Thunderpaw emerged from the gorse tunnel quietly with his mentor, Sunpelt. He padded over to the fresh-kill pile and dropped his mouse and starling on the pile. "Thunderpaw, why don't you take that starling to the elders?" Sunpelt mewoed to his apprentice. Thunderpaw obeyed and trotted to the over-hanging bush near Streamingrock. Streamingrock is where the leader gives announcements. Snowstar stands on the cliff of rocks where water trickles into the pond below, overlooking all his clanmates. 

When Thunderpaw stepped quietly into the elders den, Featherfur popped her head out and flicked her tail. "Finally. It feels like I haven't eaten in days."

Thunderpaw dropped the starling in front of her, as Volefur then woke up from his nap. Thunderpaw dipped his head respectfully, and right when he was about to walk out of the den and leave the elders in piece, Featherfur sighed, "Oh Thunderpaw, I'm sorry about what happened to your sister. It must have been so dreadful to watch something like that happen to a loved one." Thunderpaw was confused about what she was saying, and worried. What had happened to Skypaw when he had been out with his mentor?

"What are you talking about?" he said.

"Weren't you here?" Featherfur mewed.

"No, Featherfur. I was hunting with Sunpelt, my mentor. Please, Featherfur, what happened to my sister?"

Featherfur nodded and sighed. She told him what happened to Skypaw, and as she kept going, Thunderpaw felt his heart beating faster and faster. "Is she ok? Where is she?"

"I believe she just got done speaking to Snowstar. She's fine." With that, Thunderpaw licked the elder's ear and quickly trotted out of the den to look for his sister. He was stunned, and he was glad he hadn't been there, and yet, he wished he could of been there, to help Skypaw get through it.

He went to the apprentice's den first, and there was no sign of her there. He then figured she must be in the medicine cat's den, getting looked at by Leafear after that fox. When he came to the den he found her sitting next to Thrushpaw. Skypaw's tail was vailed in cobwebs, as well as her front paw, and by her other paw there were some herbs waiting to be eaten. When she saw her brother pad into the den, she tried to hurry toward him, but her injured foot stopped her. He went over to her and started licking her all over, and said, "Great StarClan. Are you all right, Skypaw?" Skypaw nodded and blinked affectionately to her brother. "I'm guessing you don't exactly want to talk about what happened earlier?" She nodded again. "Is there anything I can do for you?" 

"Just tell Petalfur Leafear says I won't be able to train for another two days, Thunderpaw. Thank you," she mewed to him. Thunderpaw decided to leave her alone, she must be quite shocked after an experience like that. He went to find Petalfur, Skypaw's mentor to tell her that Skypaw can't train. He poked his head into the warriors den and found Petalfur grooming her self. She looked up when Thunderpaw came through to sit beside her. 

"You probably witnessed what happened to Skypaw today," he mewed to her. She just sighed, looking down.

"Skypaw says she won't be able to train for the next couple of days."

"Thank you for telling me, Thunderpaw," she replied. Thunderpaw dipped his head and left the den. He headed for the fresh-kill pile and picked up a vole. With it clamped in his jaws, he quickly stalked to the Sunningstone, where cats in CloudClan loved to lay and sun themselves, right by the pond where it was so peaceful. He started to eat the vole when Sunpelt, the golden rays of the sun shining on his pelt, padded up to Thunderpaw and lay down next to him. 

"You did very well out hunting today, and in training this morning. You practiced your fighting moves well. I've just finished speaking with Snowstar and Oakfur, they say it's time you have your assessment. Do you think you're ready?" Sunpelt spoke to the apprentice. Thunderpaw stopped chewing his vole and looked into his mentor's amber eyes.

"Of-- of course!" Thunderpaw stammered.

"Then tomorrow at dawn, be ready for an assessment. I'm sure you'll do well. Rainpaw is coming as well."

Thunderpaw nodded and Sunpelt blinked at him sympathetically. "Don't worry about your sister, Thunderpaw. Everything will be okay. Now I think Crowflight wants you for a short border patrol. Go on." Thunderpaw nodded and finished off his vole. Just then, Crowflight came up and asked Thunderpaw if he'd like to patrol. Thunderpaw flicked his tail and went to fetch another warrior.

Don't worry Thunderpaw. Skypaw's fine. You worry too much. Hey, you're apprentice assessment is tomorrow! I must be ready for it. He told himself as he padded out the gorse tunnel to go on patrol.

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