There was a large communal area with four cooking sections and personal rooms arranged around the edge. We checked the rooms as a group, but they were all the same size. Each room had its own personal bathroom. Only the kitchen and common seating area were shared spaces.

Creatures began picking their rooms. Sharpfang and Shattertooth got into an argument about a room, both wanting the same one. I could tell they were posturing and tired, but they didn’t want the other one to get ahead. There were 16 rooms available, but only 12 of us left.

I picked a room and put my pack inside. I decided to take a shower first and clean myself from all the exercise. My fur was a mess after that obstacle course. Once I was done grooming myself, I left my room. The smell of food was quite intoxicating.

It didn’t escape my notice that there were cameras in all the rooms including the bathrooms. They weren’t being subtle about anything here. The Neophyte rooms would probably have hidden cameras to see if any creature misbehaved when they thought no one was looking. I didn’t dare call on Mes or use the Interface in any way while I was being observed. That would just be the height of stupidity.

That was the one thing I liked about this place. Paladin Bloodclaw was very fair to everyone as long as you didn’t argue with him. I still couldn’t believe he just killed a creature. He was trying to make a point, and it was made loud and clear. I was no longer a kitten, in their last year of school. I was a full cat now. I had thought killing was a game and easy. But seeing that kind of death right in front of me was shocking.

I shivered slightly at the memory. I knew what I was getting into, but I hadn’t really known. But I wasn’t about to back out now. There was no way I would go back to a group home or disappointing my father. I was going to see this through and seize my future. To be the best, the strongest. With Mes’ help, I could imagine it. The Warrior’s Shadow would be me.

Making my way to the kitchen area, I checked one of the fridges and there was frozen fish. I smiled at that and began preparing my food. If you were an assassin, you wouldn’t trust anything handed to you, from strangers. My father had explained, he only ate food he prepared or Mousethief had prepared. While he wasn’t one for poison, he was weary and careful. Also, the talk about sabotage made it clear the creatures running this place wanted to stop it from happening and it had happened in the past.

“So a cat, huh,” Knaves pulled up a bench across the counter from where I was deboning my fish.

“You’re a fox. Keen eyes we both have,” I replied with a touch of sarcasm.

“Young and wet behind the ears. You think you will even make it?” Knaves asked me. I didn’t respond and went back to my fish. He let out a scoff and left. I wasn’t about to start a fight if I could help it. No need to make enemies pointlessly.

Blackfur came over. His fur was mangier than mine with a hint of gray and he took the seat the fox Knaves had just vacated. “He is just jealous that he got called out. So, Mittens was it?”

“Yes, Blackfur Shattertooth?” I asked to confirm, and he nodded.

“Normally just go by Blackfur. So, noticed the Paladin picked you up separately from the rest of us that were bussed in.” I grew a bit weary, but I was willing to make small talk.

“Just arrived a bit earlier so they put me in a box. This place is much nicer,” I replied, not revealing anything important. I needed to be on guard here. My danger sense was picking up on an undercurrent of something that was hard to put into words. I wish I could ask Mes, but I didn’t dare take the risk.

“A box huh. Well, this place is nice. Much nicer than the box I grew up in. Didn’t want to die in the gutter you know.” I finished deboning the fish and began looking for some butter and a pan to cook the fish in.

“Second cabinet up, has the cookware,” Blackfur said and pointed at the cabinet.

“Thanks. So, what is up with you and Sharpfang?” I asked.

“Old rivalry between stouts and rats. Old grudges make new grudges. Not enough food. Not enough space. Who knows any more. But I can’t let him get one up on me.” It sounded stupid, but I wasn’t going to question him about it.

“Not looking to make enemies,” I replied as I began to cook my fish in a pan with some almond butter.

This tale has been pilfered from Royal Road. If found on Amazon, kindly file a report.

“But it doesn’t hurt to have friends. Not asking you to go after him or Grizzle. But looking out for each other, now that is a different story,” Blackfur suggested. I looked around and noticed people were already forming groups. Blackfur followed my gaze and then looked back at me.

“I don’t think there is much teamwork in this place and sabotage, well they will get people quick.” I looked at a camera and Blackfur nodded at that.

“Hmm, but what about at the later stages? When we are put up against each other? It will be too late to make a team then.” He was convincing and I looked down at my fish that was almost done.

“Alright, friends,” I said and Blackfur gave me a toothy grin at that. More like allies to stand strong against the coming tests.

