"GingerPaw. Wake up." AspenGlade gently nudged GingerPaw's side, his ears twitching in ever direction. Watery light draped the sky and field around them, dawn creeping upon dusk like one hunting it's prey.

GingerPaw rolled onto her back, groaning defiantly. "Just a few more minutes." She mumbled through a yawn, curling into a tighter ball.

Sighing, AspenGlade looked around, his eyes taking in the lively clearing.

It seemed to buzz with life, Birds tweeting, rabbits here and there. AspenGlade's mouth watered, his stomach rumbling slightly, a reminder of his hunger.

"Come on." He nudged GingerPaw again. "I think I scent a patrol." The lie rolled off his tongue smoothly, his pelt pricking.

GingerPaw leapt up, pelt fluffed up. "Where?!" She screeched, claws outstretched, eyes wild with fury.

AspenGlade let out a laugh, purring slightly. "Kidding." He flicked her nose with the tip of his tail, and bounded forth.

"We should get a rabbit or something. I'm starving." He inquired, his mouth parting slightly. All around him, different scents.

GingerPaw had already stalked forward, her eyes set on a plump, light grey rabbit.

His gaze followed her every move intently, 'Graceful..' He found himself staring in awe of the Apprentice's hunting skill level, his whiskers quivering.

"Got it!" GingerPaw mumbled around the fur of the rabbit, now hanging/dragging limp in her mouth.

AspenGlade brightened slightly, "Great catch!" He praised, confused as to why he was so cheerful.

His Mate denied him. He should be wallowing in sorrow.

He shrugged it off, joining GingerPaw silently. The two mumbled around mouthfuls of juicy rabbit, laughing at things here and there.

"Excuse me. What do we have here?" A gurgling, shrill voice alerted AspenGlade and GingerPaw.

Before them, a large ragged, black furred Tom, scars covering his bodice. At his side, a smaller tom with a scared face, his eyes shouting with fear.

"That's our prey." The larger of the toms' sneered, unsheathing his claws.

AspenGlade rolled his eyes, sighing. "Alright, Alright. We didn't kno-" Cut off by the larger Tom lunging into him, AspenGlade shrieked, curling instinctively and biting hard around his ear.

GingerPaw locked gaze with the smaller Tom, eyes wide.

The two stared blankly at each other, trembling in their own skins. "I don't like to fight." The smaller Tom whimpered, backing up with tail tucked.

GingerPaw blinked twice, "Then why?" She gestured to The larger tom, currently in a skirmish with AspenGlade.

"Forced." Was all he got out, before closing his eyes tightly.

GingerPaw blinked gently, "Come with me." She urged, signaling to AspenGlade.

AspenGlade just barely caught the signal, and nodded before feeling the Tom's claws and paw club into the side of his head.

"Never. Mess with Seether!"

'So his name is Seether..' AspenGlade blinked blood from his eyes, and kicked up with a strong blow. He scoured his claws through his already cut-up muzzle, hissing.

"Seether. You started this." He pointed out cooly, standing up taller.

Both Tom's had deep, bloody wounds, panting.

"Leave." Seether demanded coldly.

"Or I will skin you and use your pelt as a nest." The threat barely made AspenGlade flinch. He heard that so many times.

"Fine." He growled, and turned, starting off.

"Oh. And by the way." He shot a glare over his shoulder, "I'll be sure to tell FawnBlood about this." And AspenGlade dashed off, wincing with each stride.

^^

GingerPaw raced towards him, The smaller tom hot on her tail.

"AspenGlade! Look at you! Your all...Bloody!" GingerPaw remarked, eyeing his wounded bodice.

AspenGlade grunted, and lapped her ear. "I'm fine." His gaze slipped to the Tom, pupils narrowing to a slit.

GingerPaw shook her head. "It's okay. This is Darth." She blinked. "He's not harmful." She pointed out, Darth nodding swiftly, eyes wide.

AspenGlade growled a bit, "Fine.."

'I don't trust him.' He thought with a flick of his tail, and began to cleaning his wounds.

Seether had delivered powerful blows, ones he had only seen SharpStar use. Perhaps his brother trained him.

AspenGlade glanced at the sky, whiskers quivering. "Let's go on." He began, glancing over at GingerPaw and Darth.

The two had curled up by each-other, curled rather closely.

This made AspenGlade wince, a burn of jealously in his chest.

He just sighed, and plopped down in defeat, head hanging. "Now I know you hate me."

-AUTHORS NOTE- I know this is short..xD