It has been a Moon since Wildpaw and Riverpaw had spent the night at the Horseplace.

The two had got caught and were forced to pick the elder's for ticks and clean out their bedding until Lilystar decreed they were to stop.

Riverpaw had just gotten the new that he could stop today.

He was ecstatic. He didn't like cleaning up after the elders.

They always fought with each other and always tried telling Riverpaw what he was doing wrong.

He liked them, but not enough to be their permanent apprentice.

Iceclaw had gone much harder with his training, which made it harder for him to leave the walls of the camp and territory, but he managed to do it every now and then.

He enjoyed spending time with Zinnia and her mother.

He felt like they were both amazing cats that the clans needed to understand more of. But no matter how many times he brought it up with any cat, they would always tell him to drop it and focus on becoming a warrior.

His brother had dropped it by now, and that made Riverpaw feel disappointed because he was more adventurous. And the adventurous cat was the one who wouldn't go back? How curious.

Was he that disgusted at the rogues? That wasn't very nice.

"Riverpaw!" Iceclaw called to him.

Riverpaw groaned. He was this close to shredding his mentor's fur out.

He wanted to go see Zinnia.

She made his heart feel complete.

And she made his paws feel light.

He had no idea what this feeling was, but maybe meeting Zinnia was the best thing that's happened to him.

Iceclaw approaches him with her light paw steps.

"Riverpaw! You've been lacking in your training. Come on, we must train for another invasion in case WindClan or ShadowClan get any ideas." She mewed sternly.

Riverpaw huffed.

Was this seriously going to be another day where he wouldn't be able to see such a cool cat? He wish he could just tell his mentor to go burn in a fire, but he knew n out to disrespect her.

After all, I still need to become the best warrior I can be. Maybe I can impress her that way! Riverpaw thought as he followed his mentor outside the camp.

The squishy land around them were the only witness to their scrap.

Battle training.

Of course.

"Today we will be training with Sharktooth and Marigoldpaw." Iceclaw informed him as the well known warrior and his apprentice showed up.

Marigoldpaw's red-brown pelt glistened in the sunlight.

Her muscles were ready to fight Riverpaw.

Riverpaw gulped. Why are we fighting an apprentice that's three moons older than me? He wondered.

Sharktooth, a darker gray tom with green eyes, stared down on Riverpaw. His gaze both stern and soft.

"What will we be learning?" Riverpaw asked.

"Today you two will be learning the back kick." Sharktooth informed them.

"First Iceclaw and I will demonstrate how to preform the move, and then you two will practice it together." Sharktooth informed them with a knowing look in his gaze.

"Riverpaw, you and Marigoldpaw have had barely any time together. So this is the perfect opportunity to make a new friend. You've been awfully distant lately, and I want you to become closer to me and your other clan mates. So I've had this planned." Iceclaw meowed.

Sharktooth purred.

"And I was glad to help. The clan needs more strong warriors and together if we can all get along, we can take on any challenge that comes our way." The dark gray tom informed them.

Riverpaw frowned.

"But after this I can go back to camp, right?" Riverpaw asked.

"No." Iceclaw meowed.

No? Riverpaw's mouth almost gaped in horror.

"You've barely advanced in your training. We will be training from sun-high to sun-fall, so please pay attention to what me and Sharktooth are showing you. It is important we move along your training so we can have more warriors and more apprentices." Iceclaw informed him.

I guess I can live without seeing her, but I really want to see her. I miss how soft her fur feels when I greet her. And I miss seeing Pearl too.

Since he has been going back to the Horseplace, Pearl has been coming along with him to make sure they won't 'kill' him.

Riverpaw always thought he was a stick in the mud.

There was nothing dangerous about the two she-cats. He must have just had a bad dream about him leaving.

"Riverpaw! Are you paying attention?" Iceclaw asked him.

Riverpaw jumped in the air.

"No," he answered honestly.

No need to lie about it.

A gray tail landed on his shoulders.

"Listen here, you're young. I can understand you don't want to learn, but this is for the good of the clan. If we are going to be a clan once more you must learn this move. Iceclaw let's show him again. Marigoldpaw, make sure he's paying attention. We don't need any kittypet-soft cats in the clan." Sharktooth growled lowly.

