Let's take a few moments and try to remember when we first tried something. Maybe an instrument or sport. Most of us, we aren't very skilled at it. Instead of playing that note on the clarinet, you got a squeak or couldn't even make a sound. When the rest of your team is out there, running with grace and skill, you're behind and lacking. I bet we've all felt something like that before.

Then, that can take us in two paths. On one side, we see ourselves falling behind, dreading it and getting a sickening feeling in our stomach. The others are moving ahead of you, and you only seem to be getting worse at each new day. Another path, you're staying late and working on those notes or exercises. Growth is possible, you feel it. Then why doesn't it show up immediately? Whatever path you decide to tread on, the choice is yours.

After all, even the people we look up to had their moments when it seemed life was against them. People say that your failures help improve yourself, but do they, really? What if they're just there to show your lack of abilities?

Are we really meant for failure?

X X X

"This rock marks the end of our borders with CinderClan's," Speckleflash explained, pointing her skinny cream tail at the small patch of trees that lined up. "We never cross this line unless we have to."

"When is a time we have to?" Honeypaw chirped.

"When they decide to be mean and cross over onto our territory first!" Beechpaw announced before his mentor could. Taking a leap, the brown-furred apprentice crashed into his little sister and the two tumbled around the border. Mothpaw stared at them from Sparrowblaze's side, noticing the look of disapproval from Speckleflash and Frostlight.

"Enough," Sparrowblaze commented, silencing the two of them. Honeypaw looked up curiously with her green eyes while Beechpaw playfully batted her side.

"Beechpaw!" His mentor barked, sending a wave of terror down her brother's spine. "Do you want to go back?"

"No!" he corrected.

"Then pay attention, this isn't a joke!" Beechpaw nodded, yet still had to face Speckleflash and her lecture. Mothpaw pressed against Sparrowblaze as the fiery gaze of the she-cat drifted over and sunk the effects into her. Her brother squirmed under her gaze and until she was satisfied, did she return to the lesson.

"As you may know, CinderClan hasn't come out from their forest in moons. That doesn't mean we can just cross into their territory when we want to." Speckleflash walked up to the edge of the river and marked it, refreshing the border to chase away any lurking enemy cats. Mothpaw watched as Frostlight joined and helped strengthen it. Honeypaw averted her eyes from it and Beechpaw watched with wide eyes. Mothpaw bit her lip at the thought of doing that on a daily basis.

Maybe I can do a hunting patrol instead? The three mentors walked in front of them and sat down. She obeyed the action and sat down as well, with her siblings following tail.

"For starters, we're going to teach you basic moves of defense. Since you're not six moons old yet, we're not going to show anything advanced." That received a disappointed sigh from Beechpaw, a moan from Honeypaw, and an exhale of relief from Mothpaw. The three mentors exchanged a confused glance before picking up where they left off.

"We'll start with a swing," Frostlight swiped a paw across the air swiftly, grabbing all of their attention. Another swipe from Speckleflash, and then the last from Sparrowblaze. "It's a common move, but we'll start easy."

Beechpaw lifted a paw and swiped it across the air, flinging himself to the left along with his power stroke. Honeypaw lashed her paw across, hitting her shoulder by accident. Mothpaw did a little swipe, watching her silver paw glide across in a silver blur. It made her happy to know she was getting actual training. Playing around with her siblings with little experience was something completely different.

She repeated the same thing, watching as her paw swiftly stroked the air. Honeypaw swiped again, stopping her paw before it hit her shoulder. Beechpaw tried with his other paw, gaining more control over it than his last attempt.

"Mothpaw, faster," Sparrowblaze instructed, making her freeze and glue her eyes onto his voice. "The faster your paw moves, the more power you have in it." She tried again and her mentor shook his head. "It doesn't need to be so tight, relax and swipe." He demonstrated again, her eyes tracing his paw as it flew.

Trying again, she let her paw lash out, attacking an invisible force. With her other paw, she tried again. Honeypaw was already mastering it, swiping left and right with ease and receiving nods from Frostlight. As she got more, the faster she went - up to the point where she fell. Mothpaw jumped out of the way and watched as her sister broke out into a giggling mess.

