[nyx]

Chapter Two

Nightpaw whipped her head around to see a snarling fox burst through the clan entrance. The fading sunlight illuminated the foxes' pelt and teeth. Blisterednose burst out of the elders den after hearing the cry with Tumblestar and Tawnywave following after. Blisterednose ran and leaped on the foxes back and the fox squeaked as it nipped at the cat on top of it. Two other warriors helped out and attacked the fox from the side and front. The fox snapped at the cat but failed to struggle out of their grasp.

"Let it go." Blisterednose barked at the cats. They obeyed, still bristling. The fox squeaked again and ran out the camp entrance. Cats in the camp whispered and gave each other worried glances.

"Woah!" Nightpaw exclaimed, her eyes wide. "Yeah, I'm just glad it was pretty weak." Barkpaw put in, his eyes fixed on the camp entrance as if expecting the fox to come back.

"Or.. Blisterednose is very strong!" She squeaked in amazement. She wonders if one day she will be a great warrior like him. Barkpaw nodded and opened his maw and let out a yawn.

"Come on, I've had enough excitement for today." Nightpaw tried to feel tired as well but she couldn't help feeling like she could stay up all night.

"I'm not tired but... I wouldn't mind going back to our task at hand." Barkpaw gave her a quizzical look. "The apprentices' den, of course!" Before he could respond she bounded past him to the den.

"Nightpaw, wait for me!" She poke her head through the entrance and let out a purr of excitement. She chose a nest near the front and laid down in it.

"Use this one!" She said when Barkpaw appeared behind her. He laid in the nest by her and sighed happily.

"Great! Now we can get some rest."

"I'll try." She replied, curling up in her nest. She laid her head on her paws and looked around boredly. He gave her a smile and did the same, but he closed his eyes. A while later they were both asleep.

"Get up." Horrnetstrike growled into the den. Nightpaw mumbled sleepily and turn away from the noise. He took a step inside the apprentices den and stomped on her tail.

"Ow!! What was that for." She groaned, waking out of her slumber.

"I said get up. You're an apprentice now, not a lazy kit." He turned around and stalked back into the camp clearing. She'd follow him, grumbling under her breath. Why did she have to be cursed with the worst mentor?

They walked into the forest until they saw a clearing. Barkpaw and Riverstep were already there, training.
"Now try it again." Riverstep meowed encouragingly. Barkpaw nodded and spread his legs firmly on the ground. Riverstep charged at him and Barkpaw ducked, sliding under the bigger warrior. He twisted his body and left onto Riverstep’s back.

"I did it!" He said before losing balance all falling off.

Riverstep chuckled, "You've got the move pretty down, just try to stay on my back next time." Barkpaw lowered his ears and nodded, embarrassed. The toms looked Horrnetstrike and Nightpaw. "Alright, now we can get started with duo learning!" Riverstep said.

Nightpaw brightened up and bounced over to Barkpaw. Horrnetstrike and Riverstep planted their feet to the ground.
"We will demonstrate a move and you both will copy it," meowed Horrnetstrike," Nightpaw, pay attention to our stance." Nightpaw suppressed the urge to roll her eyes and she watched the two mentors.
Riverstep nodded at Horrnetstrike and the two ran at each other, batting sheathed paws at one another. Horrnetstrike moved backwards and Riverstep ran after him. Horrnetstrike jumped onto a tree and off, landing on Riverstep's back. Riverstep huffed and flopped down to the forest floor. Horrnetstrike leapt off the blue warrior's back. "Oof. Well you saw us, now you both try." Riverstep said, getting back onto his paws.

"Nightpaw, you copy me and Barkpaw, you act as Riverstep." Horrnetstrike added, sitting down and taking a lick at his paws. The apprentices nodded and took their stances. Nightpaw flicked her tail nervously and looked at Barkpaw. They both raced forward and exchanged swiped paws at each other. Nightpaw backed up and Barkpaw drew closer. Nightpaw leapt behind her but didn't anticipate how close the tree was. She jumped and fell on her face in front of Barkpaw.

"Nightpaw! Are you alright?" Barkpaw said while bending down to meet her. Nightpaw grumbled, her voice muffled by the ground. Riverstep looked at her sympathetically and Horrnetstrike just snorted.

