Spiderpaw was still tired and his paws still ached when he woke up.Sunlight beamed in through the den roof, directly in his eyes.

It was good to be back in FalconClan territory, although he didn't dislike living in HawkClan.

His own camp made him feel so much more cozy.

Beside him, Sunpaw fidgeted, a soft murmuring coming from the sleeping apprentice.His golden yellow pelt seemed to blaze in the sunlight, and Spiderpaw felt jealous of his fur colour.

Why did I have to be born with boring black fur?

Stretching, he let out a long yawn, his muscles rippling beneath his pelt.

"Sunpaw."He whispered.

No reply.

Sunpaw stayed still, light snoring coming from his mouth.

"Sunpaw!"Spiderpaw nudged the golden apprentice in the side, waking him from his slumber.

"Wha-?"Sunpaw's neck fur bristled, and he sat up swiftly. "What's wrong!? Attack?!"

"No, calm down,"Spiderpaw rolled his eyes. "I just thought you probably wouldn't want to be late to training."

"Oh,"Sunpaw sounded slightly disappointed. "Okay, let's go."

He got to his paws, following Spiderpaw out of the den.

It was a warm sunny day, with little to no breeze.The air was dry, possibly even humid.

"Look, there're our mentors."Sunpaw yawned, pointing his nose toward where two cats were pacing impatiently at the camp exit.

"There you are,"Dewmelody sighed, running her tail down Sunpaw's back. "I thought you'd sleep in forever."

She twitched her whiskers, not sounding upset.

Pinespeck growled, "You should have gotten up at least a few hours ago.It's almost sunhigh!"

"Sorry."Spiderpaw stared at his paws, feeling guilty.

I shouldn't be! I needed sleep! Was Pinespeck the one who was living in a whole other camp for almost seven sunrises? I've been exhausted!

"Let's go."The red furred tom shook his head. "We should start with collecting leaves for dens."

Spiderpaw rolled his eyes. Of course. Your favourite task.

Sunpaw trotted ahead with Dewmelody, while Spiderpaw walked awkwardly beside his mentor.

Pinespeck kept glancing over at him, opening his mouth, then turning away.

What does he want? He should just blurt it out already.

"Spiderpaw?"Pinespeck murmured hesitantly.

"Yes?"He sighed, gazing at his mentor.

He leapt over a small twig, nearly tripping.

"I'm sorry for how I'm acting..I know sometimes I act too....protective? I just don't want you to get hurt while training, or hunting."

"How would I? I'd be careful."Spiderpaw frowned.

"My-my sister..."Pinespeck choked, then let out a low growl. "'Never mind, forget I said anything.I'm going to hunt.Collect leaves."He snapped, pushing through the bushes.

Spiderpaw paused for a moment, shocked. What in StarClan's name just happened?

Shrugging, he raced to catch up with Sunpaw.

"What are you guys doing first?"

"Training in the training clearing," Dewmelody meowed. "You can join us if you'd like to."

"Oh, yes please."Spiderpaw nodded his head.I'd rather do that then collect leaves.

And Pinespeck isn't here, so he won't know what I'm doing.

"Yeah! Let's go, Spiderpaw!"Sunpaw nudged his neck, then tore off ahead, his paws a flurry of fur.

"Wait up!"Spiderpaw raced after him, getting closer and closer to the golden tom.He dug us dirt as he ran, flinging it behind him, not a care in the world.

Once he was within pouncing distance, he leapt, sheathed paws outstretched.

Wrapping his paws around Sunpaw's neck, the two toms rolled on the ground, the heated play fight soon turning to a slightly violent one as Sunpaw bit down on Spiderpaw's ear, drawing blood.

Spiderpaw let out a sharp meow, and Sunpaw leapt off him. "Sorry! I didn't mean to-"

"It's fine!"Spiderpaw interrupted him. "It didn't hurt.It's no big deal."

He didn't want to make a huge deal of it.

"Attack faster!"A loud holler echoed through the forest.

