One by one, the group of apprentices were leaving. Sorrelpaw and Jaypaw were left and she padded over to the young tom, hoping to comfort him.

Despite her words, Jaypaw's tail drooped and he walked away without another word. Sorrelpaw gave one last concerned glance before rushing back to her Clan.

Icefang is doing guard duty tonight. I hope he doesn't miss me, Sorrelpaw thought.

Moving rapidly to stay in the dark, the BrambleClan apprentice arrived in BrambleClan territory, hardly making a sound.

Icefang would be proud, she thought happily, smiling at the thought.

When Sorrelpaw reached the camp entrance, Icefang was standing guard, his ears pricked up. He looked alert, his tail stiffening every time he heard a crack or even a whooshing of the light breeze.

Sorrelpaw decided that she couldn't get past her mentor. Remembering the secret entrance, she snunk away from her mentor.

However, when she arrived, the secret entrance was patched up. To make matters worse, her father, Shadowstep, was sitting here as if he was waiting for her.

Sorrelpaw opened her mouth to explain, but closed it again, unwilling to make an excuse.

"Come," Shadowstep mewed, flicking his tail for her to follow him. Sorrelpaw was in no position to reject, so she reluctantly followed him.

In the dark, Sorrelpaw could hardly see her father. He barely made any sound, keeping his feet light. He is a natural, Sorrelpaw realised. It's no wonder he's so well respected!

"StarClan is shining brighter tonight," Shadowstep observed, sitting down slowly. His eyes darkened.

"We have much to talk about," he muttered.

Sorrelpaw felt uncomfortable. Shadowstep had never been warm and friendly to her as a kit, and she wondered what her father wanted now.

"I'll get to the point," Shadowstep mewed quickly. "Where did you go? I don't recall Icefang sending you on a night hunt."

The stars in the indigo sky were sparkling as they stared down at the two cats, waiting for Sorrelpaw's answer.

"I went to the Oaks," Sorrelpaw replied, hoping that her answer would satisfy Shadowstep's curiosity.

"With who?" he asked, much to her dismay.

"I... I met three other apprentices from other Clans," Sorrelpaw mewed, bending her head down, afraid of what her father would say.

His light amber eyes bore into Sorrelpaw's darker amber ones, searching for any signs of a lie.

"Alright then," Shadowstep accepted her answer with a tiny nod. "I trust that you are honest with me. Thank you for that."

He took a deep breath. "You venturing to the Oaks is not the only thing I want to talk to you about. Have you ever heard of Icefang's history?"

"The elders told me that he was the one who found the traitor in our Clan," Sorrelpaw replied, feeling suspicious.

"What they told you is only a part of it. They left out one important detail," Shadowstep explained gravely. "The supposed traitor is Icefang's littermate."

Sorrelpaw widened her eyes as a sense of dread washed over her. Before she could speak, the black tom interrupted.

"They were never good littermates. Icefang was bitter at the attention that his littermate was having. A bitter cat is prone to do something. Maybe even breaking the warrior code."

"You think Icefang is untrustworthy?" Sorrelpaw asked, unwilling to believe his words.

"Just be careful, okay?" Shadowstep mewed, sighing deeply.

"To change the subject, I am very proud of you. Though I was doubtful of your abilities, you have proven to be very strong. I hate to admit it, but Icefang taught you well." Sorrelpaw was surprised, speechless.

"Don't forget your skills and always remember to use them for the good of the Clan," he continued.

Something is wrong.

"I wish you all the best in your training. Remember that the Clan always come first," Shadowstep mewed, " and that I am proud of you."

"It's getting late," he mewed briskly without waiting for Sorrelpaw's response. "You should go back to camp before any other cat finds that you are out of your nest. I'll catch up with you soon."

Sorrelpaw hesitated, but at the sight of her father's serious gaze, she rushed back to camp.

~~~~

"Sorrelpaw! Sorrelpaw, wake up!" Sagewish shook Sorrelpaw frantically. The apprentice got up from her nest, blinking tiredly.

"Is something wrong?" she mumbled, still drowsy.

"Shadowstep didn't return to camp last night so Flailstar sent a search patrol for him," Sagewish mewed, panicking. "What if he-"

She stopped at the sight of the search patrol. Sorrelpaw stared at them hopefully.

"We found his scent at the Shaded Hollow, but there was not sign of him. Then," Firewing, who seemed to be the leader of the search patrol, faltered, "we found a tuft of black fur and a pool of blood."

"And... Shadowstep's scent was all over the blood."