"Another day of sunshine," Fireheart sang. "Rayushu must be sprawled out and unwilling to leave."

His spirits were high and he was practically dancing with every step. The good weather had allowed him to visit his siblings on the stretch early every day. He'd nearly cried tears of joy when Adihikko had surprised him at the stretch, his youngest brother taking time out of his busy training schedule to come see him and his siblings before returning to Moon kingdom.

Every time he saw Isaria, her belly became bigger and more pronounced. She waddled more and got winded more easily. He'd even had the chance to meet Hiha properly as the tom had started escorting his pair throughout the Neutral Stretch for her walks just in case she needed assistance. Hiha was polite and kind to Soryn- they made casual conversation with Hiha even apologizing for the actions of his sister towards his elder brother. Fireheart was pleased to hear that the creepy molly had been told to stay away from Hrasi unless escorted by someone else and would be returning home with Hiha for discipline as soon as Isaria had their kits.

Fireheart's good mood was apparent to the entire clan. He didn't tell anyone why even when they prodded him but he found himself sitting outside the nursery, gently playing moss ball with Snowkit and Mistlekit.

"Let's hope it stays that way through leaf-bare," Graystripe huffed. "Please Riversoul, wake Sunsoul early!"

Fireheart's tail flicked with agreement. The chill of the camp was starting to get to him and without a warm, crackling hearth to sit next to, he found himself wishing more and more that he could spend most of his day curled up in his nest snuggled beneath Graystripe's thick coat.

They padded into the Sandy Hollow where Cinderpaw and Brackenpaw were waiting for them. Brackenpaw was purring in amusement, watching Cinderpaw as his sister ran about the clearing chasing leaves and rolling across the ground. She swiped a pawful of leaves at him and Brackenpaw laughed, swiping them back. He was about to join in on the game when he noticed Fireheart and Graystripe entered the clearing.

"Graystripe!" he yelped and quickly straightened up. "What's today's assignment?"

"A hunting one," Graystripe purred.

"What are we gonna catch?" Cinderpaw asked, bouncing on her paws. "Where are we hunting?"

Fireheart laughed, "We're going to Sunningrocks. We'll catch whatever we can find there."

"I wanna catch a vole," she announced. "I've never eaten one before."

"Everything we catch today goes straight to the elders," Graystripe warned. "But if you ask nicely, Dappletail would share."

Cinderpaw purred happily at his asking, "Which way is Sunningrocks?"

Fireheart pointed with his paw and laughed when she immediately darted off, sending the leaves she'd been rolling through flying through the air again.

Graystripe didn't hesitate as a red one floated by his head and pounced, catching from the air and pinned it to the ground with a satisfied purr. Fireheart flicked his tail drawing his friend's attention and motioned to Brackenpaw who watched him with curious eyes.

"Er, a warrior never misses a chance to improve their hunting skills- everyone in the clans relies on you," Graystripe said quickly.

Brackenpaw nodded seriously and followed his mentor from the hollow. Fireheart refrained from laughing and trotted a bit ahead of them, catching up to the impatiently waiting Cinderpaw. He was pleased that she'd taken his warning about Snakerocks seriously. He'd appreciate it if she stopped sprinting off entirely but at least she was waiting for him nearby.

The walk to Sunningrocks was a peaceful one. The birds chirped and whistled as they followed the scent trails. Rayushu's flame was well into the sky by the time Sunningrocks came into view. Fireheart paused on the edge of the rocks, blinking with the rest of his patrol as their eyes adjusted to the direct sunlight hitting their face, bouncing off the rocks.

"This," Fireheart started dramatically for Cinderpaw's benefit. "Is Sunningrocks."

Cinderpaw clambered onto the rocks beside him and hummed to herself, "It feels nice."

