When the patrol entered the camp through the Birchtunnel, most of the cats were in the clearing, sharing their prey and sharing tongues.

Just as Larkpaw was wondering how best to explain it to the Clan, a belligerent snarl suddenly sounded.

Fawnpelt took up an attacking stance. "You brought rogues into camp?"

His exclamation drew the attention of the whole Clan, who now drew a tight circle around the arriving cats, hissing and growling.

Nettle began to kick his legs. Don't let him go, Amberpaw, Larkpaw thought anxiously.

"Have you been abandoned by all the cats of StarClan and the Dark Forest?" Flamedash chided them. "Have you forgotten what happened not so long ago? Rogues like them-" The tortoiseshell warrior bared her teeth, "destroyed our Clan!"

Larkpaw couldn't take it any longer. Fernpool could think her disrespectful, but she had to say something. "Can't you see they're hurt?" It felt strangely good to say those words that had been on the tip of her tongue for a long time. "We promised them that we would help them. What kind of cats would we be if we just left them to their fate?"

"That's absolutely right." The RoseClan cats stepped aside to let Palestar and Honeyclaw through.

For some reason, Aster seemed to realise that these were high-ranking cats, because she bowed her head low. "We're sorry to hear that you've had bad experiences with our kind," she meowed in a firm voice, though she planted her paws in the ground to keep her body from shaking. "But my mother here needs treatment for her wounds as quickly as possible."

Fruittail appeared in the crowd, herbs in her mouth. When she discovered Flutter's shoulder injury, she gasped. "How did that happen?"

"A badger attacked us," Fennel answered for Flutter.

Murmuring spread across the camp. "A badger?" Honeyclaw repeated. "Where did you come across it?"

"Far downstream on the mountain side by two intertwined trees," Fennel explained.

Honeyclaw stepped to Palestar, worry glistening in his amber eyes. "We should send a patrol there to drive it out."

Flutter seemed to have overheard them, for she jerkily lifted her head. "There were cubs as well," she meowed loudly. "Better be careful." At the last words, her voice became more quiet and she fell against Aster's flank.

Fruittail stomped towards her, tail thrusting out in all directions. "Stop standing around here like curious squirrels and take care of this badger family instead!" She sniffed at Flutter's injury, her gaze clouding with fear. "It's infected!"

Frightened, Flutter flattened her ears. "Is it bad?"

But instead of answering, Fruittail stood on her other side. "We'll take you to the medicine cat's den first and then we'll see."

Her gaze fell on Nettle, Blossom and Owl. "It's better if we put them in the nursery for now. They look very stressed."

Flutter tensed. "I don't want to leave them alone."

"They're not far away, are they?" Fennel purred comfortingly. "The most important thing is that you rest and get better."

There was concern in Flutter's bright green gaze. "I'll get better, though, won't I?" the red she-cat breathed. "My kits... I can't leave them alone. They're still so small."

Fruittail sighed. "I'll do everything I can to make sure they don't lose their mother."

With that, Aster set Owl down and accompanied her to the medicine cat's den. Blossom crawled after them on her short legs. "Come back!" she squeaked.

As if she had infected her littermates with it, they began to meow in a heart-rending tone, "Come back! Come back!"

Fennel licked over their little heads. "She'll come back soon," he purred comfortingly, but Larkpaw could sense his fear. "At the moment, Flutter isn't feeling well, so you must let her rest." The ginger tom looked at Fernpool who had been staring at him with an empty gaze.

"It's better if you are prepared for the worst," Fernpool replied coldly.

How could you be so heartless? Larkpaw stared over to Palestar who was talking with Honeyclaw and the Council of Warriors about the patrol that was supposed to drive the badgers out. Fernpool should be the best mentor for her? Now this sounded like a big, horrible lie in Larkpaw's ears.

Fernpool narrowed her yellow eyes. "It's better if you let your injuries be treated as well."

Fennel nodded slowly and set off to the medicine cat's den.

"You two can go get something to eat," Fernpool meowed, directed towards Larkpaw and Amberpaw. "You can bring the squirrel to the rogues."

"Alright." Larkpaw took a deep breath. Finally! "What about the kits?"

