Archive of Our Own ^beta

Chapter Text

Chapter Text

SHADOWCLAN

LEADER: Newtstar — Grey she-cat with pale dapples down her back and greyish-blue eyes

DEPUTY: Skunkstripe — Large black tom with green eyes, white paws, and a white stripe down his fluffy tail
Apprentice: Sootpaw

MEDICINE CATS: Poppymist — Grey spotted tabby and white she-cat with blue eyes

Lilywing — Dark brown she-cat with green eyes
Apprentice: Comfreypaw

WARRIORS:

Echocall — Pale yellow tortoiseshell-tabby she-cat with silver splotches and hazel eyes

Frogblaze — Dark grey tom with lighter markings and blue eyes
Apprentice: Flashpaw

Toadfrost — Grey and white tom with pale dapples and blue-grey eyes
Apprentice: Siskinpaw

Campionfang — White she-cat with amber eyes

Peonybloom — Large orange and white patched she-cat with long, overly-fluffy fur and pale eyes

Stagleap — Dark brown tabby tom with green eyes and an agile build

Eaglefeather — Dark grey tabby tom with black stripes and moss-green eyes

Cedarfire — Thick-furred cream tabby and white she-cat with clear blue eyes
Apprentice: Applepaw

Harespring — White she-cat with fawn and lilac tortoiseshell splotches and amber eyes
Apprentice: Asterpaw

Honeybriar — Ginger tabby she-cat with tufted ears and long fur

Garlicdapple — White tom with golden and golden-brown splotches

APPRENTICES :

Comfreypaw — Black and brown dappled tom with amber eyes ( Son of Hallownose and Skunkstripe )

Sootpaw — Silver dappled golden tortoiseshell-tabby she-cat with black stripes and hazel eyes ( Daughter of Morninglark and Eaglefeather )

Flashpaw — Golden tabby she-cat with long fur and moss green eyes ( Daughter of Morninglark and Eaglefeather )

Applepaw — Dark ginger and white she-cat with a dark brown face and large green eyes ( Daughter of Peonybloom and Stagleap )

Siskinpaw — Ginger tabby tom with dark stripes and pale golden eyes ( Son of Peonybloom and Stagleap )

Asterpaw — Orange and dark brown tortoiseshell-tabby and white she-cat with green eyes ( Daughter of Peonybloom and Stagleap )

QUEENS:

Morninglark — Silver tabby and white she-cat with blue eyes ( Mother of Eaglefeather's kits: Peachkit - Golden tabby she-kit with a gray tail tip. Yarrowkit - Dark grey tabby tom )

ELDERS:

Hollytail — Dark grey tabby she-cat with a bristly tail and green eyes ( Mother of Stagleap, Lilywing, and Eaglefeather )

Muddypool — Skinny dark brown tom with a black tail and spots and moss-green eyes ( Father of Stagleap, Lilywing, and Eaglefeather )

LEADER: Featherstar — Large dusty grey tom with cold yellow eyes

DEPUTY: Gloriafeather — Fawn-colored and white she-cat with golden eyes

MEDICINE CATS: Dapplejay — Tall fawn-colored tom with white spots down his pelt, golden eyes, and long ears
Apprentice: Icetail — Thin white tom with pale grey splotches and ice-blue eyes

WARRIORS:

Heathernose — Black and red tortoiseshell she-cat with amber eyes

Starlingwhisker — Brown and white spotted tabby tom with a half and half face and orange eyes
Apprentice: Sharppaw

Hibiscusleaf — Golden and white she-cat with blue eyes

Aspenrose — Pure white she-cat with long fur and blue eyes
Apprentice: Cherrypaw

Blackburn — Slender and tall black, grey, and white tom with one blue eye and one yellow eye

Ashenblaze — Black tom with white paws, ears, muzzle, and chest, as well as green eyes

Hawkflight — Blue-gray tom with lighter muzzle, paws, and blue-green eyes

Ravenstripe — Black tabby she-cat with golden eyes
Apprentice: Oakpaw

Winterstorm — Broad white tom with pale grey splotches and ice-blue eyes
Apprentice: Robinpaw

Rainsplash — Fluffy grey tom with golden eyes

Silkwing — Pale grey she-cat with dark grey splotches and aquamarine eyes
Apprentice: Mousepaw

Galelight — Light brown and cream she-cat with golden eyes

Volepetal — Brown and cream she-cat with yellow eyes

Scorchtalon — Fluffy red tabby tom with dark points and blue eyes

Redflower — Dark ginger and white she-cat with long fur and blue eyes

Rustfur — Russet tabby tom with green eyes

Clearpool — Fluffy silver and white she-cat with green eyes
Apprentice: Sparrowpaw

Buckthorn — Brown tom with long fur and amber eyes

Deerheart — Brown tom with amber eyes

Bayflower — Pale brown and white tabby she-cat with green eyes

Honeylight — Golden tabby she-cat with green eyes

Meadowbird — Golden and white she-cat with green eyes

APPRENTICES:

Sparrowpaw — Pale brown tabby tom with blazing amber eyes

Sharppaw — Dark ginger tabby tom with white markings and amber eyes

Robinpaw — Red and brown tortoiseshell-tabby she-cat with golden eyes ( Daughter of Galelight and Scorchtalon )

Cherrypaw — Red tabby she-cat with yellow eyes ( Daughter of Galelight and Scorchtalon )

Oakpaw — Light brown tom with silver-tipped fur and blue eyes ( Son of Galelight and Scorchtalon )

Mousepaw — Brown tabby she-cat with yellow eyes ( Daughter of Volepetal and Seedstripe )

QUEENS:

Embersong — Ginger tabby she-cat with gray eyes ( Mother of Ashenblaze's kit: Smokekit - Black tom with a white muzzle and ears )

Brookstone — Grey tabby she-cat with blue eyes ( Mother of Elmwhisker's kits: Pinekit - Grey and white tabby tom with green eyes. Firkit - Grey tabby tom with blue eyes )

ELDERS:

Specklebird — Tall pale brown and white she-cat with white dapples, a short tail, and green eyes

Petalbreeze — Dusty grey she-cat with warm amber eyes

Chapter Text

No moon shone in the sky and everything was darker than dark.

   A looming figure however, still conversed through the trees and undergrowth of ThunderClan's territory, glowing white and firey among the darkness.

   She panted as she ran farther and farther in the direction of ShadowClan territory, pushing on to get as far away from ThunderClan and the Clan's new leader as possible, her mind foggy with the longing for sleep.

   The wriggling in her belly was what kept her pressing on despite her exhaustion, the thought of the tiny lives within her, concealed among the long white swatches of her extremely thick fur, told her that she needed to escape. No one knew about these kits, not even her closest friends, no one could know, lest she be tossed or left to waste away.

   Well, she wasn't going to give Featherstar the pleasure. She would leave on her own terms, be a warrior and a queen on her own terms. She didn't want to live there anyway under his leadership.

   Thoughts of the long working hours under his command, the short spouts of sleep the warriors were allowed to have, filled her mind. Of Pansycloud, expecting kits with a WindClan cat, frail and left in the nursery to starve, until one night she disappeared without a trace. Of her conversation with Clearpool, her best friend, who covered for her as she snuck out of camp, promising to not let Featherstar win.

   The memories brought tears to the exhausted she-cat's eyes. Pansycloud had been her friend too, Clearpool's own sister, Featherstar's own daughters, and the large ginger and white she-cat, dependably strong but meek at heart and under corrupt orders, hadn't been able to do anything about it.

   Who knew where Pansycloud was now. Wherever you are, I just hope you're alive, she thought.

   The ShadowClan border was just up ahead now and the sky was just beginning to lighten. She breathed in the familiar approaching scents, the scent of ShadowClan that she had never thought of as a reek as so many ThunderClan cats did, but had instead always found akin with their own.

   She stumbled over her paws as she slowed, but she didn't fall. Her stomach groaned unappreciatively and she brought her thick, matted tail up to wrap around herself as she took the last little steps to the ShadowClan scent-line.

   “Peonybloom!” a gentle, deep voice reached her ears, making her heart leap and twirl in her chest.

   “Stagleap,” she breathed, wheezing to catch her long-lost breath.

   The dark chocolate tabby tom seemed to materialize out of the shadows, his vivid green eyes glowing with love and concern as he fell forward. Peonybloom shut her eyes tight in relief as he curled his head around her lowered neck, his paws came up to gently push her to sit down, and when she leaned into him, he took her weight despite how lean and small he was compared to her.

   “I'm so glad you made it out,” he whispered in her ear.

   Peonybloom, sitting down, nodded against his chest. “Of course I did. I wouldn't let that mange-pelt find out about these kits in a million moons and another million against letting him throw me out and do who knows what to us all.”

   “I know. Of course you wouldn't,” Stagleap purred, before leaning back to look into her eyes. “Now come'on, it's time to go home, to your new home.”

   “My real home,” Peonybloom insisted, straining to rise to her paws.

   Stagleap nodded. He pressed his forehead to her's momentarily, before helping his mate into ShadowClan's territory.

Chapter Text

“Tell us another one, Mama!” Applekit squeaked excitedly, bouncing in her spot curled up among her mother's long trendils of belly fur. Peonybloom had barely finished speaking before the kit had given the request.

   “Yeah! Tell us the one where you fought off that kit-eating hawk!” Asterkit piped up from Applekit's side.

   Siskinkit, who was leaning against Peonybloom's broad chest, reached over to push his paws into Asterkit's face. “Don't say it like that! The hawk was a real threat to the nursery,” he hissed in a hushed voice to her.

   Applekit stuck her tongue out at her brother. “Oh, don't be a goody-fourpaws, Siskinkit!” she huffed. Siskinkit furrowed his brows and blew a raspberry back.

   Peonybloom's large ginger paws were the next thing all three kits saw, coming down to smother their ears before falling away again, getting the trio's attention.

   “First of all, it was a eagle, not a hawk; and second of all, your brother is right,” their mother chided, honey-colored eyes going stern. “The eagle was a terrible predator that wreaked havok on ShadowClan and many kits — and cats for that matter — were lost to it. Now, I'll tell you the story of how I took it down, but you must remember to sit quietly and be respectful. Got it?”

   Applekit felt her pelt flush with shame. “Yes, Mama,” she murmured.

   Asterkit shrunk as well and leaned back against Peonybloom's belly. “Okay Mama, sorry.”

   “Good,” Peonybloom mewed, a purr rising in her throat. She sweeped her impressive tail around the two she-kits, and brought her little tom-kit closer to her chest, lowering her head to them and beginning her story in a more gentle tone.

   “Me and your father made our way to the camp, and the hunters of the night had just returned also. Newtstar, fortunately, was in the lead so that Stagleap could immediately introduce me, explain my story, and so that we could get the okay to initiate my first Switching Task.”

