PROLOGUE
ShadowClan's camp was quiet after a long day of patrols and daily Clan life. Indeed, Reedpaw was tired as well, after having to check the elders for ticks and make their bedding as punishment for picking an unnecessary fight with a ThunderClan cat. Morningpelt, his mentor, had been especially cross with him as he unsheathed his claws on his own littermate, Mintpaw, during battle training.
I do no good for this Clan. Finchstar was mistaken in making me an apprentice, even though he's my father. Reedpaw was deep in thought at this time. He padded off to the apprentices' den and stretched into his nest. It's basically like Leafwing, Finchstar, Mintpaw and tt pretty apprentice Ashenpaw are the only cats in ShadowClan who appreciate me, he thought. Well, off to make a good impression on Ashenpaw tomorrow.
Reedpaw tried to go to sleep, but he felt as if he was drifting into darkness. He tried to cry out, but he couldn't muster the courage to in front of Ashenpaw, Mintpaw and the others.
"Greetings," a cat from the darkness growled. "You must be Reedpaw."
"Um, yes, I'm Reedpaw." He sounded scared but also confused. His pelt was secluded in the cold air, and he shivered. "W-what do you want from me, and who are you?"
"Quite courageous, are you? Hehe. My name is Quailmask, and you are in the Place of No Stars." The Place of No Stars? His pelt bristled in shock as two familiar cats padded out of the darkness. Their pelts were exactly identical, and he had no trouble recognizing them. They were both made ShadowClan warriors about two moons ago, and their names? Nightcrawl and Shadestorm.
