Sharp claws hooked into Eaglepaw's flank, startling him awake. In the nest adjoining his, Roguepaw was thrashing wildly, muttering words like territory, river, andshadow. Eaglepaw jumped up and frantically shook his friend by the shoulder. Yowling now, Roguepaw opened battle-lit eyes and swiped at his den mate. Eaglepaw dodged the oncoming blow before it could take his eye out.
"Roguepaw, it's me!" he meowed. The smaller cat paused, ears twitching in response to Eaglepaw's voice. Eaglepaw took advantage of his friend's hesitation.
"We're in the apprentices den. It's the middle of the night!"
The light of battle died out in Roguepaw's eyes. "Shadowclan?" he mewed tentatively.
"Yes," Eaglepaw breathed. Movement caught his eyes at the opposite side of the den.
"Great Starclan, why don't you two go back to the nursery and mewl there?" Loudpaw drawled. "Some of us need to get up early and provide for our Clan!"
Eaglepaw hissed at the older apprentice before dropping back into his nest. "What was that all about?" he whispered to Roguepaw. His friend seemed to have recovered from his nightmare, and his amber eyes were glowing with what Eaglepaw only could describe as excitement.
"Just a strange dream," the ginger tom meowed. Eaglepaw waited for his den mate to elaborate, but nothing else was said. After curling up, he closed his eyes, trying to ignore the swishing of Roguepaw's tail swinging back and forth along the dust. The glow never left his friend's eyes that night.
...
This time a piercing wail awoke Eaglepaw. It was shortly past dawn and he was alone in the apprentices den. Another cry had him scrambling from his nest and into the morning sunshine.
At first, Eaglepaw couldn't understand what was wrong. There was plenty of prey on the fresh kill pile and the air wasn't rank with blood or sickness. The apprentice turned his attention to a cluster of cats at the entrance to the elders den. Between the pelts of Mudeyes and Sharpears, a small unmoving shape drew his attention. Eaglepaw padded forward, his paws feeling heavier than stones. Finally, after pushing his was through the crowd, he stood beside
Leopardclaw, staring down at Stonepelt's shrunken body. Featherpelt, the remaining elder, nosed his den mate mournfully.
"I woke up and tried to talk to him, but he was colder than leafbare and wouldn't move!" the old tom's words ended in another stricken wail. His blind eyes were empty with grief. His daughters—Snowbreeze and Mothflight—stepped forward and pressed up against him on both sides, offering words of comfort.
"It was his time," Snowbreeze murmured, licking his cheek gently.
Slowly, the Clan took turns saying goodbye and sharing tongues for the last time with the lost elder. When Eaglepaw's turn came, he only gave Stonepelt's ear a swift lick before padding away; he'd never known Stonepelt as the strong Shadowclan warrior he once was. Better to offer time and space to those who loved him.
Last to go, Littlestar stepped forward. "Shadowclan will mourn this loss and remember Stonepelt," he promised in his charismatic voice. He prodded Featherpelt with one paw, making sure the saddened elder was listening, before continuing. "But there is much to be done and too little time to do it. We all knew Stonepelt was on his last legs and that this was to be expected."
On the outskirts of the group, Goldenpaw let out a choked snarl, her green eyes glaring furiously at their leader. With a start, Eaglepaw realized that Stonepelt was the father of the recently dead Scorchwing, who'd been Goldenpaw's father. Sitting beside Goldenpaw, an old warrior, Darkshade, was growling softly. Clearly some of the Clan disagreed with how Littlestar was handling the situation. Eaglepaw's whiskers twitched uneasily.
Seemingly oblivious to his clan's stress, Littlestar continued. "Now then, Duststripe, I need you to organize some border patrols and have a few warriors carry Stonepelt's body—"
"I can handle the burial of my own den mate!" Featherpelt snarled, rounding on the orange tom. The Shadowclan leader narrowed his eyes at the rebuke, but said nothing.
Reluctantly, the Clan stepped away to begin their daily duties under the commanding gaze of their leader. Eaglepaw watched from across the clearing as Fogeye and Darkshade stepped forward and silently helped Featherpelt carry away their fallen Clan mate.
