"Flashpaw?" Echopaw whispered, tentatively poking his head inside the apprentices' den. Flashpaw's only reply was to roll over in his nest and grunt. "Flashpaw," Echopaw meowed more loudly, padding over to him. He poked the sleeping apprentice, who hissed at him. "Wake up."

Flashpaw rolled onto his back. His eyes were open now, and they were narrowed. His tail twitched with irritation at being awoken.

"Uh, good morning?" Echopaw mewed nervously. Flashpaw sat up and growled. He didn't speak. "Can I ask you a couple questions?" Echopaw asked.

"How about I ask you a question?" Flashpaw snarled. "Why in the name of StarClan did you wake me up?" He got to his paws and glared at Echopaw, who trembled slightly. They were the only two in the den. Flashpaw unsheathed his claws. "Answer me," he ordered.

"I— I, uh…" For a second, Echopaw couldn't remember why he had woken up Flashpaw, but then Goldenpaw padded in.

"Hey, Flashpaw, wake up. Falconshadow and Badgerbreeze want to take us hunting aga—" she started, but then she noticed Echopaw and blinked in surprise. "Echopaw? Why are you here?" She glanced at Flashpaw, who still had his claws out. "And Flashpaw, were you about to attack him? He's only six moons old!"

Echopaw was a little hurt by her words. Surely I could stand up to him? I'm not as weak as she makes me sound…

"He woke me up," Flashpaw explained simply, sheathing his claws and blinking innocently at her. "I was only asking him why. I was having this great dream about—"

"Doesn't matter what you were dreaming about!" Goldenpaw interrupted, furious that Flashpaw would hurt a fellow apprentice over something as simple as being woken up. "Would you attack me, too, if I was the one who woke you up? That's what Badgerbreeze sent me to do!"

Guilt flashed in Flashpaw's eyes momentarily and he seemed to shrink under her gaze, but then he straightened himself up and the guilt vanished. "Of course, I wouldn't attack you," he purred, padding to her side.

"Then why did you attack him?"

Echopaw frowned. She's talking about me as though I'm not even here!

"I didn't lay a claw on him!" Flashpaw meowed indignantly. "Did I?" He turned to address Echopaw. Echopaw shook his head quickly. He didn't like to think about what would happen to him if he didn't. And Flashpaw really hadn't laid a claw on him… yet.

"Well, I guess there's no point arguing about it then," Goldenpaw sighed. She flicked her tail. "We should go. Our mentors will be waiting for us." She shot a sympathetic glance at Echopaw as Flashpaw padded past her, grumbling to himself.

"He's sweet, really, once you get to know him," she told Echopaw before following.

Well, I'm certainly not going to try and get to know him! Echopaw thought, shuddering at the thought of voluntarily spending time with Flashpaw.

He quickly left the apprentices' den, scanning the camp for Rushingriver. He met Flashpaw's gaze, and the apprentice glared at him as he trudged after his mentor. I don't care if you hate me, Echopaw thought. He padded up to Thistlewhisker, who was yet again standing outside Frecklestar's den. This time, however, he wasn't 'guarding.' He was organizing patrols.

"Thistlewhisker," Echopaw whispered to the deputy, who glanced at him, surprised by his sudden appearance. "Do you know where Rushingriver is?"

Thistlewhisker shook his head apologetically.

I'm surprised he hasn't figured out by now that I'm not following him, Echopaw thought, heading for the medicine den to wait for his mentor to return. It was then that Echopaw remembered why he wasn't following Rushingriver in the first place.

Oh, mouse-dung! I was supposed to ask Flashpaw if he felt sick… He'd really be in trouble for sneaking off without a good reason. Do medicine apprentices have to tend to the elders as punishment like warrior apprentices?

"Helping the elders wouldn't be too bad a punishment," Echopaw mewed aloud.

"Oh, don't worry; you won't be helping the elders."