Beechpaw was still using power moves, his attacks being longer and contained more power. Mothpaw swiped again, anger growing in her that her wild siblings were already getting ahead of her. Honeypaw lashed out again, her paw smacking into Beechpaw, which, the two apprentices stared at one another, waiting for the other to move. Mothpaw tried again and looked at Sparrowblaze for any sign of approval.

He nodded, causing her to smile. She wondered if her siblings had the same desires as her. Judging by the outburst of giggles from her sister, the answer was as clear as day. Beechpaw and Honeypaw were reaching high at four moons old. Where she hoped she could get something right on the first time. Hopefully, Sparrowblaze didn't push her too hard.

"It's a very common move, but it can save your life or at least, get you out of danger when you find yourself stuck in that kind of situation." Speckflash leapt across the field, crashing onto her brother and sister. Using the distraction and shock, she easily pinned them down with her front paws. Beechpaw squirmed underneath her and Honeypaw stared at Mothpaw, her eyes begging her to join. Obeying the command, she walked over and sat beside her golden pelt.

"As you see, you're stuck where you are and need to get out somehow," Speckleflash growled, pressing her paw harder on Beechpaw. The apprentice let out a growl, trying to push her paw off his chest. "You can always try to force your way out in any way you see fits, or you can try and use your brain. Using the basic swipe could be the easiest thing for you." Mothpaw lashed out on her front paw, her cuffed paw smashing into the leg holding Honeypaw down. The cream she-cat's leg wobbled, giving a split second for the golden apprentice below her to attack.

Honeypaw lashed out madly, her paws hitting Speckleflash and Mothpaw as well. The silver she-cat fell backward and Speckleflash released Beechpaw to pin the vigorous apprentice. Beechpaw tumbled away, scrambling to his paws as Honeypaw's strength began to drain out of her body. The mentor placed both paws on her, blocking away any attempt for her sister to free herself. Honeypaw sighed, all of the fight leaving her body.

"You'll have to learn how to break free in you find yourself pinned." Frostlight padded over and motioned for Beechpaw and Mothpaw to follow.

"What about Honeypaw?" Mothpaw asked, glancing at her sister.

"She'll be fine," Sparrowblaze reassured, prodding her along just as Honeypaw began to protest under Speckleflash.

Turning away from the distraction, Mothpaw saw Frostlight raise up on his back paws and lash out, keeping his balance with the help of his tail. Beechpaw's eyes exploded with eagerness and he rose on his back paws and swung. He lost his balance and fell on the ground and Frostlight grinned. Mothpaw was still being pushed forward by her mentor, to her distress.

"The last thing we'll show you is attacking on your back legs. It might take time since you have to balance on your back legs and attack." Frostlight got up on his back legs, keeping his tail level. "If you can keep your tail steady and not have to move everywhere, you should be able to stay upright and attack."

"But it feels weird!" Beechpaw commented with a huff. To his surprise, Speckleflash returned from lecturing Honeypaw and stood beside her apprentice. Lowering her head, she began to lift Beechpaw up, letting him put his full weight on her head as he got a feel for it. He grinned, waving a paw weakly and pressing his other paw on his mentor's head. Mothpaw stayed where she was on the ground with round eyes, watching as her brother moved on and attempted to attack with his other paw.

Frostlight aided Honeypaw, getting her to stand up and swipe. The golden she-cat's eyes sparkled as her mentor encouraged her. Mothpaw curled her tail around her paws tightly, content where she was. That had to end, and the nudging behind her didn't stop. Sparrowblaze pushes her forward and she stumbled.

"Come on, you have to move," he insisted.

"But I'm no good at these—"

"That's why we practice." Sparrowblaze touched her head with the tip of his striped tail. "If you don't practice, you'll never improve."

Mothpaw got up cautiously, her paws sinking into the ground further. "Is that going to help us?" she questioned.

"It will, in the long run," he replied.