   “That's what cats who want to switch Clan's call the three big tasks that will prove them worthy of joining their purrfurred Clan,” Applekit mewed smartly.

   “That's right, dear,” Peonybloom commented before continuing.

   Asterkit glanced at Applekit. “It's preferred, not purrfurred,” she whispered in her ear. Applekit blinked at her in acknowledgement but didn't turn her ear from the story.

   “First they let me sleep, because I had been up all night and I was so exhausted I was stumbling over my own paws, so I was sympathized with. After I had woken, Newtstar called me and Stagleap into her den, to discuss the terms of my joining. Before we could come to an agreement on what I could do however, there was a horrible screeching out in the clearing and the yowling of cats.”

   “This is my favorite part!” Applekit squeaked in a hush, clutching Asterkit's side and shaking her.

   She felt Asterkit shoulder her away. “Shush!” the little tortoiseshell muttered.

   “We raced out of the den, and there it was, swooping down at the nursery where Morninglark was herding Sootkit and Flashkit, just tiny back then, back inside. The eagle reached out it's talons to grab at Morninglark. I, having dealt with the feather-heads before —since in ThunderClan's camp we got plenty of arial attacks— rushed in to help. I'm not sure what compelled me to jump in so fast, but nevertheless I leaped up, grabbed the eagle by the wings and hauled it down to the ground, freeing Morninglark and killing the terror.”

   “Sssso, coool!” Asterkit purred, voice shaky and dreamy. Applekit whipped around to smirk at her, in which the leaner she-kit quickly stilled, her excited look turning dismissive as she gave her chest a couple embarrassed licks.

   “And I'm forever grateful for that, Peonybloom,” Morninglark, a silver and white tabby who sat in the nest adjacent to theirs, purred, sticking her paw out to give a friendly pat to Peonybloom's own.

   The huge queen ducked her head sheepishly. “Ah, well, you know,” she mewed, before her gaze returned to her three kits.

   “Newtstar, thankful for what I did, decided that I was trustworthy and let me in. I've been happy here ever since, especially since you three came along.” A deep purr rumbled in her throat and Applekit returned it, leaning forward with her forepaws to grip her mother's muzzle and give her a sweet little lick on the nose. Siskinkit and Asterkit leaned in and did the same, all while Peonybloom chuckled sweetly and nuzzled into their kitten fluff.

   As Sootkit and Flashkit, bigger and older than Applekit and her littermates, rolled into the den scuffling and chewing on each other's ears and paws, the peace was broken and Morninglark rose from her nest. “Uh-uh, take it back outside right now. You're five moons old and are much too big to be wrestling inside,” she told them sternly.

   Sootkit, a silver dappled golden tabby with jet stripes all over, huffed in annoyance, while Flashkit, a fluffy golden tabby, immediately jumped to her paws. “Oops! Lost track of where we was!” she exclaimed.

   “Where we were, mousebrain,” Sootkit scoffed as she followed her sister's lead. Flashkit stuck her tongue out and headbutted her back towards the entrance. Both disappeared into the sunlit clearing outside.

   Applekit, who had turned to watch, whipped back around to look expectantly at Peonybloom. “Can we go outside now, Mama?” she asked in excitement. It's all bright and sunny today! Greenleaf's nearly almost here! she thought. Her brother and sister both gasped softly and jumped to their paws.

   Peonybloom chuckled. “Yes, you can go out now. But I'm coming with you,” she said, rising to her paws, almost toppling the three over with her great size. “To see if your father's come back from hunting,” she added. Applekit wasted no time, she tumbled out of the moss nest and raced towards the light of the exit into the clearing.

   “Race you to the kill-pile!” Siskinkit yowled, and Applekit let out a squeak as her ginger tabby brother came barreling past her and Asterkit with his mother's ressesive strength, almost knocking them both over.

   Applekit bumped into Asterkit as she stumbled and the both toppled over on top of each other. Ow. Looking up, Applekit saw him disappear after shooting them an oblivious eyes-closed grin.

   “Siskinkit!” both she-kits called out after him. Mousebrain! Applekit thought as she lifted herself up off her smaller sister. Peonybloom's purr reached her ears as their mother grabbed both their scruffs to help them up.

   “Such injustice!” Asterkit pouted.

   Peonybloom chuckled. “Oh don't worry, he's not getting out of that one without some mother's words from me.”

   The three trotted out, and Applekit glanced around excitedly for the familiar chocolate tabby pelt of her father, Stagleap. Perfect timing! she thought as she saw him entering camp with Eaglefeather and Harespring, carrying three lizards by their tails.

   “Daddy!” Asterkit squeaked and ran past Applekit in a rush. Applekit followed close behind and smiled as Stagleap noticed them, his green eyes lighting up as he waved his tail in greeting.

   “Dad!” Siskinkit yowled along as he caught up. Stagleap dropped his catches and leaned down to meet them. Applekit jumped onto his muzzle, hugging it with her forepaws and licking his nose.

   “How's my three little tadpoles doing?” he purred as Asterkit and Siskinkit joined them.

   “Great! Mama told us stories!“ Siskinkit purred.

   “Siskinkit bumped into us on purpose!” Asterkit added, glaring at her brother.

   Applekit caught a glimpse of the lizards at her father's side. “Are those for us?” she asked, belly beginning to rumble.

   Stagleap chuckled. “Of course. I know how much you like these kinds.”

   Stagleap was a very small tom compared to Peonybloom, as in Peonybloom was much heavier, stronger, and fluffer than the average cat. Applekit, a dark ginger and white she-cat with a splash of dark brown on her face and eyes identical to her father's; and Siskinkit, a ruddy ginger tabby with yellow eyes, had both somewhat gained the sturdier, fluffier genes from their mother.

   Asterkit approached the lizards with flair in her step. She was a mirror image of Stagleap in her structure and identical eyes, though her tabby pelt was orange and white, splashed with chocolate tortoiseshell splotches. Applekit, though she knew her sister was far from frail, always made sure not to use her full strength on her, unlike Siskinkit, who despite his sweet nature, seemed to be unaware of his own strength.

   “Let's see,“ Asterkit mewed importantly, inspecting the options. “Newt is my favorite, so Applekit, you get the gecko and Siskinkit, you get the mudskipper,” she decided.

   Applekit frowned. “Aw, but I like mudskipper,” she said, looking longingly at the lizard that her brother was pulling towards himself.

   He caught her eye and shrugged. “I can share. If you give me some of your gecko,” he said nonchalantly.

   Applekit pulled her gecko to her. “Thank you,” she mewed, smile returning.

   As the three kits tucked into their meal, Applekit absent-mindedly as she ate her share of mudskipper, watched as Peonybloom came to Stagleap's side and the couple shared a loving nuzzle, purrs rumbling. Peonybloom looked up from Stagleap leaning against her to get Siskinkit's attention. “Barrel into your sisters again and you're gonna get some cuffs on those ears,” she warned.

   Siskinkit ducked his head. “Whoops,” he mewed with a guilty little snicker.

   Applekit licked the scales off her muzzle before passing the mudskipper back to her brother, and he in turn gave her back her gecko, now with two bites taken out of it's brown-and-green-scaled back. As she crunched it down she glimpsed Cedarfire, a cream and white color-point she-cat, walking past them on her way out of camp.

   The pretty, young warrior cast a narrow-eyed, nose-wrinkled look at the three litter-mates. Applekit backed up, offended. What's she looking at? she thought, feeling belittled. Asterkit and Siskinkit were looking up at her too.

   The scent of Peonybloom enveloped her as her mother stepped forward to stand in-between them, front paws blocking them mostly from view. Cedarfire picked up her pace but continued to leer disapprovingly, now at Peonybloom until she disappeared through the gorse-shaded path.

   What's her problem? What did we do? Applekit wondered, confused and defensive. Stagleap came up to Applekit's other side and when she looked up, he was glaring after the wrinkle-nosed she-cat. “What's going on?” she asked timidly, hating how her voice cracked.

   Stagleap looked down at her, his eyes losing their spark of defensive fire. “Nothing, tadpole,” he murmured, licking her between the ears.

   “Cedarfire, and some of the others don't like me much,” Peonybloom answered for her. Stagleap glanced an unsure look at his mate, but she shook her head. “They deserve to know,” she told him before looking back down and pulling her kits close with her tail. Applekit glanced at the last of her meal longingly, but knew this conversation was more important given the tone and stagnant air that hung over them.

   “Because I'm from ThunderClan,” Peonybloom elaborated. “I may have defeated the eagle but some cats don't believe that that's any reason to let me in, let alone trust me as a full member of ShadowClan. Cedarfire lost a litter to the eagle, and my guess is she's bitter that it didn't get dealt with sooner. But kits, you must remember: don't let anything anyone says to you, get to you.”

   Stagleap came up beside her. “That's right. There may be cats you'll deal with now and in the future who may judge you for being half-Clan, but know that the warrior code allows you to be here. Your mother did her first task, the other two compromised with the promise of new kits: you tadpoles — and switched Clans completely fairly so that you three could live your best life, in ShadowClan with me and away from the treachery that ThunderClan has been gripped in nowadays.”

   “So never let a cat who doesn't know your heart, make you feel like you don't belong, because you do and the only cat's opinion that you need to heed is your own,” Peonybloom concluded, leaning down to lick each kit on the head.

   Applekit's curiousity peaked. What's up with ThunderClan? Mama told us she needed to escape because of their new leader, but no one will give us a real answer on what's so bad about it all, she thought. “Okay, Mama,” she mewed. For whatever reason, the thought of asking always put a bad taste in her mouth and she ended up staying quiet.

   Asterkit nodded along. “Yeah! Cedarfire just sounds like she has ticks in her tail.”

   “Or bees in her brain,” Siskinkit chimed.

   Stagleap chuckled. “Hey now, she's still a warrior and you ought to respect her. Now what are you stalling for? Finish your prey so we can go play!” he trilled, jumping a little on his paws. Applekit, Siskinkit, and Asterkit let out squeals of laughter and turned back to munch on their lizards again.

   Peonybloom wrapped her tail around her mate affectionately. “I wasn't aware I had four kittens,” she chortled.

   As the sun sunk lower in the sky, Applekit yawned from where she was laying in the peat in-between her litter-mates. “Mm, that one looks like a mouse, and that one looks like a leaf,” she mewed, pointing with a paw at the pinkish clouds in the sky.

   Asterkit yawned too before turning and pointing at a small cloud off in the distance. “That one kinda looks like a rock,” she mewed.

   “Mousebrain, they all kinda look like rocks, pink rocks!" Siskinkit huffed. Both she-kits broke into tired giggles. Siskinkit frowned and furrowed his brows. “This is boring.”

