Softstar's Path

The story of Dovewing and Bumblestripe's kit.

Chapter One
Softkit woke up from her lovely dream abruptly. Her mother had accidently rolled onto her. She let out a loud squeak.

    “Sorry,” Dovewing said. “Are you okay?”

    “I’m grand!” Softkit purred. “Can I be a warrior?”

    Dovewing smiled at her daughter, amusement in her eyes. Her long silvery fur and blue eyes were just like her kit’s.

    “No,” Firekit sneered. “You're not even a paw yet!”

    Softkit glared at the mean cat. Her ginger fur was sleek and shiny, and her eyes were green. Softkit couldn’t think of a retort mean enough.

    “Last I checked,” hissed Softkit’s littermate, Meadowkit,”You’re  a kit! ” Meadowkit had handsome ginger fur with a silver muzzle. His eyes were as blue as Softkit’s.

    “Haha!” Firekit stuck her long tongue out. “I’m going to be an apprentice today!”

<p dir="ltr" style="margin-top: 0pt;margin-bottom: 0pt;"><span style="font-size:15px;font-family:Corsiva;color:#000000;font-weight:normal;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;">    “Did you come here to gloat?” Dovewing suddenly appeared. “Go get yourself clean for the ceremony!” Firekit shot a bitter glance at Softkit as she stalked from the nursery. She displayed a dazzling smile at Meadowkit before her bushy tail disappeared.

<p dir="ltr" style="margin-top: 0pt;margin-bottom: 0pt;"><span style="font-size:15px;font-family:Corsiva;color:#000000;font-weight:normal;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;">    “Bleh!” Meadowkit made a sound like spitting out fresh kill. “She fancies me! I can’t stand that fat, bitter, grinning-”

<p dir="ltr" style="margin-top: 0pt;margin-bottom: 0pt;"><span style="font-size:15px;font-family:Corsiva;color:#000000;font-weight:normal;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;">    “That we be enough,” Dovewing hissed. “Clean yourself up for the ceremony. You’ll see Hollykit become an apprentice.”

<p dir="ltr" style="margin-top: 0pt;margin-bottom: 0pt;"><span style="font-size:15px;font-family:Corsiva;color:#000000;font-weight:normal;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;">    “Yay!” Softkit squealed, and began to lick her fur clean. She couldn’t wait to see Hollykit become Hollypaw. She knew her brother fancied Hollykit, and that was fine with Softkit. There was no other way to describe her- Hollykit was <span style="font-size:15px;font-family:Corsiva;color:#000000;font-weight:normal;font-style:italic;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;">cool <span style="font-size:15px;font-family:Corsiva;color:#000000;font-weight:normal;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;">.

Chapter Two
<p dir="ltr" style="margin-top: 0pt;margin-bottom: 0pt;"><span style="font-size:15px;font-family:Corsiva;color:#000000;font-weight:normal;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;">    Softkit crept outside with her brother. Meadowkit had licked his handsome chest fur until it shined like a brand of fire in the sun.

<p dir="ltr" style="margin-top: 0pt;margin-bottom: 0pt;"><span style="font-size:15px;font-family:Corsiva;color:#000000;font-weight:normal;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;">    Bramblestar, the tabby brown leader of ThunderClan, lept onto the tall stone. “Let all cats old enough to catch their own prey meet beneath the highrock!” he yowled. In tail flicks, every cat was at his feet.

<p dir="ltr" style="margin-top: 0pt;margin-bottom: 0pt;"><span style="font-size:15px;font-family:Corsiva;color:#000000;font-weight:normal;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;">    Firekit stalked forward. Her snooty snear complemented her shimmering ginger fur. A beautiful black cat with huge blue eyes followed closely behind her. Hollykit smiled widely at her Clan mates.

<p dir="ltr" style="margin-top: 0pt;margin-bottom: 0pt;"><span style="font-size:15px;font-family:Corsiva;color:#000000;font-weight:normal;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;">    Softkit looked over at Meadowkit. His blue eyes gained a dreamy focus. When Hollykit’s smile beamed on him, his eyes grew, and he looked away.

<p dir="ltr" style="margin-top: 0pt;margin-bottom: 0pt;"><span style="font-size:15px;font-family:Corsiva;color:#000000;font-weight:normal;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;">    “Firekit,” Bramblestar meowed. “Do you promise to uphold the warrior code as long as you live?”

<p dir="ltr" style="margin-top: 0pt;margin-bottom: 0pt;"><span style="font-size:15px;font-family:Corsiva;color:#000000;font-weight:normal;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;">    “I do,” she said with the elegance of her sister. <span style="font-size:15px;font-family:Corsiva;color:#000000;font-weight:normal;font-style:italic;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;">She’s only doing that because she’s too smug to look bad in front of Bramblestar! <span style="font-size:15px;font-family:Corsiva;color:#000000;font-weight:normal;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;"> Softkit thought.

<p dir="ltr" style="margin-top: 0pt;margin-bottom: 0pt;"><span style="font-size:15px;font-family:Corsiva;color:#000000;font-weight:normal;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;">    “Then by the power of StarClan, I make you Firepaw! StarClan honors your kindness and nobility.” <span style="font-size:15px;font-family:Corsiva;color:#000000;font-weight:normal;font-style:italic;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;">Kind? Noble? Seriously!

<p dir="ltr" style="margin-top: 0pt;margin-bottom: 0pt;"><span style="font-size:15px;font-family:Corsiva;color:#000000;font-weight:normal;font-style:italic;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;">    <span style="font-size:15px;font-family:Corsiva;color:#000000;font-weight:normal;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;">“Hazeltail,” he continued. “You are kind and brave. You have all the skills of your mother-” Every cat bowed their heads in honor of Daisy, who watched among the stars- “and you shall be Firepaw’s mentor!”

<p dir="ltr" style="margin-top: 0pt;margin-bottom: 0pt;"><span style="font-size:15px;font-family:Corsiva;color:#000000;font-weight:normal;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;">    Firepaw ran forward to the pretty gray and white she-cat, brushing her muzzle against Hazeltail’s. Firepaw’s tail waved back and forth, causing the dusty ground to blow about.

<p dir="ltr" style="margin-top: 0pt;margin-bottom: 0pt;"><span style="font-size:15px;font-family:Corsiva;color:#000000;font-weight:normal;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;">    “Hollykit,” Bramblestar had less a pur in this meow. “Will you protect the Clan with your life?”

<p dir="ltr" style="margin-top: 0pt;margin-bottom: 0pt;"><span style="font-size:15px;font-family:Corsiva;color:#000000;font-weight:normal;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;">    “Of course, Bramblestar,” she purred sweetly.

<p dir="ltr" style="margin-top: 0pt;margin-bottom: 0pt;"><span style="font-size:15px;font-family:Corsiva;color:#000000;font-weight:normal;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;">    “Then by the power of StarClan, I make you Hollypaw. StarClan honors your selflessness and forgiveness as you become an apprentice.

<p dir="ltr" style="margin-top: 0pt;margin-bottom: 0pt;"><span style="font-size:15px;font-family:Corsiva;color:#000000;font-weight:normal;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;">    “Hollypaw will be my apprentice, and I shall oversee her training.” A ripple of gasps erupted from the Clan.

Chapter Three
<span style="font-size:15px;font-family:Corsiva;color:#000000;font-weight:normal;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;">Softkit woke up to a soft rustling sound. When she opened her eyes, Meadowkit was licking his handsome ginger fur, his silver muzzle was shining.

<p dir="ltr" style="margin-top: 0pt;margin-bottom: 0pt;"><span style="font-size:15px;font-family:Corsiva;color:#000000;font-weight:normal;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;">    “What’s up?” Softkit teased. “Going to put on a show for Hollypaw?”

<p dir="ltr" style="margin-top: 0pt;margin-bottom: 0pt;"><span style="font-size:15px;font-family:Corsiva;color:#000000;font-weight:normal;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;">    “No, mouse-brain,” he purred. “It’s our apprentice ceremony!”

<p dir="ltr" style="margin-top: 0pt;margin-bottom: 0pt;"><span style="font-size:15px;font-family:Corsiva;color:#000000;font-weight:normal;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;">    It was her ceremony already? It seemed like yesterday that Hollypaw and Firepaw had become apprentices. But of course, that had been moons ago. Softkit’s fur had grown much thicker, almost thicker than her mother’s pelt.

<p dir="ltr" style="margin-top: 0pt;margin-bottom: 0pt;"><span style="font-size:15px;font-family:Corsiva;color:#000000;font-weight:normal;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;">    She quickly licked her silver fur, taming her wild fur. As she swiped her paw over her ear, Maplenose poked his nose through the den. He was a very handsome Tom, with fur just like her’s. The only thing was his eye. A badger had swiped his eye out when he was an apprentice. He only had one blue eye.

<p dir="ltr" style="margin-top: 0pt;margin-bottom: 0pt;"><span style="font-size:15px;font-family:Corsiva;color:#000000;font-weight:normal;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;">    “Hey, Softkit,” he purred. She flinched at the sight of his empty socket. He bowed his head. “I knew you’d do that.”

<p dir="ltr" style="margin-top: 0pt;margin-bottom: 0pt;"><span style="font-size:15px;font-family:Corsiva;color:#000000;font-weight:normal;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;">    Softkit suddenly felt guilty. “I’m sorry,” she purred softly. “You just startled me.” Her tail wrapped around his.

<p dir="ltr" style="margin-top: 0pt;margin-bottom: 0pt;"><span style="font-size:15px;font-family:Corsiva;color:#000000;font-weight:normal;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;">    “It’s fine,” he said cheerfully. “Are you ready for your ceremony?”

<p dir="ltr" style="margin-top: 0pt;margin-bottom: 0pt;"><span style="font-size:15px;font-family:Corsiva;color:#000000;font-weight:normal;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;">    “Yes.”

<p dir="ltr" style="margin-top: 0pt;margin-bottom: 0pt;"><span style="font-size:15px;font-family:Corsiva;color:#000000;font-weight:normal;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;">    “I’ll be the first cat to shout your name,” he said before he whisked from the nursery.

<p dir="ltr" style="margin-top: 0pt;margin-bottom: 0pt;"><span style="font-size:15px;font-family:Corsiva;color:#000000;font-weight:normal;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;">    Softkit stood staring where Maplenose had whisked away. She felt a strange feeling in her belly.

<p dir="ltr" style="margin-top: 0pt;margin-bottom: 0pt;"><span style="font-size:15px;font-family:Corsiva;color:#000000;font-weight:normal;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;">    “You’re not mooning over <span style="font-size:15px;font-family:Corsiva;color:#000000;font-weight:normal;font-style:italic;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;">him <span style="font-size:15px;font-family:Corsiva;color:#000000;font-weight:normal;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;"> are you?”

<p dir="ltr" style="margin-top: 0pt;margin-bottom: 0pt;"><span style="font-size:15px;font-family:Corsiva;color:#000000;font-weight:normal;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;">    Softkit jumped as Meadowkit stalked in. A brilliant scowl was on his silver muzzle.

<p dir="ltr" style="margin-top: 0pt;margin-bottom: 0pt;"><span style="font-size:15px;font-family:Corsiva;color:#000000;font-weight:normal;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;">    “No, of course not,” she lied.

<p dir="ltr" style="margin-top: 0pt;margin-bottom: 0pt;"><span style="font-size:15px;font-family:Corsiva;color:#000000;font-weight:normal;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;">    “Good,” he hissed. “I don’t want you having kits with <span style="font-size:15px;font-family:Corsiva;color:#000000;font-weight:normal;font-style:italic;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;">One-eye <span style="font-size:15px;font-family:Corsiva;color:#000000;font-weight:normal;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;">. You’d have one eyed kits!” Meadowkit stalked off, his fiery tail rippling behind him.

Chapter Four
<span style="font-size:15px;font-family:Corsiva;color:#000000;font-weight:normal;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;">“Let all cats who can catch their own prey come beneath the highrock!”

