Chapter 11

Tinypaw woke to the sounds of a dripping, rain-soaked forest. From the smell of water in the air and the feel of the grass, Tinypaw guessed it must have rained sometime in the night. It felt good on his paws compared to the heat of the past few days, and he relished the feeling of the damp leaves on his back as he slid out of the apprentice's den.

He shook out his fur, droplets spinning from his pelt as it fluffed itself dry. Once he was settled with his pelt, he padded over to Yellowfang. Despite the damp night, Tinypaw surprisingly slept well – though he knew that cats with thicker fur like Graypaw would be complaining of the wetness soon enough.

Yellowfang had just begun to stir as Tinypaw approached. Her pelt was damp and bristling, and when she lifted her head her eyes were nothing short of irritated.

"My bones are aching," she complained. She stretched her oddly-flat muzzle in a yawn. "How long as it been raining?"

"Most of the night," Tinypaw replied.

He prodded her bedding with one paw, and then curled his lip – soaking wet! She'd catch a chill sleeping in this stuff.

"Why don't you move your nest closer to the nursery?" Tinypaw suggested. "It's less wet there."

Yellowfang curled her lip. "I'd rather wake with aching bones and a soaked pelt than be badgered by mewling kits all night," she growled.

She got herself up and circled in the nest. Tinypaw could see just how stiff and hurt her movements were, and he frowned at her petty stubbornness. He realized that it was partially his own fault – he knew that kits were a touchy subject for the old she-cat.

"At least let me get you fresh bedding, then," he offered.

Yellowfang settled herself down with huff. "Thank you," she grumbled quietly.

Tinypaw blinked at the old she-cat in shock – that was the first time she'd honestly thanked him without calling him some name or another. He couldn't' help but feel the need to ask if she was feeling all right.

"Oh, go!" Yellowfang snapped crankily. "Get on with the moss, will you?"

Tinypaw's whiskers twitched. There was the Yellowfang he knew.

He met with Speckletail, an elderly queen, on his way to fetching Yellowfang's moss. The tabby was the eldest queen, and fiercely protective of the kits in the nursery. He couldn't help but wonder if she knew about what had happened between Yellowfang and Frostfur's kits the other day.

"Hello, Speckletail," Tinypaw greeted with a respectful dip of his head. "Are… are you going to see Yellowfang?" Maybe if she was warming up to Tinypaw, there were other cats who were wanting to get to know Yellowfang too. Maybe a friend was all she needed to unravel her stubbornness.

Speckletail curled her lip. "What would I want with her?" she growled. Tinypaw flicked an ear – so she was upset, and she had heard. Oh well. "I was looking for you, actually. Tigerstar wants to see you."

Tigerstar? Tinypaw wondered. "What for?" he asked.

Speckletail shrugged, then carried on towards the nursery.

Tinypaw blinked, curious, and then headed off towards the bottom of the Highrock. Tigerstar was waiting there, sharing tongues with Oakheart.

"Are you sure Bluefur should be training today?" Oakheart was mewing, mostly under his breath. "She's not been herself lately."

"I'll ask that she see Spottedleaf after today's session," Tigerstar promised.

Oakheart purred. "I'm sure she'd listen to you, at least!"

Tigerstar's ears pricked at Tinypaw's approach, and the conversation ended. Oakheart pushed himself up, but didn't leave. Tigerstar shook out his pelt, and then asked, "How is Yellowfang doing, Tinypaw?"

"Good," Tinypaw answered, "but her bedding is wet. I was just going to fetch her dry moss."

"One of the queens can see to that," Tigerstar told him. He nodded to Oakheart, and the bracken-colored tom took off towards the nursery. Tigerstar refocused his gaze onto Tinypaw. "Do you think she can hunt for herself yet?"

Tinypaw shifted on his paws. "She can walk well enough, but I don't think she can hunt."