   “If you'd rather turn in and go to sleep, then—” Stagleap began from where he too lay on his back beside them.

   Siskinkit's head immediately shot up. “No, no! I-I LOVE cloud watching, aha, yep!” He fumbled quickly, widening his eyes and looking intently back up at the sky.

   Peonybloom, who was grooming Morninglak a few paces away at the nursery entrance, turned her head to look at them. “Actually the truth of the matter is that it's almost your sleeptime and turning in is a great idea,” she said.

   Applekit's heart sunk and both Asterkit and Siskinkit erupted into a chorus of complaints. Well, I guess I'm tired, Applekit thought, sitting up and stretching her legs, which had started to grow cold.

   Stagleap sat up also and stretched luxuriously, kneeding the ground and letting out a yawn before standing up and shaking his pelt. “Heh, you heard Mama. C'mon kitties, I'll tell you the story of the first time we met while you fall asleep,” he purred.

   All three kits ears perked. Asterkit huffed, “Fine,” and made her way inside. Applekit nudged Siskinkit and bounded after her. Once inside, Applekit wove around Peonybloom's legs as she, Stagleap, and Morninglark followed them.

   Peonybloom lowered herself into her nest and Applekit jumped in after her, her littermates curling up at her mother's belly while she took her spot right against her foreleg.

   She purred as she looked up at Peonybloom and then at Stagleap, who sat down right beside the moss. “Alright, everyone comfy?” he purred back. Applekit let out a wordless mew, her siblings chiming with her in response. “Good. Now, where to start?” Stagleap paused for a moment before he smiled and continued, lowering his head and voice for effect.

   "It was a dark and stormy night—” He began in a mischievously growly voice.

   Peonybloom thumped her tail across the ground, which created a very audible noise. “It was lightly raining and the moon was plenty bright,” she corrected.

   “Who's telling this story, you or me?” Stagleap retorted.

   Peonybloom rolled her eyes. “Whatever! Proceed,” she meowed. Applekit snickered and returned her gaze towards her father. Stagleap narrowed his eyes, his gaze flickering between each kit.

   “I was with our Clan at the most important gathering of my life. The gathering where I and my litter-mates would be introduced to all the Clans as full fledged warriors. As Eaglefeather, Lilywing, and Stagleap,” he continued. “Our leader at the time, Branchstar, had just introduced us and cats cheered our names. 'Stagleap! Eaglefeather! Lilywing! Stagleap! Eaglefeather! Lilywing!'” he whisper-chanted.

   “Wait. Our father's in this story?” Flashkit's voice reached Applekit's ears and she turned her head to see her and Sootkit watching them from over the edge of their own nest, forelegs hanging limp over the small ridge. Flashkit was wide-eyed while Sootkit had her tongue out over her chin, eyes and posture drooping with boredom.

   “Of course,” Stagleap mewed from behind her.

   Morninglark reached forward and pulled her kits back to her side by their scruffs, beginning to groom them. “Doesn't make it any less lame,” Sootkit deadpanned. “Stories are for half-moons.”

   Flashkit tilted her head at her. “But we always go to hear them from the eld—” she began, but Sootkit quickly slapped both front paws across her muzzle.

   “Shut it, furball,” she hissed under her breath. Applekit fluffed up her fur and turned away. Stagleap was starting to speak again.

   “As I was saying, after they were done, the gathering was dismissed and the cats of RiverClan, WindClan, and SkyClan had already left. ShadowClan was leaving and ThunderClan were still on the island waiting for us to cross the tree bridge. I, Eaglefeather, and Lilywing were at the back of the group about to follow our Clan-mates across the bridge, when suddenly, I smelt something in the trees practically behind us. . .”

   Applekit leaned forward, intrieged. Woah, what was it? she wondered.

   “Then it jumped us! A badger!” Stagleap exclaimed. Siskinkit gasped dramatically before stuffing his mouth with his paws, pelt heating up with embarrassment beside Applekit's own.

   “I dove out of the way, Eaglefeather and Lilywing followed and the badger threw out it's savage paw at me! ShadowClan, who had already crossed, began to file back up the bridge —but since it's a tree trunk it's kinda narrow and kinda awkward and they couldn't come very fast— as it struck me across the shoulder.” Stagleap threw out his shoulder for the kits to see. Applekit squinted while Asterkit reached out her paws to part the dark fur.

   Indeed there were three bumpy scars hidden under his fur and Applekit felt a thrill run through her. Sooo awesome! she thought.

   “Pretty cool, I know.” Stagleap mewed. “Anyway, I staggered back, I told Lilywing and Eaglefeather to run across the tree bridge, I was going to come right behind them, if we could put the tree bridge between us and the badger, we'd have a better chance of survival. So they did, and just as I was about to follow, the badger dragged me back!”

   There was a collective gasp amongst all the kits, not just the three litter-mates. Stagleap's eyes were bright with amusement and Applekit silently teased Sootkit about her earlier bravado. “I was in the badgers clutches. I had nowhere to run and I couldn't move. I thought I was a goner. . . but then, very suddenly, the badger exploded upward as someone, someone big, attacked it from behind.”

   Peonybloom waved a paw mock dismissively and Applekit snickered as Stagleap gave his mate sly eyes.

   “I slipped out of the beast's grasp and that's when I saw her, the most extraordinary, strong, beautiful she-cat I had ever seen. She was gripping the badger's back, ripping into it's scruff as it twisted and shuffled, moving towards the center of the clearing, right into the trap of ThunderClan cats who quickly circled in to help. I was so inspired that I too ran in to help the cat who had just saved my life. We all fought until the savage creature ripped away, retreated into the trees and we all yowled in triumph!”

   “I had sustained another injury to my fore-paw and couldn't put it down. Right as I was joining in the yowl, I was overtaken by exhaustion, the pain in my shoulder and paw became excruciating as my adrenaline wore off and I almost fell to the ground. But Peonybloom caught me. She slowly lifted me up and let me lean on her shoulder. She told me: “Don't try to walk, I'll help you to your Clanmates," he quoted in a light and fluttery tone, which all three kits broke into hysterics over.

   “And so she did. After that experience I found I couldn't stop thinking of her, wondering who she was and how she could be so amazing.” Stagleap paused again, eyes glazing over as if he were lost in the memories.

   “Well I don't like to be unkind to others, so really when I was walking you across that clearing I was thinking about how idiotic it was to try to stand up against that badger." Poneybloom insighted, before speaking to the kits. "I thought that he was one of the arrogant ones.”

   Stagleap huffed. “I wasn't 'standing up' to it, I was about to go after my brother and sister.”

   “Well, I know that now, but at the time. . . ,” Peonybloom reassured him. “And anyway our paths crossed multiple times after that. I started to see you as day-dreamy, annoying, and stubborn, but after awhile, I saw how kind, compassionate, and respectable you really are. You grew on me, and that was the best thing that ever happened to me.”

   Purrs erupted into both of their throats and both Asterkit and Siskinkit shut their eyes and stuck out their tongues as Stagleap stood up and the two nuzzled each other warmly. Applekit however, watched with awe. What's it like? To be in love? she wondered.

   “Bleghhh!" Asterkit sputtered.

   “Daddy!” Siskinkit whined, covering both eyes with his paws. Stagleap and Peonybloom turned their heads slightly to look at them.

   “Oh what, too lovey-dovey for you tadpoles?” Peonybloom snorted, sounding amused.

   Stagleap chuckled at them. “Honestly, this is nothing,“ he added in a husky voice, then licked his mate on the nose when she looked shocked at him.

   At that the two criers very audibly gagged at each other and Applekit couldn't help but wrinkle her nose at them. Stagleap stepped back finally, turning his attention to his kits. “Alright. It's getting late, so I will see you all tomorrow, okay tadpoles?” he mewed.

   Applekit nodded and closed her eyes as he licked her on the head, then opened them again as he did the same to her siblings.

   “Goodnight, Daddy,” they all chimed in unison, settling down into more comfortable sleeping positions, Applekit rolling over Peonybloom's leg to settle against her chest.

   Stagleap smiled warmly at them. “Goodnight, my little warriors,” he purred, before turning away and exiting the bramble den.

   Applekit yawned and curled up as Peonybloom lowered her muzzle to rest over top of her, the pleasant warmth welcome after the chill of the near sunset outside.

   “Hey, Mama?” she asked after a few moments. Peonybloom made a warm hum of acknowledgement, letting her know that she was listening. “You think I'll fall in love?” she asked. “Maybe I'll save him, like you, and we'd be as happy as you and Daddy.”

   Peonybloom smiled, and licked her on the head. “Perhaps you will. If you really want it the right cat will find you, and I'm sure you will be very happy together,” she purred.

   Applekit smiled and reached up to nuzzle her mother's nose before bringing her forepaws up across Peonybloom's leg and closing her eyes. “Okay. Good night, Mama,” she purred back.

   “Goodnight, sweetie,” Peonybloom answered and Applekit fell asleep to the sound of her mother's rythematic heartbeat, dreaming of the future.

Chapter Text

  The apprentice den was still partially dark, the smell of recent rain and morning dew reached the sleeping russet and white apprentice's nose. Applepaw blinked drowsily as she was coaxed from sleep by Asterpaw nudging her shoulder.

   “Rise and shine, half-kittens!” Sootpaw's obnoxious voice rang out from where she and Flashpaw were standing in the entrance. Both older apprentices broke out into cackles before disappearing into the clearing.

   Applepaw groaned as she rose to her paws, remembering what their mentors had said about "bright and early."

   Siskinpaw chuckled. “Yeah, c'mon! I'll race you both to the training hollow!” he exclaimed before pelting out after them, seemingly oblivious to the nature of the two older apprentices taunt.

   Asterpaw gasped and began to follow. “Hey! No fair! You got a head start!” she whined.

   Applepaw yawned deeply and blinked again, one eye at a time. It's too early for this.

   Low and behold she made her way out of camp and followed her Clanmates scents all the way to the training hollow, her steps wet and slippery. By the time she got there, her sleepiness had worn off and she was mildly excited about what they were going to learn today.

   Sootpaw and Flashpaw were already training on the far end with their mentors: Frogblaze, a dark grey tom with blue eyes, who Applepaw recalled as another brother to Newtstar — and none other than the Clan deputy, Skunkstripe, who observed the two littermates squabble silently while Frogblaze called out encouragement and tips. Right in below Applepaw was Toadfrost, Cedarfire, and Harespring, who were waiting while her litter-mates took the last couple steps into their presence. Glad she wasn't late, Applepaw bounded down to join them.

   “Very punctual you three,” Harespring noted. “Alright young apprentices, we start with the basics. You've all played tackle as kits? Well, battling is much like that except with strategy,” she began before nudging Cedarfire to continue.

