Maplepaw loved training. She loved the birds singing in the forest. She loved the rushing sound of the deep, clear river as it slid passed. Her favorite place, however, was the far river bank. The first time she'd swam across the river all she could think about was what it would be like to be a queen who had lost her kits to the water, but that vision soon left her mind. Now, she loved the water and the marsh on the other side. In a quarter moon, Maplepaw had learned a great deal about fishing and land hunting. However, when she and Silverfur did battle practice it often felt awkward. Thanks to Troutfang, Maplepaw was already a great fighter. Silverfur seemed proud of Maplepaw's skills, but still made the occasional offhand comment about how different the moves were or asked awkward questions about where she'd learned them.
"Maplepaw! Its time to go fishing!" Silverfur meowed.
"I'm coming," Maplepaw yawned.
"So you've been telling me. Don't make me come in there and drag you out again! Any cat would think you never slept at night," Silverfur growled.
Maplepaw tried not to flinch. Silverfur had struck too close to home. Troutfang was bent on training every night, which meant Maplepaw never got much rest.
Maplepaw cast a longing look at her nest before leaving the den.
"Nice of you to join me," Silverfur mewed tartly.
"Sorry. I just didn't sleep well," Maplepaw replied.
"You tell me that every day. Why can't you ever sleep?" Silverfur asked, the annoyance in her eyes changing to concern.
"I don't know," Maplepaw muttered.
"There's something you aren't telling me. I won't ask what, but if you want to tell me, you can," Silverfur meowed.
"Yes, Silverfur,"
"I have the feeling those battle skills of yours have something to do with your lack of sleep. Now, let's fish and I'll let you sleep in tomorrow," Silverfur said.
Even though she had a talent for making awkward conversations, Silverfur always knew when to let things drop. Maplepaw sat on the river bank and looked down into the water. A flash of silver caught her eye. Fast as lightning she darted a paw into the water and pulled out a small carp.
"Great job! Why don't you try to dive down and grab a fish off the floor?" Silverfur asked.
"Can you show me how?"
"That's my job. Follow me under so you can watch me. Make sure you don't splash."
The two she-cats dove down. Maplepaw watched as Silverfur snatched another carp in her front claws and then pushed up with her back legs. Silverfur set her catch on the bank and pinned it with a paw before giving it a killing bite.
"You try. I'll dive with you until you get the hang of it," Silverfur ordered.
Maplepaw dove down again. There were tons of carp, more than enough to feed the clan. Maplepaw grasped a fish that was at least half her size. She managed to get it onto the bank, but before she could pin it, the fish made a dive for the water and splashed under the surface.
"Frog dung!" Maplepaw hissed.
"You did well on the dive, but move a bit faster when pinning the fish. Also, try for a smaller fish," Silverfur meowed.
"But I wanted to see the looks on everyone's faces when I brought in that huge fish," Maplepaw mewed sadly.
"Of course you did. Maybe you can find it again, but first try with smaller fish," Silverfur purred with amusement.
Maplepaw dove down again. She hooked up a fish and this time managed to kill it.
"Well done!" Silverfur meowed warmly.
"Can I try for another big one now?" Maplepaw asked.
"If you want to," Silverfur replied.
Somehow, Maplepaw found a fish that was almost as big as the one she'd lost. She got a grip on it and when she set it down she was able to kill it.
"Great job! You're a natural!" Silverfur purred, her eyes glowing with pride.
Maplepaw wasn't so sure about that. Sure, she was already great at fishing, but she was better at land hunting. Every time she entered the water she thought about death. Not her own death, but that of her loved ones, kits, to bee exact.
"Can we hunt in the forest now?" Maplepaw asked.
"You know most cats don't like forest prey. I know you love the forests, but let's stick to fish for now," Silverfur explained.
"Stormpaw and I like it," Maplepaw meowed.
"I said let's stick to fish," SILVERFUR meowed in a tone that didn't invite argument.
By sunhigh, Maplepaw had a good sized pile of fish. Silverfur helped her bring them into camp and set them on the fresh-kill pile.
"Why don't you take something to the queens and kits?" Silverfur meowed.
"Okay! Can I play with the kits?" Maplepaw asked eagerly.
"After you get them fresh moss," replied Silverfur.
Maplepaw took two of her carp toward the nursery.
