"Sorry, Stormfall," Rainpaw mewed sourly. "Won't happen again." Her eyes shifted to the forest ahead and watched all the prey scuttle away.

"I should hope not," Stormfall grunted. "Thanks for scaring away all the prey."

Rainpaw curled her head away from him. "You're welcome," she muttered under her breath. If you were a better mentor I wouldn't have been so reckless. She always blamed everything on her mentor. If the fresh-kill pile was running low, she'd be angry he'd have not asked her if she wanted to go hunting. If she did something wrong, she'd be upset that he hadn't taught her right.

Though it wouldn't hurt Stormfall to encourage her or try to understand why she did what she did every once in a while. He used to be an apprentice—he was still Stormpaw when Rainpaw was in the nursery with Creambird.

"I'm going to go hunt on my own for a while." Her mentor's voice broke into her thoughts.

"Alright," she meowed. "I'll scout the highlands behind Mudpawplace." Stormfall started to speak, but the tom's voice faded as Rainpaw raced through the woods. Out of sight, out of mind.