"Felidaestar!" A voice called and I slowly opened my eyes. Everything was a blur at first but my eyes then adjusted to the light of my den. I lifted my head and looked over at the entrance. I made out the shape of a cat and it took me a minute to figure out who it was.

"Oh, hello Emberpaw." I said with a yawn. He nodded to me and said "It's Sunhigh." I perked my ears in surprise and looked past him. Outside was bright and a clear blue sky. I had slept all through the morning.

I stood up and stretched. After that I stepped out of my nest and walked over to Emberpaw and asked "Where are Dreampaw and Smokepaw?"

"They left a little bit ago with their mentors. They are doing assessments today." He said in a normal voice, but I could detect a bit of jealousy in his voice. I nodded and said "Then we will do the same. First, hunting." Emberpaw's ears perked up and then I added "Hurry now. Before your siblings beat you to the kill."

Emberpaw bounded out of the den with an excited mew. And by the time I reached my den entrance, he was already out of the Thorn Tunnel. I smiled and then bounded down the Rock Pile. As soon as my paws touched the ground, my stomach rumbled.

"Here," A voice said and I turned and watched Wolfpelt set a mouse by my paws. He then added "The clan is fed. And you need to be as well." It was a small mouse, but I said nothing. I nodded to my son and wolfed down the mouse in a few gulps.

"Mother, about the fight with those cats," Wolfpelt started and I raised my tail to silence him and said "Not here. Into the woods." Wolfpelt nodded and then followed me out the thorn tunnel. One the other side was Greystripe and Dustpelt working on the entrance. I paused for a moment and then said "Dustpelt, Greystripe."

Both looked over at me and I continued by saying "At the top of the hallow. Set some thorns and brambles on the ledges along the top."

"Why?" Dustpelt asked and I flicked my tail to the large stone walls of the outside and said "We are safe from the enemy attacking from the front end. Our camp is sheltered. But the top. Cats will leap down on the ledges to gain advantages against us. But if they were to land on thorns…" I smirked and Greystripe sat down on his hunches and said "Sounds more like a Shadowclan kind of trick."

"At this point we need to do everything we can to protect the camp." I mewed and Dustpelt scraped some Thorn covered vines together and said "I'll get right on it Felidaestar." I nodded and then said "Have Brackenfur and Whitewing helped you if you need it."

I turned away from the two Warriors and continued into the forest. I perked my ears and sniffed the air, trying to locate where Emberpaw had run off to. But as I tried, all I could smell was the ashes and burnt wood left behind.

"Damnit… I don't know how anyone could find anything in these woods." I said to myself. Wolfpelt shrugged and sniffed the ground saying "It's not that hard." I stared at him and said "I forgot you were here…"

He looked up with me and I gave him a gentle shove and added "You're too quiet." He chuckled and said "Not much to talk about now a days." I looked at him like he was crazy and he let out a meow of laughter. He then calmed down quickly and said "I don't talk much really, because I don't want to bring attention to myself more than I already have with my looks."

I pressed my pelt against his as we walked the path through the woods. I sighed and said "Nothing is wrong with your looks. Makes you special. And you do want to bring good attention to yourself! And become the best Warrior you can be!"

"The best Warrior someone could be isn't always good." He said quietly and before I could answer he said "Tigerstar became the best Warrior he could be. And I do mean that. His nature was ambitious and cunning. He did what he could to rise to the top. Brokenstar did the same. Brought fear to everyone's hearts to control them, to make them see past the sorry scrap of fur he had been when he was a kit with nothing special about him other than being a motherless kit with a broken tail."

I stared at him surprised and then he continued yet again saying "And Darkstripe. He became a fierce Warrior, same as Hawkfrost. Mappleshade, Thisleclaw. And, then Warriors not from our time. These cats, the ones who we fought. They are different and strong."

"Dangerous." I commented and then he nodded and asked "How many are there?"

"Lots." I said quietly and then paused as a saw a red shape flicker through the black and grey forest. I raised my head above some ferns and saw Emberpaw carrying three mice by their tails, and had a vole balancing on his back as he walked back.

"Emberpaw." I called to him and he paused, and then spotted me. He then walked over and through the ferns till he was right in front of me. I looked to Wolfpelt and said "Will you take his kill back to the clan? I need to see his battle skills now. Were right in the middle of his Warrior Assessment." Wolfpelt smirked and said "Ah yes. I remember my warrior Assessment. Went face first into a tree but hey, I still made it. You should have no trouble Emberpaw."

Emberpaw smiled and then Wolfpelt did a fake cough and said "That is, until you fight my mother. She won't go down easy…" He then gathered Emberpaw's kill and gave a gentle shove to Emberpaw in a way of good luck. He then turned and made his way back to the camp.

I turned to Emberpaw and in a friendly growl I said "Alright. Show me what you got!" Emberpaw lowered himself down to the ground, keeping his eyes focused. Suddenly he shot forward, and darted to the left. I leaped around and ducked as I dodged a blow. Swerving to the side I tried to bite ahold of his paw but he leaped up and spun in the air, landing on my back.

I nearly fell over but I regained my stance and twirled around trying to shake him off. Emberpaw leaped off and landed in front of me. He ducked down low and swerved left and right almost like a snake. I narrowed my eyes and kept track of which way he was moving. Emberpaw suddenly rushed forward and started to swing downwards with his left paw, but at the last moment he swung up with his right paw and landed a strong blow upside my head.

I backed up and then rushed at Emberpaw. He twisted to the left a bit and flew up his wings. I skidded to a halt shocked at first, but quickly recovered. But Emberpaw leaped up and landed on my back digging in his claws. He rocked his body back and forth sending me to the side. I toppled over and Emberpaw rolled and then leaped up, placing a paw on my chest, almost my neck.

"Well done." I said and relaxed. Emberpaw leaped off and said "I have had great mentors." I nodded and said "And now, you will be a great Warrior." Emberpaw smiled and looked like he was getting to say something but he stopped. I smirked and then said "Race yah." Before he could say anything I took running.

"Hey! Not fair!" Emberpaw called and then laughed as he raced back to camp with me. Our paws caused the ash to rise up and darken the area behind us. And as I looked back, through the fury of the snow like ash, I thought I saw two shapes of cats. One with bright green eyes, and the other blood red. Both with kind smiles. But when the ash settled, they were gone.