Author's note: all ShadowClan characters belong to Erin Hunter and only Erin Hunter with the exception of the following: Oakfeather, Autumnleaf, Barkscratch, Blizzardstrike, and Brackenfeather. These cats belong to me as OCs. ALL TREECLAN CHARACTERS BELONG TO FRIENDS OF MYSELF, FOR YOUR OWN GOOD, DO NOT STEAL. I cannot find Brownpaw's warrior name, so he is now Brownwhisker. One last note: my character, Oakfeather, had the same name as Oakpaw from the real books, so Oakpaw is now Toadpaw with another name. They are the same cat. Thank you and enjoy. :)
Amberpaw stumbled through the the thick bramble bushes, thorns dragging at her long, orange fur. Large bruises scathed her long muzzle and along one blind eye; one ear tip torn and bitten. Her other emerald eye swooped the trees, large and fearful, as the underbrush that surrounded her swayed in the ominous wind. She was around 6 moons old, almost able to become a warrior under Brokenstar's rule, among her brothers, sister, and 2 other apprentices.
Brokenstar, the notorious leader of ShadowClan, had exiled her in front of everyone. The reason for this humiliation was her stubby legs. They were shorter than most cats, and much weaker. She was tiny compared to her littermates, though they still loved her. She could not say the same for every other cat.
Wetfoot, a gray tabby tom warrior of ShadowClan, would always bump into her for the purpose of bruising her. Toadpaw and Brownpaw would unsheathe their claws in training, scratching her on purpose. Brokenstar would never do anything to stop this behavior. Even her own father, Brackenfeather, a brown and tan striped tabby tom, loved her littermates more than Amberpaw. Occasionally her siblings, Oakpaw, Autumnpaw, and Barkpaw would persuade Brackenfeather to let her join in the games.
The only cats in the whole clan, besides her littermates, who wouldn't bully poor Amberpaw, were Whitethroat and Blizzardstrike. Whitethroat, her mentor, was a black tom with white paws and chest, and Blizzardstrike was a white she-cat with small, tan patches covering her pelt. Whitethroat was an outstanding mentor who taught Amberpaw more than any cat ever would have. Whenever Toadpaw or Brownpaw fought her to roughly, Whitethroat would criticize one of their actions to stop any real damage done. Blizzardstrike, her mother, loved her as much as her littermates and protected her from most of the other cats' claws and teeth.
During the long awaited warrior ceremony, Brokenstar had named her siblings, Brownpaw, and Toadpaw first. Oakfeather, Autumnleaf, and Barkscratch cheered all the names with pride. Brownwhisker was nervous with excitement, his "I do" less than a whisper. Toadleap was loudest, hardly a hint of anxiety in his booming voice. At her turn, she was quivering with emotion. Brokenstar stated to her, "You have proven yourself worthy. Though you have shorter legs, they will not make you weaker than any other cat." She breathed a sigh of relief, thinking she had finally earned the respect she deserved. She caught a glint of humor in Brokenstars malevolent eyes. He grinned wide and furrowed his brow. "Or will they?!" Leaping off the Highrock, he stalked around the clearing in a wide arc, curling his lips in a low growl. Amberpaw stiffened. What? What is he doing?! Snickers and murmurs came from the group of cats. "You REALLY thought you would become a warrior with THOSE legs?! THINK AGAIN, FOX-HEART!" He pounced. She ran. He caught her. Her eye was gouged out by sharp claws. She heard gasps and cries from the cats, a shriek from Autumnleaf and Blizzardstrike. She wriggled free. She ran.