<p dir="ltr" style="margin-top: 0pt;margin-bottom: 0pt;"><span style="font-size:15px;font-family:Corsiva;color:#000000;font-weight:normal;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;">    Softkit trotted through the cats, beaming brightly. Meadowkit followed her, walking cooly.

<p dir="ltr" style="margin-top: 0pt;margin-bottom: 0pt;"><span style="font-size:15px;font-family:Corsiva;color:#000000;font-weight:normal;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;">    “Oh my gosh, Meadowkit’s going to be an apprentice!” Firepaw squealed. “We are going to train together every day!”

<p dir="ltr" style="margin-top: 0pt;margin-bottom: 0pt;"><span style="font-size:15px;font-family:Corsiva;color:#000000;font-weight:normal;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;">    Meadowkit make a yech noise before he sat at the foot of the highrock.

<p dir="ltr" style="margin-top: 0pt;margin-bottom: 0pt;"><span style="font-size:15px;font-family:Corsiva;color:#000000;font-weight:normal;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;">    “Meadowkit, do you promise to uphold to warrior code for as long as you live?”

<p dir="ltr" style="margin-top: 0pt;margin-bottom: 0pt;"><span style="font-size:15px;font-family:Corsiva;color:#000000;font-weight:normal;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;">    “I do,” Meadowkit purred.

<p dir="ltr" style="margin-top: 0pt;margin-bottom: 0pt;"><span style="font-size:15px;font-family:Corsiva;color:#000000;font-weight:normal;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;">    “Then from this moment forth, you shall be known as Meadowpaw. StarClan honors your wiliness and justice. Cherryfur shall be your mentor.”

<p dir="ltr" style="margin-top: 0pt;margin-bottom: 0pt;"><span style="font-size:15px;font-family:Corsiva;color:#000000;font-weight:normal;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;">    The pretty ginger she-cat nuzzled Meadowpaw’s nose. He ducked his head, hot with embarrassment.

<p dir="ltr" style="margin-top: 0pt;margin-bottom: 0pt;"><span style="font-size:15px;font-family:Corsiva;color:#000000;font-weight:normal;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;">    “Softkit.” Softkit sat up straight. “Do you promise to uphold to warrior code as long as you live?”

<p dir="ltr" style="margin-top: 0pt;margin-bottom: 0pt;"><span style="font-size:15px;font-family:Corsiva;color:#000000;font-weight:normal;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;">    “I do.”

<p dir="ltr" style="margin-top: 0pt;margin-bottom: 0pt;"><span style="font-size:15px;font-family:Corsiva;color:#000000;font-weight:normal;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;">    “Then from this morning on, you shall be known as Softpaw. StarClan honors your courage and loyalty with this name. Maplenose will be your mentor.”

<p dir="ltr" style="margin-top: 0pt;margin-bottom: 0pt;"><span style="font-size:15px;font-family:Corsiva;color:#000000;font-weight:normal;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;">    Maplenose trotted forward and brushed his muzzle on her’s. She wanted to purr out loud. She only drew back when she spotted Meadowpaw’s bitter stare.

<p dir="ltr" style="margin-top: 0pt;margin-bottom: 0pt;">

<p dir="ltr" style="margin-top: 0pt;margin-bottom: 0pt;"><span style="font-size:15px;font-family:Corsiva;color:#000000;font-weight:normal;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;">Later that night, in the apprentice den, Briarlight’s kits were talking.

<p dir="ltr" style="margin-top: 0pt;margin-bottom: 0pt;"><span style="font-size:15px;font-family:Corsiva;color:#000000;font-weight:normal;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;">    “Can you believe that she got One-eye for a mentor?” Lakepaw meowed.

<p dir="ltr" style="margin-top: 0pt;margin-bottom: 0pt;"><span style="font-size:15px;font-family:Corsiva;color:#000000;font-weight:normal;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;">    “Yes, they’ve been mooning over each other for <span style="font-size:15px;font-family:Corsiva;color:#000000;font-weight:normal;font-style:italic;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;">moons <span style="font-size:15px;font-family:Corsiva;color:#000000;font-weight:normal;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;">,” Mosspaw purred.

<p dir="ltr" style="margin-top: 0pt;margin-bottom: 0pt;"><span style="font-size:15px;font-family:Corsiva;color:#000000;font-weight:normal;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;">    “It isn’t that surprising, really,” Mintpaw said softly.

<p dir="ltr" style="margin-top: 0pt;margin-bottom: 0pt;"><span style="font-size:15px;font-family:Corsiva;color:#000000;font-weight:normal;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;">    “I can’t wait to see their kits,” Darkpaw said.

<p dir="ltr" style="margin-top: 0pt;margin-bottom: 0pt;"><span style="font-size:15px;font-family:Corsiva;color:#000000;font-weight:normal;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;">    There was a silence.

<p dir="ltr" style="margin-top: 0pt;margin-bottom: 0pt;"><span style="font-size:15px;font-family:Corsiva;color:#000000;font-weight:normal;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;">    “I know One-eye likes her,” Stormpaw meowed. “But Softpaw will never love such an ugly cat.”

<p dir="ltr" style="margin-top: 0pt;margin-bottom: 0pt;"><span style="font-size:15px;font-family:Corsiva;color:#000000;font-weight:normal;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;">    The cats began laughing, and to her despair, so was Meadowpaw.

<p dir="ltr" style="margin-top: 0pt;margin-bottom: 0pt;"><span style="font-size:15px;font-family:Corsiva;color:#000000;font-weight:normal;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;">    Softpaw did not sleep well that night.

Chapter Five
<span style="font-size:15px;font-family:Corsiva;color:#000000;font-weight:normal;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;">“Rise and shine, Softpaw!”

<p dir="ltr" style="margin-top: 0pt;margin-bottom: 0pt;"><span style="font-size:15px;font-family:Corsiva;color:#000000;font-weight:normal;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;">    Maplenose’s one eyed face stuck into the apprentices den. Lakepaw let out a teasing purr. Cherryfur’s face shone beside Maplenose’s.

<p dir="ltr" style="margin-top: 0pt;margin-bottom: 0pt;"><span style="font-size:15px;font-family:Corsiva;color:#000000;font-weight:normal;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;">    “Morning”, Softpaw mewed. Many moons had passed since her ceremony. She let out a yawn and followed her mentor.

<p dir="ltr" style="margin-top: 0pt;margin-bottom: 0pt;"><span style="font-size:15px;font-family:Corsiva;color:#000000;font-weight:normal;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;">    Meadowpaw followed Cherryfur closely. He gave Softpaw a look of sympathy as he strode away.

<p dir="ltr" style="margin-top: 0pt;margin-bottom: 0pt;"><span style="font-size:15px;font-family:Corsiva;color:#000000;font-weight:normal;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;">    “So,” Maplenose said with a grin, “What would you like to do first? We could look at the four trees, learn to hunt, practice warrior training, or maybe just hang out.”

<p dir="ltr" style="margin-top: 0pt;margin-bottom: 0pt;"><span style="font-size:15px;font-family:Corsiva;color:#000000;font-weight:normal;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;">    “Hang out?” she meowed. “Let’s hunt!”

<p dir="ltr" style="margin-top: 0pt;margin-bottom: 0pt;"><span style="font-size:15px;font-family:Corsiva;color:#000000;font-weight:normal;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;">    “Okay,” he said, a little bit sadly.

<p dir="ltr" style="margin-top: 0pt;margin-bottom: 0pt;"><span style="font-size:15px;font-family:Corsiva;color:#000000;font-weight:normal;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;">    They strode to the clearing, where they met some of the other apprentices.

<p dir="ltr" style="margin-top: 0pt;margin-bottom: 0pt;"><span style="font-size:15px;font-family:Corsiva;color:#000000;font-weight:normal;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;">    Hollypaw had become very sleek compared to when she was a kit. Meadowpaw stood closely to his crush. Firepaw eyed Hollypaw jealously. She had become very pretty, with her sleek ginger fur. She had become as big as a warrior, her legs slender and nimble.

<p dir="ltr" style="margin-top: 0pt;margin-bottom: 0pt;"><span style="font-size:15px;font-family:Corsiva;color:#000000;font-weight:normal;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;">    Bramblestar, Hazeltail, Cherryfur, and Maplenose stood at the head of the cats.

<p dir="ltr" style="margin-top: 0pt;margin-bottom: 0pt;"><span style="font-size:15px;font-family:Corsiva;color:#000000;font-weight:normal;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;">    “Today, we are doing a tracking exercise,” Bramblestar meowed. “We will split into teams, Team Bramble and Team Hazel. We will spread out through ThunderClan territory. Each team will try to capture as many cats from the other team as possible. The losing team will do the hunting.”

<p dir="ltr" style="margin-top: 0pt;margin-bottom: 0pt;"><span style="font-size:15px;font-family:Corsiva;color:#000000;font-weight:normal;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;">    Firepaw pressed her pelt against Meadowpaw’s and Meadowpaw stepped away.

<p dir="ltr" style="margin-top: 0pt;margin-bottom: 0pt;"><span style="font-size:15px;font-family:Corsiva;color:#000000;font-weight:normal;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;">    Bramblestar coughed and continued. “Team Bramble will be me, Cherryfur, Meadowpaw, and Firepaw.”

<p dir="ltr" style="margin-top: 0pt;margin-bottom: 0pt;"><span style="font-size:15px;font-family:Corsiva;color:#000000;font-weight:normal;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;">    Firepaw let out a purr of delight.

<p dir="ltr" style="margin-top: 0pt;margin-bottom: 0pt;"><span style="font-size:15px;font-family:Corsiva;color:#000000;font-weight:normal;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;">    “Team Hazel will be Hazeltail, Maplenose, Hollypaw, and Softpaw. When you find a cat from the other team, you will fight them until they surrender. Then you escort them back to this big tree-” Bramblestar patted the tall oak- “Where Birchfall will make sure no cat leaves.”

<p dir="ltr" style="margin-top: 0pt;margin-bottom: 0pt;"><span style="font-size:15px;font-family:Corsiva;color:#000000;font-weight:normal;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;">    Where was Birchfall? Softpaw hadn’t seen him all morning.

<p dir="ltr" style="margin-top: 0pt;margin-bottom: 0pt;"><span style="font-size:15px;font-family:Corsiva;color:#000000;font-weight:normal;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;">    “We will begin in 3... 2... 1...Go!”

<p dir="ltr" style="margin-top: 0pt;margin-bottom: 0pt;"><span style="font-size:15px;font-family:Corsiva;color:#000000;font-weight:normal;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;">    Softpaw zipped through the forest. The wind whisked her silver fur behind her. She loved this feeling. She could run all day.

<p dir="ltr" style="margin-top: 0pt;margin-bottom: 0pt;"><span style="font-size:15px;font-family:Corsiva;color:#000000;font-weight:normal;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;">    A sharp scent stopped her. It smelled horrible. She couldn’t tolerate it. She turned around to see who it was, but there was no cat there. Only a long bushy red tail poking out from the bushes.

<p dir="ltr" style="margin-top: 0pt;margin-bottom: 0pt;"><span style="font-size:15px;font-family:Corsiva;color:#000000;font-weight:normal;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;">    Frightened, she began to run back to camp. Then she remembered the game. She jumped into the hunter’s crouch she had seen Dovewing use. As she crept through the forest, she smelled a sweet elegant scent. It was Cherryfur! She poked her head through the bushes and saw her. Cherryfur sat licking her ginger fur. Lazy she-cat! She sprung of the sod and onto Cherryfur. She had obviously caught Cherryfur off guard. Cherryfur let out a yowl of shock as Softpaw knocked her over. Softpaw turned the squirming she-cat belly up.

<p dir="ltr" style="margin-top: 0pt;margin-bottom: 0pt;"><span style="font-size:15px;font-family:Corsiva;color:#000000;font-weight:normal;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;">    Finally, Cherryfur let her flailing limbs go limp. “I give up,” she purred.

<p dir="ltr" style="margin-top: 0pt;margin-bottom: 0pt;"><span style="font-size:15px;font-family:Corsiva;color:#000000;font-weight:normal;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;">    Softpaw had won her first battle! She lept off the pretty ginger she-cat. “Now, you will come with me back to camp,” Softpaw meowed.

