Shadowkit lay awake in the nursery, his eyelids where heavy with sleep but he couldn't sleep. Moons had passed since that day when Scar talked to him and he was now five moons old. Airkit and Rainkit were old enough to become apprentices and it was only a matter of time until Galestar made them apprentices.
Since those moons had passed, Seedfur had finally had her first litter of kits. Four wailing, mewling, and annoying kits that where keeping Shadowkit from sleeping. The black tom stood on tired legs and looked over at his mother, Mistyfern. The silver tabby was sound asleep against the tireless mewls of newborn kits.
Shadowkit left the nursery and headed for the fresh kill pile. His stomach growled against the morning hunger; the sky turning into a new morning lavender color. Outside Shadowkit saw Wolfeye, the oldest apprentice had become a warrior when he saved Weaselclaw from an eagle not long ago. The two cats have been inseparable ever since, Shadowkit couldn't bear the thought of even more kits in the nursery!
"You're up awful early, Shadowkit." Hazestorm purred; a pigeon lay at his paws. "Is there something wrong?"
Besides the fact that your squirming kits are keeping me up?Shadowkit thought crossly. "No."
Hazestorm purred and took another bite of his pigeon. Shadowkit sniffed into the fresh kill pile and spat as a revolting smell hit his nose. Hazestorm looked over and took a deep breath, curling his nose when he smelled it too.
"Looks like we have old prey…" The tom grumbled. Shadowkit and Hazestorm nosed through the pile until they came to a vole at the bottom; its stomach was alive with maggots. "I'll go fetch Whistleleaf."
Whistleleaf is the SkyClan medicine cat, she has been the best medicine cat to ever roam SkyClan and frankly…the most beautiful. It wasn't long before Hazestorm came back with Whistleleaf.
"So I heard you found this rotten vole, Shadowkit." Whistleleaf mewed as she inspected the dead prey. "Nice job…you saved me a patient or two."
Shadowkit nodded thanks and watched as she carried the vole away, noticing the shape of Rainkit beside her. The silver tabby padded up to Shadowkit with narrowed eyes, her pelt was silky from a fresh grooming.
"Mistyfern needs you." Rainkit huffed with slumped shoulders, "Something about your father."
Shadowkit stared at her for a minute before walking beside her and for the nursery. The two padded in silence as they came upon the nursery; Shadowkit noticed his father near the nursery entrance, his scars streaked across his face.
"Shadowkit," Mistyfern meowed over the steady sound of Seedfur's four kits. The new mother tried her hardest to silence them with kisses.
"Yes, it's me." Shadowkit mewed. Mistyfern smiled and nudged Shadowkit outside the den to where Scar was waiting. The black kit looked up at his father and back to Mistyfern. "What is it, Mistyfern?"
"Your father is going to show you some battle moves today." She purred. Shadowkit quivered in fear and excitement, forcing himself to turn to his father. The giant dark-furred warrior looked down at him with vibrant blue eyes. Shadowkit still wandered if he looked like his father.
"Do you think you can take me?" Scar purred. Shadowkit gapped his mouth open and swallowed, vigorously nodding his head. Mistyfern chuckled and nudged her son closer to her mate. The silver tabby purred and looked over her shoulder at Scar before entering the nursery.
"I'm going to teach you how to pounce." Scar mewed flatly. "I remember you and Airkit playing last moon and noticed you needed a bit of practice on pouncing." Shadowkit was a bit stung by the words 'you needed a bit of practice' but shook it off. "Watch me." Scar mewed.
The dark gray tom padded until he hid behind a boulder in the camp. Shadowkit stretched his neck, trying to see his father behind the rock; the huge battle-scarred tom soared over the boulder with claws gleaming. Shadowkit squeaked and jumped back, dodging Scar's claws.
"Did you see how I did it?" Scar asked. Shadowkit shook under his fur and nodded. "Now you try."
Shadowkit swallowed hard, his body was shaking in anticipation, fear, and excitement. He hurried behind the boulder and let out a calm exhale.
This is it…time to how Scar how good I am.
Shadowkit bunched his muscles and wriggled his haunches, pushing all of his weight off on his hind legs. Remembering Scar's gleaming claws, Shadowkit unsheathed them mid-pounce. Half-way over the boulder, Shadowkit could see Scar studying the pounce below him; a swell of hope grew in Shadowkit's stomach but quickly vanished when he felt his leg hit the boulder.
Shadowkit hissed, his body slamming into the rock. Shadowkit heard a sharp intake of breath from the other warriors who were watching as Shadowkit rolled down the rock. Sand blew in his face when he hit the ground, embarrassment burning in his ears.
"Get up, you're fine." Scar mewed emotionless. Shadowkit shook the dirt from his eyes and stood on shaky legs, his hind paw throbbing in pain. "You need to push harder with your legs."
Shadowkit nodded and froze when his father looked at his legs.
"You have long legs," He mewed. "That means you will be fast…"
"Is that good?" Shadowkit murmured, wishing he had strong legs like his father.
"You will be an excellent hunter." Scar mewed, "And a good climber."
Shadowkit didn't want to hear that. He'd prefer being a skilled fighter, not a pathetic hunter. "How will climbing help the clan?"
"Climbing trees to catch prey, spy on other clans, and surprise attack warriors who walk below you." Scar meowed. Shadowkit thought of spying on some poor cats and being able to attack them from the sky. The thrill excited him, a purr rising in his throat.
The bushes around the camp rustled vigorously; Windwhisker, Shortfoot, and Strippedpelt burst into the SkyClan camp, their neck fur was bristling in fear.
Scar lifted his head and ran to the warriors with Hazestorm and deputy Fallowfur. Windwhisker gasped for air and lowered his head, his shoulders slumped. Fallowfur looked over at Shortfoot who was quivering.
"What's happened?" The deputy demanded. Galestar was hurrying to her side.
"T-Twolegs," Strippedpelt croaked. "They took Cliffpaw!"
"We have to save him!" Scar hissed. Cliffpaw is Scar's apprentice, the young gray tom is built just like Shadowkit's father so it only made since that he would me his mentor.
"Take us to him!" Galestar mewed. Shortfoot wheezed and collapsed on the ground, her stubby feet quivering. Fallowfur sniffed at Shortfoot's pelt.
"Rabbitpaw, take Shortfoot to the medicine den." Fallowfur mewed to the apprentice. Rabbitpaw rushed to Shortfoot's side and led her to the medicine den, her ginger tabby fur was bristled as well, "Hazestorm, take Scar, Weaselclaw, and Strippedpelt to the Twoleg dens.
"I'll go too!" Galestar mewed. "You stay here and guard the camp."
"Sure thing," Fallowfur mewed. Shadowkit watched as his father left with Galestar, Hazestorm, and Weaselclaw; he wanted so desperately to try the pounce again! He didn't want to leave the impression that he was a useless fighter to Scar.
What if I was the one who saves Cliffpaw? Shadowkit thought. The black kit looked to see if anyone was watching him; he was clear, and he rocketed for the forest. It felt like his heart was in his throat and his fear of Twolegs was nothing but a grain of sand.
I'm coming Cliffpaw!