Another long pause…I've had absolutely no time to type. I found this stray kitten and my family and I are keeping her at my house for a few days. My friend took her, but now Christmas break has started, so I can update more. I'm not feeling well today, so keep that in mind as you read this.

CHAPTER 8

Lightpaw jolted awake. Her limbs were stiff and her paws ached, still recovering from the battle with Dawnpaw. Lightpaw had managed to scramble away just in time, before Rowanclaw started getting really furious. She yawned and tried to remember the dream she'd had last night. She was talking to Cinderpelt, and she said…to go to the island tonight?

Puzzled, Lightpaw slunk out of the apprentices' den, careful not to awake her siblings or the other apprentices, and hurried to the fresh-kill pile. The huge, puffy clouds were lined with dark gray, promising the falling of rain soon. The air was heavy and damp; Lightpaw's fur was matted in clumps from the humidity.

"It's going to rain soon," Lightpaw commented to Brightheart and Cloudtail, who had padded out of their dens and were picking a piece of prey to share. Brightheart nodded and glanced at the sky with her green eye. "I hope soon. It's been so hot lately because of the humidity in the air."

Cloudtail grabbed a finch and stared at Lightpaw. "Are you okay? You look a little…well, frazzled."

"Ah, it's nothing," Lightpaw shrugged. "I just had a strange dream."

"Do you think you should talk about it to Leafpool and Jayfeather?" Brightheart asked, looking a little concerned. Lightpaw shook her head. "Nope, it's nothing, really."

The couple nodded, turned, and headed toward the warriors' den to share the finch. Lightpaw selected a plump blackbird and padded over to the apprentices' den. Foxpaw was just crawling out of the den and looked at the blackbird hungrily. "Mind if I share?"

Lightpaw shook her head. "Come on, there's enough for both of us." She took a bite and flavors immediately seeped into her mouth. "Great StarClan, this bird is delicious!" she exclaimed, taking another huge bite.

"Hey!" Foxpaw snatched the blackbird away from Lightpaw. "Save some for me!"

After a long, awkward pause of eating and silence, Lightpaw asked, "So…what are you doing today?" Foxpaw shrugged and swallowed a mouthful. "I think Squirrelflight is taking me out hunting when she returns from the dawn patrol. You?"

"Dunno." Lightpaw thought about the island. Was she really going to journey there that night? Would Thrushpaw go with her? Questions fluttered through her like captured butterflies.

"Lightpaw," Thornclaw called from his eating spot next to Hazelwhisker. "We're going training with Sorreltail and Nightpaw. Hazelwhisker wants to come with us to see how she should train her apprentice when she gets one."

Lightpaw nodded and finished the last of her blackbird. "I'm apparently going training. Bye, Foxpaw." She stood, stretched, and waved her tail as she padded toward Thornclaw.

"Go ahead and head to the training hollow with Nightpaw and Sorreltail," Thornclaw meowed to his apprentice. "I'll be there when I finish my mouse. And I want to…uh, share tongues with Hollytail. I…haven't in a while." Lightpaw nodded and hurried to the two she-cats by the camp entrance.

"Thornclaw told me that we should go ahead without him," Lightpaw mewed. "He's finishing eating and he wants to share tongues with Hollytail." Sorreltail nodded. "Come on, Nightpaw. You two can have mock fights until he comes."

Soon, the three she-cats were at the training hollow. The sand felt soft and cool under Lightpaw's paw pads, and she purred, despite the humid, damp air.

"Hurry up, Lightpaw!" Sorreltail called. "We're about to start!" Lightpaw raced over to them and stood a few fox-lengths away from Nightpaw. Her sister didn't seem nervous about the mock fight, but Lightpaw was. Her heart pounded and her legs felt wobbly. She drew in a deep breath and shook her golden-brown coat.

"Ready?" Sorreltail asked. She sat with her tail curled over her paws, her ears twitching. The apprentices nodded hastily and tensed their muscles. "Remember to keep your claws sheathed. Ready, set…go!"

Lightpaw immediately leapt at Nightpaw, hoping to bowl into her and roll until she landed with her paw on Nightpaw's chest, but her sister darted under her, grabbed Lightpaw's head with her sheathed forepaws, and flipped her onto her back. Lightpaw felt the air being knocked out of her body as she slammed onto the sandy ground. Nightpaw placed her paw onto Lightpaw's chest with a look of triumph, and glanced at Sorreltail.

"That was a really advanced move, Nightpaw!" Sorreltail exclaimed, padding over to the two apprentices. "Where did you learn that from?"

Lightpaw could've sworn she felt her sister tense for a split second, but she shrugged and replied coolly, "I guess I just taught myself from watching the warriors in our Clan fight."

"Well, I'm very proud of you." Sorreltail nodded and flicked her tail for her apprentice to let Lightpaw up. "That was a very advanced move for your level." She turned to Lightpaw. "You did very well, Lightpaw. It looked like you had planned out what you were going to do. But remember that you must expect the unexpected."

Just as Sorreltail finished her advice, rain began to fall. It was gentle at first, but it soon strengthened to large, cold drops that splashed onto the sand. "So much for our training session," Sorreltail murmured. She rose to her paws and began hurrying towards the camp. Lightpaw stood up and quickly followed Sorreltail and Nightpaw out of the hollow.

"That was really amazing, Nightpaw!" The golden-brown tabby apprentice couldn't help but envy her sister. She was strong, swift, and brave-all the qualities of a leader. But was she loyal?

Of course she's loyal, Lightpaw told herself. But how would I know? How will I ever know until I ask her? I'd never ask her, anyway. She'd get angry with me. She'd think I believed she wasn't.

Nightpaw shrugged again. "Thanks. It was really nothing."

"Can you teach me how?" Surprised at her own words, Lightpaw clamped her mouth shut. What did I just say? She stared at Nightpaw, wondering what she'd say next.

"Sure," Nightpaw meowed. "It's pretty hard in the beginning, but as soon as you get it for the first time, you'll have it forever. You have to have strong arm muscles."

Lightpaw nodded as she listened. She had never heard Nightpaw so interested in something before. She guessed that her sister really wanted to be a good warrior, and maybe even deputy or leader!

Suddenly, Lightpaw noticed Thornclaw and Hollytail padding out of the forest and down the thorn tunnel. They were talking, and it looked like they felt a bit awkward and embarrassed.

"Hey…where had Thornclaw been all this time?" Foxpaw asked, stepping beside Lightpaw. "I thought he was taking you training."

Lightpaw narrowed her eyes in the rain to see the two cats. "He was…supposed to." Puzzled, Lightpaw headed for them, but stopped in her tracks. Something was going on between them, and she had to find out.

An idea struck her. Maybe…Brackenfur isn't my father, after all…

Well! This is actually a cliffie, so I'm quite pleased. I finally updated! Thank you, Christmas break! I will hopefully update at least once more during this next week, so stay tuned. Okay, now I sound like a cheesy TV commercial. -.-

xx-Starfall-xx