A screech broke the tense silence that had enveloped the camp since dawn. The cats gathered in the clearing shifted uncomfortably, awaiting an end to this anxiety-inducing event.

Earlier that morning, Dawnberry had been awoken by Honeystrike swiftly leaving the warrior's den. Out of curiosity and concern, the deputy had followed him.

"Honeystrike," she hissed. "What's going on?"

Without stopping, he replied, "Mistlefur says Juniperflame has started kitting." His body and voice were tense with worry, and when he reached the nursery he tried to shove himself inside but was promptly kicked out by Mistlefur.

"Mama, when are the kits going to be born?" Dapplekit whined, drumming her paws on the ground impatiently.

Her mother, Olivepelt, reached out a paw and drew her closer. "Hush. It will be over when it's over." She roughly began grooming her daughter, muttering about how dirty her pelt was.

Dapplekit's brother, Pouncekit, shrugged his brown tabby shoulders. "Well, it has to be done before sunhigh; if it takes any longer it means there are complications. At least, that's what Mistlefur told me," he informed. He stretched his tiny body and settled on the warm ground. "So, it could take a while, considering that she started kitting at dawn."

Dawnberry let out a small purr at how knowledgeable Pouncekit was already. The two kits were four moons, so they would be apprentices in two. Dawnberry had a feeling that Mistlefur had already chosen Pouncekit as an apprentice. He would make a fantastic medicine cat. Dapplekit, on the other paw, was a warrior, through and through. They were polar opposites, not only in terms of rank, but in personality as well.

Where Pouncekit was thoughtful, his sister was blunt. Where Dapplekit was stubborn, her brother was open-minded. But nobody worked as well together as the two of them. When they had a common goal, they couldn't be stopped. They were going to take the clan by storm.

Another screech drew Dawnberry's attention back towards the nursery, and Mistlefur hurried out of the den. Her face was hard and determined, revealing nothing of the state of the queen inside. "Pouncekit, get me some raspberry leaves," she ordered. She turned to Honeystrike, who was trembling with worry, "Go get some wet moss."

The golden warrior immediately turned and dashed away, stumbling over his own paws as he left.

Mistlefur glared around the clearing before snatching up a stick lying next to Dapplekit.

"Hey, that's mine!" Dapplekit squealed from in between her mother's front paws.

"I need this for the kitting," the grey she-cat mumbled as she disappeared into the nursery.

Dapplekit rolled onto her back, pawing at Olivepelt's leg. "I'm so bored now," she sighed dramatically.

Pouncekit rolled his eyes as he walked past. "Oh, please. You weren't even using it."

"Well, I was gonna!"

"What's going on here?" a sleepy voice asked from behind Dawnberry.

The cream deputy turned to see Kestrelpaw padding slowly towards her, his pelt ruffled and covered with bits of moss. He yawned, taking a seat beside her. "What's going on?" he repeated.

As if in answer, Juniperflame screeched again, causing the torbie apprentice to jump. He looked at Dawnberry, his eyes wide. "Juniperflame is having her kits?" he asked breathlessly.

Dawnberry nodded. "She started early this morning. I'm surprised it didn't wake you up."

Kestrelpaw puffed out his chest. "Well, you know me, I can sleep through an enemy invasion," he boasted.

"That's not something to be proud of," Dawnberry chuckled. She ran an eye down his messy pelt. "Neither is that. There's enough moss on your pelt to make a mossball for the kits."

Speaking of.....

"You know what? I have a special task for you."

Kestrelpaw tilted his head. "A special task?"

Dawnberry flicked her tail towards Dapplekit. "I want you to play with Dapplekit. It'll improve your social skills and prepare you for working with young cats when you're a warrior and get an apprentice."

The torbie apprentice nodded. "Alright," he meowed. He walked over to the dappled kit and exchanged some words with her. She instantly perked up and spoke rapidly, her tail waving with excitement as she chattered. Kestrelpaw laughed and put a paw on her back. She immediately stopped and looked up at him with large eyes. He said a few words and dropped into a hunting crouch, speaking as he did so. She nodded and tried to copy him. It didn't quite go as planned, as when she tried to leap as Kestrelpaw told her, she slipped and landed on her muzzle.

Dawnberry smiled fondly before turning her attention to the rest of the cats in camp. Mosstail and Smallflower were chatting in a patch of sunlight, glancing at the nursery every so often. Softpelt was padding into camp with Webpaw, both carrying prey. Blueclaw was disappearing into the medicine den, presumably to visit Acornpaw. Rainstar was bringing prey to the two clan elders, and Hollypelt was watching his retreating back.

Honeystrike bounded back into camp and vanished into the nursery with the wet moss swinging from his jaws. On his way in, he passed Pouncekit, who padded up to Dawnberry and sat next to her, curling his tail neatly around his paws. He seemed like he wanted to say something, so the deputy waited patiently for him to speak.

"Do you think I could be apprenticed to Mistlefur?" he asked after a moment.

Dawnberry looked down at his wide, hopeful eyes. Thank StarClan she already discussed this with Rainstar...I don't think I would've had the heart to tell him no. "Well, Mistlefur already told Rainstar that she's taking you as an apprentice. I thought she would've told you?"

"Well, she did, but I thought it was ultimately up to you and Rainstar! Thanks, Dawnberry, I'm going to go tell my mom!" He bounded off towards where Olivepelt was fondly watching Dapplekit play with Kestrelpaw.

"How's Juniperflame?"

The voice was so close to her ear it made her jump. Dawnberry spun around, her fur bristling, to see Wrenfeather standing behind her. His eyes gleamed with mischief.

