Chapter 6

Several days had passed since Ashfur's incident. Stonepaw had already told Flowerpaw about their mother's problem. Together, they sat, grooming each others fur in pure silence. Silverheart walked up to the two.



"Flowerpaw, let's head to the training hallow. I want to show you some fighting skills." Silverheart said.



"Oh, sure," Flowerpaw stood, "See you after sun-high, Stonepaw."



"Okay," Stonepaw looked down, ashamed he got such a useless mentor.



Silverheart and Flowerpaw padded out of the camp, leaving Stonepaw to cry inside.



"Hey!"



Stonepaw turned his head. Disgusted as he was, he had to return the call to his bitter mentor. "Hi, Crowpelt."



"Stop sitting there like a useless scrap of fur! We're going training," Crowpelt rasped.



"Why so harsh?"



Crowpelt spun around to see a dark tabby tom, looming over him.



"Don't talk to your apprentice that way! One day he'll be stronger than you, make him have some respect for you!"



"Sorry, Shadowclaw," Crowpelt looked at his paws.



"You're a new warrior! Don't act so experienced," Shadowclaw went on.



Stonepaw actually liked the way Crowpelt was getting scowled at. As for he had been by his own mentor.



"Shadowclaw, I understand, I'll treat him with more honor," Crowpelt said.



"Listen, Stonepaw, if he ever treats you like fox-dung ever again, you come to me, alright?" Shadowclaw rasped.



"Yes, Shadowclaw, thank you," Stonepaw shakily addressed.



"Fine then, go train your apprentice, Crowpelt." Shadowclaw padded away.



Crowpelt frowned, "Let's head out."



Crowpelt lead his apprentice to an open field, with a river splashing beside them. "I'm going to teach you how to swim, is that okay with you?" Crowpelt challenged.



"Yea, I'm okay with it," Stonepaw paused. "You know, it isn't my fault Shadowclaw found out. So don't blame me with sudden dishonor."



"Hey, listen! I'm still your mentor, okay? Don't treat me like a kit! I know what I'm doing!" Crowpelt growled.



Stonepaw nodded, "H-How do I swim?"



Crowpelt showed Stonepaw the proper techniques of a swimmer. After a few tries, Stonepaw got it right. He already had experience from his journeys with Flowerpaw in the forest.



Once it was close to sun-high, they left the hallow, and went out to find some fresh-kill. Crowpelt got a plump rabbit, and Stonepaw gathered two plump mice. They set off for camp with their food in their jaws, and tails held high.



"There you are!" Flowerpaw greeted Stonepaw.



Stonepaw dropped his mice at the fresh-kill pile. "Hi, how was your training?"



"Great! Silverheart is shy kind of like me, but she really knows how to fight! And yours?"



"N-Not as good as yours. I want a new mentor, and bad," Stonepaw looked down.



"Just talk to Fawnstar, she'll know what to do," Flowerpaw suggested.



"Maybe. But Crowpelt is good at teaching me things, he just doesn't like me as a cat."



"Just go talk to her," Flowerpaw urged.



Stonepaw turned away and walked to Fawnstar's den. "Fawnstar?"



"Oh, Stonepaw, just the cat I wanted to see. Shadowclaw told me about Crowpelt's behavior."



"Yes, and... I... would like a change of mentor," Stonepaw recalled.



"Of course, Crowpelt is quite new, I suppose he isn't ready to take on an apprentice just yet. I'll make a change to that as soon as possible!" Fawnstar said.



"Thank you, Fawnstar!" Stonepaw praised.



Flamefur walked in the den, "Fawnstar, I have reports from a few patrols."



"Okay, Stonepaw, you may exit now," Fawnstar dismissed.



Stonepaw walked out of the den.



"Stonepaw, Stonepaw!"



He turned to see the white apprentice, Snowpaw dashing towards him.



"Hi, Snowpaw," Stonepaw greeted.



"The whole Clan is talking about Crowpelt's nasty sayings to you! Are you going to get a new mentor?" Snowpaw asked.



"Yea, I am, good thing too."



Snowpaw shook her head, "That isn't the best idea!"



"What, why?"



"Crowpelt is aggressive! If he finds out an apprentice showed the Clan what a failure he is, he's going to shred you to pieces!" Snowpaw said loud enough for only Stonepaw to hear.



Stonepaw shook his head, "What have I done!"



Snowpaw licked his shoulder, "Your new mentor won't let him get to you."



Snowpaw's grooming comforted him slightly, then brought back the idea, Oh StarClan, what have I done!