Silverpaw padded up to the Elder's den. As expected, Lostmind yowled as she approached, but his yowl sounded more agitated than glad.

"'Bout time, for StarClan's sake!" Lostmind yowled.

"Sorry," Silverpaw mewed, dropping her catches which included a fish, "I had to train with Amberpelt."

"Lostmind, calm down," Whitetail spat. "It's not Silverpaw's fault."

"What's wrong?" Silverpaw asked.

"None of the apprentices have shown up today to take care of us," Butterflyfur replied calmly.

"Really?" Silverpaw tilted her head in confusion. Are they really that busy? Somehow that seems hard to believe. Then the realization dawned on her and she remembered what she had said the night before after the incident with the Gathering. "Oh, right…Wow, they were serious about that? Hm…I never would have thought they actually meant it."

"Meant what?" Oddstep asked.

"Well…I shouldn't tell you," Silverpaw muttered. "Then I'd be a snitch."

"Them other apprentices get on your tail for squealin' on Bitterpaw? That it?" Lostmind asked.

"Yea," Silverpaw sighed. They say he's lost his mind, but it takes a pretty good mind to remember like that, she thought to herself.

"Then we won't tell 'em who told us," Whitetail meowed.

"Yes," Longfur agreed. "Bitterpaw only guessed you had carried my message because you were the only one around, but this time we are the only witnesses."

"You have our word," Butterflyfur nodded to Silverpaw. "We will find a way to report this that will leave you out of it."

"But won't you need me to take the message to Stormstar?" Silverpaw asked.

"You think we're confined only to this den?" Whitetail asked. "We got four paws that work fine. 'Cept Oddstep, but he can still get around well enough."

"We're not that old, dear," Longfur replied.

"Now c'mon, out with it!" Lostmind yowled. "What'd they say?!"

"Keep your voice down," Whitetail hissed. "It won't do us any good in keeping this between us if you announce it to all four Clans!"

When Lostmind nodded in agreement, Silverpaw began. "Well, early this morning, before the Dawn patrol set out, the other apprentices were complaining so loud, they woke me up. Adderpaw was upset because he had been up late at the Gathering and then had to go on the Dawn patrol. Blackpaw reminded him that he'd also have to care for the Elders afterwards. Bitterpaw was hissing on and on about how the Elders should be able to take care of themselves and how unfair it was that they had to do anything. So then Icepaw says, 'why don't we skip taking care of the Elders, all of us? They can't punish all of us for not going.' And then Blackpaw says that you'll have me to take care of you, which is just as well because I want to do most of the work anyway, or so she says."

"The nerve of them!" Longfur hissed, her neck fur beginning to rise.

"I can't believe they'd all agree to something like that!" Butterflyfur meowed.

"Well, Canyonpaw didn't really like that idea," Silverpaw mewed, remembering that the light ginger apprentice had never done anything to her. "But Adderpaw insisted that since she was part of the conversation and had heard it, she had to do it or else she'd rat them out. So she was sorta forced into it. I think that happens to her a lot, actually. Since Adderpaw's her brother."

"You may have something there," Butterflyfur nodded.

"Well, I'm going to report this to Stormstar right away!" Whitetail rose to his paws.

"I'll come with you," Butterflyfur stood up as well. "And don't worry," she nodded to Silverpaw, "I'll be sure Stormstar knows Canyonpaw is innocent."

"Thanks," Silverpaw mewed.

"And we won't mention you," Whitetail added as the two elders left.

"Thank-you," Silverpaw dipped her head gratefully as they left.

"Well that's all well and good," Oddstep meowed, "but it doesn't change the fact that we haven't been fed all day!"

"I can fix that!" Silverpaw hopped over to her fresh-kill pile. "I've got two rabbits, a mouse and, of course, Lostmind's fish." She picked up the fish and padded over to Lostmind.

"I think I could eat a whole rabbit, I'm so hungry!" Longfur meowed, taking a rabbit from the pile. "Oddstep would you like one too?"

"Yes, please," Oddstep replied, shifting his weight in an attempt to get up.

"Don't bother, I'll bring it for you," Longfur meowed kindly.

"Here you go, Lostmind!" Silverpaw happily dropped the fish at Lostmind's paws.

"Thanks," Lostmind muttered as he bent down to take a bite.

