Moonlight lit the foggy, distinctive clearing as Thornpaw padded within from what seemed like a looming woodland.

A vast amount of evergreen trees surrounded him, as he drank in the refreshing scent of pine that clung to his dark tabby pelt.

"Where am I?", His voice echoed amongst the trees, as he swiveled to a halt.

His amber gaze narrowed as he spotted a masculine figure emerging from the thickened fog, in which he was seemingly nearing the young apprentice.

The towering frame's description was revealed, as the fog swept past him within moments. Strangely enough, the cat's posture and appearance was similar to Thornpaw's: His tabby pelt, vibrant amber eyes, masculine shoulders, and powerful, sheathed paws.

"Greetings, Thornpaw", The robust tom dipped his head to him, his seemingly mischievous, yet glowing gaze lifting.

Thornpaw ignored his greeting, his expression remaining skeptical.

"How do you know my name?", The apprentice demanded, his tabby pelt bristling defensively.

The tom replied with a simple, billowing chuckle, his tail swaying in the faint breeze.

"Because, Thornpaw, you are my son".

"C'mon, wake up lazy bones", Sparrowpaw prodded Thornpaw's flank, as he jolted awake.

Rays of sunlight filtered through the apprentice den, as he scrambled upright in his nest. He sat up to see his sister's green eyes staring into his.

He searched the den, only finding Gingerpaw, Redpaw, and Owlpaw still fast asleep.

"Where's Jaypaw?", He muttered, lifting himself from his nest and jostling his thick tabby pelt.

"She's on the dawn patrol the Flamefoot", Sparrowpaw replied, lapping at a paw and cuffing it over her ear.

Thornpaw muttered a few hushed words to himself, before clambering outside of the apprentice den. He winced slightly at the sunlight. It was strange that the weather was so humid in late leaf-fall.

He spotted Fallowstar speaking with Wolwhisker, the ThunderClan deputy. They're probably talking about the recent prey theft from ShadowClan. Thornpaw thought to himself, stretching his limbs and padding over to the fresh-kill pile.

He fetched a starling and settled himself in the clearing, along with a few awake apprentices, as they slowly began to return from the dawn patrol.

His mind was still perplexed, as he reminisced the dream that he had last night. He still didn't quite wrap around the fact that the tom in his dream could potentially be his lost father. Quite frankly, it began to trouble him. He insisted for some answers.

Once he finished the starling, he shoved the remnants away, spotting Jaypaw, as she returned with her mentor beside her. Her frosty blue eyes looked weary with tiredness, as Thornpaw began to wonder how early she was sent for the dawn patrol.

Flamefoot parted ways with his apprentice, as he padded over to the nursery to check up on Dappleberry.

With that, he trotted over to his sister.

"How was the dawn patrol?",

Jaypaw parted her jaws into a massive yawn before replying.

"Fine. I just don't understand why we had to do it so early".

Thornpaw shrugged loosely. "There's a reason why they call it that, I suppose".

She nodded curtly, before lethargically clambering to the apprentice den.

A tail brushed his spine, as he spun around, facing his mentor.

"Ready for a hunting session?", Bramblestrike asked, turning and beckoning Thornpaw with his battle-scarred tail.

"Sure", He replied, as he bounded over to fall in beside his mentor.

The two of them slid past the bramble thickets barricading the camp entrance. They padded farther from the Training Hollow, as woodland became more visible than before, as it also became a lot quieter.

Thornpaw's thoughts continued to whir in his head from his dream. He was beginning to think that the cat, who claimed to be his father, came from the Dark Forest. If that was true, what if he followed in his father's pawsteps? What if he really wasn't his father, and it was a way to lure him into negative outcomes?

Bramblestrike's seething hiss brought him back to reality. "Focus", He hissed, pointing at a squirrel with his tail-tip.

"See that?"

Thornpaw nodded.

"I'm going to kill it. But I need you to focus", He mewed firmly, his deep green gaze shifting to his apprentice. "You are going to do the same once I'm finished".

He heeded his mentor's words, as he watched Bramblestrike slither quietly to the vulnerable rodent's approach.

Once he became close enough, he lunged for it, clamping his jaws firmly into it's windpipe. He padded back, dropping his catch in front of Thornpaw's shuffling paws.

Veiling it with the soft earth, Bramblestrike's whiskers twitched, indicating to to a plump mouse scuffling amongst the undergrowth.

"Try and get that mouse", He instructed, as he drew back just behind a patch of tall grass blades.

"Alright", Thornpaw muttered, lowering himself, his belly fur brushing up against the ground.

He became too close to the mouse, as it sensed his approach prior to his sudden presence. It skittered off, leaving him with his ears flat against his head.

"I told you to pay attention", Bramblestrike seethed crossly, as he turned to Thornpaw.

"Sorry". His gaze clouded with guilt.

Bramblestrike didn't reply, as his gaze furrowed. He then raised his bulky head to taste the air. Thornpaw could tell something was wrong.

"What is it?", Thornpaw's voice shrank.

"ShadowClan is invading our territory", He hissed.