Bristlestar announced the birth of Rimepaw? Do you think no one can see the similarities between Bristlestar and Shadowblaze?" Olivestar snarled. "Neither of you are fit to be leaders, you should be stripped of your lives and turned out of the clans, you have broken the code in the worst way possible."

The soft murmur of whispers around the clearing now burst into an uproar. Shadowstar stood frozen on top of the Announcement Stone, not doing anything to fight against the accusations.

"Half clan! Weak-blooded!" Rushseed's insults were the loudest. "Leadership was never yours to hold, Dapplestar broke the legacy she carried! I don't want TigerClan spawn leading me!"

"Watch what you say about TigerClan!" Ivystar hissed.

"You have half-clan spawn too, I think Shadowstar and Rimestripe should be driven from the forest!" Rushseed snarled. She whipped her head around, as though looking for the TigerClan warrior.

"Rimestripe is home recovering from a mangled leg one of your warriors gave him," Icystar hissed. "We will deal with him how we see fit, you focus on your own clan. BleakClan has meddled enough in TigerClan business."

"Clouds are covering the moon!" Snowstar announced, standing up. "TigerClan, go home and make your own choices about Rimestripe. BleakClan, go home and figure out whether you want a half-clan cat leading you, and for StarClan's sake, KinkClan, take Olivestar home and do the right thing. I want to see Flurrystar here next gathering. Tonight's gathering is done."

Suddenly, Wisteriapaw was wide awake. The Moonhollow! All apprentices got to go at some point, and Wisteriapaw had not expected to go until much later in her apprenticeship.

She scrambled out of her nest, not caring that she was tearing it up as she went, and ran out into the camp where several apprentices were gathered around Shadowstar, Antlerfleck and Blueclaw.

"Sorry, Wisteriapaw. I know you didn't get a lot of sleep, but we decided today would be a good day to take you to see The Moonhollow," Antlerfleck said, sheepishly licking his chest.

"I just found out that I'm expecting kits again, and I want to settle into the nursery pretty quickly. I lost most of them last time, so I want to try to ensure this litter survives," Shadowstar explained.

"Also, I've never been to the Moonhollow! This way I can be shown the way while I take Gingerpaw." Blueclaw smiled at his apprentice, who would not meet his gaze.

"So we decided, why not take all the apprentices?" Antlerfleck exclaimed. "It will be a handful and leave the camp pretty sparse, but attacks from The Fringe have slowed down and we are at peace with the other clans. We will only be gone one night, I'm sure everything will be fine."

"And if it isn't, Rushseed will be able to handle it," Shadowstar nodded. "Sometimes, I swear she can run this clan better than I can."

"Wait, if you're moving to the nursery, who will be my mentor?" Lilacpaw asked, tail drooping.

"I'll train both you and Wisteriapaw. Shadowstar will join us sometimes, but it will be good for her to get some proper rest," Antlerfleck explained.

Wisteriapaw felt her stomach churn. She was already spending a lot of time with Lilacpaw the way their mentors shared training duty, but now she would be spending all her time with Lilacpaw. She wasn't sure if she was excited about the chance to prove that she was the better apprentice, or dread at how their rivalry would intensify.

"Come on, enough talking about me. We're wasting daylight, and the Moonhollow is all the way on the other side of clan territory. Go and get some travelling herbs so you are ready when Violetpaw gets back with Pondskip.

As all the apprentices raced towards the healer's clearing, Wisteriapaw looked back at Trouthowl, who was sitting on the edge of the clearing, watching.

"Are you coming too?" Wisteriapaw asked.

"No, the more bodies left at camp, the better. Lavenderpaw doesn't need me, we won't be able to properly start her training until Shadowstar's kits are here anyways," Trouthowl said. "I hope you all have a wonderful time, I remember my first trip to the Moonhollow."

"Did you get to meet StarClan?" Wisteriapaw tilted her head.

"I did. Not all apprentices are so lucky, not every cat has a connection with StarClan," Trouthowl said. "Don't feel like you are any less of a warrior if they don't speak to you, the journey is enough of an experience as it is. Besides, I'll tell you a secret. Rushseed never spoke to them when she was an apprentice."

"How do you know that?" Wisteriapaw's eyes widened. "Were you apprentices together?"

"No, she was a young warrior when I was born, but the story of her frustration was used as an example when I was in training. She was so mad, she tried to destroy the Moonhollow when she woke up. It's impossible of course, all she managed to do was knock away some moss, but StarClan was angry." Trouthowl explained. "In the end, it didn't matter. She's one of the most powerful cats in the clan, and if that is not a sign of StarClan's approval, I don't know what is."

"Thanks for telling me," Wisteriapaw's brain was spinning. She had a lot to mull over.

"Of course, I just don't want you to think you don't belong here, you are a clan cat through and through," Trouthowl beamed. "Now, go join the others. Shadowstar was right, you will need travelling herbs."

Wisteriapaw nodded and bounded off towards the healer's clearing.

"She's right, you know," Irispaw said, causing Wisteriapaw to nearly jump out of her skin. She had not been aware that her sister was watching.

"What do you mean?" Wisteriapaw smoothed her fur.

"You shouldn't be worried about StarClan, we belong here," Irispaw explained. "If our clanmates don't believe us now, they will someday. We're strong enough to prove anyone wrong."

