Three figures wadded through a field. Tall dark grass covered them from sight and they spoke in a low whisper.

"I trust that you will be able to complete this task I ask of you?" A dark, almost demonic voice asked as the figure glared back at two cats. They nodded at the same time and spoke as one saying "Yes my lord. We will make sure the Three from Past the Stars will not underestimate us."

"Good. Soon… the Three from Past the Stars… will just be two…." The dark voice said with a dark chuckle and then hurried over to a dark puddle where the reflection was overlooking Thunderclan territory. The two other figures bowed and then turned and ran off into the field, vanishing into the night.

…

I stalked through the forest, and sniffed the gentle breeze for any sign of prey. But instead I heard the sound of cats fighting. I narrowed my eyes and quickly ran through the forest. I pelted through some ferns and came to a clearing where I saw Nightmare leap with a yowl. Emberpaw ducked under her and then bated her back legs back making Nightmare land on her side. I then realized this was just battle training, and sighed.

Nightmare looked up and saw me. She smirked and said "Emberpaw! Try your skills on the Felidaestar here." I looked to Emberpaw who seemed surprised at Nightmare's order. I walked out into clearing and said "Go on. I want to see how well you're doing."

Emberpaw hesitated and then Nightmare spoke softly saying "Come on Emberpaw. I know you can take down this Elder!" I looked over my shoulder and said "Hey! Who you calling an Elder!" I heard Emberpaw let out a meow of laughter. I rolled my eyes and looked back to Emberpaw only to find him gone.

"Where-"

A sudden blow to my head cut me off as Emberpaw darted out of the bushes beside me and disappeared into a patch of ferns. I shook my head and looked around for the fiery young tom. I ducked low and waited. The bushes and ferns made great cover from his fur and being small gave him an advantage.

I suddenly heard a leaf crackle under paw and I darted forward into ferns and tackled the young apprentice out. He hit the ground and rolled to his side dogging a swing from my paws. He then balanced on his hind legs and slammed his front paws on my shoulders. I ducked down and slid between his legs and let him fall down on my back. Then I twisted around knocking him to the ground and pinned him with one paw on the chest.

He panted, showing me he was defeated. I pulled back my paw and he suddenly exploded with energy and launched up head butting me in the chin and knocking me back. Slipping under my legs he went under me and pushed up knocking me off balance. I fell to the side and Emberpaw quickly pinned me down.

"WOOO!" Nightmare cheered from the side lines and Emberpaw panted, his eyes shining as he looked down at me. I smiled at him and said "Looks like we will have a great Warrior someday." Emberpaw backed up off of me and smiled. He then asked "Really? Oh I wonder what my name will be!"

I chuckled and sat up shaking my pelt off of any leaves and twigs. I then said "I'll make sure to give you a good one." I looked over to Nightmare and asked "Do you know how the others training is going?"

"Smokepaw seems to becoming a great hunter. He lacks in fighting skills though. Dreampaw, she's trying hard but after watching a session with her I think she's scared of messing up so she is trying too hard. Brindlepaw, I think Jayfeather said she's a fast learner. But she keeps getting Marigold and Coltsfoot mixed up. Emberpaw, you're doing well in hunting and fighting! Very good!"

Emberpaw looked down at his paws and said "Well, I just have such a great mentor!" When he looked up, a leaf fell down from a tree above and landed on his nose. He then suddenly sneezed and his wings flew up. Emberpaw jumped, startled and quickly folded them back down. He looked to the ground and said "Sorry."

"It's alright." Nightmare said gently padding the apprentice's ear. She smiled and then laid her tail on his shoulders and said "Your wings just needed to stretch a bit." Emberpaw closed his eyes not looking up and then I sat down and said "Emberpaw. Having wings doesn't make you any less of a Warrior. Actually I think it makes you different, special."

