A/N Hey everyone! I am so sorry for not updating this. Hopefully I'll keep it up. I actually have a deal with a friend which kept me motivated and now I'm so happy that this is up! I hope you all enjoy this. I promise to update by September 3, 2011.

It was Fernpaw's first time outside of camp where she actually had permission to be out there. The breeze was so refreshing and for once Fernpaw felt nervous. She wasn't behind the protective walls of CreekClan's camp, yet she was just three paces away from it. Fernpaw gazed at the towering trees. Their branches and leaves loomed down at her. Suddenly, she heard a CRACK! Fernpaw jumped and let out a little scream, running to catch up with Stonestep and Riverheart. She leapt over them and hid behind them. There was a sudden shrill of laughter. "Wow. I can't believe you're so weak. But, I suppose it's most likely that you're that way. Besides, you're the 'my little kit'."

Riverheart glared at Splashpaw. "That is no way to act towards a newly apprenticed cat. She is young and delicate. I'm going to have to talk to Pebblestar if you do that again. Am I understood?"

Splashpaw smirked. "Of course, Mother." He pretended to bow.

"Splashpaw," Riverheart growled in a warning tone.

"I am very sorry, Mother," he said in a sincere voice, but you could tell he was joking by the look in his mischievous eyes.

Whisking around, Riverheart continued to pad onward with Stonestep. Fernpaw raced to keep up with their fast pace and to not be left behind with Splashpaw. "I thought Splashpaw's mother was Brookpelt."

Riverheart swiveled her head around to stare at Fernpaw. "How do you know," she snapped.

Fernpaw halted her footsteps and looked at Riverheart, wide-eyed. "Well, isn't it a little obvious because you saw Brookpelt and Splashpaw together all the time?" she asked bravely.

Riverheart studied Fernpaw for a few moments then continued onward.

Stonestep and Riverheart stopped abruptly in front of a bubbling creek. "Here we are," Stonestep whispered softly. "This is where we usually fish. It's the best place, after all. Plentiful in prey and a great abundance of water to keep hydrated. There is also ample amount of moss. This is the secret place to get the moss when you are assigned to clean out the elders' den."

Riverheart's whiskers twitched. "This is also the freshest water you can find, because this is very close to the beginning part of the creek. We're lucky to have this territory."

"I'm not exactly sure about being lucky. Our ancestors had to fight quite a few battles for this. It was Dawneye that really saved the day," Stonestep contradicted.

"But she didn't have to. Just because Thistlepelt wanted to kill her, and his Clan backed him up, it didn't mean that Dawneye should've sacrificed herself. She shouldn't've. It was wrong for me to convince her." Riverheart's voice broke.

Stonestep ran his tail down her spine. "It's fine. We should work on our apprentices for now."

"Are you finally done crying like one of those twoleg kits," came Splashpaw's snarky voice.

"Splashpaw," Stonestep hissed, a growl deep in his throat.

At this, Splashpaw shut up. For once.

Fernpaw padded up to the creek. "It's beautiful," she whispered. Riverheart walked up to join her.

"You're absolutely right. It was my favorite place to be when I was sad." Riverheart looked at the creek.

"But it's so open. It's not private enough."

The gray cat shook her head, but ignored her.

"Are we done yet," Splashpaw interrupted, a whine in his voice.

Stonestep, Riverheart, and Fernpaw looked at him. "Yeah. We should go teach Fernpaw fishing down at the deeper end," Stonestep responded. Riverheart nodded. The two mentors led the way with Fernpaw tagging along. Splashpaw lagged behind.

"Here we are. This is one of the best fishing places. For this, you need to keep dead still and quiet," Riverheart explained.

Stonestep nodded. "Also, don't let your shadow fall into the water. They'll know you're there if you do."

"Let us demonstrate for you two." Stonestep and Riverheart aligned themselves over the creek. They sat and both raised one paw into the air. Their shadows did not linger over the clear water.

"I'm bored," Splashpaw complained after awhile.

"Be quiet," Fernpaw reproved. Splashpaw glared at her and Fernpaw looked at him smugly.

