"Well done Skypaw!" Wetpaw cheered, jumping onto the young white and golden tom. Skypaw giggled as he playfully bopped the gray kitten on the head. Padding up to them, Duskpaw mewed, "Are you okay Skypaw? Pantherpaw can be a brute." Nodding his head, Skypaw answered, "I'm okay, don't worry." He was trying hard not to stare or blush.

"Well done youngster, I've never seen a kittypet fight so well," an elderly ginger tom with gray patches, about the same age as Pikestar, meowed as he hobbled over with the help of beautiful golden tabby she cat. Purring in amusement, the she cat murmured, "Yes Mosspelt, Skypaw will be a fine MinnowClan warrior. Now come on, you should be resting your old bones." Sniffing the young cat's face, Mosspelt yawned and mumbled as he was led away, "Brookheart, are you sure that's not Sunswift..."

"Sunswift? Who's that?" Skypaw asked. Scrunching up his face thoughtfully, Wetpaw recalled, "Eh, I believe he was the deputy before Woodfeather. He died before we were born so that's all I know." Both young cats jumped when Pikestar's soft raspy voice spoke, "He was a fine young warrior who we lost too soon." Gazing down at Skypaw, the leader remarked, "You do look a little like him now that I think of it."

"Do you think I might be related?" Skypaw asked. A snort was heard as Sootbreeze passed by and grumbled, "Fat chance! Sunswift never took a mate!" Patting his apprentice on the shoulder reassuringly, Pikestar rasped, "The world is full of mysteries and surprises. Would you like to see?" His ears perking up, Skypaw nodded his head enthusiastically. His whiskers twitching in amusement, the elder raised his head and called softly, "Briartooth! Dappletalon! Wanna go on a border patrol?"

"Coming!" the orange tom from earlier called back, prancing over. He was followed by a gray and orange tortoiseshell she cat with white spots. Smiling softly, Pikestar turned to Skypaw and whispered, "Two of my great grandkids. They're friendly, I promise." The two cats in question arrived. Puffing his chest out pridefully, Briartooth asked, "Where to?"

"Well, since it's Skypaw's first day I was thinking of showing him both the border with WoodClan and MarshClan," Pikestar answered thoughtfully. Both of his great grandchildren nodded in agreement. Itching with excitement and nervousness, Skypaw almost jumped when Pikestar asked, "Are you ready?" Gulping nervously, the white tom kit with golden patches squeaked out, "Let's do this."

"Alright, follow me. Skypaw, I don't know if you can swim or not so today we're gonna be carefully crossing the territory," Pikestar pointed out as he led the patrol out of camp. Letting Skypaw go ahead of her on the log bridge, Dappletalon teased, "The other clans don't dare invade us in fear of getting wet. This territory is riddled with streams."

"Really?" Skypaw asked. Nodding his head, Dappletalon gently nudged his cheek so he could look forward. Not too far ahead was a little stream that could easily be jumped. The air was filled with the sound of running water. And as they traversed the terrain, Skypaw soon learned why. The territory was indeed riddled with streams. He was so focused on this fact that he bumped into Pikestar by accident. Chuckling softly, the leader declared, "This river here marks the border between us and WoodClan."

"WoodClan? Aren't they really big?" Skypaw asked, recalling his grandmother's stories. Nodding his head, Pikestar explained, "They are bigger than the other clans and they are also the strongest. However, they rarely come over here." Leaning forward, Dappletalon whispered, "They don't like being wet. HeatherClan is worse." His interest piqued, Skypaw asked, "Where's HeatherClan?"

"On the other side of WoodClan's territory. We don't see them often unless there's an emergency or at the full moon gatherings," Briartooth answered. Pikestar motioned for the two siblings to lead the patrol. Walking beside Skypaw, he explained to the young tom, "Every full moon, the four clans gather at Five Trees to share news and simply enjoy peace. There is a truce that forbids us from fighting or else SpiritClan will be angry."

"SpiritClan is where we go when we die, right?" Skypaw asked. Pikestar solemnly nodded his head. Walking in silence now, Skypaw's thoughts wandered. Did Duchess go to SpiritClan? She believed in the warriors and their code. He gazed up at the sky, wondering where his grandmother was. "Skypaw," Pikestar's voice snapped him out of his thoughts, "We're at the MarshClan border."

"Yuck," Skypaw groaned, sticking his tongue out. An awful stench had hit his nose. Wrinkling her own nose, Dappletalon murmured, "Yep, that's MarshClan you smell. They might be stealthy but they reek!" Gesturing to the marshlands that lay across the border river, Briartooth added, "That's cuz they roll around in swamp water and eat frogs and other icky stuff all day long." Covering his muzzle, Skypaw asked, "Does that mean they swim?"

"Yes, so unfortunately they sometimes come over here, especially for a piece of land we call the Warm Stones. They are the perfect place to bask in the sunlight and yet MarshClan thinks it's theirs," Pikestar pointed out. Flicking his tail, he added, "Right now, it's ours. But it changes paws a bit. Sometimes a moon, sometimes a season. It could change in a day."

"Wow. At least it's ours right now," Skypaw remarked. Pressing his nose against the apprentice's head, Pikestar murmured, "Yes, and hopefully it remains ours for a long time. Lives have been lost trying to claim it." Glancing up at the sun, Dappletalon cleared her throat and meowed, "Pikestar, night is falling upon us." Nodding his head, the leader turned to Skypaw and meowed, "Let's go home."

"Okay," Skypaw replied, following the other cats towards the MinnowClan camp, his new home.