Hey, welcome to chapter 4! Finally the story is actually going to start.

So for those of you who have asked me about Robinstar's revenge, I'm sorry. This story must be confusing, but I have already said that I'm going to rewrite that story. Once I do you'll understand so much more. There will be spoilers in the future, so if you don't want to see them you'll have to wait.

On another note, this story is an AU. There will be no Sparkpaw or Alderpaw, or any journeys to retrieve Skyclan. I thought that was clear before, but some of you were confused.

anyway, I hope you enjoy chapter 4!

Chapter 4 Apprentices at last!

(Robinstar's POV)

I lied in the nursery looking down at my kits in worry. Today they reach the age of six moons, so I have to make them apprentices. I don't want them in the battle with Riverclan, but there is no other choice. Four of our warriors are becoming elders soon, so we need all the help we can get.

I stared at my kits with sadness, especially Hopekit. I believe she's the hope for my clan- I shook my head rapidly. I need to stop. I am the clan leader...I can't get worried like this. With a sigh I placed my head on my paws. This is becoming a huge problem. I... Should I have had kits at all? Was I wrong to have loved Redsky?

(Hopekit's POV)

I looked at my mother in pure excitement. This is it! We'll finally become apprentices! I have been waiting for this moment for so long, but now that I'm finally getting it I feel...strange. Then again, I could just be over excited.

"Skykit, step forward. From now on until you have earned your warrior name, you'll be know as Skypaw. Hailnose, you did an exceptional job in training Yellowfur. You are a strong warrior and I hope you'll pass down all you know to young Skypaw," she meowed. I watched as they touched noses. Soon that'll be me!

"Hazelkit step forward. From now on until you have earned your warrior name you'll be known as Hazelpaw. ...Ratclaw, you are ready for your first apprentice. Stormface passed a lot of knowledge down to you, and I expect Hazelpaw to know everything," she meowed.

I looked over at Hazelpaw in shock. She must be pretty angry. She wanted an experienced warrior, not some newly made warrior.

Sharpkit walked forwards without having to be asked. Robinstar seemed to pause before naming her though. It was like she saw something off about naming ceremony. "...From now on until you receive your warrior name, you'll be know as Sharppaw. ...Applebreeze... I want you to mentor Sharppaw and to teach her all that you know," she meowed. Why was she being so vague? Did she see something, or did she just eat something bad?

Now it was my turn. My paws twitched with excitement as my name was called. I stepped forwards without hesitation and puffed out my chest. "Hopekit from now on until you receive your warrior name, you'll be known as Hopepaw. Bearclaw, you have served Shadowclan for many moons, and I know you wanted one last apprentice before joining the elders den. ...You trained my brother with perfection, so I hope that you will do the same for Hopepaw," she meowed sadly. So Bearclaw trained Stoneheart. I wonder why she choose him to train me? Hazelpaw would have been a better choice.

My thought were interrupted by Bearclaw, the brown tom, who softly touched noses with me. I can't believe that I'm finally an apprentice! I quickly glanced at my mother with pride. One day I'll be a warrior as well!

"Skypaw, Hazelpaw, Sharppaw, Hopepaw!" the clan cheered. I felt my pelt hot with embarrassment. I don't know why but hearing the clan cheer for me is embarrassing. It made me feel as if I had done something fantastic for Shadowclan.

As soon as the meeting was over, I quickly bounded around my mentor in joy. While he just looked at me. It was almost like he didn't know what to do, but he was excited about it.

"Alright enough of the prancing!" he snapped. I immediately stopped. So he's that type of warrior. He stood up and took a step forward. "Let's go," he meowed. I hesitated for a moment, but I swiftly decided to follow him.

I never knew how beautiful outside of camp was. Pine trees towered above us, they were so tall I could hardly see the sky. The territory soon changed into a small clearing where Skypaw and Hailnose were already training.

"Um...what are we doing?" I asked. Bearclaw looked at me oddly.

"What do you think?" he growled. "The battle with Riverclan is just around the corner. We have to be ready now," he meowed. I winced at his words. I completely forgot about Riverclan. Suddenly all the excitement of being an apprentice was exterminated. I remembered how much I didn't want to fight Riverclan and how unfair it was.