Sunpaw and Spiderpaw shared a confused look. "Who else is training?"

"Perhaps Forestpaw? If not, Mildewpaw."Spiderpaw shrugged, heading toward the voices, Sunpaw following him.

He pushed through to the training clearing, just as a flash of fur leapt past him.He leapt back, surprised, ramming into Sunpaw.

Mildewpaw swiped a paw at her mentor, Silverpuddle, then leapt backward, landing gracefully on her nimble, black paws.

Sunpaw and Spiderpaw watched them train, interest sparkling in their eyes.

This was one of Spiderpaw's first times watching anyone train fighting.Mostly, it was real fighting.

Silverpuddle dodged a whack to the head, tripping Mildewpaw with her tail.

The white apprentice landed heavily on her stomach, and Silverpuddle pinned her down gently, nipping her scruff.

Then they broke apart, panting.

Spiderpaw padded over to them. "That was intense! And cool!"

Mildewpaw shifted her paws. "Thanks, Spiderpaw! Glad you thought so. I've been training really hard!"She yelped, her usual friendly self near bursting.

Sunpaw sat down next to him, shaking his fur. "Are we going to train or not? I'm tired of waiting."

"Where did your mentors go?"Silverpuddle asked, flicking her ear.

"I don't know.Pinespeck left to go hunting, and Dewmelody was following us."Spiderpaw shrugged. "Slowly, I might add."

"I'll go look for her.Stay safe till I'm back."Silverpuddle dipped her head, hurrying off.

"What do you want to do while we wait?"Spiderpaw asked, blinking up at the sky. The sun was fully risen, about to start its way back down.

"We could practice tree climbing!"Mildewpaw suggested, glancing at the nearest tree, a large maple.

"That'd be fun."Sunpaw shrugged, getting to his paws.

"I guess."Spiderpaw agreed, heading for the maple.

"I'll climb this one with Spiderpaw, and Sunpaw, you can climb that oak over there."Mildewpaw pointed with her tail to a towering oak tree a few fox-lengths away.

"Okay..."Sunpaw sounded uncertain, but trotted over anyway, disappearing behind the tree.

Mildewpaw immediately started her climb up the maple, digging her claws into the rough bark of the tree.

"Come on, Spiderpaw! The view is so nice up here!"She called, as she heaved herself onto the lowest branch.

Spiderpaw approached the tree, staring up at the white furred apprentice. "You sure about this?"

"Yes! It's easy! Come on!"She called down.

Digging his claws deep into the bark, he slowly heaved himself up the tree.Little by little, he made his way close to where Mildewpaw was crouched.

As he finally neared the branch, she leaned over and grabbed his scruff, pulling him to sit beside her. "Good job!"Her eyes gleamed.

"It was horrible, really.I'll get better, though."Spiderpaw shrugged, giving his chest fur a couple of licks.

He didn't know if he was ready to get close to any female cats, not so soon after Gorgepaw's passing.It had been a three days.Or at least he thought so.He wasn't really sure.

He woke up wondering what Brookstar was thinking.Surely they would wonder where she was?

If they had just listened to me...

"What's wrong?"Mildewpaw asked, a soft purr erupting from her throat as she peered over from her perch.

"Umm, nothing."Spiderpaw dismissed it, not really wanting to talk about it.

He found death a hard topic.

Why would you want to talk about it?

But Mildewpaw didn't know any better. She didn't even know Gorgepaw.

Neither did I, pretty much.

I feel so stupid: having a crush on a cat I just met.

Am I sure it was a crush? Mabye I just thought of her as a super (super super) close friend, best friend. Mabye I adored her? Liked her personality?

I don't know...

Shaking his head to clear his thoughts, he glanced down to see Silverpuddle and Dewmelody enter the clearing.

Then, a sharp crack rang through the air: the sound of a branch breaking.

A shriek sounded from the oak tree a ways away.

"Sunpaw!?"Spiderpaw and Mildewpaw screeched at the same time.

(Word count: 1294)