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Chapter Text

Graypaw padded trought the gorse tunnel into camp, he was just back from learning the territory! all borders and everything! and it would be awesome if it wasn't from the dog that scared him like foxdung— despite being tied—aaaannd embarassed him in front of Lionheart. Like really, why.

But that wasn't important thought, the important thing was
that he heard about new aprentices on all clans! nice opponents, he wished.

Anyway....

he was so hungry he could eat a badger, so he probably would have to get going or else the fresh kill pile would solve, he could sense it, in his stomach. Well... maybe that was just hunger.

So he devoured a magpie as fast as he could. Now plump and tired he headed to the apprentice's den, he could SWEAR the mossbed was calling him! and who was him to refuse?
Se he curled in there, the moss was soooo soft....

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"HEY!" A voice woke Graypaw out of his sleep, there was a bright orange tom standing over him, but Graypaw was too sleepy to think that maybe he should fight, instead he turned on the cold stone to find a confortable position—

Wait. Cold.... stone.....?

Then he snapped, he got up like he had a spring on his back, crashing with the orange tom in consecuence.

"Ack!" The orange cat hissed landing in his back, almost falling from the— Graypaw relized— Big rock they were standing on.

"Oh starclan! I'm SO sorry! a-are you okay?" Graypaw stammered, suddenly realizing that that cat could have died if he fell from the rock. Graypaw could tell, now peering over the edge, it was like 200 badgers tall!

"Ugh.."

A soft grunt made him turn to where that orange cat was lying.

"I'm okay" he meowed "i think im just going to get a bruise with this" he said, mumbling the last part.
Graypaw felt a rush of guilt wash over him, nice! he had just spoiled his meeting with a apprentice that probably just tried to be nice!

AWESOME. ESPLENDID. BEAUTIFUL

"I..i'm sorry, really." Graypaw told him. "I was just surprised to not be i'm my mossbed, or in my camp" the cat turned his neck to look at him and let out a sight.

"It's okay, no worries, i was surprised about that too, but more surprised to find a strange cat beside me, so i tried to wake you up" he said calmly. "But that's not so important, the important thing is... Where are we?

Graypaw gazed around the clearing, there were four HUMONGOUS trees growing in a circles, doing a perfect job making the clearing feel confortable and safe, and then there was this BIG rock, the top was able to fit like 4-6 cats, really, this place was SICK!

And familiar somehow....

"Sunning rocks?" He asked, more to himself.

"No, there's just one rock here" the other cat answered.

"Hmmmm.." there was something familiar, he knew that
something here...

"Fourtrees?!" The orange cat almost yelped, and Graypaw gasped "it's true! it's just how the other warriors described it!"
"Yeah! no way!" He turned to Graypaw "c'mon lets explore- uh.." he paused.

Graypaw realized he hadn't told him his name. "I'm Graypaw!" He said, grabbing the orange tom's paw "Nice to meet you gentleman" the other cat chuckled, "Nice to meet you, My name's Firepaw.

Graypaw let go Firepaw's paw and turned to run, "then let's explore Firepaw!"

They tan trought all the clearing, which was big enought to home hundreds of cats, there was low branches, sunny spots and cozy patches of grass, they we're just going to look at some flowers when a rustling startled them.

They both looked on that direction, it was a small, lithe black cat, his eyes wide with fear and his back arched in a hiss. He looked as startled as them.

"W-who are you?!" He screamed "where are we?" Graypaw exchanged a worried look with Firepaw.

"It's okay, we are apprentices, he is Firepaw and i'm Graypaw, whats your name?" Graypaw asked, trying to distract the black kitty from whatever was scaring him that much.

"M-my name is Ravenpaw" he said, trembing, "is t-this a dream?" He asked.

"Well.. i think it is" said Firepaw "but you two are real, right? Graypaw nodded, Ravenpaw looked confused.

"Maybe it's like a shared dream!" Ravenpaw squealed, Firepaw hummed, "Maybe, that would make sense" "yeah" Graypaw said, then turned to face Ravenpaw "we were just exploring! Wanna come?"

There was a flicker of fear in Ravenpaw's eyes before he hestitanly answered "o-okay, that sounds good"

Then again, they smelled the flowers, they chased each other, they shared tongues...
But everything has an end.

