Hawkeyes awoke to a painfully bright sunrise. He sat up, blinking. The warriors den was almost empty. The hungry tom stood up and shook the moss off his pelt. He stretched his aching legs and carefully made his way around the still sleeping warriors. When he reached the entrance, Hawkeyes felt the warm sunlight drape over his stiff muscles. He watched as two of Smokeydawn's kits wrestled in a cloud of dust. Flicking his ears in amusement, Hawkeyes walked to the fresh-kill pile and chose a plump sparrow for himself. He took his prey and padded over to where Cloudleap and Elkheart were discussing something. Out of the corner of his eye, he noticed Greystar coming out of Sunlight's den.

"Morning Cloudleap, Elkheart," Hawkeyes nodded at his two friends.

"Hawkeyes! We thought you died in there or something," Cloudleap looked up from his vole.

"How funny, Cloudleap," Hawkeyes sat down beside him and dug into his prey.

"Hey Hawkeyes, you know, the Gathering is tomorrow," Elkheart swallowed his piece of mouse. Hawkeyes stopped eating.

"Oh, it is. I forgot. Are either of you going, do you know?"

"Probably not. Littlepaw told Moonpaw that Greystar said the new apprentices and their mentors were going. So I guess that means you are," Cloudleap looked up at the sky. Hawkeyes twitched his ear.

"I wouldn't pay attention to anything that furball says. You know how he is."

"Littlepaw?"

"Yes."

"Mmmm. Well, it makes sense that Greystar would take..." Cloudleap's words trailed off as his jaws split in a huge yawn. He shook his head. "Sorry." "As I was saying-" Cloudleap was cut off as Dewkit barreled into his side. He yowled in surprise. Dewkit took one look at him and ran off into the nursery. Hawkeyes watched her in amusement. When he turned back to Cloudleap, he saw that his friend was fluffed up to nearly twice his usual size. Hawkeyes shared a look of entertainment with Elkheart.

"Did the brave warrior get scared by the huge, terrible creature?" Hawkeyes mocked.

"Shut your mouth, mouse brain. I wasn't expecting her to charge into me."

Hawkeyes snickered.

"Don't say anything or I'll claw your ears off," Cloudleap threatened.

"Where's Mapleshade? i haven't seen her all morning," Elkheart asked Hawkeyes.

"I think she went on patrol with Mistyfur. Said something about Mosspaw having his first patrol," Hawkeyes bit into his sparrow. Elkheart jerked his head up.

"I almost forgot. Wolffrost wants me to lead the evening patrol. Do you two want to come?"

"Sure, should I bring my apprentice?" Hawkeyes asked, swallowing a chunk of meat.

"If you want."

"I'll come, too," Cloudleap offered, swiping his tongue over his jaws.

"Great. Let's meet at the Rockpile then," Elkheart mumbled around his last mouthful.

"Right, then. I should go. Some training will do Littlepaw good." Hawkeyes finished his sparrow and stood up.

"See you later, then," Cloudleap began to lick his paw. Hawkeyes padded off to find his apprentice.

Hawkeyes found Littlepaw dozing off in the shade of the apprentices den with Moonpaw.
"Littlepaw," he prodded the fluffy white cat in the ribs. Littlepaw opened one eye.
"What is it, Hawkeyes? I'm trying to sleep," he mumbled, turning over. Hawkeyes jabbed him again.
"Get up. I'm taking you out for some training."
"Why do I have to train so much?! You must be the most difficult mentor in the forest!" Littlepaw complained.
"Get up, for the love of StarClan! I won't ask you again," Hawkeyes was beginning to lose his patience. Moonpaw raised her head.
"You two fight like a snake and a badger! Littlepaw, go train. I want to sleep. In peace," the grey she-cat hissed. Littlepaw finally dragged himself to his feet, cursing.
"You'll never become a warrior with an attitude like that, you know," Hawkeyes hissed at him. Littlepaw mumbled something back, but Hawkeyes was focused on the three cats that had just come into the camp. The dawn patrol had returned. Mistyfur walked straight into Greystar's den, followed by Mapleshade and Mosspaw. That's odd, Hawkeyes thought to himself. The patrol never goes straight to the leader. All of them, too. Something must be up.
"What do I have to do today?" Littlepaw interrupted his thoughts.
"Well, I think some hunting practice will do you good. It looks like it's going to get quite hot today, so maybe some swimming also."
"All that?" Littlepaw groaned.
"Yes, unless you want to be an apprentice for the rest of your life."
"I still don't understand why I have to be trained by a kittypet. All the other apprentices get warriors as mentors," Littlepaw growled with challenge in his voice. Hawkeyes glared into his deep blue eyes.
"I am a warrior as well, and you will treat me as such, unless you want to spend to rest of your days pulling ticks off the elders."
Littlepaw grew quiet as the two approached the training hollow. Out of the corner of his eye, Hawkeyes noticed a squirrel dart through the underbrush and into the hollow. He stopped Littlepaw with his tail and dropped into the hunter's crouch. He circled around the depression until he was downwind of the squirrel. The tom felt its heartbeat pulse through his ears. Hawkeyes glanced over to the other side of the hollow. Littlepaw was nowhere in sight. Cursing silently, he focused on the small animal. It was burying an acorn. Suddenly, a deafening snap startled it. Without warning, Littlepaw tumbled into the cavity, paws and tail flailing. The squirrel gave out a screech of horror and darted up the nearest tree.
"Fox dung! Littlepaw, can't you stand still for more than three heartbeats?!" He hissed at the confused apprentice, who sat up with twigs and dirt covering his thick, white fur.
"Sorry," he muttered, lowering his head.
"What in the name of StarClan were you even doing over there?" Hawkeyes lashed his tail, still angry.
"I fell."
"You fell? From where? And how did you end up down here?"
"I-I climbed up a stick to see you better. I didn't know it would collapse," the dirty apprentice seemed genuinely sorry. Hawkeyes sighed.
"Littlepaw, you're not a kit anymore. A stick can't support your weight. Next time, think. I know that isn't one of your strong points, but at least try." Littlepaw looked up.
"So it's okay then?"
Hawkeyes turned his gaze to the tree that the squirrel had climbed.
"It's fine. I'll catch another," he muttered.