   “Show us. Applepaw, tackle Asterpaw; Asterpaw, fight back your best. If you know any tricks use them. That goes for both of you,” Cedarfire continued.

   Asterpaw met eyes with Applepaw, who smiled. “Bring it on.”

   Applepaw crouched, ready to spring. She bunched her muscles and wiggled her tail before leaping forward, barreling into Asterpaw, who immediately twisted and grabbed at her shoulders. Applepaw wrapped her neck around and grabbed at her sister's scruff, dragging her back down to the ground where she pinned her. Paws braced against Asterpaw's shoulders, she grabbed at her ear and began to tug.

   Asterpaw yowled with feist and Applepaw felt her sister's hind legs push up, jamming into her lower stomach. “Ow!” she sputtered, staggering back. Her tortoiseshell opponent sprang to her paws and went in to overthrow her, and Applepaw leaned to re-grab her scruff.

   BONK!

   "Agh! Hey!" Applepaw hissed as their heads colided.

   “Watch it!” Asterpaw said at the same time, stumbling back to grip her brow with a paw.

   Applepaw shook herself and rubbed one paw between her eyes. She blinked as she steadied her balance. Frogdung! she thought, narrowing her eyes at her abrasive sister.

   “Enough!” Harespring ordered, her tone exasperated.

   “That was pathetic,” Cedarfire hissed.

   “Good one! How smart of you to put your brains together!” Sootpaw's voice rang out from the other side of the hollow. Applepaw couldn't help but throw a glare in her direction.

   “You two okay?” Siskinpaw asked, albeit in a laugh.

   Applepaw huffed her response. “Yeah, fine.”

   Harespring growled to grab their attention. “Sloppy. But that's understandable for beginners. The trick is to grab at the weak points. Asterpaw, tell me, what are the most vulnerable areas of a cat's body?”

   Asterpaw shuffled her paws. “Well, the throat. Oh, and the stomach,” she said, raising her head proudly.

   Harespring sighed. “Anywhere else?” she asked, sounding impatient.

   Asterpaw thought for a long moment and Applepaw studied her. Face? she wondered, remembering the time she poked her sister in the eye while they were playing. Asterkit had been in tears and couldn't open it for a long time that day.

   “Face and tail?” Asterpaw answered.

   Harespring nodded. “Right. Now, when you are in a fight, those are the sweet spots to target, and the places on yourself you must protect. Never show your opponent your belly. Avoid blows to your face, and keep your tail behind you. If you're about to be bit in the throat, you duck out of the way.”

   “Applepaw, Siskinpaw, you try,” Cedarfire growled.

   Siskinpaw gulped and stepped forward while Asterpaw sidestepped to stand beside her mentor, grumbling irritably.

   Applepaw straightened up as she faced her brother. Remember, belly, face, throat, tail. Siskinpaw sprang forward and she ducked, going for the stomach. As he was landing, she slid forward and ran her paw, claws sheathed, across his belly.

   Her brother spun around and Applepaw spun with him, aiming for his tail next. As her teeth met the fluffy tip, she glimpsed him turning to grab hers as well. Instinctively she tucked her tail between her legs.

   “Stop!” Cedarfire's voice hissed. Applepaw let go, eyes immediately landing on her mentor. “Don't tuck your tail, keep it behind you,” the cream tabby growled.

   Siskinpaw blinked. “But it worked,” he mewed.

   Applepaw's fur fluffed up. “I didn't even mean to do it, I just did it. And wouldn't it have worked if you hadn't stopped us?” she retorted, trying to keep her voice level.

   “Don't argue with me, half-blood,” Cedarfire hissed. “I'm your mentor, whether either of us like it or not.”

   “But—” Applepaw began, belly twisting in concerned confusion.

   Harespring shook her head. “It's not how ShadowClan does things,” she huffed gravely. Applepaw's voice died away. But. . .it would have worked. . . .

   Toadfrost came up to sit beside the two older she-cats. “Perhaps some basic techniques will help the apprentices along?” he suggested to them.

   Cedarfire gave a silent nod and Harespring smiled at Toadfrost, the most genuine Applepaw had seen her. “Of course,” she mewed back. “Alright, let's move on. Toadfrost and I will demonstrate some easy moves which you three won't have trouble with. A half-moon kit could do it, and they do all the time, instinctively without thinking. Same goes for you,” she added before moving to the front.

   Toadfrost followed her and Applepaw respectfully led her brother back a few steps to sit beside their sister, before training her focus onto the two warriors.

   Harespring and Toadfrost faced each other, Harespring raised a sheathed paw threateningly. “This is the front paw blow,” she said, demonstrating by bringing her raised paw down on Toadfrost's head. “If you do it hard enough, you'll stun your opponent, giving you an opening to attack effectively.”

   Applepaw brought up a paw experimentally and tried the move on Siskinpaw. Her brother narrowed his eyes and did the same to her, prompting Asterpaw to bat at both of their heads with each of her fore-paws. Toadfrost noticed and nodded approvingly.

   “The fore-paw slash is very similar. You bring your paw up, claws unsheathed in battle, and you swipe down across your opponents face.” Again Harespring demonstrated, gently batting her paw across the older warrior's nose. “Try it out.”

   With a sigh Applepaw swiped her paw softly across her sister's face. This is boring, she thought. As Asterpaw did the move back, Applepaw's stomach growled. Couldn't we have eaten before this? she wondered. Siskinpaw went a step farther, he swiped down across Asterpaw's face, before lifting his paw back up to hit down on her head.

   “Ow,” Asterpaw muttered.

   “Good job. Now it's time for something a bit harder,” Harespring announceed. “Next up, the back kick. It is a fairly easy move and not hard to understand, but may take you a few tries to get right.”

   This time Toadfrost and Harespring turned away from each other. Harespring trotted forward towards the edge of the hollow before turning back around. She wasted no time to run at him, and as she got close, Toadfrost skillfully braced his forepaws and kicked his hind-legs into the air. He caught Harespring before she could get to him and sent her back to where she had started. She stumbled and gasped out a breath before regaining her composure.

   “You must judge the enemy's movement carefully by scent and wind, and when it seems they're about to snag you with their claws, you hoist your weight into your front and lash out with your hind paws for a easy stall and escape,” Cedarfire explained.

   “Alright! Time for a scuffle,” Harespring mewed, coming up to stand regally before Asterpaw, Toadfrost following close behind. “Be sure to try out those three moves as you go. Applepaw, Siskinpaw, you first.”

   "How's everything holding up?" a deep voice asked from behind Applepaw, making her fur prickle. She got to her paws and turned abruptly to see non-other than the deputy. The black tom was fairly large, smaller than Peonybloom but still dwarfing Applepaw.

   "Pretty good, thank you Skunkstripe," Harespring mewed nodding. "Though we're a little short on opponents. Perhaps we can merge our training session with yours so our apprentices can work on their basic moves at the same time?" she asked.

   Skunkstripe seemed to think for a moment before raising his white-striped tail and giving a silent signal to Sootpaw, Flashpaw, and Frogblaze. The three cats moved forward and Applepaw felt her heart drop.

   Ugh, not Sootpaw! she thought, eyeing the pretty tortoiseshell-tabby as she strutted up to stand adoringly beside her high-ranking mentor. She thinks she's better than everyone else because her daddy's related to one of the medicine cats and her mentor's ShadowClan's deputy. Well guess what, boasting bluejay, my father is related to Lilywing too.

   "Good idea," Skunkstripe answered finally. "Sootpaw, you go up against Asterpaw. Use basic moves and don't try to slip her up." He gave the young she-cat a warning look, to which Sootpaw blinked at him innocently.

   "I would never. And anyway, me and my kin Asterpaw are such good friends," Sootpaw purred, causing Asterpaw to gape at her, looking completely disgusted.

   "In your dreams!" she spat, flinching away from Sootpaw's twining tail.

   "Ah well, looks like we still have one too many,” Frogblaze trilled, looking down in amusement at Flashpaw who was smiling, staring off into space in a daze. "Alright Flashpaw, we'll stick together, let the littermates duke it out."

   Flashpaw blinked before giving a little bounce on her paws. "Weren't we already doing that?" she asked, eyes shining at her mentor.

   Frogblaze blinked at her blankly. "Heh," he uttered and shook his head in puzzlement.

   Harespring nodded to the older warrior. "You do that, when these four are done we can rotate."

   Applepaw turned back to Siskinpaw, relieved that she at least wasn't doomed to fight Sootpaw this time around, though she was still sympathetic for her sister.

   Skunkstripe seemed to circle them all like a hawk, though Applepaw didn't find his presence intimidating, he was only surveying the scene before they began.

   "Get ready," Harespring exclaimed, and all four apprentices crouched, Sootpaw's expression sneering as she locked eyes with an irritated Asterpaw. Applepaw caught Siskinpaw's eye and saw a mischievous flash pass over his yellow irises. I'm gonna beat you, she thought excitedly.

   "Attack!" Cedarfire snarled, her voice unnecessarily loud. Applepaw jumped at Siskinpaw, who leaned down to barrel into her legs as they left the ground. She squeaked as she bumbled onto his back and fell backwards behind him. Quickly she swung around to grab at his scruff, but Siskinpaw had already turned, and he pounced her, pushing her back to the ground, paws digging into her shoulders to pin her there.

   "Are you going to take that?" Skunkstripe's voice came warmly from behind her. "Fight for your honor, use wit, show the tom who's boss!"

   Applepaw felt a spark of determination flare inside her at that. I will! With a snarl, she pounded her back paws into her opponent's belly, wrapped her forepaws around his, used all her strength to twist his paws away and lunged forward to grab him around the ear. Siskinpaw was pushed back but twisted his head out of the way to grab her scruff.

   Sootpaw and Asterpaw were snapping, swiping, and twisting out of each other's reach with ease, before Asterpaw was able to lunge forward, thrusting her head into the older apprentice's stomach, knocking her back and twisting under and over to tackle her onto her belly when Skunkstripe offered firm encouragement as well.

   Applepaw didn't hear his words, she was twisting in Siskinpaw's strong grip on her scruff, thrusting her paws across his shoulder --- before her hind paws slipped on a patch of damp earth, allowing Siskinpaw to throw her into the air and flipped her over, pinning her to the ground all with that same firm grip. Mousedung! she thought frusteratedly. She matched her brother in size, but his strength had still proven greater.

   "Good, Asterpaw!" Harespring exclaimed and Applepaw saw Toadfrost nodding to Siskinpaw in approval. Pinned on her belly with Siskinpaw's paws digging into her shoulders and haunch, she could only struggle, getting a dishearteningly clear view of Cedarfire's disapproving stare.

   "Go Sootpaw!" Came the cheer of Flashpaw.

