The wind tugged at Crowpaw's whiskers and he raised his head to welcome it. He hoped it smelled of rain but it smelled of heather and dust. A faint hint of rabbit pulled him to move, following the scent. As he moved he took in the sweeping moor, the grass dancing in the winds. It pulled on his whiskers, and Crowpaw's eyes narrowed.

He'd never see this part of the moor before. The unfamiliar territory around him offered no clues as to where he was or how he'd gotten there. Oh Mudclaw was going to rip his whiskers off one by one, had he somehow wandered out of WindClan territory?

"Crowpaw," a voice called, he spun around, to see a black furred tom limping towards him. It wasn't a cat he recognized but he smelled of WindClan. Crowpaw flexed his claws as the tom made his way toward him, Crowpaw's eyes drawn to his lame left forepaw. He felt like the wind had been knocked out of him, now he knew who this was. He heard stories about him from his mother and various Clan members.

"Deadfoot," he breathed, the former deputy, his father, dipped his head.

"Hello Crowpaw," he meowed warmly, his eyes warm as he looked at him. This had to be a dream, he'd never met Deadfoot, he'd died before Crowpaw was born, how… the stars glittered in Deadfoot's pelt.

"Why are you here?" Crowpaw asked, stepping forward, "where are we?" Was he dying? He was so close to being a warrior. But why else would a StarClan cat come to him…

The wind picked up and he flattened his ears, but Deadfoot didn't seem to notice.

"I come to give you a message, and a warning," his eyes glowed as he spoke, Crowpaw pricked his ears and listened.

"The forest is in trouble," Deadfoot told him gravely, "and if the Clans are to survive, a new prophecy must be fulfilled. You have been chosen, as have three other cats, and you will all meet at the new moon. Listen to what Midnight has to tell you."

"Midnight?" Crowpaw repeated incredulously, "how can Midnight-" the wind picked up, tugging at his ears, whiskers and tail, and cutting him of.

"What do you mean?" he yelled over the roaring wind, but Deadfoot was fading, as was the moor around them.

Deadfoot pressed his nose to Crowpaw's head like he was making him a warrior, "you'll find out in time. And I know you'll make me proud."

"Don't go," Crowpaw begged, he wanted to know more, but even more than his curiosity he just wanted to spend time with Deadfoot. But even as he begged more of the dream slipped away until only the roaring wind was left.

"Crowpaw!"

Crowpaw blinked awake, opening his eyes to find Mudclaw towering over him. The deputy looked annoying and prodded him sharply in the side.

"Get up, we were supposed to be on a hunting patrol."

Crowpaw scrambled to his paws, standing almost as tall as his mentor, "I'm awake." He snapped, Mudclaw snorted.

"Now you are. Now come on." He paused and looked over Crowpaw's nest, "clean that up later."

Crowpaw glanced down and realized with a sinking heart that in his sleep he'd kicked it around and made a mess. At least he didn't have den mates to have woken up who'd also snap at him. Gorsetail and Robinwing had become warriors last moon and he was the only one left. Leaf-bare had been hard on the Clan and of the three litters, only three kits had survived.

Hopefully Tallstar made him a warrior soon. The apprentice den was cold, and without his den mates felt empty. He missed training with them, they made Mudclaw bearable.

He padded after the deputy, barely glancing at the other cats on patrol. He wasn't sure where Robinwing and Gorsetail were and given the sun was barely over the horizon he suspected they were still in their den and sleeping. He envied them.

And what had that dream been? Him? Chosen for a prophecy? Something about midnight and three other cats at the new moon. He twitched his whiskers as he thought. Why him? The only apprentice in WindClan? Oh yeah sure, StarClan would pick him. It's not like they had a leader or a medicine cat or-

"Crowpaw!"

Or Mudclaw. Crowpaw jerked his head up, peering over the still damp grass to see his mentor glaring at him, "are you just going to stand there and hope rabbits come to you or are you going to hunt?"

"Rather hard to hunt anything if you yell and scare it all away," Crowpaw muttered, opening his mouth to scent the air and look for rabbits. This early they would just be coming out of their burrows. If he was lucky he'd find peasant or quail, still sleeping. That would easily feed several cats.

He slipped off, disappearing the tall grass to tread quietly for now. The smell of rabbit was growing stronger, the grass scratching at his muzzle as he lowered himself to charge.

