A/N: Big thanks to everyone who reviewed. More people wanted Thistleclaw for Tigerpaw's mentor than anything else, so I chose him.

"…Thistleclaw. Thistleclaw, Tigerpaw will be your first apprentice. Be sure to pass on to him all the skills that your mentor Longclaw taught you."

Tigerpaw excittedly touched noses with his new mentor. "When do we start training?" he purred as the meeting broke up.

"Tomorrow. Don't be late," Thistleclaw meowed gruffly, heading towards the warriors' den.

Tigerpaw padded over to the fresh kill pile and selected a plump vole. Finally, he was an apprentice!

OoOoO

(A/N: The next morning...)

"First things first, I'll show you the territory," Thistleclaw meowed. "Follow me."

Tigerpaw followed Thistleclaw out of the training hollow. They trekked through the forest for a few minutes before they reached a long, black...what was it?

"This is the Thunderpath. The Twolegs built it. Stay off," Thistleclaw meowed as Tigerpaw reached towards it. "Cats have gotten killed walking out onto the Thunderpath like that. There's a certain way to cross it, which I'll show you later. Now, this is the border with ShadowClan. Can you scent them?"

Tigerpaw sniffed the air and wrinkled up his nose. "That smells HORRIBLE!" he spat.

Thistleclaw purred in amusement. "That would be ShadowClan. If you ever catch..."

Before Thistleclaw could finish, a gigantic object zoomed across the Thunderpath. Its pelt was unnaturally bright red.

"What was THAT?" Tigerpaw asked in awe.

"That is a monster," Thistleclaw replied. "They carry Twolegs in their bellies."

"Why would a Twoleg want to ride in one of those? They smell worse than ShadowClan!" Tigerpaw retorted.

"Why do Twolegs do anything?" Thistleclaw meowed. "They're all mouse-brained. Anyway, back to what I was saying. If you ever catch a cat from another Clan on our territory, which will happen eventually, fight them off."

"Oh, alright," Tigerpaw meowed. "Um...how exactly would I do that?"

"I'll show you," Thistleclaw replied. "For now, keep following me."

After Thistleclaw had shown Tigerpaw the rest of the territory, he ordered him to catch a mouse. "I happen to know that you already know how," the warrior meowed.

Tigerpaw held his head high, tasting the air. He scented a mouse off to the right. He crawled towards it, remembering that mice could sense vibrations in the ground. As soon as he got close enough, he leapt! Tigerpaw sank his teeth into the mouse and felt it go limp. A perfect catch-just one more in his growing collection of successful hunts.

"Good, good," Thistleclaw meowed. "Since you already know how to hunt, catch at least two more pieces of prey and return to camp. Tomorrow, we'll start working on your battle skills."

"Alright, Thistleclaw," Tigerpaw purred, padding towards the forest. Tomorrow, he'd start learning how to be the best warrior the forest had ever seen!

OoOoO

(A/N: Again, the next morning...)

"OK, attack me," Thistleclaw ordered.

Tigerpaw leapt immediatly. Thistleclaw easily dodged the attack and batted the young tom aside with his paw. "Try again. This time, try something I don't expect."

Tigerpaw analized the situation. He ran at his mentor, making it seem as though he would attack from the front. At the last second, he swerved to the right and bowled the older warrior over, pinning him down.

"Good job," Thistleclaw meowed. "Now get off of me!"

Tigerpaw jumped back.

"Now try to counter my attack," Thistleclaw ordered.

Tigerpaw waited. Thistleclaw wove back and forth, making it impossible to tell which side he would come at. Tigerpaw glanced back and forth, never letting his guard down. When Thistleclaw leapt, Tigerpaw ducked low and let the older cat fly over him.

"You'll make a good warrior," Thistleclaw meowed. "But in battle, you must be ruthless. Don't let any cat tell you otherwise. You must show no mercy."

A/N: Ok, I'm going to a camp called Wolf Ridge tomorrow, and I have to be ready by 6 am (groans). I won't have computer access for three days, but I want at least two more reviews by the time I get back. I'll bring my notebook to camp and write another chapter, but I'm not updatitng until I get a few reviews. Does anyone know what Thistleclaw looked like? If you don't, what do you think he looks like? And does anyone want allegiances? If so, I might make some. R&R!