A/N: Here's the first chapter. Enjoy. Constructive criticism is always wanted / welcome so if you have any please leave a review / PM me with it, as I'm interested to hear what you think I need to improve / change! I won't get salty. I swear. XD

The bright sunlight streamed through the heather crisscrossing the entrance to the den. Green eyes fluttering open, Sorrelfeather blinked sleepily.

She yawned, white teeth glistening in the mid-morning light. She flexed her claws, tearing up a bit of her mossy nest on accident. She got to her paws, sorrel fur ruffled and unkempt.

Brushing past the heather, she padded out of the empty den, into the hollow that served as WindClan's camp. She sat down by the fresh-kill pile, looking about.

Pinefrost and Sleetkit were playing with a ball of moss by the nursery, Spruceclaw was basking just outside the elder's den, and Rowanstar was grooming her pelt on top of a large mossy boulder outside her den.

It was around sun-high, and no-one else was to be seen. Sorrelfeather had been on dusk patrol, and then gone hunting afterward, so she was given permission to sleep in.

She twisted around to groom her back, flattening her reddish fur with her tongue.

She finished grooming herself and shuffled closer to the fresh-kill pile, selecting a small one from the center of the pile. She took it into a shaded corner of camp, heather rustling above her head and a soft wind cooling her.

She tore into the prey, wolfing the entire thing down within moments. She hadn't realized how famished she was.

She scratched earth over the bones and padded over to Rowanstar, who was now laying down peacefully.

"Morning," Sorrelfeather chirped, sitting down and curling her fluffy tail around her paws.

"Good morning Sorrelfeather," Rowanstar purred, looking up at the green-eyed warrior, "Sleep well?"

The sorrel she-cat nodded, "Very, thanks. I didn't realize how late the I was out."

Nodding as well, Rowanstar continued, "I'd like it if you and Duskclaw would take your apprentices out today, and work on their fighting skills. ShadowClan scent has been leaking over the border as of recently, and we want to be prepared if they do attack."

"Of course, Rowanstar," Sorrelfeather purred, "When will they be back?"

"They went out with Cheetahpelt to help gather herbs just after dawn, they should be back any moment now," she replied, swiping a red paw over her ears.

Dipping her head, Sorrelfeather got to her paws and trotted off, deciding to wake Swiftpaw.

Ducking her head into the apprentices den, she sighted the pale brown tabby peacefully sleeping.

She slipped into the narrow tunnel, padding over to the small mossy nest.

"Swiftpaw," she murmured, nudging her, "C'mon, get up."

"W-What?" the apprentice slurred, looking around and shaking her head, "What time is it?"

"Sunhigh," Sorrelfeather said, stepping back and taking a seat in the center of the small den, "We're going to practice fighting with Duskclaw shortly."

Blinking her blue eyes rapidly, Swiftpaw scrabbled to her feet and began to groom her white chest.

"Okay," she said, stretching each of her long legs individually, "I'll be right out."

"Thanks Swiftpaw," Sorrelfeather purred softly before turning around and ducking out of the den, just as Cheetahpelt, Duskclaw and Poisonpaw padded into camp.

"Hey there!" Sorrelfeather said, trotting over to the group of cats, "Duskclaw, Rowanstar said that we should take Poisonpaw and Swiftpaw training today."

Duskclaw padded over to the outside of the medicine cat's tunnel, dropping the pile of herbs near the entrance. Poisonpaw did the same.

"When?" he questioned, sitting down.

"As soon as Swiftpaw gets up," Sorrelfeather replied, "I just woke her."

"Okay," the black tom turned to his apprentice, "Go grab a bite to eat real quick with Swiftpaw and then we'll go."

Poisonpaw nodded her head, bounding off in the direction of the apprentice's den.

"Sweet cat, she is," Duskclaw laughed a bit, smoothing down a rebellious tuft of white chest fur, "It's sad that most cats don't trust her. I mean, Swiftpaw does, and Rowanstar doesn't seem to mind her, but I see that some warriors are awkward around her, and that Cheetahpelt doesn't really like her, even though he's my brother..."

Laughing slightly as the warrior rambled on, "Hopefully some cats will come to trust her with time."

Duskclaw nodded, "Care to share some prey?"

"I'd love to, but I already ate," Sorrelfeather said.

"Alright then, I'll eat and then gather the apprentices up so we can go," he said, stalking off in the direction of the fresh-kill pile.

Cats started to trickle back into camp just as Sorrelfeather and her group were ready to leave.

"We're going now, Rowanstar!" Sorrelfeather called out to the russet leader before trotting up the side of the hollow.

Her three companions followed her to the top of the rise, where she waited for them to catch up.

"How about this," Sorrelfeather said, proposing an idea, "Swiftpaw, Poisonpaw, you race to the training hollow and the first one there gets to choose who they fight first."

Exchanging excited glances, the two she-cats nodded.

"Go!" Duskclaw purred, and they shot off, kicking up some grass and dirt in their trail. Their brown and ginger forms disappeared over a hill and the two mentors broke into a comfortable trot.

After a few rabbit-hops, Sorrelfeather slowed down and turned to Duskclaw.

"Race you!" she called out, spinning around and breaking into a run.

