On one rainy miserable border patrol, with rivulets of water dripping down his long whiskers, Runningwind heard the other warriors talking about apprentices.

Whitestorm, who was leading the small patrol, blinked wearily, before shaking the rain off his pelt as they continued their trek alongside the sparsely wooded WindClan border. Mousefur followed close behind, ducking her head behind the larger warrior to shield herself from the steady downpour. Now that WindClan had finally returned to their territory, Runningwind was pleased to note that their scent markers were reinstated and were stronger than ever, penetrating through the damp air. WindClan always held a place in his heart, for their free-spirited nature and swift grace that had them running across the moor so effortlessly.

Runningwind was gazing longingly into the misty expanse of WindClan's territory when Mousefur shyly asked: "Whitestorm? What was it like training Sandstorm?"

Whitestorm gazed over his shoulder, ears twitching with curiosity or just because of the droplets landing on his ears, Runningwind couldn't tell. "I suppose you'll have to elaborate on what you mean, Mousefur." His voice was amused. "There's a lot to it, training an apprentice."

Mousefur frowned for a moment. "Well, I guess how did you know you were ready for your first one? Or how did Bluestar decide you were ready?"

"You never know whether you're ready until you get an apprentice." Whitestorm noted, taking his time to stay far away from the edge of the hill that rolled downward into WindClan's territory. Especially with the mud from the rainfall, a careless step could send a cat tumbling across enemy lines. Though if it were Runningwind, he'd make sure it was fast tumbling. But anyway. Maybe he should pay attention to Whitestorm's speech. Wise senior warrior stuff for later, he supposed.

"Typically, a warrior communicates to their leader that they wish to have an apprentice, and if the leader agrees, you are assigned one." Whitestorm was saying, with Mousefur paying rapt attention to every word. "Often Bluestar assigns apprentices that could learn a thing or two from their mentors. Take Sandstorm, for instance. She had a fiery temper as a young apprentice, and a sharp wit to match. Bluestar thought I could calm her down a bit."

"And did you?" Mousefur asked, skepticism written on her features. "I mean, she doesn't seem any different to me."

Runningwind was inclined to agree. Sandstorm was as feisty as ever; he'd certainly been struck by her sharp tongue more than enough times.

Whitestorm chuckled. "Well, not exactly. I see it this way— instead of eliminating those things, what makes her Sandstorm, I as a mentor sought to channel those aspects of her personality into something that could serve the clan, and ultimately, serve to better herself. Sandstorm, I believe, has learned how to stand up for what she believes in, and be fiercely loyal to her clanmates."

Seeing the inspired look on Mousefur's face, Whitestorm grinned, before flicking his tail, splattering water unknowingly in Runningwind's direction. "Sorry. I may have rambled a bit too much. My point is, you should both put in a request for an apprentice. I hear Frostfur's kits are nearly of age, and you both would make fabulous mentors."

Runningwind couldn't but scoff at that, making both Mousefur and Whitestorm pause in their tracks. Then he realized too late that he had been a bit too loud.

"What?" He meowed, puffing out his chest in defiance. He tried to walk past them and move on from the topic, but Mousefur stopped him with a sharp paw to his shoulder.

"What, Runningwind? Didn't think we could hear you scoff from here until the Four Trees? You think you're too good for an apprentice?"

"No, but…" Even to his own ears he didn't sound that convincing. "Okay, when you put it that way, it would sound a bit bad. But I don't need an apprentice. I'm fine as I am." He grinned cheekily at his littermate. "We both know most warriors can't keep up with me, let alone a scrawny apprentice."

With that, Runningwind brushed past her, tail in the air as he went to refresh the last of ThunderClan's scent markers along the border, choosing a clump of brambles surrounding a large stone. Seized by a random streak of energy, Runningwind chose that moment to race up the side of the smooth rock, claws scrabbling for purchase on its damp surface. The stiff breeze made the raindrops feel like grains of sand hitting his face, but the feeling was exhilarating. He basked in his own glory for a moment until he heard Whitestorm clear his throat from below.

"You know, we could use more energetic mentors. Ones that can push apprentices to their limit." Whitestorm blinked at him with genuinely curious yellow eyes. "Are you afraid of the responsibility?"

Runningwind bristled from his perch. "Of course not!"

