Willowpaw was sat in the elder's den, removing ticks from the elders. 
             "You know, I was there, when Mintspot gave birth," Antpelt said thoughtfully. He was sprawled on the otherside of the den, watching Willowpaw carefully. Willowpaw didn't answer. The job was tedious, boring and it stunk. 
              "We both were," said Russetstorm, moving to her side and making Willowpaw lose sight of a tick. She almost sighed out in exasperation. 
              "You should be happy you weren't taken away. Like Stormkit," Antpelt said. "It was a terrible night, that night. You both should have been born in the warmth of the nursery. But I guess that's how battles are." Still, Willowpaw didn't say anything. 
              "you don't talk much," Russetstorm commented. "I know this is a tedious job, but it would be better if you talked." Willowpaw didn't answer, she didn't know what to say. All Willowpaw could think about was her mother. She knew why Mintspot hated her now. Why Mintspot never paid enough attention to her. Why Mintspot loved Stormkit more than her. It was because she was the reason why Mintspot could never be a warrior again. 
              "Do you miss Stormkit?" asked Antpelt. Miss Stormkit? Willowpaw didn't even know Stormkit. He was just an idea, a character formed in her mind to fill in the question mark that was Stormkit. 
             "No. I don't miss him. Just the idea of what it would be like with him," answered Willowpaw finally, telling herself talking wouldn't make anything worst at this point. 
              "Ah finally!" said Antpelt. "She talks." 
              "Hey, it's a sensitive subject," Russetstorm gave Antpelt a firm look. 
              "Sorry," he mumbled. 
              "So is Mintspot still you know-..., devastated over it? The loss of Stormkit I mean," inquired Russetstorm. 
             "Yeah," said Willowpaw. Mintspot was. Willowpaw didn't think anything would ever make it better. Mintspot would never truly be happy again. Not unless she had Stormkit back. 
             "Hmm...," Antpelt sighed. "I've seen how she treats you. She seems distant. You must know, that she does love you. She just doesn't show it. I think it's because she thinks that if she does show that she loves you, maybe it would be a sort of betrayal to Stormkit." Willowpaw shrugged. She knew why Mintspot didn't show her love. It was because of Willowpaw. Willowpaw had made Mintspot lose the use of her leg. That's why Mintspot wished she had been taken away instead of Stormkit. Her first born. The best kit. 
              "You've grown into quite a beautiful young cat," smiled Russetstorm, changing the tone of the conversation. Willowpaw didn't know how to react to that. Nobody had ever called her pretty. Not her father. Definitely not her mother. Not even Acornpaw. 
               "T-thanks," stammered Willowpaw, finding herself smiling. 
               "Yes," agreed Antpelt. "You are. So how is your training going? Brownclaw is your mentor. He's a great warrior, you are very fortunate." Willowpaw nodded, scrunching her nose as she found another tick. 
               "How long are you not able to leave camp for?" asked Russetstorm. 
               "Half a moon," answered Willowpaw. 
                "Hmmm. That's a long time," Antpelt said. 
                "Yeah," Willowpaw shrugged. She couldn't wait for night to come. Acornpaw would teach her everything he had learnt that day. She ached to practise with him. 
                "I can see your mind is somewhere else," Russetstorm said finally. "You missed this tick." Russetstorm pried a tick away from her. 
              "Sorry," mumbled Willowpaw. 
              "It's ok. Let's say you're done here alright?" Russetstorm said gently. "Don't tell anybody though." 
              "Thanks," smiled Willowpaw. She clamped down on the mouse bile and trotted to the front of the den. 
              "Nice to talk to you," called Antpelt. 
              "See you tomorrow," added Russetstorm with a small wink. 
              "See you," replied Willowpaw before trotting out of the den. It was early evening and Acornpaw was not back yet. Only Whitepaw and Dovepaw were in and they were jumping with excitement in the apprentice den. Willowpaw turned away, she did not want to interact with them. Instead, she headed for the nursery. She didn't know why. As she slipped inside, the familiar smell wafted into her nose. The soft sand under her paws gave her a feeling of safety. The nursery was empty as there were no kits in the Clan, although the Clan was murmuring that Moosetail and Spottedcall may be having kits soon. Then Willowpaw heard the familiar voice of Acornpaw. She burst out of the nursery and spotted Acornpaw talking to his mentor by the entrance. She hesitated a moment but finally Acornpaw turned away and saw Willowpaw, a smile lighting his face. He joined her. 
              "Hey, how was your day?" he asked. 
               "Good," replied Willowpaw automatically. Acornpaw raised his eyebrows. 
               "Well, as good as it gets," Willowpaw corrected herself. Acornpaw laughed. 
               "I've got so much to show you. But first, I'm starving!" Acornpaw exclaimed. Willowpaw and Acornpaw shared a large crow as Acornpaw explained everything he had done that day. 
               "I trained with Snailpaw. We fought a bit. Of course, I destroyed him!" Acornpaw said. "We learnt soo many new moves. I've got to show you this one. It's quite hard but I'm sure you'll get it in no time. It' s really cool and effective. And I also managed to perfect the back kick. Do you know how to do it?"
               "Well..., we tried it. But I'm not that good," Willowpaw replied. 
               "Oh well, I'll teach it to you. I'm sure you'll get it," encouraged Acornpaw. Willowpaw loved to see Acornpaw's perpetual happiness. It was like he was a ball of joy. He always wanted to chat or play. He was so enthusiastic about life. Willowpaw didn't know how he did it but she admired him. She wished she would be as happy as him one day but it was like a dark cloud seemed to be following her everywhere she went, casting depression, dark thoughts and bad luck at her. Later that night, when all the cats had retired to their nests, Acornpaw and Willowpaw stood under the cover of some trees. Acornpaw had succesfully taught Willowpaw a new move and they were now practising the back kick. 
              " Try again. Be more confident and faster," Acornpaw urged. Willowpaw nodded, getting ready. She lashed out, pressing her weight on her front paws and kicking Acornpaw with her back legs. Acornpaw tumbled to the ground and leapt back up, a wide grin on his face. 
               "That was awesome! Again!" he cried. Willowpaw sighed in relief, glad that he was alright. 
              "Haha. Thanks!" she grinned. She tried it once more. Then again. They did over and over again until Willowpaw could do it instinctively. They finally collapsed on the ground, breathing hard. But they were both smiling widely as they stared up at the star filled sky. 
               "That's StarClan," said Acornpaw. "Watching over us." Willowpaw doubted that StarClan was watching over but she couldn't deny the great vastness of the sky. It was majestic. Beautiful. Breathtaking. It stretched on forever. Willowpaw wondered if anybody else was watching the sky, somewhere far away in the world. She wondered if they could see the same, twinkling stars as her. The same great dark sky above. 
                 "I haven't watched the stars like this before," Acornpaw said softly. 
                 "Me neither," Willowpaw agreed. She had never stayed up this late to watch the stars. They were truly breathtaking. The sky was bigger than anything she could ever wrap her mind around. It was a beautiful deep carpet of twinkling colours. 
                 "I like it. Especially with you," Acornpaw said almost too softly. 
                  "Me too," Willowpaw beamed truthfully.  Willowpaw wondered if anybody else was watching the sky, somewhere far away in the world. She wondered if they could see the same, twinkling stars as her. The same great dark sky above.