Emboldened by Irispaw's reassurance, Wisteriapaw felt her tail curl. Her sister said nothing more as they entered the healer's clearing. Gingerpaw, Lilacpaw and Lavenderpaw had just finished chewing their herb mixes and were getting ready to return to the main clearing.

"See you on the other side, Wisteriapaw!" Gingerpaw beamed, giving her a friendly head-bump as they passed each other. "Good luck with the herbs, they are icky!"

Fallowpaw was waiting for them in the main healer's den. In front of her were three herb packets, though she wasn't focused on the apprentices' arrival.

"Please, can I go?" Fallowpaw asked Primrosestripe, who was looking over Puddlebud's paw.

"It seems like a sprain. Try to keep off of it, and stick around camp until I give you the okay to resume your normal duties," Primrosestripe told the warrior before turning her attention back to her apprentice. "You're a healer's apprentice. You can't do everything your friends do, you have separate duties! Besides, you go to the Moonhollow every half-moon, you are not missing much!"

"Yeah, well, I was thinking maybe I'll be less nervous if I go with my friends, and I'll be able to speak to StarClan this time!" Fallowpaw begged.

Primrosestripe sighed. "Okay, you can go, but this is your last chance. If you don't speak with StarClan, I'm going to ask Shadowstar to make you a warrior apprentice. You seem to want it more, and maybe it's what you are better suited to."

"Thank you Primrosestripe, I promise I won't let you down," Fallowpaw dipped her head and kept her voice even, but Wisteriapaw could smell the fear-scent coming off of her. "Sorry you had to see that," she told Wisteriapaw and Irispaw. "Here are your herbs. I'll join you once Violetpaw has come to get hers."

"I wonder why Fallowpaw even became a healer, she seems miserable," Wisteriapaw said to her sister as they left the healer's den.

"You don't know?" Irispaw seemed surprised.

"You do?" Wisteriapaw's eyes widened. "What's the reason?"

Irispaw shook her head. "It's not my place to say, if she hasn't told you herself."

"Is it something she told you in mediation? Fallowpaw and Primrosestripe don't seem to get along," Wisteriapaw asked.

"I wish the two of them came to mediation, they could use it," Irispaw sighed. "But no, I see a lot of things around camp, a lot of things that other cats seem to miss. I'm not going to blab about any of it, it would make cats trust me less if they need support. I just figured Fallowpaw had told you, because you are both so close."

"Please Irispaw, please tell me!" Wisteriapaw begged.

"No," Irispaw turned her purple gaze on her sister with an intensity that almost frightened Wisteriapaw. "If you want to know so bad, ask her yourself."

Irispaw didn't let Wisteriapaw respond, she trotted ahead to join the cats gathering.

"Fallowpaw is going to join us," Wisteriapaw told Shadowstar and Antlerfleck. "She's going to join us once Violetpaw has picked up her herbs."

"I wonder what's taking Violetpaw so long," Antlerfleck mused.

The words were scarcely out of his mouth when Violetpaw raced towards the group, looking worried.

"I can't find Pondskip anywhere!" She said, tail drooping. "She wasn't around for training yesterday either. Maybe she forgot all about me."

"Well, we'll worry about that if she's still missing when we get back tomorrow," Shadowstar said. "Go get your herbs, we can't wait around any longer."

"So I can still go?" Violetpaw perked up.

"Of course, we wouldn't leave you behind just because your mentor is slacking off," Antlerfleck reassured her.

"Thank you!" Violetpaw beamed, running off to get her herbs.

***

The journeying cats had left BleakClan territory, and were walking the path between MulberryClan and TigerClan as they made their way north. The path followed a small dip in the ground worn by many lifetimes of pawsteps, and leafy vines from bushes created an arched cover over top. It belonged to no clan, the paths having been created by IvyClan cats many, many seasons ago as a way to travel through clan territory without crossing any borders.

Wisteriapaw hung near the back, keeping an eye on Fallowpaw as she trailed behind the rest of the group, tail dragging on the ground as she went. Wisteriapaw wanted to go and check on her friend, but Lavenderpaw was currently beside her, talking her ear off.

"It's going to be so great when Shadowstar's kits are born! I was worried I would go my whole apprenticeship learning on the moss dolls that Trouthowl has been making," Lavenderpaw always talked fast when she was nervous, and her speech was getting faster the further she got from Trouthowl. "I can't wait until the kits are old enough to play! Did you know that a lot of kit games help train them for when they are warriors? Mossball is great for coordination and building the skills to catch prey! Playfighting obviously helps gain some rudimentary battle skills and a sense of how your body moves! Scavenger hunts can be great for learning how to track something using scent, and-"

"Sorry Lavenderpaw, I need to go talk to Fallowpaw about something," Wisteriapaw interrupted her sister, internally wincing at how harsh she sounded.

"Oh, okay," Lavenderpaw's voice shook a little, and Wisteriapaw could tell she had hurt her sister's feelings. She sped ahead to join Violetpaw and Lilacpaw, leaving Wisteripaw on her own.

Wisteriapaw slowed until she matched pace with Fallowpaw. Walking beside her, Wisteriapaw was surprised to realize that the older apprentice was almost as big as a grown cat. If she was a warrior apprentice, she would be gaining her full name soon. Maybe that's why she looked so worried. If she had to start new training all over again, it would be forever until she earned her full name.

"Can I ask you something?" Wisteriapaw asked.

"Huh?" Fallowpaw took a moment to let her fur fall flat again. "Yeah, sure."

