Archive of Our Own ^beta

Chapter Text

A pheasant was a rare sight for a Clan cat. They were hard to catch, rivaled only by turkeys and eagles, but could feed an entire Clan.

Shrewpaw had a Clan to feed and a pheasant on the Thunderpath, and not enough time to wait. Hunger will do that to a cat, drive them to make impossible decisions by the scraping, desperate need in their stomachs.

Ferncloud had lost two kits. Cinderpelt was eating far less than her share. Longtail was fasting for days, dodging Shrewpaw and Whitepaw's attempts to force prey into him.

Shrewpaw would not let another cat die to hunger.

He pounced.

"Shrewpaw!" Thornclaw screamed.

He missed the pheasant and no that was a monster what was he going to do was this how he died he promised Ferncloud he'd come back he promised Squirrelpaw he'd be there he told Whitepaw they'd work on her crouch this wasn't the end this wasn't

"...rewpaw..."

"...save him!"

"...all we can do...StarClan..."

"You mouse brain, what were you thinking?"

"S'he gonna wake up?"

"I don't know yet."

"I'm sorry. I failed...please, forgive me."

"Please come back."

Shrewpaw woke.

He must've be dead. There was a StarClan cat in front of him, ringed in stars.

Or sun.

"Squirrelpaw," he said, surprised by how raspy his voice was, how much he had to force himself to talk.

She stepped into the den, moving deliberately, until she could rest his head next to his.

"Cinderpelt!" she called. "Shrewpaw is awake." She turned her attention back to him. "She said to tell you not to move, when you woke up."

"I don't think I could," he admitted. "I feel so stiff."

"What were you thinking?" she said. "You ran straight onto the Thunderpath."

"There was a pheasant," he said, "didn't Thornclaw bring it back?"

"You have thistle for brains," she said. "He was carrying you back instead." Beneath her blustering, he could hear the concern and worry in her voice. "What would we have done if you died?"

Cinderpelt entered. The make-shift medicine den was small, but still big enough for three cats.

"Come on now," she said, "let's focus on what did happen."

She began to look him up and down, sniffing him closely. "You were extremely bruised when you were brought in, and you lost a lot of blood. I think you broke at least one rib; you'll need to stay in the nest until it heals."

She began to assemble herbs.

"Is he going to be okay?" Squirrelpaw asked.

"Well," Cinderpelt said, hesitating, "he's not out of the woods yet. He has a lot of healing to do, and there's no promising everything will set correctly. There's nothing I can do for a broken rib but wait."

"What happens if it heals wrong?" Squirrelpaw and Shrewpaw glanced at each other, saying the question nearly in time.

"I'm not sure," she said. "It depends how badly." She paused, clearly considering what to say next. "The best case scenario — other than it healing correctly — is that your chest just feels a bit odd. The worst case scenario is it makes it harder for you to breath, and you can't do your warrior duties. But I don't want to scare you. The ribs are the least of your worries, right now. You're still very weak, and have a lot of wounds that could get infected."

She put down a bundle of herbs.

"Squirrelpaw, will you help?"

"Help what?" Shrewpaw asked.

"You've been out of it for nearly three days," Squirrelpaw explained. "So we've had to move you. Here—"

She scrambled to his other side, pressing herself against his flank. The pressure hurt in sharp, stabbing pains, and he winced.

"Sorry," Cinderpelt said. "It'll hurt more in a moment."

They pulled him up by the scruff of his neck, then shifted his weight so he leaned on his other side.

"Couldn't I have done that?" he said, embarrassed by how he yowled during the process.

"No." Cinderpelt had a kind and wistful look, and Shrewpaw wondered if she was remembering her own accident. "You need to rest as much as you can. Speaking of, Squirrelpaw, you need to leave. Tell Whitepaw and Spiderpaw they can visit quietly and for a little while, and please ask Leafpaw to come back."

Squirrelpaw nodded, hesitating before she left.

"Shrewpaw?" she said. "I'm glad you're okay."

Every day was slow.

He couldn't do anything but sit and rest.

The first few days were alright, but eventually, he was awake more than he was asleep, and Cinderpelt was still fussing over his visitors.

"Would you prefer it if I snuck out?" he asked.

"Fine," she said, after a quarter-moon. "You'll need to start to move, anyway. We're leaving soon."

"The forest?"

Cinderpelt nodded, and turned away. Shrewpaw had known this was coming, but it still made his stomach sink.

He eased himself out of his nest, wincing.

"Leafpaw, why don't you help him?"

Leafpaw nodded, standing next to him.

"Lean on me if you're tired," she said. "You can't over exert yourself."

"Stop him if he breathes heavy," Cinderpelt said. "But try to make it to a spot of sun."

Camp was subdued, cats lying listless. There was no point in sending out hunting patrols to catch prey that wasn't there, but there were markedly few warriors.

"Where is everyone?" he asked, trying not to put too much weight on Leafpaw.

"They're rescuing ShadowClan," she said. "Their camp is being destroyed."

Shrewpaw didn't ask any more questions.

"Shrewpaw!" Whitepaw said. "You've finally been allowed out!"

He nodded, starting to purr.

"I've been released from my entrapment," he said.

"But you're still going very slowly," Leafpaw said.

"Yes," he said. "I'm still limited."

He finally stopped in the first spot of sun, laying down gingerly.

"Your muscles are probably very tense," Leafpaw said, "so try to stretch out what you can. But stop if anything hurts."

Whitepaw began to groom him. "I don't know what you were thinking..." she began, chastising him for his decision.

Shrewpaw found he didn't mind that much. The sun was weak, but warm, and he was alive. He could work with that.

He was still outside when ShadowClan arrived. There was no mirth in this victory, just weak and starving cats.

Squirrelpaw was alternating between being chastised and looking smug.

"Hey!" she said. "Cinderpelt finally let you out."

"Yeah," he said, "Leafpaw was watching me to make sure I didn't overexert myself, but I guess she decided Whitepaw would be sufficient."

She touched noses with him.

"How do you feel?"

"Terrible," he said, "but also the best I've felt in a while."

She sat next to Whitepaw, who shifted her attention to grooming Squirrelpaw.

"How'd it go?" asked Whitepaw.

"It was, well, we're here." Squirrelpaw had a twitching excitement in her voice, and Shrewpaw knew she was in trouble. "I got to fight a Twoleg."

"You what?"

"Well," she said, sounding smug, "there I was, oh, hold on, so there was a tree..."

Shrewpaw laid his head down, content. Leafpaw joined them at some point, protesting some of the details.

The sun set, and Cinderpelt came to fetch him in. Leafpaw helped him back, and he heard Squirrelpaw dodging questions from Dustpelt and Firestar.

"You're looking better," Cinderpelt said.

"It was nice to be outside," he said.