"You can count on me, Sharktooth!" The red-brown she-cat purred as she smacked her tail against Riverpaw's mouth.

Riverpaw spat as the she-cat flicked her tail away with a purr.

He glared at her, the older apprentice's eyes gleaming with amusement.

"Oh lighten up, Riverpaw." She teased, pushing him lightly with a paw.

"We finally get to hang out together in training. It's like when we were kits."

Riverpaw gaze turned towards the ground.

"But we aren't kits anymore. We can't just do whatever we want anymore." He growled, malice in his voice.

Then he relaxed.

His gaze turned back towards the two cats who were showing them the move.

"Now you two try it. Marigoldpaw, go easy on him. He's not as experienced with this move as you are." Sharktooth informed her.

She nodded, a daring look in her eyes.

I better do this move, then. I can't disappoint my clan this long, but...

He couldn't help but think of Hotpool. Was he really evil? Was his clan the evil ones wanting order?

He wasn't sure.

He shook his pelt as he prepared himself for the move.

He turned around, prepared for Marigoldpaw to come at him.

This was what they showed him.

Marigoldpaw was allowed to get close.

He lashed out, but Marigoldpaw decided to be a braggart and dodged the move with ease.

"You got to be faster than that!" She taunted him with a smug look in her eyes. He spun around to meet her eyes.

Riverpaw growled.

Mouse-brained older apprentices! He hissed in his mind.

He then spun around again, tail lashing angrily.

"Do it again. This time, Marigoldpaw allow him to kick you. Now don't kick too hard, Riverpaw. We don't want Marigoldpaw to be too sore once this is over." Iceclaw obstructed.

Marigoldpaw rolled her eyes.

"Fine, but I doubt a real warrior will let him actually hit without trying to dodge the attack." She meowed, a challenging glint in her eyes.

"So do I, but for now I want my apprentice to know what hitting the target with his kick will be like. Riverpaw, you will need to also be faster in order to deliver the kick." Iceclaw informed.

Faster? I can do that! He thought as heard Marigoldpaw approach with a run.

He looked back, making sure to get a good angle.

He rested back his legs and then kicked Marigoldpaw.

That's for mocking me! He thought, kicking her. Though it wasn't that hard, it sent her against the ground, making marks where there was none before.

"Good, Riverpaw!" Iceclaw meowed.

"Glad to see you're paying attention, apprentice." Sharktooth purred.

The two apprentices and mentors practiced the move until Iceclaw was satisfied enough for now.

She then allowed Sharktooth and Marigoldpaw to walk back to camp.

Once they were out of earshot, she set her gaze upon Riverpaw.

"What are we doing now?" Riverpaw asked her.

He was raring to go now. Whatever she had up her pelt he was ready for it.

"Okay, why are you so distant lately?!"

Iceclaw didn't waste any time.

Her blue-green gaze set upon him, harsh judgment in those eyes.

"Nothing," he mewed.

"Guess I'm just more tired." He lied.

Iceclaw saw through his lies. "Liar!" She spat, padding closer to her apprentice.

"What?! I'm not lying!" He lied once more.

"I told you there are dangerous cats out there, and you have been sneaking out of camp! I haven't told Lilystar, but..." Iceclaw meowed with a sigh, her voice dying out.

Riverpaw was shocked.

"But what?" He asked.

She went in his face.

"What if you get murdered by the rogues?" She asked, voice getting soft.

"What are you talking about?" Riverpaw tried.

"Those cats you've been hanging out with are rogues. Your brother has been telling me you've been sneaking out. Claims you are mooning over the daughter of the rogue leader." Iceclaw meowed.

Fox-heart! Wildpaw, you little mouse-brained fool! That was supposed to be our secret. Telling Iceclaw about me leaving? How could you?! Riverpaw thought.

"Why do you care?!" He snapped.

"Have you heard the story of my mentor, Pinestorm?" She asked him.

"Huh?"
—————

Author's Note: Another chapter!

Ooh! And an interesting one at that.

We get a closer look at Marigoldpaw and Sharktooth, and we get a cliffhanger?

What do you think happened to Pinestorm?

Will she explain what happens, or will you just have to read a different story to find out?

Anyways, until next chapter, hope you enjoyed! Spread the news!

The good news this story is going to be one of the stories I will be focusing on soon enough!