I'm getting better at writing longer chapters! But sadly I'm not very good at the whole training practice scenario. Maybe people could explain to me how to write it all out? Anyways, I will not be updating until I get at least five or four reviews. That isn't so bad, right?

Chapter 7

Silvery strands of clouds swirled across the blue sky. Warm sunlight bathed Rockpaw's pelt as he followed Harespring to the training clearing. Two days had passed since he became an apprentice. Already he showed great promise, according to Harespring. During yesterday's 'border' patrol, he fought off a ShadowClan warrior that had sneaked into their territory. The warrior had been small though, and Rockpaw felt as though he had cheated by using his newly found powers.

As it turned out, the small mark on his left ear had glowed while he used the power he discovered. Now he could control the earth if he chose. Onestar had promised to give him special training, so that he could learn how to control his power. Kestrelflight had warned him that others might try to use it to their advantage. Of course, Rockpaw had chosen to ignore the medicine cat. He would never turn his back on a WindClan cat. Loyalty to his Clan came first.

Wind swept across the clearing as they approached. Goldenpaw and Sunstrike were already there, with Stonepaw and Weaselfur. The pair were practicing a move that WindClan cats were known for: The wind strike.

It was a move used by younger cats who didn't know very many defensive moves. A cat would have to find an area where there was little vegetation, and than suddenly strike at their enemy full speed. By now WindClan cats had learned other moves that didn't require such strategy.

"We'll be practicing the sweeping claw move," Harespring meowed as he entered the clearing. Both Weaselfur and Sunstrike had given them a wide birth. Now that most of WindClan knew about Rockpaw's power, they tried their best to stay on his good side. "The sweeping claw is a bit on the easy side, but it can help you win a battle," Harespring explained as he dropped to a crouch.

He swooped his paw downward, until suddenly striking up towards Rockpaw's muzzle. The apprentice jumped back with a yelp as claws unsheathed. Harespring purred in amusement when he noticed the expression on his apprentice's face. Rockpaw's eyes narrowed slightly.

"I shouldn't have unsheathed my claws," Harespring murmured. "It won't happen again."

It better not, Rockpaw thought with a low growl. A new-found confidence had sprung up since he discovered his power. If anything went wrong, or any cat fluffed his fur the wrong way, he could easily handle them. He knew that this wasn't what his powers were meant for, but he didn't care. So long as he gained the respect of his Clanmates, that was all that mattered.

The two cats continued practicing battle moves until the sun went down. By the time they'd finished, Rockpaw felt exhausted. Goldenpaw and Sunstrike had left the clearing to go hunting. Stonepaw was still there, but Weaselfur had gone a little further off. Harespring rose to his paws after practicing an advanced move that older apprentices used. The brown and white tom didn't look nearly as tired as Rockpaw felt.

"Why don't we do some hunting before we get back?" he suggested.

Rockpaw let out a low moan of distaste. He didn't feel the urge to hunt. But Harespring was already racing across the moors, towards a rabbit that had suddenly leaped out of its burrow. The young apprentice followed more slowly. Harespring would catch the rabbit before he could catch up anyways.

Harespring yowled in surprise when he felt the weight of another cat toss him to the side. Rockpaw's eyes widened in dismay when he saw what had happened. A thin light brown tabby had caught the rabbit in a single paw swipe. The rabbit squealed in shock as teeth met its flesh. The tabby made short work with its struggling and turned around to face Harespring.

"What are you doing?" he choked. "This is WindClan territory!"

Anger boiled within Rockpaw when he saw the tabby's fur bristle. "I saw it first!" she spat. "I could care less if this is WindClan's rabbit, I deserve it more than you do!"

Even as the two cats argued, Rockpaw felt his mind wandering towards a large boulder near Harespring. He knew that it was foolhardy to lift a rock that heavy. Everything could go wrong if he miscalculated where it landed. An eruption of yowl made all cats jump in surprise. Rockpaw's ears pricked forward when he recognized Crowfeather racing across the moor. Onestar was quick at his heals, with what seemed like the whole Clan.

The tabby's fur stood on end and her eyes became wild with fear. Rockpaw hissed in frustration when she fled past Harespring, knocking the young warrior over in the process. Her pelt had disappeared beyond the hills by the time Crowfeather's patrol reached Harespring and Rockpaw.

