The water on Lostheart's pelt had yet to dry completely, even as she went back to pick up her stored pieces of prey. She couldn't believe a cat could so easily harm a kit like that; and look so pleased about it, it really bugged her. Why? Why had he done it?

It was an obvious way to make their lives more difficult she supposed, but was it really worth taking the lives of their own kits? Then again, cats like Pineneedle and Willowstar probably couldn't care less about kits as long as they had enough warriors to go around. There was a good chance that kit might have actually been a LightClan cat...

There was no doubt in her mind that Pineneedle and Flowertail wouldn't keep their word; and once Willowstar knew, that just might give him the incentive to attack. Regardless of whether Willowstar himself knew about the set up or not. Murderer.. they were lies, lies that spread from Fernstep and her kits since she was young; and now she had a permanent reputation amongst all the clans.

There had been that one time, but she didn't mean to do it...or had she? Lostheart dug her claws into the ground as she mulled over her thoughts. He deserved it, he killed Ivyfoot...

But would Ivyfoot have really wanted her to? Lostheart's eyes fell without the answer even being said.

Still. What they were saying was so wrong, so...horrible. Lostheart, the demon cat of DarkClan; an evil kit cursed by StarClan at birth, murdered her own mother, and went around murdering kits and warriors alike in the darkness of the night. Meeting her on the battlefield was sure to be a sign of death to come, just like the cold color of blood and death in her eyes.

Lostheart scoffed and continued on, she shouldn't let them bother her, she knew they weren't true; and for the most part they didn't bother her, she was used to it. But that one, about her killing her mother...she hated it.

The tree tunnel came into view, and as she entered, Lostheart made another attempt to shake the water from her pelt. She would have to tell the others about her run in with Pineneedle that was definite, the tom had to be up to something.

Lostheart padded into the camp and was pleased to see that the rest of the clan was already inside, Sunstar had made it so that all apprentices had to be in before nightfall, so she wasn't surprised or anything. Most of the cats were sitting with their new apprentices and sharing what little food they had. Lostheart padded to the center of camp and lay down her catch where the fresh kill pile would be, grabbing a mouse for herself.

It was good that everyone was sitting together, it would make it much easier to tell them about what had happened. Sunstar was out as well, lying on top of his den, and from the corner of her eye she could see him watching her.

Lostheart padded over to the others; they barely spared her a glance as she sat down, all too caught up in their own conversations to notice. All except for Moonfur. As soon as Lostheart padded over, the pale she-cat turned toward her curiously.

"Lostheart, you're all wet. What happened? Did you go for a swim?" she asked. Moonfur doubted Lostheart would have just fallen in, or was she trying to fish? At Moonfur's question, the other cats turned to look at her as well, noticing her damp form. All their gaze suddenly turning on her made Lostheart feel uncomfortable, but this was important.

"I ran into Pineneedle at the TreeClan border." Lostheart meowed.

"On our territory?!" Darkpelt growled furiously.

"No." Lostheart replied, shaking her head, "He stayed on his side of the border."

The apprentices were watching the warriors talking amongst them curiously, they knew about TreeClan, their mentors had made sure to tell them of their rival's position. Pineneedle was TreeClan's deputy, just like Lostheart.

Moonfur was beginning to feel worried by the way Lostheart spoke, and even more by her appearance. The stream was on the TreeClan border...what had happened? Lostheart knew they were all waiting for her to explain, so after taking a small breath, she continued. Even Sunstar was looking down at the group, listening with narrowed eyes.

"I was out hunting when he suddenly appeared from across the stream, he had a kit with him. I had no intention of speaking to him, and I was about to leave; but before I could, he threw the kit into the river." The cats' eyes visibly widened at her words, and Moonfur and Roseclaw looked horrified.

"One of his clan's own kits?!" Browneyes asked in astonishment. His apprentice, Goldenpaw, looked up at Lostheart from his side, "You didn't leave it did you?" she meowed, eyes wide with fear.

"It was a TreeClan cat!" Darkpelt hissed. "Why would you save it?"

"I tried." Lostheart meowed. "But by the time I reached him, he was already gone." Her eyes met Darkpelt's impassively, "The warrior code states that no cat should watch a kit in pain and do nothing, even cats from another clan."

