A/N: Sorry it takes so long to upload chapters. Grr…

GreyAthena: I know, sorry about that! I'm trying to be a bit more clear…I can get confusing in my writing. xD

Midnight Thorn: Aweh! You're too nice! Thanks for your awesomely amazing reviews! :)

Hikari: Aw! Thanks!

Shadow-Wolf: Haha, nice! And did you mean Lightningpaw instead of Blizzardpaw, because you put "he" instead of "she." Thanks as well! :D

Chapter 8 (yes, I'm getting there)

S i l v e r p a w sighed as she padded out of her den. For the past few days, Whitefeather had been doing nothing with her but nervously avoiding her. He always tried to find an excuse for not training her, and she had to go full days with the other apprentices looking at her in curiosity and the mentors whispering to each other. She knew she should be enjoying it, but she couldn't – not with all the stares and murmurs going around the camp.

"Petalpaw! Meadowpaw! Blizzardpaw! Lightningpaw! And…Grasspaw!" Brownfur called.

The apprentices gathered around her and she meowed, "We'll be having a practice fighting session." She looked up and met Silverpaw's gaze. "Oh, Silverpaw! Why don't you come, too?"

Silverpaw leaped to her paws. "Really?"

"Oh, uh…I don't think that's such a –" Lightningpaw started.

"Cool!" Grasspaw was bouncing on the tips of his paws.

Blizzardpaw glared at her, not speaking a word. In fact, she had been rather stone-silent all these days. Silverpaw wondered why.

"Let her come," Petalpaw insisted, then nudged Meadowpaw. "Right?"

"Uh…what? Sure, um…okay." Meadowpaw looked confused.

Brownfur rolled her eyes. "Oh, come off it! Of course she's coming!" She glared at Lightningpaw, who opened his mouth again. He closed it and glared at the ground. Brownfur flicked her tail. "All right, you lot. Let's go. Move it. Move it."

Silverpaw followed the others, excitement flickering through her body. As they reached the Clearing, she thought to herself, This is it! I get to prove myself in front of Brownfur, one of the Clan's greatest warriors! She almost leaped at the thought and started racing towards the hollow. The other apprentices caught up to her, breathless.

"Right. Who wants to go first?" Brownfur asked.

Silverpaw volunteered immediately. As soon as she did, all the other apprentices looked very hesitant and glared at each other. She tried not to feel hurt. They know my fighting skills, she reminded herself.

Grasspaw finally raised his tail. "Me! I'll go," he muttered, and his tone was much lower than anything he had ever said before.

Silverpaw charged at him before Brownfur even gave the cue. She was on his back in an instant and he flipped over to get her off. She was ready and leaped out of the way, then placed a paw on his chest. Brownfur immediately let out a yowl.

"Done! Grasspaw, go back. Lightningpaw, why don't you give it a try?" she asked.

"What? No!" Lightningpaw protested.

"You'll do as I say." Brownfur narrowed her eyes.

Lightningpaw got ready, but Silverpaw was already crouching. As Brownfur gave the starting yowl, she sprinted around him and his eyes darted everywhere, looking very puzzled. Then, she shot out towards his belly and he yowled as she slid under and raked her claws gently across his belly. He tried to land on her, but she immediately rolled away.

"She's not normal, I'm telling you!" he screeched as Brownfur gave the stopping sign.

"That's true." Brownfur's eyes were distant. Then, she shook her head and padded forwards. "Silverpaw, it's my turn," she ordered, and crouched.

Silverpaw's heart quickened. She looked at Brownfur, her eyes narrowed. As Brownfur leaped at her, she raced into the bushes.

"Did she run off?" asked Grasspaw's surprised voice.

"She wouldn't do that!" Petalpaw snapped.

"Yes, she would," Lightningpaw retorted hotly.

"Shut up and listen!" Blizzardpaw snapped at everyone, surprising even Silverpaw. She accidentally stepped on a twig and it cracked. Brownfur turned towards her.

Great StarClan, fox dung! she thought. She quickly padded away as Brownfur's eyes focused on the spot. Then, she leaped out at full speed and landed on Brownfur's back. At the last moment, she jumped off and raced back into the bushes, stepping on another twig along the way. Brownfur knew what was coming. She turned around every heartbeat, not giving Silverpaw a chance to strike.

