Firepaw leapt over the log panting. Graypaw and Ravenpaw raced alongside him and he cursed the sadism of his mentors. Returning from the Games, he and all of the other apprentices had staggered into their den and collapsed into their nests with exhaustion. The day after they'd returned, Firepaw found out that Bluestar was a boar driver. She'd declared that with the knowledge of the Havoc's pack targeting kits, all apprentices should be trained to move through the woods like a squirrel. Ever since, Bluestar had been running him ragged- bringing him to random points in the territory and telling him to sprint back to camp in as short a time as necessary.
He understood its importance- Firepaw was quickly memorizing the fastest routes back to camp and his stamina had improved drastically over the last few sunrises. He'd even noticed that his pads were starting to thicken up from the frenzied sprints, the hard rocks and tangled brambles no longer piercing his paws.
Firepaw recognized the fallen branch ahead and leapt over it and landed on the other side. He darted right through the gorse tunnel and skidded to halt in the main clearing of the few tail lengths over from the entrance. He panted hard, struggling to breathe normally as Graypaw and Ravenpaw caught up with him. They exchanged tired smiles with each other as their mentors approached having been standing in the center.
"Well done you three," Bluestar praised. "Firepaw, your coordination is improving with every drill. However you need to work on your breathing- you seem to run out of breath very quickly."
Firepaw raised his head still panting but now proud. Bluestar never went out of her way to criticize or ignore him but her praise wasn't easily earned. In fact, Bluestar often seemed to make a point of only praising him when she could tell worked hard on a technique. He nodded at her absorbing the criticism, he was usually out of breath in the first few seconds of sprinting. He grimaced at the realization that that would be bad in a battle. His eyes flicked up to Bluestar and she smiled, seeming to be able to tell that he'd understood her point.
"Ravenpaw, you need to pay more attention to your surroundings when you run but your judgment for leaps were perfect," Larkwing addressed.
The lanky tom nodded. Firepaw remembered seeing his paw got caught in the brambles on the ground like he once had and went muzzle first in the dirt. As the thought crossed his mind, Ravenpaw started wiping the dirt from his face.
"Graypaw you did well over all," Lionheart praised. "I will make arrangements with Whitestorm and Goldenflower for more tips about handling long fur in the brambles."
"Yes!" cheered Graypaw.
"Rest up," Bluestar commanded. "Once you've recovered, we'll start your first Correction's Assessment."
"Assessment?" Ravenpaw yelped with horror. "Already?"
"It's an assessment to ensure you're on track," Larkwing soothed him. He rested his tail on Ravenpaw's back, continuing, "This way, if you've started forming bad habits, we can correct them before they've become too familiar."
"We do not expect you to be perfect," Bluestar enforced. "This is merely a check-in of your skills. Eat, rest and then come to us so we can start."
"This will be an all around assessment," Bluestar announced. "There will be two parts- basic sparring, then tracking and hunting."
All five apprentices were sitting in the sandy hollow, their mentors off to the side with Bluestar standing in the center. Ravenpaw's tail lashed anxiously as he danced in place. Graypaw leaned against him, his tail over his back trying to calm his friend who seemed to be going through the full range of emotions. Contrasting Ravenpaw, Sandpaw was dancing excitedly. She grinned excitedly and privately Firepaw understood. Sandpaw was- without question- the best hunter of them and a really good fighter.
"Okay- Sandpaw and Graypaw," Bluestar commanded.
Firepaw stayed put as his friends walked forward, Graypaw sending one last reassuring smile to Ravenpaw before joining Sandpaw in the center. They smirked at each other.
"Are you ready?" Bluestar asked.
"Yes!" agreed Sandpw and Graypaw.
"Then begin!"
The apprentices promptly launched themselves at each other. Sandpaw started off with her signature move of aiming for the eyes. She preferred trying to startle her opponent into flinching to start a fight. Graypaw fell right into her trap, leaping backwards to avoid her paw allowing Sandpaw to advance on him rapidly and knock him over. She tried to pounce but Graypaw was easily the biggest of them so he threw her off pretty easily and then lunged for her. Sandpaw dodged out of the way and aimed for his belly. Graypaw smirked and instead of dodging her, he allowed himself to just drop on top of her. Sandpaw yowled in surprise, wiggling and squirming in an attempt to free herself. Graypaw obliged, rolling over and off of her while rearing up.
