"Keep your tail tucked when you stand up!" Thistleclaw hissed beside her. Hawkpaw fell back down on all fours panting, and tried again. She wrapped her tail around her hind legs as she reared, holding her paws up. "Now hold it," he growled. He inspected her position and finally gave a small nod for her to continue. She brought down her front paws onto her imaginary opponent, crushing them with her full weight. "Not bad, but your legs were shaking which means your enemy could have easily knocked you down before you got the chance to complete the upright lock. You need to strengthen your muscles if you want to perfect this. Let's do it again but against me this time. I will fight back so you'll have to try to wrestle me down first." Thistleclaw crouched before her and hissed. Hawkpaw unsheathed her claws and reared, quickly wrapping her tail, but he did the same and more swiftly. She wrestled with him, his claws sinking into her skin as they tousled. Thistleclaw then flipped her under him and started raking her belly with thorn-sharp claws. She yowled and wriggled trying to escape, yet to no prevail. Hawkpaw finally managed to kick him off and speedily sliced downward at his face, but he twisted out of the way and sunk his teeth in her scruff shaking it hard. He shook her head so violently she became too rattled to fight back as he flung her against a tree. She landed with a groan and laid there, wheezing for breath.

"You're still to weak! Get up, we're doing it again." Hawkpaw got up and swayed, crimson blood pooling from her wounds.

"Here I come," she lunged and raised a paw to swipe at his right ear. He ducked to avoid her strike and rose up, towering over her. Quickly Hawkpaw rolled onto her back, slithered beneath his body, and in one fast movement kicked both her back legs upward into his belly. Thistleclaw was flung backwards and fell onto the dark earth with a loud grunt. She didn't wait to get on top and pin him down, smiling with success. She let him stand up and he licked his paw in thought, eyeing her.

Thistleclaw meowed softly, "You might be ready shortly."

Hawkpaw's feet tingled, "ready for what?"

"You'll see soon enough, be patient." Hawkpaw woke up with a jolt in her nest and found caked blood on her pelt. Looking around nervously, she washed herself, trying to cover up her wounds. After a while she laid her head down on her paws, yet was unable to fall asleep. She sighed and stretched, crawling out of her nest and trotting over to the dirt-place to relieve herself. She heard snores from Daisypelt inside the nursery who had transferred there a quarter-moon ago, affirming her theory that she would move in when newleaf came. Moonface, who was on guard duty, acknowledged her with a slight gesture. She inclined her head and ducked into the dirtplace. After finishing up, she took a stroll through the deciduous woodland making up ThunderClan's territory. She breathed in the rich scent of the fragrance of the wet leaves and loam. Every kind of life, from the humble beetle to the enchanting songbird, where awake and bustling about. The only movement was the occasional bird startled in a tree or a squirrel dashing up a nearby trunk, the sound of the waves lapping on the shore from the lake kept the same hypnotic quality. She took in all the air her lungs could hold and expelled it slowly, relishing this moment of bliss and the cascading light, a brilliant white shaft warming her pelt.

"Hawkpaw? What are you doing out here so early?" She whirled around but relaxed when she saw it was just Morningstar.

"I was just getting some fresh air."

"I understand, it can get cramped inside the camp. Trust me I know, I am there a lot."

"Why don't you come out more often?"

He purred, "well, I'm older now and it's becoming more difficult to move around so much. Though I still go out on patrols once in a while to see how the Clan is doing."

"Do you like being leader?"

"Of course, but I have to remind myself it is a privilege and I shouldn't take it for granted. Many cats dream to become leader and I am just lucky enough to have reached this position, although sometimes it may become a bit overwhelming, but in the end I will always put my life before the Clan." She nodded and scuffled the ground with her paw.

"Do you ever want more?"

"What?"

She shook her head, "nothing. I'm going back now, Flareheart will be mad if I don't go out on a patrol." She padded away feeling Morningstar's stare burning on the back of her pelt. At the camp, Flareheart was starting the patrols and she scurried over to join.

"Tallwhisker, take a border patrol to the WindClan border with Brighteyes, Webfur and Snakepaw." The pale tabby nodded and headed out with his patrol, his unusually long whiskers bobbing. "Sparrowclaw take a hunting patrol by the abandoned Twoleg nest with Gentleleaf, Lightningmask and Applepaw."

Applepaw swiped the air excitedly, "Yes! I am going to catch the biggest piece of prey!"

Flareheart continued, "Then I will lead another hunting patrol with Ravenpelt and Hawkpaw."

