Hollypaw padded across to the freshkill pile, trying to ignore Hazeltail's pained shrieks from the nursery. The queen had been howling all night, and between Redpaw's excited and the comings and goings from the nursery, she had gotten no sleep at all.

There was one piece of freshkill on the pile. The soggy mouse looked unappetizing in the morning light.

"Hollypaw! You'll be helping Lilypaw with her final assessment today," called Bramblestar as he bounded up to her. He was followed by Poppyfrost and said apprentice. Mud squelched under their paws.

"I haven't eaten yet."

"Neither have we. We'll be catching the first prey of the day. Isn't that right, Lilypaw?" Poppyfrost nudged her apprentice. Lilypaw didn't answer, didn't changed her carefully neutral expression. She was still grieving Seedpaw.

"Then I suppose we'll get to eat first?"

"Yes! That's the spirit, Hollypaw!" Poppyfrost sounded delighted that at least one of the apprentices was showing an interest in the assessment, albeit that it was in the food. Hollypaw vaguely remembered the warrior was her mother's littermate.

Bramblestar padded to the entrance tunnel, the others in tow, and entered the forest. The undergrowth was dripping wet.

Mud turned Hollypaw's fur brown. It clung uncomfortably to her skin. She could tell it was irritating Bramblestar and Poppyfrost, too.

Lilypaw's expression was carefully neutral. Again.

The group slowly drew to a halt at the heart of the territory. "Okay, Lilypaw, you'll be partner hunting with Hollypaw. Remember that you are leader of the patrol. Tell Hollypaw what to do and leave no room for uncertainty.

"We will be watching your every move and command. Catch as much prey as you can before sunhigh and meet us back here. Hollypaw is to help you only. She cannot catch your prey for you. You must keep track of all prey killed.

"Hollypaw, do not question Lilypaw's orders unless they break the warrior code or endanger your lives. Do not eat the prey. Do not sabotage her assessment. Help her as best you can. Good luck to both of you."

Bramblestar stepped backwards as Lilypaw brushed through the bracken. Hollypaw hurried to keep up.

Lilypaw skidded to a stop in a clearing and paced in front of the black apprentice."Look, you little rat, don't think I don't know what you'll try. I know what you did to Redpaw's catch all those moons ago and I will shred you if you think you get anything past me today. Clear?"

Hate burned in Hollypaw's chest like a forest fire. She wanted to say something nasty, crush Lilypaw's spirit. She didn't. "Crystal."

"Good." Lilypaw stalked away into the brush.

Hunting was very tense. Hollypaw didn't try anything. She had no doubt Lilypaw would make good on her threat.

XxX

They returned to camp with their mentors. Hollypaw was carrying two mice and a vole. Poppyfrost and Bramblestar held a bird each. Lilypaw brought up the rear of the patrol tugging a fat rabbit the apprentices had managed to surprise. Its feet dragged on the ground.

Cherrynose padded up to them as soon as the patrol emerged from the entrance tunnel. "Great! A hunting patrol is finally back with real food. The other patrol came back with a load of birds." Cherrynose, much like her father Berrynose, made sure the whole camp knew what she thought about everything. Every cat around the lake knew about her dislike of feathered freshkill.

Hollypaw placed the rodents down on the pile. The rest of the apprentices, excluding Redpaw who dragged the rabbit to the elders, swarmed around the freshly caught prey.

Cherrynose managed to grab herself a vole, Molefang took a thrush and Bloodpaw took the mice and remaining blackbird for the other apprentices. Hollypaw was left with nothing.

"Hollypaw! Come share with me," offered Molefang shifting to make space for her. She thought about refusing, but her belly gurgled loudly.

Hollypaw took a bite of the thrush as she sat down. Molefang swallowed some meat and began a conversation with her.

"Was that Lilypaw's warrior assessment you just went on? You guys were away for a while."

"How did you know we were gone so long?"

The brown warrior purred. His tail touched her flank. She felt uncomfortable. "I watched you guys leave, of course. Hazeltail kitting kept me awake for a long time."

Hollypaw noticed that the wails had stopped Hazeltail's mate was nowhere to be seen. "Have the kits been born yet?"

"Yup. Two toms. The biggest one's called Lionkit and the other is Thistlekit. That's all Jayfeather and Snowpaw told us. They're snoozing in their den now." Molefang rolled his eyes. "I went in there to chat with Snowpaw."

"What did she say?"

"Nothing, she was sound asleep. She was lying on Jayfeather's tail. I'm surprised he didn't notice, even if he was away in dreamland, too."

Hollypaw finished the thrush. This conversation was annoying her now and she wanted more than anything to snap at Molefang. She didn't; Hollypaw was just all too aware that Molefang was one of the two cats in her age group who would talking to her willingly. She didn't want to lose that.

"I'm pretty tired myself, Molefang," said Hollypaw. "I think I'll go get some sleep. See you."

"Bye, Hollypaw! Sweet dreams!" Why was Molefang's meow always so enthusiastic?

Hollypaw padded past Amberpaw. The white she-cat snarled threateningly. "Get your filthy tail away from me, foxdung. I'll rip it off next time it comes anywhere near me."

Bloodpaw blinked approvingly at her best friend. "I think that would be very fair of you, Amberpaw. After all, the little toad would still be able to see out of both eyes."

Dewpaw rolled over next to Redpaw. As the only male apprentice in the clan, he was the largest by a small amount to Amberpaw. "Lilypaw's ceremony is about to happen, Hollypaw. I'd stay out here if you really wanted to show your loyalty to ThunderClan."

The black she-cat scowled, opening her mouth for a scathing reply. She shut her mouth with a click when Bramblestar appeared on the Highledge, calling his customary greeting to the clan.

"I, Bramblestar, leader of ThunderClan, call upon my warrior ancestors to look down on this apprentice. She has trained hard to understand the ways of your noble code, and I commend her to you as a warrior in her turn."

"Do you, Lilypaw, promise to uphold the warrior code and protect and defend this clan, even at the cost of your life?"

Lilypaw dipped her head. "I do."

"Then by the powers of StarClan, I give you your warrior name. Lilypaw, from this moment on you shall be known as Lilyseed. StarClan honours your courage and your loyalty, and we welcome you as a full member of ThunderClan."

Bramblestar rested his nose on Lilyseed's head and she licked his shoulder.

The clan had been knocked into a stunned silence, but Bloodpaw broke it. "Lilyseed! Lilyseed!"

One by one, more cats joined in, "Lilyseed! Lilyseed!"

It's been a while, hasn't it? Sorry about that. Anyway, reviews will be welcomed. I hope you enjoyed this chapter. :3