"The night that Seedpaw died, you told me that you were never supposed to be a healer. What did you mean by that?" Wisteriapaw inquired.

"You remember that?" Fallowpaw looked away, not meeting Wisteriapaw's gaze. "I had hoped you were too out of it for that to stick."

"Come on, Fallowpaw, something is clearly bothering you! You aren't happy as a healer, but every time Primrosestripe suggests that you go and be a warrior you look like someone just asked you to eat crowfood! You were talking about wanting to be clan leader up until the moment you became an apprentice. What changed?" Wisteriapaw rested her tail on Fallowpaw's flank comfortingly. "I want to help. I covered for you when Primrosestripe asked about how Seedpaw got poisoned, didn't I?"

"I suppose I do owe you for that, don't I," Fallowpaw sighed. "I just don't know if you'll believe me, you look up to Rushseed so much..." The calico trailed off.

"What does this have to do with Rushseed?" Wisteriapaw felt her blood turn to ice.

"Everything," Fallowpaw's voice shook as tears began rolling down her face. "You know how I couldn't sleep, the night you got heat exhaustion? It wasn't because I was too excited for my ceremony. It's because earlier that night, Rushseed pulled me aside. She told me that the my family's time as leader of BleakClan had come to an end, and that she was going to be leader no matter what. I wasn't the only kit in my litter. I was always told a fox got into the camp and ate them, but Rushseed said that wasn't true. She snuck into the nursery after rolling in fox scent while Shadowstar was too busy with leadership duties, and she killed them all. I only survived because Antlerfleck had just taken me to see Primrosestripe about what he was worried was kittencough. Rushseed told me that she spared me that day, but if I became a threat to her she would find some way to do away with me as well. She said it was best if I avoided becoming a warrior altogether, so that if Shadowstar decided to make me deputy instead, she wouldn't be forced to kill me. I was awake that night because I was trying to figure out what I was going to do, and whether I wanted to risk it to be a warrior. When you got sick, I realized I could be a healer instead, but I messed it all up. I don't know my herbs, I mixed up foxglove seeds and poppy seeds, and I killed Seedpaw. I think Primrosestripe knows it's my fault too. I just don't know what to do. If I become a warrior, Rushseed is going to kill me."

"Just because you are a warrior doesn't mean that Shadowstar will make you deputy though, right?" Wisteriapaw asked. "It's not in the warrior code that leadership has to be passed down to a leader's kits."

"Dapplestar, my grandmother, tried to make it a part of the warrior code, but the other clans shot it down. It may as well be part of the warrior code for BleakClan, my mother is the fifth generation of her family to lead the clan. Everyone has expected me to be next since I was born. Hell, I even thought I would be next. Remember how I promised everyone I would make them my deputy if they did something I liked as a kit?" Fallowpaw laughed nervously. "Now that Shadowstar is expecting kits again, I'm really scared. Rushseed can't force all of Shadowstar's children to not be warriors, it would look bad and would increase the risk that other cats would know what she has done, but she can kill them. Rushseed has probably killed more cats than anyone else in the whole forest, she knows how to make it look like an accident. They are all going to die, and if I can't figure out how to make Primrosestripe believe that I'll make a good healer, I'm going to die too. I don't know what to do, Wisteriapaw, I'm so scared."

Wisteriapaw had stopped in her tracks, trying to take in everything that Fallowpaw had told her and reconcile it with her own feelings about Rushseed. Rushseed had killed many outsiders, but her own clanmates? Was she really capable of that?

"I'm sorry, Wisteriapaw, forget I said anything, I shouldn't be putting this on you," Fallowpaw said, looking away. "Rushseed warned that if I told anyone, she would kill me and anyone who knew, I've just put you in danger. It just- I just- It was killing me to keep it all to myself. I'm being selfish. Rushseed is your mother, of course I shouldn't be speaking ill of her."

"I'm glad you told me," Wisteriapaw said, forcing her feet to move again. "I promise I won't tell anyone." She wasn't sure what she was going to do with this information, but she knew her friend needed reassurance.

"Thank you," Fallowpaw breathed a sigh of relief. "Come on, lets catch up with the others, and hopefully StarClan will finally speak with me so I can leave everything behind me, and forget I ever wanted to be a warrior in the first place."

The two apprentices jogged forwards to meet up with the others, only to find them stopped where the path met Sixtrees, a ring of trees that surrounded the place all six clans met for gatherings. Ahead of them were three large cats, rings of thorns adorning their necks. They smelled of TigerClan, and Wisteriapaw was sure she recognized two of them -- a gray and white molly with a large scar across her face -- as Icyflight, the TigerClan deputy. The cat who accompanied her was a long-furred silver bengal molly that Wisteriapaw was not sure she had seen before.

"An apprentices' journey to the Moonhollow, how charming," Icyflight smiled. "We've just come from there ourselves. Bristlestar has tragically gone to join StarClan and I had to go to gain my nine lives. I am Icystar now. Tuftedwhisker here is TigerClan's new deputy."

"We're sorry to hear of Bristlestar's passing," Shadowstar dipped her head. "How did he go?"

"A hunting accident," Tuftedwhisker shook her head sadly. "There is a ravine in TigerClan territory that has quite a steep drop if you come at it from one side. Poor Bristlestar wasn't watching where he was going while chasing a bird, and he plummeted to his death. It just goes to show, 'paws, you can never be too careful, no matter how well you know your territory."

