3rd POV

Without a second thought, Rusty turned and kicked dust and grass over his collar as though burying his dirt. Longtail growled and limped out of the clearing toward a fern-shaded corner. The cats split into groups, murmuring to each other excitedly. Shadowpaw went over to her brother "Hey, Firepaw!" The newly named Firepaw heard Shadowpaw call as she approached him. "Shadowpaw did you watch the fight?" He smiled brightly at his older sister as she smiled and nodded

"Yes, I did you fought well I can't wait to see how you improve." Before Firepaw could respond Graypaw called from where he was near his mentor Lionblaze. "Firepaw! Shadowpaw" The two new apprentices walked over to the grey tom. "Great fight, Firepaw!" mewed Graypaw. "Especially for a kittypet! Longtail is a warrior, although he only finished his training two moons ago. That scar you left on his ear won't let him forget you in a hurry. You've spoiled his good looks, that's for sure."

"Thanks, Graypaw," Firepaw replied. "He put up quite a fight, though!" He licked his front paw and began to wipe clean the deep scratch that stung above his eye. As he washed he heard his new name again, echoing among the meows of the cats.

"Firepaw, Shadowpaw!"

"Hey, Firepaw, Shadowpaw!"

"Welcome, young Firepaw and Shadowpaw!"

Firepaw closed his eyes for a moment and let the voices wash over him. Shadow smiled slightly. "Good name, too!" Graypaw mewed approvingly, jolting him awake. Firepaw looked around. "Where did Longtail creep off to?" "I think he was heading toward Spottedleaf's den." Graypaw tipped his head toward the fern-enclosed corner Longtail had disappeared into. "She's our medicine cat. Not bad-looking either. Younger and a lot prettier than most—"

A low yowl next to the three cats stopped Graypaw mid-speech. They all turned, Shadowpaw and Firepaw recognized the powerful gray tabby cat who had sat beside Shadowpaw's new mentor and Longstripe. "Darkstripe," mewed Graypaw, dipping his head respectfully. The sleek tom looked at Firepaw for a moment. "Lucky your collar snapped when it did. Longtail is a young warrior, but I can't imagine him being beaten by a kittypet!" He spat the word kittypet scornfully, then turned and stalked off. "Now Darkstripe," Graypaw hissed to Firepaw under his breath, "is neither young, nor pretty…." Shadowpaw who heard chuckled slightly.

Firepaw who agreed nodded, "Yeah." The three continued on the toar, as well as had gotten to eat with the elders, until they came to the apprentice's den. In there were two cats one was a brown tabby tom with amber eyes and another a pale ginger she-cat with green eyes. "That is Dustpaw," Graypaw said nodding towards the brown tabby before nodding towards the pale ginger, "And that is Sandpaw." The two elder apprentices glanced towards the three, but quickly turned away ignoring them.

"They seem nice," Shadowpaw mumbled to Firepaw who just nodded in agreement. "You'll have to excuse them," apologized Graypaw. "I think they have a furball stuck somewhere. They are not usually this bad-tempered." "Psst!" spat Sandpaw crossly in response while Dustpaw growled slightly but only Sandpaw looked their way. "Hold on, youngsters." The deep voice of Whitestorm sounded behind the apprentices.

"Sandpaw! As my apprentice, I expected you to be a little more welcoming to this newcomer. Also Dustpaw I do not think that Redtail would appreciate your attitude towards the new apprentices." Sandpaw held up her head and looked defiant. "I'm sorry, Whitestorm," she purred, not sounding sorry at all. Dustpaw looked away and said, "Sorry Whitestorm." Sandpaw continued talking, "We just didn't expect to be training with a kittypet, that's all!"

"I'm sure you two will get used to it," meowed Whitestorm calmly. "Now, it's getting late, and training starts early tomorrow. You five should get some sleep." He gave Sandpaw and Dustpaw a stern look, and they nodded obediently. As he walked off, the two spun around and vanished into the clump of ferns, sniffing once more as Sandpaw brushed past Firepaw.

With a flick of his tail, Graypaw invited Firepaw and Shadowpaw to follow him, and led the way after Sandpaw and Dustpaw. Inside the sleeping area, the ground was lined with soft moss, and the pale moonlight turned everything a delicate shade of green. The air was fragrant with fern scent, and warmer than outside. "Where do we sleep?" Firepaw asked. "Anywhere, just so long as it's not near me!" snarled Sandpaw, who was prodding some moss with her paw.

Graypaw and Firepaw exchanged glances, but said nothing. Firepaw and Shadowpaw respectively raked together a pile of moss with their claws. When Firepaw had gathered his bed into a cozy nest, he circled until it was comfortable and settled down. His whole body felt drowsy with contentment. Shadow made her own nest further away from the other four and almost touching the back wall. She curled up and drifted off with only one thought in mind, "Snake is going to kill me..."