BloodmoonPaw put mouse-bile on the elder's ticks, listening to their stories.

"You did not catch a bear by yourself." ColdSeason cut through FrostedChip's story. "In fact, when you saw that very bear, your eyes grew as wide as the moon above." ColdSeason's eyes glittered in amusement. "And do I remember you running away like a scaredy mouse?"

FrostedChip huffed, eyes glowing gently. "I don't think you remember that correctly. Has your age got to your head?"

ColdSeason snorted, rolling her eyes affectionately at him.

BloodmoonPaw loved coming to the elder's den. They never judged him or his brother, and they were always there to help him. 

He remembered one time when he had gotten very upset when his mother yelled at him. He had come crying to the elder's den, alone. These two cats had settled him down and had made him feel at home.

Bloodmoon picked the last tick out of ColdSeason's thick pelt. "You both are all good." He said with a smile.

"Thank you, young sir." Both elders replied in unison, smiling at the apprentice.

BloodmoonPaw sat back with a sigh.

"What's wrong?" ColdSeason meowed, stretching out her claws. FrostedChip laid down his head and stared at the apprentice, eyes gleaming in confusion.

"Well.." BloodmoonPaw paused. Could he tell them? He hesitated then shook himself and marched on. "You-You can't tell anyone. Especially HerbScent." He spat out her name like a rotten piece of prey.

Both elders looked confused but nodded their heads to show they promised.

"Yesterday... after PolarBear showed me around the territory... I-I noticed some eyes in the trees."

Both elders looked up, eyes gleaming in anticipation.

"And... I heard them... I heard it say something.." BloodmoonPaw looked at his paws, which were covered in mouse bile and moss.

"It said, 'Hello, son.'" 

Both elders gazed at each other.

"And yes, I do know I wasn't born here." Bloodmoon said bitterly, lashing his tail.

Both elders fidgeted with their moss, but only ColdSeason met his eyes.

"Well." ColdSeason said, eyes shimmering as she waited for his decision. "Will you tell anyone besides us?"

"No." He replied almost immediately. "If - I've heard stories about ... him ... and they aren't good. I want to meet my father before he gets killed."

Which was odd... since he thought he heard that his father had died...

He hesitated then went on. "I - And I feel like... If the clan knows he's here... They'll... blame it on CrescentPaw or I."

ColdSeason bristled her pelt. "Well, if that happened, I would not be happy."

FrostedChip nodded. "They're too hard on you both." He said in frustration. "You're just apprentices; you have done nothing bad to be avoided."

ColdSeason snorted in agreement, rolling her eyes. "I swear, we get a new batch of scaredy cats every time someone gets appointed as a warrior."

BloodmoonPaw grinned, feeling better. "Thank you." 

"Come talk to us any time!" ColdSeason meowed happily as he padded out.

"Yes, please do! I like sharing my stories!" FrostedChip added.

A cold breeze slapped BloodmoonPaw in the face and he was suddenly hit with a wave of gratefulness for his fluffy, thick pelt.

He stretched, lashing his tail. He might as well go to the lake to clean off his gross paws.

"Hey, BloodmoonPaw!" A cat said loudly.

He looked up and saw SnowPile, with a crowd of cats grouped together around her. 

All the cats looked at BloodmoonPaw, all of their eyes either reflecting fear, anger, or disgust. Except for PolarBear's, CrescentPaw's, and SnowPile's.

"You're joining us on a patrol!" SnowPile meowed. 

"But it's my first day!" BloodmoonPaw whispered to himself. "I haven't even learned any moves!"

PolarBear beckoned him and murmured, "Don't worry, I'll teach you some basic moves when we stop. I think SnowPile just wants you two to get used to the flow of patrols before you start going on them."

Bloodmoon nodded, excited and just a little nervous. 

His patrol consisted of SnowPile, PolarBear, CrescentPaw, GinerCrackle, DawnGlow, MoonlightBeam, WhiteSplash, and GentlePaw.

He walked beside Crescent paw, listening to his wonderful stories about how excited he was for his apprenticeship.

"SnowPile is great!" He said, smiling as he bounded through the snow. "She is kind of strict, but that's fine."

BloodmoonPaw nodded, but wasn't really listening. He was looking for the eyes and listening for the voice that had called for him.

"Bloodmoon!" CrescentPaw's meow snapped Bloodmoon out of his thoughts. 

"Huh?" He looked at CrescentPaw, confused.

"Are you even listening?" His brother sighed in exasperation. 

"Sorry." Bloodmoon said, pawing at the ground. "I... have a lot on my mind."

"I guess." CrescentPaw said, glancing at his paws.

"I'll try to listen harder." He promised his brother, not being able to see him so sad.

Bloodmoon stretched, his paws hurting. "How long are these supposed to last? My paws hurt!"

MoonlightBeam scoffed, rolling her eyes at him. "You both are a bunch of whiny kits."

Bloodmoon growled at her and she leaped about three feet in the air.

SnowPile's eyes glittered with amusement and PolarBear started to laugh loudly.

MoonlightBeam bristled in anger and embarrassment. "Shut up all of you! I bet you'd be scared if a little physco kit growled at you!" Then she stormed off, apparently leading the patrol.

SnowPile snorted. "Young warriors are such a pain."

PolarBear snickered then went back to talking with DawnGlow. Bloodmoon thought they were a great pair. 

He caught sight of the eyes when he turned around.

Without a warning, he sprinted after the eyes, ignoring the yelps of warriors behind him.

His paws skidded across the icy snow, throwing up chunks of both ice and snow.

"Wait!" He yowled, watching a long, skinny tail slink out into the forest.

Bloodmoon leaped, trying to catch it.

Instead, he fell down the cliff, stumbling and rolling down the snowy slope.

He skidded to a stop, right before he fell straight into the icy cold lake.

He hissed. The cat was gone.

The water rippled innocently. He lapped up the water, feeling as though maybe it would give him a sign, but it only stung his tongue and made him shake his head after getting a brain freeze.

He snarled slightly, sitting down in the cold snow, his paw pads going numb. 

"BloodmoonPaw!" He heard SnowPile's yowl echo.

He got up, slumping his shoulders. He'd have to go longer without knowing who this mysterious cat was.

He began walking back to the patrol, glaring deeply at Moonbeam as she snorted.

"What happened?" PolarBear blinked, walking over to him. 

"Thought I saw something." BloodmoonPaw said in embarrassment. "Nevermind."

PolarBear sighed. "Don't do that again."

No promises.