"But I'm not getting it." she frowned. She noticed her mentor's eyes flicker over to her siblings. In her mind, Mothpaw liked to think that all of them were a time of day. Beechpaw was the dawn that the sun dragged out, energy starting to spill into the rest of the Clan. Honeypaw, no doubt about it, was sunhigh. After being influenced by her older brother, her energy and day started out bright and continued all the way until dusk. Then her missing brother, Gorsekit, from the foggy memories she could trace, he was always calm and collective, eager to help others out anytime, and seemed to enjoy any spare chance he had relaxing. Then herself, just like nightfall. Quiet, soft, and a time when every cat could be at peace and worry-free. The chances of her achieving a battle or hunting technique on the first time was like catching wind between her teeth.

Her mentor shook his head. "You may not be as good as your siblings, but you'll get there. Now, try this technique..."

Mothpaw's mind was already wandering away from the training. How she wished she was beside her mother rather than out here. The familiar scent of her mother's soft pelt with the commotion outside - not that it was ever quiet. The silver apprentice felt her paws tingle and sunk her claws into the dirt ground.

The newest thing to her was watching the sun slowly set. Echoflight had taken her outside many times, but this was the first time Mothpaw had seen the sunset outside of camp. It was marvelous. From what she depicted, it seemed as if a cat had dragged the giant yellow ball down with its paw. The rest of the sky followed, easily tearing down with the moon and the stars arising.

"And that's how it all started!" Honeypaw claimed, eagerly jumping up and down as a conclusion to her story. Mothpaw whirled around just as her sister collapsed on her side, all energy drained from her. Frostlight padded over and prodded the golden she-cat on the shoulder, shaking her awake.

"Come on, get up," he instructed. "It's already late dusk, soon it'll be night and you aren't going to be able to function without a decent amount of sleep."

"But it's only dusk, Echoflight let us stay up until—"

"You have a special meeting," Speckleflash interrupted. At the sound of the word 'special', Beechpaw and Honeypaw's eyes lit up with wonder. Mothpaw let out a long yawn, not caring about the meeting and only desired a good night's rest. The cream warrior smiled and began to walk back to camp. Beechpaw scrambles to his paws and marched beside his mentor, keeping his head up high. Sparrowblaze and Frostlight padded ahead, occasionally one would look over their shoulder to check on the two apprentices wandering behind.

"Mothpaw, isn't this great?" Honeypaw's energy has returned and the she-cat was floating in the air with excitement. "A special meeting, just for us! On our first day!"

"But I wanna sleep," she murmured. Honeypaw rolled her eyes.

"You can't expect to help MeadowClan with that attitude!" she bounced about. "You should lighten up, have fun! Life's too short for moaning and groaning!"

"We're only four moons and already apprentices, don't you think we should take things slowly?" Mothpaw asked, twitching her whiskers. Does she fear anything?

"I like to think of it as we're all really special and Ashstar had to make us apprentices," Honeypaw said, delighted.

"Still," she protested.

"Mothpaw, look at me." Honeypaw's paw flipped her around and the sisters locked eyes. In the pools of green, Mothpaw could see a burning fire. "I don't want to hear you push yourself further into the ground. So, if I hear you push yourself down one more time or doubt something..." she trailed off, lost for words.

"I'll most likely be braver," Mothpaw argued. "Just give me two more moons."

"That's too long of a wait!" Honeypaw flopped onto the grass dramatically. "Waiting for our apprentice ceremony was like living without prey or company. Another two moons just kills it!"

"I'm not like you," she muttered.

"Doesn't matter! In fact, that's a sign of doubt! You'll get to sit through the meeting beside me the whole time!"

How is that a punishment?

"I..."

"Just listen," her sister begged. "In the world we live in, we can either make the best of it or worst. Your choice." Mothpaw gulped.

"I choose to live a safe life," she declared.

"We'll take on the world together, okay?" Honeypaw promised, leaning forward. "We'll have fun, play, explore. The world won't even know what hit them! MeadowClan too!"

I hope, the doubtful apprentice thought.

"Mark my words, Mothpaw!" Honeypaw puffed out her chest. "You and I will always be together, and nothing will stop us!"