CHAPTER EIGHT

"Come out!" Honeycloud growled, her fur bristling and her eyes narrowed. She'd decided that this was ShadowClan territory and they didn't need to be afraid of anything inside the border. "If you come out now, less harm will come upon you!" she called to where the bushes quivered slightly.

A black tom stumbled out, looking at them with bright amber eyes. He glared slightly at them and puffed out his fur to look bigger. But something about him still seemed off: his front leg was shorter than his other legs and he held it up, like he had hurt it. Shadepaw also noticed that he was missing some claws. A shiver crept along his spine.

"I need to speak with your leader," he grunted, his amber eyes glancing to the bush behind him uncertainly, as if he planned to run away. Shadepaw crouched down and bunched up his back legs, ready to pounce if he tried. "And only your leader. No one else." His tail lashed, as if he already knew we were going to challenge his words.

Shadepaw felt himself grow worried as he took the spot behind the tom and followed him and Honeycloud through the pines and towards camp. He didn't like the thought of the rogue knowing where their camp was, however, he knew this tom wouldn't fight back due to the limp and missing claws.

As soon as we entered camp, cats began to murmur and Shadowclaw, Creamsky, Oakstorm exited the warriors den to see what was happening, even Frostlight entered the clearing to see what was happening. Whispersong and Thunderpaw watched calmly and silently from outside their den, however their gaze showed anger. Ravenstar and Wintersky were under the hazel branch. They were enjoying a frog but now that the rogue had caught their attention they had risen to their paws and padded over to the tom, looking at him with a grim face.

Ravenstar spoke first, "Greetings, I am Ravenstar, leader of ShadowClan. How may I help you?" His voice was cool and calm but Shadepaw knew that he was just as hostile as the rest of the Clan.

The black tom responded, seeming unconcerned, "I need to speak with you. Privately." The tom's amber eyes were calm and he didn't seem to mind all the ShadowClan warriors surrounding him. If he stepped a paw in the wrong place they would attack, he didn't seem to realize this.

"Whatever you have to say you may say it in front of my Clan. I have no secrets," Ravenstar replied coolly, blinking at the tom. "But first, what is your name?"

He let out a grunt. "Howler. The reason I came," he paused to glance around now, "is because I have seen both RiverClan and ThunderClan in these parts of your territory. They have hurt me and chased me away even though it is not theirs." His tail lashed in anger and there were some murmurs that rose up as he finished. Everyone seemed surprised at this.

Ravenstar rose his tail for silence and instantly, it fell quiet. "How do you know where our territory starts and ends, Howler?" he asked simply. Shadepaw wondered as well. Rogues didn't respect boundaries or even care that the Clans were here.

"Simple, your Clan chased me off once before so I took it upon myself to learn your borders as to not make that mistake again. I've learned a lot about you." Howler glanced over to where Whispersong sat and he ears flattened on her head. "You must believe me, they are crossing into your territory and stealing prey! I've seen it!"

The leader tilted his head and Shadepaw watched Sunclaw's tail lash, Leafypaw's eyes narrowed and she bared her teeth, even Honeycloud had her claws dug deep into the ground, as if it were a ThunderClan or RiverClan warrior.

"Thank you for coming to warn us Howler." He flicked his tail over to Lionfur and Nightsnow who stepped forward without a heartbeat to spare. "Take Howler to the border safely."

Howler seemed surprised but he just nodded and padded with Lionfur and Nightsnow at his side, looking grim.

Shadepaw turned to look at Ravenstar with wide eyes. Worry had its tight claws wrapped around him but Ravenstar was blankly watching where Howler had disappeared. He suddenly blinked and was back in the clearing. Ravenstar instantly turned his head to look at Shadepaw.

"We should get to the training hollow. Coalpaw is going to join us," he mewed with a monotone voice. He didn't seem fazed nor concerned about Howler's warning. Then again, he was a rogue, what did he know?

