"You promise you'll come back to see us?" whimpered Leafkit, as the ginger and white she-cat sat with her brother, Amberkit looking at their denmate.

Silentkit nodded, purring loudly, flicking her tail to the younger kits.

Snakeshade sat a few tail-lengths away from the kits, sitting and waiting for Adderstar to come out of his den for Silentkit's apprentice ceremony.

The weak leaf-bare sun shined down on the clearing as ThunderClan waited anxiously. Several of the warriors were one edge. In the moons since Yarrowstar declared that ShadowClan would be moving their borders, fights were almost a daily occurance. Warriors were always in the medicine den, suffering from injuries. With the cold weather, however, more and more cats were turning up sick. Whitetail had already died from illness, and Sleekwhisker was receiving constant care from Brambleshade, and the newly named Sedgeleaf, for an infected wound which he received during a fight with a ShadowClan patrol a quarter moon ago. Snakeshade and Viperthorn were in a few of the fights. His brother's ear was now torn in two places, and Snakeshade now had a nasty scar on his right shoulder. Things between the two Clans were growing more and more tense, and Yarrowstar refused to talk to Adderstar to find a peaceful solution to their problem. It was due to this that Adderstar decided to move up Silentkit's apprentice ceremony by a few days, with Tawnyhaze's permission.

Now the tortoiseshell deputy sat below the base of the Highledge, her eyes gleaming proudly as she stared at Silentkit.

When Adderstar appeared from his den, the nervous chatter among the cats died immediately and silence fell. He descended the rock path and stood before the silver she-cat.

"Today, we name a new apprentice of ThunderClan," the light brown leader called, his eyes drifting over his Clanmates.

"Silentkit, please step forward."

Snakeshade watched the mute kit approach, her blue eyes bright and her tail held high. He couldn't help but take note of how much she had grown out of her shy nature, though she still didn't really speak a word to any cat. Even Snakeshade and Tawnyhaze, which she was most comfortable with, she wouldn't say a thing.

"Silentkit, though you have yet to reach your sixth moon, it is decided that you will receive your new name," Adderstar's eyes lifted and bore into Snakeshade, he felt his heart stop.

"Snakeshade, it is apparent to every cat this young cat has a special connection with you, and you are a strong, dependable warrior for these reason you will become the mentor of Silentpaw."

The brown tabby's mouth hung open, totally taken aback by the announcement. He saw Tawnyhaze staring at him, and she gave a small dip of her head. Sweetgrass too, was staring at him, her whiskers quivering.

"Who would have guessed," came a bitter hiss from the back of the crowd.

Snakeshade thought it sounded like Viperthorn but he was unable to determine the source because he realized that every cat was now staring at him, waiting for him to move. With a jolt he jumped and padded up to Silentpaw, touching his nose to hers. The little she-cat was purring so loudly. When the pair withdrew and sat among the rest of the cats, Adderstar called the meeting to an end and padded up to Snakeshade and Silentpaw, Sweetgrass at his side.

"I know you'll teach her well," Sweetgrass said with a purr, giving Snakeshade's head a lick. Adderstar nodded.

"Tawnyhaze requested you personally for Silentpaw's mentor, she refused it to be any other cat," his father said with a dip of his head, "she couldn't have picked a better one."

As they talked, Silentpaw was bouncing around them. Obviously anxious to get moving, Snakeshade purred at her enthusiasm.

"Thank you both," he said to his parents, touching noses with both of them. He appreciated having their support, even if he was no longer a 'paw himself. It made him feel more connected to his Clan.

"Shall we go check out the territory, Silentpaw?" he asked his apprentice, who stared at him, nodding eagerly.

Bidding farewell to his parents, the two headed towards the thorn barrier at the camp's entrance. Ahead he saw the black pelt of his brother disappear through the entrance with Robinwing right behind. The red tom shot an icy blue glare in his direction before disappearing. He shuddered, the feeling of the older tom's eyes on him was uncomfortable. Snakeshade shuddered but tried to push the thoughts away, as Silentpaw was padding in front of him, her tail waving in the air.

