"Don't worry. I have already saw them." The voice sounded from Bluewater. "Look, Echobreeze and Soundstep are carrying them back to camp now."

Sure enough, the two warriors had the two young apprentices by the scruff, and were gently dragging them the way to the ThunderClan camp.

"Wolfheart, you're all right!"

Shadowheart!

The sleek black ThunderClan deputy came up and rubbed Wolfheart's muzzle with his own. "I'm so glad you're all right."

Wolfheart wasn't surprised by the Deputy's kind aproach. "Me too." She purred.

"I've always wanted to tell you something..."

"Oh?"

"Wolfheart, I have always been rather...attracted to you. I want you by my side. I was wondering...would you..." He hesitated. "Would you be interested in becoming my...mate?"

Wolfheart felt as if she has died and gone to StarClan. All her dreams had come true. "Yes-- Oh, yes!"

The two rubbed muzzles once more, and Hazelheart and Ravenpaw padded up to the two.

"I'm glad that is over. Did you see Firestar kill Scourge?" Asked Hazelheart anxiously.

"No." Wolfheart admitted. "Shadowheart has just given me the oportunity to become his mate."

Hazelheart's eyes widened. "Well, you accepted, didn't you?"

Wolfheart purred with amusment. "Of course I did, Mouse-Brain!"

"Look, ThunderClan is leaving." Meowed Ravenpaw. "You're right, Ravenpaw. They are."

When they all arived at the ThunderClan camp, something was much different.

Where is Whitestorm? And so many other cats?

Suddenly, it hit Wolfheart like a bullet through her heart. Those cats were gone.

"It'll never be the same..." Sighed Shadowheart.

Wolfheart knew he was right. As the cats solemly limped away to their dens, she remembered the death of her sister, Grayheart. She was glad that she was with StarClan-- But at the same time, she wished she wasn't.

She sent up a silent prayer to StarClan.

Oh, StarClan...Please...Please, let her be happy.

Three days had passed after the battle with BloodClan. Sourpaw and Rosepaw had recovered, and had already gotten back to their paws and training.

"Come on, attack me, like I'm Scourge!"

Rosepaw screeched and pouced upon her mentor Hazelheart without a warning. Hazelheart thuded against the dirt. "Oof!" Rosepaw climbed off of her mentor and purred of happiness.

Wolfheart wished she could let Sourpaw just do that...But it was impossible. Sourpaw was blind, and unable to make sudden attacks.

They did the simple technique-- The one Brightheart had used when she was an apprentice. And...It was going quite well. Very well, actually. Sometimes, she could act like she was too injured, and right when you thought you had hurt her, she attacked with a slash. She had once left a nasty scar on Wolfheart's cheek.

"You both have done very well for today." Prasied Wolfheart. "Lets be getting back to camp."

Ravenpaw imidiently met Hazelheart at the camp entrance. "Welcome back." He purred.

Sandstorm was running wildly around the camp, as if looking for something. "Shes bothered." Meowed Shadowheart. "I will go check on her."

The two exchanged worried glances. Shadowheart was mouthing things like, "What?" and, "Are you sertain?" He soon was running back to his mate's side.

"What is it?" She asked anxiously. "It's Firestar!" He panted. "He was caputured-- By twolegs!"

"This is unbelieveable..." Murmered Tallstar. It was at the next gathering, and no cat could believe this. "We have deided I am going to Highstones to recieve my Leader name..." Murmered Shadowheart. "We fear that Firestar will not return..."

"Is that the right thing to do?" Meowed Leopardstar. "Lets hope." Mewed Blackstar. "They don't have much of a choice."

The meeting was called off, and Shadowheart leaped down from the enormous rock. "I shall leave tonight." He mewed to Wolfheart. "You shall see me tommorrow night at Moonhigh."

"Be careful." Pleaded Wolfheart, as her mate's black body dissapeared into the bushes.

Sandstorm padded over to Wolfheart's side. "I don't think the Clan is making the right choice." She whispered. "He will return. And what is Shadowheart going to do when he does? I don't know if the warrior code will alow him to go back to being Deputy...Or, what if Firestar has to give up his place in the Clan, and become a warrior once more? Oh, theres no telling what will happen..."

Wolfheart knew Sandstorm was right. There was more than a sky of truth that Firestar would give away his last eight lives to get back.