   There was an immediate oof that followed, along with an annoyed scoff from Frogblaze. "Flashpaw, focus! In battle you'd be shredded now."

   "Whats wrong half-kit?" Sootpaw's voice sneered behind Applepaw and she couldn't tell if she was talking to her or Asterpaw or directing her taunts at both. "Too small and weak? Cat got your scruff?" Definitely both of us. Applepaw deduced.

   "Alright, break apart." Harespring grunted, and Applepaw leaped up as Siskinpaw's weight left her.

   Cedarfire was already starting forward as Siskinpaw let out a chuckle of triumph and Asterpaw a growl of annoyance. "Just you wait, sneering fox, I'll learn to beat you yet!"

   "Ooh, I'd love to see that!" Sootpaw replied mockingly. Applepaw had barely heard, for Cedarfire was already growling in her face, eyes colder still and tail lashing.

   "What was that? You'll surely survive battle being such a clumsy-pawed badger!" She exclaimed and Applepaw shrunk away, embarrassment heating the entirety of her pelt.

  "The ground was wet—" She started but Cedarfire bared her fangs.

   "ShadowClan are made for the wet and grime! No cat here has a problem with wet soil,” she hissed. Then she paused and raised her chin. "But then again, what should I expect from a ThunderClan dirt-spawn?"

   Applepaw resisted the urge to recoil and retort in outrage. How dare this fox-heart disgrace her mother's origins? The scornful remark was as bad as if she had straight-up insulted Peonybloom to her face. Applepaw could shrink under a scolding directed only at her, but it made her blood boil to even think of her kin being dragged through the mud like this.

   Out of the corner of her eye she saw Asterpaw spin around, open her mouth to spew out what Applepaw had swallowed down — but then Skunkstripe was at her side, yellow eyes narrowed in warning towards the outrageous cream-colored warrior.

   "I think that's enough battling for one day," he said to her icily. "Why don't you, Harespring, and Toadfrost take your apprentices out to hunt? It seems to me that they haven't been taught yet." It was worded as a suggestion, but Applepaw was greatful to know he was giving her mentor an order.

   Cedarfire stared for a long moment, clenching her jaw. Then she curtly dipped her head to him. "Very well," she muttered, her frosted contempt clear.

   Siskinpaw nudged Applepaw's shoulder before she could give the ShadowClan deputy a meaningful look of gratitude, and she turned towards him and Asterpaw instead.

   "Aw yeah! Hunting's gonna be great!" Siskinpaw purred. Applepaw hoped so. I wish I didn't have to learn from Cedarfire though. . . , she thought, casting a bitter glare at her mentor as her back was turned to loop around her fellow mentors, a look that Asterpaw mirrored.

   "Mangy bees for brains," her sister muttered and Applepaw looped her thick red tail over her thin one in a sign of support.

   Harespring muttered something to Cedarfire, who gave her an indignant side-eye.

   "You did good for your first day," the fawn and lilac she-cat mewed in a prominent tone. "We can work on your battle skills at a later date. For now, show us your hunting crouches."

   Sootpaw licked her chest in boredom before returning to her sister and Frogblaze. Skunkstripe followed her and Applepaw couldn't catch his eye.

   Siskinpaw tossed his head. "Easy!Bam!" He hopped into a crouch, his tail curling around his flank. Applepaw copied him, remembering Stagleap's lesson and flipping her tail out behind her. She grimaced as her paws sunk into the damp earth.

   Toadfrost circled the three littermates, stopping to adjust paws and correct Siskinpaw's tail-positioning. Applepaw felt herself slip as he nudged her forepaws farther apart, but she planted her paws firmly beneath her. She ignored Cedarfire's eye-roll and instead focused on Harespring's next words.

   "There, now stalk forward, find an object to practice pouncing, remain in your positions."

   Applepaw stalked towards a pebble just a few mouse-lenths away and was about to pounce when Cedarfire cleared her throat gruffly. "Stalking something that can't feed your Clan is pointless," she spat. "Make them find real prey."

   "Feel free to teach your apprentice how you like," Harespring meowed dismissively and Cedarfire got to her paws.

  As soon as they were in the pine trees, Cedarfire stopped and turned to her. "Use your nose, find something to catch and stalk it, then kill it and bring it back. That can't be too difficult for you to handle."

   Applepaw shuffled her paws, feeling uneasy being alone with the cat who disliked her even as a kit, who not moments before had jeered at her parentage.

   She opened her mouth to taste the air, grateful to her parents for teaching her how early on. They're better than you'll ever be, she thought triumphantly.

   The scent of mud and evergreen muffled the rich scent of prey she was used to in the freshkill-pile and so she found it hard to pinpoint just one. Fearing a scolding, she quickly started towards the most prominent wave of scents and picked them apart as she stalked.

   She was lucky to see the chipmunk scurry down the tree when her nose failed her, and she crouched lower as she made her way towards it. Her mouth began to water as she slowly came closer and closer. I'm starved. . . but I have to take something back first, she thought.

   Just when she thought she might get ready to pounce, her paws squelched into a splash of mud that had been hidden by a layer of pine needles.

   The chipmunk stood up straight, it's ears twitching before it scrambled back up the tree. "No-" Applepaw blurted, jumping forward, but it was too late; the chipmunk had disappeared among the branches, and ShadowClan cats didn't usually climb — not that she'd ever had the opportunity to try before.

   She flattened her ears against the muffled muttering of her mentor, thankful that she wouldn't yell in fear of chasing off the rest of the prey around.

   Try again, she thought, forcing herself to look apologetic over her shoulder. She opened her mouth again, the muffled scents still mingling together. Focus on your paws, hear through the earth, Peonybloom's advice flittered across her mind.

   Applepaw planted her paws against the ground and closed her eyes, waiting for a sense of vibrations to reach her. Ears perked, she heard the croak of a frog and then felt a tapping feeling against her paws. Frog. . . hopping. . . She breathed in deeply, the murk of frog scent snaking prominently through the muffle. That way.

   Relieved, she opened her eyes and made her way over to the line of bushes, keeping an eye out for wet earth or mud. The frog croaked again and as she rounded a clump of cattails she saw the slime of a shallow pond between two firs and the boulbous shape of a slippery green creature.

   I don't like frog, but at least it's something, she thought as she crept forward as close as she dared. She felt Cedarfire's gaze burning into the back of her neck but she paid it no mind.

   Crouching down she instinctively bunched her muscles and pounced forward.

   Right as her claws were about to sink into her rubbery prey, Cedarfire's sharp voice broke her concentration and the frog leaped away back towards the shallow water. "What in StarClan's name are you doing with your legs?"

   Applepaw pulled back, skidding on wotterlogged grass. "Huh?" she spat, anger rising in her throat. I would have caught it! she thought hotly.

   She spun around, about to tell her this, but Cedarfire was quick to appear and talk over her. "Explain to me why you did that— that thing before you pounced."

   Applepaw blinked at her, completely appalled. Are you kidding me?

   "I-I don't know I just- I didn't think about it—" she began, but Cedarfire cut her off.

   "Well don't. It's not— we don't do that when we hunt! Try again and pounce properly!" She spun around and Applepaw gaped at her. What does it matter? Wouldn't that work?

   "I'll try. . ." She mumbled, following her mentor back to where they had started at the edge of the trees, head reeling with confused and outraged questions.

   "Sloppy," Cedarfire growled as Applepaw landed on her stomach, the soft fur of a mouse slipping past her claws.

   "Pathetic," she spat as Applepaw stamped on a twig and a vole disappeared down a hole in the ground.

   "What did I tell you about the legs?" Cedarfire sighed, sounding more exasperated then angry now as a pine siskin screeched and flapped away before Applepaw could even pounce.

   I can't take it! I've been out here all day and nothing! If only I could bunch my muscles I might catch something! What's the big deal about it anyway? Applepaw's stomach was aching now and had been growling since sunhigh, if she wasn't losing her prey from all other reasons everytime, it might've contributed to some of her losses.

   I'll miss the last of sharing tongues at this rate, she fretted. "When may we return to camp?" she tried as sweetly and politely as she could.

   Cedarfire glanced at the sky so quickly Applepaw almost thought she'd imagined it. "When I was an apprentice. . ," she sneered after a moment. "My mentor wouldn't allow me to come home until I'd caught something for the Clan. He never let me be a failure, and I'm grateful to be a successful huntress now because of it. You should be too."

   Applepaw flinched, a spark of despair igniting in her chest. Cedarfire really wouldn't let her stop until she caught something. Applepaw must say something or she might give into the frustration and sadness of her hunger, which wouldn't change things or help her case. But she couldn't think of any retort that wouldn't ruin any ounce of good grace her new mentor had for her.

   Just when Cedarfire opened her mouth to say something more, Applepaw couldn't help the tickle of tears in the corners of her eyes. All because I'm half-Clan. . . what have I done to have such terrible luck? Now I'm gonna cry and make a mousebrain of myself. Cedarfire will think me the biggest disgrace of all the Clans.

   She blinked the tears away and looked Cedarfire in the eye, about to try her paw at negotiating, when she realized that Cedarfire had stiffened, her pupils narrowed into slits, a sheen of white appearing just at the corners. Applepaw tilted her head at her, noting the way her high tail slowly drooped.

   "Um. . .Cedarf—" she was about to say, extremely weirded out. As she said even that, she witnessed the sharp ice of Cedarfire's eyes bead just the slightest bit, as if just a notch away from the melting point.

   "Cedarfire, Applepaw, there you are!" were the words that cut off Applepaw's sentence, were the words that broke Cedarfire out of whatever trance had struck her.

   The cream-colored tabby blinked and her eyes were perfect ice once more.

   Both cats turned to see Frogblaze approaching. "The others are done hunting and have been waiting for awhile. What's taking you?" he asked, one brow cocked in the same way Newtstar's did whenever someone asked a question at Clan meetings.
       "Whatever-it-is-you-ought-to-join-them-not-that-it-concerns-me-I'm-just-the-messenger-so-you-don't-have-to-kill-me," he mewed in a swift yet cool sheet of words that seemed to be directed at Cedarfire specifically. Before anyone could answer, the charismatic tom was waving his tail in a sweeping motion as he turned back the way he had come.

   Applepaw looked hopefully to Cedarfire, who met her gaze after a moment. Her mentor simply grunted as she turned to follow the quick-witted senior warrior, a sound made as if to say "you're lucky."

   Applepaw felt relief swamp her, she was tired and almost sore, though she found it very probable she'd not have the chance to satisfy her appetite even if she got to retreat to the warmth of her family circle.

   Maybe the threat of no fresh-kill was an exaggeration to motivate us to be the best we can as apprentices, she hoped, though knowing it was Stagleap's parents who'd driven that into her and her siblings brains as kits, she highly doubted it.

