Stormpaw lifted his hunches and I did the same.

Sunmist criticised, prodding me, "Mistypaw, you have to be able to balance!"

Tigerpearl told Stormpaw, "Remember what I taught you; watch what fighting trick she favours most and find her weak spot!"

The couple stepped back, "Come on! Start when you're- "

I jumped at Stormpaw but he skidded away from me, rearing onto his hind legs and batting at my exposed underbelly. But his blows didn't land as I twist away from him in midair and landed nearby.

 I noticed that he watched me carefully so I feigned an attack to the right and when he dodged in the opposite direction, I pounced towards the left, crashing into him. We rolled around, each trying to achieve the upper paw. 

Finally, Stormpaw pinned me to the ground and I raised my hind legs, batting him off. Immediately, I pounced on him, holding him down as I cuffed his ears sharply. He fell limp for a second and my grip loosened, thinking I'd won. 

Then he suddenly brought his rear legs up and kicked me away. I flailed in the air, trying to regain my balance and landing on my side. Stormpaw rushed towards me for the final blow and when he was nearly on me, I reared up and sent him crashing to the ground before jumping on him once again.

Sunmist exclaimed, "All right! Good job, both of you."

I got off him as Stormpaw stood up, purring, "Nice, Mistypaw."

Surprised, I agreed readily, "Thanks. You were awesome as well. I liked how you faked defeat."

We walked off, pelts brushing lightly in a mutual friendship that warmed me to the heart. As we reached the main clearing, I headed for the fresh-kill pile and Lilypaw bounced towards me, all fluffed up and eager to chat.

I nodded at her, "Feel free to join me at the fresh-kill pile." I glanced expectantly at Stormpaw, "You can come too."

He shook his head and I tried to not let my disappointment show, "No, it's fine. I need to talk to Tigerpearl."

He walked away, picking up a squirrel as he did. Lilypaw picked out a plump thrush, "Here, have some. I can't finish it all by myself."

I blinked gratefully at her and crouched down to take a bite. Suddenly, a jet black she-cat bounced up to us, "Hi!"

I lifted my head, chewing, "Hi, Nightpaw."

I didn't know what I felt about this fellow apprentice yet. She'd been found a few days after I was and it was very likely that we were related in some way. One moon older than me, she'd hung out with Eaglepaw and Treepaw when we were still kits. 

They never paid attention to us younger kits. 

She was outgoing and always had a quick remark. She was also known to rush quickly into fights. 

As Nightpaw scooped out a mouse, she nudged me, "Soo, you like Stormpaw?"

My pelt unconsciously ruffled and my tail spiked up. Stormpaw was like a brother to me. But did I like him in a more intimate way?

Trying to seem nonchalant, I shrugged, "He's a great fighting partner. That's all."

Nightpaw sighed, "Yeah, well he's not as good a climber as Treepaw."

I stared at her, "Do you like HIM?"

She tilted her head at me, "What if I do?"

I rolled my eyes disdainfully, "He's so arrogant, that's all."

Nightpaw countered, "He's got ambitions, unlike Stormpaw! I swear, that cat's always thinking about how good someone else is."

I protested, "There's nothing wrong with that, though. You wouldn't want someone like Tigerstar, would you?"

Swiftly ignoring me, Nightpaw looked to Lilypaw, "What about you? Who do you like?"

Lilypaw seemed startled, as if she didn't think she'd have to contribute in this conversation, "No one. I don't like any tom."

I suggested, "Maybe you'll like someone when you grow up."

Lilypaw shook her head, "I don't think I will."

Nightpaw narrowed her eyes, "Are you sure? What about Eaglepaw? He certainly seems like he likes you!"

Lilypaw looked embarrassed, "No, no. I only think of him as a friend. He thinks the same of me."

Nightpaw let out a long sigh, stood up, shook her pelt and walked away, "Whatever. You guys are so boring."

I stood up as well, "I think I'm full. I'll go ask around if we can go hunting."

Lilypaw nodded and resumed eating her part of the thrush, seeming slightly crestfallen. Regret itched my paws. I hadn't really listened to her today. It didn't matter, I reassured myself. There was always tomorrow. 

I looked around the clearing.

 Eaglepaw and Treepaw were cleaning the elder's den and I didn't want to bring Nightpaw. My mentor had just finished eating and was talking to Tigerpearl. 

Tigerpearl! 

If Tigerpearl was with Sunmist, where was Stormpaw? 

I looked around and suddenly I saw him, walking across to me, "Mistypaw."

I pricked my ears, "Stormpaw, what is it?"

He seemed eager, "We should go check on Peaceclan! Maybe hunt on the way. The burrow's most crowded at sun-high when everyone is hunting. Beepaw could be there!" He hesitated, "I mean, Beepaw and all the other apprentices."

I tried not to look bemused, "Sure. Let's go. Get Tropicpaw, we can say we're taking her to collect herbs. Oh, and Lilypaw if she's finished eating."

He rushed off. 

Why hadn't I thought of Beepaw, the pretty, honey-coloured Thunderclan apprentice? She and Stormpaw had spent a lot of time together as kits when Littlebird had just died. They would've formed a close friendship. 

Maybe more than a friendship, now. 

I purred, it was good for them. I didn't really like Stormpaw in that way and didn't think I ever would. Besides, in the world that Peaceclan was trying to make, inter-clan-mating would be allowed. So I could only hope that we would succeed. When Tropicpaw, Lilypaw and Stormpaw had returned, we pushed through the ferns and out of camp. 

As we walked along the way to the fox den, I could smell our own stale scents from a week ago. I realised that we hadn't checked up on Peaceclan for a long time. As we arrived and crawled into the den, we were immediately squished to one side as a group of apprentices left.

"Beepaw!"

Stormpaw rushed towards her and they wove around each other, purring happily. I put on an impenetrable expression as many cats approached me, mewing greetings; a leader had to be serious. As we nodded greetings to all our clan-mates, a tom with a coat of fire approached me. He glared at me, "So, I heard you're the leader of Peaceclan."

I mewed, "And who are you?"

The tom tilted his chin, "I'm Fallenpaw of Riverclan. This is my sister, Amberpaw. We'd like to join Peaceclan."

A smaller, orange cat came into view and everyone gasped; a claw mark went straight through one of her eyes, but it was still open. 

I stopped myself from gasping along with everyone else and nodded my head as smoothly and nonchalantly as possible, "You two are welcome to stay in Peaceclan for as long as you need. Just so long as you swear to defend Peaceclan and hunt for us. Do not reveal Peaceclan to anyone outside of here unless ordered by me or Lilypaw."

They said at the same time, "We swear."

As the crowd slowly dispersed, I mewed cautiously, "Where did your mother get your strange name from?"

Fallenpaw lashed his tail, "When I was born, a browning leaf of leaf-fall fell onto my forehead and left this mark."

I realised that there was a wonky, leaf-shaped splotch of white on his forehead as he continued, "My mother thought it was a blessing from Starclan and named me Fallenpaw. However, Reedstar thought it meant I would have something to do with Skyclan because leaves come from trees and wanted to banish me immediately. He did not, in the end. But it was a close call and now every cat in Riverclan treats me with caution."

Amused, I told him, "You will always have a safe refuge in Peaceclan, even if you have a leaf-shaped mark on you forehead."

Fallenpaw, nodded as his sister purred gratefully. I turned away, getting a suspicious tugging feeling about that Fallenpaw.