Whitespirit: Thanks! And I'll take the name into consideration. Speaking of names, I like yours!

Now to the story!

"You look like a frog that forgot how to land!" Flameclaw meowed, letting out a mrrow of laughter.

Aurora flattened her ears, wanting to block it out and sat up. She hung her head slightly, feeling embarrassed. Flameclaw had asked her to show him a hunting crouch and she just dropped into a crouch. Never once did she think about what it was supposed to look like or what its purpose was.

After a while, Aurora had enough. "Can you stop laughing?" she snapped. "If I was doing it wrong then show me the correct way!"

Flameclaw's jaws snapped shut and his amber eyes widened in surprise. The tom then nodded and padded over. "Of course, and I'm sorry for laughing at you, but you should've seen yourself! You really did look like a splayed-out frog. Now show me the crouch again."

Aurora looked at him tentatively. "Promise you won't laugh?"

"Promise," Flameclaw meowed.

Aurora dropped into the crouch and glanced at him, expecting him to laugh again. This time the tom's whiskers were twitching but he wasn't laughing as he circled around her.

"Square off your paws, so you distribute weight equally on all four of them."

Aurora shifted her weight, so she was crouching squarely on all four paws.

"Keep your tail level with the ground. Not too high or it be a signal to the prey but not to low or it'll alert the prey. Either way, it's bad."

Aurora leveled off her tail with the ground and the crouch began to feel less uncomfortable, but it still didn't feel quite right.

"Keep your paws under you and don't crane your neck." Flameclaw ordered as he sat down in front of her. "Other than that, you're ready to practice stalking."

"What's that?" Aurora asked, sitting up and tilting her head slightly.

"I'll show you," Flameclaw responded. He dropped into a crouch and began to move silently forward, each paw step carefully placed. He reached the edge of the clearing, without making a sound, and sat up. "Now you try."

Aurora dropped into a crouch again and began to move forward. Her pawsteps were loud, and she had trouble avoiding the leaves and sticks in the area. Eventually she sat up with an exasperated sigh. "I'm not quiet, like you are."

"Just keep practicing," Flameclaw advised. "You'll get it eventually. Try again."

Aurora shook her head. "I don't want to," she meowed. "Can we head back to camp?"

Flameclaw rolled his eyes. "No and don't use that 'paws are hurting' excuse again."

The day before Flameclaw had taken Aurora out on a tour of the territory. It had taken the whole day and by the time, Aurora had gotten back to camp, she was exhausted and barely made it to her nest in the medicine den before collapsing. Before she was able to actually go to sleep, she became aware of an aching pain in her paws and complained to Antpaw about it. Antpaw had told her it was normal and will disappear with time.

Well it was still present, and it was driving Aurora nuts. "Why not?" Aurora asked.

"Because every Clan cat has to deal with the pain," Flameclaw responded immediately. "It's part of training for every cat in the forest."

Aurora gazed at her paws. "Can we at least go back to camp, then?"

Flameclaw shook his head. "I'd promise I teach you how to hunt and nothing more. I recommend you practice your stalking, now."

"Fine," Aurora meowed. She dropped into a crouch and began to move forward, keeping her pawsteps light and tail still.

Once Aurora had gotten pretty average at her stalking, Flameclaw padded over. "I think that's enough for today. Besides you have a decision to make."

Aurora stiffened, her tail going straight and her fur bristling. The decision! She leapt to her paws and took off towards the camp, her tail and fur blowing out behind her as ran. As the camp neared, she slowed down and trotted through the entrance, not caring if her long fur got caught on the thorns.

To her dismay, Dapplepelt, Antpaw and Froststar were waiting for her. Moonstripe was there as well and Aurora skidded to a halt.

"Aurora," Froststar meowed cordially. "Have you made your decision?"

"I…uh…umm…" Aurora stammered, unable to speak.

"Well?" Dapplepelt meowed impatiently. "We're waiting."

"Uh...I…um…" Aurora meowed, gazing at her paws.

Antpaw padded over and placed her muzzle close to Aurora's ear. "It's a simple decision, Aurora. Stay with us or leave and travel the world."

"Antpaw!" Dapplepelt growled. "Get back here! Don't influence the kittypet's decision."

Moonstripe let out a snort. "I wouldn't mind if Antpaw had told her to buzz off."

"Moonstripe!" Frostheart scolded, turning to glare at her deputy. "That isn't very nice."

"Well, it's true!" Moonstripe retorted, flicking his tail. "This Clan doesn't need new cats, Froststar."

"Hang on!" Aurora meowed, finding her voice at last. "Can you be quiet, so I can think?"

Everyone gazed at her in surprise but thankfully they didn't say a word. Aurora sat down and closed her eyes, tilting her face towards the sun. This is it. Should I stay or go? I like training with Flameclaw and listening to the elders' stories. I love listening to Dapplepelt and Antpaw work. Can I really give all that up to travel? The last time I traveled, I was abandoned. Do I want to go through that pain and torture again? I don't want to even see more twolegs!

Letting out a sigh, Aurora opened her eyes and dipped her head. "I'll join," she whispered.

"What was that?" Moonstripe leaned forward slightly.

"I said I'll join," Aurora repeated, a bit louder.

Antpaw let out a squeal and leaped to her paws. "Awesome! Welcome to ShadowClan!" The young cat bounded over and touched her muzzle to Aurora's shoulder excitedly. "You can become a medicine cat with me!"

"Antpaw!" Dapplepelt meowed sternly. "Two will be enough for the Clan. Besides I think our new friend wants to be a warrior." Despite his stern words, the medicine cat's face was amused.

Froststar nodded and headed for the Clanrock. The black-spotted, white she-cat leapt gracefully on top and let out a yowl. "Let all cats old enough to catch their own prey, gather round for a Clan meeting!"

Any guesses on what her apprentice name will be?