Skypaw laid awake in her nest. Her sisters were in the den with her, but they were sound asleep, leaving Skypaw plenty of peace and quiet to think about the events that had gone down that day. Despite being physically exhausted and hunger stricken, Willowleaf's words rattled her with guilt and crashing self worth.

Skypaw just couldn't bring her mind around it. She had been so happy, felt so liberated, been so optimistic about her future. After all, her apprenticeship was wrapping up, she was going to earn her warrior name sooner rather than later, the cat she realized she loved was ecstatic about her, and she had finally forgotten about the gloom the prophecy shadowed over her life. Willowleaf's disappointment and anger at her had made Skypaw feel like she had just been ran over by a monster on a Thunderpath.

Maybe StarClan wasn't kidding, She thought to herself. Maybe I can't do this.

Her feeling of invincibility had been stolen from her, and it felt as if Willowleaf had just ripped it right out from in between her claws. She had the confidence and fierceness of a Clan leader, as Hawkspirit had made her feel as if she ruled the world as they sat up there together on the Leader's Tree. Skypaw felt as if she could take on anything, as long as he was by her side. Now, she felt as tiny and fearful as a lone kit being chased by a fox.

Before long, the pale reds and oranges from the rising sun started to shine through the branches that made up the den. She sighed, knowing that she was going to have a tough day with the lack of sleep she had put herself through, but she had a hard time caring. Her struggles swarmed around her mind like leaves getting caught in the wind during leaf-fall. She failed to catch them in between her paws as they flew above her.

Skypaw rose to her paws, her muscles stiff, her paws pained. She arched her back, stretching, nearly collapsing as she relaxed. Shadepaw, only a faint black outline in the dull dawn lighting, stirred slightly in her sleep.

Emerging from the apprentices' den, the ThunderClan camp looked vacant at first glance. Cats were huddled closely together in their dens, trying to seek warmth from the harsh leafbare chill. Bumblefoot was guarding the gorse tunnel, although his face was hidden in his pelt. Skypaw felt a pang of pity for the tired young father, as he was already juggling helping to raise his kits and being a productive warrior. To add on to it, he had clearly been guarding the camp all night, as his stature confirmed it.

Besides for Bumblefoot, no other cat was in the clearing. It was only a matter of time until Russetsky emerged from the Warriors' den to call together patrols for the day, but at the moment, every cat except Skypaw seemed to be taking advantage of the time they had to rest.

Or so she thought.

A thick layer of snow covered the clearing, so the little paw prints were almost undetectable to Skypaw. Out of nowhere, a tiny voice, rattling with chattering teeth, reached her ears.

"Skypaw!"

Snapping her head to the side, Skypaw's gaze, looking side to side and then downwards, found little Brackenkit, his light brown pelt disguised with snow.

"Brackenkit!" Skypaw jumped, "What are you doing out here? It's freezing! Does your mother know you're here?" She inquired, even though she knew Featherfur had no idea, for no mother would let their kit wander out in the snow alone before dawn.

"Um," Brackenkit lowered his eyes. "She knows I'm in camp?"

Skypaw glanced at Bumblefoot. The warrior was still in the same position, and she started to wonder if he was frozen that way.

"Brackenkit, what are you doing out here?" Skypaw repeated herself, keeping her voice low in order to keep from alarming their Clanmates.

"I got bored," Brackenkit mewed, "and I wanted to explore. I want to become an apprentice already! I hate the nursery, I have no other toms to play with, Amberkit's basically crazy - did you know she talks about herbs in her sleep? - and Brightkit is annoying."

"What about Spottedkit?"

"Well, uh," Brackenkit stuttered, "well, she has spots, I guess."

