SparkPaw awoke that morning, feeling the newleaf warmth on his black and white striped pelt. He yawned, stretched, and trotted out of the apprentice den into the main camp. He had to do something, but he couldn't remember what right now. The sun was low and there was hardly a cloud in the sky, and he took a walk around the camp to see if he could remember what it was. On his little walk he saw the medicine cat PaleFoot talking to GrayFace, probably about VoleKit again. She was always worried about her, it seemed. VoleKit was born small, and with no fur, an unusual aspect of clan cats. Hopefully she would survive the leaf-bare. Anyways, this was not his problem, so he continued on this walk. Besides GrayFace, the rest of the queens and kits seemed very happy. BearKit was playing with StickKit and BumbleKit, clearly winning their game of moss ball. MoonPelt, his own mother, was watching carefully over SnowKit while he too took a little walk. Seeing this sight, he went over to say hello to them both.

"Good morning SnowKit, MoonPelt." he greeted them both. SnowKit looked up affectionately, while MoonPelt stared at her son tiredly.

"Hello, Spark…Paw." she yawned

"How are you both doing?" he asked, sitting down

"S'all right!" the young kit replied happily

"We're alright, I just hope SnowKit's alright." she explained

"I'm sure he will be. Y'know, why did you name him that? Don't you know of the curse the name 'Snow' brings?" he asked his mother

"Yes…" she sighed, eyeing him. "You should probably go see what the elders want. You're an apprentice now, not my kit." she shooed him off

"Right! That's why I went out!" he remembered. "See ya later SnowKit!" he called as he raced towards the elder's den.

As he ran off towards the distance, MoonPelt sighed, "Oh thank StarClan FrostFang has to deal with him now." as she continued watching over her youngest kit.

"DustEye! FleetClaw" he called to the elder's den. Slowly but surely all the elders woke up from the noise the young cat was making.

"Who's there!" DustEye snapped up from his spot

"Relax, DustEye, it's only SparkPaw." WrinklePelt, another elder, said softly

"Who?" he asked, trying to find WrinklePelt's voice

"SparkPaw. He's one of the apprentices."

DustEye still had little clue as to who this was. He was the blind elder ever since SparkPaw was a kit. Maybe even before a kit. Perhaps before he was a thought in MoonPelt's mind.

"He's been the one picking your ticks for the past three moons." she said, a bit more frustrated

"Oh…? OH! He's the one who prickles my fur whenever he finishes!" he finally remembered

"Uh….yeah, it's me." SparkPaw replied, not sure what to think

"And you only call for the disabled ones? Seems sort of unfair if you ask me." the fourth elder spoke. This was ShadeTail, a shaded white tom with a sleek black tail. He was the youngest elder among the group.

"Well….I…." SparkPaw tried to explain himself

"Come now, ShadeTail. Of course he would want to help the older ones. They can hardly tend to themselves. Take FleetClaw for example; she can barely move her paws!" WrinklePelt explained

"Oh don't mention that!" FleetClaw said grumpily. "I don't need to be reminded of it by some other cat!"

"Sorry, dear. I was just trying to make a point to ShadeTail." She apologized to FleetClaw.

"It's fine. Besides-"

"You know once you become older than the trees in the forest THEN you'll get your name called first!" DustEye interrupted FleetClaw. "Back in my day complaining like that would get you a spanking! Why, if I could only see you I would give you a lesson you wouldn't forget!" DustEye spoke around the den

"Oh please, old tom. Your threats mean nothing anymore. I've taken more wounds from you than any fight I've ever fought." ShadeTail retorted. "In fact-"

"Silence." BoneChill finally said, his quiet but intimidating voice silencing all talk around the area. He was currently the oldest cat in ShadowClan, making him the de facto leader of the elder's den.

"DustEye, are you older than the trees in the forest?" he asked DustEye

"Well, no, but-"

"You went blind. That is why you are seen as weak and helpless. As for you ShadeTail," his dark eyes turned to ShadeTail's, "Know your place. You are the youngest one here, and therefore the lowest of rank. You do not disrespect this den, nor the members in it." he told ShadeTail. Turning to SparkPaw, he said,

"I request a hearty squirrel. FleetClaw likes the taste of sparrows, so bring her one. DustEye likes two mice, one to chew on each side of his cheek, and WrinklePelt-"

"I'd like a frog, maybe with a bird's egg if you can manage." she cut in, placing her order. "BoneChill, you really don't have to tell the apprentices what we want, deary. We may be old, but we are still strong."

"I know, sweetie. But I must continue to establish my order and dominance." he explained

"Yes, yes, but this is your retirement! Can't you at least take a day off from the doom and gloom act?" she asked him

BoneChill sighed. "Perhaps one day, but not now." turning to SparkPaw again, he commanded, "You know your orders. Now go."

"Yes sir, BoneChill sir!" SparkPaw meowed, and raced towards the fresh-kill pile.

"Hey SplashPaw, do you know how to climb a tree?" he asked his fellow apprentice as he gathered the fresh-kill for the elders.