It was, agreed Fireheart in his head. The smooth rocks were nice and warm from the sunlight that shone down on them without obstruction. The rest of the forest floor was coated in a layer of frost, the soil was hard and obstructive. Fireheart sighed quietly and sank down on the stones near the top of the pile on the side that faced the forest. He pricked his ears, listening for the river that followed the RiverClan border. He could barely hear it on the edge of his senses, it must've dried out from the dry weather.

He rolled over to face his clanmates, eyes drooping from the warmth seeping into his body. He purred gently when Graystripe slipped in beside him.

"Come on," Graystripe encouraged the apprentices. "You won't use Sunningrocks for lounging very often- especially once leaf-bare sets in and it becomes a hunting only spot. Come enjoy the sunlight."

Cinderpaw and Brackenpaw purred their agreement, clambering up next to their mentors and settling down.

"Is this where Redtail died?" Brackenpaw asked.

"And where Tigerclaw saved Ravenwing's life?" added Cinderpaw.

Fireheart hummed, fur prickling at the reminder of Tigerclaw's lie.

"No but it's close," he said.

The apprentices fell silent, drinking in the sunlight with their mentors. Fireheart flicked his ear as a noise reached him. He lowered his voice to a whisper and leaned towards the apprentices.

"What do you hear?" he asked them.

The apprentices paused, their ears twisting and turning as they picked up the sound.

"I hear scrabbling,' Brackenpaw whispered. "Like tiny claws."

"Might be a vole," Graystripe muttered, sending Cinderpaw a smile. "Can you hear where it's coming from?"

Cinderpaw's ears focused in a direction and she leapt to her paws, "Over there!"

The scrabbling noise grew frantic and startled then disappeared.

"It heard you," Fireheart noted.

Cinderpaw looked devastated as sat down with a heavy huff. Brackenpaw snickered next to her, turning it into a light cough when she glared at him.

"Now you know to be quiet and quick," Graystripe purred.

Fireheart nodded his agreement and tried to channel his inner Bluestar and he drew Cinderpaw's attention back to him.

"Next time work out where it is and then move forward carefully," Fireheart lectured. "Their ears are sensitive- not quite like a rabbit but in this wind they can probably hear the wind rustling your fur. Let them think it's wind on the grass and leaves."

He fell silent and listened. No one spoke as they waited to hear the scrabbling sound or even the tapping sound of a bird on the rocks. When the noise came back, Fireheart decided to demonstrate. He turned his ears towards the sound dropping into a careful and perfectly balanced crouch. He crept forward slowly, mindful of setting his paws down more gently on the firm rocks than the spongy forest floor. He followed the sound to a small crack that he wagered he could get his paws in if he was quick. He checked the crevice with his ears, listening.

When the scrambling sound continued he struck, lashing out and sinking his paw into the crevice grabbing onto a squishy pelt. He scooped out an honestly massive vole from its hiding place and flung it into view. It squealed as it flew through the air but the impact on the ground stunned it. Fireheart quickly pounced, killing it and returned to his patrol.

"That was so cool!" Cinderpaw said, bounding over to him. "I wanna hunt like that!"

"You'll have plenty of Sunningrocks hunting patrols," Fireheart chuckled. "Let's head back to the forest now."

"Aren't we going to catch anything else?" Cinderpaw demanded. "We can't go back with only you catching something. I have to beat Brightpaw!"

Fireheart chuckled, "Did you hear the sound that vole made?"

Cinderpaw nodded.

"Well so did everything else at Sunningrocks. We won't be catching anything else here for a while- I should've killed it before it could sound the alarm."

"I wasn't gonna say anything," Graystripe teased, nudging him.

Fireheart rolled his eyes at him, shaking his head. He picked up his vole and headed down the slope back into the forest. He shivered, his coat bushing out a bit. After the warmth of Sunningrocks, stepping back onto the forest floor felt like walking out a thin layer of ice on a puddle. He twitched his ear at the scent of RiverClan flooding his nose- they must've missed a patrol while they were lounging. Fireheart felt a pang of relief that they'd chosen to lay on the side of the rocks away from the river. The last thing they needed was a confrontation with the already agitated clan.

