"Stop!" Thistleclaw yowled.

"But I haven't perfected it yet!" Hawkpaw lunged forward again, her belly brushing the ground. She twisted, thrusting out her hind paws with a grunt of effort as she bit down, pretending to sink her teeth in an enemy's' neck.

Thistleclaw ignored her. "Stop!"

"I have to get this right." Hawkpaw scrambled to her paws. "I need to become strong as soon as possible."

"You must wake up, Hawkpaw," Thistleclaw hissed. "Something's happening." She stared at him in alarm. "Wake up!"

She blinked open her eyes. She scrabbled up, heart racing. The apprentices' den was pitch-black so that she could hardly see the walls. Her denmates were nowhere to be find. Paws pricking, she slipped into the clearing and looked up at the sky. Dawn was lightning the top of the tall cliffs, the moon no more than a claw scratch. In front of the nursery, Sparrowclaw was pacing back and forth nervously. Raindapple is kitting! The warrior had moved into the nursery a little while ago with a kit-swollen belly, her second litter to Sparrowclaw. She saw Lightningmask and Moonface watching their father, motionless as they sat side by side. She trotted over to them.

"I can't believe you guys are going to be big brothers, are you excited?"

"Of course!" Lightningmask meowed. "I'm just worried about Raindapple."

"Oh please, she had to kit you two."

Moonface twitched his whiskers, "what's that supposed to mean?"

"You already know the answer to that." She winked and Lightningmask playfully shoved her.

Applepaw came over with her littermates, "why is the Clan so worked up?"

Snakepaw yawned, "I already told you! Raindapple is kitting."

"So?"

"It's not every day that new life is given to us," explained Moonface.

Applepaw screwed up his face in concentration. "Don't overthink it," Rabbitpaw purred.

Fuzzypaw trotted past them then, borage leaves hanging from her mouth. Moonface stopped her, "How is she?"

"Fine, Duckfeather's with her." She ducked into the nursery while Lightningmask growled.

"That doesn't make me feel any better." Hawkpaw stifled a laugh.

A screech sounded, making the talking cease. Another small, pained cry echoed from inside, followed by a weak mewling. Sparrowclaw who was tense with agitation and worry poked his head in only to be shoved out by Duckfeather who shouldered past and snorted at the tom. "Raindapple has birthed a healthy she-kit." A sigh of relief went around the Clan as Sparrowclaw asked:

"How is Raindapple?"

"She's fine, just exhausted from the difficult kitting."

Sparrowclaw narrowed his eyes, "difficult?"

"Yeah, your kit's stubborn just like you. You may go in but make it short, she needs rest. I gave her borage leaves to help with the milk supply so she'll be tired." Sparrowclaw didn't wait any longer, he squeezed inside and Hawkpaw felt a prickle of curiosity. She slunk to the entrance and peeked inside.

A tired Raindapple was lying in her nest, a gray kit suckling at her belly. She purred, "let's name her Mosskit, for her fur is soft like moss." Sparrowclaw smiled and nuzzled his mate, bending down to lick their new daughter.

Cherrykit and Softkit were being held back by Daisypelt's tail, peering over their mother at the new kit. "What is that thing?"

"That's your new denmate, so be nice to her," Daisypelt purred.

Softkit wrinkled her nose, "she stinks."

"Shush, go back to sleep." Hawkpaw backed up and found Lightningmask and Moonface right behind her.

"So?" they asked in unison.

"You have a cute little sister," she mewed, her eyes twinkling as they smiled weakly.

Early-morning sunlight streamed down onto the forest floor as Hawkpaw roamed in search of prey. She paused to sniff the earth and the cold blind things that moved within it. Now that greenleaf was fully here, leaves were thick on the branches and tiny creatures were busy beneath the carpet of leaf mold. Hawkpaw made a lean, strong shape as she moved silently through the trees, all her senses alert for prey that she might come across. Today was her first solo task and she was determined to do well, even if it was only to bring prey back to the Clan.

