I awoke to the light of the sun shining on my face. I stretched an opened my eyes to find the den empty. My eyes widened in surprised and I jumped to my paws. Where were the other apprentices? Well, there was one apprentice in the den. It was Splashpaw, but I didn't want to wake the apprentice. Instead I padded out of the den to find Cloverpaw walking into camp with a mouth full of freshkill.

"Cloverpaw!" I called and bounded over to my sister. "Why didn't you wake me? I could get behind on my training and then I won't become a warrior until after you and Brindlepaw!"

"Woah woah woah, slow down. It's only sunhigh."

"Yes but I should have been up earlier. Where's Skybranch? Weren't we supposed to train again today?" I started to panic.

Cloverpaw rolled her eyes and rested her tail on me. "It's okay. Pinepaw knew you were up late last night on the dusk patrol. He talked to Skybranch and they made sure no one woke you up. You can't be awake all the time, you know."

I blinked in surprise. "Pinepaw made sure I wasn't woken up?"

Cloverpaw nodded. "I told you, he really does care about you."

I shook my head. "It's too early for it to mean anything. I've only been an apprentice for a half moon! Besides, he's probably going to become a warrior in the next moon or so. Then we'll be apart again."

Cloverpaw looked at me. "Whatever you say, Lavenderpaw."

I stood up. "Well, I'd better go find Skybranch. Do you know where she is?"

Cloverpaw shook her head. "But I don't really have anything to do for the rest of the day besides a hunting patrol at sunset. I could help you look."

I nodded. "Thanks."

We padded out of camp but I ended up stumbling into someone. I looked in surprise to see two familiar green eyes. I stepped back and my fur heated up.

"Oh, hey, you're awake." Pinepaw said and stepped back as well.

"Do you know where Skybranch is? We were looking for her." Cloverpaw stepped in to save her sister from the embarrassment.

Pinepaw nodded. "I was just training with her and Shadowpounce. Shadowpounce sent me back to camp while she hunted. I think Heronstream is with Skybranch back in the training grounds. Come on, we can go there together."

Lavenderpaw nodded and padded after the older apprentice. Cloverpaw was right beside her.

"So, Cloverpaw tells me you made sure no one woke me up." I said casually.

Pinepaw's pace faltered a bit. "Uh, yeah . . . I knew you would be tired after the patrol last night and I didn't want you falling asleep during training or anything . . ."

I nodded. "Thanks, I really appreciated it." I said with a smile.

Pinepaw sighed and slowed some to pad beside me. "You're welcome." He said and tried to meet my eyes.

I looked into his eyes and smiled. Something unfamiliar stirred inside me. Maybe it was just the thrill of the moment or the fact that I was with the two cats I trusted the most. I couldn't be falling in love, not for Pinepaw. We lived and slept together even as kits. So what is so different now?

I heard something and broke our gaze to look ahead. I could see the sun shining through part of the training grounds and smiled when I saw familiar silver fur. I slowed to a stop and heard Pinepaw and Cloverpaw do the same.

Skybranch leaped over the brown and white tabby tom. Heronstream used his paws to knock the she-cat out of the air. Skybranch was knocked to the ground but leaped up anyway. She timed the move wrong though, and landed short. Heronstream barreled into the silver she-cat and the tussle ended with the tom standing over my mentor. Skybranch laughed and said something at which Heronstream nuzzled her cheek.

Cloverpaw bounded over to them with a smile. "Woah, I want to learn to fight like that!" She said.

The two warriors jumped at the sound of Cloverpaw and Heronstream got off of Skybranch. "It takes a lot of practice." Heronstream said with a chuckle."

"Do you think I could beat you in a fight, Heronstream?" Pinepaw asked and padded up to the warrior. "I've been practicing my moves a lot."

Heronstream crouched down. "I don't know. How many moons until you're a warrior again?" He asked with a challenge in his voice.

Pinepaw growled and leaped at the warrior. I smiled at their mock battle and walked over to Skybranch.

"Sorry it took me so long to wake up, but I'm awake now." I said.

Skybranch smiled down at me. "Don't worry, we all have days like that. Days when we need to sleep in. You've been working pretty hard this last half moon, you needed some rest."

I nodded. "Yeah, I guess. But I know I still have a lot to learn!"

Skybranch stood up. "Well, how about you and I have a little mock fight of our own? That way I can see where you may need to improve and how far you've come."

"Like an assessment?" I questioned. What if I wasn't ready?

"Sort of. Just don't feel too pressured, it's basically a practice assessment. You've only been an apprentice for half a moon, I don't expect you to take me down easily." Skybranch reassured me.