A leaf fluttered from one of the trees tugged by the gentle wind in front of Brackenpaw. The tom pounced, catching the leaf and pinned it with a satisfied expression.

"Well done," Graystripe praised him. "Soon you'll be feeding the entire can single pawed."

Brackenpaw straightened up with pride and Cinderpaw nudged him teasingly. He glanced at something out of sight and her face lit up.

"The river is frozen," she said with awe. "I can see it through the trees."

Fireheart sat his vole down curiously searching for the river himself, "Completely?"

"Yeah!" she called back in delight. "Can we have a look?"

Fireheart opened his mouth to agree only for her to sprint by him and right past the RiverClan scent markers on the frosted ground. His curiosity and excitement turned into panic and nerves. RiverClan and ThunderClan were still on awful terms since the ambush on WindClan territory and Cinderpaw rushing over the border wouldn't help.

He couldn't call after her. The RiverClan markers from before were fresh- if he shouted, he'd alert any patrol in the area to her presence and they might start a fight. He left the vole where he set it down and sprinted after her with Graystripe and Brackenpaw hot on his heels.

They caught up with her quickly, thankfully she'd stopped on the bank of the river staring in. She was right- it was almost completely frozen barring two little rapids of dark water that flowed aggressively in spite of the ice shelves on either side of it. He was about to suggest that they leave, mentally preparing a good telling off for Cinderpaw when Graystripe's ears pricked and moved forward.

"Water vole," he murmured to the patrol as the tiny creature scampered along the ice. It clearly felt secure in its safety with the river as an escape route, sniffing along the bank in the open.

Fireheart glanced nervously at the apprentices, worried they'd attempt to go after this scrawny piece of prey. He sighed in relief when neither of them budged when a gray blur shot out from the corner of his eye. He whipped his head around to see Graystripe darting out onto the ice at hunting speed.

"Come back!" Fireheart hissed. "That's not ours!"

It was too late though. The ice on the river must've only frozen recently because the ice beneath Graystripe's paws cracked then broke. Fireheart's stomach dropped from his body as his best friend gave a yowl of shock and then was plunged into the frigid, dark waters beneath him. He paddled madly but Graystripe was no RiverClan cat- his dark thick pelt soaked in the water weighing him down and his webless paws flailed uselessly in the water. He vanished beneath the surface.

Brackenpaw watched in horror, frozen in place as Cinderpaw released a terrified mew. Fireheart barely heard her, desperately searching the river. Graystripe wasn't a strong swimmer- if he was stuck under the ice would he be able to break through? Would Fireheart run downstream only to find Graystripe drowned and dead?

Fear clamped at his stomach and he stepped onto the smooth, cold ice with hesitation but it rocked and slid about. He leapt back to the bank instantly and kept looking around in panic. He cursed himself, furious for the first time about his own lack of swimming skills.

A pang of relief filled him and a splash alerted him to a gray head just a bit down stream only to panic more when he realized Graystripe was being carried downriver. The gray warrior tried his hardest, the splashing of his paws as he tried to swim completely negated by the powerful river current carrying himself uncaringly downstream.

Ashara don't take him today! Koukai, please give me back my friend!

Fireheart raced down the riverbank, forcing his way through the bracken as he followed the river dragging his friend farther and farther from him.

He heard a yowl on the other bank and stopped. He should've been afraid of encountering a RiverClan patrol but all he could think of was that a RiverClanner would be able to save him. He searched for the cat and his eyes landed on a familiar slender, silver tabby that leapt onto the ice farther downstream.

"Silverstream," he breathed in relief.

She launched herself into the water and swam strongly against the current, every bit as graceful and powerful in the water as Fireheart had imagined her to be. She grabbed Graystripe as he was swept by her and began tugging him towards the bank. She went under a few times- Graystripe's deadweight likely being the cause- as she came to Fireheart's side of the river. Silverstream clambered from the river and began dragging the limp Graystripe from the freezing water below.