Sandpaw launched up, slamming into his belly. They rolled and almost hit Lionheart who quickly jumped out of the way. They landed with Sandpaw on top of Graypaw and as he squirmed, she pummeled his stomach with her hind paws. Firepaw grinned recognizing his move as Bluestar called the match.
"Enough! Sandpaw wins!"
Sandpaw leapt off as Graypaw groaned rolling to his paws.
"My stomach is going to be bruised for days," he complained. "Good one with the kicking thing."
"Firepaw did that," Sandpaw admitted. "Whitestorm said it would've shredded my stomach."
"It would've," Whitestorm agreed. "Well done Sandpaw- you need to be more careful though. It's clear you've gotten used to sparring with Firepaw- you won't always be bigger than your opponent and if you try to rush in with strength alone, you can easily be defeated."
"You're right," she huffed. "I didn't know what to do when Graypaw just sat on me."
"You have to use what you have," Graypaw snickered.
"Yeah yeah."
"That was good improvising Graypaw," Lionheart praised with a chuckle of his own. "You do need to think a bit ahead however. You could've won if you didn't try to stand while she was so close. Otherwise your stance was very good."
Graypaw preened at the praise while nodding to the criticism.
"Next, Dustpaw and Ravenpaw."
Ravenpaw was practically shoved forward. The poor tom was all but shaking in his pelt, slowly approaching Dustpaw as if he was walking to his assured doom. Firepaw did his best to reassure him with a smile as Graypaw shook his head.
"He has to get better at handling fighting," he said. "What if he gets attacked?"
"I'm sure Ravenpaw can defend himself if he needs to," Sandpaw dismissed. "He's just no good when he knows he has to defend himself."
"That's not a good thing," Graypaw said, whiskered twitching.
"Ready?"
Firepaw returned his attention to Ravenpaw and Dustpaw.
"Begin!"
Dustpaw launched himself at Ravenpaw who promptly began scrambling away. The "battle" rapidly became Dustpaw trying to catch Ravenpaw who easily danced out of the way of his every attack. It was easy to see the moment Dustpaw got frustrated- he stopped thinking and started attacking more directly. The dusky tom sprung forward once more aiming for just in front of Ravenpaw, likely trying to anticipate his movement. Ravenpaw quickly skid to a halt, allowing Dustpaw to land in front of him. Ravenpaw lashed out- his first offensive move of the battle and smacked Dustpaw in the face.
Despite this just being a spar, Ravenpaw's fur was completely bushed out and his back was arched, he was treating this training match as if it was a serious fight. His claws scrambled across the ground as he tried to chomp down on Dustpaw's tail.
Firepaw quickly glanced at Bluestar who seemed… concerned by Ravenpaw's reaction. He didn't blame her- he'd known his new friend was skittish but not to the point of even just a little spar…
His attention returned to the spar as a yowl of shock rang out. Somehow, Ravenpaw had managed to get a paw on Dustpaw's throat, keeping the rest of him pinned to the ground and incapable of movement. Firepaw stared dumbly with the rest of his friends.
"The Souls?" Graypaw said, looking bewildered as Bluestar called the match. "Wasn't Ravenpaw just getting his tail kicked?"
"Not really," Firepaw said slowly. He glanced at his friend, "He was just avoiding being clawed."
"It's a perfectly reasonable strategy when you're light enough on your paws," Larkwing broke in. "While that strategy won't work on everyone, many cats will get frustrated by someone keeping just out of claw and become impulsive- good job Ravenpaw. We'll work on your ability to initiate."
The lanky tom gave a shaky smile and hopped off Dustpaw who looked embarrassed.
"Don't worry Dustpaw," Firepaw soothed. "Ravenpaw surprised us all- he's good."
"Way to go Ravenpaw!" called Graypaw as their friend walked over. Ravenpaw ducked his head, embarrassed but there was a glimmer of satisfaction in his eyes as his bristled fur began to flatten.
"Firepaw," Bluestar called. "You and Sandpaw now!"
Sanpaw perked up, "Yes! Time for revenge!"
"In case you forgot the old score was four-three," said Firepaw. "Which means it's me who'll get ahead."
"In your dreams farm tom," she teased.
"Kick her tail Firepaw!" Graypaw cheered as they trotted to the center of the battle field.
"Begin!" Bluestar commanded.
