The sun cast long rays of sunlight into the hollow, warming Dawnpaw's pelt. But she couldn't shake off the feeling of cold and entrapment when she'd been sucked back into the real world. She'd woken up panicked, disoriented, and scared, scaring everyone around her. Hightail had taken her to the medicine den, where Rosepelt had determined there was nothing wrong with her.

Her mentor had excused her from training for the next few sunrises, but Dawnpaw wished he hadn't. She needed something to distract her from the starless skies, the ground that seemed to trap her in the terrible forest, and her meeting with the she-cat, Nightfire. Dawnpaw still gagged at the thought of her rancid breath, and wreath of smoke.

The voices that had spoken to her still drifted in her mind, their icy voices rough with hate. Dawnpaw shivered in the sunlight, trying to dispel her thoughts. Rosepelt padded out of her den, concern glittering in her gaze when she saw the shivering apprentice.

"What happened?" Rosepelt asked, like she had already asked many times. "I can't help you if you don't tell me." Dawnpaw itched to tell the medicine cat everything; but Nightfire's voice rang in the back of her mind.

No one can know. Her rotting scent drifted around the clearing, her form appearing briefly before disappearing again. Dawnpaw sprang to her paws.

"Can I go hunting?" She asked abruptly, staring at Rosepelt.

The she-cat looked taken aback. "Are you sure? I don't know if I should let you..."

"Please!" Dawnpaw begged. Rosepelt sighed.

"Alright. But take somebody with you. I don't want you out there alone."

Dawnpaw sighed with relief, bounding across the clearing, searching for an escort. She poked her head into the apprentices den.

"Is Heatherpaw here?" She asked Ashpaw, who was grooming himself.

"She's out training with Moonleap." he mewed. "Do you need her for something?"

Dawnpaw shook her head. "Do you want to come hunting with me?" She asked the gray apprentice, who jumped to his paws.

"Sure!" He mewed enthusiastically. Dawnpaw purred happily, leading the way out into the forest. She bounded off towards the Windclan border, her jaws parted for any scents of prey.

She dropped into a crouch as she scented mouse, stalking towards the wriggling creature. It's scent filled her nostrils, and her mouth watered as she prepared to pounce. Launching herself forward, she landed just short of the mouses' hindquarters. It squealed in terror, trying to bolt, but Dawnpaw snagged it's tail, scooping it into the sky and killing it as it landed with a 'thump'.

"Great catch!" Ashpaw congratulated her.

Dawnpaw scuffed the ground shyly. "Not really," She muttered. "I jumped short, and I almost missed it."

Ashpaw shrugged. "At least you caught something." He mewed regretfully. "I stepped on a twig while I was stalking a bird. Scared it into the trees and probably scared away the rest of the prey."

Dawnpaw touched her tail tip to his flank reassuringly. "It's ok," She comforted him. "Sometimes you just have bad days." Ashpaw blinked appreciatively at her.

"Let's take this back to camp," He mewed, and Dawnpaw grabbed her mouse.

They walked shoulder-to-shoulder, pelts brushing. Dawnpaw pushed her way through the thorn barrier, her fur snagging on the sharp points. Dropping her prey on the pile, she headed towards the medicine den.

"Where're you going?" Ashpaw asked.

"I'm going to say hi to Starpaw," Dawnpaw responded simply.

Ashpaw snorted. "The Shadowclan cat? Don't waste your time."

Dawnpaw whipped around, claws out. "What?" She hissed.

Ashpaw looked taken aback. "I'm sorry!" He mewed quickly. "I didn't really mean it. It's just that...you two seem to be getting really close." He looked at his paws, embarrassed.

Dawnpaw softened her gaze, pulling her claws back in. "It's ok, Ashpaw," She mewed gently. "I would never fall in love with a Shadowclan cat."

Ashpaw stared at her. "Who said anything about falling in love?" He asked dumbly.

Dawnpaw purred with amusement. "I'll see you later," She hesitated, then licked the gray apprentices ears. Then she raced off towards the medicine den.

Starpaw was sitting in front of his nest, helping Rosepelt sort herbs. His leg was healing nicely, and the smell of infection was not so strong.

"Hi," Dawnpaw greeted him happily. Rosepelt glanced at her.

"You're in a much better mood," The medicine cat observed. "What fixed you?"