Eaglepaw heaved himself up and shook the stunned grief from his fur. He decided that the least he could do was clear Stonepelt's bedding one last time. On his way to the elders den, he watched as Roguepaw hunched at Littlestar's feet. The Shadowclan leader was growling furiously, his apprentice wincing with every word. Eaglepaw picked up his pace, hoping to avoid the temptation of eavesdropping. He'd ask Roguepaw later what the scolding was about anyway.
He hastily pushed into the elders den to see Goldenpaw already gathering Stonepelt's bedding. Her movements were slow and heavy. Eaglepaw padded forward to help when she took a swipe at his paws. He wasn't sure if they were sheathed or not. "I'm doing it!" she snapped.
Embarrassed, Eaglepaw dipped his head and turned to leave.
"You might as well clear out that while you're here," Goldenpaw mewed grudgingly. She flicked her tail at Featherpelt's nest. The she-cat seemed to regret her outburst.
"Right," Eaglepaw muttered. He shuffled forward reluctantly to Featherpelt's little corner. He moved gingerly, expecting one of Goldenpaw's famous rants. Fortunately, she remained silent—for about ten heartbeats.
"How can Littlestar be so cold?" she burst out. Eaglepaw stiffened. There was something in Goldenpaw's voice that didn't sound like a loyal Shadowclan warrior's. She went on furiously. "I mean, Stonepelt has been a part of all four Clans for seasons, and was respected! But our so called leader just dismisses him, doesn't give him the proper vigil he deserves, and buries him before the nest is cold!"
A shocked silence followed her speech. All that could be heard was the soft scraping of Goldenpaw's claws as they tore restlessly at the moss. Blinking, Eaglepaw grouped his thoughts together. "I thought I missed the vigil," he rasped out. The other apprentice shook her head impatiently.
"No, weren't you listening?" she hissed. "Featherpelt woke up at dawn and couldn't wake Stonepelt up. Didn't you see how devastated he is?"
Confusion clouded Eaglepaw's head. Vigils were given for almost every fallen Clan mate. Only rare occasions, such an impending battle, would prevent one.
Was Littlestar simply trying to keep the Clan going in such a hard and critical moment? Or was a fight coming, and the Shadowclan leader was keeping it a secret? If so, then why—
Eaglepaw squeezed his eyes shut irritably. I must never question my leader, only follow his orders and trust him to protect our Clan!
"I'm sure Littlestar had good reasons for what he did, and you should believe that too," he meowed, pushing back doubts. Goldenpaw snorted.
"Littlestar is a fox-hearted piece of mouse dung!" she spat, disgust lacing her every word.
Horror froze Eaglepaw's limbs. "How can you say that about our own leader?" he demanded.
The she-cat stuck her nose in the air disdainfully. "I have never accepted that cat as leader and I'm not starting now," she declared. With that, she gathered the last of the shredded moss and stalked past Eaglepaw and out of the den. He watched her leave, angry words lodged in his throat. She can't mean that, he told himself.
Distantly, he heard Duststripe call his name. He numbly carried Featherpelt's bedding into the clearing, passing the broken elder on the way. The Clan was acting awkwardly, unsure of themselves now that Littlestar refused Stonefur a vigil. Eaglepaw padded up to his mentor and placed the bedding down, awaiting orders.
The Shadowclan deputy was speaking softly with Darkshade and Fogeye
"There's only one elder now," Duststripe was saying.
"Just like muddy Volefur in Windclan," Darkshade grumbled
"And Featherpelt's getting old and frail, not being able to see and all," Fogeye said.
Darkshade made a noise somewhere between a snort and a purr. "You're half-blind and I trained you pretty well, didn't I?"
Fogeye nodded reluctantly, shooting Duststripe a helpless look. Realization dawned on Eaglepaw. He swallowed a purr, letting Duststripe and Fogeye handle their task without his interference. Duststripe spoke next.
"Yes, you did take good care of him, Darkshade." He paused, considering his next words carefully. "If only an eligible cat like yourself could watch over Featherpelt and keep him company."
Darkshade was nodding in agreement, but then his eyes narrowed angrily. "I'm not so old and frail that I need to retire!" he spat. "And I know Featherpelt. He would be ashamed to have a scruffy old tom like myself kit-sit him!"
Dismayed, Fogeye attempted to reason with the gray warrior. "But Darkshade, you're almost as old as Featherpelt, and he's been in the elders den for moons—"
"That's because he's blind, mousebrain!" Darkshade was furious now. "And if Starclan allow it, you'll be an elder long before I will with that half-sight of yours!"