"I feel sleepy" said Firepaw, Ravenpaw and Graypaw mumbled a "me too" Then Graypaw looked up, the sky was turning a pale purple, he had never seen the sky like that.
Ravenpaw yawned "hey, what about we sleep?" Firepaw nodded and beckoned Graypaw with his tail "hey, c'mon, le's sleep" he said softly, Graypaw curled with them.

Graypaw gazed at the stars.

They looked ten times more beautiful.

And he woke up.

Chapter Text

The rustling of the trees soothe him, thoght he wasn't going to sleep anymore. He raised his head slightly, as he had tought, he wasn't dreaming anymore, what meant...

He gazed around the aprentices den, his dreammates weren't around, he heaved a sight.

"Graypaw wake up!" A sand-colored she-cat called out, probably annoyed "Lionheart's callin' for ya!" She hissed, Graypaw got up, his body lifting softly.

"Coming!" He squealed.

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Firepaw was confused, to say less.

He had just shared a dream with someone, from another clan.

Maybe.

He... Couldn't... Remember.

Which was pretty weird, since he could tell that he had just shared tongues and explored fourtrees with two cats, a restless gray cat and a anxious black cat. But the details we're blurry, and he couldn't tell, that was odd.

Well now that he tought about it, it probably was just a dream, i mean, three cats, in fourtrees, dreamsharing? Yeah yeah, probably just a dream. A pretty creative one.

But well, he should get going by now, Leopardfur would be waiting for him.

He padded trought camp, Leopardfur gazed at him with narrowed eyes "i was waiting for you" she said, her voice stern. Firepaw looked around uncomfortably "i'm sorry Leopardfur, i was sleeping and i didn't noticed the time" he meowed regretfully, Leopardstar purred, "it's okay, i'll pass it because is your second day" she paused "i'm especting this won't repeat, Firepaw" she calmly said.

"It won't, Leopardfur" 

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This is fine 

Ravenpaw tried to be positive, it's okay, right?

No, no it isn't.

Why does his new mentor has to be this cruel? All he had asked starclan for was a little of peace, at this rate it wouldn't matter if he changed clan again, right?

Right?

PLEASE

Ok, it's okay no need to worry, maybe he could think of a way to be okay with it, it was just Clawface, he was a loyal warrior!

Uhhh.. and scary, a really scary warrior.

And tall... And strong.... And grumpy. Worried noises

Ravenpaw tried to not think about it, instead he moved his toughts to last night. He remembered the dream in a pretty lucid way, all seemed so real, and yet, he couldn't remember any of his dreammates' faces.

He let out a heavy sight, i wish they were here.

Chapter Text

"Lower your tail, you don't want to be spotted by birds" Lionheart rasped.

Graypaw lowered his tail, not letting it fall to the floor of the Sandy hollow. Lionheart's paw rested in his back.

"Like this, very good" he removed his paw and padded a few tail lenghts away, dropping to a hunting crouch.

"Now, when you pounce on prey, you have to move your weight to your front paws and spread your haunches" 

his mentor did a pounce, he stood and padded to him "that's what you have to do" he paused, looking around, "now try it on that leaf, imagine it's a mouse, remember, a rabbit will smell you, a mouse will feel your pawsteps before it" he finished, sitting straight.

Graypaw crouched, the leaf morphed into a mouse, nibbling on seeds, the apprentice focused, he pushed back hard on his hindpaws and sprang, kicking up sand as he rose, the mouse moved but didn't run. Graypaw finished it with a quick bite, spitting at the flavor.

Oh right, it was a leaf he tought, his fur prickling with embarassment.

"Well made, Graypaw" the older cat meowed, Graypaw was relieved his mentor didn't noticed the bite on the leaf.

As they continued training, Graypaw felt more confident in his movements. He knew he was improving, but there was still so much to learn.

After a few more successful attempts (and some unsuccesful ones), Lionheart called for a break. They sat in the shade of a bit tree, Lionheart licked his aprentice's head ."Remember, patience and practice are key," Lionheart advised. "Every warrior was once an apprentice, just like you."

Graypaw nodded, feeling pride of himself. He was ready to become a great warrior for ThunderClan.

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After his morning duties, Graypaw padded towards the medicine cat's den, a rabbit in his mouth. He hesitated outside, wondering if he should eavesdrop, after all, he had never taken any pray to Spottedleaf, what if she already ate? Before he could decide, he heard voices from within.

"Spottedleaf, are you sure of this?" Bluestar's voice was calm but tinged with concern.

