Okay, I know that the prologue was short, but already I have more reviews than some of my other stories, so yay! Hopefully the rest of the chapters will be longer. Much longer. All right. Finally, here is Book Two!
"What?"
The outraged yowl rang throughoutthe ThunderClan camp. Warriors and apprentices alike turned to see an older, white furred warrior, Cloudtail, standing and spitting at the fiery tabby above him.
"Ashfur can't be Jaypaw's mentor! He helped Hawkfrost try to kill our leader! He led you into a trap! Firestar, have you gone completely mouse-brained?" His meow echoed the growls of protest coming from the other cats.
"Quiet, Cloudtail," snarled Firestar. "I have made my decision." The rusty colored fur along his spine was starting to bristle. The tom's gaze switched to where Ashfur was sitting, and immediately all of the other cats stared there as well.
The pale gray warrior seemed even more surprised than the rest of the clan put together. A look of shock and hatred was spreading across his face. "So," he snapped. "You think you can get me to feel welcome in this Clan just because you give me an apprentice?" He flicked his tail at Jaypaw.
Jaypaw stiffened. How could Firestar have chosen a cat like Ashfur to be her mentor? Every cat knew what he had done with Hawkfrost. The warrior had led Firestar into a fox trap, which had taken a third life from the ThunderClan leader.
"Ashfur," warned Firestar. "Jaypaw is your apprentice."
Ashfur narrowed his eyes, but he padded up to Jaypaw. The new apprentice stared up at the gray cat with horror and disbelief in her eyes. In a rough and disdainful movement, Ashfur pressed his nose against hers like Berrytail and Brackenfur had done with their apprentices. Jaypaw drew back as he let out a slow and quiet hiss.
"You will have to train very hard," the tom spat. "Just because you're Firestar's kin doesn't mean that you will get any special privileges." Then Ashfur turned sharply away, stalking back to the warrior's den. He grabbed a piece of fresh-kill on the way in his jaws and dragged it with him.
Firestar watched the warrior go. "This Clan meeting is over," he meowed finally, after the awkward silence when Ashfur disappeared into the den.
The ThunderClan cats padded away, then joined in groups and started meowing urgently. Hollypaw and Lionpaw bounded up to Jaypaw. "Jaypaw!" mewed Lionpaw. "I can't believe that Ashfur is your mentor! What can Firestar be thinking, choosing the cat that would kill him in a heartbeat?"
"Shush," hissed Squirrelflight, coming up behind the apprentices. "Firestar is a good and noble leader. I'm sure he knows what he's doing." But doubt flickered in her eyes, and Jaypaw wondered if she feared for her kits' safety.
Cinderpaw and Poppypaw were waiting for Jaypaw, Hollypaw and Lionpaw in the apprentice's den.
"Ashfur," Poppypaw snarled, laying her head down on her paws.
Jaypaw sighed. Hollypaw gave her sister a quick lick. "At least you'll be trained well. Ashfur said that he wouldn't give you any privileges because you're Firestar's grandkit, so he won't treat you softly, like a kittypet."
No, thought Jaypaw. He'll probably treat me horribly.
