As the sun set on the horizon, red tainted the sky. Blood streaked overhead, intermitten with fluffy white clouds. A bitter cold breeze whistled through the reeds, making them wave underneath the vast sky. A river snaked through the forest, the water churning sluggishly on, even though most of the top layer had been frozen into slush.

In the edge of the river was an island of sorts. The water on the side, usually shallow enough to walk through, was frozen solid. Small kits played on the ice while their mother's watched worriedly. The island, however, was home to many cats, most of whom were gathered in the center of the island in a clearing.

On the far horizon, where the sun usually rose, a few cats in Silverpelt were beginning to twinkle in a friendly manner. They didn't warm the shivering cats below, but many of the cats looked at their flickering ancestors with bright smiles. They all sat with their fur fluffed out and their tails wrapped around their paws, alternating between glancing at their ancestors and staring extectantly at the front of the clearing.

There was where Heronpaw sat beside Mallowtail. Today was the day. Badgerstar had finally given him his final assessments, and had made the decision to name him a warrior. He couldn't really delay it any longer. Heronpaw knew there were many cats in the Clan who had not wanted him to get his warrior name. While he had not assumed he would earn their loyalty right away, he had been surprised by just how long it had taken them to trust him again. He supposed, having been told he was a traitor for so long, it was hard for them to see him as anything but. On the other hand, he had not helped this process along. When he had rejoined RiverClan, his Clanmates had expected him to provide information on SkyClan. But Heronpaw refused to be used as a spy. SkyClan had been good to him, and he would not betray them. Badgerstar had expected his reasoning. Not all of his Clanmates had.

However, that was all behind them. No one in the Clan was staring at him with hostile glares now. Many of them looked excited, expectant. In his own way, he had earned their trust back. They were ready now to accept him as one of their own. Heronpaw stared up at his warrior ancestors. Somewhere up there was Hollystripe and Reedstar. He wondered if they were watching over him now.

A hush seemed to fall over the Clan as Badgerstar appeared from his den. The massive tom had not been leader for very long. After all, two seasons was nothing compared to Brackenstar, or Reedstar. It was clear from day one, however, that Badgerstar had the full support of the Clans. He had been welcomed with great honor at his first Gathering, and Heronpaw had heard that the cats over the borders feared his strength. No one knew exactly what had happened in RiverClan except the cats that had been involved. Nightstar in ThunderClan had been particularly interested. Already they had chased out several ThunderClan intruders. Not recently, though. Rippleclaw's patrols had managed to scare them off for now.

A shiver crossed Heronpaw that had nothing to do with the cold. Tonight, right now, he'd be receiving his warrior name.

The Clan leader stepped forward so all the Clan could here him. There was no need to call out to get their attention. Every cat was focused on Badgerstar and Heronpaw now.

"Tonight, we gather together as a Clan, united before StarClan, for one of my favorite duties." Badgerstar's deep voice carried throughout the camp, hooking every cat in. Even the kits, who couldn't sit still any other time, were watching, eyes wide with awe. "Heronpaw has proven himself a worthy of a warrior name." His eyes flashed. "It is my honor to give him one."

The Clan leader turned to the pair sitting side by side in front of the Clan. "Mallowtail, has Heronpaw passed his final assessment to your approval, and shown himself to be ready to receive his warrior name before StarClan?"

Mallowtail lifted her head proudly. "He has."

Badgerstar nodded. "Heronpaw, step forward."

Heronpaw practically shook as he paced forward until he was standing in front of Badgerstar. The massive tom was staring up at the distant stars, still twinkling merrily on the horizon. "I, Badgerstar, leader of RiverClan, call upon my warrior ancestors to look down upon this apprentice. He has trained hard to undertand the ways of your noble code, and I commend him to you as a warrior in his turn." The leader turned to face Heronpaw head on. Their eyes met, and Heronpaw knew what was coming. Badgerstar wasn't just beseeching him, but was asking him a sincere question. "Heronpaw, do you promise to uphold the warrior code, and to protect and defend this Clan, even at the cost of your own life?"