"I know," Cinderpelt said. "It's good to be with your friends. You should keep going out, walking as long as you can, and stopping when it hurts. Leafpaw can go with you, or Whitepaw or Squirrelpaw."

She paused, assembling a pile of herbs and pushing it towards him. He ate it without even thinking, already used to the routines of the medicine den.

"We're going to leave soon," she said, "and I can't make your ribs heal any faster. So there's no use in getting worse before that." She was looking at him with a very serious expression. "Please, don't push yourself."

"I won't," he said. "I'm not eager to meet StarClan."

She nodded, looking satisfied. "Good. When we leave, make sure you stay close to me so I can keep an eye on you. Us slow cats will stay together."

Her purr was warm, and he almost forgot that he was leaving his home in less than a quarter moon.

"Before we leave," Firestar called, "I have one last task to do in our home."

He looked out across the gathered cats. They were huddled and skinny, a hushed murmur falling quiet.

"ThunderClan has an apprentice who has already proven he deserves to be made a warrior. Shrewpaw, step forward."

He walked forward, slowly. Cinderpelt had cleared him to walk on his own, even if it hurt a little bit, and that was all the Clans needed to set out. Firestar nodded approvingly at him, and Thornclaw stood by his side.

"You're ready," he whispered. "I'm proud of you."

"I, Firestar, leader of ThunderClan, call upon our warrior ancestors to look down upon this apprentice. He has trained hard to become a warrior, and I commend him to you in turn."

Shrewpaw's heart beat fast. It was strange; he knew it was time for his warrior ceremony, roughly, but with no assessment, he had thought it wouldn't be until they found a new home.

"Shrewpaw, do you promise to uphold the warrior code and protect your Clan, even at the cost of your life?"

(Privately, Shrewpaw thought he had already shown that.)

"I do," he said, loud as he could. (His voice hadn't fully healed, still quieter and raspier than it was. He was getting used to it.)

"Then by the power of StarClan, I give you your warrior name. From this moment on, you will be known as Shrewheart. StarClan honors your loyalty and courage, and we welcome you as a full warrior of ThunderClan."

Firestar rested his muzzle on Shrewheart's head, and he licked his shoulder.

ThunderClan started the call, but the entirety of the Clans called his name.

If he had to leave his home, this wasn't a terrible way to do it.

Chapter Text

It took them a day to cross through WindClan's territory. It wasn't an easy trip, either; kits had to be carried, and they narrowly escaped the monsters. Shrewheart could keenly feel that he wasn't fully recovered.

Cinderpelt had prioritized giving travelling herbs to weaker cats, and Shrewheart hadn't been able to turn her away.

"Shrewheart, don't be foolish. This is a long trip."

He was grateful for her, now, as his paws started to ache and he struggled to breath evenly. The other apprentices (or, well, just apprentices now) were still clustered around him, but Shrewheart was quiet, focusing on keeping pace with the Clans.

By dusk, they were nearing Highstones. Shrewheart had been here once, with Whitepaw and Spiderpaw. Firestar and Cinderpelt had taken them when Squirrelpaw and Brambleclaw disappeared, fearing there wouldn't be another chance.

It wasn't the longest of trips, but it counted.

"Are you doing okay?" asked Cinderpelt. Most of the apprentices had drifted towards the front of the group, although Whitepaw and Squirrelpaw regularly circled back to check on him.

"Yeah," he said, "I'm out of shape, though."

"Better than injured," she pointed out. "There's not much farther to go, though. You remember the Horseplace, right?"

Shrewheart nodded.

"We're stopping there, if Barley and Ravenpaw let us stay."

By the time the tail of the group had made it, things were already hashed out.

"Cinderpelt, Shrewheart, you're going to sleep inside the barn," Firestar said.

"I don't need to," Cinderpelt and Shrewheart said together.

"You certainly do," Cinderpelt said. "There's nothing worse for a chest injury than cold."

"Cinderpelt," Firestar said, "we can't risk a medicine cat falling ill either."

"Shrewheart, make sure you get inside to sleep. I'm going to go meet with the other medicine cats, Leafpaw and Mothwing are seeing what herbs we have. If there are any to spare, Leafpaw will bring some by."

Shrewheart nodded, but he didn't go in the barn right away.

"Hey!" Squirrelpaw called. "Sorry I didn't walk with you."

"It's alright," he said, "I'm a warrior now, anyway, can't be seen hanging around apprentices."

Squirrelpaw laughed, high and clear. "You wish you were cooler than me. Or did you forget that I went on the quest?"

"Well, who was made a warrior first?"

"That's not fair," she said. "It's not my fault you're, like, two moons older."

He purred. "Do you think I'm supposed to sit vigil? Firestar told me I was sleeping in the barn."

"I don't think so," Squirrelpaw said, "or he would've told you that. Besides, you're injured. If Cinderpelt had her way, you'd still be in a medicine den."

"Feels strange," he said. "I'm the last warrior made here, and I'm not even sitting vigil."

Squirrelpaw sat beside him. "Well," she said, "you can always be first to sit vigil in our new home. With me and Whitepaw, of course."

"What, you think you'll be made warriors just for arriving at our new home?"

"I think Firestar just doesn't want to be accused of favoritism." She ran her cheek against him. "You should get inside, Leafpaw will be back soon and she'll throw a fit if she can't find you. Us lowly apprentices are sleeping outside, but Whitepaw said there are already nests in the barn."

He bunted his temple against her gently. "I'll see you in the morning," he said.

"Yeah," she said, "but not if I see you first."

She stood up, bolting away faster than he could hope to follow. "That doesn't even make sense!" he called after her.

He couldn't be sure, but it almost sounded like she was laughing at him.

Squirrelpaw, Whitepaw, and Spiderpaw stayed closer to him, after that.

The journey was wearing on him, and while he didn't think he was getting worse, he knew he wasn't getting any better.

"We can take a rest," Squirrelpaw said.

"We're already in the back," Shrewheart complained.

"No, actually the queens are still behind us," Whitepaw said. "And some warriors, of course, I think they've got one for every kit. They take more breaks."

"Oh," Shrewheart said, feeling a little embarrassed.

"What, you thought Ferncloud and Birchkit were keeping up with Tawnypelt and Brambleclaw?"

Their teasing made him feel better about needing to stop. Once he caught his breath, he stood, indicating they could keep going.

"Are you sure?" Squirrelpaw asked. She pressed her nose into his shoulder, and he couldn't keep himself from flinching. "You're not going to make it worse?"

"Well," he said. "We have to keep going, anyway. And it's not gotten worse yet." Squirrelpaw shook her head.

"Come on, you stupid furball." She stood right next to him, pressing her shoulder into him. She was small enough it was almost comical. "We're your friends, you know. You're still one of us."

"Yeah," Spiderpaw said, standing on his other side. "Just because you got your warrior name first doesn't mean you're better than us."