The stench of dog laid heavy in the air by the Twoleg campgrounds. The smell was stale so it must have been going on a walk with a Twoleg. Flareheart had taught her the scent of dog, but apart from the barking from the distant moor, she had never seen one properly. She struggled to screen out the scent of the dog and concentrate on prey. Suddenly her whiskers prickled as she homed in on the warm blood-beat of prey - a magpie busy about cleaning its plumage.

A heartbeat later she saw the magpie. The bird was plump, making her mouth water in anticipation. Dropping in a crouch, Hawkpaw began to stalk the little creature. Her tan belly fur brushed against the damp grass. She crept closer, her eyes never leaving the prey. She was almost there, another moment and she would be near enough to spring.

Suddenly there was a loud rustle in the ferns behind her. The magpie's head popped up and it shot into the air, it's shrill warning carried in the air. Hawkpaw hissed and felt her hackles rising. Whatever disturbed her first good chance of catching prey was going to have to pay.

She sniffed the air. She could tell it was a cat, but couldn't distinguish which Clan it belonged to - the stale scent of dog still confusing her smell-sense. What if it's an enemy? A growl rose in her throat as she began doubling back in a wide circle, pricking her ears and widening her eyes to seek out any movement. It was becoming louder, off to one side. Hawkpaw edged closer. She could see the ferns moving, but the fronds still hid the enemy from view. A twig snapped with a sharp cracking noise. From the noise it's making, it must be big, she thought as she prepared herself for a fierce battle. She hid behind the trunk of an ash and held her breath, watching as the invisible warrior came closer and closer still.

"Gr-aaar!" The battle cry rumbled in Hawkpaw's throat. Claws unsheathed, she launched herself at the warrior and dug her thorn-sharp claws in their shoulders. They gave a yelp of surprise and rolled onto their back in an attempt to dislodge their attacker. She rolled with them, squashed and flattened beneath the heavy body. The familiar scent of Lightningmask washed over her then.

"L-Lightningmask? Whoa!" He sprang up and nipped at her growling, but stopped when he saw it was her.

"Hawkpaw? What are doing, you nearly shredded me!" Lightningmask grumbled as he twisted his head around to lick his sore shoulders. She got up and shook off the dirt on her pelt.

"Sorry," Hawkpaw mumbled. "I was hunting a magpie until you startled it with your creeping up on me."

His eyes widened, "creeping? That was my best stealth crouch!"

She snorted in disbelief. "Stealth! You were more like a crooked badger." She flattened her ears playfully.

Lightningmask gave a hiss of delight, "I'll show you crooked!"

The two cats leaped at each other and began rolling over and over in a play-fight. Lightningmask swiped at Hawkpaw with a hefty paw and the apprentice's head buzzed with stars. She shook her head to clear it and then launched a counterattack. Lightningmask managed to get a few paw strikes before she overpowered him, pinning him to the ground. She pricked her claws on his stomach making him laugh.

"Hey, that tickles!"

She blinked at him with innocently with big eyes. "What does, this?" She tickled him some more making him howl with laughter.

"I give up, I give up. Please stop," he breathed heavily.

"I win!" she crowed. She jumped nimbly off the warrior and began squirming around in the leaf litter, enjoying her easy victory and warmth of the earth against her back. I am getting stronger! Lightningmask seemed unbothered by his defeat and started washing his paws.

"So, how do you like your sister?"

Lightningmask looked up, "You mean, Mosskit? I haven't been able to play with her lately but she's cool. I wish I could spend more time with her."

"She's lucky to have someone like you as her brother," she purred and he licked his chest fur bashfully.

"Yeah, I guess. Since I made you lose that magpie, I can help out if you like."

"It doesn't matter," Hawkpaw mewed. "I'll find another. It's such a warm day, there should be plenty of prey bustling about."

"True. But you still have to catch them," he meowed thoughtfully. She gave a tiny nod and heard her belly grumble.

"I suppose it wouldn't hurt to have some assistance."