Heronpaw knew all cats were watching him, even the warriors in StarClan. He could almost feel the strange eyes of Fernlight, as if she were standing right beside him, watching him become a warrior. "I do." He promised, not just to Badgerstar or his Clanmates, but to Fernlight, Hollystripe, and all the other warriors who had lived and died before him.

"Then, by the powers of StarClan, I give you your warrior name. Heronpaw, you have proven yourself to be a versatile warrior, full of enterprise. From this moment on, you shall be known as— "

"Heronflight!" There was a sharp jab in his side, and Heronflight opened his eyes groggily. He had been sleeping in the warrior den after a day of hard work. First a border patrol along the WindClan border, and then fishing down by the river. He had managed to catch a carp fat enough to feed all the cats in the nursery.

Sablefur was standing over him, her eyes shining with amusement. "Wake up, sleepyhead! Rippleclaw wants all the cats going to the Gathering to meet in the clearing. It's almost time."

"Okay, I'm coming," he grunted, pulling himself to a sitting position. He wished he'd had more time to sleep. It was very cold out, and his nest was rather warm in comparison. As he licked scraps of moss from his pelt, though, he began to feel more animated. It was his first Gathering tonight! Badgerstar had not let him go before he was named a warrior. Heronflight suspected he didn't want him to be tempted into rejoining SkyClan. Except he hadn't been able to go, even after getting his warrior name. His first moon after, he had slipped into the river water and caught a cold. Kestrelsong had strictly forbidden him to go while he was still sick. The moon after that, clouds had covered the moon. RiverClan hadn't dared to go without StarClan's approval. So Heronflight had been forced to weight the extra three moons to go. That was alright with him, though. He was going tonight, and that was what mattered.

The clearing was packed with cats ready to go. Cinderfrost sat with her head high, outside the nursery. She wasn't allowed to go, so full of kits as she was, but that didn't stop her from saying goodbye to the cats that were. Her mate, Otterfoot, was chatting animatedly beside her. "I promise I'll tell you everything," he finished. Her purr was loud enough for Heronflight to hear outside the warrior's den.

Whitekit charged across the clearing and launched himself onto Nightfall. His father wriggled in the dirt, playing along. "Oh no, he's got me!"

"Enough, Whitekit!" Snowdapple scolded on her way past. "You're going to get your pelt all dirty."

The two-moon old tomkit jumped off Nightfall at once and wrapped himself around her paws. "I wish you could stay and wash me!"

"Don't worry, Whitekit," Icebreath said, padding over. "I'll give you a wash while Snowdapple goes to the Gathering."

The kit wrinkled his nose. "I don't want you to wash me. I want Snowdapple! Why can't I go with her?"

"You're too young," Icebreath explained patiently. "And Snowdapple hasn't been out of the nursery in moons looking after you. She needs to stretch her legs."

"How about I bring you back a mossball from the ThunderClan border?" Snowdapple asked her son affectionately. "Would you like that?"

"Yes!" Whitekit enthused, his eyes brightening.

Heronflight felt a rush of affection for the little kit. The little scruff reminded him so much of what Snowdapple was like when she was that young. They might not be blood, but Heronflight had grown up sharing a nest with Snowdapple. They would always been kin.

At that moment, there was a call outside Badgerstar's den. The Clan leader had appeared, and was giving the signal. Together, the RiverClan cats raced out of the clearing and into the forest. The air bit at Heronflight's face, and he fluffed his fur out to try and keep warm. The cold season was in it's peak. Today had been the shortest day Heronflight could remember in a long time.

Maybe that was why Badgerstar kept a brisk pace. It was too cold to be out for long. The hollow where the Clans gathered would be warmer, Heronflight knew. Water formed at the corner of his eyes. He couldn't wait to warm up with the other Clans.

The clearing was practically empty by the time they got there. Brackenstar was sitting next to the Great Rock, talking to a strange cat Heronflight didn't know. All around, familiar SkyClan cats were interweaving with cats that smelled of ShadowClan. Heronflight had seen the ShadowClan leader, Toadstar, when he had visited RiverClan camp. The leader had spoken to Badgerstar about forming a possible alliance against ThunderClan, but the RiverClan leader had turned him down. He did not want any quarrels with ShadowClan, but he did not want to deliberately start a war with ThunderClan in leafbare. Sablefur had guessed he had really come to spy on RiverClan camp.

