My eyes fly open as I think of the day that is today. I look around, and I feel my paw touch nothing but the cold ground. The moss around me is wet from the rain, and my eyes are cold. I look outside, and I look at the leader's den. If I am chosen for the Warrior Games, then I will be made deputy. If I'm made deputy, I'll soon become leader. If I'm chosen and I loose, I'm dead, and my life is gone. I walk outside, and I see the rain still dropping from the cold sky. Today our leader, Blackstar, will choose who is going to the warrior games. I walk into the apprentice den, and see my younger sister, Mousepaw, lying down, sleeping. "C'mon, Mousepaw," I meowed. "It's time to get up."

She opened her eyes, and I licked her head. "Hold on, Longstripe," she meowed.

I am my younger sister's mentor. I teach her how to fight, hunt, and many other warrior things. "Okay," I meow. "I'll call you before the reaping."

I walk outside, and I see my leader at High Rock. He looked down at his clan, and he looks troubled. Is that guilt in his eyes? She shook her head, and she came to the deputy. "How do you feel about Blackstar going to the elder's den, and you being leader?" I look at him, and I lick his ear.

"I feel strange," he meows. "I got the message from StarClan last night, and I mustn't tell you who it is." I look at him, and I feel sad. It must be terrible to choose a poor cat to kill and or die.

I see Blackstar jump down from the rock. "Hawkfang," he meowed. "Please, I need to know who will be chosen for the Warrior Games." I look at him, and I sigh.

I remember when Scourge took over the forest and had Bone as his deputy. If Tigerstar hadn't been my secret father, I know I wouldn't be here now. Not even my younger sister knows that my dad is Tigerstar. Our mother, Sasha, is the only one that knows with me. I look at my sister, and I smile. "Come here, Mousepaw," I meow, and she nods. "We need to hunt until the reaping. C'mon, now," I meow.

Mousepaw and I walk out of the dens and our camp, and we see that the prey is becoming scarce. I look at Mousepaw, and she caught three mice and a bird. "Nice," I meow, and she smiles.

We hear the yowl of the leader, and we run home. We drop the fresh-kill in the fresh-kill pile, and run to the High Rock. "Cats of clan," Blackstar yowls. "We are gathered here now to call the cats for the Warriors Games. Hawkfang has spoken to me. There are two warriors, one she and one tom will be chosen for the Warrior Games."

Hawkfang stepped forward. "The she for this year's Warrior Games will show courage and sacrifice for her warriors," he meowed. "If she wins, she will become deputy, and my right-hand cat. The apprentice for this year's Warrior Games is. . ." He stopped for a moment, and he looked down at me.

Oh no, I think, and I hear the words escape my mouth. "I volunteer!" I just volunteered for my younger sister, Mousepaw.