Chapter One
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Dark clouds formed in the sky. Cold wind swept through the forest, making eerie, whisper-like noises echo across the trees. And, from time to time, bundles of leaves would form on the ground, signaling that leaf-bare was almost here.

Steampaw crouched down in the bushes, his gaze locked onto a mouse scurrying across the fallen limbs and roots. The apprentice's belly roared with hunger, making him realize that he hasn't eaten in two sunrises.

The prey halted and twitched. Then, it began to wash itself. Mice are so stupid, Steampaw thought, creeping closer to his target. Steampaw jumped out and embedded his claws into the mouse's body.

It tried to get away, but the wounds the apprentice gave it slowed the mouse down. Steampaw bounded up to it and killed the animal with a swift bite to its neck.

Steampaw picked up the mouse's limp body and carried it back into the bushes, where he buried it for later. The gray tom padded away from the dust mound and approached a large oak tree. His eyes glistened in the remaining sunlight. Steampaw locked his claws onto the soft bark and pulled himself up.

Gradually, he made his way up the oak and rested on a thick limb. His tail and hindlegs dangled off the edge, swinging limply in the wind. Steampaw sighed and stared out at the horizon. Thunder boomed above the mountains, but the apprentice decided to stay put. He knew that he had some time before the actual storm hit.

As he outstretched himself onto the tree limb, tiredness began to sweep over Steampaw; and he closed his eyes and fell asleep.

Rain drops seeped into Steampaw's pelt, making him shoot up. He licked his gray pelt and stared up at the sky. Wet precipitation began to fall faster from the graying clouds.

Steampaw grunted and climbed down the tree. Once he reached the bottom, he shook his fur and stretched his weary limbs. Lightning flashed above, making the tom flinch.

"Really," he mumbled. "It's raining again?" Steampaw padded towards the deeper parts of the forest and made his way to the bush where he had stored the mouse.

He lifted his head and allowed scents to rub over the glands on the roof of his mouth. All that he could pick up, was the faint smell of a hare that had been killed long ago. Puzzled, Steampaw continued to search for his mouse.

"What in the name of StarClan? Where did it go?" he wondered. Finally, the prey's odor swirled around his jaws. "Ah ha." Streampaw followed the smell to the fimiliar bush. As he pulled back the leaves, he saw that a hole had been dug in the spot where he had buried the mouse.

The apprentice pushed his way in and looked down into the aperture. Nothing was there. Nothing but large claw marks. "A fox," Steampaw whispered. "I better tell Longstar."

He pulled out of the bush, just as the rain grew heavier. "I better get back," he said to himself. The gray tom padded into the deep forest, wishing he had something hanging from his jaws. Steampaw's mentor, Foxstep, wouldn't like the fact that her apprentice didn't bring anything back.

She would likely send Steampaw to his den and make him wait longer to get his meal. Sighing, the tom walked silently into the bracken.

Once he had arrived at the bramble entrance, Foxstep squeezed out and met him. "Steampaw," she questioned. "Where's your prey?"

"Er . . . A fox got it after I buried it." he admitted, wrapping his tail around his paws.

"Steampaw, you know that you're supposed to bring back food right after you kill it. Especially during this time of the year when we need it most." the ginger she-cat groaned. Steampaw nodded and ashamedly looked away. "Listen, if it makes you feel any better-"

"Nothing will make me better, Foxstep. I'm a disgrace to the Clan, okay? Nothing is going to change that," Steampaw inturrupted, flicking his tail. He pushed beside of his mentor and crawled underneath the brambles.

When he appeared on the other side, he saw that only a couple of the Clan cats were out in the rain. Longstar was talking to Brindletail, while Pinefrost was sitting outside of his den, flicking wet drops off of his ears. Steampaw blinked, then padded towards the apprentices' den, where a pair of blue eyes met him.

"Hey, Steampaw!" A white tom stepped out, his long fur matted with brambles.

"Hi, Whitepaw," Steampaw replied.

"What are you doing in the rain?" Whitepaw chuckled, sitting down. The gray tom shrugged and followed his friend inside. "So, what did you catch?"

"A mouse, but a stupid fox found it before I could get back to it." Steampaw sighed. Whitepaw half-smiled and laid down in his nest. Both toms watched the rain fall outside. It drummed against the top of the den, making Steampaw sleepy. Eventually, he closed his eyes again and dozed off.

A/N: Stupid writers block! I couldn't think of anything to go with this, so it's short. Boo! Anyway, I don't own Warriors.