Hi everyone! Just a tiny bit of writer's block but that's it! :P

Echostrike: Thanks, but, I'm afraid something's going to change with Blossomsoul! That's the only hint you readers get!

Snowdrop: That pairing could work! I'll try to get a few more ideas before actually deciding the pairing!

Chapter 4

Icestar yawned, and woke up. She stretched her muscles, and padded outside. The sun shone weakly above the bare branches of the few trees in Twolegplace. She surveyed the camp. The flimsy pile of reeds, twigs and moss was the apprentices' den. Blossomsoul had taken some reeds from the nearby stream across the Thunderpath.

A strong wind picked up, and the warriors' den swayed. Icestar growled under her breath. They needed to take real territory soon, and they would be lucky if they made it through next leaf-bare. Come on! She reminded herself. Icestar picked her way down from the tall, wood-like structure that smelled of crowfood and rotting meat.

"Shadow!" she called, raising her voice above the howling wind. "We must hurry!" Her eyes flashed with annoyance when she saw that he was still asleep. Biting roughly into his scruff, she dragged him out. "Stand up!" she snarled. "A real warrior must be ready when their leader calls!" Shadow stood up.

"I'm not a warrior," he grumbled. "I'm a learner." Icestar rolled her eyes.

"Well, you will be a warrior soon," she snapped. "So better get used to waking up early. I thought I had this talk with you yesterday." Shadow walked mutinously away.

"Let's get this over with," he sighed. Icestar bounded after him. They reached the border.

"Now, Shadow," Icestar began. Let's start with the basics. What do you smell?"

"You," Shadow replied, eyes flashing with amusement. "I can tell a badger passed through here a few hours ago and a Twoleg and dog came here yesterday." Icestar sniffed the air as well. Shadow was right.

"How can you tell that the badger didn't pass through here yesterday and the Twoleg and dog passed through here a few hours ago?" she questioned.

"The badger's scent is fresh, and the droppings it left are fresh," Shadow explained. "The Twoleg's scent and the dog's scent are stale, and the droppings that the dog left are stale." Icestar nodded.

"The droppings tie into what we're going into next. Your navigating skills." She bounded away. "I asked Pineglare to freshen the scents where a badger passed through." Her eyes glinted. "You have to navigate to where the badger went and what it was after." She looked up to the sky. "You have until sunhigh."

(Shadow's POV)

The black tom pelted off. He sniffed the air. The lingering scent of rabbit, fox and squirrel whipped through the air. No badger scent. Wait! Shadow sniffed harder. There was a musky, swampy scent underneath. Badger! Shadow pelted off, stopping occasionally to check the leaves of the trees and checking the trunks.

"He must have gone that way," Shadow meowed aloud. "The trail is trampled and I can see claw marks." He ran off again, nearly tripping over three light gouges in the ground. "The badger's tracks!" he breathed happily. Shadow started to run again, and skidded to a halt in front of Icestar.

"Mission failed," she growled, though he could see pleasure in her eyes. "You didn't make it on time." She stepped away. "You have five badger-lengths more space to go to get to your destination." She paused. Shadow sighed, lowering his gaze. "But, those were some great tracking skills." Her eyes gleamed. "Tell me what the badger was after."

"It was after prey," Shadow mumbled. "Its pawprints were light, and were spaced apart, like it was chasing something." He added proudly, "It seemed like an unsuccessful hunt." Icestar gave him an approving look.

"Those details may not be necessary," she reminded him. "But it's best to keep track." She sighed, and glanced at the sun. "You can do a bit of hunting before we go back to camp." Shadow nodded dutifully.

By sunset, Shadow had caught five mice, two squirrels and one rabbit. Icestar shot a look at his catches. "That is a good amount for a beginner," she meowed. "But I will expect more from you in the next half-moon." Shadow sighed and cast a look at his prey.

Icestar's impossible to please sometimes. How will I ever earn her trust? "Congrats, brother!" Silver called to him from where she was play-fighting with Snow. "But, you might want to catch more next time." She came over and nudged his shoulder. "Just kidding. That's a good amount of food." She eyed the rabbit. "Can I have it?"

"Sure," Shadow grumbled. He tossed his mouse with a claw absentmindedly. Icestar came over. Disapproval flashed in her gaze.

"Don't play with you food," she snapped. "It could feed you and save your life one day." Shadow sighed again, for like, the millionth time. Icestar somehow still wasn't pleased with him.

"Sorry, Icestar," he muttered dejectedly. "I'll remember next time." Icestar lashed her tail.

"You better!" With those words, she stormed off. Silver came up to him, her blue eyes filled with sympathy.

"Don't take her seriously," Silver advised. "She just has a lot on her mind and it's stressing her out." Shadow's temper got the best of him.

"How do you know so much all of a sudden?" he snapped, fur bristling. Whirling around, he stormed off. Tension crackled in the air. As he entered the apprentices' den, Snow shot a dark look at him. Shadow looked up, feeling miserable for himself.

"Shadow," she meowed curtly, her eyes cold. "Meet me tonight with Icestar at the Bent Tree."

That was my worst ending ever. :P. Oh well. If you play Animal Jam, buddy me! I'm Briarlight07011. Buddy me! Let me repeat! BUDDY ME!

Review.

Meep.

~Sandstorm (and Amberflower)