Reedpaw's bright green eyes glowed as his white paw submerged with a flopping minnow in its grasp.

"Amazing," complimented Rosepaw. "But I got a trout." She proudly thrust a trout at Reedpaw's nose. The fishy scent made Reedpaw's mouth water, and before he could bite, Rosepaw pulled it away. "But it's mine." Her eyes glowed, and it reminded Reedpaw once more of her sister, Whitepetal. It was amazing how the two sisters could be so alike.

Rosepaw had reacted the same way Whitepetal had when he told her about Whitepetal and Rosepaw's similarities. She didn't like it when Reedpaw confessed Whitepetal had reacted the same way.

The dark ginger apprentice was now Reedpaw's best friend. He had made up with Creampaw and Honeypaw, and often talked with Creampaw. Since he wasn't that close with Honeypaw to begin with, he wasn't exactly best friends with the golden she-cat.

"Amazing catch, Rosepaw," mewed Leafsplash, her leafy eyes softening at the sight of the trout. She was usually a very stern mentor, but Rosepaw had been so excellent that her sternness was almost gone.

Since Whitepetal and Leafsplash were rather very close friends, Rosepaw and Reedpaw got to train together often.

There was times when Stormsky and Acornsquirrel would join them with their own apprentices. Reedpaw marveled that Rosepaw could get along so well with any apprentices. Creampaw and Honeypaw were inseperable with her, and Rosepaw got along together with toms like Orangepaw, as well.

Orangepaw was so grouchy, nobody liked him very much, but Rosepaw was friendly with him.

"She's brilliant," Honeypaw mewed to him. Her eyes were fixed on the gently flowing stream water, but her mouth was moving, and she was clearly addressing Reedpaw.

Reedpaw turned away from his catch, laid it in the ground next to him, and glanced at her. "Who? Rosepaw?"

"Yes," Honeypaw replied. "Do you like her?"

"What?" Reedpaw blinked. "She's my friend. Would I hate her?"

Honeypaw blinked, her golden cheeks blushing. "Oh," she murmured, looking embarrassed. "I mean, you have to have a mate one day, right?"

Realizing what Honeypaw meant, Reedpaw slowly backed away from her, feeling hot under his pelt. "No! I mean, not now, I won't be thinking about that now. I've just trained for a half moon."

"A bit more," Honeypaw answered, "since Creampaw and I recently passed our first moon."

She seemed rather absent, and Reedpaw decided to tease her a bit. "Well, if you'll try to tease me about my friend, I'll tease you about Ripplepaw."

Honeypaw whirled around, her dark amber eyes narrowing. "You wouldn't dare!" she exclaimed, and splashed him.

"Honeypaw," warned Acornsquirrel. Her brown eyes were light and good-natured, but her tail was flicking impatiently.

At the sight of her light brown mentor, Honeypaw turned away sheepishly. "Sorry, Acornsquirrel." She went back to fishing her fish, and Reedpaw thought Honeypaw and his conversation had ended now.

"But really, Reedpaw."

"Stop it, Honeypaw," Reedpaw insisted. "Or I'll keep talking about Ripplepaw."

Honeypaw hesitated, looking lost for words. Finally, letting out a friendly snort, she mewed, "You've changed. When we were in the nursery, you were always the quiet little kit. You've gotten bolder. And that's a compliment; don't look around nervously."

Reedpaw nodded, thinking about Mistshade. He did see her, yes. But she didn't seem very glad to see him.

Tawnyclaw was more closed about his emotions towards Reedpaw. Both were bad. Mistshade expressed her dislike of having someone to care to twenty four hours a day, and Tawnyclaw hardly revealed anything. It was harsh, but like Whitepetal had said on one of his earlier days, Reedpaw had made friends and was comforted by them.

"Lightmist will be glad to get out of the nursery," mewed Creampaw. The cream she-cat had grown bigger. "She's been complaining about how Stormkit's fidgeting."

"Would you believe me if I said he were named after me, for his fidgetiness?" interrupted Stormsky, her dark blue eyes sparkling.