Silverpaw tilted her head curiously at the Elder. That tone was not usual for him at all. He was usually loud, obnoxious and more or less happy. "I…is everything alright?" She asked anxiously.

Lostmind looked up from his meal with deep yellow eyes that reminded Silverpaw so much of her mentor's. Silverpaw thought she could see a flicker of question and knowingness in those eyes, but Lostmind returned to his meal without answering the question.

"Don't bother with him," Oddstep meowed through a mouthful of rabbit. "At least he's quiet."

Silverpaw didn't respond to him. She picked up her mouse and headed towards the den's exit. The image of Lostmind's piercing gaze hung in her mind like the looming stench of a fox. A voice deep inside her seemed to be saying something in reference to that stare, but she couldn't quite make out the words.

The scent of the mouse in her jaws seeped into her nose and made her mouth water. She realized she hadn't eaten, and it would be much easier to eat this mouse instead, maybe two. She settled down where she was, halfway between the Elder's den and the fresh-kill pile, and began to eat. She looked up between bites and saw Butterflyfur and Whitetail padding back to the Elder's den. After another few bites she saw Amberpelt stalking from Stormstar's den to the apprentice's den.

She knew all too well what was going on, and did not want to be in the apprentices' view when they were brought out. She hurriedly padded over to the fresh-kill pile and snatched something else off it for herself and headed off to find a place to eat it. The apprentice's den was no good, and she didn't want to be in the open. She spotted Graymist and her kits heading back into the nursery, and thought she should pay Tigerstripe a visit. After all, if she intended to befriend her kits, she would be there often and it would be nice to know Tigerstripe better too.

"Hello, Silverpaw," Graymist nodded to the apprentice as she arrived. "Is that rabbit for us?"

"Huh? Rabbit?" Silverpaw looked at what she had selected, and sure enough it was a rabbit. Oops, I can't eat this whole thing. "Um…yea, sure. By 'us' you mean you and your kits?"

"Well, they can have some too," Graymist replied, "but I meant Tigerstripe. My kits and I can't eat a whole rabbit."

Silverpaw nodded and dragged it inside. She had an excuse. She turned to face the apprentice's den as she went in and saw Amberpelt emerging and knew the others would be with her.

"Hello, Silverpaw," Tigerstripe mewed as she entered. "Did Amberpelt tell you to bring me something?"

"No," Silverpaw answered. "Why, should she have?"

"Well, she hasn't visited me yet today," Tigerstripe replied. "And she usually does, and brings fresh-kill. Queens can't hunt, you know."

"Ooohhh," Silverpaw meowed. "I guess they can't huh? Well, Amberpelt and I just got back from my assessment not too long ago."

"Oh, how'd you do?" Graymist asked.

"Amberpelt said I did really well," Silverpaw mewed proudly. "But she said she wasn't surprised, since I kinda already knew how to hunt. She just needed something to report to Stormstar. The assessment was only a forma…farmol….um, It was just part of what has to be done!"

The two queens let out mrrows of laughter at Silverpaw's mistake, but it was good-natured.

"So how are your kits?" Silverpaw asked Tigerstripe.

"As rowdy as ever," Tigerstripe mewed. "Sometimes I swear they're having more fun in there than Graymist's kits are out here!"

"I know how you feel," Graymist mewed sympathetically. "But it's a sign they'll be born soon."

"Not soon enough," Tigerstripe complained. "Say, Silverpaw, could you fetch Pepperface? She should check on me, I really think they should be here by now."

"Sure, I'll get her," Silverpaw mewed, padding out of the den. She crossed the clearing to get to Pepperface's den. As she crossed in front of Stormstar's den, Amberpelt nearly crashed into her.

"Oh, Silverpaw, just the cat I needed!" Amberpelt replied. "C'mon, Stormstar wants you."

Uh oh, Silverpaw's heart sank. Would she have to verify what she'd supposedly heard? Would she be singled out as the tattle tail? She followed Amberpelt into Stormstar's den. Inside, the WindClan leader stood on his nest glaring at the five apprentices before him.

The apprentices turned angry glares her way as she entered, while Stormstar's eyes betrayed nothing but the strength and confidence of a leader.

"The apprentices claim that you are the cause of them not caring for the Elders," Stormstar meowed once she had settled down between the other apprentices and her mentor.

