Edited ✔️

Wow . . . Super long chapter! Thanks for the reads I have been getting so far :) This book is getting better and better, don't you think? Please comment, rate, vote, share, or any type of support :D Also, I do not own Warriors—obviously this is a fanfic ^.^

It's been half a moon since the kits were born. Icepaw crouched over his prey and ate slowly. He could hear Ripplefur coughing in the nursery den miserably along with her other kit, Spottedkit. They have been coughing for a few days now, and the only times Silverkit and Squirrelkit were aloud in the nursery den was when they needed their mother's milk.

The two kits rested peacefully in the elder's den right now. The black bird Dewpaw caught felt cold as he chewed it, and his heart swelled for the sick queen and kit.

Finally, he gulped down his last piece. Dewpaw padded up from behind Icepaw and sat in front of him. He sighed. "I feel bad for Skypelt," murmured the white tom-cat.

"Me too," admitted Icepaw. "Ripplefur and Spottedkit were doing perfectly fine just a few days ago. I don't know what happened."

"It's the weather, that's all," growled Vinetail. "Cats get sick easily in leaf-bare if they don't properly care for themselves."

Fireshade sighed and sat down right by his mate, Nightrose. "We can't control whether nor if we get sick," he objected.

"Yeah," agreed Nightrose. "It just comes. I mean, I would hate to be sick, of course. And I don't like it when my Clanmates are sick, either."

"It's a big weakness," added Fireshade with a small growl.

Dewpaw nodded. "I've heard that when or if the other Clans find out we have sick cats, they will attack. So, the fact is suppose to be a secret?" He quickly turned to the sick queen and kit and turned back to Fireshade and Nightrose.

"It's a secret, yes," said Vinetail. "But if the result is death—"

"Ripplefur won't die!" exclaimed Icepaw. "She can't die! She has kits to take care of." The thought of Ripplefur dying made him sick to the stomach. And how will her kits, her mate, and every other cat cope?

Vinetail sighed. "Hopefully you are right. But when it results in death from a much worse sickness than Ripplefur and Spottedkit has, then the other Clans must know. But Clan leaders have to be very careful when they tell a Gathering that a Clan member died. If they knew it was a sickness that killed them, then the enemy would know we are weak."

"We aren't weak, it is just a cough," said Nightrose. "Maybe it'll pass on."

Vinetail sighed and nodded, beginning to pad away to his den. Sweetpaw emerged right from the medicine den at the same moment. She walked right towards Icepaw. "I have to speak to you," she whispered.

Icepaw looked at Dewpaw, who was talking to Nightrose and Fireshade. He turned back to the medicine cat apprentice. "Okay, sure."

Sweetpaw nodded and began to lead him away from all the other cats in the clearing. A cold breeze blew, and the red and orange leaves on the leaf fall forest floor crunched beneath their paws.

Sweetpaw lead Icepaw right outside the camp entrance. Her eyes looked sad. Icepaw could also see from the corner of his eye that Brightstar was watching the two apprentices with a watchful gaze. He ignored it and turned to Sweetpaw.

"So what is it you need to talk about?" he asked, confused. Normally all Sweetpaw would talk about was new herbs she learned or new battle moves to defend herself. She couldn't possibly take him to somewhere private to discuss the same things over again.

Sweetpaw sighed. "Ripplefur and Spottedkit have greencough," she said.

Icepaw gasped. "What? Why? I thought Vinetail was taking care of them as if they were his own kits!"

"He is," said Sweetpaw. "But nothing he tries is working to heal them."

"What about catmint?" he asked. "I know that catmint is suppose to cure greencough. We have some, right? I helped Vinetail collect some a few days ago. You were there."

Sweetpaw nodded. "I know. But we did give her some. It didn't work. Vinetail is still trying to get her better but we decided to not tell any cat about it. Vinetail said that it would put worry to our Clan and we wouldn't do that."

