Adderpaw kept himself alert as he sat with the other apprentices, not anticipation who they were waiting on. Riverpaw wrapped her tail with his, her soft blue eyes meeting his amber, the gray tabby not caring at all if the others could see their closeness. Cinderpaw had his head up, the gray tom's own blue gaze curious. Hazelpaw looked bored as he whipped his tail back and forth along the dead grass. The light brown tabby tom smirked at him and mouthed, kit. His sharp yellow eyes judged every action.

Adderpaw turned to the other apprentices, the two she-cats that he didn't know until now. Cherrypaw was the one with a longer tail and Emberpaw had the scar down her side. Cherrypaw looked like the nicer one as Emberpaw gave him a quick once-over, not looking impressed.

"How many more are coming?" Hazelpaw glanced back at Nightfeather. "Since we are the only apprentices that even bothered to show up."

"Only a few more," Nightfeather only smiled sweetly at the impatient tom. It was as if the black she-cat couldn't get angry. That was almost creepy. "You all must have worked so hard today. I forget how easily tired you young cats must be."

"You look like you died pretty young," Adderpaw spoke up, ignoring every cat turning to face him.

"I guess I was pretty young," she purred at his observation. "Oh, there they are! Hello there, Poppytooth."

Adderpaw's head whipped around at the familiar name, ice sliding down his spine at the sight of the rugged gray tabby. Her amber eyes shone as they met his, and a low chuckle rose from her throat.

"You're that one apprentice! What was it, Alderpaw? Applepaw? Sorry, dear, but Poppytooth isn't good with names," he could smell her horrible breath as she leaned closer to him.

"It's Adderpaw," Nightfeather claified. "Our newest guest."

"You know this kit, Poppytooth?" the cat behind her scoffed, his own gray tabby pelt sleekier than hers, but still ragged. His blue eyes were hollow, as if he had never had emotion in them in the first place.

"He visited our forest moons ago," Poppytooth ran her tail over his head, disgusting him. He squirmed as they spoke. "Poor thing was so confused. But to confuse this forest for StarClan? How could I forget something so precious? What would you have done, Ratwhisker?"

"I never would have let him escape alive," Ratwhisker huffed. "Most of you are too soft to truely punish anyone who invades our area."

"Says the one who was killed by a kittypet friend," the last one to arrive muttered as he strolled to the clearing. He must have been the leader of this place because everyone else but Adderpaw. He got to his own paws, not sure what else to do.

"I didn't expect Appletail to defend that fleabag so strongly," Ratwhisker dug his claws into the earth at a bad memory. "She should have been taken out along with the kittypet. But Frost had failed me."

"Enough," the leader flicked his broken tail at Ratwhisker. "You will do well to learn from each of us, Adderpaw. I expect great things from our newest member. Each of you find a partner."

Adderpaw watched the other cats pair up into groups of two, Riverpaw making sure to get with him. Hazelpaw and Emberpaw nodded at each other while Cherrypaw and Cinderpaw playfully flicked each other on the ear.

"I'm Mottledheart," the ginger and white tom introduced himself as Poppytooth trotted over to his side, looking like a shadow to the bigger tom. "Since we have a new member, how about we show him just how strong we'll make you young cats. Ratwhisker and Nightfeather, if you will?"

At his words, Ratwhisker launched himself at Nightfeather, claws out as he tossed her to the ground. He dug them in as he tried to bite at her throat. She moved out of the way and bit his ear, pushing her legs against his belly as she ripped at his soft flesh. Letting out a raged yowl, he raised his paw and swiped at her face, slicing near her right eye. She dogded all of his attacks, throwing the tom to the side and pouncing onto him, clawing at his belly, even after drawing blood. Adderpaw watched in horror as he started getting weaker, his body beginning to shake. But luckily she pulled away, a dark look in her yellow eyes. She licked her lips as Ratwhisker got up, shaking dirt and blood off of his pelt. He was glaring at Nightfeather, black fur caught up in his claws. Would she have killed him if they kept it up?

Only feeling fearful of the huge cats in front of him, Adderpaw had no choice but to run. He raced past the confused cats, his heartbeat pounding in his ears. He had no idea where he was going, but he had to just run. But no matter how far he went, all he saw was those stupid oak trees, taunting and teasing him. Where was that StarClan tom when a cat needed him? But he didn't have time to think as footsteps pounded behind him. He swirled around, claws flashing out as he prepared for a Dark forest cat to find him. But he was surprised to see Riverpaw. He felt his hopes rise. She must have followed him to see if he was alright. They would find a way out of these woods and chose a different way of seeing each other.

But he hadn't been prepared for her to swipe at him. Letting out a confused cry, he backed up, shocked at the look of anger in her gaze. His face hurt after that hit, blood beginning to seep out of the cut.

"What in StarClan was that?" she hissed at him. "I thought that you wanted to get stronger. But you just ran away like a mouse! You'll make me look bad for even inviting your sorry pelt."

"You never told me that they practice with their claws unsheathed, Riverpaw," he spat back at her. "That was no ordinary practice. She could have killed Ratwhisker like that!"

"It would have been his fault for being so slow."

"Do they train to kill?" Adderpaw asked. "If any cat is too slow or injured, do they die?"

"Of course," Riverpaw scoffed. "How else do you get to be the best? You have to be willing to do anything for the Clan. And that includes being willing to kill."

"I can't support any cat that resorts to murder to solve all their problems." he lashed his tail. "I am never meeting in this dirty forest ever again."

"You can't be serious?" she glared at him, teeth flashing dangerously in the dark light. "You must be more mouse-brained than I thought. I thought that you were different. But you are just a coward. If you want to leave, fine. But if I ever see your face again, weither it is here or when we are awake, than you will suffer."

Adderpaw took another step back from the gray tabby, unable to believe that this was really Riverpaw. This had to be a different cat. This Riverpaw was cold-hearted and cruel. But his nose had to betray him. The scent of her was sweet. But now it only made his stomach twirl. She used his hesitation to attack, jumping at him.

He was startled awake from his dream, shaking and shivering his in nest. He shook his head, letting the familiar scent of Treepaw help him relax. His sister had a light smile on her face, so she must have been having a nice dream.

So much better than mine!

He felt a smile creep up on his face as he brushed her back with his tail, knowing that she wasn't stuck in that forest with the rest of the apprentices. He knew that he wouldn't be able to show his face to Cinderpaw and the others again. He now knew that they were be trained by evil cats, so they weren't to be trusted. He should never have tried to make friends in other Clans. The Clans would always be divided.