A blow from an unsheathed paw woke Crystalpaw up. It was leafbare. She turned to see Spottedpaw, licking the blood from her claws.
"Glad you're awake. Shadowstar wants to see you," Spottedpaw growled, jealously. Crystalpaw stretched and gave her fur a quick lick before going into the leader's den. The words Graystar had told her and the image she saw in the small pond were burned forever in her mind.
"Crystalpaw, there you are…" Shadowstar greeted. Crystalpaw bowed in respect. Her eyes were too distracted until Spottedpaw came in.
"You called?" she asked.
"…I have seen your progress for the past moon…" he stated. Crystalpaw purred in comfort that they had not done anything wrong.
"Skyheart and I have been thinking…" he trailed off. Spottedpaw had a look of pride on her face. She had guessed what was going on.
Skyheart came into the den and purred at Crystalpaw's direction.
"Come. Spottedpaw, find your mentor. We're going to hunt. Then, maybe, we'll see about a warrior ceremony for you two…" Skyheart explained. Spottedpaw obeyed and ran after Rageclaw. Skyheart nodded and led her to the camp entrance.
Rageclaw purred with pride and conceitedness. "I say she was ready when she caught that hawk," Rageclaw meowed.
"Crystalpaw? I did too…" Skyheart purred.
"No! Spottedpaw. She's the one who weakened the winged demon," Rageclaw bragged. Skyheart glared.
"Don't forget the performance Spottedpaw had with those talons." Skyheart muttered. Rageclaw didn't even listen to the deputy.
"You two have until sunhigh to catch as much prey as you can…" Skyheart announced.
"Come back to Fourtrees when time is up," she finished.
They both scrambled all over the forest. Crystalpaw had already caught a rabbit, and a vole. She hid the prey underground and covered it. She then found that she was at Sunningrocks. She opened her mouth to catch the scent of Riverclan. But instead, another scent lingered; Dog.
Crystalpaw sniffed the air again and found that it was fresh.
"Must have come by with its Twolegs…" Crystalpaw whispered to herself. Her worry only lingered as the scent of dog came closer; fresher scent.
"Only hours ago…" she told herself. She shook off her worry and ran off, trying to focus on hunting. Spottedpaw could be seen with a finch in her jaws, not too far away. Spottedpaw only ignored her clanmate's stare and moved on.
"Spottedpaw! Wait…" she called. No answer. She tried warning the apprentice about the dog scent, but she didn't want to hear it. She decided to catch as much prey as she could and report it to Skyheart when she got back.
The sun was at it's highest, and Crystalpaw had a jaw full of fresh kill. Spottedpaw had more than her by only a mouse. Skyheart purred.
"Well done, both of you. Maybe we can have a feast tonight after you receive your Warrior names…" she spoke. Her pride was mostly toward Crystalpaw. She smiled and licked her fur.
"You did well…" she purred. Crystalpaw felt satisfaction and excitement flow through her body. She had forgotten the dog, and ran after her mother, along with Rageclaw and Spottedpaw.