   When she spotted her littermates, each with four pieces of prey piled at their paws from where they lay bored-like at the edge of the training hollow, her stomach growled the loudest it ever had and her hope dwindled away completely. They both did great at hunting, and I couldn't catch even a hair. . . and I do mean the follicle kind.

   She approached them with a dragging tail as her littermates beamed at the sight of her. "Applepaw! Hunting is so great isn't it?" Siskinpaw exclaimed with a grin.

   Asterpaw tilted her head, seeming to realize the lack of prey. "Oh. . ." She nudged Siskinpaw, who's eyes widened as he realized the same.

   "I don't want to talk about it," Applepaw deadpanned, trying not to look at the four frogs, two mice, two shrews, and one squirrel at her siblings paws.

   Flashpaw and Frogblaze were just leaving with their haul, but Frogblaze cast a last glance back, sympathy present on his features. "It's only the second day, better luck in days to come."

   Applepaw watched him turn away again and ducked when Siskinpaw tried to nuzzle her. "Sure," she replied to Frogblaze's attempt at encouragement.

   Harespring was silent for a moment before resting her tail-tip on Asterpaw's shoulder. "Well, despite that, I would call this a successful session. We'll do more hunting tomorrow, give Applepaw a chance to prove herself," she mewed. Toadfrost nodded beside her and unexpectedly ruffled Siskinpaw's head, though Siskinpaw seemed a little too focused on Applepaw to react to it.

   They headed back to camp and as soon as they were in the clearing, Applepaw couldn't help but feel watched, as if cats were noticing her, noticing how she held no prey while her siblings struggled to carry their exessive plenty. She looked around and felt completely small when staring eyes quickly averted or caught eyes turned on her. Hollytail and Muddypool, her grandparents, were not shy as they shot what were clearly raise-chined cold stares of disapproval her way.

   Seeing Peonybloom and Stagleap approaching, eyes shining despite everything, sent her self-consciousness away. She knew they would understand, yet she couldn't look them in the eye, still ashamed. Why can't I hunt? Or fight? Is everyone really noticing or is it all in my head? Will tomorrow really be better? She accidentally caught Cedarfire's eye and the cream she-cat shook her head, turning away towards the warriors den. Why does my mentor hate me?

   "Would you look at my little tadpoles!" Stagleap praised, nuzzling both Siskinpaw and Asterpaw once they had deposited their kills onto the pile. Peonybloom sent a purr their way then turned to Applepaw, who had hung back, lost in confused thoughts and not wanting to share her siblings glory unfairly.

   "Rough day?" her mother asked softly, licking Applepaw's ear and bringing her back to reality.

   Applepaw sighed, turning away from her. "Yeah. . . ," she offered before moving on to find her way to the apprentices den.

   As she glanced back, she caught Stagleap's sudden attention on her parting form, and his look of concerned confusion as he glanced at Peonybloom. The larger she-cat met his gaze meaningfully, her shoulders slouching in sadness.

   Guilt struck Applepaw as she reached her destination, but it was too late to take back her dismissal. Again her stomach roared at her, but she thought that last gesture from Cedarfire was confirming to her that she wasn't permitted to eat since she hadn't brought anything back. So she slipped into the empty den and flopped into her nest in defeat.

   It wasn't long after when the leaves rustled, announcing the arrival of Asterpaw and Siskinpaw right before their scents did. The unmistakable scent of prey clung to them, peaking Applepaw's interest enough to make her turn her head to look at them.

   "Here," Asterpaw mewed from beside Siskinpaw, who held a fat vole in his jaws, before leaning forward to drop it at her paws.

   "You deserve to eat just as much as anyone," Siskinpaw purred.

   Applepaw blinked in confusion. Did they sneak this in or was I wrong? Maybe nobody actually cares if I take prey. She meant to thank them first but her appetite drove her actions as she tucked into the juicy meal before her.

   She felt her littermates settle down on either of her sides and after a few ravenous bites she came up, licking her jaws and casting grateful looks at both of them in turn. "Thank you," she sighed, relieved.

   Siskinpaw gave her a friendly nudge to her cheek with his head and Asterpaw's tail curled around her.

   "Don't mention it," she breathed.

   Siskinpaw nodded. "It's gonna be fine, Applepaw," he mewed sincerely, looking her meaningfully in the eye.

   "Everything will be better tomorrow," Asterpaw agreed and Applepaw couldn't help smiling, everything else being washed away by her two best friends reassurance. I'll try again tomorrow, she thought as she finished her prey, ready to spend the rest of her day with her brother and sister, carefree as all those treasured kithood moons before.

Chapter Text

   “Applepaw, make yourself useful and bring us some prey,” Hollytail's sneering voice came from the elders den. “Since you can't catch us any yourself.”

   With a sigh, Applepaw got up and did what she was told. She grabbed a plump rabbit from the pile for all three elders to share and made her way over to them. She ducked through the entrance and emerged before Hollytail, Muddypool, and Rookshine, laying in their nests and conversing.

   Hollytail, a dark gray tabby she-cat, whose tail was purpetially bushy, looked up first and sniffed, getting the attention of the others. Beside her, her mate Muddypool, a skinny brown and black spotted tabby tom, made a disapproving noise. “I wanted frog,” he grumbled.

   “Oh hush, rabbit is perfectly suitable for your esteemed tastes,” Rookshine, a black and white she-cat much larger than her denmates, scorned from her nest before turning to Applepaw as the apprentice dropped the rabbit in the center. “Thank you, Applepaw,” she mewed. Her tone was always kind, but her amber eyes were doughy, like she felt deeply sorry for the worthless half-Clan apprentice.

   Applepaw dipped her head to her and turned away. I'm not going to justify your pity with an answer, she thought, immensely tired of the fact that even the cats who were supposed to be old and wise didn't have the sense to be humane.

   “Not even going to greet your grandparents?” Hollytail's voice hissed before she could leave. “That's a load of respect for your elders, especially the cats who ensured your birth by raising your father.”

   All her strength of will harnessed, Applepaw turned back to her grandparents, forcing on a smile. “Oh, you're right, grandmother. In fact, I should thank you. If you hadn't raised my father the way you did, he might never have taken a ThunderClan she-cat as a mate and spawned a useless furball like me.”

   Applepaw watched as all three elder's eyes widened, before she turned away again. Their outraged words of retaliation faded as she left the den, and she was surprised to find that she didn't even feel bad for being cheeky with her grandmother. She has no right to treat me like that, even if she is my kin and she is right about me.

   She. . . is right about me, she reminded herself. What am I even doing here? I don't fit in. I have nothing to offer anyone. Then again, where else would I be? She huffed, amused at her own ridiculous thoughts. Out hunting, probably, a little voice suggested. You could be out there trying to prove them wrong.

   Well I doubt I'm going to get better, but it's not like there's anything else I can do. Asterpaw and Siskinpaw had both been taken on patrol and Applepaw had already finished her task of cleaning out the nursery. Cedarfire was probably tired of seeing her. She looked over to where her mentor was talking with one of the medicine cats, Poppymist, her cream tabby pelt looking ruffled.

   With no other options, Applepaw made up her mind and slipped through the bramble tunnel.

   "I'm searching for preyscent," she reminded herself once she had emerged into the marsh, as if verbally willing her nose to focus would help somehow. She reached out her senses, closing her eyes and taking in the scent, then was blasted by the overwhelming fragrance of pine and wet earth. She grunted in annoyance but nonetheless tried harder.

   I'm not letting that happen, she told herself, forcing her fur to lie flat. I seem to recall that the farther from camp you get, the less marshy the territory is. If I want a better chance, closer to any of the borders is my best shot.

   Determination coursing through her veins, she picked a direction that led outward and trapezed her way towards where the scents became stronger and the pine trees grew thicker.

   Younger apprentices are advised to stay nearer to camp when out on our own, and to never stray towards the borders without telling our mentors, she remembered after a few moments and a hint of anxiety sent an alarm bell to ring in the back of her mind about disobeying this rule, but she dismissed it. Nothing was getting in the way of her mission. If she proved herself a hunter now, it wouldn't matter anyways.

   She knew she was getting somewhere when the scents of ShadowClan cats became stronger, a wild tangle of deliberate markers carrying on the slight breeze, not just the general musk of cats who traversed the territory. I'm close to a border. There's a strange scent. . . But is it SkyClan or RiverClan? Ugh whatever, it's not like I'm looking to cross any borders, so who cares.

   The ground underpaw was hard and only slightly damp. Pine needles made her steps sprongy and the undergrowth had grown sparse, though the lighting wasn't any less dreary.

   When the scent of a mouse hit her scent glands with ease, Applepaw staggered in surprise. That's the strongest prey scent I've ever caught! Excitement fizzed in her paws as she dropped into a crouch, the scent trail clear as day leading in a spiral through the trees.

   She stalked through the longer grasses, careful not to stirs the stalks, the mouse scent growing stronger each step she took.

   Avoiding several patches of fungi, she broke into a more open area, where soft peat sifted under her paws and oak trees and boxwood could be seen in the distance. The sound of a stream to her right made her swivel an ear, but she quickly realized that it was coming from some fox-legths away and needn't be a bother to her current task.

   When she reached a line of bushes and a sudden beam of strong sunshine, is when she finally spotted her quarry. The mouse was picking it's way through a scattering of fallen leaves, and its scent was nearly strong enough to drown the cluster of ShadowClan musk.

   Dropping into a careful crouch once again, Applepaw's pads sweated with anxiety, and she sent a silent plea to StarClan for her troubles, before picking her way ever so slowly after the mouse that would decide her future.

   The ground around her, besides the stray oak and aspen leaves, was grassy and bare, thick undergrowth arching over her head, giving her enough room to move and enough coverage to keep hidden.

   Her heart racing with adrenaline, Applepaw took a mighty leap of faith, her muscles bunching under her outside of her control, as soon as the mouse was within reasonable range.

   Applepaw flew through the air with ease, brushing past the boxwood, her claws evenly extended and. . . the mouse didn't even have time to squeal before her jaws were twisting its neck and blood spurted luxuriously onto her inner lip as it went lifeless before her eyes.

   Her paws hit the clear forest floor with not so much as a thump, the zipping of her tail as it swished to her side the only noise apart from her immediate squeal of jubilation.

   I caught it! I caught it with no complications! Thank StarClan I caught it! That was absolutely magnificent! she thought, bewildered and overjoyed at the same time. She wanted to yowl her excitement, but she held her tongue. If her mentor were here, she'd tell her that ShadowClan cats didn't make kitten-ish exclamations.

