Lionblaze desperately tried to keep his thoughts on battle training as Briarpaw jerked Bumblepaw's tail, then raked his ears. Beside him, Mousewhisker nodded his approval, before calling Blossompaw over.

"Lionblaze," Dovewing nudged the golden warrior. "Briarpaw's on with Blossompaw now." Her gaze flickered mysteriously.

Lionblaze felt a small flicker of curiosity rouse him. Blossompaw was a good hunter; and Dovewing had hinted something about her fighting skills. Without another thought, he stepped up, and yowled.

"Begin!"

Blossompaw crouched lightly, flattening her tail to the ground so it would just skim across the leaves. Her weight was balanced on both haunches, and she took a gentle step forward. Lionblaze narrowed his eyes; it looked like the apprentice was stalking a mouse!

Suddenly Blossompaw pounced, streaking through the air as she aimed to land on Briarpaw's back; but the dark brown apprentice quickly slashed her sheathed paws across Blossompaw's belly, before darting forward quickly; but the tortoiseshell-and-white apprentice twisted, landing on Briarpaw's back.

Surprised, Lionblaze knew that this move was an advanced hunting move if the prey darted forward, but to put it into a fighting move… shocking! He sneaked a glance at Dovewing, who was grinning proudly; so this was the hint? It seemed very familiar somehow…

Suddenly the thought struck him. Heathertail had used that move when he was trying to prove his loyalty to DarkClan, their made up Clan. Stifling purrs of happiness, he transferred his gaze to the two fighting apprentices, who had broken away.

Mousewhisker stepped up. "Well fought, both of you." He praised, his eyes glowing.

Blossompaw shuffled her paws shyly, "Dovewing taught me how to transfer hunting techniques into fighting moves," she protested mildly. Dovewing padded to her apprentice, and laid her muzzle on her head. "No, Blossompaw, you mastered it." She purred.

Lionblaze licked Briarpaw's shoulder, "Good job!" He purred, smiling. "You were excellent," he added, as the apprentice blushed.

"I'll be back," he told the rest of the cats, before sprinting to WindClan border; he had to take a whiff of her scent before moonhigh patrol…

Suddenly he halted, shocked.

Heathertail was crouching, flanked by Breezepelt; the tom was looking at her adoringly, but he couldn't see Heathertail's expression, but it had to be adoration.

Letting shock, anger, and sadness engulf him; he raced back to camp, fighting back tears that already clouded his fuzzy gaze, but a thought struck him.

Icecloud