"I'll join you guys," Morningstar crossed over to them.

"Morningstar? You sure you want to come?"

"Yeah, these old bones need some good stretching."

Okay, we'll be hunting around the Sky Oak then," she sounded baffled but flicked her tail-tip anyways. Morningstar winked at Hawkpaw as he trotted ahead and she giggled. They reached the Sky Oak that was now thick with foliage thanks to the kiss of newleaf, and waited for Flareheart's order. "Let's split up for now, and we can meet back here when we're finished."

"Okay," Ravenpelt swiftly strode away, his sleek black pelt disappearing into the tree line. Hawkpaw stalked towards the lake shore and tasted the air, shrew! The gray rodent was digging for food so she crouched, moving one paw at a time quietly. When she was close enough, she pounced but landed a mouselength away causing it to squeal and scurry away.

"Mousedung!" she cursed and kicked a pebble into the lake, ripples erupting from where the stone landed. She followed the fear-drenched scent line of the shrew hoping it didn't hide in its burrow and luckily found it scratching at a nut. She snuck up on it and leapt onto its back, killing with a quick nip to the back of its neck. "Ha!" She buried it and patted the loose soil before moving on. After a few minutes, she found a squirrel at the base of a tree and crept forward. Hawkpaw wiggled her haunches and burst into a run, startling the creature and pursued it through the feathery fronds whipping against her fur. She caught up to it and killed it swiftly. She carried the squirrel back to the spot where she buried the shrew and took both back to the Sky Oak where Ravenpelt had a thrush at his feet. She dropped her prey and groomed herself as they waited for the others.

"Good catch," he mewed.

"Thanks, you too." The conversation died and she thought, he's not one for talking, huh?

At that moment, the silence was broken by movement in the underbrush as a small ginger she-cat with a blaze of orange around her neck stepped out. "Flareheart! What did you catch?"

She sighed, "not much unfortunately, just a mouse. Where's Morningstar?"

"Not back yet," Ravenpelt said. Flareheart glanced at the sky.

"I'm going to look for him, it's already sunhigh and the Clan will be hungry."

"Should we head back awhile?"

"Sure, we'll see you back at camp. Take my mouse with you two," she meowed before padding away. Ravenpelt picked up her mouse by its tail and his bird, walking into the forest without bothering to wait for Hawkpaw. She frowned and took her haul back. After dropping off the prey at the heap of fresh-kill, she yawned and spotted Fuzzykit following Duckfeather around. What's that kit up to? Isn't she frightened by Duckfeather, he is a grump after all.

Curiosity spiked her pelt and she was about to investigate when a yowl sounded: "Hawkpaw! Come get these irritating fleas out of my fur! I know you came back so don't even think about hiding!"

She growled as she stomped over to the medicine cat's den, "I wish I could get the annoying elder out of my hair." She saw Duckfeather sorting through herbs and asked, "Mouse-bile please?"

"Hunting ticks, huh? What did you do?" He tossed a wet moss bundle at her and returned to his duty.

"Nothing special, just a victim of Ravenpelt." She picked it up and wrinkled her nose at the rancid smell. She ducked inside the elders' den and was greeted by a grouchy Robinpelt who was nibbling at his flank.

"Took you long enough," he snarled.

"Sorry, let me help." She dug through his fur and bit fleas, pressing the soaked moss-ball on his coat. After she was finished she picked up the wad of moss and walked out. Not even a meager thanks! she fumed. She returned the ball of moss to the medicine cat's den and ate the mouse Flareheart caught. They're still not back. Wonder where they are. Hawkpaw felt fearful for her mentor and leader. I hope nothing bad happened, we were going to practice battle moves with Snakepaw and Rabbitpaw.

Just then she saw a familiar peach-colored coat with ginger stripes. She leaped to her paws and addressed her mother, "Sorrelbreeze! How are you doing?"

Sorrelbreeze's voice was barely audible, "I am doing well. I think I'm going to rest now."

"Now? Isn't it kind of early?" she asked confused. What was wrong with her mom? She wasn't acting like her normal self.

"Sorrelbreeze, what are you doing out here? Come on, dear." Raindapple led her mother to the warriors' den, their tails vanishing into the darkness. What's going on with her?

Flareheart finally came back with Morningstar. "Hey, Hawkpaw. Ready to train?" She saw a scrawny mouse swinging in Morningstar's jaws as he passed them, and she narrowed her eyes in suspicion. It took them that long to catch that scrap? She didn't say anything, just nodded. "Go fetch Snakepaw, Rabbitpaw and Applepaw."