He pushed it out of his head and nodded, following Ravenstar across the clearing to where Howler slipped through the camp entrance and Ravenstar did too, leading him to the side of camp where Crowflight was down in a crouch and Coalpaw had his head tilted and was gazing at him.

Fear struck him suddenly. He'd have to train with Coalpaw. The tom who challenged his kindness and the tom who disliked him heavily. Should he be worried?

Coalpaw met Shadepaw's gaze with coldness, his eyes narrowed sharply as Crowflight padded over to speak with Ravenstar. Shadepaw's pelt prickled a little but he knew if Coalpaw wanted to fight, Shadepaw wouldn't hold back.

"We're going to practice the back kick today," Ravenstar mewed, interrupting his thoughts and frightening him slightly. "Like this." Suddenly, Ravenstar turned away from Crowflight and put all his weight onto his front legs and kicking out with his back, coming just a hair from Crowflight's face. He didn't even flinch. "Coalpaw, you try first."

Instantly, fear shot through him but he shoved it down. If Coalpaw kicked him, Shadepaw wouldn't hesitate to grab his back leg and yank him down. Hard.

Coalpaw turned away from Shadepaw and then moved all his weight to his back paws and Shadepaw flinched, seeing his paws come so close to his face but not connecting. He felt relief flood through him.

"Now Shadepaw."

He waited until the 'paw was facing him and then whipped around, judging quickly how far he needed to be away and then kicked out at Coalpaw. He wasn't sure how close he'd been but he hoped it was very close.

"Very good both of you!" Crowflight praised as Shadepaw faced them. They both looked pleased. "You'll both become fine warriors." The black tom glanced over at Ravenstar, as if looking for a sign of agreement and Ravenstar gave it to him, nodding in agreement and smiling warmly, Howler's accusations clearly out of his mind.

It felt good to focus on his training for once though. Everything else seemed to get in his way of becoming a warrior. Coalpaw, the accusations, Howler. He was sick of all of it.

"Shadepaw?" Ravenstar's voice threw him back into the clearing and he blinked, looking at his mentor with wide eyes and a tilted head. "Are you okay?"

He nodded instantly. "Of course. Continue." He flicked his tail in excitement, pushing the thoughts out of his mind so he could focus on Ravenstar's lesson.

Streakpaw and his mentor, Flamewing, slipped out of camp as Ravenstar, Crowflight, Shadepaw, and Coalpaw entered camp. Ravenstar told them Streakpaw was doing his warrior assignment today and if he passed, Ravenstar would be making him a warrior at sundown.

Inside camp, Whispersong was talking with Shadowclaw at the edge of camp and Thunderpaw was carrying herbs across the clearing towards Clumsystep who was laying in the sun and watching Leafypaw clean out the apprentice's den. Wintersky was speaking with Springleap, Raindusk, and Fallenpine. She looked worried.

Ravenstar looked at Coalpaw and Shadepaw. "Go get something to eat," he ordered and quickly padded over to Wintersky and Crowflight nodded, whisking away to where Sunclaw was sitting outside the warrior's den. She seemed surprised to see him approaching her.

Shadepaw knew that Sunclaw and Crowflight were once mates, well, Sunclaw was forced into being Crowflight's mate. Their kits were Coldfeather and Honeycloud. And speaking of Honeycloud.

"Shadepaw! Hey!" the yellow warrior padded over to him with a grin on her face. "How was training?" she asked in her very soft, kind, honey-like voice.

He tilted his head at her. "Hello, Honeycloud," he mewed blandly, gazing at her amber eyes with interest. "It was fun. Ravenstar is a good teacher. What did you do?"

She looked down at the ground and smiled slightly. "Oh, I went on a border patrol with Lioncall, Leafypaw, and Ashcloud. Ivypool threatened us at the border." Honeycloud shook her head slowly but he could see the irritation in her eyes. She didn't like the accusations either.

"Yeah, listen…" he began slowly, "You should be careful around the border and when you're near other Clans. We don't need you getting harmed." Shadepaw gave a small smile and then saw movement behind her shoulder, seeing Streakpaw enter camp with Flamewing, looking proud.