Fireheart slid down the bank, rushing to her side and grabbed Graystripe. Soaking wet, pulling Graystripe was like attempting to move a tree with his teeth but their combined strength allowed them to drag him from the angry water and onto the safety of the bank. Fireheart panted and trembled, relief rolling through his body at the sight of his friend breathing heavily and coughing. It sounded like he was in pain but at least he was alive to be in pain.

"Thank you Ashara for not taking him from us yet," Fireheart said reverently. "And Koukai to send a cat as blessed by your domain as Silverstream to save him."

"Thanks," Graystripe rasped at Silverstream as he began dragging himself to his feet.

"You idiot!" Silverstream snapped. "What were you doing?!"

Graystripe blinked, "Uh, drowning?"

Fireheart glanced at Silverstream, watching the water run from her pelt like duck feathers. She'd likely be completely dry soon unlike Graystripe who likely wouldn't dry off till greenleaf.

"Can't you drown yourself in the streams of your territory?" she asked with a chuckle.

"Well yes," he agreed. "But who would rescue me there?"

Silverstream rolled her eyes. Fireheart turned his head at the tiny mew as Cinderpaw came over, crouching by a clump of grass farther up on the bank from the river, completely bushy furred.

"Where's Brackenpaw?" Fireheart asked with a jolt of alarm.

Cinderpaw pointed with her nose to Brackenpaw who was even further up on the bank, creeping forward nearly on his belly. It was clear the apprentice wanted nothing to do with the river after what he'd seen and Fireheart didn't blame him. He'd probably practice treading water in a few of the shallower streams in ThunderClan territory in case anything else happens.

Fireheart sighed in relief then turned back to Graystripe, "We have to go."

"I know," Graystripe agreed, coughing a bit more. He shook out his pelt, sending tiny drops of water spraying everyone nearby. "Thanks again Silverstream."

She dipped her head in acknowledgement, "You're welcome. Now go- my father would shred me for kit bedding if he knew I'd rescued a ThunderClan cat."

"Why'd you save me then?"

"Who else's tail am I supposed to kick in races every Gathering?"

Fireheart laughed and ushered Graystripe towards the forest. He paused and glanced at Silverstream, "May Koyanihiha bring you all the finest things in life. Thanks for saving this stupid hairball."

Silverstream smiled at the blessing and turned back to the river, easily swimming back across as if the currents were nothing but a passing agitation to the far side of the river.

As Fireheart escorted their party back into ThunderClan territory, he noted that Graystripe kept looking over his shoulder back to RiverClan territory. Fireheart stifled an amused sigh, it seemed that Graystripe's budding attraction to their friend had become a full on crush. And Fireheart wasn't the only one who noticed as Cinderpaw smirked at his friend.

"What a pretty molly she is."

Graystripe shoved her and she started ahead of them.

"Come back!" Fireheart snapped agitatedly. "Stay by us!"

Cinderpaw came slinking back, head bowed and early flattened as Fireheart shot her a furious look.

"Sorry," she whispered.

"One day you're going to understand that I'm telling you to stay close so you don't get hurt," he told her, tail lashing. Graystripe falling into the river was his own fault- Fireheart agreed there. His friend shouldn't've been so ash-brained as to chase a RiverClan vole onto clearly unstable ice. But they wouldn't've been that deep in RiverClan territory if Cinderpaw hadn't crossed the border in the first place.

"...the stream near the training hollow is still running," Brackenpaw noted, snapping Fireheart from his thoughts. "The clan will assume he fell in there."

"We could say he was showing us how to catch minnows before the ice broke," Cinderpaw suggested.

"I can't imagine that any cat would believe that Graystripe got his paws wet on purpose," Fireheart said slowly.

"Well I don't want the rest of the clan to know I was rescued by a RiverClanner," Graystripe said quickly. "Even if it is Silverstream."

Fireheart sighed, "Then I was teaching you guys to catch minnows. We went to the stream to practice, one of you fell in and Graystripe dove to save you before I could react."

