"Let all cats old enough to swim, gather around for a clan meeting." Spottedkit could barely contain her excitement as her father called the clan together. Weedkit, Moonkit, and Cloudkit were clustered around her as they waited for the clan to gather. Spottedkit wondered who her mentor will be. She'd like Tigerfang because he was so fierce and loyal. Watermoon and Silverreed joined the clan last and Carpstar began the ceremony. "Until she has earned her warrior name this apprentice shall be known as Weedpaw. Tigerfang, you are ready for your first apprentice and I expect you to pass all you have learned down to Weedpaw."

Tigerfang, his amber eyes gleaming, stepped forward. Weedpaw padded over and timidly touched noses with the light tabby tom. Carpstar turned to Cloudkit. "Until this apprentice has earned his warrior name, he shall be known as Cloudpaw. Watersnake, you are ready for an apprentice. Teach Cloudpaw all that he needs to know to be a fine warrior."

"I'll do my best," Watersnake promised. He stepped into the circle and waited as Cloudpaw ran up to him. They touched noses and withdrew into the circle.

"Until she has earned her warrior name, this apprentice shall be known as Spottedpaw." Carpstar's gaze searched through the ground until it landed on one cat. Her heart sank it wasn't a strong fierce warrior it was…. "Eaglewing, you are ready for an apprentice. Train Spottedpaw well and teach her that fighting isn't everything and that fun exists in peace time as well." The words spoken, Spottedpaw padded reluctantly over to Eaglewing. Eaglewing is a loyal and peace-loving warrior though he doesn't hesitate to fight. They touched noses and withdrew into the circle. It was Moonkit's turn now.

"Until this apprentice earns his warrior name, he shall be known as Moonpaw." Carpstar nodded to his deputy. "Blazenose, you have informed me that you are ready to train another apprentice. You will mentor Moonpaw. Teach him all you know and allow him to become a noble warrior." Blazenose and Moonpaw touched noses while Spottedpaw fumed. Moonpaw got the deputy as his mentor! All Spottedpaw had was a warrior that she barely knew and was a goody two-paws.

"Moonpaw!"

"Cloudpaw!"

"Spottedpaw!"

"Weedpaw!"

"Moonpaw!"

"Cloudpaw!"

"Spottedpaw!"

"Weedpaw!"

Eaglewing nudged Spottedpaw. Spottedpaw looked at him, curiosity in her eyes. "Ready for the tour of the territory?"

"Yes!" Spottedpaw raced to the entrance but Eaglewing quickly overtook her. Spottedpaw skidded to a halt and glared at her mentor.

Eaglewing didn't seem to notice. "Maybe I'll suspend the tour if you are going to dash off everywhere and show you were to gather moss to take care of the elders instead." Spottedpaw flicked her tail but didn't say anything. Eaglewing, who seemed satisfied, padded out of the camp. Spottedpaw followed close behind, her angry thoughts melting away in the face of her excitement. The territory was huge! Picking up the pace, Spottedpaw dashed over to her mentor's shoulder. The dry ground was growing damp as the forest floor became clotted with pine needles. Soon a rank stench reached Spottedpaw's nose as well as dark, dirty scent.

"What are those smells?" Spottedpaw asked, wrinkling her nose.

Eaglewing let out a purr and rounded a bramble bush. In front of them was a black, stone path with yellow and white streaks. "This is the thunderpath, that borders our territory and Shadowclan's." Eaglewing's mew grew dark and his purr died away. "Never go near the thunderpath even while chasing prey. It is very dangerous and cats have died on there. As for Shadowclan, they say that their territory is so bleak and prey-poor that Shadowclan cats are very hostile."

Spottedpaw's tail flicked and her mind wondered to a battle with Shadowclan. She imagined that she was fighting a tough Shadowclan warrior that she was beating single pawed! A cuff ended her imagination and she glared at Eaglewing as her mentor padded away. She followed her mentor, reluctantly. She wanted to explore Shadowclan territory! Soon the trees gave away to a windy moor. An earth-like scent washed over her. "What scent is that?"

