((^^Cinderpaw^^))

The cool leaf fall breze blew on Shadowpaw's pelt, reminding him of his terrible dream. He shuddered, staying hidden in the shadows cast by the tall pines that surrounded him. The first rays of sunlight were shining weakly though the trees, and there was a slight mist in the air. The walk had worked for the most part, and he felt like he had calmed down enough to return back to camp.

If I keep having dreams like that, I'll go insane! He thought to himself, shaking his head. A rustle in the bushes made his eyes dart in the direction of the noise. He opened his mouth to try and pick up a scent. Mouse! He concluded, getting into the hunting position that Badgerclaw had tought him just yesterday. He got within sight of the mouse and then leaped. The small creature made a squeak of surprise before Shadowpaw clasped his jaws around it and snapped its spine.

He smiled, that was an easy catch. I'll take this back to camp and Badgerclaw is sure to be impressed. He picked up his mouse and slowly padded back through the forest. On his way back to camp, he noticed a strange scent mixed in with the normal smells. He parted his jaws and stiffened, that smells like a badger! He sniffed some more and shrugged, eh... it's probably stale anyways. It's nothing to worry about. He continued his on with his walk.

He loved the feel of the pine nettles between his paws, and the shady trees sheltering him. What better clan is there than IceClan? I'm going to be the best leader they've ever seen. Even Larkpaw will have to do what I tell them... he daydreamed all the way back to the camp entrance.

He didn't rush as he walked through the thorn tunnel with the mouse in his jaws. The sun was already shining above him in the sky. Wow... that walk went longer then I thought. Oh well! He proudly carried his mouse to the fresh kill pile and dropped it in, ready to head back to his nest.

"Shadowpaw!" He turned around when he heard his name.

"Yeah?" He saw that Badgerclaw was stomping towards him, obviously angry about something.

"Where in Star Clan have you been all day?" He growled.

"I took a walk." He mewed calmly.

"A walk?! You were out there lollygagging for half the day?!" He furiously scolded.

"But... but I caught a mouse!" Shadowpaw defended himself, pointing towards his catch.

"Ooh, pardon me! You caught a mouse?" He gasped sarcastically, "Well then, forgive me for ever criticizing you for staying out in the forest for HALF A DAY just to catch ONE STUPID MOUSE!"

Shadowpaw stepped back, "I... I..."

"You were supposed to go on the dawn patrol, and go hunting, and do combat training, but no! You had to take a walk without telling anyone where you were going!" Badgerclaw yelled.

Shadowpaw's ears flattened, "Well it's not my fault!"

Other cats were turning their heads at Badgerclaw's furious rage. He looked down at Shadowpaw and growled, "Well then, who's fault is it?"

He narrowed his eyes, "I don't know, but I wasn't aware that taking a walk would make you angry enough to rip my pelt off!"

Badgerclaw took a deep breath and said in a cold, quiet tone, "Training hollow. Now."

He wasn't about to disobey him, especially when he was that angry. He stomped angrily in front of his mentor, what's his problem? All I did was take a walk! I even brought back a mouse for the clan. You'd think he'd be appreciative.... he looked up when he reached the training hollow, and saw that he wasn't going to be alone.

All of the apprentices stood in one corner, looks of shock were visible on their faces since they had obviously heard their loud quarrel. Their mentors were standing on the other side, the same questionable looks in their eyes. Everyone exchanged glances but didn't say anything.

"Well, why don't we start training?" Suggested Meadowleap, breaking the awkward silence.

Badgerclaw still looked furious, "Why not?" He said stiffly, "Okay Shadowpaw, since you just got here, I will let you be the first one to fight."

Shadowpaw felt excitement bubble up inside him. He couldn't wait to show off the moves that Badgerclaw had taught him yesterday. He looked at the apprentices, and sighed in relief when he realized that both Snowpaw and Oakpaw weren't present. They must be on a hunting patrol. Ha!

"You will go against Cinderpaw." Badgerclaw broke into his thoughts, and Shadowpaw's excitement immediately turned into fear.