   She lifted her head, the mouse clasped firmly in her jaws as she sent a gracious thank you to StarClan. This spot is clear of any mushrooms and it's not so dark that I can't see anything I'm putting my paws on. I could catch lots of prey here right now and bring it all back to camp by sunset!

   She realized she was in a clearing among the boxwood, and the sun warmed her back with such intensity she'd never felt outside of camp before, and even in camp strong shafts like this were rare. Applepaw stood, triumph filling her from her ears to her tail.

   A chorus of unfamiliar voices sounded close by. Applepaw's fur immediately bushed out, her spine arching on instinct.

   Those aren't ShadowClan voices! she thought, alarmed.

   "I'm going to get you, rogue scavengers!" came the yowling voice of a young tom.

   "Hah! All you can chase is your own tail, mousebrain!" a raspy-voiced she-cat exclaimed in reply.

   The sound was coming from the other side of the boxwood line in front of her. Applepaw, full of curiosity, crept through the bushes, and stopped once her muzzle was poking out the other side, dropping her mouse half-way through.

   With a jolt of astonishment, Applepaw took the surroundings above her head into full account. She was no longer under the dense pines and sparse grasses of her evergreen home, but towering oak trees, dotted among thickets of shrubs and bushes.

   The sun was slicing between the highest branches in giant patches of blue sky, glowing golden particles flitting through every bordering shaft, and when Applepaw took a trembling inhale at the air, it was sweet and clear, smelling of fragrant earth, greenery, and a hint of citrus.

   Foxdung. . . I'm not in ShadowClan territory anymore! This must be ThunderClan, she thought. She realized she could no longer smell ShadowClan scent either, and instead the space at her paws reeked of something odd and sharp, yet not altogether unpleasant, not like she would've expected from that of a different Clan.

   With her surprise and — though she didn't want to admit it — awe, out of the way, she focused on the four ThunderClan cats on the other side of the clearing, partly concealed by longer grass and chasing each other in bounding leaps of care-free whimsy. Applepaw shrank back a bit more to make sure she kept out of sight.

   A red tabby she-cat with buttercup-yellow eyes was in the lead, skittering away with a red and brown tortoiseshell, as well as a brown tabby at her heels. Chasing after them with his shoulders hunched in a comical display, was a light brown tom with fur that rippled a sheen in the light, who's sparkling blue eyes were narrowed in mock ferocity.

   "Come and get us, mighty warrior!" the brown tabby she-cat chirped, crouching down with her tail straight up, and then leaping away as the tom tried to pounce her, bunching his muscles and soaring through the air.

   The brown tabby and the red she-cat darted out of the way, but the tortoiseshell let out a yelp as she tripped, allowing the tom to land on her shoulders and bowl her to the ground. There they engaged in a tussle.

   Applepaw's eyes were drawn to the tom's pouncing technique, but then her heart quickened as the brown tabby came up behind the two wrestling cats, aiming for the tom's tail. The tom, noticing her approach, twisted in the tortoiseshell's grip and tucked his long fluffy tail tightly between his legs, before aiming a sheathed blow to the brown tabby's face. The she-cat ducked away again, but while the tom was distracted, the red tabby with the yellow eyes yanked her tortoiseshell companion out of the tom's grip.

   They're bunching their muscles, and tucking their tails, like I do, Applepaw thought, astonished. ThunderClan battle moves. . . Is that what I've been doing all this time, heeding instincts from my ThunderClan heritage?

   Disbelief and realization crashed down on her, followed by an overwhelming sense of relief. It blurred her vision, seized her legs with excitement, and she couldn't help but straighten up. I-I'm not useless. . . I don't have to be useless! I. . . I—"

   The boxwood above her head rustled as her ears and tail hit its wavering branches. Applepaw squeaked, startled, and jumped forward, her paws crashing noisily down on a dandelion weed.

   With a sickening jolt, Applepaw realized what she'd done. She promptly snapped her attention back to the play-fighting apprentices, getting ready to run if necessary — only to feel cold fear freeze her in place to see four heads pop up and turn in her direction. Striking golden eyes from the tortoiseshell she-cat locked onto her gaze, followed by the blue of the tom and the differing yellows of both the red and the brown tabbies.

   For a silent moment, the ThunderClan cats stared, until understanding dawned in the eyes of the red she-cat.

   "Hey!" she yowled, and her companions immediately bristled at her side, scrambling to their paws and their noses wrinkling as they sniffed the air.

   "ShadowClan!" the tortoiseshell exclaimed, recoiling from Applepaw's scent. Beside her the brown tabby unsheathed her claws as the tortoiseshell started forward, determination in her steps.

   Regaining control of her paws and with one swift movement, Applepaw flipped around, scooped up her mouse, and dashed for the ShadowClan border, a drift of familiar scent reaching her nose as she turned back the way she had come. Her heart began to hammer in her chest. This isn't good! I can barely fight, let alone four rival apprentices!

   She heard the ThunderClan cats giving chase behind her, their paws crashing through the undergrowth as they swerved with familiarity of their territory. Applepaw didn't dare look back, she could hear the brown tom yowling a battle cry, and could feel some cat's breath at the tip of her tail.

   "Get her, Mousepaw!" she heard the tortoiseshell snarl.

   Before her she could see that she hadn't strayed very far from her home; directly ahead she could see the pines and their dark shadows. A few bounds and she'd make it. Back to the safety of the border, where her pursuers wouldn't dare tread. I hope! If I'm caught, its four against one, not to mention I'm not exactly a good fighter! Who knows what they'll do to me. . . .

   Fear gave her an extra burst of speed amd just as she heard the zip of air caused by a pair of jaws snapping closed, Applepaw barreled across the border, swinging her bushy tail out of the way just in time.

   The mouse slipped out of her grasp and flew from her jaws. She stumbled and turned, digging her claws in to stop herself from skidding into the shadows, and relishing the sharp yet comforting smell of her Clanmates now wreathing around her once more. She didn't turn to see what had become of her prey, happy to hide its existence as best she could.

   The brown tabby had been the one at her tail, the one called Mousepaw. She skidded with a yowl of frusteration before she reached the border, and her Clanmates scrambled to stop themselves before they could run her over. Applepaw almost snorted in amusement.

   "What do you think you're doing?" the red tabby hissed, stomping forward to the borders edge, where the brown tabby and the others fell back just behind her. Her face was mutinous as her tail lashed and her fur bushed up to make her seem bigger. "I can smell that mouse, so don't try to hide it!"

   Applepaw tried to steady her racing heart. She straightened up, lifting her head and tail in an attempt to appear imposing and not as vulnerable as she felt.

   To her surprise, all four apprentice's eyes widened, and though the red tabby didn't back down, her paws trembled for a moment before her face hardened again. Applepaw could almost be amused. They've probably never seen an apprentice my size before. But no matter what difference in stature, she was all too aware of how outnumbered she would still be if a fight broke out to entertain any semblance of humor she saw.

   She knew no way out of this, she had no excuse for crossing the border, and her thoughts raced for something to say as she forced her own expression into a steady glare.

   "Hunting," Applepaw forced the word out after a moment, though it wasn't news to the lead she-cat. Still, this was answered by a collective chorus of growls from the others.

   "It's just like that is it?" the tortoiseshell sneered in a low, whispy voice. Mousepaw spat in similitude, a look of disgust darkening her yellow eyes.

   "I chased a mouse over. I'm sorry. I didn't realize I'd crossed the border until it was too late," Applepaw admitted calmly, though her brow remained furrowed. "But it was ShadowClan prey to begin with."

   Mousepaw strode forward to the red she-cat's side. "That's right, so give it back," she demanded, agreeing with the tom and returning Applepaw's glare with twice as much fire.

   Applepaw hesitated, tempted to comply, for she recognized that there was truth in the silver-tipped tom's statement. Those were the rules. But I can't give up this mouse, it's the only decent catch I've ever had! I've worked too hard for this!

   Her heart hardened. "No," she hissed, her tone final. "I still caught it, I worked hard to catch it, and I'm not going to give it away for free, so if you'll excuse me, I have to go feed my Clan." Her belly pulsed, more than ready to escape the situation. If she stayed she'd only get into more trouble. She began to turn away. . .

   Before she had moved much, she caught a glint of pride enter the red she-cat's eyes. She won't cross the border will she? Applepaw wondered, alarmed as the tabby stomped one paw forward.

   "What, are you such a terrible hunter that you can't hunt mice in your own territory?" the red tabby teased, showing her teeth with her lip cocking in a smirk.

   Applepaw froze, hurt welling up inside her. Those words made everything she had endured, every bit of ridicule from her Clanmates, flash before her eyes. When the images had finished, her belly began to boil, and before Applepaw knew it, anger surged through her veins.

   I'm so sick of being made fun of! She turned fully back to the others, letting her pelt fluff out to it's full length. "I can hunt fine thanks! Which is more than can be said for you, seeing as you're so desperate to have a mouse you didn't even catch!"

   She eyed the red she-cat's legs, which she noticed were long and thin, and found herself biting in harder. "You and your petite little legs couldn't catch me either, so I think that says more about you and your little possi than it does about me."

   The red tabby's eyes widened, and Applepaw felt a twinge, guilt and thrill mixing together in a confusing concoction within her throat.

   "Hey! Don't talk to my sister that way!" the brown tom growled from beside the tabby, padding forward and thrusting his muzzle into Applepaw's face, his eyes narrow slits. Applepaw was amused to see that he wasn't nearly as big as she was, and gangly looking compared his denmate, whose slender orange body was sleek and her facial features sharp with a mature grace.

   I'm bigger than all of them actually, she realized. She now felt silly for having been so scared before. These cats aren't so tough, and I don't think they'll try to fight me unless I start.

   The red tabby shouldered her brother back with a growl, regaining her composure. "Oh, back off Oakpaw, I could take her on!" she retorted.

   "She's twice your size, Cherrypaw!" the tom, Oakpaw, hissed to his outspoken littermate.

   "That goes for you too," the tortoiseshell cut in scathingly, sitting down and giving her Clanmates a cool, yet piercing look. By far she looked to be the biggest, most capable of the four.

   Applepaw, feeling a bit mischievous, squared her shoulders and looked down her nose at Oakpaw, who shrank ever so slightly once his gaze met hers. Good, she thought with satisfaction.

   Cherrypaw drew her head up importantly. "You may be big but your outnumbered four to one, so give us the mouse, or you'll regret it," Cherrypaw growled, her claws sliding out of their sheathes.

   Applepaw hesitated at the sight. Maybe she could make a run for it. But if I run away from a fight in front of these cats. . . . I wouldn't care what they thought if it wouldn't make a bad impression of ShadowClan. Perhaps I can still talk my way out.

   "Don't know where it is, I dropped it," she mewed, semi-honest.

