Chapter one

"Hello? Where am I?" Blossompaw yelled. Blossompaw was so confused. She ran and ran but came nowhere. "Hello?" Blossompaw called out. She gasped when she saw a big shadow engulf her. Then she felt something prodding at her side. She then woke up, startled. What a weird dream! Then she realized that her mentor, Mintheart was standing over her.

"Wake up! We have a big day ahead of us!" Mintheart said. Mintheart nudged Blossompaw with her head and walked out of the apprentices den.

Blossompaw looked to her right hoping to see her best friend, Amberpaw. Amberpaw must already be out training… noticing that Amberpaw's moss was empty. She then looked to her left, hoping to see her brother, Hawkpaw. He wasn't there either. Oakpaw, Hawkpaw's best friend wasn't there either. She then got up and went outside. A cool breeze greeted her to the early leaf fall days. She let out a sigh and then she remembered what today was. She shivered with excitement. Today's the gathering! She really hoped that Bramblestar would pick her to go! That would make it her third gathering so far.

Mintheart beckoned to her with her tail.

Blossompaw nodded and walked over to her.

"Ready to head out?" Mintheart asked.

Blossompaw nodded and followed her mentor, who was walking towards the ravine.

They walked through the trees and finally got to the training hollow.

Blossompaw immediately saw Amberpaw and without thinking first, ran up to her and tackled her playfully.

Amberpaw hissed, annoyed, as to she was hunting a mouse.

They both heard a scuffling noise and turned to see the mouse run away.

"Hey! I would've caught that mouse if it wasn't for you!" Amberpaw scolded.

"Sorry Amberpaw! I was just so excited for the gathering tonight!" Blossompaw said, looking down at her paws.

Amberpaw turned away, facing her annoyed mentor, Ravenpelt.

"Amberpaw! You should have caught that mouse! Do you want to become a warrior?" Ravenpelt scolded Amberpaw.

Amberpaw quivered in fear. "Yes, Ravenpelt… I do!" Amberpaw said, trying to sound way more confident then she actually felt.

Ravenpelt looked down at his apprentice. "Then start acting like you want it! You have to be able to catch a mouse if you want to be a warrior! How are you going to feed the clan if there's not enough fresh-kill? There's one answer: YOU DON'T! Have I made myself clear?!"

"Y-yes R-R-Ravenpelt…" Amberpaw stuttered.

Blossompaw saw this argument. Ravenpelt is so mean to Amberpaw! I must do something!

"Don't talk to my friend like that! She doesn't deserve this!" Blossompaw yelled.

Amberpaw looked away from her, and down at her paws. "You're right, Blossompaw… You deserve this!"

Blossompaw stared at Amberpaw in shock. She didn't actually mean that… did her? "But we're best friends! Aren't we?"

Before Amberpaw could reply, Mintheart walked up to Blossompaw, resting her tail on her shoulder. "You guys can work this out later. "C'mon Blossompaw, today I want to show you a few attack moves!" Mintheart beckoned her tail for them to go to the furthest corner away from Amberpaw and Ravenpelt.

Why is Amberpaw so mad at me? It was an honest mistake? Blossompaw wondered. She pushed that thought to the back of her head and started wondering what the gathering is going to be like tonight. That is… If she will go…

Mintheart cleared her throat and Blossompaw focused her attention back on training.

After they were finished training, they walked back to camp and through the ravine.

Mintheart looked at Blossompaw. "Feed the elders then get some fresh-kill for yourself. You've trained well today. I'll mention that to Bramblestar. Maybe he will let you go to the gathering."

Blossompaw looked at her with confusion

"Don't think I haven't noticed that you were drifting off at training!" Mintheart said, amused.

Blossompaw looked down at her paws a little embarrassed. She kicked a small rock and Mintheart smirked.

With that done, Blossompaw quickly ran over to the fresh-kill pile and took a squirrel. She looked back and realized Mintheart was still watching her so she ran with the squirrel in her mouth over to Hawkpaw and Oakpaw.