Leaves ruffled as the young apprentice slid through a gap between two bracken bushes, her jaws wide open to drink the scent of prey. It was early green leaf so the rocky moor land would have plentiful prey. The she-cat kept her body low, concentrating on the low dulcet of movement between each rock. She had moved more out of the bracken and towards the mouse she had spotted on a rock. The rock was low enough for her to leap on but she wasn't sure how flat it was. Before she could make a decision, the mouse had spotted her and scurried away.

She grumbled and swiftly turned away. That was my third try! Taking a moment to calm herself, she proceeded to slip back up the slope. Small rocks dappled at the dry, hard earth longing for rain. It was only three suns ago she experienced a horrifying dream she thought was from Starclan. She couldn't stop thinking about the black tom she met. " I must save them ", she repeated to herself before bumping into her mentor. " Keep your eyes off the ground ", she gasped. Owlpaw looked up then dipped her head , " Excuse me ". Pebbledash gave her shoulder a long lick and quickly scanned Owlpaw. " Did you have any luck today, I'm worried about you ".

She looked away nodding. " Well, I guess we should get back to camp anyway. Wouldn't want to be late for Elkpaw's warrior ceremony ," she mewed picking up her prey. Owlpaw followed her.

Owlpaw had almost forgotten about the ceremony. She couldn't wait for her own but at this rate Fadedstar would never make her a warrior. She had tried so hard to prove herself worthy enough to live in the clan. It was about three seasons ago when she was found on Frostclan territory by a dawn patrol. The warriors took her to Poppyspot, a nursing queen at the time, who would become her new mother.

Though she and Poppyspot were close, they didn't talk much now and she had warrior assessments to finish. She had grown more close to Pebbledash in time. " Keep your head high dear, I'm sure if you're not feeling well Foxmark will aid you". Owlpaw lifted her head, " I'll visit him after the ceremony ".

The two cats pushed their way through a tunnel of brambles and into a large flat clearing. There weren't many trees in sight but there was a ring of massive rocks and tall bramble bushes that protected the camp. The high rock was centered near the nursery, sharing it's sweet grass along the bramble. Owlpaw, Blackkit, and Elkpaw always played in it. Unfortunately not long after she arrived, Blackkit caught greencough and joined Starclan, young.

Cats were starting to gather around the high rock but still no sign of Elkpaw. " Save me a spot next to you," Pebbledash meowed heading for the fresh-kill pile.

Owlpaw turned from her and toward the high rock. She noticed an empty space near the bottom of a nearby tree. She padded over and rested her body, tucking her paws under her neatly. She scanned the hollow. Honeydrop, a golden tabby she-cat , was sharing prey with Stormpelt, a big grey tom, about a fox-length from the high rock. Not far from them was Cloverleaf and Waterdash.

Owlpaw could remember Cloverleaf was an apprentice when she was a kit. They had a couple friendly hellos through other than that, she didn't know her. Hawkclaw moved in to join them.

" Thank you for waiting, Owlpaw ", Pebbledash rasped, trembling towards her.

" Did you just run a moor ," Owlpaw fooled while Pebbledash settled beside her. " No, Dear. JollyHeart needed something to eat and then Blizzardstorm needed to speak with me ." Owlpaw turned toward her meeting her pretty blue eyes, " Seems like you're the warrior they want ." She smiled then rested her eyes back on the high rock. Owlpaw continued to watch the clearing.

Many heart beats passed as Owlpaw began to notice the clearing begin to fill. Cloudtail sat beside Leafpaw and Foxmark, Blizzardstorm sat alone , and Frostpelt stumbling out of the elder's den. He was the past leader and the one who started it all. He was leader when Owlpaw joined them and Poppyspot would always share stories with her about their great leader.

" Let all cats old enough to battle in frost , join me here beneath the high rock for a clan meeting !"

