Jaypaw's eyes shone with pride as he chanted his brother's new name. "Redpaw! Redpaw!"

Redpaw stood near Birdstar nervously as the Clan called out his name. His new mentor, Blossomtail, gave him an encouraging smile.

"I hope we can go together the next Gathering," Jaypaw mewed to Redpaw.

Redpaw nodded excitedly. "I have heard stories of the Gatherings. It's more fun going to it with you."

"Until then, let's work hard!" Jaypaw mewed.

"But..." Redpaw turned to look at the medicine cat den. "Your mentor is still injured."

Jaypaw sighed. Stormjaw had been attacking the WaveClan patrols even though they respected the border. It caused him to stay at the medicine cat den until Mistystream is satisfied that he is fully recover.

Sometimes, Jaypaw wondered the reasons behind his actions. He had asked his father, Rumbleclaw, once but he didn't know.

"I have to go," Redpaw mewed. "Blossomtail is calling for me."

"Okay, bye and good luck!" Jaypaw called.

"Thanks!" Redpaw mewed, taking off towards his mentor.

"Jaypaw," Lightningstorm mewed.

"Yes?" Jaypaw asked.

"Birdstar told me to take over your training until Stormjaw recovers," the RookClan deputy replied.

"Okay," Jaypaw frowned slightly.

Lightningstorm began to pad out of camp, leaving Jaypaw to follow. "What has Stormjaw taught you?"

"Nothing much actually," Jaypaw admitted.

"Then I will teach you," Lightningstorm meowed. "I will show you the hunting crouch - unless Stormjaw have already taught you that."

"Well, he did a little bit," Jaypaw replied.

"Then, I'll show you," the silver tom mewed, dropping into a crouch to demonstrate.

Jaypaw tried to copy Lightningstorm's crouch, but the RookClan deputy wasn't pleased.

"Lower!" he barked. "And stop sticking your tail up! Great StarClan, are you going to tell all the prey that you are nearby."

"I'm sorry," he muttered.

"'Sorry' catches no prey," Lightningstorm growled. "You need to try harder. Do it again!"

Jaypaw narrowed his eyes and focused harder. He kept his tail down and tried to crouch as low as he could manage.

"That's better," Lightningstorm mewed. "But there's still room for improvement. Try to catch a mouse or something by sundown. Remember that a mouse can hear the vibrations of your pawsteps before scenting you. Stalk lightly."

"I got it, Lightningstorm," Jaypaw mewed.

"Then go!" he mewed.

Jaypaw took off into the forest, his nose lifted to catch the scent of any prey nearby.

At least Stormjaw taught me how prey smells like, he thought.

When a light breeze ruffled his fur, he caught the scent of a mouse. Jaypaw tried to remember Lightningstorm's hunting crouch as he prepared to spring at the prey.

Pouncing as hard as he can, he could barely grab the mouse's tail with his claws.

It let out a squeak and it ran off. Mouse-dung! Jaypaw growled in frustration.

"You are never going to be a warrior with skills like that," a strange voice spoke.

Jaypaw jumped and turned behind to see a cat with gleaming amber eyes. Instinctively, he unsheathed his claws, frantically remembering the few battle moves Stormjaw taught him.

"Relax," the cat stepped in front of him. "I'm not going to hurt you. I merely want to teach you."

"Who are you?" Jaypaw growled suspiciously.

"My name is Fang," he mewed. "One of the cats I knew used to be a Clan cat, and he had told me a lot about his Clan."

"Do you really want to help me?" Jaypaw's voice was still sharp with suspicion.

"Yes," Fang's voice was smooth and calm. "I have no reason to trick you. I have plenty of prey and everything else I need."

"Okay then," Jaypaw mewed. If Stormjaw and Lightningstorm can't teach me properly, this rogue will have to do. I mean, how bad can it be?

"Show me your hunting crouch," Fang ordered.

Jaypaw dropped into the best hunting crouch he could muster.

"Move your paws further apart," he mewed. "It will feel more comfortable. And move your hindlegs back some more. This will help you pounce further."

Jaypaw obeyed, and was pleasantly surprised to find it less awkward to do his hunting crouch.

He did an experimental pounce and he realised that he pounced further than expected.

"I can do it!" Jaypaw mewed.

"That's right," Fang smiled.

"How do you know all these anyways?" he asked.

"As I said, a Clan cat told me a lot of things about his Clan," Fang mewed.

"Okay," Jaypaw nodded. "I better get back now."

He paused, suddenly realising something. "Wait, this is not RookClan territory."

"Wake up!"

Jaypaw sprung up in surprise. He was back where he was. How did I get to somewhere different?

"How can you be so careless?" Lightningstorm growled. "I sent you on a simple hunting trip and you have brought me nothing! Furthermore, you caused a lot of trouble by fainting nearby. I had to drag you away from that stream or else you could have drowned!"

"I'm sorry," Jaypaw muttered.

"You better be," he hissed, stomping off.

I will show him! Jaypaw thought in determination. That I can be a warrior like every cat else!