The grass rustled and Whitetail shot out, Crowpaw's eyes widened but it was too late to stop himself, he charged after her, they dove for the same rabbit, Crowpaw scrambled to turn and leap after a different one, falling just short. He jerked his head to avoid a kick to the face and bolted after it.

He slid a bit on the damp heather as he chased after the rabbit but Mudclaw had already yelled at him once, he wasn't letting it get away. He pushed himself hard, and leapt, landing on the rabbit and killing it with one swift bite.

Whitetail emerged from the grass behind him, carrying her kill, Runningbrook popped out from a clump of heather with a feather clinging to her muzzle, she and Whitetail shared a look.

"Are you okay Crowpaw?" Whitetail asked, looking concerned, "you seem a bit out of it."

"I'm fine," he huffed, more angry at himself than at her, she had been one of the three queens in the nursery when he was kit. Robinwing was her kit, and he'd grown up playing with her and her littermates while Whitetail watched. Which meant he really should've noticed that he could smell her before he leapt out.

She padded over to him and examined his rabbit, "good catch though."

Crowpaw huffed, "sure, maybe if I was a badger."

Whitetail gave him an unimpressed look and he bowed his head and muttered, "thank you Whitetail."

"Better," she turned and as she did flicked his nose with her tail, "and the elders won't care one way or another as long as it's food."

Crowpaw sighed, "I just had a weird dream last night is all." He looked at them hopefully, had one them also had it? Deadfoot had said there were three other cats. But Whitetail just looked concerned while Runningbrook's whiskers twitched.

"No I just had that dream where I'm about to catch a rabbit but it gets away," she sighed and looked around the moor, "I'll catch it one night."

"Let's focus more on catching rabbits outside of dreams," Whitetail suggested, beckoning the two of them to follow her, "before they get a chance to wake up."

They returned carrying plenty of rabbits and a shrew that Runningbrook had found. They dropped their kills on the prey pile, Crowpaw pricked his ears and could hear the sounds of his Clanmates moving around now.

"Crowpaw, take care of the elders," Mudclaw ordered with a flick of his tail, Crowpaw nodded and grabbed one of the rabbits and dragged it to the elders den.

Morningflower was curled up near the entrance, she let out a rumbling purr when she saw him.

"Good morning Crowpaw," she meowed, her eyes drifted to the rabbit he was carrying, "is that for us?"

He dropped it in front of her, "yes. I'm supposed to clear out your bedding as well."

"Have you eaten yet this morning?" she asked him, when she shook his head she nodded for him to go ahead.

"I…"

"This rabbit has plenty of meat on it," she assured him, "go ahead."

"Don't go giving the apprentice my share!" Doespring pushed his way out, Crowpaw moved over to let the elder eat. Morningflower shook he head.

"There's plenty here Doespring, he can eat a little bit."

Doespring grumbled through her food, a light brown tail batted at her ears.

Ryestalk sat down beside her den mates, "you can share with Crowpaw, after all he's going to clean our den."

"Like he's expected to," Doespring muttered but moved over, Crowpaw quickly ate a few bites. His stomach had been growling the whole walk back to camp, and it was nice to have something to eat.

Morningflower's tail brushed against his flank, he blinked gratefully at her. Like Whitetail, the older she-cat had helped raise him alongside her own son and he knew that was partially why she'd shared their food with him.

"And this way he doesn't have to eat with mouse bile on his paws." She added, Crowpaw dipped his head in thanks.

Once he had eaten he got to his paws, "I'll get to work on your nests." He dipped his head to the elders politely and headed in to do his chores.

The worst part about Robinwing and Gorsetail being made warriors before him was that he was left to do the chores all by himself. He hardly had time to train between feeding the elders and queens, cleaning bedding and checking for ticks.

He tugged the bedding towards the entrance of the den, careful not to wake Pidgeonwing and Stagleap who were still sleeping. Morningflower watched him work silently for a few heartbeats.

"Do you want a story?" she offered, Crowpaw hesitated, maybe he could ask for one about Deadfoot, since she'd offered.

"He's almost a warrior isn't he?" Doespring huffed, "at that age they start being too old for kits tales. They stop listening to their elders and start being disrespectful."