Owlpaw finally spotted Elkpaw across the clearing. Both Bluestripe and Poppyspot at his side. The cats parted and Elkpaw padded to the base of the high rock, his eyes bright. "

" Elkpaw has come of age to join the warriors in the warrior' den." Fadedstar started to disappear beneath the dying sun. It's rays stretched colorfully across the sleepy sky. " I apologize, we will begin the ceremony when all is ready !" Fadedstar slipped down and rushed to the entrance, " What is that furrball doing ", Pebbledash mewed, getting to her paws. " I'll get some prey for the two of us while we wait ." Owlpaw nodded and watched her trail off. She caught sight of Bluestripe followed by Hawkclaw and Honeydrop, following after Fadedstar. What's going on!?

" Here ," pebbledash dropped a plump thrush at her paws. She plopped down then started to eat. " What happened to Fadedstar ," Owlpaw asked after she swallowed a mouthful of prey. " I was about to head out. Bluestripe said he needed me ." " Could I come ," Owlpaw mewed, bouncing to her paws after one last bite. Pebbledash sat up and licked her paw, swiping it over her ear, " no ". Owlpaw felt a little disappointed, though it's got to be dangerous if Fadedstar left without reason. " Sorry, I don't want you to get hurt ." She got to her paws, licked Owlpaw on her fore-head, and padded off towards the entrance.

That night Owlpaw slept restlessly. Half of the clan was still absent and the nightmares still haunted her. She sat up looking around the apprentice den. Leafpaw was curled on the other side of the den, her grey fur shone like silverpelt in the moonlight that found itself through the leaves. She is so beautiful. Elkpaw was nowhere to be seen.

Standing on her paws, she moved to the entrance of the apprentice's den. The clan was sound asleep even all the prey. No sound. " I wonder where they've gone ." Owlpaw leaped up, her fur on end and her eyes sharp. " Relax!" It was Leafpaw, she looked as if she were going to explode with laughter. Owlpaw turned back to the clearing, " I need to know if they're okay ." Leafpaw shook her head, " Their fine I'm sure. Faded star will take care of them ."

She has a point though I still feel like somethings wrong. Starclan! Please keep them safe!

The dawn crawled across the camp, Clouds fluffed the sky looking heavy with rain. Finally! Owlpaw cleaned her pelt, staring straight at the sky. She was invited on a hunting patrol with Litchenwood and Leafpaw. She was excited to spend more time with Leafpaw and get to know Litchenwood. It would work out perfectly! She would hopefully forget about the prophecy and start to focus more on her training. " Ready to go?" Owlpaw nodded then leaped on her paws to join them.

The scent of rain grew more heavy as the three cats arrived near the stone river, Leafpaw was the first to break apart of the group, heading up upstream. " I'll bring back what I can ," she called before disappearing into

some nearby shrubs. " Where do you want to start ?" Litchenwood took a moment to look around before pointing his tail towards a massive flat rock. Moss drew over it, with a few patches of tall, narrow blades of grass surrounding, " Perfect ," Owlpaw mewed keeping pace with Litchenwood.

" Your mentor is not here so i'll be training you myself ," he mewed as the two stood at the edge of the rock. " What about Leafpaw ," Owlpaw mewed, staring off somewhere. " Wouldn't do any harm in training the two of you myself ." Owlpaw shrugged then took a moment to taste the air. She caught a strong scent of shrew, " Shrew ." " Good, what else ." Lifting her head higher, she could smell a faint, familiar scent. Confused, she leaped on the flat rock and too a moment to look around. It couldn't be! She spotted a black tom across the moor, his body shaped was torn and then it hit her! The black tom from her dream.

" Well ," Litchenwood mewed impatiently, carefully watching her as she stepped down. " Rain ." " Okay, you may hunt now. I'll be over there ," He pointed with his nose towards a tree covered with brackens and rocks.

Owlpaw turned back facing the stop where the black tom stood, he was gone now. There will be no stars. There will be no protection for the clans. You must save them. The words repeated in her mind, why was she chosen? Was it just herself? A million questions fluttered through her mind before she shook herself then continued to hunt. Whatever is going on, I hope Starclan sends me another sign soon.