Chapter 7

"Shadowpaw! Morning!" Dawnpaw yelled.

Shadowpaw's fur fluffed up and he jumped to his paws. He sunk back into his warm nest when he realized it was just Dawnpaw. He yawned and looked to Emeraldpaw's nest. She was already up. She left only a little while ago. He felt a little more motivated to stand when he realized his best friend was already awake. He stretched and gave his fur a few licks. Once that was done, he nodded to Dawnpaw and went to the fresh-kill pile. He was biting away at his vole and heard Sonicwind addressing orders to the warriors for the dawn patrol. Emeraldpaw was with Doubletail. Was she going on a dawn patrol? He went over to Sonicwind.

"Shadowpaw! Glad you're up! I was hoping we could do some early morning training. I'd like to start with a simple battle. We'll be training in the clearing of High Trees near the Soul Rock. It is said that when someone trains near the rock, they get a mysterious energy within them. What do you think?" asked Sonicwind.

"Okay. I actually came to ask why Emeraldpaw was going on the dawn patrol," Shadowpaw explained.

"Oh! Doubletail wanted to test her abilities in different areas of the territory and figured she could learn about the dawn patrol in the process. I honestly think that's a neat strategy! Maybe we could try that tomorrow."

"Um… I was hoping that I could train with her…," Shadowpaw said.

"Hm… Tell you what! I'll have Goldenheart come with us! I'm sure she'll be happy to help me train you. Goldenheart!" bellowed Sonicwind. She bolted up to him.

"Want me for the dawn patrol?" she asked.

"No. I want you to come join us for our first lesson. Would you mind?" asked Sonicwind. Goldenheart's eyes shimmered as she thought about it. She then nodded.

Sonicwind sent the dawn patrol away with Emeraldpaw giving Shadowpaw her most adorable eyes as she left. Shadowpaw could feel his heart crack just looking into them. He wanted to train with her, but that was almost an impossibility. When you're an apprentice, you'll do what your mentor says. There's no guarantee that you'll be put with your friends.

Goldenheart snapped his brain out of it. She leaped in front of him with lots of energy. "I already know that you're a great fighter Shadowpaw! I can't wait to test your skills!"

Shadowpaw got that awkward feeling he'd always get when with her. She was a warrior, he liked her -sort of-, and she knew way more than he did. The awkwardness was closing in on him. Emeraldpaw was his age making it easier for him. There was a huge age difference going on here.

"Um… Great! I'm excited!" Shadowpaw said trying to act like he was excited. Goldenheart didn't notice his false-enthusiasm.

They set off towards the rock and they were simply chatting. Nothing better to do after all. The clearing was through High Trees and Sonicwind made sure to steer clear of the river. The lush, green leaves finally gave way to reveal the clearing with the tall rock's shadow looming over the three of them. There was what looked like a sandy battlefield on the other side with a few boulders dotted on it to provide more of a landscape that could be potentially used in battle. Goldenheart jumped onto a boulder and looked down at Shadowpaw.

"Sonicwind, can I battle him first?!" demanded Goldenheart.

"He's my apprentice! I should get the honor of fighting him!" Sonicwind replied.

"Let's have Shadowpaw decide," Goldenheart suggested. Their eyes were directed to Shadowpaw and waited for his answer. He knew already who he wanted to battle.

"Sonicwind," Shadowpaw boldly replied.

The deputy grinned and stepped onto the sandy ground and sheathed his claws. Goldenheart jumped off of the rock with disappointment. She gazed at the two of them. Sonicwind positioned his tail to help him to have perfect balance. Shadowpaw noticed and did the same. They stared at each other in silence for a time. Finally, the words Shadowpaw was waiting for rolled off of the deputy's tongue. "Attack me."

Shadowpaw nodded to his opponent and sheathed his claws. If a fight was wanted, a fight it shall be. "Very well." He dashed between the boulders left and right knowing that Sonicwind was going to dodge. Which way was the question. When he was close enough, he swatted at Sonicwind's pelt. The silver-blue pelt vanished and Shadowpaw lightened his step on his paws preparing to jump away. Sonicwind returned only behind him and used his tail to knock the apprentice off of his paws. Shadowpaw was in the dirt with the breath already knocked out of him.