   Mousepaw snorted and looked behind her at the tortoiseshell, who immediately raised her muzzle and drank in the air, the fur on her shoulders prickling.

   "Robinpaw?" Cherrypaw asked looking over her shoulder.

   Robinpaw curled her lip, but her voice remained monotone. "The mouse is right there," she mewed, eyeing Applepaw.

   Looking down, Applepaw realized that the mouse was indeed just behind her hind paw, its rump and tail just visible from her overcasting shadow. Nice going, mousebrain! She gulped and looked back up at the others.

   "Is that so?" Mousepaw mewed, a glint in her eye. "I'll take that thank you," she sneered, strolling forward. Applepaw watched her off-white paws step blatantly over the scent-line, felt her own claws slide out as the tabby slipped onto her side like it would be met with no consequence. As she side-stepped her, ready to strike forward and snatch the mouse, Applepaw's incertitude vanished. She now knew only that she must defend what was rightfully hers.

   She raised her paw, claws stretched out, and slashed them at Mousepaw's face, just as her muzzle began to lower.

   Applepaw felt the tips of her claws nick the cold leather of Mousepaw's nose, but before they could tear and draw blood, Mousepaw yelped and scrambled backwards, bumping into Cherrypaw who had followed her over.

   Robinpaw and Oakpaw bristled, and while Mousepaw shook herself, hissing under her breath, Cherrypaw darted forward, her eyes intent on the mouse once more.

   Oh no you don't! Applepaw thought, and she bunched her muscles in preparation to spring.

   "What in StarClans name is going on here!"

   Applepaw stumbled, then caught herself before she could fall forward, the familiar voice striking her with both relief, and annoyance.

   She and all the other apprentices turned their heads to see Cedarfire bounding towards them, her jaw set in barely contained fury. At her side was Toadfrost, the oldest senior warrior Echocall, and Siskinpaw, following more deliberately with confusion clear on their faces.

   "I-I—" Applepaw stammered, silenced when Cedarfire shouldered past her and stood nose to nose with the two closest ThunderClan apprentices.

   "Get back to your side of the border," Cedarfire snarled, her eyes blazing. Cherrypaw shrunk to the ground. Mousepaw's tail dropped to her side, stiff with terror. They both looked up, shocked, at the cream-colored warrior.

   With an icey-glare on them, Cherrypaw crept backward back over the scent-line, and Mousepaw tripped over her tail as she followed.

   Woah, Applepaw thought, gawking at their terrified expressions. Not moments before they had viciously tried to cross the border to take her prey, had sneered and jibed and thoroughly stressed her out. Now they're cowering before my mentor! I'm as big as she is now, and yet she's more intimidating!

   She obviously agreed that Cedarfire was the most intimidating cat she'd ever met, but until now she thought she might be at the same level, at least to outsiders who weren't used to either of them. Envy crawled through her, but her relief at intervention of their near-fight staunched it back, for now.

   "You should say that to her!" Oakpaw hissed, tossing his head at Applepaw, who flinched.

   "Silence!" Cedarfire snarled, and even Oakpaw had the sense to shut his mouth. Cedarfire's gaze slid over, and Applepaw looked away, disgusted by the hatred behind those icy-blue eyes.

   "Applepaw," she growled through gritted teeth. "How did this start?" It sounded like a question, but Applepaw could tell that Cedarfire already knew that somehow she had started the whole dispute.

   For a moment the words wouldn't come, indignation a fire licking at her belly. Applepaw met her mentor's gaze. She had stopped fearing Cedarfire long ago. "I crossed the border chasing a mouse, and they saw me, then tried fo take the prey that I caught! I know the rules, but I caught it and I couldn't just give in to another Clan, could I?"

   Cedarfire's expression turned mutinous, her jaw clenching so tight, Applepaw thought she might bite her tongue. The russet and white she-cat felt satisfaction once again at the fact that Cedarfire couldn't effectively argue her point.

   Applepaw picked up her mouse and circled around Siskinpaw, who had marched forward to Cedarfire's side, his eyes wide and fixed on the unsheathed claws of their enemies. She watched as Siskinpaw got nose to nose with Mousepaw, his pupils angered slits.

   "Are you picking on my little sister?" Siskinpaw growled. Applepaw was impressed by his tone, it wasn't one he used often. Little? What, just because he was born first?

   Mousepaw backed away, and Cherrypaw stepped in front of her, casting a killing glare at Siskinpaw.

   Cedarfire had been glancing between Applepaw and the ThunderClan apprentices, but now she seemed to regain her composure. She bared her teeth at Applepaw, then turned towards the border.

   "Where are the mentors responsible for these vermin?" Cedarfire called out, her yowl ringing through the trees. A flock of birds took flight from a nearby oak, and the ThunderClan apprentices all jumped, startled.

   As she stood there watching and holding her mouse, Applepaw turned when Echocall padded to her side, the dilute tortoiseshell-tabby's hazel eyes sparkling with interest.

   "You've gotten yourself into quite a furze here haven't you," the old she-cat chuckled.

   Applepaw couldn't help but crack a smile, though she didn't know how to respond. Echocall was boisterous and quick-witted, but she'd never looked at Applepaw or her kin with any enmity, and she'd never spoken much to any of them.

   "They're back at camp. . . , " Mousepaw chimed, her voice trembling. "We— Buckthorn said we could walk around the territory as long as we stayed together."

   Cedarfire's response was quick and snappy, her voice gradually raising into a yell. "Well you four can go back home now, and tell your mangy mentors that ShadowClan won't tolerate miscreants on our borders, and if we ever catch even a whiff of ThunderClan scent on our territory again, they will face fang and claw no matter how old or young they are!"

   Cherrypaw and Mousepaw let out exclaimations of protest. "ShadowClan are the ones that started it!"

   "That's enough." Applepaw turned to see Toadfrost brushing past her, and coming up in-between Cedarfire and Siskinpaw. His calm blue gaze settled mildly on the ThunderClan apprentices.

   "You're right," Toadfrost rumbled, his voice a soft-spoken baritone. "Applepaw should never have crossed your border, but that goes for ThunderClan too. Its understandable that you will report to your leader about this, just as we will to ours." Then his eyes hardened, though his cadence didn't waver. "But arguing here any longer will only get you all into more trouble."

   He flexed his claws, and finally, Cherrypaw gulped, fear from his subtle threat flooding her yellow eyes.

   "This isn't worth it," Robinpaw muttered, and Mousepaw nodded shakily, though by now her gaze was smoldering with dissatisfaction once again.

   "Gloriafeather will hear about this," Cherrypaw mewed almost in a squeak.

   Then she turned and bolted, Mousepaw, Oakpaw, and Robinpaw hard on her heels, though the last held back a moment to give the ShadowClan patrol a steely glare.

   Applepaw let out a breath she hadn't realized she was holding, glad to finally see them leave, gone out of her sight forever. Hmm, they were pretty cruel, but they all seemed so close to each other. It's clear that they're best friends.

   Then her heart dropped as Cedarfire turning back to her with a hiss, her tabby fur bushed, making her appear twice her size.

   "What were you thinking?" her mentor scolded, pounding forward to stand in Applepaw's face just like she had done to the ThunderClan cats. "Crossing the ThunderClan border, hunting near one of the borders in the first place! I knew you were a worthless hunter and fighter, but now I can see that you've got no brains or common sense at all!"

   Applepaw flinched, and she saw Siskinpaw bristle behind Cedarfire, watched Echocall back away, and heard Toadfrost's paws shuffle, but she didn't break eye-contact with her mentor.

   "Dilberate disobedience is something new too," Cedarfire sneered. Her pupils were tiny pin-pricks, her fangs glinted in the sunlight. "Just when I thought you couldn't be a worse apprentice!"

   "I'm sorry," Applepaw mewed in a steady voice, despite the need to defend herself that threatened to overwhelm her. "It won't happen again—"

   Cedarfire interrupted. "I don't want to hear another word from you, half-blood!" she snarled. "You better hope that Featherstar doesn't throw a battalion on our heads, because that's not something ShadowClan can afford, especially with your fighting inability!"

   Would he do that over something so small? Applepaw wondered. I broke the warrior code sure, but it's not like I stole prey that was already on their territory, or actually fought with those cats.

   "Cedarfire, dear," Echocall mewed, her tone honeyed and indiscernible. She rounded Applepaw to stand in front of her, blocking her from the younger warrior. "Does continuing to lecture her do any good? She's realized her mistake and you can soon punish her accordingly. But for now our patrol is over, Applepaw caught some fresh-kill, and we can go back to camp. We do need to report to Newtstar as well," she added when Cedarfire opened her jaws to protest.

   Cedarfire lashed her tail, but dipped her head to her superior, though her eyes still flashed at Applepaw in a way that told her "This doesn't mean your off the claw."

   Applepaw sighed inwardly. Cleaning ticks off my grandparents for a quarter-moon it is, she thought begrudgingly, though deep down she knew it was a fair exchange for her carelessness.

   Siskinpaw bumped her side with his shoulder, his eyes round as he sniffed her pelt. "Did they hurt you?" he asked, catching Applepaw's eye.

   "No, I'm okay," she purred, bumping him back. "I gave that brown tabby a hard "bap" on the nose though."

   Her brother smiled at that.

   Echocall took the lead back the way they had come, Toadfrost at her heel. Just when Siskinpaw started to follow, did Cedarfire turn back to Applepaw.

   "Tick duty and assisting the medicine cats," Cedarfire growled. "I'd give you a good cuff around the ears as well if I could, but being bound to camp will have to do, so consider yourself lucky."

   "But there are already three medicine cats—" Applepaw began to point out, but a curling of Cedarfire's lip and a flex from her claws told her she was better off keeping quiet.

   The chances of her actually hurting me are low, but I'd be a mousebrain if I were to believe they were ever zero.

   Applepaw just lowered her head in submission, and when Cedarfire whipped around to bound after the rest of her patrol, Applepaw followed, her mouse hanging by its tail in her jaws.

   I still caught this, she thought, glancing down at her hard-earned prey, pride completely overriding the sting of her mentor's words. I'm not a waste of space, Cedarfire and everyone else are wrong about me. . . I'm just hunting in the wrong environment, using the wrong tactics. . . . She glanced over her shoulder back at the ThunderClan border, where she had been able to smell clearly for the first time, could walk without stepping in mud or getting stuck in tangles of cattails.

   She remembered how carefree Cherrypaw, Mousepaw, Oakpaw, and Robinpaw looked when they were playing invasion like a litter of kits.

   What must it be like in ThunderClan? Where being loud and bunching your muscles and tucking your tail don't get you in trouble? I know my mother fled. . . but those apprentices seemed happy, joyous even. They weren't tired or thin or scruffy.

   Perhaps things have changed in ThunderClan for the better?