Chapter 2: Training Day
Shadowpaw, Nightpaw and Smallpaw woke to see their mentors standing in front of their den, waiting. They all walked to Fourtrees, talking about the Clans.
"Who is ShadowClan?" Smallpaw asked. Mooncoat looked down at his apprentice, amused. "They are fierce wolves who, a very long time ago, almost destroyed the Clans,"
he answered. Smallpaw and Nightpaw exchanged frightened glances. "Will they do it again?" Nightpaw whispered. "I hope not," Rogueear replied. Shadowpaw was taking it
all in. "Who was their leader then?" she asked tentativly. Suntail stopped. The other wolves followed. They had reached Fourtrees and they were very tired.
"Their leader," Suntail began, "was named Tigerstar." Shadowpaw gasped. "You mean the Tigerstar? I've heard a lot about him! He was once in ThunderClan! But then, I think,
he killed Redtail. Then, when Fireheart told Bluestar that he did, she didn't believe him! But..." her voice trailed off and she screwed up her face in confusion. "I forgot the rest, but I know they were cats."
The mentors stared at the apprentice. "How do you know this?" Rogueear breathed. "The elders, of course! At least I listen to them," Shadowpaw said triuphantly. There was silence. After what seemed like hours, Suntail finally spoke. "Well," she said, getting up, "let's practice hunting!"
The ShadowClan leader glared at his Clan. "There has been no food for moons," he growled. "And at the next Gathering, we will have to get some." The Clan members
barked their replies. "But Tornstar!" a gruff voice shouted. "Do we have to wait? I mean, we could hunt in a different territory right now!" There was a hoarse growl from
beside him."We are too weak! We could never get past a patrol!" There were agrees and disagrees from the crowd. "We need warriors!" "No, we need food!" "We are
starving and weak!" Tornstar stared in silence.
"I have an idea!" a black and brown warrior yelled. All eyes turned to her. "Speak, Ice-eyes." She looked up at her leader. "Why don't we take apprentices from other Clans and
make them our own? Or we could steal their pups. Either way, we would get what we want." The wolves murmured "yes". "Then it is settled!" Tornstar boomed from Highrock.
"We attack at dawn!"
The wolves howled in joy. But one small apprentice ran from them. He ran into ThunderClan territory and found shelter in a hollow tree.
Shadowpaw went straight to Snowstorm after they returned. He was talking to the medicine wolf, Dewleaf. Shadowpaw bounded up to them and jumped on Snowstorm's head. Hechuckled at her when she bit his ear. "Careful, I don't want any more injuries," Dewleaf laughed. She gently pulled the pup's tail and she let go of Snowstorm's ear. The pup wriggled free and fell on her nose.
She yelped. Snowstorm nuzzled her with his nose. "So what did you want to talk about?" Shadowpaw sighed and told them what the other Clans did many generations back. "Well, young one, where did you learn this?" Dewleaf asked. "The elders," Shadowpaw panted.
"I believe you, Shadowpaw. And if you keep listening to them, you will become a very wise warrior," Snowstorm said. "Like Suntail," he added. "Thank you, Snowstorm. Iwill always remember that," Shadowpaw whispered, dipping her head respectfully. "Go rest. You are too young to be out this late," Dewleaf commanded softly. Shadowpaw nodded.