As I pad into camp, I can't help but feel I'm being watched. Finally, I reach RainClan's camp. Padding through the entrance, I'm instantly tackled by my sister.

"Where in AngelClan were you?! Soulpaw came here and told us you'd ran away after bad-mouthing Silverdusk!!"

My blood turns to ice as my eyes dart around camp. Sure enough, there sits the black-and-red tom, his eyes hard. My eyes quickly fall to my paws.

"Eclipsepaw!!" a stern voice yowls.

My ears flatten as I slowly turn to my leader, Lionstar. The golden tabby stalks towards me, my father and mentor flanking him. Silverdusk pads up to Soulpaw, purring. My heart cracks as the two headbutt, smiles on their faces. Then my eyes harden as anger grips my heart.

"How dare you call Silverdusk a worthless mousebrain?! Who do you think you are?!" my father demands, rage in his voice.

I turn on him, lashing my tail angrily.

"Shut up! What do you know about who I am!?" I yowl, unsheathing my claws.

Beside me, Marblepaw gasps in shock, her fire-blue eyes wide with terror. I growl, ignoring her.

"That's quite enough! Eclipsepaw, I don't know what your problem is, but I think you need to be taught a lesson. From now on, you shall no longer sleep in the apprentice den. Instead, you shall sleep in the nursery. And you shall help with and watch the kits. You are hereby removed from your apprentice duties until new apprentices are named." Lionstar snaps, his eyes full of rage.

My eyes widen and, unable to hold them back, tears flood my eyes. I hear Marblepaw yowl that the punishment is unfair, but I know nothing will stop this. My legs give out as the realization I may never become a warrior dawns on me. Numbly, I look over to Soulpaw. Silverdusk sneers at me, but I see Soulpaw's eyes flash with guilt. Tail drooping, I stumble over to the nursery. My paws heavy, I collapse inside, not bothering to make a nest. Within moments, I'm asleep.

+++++

Dark mist swirls around me as I open my eyes. The tom from before pads over to me, purring darkly. My ears flatten instinctively, but he pads up and gives my ear a friendly lick.

"Are you willing to give my offer a chance, little one?"

For a moment, I hesitate. But then I nod.

"Alright... Mentor." I say seriously.

He grins darkly before rubbing his tail along my back.

"Alright. First thing is to learn how to hunt. First, you need to crouch down like this, see?" he meows before crouching down.

For what seems like moons, he teaches me the basics of hunting and stalking. Once I've learned how to do the basics, Tiny finally stops and lays down. Purring, he motions for me to lay beside him. Laying down, he pulls me closer.

"You know, you remind me a lot of myself when I was a kit. I had the same things happen to me. Abandoned, looked down up. We share the same pain." he says sadly.

I nuzzle into his fur, smelling an odd scent hanging around him. His white tailtip brushes along my back.

"Thank you... Tiny... For everything. I-I thought my life was over.... That I'd never be a warrior... Thank you...." I whisper weakly.

The dark tom purrs.

"No problem, little one."