"Not caring for the Elders?" Silverpaw knew she had to keep an attitude of surprise to keep suspicion off her. It was obvious that the other apprentices knew by now just what had happened, but still, not knowing would be the safest route. "What do you mean? And what does that have to do with me? I just brought the Elders some fresh-kill."

"The other apprentices said that it was your punishment to care for the Elders for a moon," Stormstar explained.

"What?!" Silverpaw exclaimed, turning to Amberpelt. "It is?! Why didn't you tell me?!"

"It was not, don't be alarmed," Stormstar meowed, turning her attention back to him. "Amberpelt has told me nothing of the sort and has denied giving you such a punishment."

"So what's wrong?" Silverpaw tilted her head to make her act more convincing.

"Don't act so clueless!" Blackpaw spat. "You told us last night that you had to care for the Elders alone!!"

"Sure you didn't dream it?" Silverpaw mewed tauntingly, but then regretted it, realizing that that tone was not supporting her argument.

"I remember it too!" Icepaw leapt to her friend's defense.

"That's enough!" Stormstar rumbled. "This will be a peaceful discussion if any of you ever intend to be warriors!"

"Yes, Stormstar!" Silverpaw mewed affirmatively. Being compliant and obedient would probably sway results in her favor.

The other apprentices glared at her, knowing very well why she had said that the way she had.

"Now, Silverpaw, you deny ever having said that?" Stormstar asked.

"Of course," Silverpaw mewed defensively. "What good would lying like that do me?"

"Don't play dumb!" Adderpaw spat. "You set us up!"

"It's all our word against yours!" Bitterpaw hissed. "Who's he gonna believe? Five Clanborn apprentices, or a rouge?!"

"That is his choice," Silverpaw mewed, calmly and confidently. She was determined to show off to Stormstar as the good apprentice everyone had said she was. She was also well aware that Bitterpaw's comments were perfect proof of what she had told Amberpelt the night before.

"Canyonpaw," Stormstar turned his attention to the apprentice who had yet to speak. "What do you know of this? Butterflyfur told me you were forced to go along with them and abandon your duties. I want the truth!"

Canyonpaw stood up and stepped forward. She looked over at Silverpaw and then to the other apprentices, but more specifically her brother. She sighed, studying her paws before raising her head to address the Clan leader. "Adderpaw told me that we did not have to care for the Elders because it was Silverpaw's punishment. I didn't hear it straight from her, and if there was a plot, I did not know. I have no proof to offer either way."

Silverpaw could barely hide her joy with that answer. It was perfect. It gave no clues either way, and her uncertainty only helped to make it even less useful.

Stormstar, on the other hand, was not as happy with that answer. He studied all the apprentices before letting out a defeated sigh. "You six may go. Amberpelt and I will discuss what we've heard and let you know what we've decided on."

Silverpaw stood still as the other apprentices filed passed her, making sure to shove her as they went. Canyonpaw, who was last, stopped and the two locked eyes for a moment. Silverpaw could see the confusion, sympathy and question in her eyes.

"Silverpaw?" Amberpelt stopped her after Canyonpaw had gone. "Could you bring some fresh-kill to my sister? I haven't had the chance to visit her today."

"I already did!" Silverpaw mewed proudly. "I was actually just going to get Pepperface so that she could check on the kits."

"Thank-you," Amberpelt nodded gratefully as Silverpaw padded out of the den.

As soon as she exited, she was met by four apprentices; all of them except Canyonpaw.

"You think you're so smart!" Bitterpaw spat. "Setting up this whole thing!"

"I'm sorry," Silverpaw mewed innocently, "you must have me confused with another cat."

"You forgot one thing," Icepaw sneered, "you need support if you're gonna pull this off!"

"Yea!" Adderpaw hissed. "You're alone in your claim! We have witnesses!"

"And you're such experts at attempting to trick our leader, is that it?" Silverpaw asked knowingly, eyeing Icepaw.

"You watch your back, rouge!" Blackpaw snarled. "There's five of us and one of you!"

"You're odds are in your favor anyway!" Silverpaw spat back, "four on one! Leave Canyonpaw out of it! It's not fair that you try and force her to support you guys! Can't you see she doesn't like it?!"

"How do you know anything about my sister?!" Adderpaw growled. "She's my sister! You know nothing!"

"Apparently you're the one who knows nothing," Silverpaw spat. "She's not happy! Can't you see that?"

"Can't you see that she doesn't like you either?" Adderpaw asked. "She's just too nice to tell you to your face. She's told us before, she agrees with us, she just doesn't want us to be so mean."

