ALLEGIANCES
THUNDERCLAN
LEADER: FOXSTAR—ginger tom with white paws, ears, and tail-tip, and kind blue eyes (Coyoteflame's brother)
DEPUTY: OWLSPARK—skinny brown tabby she-cat with amber eyes
MEDICINE CATS:
MOONFALL—long-furred silver tabby she-cat with green eyes
POPPYLEAF—tortoiseshell she-cat with amber eyes
WARRIORS:
ODDGAZE—brown-and-white tom with ragged fur, one amber eye, one blue eye, and numerous scars
FINCHCHIRP—small golden tabby tom with light green eyes
THUNDERHEART—large dark brown tabby tom with dark amber eyes
HOUNDFOOT—shaggy-furred black tom with yellow eyes (ShadowClan-born)
FIREMANE—brown tom with green eyes and a torn left ear
LIONSTEP—tall tom with long black fur and dark green eyes (Mousegaze's mate)
WOLFHEART—light brown tabby tom with amber eyes and a scarred muzzle
RATBITE—small grey tom with yellow eyes and a thin tail
SCORCHMOON—ginger she-cat with bright green eyes (Brightclaw's mate)
BRIGHTCLAW—ginger tom with amber eyes (Scorchmoon's mate)
TAILTWITCH—tortoiseshell she-cat with hazel eyes (ShadowClan-born)
APPRENTICES:
LIGHTNINGPAW—black tom with a white zigzag stripe down his back and a white triangle marking on his forehead, and green eyes (son of Stagstrike and Doesplash, both deceased)
OAKPAW—tall ginger tom with green eyes (son of Brightclaw and Scorchmoon)
EMBERPAW—small, fluffy ginger she-cat with amber eyes (Oakpaw's sister)
SALAMANDERPAW—brown tom with golden eyes (son of Sunpelt and Sweetwillow, both deceased)
QUEENS:
MOUSEGAZE—brown she-cat with green eyes, mother of Lionstep's kits: Caterpillarkit (brown tom-kit with green eyes) and Frogkit (black tom-kit with green eyes)
ELDERS:
COYOTEFLAME—ginger tom with white paws and blue eyes (Foxstar's brother)
HOPEFEATHER—small light-brown tabby she-cat with a white belly and blue eyes (Wolfheart's mother; WindClan-born)
SHADOWCLAN
LEADER: SNAKESTAR—black tom with untidy fur and dark green eyes (Nightshadow, Swanstrike, and Goldenshadow's brother)
DEPUTY: LAKEFROST—sleek golden tabby tom with green eyes (Darkfrost's brother)
MEDICINE CAT: WILLOWSHADE—grey tabby she-cat with amber eyes (Berryshade's sister)
WARRIORS:
NIGHTSHADOW—slim golden tabby she-cat with amber eyes (Snakestar, Swanstrike, and Goldenshadow's sister; Lakefrost's mate)
REDSHADOW—long-furred black tom with green eyes (brother of Houndfoot of ThunderClan)
SWANSTRIKE—small she-cat with messy black fur and amber eyes (Snakestar, Nightshadow and Goldenshadow's sister)
HONEYSHARD—yellow-and-white she-cat with blue eyes (Milkshard and Snowstorm's sister)
GOLDENSHADOW—long-furred golden tabby she-cat with yellow eyes (Snakestar, Swanstrike, and Nightshadow's sister; Pounceclaw's mate; mother of Redshadow and Houndfoot)
CRAGFUR—brown tom with amber eyes (Fernstorm's brother; Berryshade's mate)
FERNSTORM—brown she-cat with pale green eyes (Cragfur's sister; Pebblepelt's mate)
PEBBLEPELT—white tom with blue eyes (Fernstorm's mate)
LEAFSTORM—brown she-cat with white paws and blue eyes (Adderclaw's sister; Slugtail's mate; Cragfur and Fernstorm's mother)
MILKSHARD—white she-cat with yellow eyes (Honeyshard and Snowstorm's sister)
APPRENTICES:
SHADOWPAW—sleek golden tabby tom with light-green eyes (son of Lakefrost and Nightshadow)
ROCKPAW—grey tom with green eyes (son of Berryshade and Cragfur)
STONEPAW—brown tom with amber eyes (Rockpaw's brother)
PETALPAW—brown-and-white she-cat with blue eyes (daughter of Fernstorm and Pebblepelt)
QUEENS:
SNOWSTORM—white she-cat with blue eyes (Honeyshard and Milkshard's sister), mother of Darkfrost's kits: Ferretkit (brown she-kit with amber eyes), Frostkit (white she-kit with blue eyes), and Spiderkit (brown tom-kit with green eyes)
