Meadowpaw and Poundpaw searched the ground for any prey, while Wolfpaw looked in the leafless tree. This Leaf-bare was harsh. Poppystream was in the nursery, expecting Glaregaze's kits. The fresh-kill pile was pathetic and Wolfpaw was pretty sure Adderstar lost a life the other day. The reddish brown leader had been coughing last moon and Halfmoon and Lightpelt were giving each other concerned looks. Hazeleyes was visiting the tom in his den and offering her prey, but Adderstar would tell her to give it to Poppystream, or the elsers.

Wolfpaw let out a sigh. How am I supposed to be leader, when I have no idea how to feed my Clan? He jumped down from the tree, unable to see anything in the falling snow. Meadowpaw and Poundpaw were pressed close together, teeth chattering and pelts shivering. Russetclaw, Diamondeyes, and Glaregaze came out from some bushes. Russetclaw had only caught a mouse. Wolfpaw looked at the greying piece of kill in the brown tom's mouth. That's not going to be enough. Wolfpaw thought sadly. Earthdirt was coughing worse, more and more, each day. Lightpelt had sent Sunnigpelt to sleep in the nursery with Poppystream until Halfmoon could heal the old tom.

Wolfpaw decided to go look near the stream, separating ThunderClan from ShadowClan. There had to be prey hiding somewhere. Russetclaw went back to camp with his catch. Diamondeyes took Meadowpaw to search near the abandoned Twoleg nest. Glaregaze went with Wolfpaw and Poundpaw to the ShadowClan border.

When they reached the stream, which had frozen over last night, Wolfnose could scent fresh ShadowClan markings. One of them belonged to Sharpfang and the other two were Snarlpaw and Mimi. Ever since Wolfpaw listened to Mimi and Marshstar speak, Sharpfang hadn't been coming in to ThunderClan territory. Though, cats kept complaining about the warrior teasing them with his apprentice.

Halfmoon's ears seemed to pick every time she heard the ShadowClan leader's name. She would also check on Adderstar more than she'd check Poppystream, or Earthdirt. Was it because they were leaders and their deputies seemed unready to take on leadership? Had the white medicine cat received an omen?

"There are fish down there!" Poundpaw announced, snapping Wolfpaw away from his thoughts. The silver apprentice looked down in to the ice and saw shadows moving around under it.

"Well it's impossible to catch and we're not RiverClan cats," Glaregaze spoke, "let's keep looking."

"Wait," Wolfpaw stepped on to the slippery ice and started scraping his claws on the ice. He could feel the frozen water start to thin.

"What are you doing?" Glaregaze flicked his tail in annoyance.

"I'm going to see if I can make a hole and catch some fish." Wolfpaw answered, feeling the rush of the stream's water below his paws.

"Are you crazy?" The irritated mentor growled. "You could fall in and only RiverClan eats fish!"

"We're desperate for prey and I'll be fine." Wolfpaw assured the warrior. His paw broke through to the frigid water. Pulling his paw away Wolfpaw eyed the water through narrowed eyes. The fish swam quickly in every direction, trying to avoid Wolfpaw's glare. He lifted a paw as he spotted a shadow moving quickly toward the hole. With a swipe of his paw the fish was airborne. It was fat and juicy, perfect for the Clan. Wolfpaw pounced and caught the fish in his jaws, delivering a killing bite.

When he landed, Wolfpaw turned to face his Clanmates. Poundpaw's eyes were wide with astonishment and Glaregaze just glared at him. Hesitating, Poundpaw walked steadily on the ice and began to do the same as Wolfpaw. He broke another hole in to the ice and waited for a fish to come by. He caught a minnow and Wolfpaw caught another fish. Glaregaze had said that was enough to feed the Clan; not many were going to be willing to eat them.

Glaregaze quickly made his way to the nursery with a scrawny vole Dustytail had caught. Halfmoon trotted out her den and eyed the fish Wolfpaw and Poundpaw had caught.

"Why'd you catch fish?" Meadowpaw cringed at the sight of the smelly prey.

"The Clan needs to be fed," Wolfpaw explained, "it's either eat fish, or starve." he knew he was being harsh, but all the fresh-kill pile contained were a few squirrels, mice, and thrushes. That wouldn't last all leaf-bare, especially with Poppystream's kits on their way.

Not hungry, Wolfpaw headed to the elder's den to see if Earthdirt wanted any prey.

