River (book)/Chapter 7

==Chapter description==
:Flamepaw and Lilyheart practice fighting moves just outside of the ThunderClan camp. He laments over the fact, mentally noting he had done it many times previously as he begins getting frustrated. His mentor notices this frustration, pushing him to keep going as he needs to improve. Out of her own frustration with the young tom, Lilyheart comments if he knew everything he would be a warrior by now. The comment stings Flamepaw as she apologizes and ends the session. She leaves to do a border patrol, sending the young tom to change the elders' bedding. This leaves him even more frustrated as he inwardly complains about being the only apprentice in ThunderClan. But, he doesn't say a word to Lilyheart as he leaves and finds Brackenfur alone in the den.
:Brackenfur makes idle conversation, commenting on Flamepaw still being an apprentice. As he continues to talk, the conversation turns to his kin, which upsets Flamepaw but the apprentice says nothing. Spotfur's kits soon interrupt, wanting to know what the apprentice was doing before noticing the old bedding and that they want to help. Flamepaw spares a glance around for mother, who he spots sleeping. He decides it is best to let her rest and joins in on the kits game as they make him their "mentor". He has them start clearing the bedding from the nursery despite most of the old moss sticking to their pelts. Brackenfur watches on, amused by the sight. Flamepaw helps tidy the old moss up to clear it from camp when Daisy calls out for the kits. The apprentice waves her over and she reprimands him for having the kits do his duties. The cream she-cat herds the kits the away, back to the nursery as Flamepaw feels frustrated over seemingly always doing the wrong thing.
:Later on in the day, Flamepaw is invited to eat with his mother, Sparkpelt. The notion feels like a surprise to Flamepaw as he notes his strained relationship with her. Instead, the ginger she-cat asks him about his day and he explains it. Lilyheart, however, comes over and interrupts to ask him about the earlier confrontation with Daisy and the kits. He tries to defend himself and to his surprise Sparkpelt jumps to his defense as well. He thanks his mother afterwards and the pair sit and eat quitely for a moment. Sparkpelt then brings up his apprenticeship and the tom argues defensively about it as he gets angry. As they continue to argue about his relation to Firestar, he storms off after he reaches his boiling point. Flamepaw leaves camp through the thorn tunnel to try and calm himself down. He soon hears Sorrelstripe's voice, who sits with him as he talks about his day. She reassures him and he thanks her for it, promising to her that he will make her proud as a warrior of ThunderClan.
==Characters==
===Major===
===Minor===
===Mentioned===
==Notes and references==
Category:River (book)
Category:A Starless Clan arc
Category:Chapter subpages