When they were out of camp the two other toms were nowhere to be seen and Snakeshade sighed.

"Well, I think I should show you WindClan's border, which is this way," he meowed with a wave of his tail. Silenpaw followed as quiet as ever, her whiskers twitching and her mouth open slightly, scenting the air. Though leaf-bare was upon them, there was no snow on the ground, and the sun shone through the dead, leaf-less branches of the trees overhead. A cold breeze blew through the forest, kicking up long fallen leaves.

Now that they were alone, it dawned on Snakeshade that he wasn't sure how he was going to train a mute apprentice. Though he had been there while she was in the nursery and learned that she was a very bright, inquisitive young cat, he wasn't sure how he would help her when she had trouble. How would he know when she had questions that needed answering?

A small noise broke Snakeshade out of his thoughts. Silentpaw was looking at him, nudging his side with her nose before pointing it ahead of them.

Just beyond the trees ahead of them lay the large expanse of the moorlands. Bare hills dotted here and there with sparse bushes and trees. It was a wonder why WindClan liked the open spaces so much. To Snakeshade the territory felt so exposed and vulnerable to nature and predators.

"Looks like you found it before I did, Silentpaw," Snakeshade said, nodding to his apprentice. "Good job! Now can you scent the difference between their scent markers and our own? The border is a few tail lengths past the trees." At his question, the silver she-cat turned and opened her mouth, furrowing her brow in concentration. After a few heartbeats she nodded.

"Good," he replied. Gesturing with his tail to the north he continued, "Up that way is the Moonpool, where the medicine cats' have their meetings with StarClan every half moon and the leaders receive their nine lives." Continuing on he pointed down towards the lake shore. "Past WindClan territory lies RiverClan, they live in the marshy landscape at the edge of the lake."

Padding forward, he scented the markers at the border, "We'll renew the scent markers here and then head down towards the lake. I can show you ShadowClan's territory once we're on the shore."

With another nod from Silentpaw, they renewed the markers and began padding down the length of the border to the lake. As they walked, Snakehsade could see a patrol of WindClan cats chasing a rabbit. He had to give it to the moor-cats. They definitely were fast.

When they reached the shore-line of the lake, a cold breeze had kicked up and clouds could be seen on the horizon over the trees. It threatened a storm and Snakeshade had to bush up his fur from the cold.

"Okay, Silentpaw," he meowed, "Do you see the line of pine trees on the far side of the lake from here?"

He watched as she stared across the expanse of water before turning to him and nodding.

"That's ShadowClan's territory, they prefer to live under the pine trees in the darker territory, though they have been pushing for more territory on our side recently." He swallowed back his concern that his words brought him. With ShadowClan's declaration a few moons ago things had only gotten worse, and he didn't want to worry the young apprentice. After all, she was younger than most apprentices and their first few days as an apprentice should be full of excitement and curiosity, not fear and foreboding.

"Anyway, we'll head up their border so you know what it looks and smells like and then we'll head back to camp. This is probably the most walking you've ever done, huh?" The weariness in Silentpaw's eyes let Snakeshade know that he was right and he gave a small mrrow of laughter before heading on.

By the time they returned to camp it was late in the afternoon and the sun was already beginning to set. The days had grown shorter as leaf-bare approached and every cat was settling down for the night.

"Go get something to eat, it's been a long day, and I am sure your mother will want to see you."

Silentpaw purred softly, in what he could only assume was a thank you, and ran off to the fresh-kill pile. He watched her as she picked up a mouse and then trotted off to sit with her new denmates to eat. Mothpaw, Butterflypaw, and Flamepaw all began chatting with her happily and she nodded to their remarks, excitement gleaming in her eyes.

"First day as a mentor went well?" came a voice to his left, causing him to turn. Oakclaw was walking up to him, a vole in his jaws.

"Yeah, I showed her the territory and she seems really excited and eager to learn," he replied, then flicked his ear towards the vole.

"Are you going to eat all that by yourself?" The brown and white tabby tom dropped the prey at Snakeshade's paws. "I figured we could share it so you could tell me all about your adventures today."

Snakeshade purred, "Sounds like a good plan."