Shadowpaw observed BrookClan camp from an overshadowed corner, his face stony and hostile. Every cat was light-hearted, mingling with friends and sharing prey. His sister, Meadowpaw, was in the medicine den sorting herbs with Dawnflower. Pinepaw, Pondpaw, and Rainpaw were helping in the elders den. Lilypaw and Heronpaw were training. Hawkpaw and Duskpaw were talking in the clearing, along with Briarpaw and Cherrypaw. Streampaw was asking her mentor, Reedstorm, for tips. Fernpaw and Fawnpaw were no where in sight, Shadowpaw assumed they were on the dawn patrol. He stayed away from them, and in turn they avoided him. It'd become normal.
Everyone had something to do, well, everyone except him. That was alright though. That's how he liked things.
Just as he was thinking this, however, his mentor, Splashclaw, padded over to him. "You want to come training? Echofall and Brackentuft are taking Duskpaw and Hawkpaw."
"Fine," he muttered. Hawkpaw and Duskpaw both eyed him warily from the sides of their mentors. He turned away from them. Hawkpaw was self-centered, and Duskpaw being Hawkpaw's friend, acted about the same. Sure, they were older than Shadowpaw, but he didn't have to respect them.
Echofall and Brackentuft led the way out of camp, corresponding apprentice following them. Splashclaw began to fall in stride too, leaving Shadowpaw to pursue.
He reluctantly began to follow, hanging back a bit from the rest of the group. He paced along in the shadows, separated. Hawkpaw and Duskpaw talked to one another and made wisecracks, while the three warriors made small talk. He never contributed to this aimless chatter, instead deemed in unimportant.
After a moment, they reached the training hollow. Hawkpaw and Duskpaw both joined their mentors, while Splashclaw padded over to Shadowpaw. "You ready?"
He scowled, but readied himself, remembering to sheathe his claws. If he'd left them unsheathed, it would've stirred up trouble. Like he needed the attention.
Splashclaw leaped at him, and Shadowpaw sidestepped. He took the moment Splashclaw used to catch his breath to make a leap of his own, this time catching his mentor in the shoulder. Splashclaw shook him off, Shadowpaw landing smoothly on his feet. His mentor lashed out a paw, and Shadowpaw ducked. Splashclaw took the second of unawareness to pin him, and Shadowpaw mocked defeat. When the warrior decided to relax a bit, Shadowpaw erupted upwards, throwing Splashclaw off-balance. Splashclaw rolled over, Shadowpaw holding a paw to his chest. Splashclaw sighed. "You win. Y'know, you've gotten very experienced in fighting. Maybe we should switch over to hunting now?"
Shadowpaw shook his head slightly. "Alright, now you're acting like Lilypaw. Come on, you can't just fight," insisted Splashclaw. Shadowpaw shook his head once more, a glare etched in his features, and looked over to see how the other apprentices were doing.
Hawkpaw and Brackentuft had recently finished, Brackentuft had won, but Hawkpaw had thrown in some good moves.
Duskpaw and Echofall were still going. Shadowpaw wasn't surprised. They were equally matched, Duskpaw almost being a warrior. Speaking of which, Hawkpaw's ceremony would happen soon, too.
Finally, Duskpaw and Echofall conceded to a tie. "Until next time," said Duskpaw, giving Echofall a grin. Echofall smiled at the apprentice. Hawkpaw winked at him. Shadowpaw turned to leave. They disgusted him. Splashclaw nodded, giving him the silent okay to go.
Shadowpaw strode out of the clearing. He wasn't much in a rush, but preferred to leave as soon as possible. He didn't want to spend another moment that he didn't have to in that clearing.
The dawn patrol must've returned by then, judging by the noise level in camp. He could hear Troutwater's arrogant voice claiming, "I caught the biggest salmon you've ever seen!" He's almost as bad as Hawkpaw, thought Shadowpaw as he continued padding through the forest.
Suddenly, a twig snapped behind him. Turning slowly and carefully around, he saw a small, white she-cat with light brown stripes watching him from the brush.