Here is the next chapter! I introduced some more apprentices here so please enjoy. And we get some RedMistle of course. If anyone has any ideas for the story, feel free to tell me!

- Mossy

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Redpaw was nervous about today's training session as it was his first time sparring the other apprentices. Part of him was afraid he would go up against Mistlepaw. She probably couldn't beat him, and losing would be embarrassing due to her being the senior apprentice. He hoped Rabbitfoot wouldn't harp on her too much of that happened. Mistlepaw was terrified enough of her father. In fact, all his kits seemed better scared of him.

Clearwing looked at Redpaw, "What are you talking about, sonny?" Redpaw repressed a laugh. Clearwing always talked like he was an elder even though he wasn't. Burntpaw and Dragonflypaw complained about it all the time. Redpaw found that most of the time other apprentices were pretty good natured. So far he'd become pretty good friends with Clearwing's kits and of course, Mistlepaw.

He looked up at the cream and white tom and said, "I'm just worried about who I'm going to be sparring with."

Clearwing looked at him with teasing eyes. "You just don't want to hurt your lady friend there?" Clearwing smirked, "I thought you were sweet on her."

Redpaw's ear's turned bright red, "W-What?!" He didn't want to hurt Mistlepaw because she was his friend. He didn't like her in that way! He looked at her, and she flashed him a pretty smile. He blushed harder.

Longclaw looked at the other mentors and apprentices around him. "Our first sparring match with be Redpaw vs. Quickpaw."

Redpaw sighed in relief, at least it wasn't Viperpaw or Mistlepaw. Viperpaw probably would have tried to kill him. At least Quickpaw seemed to hate his guts, less. Redpaw stepped into the clearing when they first practiced battle training. Runningclan had more rigorous battle training than the other two clans. Eventually, Redpaw would have to learn how to fight among the dense trees and in the water. For now though, he was just learning basic battle moves on flat, open ground. He sized up Quickpaw, who was a moon his elder and had probably already been in a sparring match before. This was Redpaw's first match, and he wanted to avoid embarrassment.

Quickpaw made the first move by lunging at Redpaw, who managed to stumble out of the way. Quickpaw was a lot more aggressive than Clearwing even was. Don't panic, you can do this. Redpaw narrowed his eyes in focus. Quickpaw took another swipe at him, forcing Redpaw on the defensive.

"Redpaw, Quickpaw has the advantage in both size and stamina," Clearwing yelled, "You need to beat him before you tire if you want to beat him at all!"

"Quickpaw, he's practically a new apprentice, you should be able to beat him!" Mintdove encouraged her apprentice.

Quickpaw was momentarily distracted by Mintdove, allowing Redpaw to get a hit in. Quickpaw hissed at him and stepped up his game. Redpaw gulped and before he knew it, he was on the ground with a sheathed paw on his throat.

"That's for thinking you had a chance against me," Quickpaw hissed in his ear.

"Quickpaw, you won," Mintdove barked at her apprentice, "Get off him." Quickpaw stepped off Redpaw but continued to glare at him. Redpaw sighed, even since Quickpaw became an apprentice he seemed to dislike Redpaw.

"Good effort, Redpaw," Clearwing said as he came over to help Redpaw up, "But it looks like we need to review defensive battle moves. You can't just dodge your opponent forever."

"I know," Redpaw sighed. I was just a bit intimidated by how aggressive Quickpaw was, but I'll do better next time!

"Well, let's go review then," Clearwing nodded and Redpaw followed his mentor.

Redpaw felt a little more sure of himself after he and Clearwing were done reviewing. He grinned as he swiped at a tree but then winced, because trees were hard.

He looked around for Mistlepaw as he entered camp, but could not find her. He saw Flamepaw sitting in near the prey pile. Redpaw grabbed a bird and settled down next to the other apprentice.

"Redpaw right?" Flamepaw asked Redpaw, who nodded, "You must be the new apprentice. Hey, how did you get so good at removing the feathers from the bird?"

"Darkfang always made me do it myself," Redpaw explained as he continued to defeather his prey, "She said that nobody was going to give me handouts so I needed to learn how to do things for myself."

"That's… a bit harsh, don't you think?" Flamepaw said, looking at Redpaw a little awkwardly.

"Yeah," Redpaw sighed, "Darkfang just wanted to prepare for the world in her own way."

"I guess," Flamepaw muttered as decided to change the subject, "My warrior assessment is tommorow."

