NightClan and SunClan." Any other Clan?" She asked. Duskstar threw her head back into a laugh." No! There are rumours of a few other Clans, though. I forget what they were called...anyways, forget about them." She meowed, slither close to her. Her gaze sent chills down her spine, settling into her bones." Anyways. Tell no one, I'm just feeling generous today. One kill in the pond, I'm fine for today. I would be thirsty for more, but I'm not as...young, anymore. If you bring up a peep, I'll kill you as easily as any other mouse I've killed." Mousepaw dropped the rabbit in surprise. Duskstar beamed and greedily ate it." Hey! That was for Dapplepad." Mousepaw echoed." He'll live," she purred. Mousepaw stared at Duskstar. She was scared, sure, but Duskstar seemed lonely." Are you lonely?" She asked softly. Duskstar's head snapped towards her." What makes you think that?" She hissed." I-I just—"

"Bah, forget about it! Go hunt something else. I'm slightly trusting you. Slightly." She frowned. Mousepaw nodded." Not even my sisters?" She asked, fear drenched in her voice." No. I'll tell you something," she tipped her head sideways." Siblings are rotten to the core. They'll gladly betray you. Be aware, for love is a sickly thing that masks hatred."

Mousepaw frowned." They wouldn't. They shouldn't. They couldn't." She stepped back." They will. Don't say I didn't say I didn't warn you." She meowed.

*

*

*

Mousepaw couldn't help but keep thinking of Duskstar and Silverfish." I have walked the earth for centuries." That sentence made Mousepaw confused. Duskstar has probably lived for a long time. Foxpaw was getting closer with Spiderpaw, so it was Rabbitpaw and Mousepaw now. Mousepaw wasn't interested. She rather focus on her duties, in fact. Or focus on Duskstar. That cat was up to no good, so she snuck out to check for the flower." Dapplepad?" She called into the medicine den softly." Mousepaw?" A deep voice rasped. She padded into the den, her paw pads warm and dry from the dirt." I'm sorry," she meowed. He smiled at her." It's fine," he purred." Wait here! I caught a large thrush. Hope it's still there!" She sprinted out of the den. She saw Shadeheart nodding at Maplestripe and reaching at the thrush and she quickly snatched it.

Mousepaw heard Shadeheart yelling at her, but she didn't bother to hear." Here," she dropped it at his muzzle." Why, thank you." He smiled. His voice was raspy." I'll get you water." She nodded empathetically and snatched a ball of moss. She cleansed it with water. She wanted to see the flower, but had no time. She dashed back and dropped it at his paws. He smiled at her again. He sipped the water, his eyes warm with pride and emotion." You're so kind," tears swelled up." You should take a walk. I'll freshen your moss!" She added. He smiled." After I finish this thrush. Mousesqueak did say exercise would be good for me." He meowed." Sit up! I'll get you moss." She grabbed his old moss and buried it outside. She checked around the flower. It was...half a chunk taken out. A large chunk was also taken out. Mousepaw tilted her head with a frown. She dismissed it as petals falling and went to get soft, comfy, fresh moss. Dapplepad will love it! At the medicine den, the thrush was bones and the water inside the moss was bone-dry. She frowned. Is he still thirsty? She neatly put the moss into a nest-like bed and gestured for Dapplepad to come over.

"It's so soft." He purred." Want to go out in the sunlight?" She asked." Yes!" He beamed. She gently placed it in the sunniest spot in the clearing, and it settled fine. Dapplepad rested and closed his eyes." Why, aren't you kind." Swiftdash purred." He's so peaceful." Mousepaw smiled. I wonder if I'll get a new mentor. Dapplepad won't recover anytime soon. She panicked at the thought. Whitedawn had recovered, but not Dapplepad. Mousesqueak came out of Duskstar's den. Duskstar padded out and cleared her voice. Plenty of cats looked at her, and she padded up to Mousepaw." You will be getting a new mentor," she paused." Shadeheart!" She yowled. Shadeheart smiled and padded up to Duskstar." Yes?" He asked." Will you mentor young Mousepaw here?" She asked. He tilted his head." That wasn't a question," she added, her voice dampened with sourness. He nodded, eyes wide. She purred and flicked her tail as a dismissal. She walked into her den. He stared at Mousepaw." Are you a great hunter?" He asked." Yes. It's just fighting I need to work on." She grumbled." Is that so?" He raised an eyebrow.

Mousepaw groaned and flopped into her nest. A long, tiring day of just battle training. Shadeheart praised her she wasn't quite bad, it was just her reacting time she needed to work on." Tough day?" Rabbitpaw soothed." Yes." Mousepaw flipped to her other side. Lionpaw, Nightpaw and Stonepaw came pooling in." Where's Shadowpaw?" The golden tabby, Lionpaw, asked." Meh, he's coming. Just putting his rabbit back." The dark grey tom, Stonepaw, answered." He's here now," the black and white speckled tom, Nightpaw, meowed. Shadowpaw was such a dark grey he was almost black with black tabby stripes. Lionpaw, Shadowpaw, Spiderpaw and Nightpaw all had amber eyes, and then Stonepaw had green ones. They were all loud and disturbing in Mousepaw's opinion.

