"You did very well, Spottedpaw!" Featherwhisker congratulated her. The two were returning to camp after basic fighting training. Spottedpaw had been Featherwhisker's apprentice for a quarter moon and she already felt much stronger and smarter than when she had first become an apprentice. Featherwhisker had already shown her the whole territory, as well as where the best places to gather herbs were, and had just finished showing her some fighting techniques. "You can go ahead and take something from the fresh-kill pile-you've earned it!" Spottedpaw beamed as she took a squirrel.
"Share?" Spottedpaw looked up to see Redpaw padding over-his tortoiseshell coat was dusted with scraps of moss, showing that he had just returned from cleaning the elders' den. Spottedpaw nodded and shifted so the squirrel was between them. As the two apprentices devoured the prey, Tigerpaw and Thistleclaw emerged from the gorse tunnel, fur fluffed and tails held high.
"I showed that kittypet a lesson he sure won't forget!" The dark tabby apprentice boasted. Thistleclaw nodded.
"If you keep this up, you'll be a warrior in no time! I'm glad you showed those good-for-nothing kittypets what it's like to be beaten by a true ThunderClan cat!" He agreed. "Isn't that right, Spottedpaw?"
"Me?" Spottedpaw's mouth felt full of fluff as the large warrior cast his dark amber gaze on her. Redpaw nudged her sharply.
"I'm interested to know the opinion of the next medicine cat of ThunderClan." Thistleclaw replied silkily. Spottedpaw felt uncomfortable under Thistleclaw's scorching gaze but she knew that she ought to answer.
"I'm sure that Tigerpaw will make an amazing warrior." Spottedpaw replied quietly, avoiding the real issue. She privately hated the war on kittypets that Thistleclaw and Tigerpaw seemed determined to keep going but didn't want to get dragged into an argument with two cats much older and more trained than her.
"Thank you Spottedpaw." Thistleclaw dipped his head to her, making the medicine cat apprentice feel even more awkward. "I'm pleased to hear you have faith in my training." Is he joking? Spottedpaw wanted nothing more than to get away from Thistleclaw, to go back to the safety of the medicine cat den with Featherwhisker. Instead, she swallowed around the imaginary lump in her throat and bit into the squirrel.