"Runningpaw…Runningpaw? Wake up, Runningpaw!" Hissed a voice. A paw was being prodded into Runningpaw's side as he slowly gained consciousness.

The light brown tom looked up and saw Skypaw, sitting there with his eyes wide with worry. "Runningpaw? Runningpaw, are you awake?" He groaned. "Oh no, Mossflower come quick! Runningpaw's dead!"

Runningpaw whipped his head up to look at Skypaw. He was still a little blurry, but his vision kept getting better each second. "R-Runningpaw?" Skypaw muttered. "You're alive!"

"Um, yeah, why wouldn't I?" Runningpaw joked. "I was just asleep! Well, I was until you prodded me awake like some kind of stubborn bird!" He purred.

"Hey!" Skypaw growled. He flattened his ears playfully. "Am I a pigeon? 'Cause I want to be a robin! They're so good looking they are complete showoffs!"

Runningpaw laughed. "No, I'm thinking you should be a big, fat thrush." He batted his friend on the ear.

The two apprentices started to play-fight with sheathed claws. Runningpaw got on top of Skypaw and pretended to rake his claws down his back. Skypaw howled and flipped the light brown tom over. He kicked his friend lightly with gray paws, and Runningpaw let out a defeated huff.

"I won!" Skypaw cried. "I actually beat the great Runningpaw!"

"Only because I was easy on you!" Runningpaw chuckled. He batted his sheathed claws across the bridge of Skypaw's muzzle.

The light gray tom pretended to shake the blood off of his muzzle. "Oh, now you've done it, you clumsy apprentice!" He growled, imitating the huge frame of the grumpy senior warrior, Phantomheart. Skypaw took his friend by the scruff and shook him around softly.

Runningpaw howled with mock defeat. He went limp in Skypaw's grip.

The two apprentices laughed at each other's moves, rolling on the ground. "You were such a bumbling badger!" Skypaw chuckled.

"At least I wasn't some kind of fox, going up and down and all around me like I was your mate!" Runningpaw joked back.

"Hey! I'm as sly as a fox, not as slick as one!" Skypaw snapped back playfully.

The two froze almost automatically as they saw the huge shadow of Mudpelt looming over them. "Quit fooling around," He growled. "Go to Ashstar's den- she wants to see you. Not you, Skypaw," He hissed as he saw the gray apprentice get up, "Just Runningpaw."

Skypaw flattened his ears. Runningpaw gave him an apologetic look and padded after Mudpelt. He didn't dare say anything, as the warrior was giving him a hard stare over his shoulder as they went across the clearing.

"Here you are," Mudpelt growled. Runningpaw nodded and shyly crawled into the den. He saw Ashstar sitting there, her tail curled around her paws. Cinderhope was standing by her, gently grooming her with slow, steady movements.

Ashstar seemed happy to see the apprentice. "Come in, Runningpaw," She mewed brightly. She got up from Cinderhope's gentle bath and came up to Runningpaw.

"Hello, Ashstar." Runningpaw greeted politely. He dipped his head in the presence of the leader.

She smiled. "You were always so loyal, Runningpaw," She purred. "Runningpaw, I would like you to go on a mission."

The light brown tom brightened up. A mission! This could make him a warrior almost sooner! "Yes, Ashstar," He mewed, trying to hide his excitement.

"Runningpaw, I would like you to go to Twolegplace."

He flattened his ears. This was not how he expected to hear his mission. "What?" He asked.

"Yes, I want you to go to Twolegplace. Yes, I have made my decision. I will let the kittypets join the Clan. We need the most warriors we can get these days, and I'm sure that that kittypet you met is higher than usual standards. She will have a fighting chance out here in the wild."

Runningpaw wasn't sure what to think. Happy that this probably was going to help him go faster on the path to be a warrior, and that Molly was finally going to join the Clan. But worried that Ashstar might ignore this act just because it included kittypets, and that Molly not might be welcome in the Clan.

"Are you sure that the Clan will accept her? You know, for who she is?" Runningpaw asked uncertainly.

Ashstar shrugged. "I'm sure that she will prove herself to have a place here in ThunderClan."

"When shall I leave?" Asked Runningpaw.

She shrugged. "I don't know why today isn't reasonable. How about you leave at…Sunhigh?" Ashstar tipped her head.

Runningpaw nodded. "Sure, Ashstar. Sounds good. May I go and get some prey to eat before I leave?" He asked. It actually was almost Sunhigh, which meant that he would be leaving soon.

"Yes. You may get something to eat, and also you may take another cat along to the Twolegplace. Yes, that's a good idea. Get the cat to take along and meet me back in my den. Okay?"

Runningpaw beamed. "Yes, okay!" He ducked to get out of the den and headed for the fresh-kill pile. He saw Brindlepaw there, slowly picking her way through the fresh-kill pile and trying to find something good to eat.

"Hello," He greeted brightly, trying to cheer the saddened she-cat up.