"Well, you'll make a good leader, Icystar. BleakClan looks forward to many continued years of our truce," Shadowstar said.

"We'll see about that. Good day, Shadowstar," Icystar dipped her head, and continued on her way.

"It's strange that they don't have any of TigerClan's healers with them," Fallowpaw whispered to Wisteriapaw. "Usually a healer is supposed to present a new leader to StarClan, unless the need of the clan is far greater. TigerClan has three full healers and a healer's apprentice, surely they could have spared one."

"What do you think it means that they don't?" Wisteriapaw asked.

"Either something very bad is happening in TigerClan, or all four healers strongly disagree with Icystar becoming leader," Fallowpaw said grimly.

***

The sun was setting by the time the journeying cats reached the entrance to the Moonhollow. After passing Sixtrees, they had an uneventful walk on the path between IvyClan and KinkClan. Then, they had taken a tunnel underneath SnowyClan, where Antlerfleck kept everyone entertained by telling them ghost stories about a dark forest warrior.

"It is said that even to this day, Redspeckle stalks the tunnels beneath the clans, waiting for cats to wander in so he can lead them astray. Legend has it that he can manipulate the tunnels to his will, so cats get disoriented and find themselves wasting away in the darkness, where no one will ever find them again." Antlerfleck finished.

"And now that we are done talking about the Dark Forest, welcome to the Moonhollow!" Shadowstar announced.

The tunnel began to grow brighter until it opened up into a large hollow surrounded on all sides by tall cliffs that looked as though they would be incredibly difficult to scale. Glowing moss covered the most of the surfaces in the hollow, including a small grove of trees, some of the rocks scattered around, and the cliffs. Small glowing motes filled the air like fireflies. Wisteriapaw could hardly remember to breathe, she had never seen a place so beautiful.

The Moonhollow itself seemed to be in the shape of a crescent moon. The patrol had emerged from the 'outside' of the moon, and were facing a waterfall that came from where the 'shadow' of the moon met the 'light.' It fed into a raised basin, and fell off in two waterfalls down the side of the basin, turning into two small rivers that wove across the hollow until they returned underground. There were steps that led up to the basin, which Shadowstar took the lead in climbing.

At the top of the steps was a large, flat stone, large enough to fit all of the cats in BleakClan. Shadowstar took her place by the pool, leaning down to drink the water before falling asleep.

"You can all drink from the pool as well, and see if StarClan visits you," Antlerfleck told the apprenticed. "I guess you can as well, Blueclaw, seeing as you are a BleakClan cat now. I can't guarantee anything will come of it though."

"I feel honoured just to be present in such a sacred spot," Blueclaw admitted, before lowering his head to drink. "Though, it wouldn't hurt to try."

Wisteriapaw crept closer to the water, taking her place between Gingerpaw and Fallowpaw. Gingerpaw had rushed to drink the water and was already fast asleep and twitching as though he was dreaming. One by one, every cat drank and sunk into a slumber, until only Fallowpaw and Wisteriapaw remained awake.

"What if they don't come?" Fallowpaw asked.

Wisteriapaw hesitated, not sure what to say. She wasn't even sure if StarClan would speak with her, and if she wanted them to. Her whole world felt shattered by what Fallowpaw had told her about Rushseed. Was StarClan okay with what Rushseed had done? If they didn't, would they be mad at her for wanting to be like Rushseed? If they did, would they think that she was not a good enough clan cat to speak to them? Maybe Rushseed was following the will of StarClan, and the fact that she was doubting her now would make StarClan mad. What if-

"Hey, let's do it together," Fallowpaw said, placing her tail on Wisteriapaw's flank.

Wisteriapaw's breath caught in her throat, she had not realized that her breathing had sped up until Fallowpaw interrupted her. Meeting Fallowpaw's sage-green eyes, she nodded, forcing herself to swallow a mouthful of water. Fallowpaw drank beside her, and the two curled up together as they drifted off asleep.

***

Wisteriapaw opened her eyes and found herself in a starlit forest. Fallowpaw was still beside her, staring around.

"Fox-dung, it didn't work!" Tears began to well up in Fallowpaw's eyes. "This is just a normal dream!"

"I don't think it is!" Wisteriapaw said excitedly. "We're sharing the same dream, and there are stars everywhere! This must be StarClan!"

"You're right! This is exactly like Primrosestripe described to me! I can still be a healer! I-" Fallowpaw's face suddenly fell.

Wisteriapaw turned to see what she was looking at and was surprised the see the starry form of Seedpaw walking towards the two of them. She was very aware of her heartbeat speeding up, and she fought the urge to tackle her friend.

"I was hoping that I could speak to the two of you, I'm glad you both are here!" Seedpaw exclaimed, nuzzling Wisteriapaw. She turned to do the same to Fallowpaw, but the healer apprentice backed away.

"I-I'm sorry Seedpaw, it's my fault you are dead," Fallowpaw began to cry. "You should be here on this journey with us, not talking to us from StarClan. I'm a bad healer, and I killed my friend."

"Fallowpaw, it's okay," Seedpaw said, pressing her face into Fallowpaw's fur. "I am sad not to be able to train anymore, yes, but I finally get to be with my mother. StarClan is beautiful, and I have all I could ever want here. You tried your best to heal me, I know you didn't do it on purpose. I knew it was coming, my mother warned me when I came to the Moonhollow as a kit. I had time to make peace with it."