With each biting word, Fogeye seemed to crouch lower and lower as if they each held a great weight. Eaglepaw stared at Darkshade. The old warrior had stepped up to train Fogeye when no one else would, and made the half-blind tom into a fierce warrior. Hearing those insults from the cat who believed in him most must have been a harsh blow for the young warrior.
With a muttered apology, Fogeye padded away to the nursery. Mothflight was sitting just outside it with Poppykit, a sympathetic and concerned look on her pretty face.
Fuming, Darkshade turned his angry gaze on Duststripe. "Now fix me up on a patrol before you manage to insult me again," he demanded. The Shadowclan deputy nodded wearily and ordered the gray warrior on a hunting patrol with Sharpears. As Darkshade stormed off, Eaglepaw decided to make himself known.
"So what are we going to do today, Duststripe?" he asked innocently. His mentor jumped and turned to Eaglepaw in surprise. The brown tom hesitated a moment, then nudged Featherpelt's bedding with a forepaw.
"What's all this?"
"Old bedding." Eaglepaw shrugged nonchalantly.
Duststripe blinked. "Well, after you're done with that, make your way to the training pit," he ordered before turning to speak with Leopardclaw, who had just padded up.
Despite the terrible morning, Eaglepaw felt a rush of excitement. He was finally going to learn how to fight! Hastily, he buried and replaced Featherpelt's bedding, tripping over himself in haste, before pelting into the forest after his mentor.
After catching up with the deputy, Eaglepaw wondered if he should tell Duststripe what Goldenpaw had said back in the elders den. Didn't her opinions make her disloyal to the Clan? Or was the cheeky apprentice simply blowing off steam? Before Eaglepaw could decide what to say, mentor and apprentice slid down the ravine and into the training pit.
The shallow walls bordering the pit were sandy with bits of stone. Hard, packed dirt layered in and out of it. The ground beneath his feet was springy with gritty moss and spruce needles littered the sand.
Whatever Eaglepaw was going to say about Goldenpaw died in his throat, as the pit was already being used. Loudpaw and Goldenpaw were circling each other while Leopardclaw and Thorntooth—Loudpaw's mentor—looked on.
"All right, gather 'round," Duststripe ordered. The siblings backed away and bounded over, eager to begin the real training.
"Why are they here?" Eaglepaw muttered, refusing to take his eyes off Goldenpaw. The tabby she-cat looked just the same as always. She even gave Eaglepaw a friendly glance, acting as if what she'd said earlier never happened. Eaglepaw blinked in confusion.
"I'm assessing and training all the apprentices today," Duststripe explained, oblivious to his apprentice's uneasiness.
Eaglepaw gazed around the pit. "You're missing one," he observed.
"Apparently Littlestar needed to take Roguepaw out for special training."
Before Eaglepaw could ask what Duststripe meant, Loudpaw spoke up. "Figures our noble leader needs to teach that pitiful loner how to be a Clan cat," he jeered.
"He's more loyal to Shadowclan than you'll ever be!" Eaglepaw snarled, fur bristling. Loudpaw hissed. Thorntooth peeled his lips back, exposing his fearsome namesake.
Many Shadowclan cats still questioned the idea that a loner could grow up to be a warrior, despite the fact that Roguepaw's only memories were of his Clan. Some were simply uneasy around their adopted apprentice, others—like Loudpaw and Thorntooth—were openly hostile. Eaglepaw had to fight day and night to protect his littermate from their harsh views and mean jabs, even though Roguepaw remained stoic in the face of them. It didn't help that Littlestar reminded everyone about Roguepaw's non-Clan heritage by giving the young tom such a glaringly obvious name. Roguepaw never showed that the name or the distrust bothered him, but Eaglepaw knew it must reach his best friend in some way.
"That's enough," Duststripe growled. "Now, I want you, Eaglepaw, to unbalance Leopardclaw."
The beautiful she-cat caught Eaglepaw's eye and licked her lips tauntingly.
"Loudpaw and Goldenpaw?" Duststripe went on. "Continue what you were doing, with Thorntooth—"he nodded at the gray warrior "—to supervise while I check in on both groups."