"Windclan," Eaglewing answered. "They live with their tails touching the sky and are the closest to Starclan."

"Are they our guardians?" Spottedpaw asked, her eyes wide with wonder.

Eaglewing's whiskers shook in amusement. "No, they aren't our guardians. Windclan are close to Starclan because they live on the moor with no trees to block their path. That's why they are so fast."

"Can we explore their territory?" Spottedpaw asked, stretching a paw out. Immediately a tail blocked her path.

"No!" Eaglewing meowed firmly, his eyes flashing. "We don't want a fight right now, especially when you haven't had any training." Before Spottedpaw could snap at her mentor, Eaglewing turned back towards the trees. Soon they were on the path that led back to camp. Spottedpaw's paws felt weary but she wanted to see the area around the lake but Eaglewing had told her that they had enough for one day. She padded through the tunnel and over to the apprentice's den, looking forward to some rest. Entering the den, she saw four nests that was freshly lined with moss. Padding over to the closest one, Spottedpaw laid down and closed her amber eyes, giving in to sleep.

She woke in the morning, dawn light filtering through the den. She sat up in her nest, her fur rustling the moss. Stripepaw and Troutpaw were just beginning to stir in their nests. Weedpaw, Moonpaw and Cloudpaw were still fast asleep, Weedpaw snoring despite her tail covering her muzzle. Spottedpaw licked a paw and drew it over her ear, wondering what Eaglewing was going to teach her today.

"You're up early," Stripepaw yawned. "Are you on the dawn patrol too?"

"No, Stripepaw," Spottedpaw shook her head. "I was just too excited to sleep."

Troutpaw blinked her amber eyes open and raised her head. "Soon, you'll be too tired to get up early. Training is tough and I can't imagine how hard Eaglewing will train you."

Spottedpaw pricked her ears. "What do you mean?"

Stripepaw answered this time. "Troutpaw don't tease, you know his former apprentices died before they made warrior."

Fear clutched Spottedpaw's heart. "What do you mean?"

Troutpaw sat up and began washing her tail. "His first apprentice perished from Greencough and the second died from a badger attack. You're his third."

"Will I die too?" Spottedpaw whispered, staring at her paws.

Stripepaw's whiskers twitched in amusement. "No, that was just bad luck. I'm sure you'll be fine." Before Spottedpaw could reply, Stripepaw left the den.

Troutpaw stood and stretched in her nest. "I got to go, Leafmoon is giving me my final assessment today. Hopefully I pass."

"Good luck then!" Spottedpaw rose to her paws. "You go ahead, I'm going to wake my lazy siblings." Troutpaw purred and padded out of the den, her tail swishing as she left. Weedpaw was the closest. Spottedpaw prodded her sister's shoulder gently with her paw. When Weedpaw began to stir, she padded over to Moonpaw. Though Moonpaw leapt to his paws as soon as Spottedpaw prodded him, he swiped his claws in the air. Spottedpaw ducked out of the way, barely making it. She was used to this reaction from her brother. He's been doing it since he was a few days old. Before Moonpaw could apologize, Spottedpaw bounded over to Cloudpaw. The silver apprentice was curled up tightly in his nest, his tail just touching his nose. Spottedpaw gently pulled his tail and Cloudpaw was up instantly.

"Hey!" Cloudpaw complained, licking his tail. "What did you do that for?"

"Training," Spottedpaw answered, giving her brother an apologetic lick. "It's our first day as apprentices!"

"Where's Troutpaw and Stripepaw?" Weedpaw asked, wide awake now.

