A/N: Finally, there are no more exams for a few months. I hope. Now I can focus on my writing again. Not much to say here, except enjoy!

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Training came the following day as usual, Sparkstar acted as though nothing had happened but Thunderpaw preferred it that way. And with Lighteningpaw there he felt less pressure. The leaders plan for their training was going well so far. They had learnt a lot more than Grasspaw, who had only just finished learning the basics of hunting and fighting. By now they were pretty confident in both areas, although they still had many lessons to learn about how they should lead the clan after Sparkstar died.

"Today we shall learn how to track specific cats. Serpantscale agreed to help out. I want you both to track him, feel free to work together. I will follow you and watch your techniques." Thunderpaw turned eagerly to ask Lighteningpaw if he wanted to work with him. But his brother was already heading off into the forest, clearly happy to work alone.

"Why is he so…cold?" The black cat muttered to himself.

Serpantscale hadn't made it very challenging to track him. He had chosen an obvious path heading for owltree but the apprentices were shocked to find that the warrior was not waiting for them and his scent had disappeared. However, in a small patch of mud were some paw prints leading towards the Thunderpath.

"He went to the Thunderpath! Let's go!" Mewed Lighteningpaw determinedly.

"I think he's trying to trick us. Let's go the other way." Thunderpaw replied.

"No way! I'm obviously right aren't I Sparkstar?"

"Why don't you both go the way you think is right? I'll check up on both of you, to see who was right." The two apprentices nodded fiercely and headed their separate ways; Lighteningpaw towards the Thunderpath and Thunderpaw towards Sunningrocks. Along the way the apprentice growled to himself. Why did his brother have to be such a know it all? Why was he even angry with him? Could it be that he was jealous?

"No, he wouldn't be. Not my own brother."

The cat's bright yellow eyes narrowed as he arrived at Sunningrocks. Still no sign or scent of his old mentor. An idea hit Thunderpaw. Maybe Serpantscale had gone to Tallpines. He raced towards the area, hoping that the warrior hadn't been stupid enough to visit his sister. Sparkstar was already angry with him, Thunderpaw couldn't bare to think what would happen if the leader found out.

He entered the most unnatural part of Sparkclan territory, the part that Twolegs themselves had planted, just to destroy during Greenleaf. He took a long sniff of the air, drawing in as many scents as he could. There was no scent of Serpantscale, he had successfully gotten rid of his familiar smell, but the apprentice could recognise the scent of two other cats; Lighteningpaw and Sparkstar! Beside him some bushes rustled and out jumped his brother. The scent Thunderpaw had smelt was faint and the wind was blowing towards him, how on earth had his brother found him so easily when he had come from the opposite direction?

"W-what are you doing by here. You went to-"

"You're so slow, aren't you? Serpantscale was obviously heading this way, the stupid kittypet. Sparkstar's over there, about to teach him a lesson and he told me to make sure no one stops him, especially kittypet lovers like you. He can't trust you anymore, so just go away and leave me to become leader." Lighteningpaw growled ferociously. Thunderpaw unsheathed his claws.

"What do you mean teach him a lesson? Why are you acting like this, Lighteningpaw? You said you didn't trust him!"

"Questions, questions. Number one; Sparkstar's going to send Serpantscale to live with Starclan. Two; I'm jealous of all the praise and attention you get. And three: I lied! Happy now?"

The brothers glared at each other, both waiting for the other to strike first. Thunderpaw raced forwards at the white cat standing before him and Lighteningpaw did like-wise. Before Thunderpaw could strike though he was distracted by a yowl of pain. A claw swiped across his face almost exactly where Sparkstar had struck.

"Lighteningpaw, come here now. You need to learn your most important lesson. Bring your brother with you." The white apprentice immediately clamped his fangs around the back of the black apprentices neck. Once again, Thunderpaw could've fought, but fear consumed him, immobilized him from trying to escape. He simply obeyed his brother and slowly walked forward, fearful of what he might see.

Between the endless, straight rows of trees sat Sparkstar, pinning down Serpantscale with only one paw.

"Thunderpaw, so nice of you to join us. Lighteningpaw, I see those nightly training sessions were not in vain. By the way, don't remove your fangs from his neck just yet. We don't want your brother leaving us so soon." The black cat shivered, yet he couldn't remove his eyes from the scene, his leader so heartlessly making his mentor suffer for where he came from. He knew he had been wrong to agree with anything the leader had ever said.

"Thunderpaw, I am a fair cat and a noble leader. Like any good warrior, I want my clan to be strong. But with kittypets, she-cats and cats like you around it'll never be tough enough to defeat the other clans. So you have one last chance and two simple choices. Kill Serpantscale or choose the cowards way out and die."

The apprentices mind raced, he couldn't even believe he was considering the first option. Both his mother and father had said that that he could bring glory to the clan. But both ways sounded like the cowards way out to him, as well. How could he know what would be the result of his actions. A large part of him was saying that he should kill his mentor, but would that make all his loved ones turn against him? But he knew in his heart that even if he wanted to he couldn't kill his mentor. Once again his fear had gotten the better of him. Acting on impulse he kicked out his hind paw, startling his brother. He gave one last saddened look at his brother, mentor and leader before fleeing deep into the forest.

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