"He's in the medicine den," Lightpelt stopped him, as she walked in to camp with a ball of moss, "his coughing has gotten worse..."

"Is there anything Halfmoon can do?" Wolfpaw asked, his fur prickling with fright.

"Wolfpaw... Earthdirt has green cough..." Lightpelt meowed sadly. Wolfpaw's tail dropped. He knew green cough was the worst sickness in all the Clans. Earthdirt was strong, but too old to fight. Was the oldest warrior going to die? "He's lived a good life, Wolfpaw, he was Yellowstar's deputy for seasons before Adderstar became deputy after Earthdirt stepped down. StarClan will know what's best." she took her moss and headed for the medicine den, where Wolfpaw could hear the hacking of the elder.

They know what's best. Wolfpaw repeated in his head. They know what's best. His ears lowered. They know what's... Best. If that was the case, Why'd they choose an apprentice who wishes he could fly to save his Clan?

Wolfpaw pressed closer to Meadowpaw, but the chill from outside was still freezing him. Poundpaw and his sister were fast asleep. The brown tom snored louder than Earthdirt's coughing.

Wolfpaw looked out the den to see the snow still falling from the sky. Glaregaze had gone to the nursery to sleep beside Poppystream and Sunnigpelt. They both needed warmth to survive. Wolfpaw wondered if his mentor would move to the nursery until his kits were apprentices with Poppystream. He let out a purr at the thought of a warrior tom sleeping in the nursery like a queen.

Thinking of the mates curled up close to one another warmed Wolfpaw. He lowered his head, remembering living in the nursery. Hazelnose wrapping her grey tail around him and Foxkit. Goosetail had never visited them. He'd always give excuses, or leave camp for hunting and border patrols. Pain shot through Wolfpaw at the knowledge of his own father not loving him. The sandy tom was all the kin Wolfpaw had. From what he knew anyway.

Sleep overtook the silver apprentice and he drifted off to a cold sleep. He opened his eyes to find himself in strange territory. There was no snow. There was not den. Only dark trees surrounded him. Looking up, Wolfpaw saw no stars, only darkness. Rancid smells filled the air. He quickly got to his paws and searched for any sign of life. He could hear battle cries off in the distance. This wasn't StarClan! Not wanting any cat to find him hear, Wolfpaw pushed off and bolted away from the cries of agony.

He skidded to a stop as voices filled his ears. Quietly, Wolfpaw glided across the dead leaves and jumped on to a tree, hiding behind the leaf filled branches, Wolfpaw looked down to see a orange and white she-cat, a black tom, a golden she-cat, and.... Wolfpaw felt a Shiver run down his spine. The tom in the circle of cats was silver. His eyes were a yellow green color. Aside from the battle scars and matted fur, this cat looked like a warrior version of Wolfpaw. Who were these cats?

"I say we recruit him," The orange and white she-cat purred, her tail curling, "he's to be leader right? Well, the path to leadership means making sacrifices, he's lost his mother and sister already, I say we kill the elder next, that she-cat's kits, the old traitor, those two annoying warriors, and then the leader, with all that loss, he has to use his leadership for revenge."

"And what of his father?" The black tom asked.

"Please, he's just like Limptail," the golden she-cat flicked her tail, "he could care less for that kit."

"I say we use those WindClan kits to our advantage with that tom," the black tom purred, "we'll send signs telling him to abandon his ThunderClan son and take his WindClan kin away from the lake, that'll destroy the apprentice."

"I have a question," the silver warrior raised an eyebrow.

"Speak, Wolfblood," the orange and white she-cat allowed.

Wolfblood? Wolfpaw thought with a shiver. What a horrible name!

"What'll happen if he falls in love during his deputyship?" Wolfblood asked. "Like my mother always said, 'love will set you free'."

"Then we'll kill her and whatever kits they have at the time," the golden she-cat growled, "losing a love can ruin you."

Were these cruel cats talking about Wolfpaw? They seemed to be describing his life up until now. Meadowpaw was a beautiful she-cat, but Wolfpaw wouldn't go so far as to say he was in love with her. Goosetail had been seeing a she-cat from WindClan and she has kits. They couldn't be Goosetail's. They were Moortail's kits. Right? Wasn't Wolfpaw's father at least loyal to his Clan?

A silent hiss almost made Wolfpaw yowl in fear when he turned to see a starry warrior behind him on the branch. He was a dark brown tom with blue green eyes. He reminded Wolfpaw of Mousepelt. The warrior cocked his head to the bottom of the tree, instructing Wolfpaw to follow. The silver apprentice carefully climbed down with the stranger.

