Chapter 5- Shadedleaf
The dappled tabby she-cat lay awake in the warrior's den. She was wondering what she was going to do today to annoy her clanmates or some of the other clans. She stepped outside into the morning mist that lay thick in the air. She looked up to see a milky pink sky. The only noise was the birds and the sound of Purdy from the direction of the elder's den. Shade decided that she'd better see what he was up to.
She quietly peered into the den in the stump of an old yew bush. Boy did it stink in there. Why are elders so gross? Shade was very revolted by the smell, but she still walked inside. Purdy was the only one up, and she was surprised that none of the others were awake by how loud he was talking.
"Now where did I put 'dose nuts," Purdy muttered to himself. He turned when he saw Shade walk in. "Oh good morning Shade, how are you doing?"
"Fine."
"Lovely morning, isn't it?"
"Ah- huh." She wished that she hadn't walked in here in the first place. But now she was stuck here until she could slip out.
"Hey wanna hear a story?" Purdy asked.
"Uh, not real-"
"So I was walking along this Thunderpath and a giant crow came down and picked me off the ground." Purdy dived right into his story.
"Is that so," Shade was amused at the thought of a crow lifting this fat, lazy, brown elder into the air.
"Yup." Purdy continued talking, but Shade didn't listen.
"Listen I have to go," she mewed after a while.
"Why?"
"I er.. I think I tore a claw just yesterday. I need to check it with Jayfeather."
"Oh, okay go along. But come back later, " Purdy called after her.
Shade walked out of the elder's den and muttered to herself, "Yeah right." She shook her head as she sauntered into the clearing. More cats were awake. Millie was sharing a thrush from last night with Graystripe, Sandstorm was talking to Brambleclaw and Dustpelt, Berrybutt was sitting under the highledge and cursing under his breath, and Firestar leaped onto the highledge.
"Let all cats old enough to catch their own prey gather beneath the highledge." His voice echoed around the clearing as more cats emerged from their dens. "As you all know, we have had a visitor for a while. Shade-"
Shade hadn't heard what he said, but she looked up at him anyways. Is he accusing me of stealing his cupcakes? The early sun shone on her beautiful pelt.
"It is time that you become a full member of Thunderclan."
WHAT? Shade was stunned.
"I ask you, oh mighty Starclan, to look down on this cat and commend her a warrior of Thunderclan. She has worked hard to understand the ways of clan life and I think that she should be a full warrior, in turn."
The clearing quieted.
"From this day on, Shade, you will be known as Shadedleaf, in honor of you kittypet name and your beautiful dappled tabby pelt."
Shade- no Shadedleaf- was about to burst with pride. Thunderclan finally accepted her. Now she could be even closer to the cats of the clans. All the cats, even Berrybutt, started calling out her name.
"Shadedleaf! Shadedleaf!"
Shadedleaf smiled. Clan life wasn't so bad, especially when you could annoy everyone so easily. She also liked her new name.
Shadedleaf!