Whitestorm shrugged. "I believe one of the best ways to serve our clan is to be a mentor. These apprentices are the future of our clan after all, and there is still much we need to learn as warriors."

"That's what they all say." Runningwind grumbled. Losing his enthusiasm for being pelted by the rain, he scrambled down the side of the rock and fixed Whitestorm with a glare. "Say I did get an apprentice. The apprentice learns nothing, I learn nothing. It ends up being a complete waste of time. What then?"

"Then you learn that being a mentor wasn't for you." Whitestorm grinned. "But how do you know until you try?"

"Fine. Fine! I'll ask Bluestar. Are you happy?" He hated how easily Whitestorm had gotten to him. He didn't want an apprentice. What was he even doing? All this to fulfill the intellectual dreams of some older warrior. Whitestorm seemed satisfied with his response and began walking back in the direction of camp. Runningwind skulked behind him, tail dragging in the dirt as he walked at the speed of a slug.

Mousefur chose that moment to sidle up beside him, whiskers twitching.

"I overheard everything, little brother." Mousefur never let him live down the fact that Runningwind was the smallest of the siblings. But he didn't mind that much, it just meant he was faster.

"What of it?" Runningwind rolled his eyes dramatically. "All this means is I'm going to get an apprentice before you—HA!" He let out a loud trill and galloped forward, finding a giant puddle. He made sure to splash Mousefur's face with muddy water with his hind paws, and he beamed when he heard Mousefur's angry yowl signaling he'd successfully hit his target.

The littermates carried on in the same fashion all the way back to camp but were forced to stop when Mousefur accidentally splattered mud all over Whitestorm's nice white coat, earning a well-deserved swat from the older warrior.

The clearing felt strangely empty with all the clan sheltering from the rain or sleeping. If the clouds weren't blocking the sky, Runningwind figured it would be sunhigh right around then, and for ThunderClan it was a favorite nap time.

Well, for most of ThunderClan. Aroused by the return of the patrol, Frostfur's kits came running out of the nursery, bounding on steady legs that reminded Runningwind of their nearing apprenticeship.

"Hiya kits!" Mousefur meowed cheerfully, her usual curt expression softening into something so unlike her normal personality Runningwind fell back onto his haunches in shock. Was this why Mousefur had been asking about getting an apprentice all of a sudden? She was simply infatuated with the kits!

"Hi Mousefur!" A golden-brown kit and a ginger and white kit meowed back, before starting to play-wrestle. Another golden-brown kit, this one a little darker, shook his head chidingly at the pair.

"We're supposed to be apprentices soon, we can't be playing around like kits."

"Let them be, Brackenkit." Whitestorm rumbled, padding over scrub Brackenkit's head playfully with a muddy paw. "You're still kits for a little bit longer."

"Aw no! Mud!" Brackenkit squeaked, rolling over in a panic, only to get more dirt on his pelt. Runningwind rolled his eyes at their antics, when a small furball collided with his side. He glanced down to see a fluffy gray kit staring up at him with wide blue eyes.

Runningwind and the kit stared at one another for a good few moments before he became a little concerned with the intensity of the kit's gaze. "Um, hello?"

"Hi!" The kit chirped, still staring. "Brightkit says that when you stare into someone else's eyes, you can see into their minds."

"I don't think that's true." Runningwind frowned, backing away from the kit. "And if it was true, I don't want you seeing into my mind either."

"Too late!" The kit announced, tilting her chin up proudly. "I have found important info-mation."

Runningwind stiffened. The kit continued, slowing down her voice for effect.

"You…" The kit crouched down in preparation to pounce. "…are secretly a ShadowClan spy!" In a blur of gray fur, the kit attacked, pummeling Runningwind's face with clumsy yet swift paws. Seeing the commotion, all the other kits joined the fray, and soon Runningwind was buried under a pile of kits. The kits were nearly as large as he was, and he feared he would suffocate under the sheer amount of fur alone. Lionheart, StarClan rest his soul, had an unbearably fluffy pelt, and it seemed that his children had inherited it.

"Hey! Enough of that!" Frostfur exclaimed, finally emerging from the nursery. "Look at the lot of you, completely filthy!" She leveled her gaze on the gray kit, who was plastered with mud and debris. "Cinderkit! You're up first!"

"Aw man…" Cinderkit groaned, shaking herself off. She sent a smirk in Runningwind's direction. "See ya later, secret spy cat!"

