Wolfpaw stalked through the forest, eying the plump squirrel, which was eating a nut. The silver apprentice unsheathed his claws and raised his haunches, keeping his tail still, not wanting to disturb the leaves at his paws. He pounced in the air and landed on his prey and bit down on the squirrel's neck, instantly killing it. He drew his head back and licked the blood from his lips. After giving his thanks to his ancestors in StarClan, Wolfpaw buried his catch and continued hunting.

The young tom and his denmates, Meadowpaw and Poundpaw were on their first assessment. Wolfpaw could feel the judging glare of his mentor, Glaregaze, on him as he hunted.

Wolfpaw knew he wasn't going to receive his warrior name yet. Adderstar had told him he'd have to receive more training from both his mentor and StarClan. It wasn't that long ago when ThunderClan discovered that Wolfpaw was destined to be the next leader. Now Wolfpaw was going to have to learn only from StarClan. His Clanmates had become uncomfortable around the young apprentice. If they taught him anything, it would just be don't hurt the leader and make sure his nine lives weren't taken away in just one swipe.

Wolfpaw missed the good old days when his Clanmates just saw him as another Clanmate. He wished Halfmoon, the medicine cat, hadn't told the whole Clan. A warrior paw picked by StarClan to be the next leader made Wolfpaw too good for his friends. Meadowpaw had made that perfectly clear when she stopped going on walks with him alone. She barely even spoke to him anymore.

Pain pierced his heart at the thought of never having a mate. He didn't want to spend his nights alone. He wanted to be a father and show how better he would be at parenthood than Goosetail.

Wolfpaw barely knew his father. The sandy and white tom never visited him in the nursery with his mother, Hazelnose, and sister, Foxkit. It seemed like there was only the three of them. Unfortunately, Foxkit got Kitten Cough and died. Hazelnose was burned in a fire after she saved Wolfpaw. Goosetail didn't seem to care and he never paid Wolfpaw no mind. No matter how hard Wolfpaw worked, his father never even looked at him.

After catching a mouse, Wolfpaw figured it was time to return to the training hollow, where the mentors had told the apprentices to meet after they had caught enough prey. Wolfpaw carried his mouse back to where his other catches were buried and set it all down at the hollow. A thrush, two voles, three mice, and the squirrel. New leaf was nearing and already the prey was returning. Wolfpaw remembered the adder that attacked Adderstar in the harsh leaf-bare. Wolfpaw had killed it and StarClan had showed him a sign that the adder would give the elder, Earthdirt strength to fight off his green cough and Poppystream the milk for her kits and keep them strong during the cold night they were born.

Meadowpaw came in, holding two thrushes and a vole. Poundpaw, her brother, carried a black bird, a squirrel, and two mice. They set their catches down as the trees rustled.

"Good job, you three," Russetclaw, Poundpaw's mentor praised, dipping his head. "You still need work on keeping your tail still, Poundpaw." The brown apprentice lowered his ears and glared at his tail as it swished in the wet, snow melted grass.

"And Meadowpaw," Diamondeyes flicked her tail, "don't look at yourself in the water every time you pass the stream or lake." the light grey tabby looked down as her brother purred in amusement at her.

"You did well, Wolfpaw," Glaregaze growled, "but remember, you have limitations when you're small, that thrush let out a warning call while you were holding on to it in mid-air."

"Yes, Glaregaze," Wolfpaw bowed his head. The thrush was loud enough that it was the only bird Wolfpaw heard as he continued hunting."

"Now, take your prey to the Clan and rest," Diamondeyes meowed, "you're assessment is done."

The apprentices picked up their prey and headed to camp. Wolfpaw would have Glaregaze to take him out for more training after his mentor had eaten. He wanted to train as much as he could to be the leader StarClan wanted and ThunderClan needed. It was unknown when Adderstar would loose his last life, but Wolfpaw had to be prepared.

The kits ran from the nursery and ran circles around Wolfpaw as he dragged his catches in from the gorse tunnel.

"What did you get us, Wolfpaw, what did you get us?" Featherkit, the dark grey tabby tom kit, asked excitingly.

"Is that a thrush?" Snowkit asked. "I love thrushes! Can I have it? Can I? Can I?"

"I wanted a rabbit!" Frostkit complained, batting at the squirrel.

"Sorry, Frostkit," Wolfpaw set his prey down on the fresh-kill pile, "I couldn't find any, I'll look later today."

"No thanks," Frostkit shrugged, "Snaketail and Cavernheart went on a patrol and they said they'd get me one."

"I'm taking the vole!" Featherkit purred, snatching the bigger one.

"Thrush!" Snowkit grabbed the bird.

"Featherkit, Snowkit," Glaregaze stepped up, "I think one fresh-kill will feed you and your mother."

"Aw, but Glaregaze!" Snowkit whined.

"The rest of the Clan needs food too, Snowkit," Glaregaze explained, putting their favorite fresh-kill away and looking through the pile for something else, "how about this pigeon, it's big enough to feed you three and Poppystream." the kits shared a look and headed back to the nursery, dragging the pigeon along with them.

Wolfpaw purred before grabbing a squirrel and heading to the apprentice's den entrance to eat. He noticed Halfmoon and Lightpelt leave the camp, the medicine den smelled of herbs, but not many were left in the shop. Wolfpaw wanted to help, but his stomach crumbled loudly. He bit down in to his squirrel and gobbled it up. The best prey he'd eaten in a while.

The silver apprentice looked up and saw the Clan bustle around him.Littlestone and Brackenfoot were sharing tongues outside the warrior's den. Hazeleyes was eating a mouse as Adderstar spoke to Twitchwhisker, Shinerock, and Dustytail. Russetclaw and Diamondeyes were sharing a sparrow. Dapplefeather, Willowsigh, and Lambpelt were by the elder's den eating prey. Sunnigpelt was up in a tree, sunning herself. Wolfpaw could hear the loud snoring of Snaketail in the warrior's den. He guessed Sparrowwing, Bramblestripe, and Stripeclaw went on the patrol Frostkit was talking about.

The thought of being leader was scaring him more and more. He had to look after this whole Clan. Who would be his deputy to help him raise the Clan. He wished StarClan had chosen some one else. There were plenty cats more qualified than him. There were loyal cats in ThunderClan other than him. There had to be.