They pressed into him (well, Whitepaw made Squirrelpaw leave, since she could do a better job), and it helped.

That night, there was no inside for Shrewheart to sleep him, so Cinderpelt released him to the rest of the apprentices. There were a good number of them, many who Shrewheart hadn't met.

"Okay," Squirrelpaw said. "You know all of us, and we're obvious the best," she waved her tail at the ThunderClan apprentices, who made up the bulk of the group. "Also," she said, under her breath, "we've gotten off the best in terms of apprentice survivals, so don't mention the numbers thing." She pointed her chin at the remaining clusters.

"Crowpaw, Weaselpaw, and Thistlepaw. Crowpaw's obnoxious but the other two aren't bad. Volepaw, Stonepaw, and Slashpaw. RiverClan, obviously." It was obvious both from their names, and the fact that they were clearly the best fed.

"And then Smokepaw and Talonpaw, from ShadowClan. Everyone, this is Shrewheart."

"We know," one of the apprentices said.

"Let up, Splashpaw," Whitepaw said. "He hasn't had a chance to meet anyone."

"Yeah," Spiderpaw said. "He's been in recovery."

"He's a warrior," Crowpaw pointed out. "What happened to apprentice-solidarity?"

"Come off it, Crowpaw. You only bring that up when it benefits you." Squirrelpaw's fur was puffed up, and Shrewheart wondered how much of it was falsified.

"Besides," Spiderpaw said, "he's my littermate. He's basically still an apprentice."

"Hey!" Shrewheart said.

"No offense." His brother didn't meet him in the eyes. Shrewheart hadn't had the chance to have a private conversation with him; he hoped he wasn't upset about Shrewheart becoming a warrior first.

"I mean, it's true," Squirrelpaw said.

"We're trying not to let him get too full of himself," Whitepaw added. The other apprentices laughed.

"Where's Leafpaw?" Shrewheart asked, trying to change the subject.

"Probably with Mothwing," one of the RiverClan apprentices (Volepaw, maybe?) said. "They've been spending a lot of time together."

"Yeah," said Thistlepaw, "and someone is real upset about it." He nudged Crowpaw, who hissed at him.

"She's a medicine cat," Squirrelpaw said. "It doesn't matter."

"I mean, having a crush on a medicine cat kind of fits with Crowpaw's whole thing," Shrewheart said.

"What's that supposed to mean?" Crowpaw said, anger radiating off of him.

"Oh, you know," he said, "your whole sad-all-the-time-thing."

"You don't understand," Crowpaw said. "I'm going to go see Stormfur and the others."

The apprentices watched him leave.

"He's such a grouch," Squirrelpaw said. "I know he's sad about Feathertail, but it's not like he's the only cat who's lost someone."

Silenced passed between them. Squirrelpaw licked Shrewheart's shoulder. "I'm glad I didn't lose you, though," she said, in a softer voice.

"Oh, does someone like Shrewheart?"

Squirrelpaw stiffened.

"You'd be happy not to have lost a Clanmate, Smokepaw," she snapped.

"Are we talking about Squirrelpaw's crush on Shrewheart?" Leafpaw said, slipping into the group. "Also, take these. It's not much, but it'll help."

She passed him a few sprigs of an herb he didn't recognize, and a poppy seed. "It's nettle," she said. "It won't be as effective without comfrey, but needs must."

He lapped them up obediently.

"We should get you to a nest," Squirrelpaw said. "Between the poppy seed and travelling, you're going to pass out, and I don't want to drag you to a nest."

He laughed, but obliged, as the apprentices settled into make-shift nests. It was clear they had slept together for a while, because they all went to places without questioning, different Clans mixing much closer than usual.

"Let Shrewheart into the center," Leafpaw said, "he's still healing."

They shuffled to make space for him, and Shrewheart fell asleep next to ShadowClan apprentices as though they were his Clanmates.

Chapter Text

After that, the ThunderClan apprentices made a point of staying near Shrewheart. He didn't need to lean on them all of the time, not if they were walking slow.

Whitepaw managed their breaks. She had a second sense for when Shrewheart needed to rest, and took enforcing it pretty seriously.

"Does the going get easier?" he asked one night, as they were settling in to sleep.

All eyes turned to Squirrelpaw.

"No," she said. "I wish it did. But Tawnypelt's decided — and I agree — that the best thing to do is to take us over the mountain. It's a harder journey, but it's safer."

"How is it safer, if it's harder?" someone asked. A WindClan apprentice: Shrewheart was ashamed to admit he still didn't quite know everyone's name.

"Easy, Thistlepaw. Unless you want to cross the largest twoleg place you've ever seen, we'll stick with Tawnypelt's plan."

Thistlepaw flicked his ears. "I mean, if it's safer, it's easier, isn't it?"

"Fine," Squirrelpaw said. "We're going to start up them tomorrow or the next day. You tell me if you think they're easier."

She sighed, laying her head next to Shrewheart. His chest was healing, but Cinderpelt had given him strict instructions to alternate sides he slept on.

He was about to say something, but Squirrelpaw fell asleep fast, breathing softly, and he fell asleep before he could think about how much he wished she was on the other side of him.

Smokepaw had died.

He had fallen off the edge of a cliff none of them had seen coming, and now the Clans just had to cross over it and move on.

"He slept next to me," Shrewheart said.

"We need to move on," Squirrelpaw said.

She was right, but still, grief twisted its claws deeper in him.

The Clans had already lost so many cats. Talonpaw, now the sole ShadowClan apprentice, was distraught.

"We'll jump together," Spiderpaw said. Shrewheart turned his gaze back onto the gap.

"I'm not going to make it," he said. It was too far. He still was slow, unsteady.

"No," Squirrelpaw said. "You are."

"Just take a deep breath," Whitepaw said, "give yourself a running start, and go. There are warriors on the other side. They'll grab you if anything goes wrong."

Unless, of course, he couldn't get close enough.

Brambleclaw was staring at him, encouraging him on with his tail.

"Don't look down," Squirrelpaw said. "Just go with Spiderpaw. Jump with him."

Spiderpaw stood a few tail-lengths back. "Are you ready?"

"No," Shrewheart said. "But let's go."

He ran as fast as he could, ignoring the still aching bruises and scabbing cuts he was stretching, launching himself over the gap.

Brambleclaw grabbed him by the scruff, and his hind legs slipped back, but Brambleclaw pulled him back.

"Told you we'd be fine," Spiderpaw said, while Shrewheart gasped and panted for air.

Squirrelpaw and Whitepaw jumped together, without any incident.

"Yeah," Whitepaw said. "We've got this. Together."

"Is Leafpaw okay?" Squirrelpaw asked Brambleclaw.

"She went with Cinderpelt," Brambleclaw said. "They were right before Longtail and Mousefur."

