"Bloodkit! Look at me!" Mistykit squeaked as she leaped into the air. "Look how high I can jump!"

He let out a purr of amusement. "Be careful! If you jump any higher, your head is going to pop through the roof of the den!"

Coldkit shouldered his sister aside, puffing out his chest. "I bet I can jump higher!" He boasted. "I'll be able to catch every bird in the forest!"

The light gray she-kit leaped to her paws. "Will not!"

"Will too!"

As the kits began to bicker, Bloodkit's attention turned to the clearing. Outside of the den, he saw Swiftpaw padding across the clearing to the elders den, holding a wad of wet moss in his jaws. Suddenly, Revengepaw rushed past him, shoving his brother aside. "Race you!" He mumbled around the moss he was carrying. Swiftpaw purred and bounded after him.

Bloodkit looked away, his heart sinking. Two moons ago, Swiftpaw had become an apprentice. He'd promised to visit him when he could. But his old friend hadn't said a word to him since. Bloodkit tried to tell himself that Swiftpaw was just busy with his training, but he couldn't help but feel like the black and white apprentice had forgotten him.

Maybe we aren't even friends anymore. Bloodkit thought miserably. He missed having Swiftpaw in the nursery. However, on the bright side, Poisonedsap had returned to her warrior duties, and somehow the nursery felt safer without her. Bloomfire and Diamondrain seemed relieved to have her gone too.

He saw the newest warrior, Mottledface, rush by the nursery toward the apprentices. "Hey, Revengepaw!" He called. "Wanna go practice some battle moves?"

The big white apprentice's eyes gleamed, his tail twitching. "Yeah!" He turned to his brother. "Come on!"

"Bloodkit!"

He faintly heard Mistykit call out his name, but was still distracted. Something touched him and he snapped out of his thoughts, turning to see that his mother had rested her tail on his shoulder, looking at him with concern. "Are you alright?"

As Coldkit and Mistykit began to play together, Bloodkit looked down. "Swiftpaw doesn't talk to me. I don't think he wants to be my friend anymore."

Bloomfire's green eyes softened with sympathy. "I'm sure that's not true." She rasped her tongue over his head. "Swiftpaw is an apprentice now. He has more duties and responsibilities." She paused. "You'll be seeing each other more often soon enough."

He blinked, tilting his head. "What do you mean?"

The orange she-cat let out an amused purr. "Don't tell me you've forgotten! You're being apprenticed today!"

Bloodkit's heart nearly shot up his throat as he remembered. Today's the day! I'm going to start training to be a warrior! "I am!" He squeaked out. "Yes!"

"What?" Coldkit and Mistykit leaped apart, their gray fur fluffing up as they stared at Bloodkit with wide eyes. They raced at him, and he let out a startled purr as they tackled him. "Don't go!" Mistykit wailed, pawing at his back while her brother pounced on his tail.

"Who's going to play with us?" Coldkit protested. "We need you!" He sprang onto his back, nipping his ear.

Mistykit pressed her muzzle into his fur. "We'll be lonely!"

Bloodkit gently pushed them away, stumbling to his feet and shaking scraps of moss from his pelt, touched by their words. He hadn't realized how much he meant to them. "Don't worry, I'll still be around!" He paused. "I'll visit you as often as I can, and show you everything I learn."

"You promise?" The kits stared at him.

"I promise." And I'll keep that promise. Bloodkit added silently. Unlike Swiftpaw...

"Let all cats old enough to catch their own prey, gather beneath the rock for a clan meeting!"

Bloodkit froze at Depthstar's yowl from the clearing. It's time! Oh, StarClan, it's time! Bloomfire let out a purr, and he turned to see Flameheart poke his head into the den.

"Depthstar is ready," He meowed, his eyes gleaming as he gazed at his son. Bloodkit felt ready to explode with excitement. I'm going to be an apprentice! I'm going to train to be a warrior! He started toward Flameheart.

"Come here!" His mother gasped, pulling him close with a white paw, beginning to lap at his red tabby fur. "Your fur is a mess!"

"Okay, okay!" Bloodkit squeaked, pulling away. "I have to go!"