"That'll wake her up." Nightpaw rose to her paws and shook her fur off. She ignored Barkpaw as she shot an annoyed glance at her mentor. "Don't worry! We will keep trying."

"Barkpaw, your turn."

He nodded and glanced at Nightpaw. He flicked his tail questioningly to ask if that's okay with her. She sighed but nodded and they tried it again. Barkpaw attempted the move and successfully jumped on a tree and landed on Nightpaw's back. She dug her paws into the ground to stay standing.

"Great job!" Riverstep said encouragingly.

"You could stand to learn a thing or two from him." Horrnetstrike said, his eyes resting briefly at Nightpaw. Nightpaw bit back a retort and looked away. Barkpaw moved towards her and nudged her comfortingly. "You'll get it. It was just bad luck." He whispered. She blinked thankfully at him. They continued practicing until it got dark.



Two seasons past and the frigid grip of leaf-bare had tightened its hold on the forest. Nightpaw's black paws sank into the deep snow with a heavy clunk, leaving a trail of pawprints behind her. Blankpaw shivered beside her.

"It's too cold!" Blankpaw complained to his mentor, Sunflowertrot. Sunflowertrot let out a purr of amusement.

"The more you keep your body moving, the warmer you'll get." He meowed, shaking a flew snowflakes that stuck to his fur. Blankpaw rolled his eyes and Nightpaw laughed. Horrnetstrike shot her a look and her laughter died. "We are here to check the Logclan border, not to joke around." Nightpaw felt her fur prickle in annoyance as she kept walking in silence. They came to the Logclan border and refreshed the markers. Blankpaw looked across the border hopefully.

"I hope we see a patrol so we can fight them!" Sunflowertrot shook his head.

"Warriors do not provoke a fight for no reason." Horrnetstrike nodded briefly at those words. They were about to turn back when a rustling sound caught their attention. Nightpaw's ears pricked up as she saw a patrol of Logclan warriors emerge from the undergrowth. Their eyes burned with pride. Sunflowertrot raised his tail in a gesture of greeting, and Nightpaw copied.

"Greetings, Logclan warriors," Sunflowertrot called out, his voice carrying through the crisp winter air. "We come in peace, merely checking our border markers." The Logclan warriors eyed them cautiously, their gazes flickering across the patrol. A short cream tabby tom strutted forward and dipped his head.

"So are we. I hope Bushclan will make it to the gathering."

"You as well Chanterelleflower." Horrnetstrike agreed. He flicked his tail and led the patrol away into their territory.

"That was Logclan's deputy." Sunflowertrot whispered to the apprentices. "He's small, I bet I can take him." Blankpaw gleamed. Nightpaw bumped him on the shoulder playfully.

"I doubt it." He shot her a challenging glance and lept at her. She squealed and quickly slid under him. She batted a sheathed paw at his face. "Hah!" She said sticking a tongue out. Blankpaw did the same and started laughing.

Horrnetstrike flashed a stern look at them and Sunflowertrot shook his head with a smile. They arrived back to camp after hunting a bit. Blankpaw put his mouse on the prey pile and headed over to Scarletpaw. Nightpaw searched around the camp until she saw Barkpaw eating next to Antnose on a rock. She grabbed a bird and headed over there.

"Barkpaw!" He looked up and his eyes brightened.

"Hey Nightpaw! How was your patrol? Did you meet any Logclan warriors." Nightpaw flashed a smile and sat next to him.

"It went great! We met the Logclan deputy!" Barkpaw looked at her quizzically. "You didn't have to fight, did you?"

"Nope! Though I think Blankpaw wanted to." Barkpaw smiled. Antnose moved closer to the apprentices.

"You should be careful around Logclan warriors. They can be very cunning." Antnose warned. "Chanterelleflower was pretty nice-," Nightpaw started but Antnose interrupted.

"I've seen him in battle, he's pretty strong. Still, he's awfully clever. Don’t underestimate his size." The two apprentices looked at each other.

"I wanna be strong enough to beat him!" Nightpaw exclaimed. Barkpaw nodded and continued eating his share. Nightpaw ate her bird while continuing to talk to her clanmates.