Squirrelpaw sighed in relief, her ears twisting out to a relaxed position. "So everyone is safe?"

"Yes," Brambleclaw said, "thank the stars."

(Smokepaw, of course, was safe in the paws of StarClan.)

He was loathe to admit it, but the mountains were terrible.

The cold ate into his chest, aggravating his breathing, and the apprentices couldn't properly pile on him, so he could hardly get warm.

The Tribe of Rushing Water was a blessing.

He was weak when they took him in, sleeping and healing for most of their time. He woke in hazy moments, eating when Whitepaw or Squirrelpaw brought food by him.

Cinderpelt came to check on him, the Tribe healer coming with her.

"He's healing well," she said, "but I wondered if you have more experience with this kind of injury."

"It happens," he said, "but the cat usually dies in shock. You are unusually strong."

Shrewheart blinked, surprised by the compliment.

The medicine cats talked over him, Leafpaw watching the conversation with earnest.

"Okay," Cinderpelt said. "We'll try that." Stoneteller left them, and Cinderpelt turned her attention on him. "He gave me a few exercises that might help your flexibility," she said, "and since you've been resting, and we'll be walking again soon, now is a good type to practice."

He hauled himself out of his makeshift nest, feeling the stiffness in his bones.

She showed him how to stretch. It didn't hurt the way it used to, not the sharp pain of injury but the gentler pain of disuse.

"That's good," Cinderpelt said. "Pain keeps us sharp. If you can tell what kind of pain, even better. You'll know when to push and when to rest."

Leafpaw dragged back a rabbit. "For us," she said.

It had been moons since Shrewheart had been able to fall asleep with a full belly, much less for several nights in a row.

"They're cute," he said, looking at Leafpaw and Crowfeather.

"Hush up," Whitepaw said. "Leafpaw will claw your ears off if Cinderpelt hears."

"She definitely already knows," Squirrelpaw said. "Leafpaw touched noses with him immediately after the ceremony."

"Still," Whitepaw said, sounding a touch distant. "The least we could do is be subtle on her behalf."

"I mean," Shrewheart said, "if she was being subtle..."

Leafpaw was being blindingly obvious.

She had slept next to Crowpaw every night with the Tribe, and as the Clans progressed farther down the mountain, she had continued it. She walked next to him, too, talking too quietly to overhear.

"I don't get it," Squirrelpaw said. "He's like...a constant ball of anger. How is Leafpaw attracted to that?"

"They say opposites attract," Whitepaw said. "Like, you know..."

She nudged Shrewheart, who yelped.

"That still hurts, you know!"

"Uhuh." Whitepaw looked at him. "One of you has to give," she said. "Or it's going to be insufferable. If I have to spend another night listening to Spiderpaw while the two of you are busy murmuring softly, I'm going to leave this Clan."

"Stop being dramatic," Squirrelpaw said. "He's not that bad."

"You sleep next to him, then!" Whitepaw said. "I'll happily trade-off."

"No," Squirrelpaw said.

"So you do have feelings for Shrewheart!"

"Spiderpaw snores!" Squirrelpaw protested.

"So do you," Shrewheart said.

(She did, although it was quiet and endearing. Not that he would ever say that.)

"I'm done with you both," she said. "I'm going to go talk to Leafpaw. Interrupting Leafpaw and Crowfeather is better than this."

Whitepaw and Shrewheart cackled.

"Seriously, though," Whitepaw said. "She's waiting for you to say something."

"I don't think Squirrelpaw has waited for anything she wants," Shrewheart said.

"Yeah, but this is different. Take my advice or leave it, just stop mooning over each other already."

Ferncloud had found him at night, sitting by his side. Birchkit was playing with other kits, although he was still in eye shot.

"What're you talking about?" Shrewheart asked.

(He knew, of course. He was staring at who she was talking about.)

"Shrewheart," Ferncloud said, with the same tone she used on him when he was a kit, "you and Spiderpaw need to talk. You've barely said a full sentence to each other."

"We talk," he said. "We talk every night."

"You talk in the same space," Ferncloud said. "It's not the same thing."

He turned his head away.

She was right, but he didn't want to admit it.

"Why do you always know what's going on?"

"I'm your mother," she said, purring. "It's my job."

"I'm a warrior," he said. "You don't have to keep looking after me."

"I'll always be looking after you," she said. "So talk to your brother or I'll make Firestar demote you down to apprentice."

"You don't have that power," he said, but he purred. "I'll talk to him tomorrow."

"Good," she said. "Dustpelt's willing to trap you two in a small cave if you don't talk soon."

"I get the point," he said. "I'll talk to him."

Thornclaw sought him out later, just before moonhigh.

"I wanted to say I'm sorry," he said.

Shrewheart tilted his head slightly. "For what?"

Thronclaw sighed. "Because...I failed you. I shouldn't have let you..."

"It's not your fault," Shrewheart said, rubbing his cheek on Thornclaw's jaw. "I made a decision. You tried to stop me."

Thornclaw pulled away. "You were my apprentice," he said, "I should have done more. I just wanted to apologize."

Shrewheart searched Thornclaw's posture. He was resigned, guilty. "It's not your fault," Shrewheart said again. "I don't blame you. And...even if it was, I forgive you."

Thornclaw nodded, returning Shrewheart's cheek-rub. "Thank you," he said, his voice barely a whisper. "I'm still sorry, but I'm happy you survived."

"Me too," Shrewheart said. "And I'm glad you were my mentor."

Thornclaw purred. "Go see your friends," he said. "Before they tackle you."

Shrewheart nodded, walking away.

He felt a little bit lighter.

They arrived at the lake when the moon was rising.

The last frayed edges of sunlight were scattered on its surface, lighting it a brilliant blue. Squirrelpaw stared at it, open mouthed.

"I never thought we'd see anything like this," she said.

"The sundrown place was the same," Crowfeather said.

"Just shut up," Squirrelpaw said, not even looking at him.

She leaned into Shrewheart, purring loudly.

"It's beautiful," he agreed. "It's our home."

"We'll have to split it up," she said. "But there's forest, perfect for us." She twitched her tail at a dense forest, similar to where they had lived. "Good trees for climbing. Squirrels. Birds."

"Mm." He purred, too, resting his chin on her head. "It's perfect."

The Clans weren't silent, but they were soft, filled with uncountable murmurs of content. Even the kits seemed to take this moment seriously, their games put aside as their parents bowed their heads in relief.

"We're going to have a home again," Squirrelpaw said. "It's been so long."

Shrewheart closed his eyes. He could still see the old warriors' den in his mind, the nursery, the medicine cat's den. Leaving it behind was still a sharp pain.

But there wasn't an old camp to return to anymore, only a future out in front of them.

"It's beautiful," he agreed. "It's home."

At sunhigh, when the Clans were beginning to discuss new territory, Firestar called a meeting.

