"Lilycloud! Lionscar! Tigershade! Emberspirit!" 

Emberspirit straightened up, tail twitching in nervousness and excitement. 

A thick white sheet of snow covered the Camp and the freeze of leaf-bare had set in. Deertail had moved to the Nursery, two soft bundles suckling at her. Heronkit and Jaggedkit were the newest additions and Beetlestream, their father, couldn't be more proud. Hailwhiskers kits, however, had reach the age of two moons and were now a pawful with their kit games.

"How come I can't be an apprentice already!?" Troutkit whined from the entrance of the Nursery where Hailwhisker had watched the warrior ceremony. 

"Because you aren't six moons yet." Hailwhisker mewed but Troutkit let out a low growl. He leaped onto his mothers tail, pinning it down with his front paws.

"But I can fight! Look! BreezeClan scum!" He bared his teeth at his mothers tail and whacked it with a paw. "It's no fun to just lay around!"

Emberspirit let out a low laugh of amusement, he padded over to the kit. "Trust me, once you start training you'll be wishing to lay around all day. Enjoy kithood while it lasts."

The kit stared at the warrior in awe before he leaped onto Emberspirits paws. "Can't you take me outside! At least to FallenRocks." He begged, gazing at the tom with bright brown eyes. 

The red toms ear flicked, "And risk having my ears clawed off by your mom? I already have a torn ear, I want to keep what I have left of it in tack." He chuckled and lifted the tom by the scruff, setting him with his scuffling sibling. "You'll be an apprentice soon enough young kit." 

Troutkit let out a sigh before Redkit leaped on him. "Let's play chase the fox!" She growled, biting his ear before running off as Troutkit let out a roar and chased her. 

Hailwhisker let out a soft sigh, "They're growing up so fast." She mewed wistfully, "Two moons already!" 

Emberspirit blinked at the queen, "Four moons is a long wait. Besides they won't leave you forever."

The gray and black she-cat let out a soft sigh, "They'll always be kits to me."

Emberspirit smiled slightly before noticing Riverkit crouched in the corner, her light blue eyes watching silently. 

"Not going to play?" The she-cat jumped and turned, gazing at the seemingly huge cat before her. 

"Nuh-uh. I don't like fighting." She muttered, tail flicking around herself.

Emberspirit rose a brow and gazed at Hailwhisker who was watching with one eye open.

"Well, why don't we visit Berrywish?" Recently, Heatherspirit had been slowing down. She had named Berrywish a full medicine cat and moved to the Elders den. It was for the best but Heatherspirit still pitched in, gathering herbs only to be chewed out by her old apprentice.

The she-kit blinked, glancing at her mother who had a knowing look in her eye before looking back at her touseling siblings then at the newly named warrior.

"Okay." She finally agreed, fluffing up her fur to prepare for the cold. She padded alongside the new warrior and followed him as he ducked into the medicine den where Berrywish tossing old dead herbs in a pile to discard. She glanced up and smiled at Emberspirit before she noticed Riverkit.

"Hello, young Riverkit. Come here to help?" 

The she-kit blinked, "Uh, yeah.. what can I do?" She padded forward next to Berrywish as Emberspirit slowly backed out as the medicine cat explained at she was doing to the kit who nodded in understanding.

The tom glanced around, shuddering at the cold.

"Well new warrior," Pikesky meowed as he padded to his friend. "playing with the kits?" 

"Troutkit is getting bigger each day." Emberspirit mewed as he butted Pikeskys shoulder with his head. "Louder too." He mused as he heard Troutkits growl from within the Nursery walls. 

"Believe me, we know." Dawnspot groaned as she stretched. "Crabfoot never shuts up about them." She smiled at Emberspirit before she called Appleblaze and Brightnose, Amberheart following, to join her in hunting. 

Pikesky let out a soft sigh as a chilly wind shook his neck fur. "The Clan is growing stronger." He purred before he fixed his blue eyes on his red-furred friend. "Say, hows Redflare and Wildclaw doing? Those two have become quite close." 

