Nightpaw blinked her eyes open, scanning the apprentice's den. It was empty now, with her being the only apprentice besides Foxpaw. She sighed. The den was lonely without Sparrowwing. She remembered when they had both been kits, without a care in the world. That seemed like so long ago.

Wolffur stuck his head into the apprentice's den. "Battle assessment!" He called cheerfully.

Nightpaw sighed and got up, reluctantly ducking into the open. Her fur was ruffled. She hadn't groomed it for a few days. She had passed her first set of assessments, and her second hunting asessment. Now, she just had to wait a moon for her final assessment.

Wolffur waved his tail around her face. "Hello? You there?"

Nightpaw blinked, embarrassed. "Sorry. What were you saying?"

"I was saying that since there isn't any apprentices besides yourself that qualify for battle training, we'll have to ask a warrior. But they're too busy, looking for that pair of rogues. So, you'll have to do apprentice duties." He sighed.

Nightpaw nodded. "Alright then. Which den?"

"Did Rosefeather teach you?"

"Yup." Nightpaw confirmed, digging her claws into the ground.

"Alright then. I won't be in camp. Do the nursery." Wolffur instructed, giving her a lick on the head before trotting out of camp.

Nightpaw turned towards the nursery, in a better mood than before. Leaftail's kits were adorable, and they seemed to like her.

Sunkit and Cloudkit, the two more outgoing ones, ran up to her when she entered the den. She was carrying a wad of moss in her jaws, and set it down before greeting the bouncing kits.

"Hi, kits," She cooed, smiling.

Sunkit bared tiny fangs at her. "How dare you call us kits, ThunderClan scum? We'll teach you!"

Cloudkit leaped on top of her. She pretended to fall to the ground as Thornkit and Runningkit decided to join the fun.

"Rawr! Feel my wrath!" Thornkit dug her claws into Nightpaw's fluffy pelt. Runningkit followed suit, holding down her tail.

Leaftail appeared fron the back of the den, smiling. "Come on now, kits. Nightpaw needs to clean out the nests. She can play later. Stay out of her way, okay?"

Sunkit nodded, trotting outisde. Cloudkit followed. Runningkit and Thornkit curled next to their mother, talking in low voices. They sounded as though they were debating something.

Nightpaw's whiskers twitched as she took apart the old nest, salvaging clean bits of moss. The rest she tossed into the dirtplace. She tucked the other piece of moss together and flattened it, creating a decent nest.

Nightpaw used her tail to brush out all the dirty dust and moss bits on the floor, cramping them into a corner. She finally wet a piece of moss and placed it in front of the only nest in the nursery.

Leaftail gave the apprentice a grateful smile. "Thanks, Nightpaw. The kits really look up to you."

Nightpaw waved her tail. "It was my pleasure."

She padded out of the nursery, looking around camp. It was almost deserted. Blazefur spotted her, then called out from across the camp.

"Hey! Get over here! I need some help!"

Nightpaw sprinted over, smiling at the medicine cat. His gaze was grim as he began to speak.

"Oakstar has green cough, and we're all out of catmint. I need you to come with me to Twoleg Place. Think you can handle it?"

Nightpaw felt exciment fill her mind. She'd heard of the Twoleg Place from Fawnfur as a kit, and from Rosefeather.

As she remembered her former mentor, her excitement dimmed. Had all the praise, all the training been false? Did she even care for her apprentice?

Blazefur laid a tail on the apprentice. "I sense you are still grieving, Nightpaw. You feel betrayed. That is normal. But you are allowing it to hurt you in more ways than one. You need to heal, not let yourself be hurt even more." He murmured.

Nightpaw stared at her paws. "Let's go then," she said, her voice cracking.

Blazefur padded towards the camp entrance. "Let's." He disappeared.

Nightpaw followed after him, ducking into the forest.

Nightpaw trailed after him awkwardly for most of the path. When the Twoleg Place seemed visible up ahead, she tried to make conversation.

"So, do cats get greencough often in new leaf?" She asked, voice light.

Blazefur nodded. "Oakstar's lost three lives from it in the past. And catmint gets used up quickly."

"Where do you get it from?" Nightpaw inquired, slightly intrigued.

"Well, there is a patch just outisde of Twoleg Place. I usually take a warrior, but they're all gone today. There are some hostile kittypets around there." Blazefur stepped over a bush into a large clearing. A strange tall wooden wall blocked off the Twoleg Place.

Nightpaw studied the patch in amazement. Flowers and herbs of different kinds littered the floor. She tasted the air and gagged. A strange smell filled the air.

"Twoleg scent," Blazefur whispered before trotting into the clearing. He gently used a claw to slice the stem of a green herb.

