▪️ FLAMEPAW ▪️

Flamepaw settled on the grass. He hated to admit it, but he almost considered Stripe to be his friend. Unlike most rouges he'd heard about, she hadn't tried to kill him yet. He glanced up at the sky again, before resting his head on his paws and drifting off into an unsettled sleep.

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He woke up shortly before dawn. He stood and stretched, forgetting where he was for a moment. After a few seconds, he realized he was in Twolegplace and he looked around worriedly. A moment later he remembered the night before, and looked over at Stripe's slumbering figure.

I need to get back to camp... The ginger tom quickly tried to follow his stale scent trail from the night before back to camp, and after he reached the territory, found the camp himself rather easily. He rolled around in some mushrooms and leaves, trying to get rid of the stench of Twolegplace.

After he figured the scent was covered, he padded off towards camp, and entered through the Dirtplace Tunnel per usual. Most other cats had already woken up, and a few gave him weird glances. He spotted Lightningpaw just as she saw him and she ran over.

"Where were you last night? I couldn't find you." The she-cat looked a little annoyed, but mostly worried. Flamepaw struggled to think of a quick lie.

"I went to the lake." Lightningpaw narrowed her eyes a little and Darkpaw padded over.

"Are you RiverClan too?" Darkpaw plopped down beside the two younger apprentices, and Pantherpaw and Spiderpaw followed close behind.

"Oh you're one to talk Darkpaw. Who's the one who just had to try kittypet food last moon?" Spiderpaw meowed, teasing his littermate.

Darkpaw's fur bristled slighting before he forced it to fall flat. He snorted. "Whatever." He looked back to Lightningpaw, ignoring Flamepaw. "Hey you want to come practice hunting with us? Our warrior assessment is coming up soon and we want to be ready." Lightningpaw glanced over at Flamepaw, before she opened her mouth to decline.

"Sorry, may-"

"That sounds like a great idea." Mapleclaw came over to his apprentice, butting into the conversation. Lightningpaw's mentor barely glanced in Flamepaw's direction as he spoke. "And Juniperclaw was looking for you Flamepaw, you'd better to go see him."

The spotted tom nodded and Lightningpaw gave him an apologetic look. He turned and began to pad towards the clearing.

"See you later Flamepaw!" Lightningpaw called after him cheerfully. After a few moments of looking around, he was able to spot his mentor, and he quickly padded over.

"Good morning Juniperclaw." Flamepaw greeted his mentor, and the senior warrior turned to him.

"Hello Flamepaw. Can you hold on one moment while I speak with Brackenstorm and Doerunner?" The apprentice nodded and backed up a little to give them room. The three toms began to move away from the clearing, chatting up a storm.

He stood there for a while, waiting for his mentor to return. He heard pawsteps behind him and turned to see Lavenderstone giving him a concerned glance.

"Are you alright Flamepaw? Shouldn't you be out with Juniperclaw?" Flamepaw nodded.

"I should, but he told me to wait here before he walked off with Doerunner and Brackenstorm." He jumped a little as the she-cat snorted, an irritated look on her face.

"Of course he did. Why don't you come out and train with me for now until he gets back. We wouldn't want you to fall behind on your training now would we?" She gave him a small smile and Flamepaw's eyes brightened.

"Can we?" He stood a little taller and Lavenderstone purred in amusement.

"Of course little one lets go."