A hot, airless morning hung heavily under the leaves of enormous oak trees. Above the leaf-laden trees was dark, thick clouds masking the sky, the sun managing to peek out from between one of the gaps.

      "Ivywhisper?"

      "Hush," a black pelted feline hissed through gritted teeth, "we can't talk."

      The black feline lowered her head to groom her ruffled fur, trying to relieve herself from the heat.

      "Do you think this is what the Dark Forest feels like?"

      "Be quiet, Sootrain," The black she-cat hissed again in response, pausing from her grooming. Her yellow eyes flicked up at the three cats sitting beside her. Sootrain had tucked herself under the overhanging bramble branches that guarded the large dip in the ground. Another cat, Stormberry, was trying to occupy the shade they all had left, huddling beside Sootrain. The third cat, Lilyfrost, was staring fondly ahead, clearly keeping her spirits high even in the sweltering Newleaf morning sun.

      Sootrain stared at black feline wistfully, her green eyes glinting in the bit of shade she was seated under.

      "Ivywhisper, shouldn't you be excited? We're warriors now," Sootrain pointed out to the black pelted she-cat, her voice a bit more hushed, acknowledging Ivywhisper's annoyance.

      Ivywhisper glared at Sootrain and curled her upper lip, "I'll be excited when we finish this stupid vigil and I finally get some sleep!"

Ivywhisper continued to watch the black flecked warrior as her sister, Stormberry, leaned closer to her. Ivywhisper's nicked ear swiveled in their direction as she overheard Stormberry whispering, "Don't even try. You know how impatient Ivywhisper is."

      "I'm just tired," Ivywhisper scowled, looking at them scornfully.

      "Ivywhisper was right from the start," Lilyfrost interrupted, looking around nervously, not wanting to get in trouble, "let's just stop talking. It's not proper during a warriors' vigil. StarClan is watching us."

Ivywhisper looked away from the three sisters, staring blankly ahead into the oak forest. She screwed up her face at the heat. The yellow-eyed she-cat had her white-tipped ears perked, listening to the distant sounds in the forest. She could hear skuttling of tiny paws not far away from camp, but knew she couldn't get up and go after it. She lowered her head again and licked at her sleek fur, trying to cool herself once again.

"Sootrain, Stormberry, Lilyfrost, Ivywhisper."

Ivywhisper's ears perked at the familiar sound of the EmberClan deputy's voice, Lakeshade. Straightening, Ivywhisper glanced over her shoulder at the blue-grey tom. Her eyes narrowed.
Is this stupid vigil over at last?
Ivywhisper didn't know a lot about Lakeshade. When she was a kitten, he had Beechpool, the medicine cat apprentice, bring her and her adoptive sisters honeycomb and bundles of sheepswool to play with. He had been deputy for the moons EmberClan's new leader took leadership, which was understandable, judging on his personality in general.

Immediately after Lakeshade slid through the bramble tunnel, Brookstar, the EmberClan leader, followed. Brookstar weaved past Lakeshade's thin frame and padded towards Ivywhisper, tapping her petite nose to Ivywhisper's forehead.

Brookstar's copper eyes glimmered proudly as she then looked at the three sisters. "I'm so glad that you're all warriors now," she meowed warmly, letting her gaze slide back to Ivywhisper. Frankly, Brookstar was probably one of the only cats in this clan that could make Ivywhisper feel happier. Brookstar and her had been training as apprentices together and Brookstar became a warrior just moons ago. The old leader, Poolstar, had aged and was ill with greencough. Brookstar, being the last of his kin that Poolstar truly trusted, became his deputy right away when she never even mentored an apprentice. Poolstar had died not long ago. He lost all of his remaining lives to old age and joined StarClan, leaving the awfully young Brookstar to lead.

"You're vigil is over," Lakeshade interrupted Ivywhisper's thoughts.

"Great," Stormberry meowed with a yawn. The dark tabby warrior slid out from under the brambles and stretched, her tail rippling and her jaws parting in a yawn.

      Ivywhisper watched Sootrain as she stood up, yelping as one of the brambles pricked her ear. She quickly ducked, scurrying out from under the brambles, "ouch!"

Ivywhisper snorted in amusement as Lilyfrost hurried over to her sister and licked her ear, where blood was welling up. "Are you okay?" Lilyfrost fretted.

Sootrain's bleeding ear flicked, causing her to wince. "It stings," she complained.

Lakeshade's tail tip flicked. "Sootrain, I would get Hollyfern and Beechpool to look at that in case it gets worse," Lakeshade ordered gently.

