Chapter 2
I crouched in the center of the clearing, watching the trial before me. Redstar stood tall atop the Highrock, glaring indifferently down at the small white figure that crouched there.
"Cinderheart," Redstar snarled, contempt overflowing his voice. "You knew that Whitekit was deaf."
A dry sob racked the small frame of my mother as she crouched at the base of the Highrock, guarded by two warriors on either side.
"You must suffer the consequences for your actions," Redstar continued. "No cat with a disability must be allowed to live. They become a burden to the Clan, an extra mouth to feed when we already care lavishly for our elders."
"Please, Redstar," Cinderheart wailed thinly. "Don't."
"I sentence Whitekit to death."
"NO!" Cinderheart screamed, leaping towards the kit. Her guards instantly leapt upon her, pinning her to the ground. She writhed and screeched like a demon, but to no avail. Whitekit cowered at the base of the Highrock, watching his mother and the warriors with wide eyes.
"Flametail," Redstar snapped. A ginger tom with a tawny underbelly padded from the crowd with his head down, and I recognized my father.
"Because of your defiance to the Truth, you must also be punished. You will take the life of Whitekit."
Flametail slowly raised his head, his eyes filled with sorrow. Whitekit mewled sadly, trying to snuggle up to his father, but Flametail shoved him away. "I can't, Redstar," he whispered.
"You must, or suffer the same sentence," Redstar replied coldly. "I do not want to loose so great a warrior as you."
"No," Flametail muttered, scrambling backwards with his ears flat against his head.
"Flarestrike!" Redstar snapped, and a ginger she-cat stepped forward. Her pelt was so bright I had trouble looking at her clearly, but I still recognized the old medicine cat before Sorrowcry. I had seen her in dreams before.
Flarestrike glared at Flametail, and suddenly my father stiffened. I held my breath; the dream had never lasted this long before. Flametail began to move, almost like he was in a dream. Whitekit mewled pathetically, and Flametail glared at him with emotionless blue eyes. He raised one paw, then slashed down.
--
A large paw jabbed me in the side. "Shadowpaw!" a voice called.
I yawned widely and half-opened one eye, the last dregs of the scream in my dream gone. My brother was jumping about me in a fit, his eyes sparkling. "Up, up!" he cried. "It's our assessment today!"
At once the sleep left me. I leapt to my paws, shivering with excitement. I shook my pelt to free the loose bits of moss within it, then bounded out of the den, closely followed by my brother. Tawnyclaw and Lightningstrike were already sitting by the fresh-kill pile waiting for us. Tawnyclaw tipped his ears in the direction of the pile, indicating that we should eat before we started out. I grabbed a thrush and began to pull out the feathers, while my brother took a mouse instead. I realized I had begun to develop a taste for birds, though why I couldn't fathom; it was quite tedious picking out all those feathers.
Once we finished Lightningspark rose to his paws. "Well, we're off," he mewed. "Coyotepaw, we are going down to the river by WaterClan's territory."
"You mean, we're not being assessed together?" Coyotepaw asked, his voice tinged with disbelief.
"Of course not," Tawnyclaw growled. "You might cheat and help each other out; I've seen it happen before. Shadowpaw, you and I are going to the middle of our territory, a bit closer to Fourtrees."
I nodded, my heart thumping wildly. This was the first time I would be with another cat besides Sorrowcry and away from my brother. How would I keep the secret of my disability when I couldn't answer my mentor's questions?
"Come on, Coyotepaw," Lightningspark mewed, turning towards the entrance. "Let's get an early start."
Unable to defy, Coyotepaw followed Lightningspark out, casting a fearful glance back behind me. I returned it, my gut twisting with worry.
"Let's go, Shadowpaw," Tawnyclaw grunted, padding out into the forest without a backwards glance. I scurried after him, hoping I wouldn't be questioned yet.
Once in the forest Tawnyclaw increased his speed steadily until we were running flat out among the foliage, kicking up leaves in our wake. I easily kept pace, dodging trees and swerving clumps of bramble. It wasn't long before we reached a sandy hollow commonly used for training; I was only slightly out of breath.
"Good run," Tawnyclaw growled. "Have a quick break before we begin your battle assessment."
I nodded and crouched down, gulping the air to get my breath back again. Tawnyclaw waited, scanning the forest about us for who knows what.
