Nearly two moons had passed and the musk of leaf-fall filled the air. The hot greenleaf kiss was fading, welcoming the cold days yet to come. Hawkpaw was busy in the nursery plucking old moss from the beds. Gentleleaf was finally persuaded by Tallwhisker to move in after he begged her constantly, and she grew so tired she just caved in. Applepaw was sad to see his mentor move to the nursery, and was now stuck with Ravenpelt. She felt bad, Ravenpelt was about as moody as Robinpelt, the crankiest elder known. She sighed as she pushed aside another stack of worn lichen. She wished she could have help, but Applepaw was out training and Rabbitpaw and Snakepaw were hunting somewhere.

Snakepaw suddenly barged in, his silver tabby pelt bristling with excitement. "Guess what?"

Hawkpaw flashed a look of thunder towards him as the sudden gust of air scattered her pile. "Look what you did! I just spent all morning collecting that," she shrieked.

"Look, you can claw me later, we are having our warrior assessments now!" Hawkpaw completely forgot about her job and lurched outside.

"Come on, slowpoke!" She yelled at her brother who was slipping out after her. Softkit and Cherrykit tumbled over and wound around their paws.

"Can we come?" Softkit fluttered her lashes pleadingly. Hawkpaw's whiskers twitched.

"Sorry, but you aren't allowed to go out yet."

"Please? We want to watch your evaluation," Cherrykit mewed.

"How do you know we are having our assessment?" Snakepaw rebuked with a scoff.

Softkit blinked, "we just do."

"It wouldn't have anything to do with eavesdropping, now would it?" he meowed.

Cherrykit gasped, "never! We wouldn't do that." Hawkpaw had to choke back a purr.

"I'm sure. Another time," Hawkpaw vowed.

"There won't be another time," Softkit muttered.

"Sorry. Wish us luck!" Hawkpaw charged off with her littermate at her heels, the two kits staring after them.

"Bring us fresh-kill!" Softkit squeaked. Hawkpaw smiled and ran outside. They raced to the training area where they found Rabbitpaw, Applepaw, Ravenpelt, Cloudchaser, Webfur, Flareheart and Morningstar waiting.

"What's Applepaw doing here?" Snakepaw asked as they trotted over.

"He'll be helping with your test," Ravenpelt growled. The brown apprentice lifted his head.

"Morningstar?" Hawkpaw cocked her head. Why was the leader here?

"I'll be watching you three during your assessment, I would like to see the potential of my future warriors," he meowed. Hawkpaw gulped, her nerves tingling.

"Well then, let's get started," Flareheart whisked her tail. "How about we start with hunting. I want each of you to catch two pieces of prey. One of them must be a bird. Hawkpaw, you will hunting by the abandoned Twoleg nest, and Rabbitpaw can hunt by the Sky Oak. Snakepaw, you can go anywhere you like, try to pick a rich spot."

Hawkpaw bounced on her toes a little, I love hunting! "Very well," she mewed.

Her mentor gave a calm smile, "We will be watching you guys to see your progress. But don't worry about us, focus on hunting."

"Of course," Rabbitpaw waved his tail.

"You may start whenever you feel ready," Cloudchaser grinned. Hawkpaw didn't hesitate to pad away in the direction of the house. She saw the old nest standing mute. The only residents now were the spiders. Many generations had laced the walls with cobwebs of intricate beauty, though now even they lay in dusty rags. She sniffed around it, eager to find prey. Calm down, she reminded herself. You need to take your time and focus.

She silently slipped inside, shuddering from the encasing walls. She opened her mouth to catch any scents and swiveled her ears as she heard the distinct scampering of mouse. Getting into a stalking crouch she slowly crept to it, readying her legs for the pounce. I got this! It's just like normal, except someone is constantly watching me and judging. Suppressing a shiver of fear she leapt, swiftly killing the mouse. Yes! Only one more to go! Proudly, she buried her newly caught prey next to the abandoned nest and continued her search. Walking slowly, she detected the faint smell of sparrow. She spotted the small and plump brown-gray songbird picking at a worm among bracken.

She quietly approached it until she was close enough. The sparrow managed to pull the worm free then. Taking a deep breath she burst from the brush and startled the bird. The sparrow squawked in surprise and tried to fly away but she quickly hooked it with her claws, holding it down. Hurriedly, she nipped its neck and gave a breath of relief. I completed my first task. I wonder how the others are doing?

She backtracked and uncovered her mouse, bringing the two creatures back to the training arena. Applepaw was playing with some moss as his new mentor was busy grooming his pelt. They looked up as she returned, amazement lighting Applepaw's eyes.

"Wow! That was fast, you are the first back." Hawkpaw purred and dropped the prey. Flareheart came in behind her.

"That was great, even Morningstar was impressed."

"You were both watching?"

"Yup." Flareheart chuckled and sniffed Hawkpaw's catches. "The Clan will be happy."

Rabbitpaw trotted out of some trees all of a sudden, a thrush and vole in his mouth. Cloudchaser appeared next, his muzzle raised to the sky.

"I think a storm is brewing," he murmured. Hawkpaw eyed the sky nervously. The clouds that had been wispy and white that morning were now darker and more dense. She shifted her paws, this was not the day to be caught in a downpour.

Ravenpelt glanced up from his grooming, "let's speed this up." Flareheart nodded.

After several heartbeats, Snakepaw joined them. He only had a robin hanging in his jaws and put it next to the other fresh-kill, his mentor shaking his head slowly as he sat down.