"Cinderpaw?!" He gulped, looking at the muscular tom who was already a seasoned apprentice that had trained much longer than him.

"What, are you scared?" Cinderpaw sneered, pushing through the crowd.

"No!" He hissed, "It's just-"

"What? Are you afraid to fight me?"

"No! I'm perfectly capable to fight you! Or anybody!" He growled.

"Then let's start." He meowed.

Before Shadowpaw could even get into the fighting position, Cinderpaw barreled into him. He fell hard on the ground, all of the breath was knocked out of him. He coughed and pulled himself up, but Cinderpaw quickly whacked him across the face with his paw.

Shadowpaw staggered fowards, lashing out his paws at Cinderpaw's face, but he easily dodged each blow. He then knocked Shadowpaw over with one hit and stood over him, "Not so capable now, are you?" He smiled.

"Allright that's enough!" Called Firestorm, Cinderpaw's mentor. Cinderpaw backed off of him, looking slightly guilty, "That was just bullying and you know it! What do you have to say to Shadowpaw?"

Cinderpaw looked down, "Sorry..." he muttered.

Shadowpaw got up, licking the mud off his shoulders, "You should be!" He hissed, feeling humiliated that he was so easily beaten.

Badgerclaw rolled his eyes, "I guess I just expected too much out of him." His words stung, "I will put you with an opponent that is more your level, then you can actually show us what you learned. Larkpaw, why don't you fight him?"

Shadowpaw's pelt prickled in embarrassment. He glared at his sister who had obviously enjoyed their fight by the humorous look on her face. I'll wipe that smile right off her face.... he thought smugly.

"Remember to just try and use the moves you were taught yesterday." Sungaze reminded them.

"Okay." Larkpaw mewed, getting into position.

Shadowpaw readied himself for the attack, but Larkpaw was waiting for him to make the first move. He did what he remembered the best from the last training and brought his paw down on her head, but not as hard as he would do in a real battle. Larkpaw kicked at him with her back legs, but he dodged them and leapt on top of her. She instinctively rolled over and squashed him.

"Ow!" He cried, "Get off me you fat piece of-"

"Okay, very good Larkpaw." Sungaze interrupted Shadowpaw, "You have learned your battle moves well."

Larkpaw looked proud, "Really? Thanks!" She hopped off of him and he groaned.

Sungaze sighed, walking with his apprentice, "Very good countermoves. I liked how you immediately rolled over..."

Shadowpaw didn't listen to the rest of the conversation, but limped over to his mentor instead. Badgerclaw shook his head, "Do you see where you went wrong?"

Shadowpaw winced, "Did I do anything right?" Will he ever be proud of me?

Cinderpaw and Sharppaw walked past him, laughing, "Ha! Beat by your own sister! How pathetic." Larkpaw quickly joined Cinderpaw, who praised her. She purred happily and followed them out of the hollow.

At least Snowpaw isn't here to tell me how I did such a "great job". He grumpily limped out of the hollow with Badgerclaw and then asked, "Do you need me to do anything else?"

The huge tom shook his head, a dissapointed tone to his meow, "No, go and rest."

He nodded, and padded to the apprentices den without another word. He curled up in a tight ball, feeling even more antisocial then normal. Littlepaw came in and sat in the nest behind him. He had an empathetic look in his eyes.

"What do you want?" Shadowpaw growled.

"Well... um... I just wanted to say..." Littlepaw looked away.

"Spit it out for Star Clan's sake!" He snapped, not wanting to deal with the little pipsqueak.

The tiny tom sighed, "I just wanted to say that I'm sorry they were treating you that way. They do it to me all the time and it's not right. They shouldn't do it to anyone."

He managed a small smile of surprise, "Er thanks."

Littlepaw nodded and didn't say anything more. Shadowpaw watched him, he is the most tolerable cat in here... he concluded, closing his eyes.

He was startled awake and gagged at the awful smell that surrounded him. He was back in the forest that he had seen when he was a kit. Oh great... he prepared himself for more creepy warnings and glowing eyes, but this time he could see more than just eyes.

