Chapter 6

Moonpaw crouched between the quiet Timberstripe and Archpaw, sitting vigil for Peatfur.

Oh, father…

She gently touched her nose to Peatfur's cold pelt and got up.

Hollowfoot and Barkpelt came to carry Peatfur's body out of camp and bury it.

Timberstripe was staring straight ahead, eyes glazed.

"C'mon, Mama," Thornpaw said, gently leading her to the warriors den.

The moon was full as Moonpaw padded over to Tinyfeather's den.

Nosewhisker was there treating Ridgepath whose flank had a large series of scratches, courtesy of Zipleg.

As Moonpaw told Tinyfeather about the little kit's wound on her shoulder, she remarked on the size of that aprrentice and its squeaky voice.

"It couldn't have been older then 4 moons," Moonpaw said. "Yet it claimed it was an apprentice."

Tinyfeather shook her head. "It seems that Firestar is training kits as apprentices."

Moonpaw gasped. "That's horrible!"

Tinyfeather nodded and drew Moonpaw away to a private corner a few fox-lengths from Nosewhisker.

"Moonpaw, shortly after you were ….born, StarClan sent me a prophecy. The events in this prophecy has already taken place and I feel that it includes you."

Me? She thought. The Prophecy I overheard is about me?

Tinyfeather cleared her throat and began. "The Moon lights the way for the warriors, the Fire burns out the Sun-"

"-A half kit will guide the Clans, and burn out the Darkness of Ambition." Moonpaw finished.

"How-?" the medicine cat was astounded.

Moonpaw told her, guiltily, of overhearing the Prophecy when she was still a kit.

Tinyfeather laughed sadly. "Well that's not the way I would have wanted you to find out, but…"

Moonpaw thought of something. "But the Prophecy states that a Half kit will lead the Clans. I'm not a kit anymore."

"I think it states that because you were a kit when I recived the Prophecy."

"Tinyfeather," Moonpaw began. "It says a Half kit. Peatfur and Timberstripe are both ShadowClan."

Tinyfeather looked down at her paws. "Moonpaw," she whispered. "It is not my place to tell you. Timberstripe and Peatfur were going to tell you at your warrior ceremony, but…"

Moonpaw jumped up. "What? What were they going to tell me?"

Tinyfeather looked miserable. "You are not the kit of Timberstripe and Peatfur. Stormcloud found you, abandoned on our territory. Timberstripe had just kitted and she took you in."

Moonpaw's head was reeling.

"Moonpaw-" Timberstripe said in a quavering voice "Timberstripe and Peatfur loved you as their own. It doesn't matter if you were not their kit by blood-"

"Yes, it does!" Moonpaw snarled and she bolted out of the medicine den, heart pounding and almost knocking Badgerfang over.

"Moonpaw-" he started but she ran out of camp before he could finish.

She didn't know were she was going, just running, running, running.

I am not ShadowClan, she though wretchedly to herself.

I am nobody.