"Yes, Bluestar," Spottedleaf replied. "StarClan has spoken to me. The prophecy is clear: 'Fire, Shadow, and Stone must unite to save the clans.'"

Graypaw's heart pounded in his chest. He was hearing a real prophesy, he had heard of medicine cats receiving words from their ancestors, but never he had heard it of first ear. He pressed himself closer to the den, trying to hear more.

"But why these three?" Bluestar mused. "What makes them so special?" 

Spottedleaf's voice softened. "I do not know, but I trust StarClan. These apprentices have a great destiny ahead of them. We must guide and protect them."

Graypaw's mind raced with questions. He wanted to burst in and demand answers, but he knew he had to be patient. He backed away silently, his thoughts a whirlwind of excitement and questions that he couldn't answer.

As he returned to his duties, the aprentice couldn't shake the feeling that something monumental was about to happen. 

What does that prophesy meant?

Starclan usually sent omens to warn the living cats about something dangerous, so, what was the threat?

The day passed in a blur of training and chores. He tried not to focus on the hollow feeling of dread in his stomach, but that night, as he settled into his nest, Graypaw felt a sense of anticipation. He knew he would dream again, and he knew his dreammates would be waiting.

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Chapter Text

Ravenpaw padded up to Littlepaw, the raven he just caught dangling from his jaw. 

The brown tabby looked up from the leaf he has been glaring at, his ears perked up at Ravenpaw's sight. "Hey Ravenpaw!" He purred, "huge raven you caught there, mind sharing some?" Littlepaw asked, tail curling and eyes pleading, Ravenpaw sighted, "if you look at me like that you might as well eat me too" he answered, handing Littlepaw the bird.

The little apprentice ate it happly, and it would be normal for anyone esle, but not Ravenpaw, and he froze.

A brown tabby, blood spilled in his mouth, chewing, licking, munching.

And he was back there. Back in the bushes, seeing the deputy fight his mentor, they argued, and the argument turned into a fight. A fight Tigerclaw won.

And he was back there, back seeing the blood oozing out of Redtail's throat, and it turned into a river, flooding and drowning Ravenpaw.

He gasped for air, only to breathe blood, his lungs filling in scarlet, 

If only he had stopped it. Redtail would be alive. If only he didn't hid like a coward, behind the leaves, he-

"RAVENPAW!" 

Ravenpaw looked up, Littlepaw was huddled up around him, and some warriors were fetching Runningnose. I'm making a fuss he realized, trying to steady himself, but he was still drowning, and even if he wasn't back there anymore, the fear still bites at him, like a hungry badger.

Runningnose arrived swiftly. As a well-experienced medicine cat , he quickly assessed the situation, noticing Ravenpaw's rapid breathing and the wide, terror-stricken eyes that seemed to be looking at something far away. 

Frozen fear he realized.

The gray cat moved closer, his voice gentle and steady as he spoke, "Ravenpaw, I need you to focus on my voice. You're safe here in ShadowClan."

Ravenpaw's chest heaved, his breath catching as he tried to force air into his lungs. The overwhelming sensations from the memory still clung to him, suffocating his thoughts. Runningnose kept his voice low and soothing, continuing, "Breathe with me, Ravenpaw. In and out, slowly. Feel the ground beneath your paws, the air in your lungs."

Littlepaw watched with wide eyes, his earlier joy at the meal forgotten. He shuffled closer, his fur brushing against Ravenpaw's. Wetpaw, who had joined the small group, exchanging a worried glance with Littlepaw, but they both stayed quiet, knowing that Ravenpaw needed to focus.

Ravenpaw tried to do as Runningnose instructed, forcing himself to mimic the medicine cat’s measured breaths. In, out. In, out. Gradually, the suffocating sensation of drowning in his own panic began to ebb, though it still lingered like a shadow at the edge of his mind.

"There you go," Runningnose murmured, his tail lightly touching Ravenpaw's shoulder in reassurance. "You're doing great. Just keep breathing, keep focusing on where you are now. This is ShadowClan territory. You're safe here, surrounded by cats who care about you."

Ravenpaw's eyes began to clear, the terrifying images of Redtail's death receding, though they left him trembling and weak. His breaths were still shaky, but he managed to speak, his voice barely a whisper, "I'm... I'm sorry... I didn’t mean to..."

