I should really be preping for my English finals. Taking college level english is not easy. But I decided to update while I have time, before I freak out about what to write for english. Anyways, thanks Thunderspirit, PinkRhino=Too lazy to log in, applefur, Warriors-Skywing, GinnyStar, and Rainshimmer Has Duct Tape for reviewing.

You know, I forgot to post this in the beginning

Disclaimer: I do not own Warriors, but I do own Sliver-Graypaw, Stream, and all of the other characters that I created.

The Forest

A paw prodded Graypaw's side, causing her to grown in her sleep. She was chasing a mouse in her dreams, but no matter how hard to ran, she seemed to always be just out of reach. She knew the sooner or later she would wake up. But she wanted to make the most of her warm nest, before Briarfern or someone else forced her to wake.

The paw prodded harder, startling Graypaw from her sleep. She opened her eyes slightly and saw that Dapplepaw shadowed her.

"Briarfern is looking for you," murmured the dappled apprentice.

Graypaw blinked for a moment. Then she stretched, arching her back as she did so. Her limbs felt stronger now that she had traveled down the mountains. She felt stronger, despite her young age. Dapplepaw didn't have the same back-leg muscle build like her. Graypaw's physique was meant for the mountains, not the forest.

She yawned and slipped past Dapplepaw, who was washing her chest. The other apprentices had woken. The dappled tortoiseshell, whom Graypaw had learned was Honeypaw, had gone out early for a dawn patrol. Meadowpaw and Springpaw, two other apprentices, had gone out with their mentors for battle training.

Now Graypaw was left to face Briarfern, and she wasn't sure how the dark brown warrior would accept her as an apprentice. It seemed like Briarfern wanted nothing to do with rogues, but Graypaw didn't understand why.

"You are a ThunderClan apprentice now." Graypaw whirled when she heard a tom speak. It was the flame-colored cat. Dapplepaw had called him Firestar. "You should know to wake early, or training will end late."

Graypaw opened her mouth to reply, but was cut off by an annoyed hiss. Briarfern had emerged from a large den covered in brambles. Her eyes were narrowed as she approached Graypaw. She didn't speak, until she was within a whisker-length in front of Graypaw.

"Today I must show you the territory," she meowed. "All apprentices and warriors must learn this."

The young apprentice didn't respond. She only looked interested. She wanted to understand what the Clan cats did. Feathertail had made it sound like an important duty to become part of. If she were to become a ThunderClan apprentice, she would have to learn their ways.

Briarfern rose to her paws and began to lead Graypaw towards the thorn tunnel entrance. Brightheart, the white-and-ginger she-cat, was sharing tongues with a long-haired white tom. It was the tom who had spoken against Graypaw's acceptance. His eyes were narrowed when he noticed Graypaw was watching. He looked angry, as though he wanted nothing to do with her. And maybe he didn't. Graypaw could only hope that he would some day accept her. She knew that somehow he was important to the Clan.

She ducked her head as they padded through the barrier. Graypaw didn't flinch when a thorn caught her fur. It wasn't as bad, not like the first time when she had gotten the thorns snared. They hurt, but not as much.

When they emerged from the tunnel, Graypaw's eyes widened.

In full daylight, the forest seemed different. Birdsong filled the air, and the rustling of leaves unnerved Graypaw. Once again she felt uncomfortable under the stares of so many trees. It made her long for the cold, snow-bound mountains.

But Briarfern didn't seem concerned as she trotted confidently through the undergrowth. Graypaw followed less uncertainly. Leaves of all colors grew around her. Some were a shiny green, while others were a bright orange. They were also different shapes, depending on the trees. Graypaw found herself naming the trees. One was an oak tree, while the others were aspen. Some were birch trees, with very thin trunks that were bare.

Briarfern was leading Graypaw towards a dip in the land. It was a mossy clearing, with sand that formed after seasons of erosion. The dark brown warrior stopped when they reached the edge of the clearing. Graypaw's ears pricked forward when she heard the sounds of hisses and growls.

