Warriors: New Stars * Chapter 3

Chapter 3:1

Shadowpaw looked up her eyes not showing any of the turmoil she was feeling inside. What was she supposed to do? It would be against the warrior code to meet Nightpaw but following the warrior code was not always what was right. Redstar was a tyrant not only to the other clans but to his own as well, and his deputy Frostshard was not much better, together they twisted the warrior code into something vile. Looking up she was surprised to find that the moon was almost gone and that Skystar was motioning for everyone to follow her back to camp. Padding alongside Cloudwind she could tell something was troubling her friend, "Whats wrong?" she mewed softly so no one else could hear, looking around Cloudwind took a deep breath before answering, "Whitefoot told me that Windclan were also having trouble with Shadowclan" her voice was so low that Shadowpaw had a hard time hearing it. 2

Soon after that comment the pair walked in silence, Shadowpaw wondered if she should tell her friend about Nightpaw and the trouble with Shadowclan. After she thought about it though she decided not to Cloudwind would probably just say it was Shadowclan's problem since they haven t really done anything but be terrible to Thunderclan anyway. As the cats neared the camp Shadowpaw watched Skystar walk up to the ledge "Let all cats gather here for a clan meeting" her eyes settled as the cats emerged from different dens to sit beneath her, as Skystar told them of the gathering Shadowpaw thought about Nightpaw's chilling Revelation about Shadowclan. Maybe it was only two cats that were evil maybe the clan was really just suppressed beneath the two tom's rule. Shaking herself she saw that Skystar had finished speaking and the cats were breaking up into smaller groups. As she sank into her nest she felt sleep overcome her in an instant.3

Looking around Shadowpaw felt herself in a familiar forest, "Leafheart?" she murmured as the pretty she-cat glided over "Young one" Leafheart's gaze was filled with sadness and apprehension. "Dark times are coming to the clans" she said her voice soft "But remember Darkness will save the clans" her voice was fading "Leafheart!" Shadowpaw cried in confusion "You must tell me what to do!" but the reply was very faint "Follow your heart.."4

As the dream ended Shadowpaw jerked awake. What had Leafheart ment? But before she could think about it further she could hear Softstep's voice "Shadowpaw do you want to go do some battle training, we can hunt on the way back" looking at the pure white she-cat Shadowpaw yawned before replying "Ok". Stepping out into the dim forest she felt a chilling breeze and was reminded yet again that leaf-bare was almost there, fluffing her fur agaist the cold she entered the sandy hollow. "Shadowpaw we will be working on this" Softstep said showing her apprentice how to do a rather complex move, it was a plain hint that a war was coming. As her mentor finished Shadowpaw prepared to do the move, darting forward she sprang just before hitting Softstep and flicked out her claw raking it across the air near her mentor's flank. "Great job!" Softstep said her eyes wide "You got it on your first try" Shadowpaw let out a surprised purr, it was good to be complemented for once. 5

Even though she was impressed Softstep said that that was all they were going to be working on that day and ran her apprentice through the move several times just to make sure she had it. Shadowpaw looked up her dark blue eyes narrowing slightly as she saw Sunkit, watching him she saw the disobedient kit head out of camp his small ginger tail raised high. Looking around she noticed her mentor had already started back towards camp but had taken a different route in order to hunt on the way back, making a split second decision she sprinted after the naughty kit. 6

As the forest thickened she could barley make out Sunkit's ginger fur through the trees, the kit looked excited his white tail-tip twitching every so often. As they continued she stiffened, this was the stretch of forest close to the Shadowclan border. Hurrying fast her paws thudded silently across the ground as she attempted to get to the kit before he passed into Shadowclan land. "Sunkit wait" she hissed but the kit afraid to get in trouble only went faster, "Please Sunkit" she viewed desperately. As The kit crossed the border she felt as though some one had ripped claws through her heart when suddenly she heard a squeak and Sunkit's indignant voice "Let me go". Stepping forward Shadowpaw bared her teeth ready to fight and protect Sunkit, "I believe this is yours" a cold voice said as Nightpaw came into view. Breathing a silent sigh of relief she padded forward not betraying any emotion and picked up Sunkit who hung limply from her mouth, "Thanks Nightpaw" she said quietly, Nightpaw blinked and nodded stiffly "Tonight" he mouthed and disappeared into the shadows.7

