The next day, I got up early and waited for Hawksight at the camp entrance, with my plan set in my mind.

The dawn patrol and hunting patrol had already set off as I continued to wait patiently.

It was not long until I spotted his brown ears poking out of the warrior's den and he padded to Woodspots, who was finishing up the organisation of the day time patrols.

He was talking to the ThunderClan deputy in a hushed voice, but judging by his expression, it did not seem good.

I felt an urge to walk up to him and demand for answers, but I resisted, keeping my paws firmly on the ground.

After what seemed like an eternity, Hawksight walked away fron Woodspots and headed towards me. "Were you waiting for me?" he asked.

"Yes," I replied, trying not to sound cross with my temporary mentor.

"Sorry, I had to speak to Woodspots," Hawksight meowed. "I'll teach you tracking today."

"Okay," I mewed, padding after him as he led me to a random clearing in the forest with a couple of jagged rocks.

"Many prey use their surroundings to their advantage by blending in. We might be able to smell them, but seeing them would be a problem," Hawksight mewed. "While we usually use scent to track prey or enemies, sight also play a big role."

I nodded enthusiastically.

"Tell me what do you see and smell," Hawksight ordered.

"Trees, rocks and a bunch of fallen leaves," I mewed. "I can smell the usual forest scents and maybe a slight scent of mouse."

"Do you know where the mouse is?" Hawksight asked.

"No," I admitted. "The other scents are too overwhelming."

"It might be now, but once you become a warrior, you should be able to easily distinguish each scents, including telling prey from predators." As he spoke, he clawed at the ground as if he was frustrated at something.

"Am I too difficult to train?" I asked anxiously.

Hawksight shook his head. "I was thinking of something else. Let's just get back to the lesson."

"What were you thinking about?" I felt the need to probe him for explanations and I gave him a insistent look.

Hawksight met my gaze and mewed, "I can't help thinking but every time you look at me, it seemed that you know me for a long time."

"That's odd," I meowed.

"Yes, though that was not the only thing I was thinking of. I was wondering why Strikestar wouldn't give me an apprentice," Hawksight responded. "I got the feeling that he didn't trust me, so I decided to ask Woodspots about it, knowing that Strikestar will simply give me the same answer. Woodspots told me that I would be given an apprentice when Strikestar feels that I'm ready. I was unhappy with his answer and it has been bugging me."

"Why you of all the warriors? Is it because of yesterday?" I was beginning to feel guilty for dragging Hawksight into bringing ShadowClan cats to the camp.

"Probably," he was starting to sound more bitter, "but there's another possible reason. I am not born from ThunderClan."

I looked up at him in surprise.

"One day, ThunderClan warriors found me at the edge of the territory, wounded badly, but alive. They brought me to the camp and Strikestar talked to me for questioning."

"He asked about my origin. I told him everything, being the ignorant kit I was," Hawksight meowed.

"What did you tell him?" I questioned, my eyes wide.

"I told him that I was a kit from ShadowClan, kicked out and left to die because I was weak," his voice was starting to tremble. "I was forced out by my own father, who was the deputy at that time."

He took a deep breath.

"My father was Fangtooth."

"You mean Fangstar?" I gasped. "You don't look like him."

"I look like my mother," he replied. "Ever since his first kit ran away, he tried to train me but I was too weak for his liking. He murdered his own mate out of anger and forced me out of the Clan. Not even the leader could stop him."

Hawksight looked ashamed. "As Strikestar knew that I was the kin of one of the most dangerous cats that lived, he never fully trusted me. Reluctantly, he let me in and never told anyone, not even Woodspots, about my past."

"It doesn't matter who you were then," I comforted. "The present is more important. You are a loyal ThunderClan warrior, and that's all it matters."

"Thank you, Frostpaw," Hawksight smiled sadly. "It's nice to know that you are supportive of me."

"No, thank you for being a great mentor, even if it was for a few days," I meowed.

He acknowledged it with a nod, with a new respect formed between both of us.

Sometimes, all we need to do is to show a little kindness.

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Any thoughts on Hawksight?