"I showed you that move before Wolfpaw!" Yellowflame yowled.

Wolfpaw scowled as she faced Eaglepaw again. This time she leapt first. She aimed for Eaglepaw's belly but kept her eyes fixed on his shoulder. Eaglepaw dropped to his belly but Wolfpaw was ready. Keeping low, she flashed out a paw, running it across his belly before twisting out of the way.

Eaglepaw whipped around and nipped her tail. Wolfpaw whirled around, letting out a growl as she faced her brother.

"That's enough training for the day," Cloudwind interrupted. "Let's head back to camp."

"Finally!" Wolfpaw meowed, scampering ahead of the warriors with Eaglepaw. "I'd thought that I'd never get a chance to eat!"

"Greedy belly!" Eaglepaw teased, his green eyes shining. "Let's race!"

"You're on!" Wolfpaw meowed, putting on a burst of speed. "The last one to camp is crowfood!"

"Not if I get there first!" Eaglepaw yowled, racing past Wolfpaw. Wolfpaw forced herself to go faster but she was falling behind Eaglepaw. To her dismay, Eaglepaw entered the camp before he did, and he knew it too. As Wolfpaw burst in behind him, the black and white tom whirled around to face her, a smirk on his face.

"I win!" he announced proudly.

"No fair!" Wolfpaw muttered, "every cat knows that you're the fastest cat in Windclan!"

"Ok, crowfood!" Eaglepaw answered, padding over. "You were a good competitor."

Wolfpaw ignored her brother and padded past him, headed for the fresh-kill pile. She slowed as she neared it, wanting to have her choice made before she reached it. However, her ears pricked slightly when she noticed that Mousestar was crouched beside it with Ambergaze, the clan's medicine cat. As Wolfpaw picked up a rabbit, she heard Mousestar talking to the white she-cat. "During my ceremony, I saw a vision."

Wolfpaw padded away from the fresh-kill pile and sat down, her ears pricked. Mousestar continued with a shudder. "I smelled blood, but it came from nowhere!"

"Go on," Ambergaze encouraged gently as Mousestar paused to shudder in horror.

"Then I saw four twoleg kits, each with a creature by its side." Mousestar continued, her voice shaking slightly. Neither of them seemed to have noticed Wolfpaw yet. "The first kit that appeared had a black and white, rolly polly creature with silver eyes. Then there was a big dog with deep blue eyes standing next to another kit."

"That was a wolf," Ambergaze interrupted gently. "Remember when Moonfang told us about them?"

Mousestar nodded, her eyes softening a bit with grief at the mention of Moonfang. Wolfpaw stopped eating her rabbit, her eyes clouding with grief at the mention of her mother. Her mother had passed away a few moons ago from greencough as well as her sister Flashpaw, and her father, Flamestar.

Wolfpaw shook off the grief just as Mousestar spoke again. "The kit was clutching a stick that was hooked like a claw at the end. Then a falcon swooped over me with a screech while another kit was calling after it. The last kit raised its paw and a member of Leopardclan leapt out in a flash of light, her violet eyes gleaming."

Wolfpaw managed to take another bite of rabbit as both cats looked towards her, their eyes flashing with fear. Wolfpaw hoped that she looked like that she wasn't eavesdropping.

"Sounds like we might have visitors soon. I'll ask the medicine cats when we meet at the Moonpool for the half-moon gathering." Ambergaze replied, touching her nose gently to Mousestar's shoulder.

"Very well," Mousestar had recovered her authoritative tone as she rose to her paws. "I'll tell the patrols to keep a lookout."

Wolfpaw abandoned her rabbit and padded over. She had a suggestion, but she didn't want them to think that she was eavesdropping on their conversation. As Wolfpaw approached, she didn't miss the flash of worry that crossed Mousestar's features. "What about patrols?" Wolfpaw dipped her head respectfully, acting as normal as possible.

"There was a badger scented in our territory a few days ago." Wolfpaw fought to keep her composure as Mousestar lied to her face.

"Alright," Wolfpaw meowed calmly, knowing that there was no badger. "Where was it scented?"

"By the Thunderclan border," Mousestar replied.

Wolfpaw fought the urge to roll her eyes. While Mousestar had chosen the most probable location for a badger, she knew that there was no badger. She had been on that patrol a few days ago and never recalled scenting a badger. "I don't remember any of the patrols scenting a badger," Wolfpaw responded.

Mousestar narrowed her eyes dangerously and let out a hiss. Wolfpaw found herself shrinking under the she-cat's furious gaze, realizing that her leader had figured it out. "If you think you can spend your time eavesdropping instead of training or tending to your duties then I'll have to punish you."

Ambergaze rose to her paws and pushed her way between them. Then the medicine cat turned to face Mousestar and spoke, her meow level and calm. "Mousestar, you know we have to tell the clan eventually."

"But Wolfpaw eavesdropped! No cat should do that!" Mousestar protested, sounding like a kit being scolded by her mother. Wolfpaw let out a snicker but soon flinched as Ambergaze whipped her head around and shot her a glare.

"Do you have anything to say, Wolfpaw?" Ambergaze meowed calmly, scaring the apprentice.

However, indignation rose in the she-cat and she straightened, facing Ambergaze. "You have shouldn't have been talking by the fresh-kill pile!" Wolfpaw retorted, meeting Mousestar's gaze evenly. "If you want to punish me, go ahead! You'll soon see who's right!"

Ambergaze slapped her tail over Wolfpaw's mouth, preventing her from saying more. The medicine cat shot the apprentice another glare before turning to Mousestar. "I need help gathering herbs by the Thunderclan border and I know Suneye needs someone to take care of his ticks."

Wolfpaw backed away from Ambergaze's tail, spitting the fur out of her mouth. She glared at the medicine cat. "Those are boring tasks! Can't you have Slatepaw do it for you?"

"Slatepaw is out training with Scorchclaw," Ambergaze responded. "Also, you're an apprentice, so you are expected to do these tasks without complaining."

"I won't be an apprentice for much longer!" Wolfpaw announced, puffing out her chest. "Then Slatepaw, Dogpaw and Leopardpaw will have to do those tasks all by themselves!"

Mousestar shook her head, clearly irritated. "Go with Ambergaze and help her. I'll have a talk with Yellowflame about your behavior."

"Can I at least finish my rabbit first?" Wolfpaw asked.

Ambergaze nodded and sat down. "Be quick though, I want to gather coltsfoot before dusk." Wolfpaw nodded and bounded over to her rabbit. She devoured it in a few bites. Then she followed Ambergaze as the white she-cat left the camp.