<p dir="ltr" style="margin-top: 0pt;margin-bottom: 0pt;"><span style="font-size:15px;font-family:Corsiva;color:#000000;font-weight:normal;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;">    <span style="font-size:15px;font-family:Corsiva;color:#000000;font-weight:normal;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;">“Yes, Softpaw,” Cherryfur mewed.

<p dir="ltr" style="margin-top: 0pt;margin-bottom: 0pt;"><span style="font-size:15px;font-family:Corsiva;color:#000000;font-weight:normal;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;">    Softpaw took Cherryfur to the big tree. Bramblestar had been caught! Hazeltail’s team was winning! Cherryfur sat down and looked at Softpaw. “Better go find more of Team Bramble,” she purred.

<p dir="ltr" style="margin-top: 0pt;margin-bottom: 0pt;"><span style="font-size:15px;font-family:Corsiva;color:#000000;font-weight:normal;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;">    <span style="font-size:15px;font-family:Corsiva;color:#000000;font-weight:normal;font-style:italic;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;">That’s right! <span style="font-size:15px;font-family:Corsiva;color:#000000;font-weight:normal;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;"> Softpaw took off through the forest once more. Her littermate’s scent was obvious among the edge of ShadowClan. She could hear his voice, but she could not see him. She saw a tall pine. If climbed the pine, she would be able to see her brother!

<p dir="ltr" style="margin-top: 0pt;margin-bottom: 0pt;"><span style="font-size:15px;font-family:Corsiva;color:#000000;font-weight:normal;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;">    Quickly, Softpaw scurried up the tree. The pine was much easier  to climb than the to. The bark was much easier to sink her claws into. She climbed up the tree, quickly as a squirrel.

<p dir="ltr" style="margin-top: 0pt;margin-bottom: 0pt;"><span style="font-size:15px;font-family:Corsiva;color:#000000;font-weight:normal;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;">    She looked out over the edge of the branch. There was Meadowpaw! To her shock, Firepaw was with  him.

<p dir="ltr" style="margin-top: 0pt;margin-bottom: 0pt;"><span style="font-size:15px;font-family:Corsiva;color:#000000;font-weight:normal;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;">    “Is your sister away?” asked Meadowpaw.

<p dir="ltr" style="margin-top: 0pt;margin-bottom: 0pt;"><span style="font-size:15px;font-family:Corsiva;color:#000000;font-weight:normal;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;">    “I dunno, is yours?” Firepaw purred.

<p dir="ltr" style="margin-top: 0pt;margin-bottom: 0pt;"><span style="font-size:15px;font-family:Corsiva;color:#000000;font-weight:normal;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;">    “You know what she’d think about us,” purred Meadowpaw.

<p dir="ltr" style="margin-top: 0pt;margin-bottom: 0pt;"><span style="font-size:15px;font-family:Corsiva;color:#000000;font-weight:normal;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;">    “I don’t care what she thinks about us,” meowed Firepaw.

<p dir="ltr" style="margin-top: 0pt;margin-bottom: 0pt;"><span style="font-size:15px;font-family:Corsiva;color:#000000;font-weight:normal;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;">    What was going on? Why were these cats playing so nicely? Meadowpaw hated Firepaw! Right?

<p dir="ltr" style="margin-top: 0pt;margin-bottom: 0pt;"><span style="font-size:15px;font-family:Corsiva;color:#000000;font-weight:normal;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;">    Softpaw looked into the trees in front of her. To her shock, Hollypaw was in the other tree! Hollypaw had obviously heard her sister’s words and didn’t like them. She had seen Softpaw as well. They gave each other a brief nod, then jumped onto the cats.

<p dir="ltr" style="margin-top: 0pt;margin-bottom: 0pt;"><span style="font-size:15px;font-family:Corsiva;color:#000000;font-weight:normal;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;">    Meadowpaw’s face smushed into the ground as Softpaw landed squarely on his shoulders. Meadowpaw and Firepaw squirmed under Hollypaw and Softpaw.

<p dir="ltr" style="margin-top: 0pt;margin-bottom: 0pt;"><span style="font-size:15px;font-family:Corsiva;color:#000000;font-weight:normal;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;">    “Come on,” said Softpaw. “Let’s take you back to camp.”

<p dir="ltr" style="margin-top: 0pt;margin-bottom: 0pt;"><span style="font-size:15px;font-family:Corsiva;color:#000000;font-weight:normal;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;">    As she walked, she did not feel a sense of triumph. Why had Meadowpaw lied to her?

Chapter Six
<span style="font-size:15px;font-family:Corsiva;color:#000000;font-weight:normal;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;">“Fire!”

<p dir="ltr" style="margin-top: 0pt;margin-bottom: 0pt;"><span style="font-size:15px;font-family:Corsiva;color:#000000;font-weight:normal;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;">    Softpaw woke to Firepaw’s cry. Sure enough,the camp smelt of smoke.

<p dir="ltr" style="margin-top: 0pt;margin-bottom: 0pt;"><span style="font-size:15px;font-family:Corsiva;color:#000000;font-weight:normal;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;">    As she ran from her den, she saw a bright orange flame dancing near the nursery. The elders were all fleeing. The warriors were running away. Who would help the queens? Her mother’s sister, Ivypool, had just kitted, and she was trapped in the flames.

<p dir="ltr" style="margin-top: 0pt;margin-bottom: 0pt;"><span style="font-size:15px;font-family:Corsiva;color:#000000;font-weight:normal;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;">    Without thinking, Softpaw ran for the nursery. The flames scraped her coat, but she kept running.

<p dir="ltr" style="margin-top: 0pt;margin-bottom: 0pt;"><span style="font-size:15px;font-family:Corsiva;color:#000000;font-weight:normal;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;">    Ivypool was wailing inside. She had 3 kits, and could only save one. Then, Softpaw jumped inside the nursery. “Come on!” she hissed.

<p dir="ltr" style="margin-top: 0pt;margin-bottom: 0pt;"><span style="font-size:15px;font-family:Corsiva;color:#000000;font-weight:normal;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;">    Firepaw leaped in too. “What are you doing?” hissed Softpaw. She was still angry at her brother for lying. “Go flee!”

<p dir="ltr" style="margin-top: 0pt;margin-bottom: 0pt;"><span style="font-size:15px;font-family:Corsiva;color:#000000;font-weight:normal;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;">    “Fire is in my name,” Firepaw said. “It’s who I was, who I am, and who I will always be. I’ll die for the survival of this Clan.”

<p dir="ltr" style="margin-top: 0pt;margin-bottom: 0pt;"><span style="font-size:15px;font-family:Corsiva;color:#000000;font-weight:normal;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;">    Firepaw bent down and held Hawkkit by mottled brown scruff. Softpaw picked up silver Mosskit and Ivypool picked up dark brown Tigerkit.

<p dir="ltr" style="margin-top: 0pt;margin-bottom: 0pt;"><span style="font-size:15px;font-family:Corsiva;color:#000000;font-weight:normal;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;">    Softpaw leaped over fire and dodged under flame. She climbed over ashes and ran past sparks. Finally, she made it to the edge of the territory. She set down the kits by the lake and laid down, exhausted.

<p dir="ltr" style="margin-top: 0pt;margin-bottom: 0pt;margin-left: 36pt;"><span style="font-size:15px;font-family:Corsiva;color:#000000;font-weight:normal;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;">“Morning Glory,” Firepaw purred.

<p dir="ltr" style="margin-top: 0pt;margin-bottom: 0pt;"><span style="font-size:15px;font-family:Corsiva;color:#000000;font-weight:normal;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;">Softpaw opened her eyes and looked at the lake. ThunderClan gathered by the lake. It must not be safe enough to head back to camp.

<p dir="ltr" style="margin-top: 0pt;margin-bottom: 0pt;margin-left: 36pt;"><span style="font-size:15px;font-family:Corsiva;color:#000000;font-weight:normal;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;">Softpaw opened her mouth to reply. She tried to purr, but nothing happened.

<p dir="ltr" style="margin-top: 0pt;margin-bottom: 0pt;margin-left: 36pt;"><span style="font-size:15px;font-family:Corsiva;color:#000000;font-weight:normal;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;">“I have bad news, Softpaw,” Lilypaw, the medicine cat apprentice mewed grimly.

<p dir="ltr" style="margin-top: 0pt;margin-bottom: 0pt;margin-left: 36pt;"><span style="font-size:15px;font-family:Corsiva;color:#000000;font-weight:normal;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;">Softpaw tried to ask  what happened. Had she failed to save the kits? They weren’t dead, were they?

<p dir="ltr" style="margin-top: 0pt;margin-bottom: 0pt;margin-left: 36pt;"><span style="font-size:15px;font-family:Corsiva;color:#000000;font-weight:normal;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;">“Your throat has been <span style="font-size:15px;font-family:Corsiva;color:#000000;font-weight:normal;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;">burned out. You might never speak again.”

<p dir="ltr" style="margin-top: 0pt;margin-bottom: 0pt;"><span style="font-size:15px;font-family:Corsiva;color:#000000;font-weight:normal;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;">    Never speak again? But speaking was part of Clan life? How could she talk to her friends? How could she have friends?

<p dir="ltr" style="margin-top: 0pt;margin-bottom: 0pt;"><span style="font-size:15px;font-family:Corsiva;color:#000000;font-weight:normal;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;">    “Let all cats who may catch their own prey meet beneath the high tree stump!” yowled Bramblestar. The large stump stood in the middle of the clearing. The clan crept forward.

<p dir="ltr" style="margin-top: 0pt;margin-bottom: 0pt;"><span style="font-size:15px;font-family:Corsiva;color:#000000;font-weight:normal;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;">    “Last night, a fire struck ThunderClan camp! We would be dead if not warned by Firepaw.”

<p dir="ltr" style="margin-top: 0pt;margin-bottom: 0pt;"><span style="font-size:15px;font-family:Corsiva;color:#000000;font-weight:normal;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;">    “FIREPAW! FIREPAW! FIREPAW!” the Clan cheered.

<p dir="ltr" style="margin-top: 0pt;margin-bottom: 0pt;"><span style="font-size:15px;font-family:Corsiva;color:#000000;font-weight:normal;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;">    “And Ivypool’s kits would have died if not for Softpaw.”

<p dir="ltr" style="margin-top: 0pt;margin-bottom: 0pt;"><span style="font-size:15px;font-family:Corsiva;color:#000000;font-weight:normal;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;">    “SOFTPAW! SOFTPAW! SOFTPAW!” the purrs rose.

<p dir="ltr" style="margin-top: 0pt;margin-bottom: 0pt;"><span style="font-size:15px;font-family:Corsiva;color:#000000;font-weight:normal;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;">    Ivypool laid in clearing, all her kits dazed, but alive.

<p dir="ltr" style="margin-top: 0pt;margin-bottom: 0pt;"><span style="font-size:15px;font-family:Corsiva;color:#000000;font-weight:normal;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;">    “Now, Firepaw and Softpaw, stand beneath the highstump.”

<p dir="ltr" style="margin-top: 0pt;margin-bottom: 0pt;"><span style="font-size:15px;font-family:Corsiva;color:#000000;font-weight:normal;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;">    Firepaw looked back at Softpaw, her ginger muzzle singed, and walked up to the highstump. Softpaw followed her feathery tail.

<p dir="ltr" style="margin-top: 0pt;margin-bottom: 0pt;"><span style="font-size:15px;font-family:Corsiva;color:#000000;font-weight:normal;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;">    “Firepaw and Softpaw, do you promise to protect the Clans with your lives?”

<p dir="ltr" style="margin-top: 0pt;margin-bottom: 0pt;"><span style="font-size:15px;font-family:Corsiva;color:#000000;font-weight:normal;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;">    “I do,” they said.