"Hey, Heronflight!" a voice sounded from behind, and Heronflight's spirit's rose. He'd know that voice anywhere.

"Sootpelt!" He whirled around and faced the wiry gray cat as he raced forward. "How did you know about my new name?"

His friend shrugged. "Kestrelsong told me a while ago."

Heronflight groaned. Of course Kestrelsong would have told him. They were friends now that they traveled to the Moonstone together once every moon. After the battle with ThunderClan, Sootpelt had been very shaken. Staying up many nights to think, he had decided to switch to being a medicine cat apprentice. He had kept it to himself up until the decision was finalized. That certainly explained why he'd been so secretive before Heronflight left SkyClan.

"Remind me to cuff her over the ear next time I see her."

"She isn't here?" Sootpelt asked curiously. If it had been any cat other than Sootpelt, Heronflight would have been concerned about him asking.

"No, Morningpaw's got an eye infection," he explained. "She wanted to stay behind and look after her."

The medicine cat's eyes stretched wide. "Oh no! Does she need any celadine? I can bring some to her if she needs any."

Heronflight winced uncomfortably. He had no idea what Kestrelsong's stores might need. "Sorry Sootpelt, but I don't know anything about that." His friend's eyes were so downcast that he felt the need to add, "I'll send her over if she needs anything. I'm sure she'll appreciate it."

Sootpelt nodded. "Good. Cause if she needs any, we've got plenty." His eyes twinkled. "How's your sister?"

Pride sparked in Heronflight's chest as he thought of Ivyrush. "She's well. She's not here tonight either, but she chased a dog off our territory the other day."

"Good for her!" Sootpelt praised, his eyes warm. ThunderClan cats were streaming into the clearing now.

"Yes," Heronflight answered, looking around at the ThunderClan warriors. They were clearly in no hurry. "How's Bearbelly?"

Sootpelt shrugged, as if it were nothing. "Oh she's fine. She's had two healthy kits. Hasn't named them yet though."

Heronflight saw the pride in Sootpelt's eyes. Bearbelly had had a particularly hard pregnancy, he suddenly recalled. He must be proud of his sister's strength. "I'll bet Firestone's happy."

"Oh yeah," his friend commented easily. "Haughtiest cat in the Clan."

"What about Aloeleaf?" he asked, trying to make it sound casual and failing miserably. Sootpelt's eyes gleamed, as if he knew what Heronflight was thinking.

"She's great. Healthy as ever. She's getting pretty big now. I wouldn't be surprised if she has a big litter."

Heronflight couldn't stop himself from purring warmly. "I take it she's in the nursery now."

"Yeah," Sootpelt admitted as WindClan entered the clearing. "Her kits will come any day now. Tangleblaze is with her," he added. Before Heronflight could reply, there was a caterwauling from the Great Rock. All five of the leaders were outlined impressively against their warrior ancestors.

As Toadstar began the traditional opening call, Heronflight felt his ambition wrack him once again. Today, he was a warrior representing his Clan at his first Gathering. He wanted more than anything to be the best warrior he could be for his Clan. In his mind's eye, he could see himself going beyond that. Maybe he'd take a mate and have kits, maybe not. Someday, he could be chosen as the RiverClan deputy, organizing patrols and working extra hard. And if he was strong and willful, maybe he would end up Clan leader. He could almost see himself standing on the Great Rock, giving the opening talk. It felt like a tantalizing fish at the edge of the water.

He saw Brackenstar up there, and thought about his mother in SkyClan. She had given him up so he could have a worthy future. It was a sacrifice he'd have to live with forever. Might as well make the most of it. She was going to have another litter, this one to stay in SkyClan. He'd have more kin in SkyClan! If he ever did become leader, he'd try to ensure that- so long as they didn't bring any harm to his Clan –he wouldn't bring any harm to theirs. After all, he had learned by now not to hold a grudge against those who were different than him.