The sun was dipping in the sky as the two cats made their way back into the clearing. "Go pick something to eat and find a place to make your nest in the apprentice's den. We're doing the dawn patrol tomorrow, so get lots of rest," Aspenleaf said without looking back and padding to join Sandfur and Batwing at the edge of camp.

Emberpaw's stomach growled, and he eagerly made his way to the pile, choosing a mouse to eat. With the prey dangling in his mouth he looked around, wondering who he could share it with. At this time he knew that Mistlekit and Mockingkit would be bundled up by Fogcloud into the nursery. And besides, he didn't want to seem like he already missed being a kit. He noticed Swiftpaw and Badgerpaw sharing a vole. The two littermates seemed to be in a heated discussion about something, and he noticed that it would be in his best interest to not try to join them. He didn't see the third littermate, Sparkpaw, anywhere. So Emberpaw sighed and brought his mouse to the edge of the camp to eat alone, reminded of his first few moons when he was alone in the nursery.

Once he finished, he made his way to his new den and entered. It was his first time seeing into it. Four nests were littered across the ground. Two of them were next to each other, and the other two were towards the back. Warmth spread through him as he realized that his denmates must have made him a nest. He made his way to the one in the back, which was the only one with no scent on it. He snuggled down, his legs hurting and his eyes drooping. His side stung from where the brambles scratched him. But besides all that, he was happy and pleased that his first day of training went well.

Emberpaw knew that he was going to learn a lot from Aspenleaf. He was a wise cat, even though he wasnt an elder. And besides that, he was the clan deputy. With the deputy training him, he was sure to learn thing that a normal mentor couldn't teach.

Within a few moments, sleep claimed him.

Almost immediately, he was sucked into a vivid dream. He was in the clearing with the Sky Oak. The sun brilliantly shone through the gaps in the leaves. The bird call was loud, filling the forest with the sound of life.

"Hello." A cat meowed, coming into the clearing. She was a small, beautiful silver she-cat. Her green eyes were friendly and warm, and the tips of her furs seemed to sparkle like Silverpelt. "I'm Kestrelskip."

Emberpaw raised his tail in greeting. "I'm Emberpaw. Who are you?"

She shrugged. "Just a cat in your dreams. Did you just become an apprentice?"

Emberpaw raised his head proudly. "Yes. Blazestar made Aspenleaf my mentor."

"That's wonderful!" She exclaimed, her eyes shining. Emberpaw wondered who this strange she-cat was, but he felt content and happy and didn't feel bothered to keep asking when it clearly made her uncomfortable. Somehow he knew this was a dream, and he was thoroughly enjoying the sun on his pelt and the sounds around him, and so he didn't mind or think much of Kestrelskip.

"I've never seen eyes like yours before," she commented, tilting her head to the side. "Very unusual."

Emberpaw shrugged. "I can see just as well as any cat, so I don't see why the color of my eyes matter much."

Kestrelskip purred. "Of course. That's how everyone should see it." Suddenly she got more serious. "But not everyone will. Especially in the other clans."

"Why does it matter what they think?," he snapped, getting irritated that this cat kept commenting on his weird physical trait.

"It always matters what other clans think," she muttered, more to herself than anyone. She shook her head to clear her thoughts. Her voice reclaimed it's cheerful tone. "Don't get discouraged if the other clans don't see it the same ways as yours does. I'm afraid you have to go now. I hope I see you again."

Before Emberpaw could do anything, his world was sucked into darkness. He could faintly hear his name being called, and woke up to Swiftpaw nudging him. "Come on," she urged. "We have to go out on patrol."

Emberpaw sat up and stretched. Oh right, the dawn patrol, he thought. He followed her out of the den and shook out his fur, trying to also shake off the last remnants of sleep.