"Does Skypelt know?"

Sweetpaw nodded.

"I feel very sorry for him now," admitted Icepaw.

Icepaw thought about it. When he grows up and has his own mate and kits, he would be extremely sad if they were sick with greencough that wouldn't go away. He would know that it was a possible chance for them to die. He knew his heart wouldn't be able to take it.

"And there's one more thing," said Sweetpaw, her voice lowering much lower now. "Lately, I have been having visions of two cats, high and proud—one was upon a rock, leading a Clan and the other one was planning to destroy that very Clan."

Icepaw's thoughts snapped from the thought of Ripplefur's sickness to what Sweetpaw has just told him. "Wait, why are you telling me this?" asked Icepaw, confused. "Am I one of those cats?"

Sweetpaw shook her head. "I don't know. It can be just about anyone. But I had a feeling I should tell you because Vinetail mentioned that you were acting weird lately. I also told you about Ripplefur because you two seemed close to each other."

Am I acting strange?

"Tonight, though, Vinetail and I are going to go to the Night Flower to share our dreams with StarClan. It was about time since tonight there will be a half moon. I might learn more from StarClan tonight. I don't know." Sweetpaw paused and looked up to the sky. "I decided to fill you in on these problems, and for you to, you know, keep an eye on things."

"I—I guess so . . ." murmured Icepaw. He still did not know how this had anything to do with him. "Why do you say I am acting strange?"

"Vinetail said that," said Sweetpaw. "And I don't know. You seem perfectly fine to me. But when Vinetail says something, it's not for no reason."

"I guess so," said Icepaw. "All I have been doing lately were my apprentice duties, some training with Ashtail and normal Clan stuff."

"That's good."

Icepaw nodded. "So do we just get back to camp right now?" he asked, nervous. Brightstar was still staring the two apprentices, her gaze watchful and curious. "Brightstar might become suspicious."

Sweetpaw turned a little and saw the leader. "I think—"

"Sweetpaw, you can go back," said a voice. Vinetail stalked out of a small bush, wiping off the leaves that clung to his pelt. "Icepaw, you may come with me."

Sweetpaw's eyes widened at the sight of her mentor. "Err, yes Vinetail," she said obediently, casting a sorry glance to Icepaw. He nodded to her to tell her that she should go. Sweetpaw turned and trotted into camp, immediately being greeted by her sister, Dawnpaw.

Dawnpaw looked up and waved her tail. Icepaw dipped his head and turned back to Vinetail. "Why couldn't I go with her?"

"I need to talk to you," said Vinetail. "Because Sweetpaw isn't suppose to be wasting her time worrying her Clanmates."

"Sweetpaw didn't do anything wrong!" protested Icepaw. "Ripplefur is my good friend. She thought I deserved to know."

Vinetail sighed. "Well anyways, I am going to the Night Flower tonight as you may know," began the medicine cat, "but Sweetpaw and I will be gone. I need you to remain in camp when I leave and look after Ripplefur."

"Why do I have to do it?"

"Because you're the only one who knows that she has greencough except for her mate and my apprentice. And I don't trust Skypelt because he might be too . . . soft. Just, if she starts to cough, I expect you to give her some catmint. Keep her cool by putting nice cold moss water on her head. Do the same with Spottedkit, please. And don't give too much medicine to them, it'll make them feel more sick. If you need help, don't hesitate to ask someone."

Icepaw nodded. "I-I guess I'll try," he murmured. He barely knew anything about medicine, but he didn't want to let Vinetail down. "Can I go see her now?"

Vinetail shook his head. "She's asleep."

He began to pad into camp without another word. Icepaw sighed and followed his medicine cat, his heart dropping. Poor Spottedkit and Ripplefur . . . they don't deserve to be so sick. The least he could do was go and talk to them.

