One moon had passed since the tragic fire. As well as Sun and Eclipse's lives, the fire had spread further than the ravine. Ash had died due to severe burns. In the aftermath of the fire, the cats had worked hard to fix the camp up, but some places still smelt of smoke, namely Autumn's den.

Violet had moved to the nursery shortly after the fire, much to Flash's delight, who was her mate. She was due to give birth any day, the same as Autumn.

Night Sky and Autumn had talked and decided that they both had matured greatly. They had left their argument behind them and Autumn now resided in the nursery with Violet.

Autumn had chosen Deer as her deputy. The light brown she-cat had been a good friend to her after losing Eclipse. Even now, she still mourned her adopted mother.

Night Sky's scent rushed into her nose and she looked for the tom. He sprang out from behind a bush, purring, a squirrel in his jaws. "Eat," he commanded in a soft voice.

Autumn rolled her eyes but took the squirrel anyways, taking small bites. It tasted dull but she forced herself to eat for her kits. While she ate, she looked around the camp. All the greenery had been removed, but new ferns and leaves would grow. She knew it. As she watched, she noticed Wild Wind staring into space, his head low and his eyes dim. A wave of sympathy swept over her for her brother. Wild Wind had been the closest to Eclipse. He had visited her almost every day while she had been alive.

Night Sky followed her gaze and dipped his head. "I'll talk to him."

Autumn mewed her thanks before heaving her swollen belly inside the nursery, resting on the soft moss.

Suddenly, Violet let out a cry of pain. Autumn leapt up to her paws, regretting it immediately as her belly heaved.

"Storm!" Autumn hollered, sticking her head out of the den. The tom came bounding, some herbs in his mouth.

He felt Violet's belly before nodding sharply. "You're kitting," he purred. "Just relax and lick up these leaves."

Violet obeyed.

"As well," Storm continued. "I'll give you a stick with honey sticking a little catmint to it. Whenever you feel pain, bite on the stick."

"How does the stick help?" Autumn asked curiously.

Storm answered without looking up from Violet where she was groaning. "The catmint automatically soothes cats and when they taste it, cats sometimes experience joy and gain energy. The honey also helps with the yowling, as many kitting queens can be rather loud. The stick muffles most of it though."

To prove his point, Violet let out a loud and painful yowl and Autumn saw a little kit hit the moss of the den. "Autumn! Take this kit and lick it the wrong way to get its blood flowing!" Storm ordered.

Autumn dipped her head, picking up the kit and licking it rapidly. Soon, it began mewling for food.

Before it was sunhigh, Violet had kitted three adorable kits. The first born was a dark brown tabby she-cat, the second a yellow she-cat and the third a brown she-cat. All she-cats. Autumn let out a purr of joy, but her worry sparked inside her.

What if I'm not good enough? That looked like it hurt...

Despite her nervousness, Autumn congratulated Violet before retiring to a corner of the den. She stayed there for the rest of the day.

"Eat, Autumn. Please."

Autumn turned away from her mate, burying her head in her paws.

"Autumn, come on, eat," Night Sky urged. "Our kits need you."

A memory of Violet's kitting came to her.

Violet howled in pain, thrashing around on the moss. A plop told Autumn another kit had been born but she refused to watch, instead concentrating on the kit she was licking.

"What's wrong, dear?" Night Sky meowed seriously.

"I'm scared," Autumn whimpered. "It hurt Violet so much..."

Night Sky refused to let anxiety show and instead, he mewed, "Violet and Flash have named them. Do you want to know?"

Autumn nodded slightly.

"Thorn, River and Swift," Night Sky announced happily.

"That's great," she replied flatly.

Night Sky watched her with a hurt expression when a yowl outside caught their attention. Autumn padded out of the nursery to see five-no, six, no, seven cats trailing into the camp. Deer was leading them.

"What is this?" Autumn snapped, glaring at the patrol of hunters that had brought them back.

"I'm sorry, Autumn. But these cats are starving. And they want to join us. We're low on numbers since the fire," Deer dipped her head meekly.

A black tom with yellow eyes took a step forward. "My name is Dark, and this is what is left of my Clan. We are broken and dying. Our medicine cat has no herbs. We have no prey. We need help. Please, Autumn, help us. Let us stay with you."

