"All the apprentices save for Sunpaw will be training with Rubyshine, Hazelwhisker and Scorchclaw." Knottedstar calls from the Highfall. True to tradition, she must yowl over the rush of the nearby waterfall. Though it isn't loud enough to drown out our own voices, it's considered a metaphorical way of being stronger than nature. Once, I wished to yell over it, but now that I'm older, I can't think of anything more terrible than being up in the spotlight with cats who hate me on all sides. The entire clan is very hostile and strange to me now. "Amberstreak has been temporarily training two apprentices due to some... unfortunate circumstances. Hopefully, if Sunpaw performs well, she'll take her place as a warrior of DragonClan tonight."

The clan purrs appreciatively, several warriors bending down to offer encouragement to the bashful apprentice. She briskly makes her way through the curious crowd to Amberstreak, who nods to her, and the two leave. The rest of the clan departs and the cluster of apprentices turns to me, their eyes wide. Clearly, they didn't expect the announcement either. I flinch at their harsh gazes, then realize they aren't glaring at me. They all look pleased to see me. Hastily, I pad over.

"Hey, Rushpaw!" purrs Sparrowpaw, his tawny fur bright in the early morning sunlight.
"H-hello!" I stutter, shocked to see them all.

"It's so nice to see my sister again! Remember me? I'm your brother." Sparrowpaw teases, nuzzling me.
"I'm the one who cut your ear." adds Thistlepaw.
"I'm the one who gave you that mark on your head. Remember when we were entering the DarkClan bush and I pushed a branch away and then it hit you in the face?"
"Like I could forget." says Thistlepaw bitterly.

Crowpaw purrs. "We were such silly kits, weren't we?"

I look around to see all the apprentices far merrier than they were the other day. Perhaps it's just that they haven't worked out yet. Perhaps they're just in good moods.

Unfortunately, not all of them share the warm and welcoming joy. Sharppaw gives me a disdainful look, clearly uninterested by my presence, and Novapaw looks away. My heart beats rapidly, pining for his approval, but I hold myself down.

"We should go. Our "mentors" won't be happy if we spend all day dithering around, even if it is nice to catch up with Rushpaw after..."

"Three moons." I tell her.

"Three moons? Feels like a lifetime!" Sparrowpaw says, shocked.

"Don't I know it!" Sharppaw says.

"For StarClan's sake, let's go already!" Goldenpaw begins nudging us along like an old queen. She reminds me faintly of Scarletsky.

So many cats I rarely see anymore... have I really been so busy with training?

Rubyshine, Hazelwhisker, and Scorchclaw are in no hurry when we get to them. They sit in their own cluster, talking idly in hushed voices. I make out a few names, but nothing else of interest.

Slamming both of her companions, Rubyshine turns to us with unprecedented and probably fake enthusiasm. "Hey, kits!" Rubyshine says cheerfully.

"Rubyshine? You're not a mentor." Goldenpaw notes.

"Knottedstar said all three of us could train you. Can't break up the group!" Rubyshine purrs. She sounds like a giddy apprentice herself. Hopefully Knottedstar had come great reason for making Hazelwhisker (who's not much better) a mentor so young, though she undoubtedly had to. Who am I to question her authority?

Together, we begin walking out of camp at a leisurely pace. Luckily for us, most of the other warriors are out and don't see the disgracefully unproductive group of warriors striding their way into the forest in no hurry at all.

"Isn't Titanfoot part of your 'group' too?" asks Thistlepaw as we leave camp

"Titanfoot has been acting really odd lately." mews Hazelwhisker reflectively.

"You apprentices don't need to hear any of this. It's just gossip." Scorchclaw gazes coolly at the other two cats, both of whom shudder under his gaze.

"Yeah! Just gossip. Though, from what I've heard... I'd watch your back, Rushpaw." Rubyshine's eyes narrow.

"We're clanmates. Clanmates would never hurt each other." I lie quite loudly, the rest of the forest echoing back my words.

"Hear, hear." Sharppaw says sarcastically, casting a glance at Novapaw.

Novapaw hisses quietly through his teeth.

"We're here!" announces Rubyshine. I look around but see nothing but forest.

"We're where exactly?" asks Novapaw, echoing my sentiments.

"We'll be hunting." Scorchclaw says. "So, why don't you get to it? We'll be assessing your progress as we go."

"Can we work in pairs?" asks Sparrowpaw.

"I don't see why not." Rubyshine says.