Emberspirit blinked and glanced across the clearing at the two. They were sitting side-by-side, fur brushing, laughing with each other. "What if they become mates?" Pikesky murmured, blue eyes shining.

"Then I'll support them." Emberspirit replied with a shrug, "My mom is seasons old and Wildclaw has been the only father in my life. If they want to become mates then who am I intervene?" His tail twitched, "With all these kits around doesn't it make you wish you had a mate?" He changed the subject and smiled slightly when the gray-and-white tom stared at him with fear. "You'd be a good father!" 

Pikesky shook his head, "Kits? Mate? I don't want any of that." He explained, "I like everyone. Not romantically or anything I just like making others happy. That's just as well as having a mate or some kits right?" Emberspirit looked at his friend and saw genuine worry in his baby blue eyes. 

Clearly, this had caused him a lot of grief, the red tom could relate. Constantly second guessing yourself, not feeling quite right, always overthinking the slightest thing when he honestly shouldn't be because why would anyone be questioning something as much as-

Stop.

He forced himself to quit thinking, letting out a slow breath as the world came back into focus. He smiled at Pikesky, "Yes. If that's what makes you happy then that's what you should do." 

Instantly his friend relaxed, "Amberheart told me that too, but I can't help but think the entire Clan is expecting to hear me announce that I'm mates with someone." Pikesky sighed quietly as Lilycloud padded up to them.

"Emberspirit, I was gonna walk to the lily patch and Great Willow before we sit vigil, want to come with me?" She asked, sky blue eyes shining. Emberspirit felt his heart skip a beat as he nodded.

"I-I'd love to!" He stood as Pikesky chirped a farewell, "Cold out huh?" He mewed as they strode side by side through the tall grass. Emberspirit could smell the afternoon patrol consisting of Tigershade, Willowcoat, and Crabfoot. He could also smell Dawnspot and her hunting party. They probably tried their luck with some mice that journeyed out of their dens. The fresh-kill pile had been filled with nothing but some fish and a small water vole when the duo had left, hopefully Dawnspots fine hunting skills would will it. 

"You look like you have the weight of the world on your shoulders." Lilycloud purred, tail twining with his. "What are you thinking about this time?"

"The Clan. Missingfluff has been going on and on about how the fresh-kill pile isn't nearly as filled as it ought to be." Emberspirit murmured, "StormClan taking Sunningrocks is really hindering our fresh-kill source." 

Lilycloud nodded, "Lynxstar is going to attack again, I heard her and Rumblethroat talking about it. With kits around, we can't afford to let them keep it." She shook her head, "But let's not talk about that." she said firmly, "Come on!" She broke into a run, laughing as Emberspirit grinned and followed. "Catch me if you can!" 

Emberspirit laughed before he leaped, "Got you!" He cried as he landed on his mate. The two laughed and squeaked as they wrestled in the lily patch before rolling on their backs, chuckling as they stared at the sky.

Lilycloud tilted her head against Emberspirits shoulder, purring quietly. "Warriors at last." she purred, "Finally right?"

"Feels like yesterday when I hid in the nursery and Deertail coaxed me out." Emberspirit smiled and stretched out a paw as though to touch the sky, "Someday, I hope to be someone cats down the generations can look up to. As a cat who overcame themselves and was a great warrior." 

"Or leader." Lilycloud murmured, making Emberspirit whip his head over at her.  

"What?" He blinked in shocked as his mate turned her sky blue eyes on him. 

"Oh come on Emberspirit, you worry about the Clan constantly and you always have some great idea. You're a thinker, but your self-doubt gets in the way. But you've been working at that and you're so much more confident now."

"O-oh?" Emberspirit gazed at the sky. A moon ago, the very thought of being leader might have made him freak out and puke, but now it seemed like it was plausible though it was improbable. "I mean, maybe, one day. Rumblethroat would probably make Eagleeyes or Darkrunner deputy. Or Amberheart if he wanted a younger cat." He told Lilycloud.

