Prompt To Myself: What is Jaypaw, after Spottedleaf sent him away, goes back and takes up Tigerstar's offer to train in The Place Of No Stars, but gets the worse mentor ever - Darkstripe. To top it of, Thistleclaw has it out for him. Along with other issues.

Imagery inspiring this scene: Jaypaw tired and cranky, insults Darkstripe. Grayish-white fur appears in the edge of his vision as you can see the shoulders to the tail (face obscured) of Thistleclaw.

Music That Inspired scene: "Ambiguous" by Maria Garnidelia - the original Japanese opening for the second half of "Kill la kill". (This song kinda fits The Three for some reason…)

Note: I am caught up with warriors - this just takes place earlier on in "Power Of Three".

DISCLAIMER: Absolutely not; nuh-uh.

Warriors AU-ish idea; One-shot

He admits that it wasn't his best idea - to go off and train in the Place Of No Stars. Especially after Spottedleaf had deliberately directed him away from there. Here. Whatever.

But just because he was training to be a medicine cat, it didn't hurt to learn some fighting moves, did it? And by learning their moves, he was learning how he could fight against them.

So, after Spottedleaf had lead him away, he once more found his way to the dark forest through the realm of sleep.

Fat lot of good that did.

It hadn't been hard to convince Tigerstar and Hawkfrost to train him; he had slunk over to them, bedraggled and head low, but his eyes burning so brightly with anger that his and whiskers glowed from them. He had told them that he was tired of being treated as a helpless kit; a useless cripple. The two dark brown tabbies, one with eyes of amber and the other with those of ice blue, both so similar in appearance to his father, glanced at one another. After a few tense moments of silence, Tigerstar had nodded once. This was it: he had been approved.

But Tigerstar must not have been totally convinced, because he had turned around and given Jaypaw the worst mentor in the whole star-forsaken place.

Darkstripe.

Being in not-Starclan aside, he was a coward and an idiot. Jaypaw pointed it out often enough, even at the risk of Tigerstar clouting him, claws out.

This is a dangerous game you're playing.

No stars, Spottedleaf.

Then there was the fact that Thistleclaw had had it out for him the moment brilliant blue eyes accidentally met toxic yellow ones.

"Next time rear back and slam down with your claws!" Darkstripe called, his voice nowhere near as harsh as the other mentors', and almost hesitant.

A sudden, stinging blow left his ear ringing, the whole left side of his face bruising from the blow. "Maybe if you weren't such a coward, you'd be able to train him properly. Tell me, Jaypaw: are you only blind in the wake-world, or here to?" The snarling voice changed to a sneer as the focus was turned to him.

Darkstripe stepped forward, his ears flat and pupils narrowed. "Back off Thistleclaw! At least I have an apprentice!"

Thistleclaw snarled, but before he could comment, a voice rich and dark said, "It is his apprentice, Thistleclaw. It's best you don't cause too much … trouble."

"But Bro-"

"Go. Now." He hissed. The gray and white tom hurried to leave, actual fear in his yellow eyes.

Jaypaw squinted, jay-blue eyes searching amongst the gloom.

The cat was barely a shadow, so dark he extended, and seemed to form from, the surrounding darkness. Amber eyes gleamed, an almost yellow-gold and terrifyingly bright. He was looking at Darkstripe, but his gaze flickered to Jaypaw as he spoke.

"He's right, you know; you need to make it ready. I can just tell there's much … promise with this one."

Darkstripe dipped his head low, muttering "Yes, Brokenstar." And Jaypaw fought to do the same without shuddering.

Out of all the cats here, Jaypaw feared Brokenstar the worst, and with good reason.

Mousebrain.

Brokenstar jerked his head, meowing in a slightly raised voice. "Continue!"

He turned to face Darkstripe again, planning his next move.

This really was a stupid idea.

Idiot.