Chapter 25

Shadowpaw crouched down and stalked a cardinal that dug in the snow for food. The black tom was hidden deep inside a thick bushel of ferns to keep the bird from seeing his dark pelt. Shadowpaw wriggled his haunches and jumped into the air.

The red bird chirped in fear and took off in the air on fast beating wings, flinging snow with it as it escaped from Shadowpaw's claws. The black cat landed hard into the freezing snow and sneezed as its freezing flakes got in his nose.

"Nice try…but you might want to jump lower next time." A voice meowed from the bushes.

Shadowpaw looked over to see Galestar sitting beside him with his fur long from leaf-bare. The ginger-and-brown leader looked a bit weary sitting there…and old. Shadowpaw shook the snow from his fur and padded up to his old mentor.

"Why are you here?" He asked. Galestar smiled and flicked his tail.

"You ask that same question every time, don't you Shadowpaw?" Galestar joked, his muzzle gray with age. Shadowpaw didn't know what to say to Galestar and looked down at his paws.

"Do you need something?" Shadowpaw pondered.

Galestar sucked in a breath, and slowly exhaled while he stood on his paws. The SkyClan leader frowned and twitched his ears. "Actually…I do."

"And what is that?" Shadowpaw questioned with a spark of hope and curiosity.

"Fallowfur…" Galestar mewed sadly. "She…she's not doing well." He mewed.

"Will she be okay?" Shadowpaw asked, remembering the dusty-white deputy.

"Whistleleaf doesn't think so…" Galestar frowned. "Her greencough is too drastic to heal with catmint…"

"So why did you come here?" Shadowpaw wondered.

"I had a dream…" Galestar meowed. "A giant shadow was covering the SkyClan camp….like it was protecting it….I think it was an omen from StarClan."

"What, are you saying you want me to be the next SkyClan deputy?" Shadowpaw felt a rush of energy flood through his paws.

"Yes…" Galestar purred. "I believe that is what StarClan wants."

"But you exiled me!" Snarled Shadowpaw with narrow eyes, those boiling feelings returning, "The clan cats don't like me…they think I killed Scar!"

"If StarClan wants you to be leader than their opinions don't matter, you have to come back Shadowpaw," Mewed Galestar sternly with erect ears. "I've come to get you back."

"Are you crazy?" Hissed Shadowpaw, "I can't just leave June, she has my kits, what is she supposed to do if I'm not here with her?"

"Listen, SkyClan needs you!" Galestar growled. "This is the moment you have been waiting for…to show your loyalty to your clan. Didn't you want that? What about Airwhisker…what about Rainstorm and the others? If June really loved you, she'd understand why you left."

Shadowpaw snorted and looked back, his mind reeling with questions. "Look Galestar…I can't just leave her."

"Shadowpaw…are you really willing to disappoint June," Galestar challenged, "Or StarClan?"

Shadowpaw gapped his mouth open in opposition, but Galestar turned to walk away. The leader looked over his shoulder and frowned.

"I'll be in SkyClan…you know how to get there." Galestar mewed.