"But you'll never be a warrior," Fallowpaw sobbed.

"No, but I can visit you when you come here every half moon, and I can guide you as you become a healer. I know it wasn't the path you would have chosen for yourself, but StarClan always had this path laid out for you. This is where you're meant to be, and," Seedpaw leaned closer until she was whispering in Fallowpaw's ear. "It's okay to look for outside help. I won't tell."

"Thank you, Seedpaw," Fallowpaw sniffed, her tears finally slowing. "I'm glad I'll still get to see you."

"I have a message for you too, Wisteriapaw," Seedpaw said, turning away from Fallowpaw.

"What is it?" Her paws trembled with excitement.

"You have a great destiny ahead of you. StarClan cannot see all the twists and turns, but your soul shines brighter than every other star in StarClan. Your life will change the clans as we know them, rippling out long after your life has ended. I cannot see what paths you will take, as those choices are your own, but you will leave a mark on BleakClan that will never be wiped away." Seedpaw's explained.

"What does that mean? I have so many questions, I want to ask about Rush-" but before Wisteriapaw could say anymore, Seedpaw disappeared.

Wisteriapaw looked around, looking for her friend. Fallowpaw floated next to her in the void, but Seedpaw was nowhere to be found.

Instead, the ginger cat who had appeared in Wisteriapaw's dreams while she was poisoned stood there, yowling her name.

"What do you want? Why do you keep appearing to me?" Wisteriapaw asked.

"Wait, you can hear me? Oh my god, finally," The ginger cat looked relieved. "I was hoping since you were already communing with the dead- oh we don't have much time. Wisteriapaw, I need to tell you-"

Before Wisteriapaw could hear any more, she felt herself shaken awake by Gingerpaw.

"Rise and shine, sleepyhead! The sun is up, you fell asleep for real!" Gingerpaw teased. "You and Fallowpaw both! Come on, we need to go home!"

Wisteriapaw glanced at Fallowpaw, wondering if she knew anything about what had happened in the void. The healer apprentice just shrugged, and there was no time to talk more as Shadowstar and Antlerfleck urged the rest of the patrol back into the tunnel to begin the journey back to BleakClan.

***

"Wisteriapaw," the apprentice looked up from her prey, surprised to see Rushseed stalking towards her. She could not remember if there was ever a time her mother had willingly spoken to her.

"Y-yes?" Wisteriapaw scrambled to her feet, leaving a half-eaten mouse behind. Fallowpaw's words still rang across her mind, and her heart felt like it was going to beat out of her chest. She couldn't tell if she was scared or afraid.

"You're done your training for the day?" Rushseed asked.

"Yes, Antlerfleck said I could rest. Do you need me to do something?" Wisteriapaw licked a few stray strands of fur flat on her chest.

"Come with me, Lilacpaw is already waiting for us by the camp entrance," Rushseed turned and began to walk. "It is time I showed you something."

"Should I get the others?" Wisteriapaw asked, glancing around for her other three sisters.

"Irispaw and Lavenderpaw have chosen soft paths, they have declined my motherhood," Rushseed said, not looking back at Wisteriapaw.

"What about Violetpaw? She's probably checking on Pondskip-" She offered. Pondskip had returned to camp by the time the apprentices had returned from the Moonhollow a quarter moon ago, but had since come down with whitecough and was in the healer's den.

"Violetpaw may get the opportunity another time. For now, it is just you and Lilacpaw that show promise," Rushseed said. "Now, stop asking stupid questions, unless you want me to change my mind."

Wisteriapaw trailed behind Rushseed in silence as they exited the camp, Lilacpaw joining at the entrance. A couple times Lilacpaw asked the deputy questions, only to be silenced by withering glares. Wisteriapaw felt a surge of satisfaction that Lilacpaw was getting shut down as well.

Despite her aging body, her mother's movements were fast and smooth. She was almost soundless as she stepped through the thick layer of fallen leaves on the ground. It was a challenge to keep up, and Wisteriapaw found herself in a wordless race with Lilacpaw trying to be the most speedy and composed as they tried to keep pace.

Rushseed led the two apprentices towards the twolegplace, veering towards the territory of The Fringe. Wisteriapaw had not spent much time over here, apprentices were generally told to avoid the section of BleakClan that bordered the portion of twolegplace where The Fringe made their home. Tensions had been high between the two groups, and it was not unheard of for patrols to be attacked by rogues without any notice. Wisteriapaw could feel her heart beat louder, and she grew more and more alert.

Rushseed stopped on top of a ridge overlooking the twolegplace. Right at the edge of BleakClan's border was an area surrounded by gleaming metal vines. Old twoleg objects were scattered around as far as the eye could see, and Wisteriapaw could see the shadows of cats milling about among the refuse. She could feel the hair along her spine begin to rise, and she fought to keep it flat, unwilling to show Rushseed that she was rattled.

"Are we going to fight The Fringe?" Lilacpaw asked, tail lashing as she crouched down and practiced a strong swipe with her front paw.

"Not today, though soon enough you will taste Fringe blood on your tongue," Rushseed promised. "I have brought you here because the time has come to tell you where you are from. I hope that learning of your heritage will only continue to spur you on, not weaken you. The blood that runs through your veins contains strength and weakness, and I hope you will prove to be strong."

Wisteriapaw's ears pricked and she sat up straighter, eager to hear what Rushseed was going to say. Lilacpaw sat up as well, sheathing her claws. Her sister looked a little bored, but did not say anything more.