Coward! Rockpaw thought when he saw she had left the rabbit. It appeared as though the tabby had been starving, yet she was too terrified to defend her own kill. He would have clawed her pelt off had she been closer.

"What happened?" Onestar demanded when he finally caught up.

"That loner came across us," Harespring wheezed as he sprang to his paws. "But she carried the stench of ThunderClan," he added suspiciously.

Rockpaw rolled his eyes at the mention of ThunderClan. They were nothing more than a Clan full of kittypets and cowards. Onestar was constantly ambushing patrols to retake the forest that Bramblestar had claimed. A small stream ran through the forest, and it was the only source of water other than the lake around. On top of being cowardly, ThunderClan thought they were the greatest Clan around the lake. Just the very thought of the Clan made Rockpaw want to spit in their faces.

"Do you think it was Leafpool?" asked Furzeleaf. She had only been named a warrior two moons ago, yet she knew about cats like Leafpool.

According to what Heathertail had said, Leafpool vanished from ThunderClan once Bramblestar became leader. Most Clans hated the former medicine cat for what she had done. A look of sorrow and curiosity brightened Crowfeather's gaze.

He can't still miss her, right? Rockpaw wondered silently. The Clan had been in a state of shock when Onestar named Crowfeather as his deputy. Crowfeather had run away with Leafpool many seasons ago, but later returned after discovering a badger attack on ThunderClan. A few seasons later and the Clan had found out that he was the father of Jayfeather and Lionblaze. A traitor like him didn't deserve to be named deputy.

"I wouldn't be surprised," Onestar scoffed. "She's been hanging near the edge of ThunderClan for too long. We need to teach her a lesson." His claws unsheathed at the thought of punishing Leafpool for what she had done to his Clan.

Rockpaw couldn't help but agree with Onestar. The loner had a lot of nerve slinking around the edge of the Clans. She had no right to trespass. Much to Rockpaw's disdain, there were a few murmurs of disagreement.

"If we punish Leafpool Bramblestar will see this as an opportunity to attack," Leaftail growled. "We should bide our time and see what she is up to."

"Maybe she wants to ask for forgiveness," Crowfeather pointed out.

Onestar's amber eyes flashed angrily at his deputy's words. "I will never forgive her," he spat. "Firestar should have killed her when he had the chance. Instead he allowed her to live and become a warrior. Any leader who feels pity for a cat who broke the warrior code should be punished severely." The WindClan leader suddenly locked gazes with Rockpaw, who was crouched beside Harespring. A look of knowing passed his eyes.

Darkness had swallowed the moor by the time the Clan returned to camp. Swallowtail and Antpelt greeted the Clan enthusiastically.

"What happened?" The dark gray warrior asked.

Owlwhisker set her aside to explain everything. Onestar had told Rockpaw to meet him in his den when they returned. Already Rockpaw knew what he was going to ask. Or demand more likely. He could sense the anger Onestar felt towards ThunderClan. The betrayal the WindClan leader felt towards them.

"I know we shouldn't use your powers against an enemy Clan," he meowed after settling down in his nest in front of Rockpaw. "But Leafpool is no longer a Clan cat. She is stealing our prey, and has become nothing more than a nuisance to the Clan. If you are willing, I would like you to get rid of her. Permanently."

Rockpaw nearly choked on his own breath. He had expected Onestar to ask him to take care of Leafpool. But asking flat out was more than he could handle. He'd never killed a cat before out of cold blood. He glanced up at the starlit sky. Would StarClan approve of this?

"Do it for the sake of the Clan," Onestar whispered. "For the sake of Gorsetail's future kits."

Thoughts of Gorsetail and her future kits swam through Rockpaw. His claws unsheathed as he imagined what Leafpool could do to them if she found them. He couldn't let her near the camp. She had to be dealt with before any lives were lost. Yes. Leafpool would no longer be considered a threat once she 'disappeared'. He would take care of her, for the sake of his Clan.

Hope you guys liked the ending. I thought I'd throw in Leafpool as bait for Rockpaw, because she was never my favorite character to begin with. I'm an avid Squirrelflight fan :D Plus she'll probably end up dying soon anyways...Please remember to review!