ANSWERS TO REVIEWS:

Talon of Soaring Eagle: Well, I never actually thought of write a book for VolcanoClan because VolcanoClan no longer exists. Their founder, Flame, no longer exists in StarClan. That's why Boulder visited Cactuskit instead. But now that I think about it, I might do it! And.. You'll see why Cactuskit lost her only source of love soon!

MoonshadeOfStormClan: Thanks! Here's more!

SwiftStar1: If you haven't checked out Dawn of the Great Lake Clans, do! That story connects to this once majorly! The type of slavery is just that she-cats are below toms in society.

Echowind012: You're right! They don't!

Cinderstar377: Maybe Crystalmoon should torture Hollowbranch in her story! Hahaha

*IMPORTANT!* if you like this story, you HAVE to read Dawn of the Great Lake Clans BECAUSE of you don't, you wont be able to follow in this story! So go do it nowwww!

On with the story! Enjoy Chapter Three! :)

Chapter Three

The sun blazed down into the center of the RockClan camp as Cactuskit patiently waited for her apprentice ceremony to begin. A single moon had passed since Boulder visited her and for some reason, she wished he would visit her again. Ever since Rabbittail died, she was completely alone. Splashkit had spent more time with Thistlekit and Alderkit. Cactuskit stared into the fluffy clouds in the sky. Please allow me to do good for my Clan, I want to prove myself to them! I have to! She pleaded to the sky. Without sending another silent prayer, a dark brown tom with a vivid white dash on his chest took his spot upon the Speakingstones. "All cats old enough to scale the cliffs, join me here to hear my words." he yowled.

Cactuskit started up at her leader with glittering green eyes. Soon, she was joined by Splashkit who sat a few mouse-lengths away from her. Cactuskit's fur bristled with uneasiness as her heart quickened. Who would Cliffstar choose as her mentor? Cactuskit directed her attention to the dark brown tom again as he called, "Today, two kits will begin their training as apprentices. Splashkit and Cactuskit have each reached their sixth moon. Splashkit, from this day forward until you earn your warrior name, you shall be known as Splashpaw. Hollowbranch, you are ready for your first apprentice. Train Splashpaw well."

Cactuskit's blood ran cold. Why did he choose Hollowbranch to train Splashpaw? I must protect her! She vowed silently as Cliffstar rose his muzzle to continue, "Cactuskit, until you earn your warrior name, you will be known as Cactuspaw. Fireclaw found you when you were a kit, and I believe he would be a perfect mentor to you, for he also does not have pure RockClan blood."

Pure RockClan blood? She thought briefly as she approached the fire-furred tom. His yellow eyes were narrowed as she neared him. She licked his shoulder as settled down beside her new mentor. "A RockClan cat shouldn't be based off blood. She should be based off loyalty and fierce courage for her Clan." he murmured to her as he avoided her gaze.

Cactuspaw stared at the tom with wide green eyes. "So a cat should be judged for her heart and action." she whispered back.

Fireclaw snapped his gaze down to her. His yellow eyes pierced with something Cactuspaw couldn't read. "That's exactly true," he meowed then looked back up. "We have to begin training immediately."

Cactuspaw nodded and rose her tail with happiness. "I want you to clear out the elders den. We'll go collect moss later." he grumbled as he began to pad toward Hareleap.

Cactuspaw's tail drooped somewhat, but at least she was doing apprentice duties and not laying around in the nursery. Cactuspaw rose her gaze into the sky and thought, are you happy. Rabbittail? I finally made it!

She shook out her bristly fur and began to pad toward the elders den with her unusually long tail high. When she entered the den, she examined the tree trunk that supposedly fell into the Clans camp seasons ago. It made a small, protective hole to where the elders den was. Moss clung to the trunk and the RockClan medicine-cat, was collecting some with her apprentice. "Good evening, Sandfur! You too, Petalbloom!" Cactuspaw meowed cheerfully.

Sandfur, the eldery sand-colored she-cat, snarled in return while Petalbloom, a calico she-cat, nodded back with a friendly gaze. Cactuspaw padded into the elders den and saw the friendly gazes of the elders. Lilyfur sat close to Pebbletooth, a frail, blind tom. "Hello, Cactuspaw," the light grey she-cat purred.

"He-" She began.

"I'll clean after them, Cactuspaw. You can go rest." a voice sounded behind her.

She whipped around to see the icy blue eyes of Hawkpaw. Cactuspaw narrowed her eyes, "Why would you want to help me?"

Hawkpaw lowered her gaze to the cold ground. "Look, I'm sorry I've been so rude to you. It's not your fault your parents were rogues." she meowed.

Cactuspaw's spirits rose. Maybe Hawkpaw was trying to help her as a friend? "Well okay, if you insist." she meowed with happiness.

She padded past Hawkpaw who dipped her head as she passed. She padded out into the clearing. Her belly grumbled with protest as she saw the sight of the freshkill pile. Maybe things are starting to look up, now! She thought, but that happiness was cut short when a cat snarled, "Cactuspaw! Why is Hawkpaw doing the duties I set for you?"

She whipped around to see the blazing yellow eyes of her new mentor, Fireclaw. "Well, she told me she would do it and that I could go rest." she stammered as her gaze flicked from side to side nervously.

Her gaze landed on Hawkpaw, whose eyes were glittering with hatred, but satisfaction. Hawkpaw padded up with her tail dragging and her pelt shaking. "That's- that's not true, Fireclaw. She threatened she'd hurt me if I didn't do what she said." she meowed with a shaky, terrified voice.

Cactuspaw gaped at her clanmate. Why would she say that? Fireclaw returned his burning gaze back to her. "Is that so?" he paused as he irritably, flicked his tail. "Well then you will remain in camp until you learn your manners. You will clean out the nursery and elders den for a moon. You will kit-sit all the kits while the queens go do what they please. Is that clear?"

Cactuspaw lowered her gaze and murmured, "Yes, Fireclaw."

She watched as her mentor padded away toward Cliffstar's den which was under a large toppled boulder. Hawkpaw snickered and threw her muzzle in her face, "Maybe you shouldn't trust everyone, fox-heart."

A/N: GRRRR! HAWKPAW! So tell me what you think in a review! And GO CHECK OUT DAWN OF THE GREAT LAKE CLANS! And REVIEW! :)

- Nightwish