I am back from my vacay! Rainbows and gumdrops! Yayayayay! I was in Hawaii. I saw a lot of chickens, albatross and my leg was cut with a shard of glass :( I also saw a lot of cats...

Anyway, I hope you enjoy this next chapter. It might be a little boring in the beginning but I promise towards the end it should be better. Be sure to leave a review!

Disclaimer: I do not own Warriors

"Look at that sparrow!" a warrior, Graydawn exclaimed. Frozenpaw glanced up from her work to follow her gaze. Mousewhisper and Lionpaw had returned from their hunting training, and Lionpaw was carrying the largest bird she had ever seen.

Lionpaw dropped the sparrow at his mentor's paws. Mousewhisper praised him and he looked away in embarrassment. Many cats were starting to form a crowd around him, looking to see what he had accomplished.

Frozenpaw gaped, then clacked her teeth together. How does that happen? That should be my prey!

Oakshade and Snowshine, who had been sharing tongues, pushed to the front of the congregation to see what Lionpaw had done. Snowshine's eyes flashed with joy and Oakshade laughed hardily. The tabby placed his tail over Lionpaw's shoulder and whispered something that Frozenpaw couldn't hear.

She looked down at the petals she was plucking. Her claws unsheathed and she stepped over it, crushing what could have been good herbs.

Hailblaze padded over to see what she did. "Move your paw," he snarled.

Frozenpaw reluctantly lifted her claws off the flower without taking her eyes off of Lionpaw.

"You destroyed them!"

"Oops," muttered Frozenpaw.

To her surprise, Hailblaze said nothing more, and she expected him to just walk away and let her seethe in anger, but he didn't do that either. With a swipe of his paw, he cuffed her over the ear.

Frozenpaw recoiled in both shock and agony. Hailblaze stared intensely at her until she had to apologize for what she had done.

"Why are you doing this to the herbs? Did you become medicine cat just to annoy the dirt outta me?" he shouted. Thankfully, everyone was busy giving Lionpaw all the attention to see what was happening with her.

"No," she replied curtly.

"I thought we went over the whole deal with your attitude," growled Hailblaze. "I don't want you going around acting like you're perfect and the rest of the world is wrong."

"You don't understand," Frozenpaw said before she could stop herself. If Hailblaze asked her what was going through her mind, he would lecture her about things that she didn't think she needed to hear.

"Perhaps I don't," he spat. "But leave personal issues to yourself. Don't go taking it out on the herbs." He turned to head back to his own work. "Besides, what kind of things do you have to worry about. It is your first day."

Frozenpaw let out a breath and turned her head back to Lionpaw, by now, the Clan had finished praising her brother and were continuing with their routine. Oakshade threw him one last prideful glance and padded off. Smallpaw ran up to follow him.

She was just about to get a new flower when out of the corner of her eye, a ginger tom gazed at Lionpaw with wonder in his eyes.

Flickerstar.

Hailblaze led Frozenpaw throught the trees. She had never been out of camp before, and she gazed in complete amazement at the size of ThunderClan's territory. Somewhere in the distance, a roaring beast rolled across the land.

As if reading her thoughts, Hailblaze said, "Those are monsters. Not the brightest creatures, but very deadly of one hits you." He paused his speaking and looked at Frozenpaw thoughtfully and mewed, "You may not be in warrior training but you still have to know the territory, the scents, and how to defend yourself. Ha, at least there's something for you to look forward to."

Frozenpaw nodded. She would get to fight a little. She still had a chance to make her Clan proud.

The kept going. Frozenpaw noted how green and lush the territory was. ThunderClan must've had the best land in the whole forest. Those ShadowClan cats must be jealous of us, she thought.

The fading day sky was blocked from the treetops above her, but when they reached a small clearing, she could see how the stars above were beginning to shine across the forest.

"Your ancestors aren't just for the medicine cats," Hailblaze murmured. "They watch over all the warriors, kits to elders, weak to strong, Clan to Clan. We, my apprentice, have the privilege of sharing tongues with them every half moon."

Frozenpaw knew he was trying to make the medicine cat job seem exciting, but she shut out his words. Being a warrior would always be better.

The continued on through the territories until the land grew bare. Tall grass waved at the cool newleaf breezes and a strong scent of rabbit hung heavily in the air. She smacked her tongue over her whiskers in thought of catching one under her claws.

"We are coming onto WindClan territory," Hailblaze informed her. "Try to stay at the edge of the border. We don't want our scent to far into the territory, or else WindClan will get the wrong idea."

"We want to avoid battle?" Frozenpaw asked. "But isn't fighting what makes us warriors?"

Hailblaze almost halted his walking. He snapped his gaze to look at her, a scowl coloring his expression. "Don't you remember what I told you when you were a kit. It isn't about-"

"Right, I know, I know," interrupted Frozenpaw. "But don't we enjoy battle?"

