Fleetpaw's paws dragged against the springy ground as the dawn patrol finally approached the walls of the camp, his body heavy with exhaustion.

Maybe I can convince Vinedust to let me stay back. Say I'm sick or something, he mused quietly. That'd have to work, right?

"Fuzzymoon," Vinedust's voice pulled him out of his thoughts, and he blinked slowly as he looked from Vinedust to the tom he had spoken to. "I'll be taking the apprentices out to train now; don't forget to alert Eelstar to the unusual patrol activity along MountainClan's borders."

"I won't," Fuzzymoon replied, his tail flicking. "Good luck training the apprentices," his gaze flickered over Fleetpaw. "But, uh, aren't you worried you're over working them?"

"Not at all," Vinedust replied, before turning and nudging Fleetpaw and Weedpaw towards the forest before either could protest.

Fleetpaw glanced back at the camp as he was shoved deeper into the forest, wanting nothing more than to be as lucky as Fuzzymoon and Wetice and be allowed to rest.

As they trudged through the undergrowth, he tried his best to stifle a yawn, his eyesight becoming blurry as exhaustion waved over him again.

He nearly rammed into Weedpaw's rump, stopping just in time as he glanced around, curious as to why their small group had stopped.

"Weedpaw," Vinedust's voice was stiff, as he turned to the smaller apprentice. "Go ahead and tackle the Oak Patch, alright? I'll take the Stream Stone, and Fleetpaw can look around here."

"Yessir!" Weedpaw mewed, before turning and darting off towards the Oak Patch.

As Vinedust turned to leave, Fleetpaw could almost collapse from relief.

Maybe I can actually get some rest! He crowed, excitedly.

But his relief was short-lived as Vinedust stopped, turning to him with a cold—and yet oddly concerned—expression.

"You snuck out of camp last night to train," he stated, his ears low. "Don't try to deny it; it's not hard to miss."

"What?" Fleetpaw blinked slowly as panic began to surge in his stomach. Mouse-tails, he cursed quietly. Did Lighteye tell him? He opened his jaws to argue back, to deny what Vinedust said, only for the tom to cuff him over the ear with a small hiss.

"What did I say?" He snapped. "Don't. I want to hear none of it." Vinedust's eyes narrowed, and he shoved his muzzle in Fleetpaw's face, a growl settling in his throat. "I don't understand Eelstar. Giving you Cindercall... It was more stupid of a decision than any. Both of you are too brash. Neither of you weigh your options and consider the consequences."

"What?!" Fleetpaw spat, his ears pinned down. "Shut up! Cindercall's a great mentor, unlike you—"

"I never said she wasn't," Vinedust snapped, cutting him off. "But you two are too similar. Both of you are fools that think everything should rest in your paws. That so long as you do right and do it alone, you won't suffer any consequences at all." He stepped forward, and Fleetpaw began to stumble backwards out of surprise, only to feel the bark of a tree press into his spine as Vinedust's lips drew back in a snarl. "But guess what, Fleetpaw. You'll be suffering those consequences. Because we're not leaving the training area until you've stealthed yourself perfectly. And that will only be after our long day of work."

Fleetpaw blinked, his exhaustion slipping away as anger started to build up.

"What?! You can't do that!" He snapped, shoving Vinedust back, his pelt bristling. "I've worked hard! Harder than anyone going on this mission! And because of that, I'm exhausted! You can't make me keep going until I burn out!"

Vinedust met his gaze, his eyes glowing with a dark look, before he turned away from him.

"You sound like an idiot." He snarled, his tail lashing. "But guess what, Fleetpaw?"

When Vinedust turned back, Fleetpaw was shaken to see tears building in his eyes.

"It doesn't matter if I make you keep going or not; if you don't learn to have faith in your Clan, you'll burn yourself out before you ever become a warrior." His ears flatten against his head. "It happened with Cindercall, and it will happen to you."

Fleetpaw paused, his eyes wide with confusion.

"What?" He mewed. "But... But Cindercall's not burnt out—"

"Oh is that so?" Vinedust sneered. "You haven't been paying attention to her, have you? No. No I didn't think so. Because you're just like her and oblivious to how others feel. From the very beginning, she did everything she could to become the best. Late night training, focus on one form of training for weeks on end; whatever she could do. And in the end, what did it earn her? A mother who despised her. Friends and family dead. And you really think that she's not burnt out? You really think she's not at her wits end? She's not so close to snapping?"

Fleetpaw swallowed, his paws shuffling with worry.

"Cindercall battled the Alpha of the wolves," Vinedust hissed softly, his voice dropping. "I wasn't there, but Pearlight told me about it. About how after, she collapsed. And I saw the aftermath of that. How she wouldn't wake for weeks on end. She battled the Alpha, alone. Like an idiot. And even with her powers, even though she did kill him, she still couldn't take it. You and her..." Vinedust shakes his head. "You're both idiots. Both of you don't understand consequences," he prods Fleetpaw's chest with his paw, his eyes narrowing. "But I will teach you them. Deadcreek did his best to teach Cindercall, but he wouldn't ever go to the lengths I'm willing to. Because I will break you, Fleetpaw. I will show you what consequences are; and I'll show you why you must always take them into account."

With that, Vinedust turned and began to pad away, yowling over his shoulder;

"You better have caught the entire forest by the time I get back, otherwise I'll hold you back from our mission."

Fleetpaw watched him go, his ears low as exhaustion slammed into him once more.

A part of him wanted to curl up and go to sleep, but a larger part of him thought about the mission, his fur bristling slightly.

I can't be held back, he hissed inwardly. I have to go...

So he turned, and began the exhausting and daunting task of hunting.