"You're assuming my next move. Never assume in combat. Results can be disastrous if things don't go according to plan. Try again."

Shadowpaw stood up and shook the dust and sand off of his pelt. Try again? Those words sounded like the words he'd hear and see on the screen of a video game when he lost. If there was one thing he hated, it was losing. Especially to Sonic.

A fire lit within his chest and he coiled through the rocks with the speed of a snake to make his next move. Sonicwind watched carefully. The deputy sprang on a boulder and gracefully pushed off of the rock and flew like an eagle towards the apprentice. Shadowpaw ignored his amazement by his boldness and rolled to the left. Sonicwind landed on his paws perfectly and without injury. Shadowpaw realized why the deputy was jumping. Sonicwind was trying to test to see how Shadowpaw would react to attacks where his opponent isn't on the ground. Shadowpaw's mentor continued to dash from rock to rock and would block off all forms of escape. Shadowpaw knew he had to do something. The black apprentice turned tail and ran to another rock. He used every one of his leg muscles to spring into the air and try to land on his mentor.

Tail is off-balance.

Shadowpaw missed and landed on the rock awkwardly. He let out a wail of pain and Sonicwind stopped abruptly.

"Shadowpaw! Are you alright?!" asked Sonicwind.

"Y-Yeah…," Shadowpaw answered.

"You need to make sure that you know how you're going to land. Make sure you have a balanced tail to help you to balance on the rock. Claws won't work on the smooth surfaces of these rocks. You'll either fall off or end up in the heap on your rear end. Wanna keep going?" asked Sonicwind after explaining.

"YES!" Shadowpaw growled.

"Enthusiasm… I love it…," Sonicwind said with a smirk.

They were facing each other and ran straight towards each other. This time, Sonicwind was testing brute strength. Shadowpaw knew he had the disadvantage. He was a new apprentice being tested against a warrior when it came to muscles. Shadowpaw did his best despite how small he still was.

They pushed against each other head-to-head in a relentless battle. Whoever could knock the other over won in strength. Shadowpaw could feel his paws begin to slip. He shoved his claws further into the ground. He wasn't going to lose this time.

"G-Give up! Trying to win against me is futile!" Sonicwind hissed.

"N-Never!"

Goldenheart was watching. Her eyes were wide with wonder and anticipation. Her fur was fluffed up to twice its size. She looked ready to spring and was chanting Shadowpaw"s name in her head.

Shadowpaw gave a burst of force that inched Sonicwind across the ground almost. Sonicwind regripped the ground unable to believe the strength of his apprentice. He came up with a solution and smirked. Within a second, he vanished again. Shadowpaw nearly lost balance again. He looked around.

The wind picked up. A small twister formed around him. A blue twister. It was Sonicwind. The deputy trapped Shadowpaw with his speed. Shadowpaw looked frantically around as Sonicwind's claws attacked him every second. There one moment, gone the next. Shadowpaw could only see the claws when they attacked. They were like lightning!

Lightning.

Shadowpaw got an idea. He waited. His eyes scanned the twister. Finally, he got attacked again. This time, Shadowpaw was faster. He clamped his teeth down on Sonicwind's paw and stopped the deputy. The apprentice didn't let go. He ran towards the blue tom and bowled him over. With his front paws, he pinned the warrior down. Sonicwind huffed. He was going to say something. When he was going to say it, he couldn't. His jaw was open, but nothing filled the silence. Goldenheart was stunned. The apprentice beat the deputy. All the authority Shadowpaw had felt from Sonicwind had vanished. Now, it was he who had the authority and towered over Sonicwind. He enjoyed it. Sonic would never beat him again.

After savoring his moment of victory, he released the warrior from his grip. Sonicwind stood. He had a few minor bruises but nothing serious. Shadowpaw looked like he was put through the workout of his life. Goldenheart squealed as Shadowpaw looked back over to her.