As Icepaw entered the camp, he could see Skypelt sleeping in the nursery den with his sick mate and kit. Silverkit and Squirrelkit played right outside the elder's den. They both squealed with delight as they play-fought. Icepaw's heart warmed a bit, knowing that they didn't get sick in their sleep too.

He padded to Silverkit and Squirrelkit. "You'll never catch me!" declared Squirrelkit with such eagerness.

"Yes I will!" squeaked Silverkit.

With her rump high in the air, she crouched down and leaped. As soon as her paws touched the grassy camp floor again, Squirrelkit leaped right out of the way. She looked up. "Mouse-dung!" the silver she-kit cursed. "I didn't leap fast enough."

Icepaw hid a laugh. "You were crouching wrong," he told her.

Silverkit gasped and looked up eagerly. "Hi, Icepaw!" she said. "Do you wanna play with me and Squirrelkit?"

Squirrelkit nodded. "Yeah! And you can also teach us how to leap and the basics of how to hunt or something like that. I am going to be MoonClan's best warrior ever!"

"I will be leader," Silverkit said. Squirrelkit's eyes narrowed. "And when I am leader you can be my deputy. I already see it. Silverstar." She sighed at her leader name.

Squirrelkit scoffed. "You wish. So, Icepaw, wanna play?" He looked up hopefully at the MoonClan apprentice. His soft kit fur was ruffled, his eyes rounding with excitement. His brown eyes shone as light as Silverkit's blue ones.

"Okay, okay, I can play with you kits," said Icepaw. "What are you playing?"

Silverkit sat down. "We were just playing Catch the Mouse. I was the hunter and Squirrelkit was the mouse."

"But you missed and you didn't catch me, Silverstar!" Squirrelkit teased. "Leaders never miss the prey they intend to catch."

"That's not true!" growled Silverkit. "Everyone can miss prey no matter how great you can be."

Icepaw nodded. "Silverkit is right. So do you both want me to teach you your proper hunter's crouch? Then, Silverkit, you will be able to catch your brother."

"Yes please!" the two kits almost said in unison.

His heart swelled. Silverkit and Squirrelkit were so young . . . but yet, the sickness, possibly death, may be one of their first memories! He hoped that their mother and sister could get better soon.

"First, you crouch down like this," said Icepaw, shaking off the thought. He crouched down and bent his legs, holding his position firmly. The kits copied. Silverkit's rump was still in the air and Squirrelkit's tail stuck out. "Squirrelkit, lower your rump, you look like a duck."

"Ha! Mine's better!" said Squirrelkit.

"And Squirrelkit, lower your tail—it's as straight as a stick and it won't do you any good if it stands out like that," added Icepaw.

"See, you're not all that great!" teased Silverkit.

Icepaw nodded to the two apprentices as they looked at each other and playfully growled. "Okay, settle down. Next, do what I do." Icepaw crouched down low onto his belly fur, and balanced his tail right above the ground so it wouldn't drag or it wouldn't show too high. He flattened his ears and then after counting down a few heartbeats, he pounced. Silverkit and Squirrelkit gasped with amazement.

"That's so cool!" exclaimed Silverkit.

She positioned her tail somewhat like Icepaw's tail, and crouched down low. She didn't go that low but she went low enough. She also flattened her furry ears, and leaped almost immediately. Squirrelkit did the same.

Icepaw sat down and began washing his paws. "Hmm, that isn't half bad," he praised. The two kits brightened up.

Skypelt padded out of the nursery. "Squirrelkit, Silverkit, come here," he called.

"I think Ripplefur wants you both. Go," Icepaw told them.

The kits nodded and began to run towards the nursery eagerly. Icepaw watched them, and his head turned up to Skypelt. The large, young white-coated warrior dipped his head in gratitude before going back into the nursery.

From behind Icepaw, he felt Dawnpaw padding up. "Hey," she meowed. "I didn't know you were good with kits."

Icepaw ducked his head in embarrassment. "Silverkit and Squirrelkit are fond of every cat they see."