She flicked her brown tail in a silent greeting, but said nothing more. She finally picked a thrush and left for the apprentice's den to eat it with her friend Bloodpaw.

Runningpaw wondered why Brindlepaw was so…not silent, but…sad. She was always quiet and melancholy, and Runningpaw hadn't seen her smile ever since…ever since what? He remembered something happening when she was an apprentice for about a moon. But what was it?

He shook the threatening thoughts out of his head and tried to pick something. He decided on a simple mouse and started to rip at its fur.

There was a short sound, and Runningpaw looked up from his prey to see Cinnamonpaw briskly trotting towards the fresh-kill pile with a stack of some kind of leaf in her jaws. He flicked his tail in a silent greeting and kept eating, saying nothing through his mouthfuls of mouse.

"Hi Runningpaw," She greeted cheerfully. She licked him on the ear as she settled herself down and helped herself. It was strange that she was the one that was coming to the pile, as usually other cats would get the medicine cats prey, depending on how busy they were.

Cinnamonpaw set to work. She picked up a starling and slowly started to cut a small incision in the belly. She picked up the herbs and started chewing.

Runningpaw tipped his head thoughtfully. "What have you got there?" He asked.

Cinnamonpaw blushed. "Oh, I'm just…" Her voice trailed off slowly after she had replied. She then said nothing and went back to the work of preparing the herb.

The light ginger she-cat spat out the gooey mixture and stuffed it into the mouse. Runningpaw grimaced. He hated to be the poor soul that had to eat that mouse-bile.

"Um, who is that for?" He asked, trying not to pry.

Cinnamonpaw shook her head. "Nobody. J-just do whatever you were doing." All of a sudden she was a little blue.

"You mean eating?" Joked Runningpaw. He chuckled at his joke, but Cinnamonpaw didn't seem to be laughing.

"I'll see you later, Runningpaw," She called over her shoulder. Her ears were flattened and her tail drooped as she looked back at the apprentice with her silver eyes sadly.

Runningpaw snorted. What was up with her? All of a sudden her cheery, happy nature had just dissolved…maybe he had said something rude to her. But she usually wasn't the one to take rude comments too seriously, if Runningpaw had even said anything of the like.

Runningpaw licked his lips and finished up his mouse. He had to find whom he was going to take with him to the Twolegplace to pick up Molly.

He tried to look for Skypaw, as he was the first choice for Runningpaw to take along. But he couldn't find his friend anywhere. Must have been on patrol.

So that was out. What about… he tried to think of who he could bring along.

Chasepaw?

No, he wouldn't like where he was going. Plus, he loathed Runningpaw.

Bloodpaw?

No, she wasn't the best for the job. Besides, she had to stay here for Brindlepaw. The poor tabby was a little under the weather, and needed a little tender loving care from one of her best friends from when they were kits.

Runningpaw was sure none of the warriors would want to go… He realized with a pang of grief that Stormfeather would have been willing to go. Or Featherstream. Runningpaw would love to take either one of those warriors along with him.

Cinnamonpaw-too busy.

Cloverkit- too young.

No cat seemed to be the right one to go with him.

Should he go alone? No cat would want to go with him, except maybe Cinderhope. But he was way to busy as a deputy to go with him. ThunderClan wouldn't be able to have a day without the deputy. Well, they could, but it would be very disorganized.

Runningpaw decided that he should just wait for Skypaw. But would Skypaw be back before he left? Besides, Runningpaw would be leaving any minute now, as the sun was high in the sky. Should he wait for his friend, or take the chance of just leaving by himself?

The two options whirred around in his head like in a wasp's nest. He shook the thoughts out of his head bitterly. He would wait for Skypaw- that would probably be the best idea.

Runningpaw's heart sank as he saw Ashstar come padding across the clearing. "Runningpaw!" She called. "Have you eaten?"

He nodded but stared down at his paws.

"You've chosen, right?" She asked.

Runningpaw shook his head. "No, Ashstar. I couldn't find anyone suitable."

"But what about Skypaw?"

The apprentice sighed. The leader had practically read his mind. "Skypaw isn't in camp," He mewled glumly.

Ashstar hung her head. "Oh. I guess you'll have to go by yourself? It would be nice to go with a friend, but…" She shrugged. "There's nothing saying that you can't go alone."

Runningpaw nodded dully. Was it really worth it just to go alone? Why did he have to go now? Why couldn't he go the next day? Or the day after?

Runningpaw sighed. "I guess you're right, Ashstar. Should I go alone? Do you think that it is a good idea?" He asked.

The smoky gray she-cat pawed at the earth. "How about…Goldpuddle? Would she be able to accompany you on your journey?"

Runningpaw shook his head. "No, she's a little too old. She is the oldest cat in ThunderClan."

Ashstar screwed up her face in thought. "Wellll…what about Spottedfoot?"

She was on patrol, probably the same patrol that Skypaw was on.

"Wait, Runningpaw, I have an idea!" Ashstar mewed excitedly.

"What?"

"How about I come with you!"