Chapter 6

Immediately, whispers and chatter broke out among the cats. Timberstar raised his voice to be heard. "We have never before questioned the will of StarClan," he mewed. "Trust in your ancestors' decision."

The cats quieted down, and Demonpaw glanced at the other Wildclan apprentices. Both seemed nervous; a missing Clan leader was highly irregular.

Smokeclaw went on to say that the Thunderpath was creating a very bad atmosphere in their territory. Brightstar mentioned a birth in Shineclan. Quartztail had borne a litter of two kits. Female warriors from every clan purred happily. Finally Timberstar stood up.

"We have four new apprentices," he mewed, "and a few newly appointed warriors."

Several of the older cats looked around at Demonpaw with interest. He was indifferent to their stares, and watched the silver apprentice from the corner of his eye. She, too, seemed interested that Wildclan had new apprentices, and his gaze abruptly switched to the stumps when he felt her eyes on him.

As the cats were preparing to leave, Demonpaw noticed one of the brown Scentclan warriors attempting to follow them. A tabby tom from Scentclan noticed as well. He immediately engaged her in conversation to turn her around, and they disappeared into a thicket.

Demonpaw glanced ahead and saw Bladeclaw standing at the top of the ridge. There was a flash of something in his eyes, but it disappeared as the Scentclan cats vanished in the brush. Demonpaw's tail flicked uncertainly, and he scampered past Bladeclaw to catch up with the rest of the clan.

He trotted up next to Stormpaw, who was so excited he couldn't walk straight.

"That was so cool, huh Demonpaw?" he said breathlessly.

"Sure, I guess." He glanced over his shoulder toward the ridge, then turned back to Stormpaw.

"Did you catch that apprentice's name? The silvery one from Shineclan?"

"No. I don't know who you're talking about, Demonpaw, sorry. I guess I wasn't paying attention."

He brightened. "But did you see that Shineclan deputy? He looked mean, he was so big."
Demonpaw let out a mrrow of laughter. "Just because they're big doesn't mean they're all mean to everyone."

"I know, but," Stormpaw shivered, "I was scared."

They padded on in silence for awhile, then Stormpaw said quietly, "You're not scared of anything, are you?"

Demonpaw shrugged. "Not really."

"Yeah. I noticed a few moons ago – I mean, when we all became apprentices and everything – but everyone turned sort of angry when you got your apprentice name. It wasn't any different from your kit name; what do you think is up with all of them being so hostile all of a sudden?"

Demonpaw thought for awhile.

"I dunno. My mother said she named me Demonkit because there was a big storm when I was born, and since I was black, you know, with gold eyes and all that. So I liked it; it had meaning to me."

"It's a wonder she didn't call you Thunderkit," Stormpaw chortled.

"Yeah, I know. But I think maybe the Clan figured Timberstar would change it, because it doesn't have the same significance to them."

"They thought your mom didn't like you," Stormpaw put in, catching on. "You know, like you're Demonpaw and then your sister's Angelpaw."

"So now… why they're all mean to me? I think they kind of decided that she did name me for that reason, and now that gives them all the right to be awful or something."

Stormpaw sighed. "We've got to set them straight," he mewed. "They've got it all wrong."

"I know, we just—"

"Demonpaw, Stormpaw! Come on!" Fogpaw pranced ahead of them. "Let's go tell Angelpaw!"

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A/N: There. Now you can all stop harassing me about why Demonpaw's name was so weird. ) lol. R&R! See y'all on the flip side!