A/N: I want to apologize for the lack of updates. I've had a lot of things going on in my life this last month and just haven't had time to write and more of this story. However, things have settled down and I've started writing again! Except more frequent uploads again! They won't be every day like before but definitely at least a couple chapters a week. If you're still here, that's for reading!

Aspenflight strode through his new clan's territory flanked by two other cats. The first large tom was Shrewmask, ThunderClan's deputy. The second was Hollowfoot, one of the warriors that had found him. Today was his last 'trial' day with the Clan. At sunset Willowstar would make her final decision on if he were allowed to become a full-fledged ThunderClanner.

Strangely to him, his paws itched as he led the dawn patrol. He had done more times then he could count back home. Aspenflight had even learned the territory rather well the past couple of days out hunting and such. He supposed there was nothing he had done in the last few days that would cause Willowstar to cast him out. However, he was still nervous.

"RiverClan..." Aspenflight trailed off as the fresh scent of another clan entered his nose. He realized they were close to Sunningrocks. He had been told that the two Clans shared the sunny stones. It was odd to him but his eyes still gazed at the cats as they passed looking for a familiar brown coat. He hadn't seen any of his comrades since he had arrived. And it appeared he wasn't going to today either.

Shrewmask yowled a hello to a white and gray tom as they passed. The tom nodded in his direction and the ThunderClan patrol continued on their way. There was nothing to cause alarm as they scent marked the borders. Even the fox that Aspenflight had saved Aldershine from scent was stale. He wondered if this was how every day went in this ThunderClan. Rare predators, and no trespassing Clans.

The patrol rounded their way back to ThunderClan's camp. Aspenflight's paws were beginning to ache and he couldn't wait to grab a piece of prey from the fresh-kill pile. Because he knew after he ate he was going out with Aldershine and her apprentice, Rootpaw.

"Aspen!" a voice called his 'name' as he led the patrol through the tunnel. It was Willowstar. She had been sharing tongues with two apprentices, Stormpaw and Moonpaw. Aspenflight had come to learn that they were her kits. "How did the patrol go?"

"Good," he answered her as he approached. "No intruders, or anything amiss." The leader looked at Shrewmask who had followed him over.

"He did very well," Shrewmask affirmed. "Almost as it he had done it before." If Aspenflight had been eating he probably would have choked on his meal.

Willowstar nodded. "Get something to eat, Aspen," the gray cat told him. "You've earned it." Aspenflight dipped his head before padding over to the fresh-kill pile. He grabbed a squirrel in his jaws before padding to a shady spot in the camp to eat it. The greenleaf sun was already warming his coat uncomfortably.

As he ate his meal Aspenflight gazed out across camp. He noticed Moonpaw leave her mother before going into the nursery and reappearing with two kits. They were the only kits in the Clan, Wolfkit and Bearkit. They had been found on ThunderClan territory, abandoned by their mother. Per the terms of his probation, Aspenflight had not even gone within two tail-lengths of the two kits. He did know, however, that ThunderClan worked as a whole to take care of them. Each day an apprentice, warrior or occasionally a medicine cat, was assigned to watch them.

Aspenflight had finished his meal and was grooming his tabby pelt when a pale golden she-cat made her way over to him. "Ready to go, Aspen?" Aldershine asked him. Standing behind her was Rootpaw. Aspenflight felt bad for the apprentice who always had a scowl on his face. The orange cat had ripped ears and scars across his body. He wondered how such a young cat had already seen so much pain.

"Yup!" Aspenflight replied, chiding himself silently for sounding like an overexcited apprentice. He followed the two ThunderClanners as they padded through the territory. It surprised him that he was already getting familiar with the territory. It had only been a few days but the forest just felt like home.

The three cats came upon the sandy hollow that ThunderClan used to train their apprentices. It reminded him much of the clearing he had spent so many moons in at the lake. He supposed somethings never changed.

"Okay, Aspen," Aldershine said to him. "Rootpaw and I are going to spar. And I want you to tell Rootpaw what you think he needs to improve on." Aspenflight nodded. So many of his skills had been assessed by ThunderClan these last few days – a thing he was thankful for. He was glad that they were being so hard on him because if made it certain any cat wishing to join ThunderClan had the right intentions.