The warrior then shot off from the cats and Wolfpaw followed quickly after. They kept running until they came to what looked like the border to this dark place and a much calmer and sweet smelling territory. StarClan! They stopped running and began trotting somewhere away from the rank forest.

"Who are you?" Wolfpaw asked with intrigue.

"I am Dragonwing," the StarClan cat responded, "one of Mousepelt's sons, we knew those Dark Forest cats would try bringing you there to train you, but you don't belong there, you must retrieve training from Glaregaze and the rest of your Clan. Even Poppystream's kits."

"The Dark Forest?" Wolfpaw tilted his head.

"Also known by our ancestors as the Place of No Stars," Dragonwing explained, "it's where StarClan sends the cats when we don't welcome them, mostly for breaking the warrior code, or doing something far worse beyond forgiveness. If you see any of those cats in your dreams, wake up immediately, they'll lead you down the wrong path, the dark path." Wolfpaw nodded his understanding and stopped when Dragonwing stopped. "Now wake up, we wanted to make sure you wouldn't get caught by those Dark Forest cats." Wolfpaw blinked, he wanted to see Hazelnose and Foxkit. But, he lied down, wrapped his tail over his paws and closed his eyes.

When Wolfpaw woke up, Meadowpaw and Poundpaw were gone. Sun shone through the den, warming Wolfpaw's face. He got up and walked out and saw Littlestone being lead by Cavernheart to the medicine den. The light brown warrior's eyes were tired and she let out weak coughs. Wolfpaw's heart sank. White Cough was going to spread quicker if this leaf-bare wouldn't warm soon. Poppystream's kits were going to need extra survalence if the Clan wanted more warriors.

Bramblestripe, Sparrowwing, and Hazeleyes stepped out the warrior's den next. Hazeleyes looked to the leader's den with worry as her sister and denmate went to the fresh-kill pile. There wasn't much left. Wolfpaw looked around for Glaregaze to see if they'd go hunting, but the expecting father was nowhere in sight. Wolfpaw lifted his head and opened his mouth. The tom was still fast asleep in the nursery with Sunnigpelt and Poppystream.

Twitchwhisker, Dustytail, Shinerock, and Dapplefeather walked in to camp. Shinerock was carrying two mice and Twitchwhisker was carrying a black bird. Wolfpaw ignored the rumbling of his belly and headed over to Sparrowwing and Bramblestripe.

"Do you mind if I go hunting with you guys?" Wolfpaw asked hopefully.

"Of course not," Sparrowwing purred, "we need to heighten patrols if we're to get this fresh-kill pile full again, Hazeleyes is going to get Adderstar and Willowsigh to join us, do you want to bring Glaregaze?"

"No," Wolfpaw shook his head, "he's still asleep, he'll probably take me out for training when I return."

Hazeleyes and Adderstar appeared from the leader's den below High ledge. Willowsigh gave Dustytail a luck on his cheek and trotted after them. They headed for the gorse tunnel, followed by Bramblestripe, Sparrowwing, and Wolfpaw. They trekked through the snow and split up as they neared the ancient oak. Wolfpaw went off toward the WindClan border, seeing if any white rabbits would be running around away from the fast warriors.

He spotted something scurrying in the dead trees. A squirrel was hoping from branch to branch, snow falling down in clumps. The grey creature then stopped and looked around. Wolfpaw quickly climbed up the tree and stalked the small prey. He unsheathed his claws and pounced on the squirrel in his jaws. He climbed down and buried his catch, ready to get more.

After the patrol had finished, Wolfpaw had caught a rabbit and a mouse after the squirrel. Sparrowwing had only caught a thrush. Bramblestripe, a mouse. Glaregaze, a rabbit. Willowsigh and Hazeleyes hadn't been able to find anything and Adderstar was continuing his hunting. Wolfpaw followed the group to camp and headed back out to see if Adderstar needed help. Hazeleyes went with him.

They followed their leader's scent to the lake's edge. Wolfpaw then heard frustrated hissing.

"Adderstar!" Hazeleyes cried, bolting toward the where the hissing was coming. Wolfpaw chased after her. They almost fell in the snow as they skidded to a stop. Their eyes were wide at what Adderstar was fighting. A snake was snapping at the ThunderClan leader!