When Shadowpaw entered camp it was in an uproar Fernwisker was desperately searching for her missing kit and his sister Frostkit looked on her eyes huge with fear. As soon as she saw them Fernwisker rushed over "Oh Shadowpaw thank you" her words were filled with gratitude as she took her naughty kit and took him towards the nursery. As Cloudwind approached she shook her head "The problem is that he is to old. he should be apprenticed soon" Shadowpaw thought for a moment them agreed. 8

It looked as if Skystar agreed with her because she jumped onto the ledge "Will all cats old enough to catch their own prey gather beneath high-ledge for a clan meeting" there was a brief pause as the cats gathered then she continued "You are gathered here to name two new apprentices, Sunkit and Frostkit please step forward" as the two kits stepped forward Sunkit raised his tail while Frostkit followed more nervously, the ceremony went fast and finally Sunkit and Frostkit looked up their eyes solum "I do" nodding Skystar continued "Then until you receive your warrior names you will be Frostpaw and Sunpaw" Skystar gave a brief pause to allow the clan to call out their names. As the noise died down she continued "Quailsong your ready for an apprentice, you will mentor Sunpaw" Quailsong moved forward her hazel eyes gleamed happily as she greeted her apprentice. Then Skystar continued "Darkstorm I believe you are ready for your first apprentice" she said and out of the crowd a young tom stood and walked forward as Skystar finished "You will mentor Frostpaw" as the new apprentices moved to greet their mentors Shadowpaw softly slipped away.9

Shadowpaw looked around in the dense shadows of the forest, she had finally decided to join Nightpaw at the border. Padding forward she saw the afternoon sun was setting, finally there had been no trouble from Shadowclan for nearly two suns now. As she neared the border she felt her hair prickle, she was meeting an enemy apprentice. Soon she neared the bushes then suddenly she heard a voice hiss "Shadowpaw?" looking around she pushed her way inside "I don't know why I came" she muttered. Glaring at her Nightpaw continued "Redstar thinks I'm helping Songwind gather herbs so we will have to be quick" pausing briefly he spoke "Redstar is going to see strange cats, he is planning to attack Thunderclan first" his amber eyes focused on her before he continued "Frostshard is all with him and so are half the clan, cowards", before he could go on Shadowpaw spoke up "Why are you telling me this I'm from a rive clan?". Nightpaw sighed "There are some of us who would stop at nothing to get rid of Redstar, Im one of them" Shadowpaw flinched at the intense hate Nightpaw put into these words. "Are you willing to help us, Redstar and Frostshard will not stop until they rule every piece of territory around the lake" Shadowpaw shivered as she realized he was right. "Tell me your answer in three suns time at this same place" Nightpaw said before hurrying off.10

The afternoon had melted into evening before Shadowpaw returned to camp, already the two apprentices Sunpaw and Frostpaw were happily chattering away to each other. As soon as she saw Shadowpaw Frostpaw bounded over "Do you mind sharing a nest with me?" there was a brief pause before she continued "I mean...I could sleep with Sunpaw but he snores and kicks at night", purring with amsusment Shadowpaw replied "Of course". "Im so glad that Im out of the nursery" admitted Frostpaw "The only person to play with or talk to was Sunpaw since Flowerpelt's kits are still to small to even walk" Shadowpaw sighed Sandclaw's kits had been born only two suns ago, two toms and one she-cat. That night Shadowpaw felt Frostpaw's warm fur agaist her, it was good to have some one to sleep with, before Sunpaw and Frostpaw had moved in she had been the only apprentice. That night she got no visit from Starclan, only nightmares. 11

"Shadowpaw!" Shadowpaw was woken by Cloudwind's urgent mew, outside was a caous of screaming cats, their attackers being none other than Shadowclan themselves. Stumbling outside she saw Softstep buried under three large warriors and she quickly went to help. Pulling two of them off of her mentor she heard the white she-cat thank her before both she-cats were pitched in battle.
Screams echoed around the hollow that just hours previous had been calm and peaceful, looking sharply around she spotted Blueheart guarding the nursery with the help of Sunpaw. She was about to go help when she suddenly felt the breath knocked out of her, rolling to her side she sank claws into her attacker. Spring free she felt fear rise in her stomac as she saw Frostshard corner Skystar, Redstar was right behind him, dashing over to her leader she saw that Blueheart had done the same. Redstar flung himself at Skystar until her was standing over her, Skystar's hindpaws raked his belly but the Shadowclan leader wouldn't give up. As Blueheart dashed in to help Frostshard slamed into her and the two cats tumbled in a flurry of claws and growls. Shadowpaw sprang at Redstar desperate to save her leader, digging her claws in deep she felt him yowl with pain and jump off of Skstar, he then flund her hard agaist the wall. Pain rippled through her as she hit the rock wall, suddenly she heard a familar growl and then the world was dark. 12

Shadowpaw awoke inside the Med. Cat den her blue eyes asking in the wounded cats around her, one of them was Cloudwind her leg bound in a poultice, seeing Shadow looking at her Cloudwind smiled "Sunpaw and I protected the nursery single pawed though he didnt have to come in here for very long. Shadowpaw laughed at Cloudwind but it brought a sudden flash of pain and she lay still. "What happened? she groaned, the brief merriment Cloudwind had enjoyed was gone "Blueheart is dead" she mewed choking out her sister's name. Shadowpaw remembered the young warrior as she battled Frostshard, if she was dead how was Skystar. As if she had spoken aloud a voice came from the entrance "Heartstorm I think Cloudwind should be allowed out to honor her sister" blinking Heartstorm nodded her blue eyes already on another patient. "Can I go too?" Shadowpaw asked her eyes begging Skystar, the Thunderclan leader looked down her eyes clouding before she nodded. 13

Stepping outside Shadowpaw almost wished she hadn't, the only cats that had escaped injury were the queens, kits and elders every other cat was wearing some wound or another. Spotting Frostpaw she bouded over "What happened?" her voice was urgent for she had blacked out in the middle of a major battle. Frostpaw's eyes widened "Well after Redstar threw you against the wall some Shadowclan cat pulled him off you saying that they needed to catch Skystar but I could see he was just getting him away" at that point Shadowpaw flipped her tail over Frostpaw's mouth to silence her then said "Ok what about after they left?" Frostpaw sighed then went on "Blueheart had been battling Frostshard and I think she might have won but two more cats showed up, it was an unfair fight though she wounded all of them before they killed her" she choked the last part out. Nodding Shadowpaw asked her to continue "After that Windclan showed up, Skystar had sent Rednose to get them and Shaowclan fled". 14

Nodding once more to Frostpaw Shadowpaw looked for Cloudwind her dark blue eyes troubled. Had Nightpaw really saved her? Or was it just to find Skystar? For some reason she hoped it was the first one, she had started seeing the Shadowclan apprentice as more of a friend than as an enemy. Blueheart was the only cat who had died that night but her death impacted all of them, Dustflower her mother and also Shadowpaw's adopted mother took her death the hardest though. "We will get revenge" hissed Cloudwind to her mother "I swear".15

Important Characters:16

Shadowpaw- Small pure black she-cat with dark blue eyes2617

Cloudwind- Pretty grey she-cat with sparkling green eyes18

Nightpaw- Pure black tom with amber eyes19

Skystar- Light grey she-cat with amber eyes20

Redstar- Dark redish-brown tom with icy blue eyes21

Frostshard- Dark colored tabby with green eyes22

Softstep- Pure white she-cat with light blue eyes23

Frostpaw- Light grey she-cat with amber eyes24

Sunpaw- Light ginger tabby tom with a white tail-tip and green eyes