So, chapter two is up. Enjoy…

Chapter Two

"Tell me again!" Moonpaw asked with excitement. Her light grey eyes sparkling as Shadowpaw sighed, laying down trying to get comfortable. It had been two days since the skirmish with Thunderclan and she was about to re-tell the story when Moonpaws mentor, Wintermist, came over interrupting them.

"I think that's enough for one morning, we're on hunting duty later but first we have Shadowpaws warrior ceremony coming up soon." Wintermist padded away and as Moonpaw got up to follow Shadowpaw wished her good hunting.

Shadowpaw brimmed with excitement. She'd forgotten all about her warrior ceremony today.

Trotting over to a tiny clearing off to the left side of the main camp one, where the apprentice den was, she spotted Harepaw and Willowpaw play fighting. She sat near the entrance to the tiny clearing and watched as Harepaw sprang high in the air and over Willowpaw's head as he avoided an attack from her. Hissing with frustration Willowpaw darted away from him just avoiding being squashed by his paws as he came back down and she sped around him. Nipping at his tail she tugged it this way and that nimbly moving around in circles as Harepaw tried to reach her.

Shadowpaw laughed. "I think she's got you there Harepaw."

He stopped running in circles to look at Shadowpaw and scoffed. "No way, I'm way too good for her to ever beat me."

Shadowpaw flick the tip of her tail in amusement as she looked at Willowpaw, who still had a hold on Harepaw's tail. "Sure sure, I'll believe that when I see it."

Harepaw was about to come up with some smart reply like he always did, when Dawnmist rushed over to Shadowpaw covering her with furious licks.

Shadowpaw tried to duck away from her but her mother growled a warning to her and she sat still while Dawnmist fussed over her. "I got to get you ready for your warrior ceremony today."

Shadowpaw sighed.

Dawnmist stepped back to admire her work. "You look like a warrior already."

"No, she can't be a warrior. Who's going to help me clean the elders bedding and fetch them freshkill.

Willowpaw flicked him over the head with her paw and sat down next to him, their previous game forgotten. "I will mousebrain and so will Moonpaw. Don't forget that Sweethearts kits are almost old enough to be made apprentices."

"Oh, right, I knew that." He tried covering up.

"Let all cats old enough to catch their own prey gather for a clan meeting." Nightstars voice rang loud and clear throughout the camp and Shadowpaw heard cats murmuring and gathering outside their leaders den. Willowpaw and Harepaw rushed into the clearing ahead of Shadowpaw and Dawnmist.

The two met up with Foxblaze and Moonpaw at the front of the gathered cats. Nightstar stood tall and her voice was heard by everyone. "I have called you all here today to welcome a very special cat into the ranks of our warriors. Shadowpaw, step forward." Shadowpaw obliged, standing in front of her leader.

"I, Nightstar, leader of WindClan, call upon my warrior ancestors to look down on this apprentice. She has trained hard to understand the ways of your noble code, and I commend her to you as a warrior in her turn. Shadowpaw, do you promise to uphold the warrior and to protect and defend this Clan, even at the cost of your life?"

Her leader's cool gaze held Shadowpaws as she waited. "I do."

"Then, by the powers of StarClan, I give you your warrior name. Shadowpaw, from this moment you will be known as Shadowclaw. StarClan honors your quick thinking and skill, and we welcome you as a full member of WindClan."

Shadowclaw stepped forward as Nightstar rested her nose on the new warriors head and she licked her leaders shoulder in response.

"Shadowclaw! Shadowclaw!" Shadowclaw felt pride swell up inside her as her clanmates chanted her new name and she took her place beside Foxblaze and the rest of the warriors.

"As is the tradition of our clan you must sit a silent vigil tonight and watch over the clan as we sleep." Nightstar sat and watched as her clans milled around the newly named warrior.

The moon was had almost reached its peak in the sky before it would start to sink again as dawn came when Shadowclaw felt that something was amiss. The wind rustled the leaves that surrounded the camp and she was sure she heard a twig snap somewhere near the entrance of the camp.

Standing up she slowly made her way to the edge of the clearing. Crouched low she moved forward slowly, keeping to the shadows as she knew her coat would blend in perfectly with the shadows cast to the moon. She stopped by the entrance and opened her mouth. Breathing in deeply, she tasted the air for anything or anyone. Nothing.

Feeling mousebrained she started to turn back and make her way to the center of the clear to return to her vigil when something caught her eye. She was so sure something moved in the shadows in the camp entry.

When suddenly the breath was knocked out of her and she tasted a mouthful of fur. Breathing in the cats scent she realized it was a Shadowclan warrior. They had launched an attack on her clan while they were all sleeping.

Struggling to get free and screeched a warning, trying to wake her clanmates. "We're under attack! Shadowclan has attacked!"