"Troutpaw is taking her final assessment and Stripepaw is on the dawn patrol," Spottedpaw answered. She padded out of the den before her siblings could say another word. She sat down a tail-length away from the entrance to the apprentice's den. Blazenose was organizing patrols in the clearing. There was no sign of Silverpelt, Stripepaw and Silverwater. Dawn patrol, I guess. Spottedpaw thought, quickly spotting her mentor. Eaglewing was hanging around Sharkfang, his eyes narrowed. Tigerfang was padding over to the apprentices den with Blackcloud and Watersnake. Runningbrook was just padding into camp, his jaws full of herbs. Watermoon was at the fresh-kill pile, her tail flicking while Silverweed sat and watched the warriors through narrowed eyes.

"Are your siblings awake?" Tigerfang asked, as he approached.

Spottedpaw nodded. "Do you want me to get them?" she offered.

"No need!" Weedpaw meowed, popping out of the apprentices' den. Cloudpaw and Moonpaw were right behind her, their eyes gleaming.

"What are we doing today?" Cloudpaw asked, padding over to his mentor.

"Hunting," Watersnake answered. He glanced at Spottedpaw. "You can join us since Eaglewing is going to lead a patrol soon to the Shadowclan border."

"Ok!" Spottedpaw happily followed them over to the entrance and out into the forest. Tigerfang took the lead as soon as the camp was behind them and led them to the edge of the lake.

Once there, the striped warrior sat down at the water's edge and looked at the apprentices. "Do either of you, know how to swim?" He asked.

All four apprentices exchanged glances with one another. Then Weedpaw spoke for the four of them. "We can swim but not well."

"But good enough to hunt?" Blackcloud pressed.

"I guess so," Moonpaw meowed, staring at his paws.

Watersnake padded past Tigerfang, the lake lapping over her paws. "Then let's learn how to fish!"

"How?" Spottedpaw asked, tilting her head.

Tigerfang smiled and beckoned the apprentices into the water. "We have to watch underwater or would you rather have us explain the technique to you?"

"Watch underwater!" The apprentices cried in unison. Spottedpaw swished her tail in anticipation. She knew that fishing could be done out of the water but the hardest technique was catching them in the water according to Troutpaw. When fishing underwater a warrior had to be quick so he or she can return to the surface with their kill before they could drown.

Blackcloud flicked his tail for them to get in the water. Then dived under. Tigerfang and Watersnake followed suit. Moonpaw dived under with Cloudpaw and Weedpaw following. Spottedpaw padded over until she couldn't feel the bottom anymore and swam at the surface. She took a deep breath before diving underwater. As the cloud of bubbles cleared, she saw Tigerfang swim up to a trout and sink his teeth into the fish's scales. The warrior then swam up to the surface. Spottedpaw was about to follow when a minnow swam right past her. Quickly, Spottedpaw hooked the minnow and brought it up to her jaws. Jaw wrapped securely around the fish, Spottedpaw swam up to the surface, bursting into the air.

"Nice catch, Spottedpaw!" Tigerfang meowed, sitting on the bank.

"Thanks!" Spottedpaw meowed, dropping her fish on the shore.

"No way! You caught a minnow!" Moonpaw meowed, padding onto the shore.

"I wish I caught a fish," Weedpaw meowed.

Cloudpaw emerged onto the shore a dead carp hanging from her jaws. "I caught a carp!"

"Nice!" Fishpaw suddenly wished she caught a carp. "I caught a minnow!"

"You both did well," Blackcloud spluttered as his head poked up out of the water. Watersnake was beside him, swimming easily against the current.

"I thought we were supposed to watch," Moonpaw pointed out. "Not hunt!"

Blackcloud padded out of the stream and flicked Moonpaw's ear with his tail. "True, but when a fish swims right past you, do you let it go or kill it?"

Moonpaw stared at his paws before answering. "You kill it but still...we weren't given instructions on how to hunt."

"You need to rely more on your instincts," Blackcloud responded. "Thinking alone won't win battles or provide food for the clan."

