Hello! I'm so, so sorry for the long wait. I started school, and didn't manage to find the time, or the energy. I'm sorry.

I'm not going to reply to the reviews this chapter, even though I'm extremly thankful for them, it's just that I need to get this up now, before it's even later. I'll try to reply to the reviews next chapter.

Well, here's Chapter 10.

N'joy!

Chapter 10

Eaglepaw lay beside the apprentice's den, a half-eaten trout by her paws, and a scowl on her face.

She had quite a good reason for the scowl; after spending an entire day cleaning out elder's dens and grooming their fur, anyone would be irritated.

It's not fair! Just because I told Fogwhisker something slightly disrespectful, I get to take care of elders when I should be exploring the territory!? I mean, I was just making sure he knew what I really thought about him as a mentor. It's his own fault he's a bad warrior. He should never have let Skystar make him a mentor!

Her scowl deepened as she spotted Leafwhisker enter the camp, with Breezepaw trotting proudly right behind him.

He should have been my mentor! Not Breezepaw's. Why should she, when it's obvious I'm going to be the better warrior, get the best mentor in the Clan?

Eaglepaw's eyes widened as she spotted a minnow in Breezepaw jaws. Breezepaw... made her first catch before me!? Well, it's only a tiny minnow, anyway, barely more than a mouthful.

"Hey, Eaglepaw!"

Eaglepaw spun around, spotting Featherpaw racing towards her, a grin on his face.

Eaglepaw looked up at him, and didn't reply. Did he have to come? The last thing I want right now is to talk to him, or to anyone else, actually.

"Did something happen?" Featherpaw looked puzzled, the wide grin slipping away.

"Yes."

"Breezepaw?" he asked.

"Yes."

"What about Breezepaw?" Amberpaw's voice broke in. "Is she causing trouble again? Oh, I know! It's the way she's trotting around with that minnow, so proud of it... It's disgusting." Amberpaw wrinkled her nose.

Eaglepaw looked up at the gray tabby apprentice as she settled down beside her. Her words didn't mean anything; Amberpaw never said anything worthwhile. She was always just backing Eaglepaw up.

"Whatever," she mewed, and got up abruptly. "I'm going to sleep."

Eaglepaw trailed to the apprentice's den and entered.

A tiny spark of pleasure filled her when she saw Breezepaw sitting alone at the back of the den, none of the others giving her any attention.

As soon as she entered the den, Ashpaw approached her. "Hello," he mewed brightly, obviously not catching her foul mood.

Eaglepaw nodded in return, but the spark that enjoyed seing Breezepaw alone grew, and Eaglepaw realized something. She was much better then Breezepaw.

Okay, so Breezepaw had a better mentor, the best one at that. Breezepaw made her first catch before she did.

That didn't mean anything.

Breezepaw still didn't have any friends. Why woulds she, when she's such a brat?

Breezepaw was still unnaturally small, and obviously weak. She was just a tiny pest who relied on others to survive.

Eaglepaw raised her sleek head, and straightened her shoulders.

"So," Ashpaw asked, as oblivious to her mood as he was before it changed. "How was your first day? Exciting?"

Eaglepaw smiled sweetly. "Great, but I'm really tired right now."

"Okay," Ashpaw's eyes now held surprise; the entire Clan knew her dislike for Fogwhisker, but he shrugged it off.

Eaglepaw padded to the nest she had created for herself the previous night, and curled up. She closed her eyes, but didn't allow herself to fall asleep, though her muscles were aching. She still had something she needed to do.

Once the whispering died out, and the breaths around her were slow and steady, she blinked open her eyes and quietly got out of her nest.

She was going to train herself in the forest.

Eaglepaw tip-toed out of the den, and once out she burst into a run. Lucky for her, the entrance wasn't guarded that night, and she could easily get out without being spotted.

She padded slowly in the forest, not exactly because she was awe-struck by the vastness, or scared by the never-ending darkness, or even the ominous cries of owls, but rather unsure of what she was going to do. She hadn't planned anything, only that she'd get out of camp to train herself, not what she would actually do once she was in the forest.

Well, analyzed Eaglepaw, I could go fishing. No, actually, fishing is almost impossible at night, since basically the only way to spot the fish is to see them, scenting them in the water is impossible. But... If I'll manage to catch fish at night, catching at day will be a joke, no?

Making a decision, Eaglepaw followed the sound of rushing water until she reached the river.

So... What now?

Eaglepaw frowned at the black depths of swirling water, trying to remember what Bluepaw had demonstrated while she was still a kit.

Tiredness seemed to cloud her mind, and she decided to settle down for a moment.

She curled her tail over her nose. I'll just close my eyes for a few moments, and then I'll get back to catching fish.

And she didn't notice as she drifted into a deep darkness.