I love, love LOVE this chapter. Snowpaw is just such a complex character and I already have most of the ideas for his climax in the plot, so really, it's just smooth going for Snowpaw. Though what happens in the end of this chapter was kinda made up as I wrote it, it fits. Enjoy! ;o

Snowpaw felt himself being pushed aside like a piece of rotten food. Crowtalon rounded on him again.

"Again! And this time, use your shoulders!"

His muscles burned and lungs were gulping air. He lunged forwards, flicking up his muzzle to bash his mentor in the chin before shoving him back with his chest. Crowtalon looked at him, eyes flashing with menace.

"You're going the be the strongest apprentice out of all of you. I will train you. Hard. Even more than my own two kits."

His tail lashed with a burning passion. Crowtalon hated him, hated his father. He was going to turn him into the strongest warrior ever. The words washed over Snowpaw's ears.

"Now, I want you to try and unbalance me."

Snowpaw was going to have to use his head. Crowtalon liked to use his paws, because that's where his namesake claws were. Snowpaw snarled and lunged towards his mentor. Just like he'd predicted, the black tom reared up and the white apprentice flinched with horror when his claws came out. He winced away, shrinking down and gritting his teeth.

"Get up!" Crowtalon roared, flailing his paws like he was striking an enemy.

"I won't claw you! Get UP!" Snowpaw stood up and backed up before lunging again.

This time. He didn't hesitate when the tom reared and slashed at him. His ear stung, but he ignored it, slipping under the larger tom's hind legs and pushing up with his shoulders. Suddenly, all the weight crashed down on him and he was crushed under him.

"Uff." His breath left him and he struggled.

"Fool!" Crowtalon spat. "You're too weak to do that move! Watch, repeat what I just did."

Snowpaw felt crimson drip down above his eye, and he shook himself before giving a guttural growl and rearing up, unsheathing his claws. He daren't strike his mentor though and watched as Crowtalon flicked his fore paw and tear his back leg out from under him. Snowpaw fell onto his back, and Crowtalon pounced.

"That's how it's done."

He breathed in Snowpaw's face, blasting him with breath that smelled like mouse blood.

"That's enough for today." Crowtalon said, his ears pricked.

Snowpaw could hear voices coming towards them and smelled his mother and Blazepaw. They trotted towards them, waving their tails in greeting, before continuing on. Crowtalon trotted after them, but Snowpaw sat there, grooming his bleeding ear. He had slit it so that sunlight gleamed through the hole. He cleaned the blood from his brow and looked around before crouching down.

He sprung forwards and clicked his teeth like he was biting an enemy. Something dark caught his eye and he turned towards it. A cat was standing there; pitch black with its claws unsheathed.

"C-Crowtalon?" He murmured, his fur raising.

He tried to catch its scent, but there was nothing. It was slender, with dark amber eyes that seemed to see through his soul.

"No." It said.

Snowpaw caught his breath, his eyes brightening with interest. Here was this shadow of a cat, and not just a cat. The most beautiful cat he had ever seen!

"I am nothing like your puny excuse for a mentor." She smiled, dazzling him.

"My name is Nightowl."

Snowpaw felt compelled towards her, and at the mention of her lovely sounding name, he blubbered out, "I-I'm S-S-Snowpaw."

He grinned stupidly.

Nightowl solidified as she padded towards him, "I know who you are. Weakest kit in your litter. Scorned by all who see you and paired with a mentor you can't stand."

His pelt burned, and he looked down. But Nightowl trotted towards him, her amber eyes burning into his.

"You want to be a good warrior, right?" She whispered; her breath smelled like catmint.

Snowpaw nodded, staring into her eyes.

"I can make you that. Crowtalon will only use you as a toy. You're not his apprentice. You're his stress reliever. I'll be a better mentor than he is. Do you want me as your mentor, Snowpaw?"

Nightowl said, leaning away a little bit. Her long black tail rose, arching over her back.

Snowpaw nodded, "I do."

Snowpaw will explain why he thinks Nightowl is so beautiful when his POV comes up again, and we'll get more into it on why Nightowl is there, who she is, and such and such. And no, she's not a Starclan cat. :3 R&R plz.