"Your father, the one who carried you, was one of the strongest members of The Fringe. His name was Shari, and he was the second-in-command. Many BleakClan warriors lost their lives fighting him, and I respected him for it," Rushseed began.

"You respected a cat who killed your clanmates?" Wisteriapaw couldn't keep the question in.

"I respect strength. I hated Shari, but respected his strength and skill in battle, which was why I wanted to be the one to take him down. On the night you were born, I led a raid into Fringe territory. I hunted him down and fought him," Rushseed explained. "His mate, your other father, was there as well. He was a soft kittypet, I did not even know his name, but I know twoleg stink when I smell it. He still wore that wretched collar they gave him. I killed him easily, and then Shari and I fought. Even heavy with kits, he was a formidable fighter, but that night I was stronger. I struck him down."

Wisteriapaw's breath caught in her throat.

"I could see he was close to kitting, and I knew it would be a waste to let you die with your siblings. If you inherit even half the fighting ability of Shari, you would be a credit to the clan. Outsiders have no place in BleakClan, but kits are different. You will never be a true BleakClan cat, but if you are raised in our ways you can get close. You can be a respected warrior, if you prove yourself," Rushseed continued. "I ripped into Shari's belly, and pulled you out. If I had not killed him, you probably would have been born later than night."

Wisteriapaw shuddered involuntarily, feeling her scars tingle. She could imagine Rushseed's claws tearing through her shoulder as she ripped into the pregnant belly of her father. The truth of their origin weighed heavily on her.

"I admire the both of you. You are both fighting to be the best warriors you can be, and I have strong hopes that I can one day call you daughters that I can be proud of." Rushseed said. "I see the spark in your eyes, the way you drive each other to be better through your competition. That shows you have drive. Lavenderpaw and Irispaw have given into their kittypet heritage, but you both are well on your way to be true warriors, proving I was right to bring you back to BleakClan. I hope Violetpaw will join you someday as well, but I can see that the two of you are special. Keep up with your training, hone your combat skills, and one day we will fight alongside one another and bring glory to BleakClan. One day, I will lead BleakClan to be the strongest clan in the forest. It is my hope that one of you will stand by me as my deputy."

Deputy. Wisteriapaw felt a thrill run through her. Part of her was horrified at the cruel acts of violence that Rushseed had just boasted, confirming her to be capable of the murders Fallowpaw had confided in Wisteriapaw about on the way to the Moonhollow. Another part of her, however, wanted to be deputy more than anything else in the world. Her mother had finally told her the rewards of her affection, and the path to get there. The thought of Lilacpaw achieving it and leaving her behind was more than she could bear.

Rushseed wanted bloodshed, and Wisteriapaw had never taken a life. She couldn't tell what scared her more: that she would be taking the lives of other cats, or what Rushseed would do if she didn't.

"With all due respect, Rushseed, at this point fathering litters isn't going to help. Antlerfleck and I are the only two BleakClan-born cats capable of fathering kits, that is only going to get us so far," Sleekbloom said. "I hate it as much as you do but I'm thinking long term survival here."

"Well, it's not like Blue is going to be fathering any litters," Rushseed sniffed.

"If you have a problem with me being trans-" Blue bristled before Rushseed cut him off.

"Being trans isn't the issue here. I'm just pointing out that Sleekbloom's logic is flawed." Rushseed growled back, claws flexing. Wisteriakit's breath caught in her throat. She had heard many stories about how great a fighter her mother was, was she finally going to see her in action? Despite her excitement, Wisteriakit couldn't help but feel a pang for the Blue. If he was driven out, did that mean that Wisteriakit also didn't deserve a place in BleakClan?

Before either cat could spring at each other, Shadowstar emerged from her den and bounded between the two cats. "Stop this! Rushseed, it's okay. Sleekbloom came to me asking if Blue could join us. I told him its a good idea, our war against the Fringe has caused many, many deaths. I refuse to let them beat us by driving us to extinction, even if it does mean compromising our bloodline."

"Your mother would be ashamed of you," Rushseed spat. "If the great Dapplestar could see you now-"

Shadowstar flinched, and a for a moment Wisteriakit thought that she would cave to Rushseed, but then Antlerfleck stepped up to join his mate.

"Dapplestar made Shadowstar leader, and a clan leader's word is law. You would not be so bold as to break the code, would you?" Antlerfleck warned.

There was a long pause, and Wisteriakit wondered if Rushseed would attack Antlerfleck instead. After what seemed like an eternity, Rushseed smoothed her fur and backed down.

"Fine, but if this all goes to shit don't say I didn't warn you," Rushseed snarled and walked away, tail flicking.

"Well, Blue, now that you're here we've got to give you a proper name," Shadowstar dipped her head at the newcomer and made her way up to the Tallbranch. "Since we are already gathered, let's begin."

Wisteriakit watched Blue with curiosity. Now that the conflict had passed, his pelt had smoothed once more and he was looking steadily up at Shadowstar.

"Blue, you have not trained with us, but your survival as a loner in these woods for so many moons has proven your skill as a warrior. I ask only for your loyalty. I will make you a warrior, but should your devotion to BleakClan waver you will be driven out or killed. Do you promise to uphold the warrior code and to protect and defend your clan, even at the cost of your life?" Shadowstar asked, her hazel eyes meeting Blue's evenly.