Autumn sighed, turning to Deer again. "I'm sorry I snapped at you, Deer. You're right."

Deer nodded. "Shall I test them?"

"Test?" An orange tabby tom looked alarmed.

"Yes. We are the Dynasty of Truth. If you wish to stay with us, you must answer some questions." Autumn explained carefully.

Dark exchanged a look with a black she-cat. "Alright. We'll take the test. But what happens if we lie?"

"You can't lie," Autumn mewed softly. "Truth will control your spirit and you will be forced to tell the truth."

At this, fear flashed in Dark's eyes. "Uh," he muttered. "Do we have to take the test?"

"Dark!" a ginger and white she-cat snorted. "Don't listen to the dung-brain. Do you really think a cat can control us?"

Dark silenced the she-cat with his tail before turning to Autumn. "Well?"

"No, you can stay one moon without taking the test," Deer jumped in.

"Very well. We will not take the test," Dark mewed.

Autumn dipped her head. "If that is what you wish."

A half moon later, Autumn was shrieking in the nursery. Storm rushed in immediately, Water That Trickles Off Cliff at his side. Water was Dark's medicine cat, and she and Storm had started to work together.

Ruthless, Nightfire and Pounce had become hunters, while Razor, Scar and Dark had become guards. Wild Wind had confided in Autumn that whilst on a patrol, Dark had started a fight with some rogues that had stolen Ruthless' rabbit. They had been heavily injured.

Autumn had given Dark a scolding, as the Dynasty didn't fight. She didn't notice his eyes sparking with aggression.

Night Sky licked her head as a small kit fell onto the nest. Then, the pain ended.

"One kit, Autumn. She's beautiful," Water mewed, her voice sweet like honey.

Autumn sighed in relief. I have to be ready. No more waiting.

Autumn took her first glance at her kit and almost fell over. She would have, if she wasn't already sitting. It was beautiful, with black fur, a white underbelly, white paws, white eartips and a white tailtip. The perfect combination between light and dark. Autumn gazed at her for a few more seconds before turning to Night Sky. He too was purring.

"We've discussed this," Night Sky mewed softly. "Moon."

"It's perfect. I couldn't love it more." Autumn sighed in happiness.

A loud yowl broke the moment and Autumn stayed inside the den, unable to move. It seemed that Dark was quarrelling with Deer. Their voices were raised and extremely loud.

"I don't care if you hunted it, Dark!" Deer cried.

"I hunted it; I eat it!" Dark snarled.

"You're not supposed to be hunting anyways! You're a guard, not a hunter! And besides, the Dynasty hunts for all its members! The kits eat first!" Deer growled.

Autumn winced and gently resettled herself so she could see through the entrance.

Dark and Deer were face to face, their tails lashing in anger. Beside Dark was a tiny rabbit.

That's not worth fighting over.

"Violet, can you take Moon for a bit?" Autumn eased herself up off the floor, giving Moon to the queen.

She nodded and Autumn left the den.

"Why are you fighting like kits?" Autumn thrusted the two cats apart, her fur bristling.

"I hunted this rabbit and Deer took it!" Dark yowled, his claws unsheathed.

Alarmed, Autumn faced Dark. "I have an announcement!" she called.

The tom's dark eyes betrayed nothing.

"Dark and his friends have stayed with us for a moon. It is time for them to take the test," Autumn decided.

"No!" Dark protested loudly. "We belong here!"

"If you refuse, you must leave," Autumn mewed calmly although she was churning inside.

I should not have let them stay.

"Fine!" Dark stormed off, taking the rabbit with him.

Deer moved immediately to stop him, barring him and his friends' way. "Hold on. That rabbit belongs to us!"

"We can fight over it," Pounce mewed. "I'll win." She added arrogantly.

"Definitely not!" Autumn snapped. "The Dynasty does not fight. Dark, leave now. Take the rabbit if you must. But do not come back ever again."

Dark cast one last look at the Dynasty before sneering. "You've just shown me your weakness. I'll be back, and it'll be soon. And when I come back, every one of you will wish that you hadn't made me leave!"

A/N-

I didn't even notice, but my chapters are getting longer! I don't think thats a bad thing, but i want them to be consistent, so i'll be changing my limits from 1000-1200 to 1000-1500. And perhaps in the next book, it will continue to rise!