"Oh, come on," meowed Creampaw. "I'll hardly believe you fidgeted as much as him."

Stormsky's eyes glittered. "Lightmist told me she was reminded of me whining to go out when I was only three days old."

Creampaw sighed dramatically. "I didn't see Stormkit fidgeting actually, but if he's anything like you when he grows, I'll say, he'd be a fine warrior."

Stormsky purred. "Now get back to your hunting."

"Come on, Stormsky. I caught two minnows yesterday. Can't you just excuse me…?"

"Nope." Stormsky stood back, surveying the water. "There are many fish to catch."

Sighing, Creampaw smacked the clear water.

"Hey!" exclaimed Honeypaw. "My fish just escaped."

Creampaw rolled her eyes. "I'll fish from the upper stream, then," she replied, and stalked away.

"She's grumpy," mewed Stormsky, looking amused. "You have to excuse her."

"Okay," shrugged Reedpaw.

"Could you move a bit?" Rosepaw asked, glancing at him. "We should probably fish separately."

Reedpaw nodded. "Good idea," he meowed. Honeypaw had already moved downstream, and there was enough room for twenty RiverClan warriors between them.

He moved towards the upper part, and immediately saw a blue fish floating. Reedpaw swept his paw and the blue fish flopped into the reeds. It was dead.

Whitepetal peered at the reeds. "Amazing catch, Reedpaw." She sniffed at it, and then pulled back, a disgusted look upon her face. "This smells salty!" she exclaimed. Wrinkling her nose, she peered at Reedpaw's catch. "This is blue, and it's not like any fish I've seen before. Leafsplash! Have you seen anything like this?"

The gray and white she-cat padded towards the fish. "The stench!" she exclaimed. "No. Maybe you could ask the elders. They might've heard stories of this."

Reedpaw gazed at the fish. "Okay." He leaned forward to hold the fish in his mouth.

"No, wait! You should wrap it in ferns first," mewed Rosepaw, poking her nose in. "Ew, it smells like rats!"

"That's harsh," retorted Reedpaw.

Rosepaw rolled her eyes. "Don't feel sad for a stinky fish."

"It smells fishy, that's all," Reedpaw mewed.

Rosepaw stared at him in disbelief. "You're crazy," she decided finally. "Well, I'm going."

Reedpaw nodded. He rolled the stinking fish in the ferns, and when he thought the stench must've wore off, he picked up the fish along with a few ferns. The fish's taste wormed its way into Reedpaw's mouth. He almost spit it out; the taste was disgusting and disgusting only.

"Reedpaw?" An elderly she-cat raised her head.

"Hi, Fernshine," Reedpaw mewed.

Fernshine was Mistshade's mother, and Reedpaw had visited her a few times for stories. The pale gray mottled she-cat glanced at Reedpaw. "What have you got there?" she asked, her green eyes widening. "That smells disgusting."

"Uh, yes," Reedpaw mewed embarrassedly. "Fernshine, did you see this fish anywhere?" He dropped the fish by Fernshine's nest.

"Yuck," mewed Fernshine. "Well, this isn't any freshwater fish I've seen in my life. I think that's something different from somewhere different."

Reedpaw cocked his head. "Can you guess any more?"

Fernshine sniffed. "Eck. No, sorry, Reedpaw. Maybe you can ask Rushwater when he wakes." She nudged a snoring tom.

The tom was a silverish gray and white cat with a white tail tip. Reedpaw hadn't seen him before.

"Who's he?"

Fernshine purred. "You've never seen him?" she asked. "That's understandable. He's been travelling and never stayed long in RiverClan. Silverstar respected her brother's son's wishes and let him. He's learned a lot. I think he may know. But don't disturb him now. He's recently retired without a ceremony." Her eyes rounded with pity. "I pity him, actually. Rushwater's never had much friends."

Reedpaw nodded, glancing swiftly at the gray and white tom. He seemed weary, suddenly.

He thanked StarClan he was here in RiverClan, safely, with friends.