"Let all cats old enough to catch their own prey gather beneath the Meeting Rock for a Clan meeting!"

There had been few Clan meetings on the journey, but every time a leader called one, the whole of the Clans responded.

Shrewheart saw Sandstorm fighting with Squirrelpaw, and Brightheart fussing over Whitepaw.

"Spiderpaw?" he said, hoping his brother was nearby.

"What is it?" Spiderpaw whispered.

"Congratulations."

Spiderpaw purred, quietly as the Clans settled down. Mousefur beckoned him with his tail, and he licked Shrewheart on the shoulder before brushing past him to the front of the crowd.

"As we have finally reached our new home, I have the honor of performing one of the great joys of being a leader. ThunderClan has three apprentices who are far deserving of their warrior names." Spiderpaw, Squirrelpaw, and Whitepaw gathered next to Firestar, their mentors standing by them.

"I, Firestar, leader of ThunderClan, call down on our warrior ancestors to look upon these apprentices. They have trained hard to become warriors and learn and uphold the warrior code, and I commend them to you."

He paused. Spiderpaw whispered something in Squirrelpaw's ear, and Shrewheart watched the way she twitched her tail, fighting to keep in a retort.

"Spiderpaw, do you promise to uphold the warrior code and defend your Clan, even at the cost of your life?"

"I do," he said.

"Then by the power of the stars, I give you your warrior name. Spiderpaw, from this moment on, you will be known as Spiderleg. StarClan honors your courage and enthusiasm, and we welcome you as a full warrior of ThunderClan."

Spiderleg licked his shoulder, and Firestar moved on to his daughter. "Squirrelpaw, do you promise to uphold the warrior code and defend your Clan, even at the cost of your life?"

"I do!" she called, her tail twitching with excitement.

"Then from this moment on, you will be known as Squirrelflight. StarClan honors your courage and determination, and we welcome you as a full warrior of ThunderClan."

Squirrelflight licked his shoulder, and Shrewheart had to force himself not to call her name then and there.

"And Whitepaw, do you promise to uphold the warrior code and defend your Clan, even at the cost of your life?"

"I do."

"Then from this moment on, you will be known as Whitewing. StarClan honors your compassion and spirit, and we welcome you as a full warrior of ThunderClan."

He rest his muzzle on his head, completing the ceremony. After only a mouse's heartbeat, the Clans broke out in cheers. "Spiderleg! Squirrelflight! Whitewing!"

Squirrelflight ducked through the crowd, finding Shrewheart.

"I told you I'd get my name once we got here," she said, touching noses with him.

"You did," he purred. "Congratulations."

She rubbed her cheek against his, and he wrapped his tail around her.

"I'm glad we won't be sleeping in separate dens," he said.

"Me too," she said. "Now c'mon! I want to help scout the territory."

He laughed, watching her run towards Brambleclaw and Crowfeather, practically tackling Tawnypelt in her excitement.

They were finally safe and home.

Chapter Text

Squirrelflight woke before him, preparing to scout the territory. She was talking to Tawnypelt, as Brambleclaw looked increasingly frustrated.

Shrewheart stretched, enjoying the warmth of the sun. The light made the lake shine, feeling welcoming and protective. He wasn't entirely alone; the other apprentices hadn't kicked out ThunderClan just because they all were warriors, but Shrewheart didn't want to wake Whitewing or the others up.

Spiderleg was missing.

Shrewheart could hear Ferncloud in the back of his head, telling him to talk to his brother. She was serious about it; if he didn't talk to Spiderleg soon, Dustpelt would corner the two of them in the smallest place they could until Ferncloud was satisfied.

(She was perfectly capable of cornering them herself, but Shrewheart suspected she enjoyed watching Dustpelt wrangle them.)

"Leafpaw! Have you seen Spiderleg?"

She shook her head. "Sorry. Mothwing and I were collecting herbs at dawn, and he was gone when I got back."

"Check close to shore," Mothwing said. "I know Crowfeather was there. The deputies are trying to organize hunting patrols, he might want to go on one."

"Thank you," he said.

Shrewheart walked through their makeshift camp. Most cats were up, talking to their companions. The scents of the separate Clans were eroding. You could smell what Clan someone was from, but only if you were trying.

No one said establishing new borders would be easy.

Spiderleg was by the lakeshore, but he wasn't talking to anyone.

"Spiderleg?" Shrewheart said, touching his brother's shoulder with his muzzle.

"Ferncloud set you up to this," he said.

"I mean, didn't she talk to you?"

Spiderleg laughed. "We're warriors now, you know. We don't have to listen to her."

"I'm sure you'll be the first to tell her that," Shrewheart said.

He blinked slowly, listening to the gentle lapping of the water.

"You're right," Spiderleg said. "She's right, too. I'm sorry we haven't been talking."

"We've been talking," Shrewheart said. "We're talking right now."

"I barely saw you," Spiderleg said. "When you were hurt. You could have died, and I was barely there."

"Well, I didn't die."

"That's not the point. Whitewing was the first cat to see you, and she's—"

"She's our maara," Shrewheart said. (He didn't correct Spiderleg. Saying Squirrelflight was the first cat to see him was besides the point.)

"And we're littermates," Spiderleg said. "I should have visited."

"...I'm sorry Firestar gave me my warrior name first," Shrewheart said.

"I'm not mad about that," Spiderleg said.

"That's a lie!" Shrewheart nudged his brother. "You didn't talk to me for like, half the Journey because of that."

Spiderleg laughed, shoving him back. "Just a little," he said. "I was just a little mad."

Shrewheart growled playfully. "My own brother! Jealous!"

Spiderleg swatted him. "Only because you're such a child," he teased.

Shrewheart threw himself on top of Spiderleg, tackling him to the ground. His brother spluttered.

"Take it back!" he said. "I've been a warrior for a full moon more than you."

"That's cold," Spiderleg said. "Is that what you tell Squirrelflight?"

Shrewheart spluttered, and Spiderleg sprang up at him, taking advantage of his shot.

"Now you!" he said, pushing Shrewheart down. "Admit that you're head over heels for her."

"Fine!" Shrewheart siad. "Just a little."

Spiderleg let him up, and they laughed. They were coated in silt, their pelts sticking up at awkward angles, but things felt alright between them.

"We should clean off," Shrewheart said. "Before Ferncloud sees us."

"She's with Birchkit," Spiderleg said. "But let's hurry."

Squirrelflight found their camp ("fell into it, really," Brambleclaw said, and she huffed), Leafpool got her name, and life began to return to normal.

Shrewheart helped make a new nursery, his younger brother the only occupant, and Ferncloud told him to talk to Squirrelflight.

He watched Squirrelflight talk to Leafpool. Her pelt fluffed out, and she turned.

"What's wrong?" he asked.