Sparrowpaw bumps me. His eyes are bright and cheerful as he leads me into the forest. I watch Novapaw and Crowpaw as well as Sharppaw and Goldenpaw go their own way, leaving Thistlepaw to hunt with the mentors. We part ways quickly, eager to make up for the missed time and well aware that the "fun" part of the activity is over.

Sparrowpaw sniffs the air, his tail flicking wildly as he does so. Eventually, he settles on one scent and paces after it. Determined to keep up, I follow him, practicing every technique Knottedstar has taught me for stealth. He looks back, admiring my silence, and then rushes forwards at a nearby finch. It takes flight but he slams it down, killing it quickly. He turns to me with a sad sigh.

"I hate killing birds."

"Why?" I ask.

"I was named after one!" he tells me. "It's basically fratricide."

"What?" I ask, confused. He sounds like Knottedstar with his fancy words and deep gaze.
"Never mind. Anyways... birds are the only other animals with an ear for song."

"So it wasn't just a clever kit trick, was it?" I taunt.

"No, I still hear the soul songs all the time. I was just a little scared, that's all. We're only apprentices, Rushpaw." He buries his thrush. "We don't need to take on the whole world yet, much yet the destiny of our clan and everything in it- and below it."

"Speak for yourself." I say.

He sniffs the air again, but this time I catch my own scent. We bound in opposite directions and I give chase as a frightened squirrel notices my presence. As it dashes away, I catch it halfway up the tree. It's not a very clean kill, but it still smells delicious. Heading back to where Sparrowpaw met me last, I see he's not there. Possibly taking a little longer on his kill?

My nose twitches. There's something here.

Sharppaw and Goldenpaw shamble into the clearing. Goldenpaw is cut up in several places and Sharppaw is dragging her paw behind her.

"What happened?" I ask, but a loud yip greets my ears and my fur goes straight up in terror as a long and lanky creature with large teeth and beady eyes enters the clearing, fixed on us as it begins pacing. Goldenpaw and Sharppaw form a defensive circle with all of our backs to one point, but we still have no idea where it will strike. "That's a fox."

"Not just one fox..." The last two apprentices and the mentors appear on the edge of the clearing, seeing us surrounded by the two flanking foxes.

The fox leaps at me and I duck under. Its fangs barely miss my side and it turns, running at me again. Sharppaw yelps with pain as a fox picks her up and I bite its leg from my convenient position on the ground. It drops her with a yelp and is set upon by the other three warriors.

Though the foxes are large and crafty, they're clearly outnumbered, and they take the first opportunity to flee, bleeding from several points.

"That's right! Get out of here!" calls Scorchclaw.

"Scorchclaw, stop it!" scolds Goldenpaw.

"Well, we've scared off most of the prey in the area and I don't feel safe with partners anymore. What do you all say we get your current prey, get Goldenpaw and Sharppaw to the medicine den, and do this again tomorrow? I'm sure a more experienced evening patrol can hunt while others make sure the foxes are really gone."

"Fine with me." Thistlepaw mutters.
"I got the most prey anyways." Sharppaw adds.

Seeing this as a unified consensus, the mentors drag us back to camp. Pulling me aside from the group with a large bump on the side, Sharppaw hisses in my ear, "I don't like him either, alright? Both of you are weird and creepy and your kit clan was really harebrained. Thanks for saving my life... now please get out of it."

I find we've stopped and she walks away, tail high and head higher. I stare after her, confused, and Novapaw approaches me with his signature grace.
"Well, now that she's gone, I believe we have a lot to talk about." His tone is the one he uses with those he's about to manipulate.

"Novapaw!" I say. "Were you listening to all of that?"

"It's really awful when cats listen in on your conversations, isn't it?" He says with a hint of anger below his cool tone.

"I can't believe you said that about all me." I whisper, trying to get rid of the pounding hurt in my throat. "I know you have a lot of friends, but I don't. I just have you and now..."
"You're alone?"

"No." I say. "I'm never really alone." The two spirits stir within me, bubbling to come out, but I keep them down. After all, they might seem like separate entities, but I'm really just a culmination of both. Staying in control means balance, and knowing both of them, it's the only way I want to go.

"I am." Novapaw says.

"You don't have to be. Are you really scared of me?" I ask.

"Yes." Novapaw admits. "Yes, I am."

I flick my ears, veiling my disappointment. "That's fine. I'm not so sure I can trust myself either. For now, I suppose it's best we both have some time alone."
His eyes slit but the rest of his face is still emotionless and cold as stone. "You've already been doing that."

"I suppose I have. As for being your deputy... I fully intend on becoming leader far before you." Though it's a lie, it carries a certain satisfaction. With a lash of my tail, I walk away into the cool spring air to join the other apprentices.