Nightpaw turned around, leaving him to his work, and tasted the air. She narrowed her eyes. There was a strange scent.

She padded closer to the edge of the clearing, tasting the air again. It smelled like... rogues.

Nightpaw pushed into the bush, looking through the twisting branches and leaves. Her eyes focused on two shapes standing by a small stream. One of them was a black and white tom. The other was a she-cat with shiny gray tabby fur. She was dipping her head to drink. Her belly looked plump. She's expecting!

Nightpaw turned around, careful not to make any loud noises. She quietly made her way to Blazefur. "Get all the catmint you need, hide it, and go get Shadeclaw and a patrol to me."

Blazefur looked up. "Why?" He whispered.

"I found the two rogues. Hurry." She told him, eyes flashing.

He nodded and placed the catmint in a grassy patch, away from view. Nightpaw gathered her courage and slowly padded into the clearing the two cats were in.

The tom immediately let out a hiss and stood in front of his mate.

"Relax. I'm not going to hurt you. What are you doing on ShadowClan territory?" Nightpaw asked calmly, sitting and curling her tail around her paws. She didn't want to seem aggressive.

The tom glared at her, voice harsh. "We know what your kind do to cats that aren't your own. Chase them out."

Nightpaw shook her head. "I give you my word. My Clan will not send away two cats seeking shelter, especially if one of them is expecting."

The ton relaxed a little, but still didn't move away from his mate. "I'm Thistle and this is Lily. We're loners."

Nightpaw nodded, smiling. "I'm Nightpaw. How are you feeling, Lily?"

Lily let out a smal squeak, then stepped forward. Nightpaw bit back a gasp. She had a long scar trailing from her ear to her tail. It covered her face and her side.

"I-I'm doing o-o-okay. But I d-don't think I can give birth alone." She whispered, avoiding Nightpaw's gaze.

Nightpaw felt her heart break for the queen. "We have a medicine cat that can help you. Would you like to come? We can offer prey and shelter."

Thistle shrugged, his claws still unsheated. "Maybe."

Nightpaw pointed with her tail at Lily's scar. "If you don't mind me asking, how did that happen?"

Lily flicked her tail, eyes shining with anxiety. "A cat did it. She found us a few days ago. Her name is Rosefeather."

Nightpaw felt shock burn through her. No wonder the wound was so noticeable! It was fresh! And Rosefeather?

"You need herbs for that!" Nightpaw warned, getting up.

At the sudden movement, Thistle moved in front of his mate again.

Nightpaw heard a rustle in the bushes and tasted the air, sighing in relief. "Those are my Clanmates. Don't be alarmed, they're here to help."

Shadeclaw and Mistflower stepped into the clearing, followed by Wolffur and Rainheart.

"Who are these cats?" Shadeclaw asked calmly.

"These are two loners that have met Rosefeather. On our territory. She attacked a queen. They need shelter, prey, and treatment." Nightpaw insisted.

Shadeclaw nodded. Shock glittered in his eyes, followed by anger and finally determination. "I agree, but Oakstar needs to approve. Let's get back to camp."

Relief shone in Thistle's eyes. Nightpaw led the two jumpy loners into the midst of the patrol. Blazefur picked up his catmint and gave Nightpaw an encouraging smile.

》》》》》》》

Shock was on every cat's face as the two loners entered camp. Oakstar, coughing, had called a Clan meeting. Nightpaw had chosen not to attend the meeting, her head still fresh with memories of that night. Sparrowwing had stayed with her in the apprentice's den, murmuring reassurance as she quietly sobbed. Sparrowwing looked up as Rainheart entered the apprentice's den.

"They can stay. And Oakstar offered them a full life in the Clan, as long as they can prove their loyalty." He reported, smiling.

Nightpaw looked up, eyes wet. Sparrowwing gave her a lick on the ear before leaving, his tail waving.

Thistle padded into the den, looking around in wonder.

"Wow, Nightpaw," he breathed, "your camp is so big! Lily is being healed." He let out a purr. "Our kits will have a good life here."

Nightpaw smiled. "I'm sure they will. Most of the Clan seems content with you here, which is surprising. They don't usually accept outsiders. But anyway, I need to talk to you."

Thistle settled himself in the nest in front of her. "Yeah?"

"Tell me about Rosefeather. Were there any cats with her? What did she say? What was she like?" Nightpaw whispered.

Thistle looked confused, but started talking anyway. "Well, Lily and I had stopped at a willow tree during a rain storm. Then she appeared, with two cats. I tried to protect Lily, but she just pushed me away like... like I was nothing. A cream she-cat pinned me down. They had a dark tom with them, too. The one pinning me down said... she said, 'Enjoying the wrath of Rosefeather?' Or something like that. Then Lily screamed. I heard her tell Lily, 'Scream your heart out. I hope they find me. I'll kill everyone of them, and you'll just be a warning.'"

