Owlpaw sat vigil for Echopaw all night. Firepaw sat with him, the grief clear in her eyes. He couldn't help thinking of Rainpaw; The poor cat had just left MudClan, and now his sister had died. Did he know?

"I can't believe we almost died for nothing." Firepaw said bitterly. "Why would StarClan take Echopaw? She never did anything wrong!"

"It wasn't for nothing. At least we tried.." Owlpaw licked her cheek in an attempt to calm her.

"I just can't imagine what it'll be like without her! She was always so cheerful.."

"She's with StarClan now. She... She'll be happier there. Happier than us!"

"Yeah, I guess you're right. But... What will Rainpaw say? Will we tell him?"

"I'm sure he already knows. He has a special connection with StarClan now..."

"Alright, alright. I'm going to fetch some fresh kill." She struggled to her paws, and Owlpaw did the same, following her to the fresh kill at the center of the cave.

The camp seemed quiet. Every cat was hurting with the loss of Echopaw, especially Moonbeam, who hadn't even left the warriors den. Owlpaw heard Jaytail cursing StarClan under his breath, and Snowstorm was barely eating. Every cat had loved Echopaw.

Owlpaw picked out a rabbit from the fresh kill pile and dragged it over to the apprentices den, which he sat outside of while he ate. Spiderpaw and Silverpaw didn't make any sarcastic comments today; they were too busy grieving with the rest of the clan.

Then, Stripedstar summoning the clan took him by surprise. As the cats gathered around the highrock, a stone in the center of the cave, Owlpaw realised what was about to happen. He nearly zoned out as Stripedstar began to speak, then perked his ears up when she got to the part he wanted hear.

"Owlpaw, Firepaw, from this moment on you will be known as Owlflight and Firepelt. StarClan honors your intelligence and your bravery and we welcome you as full warriors of MudClan."

"Owlflight! Firepelt!" Came the chants from the clan. Owlflight brightened up a bit. Echopaw would be so proud..

*

Three days had past since Owlflight became a warrior. He was happier, the loss of Echopaw beginning to fade. He was focused on Firepelt, who had barely spoken since she became a warrior. At first, Owlflight thought that she was still grieving Echopaw. But it seemed that something else was bothering her, too.

Owlflight dropped the vole that he had brought Firepelt. "Are you alright? Something's bothering you." He laid down next to his mate, nuzzling her fur. "Eat."

She leaned forward and took a small bite, tasting it. "I'm fine." She glared at Owlflight, urging him to leave.

"What's happened?" Owlflight demanded. "Why have you been so sad?"

"Echopaw!" She snapped back.

"That's not true. You and Echopaw weren't even that close! The rest of the clan has stopped grieving, so should you. Leaf-bare is coming! This is no time to be moping about." He stood up, his neck fur bristling.

"Leave her be, Owlflight!" To his surprise, Spiderpaw jumped to Firepelt's defense. "You don't know what she's going through!"

"I don't?" Owlflight was puzzled. "What's going on, Spiderpaw?"

Spiderpaw looked away guiltily. "I've said too much. I'm going to find Silverpaw. Goodbye!" She stood up and padded away.

"What was that about?" Owlflight hissed. "What are you hiding from me, Firepelt?!"

"Keep your voice down, will you?" Firepelt hissed. "It's nothing. Spiderpaw is full of mouse dung! Don't listen to her."

Owlflight's tail twitched. "No, something is wrong. You told Spiderpaw and not me! How could you?"

"Fine, fine. Just.. Calm down." She sighed. "I know you won't take this well, that's why I don't want to tell you!"

"What? Is it really that bad?"

"Yes. Owlflight... We.... I'm going to be having your kits."

"You're pregnant?" Owlflight gasped, loud enough that a few cats turned their heads in his direction. "But it's almost leaf-bare! They'll never survive!"

"Shh!" Firepelt flattened her ears, "I know, Owlflight. But just between you and me, something no other cat knows... When the kits are six moons old, I'm taking them and... Leaving MudClan."

"What? Why?" Owlflight whisper-yelled.

"Because something terrible is coming to the island. I know because... StarClan... Thorncloud visited me in a dream and told me."