My muses are jerks. All I can say. But I finally managed to finish this chapter! We'll be getting a lot more with Ebony this chapter. I hope you guys like her better now than you did before. Oh! And there are reviews! Lovely reviews!

Fourth Season: Yep. Plot is the answer for everything.

APerson: I plan on using that character in the future! Thank you!

Feraa: She definitely doesn't appear the most violent! You have Death for that!

L xxx: It was the next step-unfortunately, I don't think it's working! No cliffies this time!

Silver Shadows in the Night: He failed spectacularly! But he has more up his sleeve... MWAHAHAHAHA


Fang watched as Ebony dived recklessly back into the mock-battle against her sister, Ivy. Her timing was all off, and she found herself being thrown back by her opponent.

Too slow, wrong time, Fang thought, paws twitching. Ebony was going to get herself killed if she didn't improve, and soon. Her technique wasn't too bad-her instincts were good, but her timing was very wrong. As Ebony dived straight into the trap her sister had set for her, Ivy followed through with it. It was a perfectly executed strike. Ebony would be defeated.

For her part, she accepted her punishment for failure with a brave face. She held her head high, and stared straight at Ivy.

Maybe, with a push in the right direction, she could be a good fighter… Fang thought, as the battle was called to an end. In all honesty, she was terrified that Ebony would be greeted by the same fate as Fox. That was unacceptable.

Perhaps Fang could train the she-cat herself? It could work. It wouldn't be against the Code either. Given the chance, Ebony could be a magnificent fighter. The natural instinct was all there, and timing and strength-and the power of observation-could be taught, given time.

But without the proper instruction, there was a good chance that Ebony would meet a cruel end. That thought gave Fang the resolve to chose her course. She would train the she-cat, and keep her alive. She wouldn't let her die.

Decision made, Fang first had to approach the fellow Trainee. Once they were released from training, Fang made to approach her, but was blocked by Death.

"Hello, Fang." He greeted, looking smug. Fang didn't really know why, and it annoyed her. What was there for him to be smug about?

"Is there something you need?" Fang inquired, her voice ice cold, it's undertones recommending that he stop all attempts at conversation. Death ignored it, as always. He never could take a hint.

"Doesn't it get boring, pushing all conversation away?" Death asked, cocky half-smile on his face.

"Doesn't it get boring, wasting air for conversation?" Fang retorted, and Death winced.

"Ouch. It seems you were indeed properly named, Fang. Your tongue bites just as much as your claws," Death said, shaking his head, "Can't you give a poor tom a break from feeling the bite of it?"

"If said tom would leave me alone, he might not have that problem," Fang responded.

"Why do that? You might not be lonely if you didn't, especially with the fact that you are ranked first," Death remarked.

"And I might wake finding claws in my back," Fang countered, glaring at the annoying specimen of life before her. He always turned up at the most inconvenient times, and at times he acted as if he owned her.

"Ridiculous! You are too good to be killed in that fashion," Death replied, rolling his eyes as if she was a silly kit who didn't understand the basic facts of BloodClan life. In fact, she felt she understood them better then this idiot.

"If you would excuse me, I have business to attend to," Fang said, a clear dismissal. Death shrugged, padding over to strike up a conversation with Onyx and Blood. Fang sighed with relief, glad to be rid of him for now. Then, she walked over to Ebony.

"Can I talk to you for a moment? Alone?" Fang asked Ebony, looking pointedly at Sable, who had been chatting with Ebony. Sable shrugged, walking away from the other two. Ebony looked at Fang with a confused expression. Fang sighed, before beginning.

"Your instincts are good, but your timing is way off. If you had waited a moment longer, your move would have succeeded. I can show you how to tell the proper timing, if you would like," Fang explained hurriedly. Ebony frowned.

"You want to… help me?" she asked, her mind mulling over the foreign words. Fang slowly nodded.

"I suppose that is a correct way to put it." Fang responded slowly. It was an odd word. Help. That was kind of what she was proposing, when she thought on it.

"Why?" Ebony asked, her usually eager eyes guarded.

"It would be a waste if you died. I detest waste," Fang explained carefully, not sure if she should give her full intentions. They weren't exactly approved of by the Clan, and she doubted they ever would be. She didn't know Ebony too well yet. It would more than likely remain Fang's secret till the end of time.

It seemed to her that her whole life was a big pile of secrets shrouded by lies. She had so many things that she must remember: don't tell, don't show, be as the stone walls and floor of the BloodClan encampment. Be as stone. Act heartless. Act uncaring. Act bored. Act as if nothing affected her. Focus on the fight, on her muscles moving. One movement at a time. Don't think, don't feel.

Be. As. Stone.

"Oh, well, thanks I guess! Are we training now or…?" Ebony asked, her usually enthusiasm returned, a small, innocent smile creeping up onto her face, something Fang had never before seen on a cat in BloodClan. Maybe once, long ago in her kithood, she may have worn that smile. She didn't remember if she had. As long as she remembered, she hid everything behind her mask of indifference. That was the only way for her to survive in this harsh, cruel environment of which she was born in.

"We can start now, if you have no plans," Fang responded coolly. Ebony bounced on her little paws, still wearing that silly little smile.

"Nope! I have none!" Ebony proclaimed, prancing after Fang as she led the small Trainee to one of her more secret battle training nooks. Ebony looked around the place in wonder.

"Wow! How did you find this place!" the small cat exclaimed, her blue eyes wide. Fang had to fight the smile tugging at her lips, seeing the she-cat's enthusiasm.

"I look for them. I use my eyes and find the things that others don't see-one of the things I plan on teaching you." Fang clarified, thinking upon what would be their first would be a good thing to teach her?

"Oh! What are you gonna be teaching me?! What first? Will it be something really cool?" Ebony asked, her eyes wide and kit-like. Fang knew then what would be a good first lesson.

"Your first lesson is patience." Fang decided, as her companion's face fell, "Patience is one of the most important traits for a good fighter to have. Now, I want you to assume battle stance."

Ebony, with a grimace, assumed the stance, and Fang made minor adjustments quickly, and then continued her instruction with, "Remain in that stance until I order otherwise. Do not move, do not speak. Watch everything around you, and remain battle ready. If something jumps out at you, you want to be ready for it."

Ebony made another face, saying nothing. Her expression took on a determined light, and Fang realized that she liked instructing her. At first it had only been a matter of Ebony surviving, but now… she enjoyed the feeling it gave her.

Ebony stayed that way, until finally she had to interrupt the silence with, "I'm bored!"

Fang rounded on her, "Soldiers don't complain, or whine! Observe the world around you! Find the little workings that not many see, pay attention to the nuances and changes within it, and become one with it!"

Ebony's posture snapped back into place, and her stance became too stiff, which Fang ordered that she relax. Once she did, she could be ready to bolt within a blink of an eye. Her frame was tiny, and that would have to be used to her advantage. A skill that Fang could definitely teach, as she relied upon agility against giant opponents like Death or Blood.

In her mind, she began planning upcoming lessons, her mind excited about something for the first time in days. She had found a cause, one that would help her to regain her former self.

After a time, when Ebony had begun twitching, Fang called for her to stop, praising her but also reminding her that she had much to learn. She suggested the she-cat begin to get into her battle-stance and just stand there when she had a free moment, and observe her world-a suggestion that Ebony took less than eagerly, but would probably listen too, given Fang's status among the Trainee's. Fang then left, pondering over the next weeks.

She had work to do.


Yay! Fang has something to drive her now! And patience! XD

Question: How do you think Ebony's training is going to go?