The whole clan was in shock. The appearance of Whitestar and the knowledge of a seventh clan had thrown everything in disarray, and had ended the Gathering in such chaos that it left many confused. Coonheart had barely even had time to register some important facts about other clans, such as the fact that Mistclan had a new deputy, Hawktalon.

Coonheart and Starblaze both felt the news of Meadowclan troubling. Whitestar had the treacherous Addertalon as his deputy, and this combination didn't bode well for any clan, least of all Sunclan. Darkpaw had been made into the warrior Darkstrike, and Coonheart had been informed by Fernstar he would receive an apprentice soon.

"You are a loyal tom, and a good warrior. Brave and strong. I believe you could properly mentor an apprentice of your own." Fernstar had told him. He asked to mentor Amberkit, but Fernstar had said nothing on the subject.

Now, as he watched over his clan during his turn for a night sigil, he mused to himself over recent events. Talonpaw, his brother, and whom everyone had assumed would be the first of the three siblings to be a warrior, was still an apprentice. Fernstar had told him he was too rash, and hadn't a true grasp of what it meant to be a warrior. Coonheart knew his brother still grieved for loses he couldn't fathom, and their mother's return affected his sibling greatly, but it wasn't anything Talonpaw couldn't recover from. Coonheart was sure of that.

Yarrowsun had been kept busy with new arrivals in the nursery. Sandtail had given birth to healthy kits, Redkit, Tigerkit, Foxkit, and Nightkit. Redkit, named after her bright red coat, Foxkit after her russet red coat, white paws, chest, tail tip, and ear tips. Nightkit, a tom who was solid black, so darkly colored that when Coonheart first got a chance to see the kits he assumed Nightkit was simply a shadow over Sandtail's coat, and Tigerkit, a she-cat with brown fur, dark brown tabby stripes and amber eyes. The kits were still too young to open their eyes, but Amberkit was all ready trying to be friends with them.

Coonheart sighed, thinking of Amberkit. She was energetic and growing steadily, healthfully. Her apprentice ceremony wouldn't be much longer, and Coonheart longed to be her mentor, to be able to continue watching over her. Sense made him realize that Fernstar would not make him her mentor. He knew he would be too soft of the she-cat, and he was sure that Fernstar realized this as well. He thought back to the other additions to the nursery as well, the two kits he, Wildpaw, and Goldie had found, along with Moonpool's only surviving kit.

The two kits had been identified. Robin had finally stepped forward and told them they were kits from twoleg place, their father a tom named Jasper, or Ringtail as he sometimes liked to call himself to woo she-cats from clans. They had different mothers, however. The smaller she-cat had been born to a she-cat named Tsuki, while the larger she-cat had been born to strange large she-cat Robin tended to avoid.

The smaller she-cat had been given a clan name, and was now called Icekit after her ice-blue eye. Even now, however, she didn't say much. The larger she-cat, who turned out to be younger than Icekit, was named Thistlekit.

Moonpool's surviving kit had been a she-cat whom was named Lakekit. Lakekit had pale gray fur and dark blue eyes that reminded Coonheart of Fernstar, making him wonder if perhaps one day Lakekit would become leader of the clan. It was a possibility, he realized.

Coonheart glanced up as a warrior approached, nodding as he realized the cat was Turtleclaw. After the death of Pantherheart, Turtleclaw had become somewhat withdrawn. Even now, Coonheart noted a certain faraway look in Turtleclaw's forest green eyes.

Turtleclaw nodded back, walking out of the camp to make dirt. Coonheart sighed. It was going to be a long night, but he knew a warrior would come to relieve him soon. He had a patrol early morning as well, after all.

X

Starblaze sniffed at the fresh kill pile, her stomach grumbling slightly. She grabbed a tasty looking squirrel, and walked over to the elder's den, gently dropping the squirrel in front of Leaftail. The golden she-cat looked up at her, her blue eyes sad and deflated looking. Starblaze nodded her head to her, nudging the squirrel closer.

"It is hard to believe… Blazestar is truly gone." Leaftail said, proding the squirrel slightly with one paw. Starblaze flicked her ears back, sadness filling her heart for a few moments as she thought of Blazestar. She missed him as well. She looked up and saw Braveheart and Riverstorm leave the elder's den to enjoy the morning. Riverstorm helped to guide Braveheart to a sunny sitting place near Leaftail, nodding to the two she-cats as he looked up at the fresh kill pile.

"I'll get you something." Starblaze said. When she had left the clan had been dealt with many serious blows. Many had lost their mates, and seeing their pain hurt Starblaze. She passed Turtleclaw on her way to the fresh kill pile, noting the tom had gone and laid near Ivyspirit. Starblaze wondered if perhaps Turtleclaw may find a new mate in her.

