Starpaw woke up in the apprentice's den curled next to her sisters. She looked up and realized that none of the other apprentices had gone out yet, since Jadepaw and her brother, Flamepaw, were still in the den.
"Hey, Jadepaw!" The gray apprentice flipped over on her side."Jadepaw!" Starpaw said again louder.
"What do you want?" asked the Starpaw's friend, looking at her with brilliant blue eyes.
"I have to go on dawn patrol this morning, and Bramblestar said you could come with Cinderheart." Starpaw gave her a "Don't leave me alone with the clan leader and Dustpelt" look.
"Oh, alright. I'll come with you." Jadepaw got up from her nest of moss and sighed reluctantly. They left together and walked towards Bramblestar, Dustpelt, and Cinderheart at the remains fresh-kill pile from the night before.
When the five cats had finished a piece of fresh-kill each, they padded towards the entrance of the camp, trying to not look sleepy, as the sun hadn't even risen yet.
As they were about to exit the Thunderclan camp through the gorse tunnel, Cherrynose burst through the undergrowth.
"Cherrynose, what's wrong?" Bramblestar exclaimed.
The she-cat managed to report to the clan leader between gasps.
"Blackstar…coming to… kill… Star…paw!" she then collapsed on the ground and was helped to the medicine cat's den by Brightheart.
Another cat ran through the entrance to the camp, yowling. It was Blackstar! All of the cats emerged from their dens to see what was happening.
Starpaw crouched low to the ground as Blackstar cackled maniacally. Quick as lightning, Blackstar sprang, but Starpaw was too fast for him. She flipped over on to her back and caught the tom between her claws. She then flipped over again and pinned him to the ground, repeatedly lashing his face with her claws until he managed to get up and ran off into the undergrowth.
"Good job, Starpaw!" The clan erupted into cheers, as she had only been made an apprentice the day before and had just beaten one of the most powerful cats in the forest.
"You are a very good fighter, Starpaw." said Bramblestar. "The only other cat I have seen fight like that is Sandstorm" Graystripe laughed, while Sandstorm cuffed him on the head.
Starpaw was proud of herself. She really was a good fighter. As Redpaw and Lakepaw came to congratulate her, she wondered, Is this what the prophecy really meant? That I am a good fighter?