"Shadowstar, I promise I will spend the rest of my days proving my loyalty to this clan. A friend of Sleekbloom is a friend of mine, you won't regret this," Blue vowed. Wisteriakit looked over at Rushseed, curious about how she was reacting to the fact that he did not use the right words. The deputy was glaring at the loner and Sleekbloom with a fury that Wisteriakit had never seen before.

"Then by the powers of StarClan, I give you your warrior name. Blue, from this moment on your will be known as Blueclaw. StarClan honours your friendship, and we welcome you as a full warrior of BleakClan. Now, as a way of proving yourself I shall give you an apprentice." Shadowstar beckoned forwards Seedkit and Gingerkit.

"Shadowstar, you cannot be serious," Rushseed yowled. "Inviting a stranger into our midst is one thing, but letting him train one of our warriors-"

"I'd gladly take on another apprentice, now that Yewswoop is a warrior," Puddlebud piped up, waving her now-healed tail.

"I'll give him Gingerkit, so he is not training a clanborn kit." Shadowstar conceded, looking a little wary. "But please, do not interrupt the ceremony again."

The murmuring died down, though Wisteriakit could tell that the clan wasn't happy.

"Why can't I be trained by a proper BleakClan warrior?" Gingerkit hissed in Wisteriakit's ear.

"You don't like Blueclaw?" Wisteriakit whispered back, surprised. "I wish I could have him as a mentor." As soon as the words were out of her mouth, she regretted them. What if Rushseed had heard? Looking back at her mother, she was glad to see she was too angry about the ceremony to be paying attention to her adopted kits.

"Gingerkit, you have reached the age of six moons, and it is time for you to be apprenticed. From this day on, until you receive your warrior name, you will be known as Gingerpaw. Your mentor will be Blueclaw. Blueclaw, you have a lot to prove to the clan, and so does Gingerpaw. I hope you two will make the clan stronger, and make up for your outsider heritage." Shadowstar announced.

Gingerpaw touched his nose to Blueclaw's with gritted teeth, but did not say anything more. Blueclaw was beaming with pride, and Wisteriakit was glad that he was not phased.

"Seedkit, you too have reached the age of six moons, and it is time for you to be apprenticed. From this day on, until you receive your warrior name, you will be known as Seedpaw. Your mentor will be Sleekbloom. Sleekbloom, it was your decision to bring Blueclaw into this clan. He will be your responsibility, and thus I am also giving you an apprentice so that you may show your friend your mentorship skills. I know this will be your last apprentice before you retire, so Seedpaw, I hope you gain as much wisdom from your mentor as you can."

"I'm going to be the best apprentice BleakClan has ever seen!" Seedpaw exclaimed as she touched noses with Sleekbloom.

"Not if I beat you there first," Gingerpaw growled playfully.

Wisteriakit felt a pang of envy. Now that Seedpaw and Gingerpaw had joined Fallowpaw as apprentices, it was just Wisteriakit and her siblings left in the nursery. She would miss the time she got to spend with her friends, her own apprenticeship felt ages away.

"Just two more moons, and that will be us," Violetkit said. "I wonder who our mentors will be! I think I'd be fine with anyone, except for Puddlebud or Yewswoop, they're scary!"

"I want Rushseed to be my mentor," Wisteriakit said, feeling resolve well up in her chest. If she was Rushseed's apprentice, she would know exactly how to make her mother proud of her. She would do anything Rushseed told her to, and she would be the bravest warrior ever.

"Apprentices aren't supposed to be trained by their parents, mouse-brain!" Violetkit laughed.

"No, but think about it! The warriors without apprentices are Shadowstar, Rushseed, Puddlebud, Antlerfleck, Yewswoop and Pondskip. That's six of them. There are five of us. Pondskip is probably too young to have an apprentice, she was made a warrior early for killing that rogue on her own. I think one of us will be trained by Rushseed." Wisteriakit said excitedly.

"Well, if anyone is going to be trained by Rushseed, it's going to be me!" Lilackit said, puffing out her chest. "Just you wait and see!"

"Oh yeah? Well I'm going to get Gingerpaw and Seedpaw to teach me everything they learn so that I'll be the best kit and Rushseed will ask for me herself!" Wisteriakit boasted.

"Alright kits, that's enough excitement for now. It's time for your afternoon naps," Trouthowl interrupted, herding the five remaining kits back until the nursery. Wisterkit looked back at Gingerpaw and Seedpaw, getting ready to go out on their first day of training.

Soon, Wisteriakit told herself. I'll join you soon.

***

"You'll never believe the task Blueclaw just gave me!" Gingerpaw bouded over to Wisteriakit. It had been a quarter moon since he had been apprenticed, and Wisteriakit missed him so much it hurt.

"What?" Wisteriakit asked.

"He wants me to play with you! Something about 'looking after the young of the clan.' I think he meant it as a chore to teach me some humility, but if he wasn't so new he would have known that we are best friends! This is no chore at all!" Gingerpaw grinned.

"So we can play?" Wisteriakit could hardly keep her paws still.

"We can play! How about another round of mossball? Think you can beat me this time?" Gingerpaw teased.

"You're on!" Wisteriakit growled playfully.

Despite Wisteriakit's determination to beat him, it was clear that even just a quarter moon of apprentice training had greatly honed his skills. It was more of a challenge than she expected, and in the end she once again found herself the losing party.

"Better luck next time," Gingerpaw gloated.

"Well, just you wait until I'm an apprentice!" Wisteriakit vowed.