"What? Yeah, of course. Don't ya?" SplashPaw remarked, glancing at SparkPaw in between bits of his mouse

"Uh…no." SparkPaw admitted. "FrostFang hasn't gotten to that yet."

"Are ya serious?" SplashPaw scoffed. "JaguarPelt taught me that ages ago. Anyways, why would ya need to climb a tree?"

"WrinklePelt asked for a bird's egg." he explained to the young tom

"Always the cat pleaser, aren't ya SparkPaw." he shook his head and smiled. "Well hopefully ya can convince FrostFang to teach ya. If not, I would convince JaguarPelt to."

"That would be great! Thank you SplashPaw!" he meowed happily

"I wouldn't count on it." a small, brown she-cat approached. "I heard that while JaguarPelt's a good climber, he's a terrible hunter."

"And what makes ya so sure of that?" SplashPaw questioned

"KindleRoot told me." she explained. "But don't worry. At least you don't have FrostFang." She turned to SparkPaw. "They hardly do anything, and their breath always smells of catmint."

Okay, that may be true, but she didn't have to say it out loud.

"Well….well what does your mentor have that ours don't!" SparkPaw tried to make a comeback

"Let's see…strength, speed, smarts, and, oh yeah! Actual dedication to the clan." LittlePaw claimed.

SparkPaw couldn't believe what he was hearing. His mentor was just as loyal to the clan like any other member, and so was he!

"I-"

"Why don't ya back off and find your mentor then, hm? If he's a better cat than us then ya should be talking to him!" SplashPaw retorted. This at least rattled LittlePaw at least.

"Fine." she rolled her eyes. "I have to see what AdderPaw's up to anyways." And with that she trotted off.

"Hey, uh, thanks for that." SparkPaw said

"Don't mention it; she's been that way since she started her apprenticeship." SplashPaw replied, gulping down another bitefull of mouse.

"Really?" SparkPaw wondered aloud. He was one of the youngest apprentices among his denmates, and it was fascinating to learn more about them. "What was she like before?" he asked

"Hm..pretty nice, at least that's what I think." SplashPaw replied, finishing off his mouse. With a stretch, he got up and added, "Enough talk about LittlePaw, ya have an egg to find. I'll talk to JaguarPelt about it if ya mention it to FrostFang, alright?"

"Of course! Thank you SplashPaw!" SparkPaw waved his tail in delight.

"Anytime mate, anytime." he trotted off to find his mentor.

SparkPaw padded to the warrior's den, where he saw a familiar white shape. It was large and white, with light gray rosette markings, a stumpy tail, and folded ears. This was his mentor, FrostFang. He quietly approached and prodded the warrior awake.

"Hm?" the warrior slowly awoke, their heavy, red eyes opening to see their eager mentor looking up at them. "Do you need something?" they yawned

"Yeah! I need to know how to climb a tree for WrinklePelt's breakfast!" he explained to his mentor. The warrior stretched and sat, their eyes staring down at SparkPaw. "Listen, um, how about we wait for the dawn patrol to get back, then maybe we can talk about it, alright?" they yawned, trying to reason with their apprentice. But SparkPaw was impatient. "Come on FrostFang! We can't disappoint the elders; it would be disrespectful." he argued. Just as FrostFang was about to counter, the yowls of the leader rang throughout camp. The dawn patrol must've returned, and it was time for a clan meeting.

The dawn patrol, led by KindleRoot, had indeed returned. He padded closer to the shaderock, where his sister FlareStripe was. She was the deputy, and mentor to BristlePaw, who sat by SplashPaw, his paws shifting awkwardly. AdderPaw and LittlePaw sat next to each other sharing tongues, watched by RabbitTail, AdderPaw's mentor. WrinklePelt was guiding DustEye out of the elder's den, while ShadeTail and NightWing were helping with FleetClaw. BoneChill and WrinklePelt walked a little separately from them, purring contently towards each other, though BoneChill's eyes still lived up to his name. BirchFur was trying to court ClawLeap with no avail, and then being chased away by FoxFire. HoundHeart was there to be his shield from the she-cats he upset. JaguarPelt was laying next to GoldTalon. If they kept sitting next to each other like this she would probably have his kits soon, if she didn't already, and would have to sit next to the queens, who were watching their kits playing together. FrostFang ran off to HornetClaw, their littermate, leaving SparkPaw to find his own seat in the clearing. Having no one else to really sit next to, he trotted over to MarshKit, who looked up with an intense expression, leaning eagerly to hear the meeting. He was soon ready to become an apprentice, and he looked increasingly impatient to become one each passing day. Quietly he scooched over towards him. "So….um…" he tried to start up a conversation. "Sh…Quiet." MarshKit shut him down with a flick of his tail. Clearing his throat, he looked up onto the shaderock. EagleStar leaped up, and the meeting was now to begin.

