"That was a good first hunt, Spottedpaw!" Hollypaw congratulated. She and Cloudtail had joined Blossomfall and Spottedpaw for her first hunting session. Spottedpaw caught a fat squirrel. "It was slow, that's only why I could catch it." she said through her mouth full of the prey.

They were headed back to camp. "As long as you caught it. It could probably feed three cats." Purred her mentor, Blossomfall. The apprentice heaved her kill along the grass. She had insisted to carrying her own kill but it seemed to get heavier.

"Here let me carry it the rest of the way," Cloudtail grabbed her catch as they got to camp. Some cats watch as the hunting patrol came down into camp. "Wow! Who caught that?!" Fernpaw came dashing over to see his sister. The Apprentice stared at the huge prey.

"Spottedpaw caught it! It was amazing, you should've seen her!" Hollypaw gloated about Spottedpaw. The apprentice felt hot with embarrassment, she looked to Cloudtail saying, "Could I bring that to the Elders?" She had remembered how Amberheart said the apprentices usually brought them prey and help change their nest.

The white warrior nodded, "Can you carry it that far?" He asked, still amazed that she had caught the large prey. Spottedpaw nodded eagerly, "I'll manage!" She assured him, heaving the catch in her mouth. She lifted with all her strength as she brought it to the elders den.

"Ah the new apprentice ..." That was Purdy, who had seen Spottedpaw trot in and set the prey down. "Did you catch that?" That was Sandstorm, Spottedpaw nodded proudly. Sandstorm purred, "Well I can see you will be a great hunter." She congratulated the apprentice.

"That reminds me the first time I hunted..." Purdy started. As Sandstorm brought the prey closer. "Well, I would like to hear it but maybe some other time, Purdy. I think Blossomfall needed me still." Spottedpaw added hastily. Purdy seemed to roll his eyes. "You youngsters never stop to listen to a good story." He said, taking his first bite out of the squirrel.

Spottedpaw apologized and backed out of the den to hear a yowl. "The kits are coming!" It was Daisy, who was yowling from the nursery. Kits? Spottedpaw caught up with Amberheart, "What's going on?" She raised her head to look to the nursery. "Squirrelflight is having her kits! I thought they wouldn't come for another moon!" She sounded worried.

Both Leafpool and Jayfeather dashed into the nursery with supplies. Bramblestar was pacing outside, Jayfeather wouldn't let him in. They were in there for all sunhigh until Leafpool came out. "You can go in now." she nodded to Bramblestar who was already hurrying into the den. "Two She-cats and a Tom." she called after him.

"Isn't Squirrelflight the Deputy?" Spottedpaw whispered to Amberheart. The young warrior nodded. "Greystripe has been helping send out patrols. He used to be deputy once." she explained, Spottedpaw understood. A few moments later Bramblestar came back out, purring slightly.

He looked around as Maple, the loner was standing on a ledge, watching from above, confused. Bramblestar was followed by Jayfeather and seemed to ask him something. When the Medicine cat nodded he hopped on the Highrock, summoning his clanmates.

"As today has been busy, I would like to introduce a new cat into our Clan." he paused nodding to Maple who was now standing below. "For now until you received your Warrior name you are Maplepaw." he looked to Stormcloud. "Stormcloud, it was a few moons ago when you had join the clan yourself, but I believe that you would be able to train this new Apprentice in the ways of the Clan." He finished as the two touched noses.

"Maplepaw, Maplepaw!" The cats called her name. Maplepaw sat proudly, eyes glittering. The clan dispersed, Spottedpaw went for her mentor. "Did Squirrelflight and Bramblestar already name their kits?" She questioned. Blossomfall nodded "The tom was ginger, they named him after Firestar, who was a leader before Bramblestar. The first she-kit was a pale brown so they called her Creamkit. The last was a dark brown tabby she-kit, I heard they named her Alderkit." She finished.

New kits! A new Apprentice, the clan is growing. Spottedpaw thought to herself. But what does the prophecy mean?