Sharppaw flicked his tail, scenting another mouse ahead in the bushes.

He flanked right, tasting the air to ensure that he was upwind, and glanced over to his left. Across the clearing, amber eyes glowed from within a clump of grass.

The mouse was coming closer between them, and Sharppaw felt his muscles tense. His blue eyes sought the other cat's, and they seemed to read each other's thought for a heartbeat.

Now.

Sharppaw lunged out of the undergrowth, pouncing at the plump mouse. It ducked under his claws and darted away, heading back towards the trees. Sharppaw continued the chase, bounding faster and faster - but this prey was fast - the mouse had almost reached the cover of trees-

Leopardpaw darted out from her hiding place, catching the mouse in her front claws with a yowl of triumph. She bit down on it's neck cleanly, and Sharppaw felt his pelt burn with pride.

"Great catch," he said evenly, dipping his head to her as she started to bury it.

"It's your catch too," she said. "You led it right to me."

Sharppaw broke into a purr. "But you killed it," he said modestly, blinking affectionately at her.

Another vice broke in. "Yeah, yeah, you're both amazing, we get it," Lilypaw bounded up to them, touching noses with them quickly. "Seriously though," she said, ducking her head. "That was great, you guys definitely beat the rest of us."

Hawkpaw and Shadepaw had reappeared as well, offering their own congratulations of the catch. Sharppaw felt awkward under all the praise, but was warmed by it.

"Well done," Finstar, his leader, padded up to the group of apprentices. "You two have clearly mastered working together." His yellow eyes probed Sharppaw's blue ones for a moment, and the younger tom looked down, feeling embarrassed for some reason.

"I agree," Stormstar said, making his presence known from behind a tree. "We were watching the entire time. That was impressive communication."

The leaders had recently been giving all of the apprentices assessments, with the leaders trading off days to watch over them but still look after their own Clan. Sharppaw felt slightly proud that they were getting along without arguing that much.

"Thank you," Sharppaw said, dipping his head to the ThunderClan leader. He glanced back at Leopardpaw. "I still say she did most of the work, though."

Leopardpaw glared at him, but didn't respond. However, she was very huffy and refused to speak to him as they all gathered their prey and headed back to the clearing. Sharppaw wasn't sure if that was an insult or a compliment. She was mad at him for putting himself down? Hmm.

The group of cats reached the clearing and divided the prey up among the five Clans. Sharppaw took a vole and a rabbit in his teeth, dutifully waiting for Finstar.

"Alright, we'll meet again the day after tomorrow," Stormstar said to them all. "Harestar and Dapplestar will take you fishing." Sharppaw thought about that for a moment as Hawkpaw groaned. Fishing would be interesting, he wondered if he would be any good.

"Alright, come on Sharppaw," Finstar said shortly. Sharppaw didn't argue- his leader had a short temper. He nodded, dropping the prey he was carrying, and padded back up to his friends, touching noses with each of them.

"See you, Sharppaw," Lilypaw winked at him. Stifling a purr, he dipped his head back.

He felt his heartbeat increase as he approached Leopardpaw, the last cat he had yet to say goodbye too. The other apprentices were leaving, with only himself, Leopardpaw, and the leaders left in the small clearing.

Swallowing, he touched his muzzle to hers, breathing in her scent for a heartbeat before pulling away again. "Bye, Leopardpaw," he said, trying to act normal.

"See you soon, Sharppaw!" She blinked affectionately at him before narrowing her eyes. "And don't let me catch you putting yourself down again."

He purred. "I won't. . let you catch me," grinning, he turned away, picking up his prey and leading Finstar into the trees. Sharppaw could feel the leader's stare burning into his back, but he didn't turn around. Finstar didn't say anything until they reached camp, when the older tom stopped him.

"Wait," said Finstar, blocking the entrance to the camp with his tail. Sharppaw paused and looked at him.

"What?" The apprentice asked, narrowing his eyes. Finstar had been tense all day, which was not like the usual easygoing leader- despite his temper. "Did I do something wrong?"

The leader stared down at him. "Not quite," he said finally, his golden eyes revealing nothing. "Not yet, anyways."

Sharppaw's pelt prickled. "Yes?" He prompted, barely hiding the impatience in his voice. He refused to upset his leader any more.

"I'm concerned about your attachments to the others," said Finstar, who'd sat down so he was at eye level with the large apprentice. "I understand the pull to them- to know what is going on in their lives, but you need to be loyal to SkyClan above all else."

Sharppaw was dumbfounded. "What?" He spluttered, temporarily forgetting that this was his leader. "But that's the entire point of this, isn't it?" His ginger tail lashed, blue eyes glowing angrily. "I thought I was supposed to get close to them!"

Finstar's eyes narrowed. "Yes. You are," he said. "But not too close."

"Grr.." Sharppaw bit back an angry retort. "Yes. Of course." He said, hoping that the leader had missed the sarcasm. He grabbed his prey and entered the camp, fury making his pelt bristle.

"Watch out!" Sharppaw stopped in his tracks and looked up, seeing his littermate, Swanpaw. He had nearly ran straight into her. "Watch where you're going."

"Sorry," he apologized, giving his sister a quick lick. "I'm not in the best mood."

She snorted. "Well, don't give it to anyone else," her gaze flickered over to the nursery, which was at the far end of the camp. "Frozenstorm's already worked up enough with Leafstrike's kits being late."

Sharppaw nodded, his gaze sharpening. Leafstrike had supposed to have kitted a few sunrises ago, but it still hadn't happened. Her mate, Frozenstorm, was beside himself with worry, and hadn't gone out on any patrols since then, refusing to leave camp.

"Where's Wingpaw?" Sharppaw asked, wondering where his brother was.

Swanpaw shrugged. "Out training," she said. "I'm stuck in camp because I'm on elder duties." She gave him a disgusted look.

Sharppaw purred in amusement. "Well, good luck," he said, retrieving his prey. "I'm gonna go put this on the fresh-kill pile.

Swanpaw flicked her ear to show that she'd heard him, leaving, and he deposited the fresh-kill onto the pile. His pelt prickled again, and he didn't have to turn around to know that Finstar was staring at him.

He wondered why it was worth it to argue with the leader, but immediately a picture of Leopardpaw came into his mind, and he knew that there was no way he'd be able to give her - or any of them, really - up.