"I am not disrespectful!" Crowpaw jerked his head around to glare at the elder, he'd done nothing to deserve that.

"Easy Crowpaw," a warm voice meowed, "you know how Doespring is." Pidgeonwing emerged from the den, the gray and white elder blinked a few times. "Why are we arguing when there is a perfectly good rabbit to eat?"

Doespring shook her head and went back to eating, Crowpaw gave her one last dirty look before padding into the den to continue pulling out old bedding.

The elders talked amongst themselves as he cleaned out the nests, he lashed his tail behind him whenever Doespring looked his way but Pidgeonwing and Morningflower did a good job distracting their den mate.

"Does anyone have any ticks?" he asked as he returned, he hoped the answer was no.

Fortunately all the elders shook their heads, Ryestalk stretched and yawned.

"I think I could use some sun, Doespring, what about you?"

The brown she-cat nodded in agreement, "that sounds perfect." The two sisters padded out of camp, Crowpaw flicked his ears, good riddance.

"Did you want a story Crowpaw?" Pidgeonwing asked, pushing what was left of the rabbit towards him, "I'm sure we can think of one, and we won't tell Doespring."

Crowpaw hesitated and asked quietly, "can you tell me about Deadfoot?"

Pidgeonwing's eye grew soft, "you remind me of him. He was never as argumentative, but you have his determination." Crowpaw swallowed his mouthful as Pidgeonwing added, "he'd have been so proud of you."

Crowpaw lifted his head proudly, Morningflower licked him on the head and he ducked away.

"But you asked for a story," Pidgeonwing meowed thoughtfully, "hmm… let Morningflower groom you while I think."

"But I-" It was too late, Morningflower was already grooming his ears. Crowpaw let out an indignant growl which she ignored. He accepted it, Morningflower had loved him and Robinwing like they were her own.

Pidgeonwing looked amused as Crowpaw sulkily let her continue to groom him.

"Crowpaw!" He almost head-butted Morningflower as he snapped his head up, Mudclaw did not look amused at his apprentice's situation.

"If you're done taking care of the elders than the queens need food and would like to stretch their legs, so you can watch the kits."

"Mudclaw I was going to tell him a story," Pidgeonwing meowed, the deputy gave him a long look.

"He is not a kit, he's almost a warrior and he needs to act like it," Mudclaw meowed firmly, "now come on Crowpaw."

He slipped away from Morningflower with barely a glance at Mudclaw, heading to the nursery.

Tawnyfur and Blacktail were curled up, their kits immediately swarmed Crowpaw when he stepped in.

The two queens looked at him in amusement as he flailed under six kits. Shalekit was tugging on his ears while her sibling pinned him down, assisted by Thrushwing's litter, who were smaller. The youngest, Tawnyfur's were held back by their mother.

"Have fun Crowpaw," Tawnyfur flicked him on the nose as she passed, leaving him trapped beneath the pile of kits.

"I'm supposed to clean the nests!" Crowpaw called after her, trying to get up, sending Shalekit tumbling of him with a squeak.

The kits had no regard for apprentice chores, instead babbling to him, all of them at once, how they were all going to be the greatest warriors and show him the moment they were made apprentices. He had his tail, paws and ears nibbled as he tried to work.

"Would you leave me alone?" he demanded, pulling his tail away from Weaselkit, only for Dark-kit to slam into his side.

He grunted and accepted his fate of being killed by one of the queens when he finally actually snapped at one of the kits but a loud yowl sounded.

He rushed past the kits, almost tripping over them to get out of the nursery, as Rushtail, a senior warrior, Robinwing, Ashfoot and Onewhisker came into camp. Onewhisker's fur was torn and he looked dirty and disheveled.

"Tallstar!"

"I'm fine," Onewhisker insisted, but Rushtail ignored him, tail swinging wildly behind him.

Crowpaw looked to Robinwing, her tail was slightly fluffed out and her eyes wide. She kept glancing at Onewhisker, Crowpaw swallowed the resentment that she had gotten to know her father.

Tallstar appeared out of his den, "yes Rushtail?"

"There's no water in our territory," the warrior's tail almost smacked those who came closer to him, "we tried to get some from the gorge, Onewhisker fell in."

"I'm fine," Onewhisker repeated, "just a little bruised." He moved forward to speak to Tallstar, "however, Rushtail is right, there is no water anywhere but in the gorge and I proved it's far too dangerous to bring our queens, kits or elders there."

