Sootpaw looked up through the trees and squinted against the sun.

"I think Bramblestar's gone crazy. It's so hot out here!" Berrynose was complaining as he flicked drops of water at his face and chest. "We should be back at camp resting in the shade!"

"Quit mewling like a kit! You're a warrior! This is nothing compared to the drought we had a while ago!" Dustpelt grumbled. "If you can't take this, you can't do to visit SandClan, so toughen up."

Sootpaw stuck his paw in the small puddle of cool water and rubbed it across his face. They were trying to conserve this small source of water, but it didn't seem to be going very well. They had already used over half the puddle, and none of it had been drank.

"Hey!" Twigpaw came over and flicked her brother on the ear with her tail. "Whatcha up to?"

"Not much. This is so boring! There's nothing to do!" Twigpaw snorted.

"Then let's go hunt. I'm sure Bramblestar will be fine with letting us do that." She led Sootpaw over to the leader where he was sharing tongues with Brackenfur.

"Bramblestar, can Sootpaw and I go hunt for a little bit? We figured that if we're out here, we might as well be doing something productive." Sootpaw saw hesitation flash in the leader's eyes, but then he nodded.

"Alright, but be back soon. And don't drink any water while you're out; that's cheating," he called after them as they ran off.

Twigpaw and Sootpaw hunted for a little while and took their catches back to the clearing where the rest of the cats going to visit SandClan were getting ready to go back to camp.

"Sootpaw, can I speak to you? I'll have Lionblaze take your prey back to camp," Bramblestar mewed. Lionblaze took the shrew and the mouse that Sootpaw had killed and walked away so the two cats could speak in private.

"What is it, Bramblestar?" The tom looked a little awkward.

"I don't want you to go on the trip to SandClan. I want you to stay here and help Cloudtail keep the camp under control." Sootpaw barely kept his jaw from dropping open as he stared at his leader in disbelief.

"Why!"

"I think it would be good for you to experience Clan life while the leader's gone. It brings out many cats' true colors." Sootpaw's ears were growing hot as he fought the urge to attack his leader.

"Did I do something wrong?" Bramblestar just shook his head.

"I'm sorry," was all the leader could say as he turned away from the crestfallen apprentice. He led the group of cats away through the trees and left Sootpaw all alone in the forest.

The young cat sat down onto his haunches and looked down. He saw a leaf, so fragile and weak. There was a tearing sound as Sootpaw sliced his claws through it.

"Why can't Twigpaw stay and help Cloudtail?"

"Because everyone thinks she's better than you," a sly whisper stirred Sootpaw's ear fur.

"Who's there?" He turned around, spitting. A shadowy figure loomed in front of him. "Thistleclaw?" Sootpaw still didn't feel completely comfortable around the mottled grey tom, but he wasn't uncomfortable, either.

"You remembered me." Sootpaw expected a purr, but Thistleclaw's mew was almost a growl. "I hope you'll come to me tonight."

"How do I do that?" Thistleclaw's whiskers twitched.

"Didn't you think about where you wanted to go before you went to sleep?" Sootpaw stared at him blankly.

"No. I just… woke up there." The tall shadowy cat sneered.

"Ah. So you're the summoned one, eh? I'll fetch you later and we can get started on making your clanmates notice you more than your sister." His whisper faded away and went with the breeze that tugged on Sootpaw's fur.

The chilled apprentice slunk back to camp and slipped into the apprentice's den. He closed his eyes and waited for blackness to swamp him.

It did, but only for a second.

His eyes blinked open and he was alone in the shadowy forest he awoke in the night before. Thistleclaw appeared out of thin air and stared down at him.

"Get up," he hissed. "We start tonight." His voice echoed with an eeriness. "I suggest you pay attention, or I'll have to teach you a lesson."

Thistleclaw led Sootpaw through the darkness. Screeches and yowls seemed to hang in the air around him. The trees thinned out into a clearing, and Sootpaw recognized many of the cats there. Tigerheart, Breezepelt, and many other Clan cats were there. But the most shocking appearance was Ivysong.

What is she doing here?

Suddenly, he was bowled over and a great weight was pushed down on him. Hot, stinky breath bathed Sootpaw's face.

"I told you to pay attention!" Thistleclaw's claws dug into Sootpaw's side, causing him to yowl in pain. "Now get up and listen for a change!"

The pressure was relieved from the apprentice's body and he got to his wobbly paws. He turned to face Thistleclaw who was staring at him, teeth bared and back arched. Suddenly, he lunged for Sootpaw, and the light glinted off his thorn-sharp teeth.

Sootpaw dodged the snapping jaws and stuck his hind leg out, catching Thistleclaw off-guard and making him face-plant into the dirt. The grey apprentice whirled around to face his attacker. Thistleclaw sneered at him, obviously glad to finally have a cat who posed somewhat of a challenge.

Then, another cat stepped out of the shadows and stood by Thistleclaw's side.

"Care to help me, Mistlepond?"

"No problem," the spotted she-cat purred with a grin.

Sootpaw gulped. Two cats against one? That wasn't fair! He braced himself for the attack, but before anyone could move, Ivysong stepped out of the undergrowth and stood beside Sootpaw.

"Come on, at least give him a fair fight."

"Fine…" Some other words were muttered, but Sootpaw's eyes began to close. His paws ached and his side throbbed. Before he knew it, he was collapsed onto the forest floor.