Chapter 1- Troutleap

"Troutleap! Troutleap!" The clan called his name happily. Even though he was an apprentice just five moons ago and now he was deputy of the clans. He raised his head and looked at the stars. Are you watching Leapkit and Palekit? I'm going to be the best deputy ever. I'm sorry you died as kits, I'm sure it was my fault. I'll make it up to you I swear. He stepped off the high branch saw his mother. "I'm so proud of you, Troutleap. I know you will make me proud."

He pressed his muzzle against her soft, white fur. "I am doing this for you Moonshine. For you, and Leapkit and Palekit. They didn't get to live their lives so I'm living the best one for all three of us."

Moonshine looked at her paws and blinked away tears. "Come visit me in the elders den sometime. There is another part of the story that I have to tell you." She licked a tuft of fur sticking up on his shoulder and smoothed it down.

He pressed his muzzle against the elder's cheek. "I'll clean the bedding when I go." He got several more congratulations before he got to Sageclaw, his best friend since kithood.

"Great job Troutleap! I knew you were something special of course, I always expected me to become leader and you be my deputy." Troutleap rolled his eyes. They had done this to each other for as long as he can remember. Congratulate then brag about yourself.

"Yeah well Sageclaw, look whose deputy and who is taking orders. Now I want you to go a hunting patrol, and I want you to take…" he looked around until he saw her. "I want you to take Smalllily." He saw Sageclaw's eyes grow big. He had the biggest crush on her. "Smalllily! You're on a hunting patrol with Sageclaw!" The pretty she-cat nodded and walked over to Sageclaw.

"Ready to go?" She asked him, her green eyes shining.

"Yeah, let's go." They padded out through the reed path and swam through the stream so they could get to the best hunting spots. Troutleap shook his head and sighed. He lifted his head and saw the most beautiful cat in the world standing in front of him.

"Hello love." Dawnstream padded up and pressed her nose against his. Her slim figure was a rare treasure in RiverClan. Most cats had broad shoulders and large paws. They were good for swimming and catching fish but it made them look less appealing. That's why they took so much pride in their pelts. I'll bet Leapkit and Palekit had silver pelts as beautiful as Dawnstream's, and I bet they were slim like her too. There was only one other cat in RiverClan that had the same figure that Dawnstream had, Dustypaw but they did share the same mother, Rainstar herself.

"Troutleap, there is something I have to tell you. Will you go for a walk with me?" They left through the same path that Sageclaw and Smalllily left through not too long ago. They reached their favorite spot, the spot where they fell in love, a small island hidden by willow trees with a view of silver pelt between the intertwining branches.

"Troutleap, I have something important to tell you." She said, making herself comfortable in the soft mossy ground.

"What is it?" he asked, laying himself down next to her.

"I'm expecting kits and they will be born in less than a moon." Troutleap looked into her violet blue eyes and purred.

"They'll be the best kits the clans have ever seen."