"Oh?" Redpaw gasped, "Congratulations, I didn't realize it was so soon!" He gave Flamepaw a genuine smile.

"Thanks," Flamepaw chuckled, "But I haven't passed yet." Acornpaw walked up to Flamepaw, causing him to frown.

"Have you seen Rabbitfoot?" she asked, looking around.

"No, I haven't," Flamepaw said with his eyes narrowing in disapproval, "You shouldn't really be actively looking for him like this either."

"Oh please," Acornpaw rolled her eyes, "He seems interested enough, and if I'm going to pick a mate it might as well be someone in a respectable position."

Redpaw almost spit out his bird. "Y-You want to be mates with Rabbitfoot?"

"Yes," Acornpaw sighed as if this made perfect sense, "Power is attractive."

"But he's one of the meanest cats in the clan!" Redpaw blurted out. Rabbitfoot had always seemed to hate him.

"So?" Acornpaw said, and she smirked at Flamepaw, "You're just jealous because I am going to become an important member of the clan. My feminine charms have got me this far." She walked away with a sway in her hips.

"I think they're a perfect match," Flamepaw muttered, "I just don't know why she wants to be with him. It's better than when she pursuing Olivestar, at least. Although Olivestar is a decent cat, even if he is older than our dad."

Redpaw shuddered, "Why?"

"Because she's a shallow fox-heart?" Flamepaw suggested, "Be glad you don't have siblings, Redpaw."

"Flamepaw, we need to review for your assessment tomorrow!" Riverrunner yelled at his apprentice. Flamepaw for up.

"Training calls," he told Redpaw, "It was nice talking to you, Redpaw." Flamepaw got up and padded away, leaving Redpaw alone. Or so he thought.

"What were you and Flamepaw talking about?" Burntpaw asked from behind him, causing Redpaw to jump.

"Just about his sister and his upcoming warrior assessment," Redpaw told her.

"He didn't mention me at all?" Burntpaw sighed.

"Nope," Redpaw informed her. Burntpaw looked disappointed with that particular piece of news.

"It's just, he's going to be a warrior soon and I still haven't worked up the nerve to tell him," Burntpaw sniffed.

"Tell him what?" Redpaw asked, he had noticed Burntpaw staring at Flamepaw a lot. Was it because she needed to talk to him?

"Poor Mistlepaw, Burntpaw sighed, "Redpaw, you're my friend and a good cat but when it comes to the matters of the heart you're as dense as a rock."

"What's that supposed to mean?" Redpaw cocked his head. Burntpaw was being weird and he didn't like it.

"Poor naive little Redpaw," Burntpaw pinched his cheek teasingly, "Sometimes I forget that you're barely out of the nursery."

Redpaw rubbed his cheek. "I am not!" he exclaimed, "And that hurt."

…

Mistlepaw cowered in the forest, looking up at her father with fearful eyes. He glared at her, causing her to want to shrink and disappear. "You were talking to that scum again," Rabbitfoot snarled.

"Redpaw isn't scum!" Mistlepaw yelled but then instantly regretted it. Her father looked at her, his amber eyes filled with rage. He pinned her against the ground, hard. Mistlepaw whimpered in fear.

"You look at me and you listen closely," Rabbitfoot hissed in her face, "I know about your little crush, and if that's not gone by next moon, bad things will happen. Redpaw is half-clan scum and his mother is no better. We want to keep our bloodlines pure."

Mistlepaw just nodded, tears running down her face. Rabbitfoot put his paws on her throat and she felt like she couldn't breath.

"You're a weak, little creature," Rabbitfoot hissed, "And you disgust me. At least your brothers are mildly less disappointing." He got off Mistlepaw, leaving her gasping for air. Rabbitfoot walked back to camp, leaving Mistlepaw alone. She laid down under a bush and began to cry. Would he be like this if Mom were still alive?

She walked back into camp after a while, her face still streaked with tears. Redpaw looked at her, but she turned away.

"Mistlepaw, what's the matter?" Redpaw asked, always thinking of her.

"Just leave me alone," Mistlepaw muttered.

Redpaw pushed the issue. "You can always talk to me, we're best friends."

"No, we're not," Mistlepaw cried, not having the strength to meet his gaze. She knew the hurt in his yellow eyes would shattered her to pieces.

"Mistlepaw…" Redpaw reached out to her with a paw.

"Just go!" Mistlepaw yelled, and Redpaw ran away. She went over to her nest and curled up. She hoped her tail would hide her tears.