Lionheart looked up from the dementration. "Crouch, leap, and bite. You got that?"

We nodded. Lionheart was teaching us some battle moves. "Cloudpaw, you can fight Brackenpaw. Swiftpaw and Fernpaw, you two pair up. Ashpaw and Stealthpaw, you too. Remember, claws sheathed."

Ashpaw smiled and got into a crouch. I wasted no time. I leaped to his side, and then over him like he was a log. Ashpaw was confused. I raked my paw over his flank. He turned and tried to nip at my shoulder, but I moved just in time. Unfortunately, Ashpaw was always bigger than me. When I moved back, he butted me with his head so I landed on my back. He jumped on top of me and pinned me down.

"Excellent!" Lionheart meowed. "Stealthpaw, you would have won if you had just moved to the side." Ashpaw released his grip. I pushed out my back legs and he flew off of me. Lionheart mrrowed with laughter.

Whitestorm bursted out from the bushes that surrond the Sandy Hollow. They whispered, and Lionheart's eyes lit up. "Stealthpaw, Swiftpaw, and Ashpaw, follow me. Everyone else, follow Whitestorm back to camp." He turns to us. "I hope you're all ready for your first battle. WindClan needs our help. Remember-"

"A warrior doesn't need to kill to win his battles," I finished. Lionheart nodded to me. We then hurried out of the territory.

WindClan was quite nice. It was very hilly, and I could imagine what it would be like in greenleaf. It made me just want to run out like a kit, without a care in the world.

But there was business to get done.

The battle was intense. I mostly fought the apprentices, for this was no place to be stealth. The entire territory was hilly and grass. I had just had enough. ShadowClan apprentices are not one for variety! It was always knock the cat over, wrestle until I'm pinned down, try to bite and claw.

Except for this one.

I was not ready. He flew out at me. He latched on to my pelt. That was a clever move. You move, and you get your pelt shredded. You don't move, and he can kill you. I did the dumbest thing I could think of. I jumped. I felt my fur rip off of my back. This apprentice had ripped off a patch of skin. I howled. He quickly recovered, and he pounded on me pinning me to the ground.

I had no choice. I went limp. No more tricks, no more funny business. I looked into his eyes. This was no apprentice. This was a full-out warrior, with a dark brown pelt, narrow eyes, and a short, stumped tail. I looked into his eyes. I wanted him to see my fear. Let me go, I pleaded.

I was shocked. He based his teeth and tilted his head. What? I thought. This cat is going to kill me!

It was too late. I felt the teeth in my scruff. Stars clouded my eyes. I could feel my blood stinging. Home, I thought. I closed my eyes. They began to leak.

Suddenly, the teeth ripped out. I was carefully lifted up. Am I being carried to StarClan? I could smell herbs. Is that you, Spottedleaf? I heard screaming. I was set down. I felt cobwebs at my neck. "Lie still, Stealthpaw." I heard a voice.

I heard Brindleface. "My kit! My darling kit!"

And them Whitestorm, "Calm down, Brindleface. Barkface and Yellowfang will cure her."

Be brave, little Stealthkit, Spottedleaf had said, for you have a long journey ahead of you.

No, I insisted. I am Stealthpaw, and my life will go on. Soon I will be a warrior, and I will care for this clan with my final breath.

Many of our clanmates were injured. Fireheart and Graystripe, who had been fighting for a while, were sitting together, as if nothing had come between them in the first place.

I looked for Lionheart. When I started to think he was with Yellowfang, as if on que, she padded over to me. "Stealthpaw," she meowed quietly. "There's something that you have to see."

She moved over, and a warrior named Runningwind was carrying my mentor by his scruff. I suddenly realized what was going on. "No! This can't be!"

"We're sorry, Stealthpaw. We did everything we could, but StarClan was ready for him." Yellowfang meowed.

They layed him down next me, and I buried my nose in his pelt. I must have upset Barkface by moving, but he didn't complain. My eyes leaked again. What is happening to me?

I felt that it was okay. I didn't know what it was, but I dealt with it.

I am Stealthpaw, and my life will go on. Soon I will be a warrior, and I will care for this clan with my final breath. For Lionheart, for my parents, and for my leader.

I just hope I don't lose myself along the way.