Molebite peered through the bracken. On the other side of the small clearing, he spotted his apprentice's grey tabby pelt, her blue eyes focused on the mouse in the middle of the clearing. He watched as Puddlepaw wiggled her haunches and leaped with a growl. The mouse looked up, fright in it's small black eyes. Puddlepaw landed besides the mouse, landing clumsily. Without hesitation, the mouse ran off into the grass. Puddlepaw hissed a curse, unsheathing her claws with irritation.

Molebite sighed, his hope falling like snowflakes. He walked out of the bracken. Puddlepaw looked at him, "Sorry, Molebite. My pounce was off."

Molebite blinked, "Did you focus on the mouse?" he asked.

Puddlepaw nodded vigorously. Molebite's eyes fell on a small white flower poking up from where Puddlepaw had landed. She was focused on a flower instead of prey. He thought with a frown.

"Sorry. I am trying. I really am." Puddlepaw mewed, looking at her paws.

Molebite put on a small smile and walked up to Puddlepaw, nudging his apprentice, "It's fine. We all make mistakes. It's a part of life."

Puddlepaw looked up and smiled, "Thanks for not being mad."

"Of course. Nothing to be mad about." Molebite mewed, Just disappointed, "Why don't you head on back to camp. I'm going to get a drink from the border stream."

"Okay!" Puddlepaw mewed, "Tomorrow, I'll catch the biggest bird in the forest! You'll see. Stonepaw will be so jealous! And you'll be proud."

Molebite nodded, "I sure will."

Puddlepaw smiled and trotted off towards camp.

As soon as Puddlepaw was out of sight, Molebite's smile turned into a frown and his shoulders slumped. He sighed, "Am I doing this wrong?" he mumbled. Puddlepaw had been helpless. Her hunting was sloppy and she couldn't get a hit on a cat if they were sleeping. Molebite hoped he could train her. Turn Puddlepaw into a real warrior. He had trained Smallscar and he was a wondrous warrior. He could fight like no other and he always brought prey back. So what was Molebite doing wrong with Puddlepaw? Perhaps it was just Puddlepaw. He could try to suggest she become a medicine cat apprentice. But Tangnose was already training Whippaw, and he was almost done with his training.

Come on, Molebite. She only started a moon ago. She'll do fine. Molebite tried to tell himself and he headed for the WindClan border. But the more he thought, the more his hopes died away.

Mistlestar, the SkyClan leader, was being hostile to ThunderClan. She accused them of stealing off of SkyClan land, which was entirely untrue. Molebite and his clanmates hadn't gone over the border in moons! Not even a whisker! Mistlestar just likes to stir trouble and cause battles. Molebite thought with a huff, very deadly battles. He shivered at the thought of Puddlepaw being on a patrol and then being attacked by Mistlestar's cats. She made sure everyone left with more than one scar. Well, not everyone. He could already see Puddlepaw stretched out, blood pooling from her throat onto the frosty grass. He shook his fur, trying to get the nasty image from his head.

He reached the border stream and sat down, looking into the water. He took a breath and exhaled, "She'll get better." he told himself.

He lapped at the stream and then turned around and headed for camp.

Molebite- Black tom with white splotches

Puddlepaw- Grey tabby she-cat with blue eyes

Real short chapter today