She blinked, "Why doubt yourself? Remeber 'StarClan honors your sensibility and spirit.'" She quoted Lynxstar during his warrior ceremony. The red tom smiled slightly. 

"I don't think sensibility means leadership Lilycloud." He murmured.

"A good leader has to be sensible." She murmured back, tail twitching.

Emberspirit sighed, admitting defeat he glanced at his mate, a small smile on his face. 

"Enough about that." He nuzzled her shoulder fur. "Let's just relax for now." He purred.

Lilycloud smiled slightly and licked his ear before she rolled to her paws. "Let's race, bet I can beat you to the Great Willow!" She cried as she raced away.

Emberspirit grinned and stood, "B-bet you won't!" He cried as he followed suit. The leaf-bare chilly air ruffled his fur and whiskers, making him shudder and push his legs faster as he closed the gap between him and Lilycloud. 

The she-cat was fleet-footed but Emberspirit was slightly quicker, he pushed ahead of her and leaped, snagging the low branch of the bare-leafed Great Willow with unsheathed claws before he pulled himself up.

"I win!" He cried, grinning down at his mate as she slowed to a walk. She panted hard and grinned at him.

"That you did." She tilted her head, "Where did you learn to climb?" She reared up and placed her paws on the branch.

Emberspirit puffed with pride, "Wildclaw taught me!" he told her, "Wanna learn?"

Lilycloud pulled a face, "Leave the climbing for squirrels." She pushed off the branch and sat down, "Come down here!"

Emberspirit chuckled and leaped down, purring loudly as the white she-cat washed his face. He pressed his nose to hers as she finished, "I-I.." He gazed into her sky blue eyes feeling his heart stop. His paws felt light yet they trembled as he spoke, "I l-love you." He muttered with a dopey smile and blushy face.

Lilycloud gazed at him in shock before smiled widely, "I love you too Emberpsirit." She told him in a purr, blushing slightly as she nuzzled his neck fur.

Emberspirit wrapped his slightly fluffy tail around her and rested his chin on the back of her neck.

 Soon the two parted and began to pad back to camp, side by side, tails twined and hearts beating in unison.

The trek was filled with emotions the two couldn't even begin to put into words, despite the cold the territory was alive. As the two made their way to the camp, in the distance he could hear a fish leap from the water to snag a bug before making a splash as it landed back into the depths of the lake. Dragonflies zipped around the reeds and grass, he stopped as he scented Amberheart.

The golden tabby appeared a second later, holding a large fish in her jaws.

"Night catch!" Lilycloud commented, Amberheart nodded her thanks as the three padded into camp.

Brightnose was placing two mice in the pile, while Dawnspot dropped a rabbit.

"Rabbit?" Redflare rose a brow, "Those normally stay to their dens in leaf-bare."

Dawnspot nodded, "I think it swam to the other side of the river, I scented a patrol that probably chased it."

"Any prey is welcome." Lynxstar meowed as she padded into the camp with her patrol. "Especially in these cold times." 

Emberspirit nodded in agreement, "I can take a patrol out to hunt if you want." He called to Lynxstar but she she-cat shook her head.

"No, I want you to stay in camp. The dens need to be insulated. You and the other new warriors can help with that." Lynxstar turned to Swiftwhisper, "Did you collect reeds with Wildclaw as I asked?"

The white tom nodded, "It's behind the Elders den." He gestured Tigershade and Lionscar who were dozing. "Come make yourselves useful." 

Lionscar was up in an instant, he pulled the pile of reeds from behind the log den. He pulled a few and padded over to the dirt cave of the Warriors den. He and Emberspirit reinforced the weaving overhanging reeds. The rigid structure bearly moved in the chilled wind and once the Warriors den was done the two moved to the Elders den while Lilycloud and Tigershade worked on the Apprentices den and the Medicine cats den. 

