Chapter 2

We arrive back at camp, Truestep shifting his paws nervously. I don't know what he's so worried about, it was just a training session! I carry my mouse off to the elder's den, my chest puffed out proudly. It's actually quite plump for a wood mouse, but it is Greenleaf right now. My paw steps over the threshold of the den, allowing me to now peer inside. Darkear looks up from his nap, greeting me with a nod.

"Fallowpaw. How was your first training session?"

"Good! I caught a mouse. Do you want it?" I placed the prey at Darkear's paws, flicking my tail in triumph. My first day, and I was already delivering prey to the elders! I was doing great.

"You caught this? Wow, you must be so great at hunting! Most apprentices can't catch anything for a while." He smiled. I could hear the sarcasm in his voice, but there was a tint ot him being actually impressed. That's all that mattered to me.

"Thanks! Next time I hunt, I'll try to bring something back for both you and Foldedoak." I chirped, turning to leave him with the mouse. "See you later, Darkear!" He nodded in response, and began to much on the mouse as I stepped out of the den.

I nodded a greeting to Doeshine as I passed, sitting next to her.

"Truestep told me and your father that you're a quick learner. That's good! I always new my girl would be a good apprentice" She licked my forehead a few times. I barely tolerated it.

"Yeah, yeah, mom. I caught a mouse today, and I gave it to Darkear. Foldedoak wasn't in the den." I meow, shaking my head tiredly. "I need to sleep.. 'Night, momma." I mutter, turning tail and hurrying off to the apprentice's den.

I set my head down.

Darkness.

And then.

Light.

It's..

So bright.

My head hurts.

I see cats around me.

I don't even care.

I groan.

"It hurts.."

I complain.

One of them smiles.

How rude.

I'm in pain.

And they're laughing.

"Fallowpaw?"

My dream is interrupted.

"Fallowpaw, get up. We've been assigned to a hunting patrol with Owlpaw and Rabbittail." Oh, it's Truestep. That makes it 10 times better. I sigh, shaking the dreariness off of my pelt. Thankfully, the dream wasn't even that good.

"I'm up, I'm up.." I mutter, following Truestep to the entrance. It's not my favorite to be woken up so early, but if I have to train to be a warrior, I might as well start early.

"About time." I hear Owlpaw mutter. His fur is ruffled up everywhere. I growl at him. Says you, nest-head.

"Let's get on with the patrol, then." Rabbittail, Owlpaw's mentor, breaks the tension. I nod tiredly, readying myself to follow him. Owlpaw still glares at me for a while as we walk, but I don't care. Off to the side, I spot a mouse sniffing in the grass. Springing into a hunting crouch, I begin to carefully approach the mouse. Owlpaw interrupts, hissing loudly as he trip sover a branch. I look over, frowning at him.

"You scared off my mouse! I was about to catch that." I snap at the grey tom. Arrogant Mouse-Brain. I sigh, continuing to walk next to the rest of the group.

Great StarClan, Owlpaw is a nuisance. I get that it was horribly obvious from the start, but really though. He. Was. Horrible.

I was severely grateful when the patrol was over, slumping my shoulders with the squirrel I caught in my jaws. I walk into camp, Duskpaw looking over and rolling his eyes. 'Tail-Kisser.' He mouthed. 'Useless Mouse-Brain.' I shoot back, my squirrel now deposited in the Fresh-Kill Pile. I hate him and love him at the same time, so I bring over a robin for us to share.

"Owlpaw's an arrogant mouse-brain, not unlike yourself."

"No he's not!" Duskpaw hissed, biting into the robin hungrily. "He's a really good friend."

I rolled my eyes. "Like he'd ever talk to a weakling like you. He thinks he's better than all of us combined."

"Uh-uh. Totally not."

"Totally yes." I retorted.

"Not!"

"Yes!"

And Doeshine walks over to interrupt the sibling argument. I grumble something about needing to go, and I hurry away to the apprentice's den before my mother can reprimand us.

As I arrive, I sit down next to Thrushpaw.

"How was your training session?" I ask, poking him softly with my tail.

"Horrible." He didn't look up. "I'm failing at everything. But not you. You're the talk of the Clan. It's all 'Oh, look at Fallowpaw go! She's so great, blah. Blah. Blah.' "

Of course, I'm good at one thing, and suddenly, I'm the best at it in the Clan. Fun. "Not true. I'm horrible at actually hunting in the forest. I only caught one measly squirrel. I had 4 opportunities for other prey!" I left out the part where Owlpaw scared all of them away. My measly attempt at cheering Thrushpaw up seemed to be working.

"..Okay, I guess you're just another mouse-brained apprentice, then." He teased after a moment. He was back to being Thrushpaw, alright. Not that it was an entirely good thing, but I guess it worked.

"Now hold on, I never said that!" I batted his ear half-heartedly, yawning. "Ugh... I'm too tired to play-fight right now, sorry Thrushpaw." I mutter. Turning to my nest, I flip onto my side and slowly drift into sleep.

This time, the light doesn't startle me nearly as much. It still gives me a headache, but great StarClan it was way worse last time.

"Okay, now where in the four Clans am I now?" I hiss, spinning around in a circle to survey the area.

"StarClan." A deep voice behind me almost makes me just out of my fur. I snap around, seething and terrified.

"What was that for? You could've at least warned me, sheesh." I sit down hard, facing the cat. They are tall, and seem to be of a warrior's age. Their fur is a blueish grey, with starscapes swirling through their pelt.

They chuckle softly. "Trust me, I would've if you'd have believed me." They notice my surveying looks. "I'm Mousescreech, by the way. You're Fallowpaw, correct?" I nod at them, still suspicious. Leaning to the side, I spot another feline coming at us.

"Mousescreech!" They greet the grey feline with a smile. "You get her to lighten up?" They look me over. "You still seem suspicious. I'm Fawnspark. Don't worry about him over there." They point to Mousescreech. "He's just kinda imposing." Well, they seemed cheerful at least.

Mousescreech smiles slightly. "And she's too happy for her own good." He turns back to me, suddenly serious.

"Now that you've met us, you

need

to

wake

up."

End