(Cat above is Coalfoot)

Petalpaw smiled as she and Tabbystripe padded back to camp, holding two mice and a squirrel in her jaw. The two had been out hunting all morning, making several trips to bring back their catches.

"Thanks for asking me to hunt with you." Petalpaw mewed.

"Well we haven't seen each other much since I became a warrior." Tabbystripe replied.

Petalpaw playfully nudged her friend. "But one day I'll be a warrior and then we can do our warrior duties together."

"And I can't wait for it." Tabbystripe mewed.

"Me either." Petalpaw agreed.

The two slipped through the gorse tunnel and was met with a gathered clan. They dropped off their final catches and took their spots amongst their clan. Gorsestar sat at the base of the Highrock with Ashwhisper sitting a little ways behind him.

"What do you think this is about?" Tabbystripe whispered.

"I don't know." Petalpaw lied. She had a pretty good idea what this meeting was about; Marshpaw.

"I've called this meeting on an important matter." Gorsestar began. "Coalfoot has requested to no longer be a mentor-"

"WHAT?!" Came an outraged cry.  Petalpaw looked and saw Marshpaw on all fours, his fur bristling.

"What do you mean?!" Marshpaw exclaimed. "He's my mentor!"

"Not anymore!" Coalfoot growled, getting muzzle to muzzle with Marshpaw. "I refuse to train an arrogant, boastful, inconsiderate mousebrained cat like you!"

Several gasps and alarmed mews rippled through the clearing. Marshpaw took a step back from the black tom, his eyes showing slight hurt that was clouded by shock and anger. Coalfoot stepped back and retrok his spot beside Hawkflight.

Gorsestar stepped forward. "Coalfoot, from this moment on you are no longer mentor to Marshpaw." He flicked his tail and Petalpaw noticed Appleshade step up. "Marshpaw, your new mentor will be Appleshade."

Marshpaw grumbled under his breath then reached up to touch noses with his new mentor. Gorsestar flicked his tail, dismissing the clan. Petalpaw watched as Appleshade lead Marshpaw to a part of the clearing and began talking to him. She knew Marshpaw would definitely get straightened out now. Appleshade was a good warrior and mentor but he was really strict. Hopefully he knock some sense and dignity into Marshpaw.

"Poor Marshpaw." Tabbystripe meowed from beside her.

Petalpaw couldn't tell if he was serious or joking. It's Marshpaw's own fault he lost his mentor. Not every cat can put up with him like Meadowlight does.

Still she couldn't help but feel a slight bit of sympathy for her brother as she watched him leave camp with his new mentor.

*

*

*

White clouds drifted across the sky. Petalpaw padded beside Ravenfeather, with Whitepath in the lead and Tabbystripe bringing up the rear. A couple of days had passed since Marshpaw's reassignment ceremony. Petalpaw had noticed him looking fairly happy whem he came back from training sessions. Maybe he's actually getting along with Appleshade.

As they trekked through the forest, Petalpaw turned her head around, flashing a smile at Tabbystripe. The light tabby returned the smile, his yellow eyes shining like the sun.

Suddenly, Whitepath stopped and opened his jaw to taste the air. Then he let out a low growl. The patrol followed his gaze and they spotted a cat emerge from a bush. He was the largest cat Petalpaw had ever seen. His bright yellow pelt made him stand out, his sharp amber eyes narrowed at them. Within a heartbeat it was joined by another, then a third and a fourth.

Whitepath approached them the patrol behind him. "Greetings. We mean you no harm but you are trespassing on ThunderClan territory. I must ask you to leave."

The yellow tom flicked his tail. "We mean you no harm either. We're just passing through. I'm sure the forest is big enough for four more cats."

Petalpaw shuddered as he spoke. His voice was smooth and deep, like thunder. She looked down and noticed his claws. They were sharp, long and hooked like a hawk's talons. She didn't want it to show but this strange cat terrified her.

"It maybe," Whitepath retorted. "but that doesn't mean it needs four more cats. So I'll say it again, leave our territory."

"No need to get your fur ruffled." The yellow tom mewed. "Who says we can't just pass by for a visit into the forest?"

"Your visit has gone on long enough." Ravenfeather meowed.

"Leave our territory." Whitepath growled again. "Now."

The yellow tom looked behind him at his cats. The three other gave him slow nods of approval. The yellow looked back at the patrol and smiled, bareing his teeth. Petalpaw began shaking under her pelt. Just like his claws, the toms's fangs were long and curved, their ends sharp as thorns. The toms next words sent a wave of terror over Petalpaw.

"On second thought, we do mean you harm."