Starblaze grabbed three mice and brought them to Riverstorm and Braveheart. When offered to share with them, she shook her head. She wanted to share her meal with her mate that morning, but had come to make sure the elders all got their share first. She went back to the fresh kill pile and peered inside, looking to see if there was anything left. A somewhat scrawny looking mouse was all, but she took it gladly, and thanked Starclan that the weather had changed and prey was becoming pleantiful once more.

She looked up after hearing a scuffle, and saw Talonpaw emurge from the apprentice den, shuffling about and stretching to wake himself up. His eyes looked pained, and Starblaze knew why. All his siblings and even a few cats younger than he had been made warriors. Even now, with Ravenpaw, Bonepaw, Cheetahpaw, and Bluepaw's warrior ceremonies going to be later in the day. It was a crushing blow to the once proud tom.

She padded over to him, flicking her ear and tail to get his attention. He looked up at her in surprise, but his eyes softened when he realized it was her. She nodded over to a sunny patch near by and he joined her. She nudged the mouse to him, letting him take the first bite.

"How are you feeling?" Starblaze asked. Talonpaw chewed thoughtfully on his bite before swallowing, his eyes downcast.

"Miserable. I want to be a warrior, like you and dad." He said, looking past Starblaze and into the rest of the clan. Starblaze nodded.

"Being a warrior is a good thing, but it isn't everything. You need time to learn how to be a warrior. I am sure Fernstar will-"

"Coonpa- Coonheart got to be a warrior before me! He was always weaker! Darkstrike to! I tried to defend my clan, and Shadowstripe died! Coonheart..! Coonheart couldn't even defend Nightpaw, but he was able to become a warrior! He couldn't save Dawnflower, but he was allowed to be a warrior! Why not me?" Talonpaw's voice raised in pitch as he talked, his fur bristling. Starblaze's heart ached for him, and she licked his head slightly, smoothing his fur where she could.

"You cared for Nightpaw, didn't you? You cared for Shadowstripe and Dawnflower. You care for your clan, and you want to protect it. It is hard and painful to be seemingly powerless, but you are not. Even you have something to contribute. Even you are needed for our clan to survive, to thrive."

"I don't care about that!" He spat, his fur bristling. Starblaze's ears flattened.

"Don't care about what, Talonpaw? About your clan? About the sacrafices made so that you may live? I had only been a warrior for six moons, long enough to mentor one apprentice, before I had moved to the queen's den to birth you and your siblings. That is eight moons I had spent caring for you and nursing you, making sure you would become a proper apprentice and appreciate every part that comes into being a clan cat. I was not born to this clan, but I will not have you, who have had your entire life within its caring and loving shelter, speak ill of it simply because you had not been made a warrior yet! You are still so young, learn patience!" Starblaze hissed, getting to her paws. Talonpaw looked like she had striken him, before his fur bristled and he bared his teeth.

"Like you would know anything! You left! For what? To find your origins? You knew them! You were born to a kittypet named Princess and her temporary mate named Reggie! You say you love Sunclan, but during a time of hardship you left! When you came back, Bluefire had lost her tail, and you bring an older warrior so scarred it is hard to believe he could be in any more battles! You act like you are a great warrior, that the clan should respect you, but you are no better than me!" Talonpaw hissed. Starblaze backed off, her ears flatted against her head tightly. Her eyes narrowed.

"Yes. I left. I left to find myself, to find out why I had come to the clans. It was selfish of me, and I regret my decision, but I could not have predicted that all this tragedy would occur. Had I known, I would not have left. I understand why Fernstar has not made you into a warrior yet. You only see the faults in others, not yourself. You let your grief blind you, and instead of putting any blame on yourself for it, you blame those around you. I am no longer hungry, so you may have the rest of the mouse. I have a hunting patrol to go on." Starblaze said. Her heart ached wildly, but she pushed the feelings back, leaving her kit behind as she asked to join Brambletalon, Mistfrost, Smokeheart, and Wildpaw on their hunting patrol. She was very thankful when they accepted.

X

Starblaze yawned, purring softly as Smallclaw licked the back of her head, grooming her.

"I worry about Talonpaw." She said. Smallclaw stopped, laying next to her. The warrior ceremony was over, and many cats were now retiring for the night, still congradulating the new warriors, or spending a few more moments in the dwindling sunlight. Starblaze could see a few cats in groups, such as Turtleclaw with Ivyspirit, Leaftail with Riverstorm, Sunstream with Skyheart, and such. She even saw Coonheart spending a few moments to play with Amberkit before she went to sleep for the night.

"I worry about him to. His ambition is..." Smallclaw trailed off, trying to think of what to say. Starblaze nodded her head.

"It is not just his ambition. Today, when I talked to him, his grief as well. He is holding on very tightly to cats that have died, and is putting the blame on others. I worry about that." Starblaze said. Smallclaw glanced at her, before nodding to Earthwing as he walked up.

