Cricketpaw stalked through the undergrowth. She parted her jaws, scenting a mouse nearby. Her mouth watered as she stepped
quietly through the bushes. A fat mouse sat nibbling on a nut a few tail-lengths in front of her. She crouched down, ready to pounce
when she heard someone calling her name. "Cricketpaw! Wake up!"
Cricketpaw blinked open her eyes. She lay in the apprentices den next to her brother and sister, who were also waking up. Rainfur
stood over her, her paw raised, ready to prod her again if she didn't wake up. "Now that you're awake, we can get ready to go. If
you're hungry, you can grab something to eat before you go, but you better hurry. I'll meet you near the Entrance Tunnel." Rainfur
meowed and turned and walked out of the apprentices den. Cricketpaw stood and stretched, then calmly walked into the clearing. Her
siblings bounced out of the den behind her, clearly excited to start their first day of training. Cricketpaw could barely suppress her
excitement, but she refused to show it. What would her mentor, let alone clan deputy, think if she bounced around the clearing like a
kit? She made her way across the clearing to the fresh kill pile. Grabbing a vole, she settled herself beneath the Willow, escaping from
the early morning green-leaf heat. Quickly she finished off the vole and headed toward the Entrance Tunnel, where Rainfur,
Shadedcloud and Creamspots were waiting. Rainfur stood up when she saw Cricketpaw. "Ready to go," she asked. Cricketpaw
nodded, and Rainfur lead the way through the tunnel of brambles.