Chapter One

Tail Feathers

Something prodded Lilypaw in the flank, and she gave a soft mreow in protest. Nudging away from her attacker, Lilypaw made a grunting noise, and then flopped over in the sandy dirt. She was about to hiss and claw at the other feline when it spoke, forcing her to open her eyes.

"Will you get a move on SOMETIME before the next Gathering?" the voice protested. Lilypaw recognized it immediately as Lionpaw, a friend apprentice. "Crowpaw and I have been waiting all morning for you to get up, and we are in the Sun-high patrol!"

The she-cat gave another grunt, and lifted herself up onto her delicate paws. Opening her mouth to take in the murky smells of the forest, she scented prey, predators, and fellow Clan mates. The other apprentices besides Crowpaw and Lionpaw included Smokepaw, Twistedpaw, and Sparrowpaw. They too had been here recently, but were gone now.

Closing her mouth, Lilypaw looked over at her friend. He was lean, muscular, and white with golden stripes. The stripes seemed to glow and spread across his body, giving him sheen like sunlight.