'Up! Up, up and more up!' 

I covered my head with my starry black wings, the yellow undersides hiding my tired face. It was still so early; there was no way school was about to start NOW. 

'I said- UP!' And I felt strong dark red talons clasp my back legs, dragging me off the ledge. I yelped as I fell to the still damp floor and quickly got to my feet.

'They chose the clawmates! Come ON; you have to see!' I blinked, still half asleep; I kept seeing my parents dotting around the room. And yes, I dream about my parents. A lot. Which is COMPLETELY normal. Slowly I got to my claws, shaking my head to clear the sleep. Wait, did he say clawmates?

'Why didn't you say so!' I scrambled to the doorway, my wings held high in the air. A scroll had been pinned on the outside of the cave; I could see its crinkly paper from here! I slid around the cave entrance so I could see the scroll clearly. Please don't be Squelch, not Squelch, not Squelch. 

'Wait what?' I stared at the scroll as though the sheer power of my gaze would make it explain itself. My waker, Cliff, rounded on me instantly as he skidded to a stop beside me. 

'How- I thought...' His face was contorted into disbelief and puzzlement. 

'Apricot said that they only put the same gender together so why...?' Had Apricot lied? But surely someone would deny what she said if it was. Surely someone knew at the time that you could be clawmates with anyone? 

'Hey, look! I get to be clawmates with Apricot!' Cliff practically sparkled with glee. 

'Good luck.' I replied, scanning the scroll for my name. There! 

Timeturner, male, Nightwing/Sandwing + Shard, female, Icewing 

I'm clawmates with Shard? I hardly even know her! There must be some mistake. I looked through the scroll once more:

Clawmates this year: Jade Winglet

Cliff, male, Skywing + Apricot, female, Rainwing

Beach, male, Seawing + Clover, female, Rainwing/Seawing

Timeturner, male, Nightwing/Sandwing + Shard, female, Icewing

Squelch, male, Mudwing + Sandstorm, female, Sandwing 

Sandstorm was with Squelch! I didn't know how to feel about that. Happy for him? Sorry for Sandstorm? Jealous? Annoyed? Confused? I shook my head in bewilderment. 

'Come on Timeturner! Lets go see our Clawmates!' Cliff was already stumbling down the hallway towards the girls dorms. I groaned. I guess I'd have to manage with a quiet. Untalkative. basically all synonyms for 'doesn't talk at all' clawmate. Great.

A short chapter today, I will get started on the next one as soon as I've published this part. I hope you like it so far! I also finally came up with a good plot idea; get ready for some DRAMA! =3