Dewpaw trotted up to his brother. "Particularly you," said the MoonClan apprentice. "Silverkit looks up to you in some kind of way. I can't explain it."

Dawnpaw snickered. "What if Silverkit likes Icepaw?" she asked.

Icepaw sighed. "Silverkit is barely a moon old, so we don't need to gossip about her," he said to her defense. "And plus, she doesn't look at me like that. She said when I am a warrior she wants me as her mentor. What apprentice falls in love with their mentor?"

"I was joking," said Dawnpaw. "I'm sure Dewpaw was joking too. Right, Dewpaw?" Icepaw's brother shook his head and his whiskers twitched.

"So what do you want?" asked Icepaw.

"Well, all the apprentices in camp are going to train at the hollow," explained Dewpaw. "We came so we could take you with us."

"Oh," said Icepaw. "Well, count me in then. How about Sweetpaw?"

"Of course she's coming!" said Dawnpaw eagerly. "Vinetail said it was good for Sweetpaw since she can learn to protect herself and take a break from all those herbs for once!"

Icepaw nodded and looked to the camp entrance. Ashtail, Mousetail, Adderclaw, Fireshade, Sweetpaw and Volepaw waited. "With all of us here we look like a battle patrol," commented Icepaw. Dawnpaw meowed an agreement as they headed to the patrol.

"You finally came," said Adderclaw.

Icepaw nodded. "I'm here. We should go now."

* * *

Icepaw trotted into the Training Hollow eagerly with Volepaw and Dewpaw at his sides. Ashtail padded right behind him, Sweetpaw nervously beside Dawnpaw. Icepaw loved to come to the training hollow. Sweetpaw sighed and padded to the back of the hollow, sitting down and neatly wrapping her tail around her paws. Dawnpaw ran up to her mentor, Fireshade. Ashtail went by Icepaw, and Volepaw's mentor Adderclaw sat by his apprentice. Mousetail and Dewpaw sat together. Sweetpaw paitently watched.

"We are going to start off by learning how to weaken the enemy," said Mousetail, right beside his apprentice. They sat in a circle, Volepaw and his mentor across from him, Dawnpaw and her mentor across from Dewpaw.

"How are we gonna do it?" asked Adderclaw.

"I think we should start with something simple," said Ashtail, standing up. "How about a front paw strike—" his claws unsheathed and raked the air "—and then a back kick in case we are snuck up from behind?"

"I kind of wanted to teach them how to partner fight," said Mousetail.

"We have time for a lot of things," said Fireshade. "It's sunhigh right now. We can practice till' it's time for Sweetpaw to head off."

Sweetpaw sighed. "I should be in the medicine den right now," she muttered, loud enough for everyone to hear. Icepaw tried to hide his amusement, and so did Dewpaw.

"Sweetpaw," Adderclaw said. "Why don't you choose what battle move we should do first?" He looked over to the medicine cat apprentice.

Sweetpaw ducked her head in embarrassment. "I-I don't know the types of battle moves you can do! It's the same thing as you all not knowing which herb is which and what they do to heal cats."

"Well, fine," Adderclaw said. He thought for a moment and then his tail raised. He had an idea. "We could probably do everything at once, ya' know?" Mousetail tilted his head in confusion. "We can stay back-to-back, partner fighting, keeping each other's tail's safe." He padded over to Ashtail.

"I guess we can," said Ashtail, as they both lined their hind quarters together. "And we fight off cats by doing our front paw strikes! If we get seperated, then we might as well do a back kick to keep our tails protected!"

"Perfect idea!" said Dawnpaw. Icepaw nodded in agreement.

"Okay, so here's how we will do it . . . Sweetpaw, come over here!" said Fireshade. Sweetpaw sighed and stood up, slowly walking over to the circle. "The apprentices can practice their front paw blows on the fake cats—err, moss over there, claws unsheathed. When they get it perfect, they line up with their mentor, and then other cats come and try to attack. We will use our front paw strike as a defense, right? But this time we will do it with our claws sheathed."

