It had been a few sunrises after Mosspaw had realized that he had feelings for Fernpaw. He hung out with her more and more everyday. They were best friends, and Fernpaw was the only one that Mosspaw accepted since nearly everyone seemed to hate Mosspaw's guts. But Fernpaw would be a warrior soon, and Mosspaw was scared what would happen when that day did fall upon him.

            Mosspaw stretched and padded out of the den, nearly running into the Reedpaw.

            "Sorry, Reedpaw," Mosspaw said.

            The newly apprentice smiled and padded off with his mentor.

            Mosspaw looked up, noticing Cindertail padding around with her mate, Yarrowwhisker. A deep growl raged in Mosspaw's throat. He despised his half-siblings to a great extent, even more now after they had told the truth.

            "Mosspaw!" Fernpaw's sweet tone distracted him.

            Mosspaw turned away from his half-sister and turned towards Fernpaw. "Hey," he said smiling. "Are we going hunting?"

            "Actually, I came here to tell you that we won't be able to go hunting anymore with our mentors."

            Mosspaw was in utter shock. What did she mean? "W-what? Why?"

            "I need to focus on my training. I'm going to be a warrior in less than a moon. It's really important, and I'm really sorry. I'll make it up to you. How about a moonlight stroll tonight?"

            Mosspaw tried to ignore the pang of sadness that surged through his veins. "S-sure. That'll be fine," he said with the best positive tone he could make.

            Fernpaw smiled and padded off with Waterdrop while Mosspaw stood, waiting for Smokestar to finish up talking to Cloudfur.

            "Are you ready?" Smokestar asked.

            Mosspaw nodded.

            "Where's Fernpaw?" Smokestar asked.

            "She's focusing on training right now since she'll be a warrior soon," Mosspaw explained.

            "Ah, well it's for the best then. I guess that gives us more one-on-one time. We'll practice some fighting moves today," the spotted tom said.

            Even the news of fighting moves did not cheer Mosspaw up. He didn't want Fernpaw to become a warrior so soon. He wanted her to train by him until Mosspaw was a warrior too. But he knew not everything stayed the same, and Fernpaw would still hang out with him. Things wouldn't be too bad, or so he thought.

            Mosspaw and Smokestar padded into the forest, the warm green-leaf sun shining down on the thick-furred toms.

            "What fighting moves will we learn?" Mosspaw asked.

            "Important ones," Smokestar said. "I feel that there is a battle coming soon, so we must be prepared."

            "Against who?" Mosspaw asked.

            "NightClan," Smokestar growled. "But that isn't important. We need to focus. We've already done dodging and pinning down. How about side-tackles?"

            "Alright," Mosspaw said.

            "Try to tackle me," Smokestar said. "Sheathe your claws though. I don't want to be in the medicine cat den all afternoon."

            "I will," Mosspaw laughed. He suddenly sprang at Smokestar, but Smokestar had experience, and he leapt away right as Mosspaw landed on the ground.

            "Ouch," Mosspaw groaned, getting up from the dirt floor.

            "Quicker," Smokestar said.

            Mosspaw nodded and launched again, only being able to hit Smokestar's hind leg. But this did not do much though, and Smokestar was still able to run off.

            "Try a sneak attack," Smokestar said. Without warning, he had leapt into the air and knocked Mosspaw onto the ground. "Like that."

            Mosspaw groaned and stretched his sore muscles. He kept his eyes fixed on Smokestar and his movement. If Smokestar moved by the time he landed, then Mosspaw should wait until he was distracted.

            Mosspaw closed his eyes, then leapt, rolling into the large tom and knocking him to the ground. "How was that?" Mosspaw asked.

            "Fantastic!" Smokestar exclaimed. "You're doing very well, Mosspaw. I'm glad you're my new apprentice."

            Mosspaw smiled. Was this what it was like to finally be accepted? "Thanks," he replied. "And...I'm glad to have you as my mentor."

            Smokestar smiled. "Well, let's continue to work on the tackling."

            And so they did. The two worked late into the orange sky, and when pink clouds stretched across and Mosspaw's stomach was about to die from hunger, they headed back to camp.

            Fernpaw as already waiting for Mosspaw with a robin which she pushed to him.

            "Thanks," Mosspaw said. "I am starving!"

            "Long day, huh?" Fernpaw asked.

            Mosspaw nodded, biting into the delicious bird. "How was your training?" he asked.

            "Good," Fernpaw replied. "I totally surprised Waterdrop with my fighting moves. I can't wait until I'm actually a warrior!"

            "Me too," Mosspaw said quietly. "Have you had anything to eat?"

            "Moons ago," Fernpaw laughed. "You went really late with Smokestar. Cloudfur was beginning to worry."

            "It was just a lot of training," Mosspaw said. "I learned a lot of valuable fighting moves. Maybe I'll get to use them soon."

            "For what?" Fernpaw asked.

            "Oh, uh." Mosspaw didn't know what to say. Should he tell Fernpaw of Smokestar's feeling of an upcoming battle with NightClan? "On you!" Mosspaw laughed, springing at Fernpaw.

            Fernpaw fell into the fresh-kill pile, meat getting stuck in her fur. "Hey! Your turn!" she laughed, tossing Mosspaw into the pile.

            "Will you kits get out of our food?!" Ashclaw growled.

            "Sorry, we were just having fun," Fernpaw said.

            "Some of us want to eat you know," Ashclaw argued.

            Mosspaw didn't speak, but just growled at the tom. He then got up and shook the meat out of his fur, a piece of rabbit landing on Ashclaw. Mosspaw laughed to himself as the tom shrieked.

            "Moonlight walk now?" Mosspaw asked Fernpaw.

            The she-cat nodded. "I think right now is a good time," she said, rushing with him quickly out of camp and into the forest.

            As they walked, Mosspaw gazed up at the stars, smiling at how many there were and how bright they shone.

            "You should've seen them at the top of a mountain," Mosspaw told Fernpaw. "They were absolutely beautiful."

            "You've gone to the mountains?!" Fernpaw gasped.

            "How do you think I got here?" Mosspaw laughed. They suddenly locked eyes, but Fernpaw turned away. With a smile, Mosspaw tagged with his paw. "Tag!"

            "Oh no you don't!" Fernpaw laughed. The two raced through the forest, their laughter filling the nighttime air. Crickets chirped and owls hooted around them, and Mosspaw felt happy.

            As his pace slowed, he collapsed into the grass, listening to the green-leaf sounds. Fernpaw collapsed next to him, touching him with her paw. "Tag," she whispered.

            Mosspaw laughed and gazed at the stars once more. He remembered how Snakekit would sit here with him and do this. But Snakekit wasn't with him anymore. She was in the stars as was his parents. But it was okay because Fernpaw was next to him now and he couldn't be any happier.

            "Didn't you say you traveled with another cat?" Fernpaw asked.          

            "Yeah," Mosspaw sighed, thinking of Snakekit. "She was my best friend. But that doesn't matter anymore because it's just you and me and the forest."

            Fernpaw smiled and licked the tom's cheek.

            Mosspaw felt a mixture of love and excitement at her small gesture. With a wide grin on his face, he poked the she-cat. "Tag!" he laughed.

            And the two continued to run and play through the night in the everlasting woods. Mosspaw never wanted the night to end.