"Medicine cats!" she hissed. "They think they know everything."

She walked past him, and he turned, only for her to start walking the other way.

"Is everything okay?"

"Yeah, no, it's fine," she said. "It's all fine."

"Do you...want to talk about it?"

She stopped. He could see her thinking, the way her eyes narrowed slightly as she evaluated him.

"Not yet," she said. "I don't want to talk about it yet."

"Okay. Do you want to watch Birchkit with me?"

"Yeah. That sounds nice."

He herded her towards the nursery, looking back over his shoulder and seeing Leafpool watching them. She had a painful expression, her ears flattened.

Whatever she had told Squirrelflight, she didn't think it was good news either.

Squirrelflight and Leafpool's fight spilled over. They usually ate together, but Squirrelflight had been avoiding her, sitting with Shrewheart.

"You can't keep avoiding this!" Leafpool shouted. "It was a message from StarClan!"

Squirrelflight stood. Shrewheart realized he was trapped between the two of them. He started to stand and Squirrelflight stared him down. "Stay," she said. "You're a part of this."

"So you haven't told him?"

"Why would I tell him?" Squirrelflight said. "He doesn't need to know!"

"What should I know?" Shrewheart said.

"Nothing!" Squirrelflight said. "You should know nothing because Leafpool should know better than to interfere."

"I'm not interfering!" Leafpool said. "I'm passing on a message."

"And it's a bad message, Leafpool! You don't know what you're talking about."

"I saw you with him," Leafpool said.

"Me?"

"No!" they shouted at him together.

"Then I really don't think I should be here," he said.

"Stay!" Squirrelflight said. "You're staying." She took a break, composing herself and turning back to Leafpool. "Let me be very clear," she said. "You are a medicine cat, and I respect that. But I don't care if Thunderstar himself descends from the stars to repeat your message, because no one is telling me who I should be with."

(That's what this was about?)

"I'm not telling you what to do," Leafpool said. "I'm just passing on the message."

"And judgement and telling me what the right thing to do is, Leafpool! I'm sorry that it can't work out with Crowfeather, but that doesn't give you the right to interfere in my life."

"That's not fair," Leafpool said.

She turned, her tail swaying behind her.

"I won't interfere in your life if that's what you want," she said.

Squirrelflight's features dropped. Her body sagged, and Shrewheart could practically hear her calling for her sister. She threw herself on him, pressing her muzzle into his neck.

"I don't know when things got so complicated," she said.

He purred, trying to be reassuring. "It'll be alright," he said.

"Leafpool is mad at me all the time now, and I know it's not fair to talk about Crowfeather, but it's not fair that she keeps putting all of her expectations on me."

"She's trying to do what she thinks is best," he said. He weighed his words carefully, not wanting to strengthen the rift.

Squirrelflight huffed.

"I just want things to be like they used to be," she said. "I want them to not be so complicated."

Shrewheart licked the top of her head. "They'll get better. You'll both calm down, and you can talk again tomorrow."

"Yeah, I guess," she said, her voice choppy and hoarse. "I'll talk to her again tomorrow."

Squirrelflight dragged him into the forest. Leafpool and Brambleclaw were sitting there already.

"We're settling this," she said.

"Settling what?" Brambleclaw asked.

"Squirrelflight, this really isn't necessary," Leafpool said.

"No, it is. Shrewheart, sit down."

He sat next to Brambleclaw.

"Do you know what this is about?" Brambleclaw asked.

"I think so," Shrewheart said. "Leafpool—"

"Nope!" Squirrelflight said. "I'm doing this."

She rounded on Leafpool. "First of all, you need to stay out of this. It's not your business who I'm with."

"StarClan," Leafpool said. "It was a message from StarClan."

"I don't care!" Squirrelflight said. "You saw our silhouettes. That is not enough to make a major life decision on."

Leafpool clearly had more to say, but she held her tongue.

"Second, Brambleclaw, you need to get over yourself. I don't know what's going on with you, but figure it out! I'm tired of you being cold one day and trying to be my best friend the next."

He opened his mouth, and she seized.

"Nope! No defending yourself. Just figure it out! I'm done. I'm so done! Don't care!"

"Hawkfrost-" he said.

"Nope!" Squirrelflight said. She wheeled to face him, pressing into his personal space. "He's evil, Brambleclaw, and I don't care what you think. So figure it out, because I'm so sick of you!"

She took a breath. "And you," she said, turning towards Shrewheart. "Actually, you're pretty okay. But you need to stop defending them. I just need someone in my corner, okay?"

"Yeah," he said, nodding. "I can do that."

"Good," she said. "Are there any outstanding questions?"

They all looked at each other.

"Great!" Squirrelflight said. "I'm going hunting." She stalked into the underbrush, disappearing deeper into their territory.

"Do you think she wants us to follow?" Brambleclaw asked.

"She's pretty mad," Shrewheart said. "Maybe she wants to keep being mad?"

Leafpool was staring after her sister.

"She's barely talked to me," she said. "And now this?"

There was anger seething in her voice, but hurt beneath it. She sounded like a young apprentice, not a medicine cat who had completed her training.

"I haven't been that bad," Brambleclaw said. "Right?"

"Yes!" Shrewheart said. "Both of you! Leafpool, you did your job. You told Squirrelflight what you saw, now stay out of it! And Brambleclaw, I don't really know what's going on with you, but Squirrelflight is smarter than all of us. If she says Hawkfrost is evil, maybe listen!"

"She's only saying that because he's Tigerstar's son," Brambleclaw said. "She's just—"

"She's not!" Leafpool said. "She's saying that because he's evil, Brambleclaw. I saw you both in the Dark Forest."

"What?" Shrewheart said.

"That's not what it sounds like," Brambleclaw said. "It's just..."

"It's just, you're training with your evil father you don't want Squirrelflight to compare you to, right," Leafpool said. "I can't believe I told Squirrelflight she should choose you."

"Wait, what?" Shrewheart said again.

"I'm trying to be the best possible warrior for ThunderClan," Brambleclaw said.

"Well, you can't get mad at her for calling your evil brother evil!" Leafpool said.

"She doesn't know that!"

"No, I'm sorry," Shrewheart said. He couldn't talk over them when they were shouting, so he stepped between them, and when they were both staring at him, he took a deep breath. "Brambleclaw, you're training in the Dark Forest? And Leafpool, you knew this? And you still told Squirrelflight to choose him?"

"StarClan told me to tell her," she said. She groomed her side, hiding her face.

"I didn't realize what was going on," Brambleclaw said.

"I can't believe I've been defending the both of you," Shrewheart said. "Explains why Squirrelflight is mad at me."

There was a beat of silence.

"I'm trying to stop," Brambleclaw said. "I don't really know how."

"StarClan did tell me," Leafpool said. "It's not like cats who go against StarClan have a great track record."

