The sound of excited mewling woke Wolfpaw as he opened his eyes to find himself in the nursery. Poppystream was licking her new litter with pride shinning in her eyes. Glaregaze was standing up and sniffing his kits gently. The pale grey she-kit's frost had melted. Sun was shining through the nursery on to the three new additions to ThunderClan.

"Look at them Glaregaze," Poppystream purred delightfully, "aren't our kits just lovely?"

"They sure are, my love," Glaregaze licked the ginger she-cat's head and gently placed his tail on his kits. Wolfpaw stood and stretched out until he shook. It was the best sleep he had in moons.

"Thank you for helping in keeping them warm, Wolfpaw," Poppystream meowed, bowing her head.

"Oh, no problem," Wolfpaw remembered the kits freezing as the snow fell last night, "they're already so strong to survive weather like that." the dark grey tabby batted at the ginger black stripped she-kit and pushed in between his sisters, going to suckle from Poppystream. "What are their names?"

The mates shared a look. "You choose," Glaregaze suggested, lifting a paw to Poppystream, "I'm not good at picking names."

With a purr, Poppystream placed her tail on the pale she-kit's white spotted flank. "Frostkit, poor thing was covered in it last night," she moved her tail to the tom, "Featherkit, as the snow was coming down I thought I saw a hawk feather flying around outside the nursery," she then went to the ginger and black stripped she-kit, "and Snowkit, her fluffy fur should keep her warm when she's able to play in the snow."

"Perfect," Glaregaze licked Snowkit's head, making the kit mew and showing her pink mouth.

"Wolfpaw," Willowsigh called from outside, "Twitchwhisker wants you on the first border patrol."

Wolfpaw bowed his head to the cats before running out the nursery to see the Clan up. Poundpaw and Meadowpaw were play fighting outside the apprentice's den. Sparrowwing, Bramblestripe, and Hazeleyes were eating fresh-kill beside the leader's den. Stripeclaw, Lambpelt, Bellowvoice, and Willowsigh were speaking near the gorse tunnel. Wolfpaw made his way over to the patrol, not wanting to keep them.

"Wait," Willowsigh narrowed her eyes and lifting her paw to stop the apprentice, "when was the last time you ate?" 

Wolfpaw lowered his ears. He couldn't remember when. He remembered having a squirrel, but nothing else after.

"You look like a small WindClan cat," Lambpelt meowed, "go get something to eat before we go."

"But-" Wolfpaw began to argue.

"Now, Wolfpaw," Stripeclaw turned from the tunnel to the silver kit, "you could faint and ShadowClan may see that as a sign as weakness."

Lowering his head, Wolfpaw went to the fresh-kill pile and picked up the first thing his mouth could grab. He didn't pay attention to what he grabbed, but the scent of squirrel wafted his nose. Lying down, Wolfpaw bit in to his prey. It was delicious, the best kind of food Wolfpaw had tasted.

"Wolfpaw!" The apprentice jolted as he saw Sparrowwing bolt over to him. "Don't eat that!" she smacked the squirrel away from Wolfpaw and he saw it was the grey one he caught yesterday. Maggots were swarming out its bitten in to carcass. The whole Clan turned to see what was happening. Meadowpaw and Poundpaw looked at the squirrel with huge terrified eyes. Adderstar stepped out his den with Hazeleyes.

"Halfmoon!" The ThunderClan leader called out. The white medicine cat came out with Lightpelt and both cats' pelts raided when they saw the squirrel. Halfmoon ran over and looked at the maggots.

"Who's fresh-kill was this?" The she-cat's blue eyes were dark.

"Wolfpaw's," Sparrowwing answered, setting her tail gently on Wolfpaw's shoulder.

Halfmoon looked over the apprentice and forced his jaws open with her paw. She looked in to his throat and pulled back. "How do you feel?" Halfmoon asked.

"The same." Wolfpaw shook, only feeling fear bubble up in his stomach.

Halfmoon turned back to the squirrel and glared down at it.

"Halfmoon," Hazeleyes stepped up to the medicine cat, "I don't know if I should have told you this sooner... But, every full moon, I've been having a dream... An adder was slithering through the forest, heading to a hole in the ground, a shadow cat jumped out of nowhere and killed the adder, a wolf then jumped out and killed the cat... The wolf then somehow ran up to the star filled sky with adder and gave it to StarClan..."

"I had the same dream!" Sparrowwing announced, her eyes wide with shock.