"Yes, Blackcloud." Moonpaw mumbled, sitting down on the pebbles. A tense silence followed the lecture and Spottedpaw ran her paws over the pebbles, wondering what to do now.

"Let's continue to hunt," Tigerfang meowed, breaking the silence. "We have hungry mouths to feed."

Spottedpaw trotted into the camp, two minnows hanging from her jaws. It was sunhigh and the fish were already beginning to get affected by the heat. She hurriedly dropped her kill on the prey heap and turned to see her siblings do the same. Cloudpaw placed down her carp and a minnow. Weedpaw and Moonpaw each had two minnows. The warriors each carried a trout. Carpstar, who was sitting in the clearing, nodded at them. "I see you've had good hunting," her father commented.

"We did," Watersnake responded calmly. "The apprentices had a lot of fun."

"That's good to hear," Carpstar muttered. Carpstar rose to his paws and padded over to his den, disappearing inside without so much as a glance at his kits. Silverwater was nowhere to be seen and Spottedpaw wondered if her mother was out on patrol. Spottedpaw turned to head for the apprentices' den, feeling worn out from the hunting when Eaglewing intercepted her path.

"Hey!" Spottedpaw snapped. "I want to get some sleep!"

"No resting until we have done some battle training!" Eaglewing growled in response. "You have to be able to defend yourself against our enemies."

"Why?" Spottedpaw retorted. "There was nothing on the patrol that was suspicious was there?"

Eaglewing didn't answer. He just glared at her, flicking his tail slowly from side to side.

"Is there?" Spottedpaw repeated, wondering what had happened on the patrol. Eaglewing didn't seem to have any scratches on him so there wasn't a fight. However he seemed worried.

"Yes," Eaglewing meowed. "We spotted hints of rogue activity by our border with Windclan."

"Is there going to be a battle?" Spottedpaw asked, her eyes widening in excitement. She couldn't wait to fight!

Eaglewing shook his head. "Hopefully they were just passing through. If not then I want you to be able to defend yourself."

"Yes!" Spottedpaw meowed, her eyes brightening. "Battle training!"

Eaglewing let out a purr, his whiskers twitching in amusement. "Let's go!" Without waiting for a response, the warrior turned and raced out of the camp. Spottedpaw glanced at the apprentices' den before racing after her mentor. She would get some sleep later, right now she had a battle to prepare for!

Riverclan

Leader: Carpstar: A light gray tom with green eyes

Deputy: Blazenose: A brown and white tom with a white blaze down the muzzle. Has brown eyes

Medicine cat: Runningbrook: a golden tabby tom with green eyes

Warriors:

Silverpelt: A silver she-cat with amber eyes Apprentice: Stripepaw

Moonlight: A black tom with white spots and pale green eyes

Leafmoon: tortoiseshell she-cat with blue eyes Apprentice: Troutpaw

Blackcloud: black and white tom with green eyes Apprentice: Moonpaw

Watersnake: A white tom with spots that look like diamonds and has green-blue eyes Apprentice: Cloudpaw

Tigerfang: A light tabby tom with amber eyes Apprentice: Weedpaw

Eaglewing: A brown tabby tom with green eyes and a white muzzle Apprentice: Spottedpaw

Sharkfang: A gray she-cat with amber eyes

Silverwater: A silver and white she-cat with blue eyes

Apprentices:

Stripepaw: A golden brown tabby tom with a striped tail and pale amber eyes

Troutpaw: A silver-white tabby she-cat with amber eyes

Weedpaw: a dark gray she-cat with green eyes; a darker gray than Moonpaw

Cloudpaw: a silver tabby tom with blue eyes and a white muzzle

Spottedpaw: a light gray she-cat with white spots and amber eyes

Moonpaw: a dark gray tom with one white paw and amber eyes

Queens:

Kits:

Elders:

Watermoon: a dark gray she-cat with flecks of white on her muzzle and ears; has blue eyes

Silverreed: a silver tabby tom with a white-tipped tail and green eyes