Chapter 1

“I’m stuck!”

Spiralpaw sighed in exasperation as Pinepaw called out for help yet again. She and the other apprentices had been traveling for nearly half a moon now. She circled back to where the black-and-brown apprentice was trapped in a tangle of brambles. “Swirlpaw! Skypaw!” Spiralpaw called. “Pinepaw’s stuck again!”

“You don’t need to embarrass me!” Pinepaw whispered.

“Sorry, but you need help,” Spiralpaw meowed. “I can’t get you out alone.”

The other apprentices came bounding toward them. Swirlpaw immediately started tugging away brambles, while Skypaw edged closer to Spiralpaw and whispered, “Why does he always get stuck?”

Spiralpaw shrugged and joined Swirlpaw, and after a few heartbeats of hesitation, Skypaw joined in too.

After all the brambles were clear and Pinepaw was free, they turned and headed toward the direction of the setting sun again.

It wasn’t long before Spiralpaw’s paws were dragging with exhaustion. She glanced at her companions and realized they were getting tired, too. “We need to rest,” she told them. “Let’s find somewhere to camp.”

They padded through the unfamiliar forest until they found a hole in a tree big enough for them all to fit in. “I’ll hunt with Spiralpaw,” Swirlpaw announced. “Skypaw and Pinepaw, you two can find moss for bedding.”

“Why do we need bedding?” Pinepaw complained. “We’re only going to use it for a night.”

“Would you rather sleep without a nest?” Skypaw snapped. “Come on.” She stalked off into the forest with a grumbling Pinepaw behind her.

“Annoying, isn’t he?” Swirlpaw meowed, leading Spiralpaw somewhere else in the forest.

Spiralpaw nodded in agreement. She opened her mouth to taste the air and picked up the scent of mouse almost instantly. She dropped into a hunting crouch and crept toward the scent. Swirlpaw went off in another direction.

Spiralpaw spotted the small creature next to a tree root. I can do this, she told herself. She crept forward a bit more, then pushed off with her hind legs. She landed squarely on the mouse with a thump. It let out a squeak of fear, but it was too late. Spiralpaw leaned down and sank her teeth into its neck. The mouse went limp.

I caught my first mouse!

Shining with pride, Spiralpaw buried her catch and sniffed the air for something else.

Before long, she had caught a second mouse and was heading back to the tree. She jumped as the bushes rustled behind her and whirled around, then relaxed as she realized it was Swirlpaw.

“Hi, Spiralpaw,” the gray-and-white tabby mewed cheerfully around the two squirrels that were dangling from her jaws. “I see you’ve caught two mice!”

Spiralpaw nodded and ran over to the hollow tree where Pinepaw and Skypaw were already settling in. She slipped into the hole and dropped the two mice at their paws. “I caught these!” she mewed proudly.

“That’s great,” Skypaw mewed warmly. “Thank you.” She picked up one of them and began to eat.

“What has Swirlpaw caught?” Pinepaw asked. “I want to see what she’s caught before I eat this.” He poked the mouse with a claw.

A jolt of anger shook Spiralpaw, but before she could snap at him, Swirlpaw slid in beside her and mewed sharply, “Pinepaw, eat the mouse. I’ve caught squirrels, by the way.” When Pinepaw’s eyes lit up hopefully, she added sternly, “No, eat the mouse! You should be grateful for what Spiralpaw has caught for you!”

“Sorry,” Pinepaw muttered, and sank his teeth into the mouse.

“Isn’t he older than you?” Swirlpaw murmured to Spiralpaw, and gave her one of the squirrels and took one for herself.

Spiralpaw tore a piece out of the squirrel and chewed without answering. I don’t really think she even wanted me to answer that anyway.

“Spiralpaw,” Pinepaw mewed suddenly, looking up from his meal.

Spiralpaw looked up and blinked at him. “What?”

“Why did StarClan send that vision to you, not a medicine cat? What if we’re doing all this for nothing? It might’ve just been a dream.”

“I know it was real,” Spiralpaw snarled. “A StarClan cat really came to me. I know, Pinepaw. I’m definitely sure.”

Pinepaw turned away and continued gnawing at the mouse. “Fine.”

As they continued their journey the next morning, Spiralpaw let Pinepaw’s words echo in her mind. What if she was wrong? What if that had all been for nothing? She should be back in camp right now, training alongside her sister.

Spiralpaw pushed the thought away. No. I’m sure of it. Heatherfur came to me and gave me a message, and we’re going on this journey to save the Clans. All of them.