At sun-high, the three returned to the grassy clearing where their mentors waited. Even after a few unsuccessful tries (and running into some trees), Rainpaw still managed to come out with two mice, which was a great accomplishment. The apprentice was extremely proud of herself until she saw Hopepaw set down two mice and two squirrels.

    Rainpaw huffed in defeat and turned to Sunpaw to see what she caught. Surprisingly, she only caught one squirrel. Sure, Sunpaw wasn't the best hunter in the clan, but she was certainly much better than Rainpaw.

    "Alright, looks like we have a winner!" Stormfire meowed, tearing her from her in thoughts. He flicked his tail in Hopepaw's direction.

    Hopepaw's face lit up and she proudly lifted her head and tail.

    "I thought you said you'd go easy on me." Rainpaw joked, turning to her sister.

    Hopepaw rolled her eyes. "I haven't eaten yet. I'm not waiting for you slowpokes." Although Hopepaw was one hundred percent follow-the-clan-rules, she was extremely impatient and sarcastic.

    "Alright, let's head back. Hopepaw-" The apprentice looked up at Stormfire."-As promised, you get first pick."

     She smiled and picked up her prey with her eyes bright. The apprentice walked past the other two with Spottedoak by her side and Blackfrost next to the tortoiseshell's.

    "Show off." Rainpaw muttered under her breath.

    "Hm? Did you say something Rainpaw?" Hopepaw asked. She set her prey down and looked to her sister with expectant eyes. Although she couldn't see it, she could tell Spottedoak was rolling her eyes as she continued on without her apprentice. Blackfrost only chuckled and shook his head as he continued his conversation with Spottedoak. All three mentors were used to the bickering by now.

    "Nope. Nothing." Rainpaw smirked. She had gotten good at defending herself against her sister. A valuable trait to have, because this one could be feisty.

    "Right, right. Of course." The she-cat purred sarcastically. She picked up her prey and continued her proud walk into the oak forest and towards the camp.

    Rainpaw couldn't help but snicker when her sister turned her back. She looked to Sunpaw, expecting to see the same reaction from her. The bright she-cat usually found amusement in her sister's quarrels.

    "That was clos-" She stopped herself.

     Sunpaw was no longer next to her. She snapped her head up to see her trailing after Hopepaw with her head down and tail dragging. She soon disappeared into the slowly dying shrubbery without a sound.

    The tabby almost didn't notice when Stormfire flicked her on the shoulder with his tail. "You coming, slacker?" He joked, smiling.

    Rainpaw snapped out of her thoughts and rolled her eyes. "Yeah yeah, I'm coming."

    She climbed to her paws and bent down to grab her two mice. She stopped to look for Sunpaw's squirrel, noticing she didn't have it with her. Sure enough, it laid on the ground a few tail-lengths away.

     Rainpaw picked up her own catch and padded over to pick up her sister's. For a squirrel, it was extremely small. It didn't look that healthy.

    Nevertheless, her sister worked hard to catch it, so she'd bring it.

    The apprentice brought it into her jaws and ran after Stormfire, who was waiting at the edge of the clearing for her.

•

•

•

    On the way back, Rainpaw took the time to look at her surroundings. The sky was a beautiful bright blue, and not a single cloud was to be seen. Light breezes ruffled the tops of the trees that were starting to get the red tint of leaf-fall. She looked down and noticed the acorns that littered the ground with the leaves and settled into the soft yellowing grass.

    DuskClan territory was truly beautiful.

    By the time the duo reached the cave that was the camp, Hopepaw was half way through a vole and in a conversation with Hawkpaw.

    She blinked a few times, letting her eyes adjust to the darkness. When they focused, she noticed how close the two were sitting.

    Rainpaw rolled her eyes. Any time they could be, the two were always together, making lovey-dovey eyes at each other and standing so close. It made her want to be sick. Unlike her sister, she planned on being pretty much alone for the rest of her life. The tabby didn't hang around with toms that much. In fact, she didn't hang around anyone that much. Not even she-cats. Maybe she was just anti-social.

    Rainpaw tore her eyes from the lovebirds and gazed around the cave. All of the morning patrols and training sessions were back and sharing tongues. Thinking of her own pelt, she looked down and sighed. Her fur was all ruffled and stuck out at awkward angles. The apprentice doesn't remember the last time she groomed herself.

    Stormfire had wandered away, more than likely to visit his mate and kits in the nursery.

    Rainpaw brought both her and her sisters prey back to the fresh-kill pile. Speaking of Sunpaw, where was she?

    She set one of the mice and the squirrel down with the rest of the fresh-kill and searched the cave once again. Apprentices and warriors alike gossiped and laughed. But no sign of Sunpaw.

    Rainpaw shook her head and started to groom her fur, pushing it back down to a sleeker state so she looked presentable.

    "Rainpaw?"

    The apprentice looked up to see the silver tabby pelt of her mother.

    "Yeah?" She asked, getting into a more comfortable sitting position.

    "Have you talked to Sunpaw yet?"

    Rainpaw sighed. "She keeps avoiding me. I haven't gotten the chance."

   "Oh." Ivyleaf meows. She looks up and around the cave. "Where is she now?"

    "Not sure. I haven't seen her since training."

    "Hm." Her mother stopped for a moment and glanced over the cave again. "If you see her, send her to me."

    Rainpaw nodded. "Okay, will do."

    The silver tabby cleared her throat and tilted her head to the side. A classic Ivyleaf gesture. "On another note, how was training?"

    "We had a hunting competition. Hopepaw won. Again." She meowed, flicking her tail.

    Ivyleaf chuckled. "Well, you have battle skills in what she has in hunting skills."

    "Wha-"

    "That's right. I've watched you train before." Her mother purred. "You're amazing. So don't let this hunting thing get to you."

    Rainpaw stood up a little straighter at her mother's complement. "Right."

    "That's the spirit that I like to see!" She meowed, standing up. "Well, I'll let you eat your meal. I'll see if I can find your sister."

    "Okay." Rainpaw smiled.

    Ivyleaf nodded and padded away, leaving Rainpaw by herself. She looked down at the mouse between her paws hungrily and took a huge bite.

    She took the time to think. To think about Sunpaw, think about Red, think about everything.

   The apprentice wondered if Red would bring her back to the cruel forest tonight. She still had an off feeling about the torn up she-cat.

    She couldn't help but wonder if the Sunpaw thing and Red were connected.

    Rainpaw shook her head quickly. There's no way that Sunpaw would even go near a cat like Red. One look at those merciless eyes and she would be running the opposite way with her tail between her legs. Although, Sunpaw did start acting weird when she met Red.

    She needed to get these thoughts out of her head. There was no way.

    ...Right?
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I apologize for the lack of updates... With school having started about two months ago I just never found the time.

Please leave comments and constructive criticism below! Thank you!