"RiverClan is likely to have some," Mudclaw suggested, Crowpaw's mentor unsheathed his claws. Crowpaw did as well, he would not let his Clan suffer, not in Greenleaf when the Clan was supposed thrive.

Tallstar nodded slowly, "and only the dawn patrols are catching food." He sighed and nodded once again, "we shall ask Leopardstar to drink from the river."

"Ask?" Mudclaw's hackles raised, "we should take it!"

"But that would only injure our warriors," Onewhisker pointed out, "and Barkface's store is drying up in this heat."

Mudclaw bared his teeth at the other tom, but Tallstar stepped between them.

"I understand your urge to protect the Clan Mudclaw, but Onewhisker is right. Fighting unnecessary battles would be dangerous right now. Should Leopardstar say no, then you may lead our warriors into battle."

Crowpaw raised his head, that would be his chance, then he'd finally prove he was a warrior. He almost hoped RiverClan would say no.

"I'm hot," Dark-kit mewed sadly from next to him, and he sighed. No. His Clan needed water, and they needed it sooner rather than later. They were beginning to get hungry, but they'd die quickly without water.

Tallstar nodded his head, "we will ask Leopardstar at the gathering."

The heat of the day made the rest of Crowpaw's work easier, as the kits grew tired and lay around in camp while Crowpaw cleaned out the den of bones and soiled bedding. He wasn't sure how long they would be able to get fresh bedding, the heat was drying out the grass and ground all over the territory.

When he had finished cleaning out the nursery the sun was high in the sky and even Mudclaw wasn't going to make them do battle training when it was this hot out. So Crowpaw flopped onto the ground near the kits, letting the sun warm his pelt.

He didn't realized he'd fallen asleep until heavy weight crashed onto him, waking him with a grunt. The familiar scent told him who it was.

"Gorsetail, get off," he kicked at the other tom, who just laughed. Crowpaw rolled over to swipe at Gorsetail's ears, his friend pulled his head away.

"Why are you being mean?" Gorsetail whined, turning his amber his eyes on Crowpaw.

Crowpaw huffed, unaffected, "because you're crushing me!"

Gorsetail sighed and got off him, Crowpaw kicked at his muzzle.

"Hey you two," Robinwing padded up, she looked much calmer than earlier when she'd come back from patrol, "we sparing?"

She dropped into a crouch, Crowpaw flipped over to match her, they swatted at each other, rearing up to wrestle on their hind legs, something bumped into Crowpaw, knocking him and Robinwing over.

Gorsetail waved his ginger tail behind him as he purred in amusement.

Crowpaw and Robinwing looked at each other and nodded, before springing to their paws to tackle Gorsetail.

The trio wrestled briefly, almost like they were kits again, before they split apart, panting and laughing.

"Well done Crowpaw," Robinwing complimented him, he huffed and head butted Gorsetail's shoulder.

"So what did you two do today?" he asked, with a yawn.

"Aw we wore him out," Gorsetail teased, batting at Crowpaw's lashing tail.

"Well you know about my patrol," Robinwing glanced at Gorsetail, who nodded.

"I've been hunting most of the day," he lifted his head, "I managed to catch a couple rabbits."

"I went hunting this morning, and then spent the day cleaning out the elders den and the nursery," Crowpaw stretched out his paws. "those kits are pests."

"Well the good news is that you'll be free of some of them soon," Gorsetail lay his muzzle on Crowpaw's shoulders, "they'll be made apprentices tomorrow."

"Really?" Crowpaw asked, "how do you know?"

"Runningbrook mentioned it to me, she's excited to get her first apprentice," he dragged his tongue over his paws, "Just like I am."

"What?" Robinwing and Crowpaw jerked their heads to look at him, Gorsetail purred.

"Tallstar wants me to mentor one of Blacktail's kits."

"What?" Robinwing gawked at him, "but you're a moon younger than me!"

"And you've only been a warrior one and a half moons," Crowpaw added, the two warriors paused. He refused to look away, he missed them, and it was lonely being the only apprentice.

Gorsetail huffed, "well thanks for that vote of confidence." He nudged Crowpaw, "and I'm sure you'll be a warrior soon, now that you'll be freed from chores."

