The sun was high in the sky, shining brightly as its heat crashed down onto all the forest cats. Shadestar was on the high ledge ready to begin the clan meeting, with the whole clan gathered around, but they needed for Leafblossum and Duskpaw to return.

An orange and white she-cat mewed annoyed "If they don't return any time soon, we should just start without them!" Shadestar twitched his ear and glanced down towards the she-cat as cats began gossiping.

"I'm sure they will return any moment now Maplesong. They are just-"

The sound of a young she-cat panicking made cats turn their backs towards the camp entrance "Rouges! We saw rouges!"

Dawnpaw was in the front of the crowd waiting for the meeting to start until she turned around and saw her sister, Duskpaw, and her mentor, Leafblossum, panting as they entered the camp.

Shadestar asked concerned "Rouges? On our territory?" As Gingersplash jumped on top of the high ledge at his side, looking down at them worried.

Duskpaw looked at Leafblossum waiting for her to respond but she wasn't saying anything. I guess I'm the adult here... Duskpaw explained "Well on Sandclan's territory...we think Sandclan were kicked out of their territory by the rouges."

Maplesong rolled her eyes "Then it's not our problem."

Duskpaw hissed quietly as her mentor stood their silently "For Starclan's sakes say something mousebrain!"

Leafblossum must be heard and she mewed to Maplesong respectfully "The rouges may come for our territory next...that is if they have our scent."

Shadestar nodded in understandment as he mewed strictly "Gingersplash, we need to double the amount of patrols until Sandclan has received their territory back."

Gingersplash nodded respectfully as she flicked her tail. Shadestar looked towards Leafblossum and Duskpaw as he explained "Did the rouges seem interested in the other clans?"

Leafblossum shook her head no as she mewed calmly "They only seemed to want Sandclan, but that doesn't mean they won't come for other clans." Duskpaw nodded in agreement with her mentor annoyed. Now you talk like an adult...

Shadestar shifted his paws as he mewed "If the remains of Sandclan show up at the gathering tonight, we will discuss this with them."

That made Duskpaw wonder who will attend the gathering at moon high tonight? Duskpaw hopefully looked up towards the black tom cat with her eyes full of anxiety.

Shadestar mewed "The cats attending are..."

Duskpaw looked up towards her mentor who seemed very disinterested in who was going to be chosen. What's your problem?

Then Shadestar began "Dawnpaw, Duskpaw..."

Duskpaw seemed to jump with happiness as her leader announced her name. She looked towards Dawnpaw who shared the same emotion as her.

"Hawktalon, Falconwing, and Leafblossum."

Duskpaw didn't seem happy when Shadestar announced Falconwing and Leafblossum were also coming. Falconwing seemed to favor Dawnpaw more, and Leafblossum was just plain soft."

Shadestar lowered his body and jumped off the rock as he mewed "Clan dismissed!"

All the cats seemed to scatter around the camp, which left Dawnpaw, and Duskpaw in the middle of the camp.

Dawnpaw approached Duskpaw and asked concerned "Did you have to fight the rouges?"

Duskpaw shook her head and explained "We just hid in a bush. I was getting a tour of the territories today! I saw Brookclan, Brightclan, and Sandclan!"

Dawnpaw purred "Lucky!"

Duskpaw asked curious "What about you?" She probably actually did battle training or hunting...

Dawnpaw mewed happily "I learned some battle moves! I also managed to catch a mouse!"

Duskpaw twitched her ear in annoyance as she whispered to Dawnpaw "I don't think Leafblossum wants to train me."

Dawnpaw widened her eyes and tilted her head "What makes you think that?"

Duskpaw lowered her ears as she mewed sadly "She didn't want an apprentice..."

Dawnpaw took a step back surprised "What kind of cat isn't grateful for her apprentice?!"

Duskpaw narrowed her eyes as she hissed "Shh! Do you want the whole clan to hear?"

Dawnpaw whispered "Sorry...did she tell you why?"

Duskpaw shook her head "No, but-"

"Duskpaw! Can you help me collect some herbs?" Duskpaw glanced over her shoulder and saw Leafblossum approaching her with Creamleaf beside her.

Duskpaw nodded without showing any emotion "Sure." She spun her head back around towards Dawnpaw "See what I mean? Bye..."

She turned around and raced up beside Creamleaf and Leafblossum as they headed off to collect herbs. Dawnpaw watched them walk away into the forest. An apprentice without a good mentor...this can't be good.

"Dawnpaw! Can I talk to you?" Dawnpaw saw Dreampaw bound up to her quickly with her eyes full of worry.

Dawnpaw mewed "Sure what's up?"

Dreampaw walked up to Dawnpaw as they continued their conversationDo you think Shadestar will let me come to the gathering?"

Dawnpaw shuddered "If you asked...why do you want to come? Well I know why any cat would want to come but-"

Dreampaw cut her off quietly "Hawktalon and I had planned to go together..."

Dawnpaw gasped with excitement quietly "Do you...like him?"

Dreampaw lowered her ears smiling as she blushed "Yes...but you can't tell anyone!"

Dawnpaw nodded as she swished her tail "I won't. Don't worry Dreampaw."

Dreampaw purred with relief as she pointed her tail towards the fresh-kill pile. "Want to grab something to eat before the gathering tonight?"

Dawnpaw nodded as they both made their way towards the pile of prey in the middle of the camp. Dawnpaw knelt down and picked up a mouse while Dreampaw grabbed a small bird.

When they both walked away from the pile and dropped their food next to each other, Dawnpaw gasped "Great Starclan!"

Dreampaw panicked "What? What's wrong?"

Dawnpaw laughed "This is the mouse I caught today!"

Dreampaw sighed with relief and chuckled "You scared me! I thought something was actually wrong!"

Dawnpaw gulped down her mouse and laughed "Sorry."

Dreampaw finished her bird and stood to her paws and mewed "You'd better get ready for the gathering. It's getting closer to moon high."

Dawnpaw stood up as well and nodded in agreement. "But what about Duskpaw? She hasn't returned yet."

Dreampaw shrugged "I think she's still helping collect herbs...even though that's the Medicine Cat's job..."

Soon as she finished her sentence, Duskpaw, Leafblossum, and Creamleaf had entered the camp, all of them carrying herbs in their mouths and on their backs.

Dawnpaw looked at Duskpaw who was making angry grunting sounds. "Hey Duskpaw!"

Duskpaw rolled her eyes as they all entered the Medicine Den, and Duskpaw quickly jumped out. "I'm free!"

Dreampaw and Dawnpaw began laughing loudly as Duskpaw bounded up to them. She sighed annoyed "You'd think my own mentor was actually a Medicine Cat..."

Dreampaw asked curious "Wait...she's not training you well and she wants you to learn herbs?"

Duskpaw nodded full of boredom "Yeah..."

Dawnpaw mewed unsure "Maybe her destiny is to be a Medicine Cat...if you think about it."

"Leafblossum is a fine mentor. She wouldn't abandon her own apprentice." All the apprentices looked behind them and saw Falconwing standing there strictly glaring at them all.

Duskpaw protested "But Dad, she's-"

Falconwing interrupted "A pure warrior. If her destiny was to become a Medicine Cat, she would've become one a long time ago."

Duskpaw angry spun around and marched to the apprentice den, wit Dreampaw following behind her worried.

Dawnpaw turned back to face her father and changed the subject "Are there a lot of cats at the gathering?"

Falconwing nodded "Yes, plenty. But with the entire Sandclan kicked from their territory...there may be a lot more."

Dawnpaw nodded as she smiled at the thought of Sunpaw. Maybe I can talk to him! I hope he didn't get in trouble!