Here's chapter eight I hope you enjoy!

Sorry it's kinda short; it's still heavy with plot!

Tigerpaw was sitting by the fresh kill pile when he watched Stoatpaw walk into the apprentice's den. He felt only a small ounce of remorse for telling Stoatpaw to stop caring about him, and to just let him and his ambitions be. It's not like Stoatpaw would understand the way power and strength made him feel; Stoatpaw hadn't even imagined it! Fuzzytail went right up to him, a mouse in her jaws.

"Hey, Tigerpaw. Is Stoatpaw okay? He seems a little downcast." she examined, biting a nice hunk out of the mouse and swallowing. "Maybe you should go talk to him."

The guilt finally reached Tigerpaw, and he looked down. "I can't. It... it's my fault he's that way. I uh... I said some pretty nasty things to him during training..." Tigerpaw's guilt welled up inside of him, and his paws trembled. Fuzzytail wrapped a tail around his back, pushing her half eaten squirrel towards him. He looked at it, nodding to her and taking a bite. The juicy scents and smells of the forest mingled with the taste, and he found himself suddenly famished. He quickly snapped up the mouse in three bites, licking his lip as he looked at Fuzzytail.

"Better?" she asked.

"Yes." Tigerpaw mewed in response, leaning against Fuzzytail's fuzzy gray pelt. "I... I just... I've set an impossible, and Stoatpaw can't possibly comprehend it. He's too pudgy and weak, and can barely hold his own in a fight. I don't want to admit it, but there's no way Stoatpaw could ever understand my goal." he looked up at Fuzzytail, who blinked slowly, her mind whirring to find the right words to say.

"Well, maybe he does feel that way, but to a lesser degree. Say you want to become leader." she was using it as an example, but Tigerpaw felt a pang- that was his goal exactly. "You really want to become leader, and think you have all the qualifications to become one. Stoatpaw might feel the same way, but he might want to shoot for becoming a warrior instead of a leader. He's got the desire, but isn't shooting for the same position."

"... You could be an excellent medicine cat. You understand just how cats think!" Tigerpaw purred, and Fuzzytail smiled. The two big farewell, and Tigerpaw saw Stoatpaw asleep, his fluffy white body going up and down with each chest. He walked up to his brother, touching him on the nose with his.

"I'm sorry, Stoatpaw. I was really insensitive earlier. I... I shouldn't have said what I said."

Tigerpaw opened his eyes to a grassy field. A cat was standing in front of him, her pelt a swirl of color. But as soon as she turned around, he knew she was beautiful.

She was obviously just a figment of his imagination, and as her face lit up when she saw him, a burning desire grew in his chest. She came up to him, and he began to sweat; he hated and loved this feeling. It made him feel... indescribable. She walked up to him and rubbed her cheek against his.

"Oh, Tigerpaw, I love you." she murmured, pressing her forehead against his.

She smelled like the river, full of excitement and wonder. The scent of oak graced her pelt, as well as an oddly earthy scent that Tigerpaw could only describe as Oakclan. He knew the love was forbidden, but this was a dream, and she wasn't real. No one would ever find out.

Ever.

Stoatpaw's nest was empty when Tigerpaw awoke.

"Stoatpaw?" He called groggily, raising his head and looking around. He stood to his paws and stretched; it felt good to release his claws and clean the dirt that had accumulated on them. Once he was all ready to start the day, he padded out of the den, only to see an obscure scene before him.

Pineholly and Brambleoak were sitting next to each other and chatting over a robin, while only a couple feet away, Leafclaw watched as his three kits played around with Stoatpaw. His eyes were bright as a kit, a tiny gray one with blue eyes, hobbled over and fell over his paws. He gently lifted her off the ground and let her go play with Stoatpaw and the others.

"Stoatpaw!" Tigerpaw called, and the kits lifted their heads to look at Tigerpaw. Stoatpaw's head lifted in surprise, and the kits clambered off of him as he stood. Tigerpaw awkwardly went up to him, noticing how Stoatpaw's fur bristled slightly.

"Hello, Tigerpaw." Stoatpaw's voice was cold. It was obvious he did not want to speak to his brother, looking away from the patched apprentice. "What do you want?"

"Er, hi, Stoatpaw." Tigerpaw meowed awkwardly, and the two stood in silence. Tigerpaw could feel Brambleoak and Pineholly's eyes on them, before immersing themselves in their conversation once more- this time with hushed voices.

In an attempt to steer the conversation in a more positive direction, Tigerpaw glanced down at the three kits. His gaze met the dark gray kit's eyes, and she gasped, hiding behind her two siblings. "What're their names, Stoatpaw?"

"The mottled kit is Cloudkit, the dark gray kit is Hollykit, and the dark brown kit is Larkkit." Stoatpaw told him, and Tigerpaw was relieved to hear the anger in his voice dissipate... somewhat. "Cloudkit likes to watch, and Hollykit and Larkkit like to play fight a lot."

"Stoatpaw! Tigerpaw! Come here!" the two brothers turned their heads to face Pineholly, who was beckoning them towards her. The brothers exchanged glances and trotted up to their mother, who gave them each affectionate licks on the forehead.

"Yes?" Stoatpaw asked, sitting down. His pudgy little body seemed to not be made for standing, as he reclined peacefully to talk to his mother.

"Are you two doing okay? How's your apprenticeship? You two aren't fighting, are you?" she was worried for her kits; she loved them very much. After the usual questions, she sighed and smiled. "I've got something very important to tell you two. Your father and I are having kits again."

Tigerpaw's eyes widened. "Kits?" he croaked out, blinking. Stoatpaw's jaw went completely slack and fell, his blue eyes becoming bright disks as he blinked at his mother, who nodded.

"Yes, kits. They'll be your younger siblings! Darkseed checked me a little earlier, and says it isn't definite, but you might have four new siblings." her eyes widened as she said this, and Tigerpaw's face lit up.

"Will you let me name one?" he asked, and Pineholly nodded. He turned to Stoatpaw. "Stoatpaw! I get to name one!"

"Can I name one too?" Stoatpaw squeaked, standing up surprisingly fast for someone of his size. "Oh, please let me name one!"

"Okay, okay! You both can name one." Pineholly watched as her two sons exchanged glances, dashing backwards and beginning a play fight. She rolled her eyes just as Leafclaw padded up, giving Brambleoak an affectionate lick on her cheek.

"Do you mind if I borrow my apprentice and Tigerpaw?" he asked, swiping a tongue across his lips. The queens nodded, calling to Stoatpaw and Tigerpaw. The two ran up, spirits high.

Leafclaw led them away, and they were soon accompanied by Shiningeyes. The two mentors faced them, and Tigerpaw sat up straight. This seemed important."

"Okay, you two. Tomorrow, you both are going on a border patrol. Stoatpaw, you and Leafclaw have the dawn patrol, so you better be up early. Tigerpaw," she said his name loudly, turning to her apprentice. "You and I have the sunhigh patrol. Afterwards, you both will be doing something that only Steamclan does."

"What would that be?" Tigerpaw asked, his tail twitching in excitement.

Leafclaw and Shiningeyes exchanged a look. Shiningeyes took in a breath, closing her eyes. When she opened them, the mismatched colors were twinkling as she spoke.

"You two are on Hot Spring Duty."