The warrior and apprentice faced one another. Aldershine was crouched, her tail lashing behind her. But she wouldn't make the first move, she was waiting for her apprentice to do that. And soon enough, Rootpaw did. He leapt at his mentor, attempting to land on her back but Aldershine easily stepped out of the way. The orange apprentice growled and then launched himself at the golden she-cat again. This time he anticipated Aldershine's step and was able to successfully land on her back.

Aspenflight wondered what Rootpaw would do now. That move was usually more defensive – if you're trying to get away from your opponent's claws – or if you have a group of other cats fighting them. However, the apprentice seemed to freeze not knowing what to do next. Aldershine took this opportunity to drop to the ground and then thrash her body to the side. It was the easiest way to get the tom off of her because if he didn't move he would be squished.

Rootpaw leapt out of the way and stood a tail-length away staring at his mentor as she got to her paws. Aldershine shook her head, obviously disappointed. "What did you think, Aspen?" she turned her golden gaze to the tabby cat.

Aspenflight looked the the ginger apprentice who now had dropped his ears and tail. He could sense the cat's thirst to prove himself and wanted to be careful not to be too harsh. Criticism was important but he didn't want to kick Rootpaw while he was already down.

"Rootpaw, I think you did very well the second time you leapt at Aldershine. You adjusted from the first time you had missed her and were able to land on her back." The apprentice perked up a bit at the compliment. "However, you lacked initiative afterwards. Any normal opponent wouldn't let you be on their back for as long as your mentor did. They would have rolled almost instantly to get you off or another cat would have attacked. In a fight, you should scratch and bite at the cat while you have them pinned and then if you have to jump off, instantly attack them again while they're getting to their paws."

Aldershine stared at him for a moment, her expression unreadable. Had he said something wrong? He then realized that perhaps he was too right with his response. It was so second-nature to him to critique his clanmates. Perhaps he had been too clan-like.

"That's exactly what I was thinking," the she-cat agreed with him. She padded to her apprentice who's scowl had returned to his face. Aldershine cuffed him over the ears, affectionately. "You're still learning. By the time you earn your warrior name cats fighting you will be the ones to hesitate." She waved her tail at Rootpaw. "Why don't you watch me and Aspen spar? It might give you some ideas." The orange apprentice nodded as he sat in a shady spot in the clearing.

Aspenflight looked at Aldershine. He hadn't expected having to fight the golden she-cat. He didn't have time to dwell on his thoughts, however, as the ThunderClan warrior made the first mode. She launched herself at him, attempting to bat at him with her front paws. Aspenflight dropped to the ground so that her assault missed. He them let out an oof as Aldershine twisted instantly and kicked at him with her back legs. She was quick.

The tabby tom twitched his ears as he scrambled backwards. His paws left the ground as he leap, really hoping that there was indeed a tree behind him. Aspenflight's back paws hit bark and he used the motion to fly through the air and bowl right into Aldershine, pinning her. As he stared into her green eyes he knew the battle was done. Her lithe form was made for speed and agility – not for strength. She just didn't have the power to escape from his paws.

Aspenflight stepped off of her and sat, grooming down quickly the spot of his fur where she had kicked him. Aldershine appeared stunned as she stared at him. She then shook herself and got to her paws.

"That move was impressive," she compliment him. "Almost identical to one we teach older apprentices." Aspenflight stopped grooming his pelt mid lick. He hadn't even stopped to think that the way he moved was like a clan cat's. Rouges were supposed to fight much more savagely, not with poised battled moves.

"Really? Well maybe you'll let me teach it to Rootpaw someday since I just did it so well." He grinned and felt relief wash over him when Aldershine's skeptical gaze disappeared.

"Don't get ahead of yourself," she told him, playfully brushing him with her tail. The golden she-cat turned to her apprentice and begun asking him questions about their fight. Aspenflight stared at her, the sunlight dancing across her pelt. He smiled softly to himself. Perhaps living in this ThunderClan wouldn't be so bad.