There was some loud commotion at the camp entrance. Heartstorm blinked his tired eyes open. He slowly got up. The warrior den was empty. He looked automatically at Silverdrop's nest. It was empty as well. He trotted out of the den. The sun had just risen. Cats were milling by the camp entrance. Heartstorm sniffed and wrinkled his nose. The strong smell of ThunderClan had reached his nose. He wondered what it was. Heartstorm saw Blacktail push through the crowd. Then there was a sharp shout. 

           "Everybody get back!" Reedstar's voice was strong and firm. The cats parted and Heartstorm was able to peer through and see Falconstar, Waspnose, Snowfur and Palebird. 

          "What's going on?" muttered Moorpelt, beside Heartstorm. 

          "I don't know... I just woke up....," shrugged Heartstorm confused and curious as well. 

         "What do they want?" Heartstorm heard a cat growl. 

           "Why are they here?" snapped another. 

            "They shouldn't be here," Moorpelt growled under his breath. Heartstorm pushed through the crowd and watched as Reedstar dipped his head to Falconstar. They both greeted each other gravely. Then Reedstar turned to RiverClan. 

            "RiverClan, we will welcome ThunderClan. We are now alliances," declared Reedstar. Hearstorm frowned and looked around for Silverdrop. He came face to face with Eelfrost. 

           "Do you know what's going on?" asked Eelfrost. "Why did they let ThunderClan in?" 

           "It's about the battle," Heartstorm found himself knowing the answer perfectly. "they're here for the battle against ShadowClan. Of course!" 

           "right... nobody said it would mean that ThunderClan had to come into RiverClan," muttered Eelfrost, lashing his tail from side to side thoughtfully. 

          "Of course it means that. Maybe even that we will have to go to ThunderClan," Heartstorm thought aloud. 

           "Today, Falconstar, Snowfur, Palebird and Waspnose are here to talk to Blacktail, Frogleap and I about our upcoming decision to fight ShadowClan," continued Reedstar. His eyes landed on each and every one of his Clanmates. When his eyes locked with Heartstorm, he gave him a meaningful look. Heartstorm snorted. They didn't need to fight ShadowClan. 

           "We want to be left alone," added Falconstar, eyeing the Clan judgingly. "So nobody is to disturb us. Palebird will stay outside the den, stopping anybody from going in." There were a few nods and a few mutters and angry growls. 

            "And I will put... Heartstorm outside of the den as well," Reedstar added. Heartstorm didn't care. Eelfrost looked at him in surprise. 

           "Lucky, you get to be a guard and fend off eavesdroppers. But you have to stand next to a RiverClan cat," Eelfrost told Heartstorm. Heartstorm shrugged. He didn't care that he had been chosen. All he cared about was stopping the war arriving. About talking to his kits... to Silverdrop. 

          "Silverdrop!" he called as the crowd dispersed. Silverdrop turned around and smiled. Her smile made Heartstorm's heart jump a little. 

           "Morning Heartstorm. How did you sleep? You came in late, last night," Silverdrop said, her voice soft and comforting. 

           "Yeah- I have to tell you something," Heartstorm told her. 

           "Heartstorm!" Reedstar called. Heartstorm turned around to see Reedstar looking impatient. 

           "You better go," urged Silverdrop. "Tell me later." Heartstorm gave a brief nod and trotted towards Reedstar. 

            "I need you to guard the den," Reedstar told Heartstorm. "And you'll be able to hear what's going on inside. And... keep an eye on Palebird." 

           "Um sure ok," nodded Heartstorm. 

            "thank you," nodded Reedstar. Heartstorm wondered why Reedstar wanted him to hear what was going on. "And I don't want others to know about what happens in there. So don't tell anybody." Heartstorm nodded once again, now understanding. He trotted after Reedstar towards his den. Palebird sat by the entrance already, looking suspiciously at all the passing cats. Heartstorm joined Palebird's side, nodding. Reedstar slipped into the den. 

            "Mmmm, RiverClan camp is very... quaint," commented Palebird. Heartstorm had other things on his mind. Like the encounter of the night before. He didn't answer Palebird, he didn't even glance at him. 