<p dir="ltr" style="margin-top: 0pt;margin-bottom: 0pt;"><span style="font-size:15px;font-family:Corsiva;color:#000000;font-weight:normal;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;">    “Then from this moment on: Firepaw. You shall be known as Fireleaf. StarClan honors your bravery and experience with this name. Softpaw, from this moment on you shall be known as Softwing. StarClan honors <span style="font-size:15px;font-family:Corsiva;color:#000000;font-weight:normal;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;">your understanding and nobility with this name.”

<p dir="ltr" style="margin-top: 0pt;margin-bottom: 0pt;"><span style="font-size:15px;font-family:Corsiva;color:#000000;font-weight:normal;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;">    “FIRELEAF! SOFTWING! FIRELEAF! SOFTWING!”

<p dir="ltr" style="margin-top: 0pt;margin-bottom: 0pt;"><span style="font-size:15px;font-family:Corsiva;color:#000000;font-weight:normal;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;">    The voices echoed soundlessly in her ears as cats complemented her name. She had died. Everything she loved. Bumblestripe and Dovewing were always too busy for her. Meadowpaw hated her. Briarlight’s kits would tease her. Hollypaw and Fireleaf would ignore her. She had died. No more friends. No more love. No more nothing.

<p dir="ltr" style="margin-top: 0pt;margin-bottom: 0pt;"><span style="font-size:15px;font-family:Corsiva;color:#000000;font-weight:normal;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;">    “Hey.”

<p dir="ltr" style="margin-top: 0pt;margin-bottom: 0pt;"><span style="font-size:15px;font-family:Corsiva;color:#000000;font-weight:normal;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;">    Maplenose nuzzled her nose. “It will be all right.”

<p dir="ltr" style="margin-top: 0pt;margin-bottom: 0pt;"><span style="font-size:15px;font-family:Corsiva;color:#000000;font-weight:normal;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;">    ‘No it won’t,’ she thought. ‘No one likes me.’

<p dir="ltr" style="margin-top: 0pt;margin-bottom: 0pt;"><span style="font-size:15px;font-family:Corsiva;color:#000000;font-weight:normal;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;">    He said. “ <span style="font-size:15px;font-family:Corsiva;color:#000000;font-weight:normal;font-style:italic;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;">I <span style="font-size:15px;font-family:Corsiva;color:#000000;font-weight:normal;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;"> like you.”

<p dir="ltr" style="margin-top: 0pt;margin-bottom: 0pt;"><span style="font-size:15px;font-family:Corsiva;color:#000000;font-weight:normal;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;">    Softwing smiled and pressed her muzzle on his soft, warm pelt.

Chapter Seven
<span style="font-size:15px;font-family:Corsiva;color:#000000;font-weight:normal;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;">Softwing writhed in agony. Who knew having kits would be so painful? She twisted in pain, tears squeezed through her eyes.

<p dir="ltr" style="margin-top: 0pt;margin-bottom: 0pt;"><span style="font-size:15px;font-family:Corsiva;color:#000000;font-weight:normal;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;">    “It’s all right!” Lilywhisker was the new medicine cat since an attack from WindClan. “Just push!”

<p dir="ltr" style="margin-top: 0pt;margin-bottom: 0pt;"><span style="font-size:15px;font-family:Corsiva;color:#000000;font-weight:normal;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;">    Maplenose paced outside the nursery. Even his siblings, Dewface and Amberleaf, couldn’t calm him down. Would the kits be fine? How many kits? He had come from a litter of three kits, so they couldn’t have more than three kits. What color would they be? They’d probably be silver, like their mom. He was so worried!

<p dir="ltr" style="margin-top: 0pt;margin-bottom: 0pt;"><span style="font-size:15px;font-family:Corsiva;color:#000000;font-weight:normal;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;">    Finally, the kits were born. Like he’d thought, there were three healthy kits pooled around her belly. One was a silver she-cat, one was a white Tom, and one was another silver she-kit.

<p dir="ltr" style="margin-top: 0pt;margin-bottom: 0pt;"><span style="font-size:15px;font-family:Corsiva;color:#000000;font-weight:normal;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;">    “They’re beautiful,” Maplenose gasped.

<p dir="ltr" style="margin-top: 0pt;margin-bottom: 0pt;"><span style="font-size:15px;font-family:Corsiva;color:#000000;font-weight:normal;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;">    Then, one the silver she-cats opened her eyes. One eye was missing.

<p dir="ltr" style="margin-top: 0pt;margin-bottom: 0pt;"><span style="font-size:15px;font-family:Corsiva;color:#000000;font-weight:normal;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;">    The nursery was very quiet. Fireleaf, who was heavy with Meadowclaw’s kits, broke the silence. Who cares what she looks like? She’s your kit.”

<p dir="ltr" style="margin-top: 0pt;margin-bottom: 0pt;"><span style="font-size:15px;font-family:Corsiva;color:#000000;font-weight:normal;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;">    “Well said,” Lilywhisker mewed. <span style="font-size:15px;font-family:Corsiva;color:#000000;font-weight:normal;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;"> <span style="font-size:15px;font-family:Corsiva;color:#000000;font-weight:normal;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;">These kits only live once. Why don’t you name them?”

<p dir="ltr" style="margin-top: 0pt;margin-bottom: 0pt;"><span style="font-size:15px;font-family:Corsiva;color:#000000;font-weight:normal;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;">    Maplenose looked carefully into Softwing’s eyes. He wondered what names she wanted for them. Suddenly, something appeared to catch her eye. Outside the nursery, a sprig of lavender grew from the ground! Lavender in the middle of leafbare!

<p dir="ltr" style="margin-top: 0pt;margin-bottom: 0pt;"><span style="font-size:15px;font-family:Corsiva;color:#000000;font-weight:normal;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;">    “It’s a sign from StarClan, surely!”  he purred. “Lets name the silver she-cat Lavenderkit!”

<p dir="ltr" style="margin-top: 0pt;margin-bottom: 0pt;"><span style="font-size:15px;font-family:Corsiva;color:#000000;font-weight:normal;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;">    ‘How pretty a name,’ Softwing thought. She gave a nod of approval.

<p dir="ltr" style="margin-top: 0pt;margin-bottom: 0pt;"><span style="font-size:15px;font-family:Corsiva;color:#000000;font-weight:normal;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;">    “And maybe Honeykit for the white Tom?” Maplenose asked.

<p dir="ltr" style="margin-top: 0pt;margin-bottom: 0pt;"><span style="font-size:15px;font-family:Corsiva;color:#000000;font-weight:normal;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;">    She nodded.

<p dir="ltr" style="margin-top: 0pt;margin-bottom: 0pt;"><span style="font-size:15px;font-family:Corsiva;color:#000000;font-weight:normal;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;">    “And our pretty little she-kit can be Marigoldkit!”

<p dir="ltr" style="margin-top: 0pt;margin-bottom: 0pt;"><span style="font-size:15px;font-family:Corsiva;color:#000000;font-weight:normal;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;">    ‘What a fine name for a fine kit,’ she thought.

<p dir="ltr" style="margin-top: 0pt;margin-bottom: 0pt;"><span style="font-size:15px;font-family:Corsiva;color:#000000;font-weight:normal;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;">    “Softwing, I’m going to feel your throat,” meowed Lilywhisker.

<p dir="ltr" style="margin-top: 0pt;margin-bottom: 0pt;"><span style="font-size:15px;font-family:Corsiva;color:#000000;font-weight:normal;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;">    Softwing let the dark brown tabby she-cat feel her throat. After a minutes work, Lilywhisker smiled.

<p dir="ltr" style="margin-top: 0pt;margin-bottom: 0pt;"><span style="font-size:15px;font-family:Corsiva;color:#000000;font-weight:normal;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;">    “Your throat’s back, you can talk again!” Lilywhisker exclaimed.

<p dir="ltr" style="margin-top: 0pt;margin-bottom: 0pt;"><span style="font-size:15px;font-family:Corsiva;color:#000000;font-weight:normal;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;">    “Brilliant!” Softwing purred.

Chapter Eight
<span style="font-size:15px;font-family:Corsiva;color:#000000;font-weight:normal;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;">“Let all cats who may catch their own prey join beneath the highrock!”

<p dir="ltr" style="margin-top: 0pt;margin-bottom: 0pt;"><span style="font-size:15px;font-family:Corsiva;color:#000000;font-weight:normal;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;">    Bramblestar was beginning to grow old. His mate, Squirrelflight, was also beginning to age.

<p dir="ltr" style="margin-top: 0pt;margin-bottom: 0pt;"><span style="font-size:15px;font-family:Corsiva;color:#000000;font-weight:normal;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;">    Softwing stuck her head out of the nursery. Lavenderkit, Honeykit, and Marigoldkit leaped out and sped off toward the highrock. Lavenderkit walked forward slowly and calmly, with the elegance of her mother. Honeykit walked slowly, bowing his head, hiding behind his dignified sister. Marigold ran excitedly as a kit to the rock.

<p dir="ltr" style="margin-top: 0pt;margin-bottom: 0pt;"><span style="font-size:15px;font-family:Corsiva;color:#000000;font-weight:normal;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;">    “Lavenderkit, to promise to uphold the warrior code as long as you live?” Bramblestar croaked.

<p dir="ltr" style="margin-top: 0pt;margin-bottom: 0pt;"><span style="font-size:15px;font-family:Corsiva;color:#000000;font-weight:normal;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;">    “I do,” Lavenderkit’s voice was gentle and regal.

<p dir="ltr" style="margin-top: 0pt;margin-bottom: 0pt;"><span style="font-size:15px;font-family:Corsiva;color:#000000;font-weight:normal;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;">    “Then your name this day forth shall be Lavenderpaw! StarClan honors your dignity and hospitality with this name. I’d like the honor of being your mentor.”

<p dir="ltr" style="margin-top: 0pt;margin-bottom: 0pt;"><span style="font-size:15px;font-family:Corsiva;color:#000000;font-weight:normal;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;">    Lavenderpaw dipped her head politely. She brushed her muzzle against Bramblestar’s, not flinching at the feeling of his scarred muzzle.

<p dir="ltr" style="margin-top: 0pt;margin-bottom: 0pt;"><span style="font-size:15px;font-family:Corsiva;color:#000000;font-weight:normal;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;">    “Do you promise to uphold the warrior code, Honeykit?”

<p dir="ltr" style="margin-top: 0pt;margin-bottom: 0pt;"><span style="font-size:15px;font-family:Corsiva;color:#000000;font-weight:normal;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;">    “Yes,” Honeykit’s voice was strict and firm.

<p dir="ltr" style="margin-top: 0pt;margin-bottom: 0pt;"><span style="font-size:15px;font-family:Corsiva;color:#000000;font-weight:normal;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;">    “Then from this moment on, you shall be Honeypaw. StarClan honors your loyalty and nobility. Whitewing will <span style="font-size:15px;font-family:Corsiva;color:#000000;font-weight:normal;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;"> apprentice her. You had Brackenfur as your mentor, who taught you wisdom and courage, which I expect you’ll teach Honeypaw.”

<p dir="ltr" style="margin-top: 0pt;margin-bottom: 0pt;"><span style="font-size:15px;font-family:Corsiva;color:#000000;font-weight:normal;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;">    Whitewing took small, slow steps towards the small Tom. Honeypaw shyly brushed his muzzle against the elder cat’s before withdrawing next to Lavenderpaw.

<p dir="ltr" style="margin-top: 0pt;margin-bottom: 0pt;"><span style="font-size:15px;font-family:Corsiva;color:#000000;font-weight:normal;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;">    “Do you promise to uphold the warrior code, Marigoldkit?”

<p dir="ltr" style="margin-top: 0pt;margin-bottom: 0pt;"><span style="font-size:15px;font-family:Corsiva;color:#000000;font-weight:normal;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;">    “I do,” she squealed.

<p dir="ltr" style="margin-top: 0pt;margin-bottom: 0pt;"><span style="font-size:15px;font-family:Corsiva;color:#000000;font-weight:normal;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;">    Bramblestar smiled softly to himself before meowing: “Then from this morning forth, you shall be called Marigoldpaw. StarClan honors your courage and eagerness with this name. I’d like Softwing to mentor you.”