Instead of charging each other, Sandpaw and Firepaw started out circling each other. Firepaw made a few bluff lunges towards her trying to feel out the situation. He was determined to win this match and pull ahead in their competition. Ignoring the spar from before, Sandpaw had thoroughly trounced him, having used her larger size against him. He'd learned quickly that despite the more consistent food in the kingdom, clan cats were much larger than he was and there wasn't any cat he could stand up to with pure power barring maybe a kit- even Ravenpaw could send him flying if he really wanted to.
No matter, Xibo had shown him and his siblings that until they were more skilled, they'd always have to rely on their brains not their muscles. So he watched, looking for an opening. As he observed, he noticed she was favoring her left hindleg. She must've bruised it when Graypaw plopped down on top of her- which meant now he had an angle. He feinted to the right, enticing her to dodge him. Sandpaw instinctively jumped left and just like he expected, her leg buckled under her on impact. Firepaw charged her immediately, slamming into her side unbalancing her. He artfully dodged her flailing paws and smacked her in the face and kept pressing her right side, forcing her to try to use her left leg to stand. When she fell again, Sandpaw sighed and called out, "I give!"
"Winner, Firepaw!" Bluestar announced. "That was a good technique- forcing her to use an injured leg as her defensive leg."
"She's too strong for me to fight head on," Firepaw purred. "So I tried another way."
"You're really good at this," Graypaw said. "You're gonna be a scary Guard."
Firepaw puffed out his chest proudly as Bluestar praised him once more.
"Are you okay Sandpaw?" Whitestorm asked with concern. "Putting that much stress on an injury-"
"I'm fine," she reassured. "It was harder to stand with someone attacking me. Well played Firepaw."
He grinned.
Their mentors let them lay about for a while, stretching and chatting while they recovered from the sparring. The adrenaline finally began to drain away leaving them slightly tired but excited for the next part. Ravenpaw seemed relieved that they were now moving onto leg of the assessment. Whitestorm had offered to let Sandpaw sit out this assessment and allow her to pick it up again tomorrow after her leg had time to heal but his apprentice had protested loudly throughout his entire explanation so instead she just stretched it on the ground with the others.
Once they'd regained their breath, their mentors had led them into the woods, splitting them up. Bluestar had led Firepaw all the way to the ShadowClan border.
"You must catch three kinds of prey," she told him. "One that can fly, one that runs and either one that digs or one that swims. When you're done, you return to the camp entrance and wait with the other apprentices and we'll address any common mistakes we see among you and then any personal mistakes you have. You have until sunset at the very latest."
Once Firepaw had nodded, his mentor had trotted off leaving him standing in the trees. It hadn't taken him long to catch a mouse and then a sparrow but every rabbit he came across bounded away, vanishing into the brush. Finally, he gave in.
"It'll be cooler if I catch something that swims anyway," he huffed.
He trotted along the border until he came to the river separating ThunderClan from RiverClan and began looking for a branch. It'd be easier if he could try to fish from the main river but he figured doing so out in the open where any RiverClan cat could show up and drown him wasn't the best idea. He glanced up worriedly at the sky as the sun sank lower and lower. Finally the river branched into ThunderClan territory and he quickly bounded after it, careful to keep his shadow away from the water. Firepaw sniffed along the muddy bank, absently flicking the mud from his paws everytime he stopped. It took a while and a lot more mud on his muzzle than he appreciated but he found some frogs soaking in the water. He pounced, sending the water flying as he pinned one and caught another leaping by in his mouth. He lifted his paw, releasing the frog in his claws since he only needed one and quickly killed the one in his mouth.
Then there was a long trek back to the stache he'd made of his mouse and sparrow. He managed to gather his previously caught prey in his mouth and marched off to the camp tunnel. He wasn't surprised to see that he was the last one to return with his haul.
Sandpaw had outdone them all, managing to snag what Firepaw could only assume was a young porcupine judging by how much smaller it was than the elders had said they were. Graypaw had two squirrels and a mouse, Ravenpaw had a vole, a robin and had grabbed one of the rabbits that had given Firepaw so much trouble. Dustpaw had two of the wretched things and a sparrow himself.
"You found a frog?" Graypaw asked, looking impressed.
"The rabbits were too hard," Firepaw groaned. "They were always just out of claw."
"I know what you mean," said Graypaw. "That's why I have two squirrels. Better something than nothing."
"How'd you get a porcupine?" Firepaw asked Sandpaw.
