Shadows Of Fear: Chapter 1

Whisperpaw stirred as the cat beside her squirmed, again, "Dapplepaw don't move so much" she whispered and following her words with a gentle nudge in her friend's side. Ever since she was a young kit Shadowclan had ruled the forest, back when Softstar was an apprentice Winterstar had taken over the forest only then he had been a young ambitious deputy named Wintertail. The story was a terrible a bloody one she had heard only once, the day Riverstar died, back when she was a 2 moon old kit. Wintertail had followed his leader Quialstar and her evil ways, for one evening, at a gathering of all places the Shadowclan cats had attacked, they had killed four warriors two apprentices and mortally wounded Redtail the Windclan deputy. But before she could remember all the details a hiss came to her ears as Tigerpaw stretched her lean form showing no sign that she had been so seriously injured, the dark tabby she-cat had been forced to watch her siblings become warriors 2 moons ago and today she would finally get her warrior name. For Whisperpaw and her friend Dapplepaw though it would be several moons until their warrior ceremony, darting out she abandoned the attempts to wake her friend as her eyes searched for one cat, and upon seeing her mentor she rushed forward. Chuckling Dirtstorm flicked his tail signaling the young apprentice that he would be done in a minute "I knew these moons of peace were to good to be true" he murmured his voice low "Whitestar is comming today to see Tigerpaw's ceremony and to choose his sacrifice" at this both warriors shivered and Dirtstorm's mate laid her tail across his flank gently "Just don't offend him, think of our kits". Starstream had just given birth to three kits a few moons ago and had just returned to her warrior duties. 1

Shivering in the dew-frosted air Whisperpaw saw her mentor nod once then turn to face Whisperpaw "Ready?" at his voice a puff of steam came from his mouth, leaf-bare was taking hold and she was glad for her fluffy winter coat. As they padded out of camp she heard a shout and both cats stopped as Dapplepaw approached panting "Wait...can..I..come...too?" her voice trembled with hope, her own mentor Bluefrost had been injured and was now recovering and Softstar had yet to give her a new mentor. Feeling her friend press up agaist her she giggled, Dapplepaw's golden fur was sticking out at odd angles and her green eyes looked tired. Opening her own blue-green eyes wider Whisperpaw looked around, they were supposed to be looking for prey and she didnt want her mentor to think she was disobeying him. 2

Closing her eyes she let the scents of the forest wash over her until she could smell a mouse, looking around she spotted the small plump body as it nibbled on some grain. Creeping forward she jumped snapping it's neck right away, trotting back to Dapplepaw she presented the brown body dangling in her jaws proudly. "Do you think Dirtstorm will be proud?" she asked, "Of course" her friend replied with a roll of her eyes, everyone knew that Whisperpaw was the best hunter in the clan, but she also knew that her friend often doubted herself because she wasnt really born in Thunderclan and cats often doubted her loyalty. 3

Prancing up to her meteor she showed him the mouse but then noticed his wide eyes and ridged pose, turning so she could see what he did she saw the Shadowclan leader followed by what looked like most of his clan. "Starclan save us" he whispered before running back toward camp the two she-cats following the mouse laying on the forest floor forgotten. As the entered camp she could see that Tigerpaw's ceremony was about to begin, her fur had been cleaned so much it shown and she could see Darkclaw staring at her with proud eyes, he was her soon to be mate for the two had fallen in love as apprentices and he had waited patently for her to become a warrior. "Tigerpaw please step forward" if she had reacted to Dirtstorm's news she didnt show it, "You have shown what it takes to be a warrior and so from this day on you will be known as Tigerlilly" as the ceremony ended the Shadowclan cats arrived. 4

Holding her head high Softstar continued "Will Birdkit, Lightkit and Cloudkit please step forward" The form of Flowerheart could be seen as she watched her kits. As the three kits came forward, Birdkit the only tom ran ahead jumping on high-ledge first so that he was by his leader as the two she-cats joined him. "Do you promise to uphold the warrior code and follow every instruction your mentor gives you?" Softstar waited until three voices answered "I do" before continuing "Then until you become warriors Birdkit you will be Birdpaw, Cloudkit you will be Cloudpaw and Lightkit you will be Lightpaw. Taking a pause to allow the yowls of approval she called out strongly "Heartstorm step forward, so will be Lightpaw's mentor" the gentle warrior looked startled but pleased as her leader continued "Jayclaw you will mentor Birdpaw" smiling the young warrior went to his new apprentice "And lastly Redheart step forward you will mentor Cloudpaw" as the young tom went forward Cloudpaw shot to him in a flurry of ginger fur her brown eyes warm and happy. 5

Whitestar had just stepped in as Cloudpaw's mentor was announced and he nodded his head "We are taking the new batch of prisoners to remind Thunderclan to keep their promise, for we will not kill your cats if you comply" Softstar stepped forward "Where is Brighttail, Frogpaw, and Gorsewisker?" the three cats taken seven moons ago stumbled forward. Whisperpaw looked but saw only Brighttail and Gorsewhisker, where was Forgpaw? Accompaining the half-starved warriors were a lean black apprentice and an older warrior "Blackpaw let them go" muttered the warrior as the Thunderclan cats were rushed by friends, Brighttail was tackled by her three kits who had not seen her in moons "We are apprentices now" they told her "Oh Bluepaw I know" she mewed then looked at the two toms "And Tanglepaw you are so much bigger, and oh Tinypaw I haven't forgot you" but she was soon cut off as her mate Jayclaw purred a warm greeting. 6

As soon as the mews had subsided the Shadowclan leader stepped forward flicking his tail at Whisperpaw "I want her" as she was pushed roughly forward she saw Dirtstorm's agonized look, the last time an apprentice had gone they hadn't returned home. But Whitestar wasnt done yet "Those three will do also" he said pointing at Tigerlilly, Bluepaw and Lightpaw" Whisperpaw's eyes widened all but one of the new captives were apprentices. Running forward Dapplepaw touched noses with her sadly "You will come home" her growl was filled with agony as were the mews of the other cats seeing off the chosen cats. Stumbling forward she felt the black apprentice Blackpaw or what ever poke her savagly "Get a move on" his voice was so cold she shivered. 7

Lightpaw was taking it better than she would have thought, Lightpaw was barley out of the nersery how could they force her to go too? Padding next to Bluepaw she saw Tigerlilly fall back to walk next to Lightpaw murmering to her reasurringly. As the neared the Shadowclan camp she saw Whitestar step forward bring back his paw and then the world fadded intioi darkness...8

Oh cliff hanger..... From here on out we will have Dapplepaw tell the Thunderclan half of the story. Please comment if you want me to continue.9

Some Important charaters:10

Bluepaw- Light grey she-cat with pretty green eyes11

Whisperpaw – Pretty ginger and white tortoiseshell she-cat with blue-green eyes12

Softstar- pure white she-cat with blue eyes13

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