Flameheart let out a purr. "He looks fine, Bloomfire." He turned away, waving his ginger tabby tail. "Are you ready, Bloodkit?"

"Of course!" Bloodkit bounded after him eagerly, his mother rising to her paws and following.

"Goodbye!" Coldkit squeaked after him, and Mistykit added, "You'll be the best apprentice ever!"

Yes! I will be! Bloodkit puffed his chest out, suddenly full of confidence as he exited the den. I'll focus really hard, and I'll be the greatest warrior Shadowclan's ever-

Ah!

He froze. The whole clan was gathered in the clearing, looking at the meeting rock. Depthstar stood atop it, his glossy blue-black pelt shining under the sun. Cobratail sat on the smaller rock beside him, his tail curled neatly around his paws, muscles rippling under his black and red fur. Outside of the medicine den, Hawkfeather and Dewstorm sat, looking at their leader. Several cats turned their heads to look at Bloodkit, and he tensed under their gaze.

"Bloodkit," Depthstar called. "Come forward."

He jumped a little as Flameheart nudged him with his muzzle. "Go on," He prompted softly. Bloodkit swallowed and slowly began to pad forward through the crowd. He felt as though their eyes were burning into him.

"It's that one," Ashcloud murmured to Greenpine.

Crowmask twitched his ear. "Bloodkit."

"What do you think of him?" Foxshadow whispered to Cliffshade, who growled. "I think Hawkfeather's right."

Bloodkit's pelt burned. He hurried past them and stood beneath the meeting rock, his paws trembling. Suddenly, he was terrified. The clan hates me! I was okay when I had Flameheart, Bloomfire, and Swiftpaw to like me. But I didn't think about this! If I'm going to train to be a warrior, I'll have to face them!

"Bloodkit," Depthstar spoke, and he tensed, nervously looking up at his leader. "You have reached the age of six moons, and it is time for you to be apprenticed."

"Is this a good idea?" Some cat whispered behind him.

"It could be a mistake to train him."

Bloodkit tucked his tail between his legs, feeling small and afraid. His fur stood on end like pine needles. They all hate me! Why? What did I do wrong? Just tell me what I did wrong! He felt like breaking down.

"He's going to make a fine apprentice."

He was surprised to hear the meow come from near the medicine den, and looked it nervously. Dewstorm had spoken, his yellow eyes friendly. "And an even better warrior." The tom almost sounded sympathetic, and Bloodkit wondered if he could see how scared he was. Hawkfeather cast his apprentice a narrowed look. Hawkfeather doesn't agree. Bloodkit thought. But at least Dewstorm seems to like me...

"Bloodkit? Are you alright?"

He jumped a little at Depthstar's meow, and looked up at him nervously. "Y-Yes, Depthstar." He tried to sound confident.

The blackish tom studied him for a moment, then went on. "Bloodkit, from this day on, until you receive your warrior name, you will be known as Bloodpaw." He looked into the crowd of cats. Bloodpaw swallowed. Who will my mentor be? Will he like me? Or she? The entire clan seems to hate me, so why wouldn't my mentor?

"Brownstripe, you are ready to take on an apprentice. You had received excellent training from Greenpine, and I expect you to pass on all you know to Bloodpaw."

Bloodpaw turned around to face the clan, wondering which warrior Brownstripe was. He wasn't sure if he'd seen him before. A young brown tabby stepped forward, fixing his yellow eyes on his new apprentice. He was unable to read Brownstripe's emotions. He nervously padded forward and stretched up to touch noses with him. "I'll do my best," He mewed warily.

The warrior twitched his ear. "I know you will."

"Bloodpaw!" Flameheart started the chant from across the clearing,. Bloomfire and Dewstorm joined in. "Bloodpaw!"

Bloodpaw's fur prickled as he realized that the rest of the clan wasn't joining in, but quietly murmuring to each other. I can't believe it! They won't even-

"Bloodpaw! Bloodpaw!"

He heard Swiftpaw's voice and spun in it's direction. The black and white apprentice was sitting with Revengepaw and Mottledface, his blue eyes gleaming with excitement. He's saying my name! Maybe he still likes me after all! The clan joined in more hesitantly. Bloodpaw looked toward the medicine den nervously.