I nodded, determined now. "Let's do it." I answered.

Before I had time to prepare myself, Skybranch launched herself at me. I just barely had time to duck under her but I wasn't able to kick her away. I spun around to face my mentor but she wasn't there. Suddenly, a shadow flashed past me. Then again. Each time the shadow went by, I felt a sharp jab in my side.

Then I realized what Skybranch was doing. She was using the shadows to her advantage! I had to keep all my senses alert. The next time the shadow dashed by, I was able to jump out of the way. Skybranch stumbled, not expecting me to dodge.

I ran at her and leaped onto her back. My mentor fell to the ground but was able to fling me off. I was knocked to the ground and I gasped. My paw hurt, but I was not about to give in. I stalked Skybranch, trying not to since from the pain pulsing in my paw. The silver she-cat ran at me and I jumped, but not high enough. She pushed me to the ground from the air and I panted.

"You've gotten better, but not good enough." She eyed my hurt paw.

I laughed nervously. "It's just sprained." I said and Skybranch got off me. As soon as she did, Pinepaw raced over to me. "Lavenderpaw, are you okay? I heard you gasp in pain during your battle." He said worriedly.

I nodded. "I'm fine." I reassured him.

Cloverpaw smiled and winked at me and I smiled, shaking my head.

"Well, I think you should go back to camp and let Berrycloud and Mosspaw take a look at it." Skybranch said.

I shook my head. "I'm already behind from sleeping so late. At least let me catch some prey first." I said maybe a little too boldly.

Skybranch eyed me but nodded. "Very well, but only if you take Pinepaw and Cloverpaw with you."

I smiled, there was no one else I would rather hunt with when I had a sprained paw. "Thank you, Skybranch." I thanked her and started in the direction opposite of camp. I didn't want to get caught by a patrol and get told to return to camp yet. I had to prove I could still hunt, even through pain.

Pinepaw and Cloverpaw padded on either side of me. I tried not to limp, but it still showed. Pinepaw started to suggest that maybe we should head back to camp but I stopped him with a flick of my tail. I stopped, eyes intent on a bush about a fox-langth away.

I stalked slowly towards the bush and when I was close enough, I leaped. The raven flapped its wings and took to the sky. My claws barely snagged it's wing and I fell heavily to the ground - on my sprained paw.

I groaned and both Pinepaw and Cloverpaw raced to my side. They asked if I was okay and I tried to stand. I could stand, but I could barely put any weight on my right forepaw. Great, now how was I going to explain this to Skybranch? I winced when I put pressure on it.

"Let's head back to camp." Cloverpaw said.

"But-" I started to protest.

"No. You need to treat your paw before you hurt yourself even more." My sister said.

I sighed and nodded. I was just about to limp back to camp when I smelled something that burned my nose.

"Wait, are we really that close to the thunderpath?" I asked.

Pinepaw nodded but then froze. Cloverpaw and I did too, eyes fixed ahead. An unfamiliar scent hit me. What was that smell . . . ?

"Twoleg, run!" Pinepaw exclaimed but forgot about my hurt paw. I stumbled and fell, but got up again. The twoleg was a male, and he approached us with outstretched paws.

"I can't run!" I exclaimed and started limping.

Pinepaw hissed at the twoleg and swiped at its legs. The twoleg grabbed the tom with his paws but Pinepaw recoiled and slipped away.

"Let's go!" He tried to hurry me but i couldn't go very far with only three workable legs.

I felt something wrap around me and I let out a howl of terror. The twoleg grabbed me in his arms and walked through the trees. I tried to squirm out of his grasp but I knocked my hurt paw against a tree.

Pinepaw and Cloverpaw raced after me. I saw that we were approaching a monster stopped on the side of the thunderpath and my eyes widened in horror.

"No! Let me go! Cloverpaw! Pinepaw!" I exclaimed with fright.

The twoleg put me in something made of hard silver sticks in the tail of the monster. I tried to get out but I was trapped!

"Help! No! Please!" I yowled.

I saw Pinepaw and Cloverpaw race over to the twoleg but ran into the monster when the twoleg closed itself inside the monster.

The monster roared to life and tears sprung to my eyes. Pinepaw tried to jump up into the tail of the monster but the thing had already started to move. The tom hadn't jumped far enough, and just fell short.

Tears streamed down my face as I watched Cloverpaw and Pinepaw grow farther and farther away, until I couldn't see them anymore.

Shadeclan.

My family.

Pinepaw.

I would never see them again.

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//Word count: 1819//