Thanks to all who reviewed. This one is Fernpaw&Dustpelt, suggested by Daughter of Hexfire, Simba's Other Daughter, and Vinestar. Thanx to them! About the Goldenflower&Tigerstar...I don't think it's gonna happen. They weren't really a couple. But I'm already working on Sorreltail&Brackenfur!

This one takes place when Fernpaw's still an apprentice, in either Rising Storm or A Dangerous Path. Hope you like it!

Sorrelkit, Rainkit, and Sootkit were tumbling over each other outside the nursery. Fernpaw stood outside the apprentices' den, watching them with longing. She loved kits, and secretly wished for her own. She hoped that she would have them someday, though that time was a long way away. She was still an apprentice, and, after all, what tom would ever fancy her enough to father her kits?

"Fernpaw." The voice of her mentor, Darkstripe, made her jump. He was striding out of the warriors' den, his fur sleek, his eyes cold, as usual. "Are you ready to go?"

"Yes, Darkstripe," mewed Fernpaw. "What are we doing today?"

"Fighting training," he answered stiffly. "We're off to the training hollow. Dustpelt says that he'll be taking Ashpaw around our territory's border today, so they won't be coming."

"Okay," meowed Fernpaw, though she wished she would be training with her brother. He always made it more fun.

Darkstripe led her purposefully through ThunderClan's land, out of the ravine and through Tallpines. Fernpaw leaped behind him, sniffing energetically at flowers and prey-scents. It wasn't until she fell a whole tail-length behind him that Darkstripe turned.

"How do you ever expect to be made a warrior that way?" he snapped at her. "Warriors are always alert, always ready. A ShadowClan cat could have slunk up behind you there, and you wouldn't have even had a chance to blink!"

"Sorry, Darkstripe," Fernpaw murmured, crestfallen.

"Yes, well, just remember that next time," Darkstripe meowed, turning around again. Fernpaw followed him closely after that, mimicking his movements; belly low, tail straight out behind, eyes narrow, ears pricked. He didn't even speak to her again. He never did. He was always all business.

He had her face him once they reached the training hollow, while he demonstrated a fighting move. Once she had learned it, he had her try it on him. Fernpaw leaped at him determinedly, trying to grasp his shoulders with her forepaws like he had said, but he twisted onto his back, catching her with all four paws and throwing her painfully to the ground.

He worked her even harder after that. Fernpaw winced every time she charged him, waiting to be knocked to the ground again. Sometimes she succeeded in holding him down, and she was only rewarded by him clawing at her in his attempts to get back up. She knew that he was jsut preparing her for real battles, but still, did he always have to be so grim and mean?

"Do you expect any warrior you're fighting to go easy on you?" Darkstripe demanded, narrowing his eyes. "Do you expect ShadowClan to get themselves all ready for you to defeat them, or for RiverClan to lay down between your paws? Of course not. And what about-"

"Darkstripe." The voice cut him off mid-lecture, and Fernpaw looked up with surprise to see Dustpelt at the top of the training hollow, Ashpaw hovering behind. "It's past sunset. Aren't you going back to camp?"

"After Fernpaw learns this move," Darkstripe growled, and he faced the young she-cat again. "Try it one more time."

"I think you've been out long enough," Dustpelt announced. Fernpaw was even more surprised.

"Do you?" Darkstripe challenged, glaring at the tabby tom. "And how would you know?"

"Just look at Fernpaw," Dustpelt meowed, looking with warm sympathy at the gray-flecked apprentice. "She's swaying on her paws. Why don't you call it a day?"

"Because I'm not finished." Darkstripe replied coldly. "Why should you criticize how I train? I was your mentor!"

"No you weren't," Dustpelt growled. "Redtail was my mentor a long time before you were, and he taught me more than any cat. Including you."

It was Darkstripe's turn to be shocked, but Dustpelt didn't back down. "Come on. Let's get back to the ravine."

Darkstripe lifted his tail. "What's wrong with you, Dustpelt? Nosing up to Fireheart, are you, now that he's deputy and all? Think that you can give yourself some power by sidling up to the kittypet?"

"No." Oddly, Dustpelt's eyes were still on Fernpaw, though his words were directed at her mentor. "I don't want any more to do with that kittypet than you do. I just think that you're too hard on Fernpaw."

Darkstripe snorted, but he flicked his tail at Fernpaw and began to leave the sandy hollow. On the way he brushed past Dustpelt, and Fernpaw heard his hissed words. "Just remember that you were Tigerclaw's friend, just like I was. We've got the same trouble, and don't think that you can get out of it by going against me."

Dustpelt growled, deep and low, but he said nothing more. As Darkstripe charged ahead back to camp, he followed several paces behind, leaving Fernpaw to walk with Ashpaw in the rear. "Wow," mewed her brother. "What was that all about?"

"I don't know," Fernpaw admitted. "But it's not what Darkstripe thinks. At least, I don't think it is."

"What does Darkstripe think it is?" wondered Ashpaw.

"Well, he and Dustpelt were both friends with Tigerclaw. And Darkstripe's angry because he thinks that Bluestar doesn't trust them anymore. So he thinks that Dustpelt's going against him so that he won't look like he ever sided with Tigerclaw."

Ashpaw opened his mouth to speak, but Dustpelt doubled back just then, heading straight for Fernpaw. She stiffened, wondering if he had heard what she had said, but he only stared at her a moment, his eyes soft. "Are you all right?"

"Yes," she answered, surprised at his friendly, warm tone. "Only a few scratches."

"Well, if you have any more trouble with Darkstripe, you can tell me about it," he meowed. "I'll straighten him out for you."

He bent and gave her fur a couple of quick licks. His eyes met hers again, and he let out a short purr. After a bit of a pause, Fernpaw's mind caught up with her racingheart. Thenshe purred back.

They really are cute together, aren't they? Anyway, review please!