Chapter 1

Cedar paw's POV

Cedarpaw padded through the murky forest. No birds sang, no moon shone.

There was an eerie silence that sent a chill running up the young apprentice's spine, yet there was something about it that told her to keep walking.

She parted her jaws to taste the air, recoiling as death stench hit her nose, followed by the salty tang of blood.

"Hello? Is anybody out there?" She tried her hardest to stop her voice from shaking.

A blood curdling scream was her reply, and she gasped, pelting towards the cat in need.

"Hold on! I'm coming!" She yowled.

Another screech sounded from a nearby thorn bush, and she leaped through, snarling.

She ignored the sting in her pelt, eyes widening in pure terror at the scene in front of her.

A large black cat was knowing away at the lifeless body of a she-cat, probably the one who had been wailing for help.

The wailing was silent now, and Cedarpaw watched in terror as the black monster ripped away at the she-cat's fleshing, gobbling it down as if it were a fresh squirrel.

The young brown apprentice slowly began to back away, pawsteps silent, until she snapped a twig.

The black cat spun around, red eyes blazing in fury, fangs curled in to a vicious snarl, muzzle stained with blood.

Cedarpaw whimpered weakly, flattening her ears to her head and lowering herself to ground.

The killer stalked towards her, hissing and growling. Cedarpaw desperately tried to move, but her paws her rooted to the ground.

"Help!" She shrieked, "Help me!"

The cat laughed evilly, and leaped towards her.

Cedarpaw screamed loudly as teeth pierced her neck, and pain rippled through her body as it began to snap.

She woke with a loud gasp, flank heaving. She glanced around the apprentice's den, seeing a faint pre-dawn glow.

She let out a frustrated sigh, and lifted herself from her nest.

Since Larkfeather had died, nearly six moons ago, Cedarpaw had been receiving putrid nightmares.

Every night, a different version of the killer came to her.

They are still out there, she thought to herself miserably.

Multiple rogues and loners had been found dead; killed the same way as Larkfeather, with the same rotten prey stench surrounding them

Crisp Newleaf air filled her nose as the young apprentice exited the den.

She could make out the figures of her father, Adderfoot, and Buzzardclaw guarding the camp enterance, and she could scent multiple of her other clanmates circling the camp.

Cedarpaw silently wish she could see Silverpelt; but a thick layer of cloud had been cover the moon since Larkfeather died. StarClan had gone silent. Cherryshine nor Nightpaw had received anything, no matter how hard they tried.

Cedarpaw knew she couldn't go back to sleep, the thought of dealing with another nightmare made her fur stand on end.

Instead, she padded around camp.

She peeked in to the nursery, checking in on Silvergaze and her kits; who had been born only two sunrises ago.

"Cedarpaw?" The sound of her mentor's voice caused her to spin around, and she found herself staring in to the concerned eyes of Tawnyshine.

"What are you doing awake? The dawn patrol isn't even stirring yet!"

"I…" Cedarpaw's eyes darted around camp, searching for an excuse. "I just couldn't sleep. Why are you awake so early?"

Tawnyshine shrugged, "I'm leading the dawn patrol, wanted to have an early start today."

The small brown apprentice's eyes lit up, "Can I join? Please?"

Her mentor's eyes narrowed, "Cedarpaw, you've only been an apprentice for a half moon and you go on more patrols than most of the senior warriors. You are going to overwork yourself to exhaustion."

"But I'm not tired, and I'm awake anyways so shouldn't I be helpful instead of sitting around camp and waiting for you to get back?" She plead.

Tawnyshine thought about this for a moment, and then sighed. "Alright."

Cedarpaw smiled and padded to meet Thorntail, Dappleheart and Bumblepaw, who were waiting patiently for Tawnyshine.

"I'm joining you guys!" Cedarpaw squeaked happily.

The patrol exchanged a few glances, but the brown apprentice couldn't read their expressions.

However, before anything could be said, Tawnyshine padded up and announced it was time to leave.

Bumblepaw fell behind the rest of the patrol to pad alongside Cedarpaw. He was the oldest apprentice, along with his brother and sister; Sleetpaw and Featherpaw.

"You've been on dawn patrol the last three sunrises in a row," He observed.

Cedarpaw shrugged, "I'm an early bird, and I like to be helpful."

Bumblepaw rolled his eyes, "What about, oh I don't know, sleep?"