"Did you catch those?" Applepaw's deep meow stopped Maplepaw in her tracks.
"Yes," she said, setting down her fish.
"I saw you come back with your catch. Did you catch all of those?"
"Silverfur caught a few," Maplepaw forced herself not to growl.
"Great job! Your almost as good as us older apprentices!" Applepaw exclaimed.
"Thanks. I've got a nursery to clean, if you don't mind," Maplepaw didn't bother to stifle her growl this time.
"Want a paw?" Applepaw was getting more annoying with each heartbeat.
"I'm perfectly capable of doing it myself,"
"If you change your mind, I'll be around," Applepaw meowed.
Maplepaw noticed that his tail had drooped slightly. Maplepaw couldn't figure out why Applepaw was trying to be friends after what he'd done. But what had he done? Betrayed her? The memory was there, but unable to surface. Maplepaw could imagine him saying and doing horrible things to her. She could feel her claws sinking into his flesh. A haze of red filled her vision.
"Maplepaw? Are you alright?" it was Cloudleaf.
"Why?" Maplepaw asked.
Cloudleaf beckoned Maplepaw toward the pool. Maplepaw looked into the water at her reflection. She was surprised to find that her fur was standing on end and her eyes were wild. She looked over and noticed that the two fish she'd been taking to the nursery were in bad shape. One had been reduced to a bloody pulp and the other was missing its head and had been clawed into several large pieces. Maplepaw looked down and noticed that her claws were clogged with fish.
"What were you doing?" Cloudleaf scolded.
"I don't know! I just got upset over nothing and then you were asking me if I was okay," Maplepaw replied.
"Okay, but no food for you until tomorrow," Cloudleaf meowed.
The kits were doing well. When Maplepaw entered the nursery with new fish, they ran to her excitedly.
"Hi, MAPLEPAW! Tell us about training and show us all the battle moves you know!" cried the kits.
"I have to get you new moss first," Maplepaw replied, with a small purr.
"We could use it," meowed Flowerlight, a huge light brown queen who had moved into the nursery a few days ago.
Maplepaw gave a fish to each queen.
"Did you catch this?" Streamfoot asked.
"Yes," Maplepaw told her, watching as she chewed some of the fish and spat it onto the ground for the kits.
As soon as the kits were done eating, Streamfoot started to shoo them outside.
"But we're sleepy," Glenkit squeaked.
"We're too full to play!" Moonkit added.
"Flowerlight? A little help here?" Streamfoot asked.
"Kits! Listen to your mother!" Flowerlight growled.
The kits bolted, clearly not wanting to anger Flowerlight. Maplepaw shrank away from Flowerlight's yellow eyes.
"Can I take your old moss, Flowerlight?" Maplepaw asked.
"Fine," Flowerlight meowed, and stood up.
Maplepaw left the camp and scraped earth over the old moss. she headed into the forest and found a tree who's roots were covered in thick, green moss. She began to claw it into a pile, but a rustle in the bushes interrupted her. She turned and saw two blue/silver ear-tips sticking out from a bush.
"Moonkit?" Maplepaw called.
"Hi! Can I help you get lots of moss for me and Flowerlight?" Moonkit squeaked.
"You know you aren't aloud to leave camp," Maplepaw told him.
"I'll be extra helpful!" the kit cried, leaping through Maplepaw's moss pile, scattering most of it and covering the rest with earth.
"No. I'm taking you back to camp," Maplepaw meowed.
"It would save time if you let me help," Moonkit said sweetly, resting his head on Maplepaw's flank.
She longed to give in, but she forced herself to shake her head, and lead Moonkit back to camp.
"There he is!" Streamfoot purred.
"Maplepaw was mean to me! She wouldn't let me help her gather moss!" Moonkit howled.
"Of course she didn't. You know better than to sneak out of camp," Streamfoot scolded.
"But the forest is cool! Can you take all of us kits out to play in it?"
"If you can show me that you're a good kit, I might take you out in a half-moon,"
"I'll just sneak out and not get caught!"
"You better not,"
"You're no fun!"
"We can have lots of fun in the camp. Am I right, Maplepaw?" Maplepaw caught Streamfoot's meaningful look.