"That's not what it looks like to me!" Silverpaw mewed angrily.

"Who cares what you think?" Bitterpaw spat.

"Apparently Stormstar," Icepaw mewed distastefully. "Stupid rouge treats him as if she were a kittypet and he was her Twoleg."

"What are you talking about?!" Silverpaw demanded.

"Yea, she's getting on his good side so he'll believe everything she says!" Blackpaw hissed.

"Believe what you want," Silverpaw said, stalking towards Pepperface's den.

"Don't play dumb, we saw you!" Adderpaw growled.

"You know," Icepaw mewed thoughtfully, "we've said that a lot, to stop playing dumb, you know?"

"What's your point?" Adderpaw snarled.

"I don't think she'd playing dumb at all," Icepaw mewed.

"I coulda told ya that!" Bitterpaw meowed. "She's nothing' but a dumb rouge!"

"Oh is she now?" came a mew from the direction Silverpaw was heading.

The five apprentices turned to see Pepperface emerging from her den.

"Pepperface!" Silverpaw exclaimed. "I…I was just coming to get you!"

"Can it wait?" Pepperface asked. "I'd like to hear more about this dumb rouge." She padded over to the other apprentices. "And I'm sure Stormstar would too. I do recall it was his decision to allow her into the Clan, and Amberpelt's too. If you think they made a bad choice, you should take it up with him. I think Amberpelt is with him right now, actually."

The four apprentices glared at her and Silverpaw and stalked off towards the apprentice's den.

"Thanks," Silverpaw mewed once they were gone. "They get to be a pain sometimes. Um…you won't really tell Stormstar, will you?"

Pepperface looked down at Silverpaw. "I had a dream once, a sign from StarClan, I'm sure."

Silverpaw sat down to listen, her eyes sparkling like an awestruck kit.

"I was on the ThunderClan border," Pepperface explained, "near the Moonpool. There was a cluster of young saplings, baby trees, at least that's what I thought it was. But one of the saplings was looking shriveled and dying. That's when I noticed that the other plants weren't young trees at all, but weeds, plants that steal water from other plants and stop them from growing."

"So they were killing the baby tree!" Silverpaw exclaimed.

Pepperface nodded. "I wanted to pull up the weeds, but a warrior from StarClan stopped me."

"You actually saw a StarClan warrior?" Silverpaw gaped in awe.

"Yes," Pepperface replied. "They come to me many times in dreams, although this one I did not recognize. She told me to leave it be; its fate was its own to control."

"What does it mean?" Silverpaw asked.

"I didn't know then," Pepperface mewed, "but now I think I do. That little tree…is you."

Silverpaw stared, wide-eyed with shock. She couldn't bring herself to speak. Has StarClan doomed her to die? What were the weeds choking her?

"There are many things that are trying to stop you in your quest to fit in and be a loyal warrior," Pepperface explained, obviously aware of Silverpaw's confusion. "It is up to you, and you alone, to overcome them or simply bear them. But be warned, quiet endurance is not the only way." Leaving Silverpaw to ponder those words, she padded off to the nursery.

Silverpaw opened her mouth to question her, but she was already too far away. Noticing where she was going, Silverpaw assumed she did not have to tell her about Tigerstripe. She, instead, began to walk across the clearing. She had no place to go and wasn't really sure where she should be. Her paws had carried her to the Elder's den. Silverpaw stopped and looked around questioningly. Why had she come here? She spotted Lostmind sunning himself near the den and the image of his questioning stare flashed back through her mind. The voice spoke again and this time she could understand what it said: Is this right?

Silverpaw padded up to Lostmind. "Hi!"

Lostmind looked up at her, a trace of anger in his yellow eyes, but it vanished so fast Silverpaw was hardly sure she had seen it at all. "Hello, squirt."

"Everything alright?" she asked, remembering how quiet he had been after he'd heard about the other apprentices.

"No not really," he stretched and sat up.

"Oh, what's wrong?" Silverpaw asked. "Are you hungry? You have ticks? Fleas?"

"You should know what's wrong," Lostmind turned to her with a knowing and almost scolding glint in his eye.

Silverpaw flinched under his gaze. What could he possibly mean? What was so wrong? It was odd enough that she was actually having a real conversation with Lostmind. What did she know that was wrong? "I…is it the other apprentices?" she suggested.