Soon the entire camp was reinforced and Emberspirit smiled as the sun dipped low in the sky.

"Good luck." Rumblethroat murmured, as he passed the four new warriors. "If you get cold you can pace around outside of camp." He dipped his head before he pushed through the reed barrier of the Warriors den.

Emberspirit watched as his companions found an area to lay together before he moved towards the Nursery. 

Troutkit, Redkit, and Riverkit were all sharing fish that Hailwhisker ripped apart from them. 

"Hello Emberspirit." Deertail purred, "Still hiding in the Nursery as a warrior I see." 

Emberspirit rolled his eyes, "Hardly." He laid down in the corner as Troutkit piqued up.

"Emberspirit tell us a story!" He cried.

"Yeah, tell us how the camp was made!" Redkit swallowed her fish and stared at the warrior.

 Emberspirit blinked and thought hard before he began to speak. "When RiverClan left with the other Clans to find a new home the-two legs ripped apart this land. They began to dig a large depression in the ground but as they filled it with stone they found it was much too hard. Two-legs are dumb creatures, they changed the way the river ran and water began to fill this area, creating a little waterfall that makes Lynxstars den." It was the only real rock-face in the camp with a small hole where the leader slept, with slabs of rock under it so she could climb down and up.  "So they left this land as the wild reclaimed it. The dirt absorbed the stone they had created and so now this camp is like our fur. It shakes water like its nothing. They made this area a delta, so that's how we got our Clan name." The tom finished. "The warriors of the past dug out the Apprentices and Warriors den in a way so a cave-in would never happen. They brought a hollowed out log for the elders and like RiverClan, weaved a reed nest for the Nursery."

"What about the Medicine cat den?" Riverkit asked.

"Well, the first Medicine asked the warriors to dig a cave for her as well. She made ledges so that if the camp ever flooded, the herbs with remain in-tact." Emberspirit told the kit.

Troutkit was in awe, he turned to his mom, yawning.

"I'm gonna be as mighty as the ancient DeltaClan warriors!" Troutkit murmured as he curled up with his sisters near his mothers belly.

"I know you will." Hailwhisker purred, licking her sons head. "You all will." She added, licking her other kits heads. She lifted her head and smiled, "Thank you for that story Emberspirit." 

The red tom awkwardly dipped his head, before he stood and moved from the Nursery. 

He smiled to himself and gazed at his warrior comrades who were mewing quietly among themselves.

The red tom padded mover and laid next to Lilycloud, listening as Tigershade was talking.

"Wildclaw was giving me some battle advice," He was saying, "he said that if an opponent goes into battle thinking they have won they're likely to make more mistakes. If you play with this mentality, you're likely to win. Like going limp, they'll think they win and soften."

"StormClan will be cocky." Lionscar meowed, "We'll leave them a nasty surprise." 

Lilycloud nodded, "Aren't we suppose to be quiet?" She mewed teasingly.

"Good if your talking." Eagleeyes said as he passed them, "Means your alert." He moved pass the reeds of the entrance of camp and sat down next to Willowcoat.

"When I get my claws on those StormClan scum," Tigershade snarled quietly, "they'll rue the day they ever messed with DeltaClan!"

Emberspirit nodded, "We'll take Sunningrocks back." He murmured, "With so many kits we can't let them keep it."

Lionscar growled in agreement. "We'll take them back." He gazed at the entrance to camp with fire in his amber eyes. "And when we do they'll remember our claws and teeth." 

Lilycloud rested her head on Emberspirits shoulder, "I can't wait." She growled, "I'll be sure to give them some scars to remember."

The red tom said nothing, he knew they all wanted to get their say in battle just as Emberspirit had. He agreed with all of them, StormClan had been cocky and arrogant. They were cats but they had made themselves an enemy. No amount of sympathy and empathy could change that.

Look out StormClan, once DeltaClans through with you, you'll regret the day you decided to take Sunningrocks!