Sorry I've taken ages to update. I've had an exam to study for (think I've failed:(). And sorry that this is so short. I just haven't had much time recently. I'll be back on track with this soon. Anyway here's chapter 36!

Shadepaw shifted in her sleep. Visions flicked through her mind. First of huge claws and sharp teeth; a cat screaming in agony. Then a ginger cat, face hidden, with a huge cut ripped through its fur. Lastly the rogue that had killed Jadepaw, Cloud, standing over the lifeless ginger cat, his head thrown back in savage laughter. A shadow crept up behind him.

Shadepaw jolted awake, her heart beating even louder than her rasping breaths. A pair of lilac eyes stared at her through the gloom. "Shadepaw?" Lilacpaw hissed. "Are you okay?"

"I'm fine. Just a bad dream." Shadepaw looked at her fellow apprentice in surprise. This was the first time in a while that she had been nice to her. "Thank you."

"What?" Lilacpaw frowned and then blinked in understanding. "Oh, it was nothing." She closed her beautiful eyes and growled, "Just don't wake me up again."

Shadepaw smiled. That was more like Lilacpaw. Still grinning, she drifted back into her dreams.

"Shadepaw." A cat poked her in the ribs. "Shadepaw, it's time for training."

Tired, Shadepaw opened her eyes. Light streamed through the gaps in the apprentices den. Gasping, she leapt to her paws. "Oh StarClan," she hissed. "If it's this light it must be almost sunhigh." She turned to the cat who had woken her.

It was Finchpaw. "Don't worry," the silver tabby mewed. "The warriors let us have a lie in after last night. Venompaw and Lynxpaw were up at normal time to do patrol. Lynxpaw was so excited, he stood on my tail." She purred fondly.

Shadepaw looked at her sister, warmth filling her heart. It was slightly overshadowed by her outburst at Creekfall the night before. Shadepaw did not get what had enraged Finchpaw so, but she sympathised with the silver and black tabby. When she had run off, Fallenstar had calmed the clan down and most of them had returned to their dens. However, Swiftclaw and Rootheart had openly mocked Finchpaw before doing so and Shadepaw had barely resisted the urge to run her claws down their faces.

"We need to go now," Finchpaw meowed, licking her fur. "All the apprentices and mentors are going to the training hollow for the rest of the day. We're going to show Lynxpaw some of our moves!"

Shadepaw shook the moss from her pelt. "I don't think I will be."

"Why?"

"Because I haven't fought for a long time and I'm sure to be a bit rusty."

"I'm sure you'll be fine." Finchpaw gestured with her tail toward the entrance of the den. "Everyone else is waiting for us. We'd better go."

Shadepaw nodded and followed her sister into the clearing. There, they joined Shrewfur, Lilacpaw and Sootwhisker. "The others have gone ahead," mewed their mentor. "We shall have to run fast to join them before training starts." His eyes travelled over Shadepaw and rested on Finchpaw, who shuffled uncomfortably under his gaze. Shadepaw knew that Shrewfur was curious about what had happened the night before but to Finchpaw's obvious relief did not press on the matter.

Bounding behind Lilacpaw, Shadepaw exited the camp with Finchpaw beside her. "So," she mewed, once the pace had settled.

"So what?" Finchpaw swivelled her ear towards her sister.

"So what about you and Creekfall?"

"I don't want to speak to him."

"Why?" Shadepaw asked. "What has he done that is so bad?"

"You wouldn't understand." Finchpaw bowed her head.

"Bet you my fresh-kill tonight that I would." They jumped a log.

Landing in a patch of frosty leaves, Finchpaw said, "I don't wish to discuss this. Even with you."

Shadepaw laid her tail on her sister's shoulder to stop her from bounding ahead. "You can tell me anything." She lowered her voice to a whisper, so that the others would not hear. "We are kin now."

Finchpaw blinked. "Thank you but this is just between me and him." With a wrinkle of her shoulders, she sped ahead to run beside Shrewfur.

Shadepaw sighed. She just didn't understand what Creekfall had done to upset Finchpaw so badly. She would have to ask him. With a gasp, she realised that she had fallen a couple of tail-lengths behind the rest of the patrol. Bracing her muscles, she dashed forward.

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