Dawnpaw shrugged, walking up to Starpaw. "Do you want to try going hunting with me?" She asked eagerly, meeting his yellow eyes. She felt her heart skip a beat the annoying way it did every time she was around him. She turned her gaze to Rosepelt. "Is he healed enough for that?" She asked hopefully.

The medicine cat looked thoughtful. "Ok," She agreed. "I can't guarantee you'll catch anything, but it will be good for you to exercise that leg." Starpaw got to his paws excitedly, stretching his leg gingerly.

"Feels fine," He announced, waving his speckled tail in excitement.

Dawnpaw led him out of the den, keeping her tail tip on his flank steadingly. He leaned on her a little bit, their pelts brushing. The contact made little zings of happiness go through her, from her ears to her tail tip. She glanced across the hollow to where Ashpaw was standing, looking betrayed. Dawnpaw flicked her ears apologetically, but the gray apprentice had already turned away. Dawnpaw stared guiltily at her paws.

"Whats wrong?" Starpaw asked, concern glittering in his gaze.

Dawnpaw shook her head. "Nothing," She answered. "I'm fine."

Starpaw nodded, easing off of her to squeeze through the thorn barrier. Dawnpaw followed, leading Starpaw through the forest with ease. When she reached the border with Shadowclan, she stopped.

"Ready to hunt?" She asked, gesturing around. Starpaw nodded, parting his jaws for prey scent. Dawnpaw did the same, quickly finding vole. Dropping to the ground with her belly fur brushing the grassy floor, she crept forward slowly, setting her paws down carefully. When she was an inch away from the vole, she slashed out a paw, snagging the vole by the back, and dragged it towards her for the killing bite.

"Thank you Starclan, for this prey," She murmured, grabbing her catch and leaving to find Starpaw.

"Fox dung!" Dawnpaw pricked her ears as she heard the black apprentice's frustrated mew. Following the sound, she found Starpaw glaring at the sky, his back coated in sparrow feathers. Dawnpaw purred with amusement.

"Maybe a bird was a bit ambitious," She mewed teasingly. Starpaw glared at her, but he was purring too.

"I guess," He said downheartedly. "My leg it just so annoying! I want to be able to hunt and fight again."

Dawnpaw murmured sympathetically, touching her cheek to his. He jerked in surprise, but pressed his cheek back against hers. She purred lightly, pulling away and padding back to camp with Starpaw at her side.

The sun was setting on the camp, the dusky sky beginning to glitter with stars. Dawnpaw sat outside the medicine den with Starpaw, sharing a thrush. His yellow eyes gleamed in the rising moonlight, making Dawnpaw's heart pound. She glanced across the clearing to where Ashpaw was sitting with Poppypaw. He threw her a dirty look, his eyes brimming with hurt.

Dawnpaw sighed. She had promised Ashpaw she wouldn't fall in love with a Shadowclan cat, but could she really keep that promise? She wasn't sure anymore. Turning back to her food, she saw Starpaw getting to his feet.

"Where're you going?" She asked as he walked towards the draping ferns that covered the entrance to Rosepelt's den.

"I'm going to ask if my leg is healed enough to go home," He replied simply, his eyes full of guilt. He obviously knew how much those words would sting.

Dawnpaw winced as a oang hit her heart. "Oh," She mewed, trying to sound bright. "I'll come with you." She heaved herself to her paws, following Starpaw into the den.

Rosepelt was inside, talking to Skyrunner and Sunnypaw. "If this is really what you want," Rosepelt was saying, "Then I would love to have you as my apprentice."

Sunnypaw nodded enthusiastically. "Yes! This is what I want." Rosepelt nodded.

"I'll bring you with me to the Moonpool at the half-moon and make it official." She mewed. "You can start your training by going to collect fresh moss for soaking and nests."

Sunnypaw nodded, racing out of the den. Rosepelt turned to herbs that were piled on the floor, sifting through them and separating the dry dead leaves from the healthy green ones.

"What can I do for you?" She asked without looking up.

Starpaw cleared his throat. "I was wondering if I could go back to Shadowclan now," He said slowly. "If my leg is healed enough."

Rosepelt stood, bending to sniff at the wound. "I'll put one more poultice of marigold on it, just in case." She mewed. "But Whitestreak should be able to handle anything that might happen." She picked a few golden flowers from her piles, chewing them into a pulp and pressing them into the wound. "You can go home tomorrow morning, but stay here tonight." Starpaw nodded happily.