The gray and white tom just looked at her with an empty, unblinking gaze, like she had said something offbeat. Frozenpaw refused to let her mentor stare her down to regret. She cast him the same gaze, waiting for him to reply to her question.

After a while, he finally spoke. "Frozenpaw, stand over there." He indicated to a root of a lone oak tree about ten tail lengths off.

She obeyed, unsure of what he was trying to prove. She planted her front paws over the root, feeling the soft bark under her pads.

Without warning, Hailblaze rushed foward, paws outstretched. Frozenpaw yowled in terror as his claws struck her muzzle, drawing blood. With a snarl of fury, she retaliated with a blow to the flank, and felt his weight shift. Slipping under his belly, she jumped up and onto his back in attempt to pin him. Hailblaze was too large, but he did flinch and stumble, giving her a chance to veer to the side and kick at him with her hind legs.

Hailblaze had to dig his claws into the dirt to prevent himself from falling. He looked up and at Frozenpaw who was crouched and ready for a parrying blow.

Her mentor swallowed and raised his head, standing straight again. His claws sheathed and he looked her over, holding the same look he had before attacking her, except this one was sprinkled with suspicion.

"Why did you do that?" Frozenpaw demanded, not moving from her crouch.

"Hm," he mused. "Well, aren't you the feisty one. I have to say, you impress me at your skills. Did your parents ever teach you anything as a kit?"

"No," growled Frozenpaw. "They never even thought about it."

"So you taught yourself." It wasn't a question. Hailblaze nodded with a mix of respect and another mood Frozenpaw couldn't place.

"I did."

"And at six moons old. It's too bad you're a medicine cat then. You could've made the Clan proud."

Not as long as Lionpaw's the only one anyone cares about.

"Well, let's not stand here all night. It's about time we get to Mothermouth," Hailblaze murmured, pushing past Frozenpaw. When she didn't follow, he called for her.

"I'm coming," she said, sheathing her claws.

As the vast stretch of rocky land opened up into the night, Frozenpaw spotted four cats facing her and Hailblaze expectantly. When they got close enough, a golden she-cat spoke with a mocking, yet playful tone.

"It isn't like you, Hailblaze to be late," she meowed.

"You're usually the first one here," a white tom remarked.

"I apologize Goldenwillow, Spiralwhisker," replied Hailblaze stopping before them. He glanced Frozenpaw's way, sharing an unspoken statement. "Something came up."

"So did something in WindClan, but you don't see us appearing fashionably late," muttered a pale gray she-cat who was standing next to Goldenwillow.

"Now Squirrelfur, enough with the teasing," said a black and white she-cat quietly. She turned to Hailblaze. "We see you brought someone with you."

"Yes," the gray and white tom mewed. "This is my new apprentice, Frozenpaw."

At the mention of Frozenpaw's name, Goldenwillow's face twisted into a scowl, but she didn't say anything.

What's wrong with my name?

"You're quite small for an apprentice," observed Spiralwhisker.

Frozenpaw bristled at his words and unsheathed her claws, but before she could move, Hailblaze shot her a warning glance. "Forgive my apprentice, she's pretty new to all of this."

"What cat isn't?" Squirrelfur murmured.

"Anyway, Frozenpaw, you should meet everybody. Spiralwhisker is ShadowClan's medicine cat-" in a lower voice, Hailblaze said, "-and a pretty old one at that." He flicked his tail to the black and white she-cat. "Whispershadow is medicine cat of RiverClan. And Goldenwillow and Squirrelfur belong to WindClan."

Frozenpaw tilted her head in confusion. "Why does Squirrelfur have her full name? Isn't she an apprentice?"

The pale gray she-cat growled, but Goldenwillow chuckled softly. "She completed her training. Now she's just hanging around and waiting for me to die."

"Oh...so when you go to StarClan, she'll take up the job?"

"Yes."

Spiralwhisker moaned and all eyes turned to him. "Let's get going. The night is growing short. Frozenpaw, don't you want to be accepted by StarClan already?"

Irritated by the tom's impatience, she nodded. "I am."

Whispershadow seemed to note how her voice was unwavering. "Pretty brave, kit. You never know what StarClan has to show you. Aren't you nervous?"

Frozenpaw answered with a firm dip of her head.

"Well then, what are waiting for here? Let's see our ancestors!" Goldenwillow exclaimed.

Okay, so maybe the end wasn't to exciting. I get the feeling that this chapter was a little rushed, so forgive me for the mistake. The next chapter will be posted soon.

Also, if you're my fiftieth reveiwer (and you have an account) I'll PM you, and you'll get a 'prize' if you want to know what it is, check out my profile under What's going on. So get those reviews in!

~Destiny