“Brighttail. You’re now the mentor to Vixenkit. Treat him well.” The tom touched noses with his new Apprentice, as Snakekit stepped forward. “Snakekit. From this day your name shall be Snakepaw. Your mentor is now Whipwhisker.” She turned her whole body to look at the tall figure. “Do you promise to uphold the Warrior Code, teach this young she-cat the way of Starclan, and make Starclan proud?” Whipwhisker nodded, and touched noses. It was now Dangerkit’s turn. Jasperwhisker poked her flank, pushing her forward. The gray she-cat slowly stepped forward, all of Crystalclan’s eyes on her. “Dangerkit. From this day forward, your name is now Dangerpaw.” She looked deep into the crowd, "Tallpine?” Tallpine walked in. He awkwardly stood next to Dangerkit. Qarutzstar followed up, “Do you promise to teach this young she-cat the Warrior Code, teach her well, and make Starclan happy?” “I do.”

“By the power of the crystals, Tallpine is now Dangerpaw’s mentor.” The Clan riled up in a cluster of cheers, loud chanting the siblings name. However, Bumblefern gently scooted close to the Leader and Deputy. “We need to talk.” He whispered. Brisknose cocked his head. “About what?” “Medicine cats.” He wavered his tail, leading them towards the Medicine Cat den. The gray tom followed behind him. “What if yours don't come back?” Bumblefern eyes widened. Brisknose shook his head. “Don't think like that!” “It’s true! They could be in the Starclan as we speak!” Brisknose turned his head to face Quartzstar. “What do you think?” “He serves a good point…” Quartzstar sighed, shaking her head. “What do we do about it?”

Brisknose widened his eyes. “You can’t really be giving up hope now!” “We can't wait forever.” Quartzstar flicked her ears. “You have to give them more time!” “4 more moons,” Bumblefern breathed, “Or else I’m leaving. I'm not fit to be a Medicine Cat.” “You’re doing great with the herbs and healing.” “And? I can’t contact Starclan, I can’t go hunting as I please, I feel trapped here. After moons of being a prisoner, all I want to be is home.” Quartzstar winced, “I understand… Just please tough it out. We have no one else!” Brisknose meowed in agreement. “If you don’t stay here, Crystalclan will have no Medicine Cat at all!” “Find a new one. Make Nighttail mentor a cat. I don’t know” He heaved a sigh. “Why can’t you mentor a cat?” “One of Webtail’s kits could be a Medicine Cat Apprentice until Mossheart and Emeraldspeck come back.” “Should I ask the kits?” Asked Quartzstar. “It would be a good idea.”

Quartzstar dipped her head, and walked into the Nursery. Webtail picked up her head. “Hello, Quartzfur! Oh, sorry I mean Quartzstar. Sorry. So, what are you doing here?” “Well… I was asking… Meaning to ask… Would any of your kits like to be a Medicine Cat briefly? Until ours come back?” “Now? Aren’t they too young?” “Not now… But when they are ready to be Apprentices.” “They could already be back by then.” “But just in case-” “I’ll have to talk to them about it.” “Fine. Thank you.” Webtail nodded. Quartzstar turned, and walked back towards the strange Medicine Cat and Birsknose, where they still bickerd. *** Shadow, a plump black and white she-cat, was grooming herself. Midget plopped right next to her. “Hello.”

“Hello Midget! How was Speacklecream?” “Good… So was Mangledstar! He was so nice” She giggled. Shadow raised an eyebrow. So did Midget's daughter, Minerva. “I think someones crushing!- Right Shadow?” "I couldn’t say otherwise.” “Maybe I do.” Midget huffed. “But what do you see in him?” Shadow asked. “Kindness, patience, and strength.” Midget smiled. Shadow snorted. Midget battered her nose. “Shut up.” “Come on Midget, you already have kits.” Midget purred, “And? I can have another litter.” “Why would you? Kits are so much work.” “I don’t care! Their fun!” “Well, you just do what you want to do.” Midget stood. “Then I will conquer Mangledstar.” “Right now?”

“Why not? Let’s go!” Shadow rolled her eyes. “The three of us? Me and you? Or are we bringing more Nest Cats with us.” “Just me and you. Minerva has to do a few things.” Midget began to walk. Shadow looked at Minerva. “You do?” “I have to annoy Twolegs,” She nodded. “Whatever.” Midget stiffened a mwr of laughter and made her way to the heart of Fadedclan, where the charred and broken houses stood tall. A Fadedclan patrol suddenly burst out of the bushes, standing in front of the two Kittypets with snarls and backs arched. Midget timidly stepped back, laying her ears flat onto her head. She dipped her head. “I’m here to see Mangledstar again.” Nightfur, a black she-cat, hissed. “There’s no way that we’re letting Kittypets into our territory.” “Why not this time? Other cats let me in. Mangledstar says I’m free to visit whenever.” Midget hissed back. “Mangledstar isn’t here right now. Come back tomorrow, or whatever. And if you don’t leave now, we’ll shred your pelts.”

“Where is he?! I just saw him a few hours ago!” Midget turned her head everywhere. “He’s out on a border patrol on the Crystalclan border. On the other side of our territory. So leave.” “I’ll come back in a few hours.” Midget purred. “Then we’ll be waiting. And we’ll stop you.” “I’ll have a whole army!`” Nightfur snorted. Midget snorted back and shook her head, letting out a light hiss. A big ginger and black tom padded in front of the Kittypets. “Leave now, if you want eyes to see Mangledstar tomorrow with.” “He would exile you if you did that!” Gasped Midget, barring her claws. “He wouldn’t exile his own Deputy. Why do you two want to see him anyway?” “I just wanted to talk. I and him were together at the forest last night, and I wanted to ask him something about something he said last night…” “It’ll have to wait then. Now leave.” Midget hissed, and ran off, shaking her head. Shadow swiftly followed the gray tabby she-cat.

Blacklion nodded, turning around to head back to camp after Shadow and Midget had left. He signalled his patrol to follow him. After a few minutes of walking, he spoke to Specklecream, who was guarding the camp entrance. “Thank you for telling us about your mother, Specklecream.” Specklecream shook her head and heaved a sigh. “I’m sorry about her. She just doesn't understand.” “Sometime, perhaps, she’ll learn her lesson about Kittypets staying out of Clan territory.” “Please don’t hurt her! She means no ill intent.” “Then she better not come back tomorrow.” Specklecream shook her head. “Just let Mangledstar deal with this.” “Who’s going to tell them?” “Me. When he gets back…” “If he ever does.”

Everything From Warrior's Thunder:

Chapter 14: