Read Online The Apprentice's Quest by Erin Hunter - Free Book Online

Leafpool’s steady gaze on him. Medicine cats know things, he reflected. Maybe she knows that there’s something wrong with me, and I’ll never be a good warrior.
    He was worrying so much that he didn’t realize Molewhisker had halted and was speaking to him. All he heard was the final words: “. . . try doing it that way.”
    â€œSorry,” he mewed. “Would you mind saying that again?”
    Molewhisker flexed his claws, and his voice was sharp as he replied. “Alderpaw, you need to pay attention. A cat who can’t hunt is no good to his Clan.”
    Alderpaw flinched at the harsh tone. Molewhisker gazed at him and sighed, shaking his head slightly. He was obviously making a massive effort to regain his patience.
    â€œI want you to focus very intensely on one small area at a time while you’re looking for prey,” he meowed. “Don’t open your ears and nose to all the territory around you.”
    â€œOkay, I’ll try,” Alderpaw responded.
    After glancing around, he picked out the undergrowth at the foot of an oak tree and concentrated all his senses on it. Eventually he heard something scratching among the tree roots; tasting the air, he recognized the scent of mouse.
    Alderpaw dropped into the hunter’s crouch and crept forward. He remembered everything Molewhisker had taught him: to keep low, his belly fur brushing the ground, and to keep his tail curled against his side.
    He set down his paws as lightly as he could, and as he drew closer to the tree, his whole pelt tingled with the thought of victory. This time I’m going to do it. . . . I’m sure of it!
    Now he could see the small, gray body of the mouse crouched behind a tuft of long grass. His jaws were already watering at the anticipated taste of prey. But just as he was readying himself to pounce, a twig cracked underneath his forepaw. With a flicker, the mouse was gone.
    Alderpaw halted, letting out a growl of frustration. He didn’t dare look at Molewhisker until his mentor stood right over him.
    Molewhisker’s tail-tip was twitching in agitation. “Maybe that’s enough for today,” he meowed, his voice tightly controlled.
    He was silent as he led the way back to camp, and Alderpaw followed in a fog of despair. It’s all going wrong! Whoever heard of awarrior who can’t fight and can’t hunt?
    As soon as they emerged from the thorn tunnel into the camp, Bramblestar bounded over to them. “Molewhisker, I need a word with you,” he meowed. “Come up to my den.”
    â€œOkay, Bramblestar.” Molewhisker glanced back as he followed his leader toward the tumbled rocks. “Alderpaw, you can get something to eat.”
    Alderpaw trudged over to the fresh-kill pile. Sparkpaw was already there, tucking into the thrush she had caught. “How did it go?” she asked.
    â€œAwful,” Alderpaw replied. “I missed another really easy catch.”
    â€œOh, mouse dung!” Sparkpaw’s gaze was sympathetic, and she pressed her muzzle briefly into Alderpaw’s shoulder. “Never mind. You can share this thrush. There’s plenty.”
    â€œThanks,” Alderpaw mewed miserably. Am I always going to depend on other cats for food?
    As he took his first bite, Sparkpaw glanced curiously up at Bramblestar’s den on the Highledge. “Are you in trouble?” she asked. “Is that why Bramblestar is talking to Molewhisker?”
    Alderpaw’s belly lurched. I never thought of that. I was just so relieved to have the training over. “Of course not,” he responded, gazing nervously up at the Highledge. But he couldn’t keep a quaver out of his voice, and he knew Sparkpaw realized he didn’t believe what he was saying.
    As he watched, Bramblestar and Molewhisker emerged from the den, Jayfeather and Leafpool walking in their wake. All four cats climbed down the tumbled rocks to the ground.Bramblestar