But Fernpool was already on her way to the warriors' den. Larkpaw hissed irascibly. She felt her pelt getting hot with anger. If this continued, maybe she should ask Palestar if she should get a new mentor? Larkpaw's claws prickled. How was she supposed to become a good warrior if she couldn't stand the cat whose task was it to train her?

When tiny paws scratched at her legs, she saw down. Nettle meowed, "I want Flutter! Milk!"

Larkpaw's negative mood disappeared as the little tom opened his mouth wide to protest. "You still need to wait a bit," she said. "How about I bring you and Owl and Blossom to the nursery? There you can play with Mistkit, Shadowkit and Bramblekit." They'll surely be happy about new playmates, she added in her head.

Owl hissed quietly. "No! Milk! Milk!" He hopped off, his siblings following him.

"Let's get them back," Larkpaw meowed to Amberpaw. "Fruittail definitely doesn't need a bunch of kits disturbing her."

She and Amberpaw quickly caught up with the kits. They started to squeak indignantly when the older cats stood in their way.

Larkpaw searched the camp. "Lightshine!" she called, "Can you perhaps look after the kits?"

The queen came running up. "Of course I can," she purred softly.

The kits peered up at her with wide eyes. Their noses twitched eagerly. "You don't have any milk," Blossom realised disappointedly.

"Unfortunately, my milk has already dried up," Lightshine spoke to Larkpaw and Amberpaw. "But I can look after them until their mother has recovered. What are their names anyway?"

Larkpaw touched the kits carefully with one paw. "Nettle, Owl and Blossom." And maybe soon Nettlekit, Owlkit and Blossomkit, she added secretly. She didn't know why, but she had already taken a liking to the kits. She would be sad when they had to move on one day.

"Blossom is a special little cat, though." Lightshine's whiskers twitched in amusement. "I've never seen a cat with a different coloured tail."

Suddenly Larkpaw became thoughtful. She and Blossom both had something in common that set them apart from the rest of the cats: Larkpaw with her eye colours and Blossom with her deep red tail. But now the question arose as to how the Clan would react to Blossom's special feature when they got to know her properly.

Lightshine's meow tore Larkpaw from her thoughts. "We'll go to the nursery then."

"I'll take the squirrel to the medicine cat's den then," Amberpaw mumbled after a moment of silence.

Right, I can finally eat something! Larkpaw became cheerful at the thought. "I'll go to the apprentices' den!" she called after her littermate. "Shall I bring you something?"

Amberpaw flicked her slightly bushy tail in confirmation.

At the already sparse fresh-kill pile, Larkpaw grabbed two voles and made her way to the fern bushes, under whose fronds the other apprentices were already lying and sharing tongues.

When Larkpaw made the ferns tremble as she crawled in, Lakepaw was the first to notice her arrival. "How was your first day?" Over the last few moons, he had become increasingly friendly towards Larkpaw and Amberpaw. Apparently, he had realised that his behaviour was unacceptable. Nevertheless, Larkpaw knew that they would never become friends.

The tortico apprentice opened her mouth to reply. The word 'good' burned on her tongue, but it wasn't the right term to do justice to her feelings.

Reedpaw hissed out of her nest in disapproval. "I doubt that she's able to keep up with us real RoseClan cats," the light brown tabby she-cat said, twitching her ears.

A growl rose in Larkpaw's throat. "What are you trying to say?" Hot with rage, she bent down and tore a piece out of her vole. Lakepaw might have improved, but Larkpaw and Amberpaw were a thorn in his sister's side. In the last few moons, Reedpaw had never missed an opportunity to pick on them and had even lashed out with her claws when no one was watching.

"Don't say something so mouse-brained!" Elderpaw had jumped up next to Birchpaw and lashed her tail. "They're just as real RoseClan cats as we are." The pale caliby apprentice gave Larkpaw an apologetic look from her blue eyes.

"It's alright," Larkpaw mumbled and poked a claw into her prey listlessly. Reedpaw had spoilt her appetite, even though her belly ached and rumbled from time to time that she was afraid the others would notice it. No point in going to sleep hungry.

Amberpaw appeared. Larkpaw pushed the other vole to her. "This one's for you."

"Thank you." Amberpaw settled down far away from her.

What's wrong with her? Larkpaw decided not to care why Amberpaw didn't want to spend time with her. "Amberpaw caught a squirrel today," she announced instead. Secretly, it still annoyed her that Amberpaw would get a lot more attention than she would, but the other apprentices should know what a great, perfect cat Amberpaw was. Larkpaw bared her teeth. Just wait and see, soon I'll be the best apprentice!

