Chapter 1

A few months had passed by since Oceanheart's death, it was now moonhigh and the season of greenleaf in the Thunderclan grounds, and the day for Nightpaw and Sunpaw to become both a warrior, and a medicine cat. All of the clan cats gathered around at the Highledge where Lightningstar and Boltstorm were holding a ceremony for apprentices who were becoming warriors.

"Cats of Thunderclan, we are gathered here today for the apprentices of becoming warriors." mewed Lightningstar. "Nightpaw, you have been sneaky while hunting and on the battlefield, making Windclan retreat from our territory, and getting fresh-kill for the clan. Starclan will never forget your bravery and loyalty. So from this day forward, you will be known as...Nightshade." he congratulated.

All of the cats chanted "Nightshade". Nightshade stood up proudly in the crowd until all the chants were over for her. She walked down from the top of the leader's den and down into the crowd.

Meanwhile, Sunpaw was away with Dewleaf at the Moonstone, becoming a medicine cat.

"I, Dewleaf, medicine cat of Thunderclan, call upon my warrior ancestors to look down on this apprentice. She has trained hard to understand the ways of a medicine cat, and with your help, she will serve her clan for many moons." she mewed. "Sunpaw, do you promise to up hold the ways of a medicine cat, to stand apart from rivalry between clan and clan and to protect all cats equally, even at the cost of your life?" she asked.

"I do." answered Sunpaw after her mentor's medium sized speech.

"Then by the powers of Starclan, I give you your true name as a medicine cat. Sunpaw, from this moment, you will be known as Sunflower. Starclan honors your true cooperation, and I welcome you as a full medicine cat of Thunderclan." she mewed as she rested her muzzle on Sunflower's head, and she licked Dewleaf on the shoulder as the retired medicine cat greeted Sunflower.

...

As soon as she came back with Dewleaf, Sunflower went over to her sister who was near the warriors' den and sat next to her.

Nightshade still felt a bit of glum in her heart for not seeing her mom for the last time before she joined Starclan. She felt proud for becoming a warrior, but she still missed Oceanheart. She couldn't stop thinking about her since her death happened a few leafbares ago.

"Congratulations Nightshade. I can't believe you're a warrior now, and I'm a medicine cat now. Well, technically I'm still mentored by Dewleaf, but she only has a few moons until she retires." mewed Sunflower.

Nightshade remained quiet. Her head was staring at the ground, focusing on something else than hearing her sister congratulate her.

Sunflower grew a little suspicious. "Nightshade...is something wrong? You've been awful quiet since sunrise." she asked wondering why her sister was feeling down in the dumps.

Nightshade's ears twitched a little as she turned her head over to her sister. "Oh nothing's wrong, it's just, I've been thinking a lot." she answered trying to hide her gloominess from Sunflower.

"About what?" she wondered as she perked her ears up a little.

Nightshade sighed. She didn't want to lie to her littermate for the thirty fifth time. She looked at Sunflower who was waiting for an answer. She had no choice, but to spill the beans. "Listen, Sunflower, you're my littermate so I have to confess. I...I...I...I miss Mother." she mewed spitting out the truth.

Sunflower's ears perked down. She walked over and comforted Nightshade. "You still miss her? It's only been a few leafbares ago." she mewed.

"I know...it's just...I don't know...I still feel bad for not seeing her die. I was away hunting for fresh-kill, and I didn't even bother to show up." she sighed as she looked up at the stars in the night sky.

"Nightshade, I know how you feel about not seeing Mother again until one or both of us dies, but that was the past. And this is the present, and it shouldn't affect you now. Remember what Mom told us on this night?" she mewed trying her very best to make her littermate feel better.

Nightshade shook her head. "No, I don't remember what Mom said." she answered as she looked at the stars again.

"She said, if you remember something bad that happened in the past, try to forget it and always look through the future." she mewed. "And she also said-" but Sunflower was cut off by Nightshade's small amount of anger.

"I understand what you mean by that Sunflower." she angered a little, walking a few inches away from her. After a few seconds, she calmed down. She looked back at Sunflower, who thought she had a failing attempt to make her feel better. She sighed and turned around. "I'm sorry Sunflower, it's just...I have something else to tell you." she sighed as she walked back towards her sister.

Sunflower stood up on her four paws. "What is it Nightshade?" she asked.

Nightshade drooped her head down sheepishly. "Don't tell Lightningstar, but ever since I became an apprentice...I've been hunting in Shadow and Windclan territory." she whispered after making sure no cat was around.

Sunflower gasped. "How in Silverpelt?! You didn't even dare to tell the others?!" she gasped. "Great Starclan, I can't believe you broke the warrior code! You might've caused a war between Shadowclan or Windclan. And the gathering is in a few moons. The leaders are gonna yell at Lightningstar during the gathering. And he will find out that you hunted in their territory. You know how sensitive they can be." she hissed.

A queer look appeared on Nightshade's face, she felt like she was going to cry herself. "Look Sunflower, I'm sorry I didn't tell you this. Please don't tell Lightningstar or anyone else, they might exile me." she sobbed.

Sunflower's blue eyes turned a little grey, feeling ashamed for yelling at her littermate. A small smile appeared on her face as she put her paw on her littermate's back. "Don't worry Nightshade. I won't tell a soul about what you did." she promised.

Nightshade smiled, knowing she could trust her littermate. "Thanks Sunflower, you're the only clan cat who I can trust the most." she thanked. Nightshade went to the warriors' den and became silent. For her having her silent vigil for one night.

Sunflower went to the medicine cat den where Dewleaf was sleeping and went into her nest and curled up into a cozy position, and went to sleep.

...

A few days later, the four clans gathered at the island, with Lightningstar standing at the Thunderclan tree with the clan beside him, and the other leaders standing by their clans.

Nightshade's whiskers and body trembled. She was afraid that the Shadow and Windclan leaders were gonna get mad at Lightningstar for her hunting in their territories.

"Lightningstar, a few of my warriors have sensed that one of your warriors had trespassed in our territory." mewed Scorchstar, the leader of Shadowclan. He had cinnamon fur and green eyes, and had a torn on his right ear.

Lightningstar's ears perked down. "Are you saying that a cat had hunted or trespassed on your territory?" he asked with a bit of suspicious and stern voice.

Sweetstar, the leader of Windclan, stood up and stared at the leader of Thunderclan. "It's your fault you know, you just made one of your warriors hunt for sport, did you?" she hissed.

Lakestar, who was the leader of Riverclan, backed up Lightningstar. "His warriors might've not hunted in one or both if your territories. You probably might've smelt something that smelled like a cat to you." he mewed.

Lightningstar nodded in agreement.

Scorchstar hissed. He did not believe Lakestar's suggestion. "LIES! One of them must have hunted in our territories. It must be!" he yelled.

The cats of Shadowclan yowled in agreement, especially the Windclan cats. Riverclan tried to step up for Thunderclan, but it turned into an argument.

Nightshade really felt bad. She took a few steps back from the crowd as the four leaders kept on arguing. Tears came into her eyes as she ran away from the Four Trees.

...

Soon, she arrived in the empty clan grounds. She walked into the warriors' den, and buried her nest in the ground. She walked out and ate a few fresh-kill from the pile. She ran back to the entrance and looked at the camp one last time. She frowned and shed a tear, which fell to the ground and formed a broken heart. She turned around and ran away from the deserted camp, looking for a new place to live. For Nightshade was no longer a Thunderclan warrior, she was now a loner.