"You were great! What's your secret?! No cat in the forest has ever been able to defeat Sonicwind! NEVER!"

Shadowpaw was flattered. He still didn't answer her. However, he did have a question. It couldn't be answered by any mortal cat. Sonicwind. Looked to his apprentice almost in shame and began to walk off through High Trees to get back to the camp. Shadowpaw followed close behind.

"Listen, it's not my fault I won! I'm sorry that I damaged your pride!" Shadowpaw told his mentor.

Sonicwind looked over. It wasn't the fact that he lost. It was the fact that Shadowpaw did too well. There wasn't much to teach him. If every apprentice was like Shadowpaw, there wouldn't be mentors. Sure there were some points that needed to be sharpened for Shadowpaw but they could easily be fixed. Sonicwind brightened a little when he remembered Doubletail when he was an apprentice.

"Oof!" cried Doublepaw as an apprentice. He was trying to do a new move that Sonicwind had taught him. However, he was too slow and flew forward. He landed hard on his paws and fell onto the ground. Dust flew everywhere and got into Sonicwind's eyes. He ran through the dust and help Doublepaw to his paws.

"Hey buddy, are you alright?" asked Sonicwind.

"I-I think so… What happened? What did I do wrong?" asked Doublepaw.

"You didn't move quick enough. Try to land lightly on your paws if you know they'll dodge. Make sure that your tail is positioned correctly. Flex those legs to show off how fast you really can go to catch up to your enemy! Be like a bird…," Sonicwind explained.

"Do you want me to do it again?" asked Doublepaw.

"Yes. I'll take my position over there. Just do it when you're ready," Sonicwind told his apprentice.

Doublepaw focussed. He began a run and jumped just enough to land on Sonicwind's back. Sonicwind sidestepped out of the way. Doublepaw was ready. He landed neatly on his paws. He didn't take any damage at all. "I did it Sonicwind! Did you see how I made that comeback in the air?! Now I've mastered the air comeback!" Doublepaw said proudly raising his chin.

The only one more proud was Sonicwind.

Sonicwind came back to reality. Those days with Doublepaw were gone. Doublepaw was now a warrior by the name of Doubletail. Now there was Shadowpaw. The apprentice who already knew everything. There was no pride in teaching someone as special as him. There was almost no point. He took out Roseheart as well. There was nothing he couldn't do. All of his power was gone because he was weaker than his own apprentice. The only one who would be strong enough to take out Shadowpaw would be Knucklestar.

Sonicwind shook his head. Pointless or no, he was still a mentor. He asked for the job of being Shadowpaw's mentor. Because he asked for it, he was going to do it. He straightened up and smiled to Shadowpaw. "You were really great. It takes a lot of strength to take me out! However, tomorrow's going to be fun for you. You don't know how to hunt, do you?"

Shadowpaw stopped. He thought. "No. I don't know how to hunt."

Well, that was one thing he would have the pleasure of teaching him. The only thing he'd feel prideful about as a mentor ever again.

They padded into the camp. The cats all around them looked at Shadowpaw. The apprentice looked exhausted. The dawn patrol was already back. Emeraldpaw was resting in the apprentice den when she heard Shadowpaw walk in with a mouse. He flopped into a nest and heaved a sigh. Emeraldpaw finally opened her eyes. He was exhausted! He looked like he was assigned to run through MoonClan camp and make it out alive and he only managed to escape with his life. Goldenheart was giving him a look of concern from outside the den.

"Shadowpaw, what happened? I thought that it was just battle training!" Emeraldpaw exclaimed.

"It became more than just battle training… You could say that Sonicwind tested me to see what I already knew when it came to battling and…," his voice wavered. He finished his sentence when Emeraldpaw continued to bug him about it. ".and he fought me…"

Emeraldpaw gasped with amazement. "What happened during the fight?!"

"I won."

"You what?"

"I won."

