CHAPTER TWENTY ONE

Images of that pale brown she-cat still burned in his mind the next few days. She had seemed so young and vulnerable. Yet she was brave enough to encounter the border and cross Petalstar. Most outsiders wouldn't be smart enough or brave enough to live and tell the tale. Flamepaw couldn't help but feel a little envious. Maybe if he had enough smarts he could stand up to whatever cat was bigger or stronger than him.

Flamepaw let out a sigh as he watched Lilypaw and Shrewpaw practice their fighting moves. He himself had been practicing for most of the afternoon. Now he was exhausted and wanted to rest, but seeing his siblings spurred on that competitive edge.

"Stormshadow said that we'll have our warrior assessments sometime soon," Lilypaw meowed once she had pinned her brother again. Flamepaw watched the pair in amusement. Lilypaw was always trying to outsmart her brother, who was definitely on the smaller side of his sister. Flamepaw himself was the biggest of all the three siblings.

"You know what I just realized?" Shrewpaw asked after getting back to his paws. Flamepaw cocked his head to one side as Lilypaw shook her head. "We haven't even been to a Gathering yet! Petalstar wouldn't let us go on the last couple of Gatherings..."

That was true. Flamepaw hadn't really given it much thought until now. Gatherings were always a special occasion for the Clans. Almost all apprentices were given the opportunity to attend Gatherings. Yet for some reason, Petalstar hadn't even thought of asking the Clan's youngest apprentices to go.

"Maybe she's afraid of how the Clans would react to us," he pointed out.

Lilypaw and Shrewpaw looked at him in surprise before shrugging his suggestion off. Flamepaw's whiskers twitched with annoyance.

Why were they acting as if he didn't exist? They had always been close as siblings back in the nursery, but now things were different. It was almost as if Lilypaw and Shrewpaw were trying to forget him.

"Don't mind them." Flamepaw jumped at the sound of Hazelwind's voice. He looked at her in surprise as she flicked her tail in amusement. "As apprentices, you'll grow apart. But by the time you're warriors, things will get better," she told him reassuringly. "Just remember that even if they ignore you now, it's because they need their own space."

Flamepaw nodded in understanding at that, suddenly realizing that maybe Hazelwind was right. He watched as she joined Kestreltalon by the fresh-kill pile.

I hope she's right, he thought as he imagined things only getting worse between the three of them.

The day dragged on until it was night again. This time Flamepaw was doing night training with Robinwing. Petalstar had taken him out the other day to assess how he was doing. At the time he was so anxious that he could barely understand what he was doing. But now Robinwing would keep him under check.

Robinwing was waiting impatiently for him by the Sky Oak. Flamepaw's senses were on high alert as he looked at his surroundings. Over time he'd learned that hunting and patrolling at night was completely different from what he was used to.

"Okay, let me see how much you've learned over the last few days," Robinwing told him the moment Flamepaw felt he was relaxed enough.

Flamepaw locked eyes with his mentor as he waited for the right moment to attack. Robinwing was waiting for him to make his move - something Flamepaw had gotten used to. He was determined to prove himself worthy, no matter what Robinwing told him.

Without warning, Flamepaw suddenly darted forward and rushed at Robinwing. His mentor was about to step aside when Flamepaw suddenly twisted around and nipped at his back legs. Robinwing let out a yelp of surprise when Flamepaw pummeled him with his paws.

"Not bad," Robinwing gasped in surprise when Flamepaw backed away. "You've definitely improved, and I'm sure that there is still more you can learn."

Flamepaw let out a sigh of relief once he stood up and shook out his fur. For moons he'd been practicing his fighting skills, and now it was finally paying off.

...

"Give it up, Flamepaw!" Shrewpaw crowed as he chased the ball of moss. "I'm gonna make sure you never catch this!"

Flamepaw grunted in annoyance as he bounded from rock to rock. Shrewpaw was down below with a wad of moss in his mouth. The game this time wasn't just a game, but a test to see if Flamepaw could outrun his Clanmates. Robinwing and Shademask were watching nearby in the shadows as the two apprentices chased one another at their top speed.

By the looks of it, Shrewpaw was getting tired already. Flamepaw, on the other hand, was more than eager to carry on with the chase. With a huff of breath, he leaped from one boulder to the other until finally catching up with Shrewpaw. He couldn't help but smirk in amusement as Shrewpaw was gasping for air, having dropped the moss ball.

"Looks like I just caught you," Flamepaw boasted after jumping down and clamping his paws over Shrewpaw's shoulders. Shrewpaw yelped in surprise when he realized too late that Flamepaw was on top of him. "And they say you're the better fighter," he scoffed playfully.

Shrewpaw managed to squirm free from underneath Flamepaw. But by than it was too late, and Flamepaw had already grabbed the ball of moss. His tail lashed triumphantly as Shrewpaw tried licking his chest fur in embarrassment.

"I was only taking it easy on you that time," he muttered crossly. "It's not like you'd win again if I let you."

"Do you wanna hold up to that bet?" Flamepaw asked, narrowing his eyes. Shrewpaw was ready to answer when Shademask suddenly emerged from the bushes.

"That's enough, you two. Flamepaw, you've definitely gotten better with practice, but Shrewpaw needs to keep working on his speed," the gray tom told them in a stern tone.

Flamepaw didn't miss the look of annoyance flashing in Shrewpaw's eyes. He did wonder why they were practicing their speed. It wasn't like they lived on the open moors like WindClan. The thick undergrowth and fallen logs proved difficult for running at top speed.

"This will keep you in top shape," Robinwing informed him as if he'd read his apprentice's thoughts. Flamepaw blinked in surprise as Robinwing looked down at him in amusement. "Believe me, I know it's grueling work, but it gets easier with each day."

I don't know whether or not you're right, but that doesn't make this any more fun, he thought.

"When can we go to our first Gathering?" he suddenly asked, hoping to change the subject. Robinwing stiffened in surprise at that question. "Not once have we been to a Gathering... Hazelwind and Kestreltalon were always chosen."

Robinwing seemed perplexed by the question, and tilted his head to one side as if to consider his answer carefully.

"Well, I'm sure Petalstar has her reasons," he replied. "She's afraid you three might be overwhelmed by all of the cats who attend the Gathering."

Flamepaw only narrowed his eyes at Robinwing's explanation. None of that made any sense to him. Petalstar was hiding something from them. She was afraid of something, and he wanted to know what that something was. And Flamepaw was determined to find out what it was.