Heartstorm and Silverdrop were sitting underneath the shade of trees after going on a tiring hunting patrol. They shared a plump vole happily. They watched the coming and goings of cats in the camp. Suddenly, Brightpaw burst into camp. In her mouth was clamped a mouse and a vole. 

            "I caught a vole and mouse!" she yelled, rushing towards Heatherpaw who was laying by the apprentice den. Heatherpaw looked astonished. 

             "Wow, that's so cool," she gasped. "I've only learnt the positions for stalking and crouching!" 

             "I know," Brightpaw said, puffing out her chest. "I caught a pigeon yesterday. It's easy, once you get the feel of it." Just then Smallear trotted towards Heatherpaw, breaking the conversation. He flicked his tail at his apprentice. 

              "Right, let's go," he said. "We're going on the border patrol." Heatherpaw's eyes lit up. Brightpaw scanned the clearing and spotted her parents. She rushed towards them eagerly. 

            "I caught a mouse and vole!" she told them proudly. Heartstorm smiled. Silverdrop nodded proudly. 

            "I know, they're very big," said Silverdrop. "You're a great apprentice." Heartstorm was so glad his own kit was catching prey on her second day of apprenticeship. He watched fondly as Brightpaw brought them to the elders. 

            "She's going to be a good warrior," Heartstorm commented. 

            "Hunting is so fun," grinned Brightpaw returning to her parents.

            "I thought you said you preferred fighting?" asked Heartstorm. 

             "Yeah...," shrugged Brightpaw. "I like doing both." 

             "Where's Eelfrost?" remarked Silverdrop. 

             "Oh, he's at the clearing. He said he was going to teach me a bit more of what being an apprentice is. But of course I know. It's about taking care of the elders and learning to be the best warrior. And he said he wanted to talk about the warrior code and what it takes to be a warrior. I just want to learn to fight," ranted Brightpaw. 

             "Well, aren't you supposed to go see him?" Silverdrop pointed out. 

             "Oh yeah," nodded Brightpaw. She flashed a smile at her parents and ran off. 

             "I'm happy Eelfrost isn't jumping headfirst into battle training," noted Heartstorm. Silverdrop agreed. She spotted Embergaze.  

              "I said I was going to the border patrol," Silverdrop said, tapping her tail to Heartstorm's shoulder. "Do you want to come?" She walked towards Embergaze. 

             "Sure," nodded Heartstorm. He got up and followed Silverdrop. Embergaze nodded to them. 

             "Just waiting for Hawkflight and Moorpelt," Embergaze said. Hawkflight and Moorpelt entered the camp moments later and they were off. Hawkflight trotted by Heartstorm's side. 

             "Isn't it great?" asked Hawkflight. "That your kits are apprentices? I remember being so happy." 

             "Yeah, it is," nodded Heartstorm, remembering Wolfstep. 

             "I wish I could've been a mentor but I guess maybe next time," shrugged Hawkflight. 

             "Of course," Heartstorm reassured. "You'd be a great mentor." 

           "Thanks," beamed Hawkflight. "Bumblepaw is becoming a medicine cat! I think it's great. Being a medicine cat is hard." 

             "I know, but he can do it," Heartstorm said. 

             "Of course," exclaimed Heartstorm, "Bumblepaw's a smart cat." They reached the WindClan border and marked the border quickly. Embergaze gazed out at the moor silently. 

            "WindClan's been quite distant these past few weeks," he noted aloud. 

            "What do you mean?" asked Moorpelt. 

            "They've been marking the border," pointed out Silverdrop. 

            "Yes..., but it's sort of their duty. I wouldn't be surprised if something is going between them and ShadowClan," Embergaze said darkly. Heartstorm frowned. 

            "They've always been scared of ShadowClan," agreed Moorpelt. "I reckon if ShadowClan did ask to be alliances they would say yes in a second." 

            "Stupid WindClan," muttered Hawkflight. They border patrol turned back, walking leisurely through the forest. They talked about the going ons in the Clan, mostly about the new apprentices. Heartstorm felt his heart bubble with pride everytime somebody mentioned his kits. Silverdrop stopped him near the side of the rushing river. 

            "Let's stay here for a while," she suggested. Heartstorm shrugged and nodded. When the patrol was out of sight, Silverdrop looked up at the tree top. 

            "What is it?" asked Heartstorm. Silverdrop smiled cheekily and scrambled up the bark of a tree. She hauled herself up onto the first branch and looked down at Heartstorm smugly. He sighed. He was not going to climb. He hated the feel of the bark getting stuck under his claws. He hated the way things spun when he was too high off the ground. He hated feeling as if his claws were going to pop off after holding onto the bark for dear life. He hated climbing. 

            "I'm not climbing up if that's what you're thinking," Heartstorm told her firmly. 

           "Why not?" taunted Silverdrop. "Scared?" 

          "I'm not scared..., actually, I am," Heartstorm told her. "And I'm not climbing up there." 

          "What would our kits say?" teased Silverdrop. "Their dad, a cat, scared to climb." 

          "Only ThunderClan climbs trees," Heartstorm retorted. 

           "Oh come on," Silverdrop flicked her tail. "Don't be so boring. I'll help you." 

          "I'm not climbing!" Heartstorm told her. "I almost died last time." 

          "No you didn't," Silverdrop answered. Heartstorm looked down at the ground and at the flowing water. 

           "How about we swim? A race," Heartstorm suggested instead, narrowing his eyes. Silverdrop nodded and leapt off the branch. Heartstorm's eyes widened but Silverdrop nimbly landed on her feet. 

            "You're on," grinned Silverdrop. She then jumped into the river. Heartstorm leapt in right after. The water was cold but the sun was shining and the sky clear. Heartstorm found it natural. He was in the correct position and started to paddle swiftly down the stream. He followed the current of water. He remembered Blacktail coaching him. He remembered swimming with Eelfrost and Deerflame, when they had been apprentices. He pushed harder. Silverdrop was already passing the next bend. Her head was almost submerged and she looked totally concentrated. Heartstorm pushed harder until his nose was almost touching her tail. He paddled faster. Soon, they were almost side by side. 

           "come on Heartstorm, you call that swimming?" Silverdrop yelled, turning around. She then shot off. Heartstorm cursed and tried to slide and follow the current. He remembered Blacktail telling him to let the current guide him. He let himself be taken by the current and he followed its movement. He found himself going swiftly forward. It felt great. He wasn't cold anymore. He knew exactly where he was going. He passed Silverdrop easily. She let out an angry cry. Finally, he pulled himself out of the water and shook himself. He chuckled when Silverdrop hauled herself onto the bank a moment later. He smiled at she playfully bit him on the ear. They sat by the river, letting the sun dry their damp fur.