They dipped their heads and went to their respectful positions on opposite sides of the pit. Goldenpaw and Loudpaw dropped into battle positions and, facing Leopardclaw, Eaglepaw did his best to mimic them. The bright she-cat watched him and wiggled her haunches playfully. She's mocking me! Eaglepaw drew back his lips and launched himself at her. Leopardclaw stepped nimbly out of the way to leave him sprawling in the dust.
"Too obvious," the warrior purred. Eaglepaw shook himself crossly and faced her again. This time, he glared at the tip of her tail but aimed for her legs. Leopardclaw reared up out of his reach and came down on his back. His legs were forced to fold under him, effectively pinned.
"Way too slow, I saw that coming," she crowed. Eaglepaw hissed and wriggled under her grip until she let him go. He prepared himself to jump at her again when a tail lightly touched his shoulder.
"You've got to remember that she is bigger and stronger than you," Duststripe hissed in his ear. "Go for her paws again but this time, when she rears up, turn around and give her a good kick with your back legs."
Eaglepaw nodded and faced his opponent again. Leopardclaw yawned broadly, feigning boredom, and Eaglepaw let loose a battle yowl in response, hurling himself at her legs. The Shadowclan warrior yipped in surprise and reared up again.
Gotcha! Eaglepaw turned tail and lashed out, putting all his weight on his front legs. He felt her weight and her belly give as he kicked. He turned to see
Leopardclaw fly, eyes wide, across the pit and land on her back between Goldenpaw and Loudpaw. The two apprentices leaped back in surprise and stared at Eaglepaw. Thorntooth shook his head with amazement.
"Oww..." Leopardclaw groaned and rolled onto her belly, facing Eaglepaw. "I feel sorry for the cat who ever has to fight you," she purred.
"That's what happens when you cross me!" Eaglepaw crowed.
"It wasn't bad," Duststripe admitted, padding up to him. "But there's still a lot for you to learn. Now get up Leopardclaw, its time to teach my cheeky apprentice some defensive moves."
...
The sun was sinking below the horizon when Eaglepaw and the others returned to camp. His limbs ached from all the attacks he had taken from Leopardclaw, Duststripe and, eventually, Loudpaw. His head buzzed from all the moves he had learned, but his spirit was glowing with pride at what he'd accomplished.
"You did well today," Duststripe meowed approvingly. "You deserve a good rest, but I expect to see you up and ready to hunt well before sun high tomorrow." Was Eaglepaw imagining things or was there a spark of rarely found pride in his mentor's eyes?
He dipped his head respectfully before making his way to the fresh-kill pile. After choosing a plump vole, he gazed around, looking for Roguepaw. His friend was eating alone under the rotten tree leaning against a healthier one over the apprentices den. Eaglepaw collapsed beside him, digging into his vole.
"You've missed quite a day," he meowed between bites. It was juicy and exquisite after the bony, stringy meat he'd grown accustomed to during leafbare.
The camp was dim and Shadowclan was settling in for the night. Stonepelt wasn't forgotten, but the Clan needed to move on. The grief-filled leafbare had exhausted cats and resources, leaving no time to mourn. Hopefully, Eaglepaw thought, Stonepelt would be the last victim the empty season would take. When Roguepaw didn't respond, he pushed on.
"You should have seen Loudpaw's face when I pinned him on his side." Eaglepaw purred at the memory.
"I can imagine," Roguepaw murmured quietly, keeping his eyes trained on the lizard he was eating.
"Now I can kill any mangy Thunderclan cat!" Eaglepaw boasted cheerfully.
Roguepaw said nothing.
Disappointment and frustration tugged at Eaglepaw's pelt. This was important! Roguepaw could show a little more interest than that! "So, where were you all day?" he demanded.
His friend shrugged. "Oh, here and there."
Eaglepaw frowned. The smaller tom was acting suspicious. "Well did you train with Littlestar, because he didn't look too happy with you this morning."
"You don't need to nose into everything I do!" Roguepaw hissed, rounding on him.
Eaglepaw's mouth dropped open in shock. Roguepaw never raised his voice at any cat, let alone him. "But I—"
"Just save it, Eaglepaw, and leave me alone!" the apprentice snapped. He whipped around and plunged into the den, leaving his half-eaten lizard behind.
Eaglepaw stared at it, confusion once again clouding his thoughts. This has been one strange day.