Darkpelt said nothing, but seemed to quiet down in defeat.

"Then what? You didn't just leave it there did you?" Thistleprick asked.

"Pineneedle re-appeared with another cat. It was a set up, he blamed me for murdering the kit."

Sunstar suddenly leapt down from his den and stood with the group, a serious expression on his face. "Do you realize what you've done?" he hissed, not giving her a chance to answer him. "You should have just let it be! Now Willowstar might be provoked to attack, you could have very well just killed us all with your foolish actions!"

"Even if I had left the kit to die, Pineneedle would have blamed me all the same. My word is nothing over his, he's the TreeClan deputy. They wouldn't have believed me even if I had told them the truth." Lostheart defended.

"She's right."

All eyes turned toward Browneyes as the silver tom rose to his paws. "This is what he wanted, there was no way of avoiding it. I bet he was out at the river to drown the kit himself, and then blame it on DarkClan. It was just a case of being at the wrong place at the wrong time."

Sunstar scowled and turned his eyes toward the whole group, "You'd better prepare your apprentices." he meowed. "Start group training and speed up the process, cats without apprentices, its up to you to keep a constant patrol on the TreeClan border."

Thistleprick's eyes nearly bugged out of his head at Sunstar's words, "But what about hunting?" he meowed, a slight edginess to his voice.

"Hunting will be done at sunhigh and sundown, everyone will hunt. I'll leave it to all of you to decide who hunts when. If anyone sees any sign of TreeClan movement, alert me immediately." Sunstar made sharp turn away from the group and disappeared into the confines of his den.

Everyone suddenly appeared more tired after Sunstar walked away, some more than others... "You heard Sunstar, let's set up a schedule." Darkpelt meowed.

Greysight let out a laugh as she and Warpaw raced through the forest; they had just finished their hunting patrol and were now on their way to the training hollow; the blind she-cat had decided to put up a race for her apprentice.

Greysight leapt into the hollow with ease and waited for her apprentice to catch up, but it wasn't until after she leapt through the bushes that she noticed both Browneyes and Darkpelt were training their apprentices as well.

Warpaw padded out of the bushes, breathing heavily; once he caught up to her, Greysight flicked him with the tip of her black tail. "Nice try."

Darkpelt, Browneyes, Branchpaw, and Goldenpaw were now watching the new pair with interest. "Hey, Greysight." Browneyes greeted. "Want to train with us?"

Darkpelt shot his brother a look that clearly showed he was displeased with the suggestion. Greysight grinned, "Sure." Although she couldn't see it, she knew Darkpelt couldn't look very happy at the idea.

"Warpaw's been coming along quite quickly. I'm sure he can keep up." Beside her, Warpaw nodded; Darkpelt snorted, making Greysight face him with a grin. "Here Warpaw, why don't you and Branchpaw do a practice fight, if you think he's up for it that is." Greysight meowed to Darkpelt.

Darkpelt narrowed his deep blue eyes and nodded gruffly before turning towards Branchpaw. "Go on." he meowed, gesturing towards the center of the clearing while Goldenpaw and Browneyes moved to sit to the side.

Branchpaw quickly obeyed and joined Warpaw in the center of the clearing, each getting into the battle positions they had been taught.

Raggedear had chosen to take Amberpaw in a quieter part of the forest near Blue Hole. It was a lot less noisy, and he wanted to stay away from large groups, at least for now.

"Watch your balance!" Raggedear meowed quickly as Amberpaw lurched on her paws to avoid his swipe. Amberpaw was able to catch her paws just in time to duck and swivel around Raggedear, but she wasn't quick enough. Raggedear flipped around with ease and blocked her path, "You're faced with a warrior much larger and faster than yourself," he meowed," What do you do?!" Raggedear leapt forward, preparing to pin the apprentice under his weight.

Amberpaw's eyes widened at his quick movements, and in a final move, she leapt over Raggedear's head and toppled off his back, landing in the dirt with a thud. Raggedear blinked as the she-cat suddenly disappeared from front of him, and turned quickly fearing the apprentice had gotten hurt.

What he saw relieved him. Amberpaw sat sitting awkwardly on her back with wide eyes, it reminded Raggedear of the twolegs. Slowly, Amberpaw blinked, and their eyes met.

