Amberpaw awoke to her denmates chattering and chirping in excitement, and she immediately groaned, burying her face into her paws and lashing her tail. She knew what day it was and she was caught between a mixture of excitement and dread. Today was Thunderclan’s annual Scavenger Hunt, and whereas she and her brother, Burrpaw were too young to participate in last year’s hunt, they were old enough and required to join this year.

 She sat up, wincing as her muscles twinged, soreness spreading from her ears all the way to her tail. Scorchtooth had kept her out until moon-high last night practicing battle moves and tactics, and she felt like she had just closed her eyes when the younger cats woke her up. Oakpaw, Longpaw, and Daisypaw were already up, chirping and being loud as they bounced around the den, kicking up moss and dirt in their excitement. She shook out her fur and sent them a glowering look, starting to groom her fur as she looked around the den, noticing her brother was nowhere to be found. 

‘Probably already out with Marshstar. Being trained for leadership and all,’ she thought with a roll of her amber eyes, licking her paw and bring it across her tabby and white face. She was broken out of reverie by Longpaw knocking into her shoulder, almost sending her sprawling. She let out an annoyed hiss, lashing out a paw and cuffing him across the ears in punishment. 

“Watch where you’re going Longpaw! You’re not as small as you used to be,” She huffed, lashing her tail and glowering at the long-haired light brown tabby tom. While she was apprenticed before the trio, they dwarfed her in size. Longpaw had gotten his father, Marshstar’s, bulk and height, but tumbled around like a kit on it’s first day out the nursery. 

Longpaw flattening his ears and skittered away to the safety of his littermates, muttering a quick sorry as his ears stung from the clout he received. Daisypaw glared at the older she-cat, her creamy brown tabby fur bristling. She never cared for the older she-cat, especially not after she scarred her while they were still kits in the nursery. She went to open her mouth when the leaves at the entrance of the den rustled, announcing another cat’s presence. 

There Burrpaw stood, his head ducked so he wouldn’t knock his head on the branches that made up the den, his broad frame blocking the entire entrance. 

‘He’s much too big to stay in the apprentice den,’ Oakpaw thought as he studied the older and much bigger tom, dark green eyes wide, ‘He’s even bigger than Marshstar!’

“Marshstar told me to get you all. He’s about to announce the beginning of the Hunt,” Burrpaw chriped, his deep voice as smooth as silk, his tail twitching as all his den-mates eyes turned towards him. He swallowed thickly, backing out of the den and shaking his tabby fur out, hating having so many eyes on him. He felt his sister come up beside him and bump her head against his flank, not able to reach his head, in greeting, her plummy tail sweeping slowly behind her. 

“You okay, brother?” She drawled, her voice reminding him of raindrops against the leaves of the apprentice den, “You seem nervous.” 

He looked down at his sister, her white and brown-tabby patched fur shining in the sun, her amber eyes narrowed up at him, and he could have laughed at the pair they made. How could a giant and a dwarf share the same parents, let alone be littermates? He forced a purr and nodded, flicking his tail against her ear and padding ahead of her. 

“I’m fine, Amberpaw. Now come on so we can show those cats who’s gonna get the pick of the fresh-kill pile tonight!” 

Amberpaw shook her head and hurried to catch up with her brother, her short legs having to work twice as hard to keep up with her much bigger and taller littermate. They were met in the clearing by their uncle, Nettlefrost, purring a greeting and butting heads. 

“Are you two excited? It’s your first Hunt that you get to join, and it’s a big deal for young cats, you know. It shows off your tracking, stalking, and ability to work with others,” Nettlefrost mewed, reaching up to groom down the tuft of fur on the top of Burrpaw’s head absentmindedly, all three knowing good and well it would do no good. 

“Yes, Nettlefrost. You know Marshstar and Scorchtooth train us like we’re gonna be the next leader and deputy. This should be a piece of cake,” Burrpaw forced out, bending down slightly so his uncle could continue to groom him like he was a kit again. He didn’t notice how Amberpaw stiffened beside him and her tail start to twitch at the statement. 

Before Nettlefrost or Amberpaw could respond, Marshstart started to climb the highrock, calling out to gather the cats of his clan closer.