"I think Applepaw is still out actually."

"Really? Maybe we should wait for them, I know he wanted to train with us."

She groaned, "I'm so sick of waiting."

Flareheart laughed, "you need to learn patience. You must sit tight now." She huffed but thankfully Applepaw stormed in at that moment with his hunting patrol.

"Let's train!" he demanded excitedly. Hawkpaw smothered a laugh with her paw and cleared her throat.

"Are you ready for some intense fighting?" she taunted.

"Yeah! Come on, I'll race you there."

"You're on!" She charged after him, ignoring her mentor's call to hold up. I'm done waiting, I want to show off my new moves from Thistleclaw!

She hared after Applepaw, pushing harder with every stride until she was neck and neck with the young cat. He glanced over at her as she passed him and she skidded to a halt when they reached the mossy clearing, Applepaw scrambling to a messy stop.

The others caught up moments later and Flareheart scolded her, "You shouldn't have raced off like that! What if one of you got hurt?"

She snorted, "Oh please, what could have possibly happened?"

Flareheart glared down at her, "don't speak back to your mentor like that. I can make you clean the elders' nests and pick their fleas for a moon if you like." Hawkpaw scowled.

"Can we just start?" she dug her claws in the soft ground impatiently, itching to fight.

"Let's see how far you've gotten. Battle against Snakepaw to begin with. Is that alright with you, Webfur?"

Her brother's mentor agreed and Snakepaw pushed past her. "Let's see what you got, Lamepaw."

"Ha! Are you even trying to insult me?" She spat as she faced Snakepaw in the clearing and flattened her ears threateningly. He crouched, waiting for approval to start.

"Go!" Webfur yowled and Snakepaw reared but Hawkpaw lashed out with her back legs, taking weight off her front paws, and surprised him with the explosive move. He was pushed back into defense as she stood up on her back paws, tucking her fluffy tail around them. She remembered her lessons on the upright lock with Thistleclaw and brought down her full weight on him, crushing him. She let out a wail of triumph.

"Gr, you cheated!" Snakepaw yelled.

"How did I cheat, Lamepaw?" She used the nickname he gave her earlier against him and he snarled.

"Okay break it up you two, only kits call each other names." Cloudchaser stepped between them.

"He started it!"

"Kits are also tattletales, should you be sent back to the nursery?"

"Sorry," she mumbled.

Cloudchaser's expression softened, "good job though, you fought well." Hawkpaw brightened up from his praise and smirked at her brother who was angrily licking his fur. "Next, let's have Rabbitpaw and Snakepaw."

"Aww, I want to go again."

"You will," promised Flareheart. "Sit here until then." She patted the ground next to her and Hawkpaw lowered her haunches on the dry earth.

"That was awesome!" Applepaw whispered to her.

"Thanks," she purred. She watched her littermates fight, Snakepaw easily defeating Rabbitpaw with the back leg rake. How pathetic, Rabbitpaw was beaten in less than a heartbeat. She nudged Applepaw, "I think we're up next."

His eyes widened, "really? I get to go against you?"

She laughed, "exciting right? Come on." She entered the arena again and lowered herself until her stomach brushed the moss.

"Begin!" Flareheart's shout rung in her ears and she targeted his legs with a paw strike, unbalancing him. He yelped as he dropped and all of a sudden, her eyes thinned to slits, an odd ringing in her mind. Whispers echoed in her head, kill, kill, kill. She tried to block the voice but it only grew stronger and seemed to take control of her. Before she knew it her claws were unsheathed and she dove toward Applepaw, catching his chin and drawing blood in the process.

"H-Hawkpaw?" His frightened mew drove her on. Stop! she screamed in her mind. What are you doing, stop it! Fear rose within in her as she bit his neck, churning her back paws on his shoulder, sending fur clumps flying behind her and blood splattering the grass. Red tinged the edge of her vision and everything was going black. What's happening to me?!

Gentleleaf jumped in and jaws closed around her neck fur as she hauled her off, holding her down. "Hawkpaw! Sheathe your claws, what do you think you're doing?" Her furious meow drew her back into reality and she gasped for breath, retracting her talons.

Flareheart's eyes were round with shock and horror as she stared at her. "You can't attack your Clanmate! What in StarClan's name were you thinking?"

Hawkpaw blinked. Applepaw was trembling, bloody and tattered, on the ground beside his mentor. What was that? What have I done?