Scrappaw purrs with delight as she enters camp carrying a huge squirrel swinging from her jaw.
"Whoa great catch Scrappaw!"
She heard Fishpaw meow.
"On your first day too."
Scrappaw puts down the fresh-kill and scruffs the ground
"I didn't really catch."
She meowed.
"Stonegaze just kinda ran it right into my claws."
Stonegaze appeared behind her with a skinny rabbit and two mice.
"Nonsense!"
He purred.
"You did great!"
Scrappaw shifts from paw to paw before picking up the rabbit and setting it down on the fresh-kill pile.
"Where have you been!"
Bloodtail anger growl came from across the clearing. Scrappaw flinched back as she saw her mentors furious gaze.
"I-I-I w-was"
She stammered.
"I took her out hunting."
Stonegaze meowed tilting his head.
"Is that a problem?"
Bloodtail lashed his tail
"Yes!"
He snapped.
"There is! I asked her to clean out the dens! I am her mentor after all."
Stonegaze's eyes flash
"And I'm her deputy."
He growled.
"Watch your tone when speaking with me."
Out of the corner of her eye Scrappaw saw Riverstar padding over to them.
"Is there a problem here?"
He asks eyes flashing around from Bloodtail, to Stonegaze, to Scrappaw.
"He took my apprentice out while I was gone."
Bloodtail mumbled.
"Yes I thought it would be a great opportunity to teach her to hunt a bit."
Riverstar dipped his head.
"That's true Stonegaze."
He mumbles while Bloodtail's eyes flash angrily.
"But next time maybe warn her mentor before you do so."
Riverstar said with a flick of his tail. He turned his warm gaze to Scrappaw who flinched surprised.
"I see you caught a squirrel. Good job."
And with that he left. Bloodtail flicked his ear for Scrappaw to come with him as he walked away.
"Tomorrow you can clean out the Warriors den."
He growled low for only Scrappaw to hear. Scrappaw dipped her head
"Yes Bloodtail."
Bloodtail eyes flash and he brought his face down to hers.
"What is wrong with you?"
He mumbles eyes narrowed. Scrappaw blinked taking a step back from him.
"You don't act like the other apprentices. It's like you don't care if you become a Warrior. It's like you have no goal."
Scrappaw's eyes flash and she looks away.
"You don't have any goals."
Bloodtail mumbles his voice softening.
"You know you'll always have a place in the Clan right?"
He asked.
"And I just know you'll be a great fighter and hunter."
Scrappaw felt her fur warm up unconformably at the praise.
"I always told myself I would have my apprentice clean out all the dens before taking them out. Just to show them a little patience and to, of course, to learn to respect their elders."
With a sigh Bloodtail sat down.
"But you already know that I guess."
He mumbled.
"So I'll take you hunting tomorrow."
He meows standing up once more.
"Get some sleep okay."
Scrappaw gave a jerk of her head and rushed into the apprentices den. She sniffed around at the den looking for a place to rest.
"Hey Scrappaw."
A voice hissed and she looked up to see yellow eyes looking at her.
"You can sleep next to me, I made you a nest."
Shinepaw meows. Scrappaw dips her head in thanks and curls up in the nest beside Shinepaw. She wrapped her tail up close to her nose and gently fell asleep.