Emeraldpaw stood with her mouth open. She nudged him. "If you won against the deputy, you're more than special. You defeated the blue blur! You should go see Cosmicleaf. She'll fix you up."

"You don't have to act like Vanillaflower with me. I'm fine," Shadowpaw told her as he finished off his mouse. He rested his head on his paws. Emeraldpaw licked his ear and left with only one glance behind. Shadowpaw suddenly realized that he would've felt better if she stayed.

"Shadowpaw!" Cosmicleaf yelled.

Shadowpaw shifted in his nest. His joints still ached as well as his muscles. He was somehow able to convince his body to stand up again and go to meet up with Cosmicleaf.

"What?" asked Shadowpaw wearily.

"Oh my! It looks like that battle did a number on you. Why did Sonicwind have to take you on today? We're going to the MoonCliff," she explained.

Shadowpaw looked up at the sky. It wasn't a half moon. Creampaw guessed what he was thinking as she approached him. "We're going to make up for the last time we didn't go because you couldn't come with us," she explained.

Shadowpaw followed them back through the valley to the MoonCliff with strange, glowing rocks. Once they had reached the pool, they all began to dream with their noses pressed against the purple stone.

Shadow awoke in the clearing he always would. Earthstar sat in the clearing with her head lowered. She mumbled just loud enough for Shadowpaw to hear. "The last time you came, Shadowstrike died…"

The horrible image of Shadowstrike being pulled under the water came back to him. A shudder rippled through his fur. Earthstar looked him into the eyes.

"Listen, we know you've figured out the prophecy. It's a countdown. It is counting down to when the cats of The Valley of Lost Echoes will arise. Their army is large… StarClan can't do anything to stop them. The reason we gave you so much power was to make sure that you'd have a potential chance of beating them…"

"Why did you drag Zaira into this?!" demanded Shadow.

"Zaira? You mean Emeraldpaw? Oh! We happened to notice that she could be duplicated in other universes," Earthstar explained.

"Duplicated?"

"Yes. It's because of her race. When you return to your world, she'll stay in this world and join StarClan."

Shadow looked infuriated. He took a step of defiance and wasn't about to let her send him away without being educated. "That's terrible! After everything that's happened to the two of us, you're going to send us away to never see each other again?! That's just plain mouse-brained! It's stupid! Why are you going to put her through that kind of pain. She expects to be my friend forever. How can she do that if I'm off living as Shadow the Hedgehog while she's up in StarClan feeling miserable because I'm not there?! Explain to me why you had to do it! Why make another version of her when it would only bring her pain?!"

Earthstar tried not to look offended. She heaved a sigh and shook her head. She already knew that this argument was going to come. She gave him a cold, hard stare that held nothing but the truth. "A StarClan cat's job is not to make every single cat who's alive happy. We sometimes see the future and we decide the best ways to do things. Those ways don't always make the living cats happy. However, they find out soon enough that it's what has to be done. We only do what's best for SunClan. Shadow, don't realize that the entire forest is in danger? We knew that you couldn't save the forest on your own so we sent you Emeraldpaw. Every other way we saw without Emeraldpaw, the forest was lost and you died in the Lake of the Lost just as Shadowstrike did! I am protecting you! We are protecting you!"

Shadow knew that she was right. It still felt wrong. His anger melted into annoyance that sunk into a deep hopelessness. Why was he not wanting to never see Emeraldpaw again after he left the world of the warrior cats? Did he really care that much?

CRASH!

Earthstar looked around the clearing in bewilderment. Something was happening. It wasn't good. She summoned for Shadow to follow her. They zipped through the trembling trees and raced by frightened starry warriors. She ran to the farthest reaches of StarClan without going beyond the borders. A few other cats met up with her there. Galaxyfern was included. They all stared across the border without giving Shadow even a glance.

"What's happening?!" demanded Shadow.

"The prophecy…," Galaxyfern said quietly.

