Sagepaw yelped, dodging to the side as Quailpaw tried to tackle her. He skidded on the grass, though caught his sister off guard and leapt for her again, this time grabbing her by the shoulders and sending them both to the ground. Sagepaw huffed; this was the third time he'd taken her down. Quailpaw had a glint in his pale eyes.

Sagepaw's body tensed, her brown-and-white furred brother still pinning her. She assumed it was going to happen again, for her body to soar out of control and for her to attack Quailpaw. She shut her eyes tight and pushed her ears back.

But nothing happened.

The mainly white she-cat was mildly surprised, and kicked at Quailpaw's belly, sending him toppling off. Again, she assumed she'd lose control, but again, nothing happened. Sagepaw and Quailpaw paced around each other, with Sagepaw feeling rather comfortable with training and Quailpaw looking vengeful. After a while of battling, with her stronger brother winning most rounds, it was time for the two apprentices to head back to camp.

As soon as Sagepaw dipped her head into ShadowClan's camp, she spotted Yarrowstar; the tom's odd tortoiseshell coat well-groomed and sleek. His gaze was fixated on her; a curious look lit his eyes. Sagepaw felt her blood run cold and was about to bolt, but then remembered the last time she did that. It hadn't helped at all. Slowly, she padded towards him, her tail low.

"Sagepaw," Yarrowstar began as she stood in front of him. What's he found out now? Sagepaw's muscles tensed, her mind racing will all the bad things he could say. "Larkshine wants to see you." She let out a breath she didn't realize she was holding, her muscles relaxing the slightest. But they tensed again as she registered the information further. Larkshine? Great, he knows something, doesn't he?

But Sagepaw only nodded, not daring to word her fears and appear suspicious. The white-furred apprentice slowly made her way to the medicine den, taking deep breaths and trying to calm herself down. She padded in and spotted Larkshine, his dark pelt melting with the shadows and reminding Sagepaw of Viperfang when he asked to be her mentor. She pushed the thought away, though, as Larkshine opened his mouth to speak.

"Sagepaw, have you had any odd dreams lately? Like of mysterious cats, starless skies?" Sagepaw felt her blood run cold, and she froze, forcing her breaths to keep steady. She couldn't say anything of Viperfang or the Dark Forest, she had to lie.

"No." The simple word was the first thing that came to mind.

"Are you sure? Perhaps you've seen a brown tabby, with icy eyes? Or a cat similar to that with fire-colored eyes?" Larkshine prodded further, turning to face her better, his eyes glittering in the darkness. Sagepaw shook her head. At least that was half-true, she didn't recall meeting either of them. He can't know about the Dark Forest.

Sagepaw thought Larkshine had given up, as he went silent for a moment, but her hope faded like dew in the morning sun as he spoke again. "Sagepaw, don't lie to me. Are you absolutely sure you haven't been to a shady forest in your dreams, with starless skies and shadowy figures?" His gaze was fixated on her pelt, and she had to strain to make her fur lie flat. That was the exact description of the Dark Forest.

"No. I'm sure." Sagepaw forced her voice steady, brown ears flicking. Larkshine sighed, giving up, "Alright. You may go." he turned back to the herb storage, going silent. Sagepaw felt a heavy weight lift from herself, and she turned, leaving the den quickly. She couldn't wait and risk him changing his mind and asking more questions.

As she emerged from Larkshine's den, she caught the smell of fresh prey and felt her mouth water. Sagepaw spotted a hunting patrol returning, consisiting of Deerfeather, Addernose, and Rainpelt. They dropped their prey on the freshkill-pile, and the white-furred apprentice padded over. Maybe a snack will take my mind off Larkshine.

Sagepaw sniffed over the newly-caught prey items. A vole, a mouse, and a plump squirrel. She licked her muzzle and chose the squirrel, padding over to rest under the shelter of an arching pine tree to eat. Sagepaw plopped down among the semi-emerged roots, taking a bite out of its fuzzy flank.

The white she-cat twitched her tail, watching the Clan as she ate. Deerfeather had gone to her den, Addernose and Rainpelt chatting about the hunt near Yarrowstar's den. The elders sunned themselves on a flat rock, Foxnose munching on a vole next to the nursery. Stormshine and Sootstreak were both grooming. Sagepaw's gaze drifted above the camp, to the fire-colored sky dappled with clouds. The sun was going down.

She smiled slightly, finishing the squirrel. Her tail swept over the grass as she rose to her snowy-white paws. She looked to her den, and yawned. Perhaps sleep would do her good.

Brought to you by Warrior/WR-87!