The apprentices nodded seriously and Graystripe sighed in relief. Fireheart then recommended that they run the rest of the way to camp to warm them up. They sprinted back over into ThunderClan territory and through Sunningrocks. Fireheart intentionally directed them through a slightly longer and more brush heavy area, the tugging branches and leaves wiping away the scent of RiverClan and rubbing the scent of the ThunderClan forest over their pelts.

They came to a halt in front of the gorse tunnel, panting as Tigerclaw stood glowering outside of it. He must've been on guard duty.

"No prey? I was told you were teaching your apprentices to hunt," Tigerclaw growled at them. "And Graystripe looks half drowned!"

"It's my fault," Cinderpaw broke in. "The deep pool in the sandy hollow froze over. Fireheart was showing us the technique for catching minnows but I wanted to fish right away, so I ran onto the ice and slipped. Graystripe grabbed me but he was too heavy for the ice. Fireheart had to pull him out.

Graystripe quickly adopted a mock offended look, "Are you calling me fat Cinderpaw?"

The gray apprentice giggled, "Well I wasn't the one who broke the ice."

Graystripe lightly cuffed her over the ears with a huff, "I'll have you know this is all fluff and muscle."

"You keep telling yourself that," Fireheart snorted and was cuffed over the ears too.

Tigerclaw curled his lips at them and broke in, "Graystripe better go see Spottedleaf before you freeze to death or catch greencough."

Fireheart internally gave a sigh of relief and slipped by Tigerclaw into the ThunderClan camp. RiverClan had been at fault the first time regarding himself and Graystripe but Tigerclaw would have a field day if he knew Graystripe had chased a RiverClan vole. Cinderpaw bounded in after him, Graystripe and Brackenpaw pushing in as well. As soon as they stepped into the camp, Graystripe veered towards Spottedleaf's den- good thing too because Fireheart noticed the ice forming on his friend's whiskers. He turned to the apprentices who watched him nervously.

"Go and get warm you two," Fireheart instructed. "Cinderpaw, if you keep running off like that I'm going to ground you to camp until Brackenpaw becomes a warrior without you."

Cinderpaw gasped in horror as Brackenpaw slunk off. She hesitated and nuzzled Fireheart hesitantly. His stern façade crumbled instantly. He was never very good at being strict.

"I just don't want you to get hurt," he murmured.

"I know," she said quietly.

Fireheart watched her pad off, a twinge of worry entering his heart. She'd told that story smoothly and without hesitation. What if she did something dangerous or was going to do something dangerous without Fireheart knowing? Would he be able to tell if she lied to him? He shook off his worries. Cinderpaw is a good, well meaning cat- she wouldn't lie to him unless she thought it was necessary.

Fireheart moved over to the fresh kill pile grabbing a mouse and a finch, avoiding the vole sitting on the top. He'd probably not eat voles for a few sunrises. He trotted over to the nettle clump by the warrior's den and settled down to eat. As he chewed on his mouse, he thought about the admiration in Cinderpaw's eyes and the respect in Brackenpaw's when they spoke about Tigerclaw and his supposed rescue of Ravenwing. He and Graystripe were the only ones suspicious of the ThunderClan deputy. He sighed, he might need to just tell her Ravenwing was alive and explain to her why he was hidden from her.

A sneeze made him glance up and Graystripe was walking over to him, sniffling.

"How are you?" Fireheart asked as Graystripe settled beside him coughing loudly. He sniffed his pelt, identifying a combination of lavender and lovage. He pushed the finch towards Graystripe who grinned a bit at the inside joke as Fireheart added, "Saved you some food. What'd you get dosed with?"

"Honey covered lavender and lovage," Graystripe said and started in on his finch. "She says I've got a chill and I need to stay in camp so it doesn't turn into whitecough. This'll be enough for me. I'm not too hungry."

Fireheart looked up and stared at him in amazement. Maybe he should bring his friend back to Spottedleaf and check the night sky for fallen stars. If Graystripe isn't hungry, then he was definitely sick.