Silverpaw closed her eyes and leaped out. But as her paws met Brownfur's pelt, she felt herself shaken off and Brownfur's paw was quickly on her throat.

"Very good," the brown she-cat was saying. "Quite curious, too."

"Exactly!" Lightningpaw exclaimed, glaring at her.

Brownfur glared at him. "Let's go back. We'll train tomorrow, but it's getting dark right now."

The other apprentices groaned collectively, while Silverpaw was overjoyed. Brownfur was impressed with her! She followed everyone back into the camp.

As moon-high arrived, she snuck out of the camp as usual, ready to meet Breezestorm. He was waiting for her at the designated place, and his eyes were narrowed.

"What happened?" he asked.

"I was training and I was praised, too," Silverpaw answered with a proud smile.

Breezestorm rolled his eyes. "Thank Rainstorm one day."

Suddenly, there was a rustle in the bushes. Breezestorm gasped as Lightningpaw crawled out.

"You again!" he snarled.

"Don't worry, I won't tell on you two," Lightningpaw snapped. "I'm not like that." He glared at Silverpaw. "Who is this cat? Why do you keep meeting him?"

"None of your business," she answered coolly.

Lightningpaw's gaze met hers. "You can tell me. I won't say anything to anyone."

Silverpaw hesitated, but Breezestorm cleared his throat. "She doesn't need to tell you anything. We're not spying at all. I just wanted to know how she was."

Lightningpaw's voice grew protective. "Why?"

Breezestorm's fur fluffed out. "Because…she's my…my…my friend!" he sputtered.

The golden apprentice lifted his nose into the air. "She's mine, too."

Breezestorm let out a deep growl and leaped at Lightningpaw. Something fluttered inside of Silverpaw's chest and made her push Breezestorm away.

"Stop it! Leave him alone!" she growled, blocking Lightningpaw from Breezestorm.

"What are you doing?" Breezestorm snapped.

"Just go back to your own Clan!" Silverpaw snarled. "And next time, don't attack cats on their own territory."

Breezestorm looked surprised. Then, his tail drooped. "You were supposed to be my friend," he spat, saying the word 'friend' like 'owl pellets.' "Must I remind you of your…no, never mind. You know…I really thought there was a connection between…" He paused, and then fled through the darkness to his territory.

Lightningpaw looked up at Silverpaw. "Did you just…"

"Save your pelt, sissy? Yeah, I think so," Silverpaw answered sourly.

Lightningpaw stared at the ground. "Thanks."

Silverpaw shrugged. "Don't mention it. ShadowClan cats shouldn't mess with us." She shrugged. "What were you two saying…about friends?"

"Oh! That." The tabby tom looked embarrassed. "Well, you are, aren't you?"

Silverpaw felt a strong urge to playfully flick his ears with her tail. Instead, she shrugged. "Whatever you think," she mewed, and then padded away towards the ThunderClan territory.

"Wait!" Lightningpaw caught up to her. "I wanted to say…sorry, you know, about what I was doing to you."

"What?" Silverpaw wasn't sure she had heard him correctly.

"I know, it sounds weird coming from me," he meowed, guessing her thoughts. "But I do feel kind of…strange around you. I don't know why." Silverpaw could tell that he was flushing, because his ears began to twitch uncontrollably. "Oh, but I'm sure it's only something that has to do with friendship, right?" he added.

"Yeah. Friendship." Silverpaw glared at the floor of the forest.

Lightningpaw's eyes darted from side to side. "I didn't mean it like…well…let's go." He raced away through the trees, and Silverpaw followed him, and panic rose in her chest as she watched his lean figure glowing under the moonlight.

I don't know what to think of Lightningpaw now. StarClan help me!

A/N: There you go, folks. How is it so far? New poll time!

Poll: If Silver X Lightning happened, what would you say?

a. Noooo, Orca, you must dieeeeee!

b. I honestly don't care.

c. Why, why, why?

d. Sweet! I love it now!

e. Um…hard decision, actually.

f. YOUR own answer!

Vote now! :D