<p dir="ltr" style="margin-top: 0pt;margin-bottom: 0pt;"><span style="font-size:15px;font-family:Corsiva;color:#000000;font-weight:normal;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;">    A squeal of delight rang from the one eyed cat. Marigold ran to her mother and ended up knocking her over.

<p dir="ltr" style="margin-top: 0pt;margin-bottom: 0pt;"><span style="font-size:15px;font-family:Corsiva;color:#000000;font-weight:normal;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;">    “Your father mentored your mother, and the family line shall continue. She has been taught bravery and wit, and will make you such.”

<p dir="ltr" style="margin-top: 0pt;margin-bottom: 0pt;"><span style="font-size:15px;font-family:Corsiva;color:#000000;font-weight:normal;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;">    “LAVENDERPAW! HONEYPAW! MARIGOLDPAW!” the cheers yowled across the clearing.

<p dir="ltr" style="margin-top: 0pt;margin-bottom: 0pt;"><span style="font-size:15px;font-family:Corsiva;color:#000000;font-weight:normal;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;">    Fireleaf’s 4 kits, gray Eaglekit, golden Sunkit, ginger Redkit, and silver Songkit. Softwing had loved the silver kit’s name. Also in the nursery was Shiningpelt, Mintnose, and Hollypelt. Shiningpelt was expecting Amberleaf’s kits, Mintnose was expecting Molenose’s kits, and Hollypelt had two kits, Robinkit and Swiftkit.

<p dir="ltr" style="margin-top: 0pt;margin-bottom: 0pt;"><span style="font-size:15px;font-family:Corsiva;color:#000000;font-weight:normal;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;">    “Oh, you’re so lucky!”

<p dir="ltr" style="margin-top: 0pt;margin-bottom: 0pt;"><span style="font-size:15px;font-family:Corsiva;color:#000000;font-weight:normal;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;">    Redkit’s squeal brought her back to present. Honeypaw was flexing his paws and posing for Songkit. Softwing laughed softly at the memory of Fireleaf showing off for Meadowclaw. Those days seemed so long ago.

<p dir="ltr" style="margin-top: 0pt;margin-bottom: 0pt;"><span style="font-size:15px;font-family:Corsiva;color:#000000;font-weight:normal;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;">    So long ago.

Chapter Nine
<span style="font-size:15px;font-family:Corsiva;color:#000000;font-weight:normal;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;">“What do you smell, Marigoldpaw?” Softwing asked.

<p dir="ltr" style="margin-top: 0pt;margin-bottom: 0pt;"><span style="font-size:15px;font-family:Corsiva;color:#000000;font-weight:normal;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;">    Marigold turned her head towards the WindClan border line. She drew in a deep breath, then mewed, “I think a WindClan cat has been past our borders.”

<p dir="ltr" style="margin-top: 0pt;margin-bottom: 0pt;"><span style="font-size:15px;font-family:Corsiva;color:#000000;font-weight:normal;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;">    “She’s right,” the deputy, Squirrelflight agreed. Squirrelflight, Softwing, her kits, and their mentors had come for the kit’s final assessments.

<p dir="ltr" style="margin-top: 0pt;margin-bottom: 0pt;"><span style="font-size:15px;font-family:Corsiva;color:#000000;font-weight:normal;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;">    Squirrelflight creeped towards the WindClan border. Suddenly, a brown and white tabby Tom leaped onto the clearing.

<p dir="ltr" style="margin-top: 0pt;margin-bottom: 0pt;"><span style="font-size:15px;font-family:Corsiva;color:#000000;font-weight:normal;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;">    “Rockstorm!” Whitewing snarled. “What are you doing in our territory!?”

<p dir="ltr" style="margin-top: 0pt;margin-bottom: 0pt;"><span style="font-size:15px;font-family:Corsiva;color:#000000;font-weight:normal;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;">    “Let’s see.” a slinky black she-cat slunk forward. Softwing immediately recognized her as Stormstream. <span style="font-size:15px;font-family:Corsiva;color:#000000;font-weight:normal;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;">“What are we doing again? Oh that’s right... We’re <span style="font-size:15px;font-family:Corsiva;color:#000000;font-weight:normal;font-style:italic;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;">hunting! <span style="font-size:15px;font-family:Corsiva;color:#000000;font-weight:normal;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;">”

<p dir="ltr" style="margin-top: 0pt;margin-bottom: 0pt;"><span style="font-size:15px;font-family:Corsiva;color:#000000;font-weight:normal;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;">    Softwing’s pelt bristled fiercely. “Give the order and I’ll rip their pelts off,” she hissed.

<p dir="ltr" style="margin-top: 0pt;margin-bottom: 0pt;"><span style="font-size:15px;font-family:Corsiva;color:#000000;font-weight:normal;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;">    Squirrelflight stood with her eyes closed. “I will give you a chance to leave without war,” she said. “Then, we battle.”

<p dir="ltr" style="margin-top: 0pt;margin-bottom: 0pt;"><span style="font-size:15px;font-family:Corsiva;color:#000000;font-weight:normal;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;">    Rockstorm hurled himself onto Squirrelflight. He hissed and scratched until her flailing limbs went limp. Blood trickled from her throat.

<p dir="ltr" style="margin-top: 0pt;margin-bottom: 0pt;"><span style="font-size:15px;font-family:Corsiva;color:#000000;font-weight:normal;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;">    Squirrelflight was dead.

<p dir="ltr" style="margin-top: 0pt;margin-bottom: 0pt;"><span style="font-size:15px;font-family:Corsiva;color:#000000;font-weight:normal;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;">    “No!” Softwing screeched. She leaped onto Rockstorm and clawed. The screaming ball of fangs and fur drove across the forest. Nothing would stop her from this revenge.

<p dir="ltr" style="margin-top: 0pt;margin-bottom: 0pt;"><span style="font-size:15px;font-family:Corsiva;color:#000000;font-weight:normal;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;">    “Softwing!” Lavenderpaw yowled. Softwing stopped clawing and looked down on her enemy. He was bleeding heavily from his mouth. She stepped off her prey, and he bolted out of the clearing.

<p dir="ltr" style="margin-top: 0pt;margin-bottom: 0pt;"><span style="font-size:15px;font-family:Corsiva;color:#000000;font-weight:normal;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;">    Lavenderpaw stood up in front of her mother. “Though you hate Rockstorm for the death to our deputy, vengeance will get you nowhere. Rockstorm will be forever hated for his crime, but you do not want all of WindClan to hate you.”

<p dir="ltr" style="margin-top: 0pt;margin-bottom: 0pt;"><span style="font-size:15px;font-family:Corsiva;color:#000000;font-weight:normal;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;">    Whitewing’s eyes shone. “I’m impressed, Softwing. Your kit is wise beyond her years.”

<p dir="ltr" style="margin-top: 0pt;margin-bottom: 0pt;"><span style="font-size:15px;font-family:Corsiva;color:#000000;font-weight:normal;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;">    Softwing nodded. “We better get back to camp,” she mewed shakily. “We need a new deputy.”

Chapter Ten
<span style="font-size:15px;font-family:Corsiva;color:#000000;font-weight:normal;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;">“Let all cats who may catch their own prey join beneath the highrock!” Bramblestar croaked.

<p dir="ltr" style="margin-top: 0pt;margin-bottom: 0pt;"><span style="font-size:15px;font-family:Corsiva;color:#000000;font-weight:normal;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;">    As Softwing made her way through the gathering cats, she realized that Bramblestar had only one life left. The new deputy would probably be the next leader.

<p dir="ltr" style="margin-top: 0pt;margin-bottom: 0pt;"><span style="font-size:15px;font-family:Corsiva;color:#000000;font-weight:normal;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;">    “Today, Lavenderpaw, Marigoldpaw, and Honeypaw had their warrior assessments. Marigoldpaw caught a huge squirrel. As you’ve heard, Squirrelflight was killed by the WindClan border. We will honor her memory forever.”

<p dir="ltr" style="margin-top: 0pt;margin-bottom: 0pt;"><span style="font-size:15px;font-family:Corsiva;color:#000000;font-weight:normal;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;">    The whole clan dipped their heads in mourning for the ginger deputy.

<p dir="ltr" style="margin-top: 0pt;margin-bottom: 0pt;"><span style="font-size:15px;font-family:Corsiva;color:#000000;font-weight:normal;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;">    “Honeypaw held off the attackers. Lavenderpaw did not fight, but she had a wise understanding of the life we live. She stopped one of our own from breaking the warrior code.”

<p dir="ltr" style="margin-top: 0pt;margin-bottom: 0pt;"><span style="font-size:15px;font-family:Corsiva;color:#000000;font-weight:normal;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;">    Bramblestar took a breath as the Clan yowled the apprentice’s names.

<p dir="ltr" style="margin-top: 0pt;margin-bottom: 0pt;"><span style="font-size:15px;font-family:Corsiva;color:#000000;font-weight:normal;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;">    “We need a new deputy. I say this in front of the body of Squirrelflight hoping she’ll approve my choice.”

<p dir="ltr" style="margin-top: 0pt;margin-bottom: 0pt;"><span style="font-size:15px;font-family:Corsiva;color:#000000;font-weight:normal;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;">    The whole Clan waited in silence as Bramblestar prepared a name.

<p dir="ltr" style="margin-top: 0pt;margin-bottom: 0pt;"><span style="font-size:15px;font-family:Corsiva;color:#000000;font-weight:normal;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;">    “Softwing will be the new deputy.”

<p dir="ltr" style="margin-top: 0pt;margin-bottom: 0pt;"><span style="font-size:15px;font-family:Corsiva;color:#000000;font-weight:normal;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;">    Dovewing and Bumblestripe gladly congratulated their daughter. Fireleaf and Meadowclaw gave her their best wishes. Maplenose pressed his muzzle against hers, and her kits jumped with joy. Only Hollypelt glared. Her fierce brown eyes tore at Softwing’s pelt. If only Hollypelt had not been in the nursery with her kits at this time, she’d been chosen. She’d be Hollystar the great leader of ThunderClan.

<p dir="ltr" style="margin-top: 0pt;margin-bottom: 0pt;"><span style="font-size:15px;font-family:Corsiva;color:#000000;font-weight:normal;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;">    “Speaking of Softwing, it’s time for a warrior ceremony,” Bramblestar purred. “Honeypaw, Lavenderpaw, and Marigoldpaw, step forward.”

<p dir="ltr" style="margin-top: 0pt;margin-bottom: 0pt;"><span style="font-size:15px;font-family:Corsiva;color:#000000;font-weight:normal;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;">    The apprentices ran up to the rock, they stared up at the leader.

<p dir="ltr" style="margin-top: 0pt;margin-bottom: 0pt;"><span style="font-size:15px;font-family:Corsiva;color:#000000;font-weight:normal;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;">    “Honeypaw, do you promise to protect the Clans with your life?” Bramblestar questioned.

<p dir="ltr" style="margin-top: 0pt;margin-bottom: 0pt;"><span style="font-size:15px;font-family:Corsiva;color:#000000;font-weight:normal;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;">    “I do,” Honeypaw’s voice shook.

<p dir="ltr" style="margin-top: 0pt;margin-bottom: 0pt;"><span style="font-size:15px;font-family:Corsiva;color:#000000;font-weight:normal;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;">    “Than by the power of StarClan I name you Honeypelt. StarClan honors your bravery and tolerance.”

<p dir="ltr" style="margin-top: 0pt;margin-bottom: 0pt;"><span style="font-size:15px;font-family:Corsiva;color:#000000;font-weight:normal;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;">    “HUN EE PELT! HUN EE PELT!” they yowled with joy.

<p dir="ltr" style="margin-top: 0pt;margin-bottom: 0pt;"><span style="font-size:15px;font-family:Corsiva;color:#000000;font-weight:normal;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;">    “Marigoldpaw, to you promise to protect the Clans with your life?”

<p dir="ltr" style="margin-top: 0pt;margin-bottom: 0pt;"><span style="font-size:15px;font-family:Corsiva;color:#000000;font-weight:normal;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;">    “I do,” Marigoldpaw’s voice rang confidently.