              "Very... small and... delicate," continued Palebird. Heartstorm didn't react. "What, do you not know how to talk, ShadowClan?" Heartstorm snapped his head in Palebird's direction. 

             "What did you say?" he said softly. 

             "Oh sorry, are your delicate ears incapable of hearing the word ShadowClan, ShadowClan cat?" Palebird asked poshly. Heartstorm growled but he knew Palebird was just trying to rile him up. He bit his tongue and closed his mouth. He turned his attention back to watching life around camp. 

            "Aww, is little Heartstorm pouting?" taunted Palebird. Heartstorm pretended not to hear. He looked around the clearing. He thought about Brightheart. He wished he hadn't shouted at her. He hoped he'd be able to see her again. He felt a pang of sadness at the thought of not seeing her again. He didn't know what she had meant when she had said she might not be able to come back... He knew there was a war coming. How was he to warn his Clan? How was he going to protect his family, his friends, his Clan? If he told Reedstar, Reedstar would just laugh at him. He'd say that of course war was coming. That was why Falconstar had come to RiverClan, wasn't it? Heartstorm sighed, realising that Palebird had moved away slightly. He looked up and spotted Palebird staring intently at Silverdrop. 

         "What are you staring at?" snapped Heartstorm. Palebird cocked his head, eyes locked on Silverdrop. Silverdrop sat next to a tree. The shade covered half of her face. Her eyes were lit up by the sun. She looked dazzling, more beautiful than ever. 

            "That she-cat," Palebird nodded to Heartstorm. "What's her name?" 

            "Why do you want to know?" Heartstorm snapped, his eyes narrowing. He suddenly felt a sharp emotion like anger, bubbling through him. He knew exactly what it was. He hadn't felt it like this before.    

             "Hmm, well, wouldn't anybody want to know?" chuckled Palebird. "She's magnificent." 

             "Well back off!" snarled Heartstorm, baring his fangs and lashing his tail. He felt the red hot anger.. and jealousy, pulsing through him. 

             "Woah, chill. Don't you think she's pretty? We can talk about her together. What do you reckon her kits would look like?" Palebird said cooly, his eyes still on Silverdrop. Heartstorm growled and lashed out his front paw. He made sure it was sheathed. He hit Palebird hard on the shoulder. Palebird stumbled back and looked at Heartstorm, frustrated and annoyed. Silverdrop frowned in their direction then caught Heartstorm's eye. She gave him a confused look. He flicked his tail, telling her to go. She shrugged and quickly trotted off. Palebird spun around, trying to glimpse Silverdrop once more but she was gone. He cursed. 

             "What was that for?" he growled angrily at Heartstorm, advancing slowly. "You think you can hit me like that?" Heartstorm spat in his face. He had never thought of other cats calling Silverdrop pretty. He realised, it was obvious, Silverdrop was the prettiest cat he had ever seen. 

            "Don't you dare ever look at her again," snarled Heartstorm. 

             "What's your problem?" retorted Palebird, his eyes furious. 

             "She's mine!" snapped Heartstorm. Palebird raised an eyebrow and grinned maliciously. 

            "Oohh, little ShadowClan cat has a crush on the prettiest cat in the Clan," jeered Palebird. "You wish you could be with her." 

              "She's my mate!" hissed Heartstorm. Palebird stopped in his tracks a moment, looking stunned but then broke into a big smile. 

            "Ha, in your dreams!" he laughed. Heartstorm growled, crouching low. It took all his self control not to launch himself at Palebird. 

             "She's my mate and you're not going to talk about her like that again," spat Heartstorm firmly, he held Palebird's gaze. He felt something pulsing through him, hot and strong. Palebird raised his eyebrows. 

            "Chill out," Palebird said, frowning. "Just chill." 

            "Don't you dare talk about her like that again," growled Heartstorm. 

            "Ok ok ok. Whatever," Palebird said. "Soooo.... she's actually your mate?" Heartstorm lashed his tail and sat down fuming. 