"I call a Clan meeting!" Ravenstar yowled, jumping on the hazel branch. "Streakpaw, step forward!" The 'paw stepped towards him. "I, Ravenstar, leader of ShadowClan, call upon my warrior ancestors to look down on this apprentice. He has trained hard to understand the ways of your noble code, and I commend him to you as a warrior in his turn. Streakpaw, do you promise to uphold the warrior code and to protect and defend your Clan, even at the cost of your life?"

Streakpaw spoke loudly and with confidence, "I do."

Ravenstar continued, "Then by the powers of StarClan, I give you your warrior name. Streakpaw, from this moment you will be known as Streakstorm. StarClan honors your kindness and strength, and we welcome you as a full warrior of ShadowClan. In honor of StarClan, Streakstorm will sit vigil tonight."

"Streakstorm! Streakstorm!" ShadowClan cheered loudly, as did Shadepaw. Next would be him and his denmates.

He moved to the center of camp and Shadepaw's eyes turned back over to Honeycloud, who was smiling warmly at Streakstorm.

Shadepaw wanted to lay down and not move for a while. His legs felt weak and suddenly sleepiness crash down on him. "I'm going to my nest," he mewed to her and quickly padded away to the apprentice's den and slipped inside and plopped down in his nest and closed his eyes tightly, letting sleep wash over him.

Sunlight trickled into his eyes and Shadepaw sat up, blinking away sleepiness and the black dots he was seeing he looked around and quickly realized that he was in the apprentice's den. Shadepaw puffed out his fur and saw that every single other nest was empty and he slid out of the den and into the clearing.

Everyone was awake in the clearing and the sun was high in the sky. He was confused as to why he wasn't woken up and spotted Ravenstar on the other side of the clearing, talking to Wintersky with a very serious face and he watched Coldfeather and Featherbreeze carry a large piece of bracken to the entrance of the camp. His worry fluttered a little as he zipped across the clearing and stood beside his mentor.

"Why did you not wake me?" Shadepaw asked simply, gazing over at his mentor with wide eyes. "I slept quite a bit…" He watched Duckpelt crouched down low with Shadowclaw and Clumsystep and his mate copying. "Are we getting ready for a fight?" he asked Ravenstar, not taking his eyes off the clear training moves.

Ravenstar glanced over at Duckpelt and he heard him suck in a deep breath. "Yes, actually. The Clans have never been more far apart. Both ThunderClan and RiverClan warriors came to tell us that we will be meeting at the Island tomorrow at sunhigh and we will have a war." His eyes narrowed and Shadepaw felt his eyes widen a little.

A war? Between the Clans? That can't be… His mind went straight to the prophecy. A lurking cat will bring war to the Clans! He felt his paws tingle. A cat had already done what it needed to do. Who could it be? He gazed around his camp. Crowflight, Sunclaw, Lionfur or StrikeClan could be back? He instantly regretted thinking that. StrikeClan would be beyond what he could handle. Maybe it was a rogue? His mind went back to Astrid and Howler. He didn't know what Astrid did and Howler was just warning them, right?

"You are on a training patrol," Ravenstar mewed, suddenly interrupting his thoughts. "With Moonshine, Lioncall, Icepaw, and Streakstorm." He flicked his tail towards the entrance and Shadepaw could see they were waiting for him.

Quickly, he padded over to them, shuffling his paws as most of them looked relieved and then Moonshine led the way out of camp and around it to the training hollow. She seemed confident but Shadepaw knew she wasn't one of the strong ones.

Everyone faced Moonshine who stood in front of us now. Shadepaw enjoyed the pine needles under his paws and the light breeze in his fur.

"Today we're going to practice partner hunting," she began with confidence and he could hear her excitement. "Shadepaw and Streakstorm, Icepaw and Lioncall."

