Crowfeather licked his forepaw and drew it languidly over his face. Heatherpaw sure is taking her time, he noted irritably.

"Hey, Breezepaw!" Crowfeather shouted, seeing the young cat stretching at the entrance to the apprentices' den.

Breezepaw's ears perked up and he bounded over to his father, blinking furiously to wipe away his sleepiness.

"Where's Heatherpaw?"

At that question, Breezepaw's ears flattened. "Why don't you just look for her yourself?" he scowled.

Crowfeather barely stopped himself from giving the cheeky apprentice a hard clout. He has the audacity...

"I asked a simple question, Breezepaw..." Crowfeather began, forcing his rising neck fur to stay flat. However, before he even had a chance to continue, Breezepaw was already halfway across the camp, tail lashing lividly. Crowfeather let out a loud sigh and poked his nose into the apprentices' den. Heatherpaw was the only cat remaining. Her paws twitched in her sleep as she tried to fight off some imaginary enemy.

"Heatherpaw," Crowfeather mewed, prodding her side gently. The young apprentice's blue eyes flashed open immediately and she hopped to her paws more quickly than Crowfeather thought was possible. Her eyes strained to focus on her mentor as the bright light from outside the den illuminated the enclosed area.

"Hmm? Yeah! I'm ready for patrol!" Heatherpaw mewed animatedly.

Crowfeather frowned. There was no missing the tiredness in her dull eyes, as much as she tried to hide it.

"What's gotten into you, Heatherpaw? You're always the last-"

"I'm awake!" she insisted.

"Fine," Crowfeather stated. "If you're so awake, why don't you clean the elders' den?"

"Sure," Heatherpaw mewed hurriedly. Just as she was trying to brush past Crowfeather, he stood in her way.

"I don't know what you're doing, Heatherpaw: night hunting, talking with the other apprentices, or even nightmares." At the last word, Crowfeather shuddered. "But you can't be missing out on so much training."

Heatherpaw's eyes seemed to grow an even duller shade of blue as she replied: "Yes, Crowfeather."

Crowfeather backed out of the apprentices' den and looked around the camp's clearing. The few warriors who weren't on patrol were sharing tongues in the shade of a tall shrub. But Crowfeather's paws itched to be out on the moor. I'd planned to do some battle training with Heatherpaw today.

"You seem lost."

At the softly spoken words, Crowfeather turned around. Ashfoot was approaching him, a pleasant expression painted on her narrow face. She placed her tail comfortingly on Crowfeather's shoulder.

"Heatherpaw's with the elders," he began awkwardly.

"You're not just a mentor," Ashfoot mewed, moving to stand opposite him.

"I know, I'm a warrior."

"No," she replied sternly. She gazed seriously into his eyes. "You're a father." She flicked her tail and Crowfeather glanced in the same direction. Nightcloud was grooming Breezepaw viciously while the black apprentice squirmed in disgust under her loving licks.

"I'm glad you never did that to me," Crowfeather mewed derisively.

Ashfoot swiped a sheathed paw at his ears, annoyance flashing in her eyes. "And as your mother, I suggest that the three of you go on patrol."

Crowfeather bit back a groan. Nightcloud was alright, but Breezepaw was just downright insufferable.

"I'm too old for you to be telling me what to do," he grunted, casting another quick glance at his mate and son. Now it seemed that they were locked in an intense play-fight.

"Fine," Ashfoot mewed. "Then I'll be your deputy.

"Nightcloud, Breezepaw!" she called out. The two black cats extricated themselves and looked up. They padded side by side towards Ashfoot, but not without Breezepaw fixing Crowfeather with a nasty glare.

"I think I caught a whiff of RiverClan scent on our side of the border. I'd like the three of you to check it out."

"And what do we do to Rivercats?" Nightcloud asked playfully, nudging Breezepaw. The small apprentice's eyes lit up as he rose onto his hind legs.

"We beat 'em 'til they can't swim!" Breezepaw exclaimed in a deep voice, probably trying to imitate Onestar. He punched the air a few times before dropping onto all fours again.

Nightcloud smiled and turned to Crowfeather. "Ready?"

"Mmhmm," he replied.

The three cats took off without a word, running as fast as their legs would allow, the wind parting their fur as they bounded across the moor. Even Breezepaw, who was considerably shorter than both his parents, kept moving at an incredible speed. He deserves credit for that.

But as much as Crowfeather liked the feeling of the breeze in his pelt, it would never compare to the thundering roar Leafpool inspired in him or the refreshing, comforting feeling of Feathertail's presence. His attention momentarily snatched from his task, Crowfeather accidentally stumbled over his own paws and rolled forward ungracefully before coming to an abrupt stop. Pain seared through his skin as he tried to stand up, but pride kept him from showing any sign of injury.

Nightcloud was by his side almost immediately after having fallen. Her eyes flashed with sympathy and she pressed her pelt against his for support.

"I'm fine," Crowfeather snapped, frustrated that his faltering gait betrayed his pain.

Nightcloud's gaze immediately hardened. "I know you hate me, but can you at least try for Breezepaw?" she hissed.

"You're not the problem," Crowfeather retorted.

At his last words, Crowfeather noticed a small black head peeking from over a rise in the moor, the expression on its face was one of pure horror.

"So I guess I'm the problem then, huh?" Breezepaw sneered. "Fox-dung!" he cursed before taking off once more. Nightcloud let out a hiss of exasperation and bounded after her son without a word.

Crowfeather felt small and pathetic as a powerful gust buffeted him.

No, I'm the problem.