"It's an apprentice," Lostmind nodded. "I'm lookin' at her."

Silverpaw was startled by this. She looked around, expecting to see Icepaw or Blackpaw nearby, but when she turned her attention back to the elder, his yellow eyes were fixed on her. "Me?! What's wrong with me?!"

"No one's gonna do everything for ya," Lostmind replied. "You have ta figure things out on your own. I'll say this, though. A warrior may fight, and even hurt other cats, but a true warrior fights justly, with strength and honor, no matter what the opponent does."

Why is no one talking clearly? Silverpaw wondered. This was Lostmind she was talking to, he had an excuse. But this was the most sense this old warrior had ever made. She understood what he was saying, but what did a warrior have to do with her? She was only an apprentice.

Strength and honor, the voice inside her repeated Lostmind's words. No matter what.

"Yea yea," Silverpaw muttered as if another cat were nagging her from the outside. "Warriors fight with strength and honor, what's your point?"

"--erpaw!" the name was hollered across the clearing, and Amberpelt had called it.

Silverpaw perked up. Had Amberpelt been calling her for a while and she'd been so caught up in her own things to notice? She bounded over to her mentor immediately, but before she got there, Adderpaw stood in front of Amberpelt, tail drooped.

"Silverpaw, what is it?" Amberpelt asked. "You look like you're in a rush, is everything alright?"

"Huh?" Silverpaw asked. "Didn't you call me?"

"Last I checked I'm Adderpaw!" Adderpaw spat.

Amberpelt flicked his ear with her tail. "Don't get yourself in more trouble!"

"Trouble?" Silverpaw asked.

"Stormstar and I have decided what to do about the incident that recently passed," Amberpelt replied. "You know, with the Elders?"

"Oh, right!" Silverpaw suddenly perked up. "Sorry, I thought you had called my name."

"Nope," Amberpelt smiled. "You're good. You on the other hand," she turned to Adderpaw, "Stormstar and the others are waiting!"

Adderpaw shot Silverpaw one more angry glare before padding sorrowfully after Amberpelt.

Silverpaw could hardly contain her excitement as she pranced into the empty apprentice's den. It worked! She couldn't believe it. The other apprentices were getting what they disserved for the way they'd treated her. That'll teach them to come up with a plot to get her in trouble when she did nothing!

A true warrior fights justly, the voice inside her spoke again, no matter what the opponent does.

Silverpaw froze. Had Lostmind known? Was this what he meant? Did he not approve of her method? But he doesn't know, Silverpaw thought. He doesn't know what they do. How they treat me! They may not be being punished for something they did do, but they do disserve it!

No matter what the opponent does, the words swirled in Silverpaw's head like angry bees.

No! They disserved it! Silverpaw thought, desperately. They did it first anyway!

No matter what, it continued to resonate no matter how hard Silverpaw believed it was wrong, or that she was right. She couldn't fight the feeling that it couldn't go on like this. You are no better than they are.

Silverpaw stared straight ahead, eyes wide as if she had seen a StarClan warrior in front of her. "No…better…than they are…" she repeated. Without giving herself time to think, she turned around and raced out of the apprentice's den, straight to Stormstar's den.

"…And there will be no warrior training for a moon," Stormstar's voice echoed through the curved tunnel that led into the den. "You will all wait to be made warriors until you have-"

"STORMSTAR!" Silverpaw burst into the small den.

"Silverpaw!" Stormstar exclaimed. "What is it?! What's the matter?! Is someone in trouble?!"

"Yes," Silverpaw mewed calmly, padding to the front of the group. "They are." She swept her tail around to indicate the five apprentices that were in the den. "And they shouldn't be."

"Silverpaw?" Amberpelt looked at her questioningly.

"They were telling the truth," Silverpaw said. "Last night, after my talk with Amberpelt, I was so mad at Icepaw and Blackpaw that I told them my punishment was to care for the Elders and that that meant that they wouldn't have to. I…I wanted to get back at them so bad, I knew if I said that they'd tell the others and then I could make up something that they were trying to undermine your authority by not caring for the Elders. I'm sorry. It was me. I'm the one you should punish."

All the cats were speechless. Silverpaw didn't even look up to see their reactions, only studied her paws in shame.

"Well," Stormstar meowed after what seemed like moons of silence. "Silverpaw, I must say, I hadn't expected this at all."