Dewstorm gave him a nod of approval. But beside him, Hawkfeather's narrow eyes were fixed on Bloodpaw, his tail twitching. The brown tom murmured something to his apprentice before turning away and padding into his den. Dewstorm flashed him a glare before following. Bloodpaw stared after the medicine cats. I wonder what Hawkfeather has against me. What did I ever do?

"Bloodpaw!"

He heard his mother call out to him and turned just as she and Flameheart reached him. He purred as Bloomfire nuzzled him. "You're an apprentice now. I'm so proud of you!"

Flameheart rested his tail over Bloodpaw's shoulder. "You're going to learn so much," He purred. "You might be a better warrior than I am."

"Never!" Bloodpaw exclaimed warmly.

"Hey, Bloodpaw!"

He turned to see Swiftpaw bounding over to him, and his parents padded away. "This is great!" Swiftpaw purred, nudging him playfully. "We'll be able to train together!"

Bloodpaw couldn't help but feel surprised at his excitement. "I-I wasn't sure you wanted to hang around me anymore," He admitted. "You haven't spoken to me in moons."

Surprise flashed in Swiftpaw's eyes. "What? Of course I do! The only reason I didn't talk to you was because-" He suddenly paused, looking over his shoulder.

Bloodpaw blinked and followed his gaze. Poisonedsap, Mottledface, and Revengepaw were sitting by the thorn bushes, watching Swiftpaw closely. "Swiftpaw?" He prompted.

"Huh?" The black and white tom snapped his attention to Bloodpaw. "Yeah, I-I've been really busy with my training."

"Oh." He couldn't help but feel that Swiftpaw was hiding something. Especially with the way he'd hesitated and looked at his kin and Mottledface before answering. "So... We're still friends?"

"Of course," Swiftpaw purred.

"Well, Bloodpaw," Brownstripe padded forward, twitching his tail. "Are you ready to go see our territory?"

His heart leaped with excitement. "Yes!"

"Come on, then," The warrior turned away, heading for the thorn tunnel.

"Have fun!" Swiftpaw called as Bloodpaw bounded after his mentor.

***

"Wow..." Bloodpaw looked around, eyes wide as he took in his surroundings. He was amazed. Pine trees stretched toward the sky, their branches crisscrossing and locking together. The earth felt moist and cool under his pads, layered with pine needles. A million scents filled his nose. Some ShadowClan scent, some mud, some prey... It felt so different from the camp. It felt alive. But with a different type of life, not like that within the camp.

He crouched, sniffing the moist ground. "I smell prey!" He gasped, looking up at his mentor. "I think it's frog, isn't it? Let me catch-"

"Slow down, Bloodpaw," Brownstripe looked amused. "You'll learn about hunting soon enough. Today I'm just going to show you around the territory and where the borders are."

"Oh, okay," He tried to hide his disappointment. I guess it's still cool to see the territory...

***

Brownstripe spent a long while showing Bloodpaw around ShadowClan's territory. He was shown the best places to hunt and find moss, as well as Carrionplace. "Never come here for food," His mentor had warned. "In the past, terrible sickness has been spread to ShadowClan by just one cat bringing back those rats. Many cats die from it."

Bloodpaw followed his mentor, beginning to feel bored and tired from walking. I wonder what Swiftpaw's up to right now... Brownstripe suddenly stopped, and Bloodpaw nearly bumped into him. He stumbled back before he could, and looked ahead. A strange looking tree stood ahead of them. It had an absence of leaves and bore strange dark streaks along its trunk.

"What's wrong with that tree?" He asked curiously.

"That's the Burnt Sycamore," Brownstripe meowed. "It looks that way because many generations ago, it was struck by lightning. It doesn't grow leaves anymore." He paused. "We'll come here often at night. It's where apprentices are taught to hunt quietly."

"Okay."

His mentor began to pad onward. "Now, there's one more thing I want to show you today."

Bloodpaw followed him, and it wasn't long before they reached it. He froze and stared at it, wide eyed. A wide black path stretched out in front of him. It reeked of a horrible scent Bloodpaw couldn't identify, and ran into the horizon. He couldn't tell what the path was made of. It wasn't earth. It looked more like some sort of stone.

