YESSS!!! It's finally up, I know! This one took SO LONG!!! *wheezes* It took long cuz I knew this one would be hard, and I was putting it off. I KNOW!!! I ADMIT IT!!! I'M A GUILTY PROCRASTINATOR!!!! *runs and sobs in a corner* Oh and by the way, enjoy! *goes back to her corner and cries more* Oh, and Sandstorm lovers may not like this chapter, cuz Sandpaw's a real snooty jerk. And FirexSand lovers may be a little annoyed, cuz this has just a smidge of SandxDust. But that's it. THANKSES!!!! XD

Breaking Through

Chapter 10

"Well, Sandpaw, I can honestly say that Bluestar was very impressed with what I told her. I think you have great warrior potential." Sandpaw was sitting in front of her mentor, Whitestorm, in the ThunderClan camp's grassy clearing. She had performed spectacularly in her first training session, Whitestorm had been amazed, Bluestar was pleased-- and she knew it, maybe all too well.

Whitestorm continued. "You can eat now, and then rest a bit. I'll pick you up for some more training later." She nodded and bounded away.

As she approached the fresh-kill pile, Dustpaw spotted her and bolted up.

"Word's gotten round that you chased a rabbit and caught it!" he mewed eagerly. "Is it true? Can you really run that fast?" Sandpaw raised her head high. "That's right. I'm that fastest cat in the Clan."

Dustpaw grinned. "Awesome! And I'm the best warrior in the Clan!"

Sandpaw smiled. Normally, she would be a little irked, but she wasn't this time. Dustpaw was a good fighter. And sweet.

Dustpaw smiled. "Let's go tell everyone else!" Sandpaw bounced a little. "Yeah!" They both sped off, Sandpaw forgetting her hunger completely.

They had only made it halfway when Redtail stepped in their path. "Dustpaw! I need someone for a short patrol. You up to it?" Dustpaw glanced at Sandpaw. "Is it okay?" Sandpaw nodded. "Oh, sure. It's fine." Dustpaw flicked his tail gleefully and padded to Redtail's side.

Redtail hesitated, turning back toward Sandpaw and smiling at her. "Whitestorm told me of your performance today. I couldn't be prouder of you." Neither can I, Sandpaw thought, but just smiled and said, "Thanks. I'll try really hard."

"That's all I need to know." Redtail licked her ear briefly and then padded off with Dustpaw. Sandpaw went on to the apprentices den. Graypaw and Ravenpaw were inside talking.

She strutted in, her head high. "Hey, guess who the greatest apprentice in the world is!" She smiled smugly. "Me! Whitestorm said I was great, and Bluestar's happy too! Am I good or what?"

Ravenpaw looked down and Graypaw smiled half-heartedly. "Yeah, Sandpaw, we heard. Good job." he mumbled.

Sandpaw narrowed her eyes, confused, and then smiled again. "Oh, I get it," she sang. "Someone's a little bit jealous because my mentor is proud of me and yours isn't!"

Graypaw looked up sharply. "Lionheart's a great mentor, and he's just as proud of me as Whitestorm is of you!" he mewed firmly, hurt.

Sandpaw scoffed. "Fine, no need to be so pushy." she snapped loftily. Graypaw's patience ran out and he stood up.
"You know what?" he retorted. "You think you're all that! You think that you're better than everybody else, but the truth is, you're not! You're no better than anybody who honestly believes they rule the world." He paused. "You used to be nice to cats. You used to be nice to us, but now all you do is brag!"

Sandpaw was shocked, but didn't show it. "Well," she began. "I am the fastest apprentice. And the best hunter." Graypaw didn't look moved.

"Oh yeah?" he challenged.

"Yeah!"

"Well, you wouldn't even know the meaning of the word 'apprentice' without us, remember!?"

That managed to shut her up. She just stared at the gray tom, her anger burning still, but beginning to be tempered by hurt and shock.

Graypaw glared back, fury blazing in his own eyes. "Have you forgotten who covered for you so you could even get your name? Sandkit?" Not waiting for an answer, he brushed past her out of the den.

Ravenpaw stood up and began to follow him, pausing in front of Sandpaw. She looked at him, her anger beginning to overpower. Ravenpaw must have noticed, but he just shook his head, sighed, and walked out.

Sandpaw let out a breath that she had been holding in for a while. She started to pace furiously.

"Who needs them?" she whispered, irritated, to herself. "They were holding me back. And I can't be held back if I'm going to be a good warrior." She sat down and huffed. "Besides," she mewed out loud. "Dustpaw understands. He'll always be my friend."

"What was that, Sandpaw?" Sandpaw jumped and spun around to see Dustpaw peering into the apprentices den.

"Um, we met another patrol that took over, so Redtail let me come back," he explained. "I thought I heard you mention my name." Sandpaw hesitated.

"Uh... no. No, I didn't, sorry. You wanna go hunting or something?" she asked, smiling. Dustpaw smiled too. "Sure." he replied.

Yeah. I didn't like this one. I mean, the drama with Sandpaw and Graypaw I had fun iwth, but the SandxDust PAINED ME!!! I swear, I felt so suckish the whole time! Thank God this chapter is over and done with. x.x So anyways, please review and don't be too harsh. KTHANXBYE!!! XD