ELDERS:
SLUGTAIL—brown tabby tom with amber eyes (Leafstorm's mate; Cragfur and Fernstorm's father)
AMBERSHADE—golden tabby she-cat with amber eyes (Nightfrost's mate; Lakefrost and Darkfrost's mother)
NIGHTFROST—dark grey tom with green eyes (Ambershade's mate; Lakefrost and Darkfrost's father)
EVENINGSTRIKE—black she-cat with green eyes (mother of Snakestar, Nightshadow, Swanstrike, and Goldenshadow)
RIVERCLAN
LEADER: BADGERSTAR—black she-cat with a white blaze and amber eyes (Gullclaw and Blizzardstone's sister)
DEPUTY: FRONDWING—brown tabby she-cat with green eyes (Laurelwing's sister)
MEDICINE CAT: MAPLEDUSK—tortoiseshell she-cat with green eyes (Speckleleaf's sister)
WARRIORS:
GULLCLAW—black-and-white tom with blue eyes (Badgerstar and Blizzardstone's brother)
MISTDRIFT—long-furred silver she-cat with amber eyes (Minnowdive and Stripewing's sister)
ACORNSWIPE—brown tabby tom with green eyes
MINNOWDIVE—sleek silver tabby she-cat with green eyes (Mistdrift and Stripewing's sister)
BLIZZARDSTONE—black tom with white flecks and amber eyes (Badgerstar and Gullclaw's brother)
STREAMFISH—slim blue-grey she-cat with green eyes (daughter of Slatestream; Cinderflight's sister)
SPECKLELEAF—tortoiseshell she-cat with amber eyes (Mapledusk's sister)
STRIPEWING—small silver tabby tom with amber eyes (Minnowdive and Mistdrift's brother)
FEATHERGAZE—dark golden-brown tabby she-cat with amber eyes (daughter of Skyfeather)
LAURELWING—brown she-cat with green eyes (Frondwing's sister)
JAGGEDFANG—brown tom with white paws and blue eyes
CINDERFLIGHT—light blue-grey tom (Streamfish's brother)
APPRENTICES:
OTTERPAW—brown tabby she-cat with amber eyes (daughter of Acornswipe and Feathergaze)
WAVEPAW—black-and-white tom with blue eyes (son of Gullclaw and Minnowdive)
QUEENS:
LIGHTFERN—grey tabby she-cat with white paws and sky-blue eyes, mother of Blizzardstone's kits: Butterflykit (grey-and-white she-kit with blue eyes) and Divekit (black-and-white tom-kit with blue eyes)
EGGPELT—white she-cat with green eyes, mother of Stripewing's kits: Floodkit (white tom-kit with amber eyes) and Brackenkit (silver she-kit with green eyes)
ELDERS:
SLATESTREAM—blue-grey she-cat with dark golden eyes (mother of Streamfish and Cinderflight)
SKYFEATHER—dark golden-brown she-cat with green eyes (mother of Feathergaze)
PIKETALON—large dark grey tom with yellow eyes
WINDCLAN
LEADER: JAYSTAR—silver tabby she-cat with piercing yellow eyes (Falconflight's sister)
DEPUTY: CLOUDWIND—dark grey tom with white paws and amber eyes
MEDICINE CAT: DUCKFROND—small yellow tabby tom with green eyes
WARRIORS:
HERONCLAW—blue-grey tom with green eyes (Bluepounce's brother; Rabbitfoot's mate)
RABBITFOOT—long-furred black she-cat with amber eyes (Flowergaze and Hailstorm's sister; Heronclaw's mate)
SWEETWING—slim grey she-cat with dark green eyes
MOUNTAINBREEZE—pale grey tabby tom with white paws and blue eyes
MAGPIEFLIGHT—brown tabby tom with a white tail-tip and amber eyes
FALLINGSNOW—sleek calico she-cat with yellow eyes (Hailstorm's mate)
BLUEPOUNCE—blue-grey she-cat with amber eyes (Heronclaw's sister)
WISHGAZE—light brown tabby she-cat with amber eyes (daughter of Quailclaw; sister of Hopefeather)
FLOWERGAZE—black she-cat with vivid green eyes (Rabbitfoot and Hailstorm's sister)
FALCONFLIGHT—silver tabby tom with amber eyes (Jaystar's brother)
LARCHSTEP—dark brown tom with green eyes (son of Mossfur)
HAILSTORM—black-and-white tom with yellow eyes (Rabbitfoot and Flowergaze's brother; Fallingsnow's mate)
APPRENTICES:
GORSEPAW—black tom with amber eyes (son of Heronclaw and Rabbitfoot)
SLEETPAW—calico she-cat with green eyes (daughter of Hailstorm and Fallingsnow)