"Yes! There are tons of ways! In fact, I've got a friend who knows lots of fun games!" Maplepaw meowed, trying to act as if this were the most exciting thing she'd ever said.
"Cool! Who is it?" Moonkit asked.
"Sit down and close your eyes, and I'll get my friend," Maplepaw meowed, feeling a small rush of pride as Moonkit did what he was told.
Maplepaw entered the Apprentices' Den. Applepaw was sitting up in his nest, washing his shoulder fur. Fernpaw was fast asleep in her nest.
"Hey, Applepaw. Can you help me with something?" Maplepaw asked.
"Sure!" he meowed, getting up a bit too eagerly for Maplepaw's liking.
"Can you play with Moonkit wile I get clean moss? He snuck out with me when I went out, and he's mad that he can't help. I told him I knew someone who would show him some fun games, and that someone is you,"
"Is that all you need?"
Maplepaw couldn't help but feel amused as she replied, "He's a pawful!"
"Let's go then," Applepaw stuck his head out of the den.
"Moonkit! You can open your eyes!" Maplepaw called.
Moonkit's eyes flew open. "It's Applepaw!" he mewed happily.
"Go get the others. I'll show you all tons of fun things," Applepaw meowed.
Maplepaw slipped out of camp, and soon returned with plenty of moss.
"Applepaw is fun!" Toadkit informed Maplepaw as she returned.
"I had so much fun!" Glenkit added.
"Applepaw's so smart!" Moonkit yowled.
"He's big and strong, and scary," Featherkit meowed.
"Let me fix the nests and then I'll come and play," Maplepaw meowed.
"We can help!" Glenkit offered.
"Let Maplepaw do her own work," Flowerlight called.
"If you want to, you can help, but its hard work," Maplepaw ignored Flowerlight.
As soon as they were inside the nursery and out of ear shot of the queens, the kits explained what they were up to.
"We want to make Flowerlight's nest extra special so she'll like us better," Toadkit whispered.
"That means that you will be giving up your own moss," Maplepaw meowed.
"It doesn't!" Moonkit said proudly, and he darted out into the camp.
"What's he doing?" Toadkit asked.
"StarClan knows!" Glenkit replied.
"I hope he doesn't get us in trouble,"
"I'm back!" MOONKIT interrupted.
"You've already eaten," Maplepaw told him, noticing the bird in his mouth.
"But Flowerlight needs the feathers!" Moonkit argued.
"Let's see if someone else wants it, then," Maplepaw meowed.
"Hi, Pikeheart!" Moonkit called to his father.
"Hi, my brave little warrior," Pikeheart meowed.
Maplepaw and Moonkit told him to eat the bird and then give Moonkit the feathers for Flowerlight.
"How kind of you," Pikeheart said approvingly.
That night, Maplepaw felt happy. She'd had a good day, and was ready for a good sleep that was not forthcoming.
"Your late," Troutfang snarled.
"I'm so tired. I just needed rest. I'm sorry," Maplepaw responded.
"Do not waste my time with excuses! And I don't care how tired you are! You are going to be a warrior, and warriors don't go around moaning about being tired!" Troutfang howled with anger.
"Yes, Troutfang."
"Now let's fight!" Troutfang shouted.
Maplepaw swiped at Troutfang with a strong, sheathed paw.
"What was that? Use your claws! Did you really think that would do anything? Learn to fight!" Troutfang spat.
"But I don't want to hurt you," Maplepaw meowed.
"And when you're in battle, are you just going to swipe your enemies with a soft paw and ask them nicely to leave you alone?"
"No,"
The night was, at the very least, torture. Troutfang was harsh and short-tempered.
"Go to sleep now. You need your rest for tomorrow night. I have a surprise," Maplepaw was frightened by Troutfang's silky tone. She was starting to have second thoughts about the tom who had at first seemed so kind, but who now seemed like a lunatic.
AN: Review replies!
Starsinger04: Thank you. I do feel kinda bad for them too.
subwayguy: Thank you! Stormpaw is OOC in chapters 1 through 4, and I needed to fix that.
Creekrunner: Thanks!
Warrior Lover: Thank you. I do try to reply to all reviews as a way to thank people for their support. However if I get flamed, I don't react in any way.
Pebblewish: Thanks! And sending in Lightningpaw in that PM is going to make writing this story way easier, so thanks for letting me use him!