A butterfly danced just out of Skykit's tiny claws. She was eagerly dashing and weaving in between the forest trees. The smell of prey was rich but there was something about the butterfly's fungus like glow that made her want to catch it. Lowering herself into a hunting crouch she growled in a whisper," I've got you now."

Silently the tiny huntress crept forward to where the bug was landed on a fallen tree. She waited for a few seconds and sprang towards her prey. She dug her claws in deep and ripped the wings off the butterfly's body. Skykit looked at the her kill proudly.

"That's an excellent catch." purred a smooth voice.

Whipping around Skykit saw icy green eyes gazing at her with interest from the shadows. That's when she noticed that the forest was no longer bright and sunny and prey rich, but instead dark , foggy and smelled instead like crow food .Glancing back at the cat staring at her, she opened her tiny mouth to taste the strangers scent. All she smelled was crow food.

Stepping out of the shadow, the stranger purred warmly," Now tell me what is such a smart kitten like you wasting her time with pathetic bugs, when you could set your sights on more….productive studies."

Skykit looked curiously at the she cat before her, the stranger was a ginger and white she cat but had an unusual green glow…kind of like the butterflies…

Then registering the strangers question , she ducked her head shyly," I just wanted to catch the butterfly so I could show Papa and Darkkit…"glancing up at the ginger and white she cat," Did I do something wrong."

Leaning forward the she cat purred again," Of course not dear, in fact I'm impressed. There is potential in you to become a great warrior."

Skykit crouched down lower," What do you know about me? I don't even know who you are!" Fear crept into the tiny kit's veins at the thought of the ginger stranger spying on her.

The stranger then said warmly, "Oh but I know everything about you, you see I am one of the clan's ancestors. A powerful one at that. My name is Mapleshade, one of the lost names in your history. I assure you, you have nothing to fear from me. I have watched since the day you were born, little Skykit, me and my…friends have been discussing your future. But aside from that I see you as a daughter.' Leaning towards the frightened she kit she asked gently," Would you like to learn a hunting technique?"

Skykit looked at the she cat and felt her fear evaporate. This powerful cat thought of her as a daughter and wanted to teach her a hunting move? This had never happened to her before! Her father and the whole clan always would say she was too fragile or too small to handle anything. Nodding eagerly Skykit mewed ,"Yes, please."

Backing up Mapleshade said," Watch closely what I do, little warrior."

Mapleshade crouched down low and crept silently forward, keeping her paws tucked underneath her and her tail straight out and held off the ground. She stopped suddenly and pounced several feet into the air, claws unsheathed, and landed deftly on the ground. Turning back to look at Skykit she asked," Did you get that dear?"

Skykit was still mesmerized at how graceful ,precise, and deadly Mapleshade had moved. How could a runt kit like her ever move with such precision? Skykit felt warmth on her back and saw that Mapleshade had come to stand by her side and had laid her tail on Skykit's shoulders. Gazing down at the little kit with understanding she mewed quietly," It's okay if you don't get it right the first time. If you practice and do as I tell you, you can be just as powerful as me, maybe even more so.'

Skykit gazed at the she cat in wonder. A hunger the little kit had never felt before flashed through her veins, she suddenly wanted to have the power that Mapleshade had. She wanted to be strong enough that everyone would stop worrying about how fragile and tiny she was. For the first time in her life Skykit felt like she wasn't just the leader's weak, clumsy daughter, she felt like all that mattered was becoming a powerful warrior. One so strong no one would doubt that her, Skykit, would be the best.A cat so strong she could be the next leader.

Meeting Mapleshade's eyes with a feirce dark blue gaze she said,"I'll do whatever you say. Make me as powerful as you."