"Right!" said Mousetail.

"I don't have a warrior mentor," said Sweetpaw. "I am a medicine cat apprentice. Plus, this is a waste of moss." The last part of her statement was barely above a low growl.

Fireshade sighed. "You can partner up with Dawnpaw. I'll be an attacker and I'll watch you all as well to monitor how well you are working with your partner."

"Okay!" said Dawnpaw eagerly.

"When we get this done, can we do the upright lock?" asked Icepaw. "I heard it was a good one. Hard, too!"

"Well . . ." began Adderclaw. "I prefer we save it for last. It is a finishing move. First, since you are all smaller than us, I wanted to perfect your leap-and-hold's."

"Fine," sighed Icepaw.

Fireshade nodded. "It's settled then!" he declared. "Three, two, one, go!"

All the apprentices raced towards the moss hanging on the twigs and branches over-head. Icepaw's claws unsheathed, and he raked the moss hard with his front paw strike. The moss fell back down and he hit it again, adding more and more claw marks. He could hear Sweetpaw growl of frustration.

"Try to hit so that your blows do not strike the air," advised Fireshade. There was amusement behind his voice—Icepaw could hear it.

Sweetpaw nodded and steadied herself. She mightily brought down her claws and raked the moss in the air. Pieces flew off and marked into her claws and she gasped with excitement. "I did it! Fireshade, I did it!"

"And now who was complaining that this was a waste of moss? You will gratefully thank me when you are defending yourself with this move that I taught you." Fireshade sat down and licked his chest. Sweetpaw ducked down in embarrassment.

She turned to Dawnpaw. "I-I'm ready," she said with a sigh. Dawnpaw nodded, and they rested, hindquarters lining up. A perfect back-to-back partner fight position.

Ashtail ran up. "Icepaw! Help me take out Dawnpaw and Sweetpaw! I'll get Dawnpaw since she is more experienced and you get Sweetpaw!"

Icepaw nodded. "Got it!"

He leaped from his position and sheathed his claws so he won't hurt the medicine cat apprentice. Then, he ran up to her and growled. Sweetpaw looked frightened for a moment, but then she swiped and her blow hit the air.

"That's right!" encouraged Icepaw. "That's how you have to keep me away, got it?"

Sweetpaw nodded and took a deep breath.

Growling with a false rage, Icepaw leaped up to Sweetpaw, who pushed him back again with her front paw strike, claws sheathed. Icepaw mentally praised the medicine cat apprentice's quick learning skills. He almost felt like she was a warrior apprentice rather than a medicine cat apprentice.

He leaped onto her and grabbed her neck with his front paws, and pushed her face to the ground. Sweetpaw yowled and threw him off. Dawnpaw turned to see what happened, but then Ashtail leaped right onto her. Dawnpaw gasped, but Sweetpaw swiftly pushed Ashtail off with all her might. She almost sent Icepaw's mentor flying.

"Wow!" said Ashtail with a small groan of pain. "I didn't know medicine cats had that much strength."

Dawnpaw stopped fighting and began to pant. Volepaw, Dewpaw, Adderclaw and Mousetail stopped fighting from the other side of the training hollow. Fireshade looked proud.

"Medicine cats are the strongest sources of a Clan," Fireshade said, looking warmly over to Sweetpaw. "Vinetail is my father's brother. Sedgetooth would always tell me how strong Vinetail is. How much energy he gives up to keep his Clan healthy and fed and protected. That's why being the medicine cat can be the hardest job yet, too."

"That's right," said Sweetpaw with pride.

Mousetail nodded. "You should lend us all your strength, Sweetpaw," he said. "Then we'd be fighting stronger than badgers."

Icepaw smiled. Is this just flatter or they are telling the truth? he thought.