"Oh, I believe it! I can't wait until you join us. The apprentices den feels so empty after how much space you and your sisters take up." Gingerpaw mused. "Of course, I can get more sleep without Violetkit's babbling but-"

"Hey Gingerpaw! Wisteriakit!" Pondskip's voice rang out across the camp, slightly muffled. She had just returned from a hunting patrol with Puddlebud and Yewswoop, and she was carrying the biggest rabbit Wisteriakit had ever seen. "Look what I caught, do you want to share?"

"Yes please!" Wisteriakit licked her lips. "Rabbit's my favourite!"

"I know, that's why I brought it to you!" Pondskip grinned, eyes shining. "It's too big to eat on my own!"

The rabbit was delicious, Wisteriakit ate until she felt like she was going to explode. Judging from Gingerpaw and Pondskip's expressions, they both felt the same.

"That was a great catch!" Wisteriakit said, dipping her head to Pondskip. "Thank you for sharing!"

The day was turning out to be one of the best that Wisteriakit had in a while. She had been so worried about her place in the clan once she had noticed that Rushseed only seemed to care about clanborn cats, but Gingerpaw wanted her, and Pondskip thought of her when she caught her favourite prey. She belonged, she was sure of it. She just had to show it to Rushseed so that Rushseed would believe it too.

As the sun began to set, however, the day soured. The rabbit that had filled Wisteriakit with such warmth had turned, and now her insides churned violently within her, making it difficult to stand.

"I'll take you to the Healer's Clearing," Trouthowl said, brows furrowed. "This doesn't look too good."

Wisteriakit tried to walk, but she was in too much pain. Trouthowl ended up having to carry her by her scruff. On the way, they were joined by Gingerpaw and Pondskip, who looked equally miserable.

"There must have been something wrong with the rabbit," Pondskip said darkly. "Puddlebud said it looked off, but I told her it was fine. I wish I had listened to her. I'm sorry, it's my fault you both are suffering."

Wisteriakit wanted to say something, but the pain was too intense. She could feel herself slipping out of consciousness. She was dimly aware of being set down on a mossy bed, and Primrosestripe sniffing her.

"Fallowpaw, grab the yarrow, we need to make them throw up the tainted prey." Primrosestripe sounded scared.

"Are they going to be alright?" Lilackit's voice piped up. Both she and Seedpaw had been brought to the Healer's Clearing earlier that day for heat exhaustion.

Primrosestripe wordlessly took the yarrow from Fallowpaw, not responding to Lilackit's question. Wisteriakit suddenly felt very scared, it was not like the head healer to be so blunt. She dutifully swallowed yarrow leaves as they were shoved in her mouth, throwing up as soon as they hit her stomach. Beside her, she could hear Pondskip and Gingerpaw retching and vomiting as well.

Once their stomachs were empty, Primrosestripe moved them to a clean nest.

"Fallowpaw, these three need close monitoring overnight. I want you to move Lilackit and Seedpaw to another den and stay with them for the night, You've treated enough heat exhaustion patients to know what to do. Don't hesitate to get me if either of them get worse or if you need help. The poison is out of these three, but only time will tell if they will pull through." Primrosestripe ordered.

"I won't let you down," Fallowpaw vowed. Her voice was the last thing Wisteriakit heard as she slipped into unconsciousness.

***

It was the middle of the night when Wisteriakit regained consciousness. Her stomach still ached and she felt too weak to do more than lift her head. Fallowpaw had burst into the den in a panic.

"Primrosestripe! Come quick! I-I think something's wrong with Seedpaw! It's like what happened with the cats who ate the rabbit!" Fallowpaw exclaimed.

"What?" Primrosestripe got to her feet. "But that shouldn't be possible! She couldn't have eaten the rabbit-"

Wisteriakit strained to hear more as the two rushed away. It took every bit of strength she had to keep herself awake, desperate to hear if her friend was okay. After a few minutes, Fallowpaw returned, shaking and crying.

"What's wrong...?" Wisteriakit rasped, her tongue feeling heavy in her mouth.

"Wisteriakit? You're awake?" Fallowpaw looked panicked. She glanced at Gingerpaw and Pondskip, who were both still unconscious. "I messed up, Wisteriakit, I messed up big time. Primrosestripe, she sent me away. She said I was getting in the way and that there's nothing more we can do for Seedpaw and that she's-"

Fallowpaw paused to choke back a sob.

"Seedpaw's dead."

Wisteriakit's blood turned to ice in her veins. She wanted to scream and cry and race over to Seedpaw to see it for herself, but she was frozen in place.

"It's all my fault, I never should have been a healer, I never even wanted this! I was going to be a warrior, and then a leader like my mom! If..." Fallowpaw trailed off as Primrosestripe returned.

"We've got to tell Shadowstar, but first, tell me exactly what happened," Primrosestripe said. "Seedpaw died from a poisoning, but I can't figure out how she could have been poisoned when she ate the same bird as Lilackit and Lilackit is just fine."

"It was me...." Wisteriakit lied. "I brought her.... some rabbit...."

Primrosestripe's gaze snapped to Wisteriakit, aware for the first time that she was awake.

"Thank you for your honesty, Wisteriakit. Come on, Fallowpaw, let's continue this conversation outside, and then we can go talk to Shadowstar together." Primrosestripe guided Fallowpaw out with her tail, and Wisteriakit once again slipped into unconsciousness.