She scoffed, "I sleep plenty. But I focus on my training more,"

"If you say so," The older apprentice sighed, before trotting forward to catch up with his mentor.

A loud crash in the bushes moments later nearly caused the young she-cat to leap out of her fur.

Tawnyshine signaled for the patrol to stop.

Terror filled her chest as the putrid smell of rotting prey filled her nostrils.

Cedarpaw could tell her mentor was trying to control her fear, yet Cedarpaw could smell it dripping off her fur like snow in Greenleaf.

Tawnyshine gestured for Thorntail to investigate with her, and the two cats padded forward cautiously, disappearing into the bushes,

Cedarpaw's heart sank as moments went by without their return.

"It's a loner," Tawnyshine meowed, revealing herself from the bushes, "And… she has kits."

Cedarpaw gasped, "We can't leave them here! They will die!"

"Newborns," Thorntail said, "Three of them, but whoever was just here killed the mother and the smallest one."

Cedarpaw followed her mentor back into the bushes to collect the two living kittens; a little brown and white tom, and a pale gray she-kit. They were no older than a few sunrises.

The mother had been a beautiful cat; a silver tabby, with golden specks, and the kitten that had been killed was nearly identical.

Cedarpaw picked up the she-kit by the scruff, and watched as Tawnyshine handed the tom to Bumblepaw.

"Silvergaze should be able to nurse them, they are around the same age as her own kits," Thorntail meowed as they trecked back to camp.

The sun was at it's peak when the pushed through the bushes in to camp.

They were met with stares and whispers, yet Cedarpaw held her head up high as the patrol headed towards Shallowstar's den.

"Kits?" The blonde leader cocked an eyebrow.

"They're mother was murdered, same way as Larkfeather," Tawnyshine explained.

"Are you all alright?" Shallowstar meowed, though her gaze held Cedarpaw's, concern shining in her eyes for her daughter.

"Yes, we were not attacked," Cedarpaw said through a mouthful of fur.

"Take them to Silvergaze. She will nurse them, and Cedarpaw, a word please?" Shallowstar ordered.

The brown apprentice passed the kitten to Tawnyshine, and it let out a weak mew of protest.

Shallowstar watched the patrol leave and then turned back to her daughter.

"Cedarpaw, no more dawn patrols for the next quarter moon."

"What?" Cedarpaw wailed, "That's not fair!"

Shallowstar shook her head, "I'm not going to stand by and watch my kit deprive herself of sleep. The gathering is tonight, and if you want to come, I suggest you rest. Look at you! You are exhausted. I admire a hardworking cat, but this has gone too far. Now, go wash up, eat, and rest."

Cedarpaw hung her head. She knew her mother was right, she could never be a proper warrior if she didn't rest.

She snatched a sparrow from the fresh kill pile and padded towards Bumblepaw, Sleetpaw, Briarpaw and Softpaw.

"And then, the squirrel literally jumped on my head!" Softpaw meowed. A chuckle ripped through the gathered apprentices.

"Did Silvergaze name the kits?" Cedarpaw questioned.

"No, she said she wanted to name them with Weaselnose when he got back from hunting," Bumblepaw explained.

"Bumblepaw, I think you should be a warrior for saving that kit," Softpaw cooed.

Cedarpaw rolled her eyes at Briarpaw, who stifled a laugh.

Softpaw had been an apprentice for only three sunrises, and she mooned over Bumblepaw every waking second.

Cedarpaw noticed how grown Bumblepaw looked compared to the little white she-cat.

He would be a warrior soon, and she was barely out of the nursery.

"Who do you guys think will be going to the gathering tonight?" Sleetpaw meowed.

"Probably Nightpaw, Briarpaw, Cedarpaw and Softpaw. It'll be their first one!" Bumblepaw exclaimed.

"I won't last if I don't catch a little sleep. I'm going to hit the moss for a bit, see you guys all later!" Cedarpaw said, bounding towards the apprentice's den.

Fear prickled along her pelt as she entered, and she scolded herself for being a coward towards a necessity such as sleep.

They are just dreams, she reminded herself as she tucked her nose under her tail.

They aren't real, so I shouldn't be scared. But I am. Oh, StarClan please just let me have a peaceful sleep for once!

Chapter one finished! Please R&R!

QUOTD: What would you name the two kits Tawnyshine's patrol found?