Shadepaw glanced over at Streakstorm who seemed overjoyed to be working with him. He couldn't help but roll his eyes. Streakstorm, however nice and friendly, was not focused on winning like Shadepaw. Shadepaw was determined to beat Icepaw and Lioncall in partner hunting.

"Your goal," Moonshine mewed, interrupting his thoughts, "is to catch a piece of prey with your partner. Remember: I will be watching."

Shadepaw turned away from her and led the way through the pines, hearing Streakstorm hurrying to catch up with him. His ears were already pricked and he was scenting the air with parted jaws. He could smell a mouse somewhere nearby.

"Mouse!" Streakstorm hissed in his ear and Shadepaw kept himself from snapping at the warrior to shut his mouth. He just nodded and watched the small gray creature scurrying around the ground and Shadepaw crouched down lowly.

Streakstorm instantly crouched down and went across the edge of the clearing until he was directly behind the mouse and then he bursted through the bushes, letting out an ear-splitting yowl. The mouse instantly fled over to where Shadepaw waited for it. He quickly sunk his claws deep in the mouth and killed it with a bite to the neck.

"Nice kill!" Streakstorm called and Shadepaw flattened his ears on his head, looking at Streakstorm with anger. He had now scared away all the prey in this area.

Instead of snapping at him, Shadepaw just nodded, clamping his mouth on the mouse's tail and weaving around him. He grew hot with frustration but they were only required to catch one thing so it wasn't like they failed.

He padded towards camp silently, ignoring Streakstorm who seemed to have no care about keeping quietly at all. Everytime he stepped Shadepaw could hear everything crunch under his paws and he kept rustling bushes as they passed. Shadepaw knew he was a clumsy, loud mousebrain.

They padded into the camp with one little mouse and as soon as Shadepaw saw the crowd, his heart sunk. Icepaw and Lioncall were already back and they stood proudly with a large, fatten squirrel. Everyone was admiring it and Shadepaw couldn't help but feel jealous. He glanced down at the mouse in his jaws.

"Go ahead and put that on the pile, Shadepaw," Moonshine mewed, suddenly beside him and gazing at the two cats. "Just because it isn't big, doesn't mean the Clan doesn't appreciate it." She looked down at him with soft, kind green eyes.

The mouse in his jaws kept him from snapping at her, telling her he didn't need her sympathy or pity. It was definitely for the best as he padded around the group and threw the mouse on the pile. A robin, a few frogs, a lizard, another mouse, and a starling sat under it. It was the ideal size of a pile in the warmth of newleaf. Greenleaf was approaching now, as was the hot weather.

Shadepaw snatched up the lizard and stalked away angrily. He wasn't even mad at himself, he was mad with Streakstorm. But the tom didn't even seem upset. He was happily chatting away with Coldfeather and Honeycloud who were listening with interest. What could he be talking about that's interesting? I'm surprised I can't hear him from here! he thought, glaring over at Streakstorm. But he didn't notice.

He took a large bite out of the lizard and narrowed his eyes down at it, his fur prickling as he thought back to the war tomorrow at sunhigh and how something felt off about the entire situation. Howler had to be lying. Shadepaw hadn't smelled anyone over the border and plus he was a rogue!

"Shadepaw!" Ravenstar was padding towards him and Shadepaw quickly ate the rest of his lizard and then stood up, gazing at his mentor. "I know you're more than ready for tomorrow's war. I believe that you will help lead us to victory."

He shook his head and froze, without even thinking Shadepaw mewed, "But Howler is a liar!" Ravenstar looked surprised that the last thing Shadepaw wanted was to fight. "There have been no scents across the border and he's a rogue." I spat the word rogue out of my mouth like it was bad prey. Everything about this battle felt wrong to Shadepaw. I have to find Howler. His eyes darted around the clearing and he tuned out Ravenstar's next words, His eyes landed on Honeycloud. She always followed him around. "Excuse me, Ravenstar. I promised Honeycloud I'd hunt with her…"

Honeycloud was across the clearing, laying next to Lioncall and enjoying a mouse. They were talking and both seemed entertained and happy.