"It's okay, Snakepaw. That rabbit was scrawny anyways," Webfur meowed.

"Still would have fed the Clan," Snakepaw hissed, anger blazing in his yellow eyes.

"Aww, could you not handle the wittle wabbit?" Hawkpaw teased.

"Shut up, I'm better at fighting," he snarled.

Morningstar strode forward, "let us move on to battle techniques. We will be assessing your battle skills right here. Who would like to start?"

Hawkpaw eagerly hopped up and down, "Me please!"

Morningstar gave a nod and flicked his tail at Snakepaw, "you will be her opponent. You two may use anything you've been taught, just make sure your claws are sheathed."

Hawkpaw saw Ravenpelt whisper in Applepaw's ear, "watch them and learn." She flexed her muscles and readied herself in the middle of the clearing. The others sat around the edge.

Snakepaw glared, "get ready."

"Oh believe me, I've been aching for this. I'll make sure to defeat you again in this rematch."

"Hmpf, don't act so arrogant. I've been training hard." If only you knew brother, she thought smugly.

"Begin!" Morningstar's yowl resounded in her ears and she launched herself. Snakepaw rolled to the right and slammed against her side.

She landed with a thud as Snakepaw scoffed, "you fight like a kittypet! And you think you can become a warrior?" He was about to pin her down when she shot up and swiped both forepaws, batting him back until he jumped away. Hawkpaw felt a rush of satisfaction as she leaped, but it turned to confusion as Snakepaw unexpectedly sprang into the air and let her crash into the ground where he had stood just a heartbeat before. He secured himself on her back, nipping her ear. She hissed in frustration and threw him off, staggering onto her paws. I will win!

This time, as Snakepaw leaped at Hawkpaw, he stretched out his forepaws. She reared up on her hind legs and used her forepaws to twist him away. Snakepaw scrambled with his hind paws in the moss, but it was too late and he flopped heavily unto his side. She let out a triumphant yowl as she held him down.

He spat in annoyance, "mouse-dung!"

Webfur sighed, "good job, Hawkpaw, again. Please exit, I would like Rabbitpaw and Applepaw next."

"Me?" Applepaw squeaked.

"Let's do this," Rabbitpaw bellowed as he hopped into the clearing. Applepaw gulped nervously and followed the older apprentice.

The fight didn't take long. Applepaw was overcome by her brother quickly, allowing them to move on to the final task. They halted in front of the Sky Oak, where each of the apprentices had to climb it. Hawkpaw and her littermates passed with ease, so with the extra time they had, they put Applepaw to the test. Hawkpaw wanted to watch his try to climb the tree, but Flareheart beckoned her with her tail. They padded away promptly and slowed down to a calm pace.

"Hawkpaw, what do you know about battle? Well a more specific question is, what do you know about surprise attacks?"

Hawkpaw tilted her head in thought, "Well, in surprise attacks you must be very vigilant and quiet, and be aware of your surroundings. You must also keep downwind of the trespassers so that your scent doesn't give you away." I think that's correct at least.

Flareheart kept walking, listening to her explanation. "Yes, that is quite right. But you missed one thing." The she-cat stopped, turned around, and leaped at her while knocking her over to the side, but not too hard that is hurt. "Never let your guard down," Flareheart shook out her fur and sat down.

Hawkpaw quickly regained her footing and growled, narrowing her dark green eyes. "That's not fair," she complained.

Flareheart let out a mrrow of laughter. "Trust me, that isn't the worst thing that you'll have to face." She gave a small goofy smile. "In battle with cats or even other animals, you have to be focused. You can't read their minds, so they could attack at any moment. Now, if someone does attack you, what is the first thing you should do?"She is obviously testing my knowledge, Hawkpaw thought.

Hawkpaw screwed up her face in concentration. "Well of course I would assess my attacker as I dodge their blows for any weaknesses," she mewed.

Flareheart nodded in agreement. "You were wonderful today."

She grinned, "I know."

"Hawkpaw, through thick and thin, you've come very far on your apprenticeship journey, and I am so proud that I was able to share my knowledge with you." The ginger she-cat gave a soft smile, trying to hide her sadness. "And I hope you have an amazing experience as a warrior." Hawkpaw dipped his head in respect, her eyes started to slightly water.

"Thank you for everything. You were a great mentor." She nuzzled her sweetly, purring so hard she couldn't speak anymore. I'm finally going to become a warrior!

After collecting their fresh-kill, they returned to the camp, excitement thrumming through Hawkpaw's spiked fur. The warriors went inside the leader's den, Morningstar's brown tipped tail disappearing in the cave. She sat anxiously next to her brother's, waiting beneath the highledge. I hope we passed, she prayed. Lightningmask and Moonface joined them.

"How did it go?" asked Moonface.

"Good, I think," Rabbitpaw mewed.

"Snakepaw was terrible," Hawkpaw sneered.

Her brother lashed his tail, "I was not! Webfur said I was excellent."

"He only said that because he felt bad for his poor apprentice."

Moonface chortled and meowed, "come on you two. Don't argue now."

"Yeah, they might still be watching you," Lightningmask smirked.

"That's funny," Hawkpaw poked his rib cage.

"Shush! Here they come," Rabbitpaw fidgeted. Their mentors padded down and seated themselves as Morningstar stepped out. His calico pelt was lifted in the breeze as he stood on the highledge. This is it!