The breeze of the moor ruffled Sparrowpaw's fur. He silently crept through the stalks of heather, feeling the plant rub against his pelt, irritating him. But he couldn't move. Even the slightest noise would ruin his hunt. Sparrowpaw wriggled his haunches, preparing to leap when-

"Wake up!"

Sparrowpaw slowly blinked open his eyes and yawned "Wha-"

"Let's go. It's time for training."

Stormheart turned and walked to the camp entrance, waiting for him. Sparrowpaw looked around the den to see that Batpaw and Blazepaw were both still fast asleep. Why was he being woken up so early? Maybe he had a special mission? He purred at the thought of going on a mission and saving his Clan. He got up and stretched, before walking over to his mentor "What are we doing today?" Sparrowpaw asked

"You'll see." Stormheart replied, turning and exiting the camp. Sparrowpaw looked around at the sights he saw. The moor was huge!

"Are you going to show me the territory?" Sparrowpaw asked

"Later."

"Hunting?"

"No."

"Battle training?"

"No."

"Then what are we doing?" Sparrowpaw asked again, looking up at his mentor. He hoped it wasn't collecting bedding for the elders. Blazepaw always complained about it.

"Today we're going to run the moor."
Sparrowpaw couldn't hide his disappointment

"What? All of it?" Stormheart nodded "Yes, all of it."

"But why?"

Stormheart huffed, seeming rather annoyed by all of his questions. "Running helps with everything. If you can run the moor, you will have strong speed and endurance. It will help with your hunting and fighting skills, plus it's a quick way to learn the territory."

Sparrowpaw's eyes now showed sudden interest. If running could help with all that, then maybe it wasn't so bad.

"I want you to follow me." Stormheart explained "You may not be able to keep up now, but you will soon enough."

Sparrowpaw nodded "When do we start?"
"Now." Stormheart replied, immediately dashing ahead. Sparrowpaw shook his head and began chasing after him.

He soon found that Stormheart was right. He couldn't keep up and he didn't know if he'd ever be able to. He felt like the wind was going to blow him off his paws and he felt like his lungs were closing up. He would have preferred cleaning bedding any day! He felt like he was going to vomit.

"Come on!" Stormheart yowled over his shoulder "I've seen kits run faster!"

This insult made Sparrowpaw boil over with anger. He suddenly felt his legs move faster and faster with each step. He was now timing his breathing and getting into a rhythm. He imagined a rabbit in front of him, and he was hunting for his Clan in leafbare. He would not let them starve. He felt his heart pounding as he gained on the rabbit. The rabbit then suddenly stopped running and it's fur turned black. Sparrowpaw then realized he was picturing Stormheart, his mentor, to be a rabbit.

He stopped once he caught up to him and sat down, panting heavily. Stormheart looked down at him "Not bad for your first try." Sparrowpaw brightened up at his praise "But you still need a lot of work." Sparrowpaw's smile faded. "Now come on." Stormheart growled "We have to run back."

Sparrowpaw collapsed in his nest. His legs felt like they were going to fall off! After they had ran back, Stormheart gave him a tour of the territory, but he struggled to keep up with his mentor and barely remembered all the scents. It seemed like Stormheart was trying to kill him! Even in the tour of the territory, he made them run. Sparrowpaw was convinced that his mentor was crazy. All he wanted to do was sleep for a moon, when his sister walked into the den.

"Guess what Sparrowpaw?" Batpaw giggled
"What?" Sparrowpaw grumbled unenthusiastically

"I caught a rabbit today!"

"Great." Sparrowpaw replied sarcastically
Batpaw flattened her ears, but then smiled and kept talking "Well, Mudpool had to help me a lot. She showed me how to track them and catch them. She's such a cool mentor! How's your mentor?"

Sparrowpaw rolled his eyes "Oh, he's fantastic."

Batpaw frowned "What's wrong? You look like someone just stole your fresh kill."

Sparrowpaw looked up at his sister "Training was awful! He made me run the whole moor! Twice! I feel like my legs are going to fall off."
Batpaw looked at him sympathetically "I'm sure your training will get better." Batpaw laid down in her nest, next to Sparrowpaw's.

"I hope it does because if we keep doing this, I don't know if I'll last a half moon."

Batpaw butted his shoulder affectionately "You'll be fine. I know you will."

Sparrowpaw silently wished he could share his sisters optimism. He looked up at the stars and sighed, drifting off into sleep.