CougarPelt stared at the general as he left. The air was thick with moisture which made making heat rise beneath Quakepaw's pelt. The sun was blocked out by thick leafage and branches, casting cool shadows around the area, but it didn't help the heat.

Who is Cougarpaw? Quakepaw thought. I remember Stone telling me some cats are named after older ones, but CougarPelt is a newer senior warrior, but he doesn't look that young. Could it be when CougarPelt was an apprentice? Did he fail some great challenge?

His thoughts were cut off by CougarPelt cursing under his breath then started walking back to camp, "I apologize for screaming at you. There will be no punishment, it was a simple mistake,"
Quakepaw followed, ears peeking up with confusion, "But...but you told MossRidge,"
"I lied," he interrupted. He talked so calmly but his face showed annoyance. Quakepaw tried to read his face but it was unclear which of the two he was.
"Uh, why?" Quakepaw said hoping to find out who Cougarpaw was.
He sighed, "Listen, I was a trainee a long time. My mentor wouldn't allow me to become a senior warrior. After a couple moons SnakeStar stepped in and judged me himself, I became CougarPelt,"
So Cougarpaw was CougarPelt, but why did MossRidge call him by his trainee name?
"I don't want to get into it too much, but I just have something to prove. I need to train you the way I could only have dreamed to be trained! Then prove my ways are right. You probably don't understand, you don't have anything to prove. Your a trainee, you want to prove yourself, but for absolutely nothing. It's like there is some cat judging you all and you have to do is be better than him."

Quakepaw listened intently as CougarPelt rambled on about young warriors. Am I just trying to prove myself to no one? Or is it really Stone that I want to impress. He didn't ponder upon the question long. CougarPelt had made it clear he didn't feel that need to meet the expectations of some imaginary cat so Quakepaw decided he didn't either, his longing was for Stone's love was real.

They walked silently through the camp's stone entrance, CougarPelt carrying his vole. Quakepaw expected him to walk towards the fresh kill pile but he stopped and dropped the mouse at his paws, "Take that to RobinWing. Consider it your punishment." With that CougarPelt bounded to his den and crawled inside.

Quakepaw took the vole and trotted to a whole to the left of the rocky slope leading to SnakeStar's den. It was dark in the elders den and smelled of wet moss.
The three old cats perked up at his arrival.
"What's it now?" LittleTounge rasped.
"I was ordered to give this vole to RobinWing," Quakepaw responded formally, hoping he hadn't disturbed them too much.
RobinWing sat up in his bedding then looked over to the apprentice, "You Stone's kit?" RobinWing's voice wasn't cracked and raspy like the others, the words smoothly carried out her mouth. What was even more odd was she didn't seem as old as them. She was a beautiful, silky calico, which was nice compared to the complainy FallenTree and LittleTounge.
"Yes," Quakepaw responded puffing out his chest with pride.
"Well bring it here, I'm starving!" Quakepaw paced forward and dropped the vole in front of her. She tore into it ravenously then tossed the other half over to FallenTree. She dipped her head and began to eat.
"So how's being a warrior?" RobinWing asked friendlily.
Quakepaw opened his mouth to say how great it was but immediately shut it. CougarPelt needs to prove himself to the clan like I do to Stone. I have to tell RobinWing what happened, "Well, today I went hunting for the first time. It was slow but we found the vole. I tried to catch it but couldn't remember my training and scarred it away. CougarPelt was able to catch it though,"
"Oh I'm sorry," she said sympathetically, "You'll get it next time."
"I hope so I've been ordered to do a few punishments," he paused when noticing the concern in the she-cat's eyes then quickly added, "But it's all just a way to make me a better at serving my clan,"
She eyed him suspiciously but questioned him no further, "Well if you need something to do you can clean out FallenTree's bedding. She's been complaining about it all day,"
"Okay," Quakepaw walked over to the dark brown tabby she-cat. She got up and Quakepaw started removing the old bedding.

He spent the rest of the day doing countless chores making it seem like CougarPelt was working him until he fell. He replaced FallenTree's bedding, searched LittleTounge for ticks and removed them, and had just returned from helping Snowfall gather some juniper berries.
"We need to restock on our calming herbs in time of the 6 moon meeting," the long furred white cat told him as they climbed into his log.
Quakepaw has heard about the 6 moon meeting. It was a time when the leader and five others cats from every clan would meet at The Moss Stones and discus threats, battles, and other important things.
"Why would we need calming herbs for that?"
SnowFall dropped his batch of berries by a bunch of other fragrant leaves, "It's not for the meeting, it's for after."
Quakepaw dropped his berries in the pile then looked curiously at SnowFall.

"A lot of things are talked about and certain cats can be angered by what others have to say. This sometimes causes fights, battles at the worst. We only need to worry for a moon after the meeting, if nothing happens then there most likely won't be a battle," he continued.

"That makes sense," Quakepaw said thinking of the last battle in RainClan. Would SnakeStar say something to upset someone so much they'd end lives because of it? Then he dawned upon a more horrifying thought, what if it were a strong clan, and one of our clan mates died?! He shook his fears away as if they were mice clinging to his pelt, "Would you like me to get you some prey?"

Before SnowFall could respond a voice rang over the RainClan camp, "Cats of RainClan, gather below me for the grand choosing of who is to accompany me on the 6 moon meeting."

They quickly ran out of the log and sat beneath the ledge by a bunch of other cats. Everyone quivering and murmuring with excitement. Everyone wanted to go. RatTail, BayFoot, Pinecone, and SnakeStar whispered to each other for a moment. Wow! This decision must really be important if all 3 deputies must help. Deputies were not allowed to go to the meetings, incase they were needed to defend their clan. Of course some clans required deputies to go, but Quakepaw thought it was much safer for them to stay.

SnakeStar turned to the crowd, "The cats joining me will be, CougarPelt, Sleet, and FernTail! Cats cheered for the three who stood tall above the others.

Quakepaw took a step closer to SnowFall, "I thought you said he takes 5 cats,"
"Yes, 3 senior warriors and 2 training warriors ,"
Trainees? I'm A shiver of excitement ran down Quakepaw's spine. That means I might get to go!

"And the apprentices joining me are, Bushpaw and Fluffpaw," SnakeStar finished. The two older apprentices jumped with joy. The cats cheered for them but were a bit disappointed they didn't get to go themselves. Quakepaw looked down, realizing CougarPelt had probably told SnakeStar what happened.

"Wait!" A cat called out for the crowd. Quakepaw looked up to see who it was. A light grey tom with a stub tail, FernTail.

"Is there a problem FernTail?" SnakeStar asked concerned.

"Fluffpaw can't go to the 6 moon meeting. Quakepaw has to!"