QUEENS:
PALEFLIGHT—small white she-cat with yellow eyes, mother of Cloudwind's kits: Fogkit (grey she-kit with amber eyes), Rainkit (grey-and-white she-kit with blue eyes), and Icekit (white tom-kit with blue eyes)
ELDERS:
LARKPOUNCE—yellow tabby she-cat with amber eyes (Duckfrond's sister)
MOSSFUR—shaggy-furred brown tabby tom with green eyes (Larchstep's father)
QUAILCLAW—light brown tabby tom with amber eyes (father of Wishgaze and Hopefeather)
CATS OUTSIDE CLANS:
TANGLESPIRIT—dark grey tom with amber eyes
BERRYSHADE—grey she-cat with green eyes (Willowshade's sister; Cragfur's mate)
DARKFROST—dark brown tom with white paws and ice-blue eyes (Lakefrost's brother; Snowstorm's mate)
ADDERCLAW—brown tabby tom with green eyes (Leafstorm's brother)
POUNCECLAW—black tom with amber eyes (Goldenshadow's mate; father of Redshadow and Houndfoot)
PROLOGUE
It was a bitterly cold leafbare night. Snow swirled thickly among the pines, but a stiff wind kept any of it from landing on their boughs. The cats of ShadowClan were packed together in their dens, desperately trying to keep warm. They had endured bad leafbares before, but this one was by far the worst.
On the edge of ShadowClan territory, far from camp and the warmth of other cats, a thin grey she-cat was trudging through the snow. She slipped and stumbled often as she made her way over the slick ground, but she kept pushing on, deeper into ShadowClan territory.
The she-cat shivered hard. What if this was a mistake? she thought. What if they won't take me back?
A sharp gust of wind knocked her off her paws, sending her rolling down a gentle slope and into a snowdrift. I have no choice. If I turn back now, I'll freeze before I get to shelter.
Her belly tightened with a cramp as she struggled back to her paws. 'Not yet, little ones,' she whispered aloud. 'Wait just a little longer, till we're home.' But was ShadowClan home anymore? She had left her Clanmates to be with Frank, the kittypet she loved, knowing full well how most of ShadowClan felt about cats taking mates outside the Clan. And for her to return, carrying half-kittypet kits . . . If only I hadn't been so stupid! she cursed herself. If I hadn't told Frank the truth about how tough Clan life can be, how I'm not a hero having adventures in the forest all the time like he thought I was, I'd be warm and safe right now . . .
The she-cat gave her head a shake. It was no use thinking that way. She had told Frank the truth, he had felt betrayed and told her to leave and never come back, and ShadowClan was her only hope now.
Another cramp gripped her belly, stronger than the one before, and she stumbled. 'Hold on,' she panted. 'Hold on!' Through the driving snow, she could make out the distinctive outline of the crooked pine that leaned over the ShadowClan camp.
With a new burst of strength, she scrambled up a rise and tumbled down the other side. She could pick up ShadowClan scent, stronger than before, and blindly followed it until she reached the camp wall, made of thick tangles of brambles and vines.
'Hello?' she called weakly. 'Hello!'
'Who's there?' demanded a deep voice, and the she-cat jumped back in surprise as a grey tom appeared from the swirling snow.
'Marshstar? Father?' gasped the she-cat in surprise.
The tom stepped closer. 'Mistspirit?' he asked, surprised. 'What are you doing here?'
'I had to leave Frank, and my kits are coming early,' meowed Mistspirit desperately. 'I've been traveling through this blizzard all day. Please let me have my kits in camp, so they don't freeze.'
Marshstar held his daughter's gaze for a long moment. 'You betrayed your Clan,' he meowed.