<p dir="ltr" style="margin-top: 0pt;margin-bottom: 0pt;"><span style="font-size:15px;font-family:Corsiva;color:#000000;font-weight:normal;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;">    “Than by the power of StarClan you are now Marigoldclaw. StarClan honors your courage and understanding with this name.

<p dir="ltr" style="margin-top: 0pt;margin-bottom: 0pt;"><span style="font-size:15px;font-family:Corsiva;color:#000000;font-weight:normal;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;">    “MAR- EE- GOLD- CLAW! MAR-EE-GOLD-CLAW!”

<p dir="ltr" style="margin-top: 0pt;margin-bottom: 0pt;"><span style="font-size:15px;font-family:Corsiva;color:#000000;font-weight:normal;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;">    “Lavenderpaw, to you promise to protect the Clan’s with your life?”

<p dir="ltr" style="margin-top: 0pt;margin-bottom: 0pt;"><span style="font-size:15px;font-family:Corsiva;color:#000000;font-weight:normal;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;">    “Of course,” she said calmly.

<p dir="ltr" style="margin-top: 0pt;margin-bottom: 0pt;"><span style="font-size:15px;font-family:Corsiva;color:#000000;font-weight:normal;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;">    “Then by the power of StarClan you shall be called Lavenderwing. StarClan honors your spirit and wisdom.”

<p dir="ltr" style="margin-top: 0pt;margin-bottom: 0pt;"><span style="font-size:15px;font-family:Corsiva;color:#000000;font-weight:normal;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;">    “LAV-EN-DER-WING!” the yowl came. Lavenderwing sat straight and beamed. Honeypelt and Marigoldclaw smiled at each other, proud of the new names.

Chapter Eleven
<p dir="ltr" style="margin-top: 0pt;margin-bottom: 0pt;"><span style="font-size:15px;font-family:Corsiva;color:#000000;font-weight:normal;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;">Redpaw, and Songpaw to be the hunting patrol.” Softwing yawned and stretched as the patrols sped away.

<p dir="ltr" style="margin-top: 0pt;margin-bottom: 0pt;"><span style="font-size:15px;font-family:Corsiva;color:#000000;font-weight:normal;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;">    It had been moons and moons since her deputy ceremony, and she felt great.

<p dir="ltr" style="margin-top: 0pt;margin-bottom: 0pt;"><span style="font-size:15px;font-family:Corsiva;color:#000000;font-weight:normal;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;">    “Softwing,” Bramblestar croaked. Softwing spun around to look at the tabby leader. To her shock, he wasn’t there. “Softwing.”

<p dir="ltr" style="margin-top: 0pt;margin-bottom: 0pt;"><span style="font-size:15px;font-family:Corsiva;color:#000000;font-weight:normal;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;">    Softwing turned her head to the croak. It seemed to be coming from the leader’s den. She jumped from the highrock and peered inside it. Bramblestar laid on the floor. He was dead.

<p dir="ltr" style="margin-top: 0pt;margin-bottom: 0pt;"><span style="font-size:15px;font-family:Corsiva;color:#000000;font-weight:normal;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;">    “No...” When Squirrelflight had died she felt rage, vengeance, evil... Now she only felt sadness. Could he still be alive?

<p dir="ltr" style="margin-top: 0pt;margin-bottom: 0pt;"><span style="font-size:15px;font-family:Corsiva;color:#000000;font-weight:normal;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;">    “Lilywhisker!” she mewed. The medicine cat stumbled into the den, Sunpaw behind her.

<p dir="ltr" style="margin-top: 0pt;margin-bottom: 0pt;"><span style="font-size:15px;font-family:Corsiva;color:#000000;font-weight:normal;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;">    “Bramblestar!” Sunpaw squeaked. “Are you dead?” He began to poke the leader’s tabby fur. Lilywhisker pulled him away with her tail, sadness in her voice.

<p dir="ltr" style="margin-top: 0pt;margin-bottom: 0pt;"><span style="font-size:15px;font-family:Corsiva;color:#000000;font-weight:normal;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;">    “He was a great leader,” she sighed. “We will mourn him.”

<p dir="ltr" style="margin-top: 0pt;margin-bottom: 0pt;"><span style="font-size:15px;font-family:Corsiva;color:#000000;font-weight:normal;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;">    “We must gather all the cats to tell them what has happened!” Softwing squealed.

<p dir="ltr" style="margin-top: 0pt;margin-bottom: 0pt;"><span style="font-size:15px;font-family:Corsiva;color:#000000;font-weight:normal;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;">    <span style="font-size:15px;font-family:Corsiva;color:#000000;font-weight:normal;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;">Grief. The feeling soaked her pelt. She had to call the cats. All she wanted to do was sulk over Bramblstar’s body. What was she doing? What would Squirrelflight do? She’d get off her haunches and say everything she needed to. What would Bramblestar do? He’d get on that rock and holler summons.

<p dir="ltr" style="margin-top: 0pt;margin-bottom: 0pt;"><span style="font-size:15px;font-family:Corsiva;color:#000000;font-weight:normal;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;">    “Sunpaw,” she mewed, her voice dry, “Get Eaglepaw, Robinpaw, and Swiftpaw. Tell them to go find the patrols and tell them to come back to camp.”

<p dir="ltr" style="margin-top: 0pt;margin-bottom: 0pt;"><span style="font-size:15px;font-family:Corsiva;color:#000000;font-weight:normal;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;">    “Yes, Softwing,” Sunpaw squeaked before hurtling into the bushes.

<p dir="ltr" style="margin-top: 0pt;margin-bottom: 0pt;"><span style="font-size:15px;font-family:Corsiva;color:#000000;font-weight:normal;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;">    “It’s alright,” Lilywhisker sighed, tucking her feathery tail around the deputy. “He’s in StarClan with Squirrelflight.”

<p dir="ltr" style="margin-top: 0pt;margin-bottom: 0pt;"><span style="font-size:15px;font-family:Corsiva;color:#000000;font-weight:normal;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;">    “He spoke to me,” Softwing whispered. “I heard him talk to me.”

<p dir="ltr" style="margin-top: 0pt;margin-bottom: 0pt;"><span style="font-size:15px;font-family:Corsiva;color:#000000;font-weight:normal;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;">    Lilywhisker and Softwing sat in the silence of the leader’s den for moons. Finally, Sunpaw strode in. “Lilywhisker, the cats are back!” she meowed.

<p dir="ltr" style="margin-top: 0pt;margin-bottom: 0pt;"><span style="font-size:15px;font-family:Corsiva;color:#000000;font-weight:normal;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;">    “Come on,” Lilywhisker purred, urging Softwing to her paws. Softwing dragged each paw, hoping the sand would seal around her paws and she wouldn’t have to face the clans. But the sand was pushed away by her big silvery paws. The sun whipped away at her fur coldly. She walked slowly. Every cat stared at her with growing dread. She pulled herself onto the rock and turned to face them.

<p dir="ltr" style="margin-top: 0pt;margin-bottom: 0pt;"><span style="font-size:15px;font-family:Corsiva;color:#000000;font-weight:normal;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;">    “Cats of ThunderClan,” she yowled. “Bramblestar died this morning. We grieve for him.”

<p dir="ltr" style="margin-top: 0pt;margin-bottom: 0pt;"><span style="font-size:15px;font-family:Corsiva;color:#000000;font-weight:normal;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;">    Everyone was silent. Then, Mintnose’s kit, Lightkit, asked, “Does this mean you’ll be Softstar?”

<p dir="ltr" style="margin-top: 0pt;margin-bottom: 0pt;"><span style="font-size:15px;font-family:Corsiva;color:#000000;font-weight:normal;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;">    “Of course not!” Hollypelt hissed. “Some other cat! Someone mature and brave...”

<p dir="ltr" style="margin-top: 0pt;margin-bottom: 0pt;"><span style="font-size:15px;font-family:Corsiva;color:#000000;font-weight:normal;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;">    “There’s no questioning it,” Ivypool growled. “Softwing is the deputy...Bramblestar dies, she’s leader. That’s all there is to it.”

<p dir="ltr" style="margin-top: 0pt;margin-bottom: 0pt;"><span style="font-size:15px;font-family:Corsiva;color:#000000;font-weight:normal;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;">    Softwing was grateful for her aunt’s support. She knew she had won her aunt over by saving her kits.

<p dir="ltr" style="margin-top: 0pt;margin-bottom: 0pt;"><span style="font-size:15px;font-family:Corsiva;color:#000000;font-weight:normal;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;">    But Hollypelt didn’t look convinced. “It’s obvious,” she hissed. “I’m a natural born leader. Bramblestar wanted <span style="font-size:15px;font-family:Corsiva;color:#000000;font-weight:normal;font-style:italic;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;">me <span style="font-size:15px;font-family:Corsiva;color:#000000;font-weight:normal;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;"> to be leader, but I wasn’t available. Now I am.”

<p dir="ltr" style="margin-top: 0pt;margin-bottom: 0pt;"><span style="font-size:15px;font-family:Corsiva;color:#000000;font-weight:normal;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;">    Several cats shot angry glances at the stuck up she-cat. Hollypelt ducked her head and stalked off the the warrior’s den.

<p dir="ltr" style="margin-top: 0pt;margin-bottom: 0pt;"><span style="font-size:15px;font-family:Corsiva;color:#000000;font-weight:normal;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;">    “I shall go to the moonpool tonight,” she meowed. The Clan broke into chatter. Softwing glided through the cats to Lilywhisker.

<p dir="ltr" style="margin-top: 0pt;margin-bottom: 0pt;"><span style="font-size:15px;font-family:Corsiva;color:#000000;font-weight:normal;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;">    “How will I choose my deputy?” she sighed.

<p dir="ltr" style="margin-top: 0pt;margin-bottom: 0pt;"><span style="font-size:15px;font-family:Corsiva;color:#000000;font-weight:normal;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;">    “Personally, I’d choose Lavenderwing, she’s a wise kit.” Lilywhisker purred.

<p dir="ltr" style="margin-top: 0pt;margin-bottom: 0pt;"><span style="font-size:15px;font-family:Corsiva;color:#000000;font-weight:normal;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;">    “But she hasn’t had an apprentice yet,” Softwing sighed.

<p dir="ltr" style="margin-top: 0pt;margin-bottom: 0pt;"><span style="font-size:15px;font-family:Corsiva;color:#000000;font-weight:normal;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;">    “Give her Lightkit when he’s a ‘paw,” Lilywhisker purred. “That’s how Bramblestar became deputy.”

<p dir="ltr" style="margin-top: 0pt;margin-bottom: 0pt;"><span style="font-size:15px;font-family:Corsiva;color:#000000;font-weight:normal;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;">    Softwing thought about this, then walked on to the highrock. The cats had not yet scattered and they stared up at her, willing her to name the deputy.

<p dir="ltr" style="margin-top: 0pt;margin-bottom: 0pt;"><span style="font-size:15px;font-family:Corsiva;color:#000000;font-weight:normal;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;">    As she scanned the crowd, she realized some things. Maplenose and Hazeltail were obvious choices. Everyone expected one of them to be her successor. She gazed at Lavenderwing, who sat near the back with Eaglepaw and Redpaw. <span style="font-size:15px;font-family:Corsiva;color:#000000;font-weight:normal;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;">Lavenderwing had not been a popular kit because of the other apprentice's obsession with <span style="font-size:15px;font-family:Corsiva;color:#000000;font-weight:normal;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;"> fighting.

<p dir="ltr" style="margin-top: 0pt;margin-bottom: 0pt;"><span style="font-size:15px;font-family:Corsiva;color:#000000;font-weight:normal;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;">    “I say these words before StarClan hoping they approve my choice. Lavenderwing will be the new deputy.”

