To her dismay, the sandy hollow was deserted. Even the sand was smooth and blank, showing no signs of recent training. Dawnpaw hovered in the pines that encircled the clearing, somewhat hesitant to disturb the quiet state of the Sandy Hollow. Her mentor, Dapplesong, had probably given up on her. For the past few suns, Dawnpaw had been unable to find her, and so today she boldly planned to train herself. She had left the camp hoping perhaps Sparklingpaw or Owlpaw were here with their mentors, but it seemed as if they must be hunting.

Unable to wait any longer, she stepped daintily onto the cool sand, feeling it shift beneath her small, golden paws. She was fed up with being an apprentice, and more then ready to prove herself as a warrior. The spark and freedom of the apprentice life, quickly lost its appeal. Dawnpaw was now impatient with her lowly status in camp, she has been stuck in this rank for far too long. Finding a good level area, she tried to imagine a snarling fox before her. The image quickly distorted into a nightmare, as she remembered the realization of her close encounter with one. Shaking her head, she conjured up the idea of a rogue.

Crouching, she imagined the figure rushing at her, teeth bared and claws ready to hook into her face. Her gleaming frame slipped to the side, rolling with surprising grace back into a crouch. From there the feline that once looked like a naive kit, jumped into a beautiful arc over the invisible rogue. She landed and swiveled around swiftly, ready to advance. ‘You concentrate on making the moves look much too good, instead of effective, scruff up a bit Dawnpaw.’ Her mentors words floated through her head sternly, and the invisible rogue ebbed in front of her.

“I can’t do this.” Sulkily, she plopped back on her haunches, glaring at life in general.

Sitting there, in her lone misery, Dawnpaw was completely unaware of her surroundings. Going against everything she learned, she allowed herself to become consumed in her thoughts. Silently, she pondered mostly on her old mentor. Of where she went, and why she left her behind without another word. Dawnpaw had thought they were bonding so well, and looked up to Dapplesong as a mother figure. Though just like her mother, Dapplesong was now gone too. Above all this, it seemed as if-

Weight landed on her with no warning, causing her relaxed frame to buckle to the ground. Sand squished into fur as she was flattened by some unseen animal. Instinct told her it was another cat, but she had no time to scent for clans. Using her small frame to her advantage, Dawnpaw twisted violently beneath the cat, and in a split moment had her belly up. A risky move, but the first thing that came to mind. Using all her strength, Dawnpaw kicked her back legs upwards in single, powerful thrust. Hopefully, dislodging the feline from her.

Her legs scrabbled at empty air, the other cat had leaped off her before she could connect her blow. Dawnpaw flipped onto her paws, crouching low and baring her teeth. Her eyes, the colour of moist soil, glared at the young cat, sitting down to groom herself calmly before her. Sparklingpaw! Dawnpaw immediately lost her hostile position, standing up, surprised. ‘Hello. I'm Sparklingpaw. I don't believe I know your name.’ Dawnpaw let out a sigh of relief, and sat down, wrapping her tail over her front paws.

“Sparklingpaw! You had me scared halfway to Starclan!” She grinned, relieved, "I don’t think we ever met officially, I’m Dawnpaw.”

She shook her pelt gently, dislodging the majority of the sand from her silky pelt. She would have to wash for days to get the rest of it out. Out of habit more then anything, she licked a paw and drew it over her ear. Appearance was a big thing for her, vanity a bit of an understatement. As she sat there and idly groomed, she studied the cat before her, this being the first time she really had a chance to judge her.

Sparkling paw’s large ears came as a shock to Dawnpaw, but she assumed perhaps the cat would grow into them. She smirked, not likely. Dawnpaw couldn't help but be a little jealous at how her eyes looked like sparkling drops of rain, and accented her soft tabby pelt. Dawnpaw knew she was self-centered and rather shallow, but made no means to hide it. Most cats usually got over it and ignored her large, criticizing eyes.

“Did Ivywhisker teach you to stalk so silently? I didn‘t hear a sound!” she smiled, her initial appearance test over and passed.

Dawnpaw was, to say the least, surprised when her paws made contact with the soft pelt of Sparklingpaw. This was her first actual ‘attack’ on another feline, fake or not. Even as a kit she chose not to participate in the games that entailed play fighting. She has never been into it, until now, when it would set her apart from being a warrior or not, and keep her from being able to protect her clan. To her pleasure, she felt Sparklingpaw begin to slip backwards with the impact, and Dawnpaw touched back down to the ground. When she looked up, Sparklingpaw was laying on the ground with a goofy smirk on her face. Pleased, Dawnpaw sat back down, immediately regaining her pretty, nonchalant posture. She refrained from continuing to groom, though she felt as if some sand in her paw could definitely be removed.

“You didn’t truly think I’d let you get away with making me eat sand earlier did you?” She giggled as Sparklingpaw got up and shook the sand from her pelt.

If only Dapplesong could see her now, actually getting her paws dirty. She gently shook her dial, reminding herself to stop thinking of the motherly figure who left her, just like her other one. Dawnpaw hated being a downer, Starclan, why couldn’t she just get over it? She was acting like a foolish kit. She scolded herself mercilessly, hating how juvenile she believed she was being.

“So, what else has Ivywhisker taught you? ... Besides perfect stalking?”