"What-" Bloodpaw broke off as a snarling sound grew louder and louder as it neared. He looked down the path and froze. Something with huge black paws and glaring yellow eyes was headed for them, faster than anything he'd ever seen. "It's going to get me!" He shrieked and shrunk back as it neared.

A rush of hot air slammed against his face as the creature roared at him, giving off a harsh smell. He pressed himself to the ground, letting out a terrified cry. But the creature ignored him, continuing along the path until it was quiet again. For a moment, Bloodpaw was frozen, his yellow eyes as round as moons, his fur fluffed up. His heart pounded madly against his chest. "W-What was that?!" He choked out.

"This is the thunderpath," Brownstripe purred, sounding amused. "And what you just saw was a monster. Twolegs sit in their bellies to get to other places."

"What?" Bloodpaw shakily stood, slowly relaxing. "They just let the monsters eat them? Why?"

Brownstripe shrugged. "Who knows why twolegs do anything? They're weird. I suppose the monster gets food, and the twolegs get where they need to go, so it's a win-win."

Bloodpaw stared at the thunderpath nervously. "Do the monsters ever attack the clan?"

"No," His mentor purred. "They never leave the thunderpath." He paused. "Now, what can you smell?"

"Something really bad from that monster," Bloodpaw meowed.

"Besides that." He twitched his tail. "Anything else?"

Bloodpaw scented the air again, trying to ignore the foul scent of the thunderpath. After a few moments, he picked up the scent of cats. It reminded him of ShadowClan's scent, but it was different... "I smell cats." Bloodpaw paused thoughtfully. "Oh!" His ears pricked. "Is this a border? Is that the scent of another clan?"

"Very good." Brownstripe praised. "This is the ThunderClan border, and that, obviously, is ThunderClan scent." He paused. "This is also where Maplefur's body was found."

Bloodpaw lowered his head, saddened by the mention of Swiftpaw's father, a warrior who had shown him kindness and respect. "Did ThunderClan cats really kill him?" He asked quietly.

The brown tabby twitched his ear. "Depthstar is going to bring it up at the gathering tonight."

He blinked. "Why hasn't he brought it up yet?"

"He was still gathering evidence, and deciding whether or not it was a rogue," Brownstripe meowed. "But Maplefur was found right on their side of the thunderpath, with ThunderClan scent on his fur. There's no question."

Bloodpaw was thoughtful. "Is that enough to accuse ThunderClan? I mean-"

His mentor looked at him, narrowing his eyes. "Do you think it's acceptable for our warriors to be murdered, Bloodpaw?" He growled.

He was startled by this question. "Of course not!"

Brownstripe stared at him for a moment, then looked away. "I was a kit when Boost and Song were taken into the clan." He meowed. "Their mother abandoned them outside of the camp."

"I know," Bloodpaw meowed. "Bloomfire told me."

"Ah," Brownstripe dipped his head. "But do you know that they had another sibling? A brother?"

"Really?" He stared at him, surprised. "What happened to him?"

Brownstripe looked away as he spoke. "His name was Deserve. Me and my brothers, Blackstorm and Snakekit, would tease them a little, you know? What kits do." He narrowed his yellow eyes. "Deserve took it too seriously. He killed Snakekit. Deserve ran away, and no cat ever saw him again."

Bloodpaw's blood froze. "A kit?" He whispered.

"Yes." Brownstripe fixed his eyes on him. "He was only a kit. He seemed completely innocent. However, I've learned that size and age doesn't matter. Any cat can be dangerous." His eyes stayed firmly on Bloodpaw.

Bloodpaw shifted his paws, growing uncomfortable. He almost looked aggressive. Why does it seem like he's accusing me of something..? "I...I'm sorry about your brother."

His mentor held his gaze for a moment longer before narrowing his eyes and looking away, his tail twitching. "Remember," He growled. "No matter who they are... or how young they are... warriors will tear apart any enemy." He flexed his claws. "Do you understand?"

"O-of course," Bloodpaw meowed nervously. Is he trying to scare me..?

"Good." Brownstripe drew in a deep breath. "Come on. I'll show you the WindClan border." He turned away, and Bloodpaw followed more slowly, shaken by his mentor's words. Does he think I would kill a cat..?