"We'll get you next time!" Brightkit agreed, following Cinderkit back to the front of the nursery where Frostfur immediately started vigorously licking her unruly pelt.

"This is why I didn't want an apprentice." Runningwind sighed. "Way too annoying. And weird."

"But where's the fun in that?" Mousefur poked him in the side with a paw, but he retaliated with a playful nip at her tail. "I saw you. You were having fun with Cinderkit back there."

"Depends on how you define 'fun,' but sure." Runningwind licked a paw, wincing at the earthy taste that instantly coated his tongue. "I am going to hate being a mentor."

"Deny it all you want little brother. You'll see eventually."

Runningwind stubbornly ignored her.

Evening was the best time to approach Bluestar on important matters, Runningwind had discovered. Unlike the rest of the clan, who easily retired to their dens once the sun set, Bluestar was almost always awake, gazing up at the stars.

Runningwind had early memories of being a kit in the nursery, Mousekit softly snoring next to him as lay there unable to sleep.

He peered up from the moss and bracken lining his nest and watched Bluefur shift in her sleep, blinking open glowing blue eyes that cut through the darkness like sharp claws. Slowly she rose in her nest, gave her kits a careful sniff to make sure they stayed asleep, then quietly crept past and exited the den withoot even a flick of her tail, merely a shadow in the night.

After a moment's hesitation, Runningkit crept after her into the cold, poking his head out of the nursery to see Bluefur sitting at the edge of the clearing.

The moonlight turned Bluefur's pelt silver, her head tilted up toward the stars. Runningkit had never seen a cat keep so still.

Runningkit tried to creep toward her as quietly as he could, but his clumsy kit paws betrayed him, and he stumbled forward letting out a small squeak as he fell flat on his face.

Bluefur's shoulders slumped.

"Argh, I knew I wasn't quiet enough to—" She turned around, blue eyes widening with surprise at the sight of Runningkit. "Runningkit? I would've expected Mosskit or maybe even Mistykit to follow me, but you? I didn't realize you were…" Bluefur trailed off, curling her tail around her paws.

Returning her gaze to the stars, she remarked, "I used to not have trouble sleeping at night. But I don't dislike it. Staying up, I mean."

Runningkit scuffed his paw on the ground. "Why not?" He meowed with a frown. Not being able to fall asleep was the worst.Mousekit would sleep all night and then want to play all day in the morning when Runningkit wanted nothing more than to bury his face into his mother's fur and try sleeping again.

"Well…" Bluefur drew a paw up to her face mysteriously. "I heard that ShadowClan cats don't sleep at night like the rest of us. They thrive in the shadows, just like their name, and do their best hunting then."

"Really?" Runningkit whispered.

"Yes!" Her voice seemed to rise in pitch with excitement. "And WindClan cats like to sleep out under the stars too. That's the only redeemable part of their clan it seems…" Bluefur muttered that last part almost too quietly for Runningkit to hear. "And RiverClan…" A faraway expression crossed her face.

"The moon reflects on the river like nothing you've ever seen. A friend of mine told me about it. The clan likes to go moonlight fishing too, more challenging but some different types of fish are awake then, and RiverClan likes to have variety on their freshkill pile."

"I could never eat fish though. Yuck!" Runningkit scowled, sticking out his tongue. Bluefur laughed and then bowed her head to speak with him more closely. Her eyes were big and blue.

"There's a lot we can learn from the other clans, little one." The fur on the back of Bluefur's neck bristled, then she relaxed. "But what we have to remember is responsibility to our own clan. The boundaries are there for a reason." She turned her gaze back up toward the stars. "And like it or not, when your clan needs you, you have to give up everything to protect it."

Runningwind didn't remember the fox that took her kits away, but even after her kits had been snatched Bluefur continued to stargaze, but there was a certain weariness to her figure that became more pronounced after that fateful night.

Bluestar was a good leader, but Runningwind often felt like she was too wrapped up in things, in traditions, in this idea of responsibility and the warrior code that she had sworn to uphold. She'd surprise him sometimes, like bringing a kittypet into the clan. The act had been unprecedented, with it literally being in the warrior code that a warrior scorns the life of a kittypet, but Bluestar didn't seem to care. Fireheart had become the leader's prized pupil, and sometimes Runningwind felt jealous, given the fact that before Fireheart, he had trained as Bluestar's apprentice last.

