In case you skipped the Prologue, here's a decent summary of what happened: Newly named Tigerstar and two other ShadowClan toms went on a patrol with Tigerkit's mother, Falconclaw. They were near the RiverClan border where she was then raped ruthlessly by Tigerstar and the two followers. She was left unconscious on RiverClan's side of the border, and when she awoke, she had no memory of what had happened. And thus, she found out she was pregnant by an unknown, presumably a rogue, father and moved into the nursery, where she had her precious Tigerkit, vowing to protect him with her life forever.
The dawn peeked the treetops, colors of the sunrise softening the sky to a light pink and orange, with a small shade of green and blue. The early birds sung their first songs, chirping while flying through the crisp Newleaf air. Only a few ShadowClan Warriors had arose, mulling around Camp tiredly as they ate, groomed, and got ready for their day.
And the sleepy-eyed cats didn't seem to notice a certain tom kit making his way through the shadows towards the Medicine Cat den alongside his best friend Shadekit. Slipping into the den quieter then mice, Tigerkit motioned for Shadekit to follow, a mischievous grin on his face as they slipped towards the opening to where the herbs are kept. Shadekit wriggled in excitement, her cloudy gray eyes just as sly as Tigerkits'.
The two were about the age and size to be ready to be made an Apprentice, and they knew that it was going to be soon. Ohh, Tigerkit couldn't wait! He had been asking his mother Falconclaw for moons when he would finally be made an apprentice, and he received word that Blackstar would be naming him soon.
But for now, him and Shadekit decided to pull one last stunt that only kits could get away with while their mothers were still fussing over how they 'didn't know better.' They both decided to raid the herbs and see if they could find out where they kept the honey. Scrambling through the funny-smelling herbs, they lifted their noses to the air, tramping all over the place and mixing the plants all up as they searched. Finally, they found it, in a small pool on the far side.
They knew that there was honey because just the other day a cat got his throat damaged or something and apparently honey helps, so the Warriors sacrificed their bodies to the bee's stings as they retrieved enough- but there was still some extra.
Lapping eagerly, the two got their faces and paws wet and sticky with the think liquid. Tigerkit, grinning slightly, took some honey in his paw and flung it at Shadekit. She yowled in surprise, then laughed, soaking her paw and streaking it down the tom's head, making his fur unnaturally flat.
But unfortunately, they had been a bit too noisy in their play, waking up Littlecloud and drawing the attention of Tawnypelt, who was laying just outside eating. Tigerkit and Shadekit's giggling soon ended as a shadow drew over them, and a very angry Littlecloud was seen.
"My, my, what are you two little kits doing besides mixing my precious herbs and then ruining them with the mess of honey that appears as if a whole two Clans had a battle in here?" Littlecloud's voice was stern, edged with anger and annoyance. Shadekit looked down at her paws, her head ducked as she used a very practised move in the last. Sniffing slightly, she then looked back up at Littlecloud just as Tawnypelt came in to ask if everything was okay and stopped short, seeing the mess. Her glossy emerald green eyes sparkled with sadness, her mouth drawn down to a sad frown.
"I-I'm s-s-sorr-y... I-I w-was just trying to-" She paused momentarily to sniff a few times, continuing to shift her gaze from her fluffly black-gray paws to Littlecloud and Tawnypelt, "H-H-Have so-some fun.. I-I did-didn't realize I-I was doing any-anything bad... H-Honest..." Littlecloud looked down at her a little more before sighing, and giving her a stern glance, the anger taken away from her voice.
"Its alright, but don't even think about doing it again or you'll be in deep trouble, got it?" Her voice was stern, but soft. Tigerkit tried to hold back laughter as he attempted to appear apologetic, but Tawnypelt caught the muffled laughs that Littlecloud didn't. With Tigerkit and Shadekit told to go back to the Nursery and stay out of trouble, they just scrambled out of the nursery- still wet, of course- before being stopped by Tawnypelt.
"Why don't we go have a little talk with your mothers, hmm?" Tigerkit's heart fell at her words. Normally Falconclaw would worry over him more then get angry at him, but whenever she was forced to sit through the talk of another Warrior, her annoyance grew and she punished him. But it was never more then a stern nip on the ear. Shadekit was going to have it a lot worse- not only would her mother yell at her, but her siblings Graykit and Nightkit would tease her for MOONS.
And thus, the rest of their day consisted of sitting in the dark corner, or the 'Bad Kit' corner of the nursery thinking about what they've done. Of course, Shadekit had to stay there the whole time, but his mother just had him in there for a minute or two before practically begging him to come back to the nest. But instead, he chose to stay with Shadekit. It wouldn't be fair to her if he left.
"I now name you Tigerpaw, apprentice of ShadowClan. Your mentor will be Tawnypelt." Tigerpaw wriggled around with excitement as he was FINALLY named an apprentice, although his heart fell a little when he heard his mentor, and he let out an inward groan. Oh no! She will SO remember what happened yesterday- I'm doomed! But, he would not let his day be completely ruined. Squirming excitedly, Tawnypelt came up rather cheerfully and touched noses with him, and then he walked back to the front of the group with her and sat gazing up at Blackstar.
Beside him, Shadepaw sat by her mentor, Tallpoppy, and Graypaw and Nightpaw with two Warriors he had yet to learn the names of. They all shared hyper, excited gazes as Blackstar wrapped up the cerimony and leaped down, going straight to the deputy Russetfur and talking to him.
Right away he expected to have all kinds of adventures, and wanted to burst with joy, ready to explore the territory. However, unluckily for him, the sun was dipping down the trees, and it was steadily growing dark. Why did Blackstar have to choose evening to do the cerimonies? Now he'd have to wait til tomorrow, and 'tomorrow' seemed like a moon away.
After some complaint and resistance, he finally went to the Apprentice Den, still excited, with Shadepaw to make their nests. They were about to make it in the middle of the den when they got a couple warning glares from the others that told them their place in one little glance. Gulping, Tigerpaw and Shadepaw moved to the edge of the group, taking some scraps of moss and putting it together into two separate small nests. Curling down on it, they whispered too each other for hours after sunset, too hyper to go to bed and getting off at a rather bad note as they kept hissing at them to be quiet.
But finally they collapsed, sleeping soundly as the night passed slowly, Shadepaw's pelt brushing against Tigerpaw's warmly as he stirred in his sleep.
What nobody noticed was the faint disappearance of his paws, then his legs, then his belly and chest, and soon, his entire body seemingly disapeared...