A black, gooey liquid slid through the grass and began to take a form. The form of dark cats. Screams were contained in their pelts and blood was splattered at their paws. Their teeth were stained red. Shadow never knew he could be so intimidated by a group of dead cats. He took a step back. The other cats didn't move.

"What are you doing here?! This is StarClan territory! Go back to the lake where you belong!" hissed a large brown tom with a scarred muzzle and a deep voice. The cats laughed at the warrior's attempt. A cat stepped forward to show he was the leader. The blackness finally revealed some color and Shadow recognized the face of the large tom. It was Oakstar.

"Your commands mean nothing to us. You know that we are becoming stronger. You'll soon stand no chance against us. We just came to give your little friend a status report in person…," Oakstar answered.

Shadow didn't like the sound of this. Status report? For what? The prophecy? Did he make it move forward all of the sudden? He didn't have to wait long for his answer.

1 more to be loved,

9 lives earned,

12 to be lost,

0 learned.

The prophecy grows closer still.

And for you to die will be their will…

Oakstar smiled. He stepped over the border into StarClan and no resistance came from the other starry warriors. Oakstar's eyes were directed directly into Shadow's eyes. Shadow only wanted to leave now. Emeraldpaw was the one cat loved. When he realized he didn't want her to be in StarClan without him, she was officially "loved". The black, gooey warriors rippled away and fell back into the Lake of the Lost as a dark, black rain. A hurricane of black rain. Earthstar turned back to Shadow with a serious expression.

"Leave this place. There is nothing more I can tell you. Save the forest before the prophecy is fulfilled," she told him.

CRACK! POW! Rumble…

Shadowpaw woke instantly at the thunderclap. He stared up at the sky. It was the Tribe of the Valley of Lost Echoes returning to their lake. It was only raining over the lake. The rain and thunder made him want to roll up into a ball and cry. This wasn't natural rain. He was going to walk into it to get home.

Cosmicleaf and Creampaw didn't know anything about the rain. To them, it was nothing. To Shadowpaw, it was an army of evil cats laughing at his fear. There wasn't any fog. Just rain.

It was late at night when they returned home. He didn't want to tell Emeraldpaw about the "status update". He didn't want her to get the wrong idea. That was the last thing he wanted. When she greeted him, he walked right past her. He went straight to his den, curled up and tried to sleep. Sonic's voice continued to scream at Shadowpaw.

Shadow, wake up! Say something! Do something!

Leave me alone Sonic! I can't forget about what just happened with you yelling in my ears.

Shadow?

Wait a second. You can… Hear me, Sonic?

Shadow! I can hear you! Where are you?!

A nightmare. I can't remember how I got here. I think I was hit by one of Dr. Eggman's inventions and got sent here by a group of cat ancestors.

Cats? Oh, whatever! Do you remember what happened to you?! I told you not to take on that fleet by yourself! Now look at what's happened!

What has happened? I… I can't remember anything…

My communicator is almost out of power… I can only use it once a day… It was built by Tails… I'll tell you really fast what happened… You de-i-ed t- t-ke o- Eg-ma-'s r-bo- ar-y b- your-elf! So now-

What? I can't hear you!

In our world, you're dead!

Wh-What?!

Sonic!

Shadowpaw sat up with alarm. Dead?! The Ultimate Life Form dead?! How was that possible? Emeraldpaw was looking at him from within her nest. Shadowpaw didn't want to tell her about what had happened.

"Shadowpaw, what's wrong? You were mumbling to yourself in your nest and you ignored me when you came back to the camp from the MoonCliff. (If I spelled it StarCliff at some points, it's also called the MoonCliff. It can be called both). What's going on?! Why are you keeping secrets from me again?! Tell me Shadow!" she cried.

Shadowpaw suddenly realized how much she wanted to know. If she was going to call him Shadow, she was really frightened about something. She was scared for him. What was the point in hiding it?

"Emeraldpaw, the prophecy… The Valley of Lost Echoes… The army is going to come back soon… Really soon… Their faces send fear to my cold heart… Their words make my fur stand on end… They all want to kill me… They're going to kill me…"