Surprised purring spread through the den. "How did you do that?" Mottlepaw turned to Amberpaw.

The young she-cat seemed to grow smaller under the pressure. She slumped her shoulders and fixed her dark amber eyes on her vole. "Coincidence, I guess."

"Have you ever thought about joining the Hunters' Circle later?" Mottlepaw continued, bubbling with eagerness. "I'm sure Patternleaf would appreciate a talented hunter like you in her group."

"Maybe. It's only my first day, though." Amberpaw nibbled on her vole, but Larkpaw realised how pleased she must be with Mottlepaw's praise.

Of course Mottlepaw wanted Amberpaw to become a hunter. After all, her mother was the she-cat-in-command of this sub-rank. If Mottlepaw introduced Amberpaw to her as a future member, it would also earn Mottlepaw a good reputation.

Larkpaw looked at Mottlepaw, Mushroompaw and Birchpaw. When she had learnt that her parents were Patternleaf and Honeyclaw, she almost jumped out of her pelt in surprise. For some reason, it had never occurred to her that deputies could have mates and kits, too, and not just take care of patrols and training. At least Nightblossom had never struck her as a cat who cared about things like a relationship. Larkpaw purred inwardly. Who would have liked to have Nightblossom as a mate? Or even as a friend?

"Whatever." Larkpaw suppressed a scream when she heard Reedpaw's annoying voice again. "You shouldn't set your hopes too high. Cats that climb the highest tree fall the longest."

***

"Remember, don't expect the prey to just walk into your paws." Fernpool strutted around Larkpaw. "Do you want to be eaten by someone?"

Confused by this absurd question, Larkpaw shook her head eagerly.

"Well, no living creature wants to be eaten. But here in the forest, that's the order of the day, which is why all prey animals are ready to flee at any time." Fernpool stopped pacing and stood expectantly in front of Larkpaw. "How do they get to safety?"

"Uh, by staying close to a hiding place?" Larkpaw guessed on the off chance.

Fernpool narrowed her eyes. Uh-oh. She always does that when she's not happy with me. "Birds, for example, can fly away and escape danger that way." Can birds actually fly so that they don't end up as prey on the fresh-kill pile or can they fly because it's an easier way to get around? Why can't we cats fly? I'm even named after a bird and I have to be stuck to the ground forever.

"...birds are hard to catch," Fernpool just explained.

Larkpaw twitched her ears to signal that she had been listening. Hopefully Fernpool hadn't said anything important before.

"What else do you know?"

Do I look like I know everything? It's only my second day as an apprentice! "Squirrels can climb trees," Larkpaw meowed, involuntarily reminding herself of yesterday.

Fernpool flicked the tip of her tail in confirmation. "For this reason, it's also advisable to catch prey such as birds or squirrels in a group to cut off any escape routes."

"Then Amberpaw must've been really lucky," Larkpaw murmured softly.

Abruptly, Fernpool whirled around. "What did you say?"

Larkpaw froze in shame. "Not that important." I'm sure she doesn't like it when I meow to myself like that. I have to concentrate better. Tomorrow evening she will report to Honeyclaw for the first time and I certainly don't want to look like a naughty kit.

Fernpool sat down. "Let's work on your posture then."

As a kit, Larkpaw had played hunting games often enough to prepare herself for later. Now, however, her head was as empty as a deep cave.

The only thing she really had to pay attention to was being quiet and not waiting too long. That shouldn't be too difficult.

With the thought of pleasing Fernpool in the back of her mind, Larkpaw crouched to the ground and tucked her legs under her body, just as she had seen the older apprentices do. It was harder than expected to hold this position, and she fell onto her side.

Fernpool huffed impatiently. "Just remember that your hunting skills feed the Clan. Try again."

Thank you for this great motivation!

With clenched teeth, Larkpaw continued to try. She would show her mentor what she was made of!

After what seemed like an infinitely long time, Fernpool finally decided that enough was enough. When Larkpaw sat up, she had the feeling that her whole body had turned to stone, so stiff was she.

"That should be enough for today," Fernpool decided. "Tomorrow I'll take you on your first hunting patrol. I suggest you practise a little first."