Dawnpaw's heart felt like a stone in her chest, heavy and cold. Starpaw was leaving? She watched as he pranced out of the medicine den, heading towards Emberstar's den. He obviously planned to tell the clan leader; how could Dawnpaw convince him to stay if he'd already told Emberstar he was leaving? She walked with heavy paws back to the apprentices den, wanting nothing more than to curl up in her nest, and wake up with Starpaw still next to her. If only it was all a dream. She thought wistfully. If only she could wake up and not know anything about Nightfire, or Starpaw leaving, or her friendship with Ashpaw crumbling. If only she was a Shadowclan cat; then she could love Starpaw, and be with him always. She curled deep in her nest, covering herself with moss, as though she could hide from all her problems. Closing her eyes, she drifted into a deep sleep.

She awoke in the apprentices den, moonlight shining through the brambles that covered the entrance. It was still late; Dawnpaw yawned as she blinked her heavy eyelids. At least I'm not in that horrible forest again. She thought with relief. Stretching, she pushed out of the den and into the starlit hollow. A cat was already waiting there, his speckled pelt blending perfectly with the night sky.

"Starpaw?" Dawnpaw whispered, catching the apprentices attention. "What are you doing out here?"

He turned to face her, and Dawnpaw winced at the sadness and doubt filling his eyes. "What if they don't take me back?" He whispered. "They all think I'm dead." Dawnpaw sat next to him, close enough for their pelts to brush. Sorrow clouded his gaze.

"Maybe I should stay here," He mewed quietly, looking at her. "You're not in Shadowclan. How would I live without you?" Dawnpaw felt her heart swell.

"So you do love me?" She asked, hope filling her mew. Starpaw looked at her.

"I do," He answered after a while. Dawnpaw purred, rubbing her cheek against his. He wrapped his tail around hers, and they sat like that for a while, enjoying the peace. Dawnpaw turned to face Starpaw.

"You have to go," She stated, her voice barely audible.

Starpaw jerked his head around. "What?" He asked, shocked. "But I can't leave you!"

Dawnpaw blinked at him. "Your sister needs you," She murmured. "And we're only apprentices. Maybe someday we can be together." She met his gaze. "But for now, your clan needs you more than I do." Starpaw touched his nose to the top of her head, his mew full to the brim with sadness.

"I miss Halfpaw." He straightened. "I'll go. But I'm not abandoning you. Meet me at the Shadowclan border in two sunrises, after everyone is asleep."

Dawnpaw stared doubtfully. "I don't know..." She replied slowly.

"Please!" Starpaw blinked desperately at her. "I need to see you."

Dawnpaw felt her heart swell with pain. She wasn't going to lose this cat. "Ok," She agreed quietly. "I'll come."

Starpaw purred loudly, touching his nose to her ear before heaving himself to his paws. "Go get some rest," He mewed gently, nudging Dawnpaw towards her den. She went without a word, feeling like the was floating on her paws.

In the morning, Dawnpaw awoke to birdsong and long, bright rays of sunlight. Heatherpaw was blinking sleepily beside her, yawning widely.

"Dawnpaw! Heatherpaw!" Moonleap's voice sounded outside of the den. "I'm taking you for battle training. Hurry up!"

Heatherpaw jumped out of her nest, hurrying outside with Dawnpaw right behind her. The orange apprentice blinked against the blinding sun.

"It's bright today," She noted, glancing at Heatherpaw. Her sister looked satisfied.

"Probably because there are no more Shadowclan cats in our camp," She replied smugly, her tail held high.

Dawnpaw pricked her ears. She had forgotten that Starpaw was leaving!

"Is he already gone?" She asked urgently, her claws kneading the ground.

Moonleap nodded. "Hightail and a few others escorted him back to his camp this morning, just after dawn." She rolled her eyes. "You two would've been picked if you'd been awake."

Heatherpaw meowed apologetically, scuffing the ground with her paws.

"Let's go," Moonleap bounded out of camp, leading the two apprentices to the training hollow. "Emberstar wants to have your assessments by next moon," The she-cat told them. "So we need to practice some more advanced battle skills."

Dawnpaw waved her tail in excitement.

"You two are both pretty small," Moonleap started. "That can be an advantage when you're facing an opponent larger than you." Moonleap beckoned to Heatherpaw. "You're going to leap over me and onto my back," She instructed. "Don't unsheathe your claws, but hold on tight."

