"Sparkpaw! Sparkpaw, play with us!"
Sparkpaw turned around to see two russet tabby kits scampering across the grass. Fennelkit skidded to a halt in front of her, closely followed by his sister Hazelkit.
"I have to go train with Foxclaw," Sparkpaw said, guiltily glad to not have to entertain Brightleap's raucous kits.
"Is this your first training session with him?" Fennelkit asked, hus green eyes wide and shining. Sparkpaw nodded, and the two kits exchanged excited looks.
"Can we come?" Hazelkit squeaked, prancing around the apprentice's paws. Sparkpaw winced as the kit stepped on a paw and gently pushed her off. "No, you can't come."
"Why?" Fennelkit whined. "We'll just watch! Promise!"
"Hey, how about you go play with Dapplepaw?" Sparkpaw suggested. Training forgotten, the two kits ran off toward the older apprentice. Sparkpaw grinned as she saw Hazelkit leap on Dapplepaw's back and knock her over.
Ashstar sauntered past Sparkpaw, sending her stumbling back. Out of the corner of her eye, she saw him go into the nursery. Probably to check on Goldkit and Dewleaf… again, Sparkpaw thought tiredly. The leader's young mate had kitted just a few quarter-moons ago, and the one kit that had come was already being hailed as the prophecy kit. As much as Sparkpaw hated to say it, Goldkit was a model of a perfect kit. She had gorgeous dusky grey fur and sparkling 'golden' eyes, although Sparkpaw thought they looked more amber. The kit was already taking her first wobbling steps.
Fennelkit and Hazelkit breezed past Sparkpaw, stepping on her tail. "Where are you two going?" the apprentice asked indignantly.
"We're going to see Goldkit!" Hazelkit said happily. Sparkpaw felt a flash of foreboding, but it quickly faded. They probably just want to see their new playmate.
It came back, though, when Dapplepaw trotted after them. "What about you?" Sparkpaw asked in a low voice. Dappleleaf turned to her with a look of scorn.
"I'm going to see Goldkit, of course," the she-cat drawled. "After all, she is the kit of Ashstar."
"Fine, I'll go too," Sparkpaw decided, getting up to go to the nursery. Dapplepaw pushed her down with one paw.
"You really shouldn't. She's the prophecy cat, you know, and you're… well…"
"You don't know that!" Sparkpaw flared up. "Has it ever occured to any cat that I MIGHT NOT BE EVIL?"
She yowled the last part for all the camp to hear. Heads turned. Dapplepaw laid a condescending, yet tentative tail on her shoulder. "Listen, Sparkpaw," she said, her voice dripping with mock sweetness, "you should hold back on the yelling. Goldkit might be sleeping."
With a flounce and a flick of her long tail, the other apprentice darted into the nursery, leaving Sparkpaw open-mouthed outside.
"Sparkpaw."
Foxclaw's voice cut her like a thorn. Sparkpaw snapped out of her thoughts and stared up at her mentor. "What?"
"You haven't been paying attention. What did I just say about your leap-and-hold?"
"Um…that I should have jumped later?"
"No, that your claws were unsheathed," Foxclaw growled, shaking out his pelt and sending tiny specks of blood flying. Sparkpaw grimaced. "Sorry."
"Is this about Goldkit?"
Sparkpaw nodded, knowing that her no-nonsense mentor would find out whether she told him or not. He sighed, pacing around her.
"Sparkpaw, some cats in the Clan believe you are sent by forces of darkness. You're aware of that. And you lead a most unusual life, in which you are accepted by the cats around you and yet your every paw-step is challenged."
The grey-and-black apprentice turned. "I know," she said simply.
"And," Foxclaw continued, his eyes sharp and focused, "with the birth of Goldkit, everything is knocked out of balance. She could be the prophecy kit. But…"
Sparkpaw noted how Foxclaw looked faintly upset. He turned to her and stared at her. "Sparkpaw, our training session is over. Go back to camp, please."
"Why?" she asked. "Why are you upset? What happened?"
"Go back to camp," he snapped.
Foxclaw walked into the forest. He still felt angry, and was getting angrier by the second. He knew what was coming. If only Ashstar would listen to him, he would realize how much danger the whole Clan was in. Ashstar was just so-
The bushes rustled. Foxclaw whipped around. "Sparkpaw, I told you to go back!" he exclaimed, but Sparkpaw wasn't there. He sniffed the air suspiciously and scented another cat. "Sparkpaw, I swear…" he growled, stalking into the bushes. He emerged in a clearing dotted with flowers, and heard another rustle behind him. He turned again, just in time to see a pair of dark claws and a shape lunging towards him.