Once I was ready Tawnyclaw rose to his paws. "All right. I am a badger. What's the best move you would use on me? Demonstrate it."
I pounced at Tawnyclaw, landing just short of his muzzle. He moved with deliberate slowness, but his claw was still lightning-fast. I shoved off with my legs and soared through the air, leaping over him to land on his other side. Tawnyclaw turned, and I darted behind him again, nipping his back leg. My mentor whirled and slammed me with a paw, sending
me flying across the clearing. I twisted around to get my paws beneath me and a nearby stump; bending my legs to absorb the impact, I pushed off and flew towards Tawnyclaw, bowling him over into the colourful leaves.
"Let up!" he grunted, thrusting me aside. I pranced away from him, reveling in my victory. Tawnyclaw climbed to his feet and rolled his shoulders. "Not bad," he muttered admiringly. "I'd say you're among the best fighters in FireClan. Now for the thinking part."
I gulped.
"If I was creeping up on a mouse, would it be wise of me to step lightly?"
I nodded.
A lump formed in my throat. I tried to speak, but I found I couldn't, even if I had a voice.
"Well?"
I hung my head and scuffed my paws. This was it then. I'd see StarClan before nightfall.
"Why won't you answer me, Shadowpaw?" Tawnyclaw growled. I could sense his anger coming off in waves, and I self-consciously laid back my ears against my skull.
"Shadowpaw, this is one of the easiest questions for all apprentices!" he snarled. "Just tell me the answer!"
I opened my mouth angrily, forgetting I couldn't speak for a moment. I snapped my jaws shut again and glared down at my paws.
"Or maybe you can't tell me."
It was a statement, as simple as fact. There it was, then. The secret I had kept close for four full seasons was out.
"Shadowpaw, I want you to answer one question. You only have to nod or shake your head. Can you speak?"
I couldn't lie. I shook my head, and closed my eyes.
Tawnyclaw's sigh was long and drawn-out, with a hint of disapproval. I hung my head again, but kept my eyes firmly shut.
"Then run."
I glanced up in surprise. Tawnyclaw was looking at me fiercely, like he couldn't really believe the truth in front of his own eyes.
"Shadowpaw, you are one of the best and bravest cats I have known, even if it's only been two seasons mentoring you. There is no need for Redstar to kill you. If you flee now, you might escape the wrath of my brother. I'll say we were attacked by rogues, and you were kidnapped. Now go, before I can change my mind."
I shot him a grateful look, hoping it was enough to convey my thanks. At once I spun around and leapt into the underbrush; there was no time to waste.
I hurtled through the forest, my heart fluttering like a trapped bird. I was hoping against hope that a patrol wouldn't catch me; when they questioned me I would be in big trouble.
I burst from the underbrush; there was the river! I was so close to the WaterClan border! If I could just make it across...
I jumped, then whirled around. Spottedheart was stalking towards me from the riverbank, cutting off my escape route. Blacksplash, Luckfoot, and Flamewhisker were with her. The worst possible patrol for me to run into.
"What are you doing out here alone?" Spottedheart demanded, glaring at me. "Aren't you supposed to be with Tawnyclaw? Today's your assessment."
My mouth opened and closed, but no sound came out. Spottedheart's eyes narrowed, then opened wide in recognition. Panicking, I threw myself and Luckfoot, bowling over the surprised she-cat and racing for the border.
"Seize her!" Spottedheart snarled, such a bloodthirsty cry I had never heard before. I bounded forward; just a few more pawsteps...
A weight was thrown on top of me, and I writhed madly. Blacksplash pressed down on my shoulders, forcing my muzzle into the dust. I gasped for air and thrashed, making the larger tom wobble. Flamewhisker leaped over to help, and together they managed to suppress me. I struggled, but it was no use against the much larger and more powerful cats.
Spottedheart stalked closer and leaned down so she could speak in my ear. "Nice try, Shadowpaw," she snarled. "But no one can escape the wrath of the Clans." She rose to her paws. "Take her back to camp," she snapped. "Flamewhisker, go on ahead and alert Redstar. This will require something special for Cinderheart's second defial."
Blacksplash and Flamewhisker stepped off me, and the ginger tom darted away in the direction of the camp. I shook off the dust and leaves from my fur, and Blacksplash and Luckfoot closed in on either side of me. Spottedheart stalked in front to lead the way, and together we began the long journey back to camp.