Wolfheart remembered the story of Nightstar. How he hadn't ever officially gotten nine lives, since Brokenstar was still alive. Was this to happen to Shadowheart? Even if Firestar did return, how would he go back to being a warrior? Would he have to travel to Highstone, and ask StarClan what to do? Yes. That was the best choice. All the Clan could do was wait, and see if their beloved leader would return.

"Look! Shadowheart is back!" Wolfheart was with Ripplepool in the Medicine Cat's Den, while the Medicine Cat was out collecting herbs when Soundstep's strong voice was heard.

Wolfheart burst out of the dark den, fast enough to watch her mate's slender black pelt emerge from the entrance.

As the cat's clouded him like he was the biggest piece of fresh-kill in the world, she bounded across the clearing, happily.

She slid through the crowd of cats, and found her mate in the center, holding his head up proudly.

"Shadowheart!" She called. "Shadowstar." He corrected her.

At Moonhigh, Soundstep was assigned the new Deputy. Cats were starting to retreat to their Dens.

Storm clouds slowly arose around the clearing. "A storm is coming." He announced. "Lets go to my den, we won't get as wet there."

The two proded into the warm, sandy den. It lingered with the smell of Firestar, and very stale, the smell of other ThunderClan leaders from seasons ago.

"I don't really think I have been in much before..." Wolfheart mewed in awe. "It's so warm and comfortable..."

The two settled down and shared tounges, until they both fell into a soft sleep, as the sound of light rain sounded from outside.

Wolfheart blinked as light surounded her. She was at the river, the border between RiverClan and ThunderClan. She knew she was dreaming, somehow.

A dark-gray pelt walked towards her, much like her own.

"Grayheart!" She shouted cheerfully. "Hello, my sister." Purred Grayheart. Her pelt was of shining stars, and her eyes sparkled like dew.

"I haven't seen our mother in so long. Have you been watching over her? Is she alright?" Asked Wolfheart eagerly. Grayheart let out a thin mew of amusment. "She is fine, Wolfheart." She purred. Another figure apeared behind Grayheart. Her pelt sleek and red. "Redleaf!" She purred. "Hello, dear." Redleaf purred. "Hello, I am glad to see you." Wolfheart purred once more. "We have come to give you some news." Grayheart went on, "Firestar will return, but, Shadowstar will be forced back into the Warrior position." She announced. "Is this a good thing, or a bad thing?"Asked Wolfheart. Redleaf and Grayheart exchanged glances. "You shall soon find out." Meowed Redleaf. "We must go now." Meowed Grayheart. "Remember what we have told you. Goodbye, my sister."

Everything started to fade, and Wolfheart found herself alone in the Leader's Den. An entire four moons had passed, and Firestar still hadn't returned. Wolfheart liked sleeping in the leaders' den, but it just wasn't the same...

She walked out, to find Shadowstar aranging the Dawn Patrol.

"Soundstep, you lead the Dawn Patrol. I would like for you to take Echobreeze, Sourpaw and Rosepaw with you." He instructed. "Yes, sir." Responded Soundstep with a respectful nod, and padded off the collect the cats.

"I want you to take the Dusk Patrol." He told Wolfheart when she got to him. "But don't take Sourpaw with you. I only want her to be out of the Camp during the day...for now."

Wolfheart could understand this. It would be harder to find her way back from camp at night--Blind or not. "Do you want to eat with me?" She asked Shadowstar. "If you have time..."

Shadowstar let out a Mrow of amusment. "Just because I'm leader now dosen't mean that I am completely swalowed up by duties. Of course I'll eat with you."

Before Wolfheart could reply, a yowl came from the entrance. It was Echobreeze. "Shadowstar! RiverClan are attacking! There were too many for us to fight! They have all of their warriors for sure, and apprentices!"

All of the cats had heard the alarming yowl. "All of the warriors and apprentices, get ready for battle! Queens, Elders and kits, stay in your Dens!"

The cats did as Shadowstar said, and waited, prepared, for RiverClan to arrive.

Sure enough, not many heartbeats later, the battlecries of RiverClan started to come clear, and the RiverClan cats poured into the camp.

The fight was on. Wolfheart went for the nearest cat she saw, a light-gray she-cat. Oddly familiar. Then it hit her. This was Mattedfur, an elderly Warrior of RiverClan. Hateful and sour as mouse bile.

Wolfheart clung to the cat's back, sinking her teeth into Mattedfur's shoulder. Mattedfur shreeked out, and bucked off Wolfheart. Wolfheart landed on her back, as she lost her breath. She was prepared for another blow from Mattedfur, but nothing