So, here's chapter one…I hope to get more reviews this time. September 6th was my first day of high school – I think it's going pretty well, kind of. Sorry this chapter is shorter, but that's why. Anyway, thanks and enjoy.

Chapter One

Songpaw saw only green blurbs as she ran on, her paws carrying her to the point of what she thought must have been flying. Big roots and pointed sticks were no matter to her as she flew over them, her paws navigating as swiftly as she could around any debris that was in her path.

She heard a low growl from…somewhere; somewhere around her, and spun around. Songpaw gritted her teeth and braced herself. Another growl, and a large dark tabby was jumping at her from a low tree-branch from a large Sycamore tree on her left side. She rolled on the ground, and jumped out of this path. The large tabby's amber eyes blazed as he landed with an 'oof!'. The tom landed flat on the stomach, his front and back paws fall out on the ground, making him look like an X with a tail. Songpaw jumped him from the side, making him roll on his back. He swiped a claw at her, and she ducked just in time.

"Not bad," Brambleclaw said, picking himself up and giving himself a good shake. "But you still need to improve your reaction time. Once again."

"Ugh…" she moaned. Songpaw would rather be doing anything else right about now…Brambleclaw was riding her hard these days.

"Do you want to get your warrior name or not?"

"…Of course I – "

"Then don't argue with me! Once again!"

And so the apprentice ran, and ran, and ran. She fought with swiping, swooping claws. Breath in your nose and out your mouth, she told herself. It'll help a lot. Maybe it did…maybe it didn't. She was so tired that she really couldn't tell. Everything ached. Songpaw wanted to cry…or, better yet, lay down and die. But she couldn't be a quitter…she couldn't be a quitter!

After what felt like hours and hours and hours of training with Brambleclaw, Songpaw lied down in the apprentice's den. Tears dotted her big amber eyes. She just felt so…overwhelmed these days. And…intimidated. Sometimes, Songpaw secretly longed for the days when she was called Songkit, and spent her days warm in the nursery with Ferncloud and Daisy. It was times like these when Songpaw longed for her mother to hold her, and talk to her, and tell her that everything was going to be okay. It was times like these when she wished she'd really known her mother. Featherheart – just thinking about her name makes Songpaw feel sad inside. She remembers the warm feeling of her mother, her beautiful scent, her big blue eyes that matched her brother, Willowpaw's. But she wished she remembered more.

But most of all, right now she wished she were anything but an apprentice.

"Hey!" The she-cat looked up to she her brother, Willowpaw, scampering into the apprentice's den. "I haven't seen you day! Where have been?"

"Me?" She asked, getting up and blinking fast – she didn't want Willowpaw to see her that way, her eyes swirled with teardrops. "Where – where have you been, huh? Why haven't I seen you all day?" She didn't mean to act like she was angry or anything…but it involuntarily came off that way.

"I…I've b-been…w-why do you care?" Okay, this was weird for Willowpaw…he was never like this! Was he…covering up something? Or for someone?

"I…I'm sorry," said Songpaw. "We shouldn't be arguing over nothing! We're littermates for StarClan's sake! I'm sorry," she repeated, looking at her paws. "It's just…it's been a tough day."

"What's wrong?" Willowpaw asked, padding closer to his sister. "Want to talk about it?" He sat down next to her and slumped his shoulder over – when he did, she laid her head on his shoulder.

"I don't even know what's wrong," she said. "I just feel so…sad right now, I…I don't know…" she took a breath, and added: "Can I admit something to you that I've never told anyone before?"

"You can tell me anything, Songpaw," Willowpaw told his sister. "You know that."

"Sometimes…" she braced herself. "Sometimes I just don't want to be a warrior. Sometimes I just don't want this life."

"You know," said her brother. "Sometimes I feel that way, too."

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