CHAPTER ELEVEN
The three motherless kits raced across the clearing, their eyes opening and sparkling with excitement as Shadowkit and Lightkit were tossing mossballs at them. Shadowkit and Lightkit only had another moon until they'd be apprentices and I was almost done with my training according to Beestripe who rarely went out of camp anymore while I got on patrols as quick as possible.
When Oakfur and Needleflower died, Shadowkit and Lightkit began to cling to their mother more. They missed the elder very much. Featherkit, Stonekit, and Clumsykit learned of their mother's death when they could open their eyes. It practically killed Junipernose to tell them.
Comet was still working for the Clan, insisting he could do better but it was clear Rowanstar was ready to do his ceremony. He was obviously going to become an outgoer. Birchpaw, Lionpaw, and Slatepaw would definitely become warriors today or tomorrow as well.
"Let all those old enough join under the hazel branch for a Clan meeting!" Rowanstar yowled and I looked up to see Comet and the three apprentices waited calmly under the hazel branch.
Puddleheart exited the medicine den with Kinkfur trailing behind him, Beestripe slipped out of the nursery and gathered, waiting.
"Birchpaw, Lionpaw, Comet, Slatepaw, step forward!" Rowanstar yowled and they moved to the center of the clearing, looking up at him. "I, Rowanstar, leader of ShadowClan, call upon my warrior ancestors to look down on these apprentices. They have trained hard to understand the ways of your noble code, and I commend them to you as a warrior in their turn. Do you four promise to uphold the warrior code and to protect and defend your Clan, even at the cost of your life?"
"I do," all four of them mewed.
Rowanstar jumped down from the branch. "Then by the powers of StarClan, I give you your warrior names. Lionpaw, from this moment you will be known as Lionfur! StarClan honors your courage and strength, and we welcome you as a full warrior of ShadowClan! Slatepaw, from this moment you will be known as Slateleaf, StarClan honors your wisdom and skill, and we welcome you as a full warrior of ShadowClan! Birchpaw, from this moment you will be known as Birchwing, StarClan honors your spirit and enthusiasm, and we welcome you as a full warrior of ShadowClan! Comet," Rowanstar's eyes landed on the rogue, "from this moment you will be known as Cometmoon, StarClan honors your independence and determination, and we welcome you as a full warrior of ShadowClan!" Rowanstar touched his nose to each of their shoulders. "In honor of StarClan you will sit vigil."
"Slateleaf! Cometmoon! Lionfur! Birchwing!" we all called their names as they went to the middle of the clearing to sit vigil.
I was proud of my former denmates. Slateleaf and I had grown close whilst we were training and now that he was a warrior, it would be different. I wouldn't be able to train with him. The thought saddened me but instead I smiled warmly at him and turned to where my mentor was sitting next to Shadowkit, Lightkit, Featherkit, Stonekit, and Clumsykit right outside the elder's den.
"Beestripe!" I purred and watched as her two kits jumped up and down around me and the other three sat properly, watching with interest. "Are we going out to train today?" I asked.
She glanced at the kits with concern. "Well…" The three kits looked up at Beestripe with wide eyes. Beestripe hadn't really left their side since they were born. She was a good mother. "You could have Strikefang take you out."
My eyes narrowed but I understood where she was coming from. They needed her more than I did. "Alright, I'll ask him…" I licked Shadowkit's forehead and turned away from them, spotting the tom across the clearing talking to Sleekfeather. Featherkit and Clumsykit were clear pine hunters while Stonekit was an outgoer. It was clear to everyone.
The cream-furred tom met my eyes across the clearing and smiled as I padded over, nodding to Sleekfeather who stopped what she was saying.
"Hi, Cloudpaw!" she purred and then dipped her head. "I'll talk to you later, Strikefang." She turned away and walked over to Beestripe and the kits.
Strikefang smiled warmly, despite the anger he had for Beestripe he was actually being kind to me. "How may I help you?"
"I was hoping you'd take me out for training… Beestripe's so busy lately that she can't." I flicked my tail at the five kits who were now climbing all over Sleekfeather and Beestripe. "Please, it's just for today."