Dewpaw sighed. "We were, though, all of us, pretty good with the back-to-back partner fighting and our front paw strikes. We all knocked the moss off of where it hung overhead!"

"True," said Adderclaw. "You were all good."

"But Dawnpaw," said Ashtail. "When you saw I was just about to attack you, you turned to your sister to see if she needed help. If Sweetpaw couldn't escape Icepaw's grasp, and this was a real battle, you'd be crow-food by now!"

"It won't happen again," promised Dawnpaw.

Volepaw nudged Adderclaw. "Can we please do the upright lock now? All the apprentices were dying to do it!"

Adderclaw shook his head. "Fireshade explained the plan," he replied. "First, we were going to learn the leap-and-hold. It was deployed to great effect a few moons ago and it was created by the cats from none other than MoonClan. So it's basically a new move that only we know." His tail swished in pride.

Fireshade nodded and walked into the middle of the clearing. He turned to all of the apprentices. "Go back there," he ordered. "Warriors, lets show them how it's done."

Icepaw nodded and padded to the back of the den besides Dewpaw. His brother looked as eager as he did the first time the two left camp together for the official first time. They sat in the shade at the back of the clearing, and watched closely as the biggest—Adderclaw—stood in the middle of Mousetail, Ashtail and Fireshade.

Ashtail looked back over to the apprentices. "This move is ideal for a small cat facing a larger opponent. Spring onto his back and grip with unsheathed claws. It's good because you're beyond the range of your opponent's paws and in position to inflict severe wounds."

"Just make sure he doesn't throw you off!" added Fireshade. "Ah, that happened to me before . . . It really hurt, you know?"

Ashtail laughed. "I remember that time, Fireshade. But also watch for the drop-and-roll countermove, and try to jump free before you get squashed. It's good for a group of cats, mainly apprentices, since it'll help you defeat your enemy fast. It's good partner practice too," he added with a look to Mousetail. "So here we can show you how to do it, and if it is done to you, we will show you how to avoid getting injured in this move."

"This seems cool," whispered Dewpaw to Icepaw.

"Yeah," he agreed. "Shh."

They both looked forward. Adderclaw was looking back and fourth to the two cats to his two sides. He seemed—or pretended to be—unaware of Mousetail, who crept up from behind. Icepaw's heart pounded faster as he watched the three cats hiss with rage. Eagerness swept through his body as he saw Mousetail quietly stalk close enough to leap. Finally, without making a sound, pushed off the ground with the strength in his back paws. It was the most perfect leap Icepaw has ever seen!

Mousetail landed right on top of Adderclaw's back. Icepaw gasped as he watched it happen. Adderclaw was spitting and hissing with fake rage as he tried to throw the other warrior off of his back. Ashtail crouched down and grabbed Adderclaw's paws, securing him while Fireshade watched out for enemies to come.

Adderclaw nodded and Mousetail climbed off of his back, Ashtail let him free of security. Fireshade looked back to them, and saw that their demonstration was done. He turned to the amazed apprentices. "That is how it is done."

"That was so cool!" exclaimed Icepaw. "Can you show us the counterattack?"

"With pleasure," said Mousetail, backing up again. They got into their previous positions once more. Now their 'ally' was supposedly Adderclaw.

Adderclaw was surrounded by the three cats again. Mousetail unexpectedly crept up from behind, while Ashtail and Fireshade distracted him. Then, he finally leaped onto Adderclaw's back. Mousetail's claws unsheathed to hold on tight, and Adderclaw yowled with pain. Ashtail grabbed his paws and secured him again, but Adderclaw broke free in time.

He leaped off of the ground, and turned to he could land on his back. When he landed, Mousetail grunted in pain of being squashed by the large warrior. Quickly, Adderclaw got up before he could really hurt Mousetail. He helped the older warrior up onto his paws.

"That felt . . . quite nice . . ." commented Mousetail sarcastically.

