"Starlingpaw! Are you even listening?"

I snapped out of the flashback and looked to see Gracecloud looking at me frustrated.

"I'm sorry, my mind just went other places." This Clan is full of lies. "Let's do battle training."

"Good, let's go right outside of camp. That's where we usually do battle training." Gracecloud explained.

Gracecloud led me and my siblings there and Hazelpaw and Mallowpaw looked eager probably to land attacking blows on me.

"Your mentors knew I could handle all of you myself so I'll be training your first lesson right here." Gracecloud explained.

"The first thing I'll be teaching you Starlingpaw is how to attack the belly when your opponent lunges at you." Gracecloud told me.

"I'll be more than happy to help her." Hazelpaw purred, unsheathing her claws.

"Just leap at her, and claws sheathed. Both of you." Gracecloud looked at my sister and she rolled her eyes.

Hazelpaw turned to face me and Gracecloud explained that I would strike my paws at her belly when she'd be above me.

Hazelpaw leaped really fast probably in an attempt to surprise me, but I kept my goal in mind and gave two blows to her belly and she fell over mid-lunge.

"Very good you two." Gracecloud purred. "Now you do it Mallowpaw."

Mallowpaw surprisingly leaped even faster and at that point I assumed their shared goal was to throw me off and hurt me. But I rolled onto my back and aimed my back paws right at his chest.

I could feel the air knocked out of my brother as he fell backward onto the ground with a thud!

"Nice move Starlingpaw." Gracecloud praised me. "Did your mother teach you that?"

"No, I guess I just improvised the move." I replied pleased with myself.

The rest of the training session was the same with my siblings trying to take me out and me avoiding their game.

Gracecloud headed back to camp and I unsheathed my claws when Hazelpaw and Mallowpaw got close.

"You may have saved your pelt this time, but soon you won't have a mentor to watch your back." Mallowpaw growled.

"No one will help you one day and then you'll be sorry." Hazelpaw added.

"You two are a pair of morons." I hissed. One moon ago I would've hoped they would show a sliver of kindness, but I've realized their true colors.

At least I could trust Briarpaw, he could do no wrong. He saw flaws in this Clan like I did. My mother did too, but Briarpaw wanted to be my mate. He'd bring romance into my life and everything would bloom to life.

I could imagine it: me with three to four kits at my belly. Some dark grey, some brown, some dark brown, and maybe even a kit with the same color pelt as me.

They would be Briarpaw's, whatever warrior name he'll have. No doubt it'll be a day I'd never forget.

Of course it'd take some getting used to for the Clan, especially his parents and his former friends. But it would be worth it, it had to be.

Three moons later

Briarpaw forgot to wake me up again.

Up till a moon ago, he would always wake me up cheerfully telling me that our warrior ceremonies were getting closer and closer. But now he's been forgetting various sunrises.

One sunrise after a talk with his sister, he suddenly seemed uninterested to talk to me. What did I do?

He gave me some faith, taking me on walks through the forest and telling me it was simply his stress with AngelClan. And that when we are both warriors, it'll subside.

I chose to believe him as my heart was tugged with sympathy. Perhaps his sister was adding onto the stress. But I knew not to intervene, it was family business.

With that in mind, I got up forgiving my dear Briarpaw again for not waking me up.

Before I could reach my mentor, I saw my Mom and flicked my tail eagerly. It had been long since we've actually had a meaningful conversation.

"Dear, I think we should talk before you go on patrol." Mom meowed.

"Yeah, is something wrong? Gracecloud's been telling me that I'm doing wonderful as an apprentice." I reassured her.

"It's not that. It's about Briarpaw." Mom admitted. "You've told me how kind he's been to you, and that he wants to be with you. But I think that's changed."

"What? What do you mean...?" I whispered.

"I can see it, he doesn't act the same that he used to with you." Mom explained. "Maybe what he said moons ago was a kit's dream. Maybe it was just a crush Starlingpaw."

"He's under a lot of stress Mom!" I hissed through my teeth, making sure no one else heard. "I thought out of all these cats you'd understand."

I turned around not waiting for an answer, I didn't care. I went on a hunting patrol with my mentor and Acorndapple. After all, ever since Vixenstar had 'Rabbitsong's' kits, we had to go on many more patrols.

Vixenstar had a light gray tom named Blueberrykit and a white and black she-kit named Sneakkit. Nobleclaw had to find time to visit them when Rabbitsong wasn't visiting them, proud of kits he doesn't know aren't his.

I heard a loud shuffle in the bushes that couldn't be prey animal or cat. Gracecloud and Acorndapple walked towards it with unsheathed claws.

Once I saw the velvety red-orange fur and muzzle behind the bushes, my eyes widened.

"GET BACK!" I cried in fear.

But it was too late, the fox leaped at Acorndapple and snarled viciously before Gracecloud clawed at it's face.

I saw a cat in the distance not aware of what was happening...Briarpaw?

"BRIARPAW!" I yelled. "GET HELP! WE NEED HELP!"

He still didn't notice, his attention was completely swallowed by something else.

"BRIARPAW!"

"He's not listening!" I gasped. "I'll go get help myself!"

I ran off and when I told Vixenstar what was happening one patrol was sent to chase off the fox and another was sent to get Briarpaw. I figured he'd be in trouble, but I expected that.

Why didn't he listen to me?