Sparrowpaw's amber eyes shone as he stood in front of his mother. Mistshade's dark amber eyes were pride and equally shining as she stood in front of her son.

"Amazing," she purred, with every syllable filled with love and affection. "I'm so proud of you, Sparrowpaw."

Tawnyclaw was watching, his tawny golden pelt bouncing off sunlight the same way his son's pelt was.

Reedpaw was surprised by Sparrowpaw, Sunpaw, Mistshade, and Tawnyclaw's similarity. He absently looked down at his silver tabby pelt. It was like Mistshade's. But maybe it was paler. Reedpaw blinked his green eyes. They were like Tawnyclaw's, but maybe they were darker.

Uncertainty gripped his heart and refused to let go.

"I hear from Cloudstream you're doing well," meowed Tawnyclaw. His eyes were bright. "She's a respected warrior, and I will expect you to do well."

Sparrowpaw puffed out his chest. "Yeah," he meowed, his eyes glittering. "I'll be a better warrior than her."

Mistshade purred. "Of course you will!"

Reedpaw turned around to seek Cloudstream. For a split second he wished to seek her out and tell her of her apprentice's ambitions. But she would probably just think of it proudly.

The fluffy white she-cat was sharing a squirrel with a gray she-cat.

"Um, hi, Cloudstream."

The white tabby looked up. "Reedpaw, right?" she asked, her eyes kind and gentle.

"Yes. Um, is Sparrowpaw doing well?"

A purr rose to Cloudstream's throat. "Did Mistshade send you? Then tell her it's fine if she comes repeatedly to check on Sparrowpaw's progress."

Reedpaw blinked. "Er, no. I was just interested myself."

Cloudstream's aqua eyes widened. "Oh, really?" she asked. "Okay, then."

Reedpaw felt a gaze burning into his pelt. While Cloudstream was explaining about Sparrowpaw's progress, he glanced sideways and saw the gray she-cat staring at him, her dark blue eyes grazing his fur.

Slowly, the gray she-cat met his gaze. She dipped her head.

Slatefoot, she said. Wasn't the gray she-cat Slatefoot? The one who had so kindly informed him that Mistshade had left Reedpaw?

"This is Slatefoot," meowed Cloudstream, apparently guessing that Reedpaw's attention had diverted to the 'strange' gray she-cat. "She's my friend. Have you met her before?"

"No," Reedpaw meowed. Saying he met her once would only bring misunderstanding.

Disappointment seemed to have flashed in Slatefoot's eyes, but Reedpaw decided he'd imagined it.

"Oh. That's understandable." The atmosphere seemed to have turned heavy and full with grief.

Slatefoot had turned away, her whole body stiff, and Cloudstream's blue eyes were somber.

"Reedpaw, how's your training going?"

"Very well," mewed Reedpaw, not really knowing what he was answering. He was trying to figure out why the two she-cats had turned somber.

Cloudstream nodded. "Maybe you should tell Mistshade that," she suggested.

Reedpaw swallowed the urge to shout, She won't care! She never cares! But, thinking he should act happy, he nodded, trying to stop his fur from bristling angrily. "Oh, yes, great idea," he mewed politely.

Reedpaw tried to ignore Cloudstream's sympathetic gaze. It seemed to say that she knew how Reedpaw was feeling, and that he didn't need to hide things. Since Whitepetal knew, Reedpaw could guess the whole Clan knew.

But still, he thought. Conceal things.

He walked until the dark air finally lifted. The replacement was joy and happiness for Sparrowpaw.

Reedpaw turned his gaze to see Sunpaw, the golden tabby she-apprentice, staring enviously at her brother. Her claws were scraping the ground; her tail was flicking impatiently…

And most of all, Sunpaw's amber eyes were dark and horrible.

But her anger and fury faded, and was soon replaced with sadness and self-hatred.

Why can't I be more like Sparrowpaw, her eyes seemed to meow.

Reedpaw wanted to sit beside his older sister and comfort her. I know. I know how you feel.

But expecting Sunpaw's disgusted response, he just passed her.