'Please!' begged Mistspirit. 'I'll leave later if you want me to, just let me have my kits where they won't die of cold!'
'All right,' Marshstar meowed finally. 'You may have your kits in camp, and stay until they are old enough to travel, but then you must leave. You are no longer a ShadowClan warrior.'
'Oh, thank you!' replied Mistspirit, weak with relief. 'I'll—oww!' Her mew turned into a yowl as another pain gripped her.
'Come on,' meowed Marshstar. 'Let's get out of the cold.' He led the way into the ShadowClan camp, which—aside from the drifts of snow—looked exactly as Mistspirit remembered.
'Yarrowfrost!' called Marshstar, and a gaunt grey tabby tom emerged from the medicine den. 'What's going on?' he asked. 'Who is—Mistspirit? Is that you?'
'Yes,' interrupted Marshstar before Mistspirit could reply. 'Her kits are coming early, and she is near frozen. Take care of her, and get her strong and healthy—she must leave as soon as the kits can travel.' With that he turned and bounded across camp to his own den, leaving Mistspirit and Yarrowfrost staring at each other.
'Well, come on, then,' Yarrowfrost meowed, leading Mistspirit into the medicine den. He pointed with his tail toward a shabby nest. 'It's not much, but it's all we've got, thanks to this long leafbare.'
Mistspirit laid down in the nest, grateful for its meagre warmth. The pains were coming more strongly now, and it took all her strength not to whimper with pain.
Some time later, Yarrowfrost placed a small dried leaf in front of her muzzle. 'Eat it,' he meowed. 'It's raspberry leaf—it will give you strength.'
Mistspirit lapped up the withered leaf, nearly choking as another pain hit. Once she had swallowed the leaf, Yarrowfrost returned with a stick. 'Open your mouth,' he instructed, and when Mistspirit obeyed he placed the stick between her jaws. 'Bite down on this when the next pain comes, and push as hard as you can.'
Mistspirit bore down, biting the stick so hard it began to crack. 'That's it . . . keep going,' meowed Yarrowfrost, running a forepaw over her belly. 'One more time.'
With a hiss, Mistspirit pushed as hard as she could, and after a moment Yarrowfrost announced, 'You have your first kit!'
He laid a tiny, wiggling bundle against her belly, and she bent to nuzzle it. 'It's a tom!' she meowed in delight. 'Oh, he's perfect!'
Yarrowfrost ran his paws over her belly. 'Looks like he's the only one in his litter,' he told Mistspirit.
'Only one?' asked Mistspirit in surprise. She'd never heard of a queen having only one kit before.
'Only one,' Yarrowfrost confirmed. He laid another shrivelled leaf in front of her muzzle. 'Eat this, quickly. It will help stop the bleeding.'
Mistspirit swallowed the leaf and curled up around her son, wrapping her tail around him to keep him warm. Worn out, she drowsed. Why had she been in such a hurry to get to ShadowClan, anyway? It was nice and cosy here, and surely the blizzard wasn't that bad? She closed her eyes, content, and pulled her son closer.
'Mistspirit!' meowed Yarrowfrost urgently, shaking her shoulder.
Disoriented, Mistspirit blinked. 'Did I fall asleep?' she asked, but her voice sounded like it was coming from far away.
'Mousedung!' hissed Yarrowfrost. 'Stay awake!' He bounded out of the den, and Mistspirit vaguely heard him calling for Marshstar. She laid her head down again. Yarrowfrost had said not to sleep, but she was so tired . . .
And then Marshstar was pressing his muzzle to hers, bringing her out of her warm drowse. 'What's going on?' he asked Yarrowfrost.
'She's lost too much blood,' explained Yarrowfrost, urgently packing cobwebs into her nest. 'And she won't warm up.' He shook his head, sorrow in his gaze as he looked at Marshstar.
'No! She can't die!' Marshstar meowed, shocked. He shook Mistspirit's shoulder. 'You're just tired from kitting—hold on!'
But Mistspirit could see the hazy shapes of StarClan warriors gathering around the medicine den, and she purred softly, feeling perfectly warm and tired. 'Tanglekit,' she whispered.
'Tanglekit?' Her father bent over her. 'Is that his name—a Clan name?'
Mistspirit nodded. 'Please don't turn him out into the snow,' she breathed. 'Let him stay in the Clan, and have a Clan name—and one day, a warrior name.'