Seven days later, Fireheart was awoken in the warrior's den with the first fog of leaf-bare invading. He could barely see a tail-length in front of him and he squinted in the gloom. A scrambling of paws alerted him to someone approaching. Mousefur poked her head through the fog, squinting right back at him.

"Thank the Souls your pelt is so red," she sighed. "Tigerclaw and Whitestorm want to see you."

"Alright, thanks," said Fireheart to Mousefur.

He frowned a bit as he gathered his thoughts, beginning to smooth down his ruffled pelt. When he'd first joined the clan and Redtail was deputy, Lionheart had been the clan's secondary. When Redtail was away, the clan defaulted and treated Lionheart as the deputy allowing him to assign patrols, pull cats into meetings and ferry messages from Bluestar. When Redtail died, Lionheart was named the official ThunderClan deputy and Whitestorm was treated as the clan's secondary. Then when Lionheart was killed, Whitestorm was made an official deputy.

Secondaries almost always became deputies Fireheart was quick to realize. It was the clan's form of unconscious back up. Leaders have nine lives but deputies only have one so if in battle, the leader dies for good and the deputy dies, it could lead to chaos. A bloody competition could occur within the clan as ambitious cats tried to claim their place as leader. With the secondary, "unofficial" deputy around however, there's a clear inheritance of rank. The secondary goes and receives their nine lives, assumes the title as leader and life in the clans goes on without incident- it keeps the clans stable the same way that ensuring that the crown heirs always have at least one litter does in the kingdoms.

In ThunderClan, the more obvious a secondary, the less of a choice leaders have in choosing their deputy. Dappletail even said that an obvious secondary being overlooked is perceived as a bad omen and the clan could revolt against them.

Tigerclaw had switched tactics in his ambition to become leader, attempting to slot himself in as a secondary. If Whitestorm died, then Bluestar would have little choice but to name him deputy or she'd risk the clan rising against her.

"What was that?"

Fireheart was shaken from his thoughts by Graystripe's tired rasp from the nest beside him.

"Tigerclaw wants to see me," Fireheart said as Graystripe started getting to his paws. There was a light crust around his nose which was streaming and he coughed periodically. Fireheart was starting to worry, it'd been seven days- usually chills would've gotten better by now. "You should go back to sleep- did you rest at all yesterday?"

"As much as I can between coughing myself awake and sneezing," Graystripe complained.

"Then where were you when I came back from," he dropped his voice when Longtail rolled over in his nest and whispered, "Isaria."

"I can't sleep in here during the day," Graystripe huffed. "Longtail spends the whole day chattering to Darkstripe and insulting you. I spent most of my 'rest' about to rip his pelt off. Everyone else comes trampling in and out all day- I found somewhere quieter and less Darkstripe tainted to sleep."

Fireheart released a little "mrrow" of amusement- he'd seek out somewhere Darkstripe free if he was sick too. He gathered his paws beneath himself and gave long stretch.

"Better go see what Tigerclaw and Whitestorm want," Fireheart mused.

"Good luck," called Graystripe as Fireheart left the den.

It took him a moment of searching the clearing before he was able to spot the vague silhouettes of Whitestorm and Tigerclaw at the base of Highrock. More by scent than by sight, Fireheart made his way over cautiously praying to the Sky Kindlers that all the kits were safely in the nursery and not out in the clearing being a tripping hazard. As he got within earshot, the two warriors stopped talking to face him.

"It's time for Cinderpaw and Brackenpaw's correction assessment," Whitestorm informed him.

Fireheart blinked, surprised, "Already?"

"The sooner they're tested, the less time they have for bad habits to form," Whitestorm explained. "They'll progress faster when corrected."

"Bluestar also wants to be sure that Brackenpaw isn't falling behind," Tigerclaw asserted. "If he's lagging too much he'll have to be re-apprenticed."

