"What if I mess up?" Eaglepaw asked nervously. Her paws were simultaneously tingling with anticipation and anxiety in every step. The large band of cats were nearly to the cluster of small boulders that marked the training hollow.

      Buzzardpaw gave her sister a quick glance. "Of course you won't! Besides, I'll be there to help you!" She swished her tail and then went back into conversation with the three older warriors who had been accompanying Slatestar.

      "Don't worry, Eaglepaw." A soft voice behind her nearly sent her flying upwards in surprise. The young tabby apprentice turned her head as she padded onwards and found it was Hollowpaw who had scared her. He ducked his head apologetically. "Sorry. Anyway, my father," he flicked his black tipped tail to Slatestar, "knows that this is your first time fighting. No offense, but you're bound to be bad. I was, he was, we all were."

      Eaglepaw shook her pelt and simply muttered, "Thanks I suppose. I'm sure you weren't all that bad. And I know Buzzardpaw is going to be amazing. She always is." Eaglepaw looked at her sister who was casually talking about border patrols with Dewstep, a senior warrior. Their own mentors were both slightly ill and had opted to stay behind. "But I guess you're right." Hollowpaw nodded contentedly and walked ahead of her.

      "We're here!" Slatestar's confidant mew rang across the hills. The group stopped abruptly at a good-sized hollow in the ground surrounded by small pebbles and larger boulders. "We will spar in groups of three. Dewstep, take Cloverpaw and Skidpaw. Deepleg, you will be with Eaglepaw and Swirlpaw. I will train with Buzzardpaw and Hollowpaw." After the short announcement, the group split and training began.

      Eaglepaw sized up her opponent. Apparently, the warriors would watch and support both apprentices as the younger cats would try and pin the other down for a few heartbeats. Swirlpaw was short and stocky which was odd for a WindClan cat but not impossible. He was much older and stronger than her, and could easily knock Eaglepaw off her long, weak legs. Panic began to set into Eaglepaw's mind. She would be humiliated in front of her sister.

      "Ready? Go!" Deepleg called out. His dark blue eyes were locked onto Swirlpaw, his own apprentice, in concentration. Instantly, Swirlpaw charged. The black swirls on his brown body were confusing and disorienting. When Eaglepaw tried to focus, her vision found him to be about a mouse length over from where she thought he was. In a heartbeat, he was crashing into her. Eaglepaw could feel his breath shake her whiskers. She scrabbled at his belly desperately. His eyes glinted with amusement. He seemed to have let his guard down for a moment as his eyes flickered to Deepleg for approval, and in that moment Eaglepaw slipped out from under him.

      She darted past him in a flash, squaring her shoulders. Eaglepaw couldn't help but let a hiss of frustration escape from her mouth as she tried to think of a way to defeat him. He was too strong and skilled for her. It wasn't fair! He was trained to perfection while Eaglepaw was only a few days out of the nursery! "Scared?" Swirlpaw asked, his tone dripping with false sympathy.

      "Not a chance!" Eaglepaw yowled back. In a moment of desperate bravado, she charged back. Her claws dug into the soft dirt beneath her. Dust and grass sprayed up behind her as she gained momentum. Like a bird taking flight, she leapt into the air. Her eyes glinted in the sunlight as she slammed into Swirlpaw. He staggered backwards, but quickly regained his composure. Eaglepaw however had landed awkwardly and struggled to get back up. Swirlpaw stalked up to her and pinned her down with ease. He let out a triumphant yowl. Eaglepaw struggled for a heartbeat, then lay still. It was over. She had lost in her first fight.

       "Outstanding! Swirlpaw I've never seen a cat recover so fast from an attack like that!" Deepleg began to praise Swirlpaw vigorously and Eaglepaw turned away. Embarrassment flooded her once more. It was the second time she had failed today. Looking around, Eaglepaw saw Cloverpaw still locked in battle with Skidpaw, and Buzzardpaw kicking Hollowpaw off her viciously. Ears drawn back in shame, Eaglepaw began to watch as Slatestar cheered Buzzardpaw on top of Hollowpaw. She playfully snapped at his nose as she held him down, snarling something inaudible over the calls of her clan mates. On the other side of her, Cloverpaw had slammed her forepaw into Skidpaw's head, forcing him to stay tangled in her white fur.

      "Astounding work Buzzardpaw!" Slatestar's voice echoed across the moor. The cats watched as Buzzardpaw climbed off Hollowpaw. Hollowpaw watched her go with astonishment and interest sparking in his gaze. Eaglepaw suddenly felt even more uncomfortable in her own pelt. Next to Buzzardpaw, Eaglepaw looked like a petrified mouse. She shifted her paws. As her sister passed Eaglepaw muttered a congratulation.

      "You did well." Eaglepaw once more could not meet her sister's eyes. Buzzardpaw bounced excitedly.

      "You really think so? You did great too! I saw you when you charged at Swirlpaw. Did you win?" Eaglepaw sighed. Had Buzzardpaw been so focused on her own fight she couldn't even take a glance at her sister? She shook her head.

      "No. But it was only my first go! You just got lucky." Eaglepaw grumbled. Soon, the two sisters headed back to their group. Deepleg tried to teach Eaglepaw a few of the moves she would learn tomorrow, but her mind was not focused and far away. I'm so stupid! Why did I think I could take him on like that? The thought repeated in her head the rest of the day.

                                                                                 * * *

      Eaglepaw settled into her soft nest. The smell of the apprentices den was hardly familiar yet, but it was welcome. In the open camp, Eaglepaw could look straight up at Silverpelt. It was hard not to drift asleep, but Eaglepaw contemplated the day's events. Two fails in one day. She felt hopeless and trapped. Buzzardpaw's dark pelt seemed less comforting and more of a reminder of both the lost rabbit and fight. It was as if she was drowning in those dark waves of fur. Eventually, she found herself drowning in an undisturbed sleep.