"Come on then!" Hawkpaw followed Lightningmask, glad for the company and help. As she predicted, hunting was good that day. Before long, Lightningmask had pounced on a small mouse and Hawkpaw caught a blackbird and plump wren.

"Good job!" he purred as she trotted over with her catches. "Here, take my mouse and go back, you can say you got this too. I was never here." He winked and she laughed around the feathers in her mouth. She picked up the mouse and dipped her head.

"See you later," she meowed and trekked onward lighthearted. My first solo mission was a success!

As she sweeped past the tunnel, Cherrykit and Softkit raced towards her, almost making her drop the fresh-kill.

"Wow! Look at all that! Can we have some?" Softkit wound around her legs with kitten-soft fur.

"I think you're too young yet," she said around the prey. "excuse me." She let go of the birds onto the pile, the heap up to her chest. She kept the mouse and walked over to the elders' den. Muffled mews sounded from inside and Hawkpaw strained her ears to hear.

"Would you like me to remove your ticks, Robinpelt?" Fuzzypaw's voice squeaked.

"No, I want to be bitten by pesky bugs till the day I die. Of course I want these vermin removed! Thank you, kit."

"I'm an apprentice," she muttered under her breath loud enough for Hawkpaw to hear. She stooped down and slithered inside, laying the mouse down.

"I brought you guys some fresh-kill."

"Thank you, Hawkpaw. That was very thoughtful of you," Hightail rasped and starting chewing on the critter.

"Yuck! I don't like mice, I'd rather eat a bird!" Robinpelt grunted and she saw Fuzzypaw cringe. "Birds are so much more...Mrrrowww!" He suddenly howled in pain. "Be more gentle, kit!"

"Sorry, that tick was a nasty one," Fuzzypaw twitched her ear. What's her deal?

"So, Dazedpaw, are you ready to go to the Moonpool tonight?"

Fuzzypaw brightened up, "yeah! I'm so thrilled that I get to become a medicine cat!" She wasn't bugged by Hawkpaw's tease at all which got under her skin. Why doesn't she react to the name I give her?

"Well, since you haven't technically been made an apprentice yet, I think you should still be called Dazedkit," Hawkpaw said roughly.

"Well Duckfeather announced that I was Fuzzypaw, so I think it's okay."

"I don't know about that. Are you sure you're even six moons old? You're the size of a newborn!"

"That's true, Owlpelt says I'll stay a kit forever," Fuzzypaw giggled. Hawkpaw grinded her teeth in annoyance and swept outside, sick of the brat. Ugh! That Dazedpaw is so dense and...and...a mouse-brain! It's no fun to pick on her if she won't oppose my attempts to provoke her. I hate that cat.

Hawkpaw sat down with a huff by the apprentice's den and furiously nibbled at a front claw, stripping off a piece of the outer sheath. Her littermates joined, Applepaw at their heels. She noticed that Applepaw was hanging around Rabbitpaw lately, obviously becoming close friends. She felt a pang of jealousy, but also happiness for her brother to have such a nice friend.

"So, who ruffled your fur?" Snakepaw nudged her, oak leaves wrapped around his leg.

"Daz-er, Fuzzypaw." She thought for a moment. "It was odd though, she was acting strange when Robinpelt starting talking about birds."

Rabbitpaw stiffened, "Really?"

"Yeah, why?"

"One sunrise ago, I had found this starling with a missing wing in a nest that was hidden behind the nursery and I decided to kill it," he meowed. "I was just starting to eat my find when Fuzzypaw shoved me away from my fresh-kill and was screaming at me like a lunatic. She was like, 'You killed her, you killed Star!' It was so odd. Of course I killed the bird, it was prey!"

Snakepaw and Applepaw were laughing while Hawkpaw snorted, "I guess she snapped already, she sounds crazier than a fox in a fit!"

"I bet it's because of Duckfeather, he's already insane."

"Insane and moody," Applepaw giggled. Hawkpaw purred with amusement, pleased to be goofing off with her siblings and friend. I could stay like this forever!