Fireheart frowned. Sure Graystripe's chill was lasting longer than typical but he hadn't been out of commission for that long. It was Graystripe's first apprentice and it wouldn't be fair to entrust Brackenpaw to another cat just because he had chills.

"I've been taking Brackenpaw out with me and Cinderpaw everyday," Fireheart pointed out. "We've been working on partner hunting and training."

"You're still a new warrior and two apprentices is a lot of responsibility," Tigerclaw informed him. "And we need properly trained warriors."

Whitestorm shot Tigerclaw a sharp look as Fireheart suppressed an angry growl.

I know, he thought resentfully, becoming aware of his collar. And I'm just the farm kitty that Bluestar brought in- not a properly clan born warrior so I can't do anything right.

No one had told him to take up responsibility for Brackenpaw but Bluestar had nodded her approval when she saw him with both apprentices and even Longtail couldn't find anything to say about him when both Cinderpaw and Brackenpaw would come back with two pieces of prey in their mouths regardless of how cold it became. He sank his claws into the cold earth- at least from Whitestorm's glare, Tigerclaw would likely be receiving another talking to from Bluestar.

"Have Cinderpaw and Brackenpaw hunt from the Tallpines to the Neutral Stretch," Tigerclaw ordered, seeming to ignore Whitestorm's gaze. "

"If Cinderpaw's hunting skills are as impressive as her enthusiasm and endless energy, she'll feed the entire clan all on her own," Whitestorm chuckled.

"I doubt Slysoul herself could keep up with her," Fireheart snorted thinking about the hunting assessment. "Why not send them to Sunningrocks- the sun will've burned most of the fog from the air."

Whitestorm shook his head, "Dawn patrol scented RiverClan on Sunningrocks. Fresh scents like they'd been last night- we'll have to chase them off before it's safe to let apprentices hunt there again."

Fireheart frowned, his ears pricking up. RiverClan at Sunningrocks! Maybe it was the same patrol he smelled so close to their side of the river. They'd gotten lucky that it was only Silverstream on the banks when Graystripe fell in. What if it'd been Leopardfur attempting to push into ThunderClan territory in revenge for Whiteclaw?

"And the fog will make hunting more interesting," Tigerclaw informed. "It'll be a show of their adaptability. Bring them back to the camp to drop off their prey so they can attend the combat portion of the assessment."

Fireheart dipped his head respectfully.

"Yes Whitestorm," he says pointedly and turned to go retrieve the apprentices before they had the chance to respond.

Cinderpaw danced as Fireheart finished explaining the assessment, racing in circles with her ears twitching excitedly, "An assessment! We're one step closer to being warriors Brackenpaw!"

Her brother looked more worried as he glanced at Fireheart, "Won't the fog make hunting difficult?"

Fireheart nodded, "Yes but there are some advantages to it. Can you think of any?"

The two apprentices paused, thinking it over.

"...the still air makes it hard to find prey," Brackenpaw said slowly, his tail swishing. "But it makes it hard for prey to scent us too."

"There's no point in trying to hunt rabbits," Cinderpaw asserted. "They'd hear the wind rustling our pelts. But the minnows in the stream wouldn't be able to see our shadows."

"Exactly- well done both of you."

The two of them straightened up with pride, Cinderpaw puffing out her chest.

"You have until sunrise," Fireheart told them. "You need something that flies, something that runs and something that swims or digs."

The two apprentices nodded determinedly and darted from the gorse tunnel. Fireheart takes time to do a more thorough grooming of his pelt as he waited for them to get a good bit away from the camp. When he'd smoothed out the fur on his legs and flanks, he started out into the woods after them.

Fireheart followed the two apprentices all the way through the tall pines, the pine needles oddly soft and spongy beneath his paws. Even though he was the mentor, he felt a sensation of excitement for his abilities as he followed Cinderpaw's scent trail and then picked up Brackenpaw's following that. He could tell where the apprentices had merely crossed paths, where they'd sat down and talked, where they ran and where they walked.