She heard Duskclaw yell 'you're on!' behind her, but she was already sprinting away from him.

Her paws drummed on the soft moor ground as her underbelly brushed the short grass. The wind whistled past her ears, blocking out all other sounds. The hill that the apprentices had just gone over came into sight and she bunched her muscles up, preparing to leap up part of it.

Claws extended, the she-cat pushed off her hind legs and sprung half-way up the small rise. Slowing slightly, she scrambled up the rest of the slippery hill before pelting down it and veering to the right, to avoid a rabbit hole.

The heather ringing the training hollow came into sight and she put on a last burst of speed, looking over her shoulder. She saw the black form of Duskclaw just a tree-length behind her, and he was gaining.

She rocketed up one side of the hollow, and straight down the other. She skidded to a halt just past the apprentices, who were both panting and out of breath. Duskclaw appeared over the edge just a moment later.

"So...close..." Duskclaw panted, plopping down on the mossy floor.

The four cats all regained their posture after a few moments.

"Who won?" both mentors asked at the same time.

"Poisonpaw," Swiftpaw said, smiling at her friend, "She's so fast!"

Happy to see that Swiftpaw was treating Poisonpaw equally, Sorrelfeather purred.

"But Swiftpaw was close behind me!" Poisonpaw piped up, "She almost won."

"Good job, you two," Duskclaw said, sitting down with his white-tipped tail stuck straight out behind him.

"So, who do you want to fight Poisonpaw? Me, Duskclaw or Swiftpaw?" Sorrelfeather asked, taking a seat beside Duskclaw who had moved to the edge of the hollow.

"Swiftpaw," she purred.

Grinning, the brown tabby apprentice took up a fighting stance a few feet away from her opponent, "You're on!"

"Okay Poisonpaw, let's focus on using the ducking tactic we were working on the other day," Duskclaw coached, "But make sure not to hurt Swiftpaw."

"Swiftpaw, let's use your speed to your advantage. But make sure not to loose your balance, should Poisonpaw push you," Sorrelfeather advised the she-cat, "On my count, you go! First one to be pinned, looses. The victor gets..."

Considering a good prize, Sorrelfeather whispered something in Duskclaw's ear.

"The victor will get a recommendation from one of us, to Rowanstar, that you should go to the gathering next quarter-moon," he smiled, swishing his black tail.

Both of the apprentice's eyes seemed to light up, and Poisonpaw took up a fighting stance.

"Ready, set," Sorrelfeather padded a few rabbit-hops to the left, so she could see both apprentices, "Go!"

Swiftpaw sprung at Poisonpaw, paws churning up dirt. Poisonpaw ducked, and Swiftpaw swerved to the left to avoid her outstretched paw.

Poisonpaw spun on her heel to face the other apprentice, leaping at her with both paws out in front of her, but at the last moment she dropped to the ground and slid under Swiftpaw. She stood up as tall as she could, throwing Swiftpaw backwards. She landed on her rear and scrambled to get up, using her claws to get a hold on the edge of the hollow.

Swiftpaw managed to roll to the side, avoiding Poisonpaw's leap. She got to her paws and barreled into the ginger apprentice's side, throwing her to the ground.

She put both paws on her neck before she could get up. Poisonpaw squirmed, but gave up after a few moments.

Swiftpaw stepped off carefully, and helped her friend up. Poisonpaw looked a bit sad, but she was a good sport and wasn't about to throw a fit.

"Great fight, both of you," Duskclaw complimented, standing up. Sorrelfeather nodded in agreement, padding over to Swiftpaw and licking her head proudly.

"Poisonpaw, you did really good. Swiftpaw just has longer legs, and you should have considered that when you ducked under her. If she had shorter legs, she would've been thrown with more force," Sorrelfeather said, looking at the ginger-furred apprentice, "You're coming along very well in your fighting, though."

A bit downcast, Poisonpaw's ginger tail drooped. Duskclaw laid his tail over her back comfortingly, and she seemed to perk up a bit, "Thank you Sorrelfeather."

Purring, Sorrelfeather turned to her own apprentice, "Swiftpaw, when you ran at her the first time you should have assumed she was going to move to the side and shifted your weight accordingly. She wouldn't have had a chance to get under you if you had sprung at her from the side, either. But you did win, and fair is fair, so I will talk to Rowanstar about you going to the gathering."

Looking at Poisonpaw, whose tail was now drooping again, she replied, "Thanks Sorrelfeather, but if Poisonpaw doesn't get to go I don't want to go. Friends don't ditch each other like that."

Purring, Sorrelfeather replied, "Very well then. I will put in a recommendation for both of you when we return to camp."

"Thank you Sorrelfeather!" Poisonpaw chirped. Duskclaw purred at his apprentice's excitement.

"No problem," she said, "Now let's get back to camp."

A/N: This chapter was mainly introducing the characters. I hope I captured all their personalities good, people who submitted Rowanstar, Duskclaw, Swiftpaw and Poisonpaw! -swallows nervously- If not, just leave a review saying what I should change and I will take that into account.

Leave a review if you enjoyed! Oh, and I saw some other authors doing this, so…

Question of the Chapter: Airplanes or cars?

Answer of the Chapter: Airplanes, by far! I love planes.

Bye now! :3