"I got lucky," she proclaimed. "I scared it chasing a mouse and I startled it. It fell on its side- I killed it before it could impale me."
"Those quills will be useful," Ravenpaw muttered. "We could trade those for herbs or give them to the craftscats in the other clans."
"He's right."
They glanced up at their mentors, Bluestar leading the way.
"Those quills will be very valuable in a trade, good catch Sandpaw."
Sandpaw grinned madly, tail swaying with pride.
"Now," started Redtail. "Let's go over your skills."
The review took longer than Firepaw thought it would but it was helpful. According to Bluestar, the reason Firepaw had struggled to catch the rabbits was because he was treating the rabbits much like mice. Unlike mice, who are quicker to feel you than hear you, rabbits are quicker to hear you than see you. He'd stepped too loudly, crunching the leaves and rustling the branches which startled the rabbits sooner than he could get close enough to catch them.
Graypaw seemed to have a similar issue- he'd trampled through the brush startling prey into revealing themselves but unfortunately, birds could simply fly away instead of charging him in surprise. Unlike Sandpaw, Graypaw wasn't quick enough in reacting to catch one out of the sky. Dustpaw had the exact opposite problem and while he was quiet, his steps were too firm on the dirt, sending mice fleeing even when he hadn't made a sound.
Their mentors had then corrected their hunting crouches, Firepaw was pleased to find out that his crouch was perfectly balanced though his stalking needed work.
"This has been a long day," Bluestar remarked. "Take your prey to the fresh kill pile and you may do what you wish with the remainder of your day."
Firepaw glanced up at the sun on the horizon, the sky just about ready for Ashara Flame.
"I'm taking a nap!" Graypaw proclaimed grabbing his prey.
The other apprentices murmured their agreement.
Firepaw had almost wanted to skip eating- his paws were so heavy now that he'd slowed down, but he knew that if Bluestar was telling them to rest, then she was planning to send him on a dawn patrol the next day and he'd deeply regret not eating if she did. So he forced himself to eat his frog and then swallowed down a mouse, shaking off his pelt the darted for his nest for a well deserved nap.
He was wrong, thankfully. Firepaw awoke to the low chattering of cats outside the den, curled up warm and happy in his nest with Graypaw pressed close to him. Firepaw shuffled to glance at his friend, grinning when he noticed that Graypaw had rolled onto his back and sprawled out his legs so they dangled from his nest. He stood, carefully extracting himself from his friend so as not to wake him up and stretched his legs one by one, enjoying the option to wake up so slowly.
He snuck past Sandpaw and Dustpaw, slipping from the den out into the warm sun in the clearing. He grabbed his minnows that had been left untouched by his clanmates and was about to settle down by the fresh kill pile before he noticed Ravenpaw waiting by the gorse tunnel, yawning. He altered his path and trotted up to his friend who gave him a tired but happy smile.
"Hi Firepaw," said Ravenpaw, yawning a second time.
"Hey Ravenpaw, how long have you been up?"
"Not long, Larkwing was going to introduce me to the Balo Skulk," Ravenpaw explained. "That way they can grow to recognize me as a diplomat."
"Cool," said Firepaw.
"Did you meet the skulks when you were a farm kitty?"
Firepaw frowned a bit at the term but nodded, "yes, but not often. Mostly they only talked to kokina- I mean, mother or the Guard Captains."
"Right, you were too young for meetings," Ravenpaw said, flattening his ears sheepishly.
"Can I go?"
"You'd have to ask Larkwing."
"Okay."
Firepaw laid down beside the lanky tom and started gulping down his minnows happily. He coughed a bit on the scales that scratched his throat but they were delicious- he'd only eaten fish a few times before. The ducks in their ponds had intimidated the fish into staying away. He polished off the minnows quickly and started grooming his coat. He removed as much dirt as tangles as he could, ignoring Ravenpaw's quiet chuckle and comment about his vanity. He'd just started on his tail when Larkwing finally approached.
"New sun Firepaw," Larkwing said with a nod.
"Orayeyi," Firepaw responded with a nod back. "Can I go with you to meet the skulk?"
"There may not be anyone on the border," Larkwing warned. "We could be waiting all day."
"That's okay."
"Then you may come as long as you behave."
"Of course!"
"Then we can go."
