Chapter 37

The night air was finally beginning to grow cold again, and dead leaves fell to the forest floor. Shadow and Palepaw shivered as a strong leaf-fall wind whipped at their pelts; Palepaw looked fidgety and nervous as they padded away from their former territory.

"What is wrong with you?" Shadow snorted.

Palepaw looked as if he just saw a dog…his neck fur bristled. "What…n-nothing." Shadow stared at him with cold blue eyes until the young cat sighed and gave in. Palepaw looked back at him with even eyes. "I'm not sure if I want to stay with you anymore…"

"Good…leave." Shadow didn't hesitate to leave to tom behind. He was used to living alone…the only cat he enjoyed being with was June.

Palepaw looked taken aback, but he took a step back. "Are you sure?"

"Leave." Shadow growled.

Palepaw frowned and turned as a strong wind exposed the lighter under-coat on his back. Shadow smelled a scent in the wind…and so did Palepaw. The two toms sniffed the air. Palepaw hissed in nervousness and tied to find an escape.

"What is up with—" Shadow began, but his scowl was cut off by the voice of an angel. The black tom whipped his head around, certain he'd see June standing before him, but was stunned when he saw a black she-cat with amber eyes. Shadow felt an overwhelming bite of love grow in his heart as he looked at the black she-cat.

That's her…that's my daughter

"Palepaw…who's this," The she-cat flicked her tail over to Shadow. Palepaw stepped in front of Shadow and snarled in his face.

"No one, Stella…let's go." Palepaw wrapped his tail over her shoulders. Shadow snarled in defiance and stepped in front of the two.

"I'm not no one!" Shadow snarled. "I'm her father…you knew that didn't you! Why didn't you tell me you found her?"

Palepaw pelt tingled in nervousness as Stella gave him a confused glance.

"My father," She mewed. "What is he talking about?"

"Nothing…he's old and confused." Palepaw showed his teeth in warning to Shadow.

"How long have you kept this a secret from me?" Hissed Shadow with icy blue eyes.

"Go away Shadow!" Palepaw snarled.

"I will not leave my daughter!" Shadow hissed. Palepaw unsheathed his claws and gave an apologetic look to Stella.

"Stella…go home." He warned. The black she-cat looked back at Shadow and Palepaw before sprinting back to her Twoleg den. Shadow started to run after her but was bulldozed by Palepaw.

Shadow slashed his claws across Palepaw's muzzle, blood splattering on his claws. Palepaw hissed and bit down hard on Shadow's muzzle. The black tom spit in anger and raked his claws across Palepaw's stomach. Palepaw growled in anger and picked up Shadow by the scruff, throwing him across the forest floor. Shadow scrabbled on the slick leaves that coated the forest floor as he slid across the ground. Palepaw ran after him, jumping in the air and kicking Shadow in the face with his hind paws.

Shadow stumbled backwards and hissed in surprise when his paws slipped and he fell down a rock quarry, the stones ripping his skin. Palepaw pounced on Shadow with sharp claws and slashed his claws across Shadow's face. The tom's claw got caught in Shadow's ear, the black cat screeched in pain when Palepaw ripped a knick in his ear.

Shadow tried to fight off his attacker, but his body was stuck in the quarry and his mind was fuzzy from all the blows to the face. The black tom struggle to his get back onto his paws, but was blinded by the force of impact of Palepaw's claws to his head.

Shadow coughed up blood and felt his body grow heavy and limp. Palepaw stared down at him with wide eyes, his anger had obviously got the better of him and he realized he had hurt Shadow more than he intended. The pale ginger tabby backed away with worried eyes and bolted away from the crime.

Shadow felt his heart beat the slowest it ever had and he struggled to breathe. His body was stuck in a rock cleft and his blood was soaking in his fur. The tom looked down at his chest and noticed a sharp stone had punctured his torso, the sight of his blood steadily pouring out made Shadow sick. The black tom felt his life slipping away and closed his eyes, not able to feel the pain anymore.

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"Shadow…get up." A sweet voice mewed. Shadow opened his eyes and was blinded by white light. The tom felt at ease and his body no longer throbbed in pain. He blinked his eyes a few to times to adjust to the bright light. "It's okay…you are safe now."

Shadow gasped in surprise when he saw the beautiful face of June. Her pelt glittered like stars and her whiskers where like rays of sunlight. Shadow jumped up to his paws and threw himself into his mate; June purred and licked the fur on his shoulder.

"I missed you so much!" Shadow wailed his heart filling with love.

"As did I," June whispered, looking over her shoulder as Mistyfern, Airwhisker and Galestar padded up to them. Shadow felt an overwhelming sense of peace as he looked at his familiar friends and family. Mistyfern smiled and nuzzled her son, Airwhisker smiled from behind with Galestar.

"You fought well…" She murmured. Shadow shrugged and looked back at Airwhisker with lowered eyes. The white she-cat padded up to him and placed her paw on his, her blue eyes bright like diamonds.

"I'm sorry for what happened…" Shadow murmured.

"Don't be…I know it wasn't you." She whispered, stepping back to let Mistyfern and Galestar sit before him. Galestar motioned for Shadow to look beside him. Shadow looked over and arched his back in fear when he saw himself sitting beside him.

"What…what is that?" Shadow hissed. His starry doppelganger just looked at him with flat eyes, half of his body was bright and starry like the StarClan warriors…but the other half was dark and foggy like those of the dark forest.

"That is your first life…" Galestar mewed.

"W-Why does it look like that?" Shadow shivered.

"StarClan…we can't decide where you belong." Mistyfern mewed. "You were too good for the dark forest…but too evil for StarClan."

Shadow felt a rush of fear when he imagined being in the dark forest with his father. "What are you going to do? If I'm leader, can't I use my other lives?"

"Yes…however, you did leave SkyClan, so you aren't leader any longer." Airwhisker mewed.

"But you gave me my nine lives…you can't take them back can you?" Shadow fretted.

"That's where the seven promises come in…" June meowed.

"Seven Promises…" Shadow questioned. "What is that, like an omen or something?"

"It's a test…a test to prove your loyalty to StarClan." Mistyfern mewed. "You will find the cat that will complete the promises willingly. If you complete all seven…you can come home to StarClan."

"And if I don't?" Shadow pressed.

"Then the dark forest welcomes you." Galestar mewed coldly. Shadow swallowed hard and looked down at his paws, his mind reeling with the decision. June padded up to him, her beauty overwhelming.

"What do you say…"June purred her eyes wide with pleading, "Will you complete the seven promises?"

Shadow sucked in a tight breath and looked deep into the eyes of his mate.

"I promise."