Marshstar's green eyes glittered. 'Of course,' he meowed, sounding choked. 'He will be a ShadowClan cat.'
Mistspirit purred. 'Thank you,' she meowed softly. Her mother's spirit gently touched her muzzle, and the last of her pain faded into warmth. 'Take care of him.'
'I will, I promise,' replied Marshstar, and then everything faded into the warm darkness.
CHAPTER ONE
The full moon floated high above Fourtrees as Lightningpaw fidgeted, impatient for the Gathering to begin. This was a very special night for him—he had trained in ThunderClan, the Clan of his birth, for a moon, and now it was time for him to begin his Rotation through the other Clans.
'I can't wait to go to ShadowClan!' meowed Oakpaw, a tall ginger tom who was one of Lightningpaw's best friends. 'I wonder if they really eat frogs.'
'I hope not,' replied Otterpaw, a RiverClan apprentice who had just finished her moon of training in ThunderClan. 'Frogs sound gross.'
'I guess we'll find out,' said Lightningpaw, shifting impatiently. What was taking the Clan leaders so long to get started? He had been to one Gathering before, when he was first apprenticed, and he remembered it starting much more quickly than this one.
Finally a long-furred black tom leapt up onto the Great Rock to stand beside the other leaders.
'Who's that?' hissed Salamanderpaw.
'That's Snakestar of ShadowClan,' Lightningpaw whispered back. Although he and Salamanderpaw were the same age, this was Salamanderpaw's first Gathering, since he had come down with whitecough right after being apprenticed.
'He looks fierce,' meowed Salamanderpaw nervously.
'Wolfheart says he's fierce but fair,' replied Lightningpaw, quoting the older ThunderClan warrior who had helped train him.
'Well, that's—' began Salamanderpaw, but was cut off by Foxstar, ThunderClan's leader, yowling 'Let the Gathering begin!'
Fourtrees fell silent as all the cats stopped talking and sat down, facing the Great Rock.
'Welcome to the Gathering, the seventh Gathering since the end of the war,' Foxstar meowed. 'Let us first remember the warriors who gave their lives to defeat Tanglespirit and bring an end to the conflict between our Clans.
'From ThunderClan: Crescentwing, Fallowdrift, Sunpelt, Sweetwillow, Appledawn, Stagstrike, and Doesplash.'
Lightningpaw looked down, a lump in his throat. Stagstrike and Doesplash were his parents, who had given their lives when he was a tiny kit to help stop Tanglespirit, the most evil cat to have ever walked the forest. Beside him, Salamanderpaw's eyes were damp, and Lightningpaw remembered that Sunpelt and Sweetwillow were his parents. He wrapped his tail around Salamanderpaw's shoulders, and the smaller tom blinked at him gratefully.
'From RiverClan: Iceshatter, Carpdawn, Morningwing, and Brownpelt.
'From WindClan: Grasstuft, Toadleap, Shineberry, Crackleflight, and Fireflytail.
'From ShadowClan: Dewshadow, Sunwing, Ivoryclaw, and Wingflash.'
Fourtrees was completely silent for many heartbeats, and then Foxstar continued. 'It has been seven moons since the end of the war, and the ThunderClan cats that were but tiny kits when Tanglespirit was exiled are now old enough to begin their Rotation.' He nodded to the apprentices, and Lighningpaw licked his chest fur self-consciously as every cat turned to look at them.
'Lightningpaw, Oakpaw, Emberpaw, and Salamanderpaw, you have all reached your seventh moon, and it is time for you to go to ShadowClan to continue your training. Snakestar'—he turned to the ShadowClan leader—'these are the first apprentices to rotate through your Clan since before the war, and I trust that you will pass on all your skills in the hunt and in battle to them.'
'Of course,' meowed Snakestar, dipping his head to Foxstar. 'Your apprentices will be in good paws.'
Foxstar returned the nod and stepped back, allowing Snakestar to take his place. 'ShadowClan also has new apprentices,' he announced. 'Shadowpaw, Rockpaw, Stonepaw, and Petalpaw have all begun their first moon of training, and next moon, shall begin their Rotation. We have also welcomed a litter of strong, healthy kits.'