Firepaw followed them from the gorse tunnel and almost groaned when Larkwing went into a trot. The trot was a bad sign that this was likely to turn into another trek. He was getting better at them- Bluestar had said so- but he didn't like them anymore than the first time he'd done one. Sure enough, once they were decently into the woods, Larkwing broke into a rush and they were weaving around trees, leaping over rocks and slipping under roots. Firepaw was just getting into his stride as the river came into view when Larkwing abruptly skid to a halt, pausing. Firepaw panted, watching in confusion as Larkwing seemed to be straining to hear something. Firepaw swiveled his ears trying to pick up any noise he could but at most he picked up crunching leaves and some rustling branches like a squirrel had darted by.
"Change of plans," Larkwing said, "We're going to be back up."
"Back up?" Ravenpaw asked.
Larkwing didn't respond instead, taking off full tilt down the river. Ravenpaw and Firepaw scrambled to follow him. As they got closer, Firepaw could finally hear the sounds of yowling and hissing and it dawned on him
"Sunningrocks," panted Ravenpaw.
"RiverClan must've ambushed Redtail's hunting patrol," Larkwing said shortly.
Back up, Firepaw grinned an unfriendly grin.
They broke through the bushes and Firepaw didn't hesitate to launch himself onto the first unfamiliar coat he saw earning a yelp of surprise and he tumbled down the rocks, sinking his claws into the dappled RiverClan apprentice's pelt, refusing to let her go. Beside him, he heard another surprised yelp as Ravenpaw and Larkwing joined the battle.
"More ThunderClan?!"
The apprentice beneath him- who he vaguely recognized as Rushpaw from the Gathering- snapped at his collar, sinking her teeth in and pulled likely hoping to choke him. Firepaw just yanked his head back and the snaps easily came undone sending the molly tumbling to the ground. Firepaw pounced upon her once more and pinned her, promptly shredding her belly with his claws. He let her yowl for a second before releasing her- he didn't really want to hurt her after all.
Rushpaw took the release for what it was and quickly crossed the river back into RiverClan territory. Firepaw was then almost bowled over by Silverpaw taking off after her with deep claw marks in her cheek. He darted around and charged after another RiverClan warrior- a full warrior and sank his teeth into her hindleg. She yelped and tried to kick him but Ravenpaw snapped at her front legs making her stumble. Firepaw knocked her hindlegs from beneath her and was about to bite her again when he was tackled.
He cried out in pain when his head smacked the rock, the burly muscular tom bearing down on him. Unfortunately for the RiverClan warrior, he'd left his belly too close to Firepaw's hind legs and Firepaw kicked up. The warrior only shifted a little but it was enough for Firepaw to free his head and sink his teeth into the tom's paw on his shoulder. The tom snapped at his ear, shaking him off his paw and was promptly attacked by Barkwhisker.
Freed, Firepaw threw himself back into the frenzy with Ravenpaw assisting the warriors who needed it the most. Blood pounded in his ears as he tackled he bit, clawed, slashed and tackled. He wondered absently, if this was how Guardians felt. Powerful, swift and if they were made of pure energy.
"RiverClan! Give up!" Firepaw heard Redtail's voice bellow, shakily. "Oakheart is dead! There is no point in spilling anymore blood!"
Wait what?
Firepaw blinked in confusion. The RiverClan deputy had been here? As he dwelled on the thought, he obediently released the tom whose tail he'd been pulling, the warrior darting off instantly as fast as he could. Firepaw searched the battlefield, panting absently locating and grabbing his collar. He spotted Redtail being helped by Tigerclaw, as they struggled and pushed at a large rock. He snapped his collar back into place and started towards them but was interrupted by Larkwing, with a new set of claw marks down his flank and a torn ear.
"Go back to camp," he commanded. "Tell Spottedleaf to expect a lot of warriors."
Firepaw hesitated but nodded reluctantly. Larkwing and Ravenpaw probably weren't going to see the Balo today anyway. So he turned and made the trek back to the camp. His new cuts stung as he stumbled over branches and tripped on tree roots in his exhaustion.
"What? Firepaw!" said Willowpelt rushing to meet him from her place guarding the tunnel.
"RiverClan ambushed Redtail's hunting party," he panted. "The rest of the patrol are on their way back."
"Then hurry in."
Firepaw nodded and slipped into the tunnel ignoring the concerned mews as the cats outside smelled blood. Spottedleaf came barrelling from her den at the smell of blood.
"RiverClan ambush," Firepaw explained. "The others are coming."