Shrewheart closed his eyes, his tail waving against the ground.

"Okay," he said. "Here's what we're going to do. We're all going to apologize to Squirrelflight. Brambleclaw, you and Leafpool can figure out how to get you out of training. Also, stop talking to Hawkfrost. And then we're all going to let Squirrelflight make her own choices and respect them."

"I didn't think she was interested in me, for the record," Brambleclaw said. "I figured it was just an apprentice crush."

"She really likes you," Leafpool added. "I felt bad about it."

Shrewheart felt flush. "It's besides the point," he said. "Doesn't matter until she's not pissed at us any more.

Birchkit became Birchpaw, apprenticed to Ashfur. He was the only apprentice in the Clan, now, and Shrewheart was happy for his younger brother, but he shouldn't be alone.

"We'll help him out," Whitewing said. "The apprentice squad."

"I'm not," Spiderleg said. "I'm done with apprentice duties."

"You don't want to help my apprentice?" Ashfur said. "I'm hurt, Spiderleg, betrayed, shocked—"

"Arrogant furball," Squirrelflight said. "He probably doesn't want to help because he's your apprentice."

"Yeah!" Whitewing said. "Get out of here, old man."

"I see how it is," Ashfur said. "Fine. See if I cover for you getting out of dawn patrol again, Spiderleg."

"You wouldn't!"

Shrewheart purred. Whitewing and Spiderleg made a show of chasing off Ashfur.

"He shouldn't be alone," he said, softly.

"He's not alone — he's got all of us," Squirrelflight said. "Ashfur will look after him, and we'll all help."

"It's not the same," Shrewheart said.

"I know. But it's the best we can do."

"I guess."

"By the way, you've got first dibs on helping him change bedding," Squirrelflight said.

"What? Wait, that's not fair!"

"Sorry!" she said. "I'm going to go help Whitewing and Spiderleg."

They were sitting on top of Ashfur, laughing.

"I see how it is," Shrewheart said. "Fine, abandon me!"

"Toms!" she said. "So dramatic."

Squirrelflight found him again, just past low moon.

"You know, I like being around you," she said.

"Thanks," Shrewheart said. "I like being around you too."

She sighed, shoving him down and curling up next to him. "You're an idiot," she said. "I want to be your mate."

"Oh," he said. "Oh."

"Really?" she said, lifting her head. "That's it?"

"No! No, yes, please. I want to be your mate, too. I was just..."

Squirrelflight stares at him, and he drinks her in, the way her eyes are this dark, unreal shade of green and how her pelt is so bright that even in the moonlight, it seems to shine.

She's beautiful.

"I was just surprised," he said. "That's all."

"Toms are idiot," she said. "I already made your nest bigger."

"Rude," he said, purring. "You have your own."

"Yeah, but yours is closer to the center," she said. "And mine is next to Spiderleg, and he really does snore."

He closes his eyes, wrapping his tail around her.

"Don't fall asleep out here," she said.

"I won't," he promised. "But stay with me."

"Yeah, you mouse brain. That's what I just agreed to do."

She laid her head near his, and if he fell asleep later, purring and warm, well, Squirrelflight didn't complain.

Chapter Text

The warmth of green-leaf was beginning to hit, and Shrewheart was feeling better.

He still had bump on the side of the broken rib, and a sunken divot surrounding it, but according to Leafpool and Cinderheart, that probably wouldn't fade. His bruises had healed, and with the warmth, he didn't ache as much.

Squirrelflight still teased him when the mornings were cool and he complained, but he was better.

His voice was still softer and coarser than it had been. He couldn't make himself heard over a crowd, but he could still speak at a mostly-normal volume.

It was nice to go on hunts with Clanmates again. Things had been atypical for most of his life. He had a season of a normal apprenticeship, and then prey started to dry up.

Now, he went for patrols with his maara and helped Birchpaw climb trees, and things were happy.

"Shrewheart!" Cinderpelt called. "I just want to check your chest one more time, and then I think you're good."

"What do you mean?" he asked.

"Well, your wounds are all healed," she said. "It took a little longer because of all of the travel and prey hunger, but I think everything is exactly the way it's going to be."

He laid down while she ran a paw over his chest.

"And you're keeping pace with your Clanmates, right?" she asked.

"Yeah, sometimes I get out of breath a little bit quicker, but I'm mostly okay."

"Good," she said. "The joint pain is probably because the bones didn't set perfectly, but as long as you come to the medicine den when it gets bad, you should be okay. Come leaf-bare, just try to stay warm. But I officially release you as a patient."

"I thought I released ages ago," he said, scrambling to his feet.

"No, you were just released from daily check-ins. As long as nothing is wrong, I don't want to see you in the medicine den again."

He laughed.

"I'm serious," she said, pushing him out. "You and Squirrelflight are always distracting Leafpool."

"I'm not your apprentice anymore!" Leafpool called from the back of the den.

"You're my apprentice for the rest of my life," Cinderpelt said. "And the rest of yours, if StarClan allows."

Cinderpelt laughed, and before Shrewheart had even made it all the way out, Birchpaw was on top of him.

"Will you go hunting with us?" he said. "I want to go hunting, but Brambleclaw wants a patrol, and that's going to take forever to organize."

"Of course," Shrewheart said. "Go find Whitewing, and maybe...Dustpelt?"

Birchpaw ran off, and Shrewheart headed towards the camp entrance.

Ashfur watched his apprentice run off, and padded towards the front of camp. "Mind if I tag along?" he asked.

"Of course not," Shrewheart said. "You're his mentor."

Birchpaw returned with Whitewing.

"Dustpelt's rebuilding the nursery," she said, "but I'd love to go hunting."

She arched her back, and twisted, making eye contact with Birchpaw.

"Good friends," Shrewheart mouthed, and Ashfur's ears twitched, silent laughter.

The new forest was beginning to feel like home, and Shrewheart kept his ears moving, listening for a bird. He wanted to catch one, in part because Squirrelflight liked feathers.

A thrush sang, and Shrewheart froze.

He waved his tail, signaling he was catching it, and the others moved ahead, giving him space.

Shrewheart crouched, tracking the thrush as it hopped from branch to branch. It settled, picking at a berry, and he waggled, preparing to pounce.

There was nothing in his way, he just had to leap.

Shrewheart sprang at it, launching himself forward, claws extended. The thrush saw him, and he twisted in the air, raking its sides and falling, landing on his back but with the thrush in his mouth.

Whitewing looked back at him and laughed. "You've probably scared off the rest of the prey with that," she said.

"Yeah."

He scraped at the ground, covering the thrush with leaf litter. He used to be able to make those catches easily.

"I'm out of practice," he said. "Should've gotten closer."

He woke up the next morning with an ache all down his back.

Squirrelflight noticed him wince.

"Are you hurt?" she asked, pressing her nose to his shoulder.