Jaystar of WindClan stepped up next. 'Prey is running well,' she announced. 'Although we have no new apprentices this moon, by the next Gathering, Gorsekit and Sleetkit will have begun their training. On a more serious note, our warriors have scented rogues on our territory three times this past moon. Although they seem to be just passing through, and haven't taken any prey, we felt we should let the other Clans know.' She stepped back, and Badgerstar of RiverClan took her place.
'We too have scented rogues,' she began, 'and we have increased border patrols in the hope of deterring them. We have also welcomed two new litters of kits, and our oldest kit, Wavepaw, has begun his training. As well, Otterpaw, our older apprentice, will now enter the fourth moon of her Rotation, and we look forward to seeing her back in RiverClan for her fifth moon of training.'
Beside Lightningpaw, Otterpaw licked a forepaw awkwardly as her Clanmates cheered her name.
'Does anyone else have news to share?' asked Foxstar, stepping to the front of the Great Rock.
The other leaders all shook their heads.
'Then this Gathering is over.' He leapt down from the Great Rock, followed by Snakestar and Badgerstar.
Snakestar waved his tail. 'ShadowClan, to me!' he yowled.
'That means us now!' meowed Oakpaw excitedly, taking the lead as the apprentices wove through the crowd of cats to reach Snakestar.
'Good luck!' called Wolfheart, the warrior who had called Snakestar fierce but fair, as Lightningpaw passed him.
'See you in a moon!' meowed Scorchmoon, Oakpaw's mother.
'Have fun!' yowled Houndfoot, one of Lightningpaw's closest friends among the warriors.
Lightningpaw waved his tail to them. 'See you next moon!' he yowled, before running to catch up to Snakestar and the other ShadowClan cats. Shadowpaw gave him a long, unfriendly look before moving away to walk with the other ShadowClan apprentices.
What's got his tail in a twist? Lightningpaw wondered, picking up his pace to walk beside Oakpaw. The apprentices padded along in the dark for a long time as the moon set. Lightningpaw could feel the terrain changing under his paws and smell ShadowClan scent, and he wished that it was brighter so he could see the territory more clearly.
Lightningpaw's paws were starting to hurt by the time they reached the ShadowClan camp, and he was very glad when Snakestar meowed, 'Shadowpaw, show these apprentices their den and then get some sleep. Training begins at dawn tomorrow.'
Shadowpaw looked like he wanted to protest, but Snakestar narrowed his eyes at him and he sighed. 'Come on.'
Shadowpaw, flanked by Rockpaw, Stonepaw, and Petalpaw, led them across camp to a small den made of interwoven brambles. 'This is the apprentices' den. Go on—go in, nobody's going to ambush you.'
Lightningpaw led the way into the den, which was bigger than it looked from the outside. The floor was covered in thick, lush moss, and in one corner of the den, the moss had been arranged into four nests.
'Those are our nests,' meowed Shadowpaw, following Lightningpaw's gaze. 'You lot have to make your nests on the other side of the den. I don't want ThunderClan fleas hopping into my bedding.'
'We don't have fleas!' Oakpaw retorted hotly. 'ThunderClan cats are clean!'
'Sure you are,' meowed Shadowpaw, curling into the thickest and cosiest nest. 'Now go to sleep—you heard Snakestar, training starts at dawn, and as much as I'd love for you to oversleep on your first day, I don't want to miss any of my training.' With that he tucked his muzzle under his tail and appeared to fall asleep, the other ShadowClan apprentices following suit.
Lightningpaw and Oakpaw shared a long glance, then pushed some moss together to form nests. They curled up side by side, with Emberpaw, Salamanderpaw, and Otterpaw behind them.
He was quite tired, but before he fell asleep, Lightningpaw whispered to Otterpaw, 'Are all the Clans this—er, this welcoming?'
After a long pause, Otterpaw whispered back, 'No. Most of them are much more polite.'
'Be quiet over there! Some of us are trying to sleep!' growled Stonepaw from the other side of the den.
Lightningpaw curled up tightly in his nest. This is going to be a long moon.
CHAPTER TWO: SHADOWCLAN
'Wake up!' yowled a voice right in Lightningpaw's ear. Startled, he blinked and found himself nose-to-nose with Shadowpaw.
'You didn't have to make me deaf,' Lightningpaw muttered, ears still ringing. 'You could've just shaken my shoulder.'
'And get ThunderClan fleas? No way! Now hurry up, we're going to be late!' Shadowpaw meowed urgently.