But that open mindedness wasn't something Bluestar showed often, and Runningwind didn't feel confident Bluestar would be so open to him receiving an apprentice.

Bluestar was a huge believer in patience, something she'd pointed out as his mentor that he had little of. Being a good mentor meant patience. Runningwind was not patient. Runningwind could not be a good mentor.

But the difference is this time I'm asking, Runningwind told himself as he exited the warriors' den that night. I'm asking for an apprentice because maybe this time, I might actually be ready.

After a quick glance around camp, he saw a flash of pale ginger fur outside the entrance tunnel— so Sandstorm was on guard tonight. But it wouldn't be an issue tonight, for Bluestar hasn't wandered far.

Sitting in her favorite spot upon High Rock, Runningwind could see Bluestar's silhouette cutting through the moonlit sky. The day's rain had cleared, and while wispy clouds still glided overhead, the stars sparkled and the claw slice of the moon glimmered coldly.

Silently he bound up back of the rock, then stopped short behind Bluestar, suddenly intimidated by her presence.

"Bluestar?" He managed to squeak out.

Bluestar slowly turned her head and glared through thin blue slits. "Awfully late, isn't it Runningwind?"

"Yes," Runningwind replied, dipping his head respectfully. "But there's been something I've been meaning to ask you."

Bluestar seemed to assess him with that sharp gaze of hers, then nodded for him to proceed.

The nervous habit of scuffing a paw on the ground while he spoke had never helped him much, but Runningwind did it anyway.

"Oh. Alright then. Uh…" More paw scuffs. "I've been thinking, a-as one does. About kits."

Bluestar raised her eyebrows.

"Nononono not— not in that way! That's— yeah no. Not at that stage in my life yet. Sorry! Anyway. That's not what I meant. I meant how there are kits that are going to be apprentices soon. And I was hoping to mentor one." He hadn't given much thought as to which apprentice, but he was sure Bluestar would be able to figure it out.

He stared at her silently, waiting for any sign of a response.

Her face was still, unmoving, like a tall stone unswaying among tall trees.

"Interesting." She meowed finally, seeming to stare right through him.

That's all she's going to say? He shuffled his paws, swaying back and forth. His tail swished in the air behind him.

Bluestar must have noticed his wide-eyed expression and her gaze softened to something akin to pity. Runningwind didn't like that.

"Thanks for letting me know, Runningwind, I'll consider it." Bluestar's brow furrowed, creased by moonlight. "But isn't this a bit sudden for you? Why now do you want an apprentice now when you've never seemed remotely interested before?"

"Why do I…" Runningwind felt his cheeks warm. "I, um.." This was it. She'd called his bluff. He didn't really want an apprentice, right? This was all Whitestorm and Mousefur's fault. Filling his mind with these ideas. He gaped at her helplessly, opening his mouth to admit defeat-

"I think I see." Bluestar meowed, making Runningwind's stomach drop. "I never thought you'd surprise me, Runningwind, but here we are. I suppose everyone changes after time."

For a moment, it seemed like Bluestar had gone insane. She's not... reprimanding me? And maybe he could unpack the implication that he was predictable to her later, because he hadn't seen her look at him so thoughtfully before.

"Don't think I haven't noticed," She continued. "You taking particular interest in Frostfur's kits. And spending time with Whitestorm. He's a wise mentor, a warrior I can count on. And it's encouraging to see previously uninterested warriors take an interest in mentoring. So thank you."

Bluestar was smiling at him, and it was weird.

"You're welcome?" Runningwind said with only a bit of awkwardness.

Bluestar blinked slowly at Runningwind. "Yes. I will consider your request, Runningwind." She brushed past him, leaping off the Highrock like a fish leaping back into a stream. "Have a good night."

Runningwind watched her disappear into the shadows below before carefully climbing down the rock himself.

How dare she get his hopes up.

I decided to do something a little different and do a sort of character-study/what-if scenario with first-arc characters and I thought why not start with Runningwind? So that's happening. Let's see where this goes, shall we?

Some minor changes to canon:

- Sandstorm and Dustpelt are made warriors around the same time/after Fireheart and Graystripe because why shouldn't they ;)

- Cinderkit, Brackenkit, Brightkit, and Thornkit are going to be made into apprentices at the same time because it was always strange to me that they were split up when that never happens with any other litters again? As far as I can remember anyways

- Misty