Chapter 1
Shadowkit shook out her fur as she entered Jayfeather's den.
Padding further inside, she scented a sweet smell, and met the gaze of Moonpaw, one of her best friends. She had catmint in her mouth, and was restoring the herbs.
"Shadowkit!" the short-furred white she-cat purred, her green eyes glowing in the dim light. "It's great to see you."
"You, too, Moonpaw." the kit nodded. "Thornclaw's out hunting." she sat in an area safely out of the way, but still in social contact.
Moonpaw flicked her right ear, which was pure black. "Oh." She turned and continued working.
Shadowkit lowered her ears, her pelt ruffled in embarrassment.
Just then, Jayfeather walked in, and spotted Shadowkit.
"Hello, Shadowkit." he meowed curtly through a mouthful of marigold, before shuffling through the herbs, chattering here and there with Moonpaw about where things go, somewhat quizzing her.
Sighing, Shadowkit decided to visit Sandstorm instead.
Jayfeather really was a nice uncle, but, seeing as how one niece was his apprentice, he had to keep busy with her.
Shadowkit simply sighed again.
"What's wrong?" a bubbly voice met her ears, and she looked up to meet the amber eyes of a short-furred cream-colored she-cat.
Newly apprenticed with her sister, Honeypaw's excitement still hadn't worn off.
"Nothing." Shadowkit replied- and was being honest. "Just thinking ... in a very bored state."
Honeypaw was a good friend to have around; her optimism was practically contagious. "Any day, now, and you'll be rooming with Shrewpaw, Kindlepaw, Fallenpaw, and I." she was seemingly close to gushing.
Shadowkit found herself smiling now. "I hope so, Flarekit and I can't help but wait. Anxiously." she added the last part for humorous emphasis.
Honeypaw lay down near the fresh-kill pile. "Wanna share?" she asked, grabbing a thrush. Shadowkit nodded, her stomach grumbling in complaints of hunger.
"So, how're Lionblaze and Cinderheart?" she asked, speaking of Honeypaw's- and Moonpaw's -parents.
"Pretty good, I guess. They keep leaving together on several patrols, so I haven't talked to them; what, with training and all." She didn't mind, however, she knew they loved her.
Shadowkit, being cooped up in the nursery- due to her father, of course -didn't know much of what went on around camp. She was glad that, since she was on her fifth moon, he was letting her out of her own free will now.
Suddenly, paw steps were thundering towards her.
"Shadowkit, the patrol came back ... and they're murmuring about Thornclaw." Flarekit, a deep ginger she-kit with green eyes and cream colored paws, tail tip, stomach, chest, and one cream dot above each eye, reported.
Shadowkit rolled her eyes; he was probably sulking again. She stood to go and see if they needed her.
Walking forward, she casually strolled towards them ... when she noticed that two of the cats, Bumblestripe and Cinderheart, were dripping wet, obviously from the river. Her breath stopped.
Rushing to the shadows, she stalked slowly forward, thankful that her dark pelt made up for her inexperience.
"... Should we tell her?" Cinderheart was murmuring. The look in her eyes was distan; guarded. This was bad.
"No, Shadowkit won't understand ..." Bramblestar's voice sounded cracked in despair on what to do over whatever had happened.
"Tell me what?" she asked, her throat twisting in worry as five cats- the unspoken being Lionblaze -turned their gazes on her emptily. She almost knew what was coming.
"Shadowkit ... Thornclaw ... he wandered off towards the river ... we heard a struggling, and recognized his voice ..." Cinderheart faltered.
Lionblaze continued as his mate leaned against him, closing her eyes. "There is nothing we could have done. Cinderheart and Bumblestripe went after him ... but by the time, it was ..." he broke off, then cleared his throat. "It was too late."
Her young mind couldn't process everything. "Wha ..? So, what? Broken bones, deaf, blind ..?" she swore her heart was fluttering so fast it could burst.
"No, Shadowkit ..." Bumblestripe tried, but couldn't.
"Thornclaw ... is dead." Bramblestar whispered gravely.