Chapter 5: The Gathering, The Dream Pt.1

As Lightningstar led the Clan to Fourtrees, she noticed Shadowpaw looking even more grim. She let Snowstorm take the lead as she went to check on her.

"Are you all right?" Lightningstar asked. The apprentice nodded very slowly. Mooncoat and Rogueear were behind her, and Lightningstar noticed they were sad too.

"Lightningstar!" Snowstorm called. She raced to the front, followed by another wolf. "Fourtrees is down there. Do you want to take the lead?" She nodded slowly, as if there was a weight on her head. Snowstorm let her pass him to the lead, then she walked down the steep hill and waited.

Shadowpaw saw dark warriors and elders, then she saw the leaders. Why was she going here this early? Was it because of Smallpaw and Nightpaw? She noticed a black-and-gray wolf with long hair staring at her. She tore her gaze away unto the Clan.

Lightningstar flicked her tail, and the Clan raced down the slope. When they were there, Shadowpaw saw many warriors. She saw a small, golden she-wolf walking toward her. She crouched the way she was taught, and waited.

"Hello, little one. What's your name?" the she-wolf asked with a breezy voice. Shadowpaw sat up straight, chest puffed out. "Shadowpaw of ThunderClan. I'm a new apprentice," she answered. The she-wolf nodded. "My name is Breezefoot of WindClan. I'm the deputy of the Clan."

Another wolf bounded up, this one a cream color. "Breezefoot, who's this?" he asked. "Torntail, this is Shadowpaw of ThunderClan, Shadowpaw, this is Torntail, my brother." Breezefoot dragged the word ThunderClan, as if it meant something else.

Torntail snorted with amusement. "Really? I thought you were white not black," he grunted. "I am white," Shadowpaw protested. Torntail snorted again. Breezefoot hit Torntail in the neck with her head. "Quiet! He is watching!" she growled.

"Shadowpaw! Shadowpaw, come here!" Rainpaw called. Shadowpaw was relieved. It had seemed forever since they were pups and they were playing together. An apprentice skidded to a halt in front of her, the dirt making Shadowpaw sneeze.

"I haven't seen you in so long, Shadowpaw! Not since…" Rainpaw noticed the look on her face and stopped. "You know, Wildpaw even missed you." Shadowpaw looked up, the sadness in her eyes disappeared. "Really? When we were pups she didn't seem to like me," she said.

"Well, I had no one to tease, mouse-brain!" an apprentice snickered. Shadowpaw and Rainpaw looked over at a mixed colored she-wolf walking proudly toward them. "Just because you're the daughter of Tornstar doesn't mean I can't do anything I want to you." Rainpaw growled silently.

"Shut up, Wildpaw! You'll never become a warrior with that kind of mouth!" he spat. Wildpaw raised her head and frowned. "My father is the deputy of the Clan. He can kill you if he wants." She turned and stalked off.

They heard Swiftstar call from the Great Rock. "My Clan needs food. If any of the Clans could spare hunting grounds, we will be forever grateful," he started. "Seven of our pups have already died from starvation, and we—"

"What? You cannot expand hunting grounds for any reason! It is not of the warrior code!" Tornstar shouted from his place. Swiftstar sighed deeply. "I know, but we are in great need," he said. "Tornstar, we could spare some prey. It is not as if we would die," Fallenstar stated.

Tornstar grunted, "Fine." Lightningstar spoke up. "We could also send two warriors to protect you from anything." Swiftstar nodded. "Thank you," he whispered. The Gathering ended, and Mooncoat and Rogueear went with WindClan. Shadowpaw stayed close to the back of the Clan, looking back at the warriors.

Leopardpaw chose a new bed next to Shadowpaw. "Why did you talk to ShadowClan apprentices tonight at the Gathering?" she asked her. Shadowpaw glanced at her.

"One was my friend," she answered softly. She had not seen her brother there, but she saw her friend, and

that was what she needed. "Friend?" Spottedpaw laughed. "What, were you born in ShadowClan or something?" Shadowpaw nodded. "My father is Tornstar. And I earned my name from the first medicine wolf."

Leopardpaw and Spottedpaw exchanged glances, then lay their heads on their paws and fell asleep. Shadowpaw also fell asleep and had an unusual dream.

She looked around, her eyes spotting bright yellow orbs through the darkness. A blue-gray she-cat walked up to her, making the apprentice stumble back. "Who are you? Where am I?" she asked frantically. "Calm down," the she-cat purred.

"My name is Bluestar. And you are in ThunderClan. Where do you live, young apprentice?" Shadowpaw looked back at her. "I live in ThunderClan. My name is Shadowpaw. Why are you here?" she gasped. Bluestar raised her head. "I have come with a message for you, Shadowpaw."

Shadowpaw began to tremble violently. "Where's Spottedpaw and Leopardpaw?" she cried. "Beware a wolf whose heart is as black as his fur." The she-cat faded away.

Shadowpaw awoke with a jolt. 'Beware a wolf whose heart is as black as his fur.' Those words echoed through her mind, making her tremble. She only new one solid black wolf, but he was her brother, why would the she-cat say his heart was black?

Leopardpaw stirred, pulling her out of her thoughts. "What's going on?" she mumbled. "Nothing. Just a bad dream," Shadowpaw answered quietly. The young apprentice stood, shook herself, and trotted out of the den.

"Shadowpaw! Where do you think you're going?" Sandnose rasped. She looked around, spotting the old wolf by the nursery. "I'm just going to look around the forest for some fresh-kill," she called back. The elder snorted, turning back to the nursery.

Shadowpaw silently walked out of the camp, thinking about the dream. Then one question shot through her head. Who is the wolf? Maybe it was another wolf who had black fur. Or was it really Nightpaw? She shook her head. She wouldn't allow herself to think like that. But who was he? Or she?

"Shadowpaw," hissed a voice behind her. She whipped around, almost hitting her head on a low branch. She growled, "Who are you? Show yourself or get out of ThunderClan territory!" Another wolf stepped out of the thick brush, his black fur almost silver in the moonlight.

"Nightpaw?" she breathed. "No. My name is Lostnight now. Nightpaw has died. Didn't that so-called "bad dream" tell you that?" the other wolf snarled. Shadowpaw gasped. Was this what the dream had meant? That Nightpaw had died and this other wolf had taken over?

"How do you know about the dream? Where is Nightpaw?" she demanded. Lostnight laughed. "Little Shadowpaw, your father killed him. And remade him into a warrior." She tilted her head to the side. "What do you mean "remade him"?" she barked.

"I mean, he removed my old name and gave me a new one," Lostnight whispered. Shadowpaw's eyes widened. "You can't be him…Nightpaw is my brother!" she cried. Lostnight crouched in a fighting position, teeth bared.

"Lostnight," Shadowpaw began, crouching also, "you are my brother, but I will fight you if I have to." Her ears swiveled as she heard another noise in the forest. Another wolf was crashing toward them. When she looked back at Lostnight, he was gone.

"Shadowpaw!" a bark echoed through the forest, mixing with the crashing sound. She looked around wildly, trying to point out where the bark came from. "Shadowpaw! Save Goldpup! He is in danger!" Her ears flattened.

"Where are you? What are you doing in ThunderClan? Who is Goldpup?" she howled. She was bowled over by another wolf, who was shaking from nervousness. "Save him," he murmured.

She woke up.