Lakeshade then turned to Lilyfrost. "I understand you're tired, but are you fit to go on the dawn patrol? Then you can rest right after."

Lilyfrost's ears pricked and her expression brightened. "Of course!" She meowed excitedly.

I don't think I've seen anyone so excited to be on a patrol before, Ivywhisper thought, plucking at the green grass under her claws.

Deciding she wanted to hear no more of this discussion, the black feline slid through the thorn and bramble tunnel and emerged inside the EmberClan camp.

      The camp was alive with cats, going around in their usual daily business. The medicine cats, Beechpool and Hollyfern, were sitting outside of their den. The medicine cat den was similar to the rest of the dens in camp, weaved together in bracken and other sturdy plants as well as flowers like daisies and roses to give it a nice appearance to go along with it.

Ivywhisper glanced at her adoptive mother, Brownfeather, as she sat next to the fresh kill pile. The fresh kill pile was a ancient tree stump right between the medicine cat den and the nursery.

Ears flattening, Ivywhisper tried to slip away unnoticed to the Warriors den, but had to stop in her pawsteps when she heard Brownfeather call her over.

      Ivywhisper padded slowly over, raising her ears casually. She didn't want Brownfeather know she preferred not talking to her. Ever since the brown tabby started expecting Lionbird's second litter of kits, that's all she would talk about to Ivywhisper or any of her kits in general.

      "Sit down," Brownfeather invited.

      Ivywhisper sniffed and sat down next to her. She glanced at Brownfeather's swollen belly and the wagtail tucked between her two paws.

      Even though I don't want kits, I would move into the nursery just so I can eat before everyone else with the elders.

      Tail flicking, Ivywhisper glanced at the fresh kill pile. A sparrow and two shrews lay unmoving on the tree stump. Surprised at the lack of prey, she looked over at Brownfeather in confusion.

      Brownfeather, guessing what Ivywhisper's thoughts were, meowed, "Lakeshade hasn't sent out the hunting patrols yet."

      Nodding, Ivywhisper stood up, "great talking to you, Brownfeather," she meowed, her jaws stretching open in a yawn.

      Brownfeather's shoulders drooped a bit. "We barely even spoke," she protested, "you never talk to me anymore, Ivywhisper. What's the matter?"

      Ivywhisper's tail lashed and her eyes darted to Brownfeather coldly. "Nothing's wrong," she informed her, stretching, "you need to stop worrying about me and pay attention to your actual kits like Stormberry, Lilyfrost, and Sootrain like how you always had."

      "Is this what all this is about, Ivywhisper? I thought you would've gotten over it by now," Brownfeather looked offended.

      "I'm surprised you must've thought I would've gotten over my entire kithood and apprenticeship just like that," Ivywhisper retorted, "and now you have your new litter of kits."

      Brownfeather's tail lashed, however the look of hurt danced in her green eyes. "Look Ivywhisper, I know you aren't my daughter but you have to understand I love you like any of my other kits."

      Ivywhisper just sighed, "Brownfeather, I'm sorry. I'm tired, may you excuse me so I can get some sleep?"

      Brownfeather just looked down at the wagtail between her paws and bent her head, plucking the bird's feathers away.

Ivywhisper, satisfied, turned away from her adoptive mother and headed towards the Warriors den next to the nursery. Pushing through the overhanging lichen, she emerged to see Lionbird in the den, sitting in his nest and grooming the scraps of moss from his golden-brown tabby pelt.

The orange-eyed warrior looked up, his facial expression brightening, "hey Ivywhisper. How was your vigil?"

Lionbird had taken his place as Ivywhisper's adoptive father. He was a lot more into Ivywhisper more than Brownfeather was.

"It was fine," Ivywhisper mewed simply.

"Congratulations on your warrior name. I'm very proud of you," Lionbird said. "I made nests for you and your sisters right at the back of the den."

Adoptive sisters, Ivywhisper corrected him wistfully in her head. Putting on her most convincing smile, she nodded. "Thanks Lionbird," and picked her way through the nests.

"Ouch! Watch where you're putting your paws!"

Ivywhisper jumped when she heard Antwhisker's voice, still groggy from sleep. Looking down, she hesitantly lifted her paw off the orange warrior's tail. "Sorry," she meowed quietly before slipping to her nest, ignoring Lionbird's mrrow of laughter.

      Ivywhisper stepped into her nest and spun around in circles before settling down in a comfortable position. Her nest was soft along with jay feathers lining the edges. Resting her muzzle on her white paws, Ivywhisper closed her eyes, exhaling.

I'm a warrior now.