"That looked quite cool," said Volepaw. "Can we try it now?"

"Sure," said Fireshade. "Sweetpaw doesn't have to do this---I don't think she will ever be part of an apprentice fighting group."

"Thank StarClan," she said, resting down onto her belly.

"Mousetail and Adderclaw had enough too, so they can rest. Ashtail, you can help me position the apprentices so they can get it perfectly," continued Fireshade. Ashtail nodded and walked up, stretching his back on his way. Icepaw swore he could hear a loud crack in his spine as he did. "I will be in the middle," explained Fireshade.

He padded in between Dawnpaw, Dewpaw, Volepaw and Icepaw. Icepaw was in the back. He figured that he was the one who would be doing the leaping and the 'getting squashed part.' He sighed. Poor him.

Ashtail walked all around the formation. Volepaw was right in front of Fireshade, and Dewpaw and Dawnpaw were on either side of him. He nodded, looking satisfied. "Dewpaw, you'd be better leaping and catching Fireshade by facing him," he said.

Dewpaw sighed and turned a notch to face Dawnpaw's mentor.

Fireshade nodded. "We are ready," he said. "Great StarClan . . . this will hurt!"

Dewpaw narrowed his eyes eagerly and his rump wiggled. Icepaw crouched down low. Ashtail looked at the formation and nodded. "Perfect! Ready, set, go!"

Immedietly, Dewpaw leaped right on to Fireshade's paws and held him down. "No way you are going anywhere, DarkClan warrior!" spat Icepaw's brother. Dawnpaw and Volepaw headed for Fireshade as well. Volepaw leaped right over Fireshade's head, covering his eyes with his plump belly, hissing.

Icepaw stared for a moment. Fireshade was being held down and batted on the head by the apprentices. He was nervous to leap onto Fireshade. What if he hurt his Clanmate? The apprentices were more brutal than the warriors with this move—his heart pounded.

Ashtail caught his eye. He saw that the apprentice wasn't moving. "Go!" he said. "Quick, before Fireshade escapes!"

Icepaw sighed and decided it was just training. He made sure his claws were sheathed before he pushed off the ground and leaped right onto the warrior's back. Fireshade yowled with anger just as Icepaw clung on hard. He felt his claws tear at Fireshade's fur, and Icepaw's eyes widened.

Oh no! But as he looked closer, his clumsy grip has only taken fur off of the warrior. Fireshade, with all his might, leaped out of the group of apprentice's circle with Icepaw clinging hard onto his back. His paws were just about to touch the ground.

Great StarClan, Icepaw, leap already!

Icepaw let go of Fireshade and stumbled off his back before he landed. Fireshade landed right on his side. That must've hurt! Quickly, he scrambled up and ran to the MoonClan warrior.

"Fireshade! I'm so sorry!" he quickly said, his heart racing. "I-I didn't mean to hurt you!"

Fireshade staggered up, gasping. "Hurt me?" he asked. "That was awesome! You leaped right off my back before I crushed you. Genius, Icepaw!"

Icepaw felt relieved. "I did what you showed us," he said with embarrassment.

"You did a good job nonetheless. And I guess we're all tired now," announced Ashtail. "Who wants to go back to camp and call it a day?"

"Me!" said Fireshade immedietly. "All that struggling made me hungry."

"I need to finish sorting herbs before going to the Night Flower! I was doing that until I was put in the training patrol," said Sweetpaw. "Can we go back now?" She looked pleadingly up to the mentors.

"Sure," said Mousetail, stretching his old bones as he walked over.

Volepaw sighed. "But I thought we were going to learn the upright lock," he sulked.

"We practiced a lot in one day," pointed out Mousetail. "I want to go back to rest and eat."

Icepaw's stomach rumbled even though he wasn't suppose to eat anymore today since he already had his fill. He should've waited for the end of the day to eat. The cold black bird seemed delicious right about now.

"Let's get back to camp," he said.