“Friends.” I took the fish off the stove and plated it. I then sat down to eat. I made sure to use my claws like my father had shown me. I quickly ate the fish, my movements crisp and precise. That was exactly what I needed to feel much better. I stretched out a bit. I got up and cleaned up. Blackfur was watching everyone else but still sitting on his stool.

“Going to the pool, want to come?” I asked him. He looked at me with a bit of surprise and then nodded.

“Not much experience swimming?” he asked, and I shook my head.

“No. Would rather get in some practice before we get tossed in, so I don’t look like an idiot,” I replied.

“I have swum a bit before, but wouldn’t hurt to check out the pool,” Blackfur said.

We got our swimming clothes and made our way to the pool. After changing in the locker room, I went to the edge of the pool and hesitantly put a paw in and shivered. Something in me hated water. I loved showers but being in a pool of water like this was freaky.

I was about to go to the ladder and climb in when I saw Blackfur just jump in with a splash. I couldn’t be a scaredy cat. I had to be brave. I leapt into the water. It was warm, but it was pressing all around me. I couldn’t keep my balance, everything felt off.

Splashing around I barely managed to get back to the pool edge hacking up the pool water. “Wow, cats really can’t swim,” Blackfur said while floating in the water off to the side. I gave him a glare which I quickly let go with a sigh.

“It makes everything feel off.” My father had mentioned that water was our weakness as cats. The trick, he said, was to not get in the water in the first place. And if we were forced to get in, to get out as quickly as possible. I pushed off the wall and slowly treaded water.

“Well, it looks like you aren’t terrible, and you haven’t drowned,” Blackfur said cheekily.

“I can’t be the best at everything unfortunately. Better practice swimming,” I said, and we got to work going up and down the length of the pool. It was exhausting. Cats weren’t meant for the water. Blackfur twisted his body back and forth and easily went more than twice my speed.

At least I was in good enough shape to do the ten laps Paladin Bloodclaw had said was the minimum, but it took twelve minutes, and I was exhausted by the end. I needed to get that down to five minutes. I pulled myself out of the pool and Blackfur hopped out as well.

“Well, you didn’t drown, so that is good, but you have terrible form,” Blackfur said.

“Any advice?” I asked.

“Keep your digits together more. Honestly you are so big, you have a lot more water to push out of the way. It won’t be easy,” Blackfur said. I let out a sigh at that. It was what I had figured out. Being larger made endurance tests easier and being a cat let me crush the obstacle course. But swimming quickly was next to impossible.

My skills had helped, but only slightly. I would need a Swimming skill to get comfortable and better at a rapid rate, and even then, that would run up against the limitation of my body. But that wasn’t something I could get for quite a while, at least until I began my new career in earnest.

I was glad I checked out the pool before we came here as a group. I would need to put in a lot of training figuring out how to swim quickly. “Thanks Blackfur.” His advice had been useful.

“Oh, what do we have here?” It was the rat Sharpfang and Grizzle right behind him. “So already forming a caravan Mangefur.”

“Just keeping my friends close. Oh wait, at least I have friends not minions like you,” Blackfur said with a sneeer, and Grizzle hissed at him from behind Sharpfang.

“Mittens. That’s a soft name. You look soft,” Sharpfang said. That was quite a tame insult compared to the ones I got at school. I stood up, standing a head taller than Sharpfang and extended my claws.

“You don’t bring me trouble and I won’t bring you trouble. And while my name might be Mittens, those mittens have some knives hidden inside them,” I said calmly. I could see his eyes dart to my paws.

“I don’t think you even know how to use those,” Sharpfang said, but I could see the hint of fear in his eyes.

“Maybe, maybe not. But like I said, I don’t want to start fight, but I will end it,” I replied. I couldn’t back down. These creatures could sniff out weakness. I wasn’t weak. I was the daughter of Tom Cat, the greatest father and assassin to ever live.

“We will see. Let’s go Grizzle.” Sharpfang and his minion scurried away from the pool area.

“Well that was something. Sorry to drag you into the drama,” Blackfur said.

“It is fine. I teamed up with you expecting this. But it wasn’t like the other creatures were about to leave me alone. Let’s head back and get some sleep, we need to be ready for tomorrow,” I told Blackfur who gave me a nod. Threats, posturing, and insults were all allowed.

You couldn’t put a bunch of potential assassins and not expect them to size each other up and look for every advantage. I made my way back to my room and got a shower to clean off the pool water. I also made sure to set my alarm clock early.

I got into my bed. It had been a long day, but it had also been a good day. I had earned a point and had a friend or ally at least. I wasn’t about to trust anyone too much here no matter what Paladin Bloodclaw had said. I would just have to focus on doing my best tomorrow.