This is my first story so please be considerate in reviewing.

I do not own WARRIORS, Erin Hunter does, I am only an obsessed and devoted you Erin Hunter!

Chapter 1: Two missing souls

Shadekit woke to a paw gently prodding him in the , he rolled over and tried to ignore the now incesent jabbing to his ribs. "Shadekit you need to get up right now! Remember? Big day? Apprentice ceremony?" Shadekit lept out of his nest, now fully awake, staring around in bewilderment. "I completly forgot! Thanks owlpaw!" And without stopping to groom himself he bundled out of the nurseryand into the morning sun.

A small group of cats had already gathered below the highrock as Shadekit steadily padded over. He could see Birchlight and Ivypelt with their heads bent together, obviously watching Liontail and his two littermates, Blackclaw and Stormfeather, having a serious discussion on who was the better hunter, fighter, etc. Off to their left Shadekit could see Whiteheart and Cloudstorm where chatting with their two apprentices, Patchpaw and Sunpaw, While Owlpaw's mentor,Stonewing, sat with them, looking up in greeting as Owlpaw rejoined them. If their not already out here then where could they be? Shadekit wondered silently, as he looked about the throng of cats.

After peering around anxiously, Shadekit settled with watching the thorn a few moments later the ferns hiding the tunnel entrance quivered and Shadekit lept to his paws. But it was not who he had hoped for as the black and white tom, Brokenshadow, padded calmly into camp with a small thrush and a mouse dangling from his jaws. Hmm, Shadekit thought, He must have been in the forest. Wait-,Then the thought hit him and he dashed after him. "Brokenshadow!" Shadekit exclaimed as he caught up to him, "Brokenshadow did you see my parents out there?" He didn't even turn his head as he answered. "No."Came the muffled reply. "Oh,okay"Shadekit sighed but continued with Brokenshadow to the freshkill pile. "Have a messy kill?"Shadekit asked as he looked down at Brokenshadow's paws which although were usually a bright white were now tinged with red.

"Hmm? Uh ya, you could say that."

"So you're sure you didn't see them?"

"Shadekit they probably would have been on the other side of the territory, hunting for all I know!"

"But not even a scent?"

"Look Shadekit, if you're so anxious about your parents why don't you go ask Brightstar." Brokenshadow growled. Shadekit was taken aback by his harshness but knew the idea made sense.

He spotted Brightstar preparing to climb the stone steps to the highrock and Quickly hurried over to him."Brightstar!" Shadekit called before he had the chance to even begin the climb. Brightstar turned to face Shadekit as he scrambled up to him. "Yes Shadekit?" Inqiured Brightstar, looking both amused and irritated, "I was just about to call the rest of the clan for your ceremony."

"Exactly,"Shadekit meowed, "You can't start yet."

"And why is that?"

"I don't know where Briarseed and Thornwind are!"

"I'm sure your parents are fine, they probably went out hunting together."

"Thats what Brokenshadow said,"Shadekit Huffed then sighed, "But I-"

"I'm sorry Shadekit but it's almost sunhigh. It's either your parents miss it or we postpone your apprenticeship. I know it's hard but that's what happens." Brightstar looked now thouroghly annoyed and quickly lept up the stone steps,leaving a Crestfallen Shadekit to wait on the ground.

"Let all cats old enough to catch their own prey gather beneath the highrock for a clan meeting!"came the resenant yowl of the clan leader. Shadekit, although still disapointed but happier now he was about to become an apprentice, skipped over to the front of the quickly growing crowd now sitting below the highrock.