"So did I!" Bramblestripe yowled.

The whole Clan burst in to yowls about seeing the same exact dream on the same nights. Glaregaze cane out the nursery and looked at his Clan I'm confusion. His eyes then widened as he heard the description of the Clan's dream.
"What does it mean?" The dark grey tom growled, shoot a glare at Halfmoon. The whole Clan turned their heads to the white she-cat and asked the same accusing question. Adderstar shared a look with Halfmoon and they seemed to be asking questions to each other of what they should do. "Is it a sign?"

"Yes," Halfmoon sighed, lowering her head and ears, "the adder is Adderstar... He will be killed by an enemy cat and Wolfpaw will avenge our leader's death... That will be the eve Wolfpaw becomes our next leader."

A gasp was spread across the Clan and all eyes turned to Wolfpaw. The silver apprentice suddenly felt like a kit again. Small and afraid. He wanted Hazelnose, or Foxkit to be here so he'd have some to hide behind. But he was all alone. Surrounded by cats who looked at him like he just flew.

What should I do? Wolfpaw thought crouching low to the earth, hoping it would suck him in. Hazelnose, Foxkit, Berrybush help me!

"But, he's so small!" Poundpaw called out.
"How can StarClan think he'd be able to lead a whole Clan?" Bellowvoice agreed.

"He's lost a mother and a sister and he witnessed Berrybush's death, he seems to be handling that well enough!" Sparrowwing argued.

"How would StarClan even know Hazelnose would name one of her kits Wolf and that he'd be the only one to survive her litter?" Snaketail meowed.

"Silence!" Adderstar snarled, slamming his paw down on the ground, ceasing the excited yowling. "All cats old enough to catch their own prey gather beneath the High Ledge!" The tom stormed up the rocks to the peak of High Ledge. ThunderClan headed over to stand beneath their leader, but Wolfpaw didn't move. He couldn't stand next to his Clanmates if this was about him. He had caused trouble for them. "It doesn't matter if StarClan sees Wolfpaw as my successor, it doesn't matter if you all had a dream about him, he is still your Clanmate as well as mine!"

"But, he's going to be our next leader!" Meadowpaw flicked her tail. "Doesn't that mean that if he dies we'll be leaderless?"

"No, but... There will be consequences... For some reason StarClan wanted Wolfpaw to be prepared for leadership sooner... Halfmoon and I know about your meetings with Midnight and StarClan, Wolfpaw." sympathy was heard in the leader's voice, but his eyes still glittered.

Cats whispered to one another and casted glances to Wolfpaw.

"That's enough!" Halfmoon interrupted the Clan's silent judgement. "Wolfpaw is no different from you, or me! If you want to look to him for answers, fine, but don't treat him like he's not your Clanmate anymore! He's still Wolfpaw!"

"She's right!" Sparrowwing yowled. "He's still the kit we grew up with! Look at him, he's still Hazelnose's son!"

"Yes, but he's also that cat's son!" Twitchwhisker growled, flicking his tail at Goosetail. "Just because he's Hazelnose's kit doesn't change the fact he's also his!"

"What are you trying to say?" Goosetail bared his teeth.

"I'm saying, you're nothing but a fox-hearted excuse for a father and a warrior!" Twitchwhisker hissed.

"Shut up!" Glaregaze snarled. "Wolfpaw is the one destined to be leader, not Goosetail!"

Wolfpaw didn't want to hear anymore. Quietly, Wolfpaw got up and sulked out of the camp. This leadership thing was beginning to get too big for Wolfpaw's shoulders. He trekked through the forest, ignoring the cold snow on his paws. He didn't know where his feet were leading him, but he didn't care. Anywhere was better than the Clan at the moment.

He found himself walking down through the tunnels. The sound of the water flowing through the caves relaxed Wolfpaw a little, but he could still feel ThunderClan argue about him. Why did StarClan think it was a good idea to send a sign through his squirrel? Now the whole Clan knew. How could he ever look at his Clanmates the same way? The only thing they'll see him again as is their next leader. He didn't want to be leader. He didn't want to be treated differently. He wanted to be like his fellow ThunderClan cats. He wanted to be a warrior. But, now every cat knew he was chosen to lead ThunderClan after Adderstar's last life was taken. What if he died before Wolfpaw was ready? He had just started his training.