Shadowpaw was grinning as he came in." Remember when Stonepaw ran head first into that tree?" He chuckled. Stonepaw's ears flattened in embarrassment." Ha! Ridiculous!" Lionpaw sneered." Where are the love doves?" Nightpaw rolled his eyes." I see them," Rabbitpaw grumbled." Next time you throw an apple at my head, I will claw your face!" Foxpaw snapped. Spiderpaw only giggled." Hey, lovebirds." Shadowpaw purred. They glared at him." Shut up,"Spiderpaw blushed." Sweet dreams," Rabbitpaw chuckled softly." Goodnight," Stonepaw meowed." Night!" Nightpaw grinned." See you in the morning." Lionpaw muttered." Have a good sleep." Shadowpaw purred." Go to bed!" Spiderpaw grumbled." Good rest." Foxpaw glared at Spiderpaw.

"Sweet dreams," Mousepaw smiled.

Mousepaw didn't have any dreams. Or, at least she didn't remember. But when she heard Shadeheart's voice, she sprang awake." Time for training. If you pass reaction timing, then you will do your real assessment," he purred proudly." What about my sisters?" Mousepaw asked." They will, too." He nodded." Don't worry," he added. Mousepaw nodded." All right." She meowed." Let's do this."

She launched herself at her mentor. He grunted as she hit his cheek with her paw. He hit her, but she smacked his paw back down." Good!" He praised. She smiled." Did I pass?" She asked." Yes. Time for the real assessment." He purred. He led her into the forest." Wait here, I'm getting Whitepelt." He dashed away. Mousepaw sat there, waiting for her mentor and deputy.

"Back," Shadeheart meowed. Mousepaw nodded. They both disappeared into a bush." You can start. Three pieces of prey," Whitepelt whispered. Mousepaw nodded, a bit pressured. She took a big whiff of the fresh scent of new-leaf. There were about sixteen different smells of prey. She decided to take the closest one by. She lightly crawled towards the luring, sweet scent of prey.

It was a large, plump mouse. She stalked towards it and at the right time from behind it, leaped up and pounced. It made a loud squeak before she sank her teeth into its fresh, warm flesh. She carried it towards the bush the deputy and mentor were. She dropped it." Bury it," Shadeheart meowed. 

She quickly did, then moved onto a thrush. She quickly climbed branch after branch in Applestar. The thrush flapped its wings, crouching in a take-off position. As soon as she reached its branch, it flew. She did not give up, and leaped up. She prayed to StarClan she wouldn't fall. She reached out her claws to snatch it by its left wing. She landed on all fours, and quickly bit the bird until its squawking died down and it stopped. She buried it with the mouse. One more, she thought. She leaped down from Applestar. So many precious memories it held. 

She found a rabbit. It perked its ears, scanning its surroundings. She gently crawled towards it until it sensed her, breaking into a run. She sprinted after it, not taking her focus off. It changed directions and she took a leap. She landed on it, biting it. She finally carried it back to show them." Excellent work!" Whitepelt nodded." All plump and thick!" Shadeheart purred. Mousepaw felt excitement ripple across her pelt. She carried her rabbit, and Whitepelt carried the mouse while Shadeheart picked up the thrush. As soon as they arrived, Clanmates stared in awe." That's huge!" Shadowpaw purred." Mousepaw caught all three." Shadeheart grinned when he dropped the thrush.

Whitepelt dropped the mouse and disappeared into the leader's den. Mousepaw smiled. Swiftdash and Redfur purred at her presence." May I taste my daughter's winning prize?" She asked." Help yourself." Mousepaw beamed. Swiftdash and Redfur each took a bite." It tastes like victory!" Redfur purred." It stinks of victory, too!" Swiftdash added. Rabbitpaw and Duskstar came with two mice and a plump rabbit." May I try?" Swiftdash and Redfur repeated what they did to Mousepaw.

When Foxpaw came with Whitepelt again, it was all over again. Rabbitpaw, Foxpaw and Mousepaw all squealed with excitement. Duskstar leaped onto the rock to do the ceremony." I, Duskstar, call upon my warrior ancestors to look down on these warriors. They have trained hard and served their Clans for moons as apprentices," she meowed." Foxpaw," she meowed smoothly. Foxpaw excitedly came up." You are courageous, curious and loyal. Therefore, you warrior name will be Foxglove." 

"Foxglove, Foxglove!" Everybody yowled. Foxglove beamed with pride." Rabbitpaw," she meowed." You are gentle, kind and loving. Therefore, your warrior name will be Rabbitheart." She purred." Rabbitheart! Rabbitheart!" The Clan cheered." Mousepaw," Duskstar's gaze was directly onto her. She froze in place." StarClan honours your glory, kindness and loyalty," Duskstar grinned. Mousepaw fought the urge to scream at her. She was also scared, almost tucking her tail into her legs." Therefore, your warrior name will be Mousespirit." 

"Mousespirit! Mousespirit!"