Lightningpaw yawned and shook his fur, aware that it was sticking up funny from having been slept on, and followed the ShadowClan apprentice out of the den. The other apprentices were all already awake, pacing the camp to keep warm. Leaf-fall had just begun, and the air was chilly before the sun had fully risen.
Soon Lakefrost, the ShadowClan deputy, emerged from his den, his sleek golden fur immaculately groomed. He looked exactly like Shadowpaw, only bigger, and Lightningpaw remembered Wolfheart telling him that Lakefrost had a young son. He must be Shadowpaw's father.
'Nighshadow, I want you to lead a patrol to the WindClan border,' he began. 'Take Leafstorm and Honeyshard with you. Pebblepelt and Redshadow, you'll be the first hunting patrol, go wherever you like.'
Lakefrost turned to the apprentices. 'All of you will be doing battle training this morning with--' he scanned the remaining cats '--Swanstrike, Cragfur, and Goldenshadow.'
A small she-cat with curly black fur, a brown tom, and a long-furred golden tabby she-cat stood up, and the black she-cat beckoned with her tail. 'Come on, you lot, follow me.'
The apprentices sprang to their paws and followed the warriors out of camp, Shadowpaw in the lead. As the sun came up, Lightningpaw couldn't help but stare at ShadowClan's territory. The way the pines caught the light, the feel of the springy ground under his paws . . . it was all totally new. His heart began to beat faster with excitement.
Soon they reached a sandy hollow nestled in a grove of pines. 'This is the training hollow,' Cragfur announced. 'You should have already learned basic skills such as the hunter's crouch and some simple battle moves, so today will be an assessment of sorts, to see how much you know.'
He paced the clearing to stand beside Swanstrike and Goldenshadow. 'Your first test will be in multiple combat---that is, multiple cats working together to attack an opponent or defend themselves. This may sound complicated, but it's really just using simple battle moves while keeping an eye on your allies, and working with them. With practice, two or three of you apprentices should be able to defeat one of us warriors.'
Otterpaw stood up straighter beside Lightningpaw; multiple combat was one of the things she was best at.
'Who's ready to get started?' asked Swanstrike, and Rockpaw and Stonepaw leapt to their paws. 'We are!'
'Alright then.' Cragfur leapt into the sandy hollow to stand in front of the apprentices. 'Show me what you've got---and the rest of you, watch and learn.'
Stonepaw leapt at Cragfur's left side; he dodged to the right, but Rockpaw was there waiting and cuffed him over the ear. Rearing up on his hind legs, Cragfur swiped at the apprentices. Rockpaw leapt out of reach and hissed, while Stonepaw ducked behind Cragfur and gave his tail a yank. Cragfur let out a yelp and stumbled backward, and Rockpaw took advantage of his distraction to bowl him over, and together the two apprentices pinned him to the ground.
'Very good!' exclaimed Cragfur. 'Now let me up!'
Rockpaw and Stonepaw shared a pleased glance and let the warrior get to his paws.
'I hope the rest of you were watching, because that's how it's done,' meowed Cragfur. 'Rockpaw and Stonepaw, you take a quick break. Shadowpaw and--you, what's your name?' he demanded, pointing at Salamanderpaw.
'Salamanderpaw,' meowed the little tom nervously.
'You and Salamanderpaw, practice with Goldenshadow,' he meowed. 'Ginger tom and black tom, what are your names?'
'I'm Lightningpaw,' meowed Lightningpaw.
'I'm Oakpaw,' replied his friend.
'You two, you'll practice with Swanstrike,' Cragfur said. 'Since there are so many of you, the rest of you will take turns.'
Swanstrike and Goldenshadow jumped down into the hollow, and Lightningpaw and Oakpaw padded to stand in front of the black she-cat.
'You ready?' asked Swanstrike, a sparkle in her amber eyes.
The two apprentices nodded. Lightningpaw leapt for Swanstrike, and she dodged. Oakpaw swiped her over the ear and she lunged at him, leaving her side unguarded, and Lightningpaw jumped onto her back.
With a yowl Swanstrike rolled over, squishing Lightningpaw against the ground. The breath rushed out of his chest and he lost his grip, rolling off onto the sand. Winded, he could only watch as Swanstrike easily overpowered Oakpaw and pinned him to the ground.
'I win!' meowed Swanstrike happily. 'I beat the ThunderClan cats!'