That's when scents came over the cave. He spun around to see Berrybush, the light grey tom, who showed him the stick, the bald cat, who helped Wolfpaw break Harmonypaw out from the Twoleg trap, a orange and white tom, and a black she-cat.

"Well?" Wolfpaw growled, his fur raised. "What now? Everyone in my Clan knows! What do you expect me to do now?"

"Don't get angry, Wolfpaw," the light grey tabby tom stepped forward, "the squirrel wasn't our fault, we don't know why it was filled with maggots."

"But, we agree that it wasn't good that your Clan found out about your destiny," the back she-cat stood next to the tabby tom, "now it seems they'll either treat you like an outcast, or a StarClan warrior..."

"I don't want to be treated differently!" Wolfpaw wailed. "I want to be like Bramblestripe, or Sparrowwing, or Hazelnose! Anyone! I want to protect my Clan, but I don't want to be leader! Can't you find someone else?"

"There is no one else!" The bald cat snapped. "You are the only cat brave, loyal, and understanding enough to be leader in ThunderClan! I know how Adderstar will die, if you do not accept your role in ThunderClan it could fall to the darkness!"

"We're sorry, Wolfpaw," Berrybush mewed, "we don't want you to get hurt, honestly we don't, but the path to leadership is a path of pain... We would change it if we could, but we can't erase the Clan knowing about your destiny..."

Wolfpaw's ears laid back on his head and lowered his head defeated. "What now?"

The StarClan cats looked at each other, hoping one would know what to say. Wolfpaw's heart sank. He could never take back the realization. ThunderClan knew he was their future leader. What could StarClan do to rid himself of this? Adderstar would die and Wolfpaw would have to become leader. Couldn't some other cat take his place.

"Just try going through life as if nothing changed," the orange and white tom spoke, his green eyes full of sympathy, "learn from your Clan and let them teach you... They can't just act like you're higher than them, even a leader needs the help of his Clan."

Wolfpaw lowered his head more. That wasn't the answer he wanted. He looked up and saw all the cats were gone. He was all alone in the caves again. Dragging his tail, Wolfpaw turned and headed back to camp. If they wanted a leader they could have one, but Wolfpaw wasn't going to enjoy it.

Meadowpaw had invited Wolfpaw for a walk after their training had ended. No one spoke to Wolfpaw about his destiny anymore. But, awkward silent whispering was heard every time Wolfpaw passed by. Poundpaw wanted to come, but Meadowpaw told him she wanted to speak to Wolfpaw alone. The two argued silently so Wolfpaw couldn't hear, until Meadowpaw flicked her tail and walked off. Poundpaw looked at Wolfpaw before turning and going hunting.

The two apprentices walked in silence until they neared the abandoned Twoleg Place. Meadowpaw, jumped up on a log and motioned for Wolfpaw to join her. He jumped up and sat next to the light grey tabby.

"Sorry, Wolfpaw," Meadowpaw began, "but, I don't want you as my mate anymore, I thought you were the tom fore after we were taken away to RiverClan and saving me from the dogs, but after hearing that you have a better destiny than mine, you're too good for me."

"What?" Wolfpaw looked at the she-cat, resisting the urge to claw the wood on the log. "You're not too good for me, no cat is! I'm just like everyone else!"

"With a better destiny!" Meadowpaw flicked her tail. "Everyone else is destined to be a warrior, or medicine cat, you have to lead a whole Clan, I don't want a leader for a mate, especially when StarClan singles him out!" she then jumped down and headed back to camp. "Sorry, Wolfpaw, but your destiny is just too great for me."

"Oh, yeah?" Wolfpaw yowls after her. "Well, fine, who needs you! There are plenty of she-cats out there who would love to be my mate! And it wouldn't be for my stupid destiny!" a flash of lighting crashed down and Rain began to pour down on the small silver apprentice. "What? Are you mad?" Wolfpaw yowled up to StarClan. "Good! Because I hate my destiny! I'd force you to take it back if I could! But, it's too late, I don't have a mother, a sister, my own father ignores me, and my mentor is a jerk! I'll be your chosen leader, but I won't be happy about it!" he jumped down from the log and began to walk to ThunderClan. "Why you thought choosing me was smart idea is beyond me!"

As Wolfpaw made his way through the territory, he could feel eyes piercing in to him. His anger faded and painful sorrow took over. There was nothing he could do. He was destined to be leader and he was going to do whatever it takes to keep his Clan safe. Even if it meant... He was going to loose cats he cared about on the journey.