<p dir="ltr" style="margin-top: 0pt;margin-bottom: 0pt;"><span style="font-size:15px;font-family:Corsiva;color:#000000;font-weight:normal;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;">    “Lavenderwing!?” Hollypelt hissed. The gray she-cat stood to her paws, her fur bristling. “She’s never had an apprentice!” Several other cats agreed. Lavenderwing sat simply dumbfounded staring at Softwing, as if she couldn’t believe what had just happened.

<p dir="ltr" style="margin-top: 0pt;margin-bottom: 0pt;"><span style="font-size:15px;font-family:Corsiva;color:#000000;font-weight:normal;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;">    “On the subject of apprentices, we need some more,” Softwing purred. “Lightkit, Skykit, Clawkit, come beneath the highrock.” Lightkit scampered forward, his brown tabby fur gleaming. Skykit, a gray Tom, and Clawkit, a cream she-kit, followed him.

<p dir="ltr" style="margin-top: 0pt;margin-bottom: 0pt;"><span style="font-size:15px;font-family:Corsiva;color:#000000;font-weight:normal;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;">    <span style="font-size:15px;font-family:Corsiva;color:#000000;font-weight:normal;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;">“Lightkit, Skykit, and Clawkit, do you promise to protect the Clans, even at the cost of your life?” I  meowed.

<p dir="ltr" style="margin-top: 0pt;margin-bottom: 0pt;"><span style="font-size:15px;font-family:Corsiva;color:#000000;font-weight:normal;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;">    “I do,” they said in union.

<p dir="ltr" style="margin-top: 0pt;margin-bottom: 0pt;"><span style="font-size:15px;font-family:Corsiva;color:#000000;font-weight:normal;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;">    “Then by the power of StarClan, Lightkit is now Lightpaw. StarClan honors your selflessness.” Softwing dipped her head to Ivypool. “Ivypool, you are noble and brave, traits passed to you by Cinderheart. Pass these traits to Lightpaw.” She let Ivypool touch noses with Lightpaw before continuing.

<p dir="ltr" style="margin-top: 0pt;margin-bottom: 0pt;"><span style="font-size:15px;font-family:Corsiva;color:#000000;font-weight:normal;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;">    “Skykit, from now on, you are Skypaw. StarClan honors your determination. Toadstep, you are brave and kind, traits given by Cloudtail. I expect you shall train this apprentice well.” Toadstep took a moment to tap noses with Skypaw before sitting down next to Ivypool. The two mates would have more time to train together!

<p dir="ltr" style="margin-top: 0pt;margin-bottom: 0pt;"><span style="font-size:15px;font-family:Corsiva;color:#000000;font-weight:normal;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;">    “Clawkit, you are now Clawpaw. StarClan honors your eagerness to learn. Lavenderwing, you are ready for an apprentice. Clawpaw will be your apprentice.”

<p dir="ltr" style="margin-top: 0pt;margin-bottom: 0pt;"><span style="font-size:15px;font-family:Corsiva;color:#000000;font-weight:normal;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;">    Hollypelt let out a horrible hiss as Lavenderwing tapped noses with Clawpaw.

Chapter Twelve
<span style="font-size:15px;font-family:Corsiva;color:#000000;font-weight:normal;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;">“Welcome, Softstar,” StarClan purred. “Are you ready to receive your nine lives?”

<p dir="ltr" style="margin-top: 0pt;margin-bottom: 0pt;"><span style="font-size:15px;font-family:Corsiva;color:#000000;font-weight:normal;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;">    “I am,” Softstar’s voice echoed. Drifting towards her was a familiar cat. “Mother!” she purred as Dovewing approached her daughter. The she-cat had died when she was hit by a twoleg monster.

<p dir="ltr" style="margin-top: 0pt;margin-bottom: 0pt;"><span style="font-size:15px;font-family:Corsiva;color:#000000;font-weight:normal;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;">    “With this life, I give you sight. One idea will never cloud your head.” Dovewing touched noses with her daughter. A sudden headache shot through her head. She wanted to screech like all of LionClan as the pain gripped her. When the pain  went away, her mother was already leaving, and approaching was a familiar face. Jayfeather, the medicine cat before Lilywhisker, was walking forward. He had beautiful blue eyes that were no longer blind.

<p dir="ltr" style="margin-top: 0pt;margin-bottom: 0pt;"><span style="font-size:15px;font-family:Corsiva;color:#000000;font-weight:normal;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;">    “With this life,” he said, “I give you the wisdom to know what’s right.” When he touched noses with her, Softstar felt sleepy. Pictures of cats she never had seen before flashed through her head. She shook her head to clear her thoughts just before another cat drifted forward.

<p dir="ltr" style="margin-top: 0pt;margin-bottom: 0pt;"><span style="font-size:15px;font-family:Corsiva;color:#000000;font-weight:normal;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;">    She did not recognize him. He had a thick golden pelt and big amber eyes. “With this life,” he spoke gruffly, “I give you innocence. <span style="font-size:15px;font-family:Corsiva;color:#000000;font-weight:normal;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;">Understand that even if your enemy is evil, it doesn’t mean the enemy’s kits or mate is evil.”

<p dir="ltr" style="margin-top: 0pt;margin-bottom: 0pt;"><span style="font-size:15px;font-family:Corsiva;color:#000000;font-weight:normal;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;">    The Tom touched noses with her. She suddenly saw Hollypelt’s kits. She saw Fireleaf’s kits too. The kits seemed to shrink and morph until they turned into two shapes; Hollypelt and Fireleaf. The two cats morphed together and created the golden Tom. Then Softstar remembered: This was Lionblaze, the father of Hollypelt and Fireleaf, who drowned during the cold leafbare. Softstar understood; no matter how mean Hollypelt was, Softstar couldn’t take it out on Hollypelt’s kits.

<p dir="ltr" style="margin-top: 0pt;margin-bottom: 0pt;"><span style="font-size:15px;font-family:Corsiva;color:#000000;font-weight:normal;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;">    A she-cat who looked startlingly like Hollypelt strode forward. The only difference was green eyes. Hollypelt had blue eyes. “With this life,” the she-cat meowed, “I give you sympathy. You must never hate a cat, no matter how wicked, for that cat holds sorrow too.”

<p dir="ltr" style="margin-top: 0pt;margin-bottom: 0pt;"><span style="font-size:15px;font-family:Corsiva;color:#000000;font-weight:normal;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;">    The world blasted out in rage, pain, and fury. Hollypelt stood, wailing for her kits, who laid dead before her. Even if Hollypelt didn’t care for her, she cared for her kits.

<p dir="ltr" style="margin-top: 0pt;margin-bottom: 0pt;"><span style="font-size:15px;font-family:Corsiva;color:#000000;font-weight:normal;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;">    Softstar shook her head and saw a pale ginger cat striding forward. “With this life,” the cat meowed, “I give you bravery. Fight for what’s right.” When they touched noses, Softstar felt claws running down her pelt. She screeched in pain.

<p dir="ltr" style="margin-top: 0pt;margin-bottom: 0pt;"><span style="font-size:15px;font-family:Corsiva;color:#000000;font-weight:normal;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;">    A new cat was coming. He was a silver cat with many scars. It was Maplenose! He had been killed a moon before last when he had been found dead. Maplenose had been her first love, but now she wanted Lakefrost. The handsome blue Tom was unlike Maplenose, stronger, and more ambitious. When Maplenose opened his mouth, he said, “I have drifted from you, but now you love another.” He stared at her sadly. “But now, I give you a life for love. I want you to share it with Lakefrost.” They tapped noses, and Softstar blinked back tears.

<p dir="ltr" style="margin-top: 0pt;margin-bottom: 0pt;"><span style="font-size:15px;font-family:Corsiva;color:#000000;font-weight:normal;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;">    A horrible shiver ran down Softstar’s spine when she saw the new cat. Her face was half missing! Softstar walked to the cat and meowed, “Are you Brightheart?” Maplenose had told her of the she-cat who had died fighting a fox. The she-cat nodded.

<p dir="ltr" style="margin-top: 0pt;margin-bottom: 0pt;"><span style="font-size:15px;font-family:Corsiva;color:#000000;font-weight:normal;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;">    “With this life, I give you regret. You can’t kill a cat without wishing you hadn’t.” The feeling was horrible, slashing her pelt with guilt. She could not help but feel horrible.

<p dir="ltr" style="margin-top: 0pt;margin-bottom: 0pt;"><span style="font-size:15px;font-family:Corsiva;color:#000000;font-weight:normal;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;">    Squirrelflight was coming. Her head was held high and her fluffy tail trailed behind her. She sat confidently at Softstar’s feet. “I believe you will be a better leader than me,” the deputy said.

<p dir="ltr" style="margin-top: 0pt;margin-bottom: 0pt;"><span style="font-size:15px;font-family:Corsiva;color:#000000;font-weight:normal;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;">    “I could never-” Softstar began, but Squirrelflight began to talk.

<p dir="ltr" style="margin-top: 0pt;margin-bottom: 0pt;"><span style="font-size:15px;font-family:Corsiva;color:#000000;font-weight:normal;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;">    “With this life I give you knowing to discover secrets of the world.” They tapped noses, and Squirrelflight walked away.

<p dir="ltr" style="margin-top: 0pt;margin-bottom: 0pt;"><span style="font-size:15px;font-family:Corsiva;color:#000000;font-weight:normal;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;">    One last cat was coming. Bramblestar, not a weak frail leader, but a fighter, as Softkit had seen the great leader. He looked down at her and purred, “With this life, I give you nobility, determination, and listening. I hail you, my deputy, as leader.”

<p dir="ltr" style="margin-top: 0pt;margin-bottom: 0pt;"><span style="font-size:15px;font-family:Corsiva;color:#000000;font-weight:normal;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;">    “SOFTSTAR! SOFTSTAR! SOFTSTAR!” StarClan called. Softstar stood tall, and smiled upon her ancestors.

Chapter Thirteen
<span style="font-size:15px;font-family:Corsiva;color:#000000;font-weight:normal;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;">Cherryfur’s kit, Coldkit, Stripekit, and Littlekit, greeted her.

<p dir="ltr" style="margin-top: 0pt;margin-bottom: 0pt;"><span style="font-size:15px;font-family:Corsiva;color:#000000;font-weight:normal;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;">    “Hello, Softstar!” Coldkit purred. “When I’m six moons old, can I be your apprentice?”

<p dir="ltr" style="margin-top: 0pt;margin-bottom: 0pt;"><span style="font-size:15px;font-family:Corsiva;color:#000000;font-weight:normal;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;">    “No, I want to be her apprentice!” Stripekit hissed.

<p dir="ltr" style="margin-top: 0pt;margin-bottom: 0pt;"><span style="font-size:15px;font-family:Corsiva;color:#000000;font-weight:normal;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;">    “No, pick me!” Littlekit squeaked.

<p dir="ltr" style="margin-top: 0pt;margin-bottom: 0pt;"><span style="font-size:15px;font-family:Corsiva;color:#000000;font-weight:normal;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;">    Softstar laughed a tinkling laugh, and Cherryfur wrapped her tail around the kits. “Sorry if they bothered you,” she meowed. “You know how kits are.”

<p dir="ltr" style="margin-top: 0pt;margin-bottom: 0pt;"><span style="font-size:15px;font-family:Corsiva;color:#000000;font-weight:normal;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;">    Yes, kits, Softstar thought. She wanted to have some with Lakefrost. <span style="font-size:15px;font-family:Corsiva;color:#000000;font-weight:normal;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;"> The Tom was walking across the clearing. His apprentice, Redpaw, walked beside him. Softstar walked to him quickly. When he smelled her presence, he looked up.

<p dir="ltr" style="margin-top: 0pt;margin-bottom: 0pt;"><span style="font-size:15px;font-family:Corsiva;color:#000000;font-weight:normal;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;">    “Oh, hey, Softstar,” he purred. With a glance to his apprentice he mewed, “Redpaw, will you take Sunpaw to gather herbs?”

<p dir="ltr" style="margin-top: 0pt;margin-bottom: 0pt;"><span style="font-size:15px;font-family:Corsiva;color:#000000;font-weight:normal;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;">    “Oh, yes!” the ginger apprentice meowed. She turned on her  feet and ran off the medicine den. Lakefrost purred his amusement before turning to Softstar.

