The next day I was sharing a rabbit with Toadpaw when Phantompaw led a calico she-cat over to us, just six moons by the looks of her. Her coat hung from her pelt and she bore fresh scars, she was that new apprentice from Marshclan we were told about. She looked terrified of meeting us. Phantompaw meowed, "This is Cricketpaw. Sevenpaw, Rushpaw and I met her yesterday. She wanted to come say hello."

Toadpaw flicked his tail stiffly, clearly judging her unfairly for having had been a Marshclan cat just a night ago. I narrowed my eyes angrily at him. Smiling at Cricketpaw I introduced us, "I'm Badpaw, and this is Toadpaw. Are you hungry?" Her eyes wandered shyly to our plump rabbit, but she seemed reluctant to join us. I promised, "There's plenty." She smiled and padded away from Phantonpaw's side, settling down gracefully before taking a bite. She commented, "I've never had rabbit before." Toadpaw looked surprised, "Really?! There all over Swampclan, you just have to know where to look." Phantonpaw beckoned me with her tail.

I slipped away from the others and padded over to the older she-cat. "Yes?" She flicked her ear at Cricketpaw and commented suggestively. "She could use some friends right now. Turtlestar was her mother, and some of the warriors know it. Redpaw knows it. See that scratch along her flank? It was over an argument they got into yesterday." My fur bristled angrily. Redpaw has always been hostile, but attacking her new clan mate even? I understood that Cricketpaw needed a friend who was used to what she was going to go through. She needed a cat like me.

I swelled with pride that I was trusted with a task like this! I nodded, "I'll keep her close. Will she be given a mentor?" Phantompaw shook her head, "Not until she's strong, which won't be for a little while yet. Just keep her safe, and stay out of trouble." Phantompaw's stern green gaze made me feel like a kit, and she wasn't even a warrior! I purred, "I will!" She nodded and joined her siblings across the clearing. Watching them got me to thinking.

They were all strong, well-trained cats. Way older then the rest of us, why weren't they warriors yet? My eyes drifted to Ironstar, who was chatting with Scarface, the elders, and two of his senior warriors. He has been busy lately; maybe he's just not found the time. A weight came crashing down upon me and I yowled, falling to the ground. Toadpaw's deep blue eyes gazed down at me. I growled playfully, "Get off you lump!"

Easily, I flung the lighter tom aside. The fierce training with Ironstar had really built my muscles, I was a lot stronger then Toadpaw was. He yelped in surprise and went crashing into the nursery. Kits screeched in terror as leaves fell in, but luckily the strong walls did not collapse. Cinderstorm glared out of the den and hissed light-heartedly at Toadpaw, who giggled and bounded away from the nursery.

Together we ran back to Cricketpaw, who was watching with amused eyes. I flicked her, "And that's an example of what not to do." She tilted her head and questioned, "Practice battle moves?" Toadpaw grinned, "No, irritate a queen!" A commanding yowl from the highrock got our attention, "All cats of Swampclan, join me for a clan meeting."

We walked Cricketpaw over, having her sit in between us. Redpaw was perched beside Specklepelt, a Marshclan cat; which surprised me. Ironstar began the meeting swiftly after his summons was called. "I would like to formally welcome the five new Swampclan cats into our home. Timberfur and Specklepelt, warriors. Sharpclaw, an elder, Cricketpaw, an apprentice, and Bogfoot, a queen." A few polite meowed rippled around, but not many.

He continued, "Would Sevenpaw, Rushpaw, and Phantompaw please step forward." My eyes brightened, I had been right! Their warrior ceremonies were near. I listened politely as Ironstar asked each of they would uphold the code, and yada, only interested in their new names. He concluded, "By the powers of Starclan I give you your warrior names. Sevenstripes, Rushwind, and Phantomfur!" I yowled each name with vigor, but especially Phantomfur's.

"I wonder when we will be warriors!" Toadpaw and I sat with Cricketpaw in the middle of the camp after the new warriors left to sit vigil. Cricketpaw smiled thoughtfully, "You two will be before I will." Optimism, something she would do well to hang onto. Toadpaw shrugged, "Were not that many moons older then you, you won't be far behind." My eyes glowed with ambition, though I didn't know it was ambition. I growled happily, "I can't wait to be a warrior!"

A sinister voice from behind made me jump. "Do you really think you will ever be anything more then an apprentice?" I knew that vile creature's voice from a clan away, it was Redpaw. I turned on her, but Toadpaw beat me to the argument. He snarled, "And why wouldn't she become one? She's twice the cat you are!" Shock and hurt shined in Redpaw's eyes, but it was soon replaced by a dark understanding.

She snorted, "Don't get her hopes up her, Toadpaw, it's mean." The sugarcoated sweetness layering her vicious words made my flesh crawl. Her angry gaze met mine. "Ironstar will never make you a warrior, Badpaw. Do you want to know why?" I curled my lip at her rudely and spat, "No, I don't!" I was lying through my teeth. I desperately wanted to hear what she had to say, what if it was true? Cricketpaw added, "It's all just foxdung anyway."

Redpaw grinned, "How cute, you have the clan-taitor on your side." Redpaw flicked me in the face with her tail and I gritted my teeth, willing myself not to bite it. She whispered, "I'll tell you anyway. You're never going to be a warrior, because you'll remind him of your father. He'll do anything to stop the same mistake from happening twice." Toadpaw let out o screech of pure fury and jumped on his sister's back, his claws sinking into her fur.

He snarled and bit her ear, blood spilled into her eyes. She wailed in fear and tried to shake him off. I could almost feel the hate pulsing off of Toadpaw's fur. Cricketpaw gasped and pressed into my side, I drew my tail over her shoulders. Toadpaw yowled, "Take it back!" Redpaw was knocked over as he pummeled her side with kicks. She yowled for help. Toadpaw snarled, "Take back what you said, you useless lump of foxdung!"

Seconds later the fighting apprentices were ripped apart, Dark Eyes and Polarfur trying to restrain Toadpaw and Ironstar grasping Redpaw's tail as she spat and tried to lunge at her brother. Once everyone was calm, enough, Ironstar roared, "What is the problem here?" Redpaw glared at me, "She is! She's the problem!" Toadpaw hissed, "Liar!" He sprang at her, but his mentor caught his scruff and yanked him back. Dark Eyes supported Redpaw off to see the medicine cat as she limped away from us.

Ironstar glared at Toadpaw, "Are you a mousebrain? Look what you did to her!" Toadpaw shook blood off of his flank and spat crossly, "I'll flay her if she comes near us again. Did you hear what she said about Badpaw?" He lifted his chin defiantly, though his knees were shaking as his intimidating leader glared down at him. "No cat is going to call her a mistake and get away with it, not when I'm around."

Ironstar's broad head swung around to glare at me. I was couched there, innocent and completely uninvolved. His fierce gray eyes shined at me with suspicion and dislike. A horrible feeling jabbed at my gut; did Ironstar look at me as a mistake? Like I was nothing more then my Father's evil spawn? After yesterday I had some hope that he liked me, but that look said it all. To him I was still just a stain.

He growled at Toadpaw, "Your behavior is unacceptable. You will care for the elders, alone, for the next halfmoon. And I sincerely hope you go and check on your sister later!" He stalked off, Polarfur padding after him. Cricketpaw gasped, "A whole halfmoon? That's not fair! Redpaw deserved it!"

I flicked my tail across her mouth and padded over to Toadpaw, pressing my nose against his cheek. He purred, I did not return his affection. My pelt prickled with subtle panic. Maybe Redpaw, as usual, was right. No matter how fiercely she chose to word things, she was almost always right. Was I never going to be a warrior?