"I don't want to be different! I want to be a normal Warrior." Emberpaw said and then added "Dreampaw and Smokepaw made fun of me when we were little. And they still do! And at my first gathering, other cats made fun about me, or whispered behind my back…"

I gave a worried look to Nightmare and then a voice said "I…didn't know you felt like that Emberpaw." All three of us looked up and saw Flamewing standing in the opening between two holly bushes. Her emerald green eyes were looking Emberpaw over and she said "I thought you liked them… you even told me you wanted to fly…"

"When I was a kit!" he resorted and then said "Now I just want them to go away! You can make yours disappear! I can't! Why?" Flamewing sighed and said "Because…I just can…" Emberpaw dropped down and covered his face with his paws and whined "It's not fair…"

"Hey, Emberpaw..." Flamewing started coming closer to her kid. Nightmare held up her tail to stop her and then said "Emberpaw, sit up…Now!" Her voice became loud and Emberpaw slowly stood up. He looked to her and she huffed and said "So what if you got wings. I think that makes you one hell of a cat! Pretty amazing one at least!"

"But-"

"Shut up." Nightmare said quickly and then went on by saying "Look at me. I am different from the other cats around the lake. I am crazy! I have different claws. Longer, sharper and they are shiny like Twoleg things. So what? It makes me a better fighter. And then Flamewing, your mother. She's able to fly with her wings. She's can soar overhead. She can drop down on cats and take off. She can be up with Starclan while we are still here, down on the ground. And you're a special cat. You are a strong, skilled and you may be able to be the best Warrior of Thunderclan! You just need to work harder, learn more and show those cats that you are a Warrior!"

Emberpaw blinked in surprise by Nightmare's words. She then smirked and said "And you're my first apprentice. And I wouldn't have any other cat be my first. I'm your mentor and I will train you to be the best you can be." Emberpaw perked up and smiled. He then said "Thank you Nightmare."

"Now, don't lie to the boy. He will always be different." Two voices spoke at the same time and all of us spun around to see two cats, sitting side by side. A black cat with white ears and amber eyes. And a white cat with black ears and blue eyes.

Nightmare snarled at them and said "What are you two doing here?" I narrowed my eyes at them and it took me a moment to remember who they were. Blackpelt and Whitefur, cats from the Forbidden Forest. I remember Silverblaze and Lightsong fighting against them.

"Last time I saw you two you were frozen cat-sickles." I growled and then Blackpelt and Whitefur narrowed their eyes and spoke in union. "That was then this is now. We just came to…collect something…"

"What?" Nightmare said bringing out her claws. Flamewing drew closer, she has never seen them, but Nightmare and I have told her all about them.

Whitefur suddenly bolted forward leaving Blackpelt's side and Nightmare and I rushed forward. I swung my claws at her but she ducked and then leaped as Nightmare tried to tackle her, but she ended up running into me. I rolled over and Nightmare grumbled and said "Sorry…"

"Emberpaw!" Flamewing screeched as Blackpelt took off as a blur dragging the young apprentice by his scruff. Flamewing bolted after him but Whitefur leaped out of hiding and tackled Flamewing over before leaping forward and running after Blackpelt.

Nightmare yowled in fury and charged after the two cats screaming "Give me back my apprentice!" Flamewing nudged me up and gave me a worried look; I nuzzled her and then said "Let's get him back." She nodded and then took off into the sky using her wings. I turned and bolted into the forest. I heard crashing and hissing up ahead and I broke through the woods just in time to see Blackpelt, Whitefur and Emberpaw disappear down a rabbit hole. Nightmare who lay very still at the entrance had blood leaking from her.

"Nightmare!" Flamewing screeched from overhead and dropped down next to her. I got down next to her and watched as she slowly got up, there was a large gash on her stomach but she shook her pelt and growled. Then she dived into the hole.

"Wait!" I called after her and plunged into the darkness. Flamewing was only a whisker away as she two followed me in. Nightmare panted hard in front of me as she came out into a large cavern. I walked into the room as well and saw illuminated moss growing on the walls.

Nightmare panted and looked around the cave and then yelled "Cowards! Show yourself!" No answer came to Nightmare's call. Instead movement at the edge of my eyes made me turn my head. I caught a glimpse of Whitefur before she vanished into the air.

Padding forward, I saw a large stone rock. I sniffed it carefully, and then moved around it. There was Emberpaw. His eyes wide and scared.

"I found him!"

Flamewing bolted over to him and shoved me aside to get to her child She started licking him and said "Oh my poor kit…" Nightmare made her way over to us and then growled darkly saying "Those rotten crowfood eaters used his as bait! I'll rip their tongues off!"

A rumbling sound filled the cave and the four of us watched as the entrance to the tunnel slowly faded as rocks clattered down the path, and closed up the entrance. Sealing us inside.

We, were trapped.