"Smallclaw, Starblaze." He said, nodding to both. "today has been eventfull. This is the second time I have seen a warrior ceremony in Sunclan, and I'll admit, it feels nice to see such things. I am starting to feel more and more like a member of the clan." Starblaze nodded her head, glad Earthwing was adjusting. She had worried when she had asked him to return with her that he would be miserable. She was glad this turned out not to be the case.

"It is hard for a clan to adjust to a member that isn't clan born. It is also hard for a member that isn't born to that clan to adjust to joining that clan. I apologise now, for any… unpleasantries of my clanmates." Smallclaw said, nodding his head to Earthwing. Starblaze felt warmed by her mate. She could all but remember her days as a kit, when some clan members had protested against her for so long, and how even Smallclaw himself had disliked her presence at first. She was glad that now he was more accepting of cats from outside the clan joining. Earthwing sat down in front of them, nodding his head.

"I am happy for that, Smallclaw, but it isn't nessisary. I am glad that no cats so far have treated me unkindly, nor unfairly since my joining. It is rare that clan cats are like this, it really does remind me of Thunderlcan." He said, his eyes getting a far away look as he spoke. Starblaze tilted her head.

"Earthwing, Starblaze has told me of Thunderclan and your involvement in her joining Sunclan. I thank you for that, but I wanted to ask: Did you not have a mate, or even a she-cat you were interested in, back in Thunderclan?" Smallclaw asked. Starblaze's eyes widened. She had never even once considered this at all, nor how Earthwing may have felt about leaving Thunderclan. Earthwing shook his head.

"Sadly, no. There are many great she-cats in Thunderclan, mind you, proud and strong. Loyal cats that would die to defend their clan and the warrior code! However, I never really found a mate in any of them, nor any feelings towards any one really. Truth is, when I think of all the cats of Thunderclan, I see them all as family." Earthwing said. Smallclaw nodded as well.

"I know how you feel. Starblaze is my mate, but when I look at the she-cats of the clan, such as Ivyspirit, all I see are she-cats that could be my sister. It is… an uneasy feeling." Smallclaw admitted. Starblaze purred in amusement, and Earthwing nodded his head.

"It is good that the clans sometimes allow cats from outside to join. Otherwise, we would all soon be related!" Starblaze said, giggling as she spoke. Earthwing and Smallclaw blinked at her, before both joining in. It was a funny thought, at least to them. Soon after, they decided to retire for the night. As Starblaze entered the warrior's den, she passed Ivyspirit. The brown tabby she-cat gave her a glare before going to her own nest. Blinking in confusion, Starblaze went to her nest beside Smallclaw and Coonheart.

X

Coonheart stat frozen to the spot. Icepaw, once Icekit, stared up at him with slightly bored eyes. Only a few days before was the apprentice ceremony for Icepaw, Sunpaw, Amberpaw, Twilightpaw, and Risingpaw. It was a strange feeling for Coonheart, who was now looking at his apprentice, Icepaw, and wondering just how in Starclan he should start his training.

Working at the training hollow with the other apprentices and their mentors, it wasnt long before he gained an idea.

"We'll start with basic battle moves, like Wildpaw and Shadestalker!" Coonheart finally decided. Icepaw blinked at him, before walking alongside him to Wildpaw and his permiment mentor in Shadestalker.

"Shadestalker, do you mind if Icepaw practices with Wildpaw?" Coonheart asked. Shadestalker blinked at him, his blue eyes confused for a moment, before shaking his head.

"This is an advanced move, something I doubt Icepaw would be able to grasp so early in her training. Coonheart, as a suggestion, I'd start her off on learning how to hunt. I started my training learning how to hunt, and it actually helped me greatly when I started combat training." Shadestalker suggested helpfully. Coonheart felt his body warm up in emberressment as Icepaw looked up at him again, before he shrugged it off and nodded to Shadestalker.

"Thank you, I will try that first then." Coonheart said, leading Icepaw along to farther into the territory. It took him a little while to realize he was going faster than Icepaw could reasonably keep up with, and he slowed down until he stood still, pricking his hears to hear for any prey.

Icepaw remained silent, her ears pricked for the sounds of any prey as well. She couldn't hear anything that sounded like prey, but she watched as Coonheart's ears twitched towards every sound. After a few moments he looked back at her, finally looking somewhat like a mentor should.

"We'll start with a basic hunters crouch today, and work from there. I'll show you how to preform a hunter's crouch, and I want you to copy it as best you can, alright?" Coonheart asked. Icepaw nodded her head.

Idly, she thought that Coonheart made a funny warrior.

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Shorter than I want it to be, but only becouse I got writter's block.

so sorry it took so long, didnt have enouge time to write it.

Coonheart's a mentor! wonder how he'll handle it XD

let me know what you think!