'Yes, you certainly did,' replied Goldenshadow, shaking sand out of her pelt. Shadowpaw and Salamanderpaw had apparently lost their round as well; both were covered in sand and looking unhappy.
'Well, it was good for a first try,' pointed out Cragfur. 'You take a break, and . . . let's see, Emberpaw and Otterpaw, you practice with Swanstrike. Petalpaw and Shadowpaw, you're with me, and Stonepaw and Rockpaw, you're with Goldenshadow.'
Lightningpaw and Oakpaw sat down next to Salamanderpaw. The ShadowClan cats were stronger than they looked, and Lightningpaw's muscles were aching. We never focused on battle training in ThunderClan. I hope we're not behind.
'I hope Emberpaw and Otterpaw win their round,' meowed Oakpaw, watching the two she-cats spar with Swanstrike.
'Me too,' replied Lightningpaw. Wouldn't it be ironic if after Swanstrike was so happy to beat us, she was defeated by a ThunderClan cat and a RiverClan cat?
But luck wasn't on the she-cats' side. Swanstrike sent Emberpaw flying across the hollow and then pinned Otterpaw down, her paws on Otterpaw's throat.
Lightningpaw, Oakpaw, and Salamanderpaw let out simultaneous groans of disappointment.
'I beat the ThunderClan cat---again!' crowed Swanstrike.
Across the clearing, the other apprentices weren't doing much better; Petalpaw was grooming a scratched ear and Shadowpaw was covered in dirt. Only Rockpaw and Stonepaw had won their fight.
'Not bad,' announced Cragfur. 'Now, let's see how well you can hunt. You aren't yet familiar with the territory, so I don't expect you to go far, but each of you should be able to catch a mouse or frog within a short walk.' Seeing the ThunderClan apprentices move together, he added, 'I want you to hunt by yourselves. ShadowClan warriors hunt alone, not in packs like dogs.'
Oakpaw bristled, but Otterpaw hissed at him. 'We're here to learn their skills, we've got to do as they say,' she pointed out. 'Come on. I bet I can catch something before you.'
'No way!' Oakpaw bounded off into the undergrowth, well away from Otterpaw. Lightningpaw tasted the air, then padded into a stand of bracken, far from the other cats. Prey-scent filled the air, and he dropped into the hunter's crouch. I'll show them how well ThunderClan cats can hunt!
Soon Lightningpaw picked up a fresh mouse trail. Setting his paws down as lightly as snowflakes landing, he crept toward his prey. But the mouse was farther away than he had thought, and it was a while before he spotted the small creature, nibbling on a pine cone.
He crept closer, closer . . . and then heard the sharp voices of cats, arguing about something. Distracted, he set his paw on a twig. The mouse, hearing the snap, dropped the cone and bolted down its hole. Mouse dung!
Lightningpaw lashed his tail in frustration. Why had the arguing cats had to distract him right then?
And what were they arguing about, for that matter?
Curious, Lightningpaw dropped back into the hunter's crouch and snuck through the bracken, following the cats' voices. Soon he could see two cats---one black-furred and the other golden---standing in a small clearing. He pricked his ears, straining to make out their words.
'We've got to do it somehow,' meowed the black cat, and Lightningpaw recognized Snakestar's voice.
'But how?' demanded the golden cat, and Lightningpaw realized it was Lakefrost, the deputy.
'I don't know yet,' snapped Snakestar. 'It will be difficult. But he has given us our orders, and we must carry them out.'
That's weird---who's giving a Clan leader orders? Lightningpaw wondered. Are they talking about StarClan?
'I still don't see why it has to be Foxstar,' complained Lakefrost. 'Some other cat would be much easier.'
What has to be Foxstar? What do they want with the ThunderClan leader?
'Foxstar is powerful,' meowed Snakestar. 'His Clan adores him. That is why he must be the first to die.'
The first to die? Lightningpaw froze in horror. They're going to kill my leader? He leaned forward, desperate to hear more. But the toms dipped their heads to each other and then left, leaving Lightningpaw crouched in the bracken, heart thumping like a rabbit's.
I've got to tell Oakpaw! Lightningpaw thought, turning and bounding back in the direction he had come. He ignored the bracken whipping at his pelt and ran back to the sandy hollow. 'Oakpaw!'
Cragfur turned away from Swanstrike and Goldenshadow, and it was then that Lightningpaw realized that he had forgotten to catch a piece of prey.