"Of course," said Spottedleaf as she herded him to the den. She led him into the medicine den clearing and nudged him into one of the nests. He flopped down gratefully, quickly beginning to lick his cuts. He let the medic fuss over him bringing over cobwebs to seal the cut on his ear and put a smelly, stinging poultice on the other cuts. He barely remembered what the little black seeds she fed him were as he started drifting off to sleep. He only had time to briefly complain that he'd barely woken up before he was put back to sleep.
"Firepaw? Firepaw?!"
"He's alright, just very tired."
"And Ravenpaw?"
"His leg will heal- be calm Graypaw, Moonsoul won't take them yet."
"But they look so small."
"This is what battle looks like- it's never pretty."
Firepaw opened his eyes a crack, his vision blurry. It had been sunhigh when he'd returned but now the reds of the sunset touched everything around him. His shoulder and side still stung but the pain was muffled. He groaned a little and rolled over trying to stand.
"Firepaw!"
He glanced up at the skittering of paws across the room, glancing up at a bristle furred Graypaw sprinting over to him with Spottedleaf following at a slower pace.
"Are you okay?!" Graypaw demanded. "I woke up and didn't see you and mom said you were in a battle!"
"Where are the others?" Firepaw asks instead.
Graypaw flicked his tail and Firepaw followed his gaze to the team of cats talking to their clanmates trying to brush off their concern. Firepaw sought out everyone he remembered from the patrol feeling more and more relieved with every face he recognized. Finally he returned his attention to Graypaw.
"I'm fine, just sore," he reassured. "Feels like I ran backwards through a rose bush."
"You're lucky your coat is thick," Spottedleaf warned. "Most of the more dangerous wounds were reduced to scratches. Still, you hit your head very hard and you should take it easy for a day or two."
Firepaw nodded then groaned from the way the world shifted when he did. His eyes landed on Ravenpaw- his fellow apprentice's back leg was wrapped in cobwebs, a green liquid seeping through, his ear was torn and a few of his whiskers looked like they'd been chewed off. The lanky tom's nest looked like it had been dragged or pushed right against Firepaw's and he felt a pang of concern at the realization that Ravenpaw had probably moved his nest closer to him.
"What happened?" Firepaw asked with a frown. "He was fine when I last saw him."
"There was a second wave," informed Graypaw. "As soon as you were gone, the RiverClan apprentices went to get back up and Ravenpaw was attacked while trying to come back."
"Did we lose Sunningrocks?" Firepaw asked in alarm.
"No," said Spottedleaf. "We kept it. But at a great cost."
When the molly didn't say anything else, Graypaw gave her a sad smile and waited for her to walk away.
"...Redtail is dead," Graypaw said softly. "He tried to save Ravenpaw and was struck down in revenge for Oakheart's death."
"Oh," said Firepaw ears flattening. "So… Ravenpaw…"
"He saw him die," Graypaw agreed softly. "Larkwing has agreed to give him a few days to heal and stay with Spottedleaf. She needs the company."
Firepaw sank his claws into the dirt, "How are Sandpaw and Dustpaw holding up?"
"...not well," Graypaw admitted. "Dustpaw's heartbroken. Last I saw Sandpaw, she'd been staring at his body since the patrol returned."
"That doesn't sound good."
"It's not but no one is willing to make her leave yet. The night's vigil hasn't even begun."
"...do I have to sit vigil?"
"No- you were injured so you can stay here. Most of us will only sit to listen to his final sendoff and then the clanmates closest to him will stay for the night."
Graypaw sighed and glanced up, "It'll be a moonless night. Maybe Redtail will say goodbye before he goes."
"Does that happen?"
"Sometimes. When the moon is gone, if you sit vigil long enough Moonsoul will bring you to StarClan's hunting grounds and let you talk to a cat."
"...would it work for me?" Firepaw asked hesitantly. "If I wanted to speak to my dad?"
Graypaw looked at him with surprise then after a moment, clambered into the nest beside him. He swung his tail over Firepaw and nudged his cheek.
"I don't know," he admitted. "But I doubt Moonsoul would turn you away."
Firepaw smiled and leaned closer to his friend, resting his head on his paws. Graypaw purred softly, settling between Firepaw and Ravenpaw as if he was scared they'd vanish when he opened his eyes again. Firepaw found himself purring along sad, happy, confused and tired. He drifted off quickly.
