Chapter 2
Shadowkit felt a wail crawling up her throat, but didn't recognize it as her voice, for the sound was as mournful as a crow's sad cry.
She felt her body tremble, yet stayed put. "And ... his ... body ..?" she felt her grief clouding over her heart.
"It was too mangled. We found it caught between sharp rocks that we, of course, never knew about." Lionblaze stepped towards her, his voice now bent and strangled.
The scent that rolled off of him brought back shadowy memories of her mother; they smelled so alike, yet he didn't carry the milk-scent Hollyleaf once had.
She decided to let it comfort her as she pressed into him, while Jayfeather padded slowly over, walking beside Dovewing. She was whispering to him, telling him what she heard.
Shadowkit breathed a breath of hurt, her chest shuddering harshly as the sobbing began. Jayfeather wrapped his tail around her, as the news was spread by the other cats and many gathered around to comfort her.
Bramblestar was parting the crowd, walking away from her, and bounded atop the highledge.
"All cats old enough ..." his voice faltered to a whisper, as he lowered his head, closing his eyes to murmur to StarClan. His deputy- and mate -Squirrelflight bounded up to meet him.
She pressed against him, whispering things. Eventually, he rose his head, yet his gaze looked strained.
"Let all cats old enough to catch their own prey join beneath the highledge for a clan meeting." his voice was broken as he cast his gaze to the gathering cats.
"Shadowkit and Flarekit, please come forward."
Shadowkit nearly ran away; her father had been anticipating this moment. Yet she eventually padded forth when Flarekit pressed against her; supporting her.
The gazes seemed be searching her, as if they were trying to read her thoughts on such a painful moment. All she could do was look towards Bramblestar.
Once they seated themselves, he spoke.
"Flarekit, please step forward."
She did as she was told in a solemn stance.
"Flarekit, do promise to follow the warrior code and guard your clan, even at the cost of your life?"
"I do." her voice was calm.
"Then from now on, you will be known as Flarepaw, until you receive your warrior name."
He looked up. The crowd waited silently. "Dovewing, you will be Flarepaw's mentor. We hope you will pass on your stealth and great use of senses to her."
He pressed his nose to Flarepaw's head, and she licked his shoulder before racing to meet her new mentor.
"Shadowkit, please step forward."
She swallowed and did so.
"Shadowkit, do you promise to-"
"Yes, I do. I will. Because I will remember the day I began my training, and I will become the best warrior I can ... for Thornclaw!" she cried.
Bramblestar nodded. "From this day on, until you receive your warrior name, you will be known as Shadowpaw. Your mentor will be Ivypool. Ivypool, we hope you will pass on your great battle strategies and wisdom to her."
He placed his muzzle upon her head, and she licked his shoulder before slowly joining her mentor, suddenly nauseated and overwhelmed by all the gazes she was receiving.
"Shadowpaw! Flarepaw!" The cats cried, but Shadowpaw decided to join in.
"Thornclaw! Thornclaw!" she wailed, and it didn't take long.
"Shadowpaw! Flarepaw! Thornclaw!" the cats chanted. Although they made sure to keep the joy in their voices, Shadowpaw could hear their mourning tones.
On this sad day, they stood for what seemed like an eternity, even after the rain fell and soaked through their pelts, leaving the fur clinging and drippping puddles.
Shadowpaw was the only one who never slept that night.