Chapter 19

Blood pooled around Shadowpaw's claws as he stood before Wolfeye, Rabbitbreeze, and Windwhisker. The three cats had lured Shadowpaw alone and like Scar, they decided to attack him beyond the eyes and ears of the other Clanmates. Wolfeye snarled and flicked his bushy tail, his yellow eyes narrowed.

"You thought it was funny just to murder Scar like that?" Wolfeye growled. "Well, now we are going to give you the pain you gave him."

Scar was the one who put me through the pain… Shadowpaw growled to himself. Rabbitbreeze slapped her tail over Wolfeye's mouth and flashed a look of pure evil at Shadowpaw.

"Cut the small talk…I wanna' kill something!" The ginger tabby growled. Windwhisker rolled his eyes and muttered: new warriors, under his breath. Shadowpaw wasn't about to let these smug cats try and attack him when he was innocent! Shadowpaw stood his ground and lashed his tail, making sure to show his long fangs and claws. Wolfeye snorted and scoffed at Shadowpaw.

"Aww, is the little kitten angry?" He mewed sarcastically. Shadowpaw yowled in annoyance only to hear the three cats laugh in his face. Rabbitpaw stopped laughing and unsheathed her claws.

The she-cat dashed for Shadowpaw, but the black tom was faster. Rabbitpaw yowled in surprise when Shadowpaw raked his claws down her side. Windwhisker and Wolfeye tumbled into the fray, only to head-butt each other when Shadowpaw dodged the two of them. The black apprentice lashed his claws at Rabbitpaw, snagging her muzzle with his claws.

"He's trying to kill me, too!" She howled. Shadowpaw yowled and shoved his paws into her throat and slamming her to the ground.

"I never killed him!" Shadowpaw screeched in fury. Wolfeye rammed him in his side and rolled him across the forest floor, battering the young apprentice's stomach with his claws.

Shadowpaw blocked Wolfeye's next blow with his hind paw, but yowled in pain when Rabbitpaw bit down hard on his tail and Windwhisker dug his teeth into Shadowpaw's scruff. Wolfeye chuckled in cruel victory and leaned Shadowpaw's head back, studying his exposed neck.

"Just one bite…and this could all be over." Murmured Wolfeye, "I should make it slow!" The older warrior dug his claws into Shadowpaw's neck at the last word. Shadowpaw clenched in pain and hissed in-between his teeth as Wolfpaw dug his claws into his soft neck fur. Wolfeye opened his mouth to bite down on his neck but was rammed by a flash of White fur.

Shadowpaw jumped from the warrior and saw Airpaw pummeling Wolfeye with her claws; relief washed Over Shadowpaw as he saw Galestar, Clifffall and Rainpaw explode from the bushes. Windwhisker and Rabbitpaw crawled backwards on their bellies and flattened their ears when Rainpaw and Clifffall stood in dominance.

"What in StarClan do you think you cats are doing?" Challenged Galestar to the three cats, his neck fur ruffled as he spoke.

"He's a killer, he can't live in SkyClan!" Wolfeye growled. "What about the kits and elders? He may kill them too!"

"Silence," Galestar hissed. "He's not killing anybody…but you are right on one thing, Wolfeye…Shadowpaw can no longer live in SkyClan."

"No, No you can't do this!" Airpaw hissed. "He never did anything wrong!"

"Airpaw, please," Rainpaw warned tensely. Airpaw ignored her sister and stood beside Shadowpaw, her blue eyes determined.

"If you exile Shadowpaw, you exile me too!" Airpaw hissed. Rainpaw sucked in a shocked breath and shook her head to Galestar.

"You wouldn't Galestar!" Rainpaw whimpered. "She's my sister."

"You're right." Galestar mewed. "I wouldn't exile Airpaw…only Shadowpaw."

"I'm going with him, Galestar." Airpaw challenged. Shadowpaw sighed and stepped in-between the three cats.

"No one is going with me." Shadowpaw murmured. "I chose the deal…I have to keep that deal."

"Shadowpaw…please…" Airpaw whimpered as Shadowpaw padded past the cats. "Don't leave me…" She whispered.

"I'm sorry…" Shadowpaw murmured. Galestar lowered his head in sadness and looked over at him; his amber eyes looked dull and lifeless.

"Shadowpaw…from this moment on, if you are seen on SkyClan soil…my warriors will kill you." Galestar mewed placidly. "You are no longer an apprentice of SkyClan."

"No, stop it!" Wailed Airpaw, the she-cat tried to run to the exiled cat but her sister held her back. Airpaw cried aloud when Shadowpaw turned around and padded for the woods.

Shadowpaw wanted so desperately just to run back and never leave Airpaw's side…just to look at her face one last time. But the other half of him didn't want to see the sad look of pain on his best friends' face and have it scarred in his mind forever.

"I'm so…so…sorry." Whimpered Shadowpaw, and with that…he left on an expedition to nothing.