Tigerstar frowned at that. He licked one massive paw and then drew it over his head, thoughtful. Then, he said, "It's time you return to your training, Tinypaw – it's been neglected for too long."

Tinypaw's ears pricked. "R-Really? That's great!" Remembering his manners, he dipped his head and said, "Sorry… thank you, Tigerstar."

Tigerstar's amber eyes glimmered.

"You'll go with Graypaw and Ravenpaw this morning," Tigerstar decided. "I've asked that Bluefur assess the warrior skills of you apprentices, and she mentioned including you."

"Does… that mean my punishment is over?" Tinypaw wondered.

Tigerstar blinked. "Not quite," he mewed. "Yellowfang responds well to you – I ask that you still look in on her daily. If things go well, though, then you won't be seeing to her feeding or bedding anymore."

Tinypaw purred, "Thank you, Tigerstar."

"Get going now," Tigerstar told him dismissively. "Join your friends. They're waiting for you, I expect."

Tigerstar was right – Tinypaw did find Graypaw and Ravenpaw waiting for him in the damp sandy hollow. Graypaw was grooming himself furiously, upset at his thick pelt. Ravenpaw was pacing the hollow, and Tinypaw expected that he'd been at it for a while – there was a path driven deep into the hollow's edge about the size of Ravenpaw's stride.

What is up with him lately? Tinypaw wondered.

"Stupid rain!" Graypaw complained. "I thought the running might warm me up but it didn't help at all!"

"It helped me," Tinypaw mewed.

Graypaw's ears pricked. "Tinypaw!" he cheered.

Ravenpaw stopped pacing, one paw lifted mid-stride. "Oh," he commented. "You're joining us today?"

Tinypaw nodded. "Tigerstar gave me the morning off," he replied. "So… we're being assessed? Where's Bluefur?"

"On her way, I expect," Ravenpaw muttered. He continued pacing, his white tail-tip flicking worriedly to and fro.

"What about Dustpaw and Sandpaw?" Tinypaw wondered. "Are they being assessed today, too?"

Graypaw shook his head. "Whitestorm and Darkstripe took them on a patrol. Bluefur might look in on them later," he replied.

Tinypaw's eyes followed Ravenpaw round the hollow. "Why are you so worried?" he asked. "Tigerstar is your mentor – it shouldn't be hard to impress Bluefur. I'm the one that ought to be worried about impressing Bluefur!"

Ravenpaw frowned and said nothing.

Tinypaw glanced at Graypaw, who only shrugged.

By the time Bluefur arrived, the sky had gone from a cloudy gray to a sunny blue. Clouds, white and fluffy, drifted lazily on a surprisingly chilly breeze that chased away the damp morning. Tinypaw was grateful for the weather change – the scents would be much fresher and easier to track without the rain. Though, he wasn't looking forward to the cold of leaf-fall that the breeze promised.

"Lionheart and I have been spending the last few moons teaching you all how to hunt like warriors," Bluefur announced when she arrived. "Today you have the chance to prove yourselves and show us what you've learned. What you catch today will be added to the stores in camp."

Tinypaw was listening, but he couldn't help but recall what Oakheart and Tigerstar had been talking about before Tinypaw was ordered to come to the hollow. Bluefur didn't look any different… was she sick or something? What was Oakheart worried about?

"You'll each take a different route through the woods," Bluefur went on, breaking Tinypaw out of his thoughts. "Ravenpaw – quit your pacing and get over here!"

Ravenpaw was hesitant to stop, but he joined Tinypaw and Graypaw anyway. His paws were muddied and his expression was downcast. He didn't look Bluefur in the eye.

"Since you seem eager to stretch your legs, you'll be heading to Snakerocks for your assessment," Bluefur meowed.

Ravenpaw will have to be careful, Tinypaw thought. Adders make Snakerocks their home.

"Graypaw," she went on, "you will be taking the route along the stream, towards the Thunderpath."

