4
"Come on, Shadowpaw!" Dawnclaw yowled, thrashing her tail angrily. "Don't let him get underneath you!"
Shadowpaw gritted her teeth, she was fighting Thornpaw for a training session, and he was strong. He batted her fore legs, knocking them out from underneath her, sending her sprawling. Quickly, Thornpaw pounced on Shadowpaw, pinning her to the earth. She thrashed around, batting him with her paws, before finally admitting defeat.
He glanced down at her and smiled. "I win," he purred, stepping off Shadowpaw.
"Lucky," Shadowpaw growled, flicking her tail playfully against his ear. He purred happily.
"Well done Shadowpaw," Dawnclaw purred, brushing her pelt against Shadowpaw's. "You fought well, and you can't win every battle. I might even take you to the Gathering tonight."
Shadowpaw's eyes lit up. "Please, please, can I go to the Gathering? I've never been before!" Shadowpaw begged.
"I'll ask Bramblestar," Dawnclaw responded. "You deserve it."
Shadowpaw bounced up to Thornpaw's side, a new spring in her step. "Why are you so cheerful all of a sudden?" he asked, amusement glinting in his eyes.
"Dawnclaw says I might be able to go to my first Gathering tonight!" She purred happily.
"You'll like it," Thornpaw responded, pushing through the thorn barrier.
"Shadowpaw!" Shadowpaw rolled her eyes as Jayfeather hurried over to her. He had not left her alone since she became an apprentice, and Jayfeather often had made her sit in his den for often hours, as if he was trying to read her mind.
"Yes, Jayfeather?" she asked wearily.
"Shadowpaw come to my den, please," Jayfeather turned to his medicine den and bounded over to it. Shadowpaw glanced at Thornpaw and rolled her eyes before running after him.
"Jayfeather, what is it," Shadowpaw complained. "You've been wanting to talk to me a lot recently."
"Yes, Shadowpaw, I do want to talk to you," Jayfeather said sternly.
"Look, Jayfeather, I don't want to be a medicine cat, if that's-"Shadowpaw started, but Jayfeather cut her off.
"No, Shadowpaw, that's not what I'm thinking," he said coldly. He sighed loudly. "Look Shadowpaw, I was involved in a prophecy Starclan predicted, a while ago," he stopped to sigh again. "I was given a gift to be able to read other cat's minds."
"Wait, so you were reading my thoughts when I was in here?" Shadowpaw's stomach lurched and she felt dizzy, staggering to the side. "You lied to me," she snarled, rage bubbling up inside of her. She turned to leave, shaking with anger.
"Shadowpaw stop," she felt Jayfeather's tail on her shoulder. "I was only doing it to protect you."
"I don't need protecting!" she hissed, shouldering Jayfeather away and storming to Thornpaw's side.
"What did Jayfeather want?" Thornpaw asked mildly.
"Nothing," Shadowpaw growled through gritted teeth. "Want to get some prey?" Thornpaw nodded, and picked a plump squirrel from the top of the fresh-kill pile.
"Shadowpaw, come on," Dawnclaw called. The sun had set a little while ago, and the clan was just leaving for the gathering.
"Coming," Shadowpaw bounded towards Dawnclaw in three strong leaps. She was so excited for her first gathering.
"You're getting fast," Dawnclaw purred. "I'll have to really push myself to keep up with you." Shadowpaw smiled as she brushed her pelt against Dawnclaw's.
They arrived on the island, Riverclan and Windclan were already there. She watched Bramblestar leap onto a branch above the clan cats. Suddenly, the Shadowclan cats poured in, bringing the strong scent of pine coming with them. A silvery white tom with brilliant blue eyes moved over to sit next to her, the strange scent overwhelming.
"Sorry Shadowclan is late," he mewed. His voice was smooth and beautiful, it gave Shadowpaw a rush of pleasure to hear him. He gazed at her. "I'm Frostpaw, a medicine cat apprentice," he meowed. "What's your name? And from your scent I can tell you're Thunderclan."
"I'm Shadowpaw," she replied. He purred in amusement.
"I'd think you'd be in Shadowclan with me with a name like that," Shadowpaw stared at him, his blue eyes glittering, and felt something spark inside of her. He was so perfect, his eyes, his voice… everything. But she couldn't think this she suddenly realised. He was from Shadowclan, and a medicine cat. She looked away, not even listening to Bramblestar anymore. So many emotions conflicted inside of her, she felt like blacking out.
"Shadowpaw, are you ok?" Shadowpaw shook her head to clear it and saw Dawnclaw standing in front of her, looking worried. Almost all of the cats had left, only Thunderclan had stayed, waiting for her.
"I'm fine," Shadowpaw responded. "Are we going?" Dawnclaw nodded, gesturing for Shadowpaw to follow Bramblestar back to Thunderclan territory.
As soon as Shadowpaw was through the thorn barrier, Jayfeather was calling her. Not again! She thought.
"Shadowpaw! Come to my den," he called.
"No," Shadowpaw sighed. "I'm not listening to you anymore."
"No, Shadowpaw, this is important," Jayfeather said sternly. Shadowpaw closed her eyes and cursed silently, before following Jayfeather into his den. "Shadowpaw, I've had a sign from Starclan," Jayfeather started, but Shadowpaw wasn't prepared to listen.
"Look, Jayfeather, I really don't care about a sign from Starclan, unless it says that you'll stop bothering me," Shadowpaw said coldly.
"Well, Starclan has predicted that you are part of this prophecy," Jayfeather said calmly, as if he hadn't heard Shadowpaw's harsh comment.
"Me?" Shadowpaw gasped. "This… this is amazing! I have to tell Dawnclaw, and Thornpaw!" Happiness shot through her.
"No, Shadowpaw, it isn't," Jayfeather cut her off. "Starclan has prophesized that you and a cat from each of the other clans will each have a power that will destroy the clans."
Shadowpaw felt her blood freeze in her veins. "What?" she gasped. "No, it can't be! I won't!" She ran from the medicine den, panic rising up from inside her, like sinking in the lake all over again, until it suddenly swamped over her and she collapsed. Her thoughts were swimming around, hurting her head. Nothing would ever be the same again… could it?