"That's where you will do your battle training," Briarfern explained when she noticed the young apprentice's look. Graypaw stared at it in awe when she saw that Meadowpaw and Springpaw were battle practicing. Meadowpaw leaped through the air as Springpaw lunged, causing the smaller tom to land flat on his face. Meadowpaw landed and pushed his front legs forward, swiping his paws across his brother's whiskers.

"Good work, Meadowpaw," meowed a tortoiseshell-and-white she-cat. She looked up in surprise when she noticed that Briarfern and Graypaw had appeared. "Are you here for battle training?" she asked in a gentle voice.

"No, I am showing her the territory," Briarfern replied briskly. She looked ready to go, and explore the forest that was her home. Graypaw wished she shared her mentor's enthusiasm. She was less then thrilled to visit the borders, and see the lake.

"Can we come?" Springpaw asked as he shook the dust from his pelt. His mentor, a gray-and-white tom, stepped forward and growled.

"We're going hunting, remember?" he hissed.

Springpaw looked disappointed, then brightened up. "Maybe we can go hunting sometime," he meowed.

Graypaw flicked an ear, but said nothing. She wasn't sure whether or not her pelt would blend in with her surroundings. Back in the mountains her pelt would have disappeared. But she was used to waiting until her prey came to her, rather then stalking it.

Briarfern's tail flicked from side to side. The two older warriors seemed to notice her anticipation. They ordered their apprentices to back off, and continued drilling them with battle moves. Briarfern began to make her way through a thicker part of the forest.

Bushes of all sorts grew around this part. There were spiky-leaved bushes, as well as vine-like bushes that grew around the forest. They were different shades of green, and some even had a pungent smell to them.

Soon they reached the deepest part of the forest. Briarfern had stopped when they reached a tall tree. One that was the tallest sycamore Graypaw had ever seen. It's trunk was at least as thick as a boulder, and long, whip-like branches reached for the sky. She stared at it in amazement, and wondered how such a wonderous sight could have grown for so long.

"This is called the Great Sycamore," Briarfern explained. "We bring the oldest apprentices for tree climbing practice. It was one of Firestar's plans when I first became an apprentice. If we can climb trees, we have an advantage over all the Clans. They won't know where the attack is coming form until it is too late."

Why is there so much fighting? Graypaw wondered silently. She was tired of all this constant fighting. After watching Mud's fall in the mountains, she didn't want to see other cats die because of her. She just wanted to live the rest of her life peacefully.

Soon they were bounding through the forest again. By now Graypaw's limbs were screaming in exhaustion. She was stronger now, but not for long distances. Briarfern seemed to notice her heavy panting, and stopped when they reached a clearing. Pine trees grew around and further into the clearing.

"This is the ShadowClan border," Briarfern meowed. Her eyes glinted coldly as she looked across the clearing. "They are nothing but cowards, who use the shadows to their advantage."

They rested for the first time since that day. Graypaw watched as Briarfern hunted a mouse. It was nibbling on a seed, still aware that there were predators in the forest. It was speed eating, and Graypaw knew that it would flee the moment Briarfern lunged.

She watched in surprise when the mouse continued eating. Briarfern had rushed towards it, and when it looked up in utter shock, it was too late. Her claws extended, until the mouse was under them. It squealed in pain, and was dead in a heartbeat. Graypaw gasped when she felt a searing pain run through her spine. It felt as though fiery claws had scored a mark on her pelt, burning through her skin. The pain stopped when Briarfern dropped the mouse's body. Her jaws were open in horror when she saw Graypaw writhing on the ground.

"What's wrong?" she demanded when she bounded forward, ignoring the mouse.

Graypaw opened her eyes slowly and blinked. What just happened? She stared around her, and spotted the prey. Her mouth watered when she realized how hungry she was. She hadn't eaten since she left the farm. But Briarfern wouldn't let her eat until she explained what had happened. But how could Graypaw tell her mentor what she didn't even understand?

*Sigh*. I just can't resist adding that whole little bit about the mouse. Strange how it's happening right when she enters the forest, isn't it? Oh, and for those who guessed what might happen later on, you might be right, or not. Anyways, please review!