"Great," Graypaw complained under his breath. "Wet paws for me!"

Bluefur ignored him. "Finally, you, Tinypaw," she meowed. Her blue eyes were level with Tinypaw's. "I'm glad that you were able to join us today – I hope you remember what you've learned. You'll be taking the route through Tallpines, past the Treecutplace and to the woods beyond."

Tinypaw nodded.

"I'll be watching you," Bluefur warned. "Make each catch count."

She turned away and left the hollow.

"Snakerocks!" gasped Graypaw, when Bluefur was gone. "That's not going to be easy."

"Yeah," Tinypaw mewed. "Be careful, Ravenpaw."

Ravenpaw only blinked at them. "I… I'll be fine," he muttered. Then, he turned and sprinted away.

"Is it just me or has he been acting stranger and stranger lately?" Tinypaw wondered.

Graypaw shrugged. "That's Ravenpaw for you, I guess," he mewed. The gray tom stretched himself out before getting to his paws. "We ought to get going – we don't have all day!"

"Good luck," Tinypaw offered.

"You too!" Graypaw purred, before heading off towards the stream.

Tinypaw yawned, and then decided that he ought to get going, too. He headed off into the woods, his paws taking him towards the Tallpines.

As he walked through the forest, he had to admit that it was strange coming this way on his own. The Twolegplace wasn't far from Tallpines, and really it wouldn't take that long for him to make his way to his old home. Casually, his thoughts drifted to Rusty, Smudge, and his other old kittypet friends. How were they doing? Did they think he was dead?

A mouse took him away from his thoughts. It was scrabbling for a seed, too distracted to spot Tinypaw. Dropping low, Tinypaw crept forward in a well-practiced crouch. The mouse was his with a leap and a bite, and soon enough Tinypaw had buried it and was on his way again.

Tinypaw trekked further into Tallpines, avoiding the muddy trenches dug up by the Treecutplace's monsters. He wrinkled his nose at their stench – it was stale, but they would pass this way again before greenleaf was done. He was thankful that they weren't here now.

He was briefly tempted to drink the water that had collected in the muddy ruts – but he knew better. One lap, and his mouth would taste foul for days. There would probably be a rainwater puddle past Tallpines, one that wasn't tainted by monster stink.

Tinypaw passed through Tallpines and was back in the oak woods he felt so comfortable in. A small puddle greeted him, and Tinypaw took a lap. It was fresh and tasted of the woods, better than any bitter, tinny Twoleg water.

I know I'm close to my old home, Tinypaw thought. But I shouldn't be thinking of them so much! It's going to distract me.

He ignored the sounds and smells of his old home. Though they called to him, he knew that Bluefur was watching – she wouldn't be pleased at all that he was thinking of the Twolegplace.

It's my old home, he thought. I'm a ThunderClan cat now.

Just ahead, Tinypaw caught a whiff of Twoleg stench. He quickly slipped into the bushes, pressing close to the ground and keeping his mouth shut. Beyond was a group of young Twolegs in brightly-colored pelts. He narrowed his eyes – their raucous sounds and silly movements were scaring the prey!

They didn't seem to be moving closer to Tinypaw, though, so he skirted them and changed directions. He kept himself alert and watchful – not only could those Twolegs be nearby, but Bluefur could be too. This was a warrior assessment, after all, and it was possible that she wasn't planning on assessing just his hunting skills.

An attack can come from anywhere, Tinypaw thought.

A twig snapped just then. Tinypaw's ears shot up, and he unsheathed his claws. Was it Bluefur?

Form the corner of his eye, he saw a flash of movement. Not the blue-gray of Bluefur, though – this streak was white. He took a deep breath of the smell – cat, but not any he recognized right away. This cat was not a Clan cat.

His fur bristled. He was a Clan warrior – and he would not hesitate to chase strangers out of his territory!

