Chapter Two

Lionkit's P.O.V.

I woke up with a yawn. Pre-dawn air rustled through my fur, making me shiver. I knew the stars were still shining overhead, and that the sun had not yet poked its head above the trees. I poked Jaykit in the side, an idea forming in my mind. "Jaykit, wake up! If we go now, we can sneak out of camp without anyone noticing!" I hissed excitedly.

"Go away," he mumbled, batting his paw at me. "It's too early."

"You're no fun!" I growled in a low voice. Jaykit's only response was a snore. I immediately considered asking Hollykit to come with me, but I knew she would say no. She'd probably just give me a lecture over the warrior code. I rolled my eyes. I'd just have to stay in camp this morning. I sighed and left the warmth of the nursery.

I padded into the clearing, my gaze scanning the clearing. No cat was awake. Wait, one cat was awake, I realized. I strained my eyes towards the bushes to see who. Maybe it was Brambleclaw, I mused hopefully. Then we could play together! I realized immediately it wasn't, though. I began to make out the familiar yet strange mousy brown coat and I could see the curious amber eyes glowing from the leaves.

"Show yourself!" I hissed, taking a step forward. I slid out my claws threateningly and growled as menacingly as I could. "I'm not afraid to fight, you know!"

The amber eyes lit up in amusement. "You?" the she-cat wondered, stepping out from the gloom. She padded over to me and I tensed. "Of course you're not afraid, little one. You're the bravest kit I've ever met."

"What are you doing in my camp?" I demanded, ignoring her praise. "You should go back to ShadowClan, where you belong!"

The stranger purred humorously. "I'm no Clan cat, little warrior."

I paused, straightening up in confusion. I slid my claws back in. "Then who are you?" I wondered, all animosity forgotten. If she's not a ShadowClan cat, she can't be all that bad, I reasoned.

The she-cat hesitated before answering, "My name is Willow."

"What are you doing here, Willow?" I questioned. "Rogues aren't welcome in ThunderClan."

"I'm no rogue," she meowed, settling down next to me. "I'm more of a guardian."

"What's a guardian?" The more we spoke, the more confused I became.

"I'm kind of like an ancestor," she explained. I began to understand.

"You're a StarClan cat!" I exclaimed. "I've always wanted to meet one. Do you have special powers? Can you fly? Do you-"

Willow purred and pressed her tail against my mouth. "No, sweet kit, but I have come here for a special purpose."

"What's that?" I begged with wide eyes.

"To visit you," she responded with warm eyes. "You are special, Lionkit. I hope you see that."

"What do you mean?" came the hundredth question. "Why would you come just to visit me?"

She purred. "Don't you want a StarClan warrior to see you? Don't you want me to play with you?"

"Yes!" I exclaimed. "I'd like that more than anything in the world!" A StarClan warrior! A real StarClan warrior was here- just for me! "Do all kits have StarClan warriors to watch over them?"

"Of course," she assured me, "but we all visit in secret. So you must never tell anyone about me, even Jaykit and Hollykit. Do you understand?" I nodded my head vigorously. "Good," she meowed. "You and I will become the best of friends."

Suddenly, she was gone. I jumped in surprise then shrugged. She was a StarClan cat after all. I bounced back to the nursery. My heart was pounding in excitement and joy. I didn't even stop to question that maybe, just maybe, something wasn't right.