"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 came. As she raised her head, she saw that Mattedfur had been bowled over by Sunclaw, an elderly cream-and-yellowish ThunderClan warrior. Mattedfur easily got back to her paws, and sprang at Sunclaw, knocking her to the ground. This time, Mattedfur was ready. She sank her teeth into Sunclaw's throught. "No!" Screeched Wolfheart. She tried to get to her paws, but her spine stung with enormous pain from the force of hitting the ground. Sunclaw struggled, but didn't struggle hard enough. The cat's body went limp, and Mattedfur let go, and joined back into the blood-stained battle.

No... Thought Wolfheart. Echobreeze must have noticed Wolfheart lying on the ground, because she ran over to her side. "Are you hurt?" She panted. "Mattedfur bucked me, and I landed on my back..." She coughed, as dust began to rise. "Can you get up?" Asked Echobreeze. Wolfheart was determined to try again. She pushed herself to her paws with all her might. "Yes." She panted. Echobreeze gave her a nod, and then joined back into the battle.

Wolfheart spotted Sourpaw doing her technique on an unsuspecting RiverClan cat, Mistyfoot to be exact. She fell to the ground as if she were dead, and when Mistyfoot bent over, she lunged.

Wolfheart smiled, and went for the nearest cat around, Blackclaw.

Once Wolfheart had left a nasty scar on Blackclaw's side, Leopardstar's yowl of retreat overflowed the camp, and the cat's from RiverClan poured out of the entrance.

"You took quite a blow from where you landed on your spine." Said Ripplepool. "Popyseed'll do it."

Ripplepool took a large leaf full of Poppyseed and lay it in front of Wolfheart. Wolfheart took one and chewed it fragily. "Uh...Ripplepool?" Asked Wolfheart nervously. "I haven't seen Bluewater in so long...is she okay?"

Ripplepool frowned. "I haven't told anyone yet..." She whispered. "Bluewater hasn't been around for some time now. I'm afraid something--Like a badger, must have gotten her...she wouldn't have been able to defend herself if so. Now, off you go. I will be going to highstones tonight."

Wolfheart was in shock. Another situation where a cat might not return? Ugh, what could be worse? After a while in ThunderClan, Ripplepool had decided to go from a warrior to medicine cat's apprentice, since she was still young and in good health.

She padded out of the Medicine Cat's Den, and to the fresh kill pile, where she picked out a fresh, plump mouse.

"Hello, Wolfheart." A familiar voice sounded from behind. "Sourpaw?" She asked. "How have you found me so...so easily?" Sourpaw purred with amusment. "I've learned, you mouse-brain! I know every cat's scent, I know all the tecniques for blind cats, and I'm the right age. Wolfheart, Rosepaw and I are ready to be warriors."

Wolfheart knew she was right. "You're right." She admitted. "I will attened to Fire--Shadowstar right away." She headed toward Shadowstar, who was talking with Soundstep about the morning patrol. "Shadowstar," She said when Soundstep had left. "I need to talk to you, about Sourpaw and Rosepaw. I think they should be made warriors tonight." Shadowheart smiled. "They shall then." He meowed. "If you think they're ready, anybody will."

The warrior's ceremony was about to begin. Rosepaw and Sourpaw were at the foot of the highrock, shaking with excitment. Sourpaw's small black body and emotionless eyes seemed somehow...emothional. And Rosepaw... she was smiling out of her muzzle!

"Do you promise to uphold the Warrior Code, and fight for your Clan, even at the cost of your life?"

"I do." They said together.

"Then, from now on, You, Rosepaw, will be known as Rosefur. StarClan honors you and welcomes you as a full warrior of ThunderClan."

They did the ritual, where the newley assighed warrior licks the leader's shoulder.

"And, Sourpaw, you shall now be known as Sourstorm, for the tecniques you know, are of no other."

They did the same thing.

"Don't forget, you have to sit vigil tonight." Said Wolfheart, as the crowd calmed down. " I won't forget!" meowed Sourstorm excitedly, and she ran off to fecth Rosefur.

"You did very well training her." Said Shadowstar. "It wasn't easy, but I enjoyed doing it." Meowed Wolfheart. "Well...We do have three or four kits getting ready to be apprentices. But, not all at the same time. Redkit and Cheetahkit are kin. And the ones that are about a moon younger, are Pebblekit and Darkkit."

Wolfheart thought. She actually liked Pebblekit alot. She would often play-fight with Cheetahkit, the other female kit, and always would pin Cheetahkit before many heartbeats. She wouldn't mention wanting to get Pebblekit, but she would pray to StarClan, and hope that there was some sort of chance.

"Good catch!" Called Wolfheart after Hazelheart. She had just caught a mouse with the speed of a WindClan cat. "Thanks!" Hazelheart's sound was muffled by the mouse. "Lets go and collect the others we have already caught, and take them back to camp." Suggested Wolfheart. "Will you need some help?" It was Ravenpelt. "We could both help out." Barley appeared behind the black cat. "Of course!" Hazelheart spoke before Wolfheart ever could.

Once all the prey had been dug up (Two mice, a vole and a chaffinch), Barley, Ravenpaw, Wolfheart and Hazelheart all headed back to camp, carrying a piece of prey in each of their mouths.

They set the prey on the fresh-kill pile gently.

Memories stung Wolfheart of her and Grayheart bringing back fresh kill as apprentices. I must go see one of my RiverClan friends... She thought. But who...?

Who had always treated her fairly....Besides her beloved sister, Grayheart, who had died in a battle?

Then it hit her.

An old friend, who was now the Medicine Cat of RiverClan.