The apprentice burst out laughing a wide smile on her face, "You should see your face!" she meowed through giggles, despite the fact her tabby pelt was now full of dirt. Raggedear couldn't help laughing a bit himself at the situation.

"You should see your face." he meowed, pulling her back onto her paws.

Amberpaw's laughter died down a bit and she managed to breathe out a few more words. "When faced with an enemy larger than yourself, try to go for their legs and avoid getting grabbed. If you can, run away or find help from another apprentice or warrior."

Amberpaw shook off her pelt, letting a slight cloud of dust form in the air. She looked up and met Raggedear's yellow eyes. "I used to think you were scary," she meowed, "But you're not."

Her word caught Raggedear off guard for a moment, and the mottled tom had to blink to collect himself. "Ah, well...thank you." he replied, unsure of what exactly he would say. It was already beginning to get dark out, and Amberpaw would have to return to camp soon. "I think that's it for today; you go ahead and head back to camp, I have to switch patrol duty with Thistleprick."

Amberpaw nodded, "Okay, be careful!" The apprentice spared Raggedear one last smile before sprinting away and leaving him alone in the forest. A small smile grew on the warrior's face and he shook his head as he turned to walk in the direction of the TreeClan border.

Thistleprick was sure to have headed back at the first signs of darkness, so he doubted he would run into his brother. He allowed himself a relaxing sigh, it had certainly been a busy day; and although the training felt rushed, he hoped it would pay off in the end.

It made him..happy. Amberpaw trusted him, the thought made him suddenly feel much lighter as he continued on under the trees.

'Ah, but she doesn't know what you've done does she?'

Raggedear stopped abruptly at the cold voice in his head, eyes widening slightly. It had been a long time since he had heard that voice, and subconsciously he began to dig his claws into the ground.

'Go away...' Raggedear thought angrily, 'Leave me alone.'

'None of them know, do they? I wonder what she would think of you, what they would all think of you; when they discover that poor, kind Raggedear-'

'STOP!'

Raggedear's eyes were clenched shut as he forced back the voice in his head, once again trapping it in the deep recesses of his subconscious. His paws shook lightly and he had to swallow back the cold feeling that had grown in his throat, but he was right... That was the thought that troubled Raggedear the most.

They didn't know, and he would make sure it stayed that way. It might have been selfish on his part, but this was the first time he was actually beginning to feel like...like he belonged. He didn't want to give it up.

"Block Branchpaw! You won't get an opening while dancing around him!" Darkpelt ordered, watching as Branchpaw and Warpaw continued their match. Branchpaw's eyes flickered momentarily toward his mentor, distracting him from the fight. Warpaw saw the opening, and quickly tackled his brother.

"Nice one!" Greysight meowed, "Keep him down!"

Branchpaw struggled beneath the black apprentice, but Warpaw continued to keep him locked to the ground. Branchpaw let out a growl and jammed Warpaw in the stomach with his hind legs, successfully causing the spotted apprentice to stumble back and allow him to crawl out from under his paws.

Branchpaw took a swipe at Warpaw, but the young tom was quick, and as Branchpaw leapt to follow up his swipe, Warpaw leapt by him and tackled him again. From there the two apprentices rolled across the clearing in a mass of fur and flailing paws.

"That's enough." Darkpelt meowed, causing both the apprentices to stop in their fighting and look up at him. He looked up toward the darkening sky with a frown. "We're finished for today, you've both done well." he continued. "Greysight, Browneyes, you two take the apprentices back to camp. I have to take Lostheart's place on the border."

"Okay." Browneyes answered. "Be careful."

"Yeah." Darkpelt shook his flecked pelt before walking off into the brush, the white of his pelt disappearing into the darkness. Branchpaw and Warpaw disentangled from each other and padded up to join the warriors.

"You all did very well; I can see that your training has been successful, Greysight." Browneyes meowed. "Darkpelt's right, we should get back now."

AUTHOR'S NOTE

Branchpaw- Brown tom. Green eyes.

Warpaw- Black tom with a few gray spots. Amber eyes.

Amberpaw- Dark brown tabby she-cat. Amber eyes.

Goldenpaw- White and gold she-cat. Green eyes.

Wetpaw- White tom w/ brown spots. Green eyes