"Alright everyone! According to KindleRoot's patrol, prey is running well. Thunderclan did eye us a little bit, but they were on their border, and we were on ours. It'll be their loss though if they want to start a fight, because we are Shadowclan!" he announced this news proudly, causing quiet cheers from the crowd. SparkPaw watched in wonder. How was he able to move his clan like this? How did he gain this respect? How could HE gain their respect? How could he get the respect of his clanmates if he was on the outskirts like this, watching the meeting with a KIT? Sure, MarshKit was close to being an apprentice, but it was the message it conveyed. Would he ever become a warrior? What would he do if he couldn't? Would he have to spend his days out as a loner, living in the disgusting dirtheap that was the CarrionPlace? What would his mother think-

"SparkPaw!" MarshKit's stuffy voice derailed his train of thought. "EagleStar's going to make me an apprentice!" he declared with enthusiasm. Looking closely, his pelt did seem cleaner and neater than it usually was. He watched as MarshKit bounded towards the Shaderock, leaving him in the dust.

He quietly sat next to FrostFang, who was sharing tongues with HornetClaw. GrayFace was by MarshKit, a look of pride on her face. Her first kit was becoming an apprentice.

"MarshKit." EagleStar began, "You have been with us for six moons, and for that our clan couldn't be prouder, especially GrayFace." he turned to face the anxious queen. Turning back to the clan, he said, "From this day on, you shall be known as MarshPaw, and-" suddenly he was cut off by PaleFoot, who ran up to the Shaderock. He said something SparkPaw couldn't hear, but it caused him and EagleStar to step off the rock. Whatever PaleFoot had to say in order to stop the apprentice ceremony must have been important. GrayFace and PeachStump were becoming riled, worried about this will affect their kits, if it would happen again, all while MoonPelt attempted to calm them. The clan started murmuring.

"What are those two idiots thinking!" FlareStripe was ranting to her brother

"Is StarClan going to accept this?" another voice asked groggily

"I think we found some easy prey to hunt, if you know what I mean, AdderPaw." LittlePaw said to her fellow apprentice, who didn't seem to approve of her comment

"So, um, ClawLeap…"

"Get away from me." ClawLeap stopped any attempt at interaction BirchFur was trying to start, instead going to sit next to FoxFire.

"Okay!" FlareStripe got everyone's attention. "While we are waiting for them to actually do their jobs, I'm going to choose the next patrols. NightWing, you lead the sunhigh border patrol; take RabbitTail, AdderPaw, and FoxFire. ClawLeap, you take FrostFang, SparkPaw, and HornetClaw on the hunting patrol!" she commanded, causing a wave of calm to spread throughout the camp. The chosen cats went to get together, and this included SparkPaw. I'm on a hunting patrol with the best hunter in the clan! He thought excitedly. Maybe she can teach me how to climb a tree!

Eventually, EagleStar hopped back onto the ShadeRock, PaleFoot steadily watching him.

"A-as I was saying, MarshKit! From this day on you shall be known as MarshPaw! And your mentor will be H-HoundHeart! Yes, HoundHeart. HoundHeart, your knowledge as a warrior has been kept to yourself for too long. I hope you share it with your first apprentice." MarshPaw touched noses with HoundHeart, but from what it looked like MarshPaw seemed disappointed. Didn't he want to become an apprentice? "Um, I expect you to show him around the territory sometime soon," EagleStar continued carefully eyeing PaleFoot, "and meeting dismissed!"

The quite disastrous apprentice ceremony was finally over. As the cats went back to their dens, SparkPaw walked up to MarshPaw, who was looking around awkwardly, like this is where he wasn't supposed to be.

"So…congratulations, MarshPaw." SparkPaw tried to begin.

"Thanks." MarshPaw responded flatly. SparkPaw shifted his paws awkwardly. They sat in silence for a while. "I'm going to meet up with HoundHeart." MarshPaw said finally. "Maybe he'll let me help the elders or something." he grumbled as he padded off to find his new mentor. SparkPaw watched him leave, feeling sympathy for the new apprentice. Why did he look so miserable?

"Well, we should congratulate him for surviving whatever THAT was." SplashPaw went to sit next to SparkPaw. "Yeah…" SparkPaw agreed, though still felt uncomfortable.

"Hey, cheer up little tom. At least ya'll have a buddy to sleep with in the apprentice's den." SplashPaw replied. That's when he remembered; SplashPaw and BristlePaw were about eleven moons, soon to be made warriors. SparkPaw wouldn't be able to curl up next to him for another two to three moons, and even then the den would be crowded. SplashPaw licked between SparkPaw's ears. "Well, don't worry about him too much. Ya've got to go on the hunting patrol! Maybe ya'll finally know how to climb a tree."

"You're right, I suppose." SparkPaw couldn't help but smile a little bit. SplashPaw was his best friend no matter what, warrior or apprentice. SplashPaw left to go refine his fighting skills with BristlePaw, leaving SparkPaw to his own devices. He HAD to get this egg for WrinklePelt, he just had to. He closed his eyes and waited for sleep to take him until sunhigh approached.