Skypaw chuckled. She truly loved Featherfur's kits, they were all such unique characters. Brightkit, bossy, and as her name suggests, bright, would make a wonderful warrior someday, especially in battle. Skypaw could see the young kit's ambition leading her to the ThunderClan branch at Gatherings someday. Amberkit was crazy about plants and how they worked, and Skypaw knew Willowleaf had her eye on the amber kit to follow in her pawsteps. Brackenkit was wild, he loved absorbing life and learning, which was why he was adventuring out of the nursery. Spottedkit was very shy, but her quietness gave a vibe of politeness to her, something she inherited from her father. She was the epitome of a classy she-cat to be.

The kits were growing up fast. She knew their apprenticeship was scheduled to be inducted at her and her sisters' warrior ceremony. She didn't mind, as she understood the urgency: Skypaw and her littermates had been the only apprentices for moons, and they needed to be replaced as soon as possible. Luckily, the kits were going to be old enough - scheduled exactly on their six moon birthday, planned expertly by Russetsky.

Thankfully, Flowermoon's kits were going to be born in short time, and Willowleaf, although unable to pin point exactly how many kits there were, reported that a large litter was to be expected. ThunderClan rejoiced at the news, as their Clan was finally growing, and the future was looking bright. Little did they know.

Thankful for the distraction her friend's kit was giving her, she reluctantly lead him back into the nursery as he stomped his paws in protest. He insisted he was fine, that he could handle being outside of the nursery for "just a few more minutes, it's almost dawn, anyway!"

By the time Skypaw got the growing kit settled back in his nest and got through Flowermoon's death stares and Featherfur's endless thank-yous, Russetsky was sitting in her spot below the Highledge, barking out orders. Sunstar was sitting up by his den, overlooking the Clan, but still remained in the security of the shadow his den cast over him. He had to of been freezing, but after all, cold blooded creatures always adjust their body temperatures to their environments. 

As Skypaw emerged from the nursery, the ThunderClan leader's piercing green eyes followed her. She couldn't help but feel self conscious under his intimidating gaze. She had to keep reminding herself there was no possible way he knew anything about her whereabouts or about the prophecy - Willowleaf only had because of her loyalty to StarClan, which he clearly had none of - but the hairs on her neck still stood up in nervousness.

Now that the welcome distraction Brackenkit provided was gone, Skypaw had the opportunity to let her heart travel over ShadowClan's border. She thought about the medicine cat's strong stature, his glistening coat, his dreamy eyes that held a spirit so fierce only a hawk could possibly possess it. Skypaw felt her paws being torn in different directions: what was more important, her loyalty to ThunderClan and the prophecy, or her own happiness and her only opportunity to love?

"...and Skypaw." Skypaw's head shook quickly as her mother's voice snapped her from her trance. Once again she was thrown into reality and had to deal with the responsibilities that were constantly thrown her way.

Skypaw had begun to feel like she was out of place, constantly keeping secrets from her peers. She was struggling with the secrecy and importance of the prophecy that loomed over her day after day, ever since she had the knowledge to tell the difference between thrush and pigeon. The only thing that gave light to her life was away in ShadowClan's medicine den, and her happiness had to be stored away, their love forbidden. 

Skypaw felt like her body was just an empty shell a container, possessing all of her aspirations, worries, struggles, and responsibilities. That's all it is, she concluded. For my spirit intertwines with that of the hawk.

I UPDATED Y'ALL.

I really hope you all enjoy it, even though it isn't that exciting of a chapter. I needed a filler chapter to go along with what I'm planning. I know, I know, filler chapters suck, but they are sososososo necessary.

Sorry if there are some awkward (grammatical wise) parts in here, as it's been a while since I've written. I also had to refresh myself on the story and what I had last written, and I needed to glance at some notes to try to get the flow going again. So anyway, I apologize if this chapter lowkey kinda sucks, but I did my best. Feel free to leave constructive criticism (please, not hate) in the comments, I'm always trying to improve!

Thanks for reading, voting, and commenting! I hope it was worth the wait (even tho I know it wasn't lol) :)

Kaylin