Runningnose shook his head gently, his expression kind. "You have nothing to apologize for, Ravenpaw. This is what i trained for"

Littlepaw pressed closer, his tail wrapping around Ravenpaw in a gesture of comfort. "Yeah, we’re here for you, Ravenpaw," he said softly. Wetpaw nodded in agreement, his voice quiet but sincere. "We’re your friends. We’ll help you however we can."

Runningnose gave them a small nod of approval before turning back to Ravenpaw. "It's important to talk about what you're feeling when you're ready" he assesed, his eyes looking directly at the apprentice, like he knew that he had not told all the truth. "Sometimes, sharing your fears can help lessen their hold over you. For now, though, just rest. You’ve been through enough for today."

Ravenpaw nodded weakly, grateful for their support. He followed Runningnose's instructions, focusing on the steady rhythm of his breath, the warmth of his friends beside him, and the reality of the camp around him.

After a while, when his breathing had calmed and his heart no longer raced, Runningnose gently nudged him toward the medicine den. "Why don’t you rest in here for a bit? It’ll be quieter, and you can sleep without worry."

Ravenpaw hesitated but finally agreed, allowing himself to be guided into the den. The familiar scent of herbs and the soft bedding helped soothe his frayed nerves. Littlepaw and Wetpaw stayed close as he settled down.

Ravenpaw closed his eyes, exhaustion overtook him, and soon he drifted into a deep sleep. 

When he opened his eyes again, he was no longer in ShadowClan’s camp. Instead, he found himself standing in a familiar clearing, the towering trees of Fourtrees surrounding him.

Chapter Text

A fish splashed out of the water as Firepaw scooped it expertly. The other apprentices watched in awe.

"How do you do that so easily?" Ravenpaw asked, bewildered.

Firepaw purred, "Well, this is what we eat, we gotta be good at it."

Ravenpaw blinked at him, amazed by how easily Firepaw adapted to fishing. Graypaw padded to the water's edge, determined to give it a try. He crouched, eyes locked on the water. Just as he swiped a paw, a fish leapt up, slapping him in the face before vanishing beneath the ripples.

Firepaw tried to suppress a laugh, but the sight of Graypaw with water dripping down his nose was too much. He bursted laughing, gasping for air when he could, Ravenpaw chuckled shyly.

"Fox-dung!" Graypaw grumbled, shaking off the water. "How do you make this look so easy?"

They continued fishing, sharing tips and tricks, when the conversation shifted to ShadowClan.

"Brokenstar's becoming worse by the day," Ravenpaw muttered, glancing over his shoulder as if the ShadowClan leader might be lurking nearby. "He’s treating all the apprentices like they’re warriors already. The way he talks to them… it's not right."

Graypaw’s ears flattened. "I've heard the same from some of the elders. ShadowClan’s going to get themselves in trouble if they keep pushing the way they are."

Firepaw remained silent, his thoughts swirling with uncertainty. The tension with ShadowClan had been growing, and he couldn’t help but worry about what was to come. 

After a while, they finally lay down in the dreamscape and drifted into sleep.

Firepaw blinked his eyes open, the soft glow of early morning filtering through the RiverClan camp. He padded over to where Silverpaw waited by the training area. 

"Ready to practice battle moves?" she purred. "Or are you too busy dreaming of fish?"

Firepaw flicked his tail, amused. "Let's see what you've got."

As they sparred, Silverpaw joked about her brother, who stood watching nearby. "He's so serious all the time," she whispered to Firepaw, ducking under a swipe. "He's like a walking rock!"

Whiteclaw’s ears twitched. "I’m loyal, that’s all that matters," he grumbled. His gaze shifted to Firepaw. "Not like a kittypet… loyalty doesn't run deep in them."

Firepaw bristled, but before he could respond, Silverpaw stepped in. "Stop it, Whiteclaw! Firepaw is as loyal as any of us."

She tugged Firepaw away, her tail lashing in annoyance. "Let’s go hunting. We can show him who’s better at catching fish."

They got their mentors' approval and headed out. As Firepaw crouched by the river, his thoughts turned back to Whiteclaw’s words. Did his kittypet roots really make him any less loyal? He watched the water intently, and when the moment came, he pounced, catching a large fish with practiced ease.

As the fish flopped on the shore, Firepaw realized something—he didn’t need to prove his loyalty to anyone. He knew where his heart was, and his actions would speak for him.