Crowpaw hoped so, but it was starting to feel like Tallstar and Mudclaw had forgotten about him. He flexed his claws, he wanted to be a warrior-

"Ouch!" Robinwing kicked him lightly, "that's my tail Crowpaw!"

He jerked his paws back, "Sorry!" she pulled it over to her and licked it a few times.

"Such a bully," Gorsetail teased, Crowpaw hissed at him but Gorsetail's good nature refused to be broken.

"Robinwing!" Ashfoot padded over to them, looking fondly at the three curled up together, "you're on a hunting patrol with me tomorrow morning, so you'll want to get some sleep."

Robinwing groaned, rolling over to show her belly, "do I have to?"

"Mudclaw said so."

Robinwing groaned again, Crowpaw jabbed his paw at her exposed belly.

She grunted and lifted her head to glare at him, "dirty trick!"

Ashfoot licked Crowpaw's head between the ears, "the elders said you did a great job with their bedding."

Crowpaw flattened his ears, "I was just doing my job," he replied gruffly, as his mother continued to groom his ears.

"He's got a dirty spot between his shoulders too," Gorsetail told her, Ashfoot licked him there, Crowpaw sighed loudly.

"I'm not a kit."

"You'll always be my kit," she told him, and Crowpaw couldn't argue with that. His mother looked so proud of him, of all three of them.

"Don't forget about the patrol," Ashfoot reminded Robinwing, "we'll need to leave early so we're back by sun-high."

"Why sun high?" Robinwing rolled back over to look up at Ashfoot.

But it was Gorsetail who answered, "the apprentice ceremony."

"Right!" Robinwing swatted his muzzle, "I wouldn't want to miss that."

"Good night you three," Ashfoot meowed, the three chorused "good night!" as she padded towards the warriors den.

The kits had come out to play one last time before bed time, Blacktail's litter almost disappeared in the dusk as the sun sank.

"Which one are you mentoring?" Robinwing asked, Gorsetail shrugged.

"I guess I'll find out tomorrow," he meowed, his eyes glowing in the moonlight, "It feels like just yesterday I was made a warrior."

And here Crowpaw was, still an apprentice. He knew he was coming up on the end of his training, when were Mudclaw and Tallstar going to make him a warrior? He sank his claws into the dirt, that was most important, more important than some weird dreams.

Whitetail stopped as she passed by to press her muzzle against Robinwing's, the two she-cats purred while Crowpaw curled up closer to Gorsetail.

"Are you three going to stay out here a little longer?" she asked.

"Not much longer," Robinwing yawned, "I have a patrol tomorrow, and Gorsetail's got a big day ahead of him."

Gorsetail ducked his head while Whitetail purred.

"The three of you grew up so fast," she meowed quietly, Crowpaw wished he'd grow up a little faster.

Whitetail shook her head, "don't stay up too late, and don't make too much noise talking, some of us enjoy sleep."

"Yes Whitetail!" Gorsetail meowed politely, Crowpaw watched her slip into the warrior's den.

"Enjoy your last night of peace and quiet!" Robinwing teased him, shoving her shoulder into his, "you're going to miss having the den all to yourself."

"After you yowling in my ear, I'm really going to enjoy that peace and quiet," he got to his paws, swinging his tail so it brushed both Robinwing and Gorsetail's ears.

He pulled his tail away, in time to hear Robinwing's teeth camp down where his tail would've been.

He trotted to the apprentice's den without looking back until he got to the entrance. From there he could see them go in side by side.

He curled up in his nest, tail up against his nose. Robinwing was wrong. He didn't find the den quiet and peaceful. He found it cold and empty.

Author's notes:

Alright, so. You're probably like "what is this? Is this a retelling of the second series from Crowfeather's perspective? Why is that cat alive? Who is this?" and the answers are easy. This is a canon divergent series, basically the New Prophecy but I take the series somewhere else. If there's a cat that's alive but shouldn't be, odds are I know, and don't care. Blacktail, Dark-kit, and Shalekit are OCs don't worry, they aren't important.

Related to how some cats are alive that shouldn't be you might be like "you said those cats are related but they're not!" Again. I know. I don't care. When I was writing this fic I got really far in before someone showed me the updated family trees for WindClan and by that point I'd put too much work in to fix it.