Tinypaw positioned himself just in the path of the lumbering stranger, poised to strike. The black-and-white cat lumbered nearer, and Tinypaw sensed that it was a tom. Their fur looked soft and well-kept, and they were plumper and rounder than the cats that Tinypaw called his Clanmates. A collar was pressed tight against the tom's throat – a kittypet.

He let himself have one more heartbeat – and then he leaped.

The black-and-white cat gave a terrified screech before barreling past Tinypaw and into the undergrowth. Tinypaw let out a ferocious growl and gave chased, catching up with the lumbering cat easily. So soft! He thought scornfully. So slow!

It took a single bound to leap onto the tom's back. Tinypaw dug his claws in, and the black-and-white kittypet let out another terrified screech. He struggled helplessly beneath Tinypaw, his fear-scent almost choking the apprentice.

Finally, Tinypaw figured he had enough of a warning. He leaped off of the kittypet and let out a hiss. "Get out of my territory!" he snarled.

Suddenly, the cat's appearance struck a chord within Tinypaw. The round head, the soft black-and-white coat…

"Smudge!" he called.

The black-and-white cat let out a terrified moan. "D-Don't hurt me!" he pleaded. "I-I'll go! I'll go!"

"Wait, Smudge," Tinypaw insisted. "It's me! It's… It's Shoe!" It had taken a moment to recall his kittypet name.

Smudge's fur fell. "S-Shoe?" he murmured. "Could… could it really be you?"

Tinypaw nodded.

Smudge's eyes flashed with recognition.

"Shoe!" he cheered. "Oh, thank anything and everything! I thought I was a goner for sure!"

Tinypaw flicked an ear. "I'm called Tinypaw now," he told Smudge.

Smudge's eyes went wide. "So the wildcats didn't eat you?" Smudge breathed. "I thought Rusty was just pulling my tail!"

"Rusty?" Tinypaw's heart beat accelerated at the mention of his half-brother. "H-How is he?"

"He comes and goes – you know Rusty," Smudge mewed. "He misses you something fierce. Said he scented you around the other day, and that he was glad you were OK. Got himself a mate, he does."

Tinypaw's ears pricked. "A mate?" he mewed, whiskers twitching. "I didn't think he would ever choose!"

"Neither did anyone else," Smudge chuckled. "But she's a looker! Cloud-white fur, big blue eyes – just his type."

"Wow," Tinypaw murmured. He sat down. His brother – with a mate? Somehow, he'd never imagined it – he always liked the she-cats chasing him. But he couldn't help but be happy for Rusty, and his mate.

"I'll have to tell him I saw you," Smudge purred. "You're scrawny, but you're alive! Seriously – what do you eat out here?"

"Mice, squirrels, birds," Tinypaw mewed. "I have this whole forest for food."

Smudge curled his lip. "Sounds like a lot of fur and feathers," he admitted. "But this is the life you wanted – not the one I wanted. I'm glad you're happy, Tinypaw."

"You seem happy too," Tinypaw agreed.

Smudge glanced anxiously towards the Twolegplace, beyond the trees. "I ought to go," he meowed. "My housefolk will be looking for me. Take care, Tinypaw – you and that Clan both."

"And you take care," Tinypaw offered. He padded forward and gave his kithood friend a lick between the ears. "Not all Clan cats have a soft spot for kittypets like I do."

"I'm glad you've found yourself," Smudge mewed, purring affectionately. "Everyone will be happy to know that you're all right."

Tinypaw nodded. Smudge turned and loped away, and Tinypaw watched to make sure that the white tip of Smudge's tail disappeared into the bushes.

Heart warm, Tinypaw turned around and faced the woods – his home. I'll look for a bird or two here, and then catch a squirrel on my way back, Tinypaw thought. Seeing what he might have become had he stayed – a soft, rotund kittypet – made him feel all the more eager to pass this assessment.

He stalked his way back through the pines. I just need to impress Bluefur and Tigerstar. Then today will be perfect!