Suddenly, Stonestep lashed out with one paw into the water. His paw hooked onto a fish and he scooped it out onto the ground. It was a beautiful fish. The silver scales gleamed in the sunlight as it thrashed around. Finally its thrashing grew weaker until the fish lay still. Riverheart turned around to look. She looked surprise.

"That's a rare catch, there." She looked at Fernpaw and Splashpaw. "These only come out in the dead of night." She nodded at Stonestep.

Stonestep chuckled. "They're also very tasty." Riverheart laughed along with him. "Why don't you two try?"

Splashpaw looked like he'd rather not, but thought better of complaining. The two apprentices padded up to the edge of the creek. Fernpaw had made sure to not let her shadow fall onto the water. Splashpaw was not as careful.

"Splashpaw! Your shadow will scare away all the fish!" Riverheart reprimanded.

Splashpaw glared at his mentor but fixed his position.

A school of fish came gliding down the creek quickly. Splashpaw lashed out his paw, but missed. Fernpaw also missed. "Fish dung," Fernpaw spat.

"Chill, Fernpaw. It was your first time. Try again. Both of you. Stonestep watched them closely as they positioned themselves once again.

They waited. And waited. And waited. Riverheart looked at the water. "I think that might be it for awhile. It's too hot for them to come out."

Fernpaw was persistent. "No! I want to catch one!"

Riverheart sighed. "Fernpaw, no one has caught a fish on their first day of training except for Pebblestar! Skysong and Dewfur are the only ones who've caught a fish on their first week of training."

"Face it," Stonestep added, "You aren't going to catch a fish."

"Just an itsy-bitsy bit longer," Fernpaw pleaded.

Riverheart shrugged. "Why not?" Stonestep shrugged too.

"Because I don't want to," Splashpaw muttered.

Fernpaw and Splashpaw waited a little longer.

"We better go," Riverheart started. When Fernpaw didn't move, she sighed. "Come on, Fernpaw."

Fernpaw didn't answer. She kept her eyes trained on the water, waiting for any glimpse of silver or gray to flash by.

"I see something!" Splashpaw exclaimed. He positioned himself once again and waited.

Stonestep watched them closely.

Splashpaw dipped his paw in and attempted to catch a fish. Fernpaw lashed her paw out, quick as lightning, and hooked her paw around a fish. She flung it onto shore and watched it, her eyes round with excitement. It was a huge, plump fish. Fernpaw jumped up and landed her paw on the fish's neck. It grew limp in an instant. Fernpaw's eyes shined.

"Wow! Great catch," Riverheart yowled.

Stonestep laughed. "I second that!"

Splashpaw scowled. I would've caught one if your shadow wasn't over the water!" None of the cats paid attention to him.

"Let's go back to camp, now. You can show off that fish to everyone in camp!"

Fernpaw laughed. "Let's go!"

Stonestep and Riverheart took off together as Splashpaw followed them. Fernpaw lagged behind for a few moments, dragging her fish along with her. She watched as the warriors and older apprentice went off without her. Her heart had been soaring before, but it stopped dead. Why were they leaving her?

Fernpaw urgently dragged her fish into the reeds. She headed towards the sound of voices.

"Do you have any idea of who the prophecy refers to?" Fernpaw stopped in her tracks, leaning forward to hear what was being said.

"No," came the medicine cat's voice, "Every time a name was probably mentioned, nature kept making loud noises. It's as if they were cheering them on."

"Fallingpetal, are you sure this is a prophecy? And that it's going to be huge and affect all the clans, even TechClan?" Pebblestar's whispered quietly.

Fallingpetal nodded. "Do you doubt me, Pebblestar?"

"Of course not! I just don't want to believe that such doom would come to us."

Fernpaw heard a sigh. "I am sure. It will affect all Clans. The prophecy said that everyone would give in to fear. I assume that includes absolutely everyone."

There was a long silence. "Do not let anyone hear of this prophecy. If darkness is coming near, I don't want the fear to weaken us. And I sure hope that 'The right choice will make a change for the better.'"

A/N Hope it was satisfying! Remember, I promise to update this by September 3.