"I will," Larkpaw replied.

Fernpool gave her a serious look. "Until we start with the leap hunting technique, however, you must be perfect in ground hunting."

"Leap hunting technique?" Larkpaw wrinkled her muzzle. This complicated word meant absolutely nothing to her.

"The hunting technique of RoseClan," her mentor emphasised slightly reproachfully. "It's every cat's duty to learn and perfect it, because we don't just use it for hunting, but also for surprise attacks."

Her firm tone made Larkpaw shudder. Of course, she wanted to become someone who was useful to Clan, but in that moment she felt overwhelmed by the expectation.

On the way back to camp, the two didn't exchange a word, which Larkpaw was rather glad about.

She was looking forward to accompanying a patrol tomorrow, but she would still have preferred if Fernpool had waited a little longer. She just didn't feel ready yet.

"Look," Fernpool meowed as they entered the camp. "How about you help Lakepaw and Elderpaw clean up the nursery?"

Larkpaw shuddered at the thought of touching the dirty nest padding, but she knew it wouldn't do any good to disagree.

She hurried over to her older denmates. Actually, they looked like they didn't need any help.

Elderpaw turned to face her. "Hello, Larkpaw!" she meowed and curled her tail upwards.

Larkpaw twitched an ear in greeting and trotted closer. "Fernpool told me to help you."

The undergrowth in front of the den trembled and Lakepaw emerged with a load of moss. "Yes, please do," he begged, dropping the moss onto an ever-growing pile. "Otherwise we won't even be finished tomorrow."

"All right, then. What do you want me to do?"

"Get all the old nest material out first," Elderpaw advised her. "Later we'll take it out of the camp and collect fresh ones."

Larkpaw's gaze fell briefly on the kits, who were playing in a place surrounded by thorny bushes, as she squeezed through the undergrowth. Bramblekit, Shadowkit and Mistkit had immediately welcomed the rogue kits. And it seemed that Bramblekit and Blossom had already become good friends.

Another cat who probably doesn't want them to leave. Larkpaw entered the den. Lakepaw and Elderpaw had already done a great job. About half of the nest padding had already been cleared away, revealing the cold, hard earth underneath.

Larkpaw separated a large layer of moss and leaves with her paws and manoeuvred them out between a narrow gap between the curtain of vines and the rock wall.

"How's your training?" Lakepaw asked.

Annoyed, Larkpaw put her head back. "I just don't understand why Fernpool, of all cats, has to be my mentor."

"That surprised me too," Lakepaw admitted. "She's almost ready to move into the elders' den and she didn't have a single apprentice before you, from what I've heard."

"She's not the least bit empathetic," Larkpaw groused, earning herself a cold, vicious glare from Elderpaw. More quietly, she added, "She keeps expecting me to do everything perfectly at the first attempt."

Could another cat satisfy her? Suddenly, doubts arose in Larkpaw's mind. Perhaps all the mistakes were hers. Perhaps another apprentice would be better.

Lakepaw's meow tore her from her thoughts. "Yes, that sounds a lot like Fernpool."

"Can you stop twittering around here like a bunch of birds?" Elderpaw hissed loudly all at once. "The nest material won't clear itself away!"

As soon as the she-cat had turned round with an indignant snort, Larkpaw had to stifle a laugh with all her might. "Oh no! I thought it would grow legs and run out of the camp by itself."

Lakepaw twitched his whiskers. "That would make a lot of things easier."

"But it would be pretty creepy," Larkpaw said, trying not to imagine moss with legs.

The two of them continued with their work and stopped their conversation so as not to upset Elderpaw any further.

Larkpaw realised how much the conversation had done her good, and she was happy that Lakepaw had improved compared to their first encounter. Back then, he had only just been made an apprentice and didn't know any better how to control his emotions. In the last few moons, he had grown up. Now he was only two moons away from his final trial.

As she recalled this, Larkpaw felt a tinge of sadness, as if a thick layer of fog was settling around her. This also meant that all the other apprentices would be named warriors, as the age difference between the two litters was only a few days.

"Take that, stick!" Mistkit screeched out of the blue. Larkpaw flinched. Lightshine's kits, on the other paw, were ready to be apprenticed in two moons. This meant that Larkpaw and Amberpaw won't be lonely in the apprentices' den. The three kits would probably be