"I'm fine," he said. "Go back to sleep."

She yawned, and tucked her head back in. He tried to be quiet getting out of the nest, but everything felt stiff. Outside, the sun had risen, and he found a spot of sun, the warmth helping.

"Shrewheart!" Birchpaw said. "Will you come hunting again?"

He eyed the freshkill pile. Whether or not patrols had gone out, they would always need more prey.

"Sure," he said. "Give me a moment."

Birchpaw scrambled away.

"How is he still so energetic?" Shrewheart said to himself. Birchpaw was nearly a full season into his apprenticeship, and he still had the energy of a kit.

"Whitewing is going on patrol with him," Spiderleg said, touching his nose to Shrewheart's shoulder.

"They should just go then," he said. "I don't want to be chaperoning them for the next three seasons."

Spiderleg watched him stand carefully. "Are you sure it's not because of the accident yesterday?"

Shrewheart's tail lashed. "How'd you know about that?"

"Whitewing said it looked bad," he said, turning away to lick his side. "And you're not exactly moving gracefully."

Shrewheart didn't say antything.

"You don't have to prove yourself," Spiderleg said.

"That's not what this is about," he said.

"Suit yourself, then."

The Gatherings were awkward affairs.

Birchpaw happily talked to Applepaw and Toadpaw, their friendship not forgotten.

Brambleclaw talked to Hawkfrost, and Squirrelflight seethed. To be fair, Hawkfrost approached him, but it still stung to see him nervously try to enter a conversation on their way back.

Leafpool hadn't come up with any way to get him out of the Dark Forest. She wasn't any company at Gatherings anyway, talking to Crowfeather and Mothwing.

Squirrelflight would drag Shrewheart to sit with them, and he was forced to watch as Crowfeather and Mothwing fought over Leafpool in everything but words.

"I'm not going to the Gathering tonight," he finally told Brambleclaw. "My chest, and all that."

"We don't mind going slow," Brambleclaw said.

"No, no, I'll be alright," Shrewheart said. "Enjoy yourself."

Shrewheart slept well that night.

He woke up the next morning coughing.

"You've got fluid in your lungs," Cinderpelt said. "You need to keep your chest open, but not overexert yourself."

"That's an oxymoron," he said.

Cinderpelt shook her head. "You're off warrior duties until this clears," she said. "But I want you active. Play with Daisy's kits, or go collect herbs with Leafpool — nothing strenuous."

He nodded, but Cinderpelt leveled her gaze. "You know," she said, "I highly doubt that nothing caused this."

"I haven't been doing anything atypical," he said. "Just hunting and patrols."

Cinderpelt sighed. "If this becomes a recurring problem, we'll need to do something about it. The only think I could think that would cause it is if your ribs were pressing on your lungs. But that's not it, because I know you would tell me if you were hurt like that."

Shrewheart flattened his ears. "I may have fallen a few days ago," he said. "While hunting."

Cinderpelt closed her eyes. "Stars, give me strength." She ran her paw along his side, and he winced. "You need to be careful," she admonished.

"It was just a leap," he said. "I just fell."

"Well, tell me if you fall again," she said. "We can prevent things."

"Yes, Cinderpelt."

A few days later, Brambleclaw lead Mistyfoot into camp.

ThunderClan jumped to its feet, but Firestar quieted them with a flick of his tail.

"Mistyfoot," he said. "What brings you here?"

"Nothing good." Mistyfoot scanned the camp. "I'm afraid there's trouble for all the Clans."

Before she could continue, Firestar flicked his tail. "Wait a moment. We'd better let Dustpelt and Brackenfur hear this too. Brambleclaw, can you find them?"

Mistyfoot's eyes narrowed, but she didn't object.

"What do you think she's here for?" Shrewheart whispered.

"Something bad," Squirrelflight said. "By the looks of her, something she didn't expect."

"It's odd for a deputy to come into enemy territory without a patrol," he said, flexing his claws nervously.

Brambleclaw returned with Dustpelt and Brackenfur, and Firestar dipped his head to Mistyfoot, giving her permission to continue.

She explained how she had seen Hawkfrost meeting with Mudclaw, and as Firestar questioned her, Shrewheart watched Brambleclaw shrink.

Squirrelflight lashed her tail. "I was right," she said. "I was right."

Firestar assembled a battle patrol, and Shrewheart wasn't included.

He touched his nose to Squirrelflight. "Be safe," he said. "Come home to me."

Shrewheart paced across camp. Leafpool and Crowfeather were talking, and the threat seemed to be taken care of, but the battle patrol hadn't returned.

"Why don't you rest?" Brightheart asked.

"Cinderpelt said to keep moving," he snapped.

The moon had started to sink, and they still weren't back.

Shrewheart was weary, his paws aching. Cloudtail and Brightheart were guarding camp, and he could — should, even — sleep, but he knew he wouldn't be able to sleep in his nest. Not when that meant curling up in a space too large for him and wondering if she was alright.

"It's sweet," Brightheart whispered. "I remember when you were padding after me like that."

The sun started to rise. Finally, after most of the night, Squirrelflight pushed through the thorn barrier.

"You're okay," he said, breath running out of him. "You're alright."

She was wounded, but not seriously, and he cleaned her wounds, purring, while she waited to be treated.

"Were you worried?" she asked.

"Of course," he said. "How could I not be worried?"

"You shouldn't worry." She blinked slowly, and he rested his head on her shoulder. "I don't plan on leaving you."

"Do you want to have kits?" Squirrelflight asked.

He hadn't thought about it. They were still young, and Squirrelflight would make a great mother, but she'd never expressed any interest in it.

"Do you?" he asked.

"Not right now," she said, closing her eyes. "But someday."

He pictured her in the nursery, with a kit or two next to her. One ginger, like her, and a tortoiseshell she-cat. He would bring them freshkill, play with them as much as he could.

"That would be nice," he said. "I would like that."

She purred.

"Are Brambleclaw and Squirrelflight...talking?" Whitewing said, disbelief running through her voice.

Shrewheart followed her gaze. They had barely even looked at each other after the battle, and neither of them wanted to talk about it.

But Whitewing was right, they were having a conversation. Brambleclaw's ears were folded back deferentially, and Squirrelflight was holding herself stiff, but it was a conversation.

Squirrelflight must have said something biting, because Brambleclaw dropped his head.

"Apparently," Shrewheart said.

Brambleclaw looked up at her, and said something quiet. Squirrelflight relaxed instantly, pointing her ears forward warmly. She touched her nose to his shoulder, and he ran his temple against her cheek.

"I don't think they've gotten along so well since they got back from the quest," Whitewing said. "I wonder what changed."

Squirrelflight started trotting towards them, and Shrewheart stood, ready to greet her.

"I think he just needed some time to sort things out," Shrewheart said.