Nightpaw stared at him. So Duskpaw was still with them. Where they still on the territory? And how dare she injure a queen, the evil little-

Her thoughts were cut off by Thistle. "Do you know her? Personally?"

Nightpaw avoided his gaze. "Yeah. She was my mentor before she attacked me."

Thistle nodded, sympathetic. "Lily keeps having nightmares about it. But now that she has the protection of your kind, I'm sure she'll feel safer."

Nightpaw purred. "I'm sure she will."

》》》》》》》》》

Nightpaw followed Wolffur through a dense thicket, sighing. This was her second-to-last battle assessment. And then she'd have her final set in a moon. She remembered Rainheart telling her about it. He said there was an extra test only ShadowClan had, something called the Night Battle test.

Wolffur stopped, his white fur rustling in the wind. "Step in through here, and you'll be met with a carefully designed battle. Claws sheathed. Go!"

Nightpaw rolled her eyes at him, then padded into the clearing. It seemed empty. She looked up. Trees bordered the clearing, their branches thick with leaves and hidden from sight. Her opponents were probably hiding up there.

She narrowed her eyes, deep in thought. Wolffur obviously wanted to test her intelligence. Where was the one place the cats dropping from the trees wouldn't be able to see?

Nightpaw smiled as it clicked. The tree itself was shielded by the branches. When the cats would fall, she could attack them from behind.

Nightpaw padded over to the tree, watching the rustling leaves above. A screech filled the air, and Shadeclaw dropped from above. Nightpaw silently made her way over to him, leaping on his back and pushing him to the floor.

He looked up, grinned, and flipped her over in one swift motion. Nightpaw let out a surprised yelp as he pinned her down.

Nightpaw went limp, waiting for him to lighten his grip. When he did, she exploded forward, throwing him off her. She narrowed her eyes and held her stance as he ran at her, jumping up and bringing a paw down on his tail. The agile apprentice dug her claws into the ground, trapping his tail under her pad. He grinned at her. "Okay, you passed. Good job."

Nightpaw released his tail, watching as Wolffur stepped into the clearing. "Nice. Let's get back to camp. You deserve something to eat."

Nightpaw gave her mentor a nod and ducked through the thicket.

》》》》》》》》》》

Sparrowwing pushed the thrush they had been sharing towards Nightpaw. "Here, have the rest. I'm stuffed."

Nightpaw smiled. "Alright then. More for me."

It was the half-moon, and Blazefur and Foxpaw had gone to the moonpool. Oakstar was fit enough to be left alone, and Lily was healing quickly. Nightpaw was happy to see that Thistle was going on a few hunting patrols, though she could tell that a few cats, such as Snowstripe and Addertooth, were a bit suspicious towards him.

Nightpaw finished up her thrush and got up, spotting Sunkit and his siblings in the elder's den. Her whiskers twitching with amusement, she watched as they leaped on Beethorn. The old tom batted at them, but the lumps of fur pinned him down.

She turned around to see Fawnfur smiling at her.

"Do you like the kits?" Fawnfur inquired, curling her tail around Nightpaw.

Nightpaw nodded, a bit sheepish. "They're really cute."

Fawnfur purred. "Have any... toms you like?"

Nightpaw let out an embarrassed hiss. "Mom! I'm only an apprentice!"

Fawnfur gave a mrrow of laughter. "I know, I know. I'm just teasing. So, how's Wolffur treating you?"

Nightpaw shrugged. "He's cool. I guess I can connect with him more since he's younger."

Her ears pricked as she spotted Blazefur and Foxpaw entering the camp. She rushed over to them. "Blazefur! Foxpaw! You're back!"

Blazefur purred, and Foxpaw stepped forward.

"Actually, its Foxfang now," she raised her chin high.

Nightpaw flicked her tail. "Congratulations!" Great. Now she'd be the only apprentice.

"How's Lily doing?" Blazefur asked.

"She's doing well. Oakstar, too. How close is she to birth?" Nightpaw inquired.

Foxfang shrugged. "About a moon. The nusery will be full soon!"

Nightpaw purred. ShadowClan needed more kits. Greenleaf was coming.

Nightpaw sighed happily and followed Blazefur and Foxfang into the medicine den, wanting to visit Lily.

Foxfang gave a shriek. "Oakstar!"

Blazefur rushed into the den, his movements frantic. Nightpaw followed, her heart dropping as she spotted her leader. The brown tom was breathing heavily, his eyes glazed

"StarClan... I can feel them calling me," he choked out. "Save your herbs, Blazefur. Tell Leaftail I love her..." He closed his eyes. The great ShadowClan leader had gone to join StarClan.