Days afterward, I was gnawing on a mouse from the fresh-kill pile, still rejoicing over my new title. The name "Rainpaw" had always reminded me that I was an apprentice, but "Rainpath" sounded much better.

Also, now Seastorm was beginning to talk to me more. Although she did not stick up for me when one of the warriors, a tabby named Redstripe, bullied me about being one of the oldest beginning warriors.

"You'll be having kits before you even fight your first battle," he would say, and I would try to ignore it, but it was painfully difficult. Now, I was a warrior, and his reason to tease me was gone.

I felt odd stepping into the warrior's den that evening, but Seastorm came over to share tongues with me. I gratefully licked her in return.

"I'm proud of you, Rainpath. And I—I'm sorry about how I was always ignoring you and how I was so strict with you and I hope you'll forgive me."

Seastorm said this all in a rush, yet quietly, as though she had been meaning to say this for a long time, but she hadn't figured out the right words yet, and the right moment came up unexpectedly.

"I forgive you," I replied softly.

She gave me a grateful look then turned her head to look where another warrior was coming through, Blackclaw. He had trained with me, and despite his fierce-sounding name, was quite kind and gentle. Although, don't get me started on battles.

Almost every cat in the clan knew that he had taken a liking to me, and frankly, I liked him back. Now that I was a warrior, our relationship had only grown.

Following him came my mother, Windpelt, who was still a warrior, surprisingly, despite her age. I stood up, and she licked me between the ears.

"Good to see you, Rainpath. I'm afraid we can't talk for long; the sun is setting. But you should listen while we can." I sat down immediately.

"Your sister, whom you know was born to RiverClan, Jetfur…" She glanced questioningly at me, and I nodded to show that I understood.

"Well, today I was out hunting, with Hawkpaw, Blackclaw's apprentice, and I caught her scent. On ThunderClan territory!" Her voice rose angrily.

"Either she was going against the warrior code by hunting on our territory, or she was going against her word, which is just as bad, and trying to rejoin ThunderClan!"

She shouted so loudly that a few cats raised their heads, and Iceshadow hissed, "Go to sleep!" She lowered her head, ashamed, but still fixed her gaze on mine.

"Beware," she intoned, lying down.

I looked at her sleep for a long time, then, finally, I shut my eyes.

In the morning, I nudged Seastorm into waking up, and then the two of us went out hunting. The fresh-kill pile was running low. It felt good to be hunting beside her again, even if she still had a habit of hiding in the bushes and pouncing on me. Soon, though, we had gotten three mice, a squirrel, and a quail, which flocked at this time of year, and were prized.

By the time we returned, everyone was awake, and I spotted my old friends, Icepaw and Sleetpaw, wrestling over by Highrock. I smiled at them, and they smiled back, padding over, Icepaw sniffed the quail.

"Oooh, I haven't had one of these in moons!" she cried.

This attracted more cats, including my mother, who politely chose a mouse and padded off to the den. Seastorm gave the squirrel to Sleetpaw, telling her to bring it to the elders, and Dawnflower, the clan medicine cat, trotted off with the other squirrel. Spottedpaw, another apprentice who started training a few moons after I did and was due to become a warrior any day now, padded off to Daystar's den with the quail.

I figured that one of the first quails of the season should go to our leader. Seastorm then padded off to the nursery to visit her newborn sisters, Fernkit and Smokekit. I went to share tongues with my mother, and Icepaw and Sleetpaw went off to hunt with their mentors, Waterlily and Grayclaw.

Waterlily was my older sister, and deputy on top of that, and Icepaw was proud to be training with such a fine mentor. Grayclaw was not very nice, but the influence of a few other cats kept Sleetpaw okay.

My tongue passed over my mother's back, licking her flanks as she licked mine.

Between laps, she said quietly, "I caught more of Jetfur's scent this morning, with no prey-scent. She is spying, I am certain."

I stopped short, surprised by the venom in her voice. The cat in question was my sister, my littermate. She was her mother.

"I am sure that she means well, Mother," I offered. Windpelt snorted.

"Yes, she does, and mice can fly." I sighed.

"Well, I think Blackclaw came back from hunting now, I'm going to go see what he brought back." She nuzzled me, purring.

"You do like him, don't you? Well, at least he's of ThunderClan," she added bitterly.

I padded out of the warrior den with a heavy heart. Why had she brought up Jetfur again? My sister had only listened to her heart and done what she thought was right when she left the clan to mate Crowfur, a RiverClan cat. They loved each other still.

Plus, my father, Nightfall, was RiverClan, and had mated my mother, so she was already half-clan. Seastorm came up.

"Hey, Rainpath!" she exclaimed. "I'm getting an apprentice!" My despair lifted and a smile lit my face.

"Really? That's great!"

"Yes. Rosesky's kits are old enough to be apprenticed, and Daystar told me that I could mentor one!" I nuzzled her affectionately.

"I'm sure you'll be the best mentor ever." I sighed. "I wish I could mentor one."

"You'll have to wait a moon or two. The other kit is going to Rockfur."

I growled. "I'm sure it'll have a lovely time with that bully. Every cat knows that apprentices are taught by their mentors, and their mentors pass on everything, including, possibly, personality."

Seastorm sighed. "Yes, but that can't be helped. Daystar didn't like it either, but Rockfur complained about his not getting an apprentice yet yesterday and it's only fair."

"I agree, I suppose," I replied doubtfully. Twitching her tail, Seastorm brightened.

"Well, I certainly hope I get Birchkit. She's eager but gentle, I can already see."

"I hope so too. Hey, how are Fernkit and Smokekit?" She wrapped her tail around herself proudly at the mention of her sisters.

"Wonderful. Mother is taking good care of them. Fernkit is beautiful, and Smokekit in getting stronger by the day. Both will be a pleasure to train." She sighed. "I wish I could train one. But by the time they'll be ready for their apprenticeship, I will still have my apprentice."

Suddenly an idea dawned on her, and she crouched, tail waving, like she did when we were apprentices and she wanted to play. "Hey! You'll be ready for an apprentice just when they are ready for mentors! When the time comes, you could ask Daystar if you could mentor one!"

I mirrored her position. "Great idea! Of course I will. It would be my pleasure."