<p dir="ltr" style="margin-top: 0pt;margin-bottom: 0pt;"><span style="font-size:15px;font-family:Corsiva;color:#000000;font-weight:normal;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;">    “Lakefrost, I’m going to say this out loud. I love you.” Lakefrost stared surprised for a moment, then purred, “I love you too.”

<p dir="ltr" style="margin-top: 0pt;margin-bottom: 0pt;"><span style="font-size:15px;font-family:Corsiva;color:#000000;font-weight:normal;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;">    Softstar pressed her muzzle against his.

<p dir="ltr" style="margin-top: 0pt;margin-bottom: 0pt;">

<p dir="ltr" style="margin-top: 0pt;margin-bottom: 0pt;text-indent: 36pt;"><span style="font-size:15px;font-family:Corsiva;color:#000000;font-weight:normal;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;">“Hey.”

<p dir="ltr" style="margin-top: 0pt;margin-bottom: 0pt;"><span style="font-size:15px;font-family:Corsiva;color:#000000;font-weight:normal;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;">    Maplenose nuzzled her nose. “It will be all right.”

<p dir="ltr" style="margin-top: 0pt;margin-bottom: 0pt;"><span style="font-size:15px;font-family:Corsiva;color:#000000;font-weight:normal;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;">    ‘No it won’t,’ she thought. ‘No one likes me.’

<p dir="ltr" style="margin-top: 0pt;margin-bottom: 0pt;"><span style="font-size:15px;font-family:Corsiva;color:#000000;font-weight:normal;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;">    He said. “ <span style="font-size:15px;font-family:Corsiva;color:#000000;font-weight:normal;font-style:italic;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;">I <span style="font-size:15px;font-family:Corsiva;color:#000000;font-weight:normal;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;"> like you.”

<p dir="ltr" style="margin-top: 0pt;margin-bottom: 0pt;"><span style="font-size:15px;font-family:Corsiva;color:#000000;font-weight:normal;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;">    Softwing smiled and pressed her muzzle on his soft, warm pelt.

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<p dir="ltr" style="margin-top: 0pt;margin-bottom: 0pt;"><span style="font-size:15px;font-family:Corsiva;color:#000000;font-weight:normal;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;">    But this wasn’t Maplenose. This was Lakefrost. <span style="font-size:15px;font-family:Corsiva;color:#000000;font-weight:bold;font-style:italic;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;">This <span style="font-size:15px;font-family:Corsiva;color:#000000;font-weight:normal;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;"> is what she wanted.

Chapter Fourteen
<p dir="ltr" style="margin-top: 0pt;margin-bottom: 0pt;"><span style="font-size:15px;font-family:Corsiva;color:#000000;font-weight:bold;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:underline;vertical-align:baseline;">    <span style="font-size:15px;font-family:Corsiva;color:#000000;font-weight:normal;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;">This stunk.

<p dir="ltr" style="margin-top: 0pt;margin-bottom: 0pt;"><span style="font-size:15px;font-family:Corsiva;color:#000000;font-weight:normal;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;">    This stunk more than it did the first time. Sitting in the nursery, when she should be practicing for training. She was going to take Coldkit as an apprentice. Stripekit could go to Eaglefang and Littlekit could go to Honeypelt. Marigoldclaw was so excited when she heard Softstar was having kits again.

<p dir="ltr" style="margin-top: 0pt;margin-bottom: 0pt;"><span style="font-size:15px;font-family:Corsiva;color:#000000;font-weight:normal;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;">    Lakefrost poked his head into the nursery. “How are you doing?” he asked nervously. “Are they coming yet?”

<p dir="ltr" style="margin-top: 0pt;margin-bottom: 0pt;"><span style="font-size:15px;font-family:Corsiva;color:#000000;font-weight:normal;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;">    “Not yet you stupid furball!” she hissed. Songshine bumped into Softstar’s side. “Give him a break, you wanted kits as much as he did.”

<p dir="ltr" style="margin-top: 0pt;margin-bottom: 0pt;"><span style="font-size:15px;font-family:Corsiva;color:#000000;font-weight:normal;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;">    Easy for Songshine to say. She was nursing Honeypelt’s kits now. Tomatokit, Shinykit, Beekit, and Nutmegkit. Tomatokit and Nutmegkit were ginger like their aunt, Redstripe. Beekit was silver like his mother. Shinykit was white like Honeypelt.

<p dir="ltr" style="margin-top: 0pt;margin-bottom: 0pt;"><span style="font-size:15px;font-family:Corsiva;color:#000000;font-weight:normal;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;">    “I need some air,” Softstar grumbled. She pushed past Lakefrost and walked out of camp. The air was crisp and cold, leafbare was coming. The stream had frozen, but a bit of water trickled slowly from it. She put her paw in the ice. It was hollow! The frozen water hadn’t stopped the stream, something was blocking it! She ran up upstream and looked around for the source. A silver glint caught her eye. No...Marigoldclaw...Her limp body clogged up the stream.

<p dir="ltr" style="margin-top: 0pt;margin-bottom: 0pt;"><span style="font-size:15px;font-family:Corsiva;color:#000000;font-weight:normal;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;">    “NO!” she wailed. “Marigoldclaw!” Tears clogged her eyes. Her daughter was dead. She collapsed on the bank. The grief was worse than that she felt for Bramblestar.

<p dir="ltr" style="margin-top: 0pt;margin-bottom: 0pt;"><span style="font-size:15px;font-family:Corsiva;color:#000000;font-weight:normal;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;">    “Softstar?” Lavenderwing called. The silver cat struggled through the clearing. “Lakefrost said to look for you and - oh.” Lavenderwing backed away from her sister. She turned to Softstar and purred, “Mom, lets get her to camp.”

<p dir="ltr" style="margin-top: 0pt;margin-bottom: 0pt;"><span style="font-size:15px;font-family:Corsiva;color:#000000;font-weight:normal;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;">    Reassured by her daughter’s steady mind, Softstar picked up Marigoldclaw and dragged her to camp.

Chapter Fifteen
<span style="font-size:15px;font-family:Corsiva;color:#000000;font-weight:normal;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;">  “Softstar,” Lavenderwing meowed cautiously. The silver she-cat crept in to sit next to her mother. “We can’t do anything now.”

<p dir="ltr" style="margin-top: 0pt;margin-bottom: 0pt;"><span style="font-size:15px;font-family:Corsiva;color:#000000;font-weight:normal;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;">    Softstar wanted to lay on her side and wail like a newborn kit. Why had StarClan taken Marigoldclaw’s life. <span style="font-size:15px;font-family:Corsiva;color:#000000;font-weight:bold;font-style:italic;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;">Why? <span style="font-size:15px;font-family:Corsiva;color:#000000;font-weight:normal;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;">

<p dir="ltr" style="margin-top: 0pt;margin-bottom: 0pt;"><span style="font-size:15px;font-family:Corsiva;color:#000000;font-weight:normal;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;">    “But Lilywhisker wants to talk to you,” Lavenderwing meowed. Softstar rose to her paws and followed her daughter out of the leader’s den. Many cats gave sympathetic glances at the swollen leader. She ignored them and squeezed into the medicine den.

<p dir="ltr" style="margin-top: 0pt;margin-bottom: 0pt;"><span style="font-size:15px;font-family:Corsiva;color:#000000;font-weight:normal;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;">    Lilywhisker spun around, Sunstreak by her side. “Softstar!” she gasped. “I have some grave news. A cat within ThunderClan killed Marigoldclaw!”

<p dir="ltr" style="margin-top: 0pt;margin-bottom: 0pt;"><span style="font-size:15px;font-family:Corsiva;color:#000000;font-weight:normal;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;">    “Who?” Softstar <span style="font-size:15px;font-family:Corsiva;color:#000000;font-weight:normal;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;"> hissed. She rose to her paws, her fur bristling. <span style="font-size:15px;font-family:Corsiva;color:#000000;font-weight:normal;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;">A single name crossed her mind, striding darkly.

<p dir="ltr" style="margin-top: 0pt;margin-bottom: 0pt;"><span style="font-size:15px;font-family:Corsiva;color:#000000;font-weight:normal;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;">    “I can’t be sure,” Lilywhisker meowed. She turned to Sunstreak. “Take these poppy seeds to Lavenderwing and Honeypelt. They need all the comfort they can get.” Sunstreak dipped his head and scurried away.

<p dir="ltr" style="margin-top: 0pt;margin-bottom: 0pt;"><span style="font-size:15px;font-family:Corsiva;color:#000000;font-weight:normal;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;">    “Make a guess,” Softstar growled. “How do you know it was murder?”

<p dir="ltr" style="margin-top: 0pt;margin-bottom: 0pt;"><span style="font-size:15px;font-family:Corsiva;color:#000000;font-weight:normal;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;">    “There is a long claw mark across her pelt,” Lilywhisker mewed calmly. Sure enough, blood had dried on Marigoldclaw’s fur. “And I found a tuft of fur.” She pushed a black clump of fur to Softstar.

<p dir="ltr" style="margin-top: 0pt;margin-bottom: 0pt;"><span style="font-size:15px;font-family:Corsiva;color:#000000;font-weight:normal;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;">    Hollypelt. The she-cat was the murderer. Hollypelt hated Softstar, and would do anything to break Softstar’s heart, even murder.

<p dir="ltr" style="margin-top: 0pt;margin-bottom: 0pt;"><span style="font-size:15px;font-family:Corsiva;color:#000000;font-weight:normal;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;">    Before Lilywhisker could say anything, Softstar was out of the medicine den. She clambered up the highrock and screeched, “Let every cat get beneath the highrock, whether or not you can catch your own prey!” Whitewing perked her ears curiously. Lavenderwing and Honeypelt slowly walked towards the highrock, their ears bent and their eyes glossy. Meadowclaw and Fireleaf walked out of the queen’s den. Three kits, <span style="font-size:15px;font-family:Corsiva;color:#000000;font-weight:normal;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;">Lemonkit, Flameingkit, and Grasskit, danced around Fireleaf’s paws. It would be hard for Fireleaf to accept her sister’s crime.

<p dir="ltr" style="margin-top: 0pt;margin-bottom: 0pt;"><span style="font-size:15px;font-family:Corsiva;color:#000000;font-weight:normal;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;">    “As you know, my daughter, Marigoldclaw, has died,” Softstar meowed. Lavenderwing and Honeypelt wailed loudly. “My daughter...was MURDERED!” she screeched. The elder Bumblestripe’s eyes widened. Lightshine let out a yowl of shock, and Lakefrost’s fur bristled.

<p dir="ltr" style="margin-top: 0pt;margin-bottom: 0pt;"><span style="font-size:15px;font-family:Corsiva;color:#000000;font-weight:normal;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;">    “Hollypelt, you killed Marigoldclaw, and you know it.”

<p dir="ltr" style="margin-top: 0pt;margin-bottom: 0pt;"><span style="font-size:15px;font-family:Corsiva;color:#000000;font-weight:normal;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;">    Hollypelt did not deny this accusation, but simply strode to meet Softstar. “So what if <span style="font-size:15px;font-family:Corsiva;color:#000000;font-weight:normal;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;">I did?” <span style="font-size:15px;font-family:Corsiva;color:#000000;font-weight:normal;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;"> she sneered. “She was a worthless cat.”

<p dir="ltr" style="margin-top: 0pt;margin-bottom: 0pt;"><span style="font-size:15px;font-family:Corsiva;color:#000000;font-weight:normal;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;">    “How dare you?” Lakefrost growled, his fur straight in the air. Honeypelt flung forward, clawing and scratching Hollypelt. Blood spurted across the ground, painting his coat red. Hollypelt screeched for breath, then, with a last breath and twitch, her body stilled.

<p dir="ltr" style="margin-top: 0pt;margin-bottom: 0pt;"><span style="font-size:15px;font-family:Corsiva;color:#000000;font-weight:normal;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;">    Softstar stared down hostly at the she-cat’s body. Another bit of scum gone.