Nightshadow's Story

by Niqhtshadow

Nightpaw's life, although marked by tragedy, has not been overly extravagant. That is, until she learns that she is destined to be leader. As Nightpaw attempts to understand her destiny, she discovers that she has not always known the truth. How can Nightpaw ever expect to lead her clan if she doesn't know her own identity?

1. Chapter 1

Hi! Welcome to Nigtshadow's Story!

This story is based off of a plot line I came up with when I was younger, and I decided it would be cool to write a story based off of it :3

Well, I hope you enjoy!

Allegiances

Tree Clan

Leader: Sharpstar - pale tan she-cat with yellow eyes

Deputy: Hazelfur - mentor to Vixenpaw, ginger tom with brown eyes

Medicine Cat: Blossombush - pretty, long-furred she-cat with a light brown coat

Warriors:

Blackstorm - mentor to Nightpaw, black she-cat with one white paw

Yellowtail - mentor to Halfpaw, pale ginger tabby tom with lighter streaks

Woodfur - light brown tom

Thornclaw - mentor to Brownpaw, dark brown tabby tom with yellow eyes

Oakshade - dark brown tom with green eyes

Fernwhisker- mentor to Grasspaw, white she-cat with green eyes

Maplestem - tortoiseshell she-cat with yellow eyes

Apprentices:

Nightpaw - black she-cat with a white tail tip, paws, ear tips, muzzle and chest, and blue eyes

Halfpaw - white she-cat with blue eyes, a black tail tip, paws, ear tips, and muzzle, and a scarred, black patch on her chest

Grasspaw - dark brown tom with green eyes

Brownpaw - light brown she-cat with hazel eyes

Vixenpaw - red she-cat with blue eyes

Elders:

Stumpytail - plump brown tabby tom with a short tail

Rain Clan

Leader: Hawkstar - dark brown tabby she-cat with yellow eyes

Deputy: Junipernose - dark blue tom with lighter blue eyes

Medicine Cat: Gingerfur - ginger she-cat

Warriors:

Ravenfeather - bluish black she-cat with dark, grey eyes

Streamstep - grey she-cat with white patches and darker paws

Greycloud - dark grey tabby tom

Petalfur - white she-cat with brown stripes and green eyes

Queens:

Honeypool - mate to Greycloud and mother to Swiftkit and Snowkit, light orange tabby she-cat with yellow eyes

Elders:

Ottertail - light brown tom with a ringed tail

Floodheart - white tom with light grey streaks

Chapter 1

Nightpaw and Halfpaw sat side by side, staring at their reflection in the pool of water before them. Every new cat they met was always amazed to see them, and many of their clanmates still marveled over the uniqueness and contrasting natures of their pelts. While Halfpaw was white with a black muzzle, paws, chest, and tail tip, Nightpaw was her shadow, with white patches where Halfpaw had black fur.

Life so far had not been easy for these two sisters. Only a few sunrises into their apprenticeship, they had lost their mother, a beautiful she-cat named Redfrost, to a bout of green cough. Their only remaining family was an elderly tom known as Stumpytail whom they supposed to be their father.

"We should probably head back now," Halfpaw observed quietly. Slowly, the two she-cats made their way to the TreeClan camp. The wind had been picking up, and a big storm was anticipated to occur within a few sunrises.

Upon entering the camp, Nightpaw and Halfpaw were greeted by their mentors, Blackstorm and Yellowtail. "Where have you been?", questioned Yellowtail. "Sharpstar wants to do Woodpaw's warrior ceremony before the storm picks up! We've been waiting for you to come back."

Embarrassed, Nightpaw and Halfpaw took their places below the Meeting Tree. Their clan was small, having almost as many apprentices as there were warriors. In fact, Sharpstar was only the third leader of the clan, a recent successor to Thornstar. It was fabled that Treestar, the first leader, had discovered the camp when he fell from the very tree that Sharpstar was sitting on.

Clearing her throat, Sharpstar commenced the ceremony. "Today, we recognize Woodpaw. He has passed his warrior assessment, and will now be made a full member of TreeClan." Sharpstar turned to Oakshade, Woodpaw's mentor.

"Oakshade, is Woodpaw ready to become a full warrior of TreeClan?" Oakshade dipped his head respectfully, showing his consent. Taking a deep breath, Sharpstar again faced Woodpaw, who could hardly keep from fidgeting.

"Woodpaw, you will now be known as Woodfur. We honor you for your steadfastness and loyalty, and welcome you as a warrior of TreeClan." Sharpstar jumped down from the Meeting Tree, and Woodfur respectfully licked her shoulder. Stepping back, he accepted the congratulations of his clan mates. "Woodfur! Woodfur!"