Shadepaw didn't waste time with walking over and suddenly he was standing over them. "Honeycloud, I need to speak with you," he mewed loudly, looking at Lioncall who flattened his ears on his head. "Right now."

The she-cat tilted her head and rose to her paws. "I'll see you later, Lioncall," she mewed and followed Shadepaw to the entrance of camp and he stepped outside, feeling all his courage sweep away as he felt the pine needles under his paws. "What's going on, Shadepaw?" she asked with her soft, honey-like voice.

He stopped walking, almost directly outside camp and he shuffled his paws. "I-I'm going to try and find Howler… He's the only one who can stop the war tomorrow," he mewed truthfully and he could see the disbelief in her eyes. "I just have a bad feeling about tomorrow and I know Howler was lying. I know it."

Suddenly, a soft, warm voice whispered right into his ear, "A lurking cat will bring war to the Clans."

Softheart! His heart quickened and he glanced around but he couldn't see her. Was Howler the lurking cat? His pelt prickled and Honeycloud was staring at Shadepaw with wide eyes.

"You don't want to go to war?" she asked in astonishment. She cleared her throat when Shadepaw glared at her. "Alright, I believe you. Let's find Howler."

He nodded at her and turned away, not sure where to start. "We should go to the rogue border…" Shadepaw led the way around camp and towards the rogue border. His mind flashed back to StrikeClan. Where did they go? he thought silently, hearing Honeycloud following after him. He felt some sympathy for StrikeClan but knowing they'd killed a lot of warriors made it slip away.

"Shadepaw?" Honeycloud was walking beside him, her eyes soft. "You know if you fight in the war tomorrow you could possibly get your warrior name afterwards?" she asked.

For a heartbeat his mind wavered and he thought about turning around and going back to camp but he couldn't. He hadn't even thought about get his warrior name. "I can't fight if there is nothing to fight about, Honeycloud." He had no idea where this side of him came from. Shadepaw was never like this before.

"I like this Shadepaw," she purred softly and he ignored her, pushing through some bushes as they neared the border, the twoleg nest behind them. "We're here!"

Shadepaw gazed across the border, seeing all the pine trees. It was just like ShadowClan territory. He slowly crossed the border and felt Honeycloud tense up.

Honeycloud paused, looking at him with concern. "You're going to cross the border? Won't that mean we're… Rogues?" She seemed uncomfortable at the thought.

"We have to," he mewed firmly and turned away. "Come if you want, Honeycloud." He padded forward and heard her following behind him quickly. They needed to find Howler.

"Clan cats? On rogue territory?" a mocking sneer startled Shadepaw and he glanced around, trying to find the source of the voice. "Up here." He looked up to see a fluffy white she-cat in the pine tree. Her green eyes shone in amusement. She was bigger than Shadepaw but only by a little and her puffed out fur made her seem even bigger. "What're you doing here?"

His friend spoke for him, "We're looking for a rogue named Howler. Do you know him?"

The she-cat was laying down on branch, her paw hanging off and swinging. "Rogue? Oh no, Howler is not a rogue. He's a loner. No one goes near him." She stood up on the pine tree now, looking down at them with dark eyes. "He lives over by the abandoned thunderpath. I'm not sure where though." Her tail flicked. "I'll show you." She made a huge leap down to the ground and turned away from them, facing the trees.

"Before we go with you," Shadepaw mewed quickly, his eyes narrowed, "what's your name?"

"Echo," she mewed simply. "And yours?"

Shadepaw swallowed heavily. "This is Honeycloud and I'm Shadepaw. We're ShadowClan warriors." He glanced over at Honeycloud. She seemed way more uncomfortable now. "Lead the way, Echo." He hoped she wasn't leading them into a trap.

Echo began padding forward and they followed cautiously, padding through the unknown territory. He looked up at the sky, seeing the was was disappearing and the moon was coming up. They didn't have a lot of time.

