A Few Moons Later

Blackpaw padded through the forest quietly, opening her jaws to check the scents. She smelled a squirrel through the brush. The black furred apprentice ducked down and weaved between the bushed and trees, closing in on her prey. Peering from behind a dark bramble bush, she located the squirrel at the bottom of an oak tree, nibbling on a nut. It back was to her and she smiled. She was downwind, this squirrel would feed the elders for sure. Wiggling her bottom, she took a breath before she leapt forward, pinning the squirrel down. It let out a sharp squeak of fear but it was quickly silenced by Blackpaw biting into its neck. Raising her head proudly, the plump squirrel dangled from her jaws as she turned around and headed back to camp. But then a large shape suddenly knocked her over. She yelped in surprise, causing her squirrel to go flying from her jaws. It landed a few tail lengths away from her. Blackpaw stood up and shook her pelt, looking over to see who it was. It was aspenpaw, a dark brown tom with white belly and paws.

He hopped up and whipped around to her, growling, "Watch where you're going ,mousebrain!"

Blackpaw lashed her tail but ignored him, padding over to her squirrel and dusting it off before picking it up in her jaws again.

Aspenpaw gave her a growl when she passed him. She rolled her eyes and continued back to camp. The brown tom was always so mean... but then, all the apprentices were. Blackpaw had gotten used to them calling her names and trying to bring her down. Her ears went down in sadness. After her mother had disowned her, the rest of the clan had attempted to make her feel welcome, but the younger ones were judgemental and jealous that she got alot of attention. It was like the worst of both worlds. The older cats babied her too much and the younger ones hated her for being babied. Once arriving at the bramble entrance, she shook her pelt to get rid of the bad feelings and pushed through. Minnowshine, the thunderclan deputy, padded up to her once she entered.

"Hello there Blackpaw. How are you?", she asked.

Blackpaw flicked her ear in response and quickly padded over to the fresh-kill pile, dropping her squirrel on the top. Turning back to the deputy she dipped her head, "Fine. Thanks. Did you need anything?"

The deputy shook her head, "No, not really. I've just been asked to watch over you while Lightningshade is talking to Fawnstar."

Blackpaw flattened her ears to her head, "Watch over me? I'm not a kit, you know? And why is lightningshade talking to fawnstar?"

The black and white she-cat lay her tail on blackpaws pelt, "Well, I think she feels like shes not suited to mentor you."

Blackpaws eyes widened in shock, "What?! Why not?"

Minnowshine looked at her guiltily, "She just feels that shes not a good enough warrior to teach you the things you need to know. Since you are so skilled and strong, she feels intimidated. " she mewed hesitantly.

Blackpaw looked down at the ground sadly, "Intimidated by the gossip you mean." Her sadness turning to anger she stood up and growled at her, "I mean, you can't blame her can you?! Not every cat has the kind of background I do. So why should she have to mentor me and be the target of rumors like me? Well, you know what?!" She yowled, catching the attention of most of the cats in the camp.

Whipping her head around she addressed them all, "I never asked for my mother to hate me. Or for my father to be a traitor to the clan. I was just born into this world, with no choice on who I was born from."

Fawnstar padded out of her den, lightningshade following close behind, and mewed, "Blackpaw, What is going on?".

Blackpaw sneered at her leader, "Oh nothing. Just wanted to let you know that you won't have to worry about me anymore. Since I'm such a trouble to this clan. I dont want to be a burden on all your tails. So I'm leaving!"

With that Blackpaw took off running, throwing herself through the bramble entrance and heading down the path toward the only place that she knew would accept her.