             "Yes," he answered. 

             "I did not know that," Palebird tutted. "So do you have kits?" 

              "It's none of your business," retorted Heartstorm. Just then Bumblepaw came trotting past them with herbs clutched in his mouth. His tail was held high and he caught Heartstorm's eye. He smiled through clenched jaws and slipped under a bush towards the elder's den. Palebird grinned. 

             "That's one of your kits, isn't it?" he said. "I mean, you look exactly the same." Heartstorm didn't answer. "So he's a medicine cat apprentice.."

             "Yes he is. And he's going to be the best," nodded Heartstorm angrily. 

            "I never said he wasn't going to be," Palebird said calmly. Heartstorm sighed. He felt uptight and stressed. He had many things on his mind and Palebird had made him angry so easily. He felt slightly bad now. 

              "Yeah well. Whatever. Can we just stop talking?" Heartstorm said, although it wasn't a question. Palebird shrugged. Heartstorm heard the voices of cats inside the den. He hadn't realised that they'd been talking all along. He heard Falconstar saying something and Frogleap interrupting. There were a few shushes and a few angry retorts. Then there was more talking. Heartstorm didn't bother listening. He didn't care what they were saying. Whatever Reedstar was planning, he'd tell the Clan. Heartstorm would be there to hear it when that time came. Palebird sat, looking around in silence. He stretched his ear, trying to listen. 

           "Can you hear something?" asked Palebird, nodding to the den. Heartstorm shrugged. 

           "It doesn't matter," he said. 

            "Aren't you curious?" asked Palebird. 

             "Can you shut up?" Heartstorm retorted. 

           "Somebody's in a bad mood," Palebird grinned. Heartstorm rolled his eyes. Palebird had been the one being extremely annoying and rude in the beginning anyways. He turned away from Palebird. After a long time, Reedstar emerged from the den. 

            "It is time to tell the Clan," he declared. 

           "What?" asked Heartstorm. Reedstar raised an eyebrow. 

           "You weren't listening," he stated. 

           "No," agreed Heartstorm, he shrugged. "I'll listen to whatever the Clan gets to hear." Reedstar nodded and padded towards the High Rock. He called a Clan Gathering. Heartstorm watched as Falconstar joined Reedstar at the top with Blacktail and Waspnose. Frogleap and Snowfur stood together at the High Rock's side. Palebird padded to Snowfur's side and whispered something in his ear. Heartstorm turned around and trotted towards Silverdrop. She flicked her tail at him. 

          "What's wrong?" she asked him worriedly.  

         "Brightheart came down here, last night," Heartstorm told her. Silverdrop looked surprised then concerned once more. 

          "What did she say?" she asked carefully. 

           "That I shouldn't blame myself for whatever happens... She said a war was coming," Heartstorm told Silverdrop. Silverdrop's forehead creased. "And she said I shouldn't blame myself."

           "A war is coming," Silverdrop nodded. "We already knew that. That's what Reedstar is coming to tell us today." 

          "I know... but there must be something we can do to stop it," Heartstorm sighed. 

          "No Heartstorm, sometimes there's nothing you can do," Silverdrop said gently. 

          "But Silverdrop," Heartstorm argued. 

          "Don't blame yourself for this. We just need to prepare ourselves the best we can. And our kits," Silverdrop told Heartstorm. Heartstorm hung his head. He didn't understand what Brightheart had meant. Everything she had said was useless. 

           "RiverClan, today I have come to tell you that we will be fighting alongside ThunderClan. We will fight ShadowClan a quarter moon before leaf-bare," Reedstar declared. Heartstorm felt chills run through him. Leaf-bare was in a long time, but somehow it felt closer. Cats started to shuffle on their feet, whispering amongst themselves. Silverdrop sat quietly, thinking. Suddenly, Cinderstar's words came into Heartstorm's mind. He remembered her telling him that ShadowClan was going to attack the first full moon of green-leaf. Was Reedstar really going to disregard that? Heartstorm huffed. He was getting frustrated. He swivelled around and marched out of camp, feeling disorientated.