Prologue

The white pelted she-cat swiftly carried her black kit across the field, seeing only by moonlight, despite the black spots in her vision. Her pelt was stained crimson; her deep side wound was bleeding heavily. Her kit had one like it on her side as well, but her kit's wound was not fatal. Still, if her kit did not see a medicine cat soon, she would die from infection. Her kit must live, even if she didn't.

As she approached the Thunderclan border, the kit mewled out of hunger, cold, pain, she didn't know. She shushed the kit with a few licks on her head, and then looked around. She inhaled sharply, as a wave of pain came on. Curling her tail around the kit, she waited. Then, a ginger she-cat appeared out of the thickets, padding toward her.

The white she cat dipped her head. "Hello. You must be Dawnsong. Thank you for coming" She paused for another sharp intake of breath as another wave of pain washed over her. "I want to thank you... For keeping Shard safe." She looked down at her black kit, at her identical brown spots. They were just like hers.

Dawnsong smiled, with a sad kindness. "Of course. Any friend of Greytail is a friend of mine. Besides, no kit should grow up living in fear. You made the right choice by leaving you're clan."

The white-she cat sighed, looking at the cat with sad green eyes. That was another thing they shared. "Can... can I say goodbye to my kit?"

Dawnsong nodded, knowing the white she-cats time was short. She padded a few fox lengths away, and sat by the lake.

The white she-cat curled her fluffy tail around the kit, holding back tears. She bent down to lick the kit on the nose, and whispered in the kit's ear. "Be strong, Shard. Never forget where you came from. Bloodclan still runs through your veins."

Dawnsong waited silentlby the shore. She listened to the crickets chips, reflecting on the newcommer. The cat was very skinny and her wound would most likely send her to Starclan soon. By the look of her pelt, this isn't her first fight. Her fur hid many scars. Dawnsong closed her eyes, letting out a sigh. She got to her paws and padded back to the white she-cat.

The white she-cat unwrapped her tail from around the kit, which mewled in protest. Dawnsong picked up the kit. The white she-cat smiled, and getting to her paws, wincing at her side wound. Dawnsong was no medicine cat, but she knew the wound was deep enough where she would die soon. She could tell she lost a lot of blood, getting her kit to safety. She wouldn't live if she met any cat or fox or badger. She hoped Starclan would take her painlessly as possible. Dawnsong, dipping her head, turned toward the Thunderclan camp, and padded slowly away from the dying cat.

The white she-cat watched them go, before turning away. She started toward an old fox den she saw a little ways away from Thunderclan territory, which would mask her scent until she died.

...

Shard felt the light bumps of cat's legs on her back. Her nose smelled new scents all around her. She was only moon old, so she was still blind to the world around her. She assumed the cat was her mother, as she kind of smelt her mother's scent on the cat's fur. Her side stung, and she was hungry. She smelt the milk scent of the cat, and mewled loudly for it. She suddenly smelt other cats, and stopped. There were so many, yet they all smelled the same a bit. She felt the hard, cold ground under her paws, and wondered why her mother set her down. She heard bits of conversation from the other cats.

"But, Duskpelt, you're the deputy, you know we can't turn away a kit. Would you leave a hurt, abandoned kit to starve or freeze? Leaf-bare is almost here. She won't stand a chance!" Her mother's voice was different. Must be from the cold or something, Shard decided.

"Dawnsong, who will feed the kit? All the queens have kits of their own to take care of." That must be Duskpelt, Shard thought. I wonder why he won't let mother keep me. And why did he call her Dawnsong? Must be her cover.

"Then I will. I'll eat some borage leaves or something, whatever it takes. You know I lost my kit to Greencough. Don't let me lose this adopted one to starvation."

Duskpelt sighed in defeat. "Fine, take the kit to the nursery. There will be room for you there. I'll tell Sparrowstar"

"Oh thank you Duskpelt! Thank you!" Mother said as she lifted me off the ground, talking with my fur in her teeth, making her voice muffled.

She padded a little way, and suddenly the air was warm. I smelt other kits, and milk scent was everywhere. Mother set me down, whispering to another cat. I crawled toward the milk scent and felt two small, warm bodies next to mine. I started to suckle, and my hunger soon vanished. After I was full, Mother picked me up and set me down next to her. I smelt her weak milk scent, but I was full. Another cat came in. Mother called her Shywing. Shywing wrapped something sticky on my side, along with some cold mush that took the sting of the cut away. When she left, I crawled back to Mother, curling up next to her warm belly, and fell asleep.

...

Shywing padded back into the medicine cats den after seeing the new kit. She settled into her moss bed, and laid her head on her paws. She was about to drift off to sleep, when a flash of light cut away her sight of the den. It is a message from Starclan! she thought.

There was a black pelted cat, wearing a collar studded with dog's teeth. Shywing could not make out the cat, but she felt it was not Scourge, that it was female. The cat's glowing eyes fixed themselves on Shywing, their glow full of hate. The cat stood on a brown tom, who Shywing recoginsed at once. It's Sparrowstar! The cat sunk its dogtooth tipped claws in the limp body of Sparrowstar. A white grin appeared from the cat's face.

It spoke. "Finally. My father has been avenged. Now, I rule the forest!"

The flash of light blinded her momentarily again, and she was back in the den. Sparrowstar watched from just inside the den, wide eyed. His tail twitched nervously.

"Shywing. Are you ok? Was it a message from Starclan?" he looked at her pacently, letting the fur on his shoulders settle.

Shywing blinked, sheathing her claws and getting them out of the dirt. She licked her lips and gave her chest a quick lick before speaking, choosing her words carefully. "Yes, Sparrowstar, I am alright. It was a message, but nothing to worry about. It just startled me. I was about to fall asleep when it came."

Sparrowstar nodded, then spoke. "Well, that's good, not being worrisome. I came to ask for herbs. I need to travel to Moonstone. I must speak to our ancestors. I feel a troulblign time is to come, but with your message, I feel a little more relaxed."

Shywing got to her paws, smiling. "Yes, or course, herbs." She made the little bundle, wrapping it in a leaf. She set the bundle in front of Sparrowstar. He dipped his head in thanks, grabbing the bundle and padding out of the den.

Shywing sighed, settling down into her moss bed again. She thought about the message Starclan sent her. She will wear the mark of her ancestors, and the blood of the bird will be on her claws. She will not have ice in her veins, but fire.

Pretty good, right? I know, i know. More chapters soon!