Nightpaw cheered loudly. She hadn't been close to the brown tom, but she was still excited for him, and couldn't wait for the day when she got her warrior name. After the cheers died down, Sharpstar again leaped onto the Meeting Tree.

"We have one more ceremony to fulfill today. Brownkit and Grasskit, please come forward." The two small kits padded to the center of the clearing. In the fading sunlight, Grasskit's dark brown pelt shimmered and appeared to be flecked with green as he confidently sat beneath Sharpstar. Brownkit, nervously settling down next to her brother, seemed to be more timid.

"Grasskit and Brownkit, do you promise to uphold the warrior code and train loyally to become warriors of TreeClan?" The two kits nodded their consent.

"Fernwhisker, you have proven yourself ready for an apprentice. I give you Grasspaw, train him well." Sharpstar turned to face Brownkit. "Brownpaw, I give you to Thornclaw. You may be shy, but Thornclaw will train you to be a powerful warrior of TreeClan."

The clan cheered for the two new apprentices. Woodfur went to sit silent vigil at the camp entrance, while Grasspaw and Brownpaw cautiously ventured into the apprentice's den. Nightpaw followed behind them, remembering the night that she had been made an apprentice. Grasspaw had already found an empty nest, while Brownpaw nervously began to settle in the one adjacent to his.

Startled, Nightpaw realized that Brownpaw had lied down in Vixenpaw's nest. Vixenpaw, a russet-furred she-cat, was very sharp-tongued and easily angered. Nightpaw opened her mouth to warn Brownpaw, but was too late. Vixenpaw had entered the den.

In disgust, Vixenpaw flung Brownpaw from her nest and angrily towered over her. "You are not to sleep in my nest, do you hear me?" Brownpaw looked as if she were on the verge of tears. "Sniffing contemptuously, Vixenpaw proceeded to bully the new apprentice. "You're so tiny, and you're mentor is so inexperienced. Ha! To think that you could even think yourself worthy to sleep in my nest. I'll have you know, that my mentor is Hazelfur, the depu-"

"Back off, Vixenpaw," Nightpaw intervened. She couldn't bear to look at Brownpaw's tearful expression any longer. "The only reason Sharpstar apprenticed you to Hazelfur was because your mother wouldn't stop leaving her alone until she agreed. You're a spoiled kit, so stop picking on others to make yourself feel better!"

Sniffing, Vixenpaw backed out of the den, and ran to sit by her mother Maplestem, most likely to complain about the "unfairness" of what had happened. Sighing, Nightpaw turned back to Brownpaw. "You can have my nest," she told the young kit. Gratefully, Brownpaw sank down into the soft moss. "Th-thank you!" She quietly chirped. Nightpaw dipped her head, and headed out into the camp to find Halfpaw.

---

"Vixenpaw can be so horrible sometimes, why can't she just mind her own business?" Halfpaw was as exasperated as Nightpaw by the she-cat's actions. It was the morning after the ceremonies, and the two sisters were sharing a piece of fresh kill. As the two sisters continued to munch at the mouse, their conversation slowly shifted to the topic of the two new apprentices.

"Grasspaw and Brownpaw are so tiny!", Halfpaw exclaimed. "Were we really that small when we became apprentices?" Nightpaw shrugged. Sighing, Halfpaw took another bight of the mouse.

"Well, they'll have to learn to be proper apprentices soon. Grasspaw couldn't even sit still when Fernwhisker tried to teach him how to do the hunter's crouch, and Brownpaw could barely walk in the forest without tripping!"

Nightpaw let out a meow of laughter. "It really is as if they are still kits! I wonder whether they will ever act like normal apprentices!"

Although Nightpaw and Halfpaw continued to poke fun at Grasspaw and Brownpaw, Nightpaw couldn't help but feel as if it were her duty to protect Brownpaw. The young she-cat seemed so vulnerable, and looked as if even a harsh word would hurt her. Brownpaw and Grasspaw had lost their mother at a young age, and had never had anyone to look out for them. Nightpaw resolved that Grasspaw could fend for himself, but that morning she secretly vowed to watch over Brownpaw.

In a way, we are both similar. We've lost our mothers, and don't know our fathers. The difference is, while I have Halfpaw, Brownpaw needs a friend to be there for her. And I can be that cat...

Thank you for reading Chapter 1, I hope that you enjoyed it!

So far not too much has happened. I apologize if I introduced the characters too fast. I promise it will have more action/drama in the upcoming chapters, I just needed a way to sort of introduce the characters and relationships. Any reviews would greatly be appreciated!