In the mist, he could see the figure of a cat coming towards him. His fur spiked out in fear, but he didn't say anything. It's just a stupid dream... it's just a stupid dream... he kept repeating to himself to keep calm.

"Are you scared, Shadowpaw?" a female voice questioned him.

"Who's there?!" He gasped.

The cat appeared next to him, and he stepped back. The she cat was completely black and very slender. Her yellow eyes had an eerie glow to them, especially in the dark undergrowth that they were in.

"Who are you?!" He demanded, suddenly realizing that he was trembling.

"Answer my question first." She mewed, "Are you scared, Shadowpaw?" She repeated.

He paused, "No..." he lied.

"Well that's good. Fear is your enemy, you know." She mewed mysteriously.

"What are you talking about?" He asked, confused.

"I saw how you fought. You fought with cowardice. That's why you lost." She told him casually.

"First of all, I lost because stupid Cinderpaw is way bigger then I am and he is definitely more experienced. I was not afraid- wait a second! How did you see me fight?! You're not in my clan, and I am positive I've never seen you before." Shadowpaw was now very creeped out.

"I have my ways. But anyways, stop asking mouse-brained questions! You are going to wake up soon and I still haven't trained you yet." She growled in annoyance.

"Trained me? For what?" He felt bewildered.

"I just want to give you some 'helpful hints' because you're obviously not going to get them without my help."

"I don't need your stupid help! I don't even know who you are!" He snarled.

"You want to become great, don't you?"

"Er, yes..." he mewed. How does she know this stuff?!

"Then listen to me. Fear is your enemy, always remember that. Never go into battle, or anywhere, feeling scared or unsure of yourself." She explained, "Now attack me."

"Wait what?!"

"Attack me, maggot brain!" She flicked her tail.

Shadowpaw, feeling very confused, hesitantly got into battle position. He leaped with his claws sheathed towards her, but she quickly dodged him. She lashed her claws across his face while he was still midair, and it threw him off balance. He cried out in pain as he hit the ground.

"You were unsure of yourself, weren't you?" She growled when he got up.

"I, um-"

"I told you to attack me, but you were hesitant. Just pretend I'm an enemy. Another piece of advice: hate keeps you alive. Never give up during a battle, even if you're on your last breath. Now attack me. The right way."

Shadowpaw, less hesitant this time, lunged towards the she cat. He unsheathed his claws and with his weight, knocked her over. She easily kicked him off with great force and he fell face-first on the ground.

"You did better that time." She praised.

"It doesn't feel like it," he groaned, spitting out a mouthful of dirt.

"Well that's only because I am, or I was, one of the most experienced fighters the clans had ever seen." She mewed proudly.

"What do you mean by 'was?'" He asked skeptically.

"It doesn't matter what it means!" She snapped, "Don't you see that you could have so much power if you'd just listen? But you are just asking stupid questions that won't even be relevant for anything!"

"Umm okay?" He didn't dare question her again.

The she cat was starting to fade, and Shadowpaw stepped back. She narrowed her amber eyes, "You must always look for a weakness in your enemy. You will usually find one." She taught, "I must go now. This advice better have helped you in some way, because I'm not visiting you again."

"Why not?" He complained. She definitely was intimidating and slightly annoying, but he could tell that she was very wise and could be very helpful to him in the future.

"I can't mess with the prophecy any more then I already have." She hastily told him.

"The prophecy?! How do you- never mind..." he shut himself up before she could get angry at him again.

"Good! My advice has already started to kick in." She had completely faded away now, and he could only hear her faint voice, "Always remember: fear is your enemy. Hate will keep you alive."

He nodded and repeated the words she mewed in his head over and over until darkness overtook him again. His eyes snapped open; it was still dark and everyone was still sleeping.

He smirked at his sister, I'm one step ahead of you, Larkpaw, and I will always be. "Just you wait." He whispered, "You may be loved right now, but I will be the raging fire and there's nothing you can do to stop me!"

((Woah, this took me forever... XD but anyways, I know the chapters are kind of repetitive at the moment, but this is the last chapter that will be like that. Lol sorry this one was so long, I just needed to fit everything in there x3))