Snakepaw befriended Greenpaw because he was her father's apprentice. Ravenpaw had Mousestar herself. Her own mentor was Talloak, a brown tabby tom with amber eyes who was strong and wise. She admired how he used his mind, not his claws. If Darkmist wasn't deputy, she wouldn't mind him. She had been the first cat he told about Softmoss's kits. She was honored that he had so much trust in his apprentice. She followed behind him as they patrolled with Dustnose, Blueflower, Birchpaw, and Smokepaw. Both ginger warriors were keeping an eye on their apprentices as they whispered to one another.

"This is kind of boring," Smokepaw made no effort to keep her voice down while they make their rounds. They didn't find anything unusual and Snakepaw could tell that she wasn't liking it. "A fight is just the thing I need to wake up."

"Hush," Dustnose told Blueflower's apprentice with narrowed green eyes. "Both of you."

"Calm yourself, Dustnose," Blueflower's aqua gaze was more open. "All apprentices want to prove themselves. I've been wanting to see Smokepaw use her skills on an enemy. Surely you feel the same way about Birchpaw, Dustnose."

"I'm really good," Birchpaw nodded. "I've been practicing a lot."

"Not as good as me," Smokepaw boasted.

"Am too!"

"Are not."

"Apprentices," Dustnose rolled his eyes. "Are you two gonna have to be pulled back to camp by your whiskers or will you stop arguing?"

"Were you not young once, Dustnose?" Talloak teased. "If they exhaust themselves fighting, then they will be tired enough to give you peace and quiet. Unless you want them to share off prey?"

"Not you too."

Snakepaw purred as the toms went back and forth good-naturally. She kept an eye out for trouble while the other apprentices started up again. Despite being before sunhigh, it was surprisingly warm for a leaf-bare morning. Even if it was only a quarter-moon sine the end of leaf-fall. Born in the early days of newleaf, she had yet to experience the chill of snow-crusted days. Her knowledge came from Ravenpaw. Her friend disliked leaf-bare as her dark pelt stood out among the frostily landscape. With Snakepaw's silver coat, she had the advantage over her. Stonepaw and Frostpaw had it easiest. Once Frostpaw starts acting more like a warrior and less like a kit, he'll be a fine hunter. Her stomach growled the way home and she was the first one to the fresh-kill pile. She wasn't too hungry, so a small mouse would have to do. Speaking of Stonepaw, the tom was coming back to camp with a blackbird in his jaws. His mentor, Lilydusk, had two mice hanging from her mouth. The gray tabby she-cat gave him a proud look with amber eyes. Frostpaw and Wolfpaw's mother took a thrush to share with her mate, the white tom with blue eyes, Quickriver. Even from her spot, she could see how they loved each other. She was a bit timid and he enjoyed battling. Snakepaw wanted a love like that one day. None of the current apprentices interested her. Maybe once she earned her warrior name, it would happen. Did Owlfeather feel the same when she was an apprentice too? Did she know that she was going to be Darkmist's mate and mother his kit? She noticed another pair of mates getting food together.

Dustnose and Poppycloud shared a rabbit with Hawkfang and Vineleaf while Violetclaw stumbled out of the nursery to join them. Mistyfern was close behind him to pull their kits back into the nursery. Poppycloud was an exact copy of Ravenpaw with her calm green eyes and black pelt. Greenpaw's father was the cocky white tom with green eyes, Vineleaf. The fierce dark brown Hawkfang's own green were much sharper as he had the best vision in the Clan. He was much softer around Onetail and their kits. Violetclaw's white pelt and blue eyes helped him blend in as he sat comfortably while taking small bites.

"Did you hear?" Poppycloud swallowed. "ShadowClan lost Speckledfur to a monster two nights ago."

"The medicine cat?" Vineleaf shook his head. "Why in StarClan's name was that old tom near the Thunderpath in the first place?"

"Maybe he couldn't tell where he was going," Hawkfang growled. "This could be a bad omen."

"As if they'd use an elder for their sign," Vineleaf scoffed. "That old fool was on his way to death anyways."

Dustnose scowled at him, "It's a terrible thing to lose a medicine cat at the beginning of leaf-bare. What if Iceleap herself gets sick?"

"Who cares about ShadowClan's illness?"

"It'll be ThunderClan's problem if we catch something from them," Poppycloud gave Vineleaf a glare of her own. "What if it was Birchpaw, Grasspaw, or Stonepaw who wondered too close to the Thunderpath?"

"My sons know better than to do something so mouse-brained," Vineleaf hissed.

"They are young so they would have better sight and hearing than Speckledfur," Hawkfang cut in.

"We should all be careful. It's a shame to lose any cat, young or old," Mousestar's voice caught Snakepaw's attention as the small white she-cat stepped over to the warriors, Darkmist shadowing her. Snakepaw looked away so her father wouldn't spot her eyeing the scene.

"Should we keep the apprentices away from the ShadowClan border?" the deputy asked.

"There's no need," Mousestar replied. "When you warriors finish eating, I'd like you to check the Thunderpath out. I'd like to make sure no other cat was harmed, whether or not they are ThunderClan."

"And take Snakepaw with you," Darkmist's voice made her snap up and notice the gleam in his golden eyes. "You've been chewing those bones to bits. Maybe you should have taken two?"

"I'm fine," Snakepaw jumped up to her paws. "Should I fetch Talloak?"

"He's spending the day with Softmoss," Mousestar nudged her head at the nursery. "You'll be fine."

"Yes, Mousestar."