"Great StarClan, you scared me," Dawnberry swore. "Stop sneaking up on me like that."

"Why? It's fun," the grey tom purred, running his tail under her chin as he stepped forward, sitting down beside her.

The cream she-cat blinked in surprise, unable to move for a moment. What? He's.....never been this bold. She tentatively sat down beside him, just close enough for their fur to barely brush.

"Juniperflame is doing fine, I think. Mistlefur and Pouncekit haven't said anything so I assume it's all going well." Dawnberry looked at everyone but the tom sitting beside her.

Rainstar and Hollypelt are sitting unusually close, interesting. Sandpaw is slinking out of camp alone. That's suspicious, I should keep an eye on him. Hm, the fresh-kill pile is looking a bit low. I'll go out hunting after this, send a few patrols to check on the MudClan border too.

"She's strong. She'll make it out of this tired, but fine," Wrenfeather meowed. Dawnberry could feel his gaze on her and she finally looked over, meeting his eyes.

"You are-."

He was interrupted by Mistlefur striding out of the nursery. The grey she-cat stood triumphantly in the clearing, her green eyes bright. "Two she-kits and a tom," she announced.

Wrenfeather flicked his tail. "Interupting me, as always," he joked.

Mistlefur shrugged. "As always, what I have to say is more important," she shot back.

Wrenfeather rolled his eyes at his sister and gently bumped Dawnberry with his shoulder. "Shall we?" he said, nodding towards the nursery.

Dawnberry mewed in agreement and led the way into the den. Inside, thin shreds of sunlight broke through the bramble ceiling, dappling onto the pelts of Juniperflame and her three kittens. The black queen's eyes were closed as Honeystrike gently groomed her pelt. When the pair entered, however, she opened them and gestured to her kits with her tail.

"Come meet them," she whispered.

Dawnberry fixed her eyes on the kits and was immediately entranced. This was the future of her clan. They would grow up strong and fierce like their mother and father. She was so proud of her friend.

Although her deputy status prevented it, she almost wished she could have kits of her own. She stole a glance at Wrenfeather, who was gazing affectionately at the newborns. Her heart squeezed and she suddenly felt so very alone, standing in the warm den smelling of milk and family. Everything around her, from the love only a mother could feel, to having her very own family; it was something she would never experience.

She swallowed the ache in her throat. "What are their names?"

Juniperflame pointed to the first one, a black she-kit with a white chest and paws. "This is Dustkit," she introduced. She then pointed to a blue-cream tortoiseshell she-kit. "This is Fawnkit." She pointed to the last kit, a small black tom. "And this is Rosekit."

"You'll be a great mother," Dawnberry murmured, licking Juniperflame's ear gently and nodding at Honeystrike before slipping out of the den with Wrenfeather.

Outside, she breathed deeply and slowly, savoring the fresh air and the calming effect it had on her. Long ago, she had thought she knew the consequences of becoming deputy, and had accepted them readily. But now....after what she just saw? After growing closer to Wrenfeather? It hurt. But she had no choice but to move on. She took an oath to dedicate her life to her clan, to keep it alive no matter the cost. This was part of that cost.

"They were adorable, weren't they?" Wrenfeather purred from beside her. "I hope to raise kits of my own someday. Teach them to be warriors that the clan can be proud of." He glanced at Dawnberry. "Did you ever want kits? Before you accepted Rainstar's offer?"

The deputy stared straight ahead, thinking about her response. How was she supposed to answer that? Especially now? Especially when the cat she would risk everything for was asking?

"I-I have to send out some patrols," she mumbled. "Can you take Spottedclaw and Minkfur out hunting?"

Thankfully, he didn't pressure her to answer, instead he just nodded and left. Dawnberry almost felt bad, but she shook it off. Her clan came first.

She needed to send a patrol to the MudClan borders. If DarkClan truly took over, then she had to send her strongest warriors. No apprentices. The corrupt group would no doubt kill them without a second thought if given the chance. No apprentices meant no new warriors, which meant less defense against their attacks. That was how they operated in the past, and that's surely how they operated now.

"Hollypelt!" she called as she approached the she-cat.

Hollypelt looked up from where she was speaking with Rainstar. The tabby leader was pressed close to her, gently grooming her pelt.

Dawnberry felt a twinge of jealousy, but she pushed it away, forcing herself to focus on the task ahead of her. "I want you to take Softpelt, Darkwillow, and Shadowspirit to the MudClan border. Make sure the markers are strong and nobody has crossed into our territory. We need to pay special attention to that border. I assume Rainstar has told you why?" She glanced at her leader, who was nodding.

"Yes, I told her the situation. I'll announce it to everyone once we get back." He stood and stretched.

"'We?'"

"I'll be leading this patrol. With DarkClan back, it's important that I attend to this personally. I can't expect my warriors to risk their lives if I'm not willing to risk my own." His eyes bored into Dawnberry's, and she lowered her head.

"As you wish, Rainstar." As deputy, she understood what he meant; she would do the same thing. But as his friend, she worried for his safety.

"Keep the clan safe while I'm gone," he meowed. "I trust nobody more than you to defend the camp."

"Yes, Rainstar," she murmured. Dawnberry watched as the pair walked across camp, pelts brushing. Her deputy duties felt like a swipe to the face, especially watching Rainstar and Hollypelt. Was it really worth it? Giving up a family to attend to her clan for the rest of her life?

Dawnberry knew the answer, and it went against everything she believed in.  

~~~~~~

Don't forget to vote if you liked the chapter! <3

Also, I'll be putting questions at the end of each chapter starting now! Some of them will be simple, while others will be thought-provoking. The question: What is your favorite name out of all the Clans and why?