A/N: Sorry about the long wait. Those of you who have already read this story, I suggest you go back and reread Chapter Two and Three. I corrected one of my mistakes and I'd like to introduce you to two new cats: Maplepaw and Lightpaw. Also, the fact that Redtail is NOT the deputy anymore. Ok, now that that's out of the way, enjoy.

Chapter Four:

"Yay!" Tigerpaw said. "What are we going to do first Redtail?"

Redtail smiled. "I'm just as excited as you are, but let's start off with teaching you some hunting techniques. Then tomorrow, we will work on some fighting techniques. Then the day after, we will work on some defense maneuvers. We will practice every day and then after half a moon, I will test you on what we have learned. Do you understand?"

Tigerpaw nodded.

"Then let's get started."

Redtail stalked toward Sunningrocks, his ginger tail sticking up in the air. Tigerpaw slowly followed. Once they got to Sunningrocks, Redtail stopped. "Now tell what you can smell."

Tigerpaw sniffed the air. He could smell rabbit, vole, and mouse. "Prey?"

Redtail nodded. "Anything else?"

Tigerpaw sniffed again. "A fox came by."

"Does it smell fresh to you?"

Tigerpaw sniffed again. "No, at least two moons old. I also smell something very…fishlike. What is it?"

Redtail laughed. "That is the smell of Riverclan. There will come a time when you can distinguish each clan by scent."

"Well, if we can smell them, shouldn't we attack? They're obviously invading our territory!"

Redtail laughed. "Do not worry; Sunningrocks is the boundary between our two territories. It is not uncommon to scent Riverclan around this area."

"Oh," Tigerpaw mewed, feeling foolish.

"Don't worry," Redtail said. "It's an easy mistake that any apprentice can make. Now I'm going to show you the proper way to stalk a mouse. Watch closely."

And so the training went. Redtail showed Tigerpaw the different ways to stalk the animals of the forest while Tigerpaw tried to mimic his movements.

"That was awesome Redtail," Tigerpaw mewed as Redtail caught a vole and buried it.

"You have watched me stalk and kill several prey. Do you feel ready to try it yourself?"

Tigerpaw slowly nodded and proceeded to practice stalking techniques. By the end of the day, Tigerpaw had managed to improve his tactics and had caught four pieces of fresh kill.

"You're a natural Tigerpaw," Redtail said. "The elders will definitely get to enjoy some fresh kill tonight, but remember that everyone else takes a piece from the pile before the apprentices can pick one."

Tigerpaw picked up a mouse he had caught and began walking back to the camp with it. While walking there, he saw Grasspaw sitting by the entrance with his tail tucked between his paws.

"Grasspaw! How was your first training session?"

Grasspaw sadly looked up. "I didn't catch anything today," he mewed solemnly glancing at Tigerpaw's catch of prey.

Tigerpaw went up to his brother and gave him a lick on the head. "Cheer up, it's only your first day. Some cats take longer to learn. Just talk to Whitestorm about helping you out. Why don't you, me, and Mousepaw share some fresh kill and we can talk about our day and look for ways to help you out."

Grasspaw nodded and Tigerpaw went to drop his fresh kill off in the pile. He waited until everyone else had taken a piece. Then he spotted a nice fat rabbit, but before he got it, a white paw pushed it away.

"Hey!" Tigerpaw mewed, lifting up his head to glare, only to stop when he realized it was Waterpaw. "What are you doing?" he asked.

"I was going to take this rabbit back to the den and share it with you, but it appears you are rejecting my invitation."

A ping of excitement rang through Tigerpaw. "No, I'll join you for dinner."

Tigerpaw and Waterpaw spent the entire evening together after eating the rabbit. "I liked seeing you tonight Tigerpaw," Waterpaw said. "Good night."

Tigerpaw slowly trotted back to his area of the den, feeling happy only to find Grasspaw and Mousepaw sitting there glaring at him.

"Where were you?" Mousepaw hissed.

Tigerpaw looked up startled. He wasn't used to his siblings acting this way.

"I'm sorry; I forgot and ate with Waterpaw. Do you guys forgive me?"

"We will eventually," Grasspaw hissed as he and Mousepaw stalked off.

Feeling guilty, Tigerpaw settled down and tried to go to sleep, his heart heavy with burdens.