"Tawnypaw!" Ravenpaw purred. I glanced up from my vole to see my brother padding back into the hollow with his mentor, Nightsun. In his jaws was a huge rabbit.

"Wow! What a great catch Ravenpaw!" Skypaw, a former BreezeClan kit purred. I dug my claws deep into the soil. She's always mooning over him! Can't she find a different cat to moon over instead of my brother? Ravenpaw ignored Skypaw and padded over to me.

"Did you see it?" Ravenpaw asked excitedly.

"Yes, I did. It was huge." I purred amusingly, smirking at Skypaw. The white she-cat muttered something under her breath before padding away.

"What's her problem?" Ravenpaw wondered out loud.

"Who knows." I shrugged.

"Tawnypaw, shouldn't you be out with your mentor?" Rivermist narrowed her eyes.

"Yes, I'll go and find her." I dipped my head at the deputy before dashing off the find Mistycloud. I knew there was no point in searching, Mistycloud had left on Shadowstrike's border patrol. She's always leaving me in the camp. It's been a moon since I've been an apprentice and I've only left the camp three times! Why does she hate me so much?

"Tawnypaw, come on. We're hunting with Dovetail and Skypaw." I heard Mistycloud hiss.

"Coming!" I called. Great! A hunting patrol with Skypaw. I followed the two warriors out of the hollow, Skypaw was at my side. I could tell she hated it just as much as I did.

"I smell a rabbit." Mistycloud announced. She dashed away, leaving me alone with Dovetail and Skypaw.

"Don't mind her, she just never let the ceremony go. She had two brothers, one died before the ceremony and the other was Wanted. She felt she was alone, even though she was surrounded by new Clan mates. Did you know Mistycloud was one of the first kits Unwanted? She was Unwanted the year they started it. The only Unwanted kit from her Clan. That's what made it harder for her. I was Unwanted that first year too, but I had other kits with me. I got to know her once we joined the Clan, but she still keeps to herself." Dovetail sighed.

"It must be hard to be the only Unwanted from her Clan." I mewed.

"Yeah." Skypaw agreed. I feel bad for her. I don't know what I would do if Ravenpaw and the other StormClan apprentices weren't here with me.


"Iceshadow, I wish things were different." I sighed.

"I know. But you still have two of your sons, isn't that enough?" Iceshadow asked.

"I suppose I am lucky to have them. Some cats aren't as lucky." I agreed, glancing over at Duskwind and Vinepelt. They haven't to the other cats much ever since their only kits, Dustkit and Rabbitkit were marked Unwanted. It's not my fault they disobeyed the rules of the forest. I just wish Ravenkit and Tawnykit had chosen a different path.

"What's Fuzzynose doing?" Iceshadow narrowed her eyes. I glanced at my oldest son, who was speaking with a small white tom.

"He's just speaking with his apprentice. Probably teaching about herbs." I shrugged. Iceshadow nodded.

"Well, I have to take my apprentice out hunting. I'll see what Fernpaw can do." Iceshadow mewed before padding out of the den. I yawned before curling up in my nest and fell asleep.

"Shadowstar, come here." a she-cat's voice said softly. That voice, I know that voice. I glanced around till I spotted a snowy white-pelt of a she-cat. I recognised her immediately.

"Bluesky!" I purred.

"Shadowstar, I have terrible news." Bluesky said seriously.

"What is it?" I asked, all my excitement was gone.

"This part of the forest is in trouble. You, and the other Clan leaders must lead your Clans away." Bluesky warned.

"But where will we go?" I ask.

"Deeper into the forest. You will lead your Clans to the far side of the forest, where it's safe. You will find what you need there. I must go now." Bluesky mewed, fading away.

"No!" I cried. I awoke in my nest.

"Please don't leave me." I whisper, but I know she couldn't hear that. I know that she has already left me.


"Wake up." I hear a voice. I slowly open my eyes and glance at my den mates. They're all still fast asleep.

"Who's there?" I call softly.

"Come." It says again. Suspiciously, I pad out of the den and taste the air. I pick up a strange scent and follow it out of the hollow.

"Where are you?" I call.

"I'm right here." a cat steps out of the shadows.

"Mother!" I cried.

"I've missed you." She purred.

"I've missed you too." I mew.

"I'm sorry, but I must leave. I just had to see you but now I must go." she mewed.

"No! Don't leave!" I cry.

"I'm sorry, but I must." My mother began fading away.

"Don't leave me. Don't leave me like everyone else has." I cry.

"I'll never leave you." her voice echoed. She's wrong. She already has left me. She left me when I was a kit, just like everyone else did. I am all alone.