Heatherpaw nodded, bunching her muscles as she prepared to leap. As Moonleap shot forward, Heatherpaw sprung into the air and twisted to land on Moonleap's back. Her hind paw slipped as she landed, throwing her off balance and causing her to crash to the ground with a shriek.

Moonleap looked at her with amusement. "Your turn," Dawnpaw walked forward, standing squarely in front of the gray and white cat. Moonleap darted forward, raising her paw to slash Dawnpaw across the nose. Dawnpaw launched herself into the air, twisting and landing perfectly on Moonleap's back. She hung on tight, wrapping her front paws around the larger she-cat and battering her hind paws against her spine. Moonleap dropped to the ground and rolled over, squashing Dawnpaw beneath and driving the breath from her body. Her paws slipped off and she landed with a thump on her back. Moonleap pinned the apprentice with her paws, one hind paw holding her tail.

"Watch out for the counter move," Moonleap mewed. "Leap off before they roll, but try to get in a few blows before you do." She nodded to Heatherpaw.

"Practice with each other," Moonleap instructed. "Until you can both do it perfectly." The dappled she-cat padded out of the hollow, sitting on one side under the shade of a tree to watch.

Dawnpaw stalked towards Heatherpaw, teeth bared. Heatherpaw lifted her hackles, bushing out her tail. With a yowl, Heatherpaw flung herself at Dawnpaw, paws outstretched to trap the orange apprentice. At the last moment, Dawnpaw hurled herself upward, landing on Heatherpaw's back and slashing her flanks with her hind paws. Heatherpaw dropped to the ground, but Dawnpaw was off before she could roll. The momentum from Dawnpaw's jump had unbalanced Heatherpaw, and the tan apprentice was waving her tail wildly, trying to regain her footing. While she was struggling, Dawnpaw leaped forward, slipping onto her side to slide underneath Heatherpaw, raking her belly before popping back up onto all four paws.

Heatherpaw crouched low to the ground, her belly fur brushing the leaves as she shot forward, sweeping Dawnpaw's feet out from under her. Dawnpaw thumped to the ground. She jumped to her feet quickly, rearing onto her hind paws and slashing out at Heatherpaw. Heatherpaw dodged her blows, diving underneath her to try and sweep her feet again, but Dawnpaw dropped on top of her, pinning the tan apprentice. Heatherpaw tried to shove Dawnpaw off, but Dawnpaw had Heatherpaw's tail pinned.

Heatherpaw shook herself off, dust covering her pelt. "When did you get so good at fighting?" She exclaimed as they were walking back to camp.

Dawnpaw shrugged. "Let's get back to camp," She mewed, "I'm hungry."

Heatherpaw glanced at Dawnpaw mischievously. "RACE YOU!" She yelled abruptly, taking off with her tail streaming behind her.

Dawnpaw rolled her eyes before sprinting after her, catching up quickly. Heatherpaw pushed herself faster, her longer legs stretching across the earth in huge bounds. Dawnpaw was skimming the ground, her paws barely touching before reaching into the sky again. Heatherpaw was sitting inside of the of the camp, grooming, when Dawnpaw burst into the camp.

She purred with amusement. "You may be better at hunting," Heatherpaw mewed smugly. "But I'm the faster runner."

Dawnpaw rolled her eyes again, padding towards the fresh-kill and grabbing a mouse. She instinctively started towards the medicine den, stopping in her tracks halfway there. Starpaw is gone. She reminded herself. You'll see him again tomorrow. Her heart pounded in her chest as she thought about their secret meeting. She headed back towards Heatherpaw, where she had began to eat with Stormpaw at her side. She sat on her sisters other side, tucking her paws in neatly as she took a bite of her mouse.

Heatherpaw was talking animatedly to Stormpaw, but Dawnpaw wasn't paying attention to what they were saying. Her nose wrinkled as she was surrounded by a very familiar rotting smell, but stronger. She perked her ears, listening intently as she picked up the voices of two cats.

"...What if this doesn't work?" One of them was saying.

"It will work," The other growled. Dawnpaw recognized the voice of Nightfire.

"How can you be sure, Nightfire? And why her? She's only an apprentice, for Starclan's sake!"

Nightfire growled. "Don't say the name of that horrible place!" She hissed. "She won't be an apprentice for much longer, Darkspirit. And then we can use her to make sure we are never forgotten again."