Cinderpaw, he wasn't surprised, seemed to have run the entire time. It didn't take long for him to locate a spot where Cinderpaw cat made a kill- a mouse he scented- and carried it with her. The path intersected with Brackenpaw's scent as he came to a small area covered in scattered feathers from the apprentice catching a thrush.

He stifled a purr of pride, he'd have to come back and collect these for the craftcats at the next Gathering or to trade with the sun. Maybe Brackenpaw would even keep a few for his nest.

Fireheart followed Cinderpaw's trail deeper into the tree, a strong aroma of fresh kill filling the air. He sniffed around, it was strongest at the base of a pine tree. He dug at the scent through the pine needles and purred at the stache of prey with Cinderpaw's scent all over them. She'd already caught a finch and a mouse- she was likely working on catching minnows. Burrowing animals would be hard to find until new-leaf.

He went back to following- tracking Cinderpaw to the oaks that marked the start of the Neutral Stretch. Fireheart followed her and followed the edge of the pine forest when he caught the scent of Brackenpaw. It was both strong and fresh so he looked around for him, knowing he was close. Finally he spotted him well disguised in a tangle of brambles, slowly creeping towards a foolish wood mouse eating in the open.

His stance was perfect if a bit stiff and he moved very slowly, taking his time. The apprentice refrained from stepping on the crunchier looking leaves, his paws making hardly a sound. Fireheart was sure that if he wasn't listening for it, he wouldn't hear his pawsteps at all. Fireheart was taken back to his first true hunting assessment and found himself rooting for the apprentice in his head.

Brackenpaw was only a rabbit's length away when the wind changed directions.

Fireheart swallowed his laughter at the familiar look of panic on the apprentice's face, so reminiscent of his own alarm when the same thing happened to him as Brackenpaw wasted no time. The brown apprentice pounced and the mouse had no time to process the new scent at all. Brakcenpaw shook out his pelt, clearly proud of his catch and vanished into the trees.

Fireheart's tail went straight up with pride, he couldn't wait to tell Bluestar all about his apprentices.

"Hi!"

Fireheart practically leapt from his pelt and almost slammed into a tree as he whirled around to a mischievously grinning cinnamon tortie.

"How's Brackenpaw doing?" she asked.

"Lynxpaw!"

Fireheart glanced up as an exasperated Willowpelt stepped into their little area, "You're not supposed to approach the mentors! We're assessing you, remember?"

"You're assessing me not Fireheart," Lynxpaw pointed out. "And I asked about Brackenpaw, not me!"

Willowpelt rolled her eyes as Lynxpaw glanced into the stretch and back to Fireheart.

"Were you really born over there?" she asked curiously. "In the Kingdoms?"

Fireheart blinked a tad taken aback, "Yes. It's a great place to live- why do you ask?"

Lynxpaw flicked her ear, "Tigerclaw mentioned it when he was grumbling to Darkstripe. He said good warriors can't come from the outside but you're a good warrior so I was confused. Did you like it there?"

Fireheart rolled his eyes at her mention from Tigerclaw saying, "Yes I did. I loved it there. I just took after my father- my paws have always wandered a little farther than the farms."

Willowpelt seemed to sense his change in mood when he mentioned his father and leaned forward to touch her nose to his cheek. She turned back to her apprentice.

"Head back to camp, troublesome finch," Willowpelt told her, whacking her cheek with her tail. "I know you have all of your catches."

Lynxpaw giggled and darted off into the brush. Willowpelt gave him a good natured chuckle and padded off after her apprentice. Fireheart shook his head, a twinge of relief filling his body. At least he wasn't the only one with a rambunctious apprentice. According to their mothers, Lynxpaw and Cinderpaw had been partners in crime since Cinderpaw was first able to keep up with Lynxpaw. The elders have many tales of the two troublesome kits who were both almost held back from becoming warriors.

Fireheart started back towards the camp- it wouldn't be long before Brackenpaw and Cinderpaw returned.