"Do you think it's a good idea to fight them?" I asked. His green eyes bore into mine, and his fur rose slightly.

"Are you afraid of them?!" he hissed. I shrunk down in slight fear.

"N-no I'm not," I meowed. I gained a small amount of confidence with my words. "I just don't think it's fair to steal someone's kits. What if it were your kits?" I asked. His glare softened but it was still present.

"I can agree with you on that, Hopepaw." His fur flattened and he decided to sit down. "But you have to remember that your mother's word is law. If she believes that is the right thing to do then it's the right thing to do," he meowed. I looked at him with shock. So he thinks I'm right? Then why does he think it's alright to fight Riverclan?

I opened my mouth to say something else, but I decided against it. I should just drop the subject for now. "What are you going to show me?" I asked.

"Forepaw slash," he mewed. He stood up once again and lifted a paw. "Just take your paw and slice downward, but I want you to try and aim for the face." He quickly demonstrated it on a innocent bush, which sliced it into pieces. He looked at me expectantly. "Try it on this bush first and keep your claws out. After I want to give you a few tips for battle," he meowed.

I slowly walked over to the mangled bush and got ready. I unsheathed my claws and lifted my front right paw high into the air. I hope I get this right! I slashed down with great force, however, I only seemed to knock a few leaves and a twig down. My ears drooped at the failure.

"Hey don't be like that," he said. I looked at my mentor expecting to see disappointment, but I couldn't find a trace of it in his eyes. "It's your first time doing it. Try moving your paw faster and relax your body. Don't worry about power, in a battle that's not what you have to worry about," he meowed. He's right. I can't despair over my first try!

I let out a small breath and raised my paw again. This time I'll do it! I brought my paw down again swifter than last time. I heard the snap of a few branches, so when I looked I saw the remnants of the bush.

"See how much better that was. It still wasn't perfect, but you knocked down most of the bush," he praised. I felt embarrassed at his words. "We'll just have to practice it more."

We kept doing it until I had it drilled into my head. He also showed me how to back kick after I perfected the Forepaw slash. It was nearly sun-fall by the time I finished, and let me tell you that I was tired. However training wasn't done. Bearclaw felt that I had to know a few tips before sending me off.

"This might seem cheep, for it is a Thunderclan move. When you are in battle you can lure a cat in with your tail. Riverclan likes to use the tail yank move a lot, so just pull your tail in swiftly and turn on them. It doesn't seem that effective, but I can assure you it is," he meowed. He makes it seem like he did this often.

I slowly walked into camp with aching paws. My pads were torn up from the bushes, and they stung once dirt got into them. Bearclaw told me to suck it up and stop complaining, but great Starclan they stung. "Hopepaw, go get fresh-kill then head off to your den," he meowed. I gave a small nod then walked over to the fresh-kill pile.

"Hey Hopepaw, come share this squirrel with me," Patchpaw meowed. I felt a purr escape my throat. I strolled over and sat beside my friend.

"It's been a while since we sat together," I meowed. Almost immediately I started to devour the squirrel.

"How's training going? I heard you got Bearclaw! "Is he as strict as Oakshine told me?" he asked. I laughed and rolled my eyes.

"One at a time Patchpaw! Training is alright, but I had to do the same moves over and over until I perfected it," I whined. "He's strict yes, but halfway through training he softened up a little," I mewed. I gave him a playful shove. "How's being a medicine cat?" I asked.

"Well...it wasn't what I expected, but I still enjoy it," he mewed. I felt bad for him. Does he know that he can still train as a warrior?

"Patchpaw it you're unhappy you can still-" he interrupted me.

"I'm not unhappy. I feel like I would be more unhappy if I was a warrior," he meowed. I stared at him doubtfully, but if he says he's fine then so be it. I continued to eat the squirrel in silence. "H-hey don't be upset!" he panicked. I tilted my head.

"I'm not?" I mewed. What a strange question. "As long as you're happy I guess." I heard him let out a sigh of relief. Honestly, what am I going to do with him?

Did you like the chapter? I had fun writing this chapter, I have no clue why but I had fun. Anyway thank you for reading this chapter!