She paused and sniffed the air as a brown tabby tom padded out of the bushes, glancing at the Clan cats wearily.

"This is Goose, my brother," Echo mewed back at us and then whispered something to Goose who nodded and began padding alongside her. They didn't seem weary at all of us, like they knew we weren't going to attack them. Of course we weren't. "So what do you need Howler for?" Echo asked suddenly.

Honeycloud glanced at Shadepaw. "We need him to speak to our leader. He's done something that could result in a lot of death." When she spoke Goose and Echo glanced at each other with wide eyes. Did they know? "Have you ever met Howler?"

"Oh yes," Goose mewed with a deep, gruff voice. He didn't sound friendly. "Howler helped Astrid escape from your Clan."

Shadepaw's heart skipped a beat in fear and he glanced over at Honeycloud who swallowed heavy. "We had nothing to do with that," he told them quickly.

As he spoke, the familiar black tom limped from the bushes and paused, looking at them with his ears flat on his head. "Goose, Echo, I told you this is my part of the pines and you aren't allowed to come here!" he hissed, his few claws digging into the ground. Now looking at Howler, he seemed old. Like really old. There was no way he could take on two young cats like Goose and Echo. Shadepaw might even be able to take him by himself.

"We know, Howler. But these two Clan cats were looking for you so we escorted them here," Echo responded calmly but Shadepaw could see her shiver in fear. "We'll be back shortly to escort them back to the border" She dipped her head, as did her brother, and then they raced away with great speed, maybe even faster than WindClan.

Howler turned his gaze to us and his amber eyes narrowed. Honeycloud quickly began speaking, "We know you made up the things you told the Clans. Why're you trying to start a war, Howler?"

"Because the Clans are taking up valuable territory you rat-brains!" he hissed and then began dragging a squirrel out from the bushes. He flopped to the ground and took a large bite out of it. "If the Clans fight each other, one of them is bound to be eliminated and then I'll have more territory."

Honeycloud flattened her ears to her head, her face full of worry. "Okay, that's valid, but Howler one of the Clans would gladly accept you into their Clan. You could become an elder and be pampered!" She was clearly trying to make him see the error of what he did.

His ears pricked in interest. "Pampered, huh?" He looked down at his squirrel thoughtfully and then suddenly he got angry and hard again. "I think it'd be fun to watch the Clans fight."

Shadepaw stepped forward, shoving his face right into Howler's. "You think you're the big leader around here, don't you? Echo and Goose are frightened of you so the Clans should be too, right?" His fur bristled and his claws dug into the ground. He was ready to fight Howler. "Well I'm not." Shadepaw was giving Howler his heaviest, scariest glare. "If you don't get your mouse-brained self up and follow us back to The Island, I will personally rips your ears off. Stand up. Now," he threatened, baring his teeth.

Howler was staring at Shadepaw with wide eyes and Shadepaw could see fear in his amber eyes. But suddenly, it was gone and he didn't seem to care about Shadepaw's threat. "You? Take me on? I highly doubt someone as young as you would even touch me. Isn't there a saying? Respect your-" Shadepaw cut him off, using his unsheathed claws and raking them down Howler's muzzle. Blood quickly welled up and Howler seemed too shocked to continue speaking.

"Get up. Now," he ordered furiously. "I won't ask again." Shadepaw's tail lashed as Howler rose to his paws slowly and then Shadepaw glanced behind him at Honeycloud, who was froze with fear. She didn't seem to believe what was going on. "Honeycloud, lead the way."

The yellow she-cat nodded a few times and turned around just as Echo and Goose jumped down from the trees surrounding them and padded up to us. Both of them had a grin on their face.

"I've been dying to see the day Howler was put in his place. We want to come with you," Goose mewed, his orange eyes looking directly at Howler.

Shadepaw nodded in agreement and then pushed the loner forward and he stumbled and then began following Honeycloud. Deep inside him, Shadepaw knew this was the right thing to do. He knew Howler was the lurking cat. He knew he had to stop the war.