"I know," Silverpaw wasn't sure he had even heard that hushed mew.

"Not only am I shocked that you, of all cats, would do such a thing," Stormstar said, "but that when your plan had worked perfectly that you would come back and tell me everything."

Silverpaw couldn't even bear to continue looking at her paws. She looked away, not wanting to meet any cat's gaze. She had done it now. Twice in a row, Stormstar thought she had dome worse than any cat could have imagined.

"I'm very proud of you."

Silverpaw blinked, but, at first, didn't turn around.

"I am too," Amberpelt added. Silverpaw felt a fluffy tail rest on her shoulders and she turned to look up at her mentor who was smiling down at her.

"It takes the courage of a warrior to admit when you have done wrong," Stormstar meowed, "especially when no one would know."

"Wh…what?!" Blackpaw shouted. "You're proud of her?! She's like a warrior?! What about us? You were going to punish us and keep us from being warriors for not doing anything, but she does something wrong and is praised?!"

"You are off the hook," Stormstar turned to her, "isn't that good enough for you? Surely you don't want to see your fellow apprentice punished? You should all be happy that everything will be just like it's always been, no one will be punished at all."

Blackpaw's eyes displayed a flash of embarrassment and Silverpaw guessed that she just realized how much of a mistake that outburst had been.

"The five of you are free to go," Stormstar commanded, "but not you, Silverpaw. I need to talk to you about this."

His tone suggested trouble for her, and that seemed to satisfy the apprentices and they left.

"I'm in big trouble, aren't I?" Silverpaw asked, slumping low in shame.

"No, I don't believe so," Stormstar meowed, "unless what Amberpelt has told me is a lie."

"T…told you?!" Silverpaw turned to Amberpelt in shock. "B…but you promised!"

"Silverpaw," Stormstar's meow was stern and commanding, and forced her attention back to him. "You cannot keep the truth a secret from your Clan leader."

"You wouldn't've believed me anyway," Silverpaw muttered.

"You don't know that," Stormstar meowed. "And even if I didn't, the burden of deceit would be off you. Now, it's about last night. Amberpelt tells me you were set up by Icepaw, Blackpaw and Bitterpaw. Is that true?"

"Yes," Silverpaw mewed.

"And this was to get back at them," Stormstar added, more as if he were simply stating a fact than asking her.

Silverpaw only nodded.

"Well," Stormstar's meow was a little more relaxed and even amused, "that was a pretty good scheme."

"Stormstar!" Amberpelt sounded appalled. "Are you saying she was right in doing this?!"

"Not at all," Stormstar replied, "but I can understand it. It was almost perfect revenge, equal pay for an equal crime. But, revenge is a dangerous thing."

"If I had gone through with it, I'd be no better than them," Silverpaw mewed more confidently. "A true warrior fights justly, with strength and honor, no matter what the opponent does!"

"Well said," Stormstar nodded approvingly.

Amberpelt looked proudly and knowingly down at her. Lostmind was her father, Silverpaw thought.

"Which reminds me," Stormstar meowed, "Amberpelt tells me you had your first hunting assessment."

"That's right," Silverpaw nodded.

"And that you did well," Stormstar added.

"Well, yea," Silverpaw mewed, modestly. "But I'd been catching my own prey for moons now, so I kinda had more experience."

"That doesn't change the fact that you have done very well for a first assessment," Stormstar meowed, a hint of pride in his voice. "You are ahead of the other apprentices, and, no matter the reason, that is good news for you."

"You mean I'll be made a warrior soon?!" Silverpaw was both stunned and excited.

"You wish!" Amberpelt playfully cuffed her ear. "Your battling skills are horrible for a warrior."

"So what does that say about the warrior who taught me?" Silverpaw teased.

"It says she needs more time," Amberpelt replied. "A lot more time!"

Silverpaw stuck her tongue out at her mentor. In response, Amberpelt dropped her tail over Silverpaw's face. Silverpaw batted it away and then began to play with it like a kit as Amberpelt moved it away.

Stormstar only watched, amusement glittering in his eyes. "Yes, you are an odd one," he finally said, but just barely loud enough for the other cats to hear.

Amberpelt snapped to attention and Silverpaw sat by her side, foregoing their game.

"Wh…who are you talking about?" Silverpaw asked.

Stormstar looked from mentor to apprentice and then back again. "The both of you. You suit each other."