He nodded and I could see his eye cloud when he looked at Beestripe. It obviously still hurt. "Yes, of course, I'll take you out. Meet in the training clearing. I'll be there soon," he promised and padded away while I raced out of camp, the cold striking me. In camp, everything was so busy that it was easy to stay warm. While outside of camp, the snow had melted and the ground was covered in frost. It was freezing. The rivers and lake were frozen over and snow was definitely coming.
I bursted into the empty training clearing and looked around at the pine trees. I was grateful for their shelter and that their leaves didn't fall off in leaf-bare.
"Cloudpaw!" Strikefang mewed as he entered the clearing, smiling. "Alright, show me what you got. I'll give pointers while we fight."
As soon as he'd finished I dropped down into a battle crouch and pelted forward, dragging my paw along the ground and feeling his leg connect with it and he fell to his side while I whipped around as he struggled to his paws.
"Nice attack!" he purred and then without warning he darted forward lashing a paw out at my shoulder and while I moved to dodged he changed and hit my nose. While I was recovering he raked his paw down my side and I snapped my jaws at his tail and wanked back.
He let out a wail and looked at me with wide eyes while I dragged him backwards until, finally, I grabbed his back leg in between my jaws and twisted him onto his back, pinning him down with a grunt.
Strikefang was surprised. "You're a very neat fighter!" he purred. "Alright when you tripped me don't hesitate to attack again, that's how I could've won."
I let him up and shook out my fur, proud. "Thanks for training with me, Strikefang!" I tilted my head as he sat up, licking a paw and drawing it over his ear. "Beestripe really hasn't been doing a good job lately…"
When I mentioned Beestripe he tensed. "Of course. Happy to help." He stood up and glanced around. "We should get back to camp." His tail flicked as he walked through the bushes and I hurried to catch up, feeling confused.
Why would he want to go back to camp where Beestripe is? I thought silently but kept walking, slipping into camp with Strikefang.
"I'm going on a patrol to the camp with Spikefur, Tigerheart, and Yarrowfur," he explained and walked to his patrol who was at the back entrance of camp. I watched Crowfrost put Tawnypelt, Junipernose, Dawnpelt, and Sleekfeather on a border patrol while the four cats who were sitting vigil were let off and set on a hunting patrol. Camp was practically empty now besides Beestripe, the five kits, Kinkfur who was watching the kits, Crowfrost and Rowanstar who were at the edge of the clearing whispering quietly.
I watched Beestripe smile at Kinkfur who made the kits calm down and listen.
A yowl echoed around us and I glanced at the entrance as a large gray-and-white RiverClan tom I knew as Podlight entered, Heronwing and Havenpelt entered after him, their eyes darting around the clearing with surprise.
"How may I help you, Podlight?" Rowanstar mewed quickly, approaching them.
Podlight smiled at Rowanstar innocently. "Why yes, you may actually…" The other two cats moved away from the warrior and began to walk around the clearing while I hissed at Havenpelt in warning. "We've just come to… Take over your camp!" As he yowled this the fishy smelling, sleek RiverClan cats flooded the clearing and I felt panicked. We were outnumbered!
I watched as Beestripe and Kinkfur practically threw the kits through the back entrance and Kinkfur raced out after than while Beestripe tackled Heronwing and Perchwing tore at her back. Crowfrost was at the edge of camp, slipping out at the back entrance while Rowanstar took on Mistystar and Reedwhisker while other cats attacked him from the sides. I felt claws pierce my side and I whipped around to see Mallownose and Duskfur, their eyes shining in excitement.
They instantly began to rake their claws through my fur and nipped at my paws and tail. I whipped out at them blindly, feeling panicked and scared and the blood was clogging my eyes and nose and ears. I was tripping over myself like a fool.
Suddenly, their claws were gone and I looked around, everything fuzzy and recognized the familiar sleek gray pelt of Slateleaf as he picked me up by the scruff and raced towards the back entrance. I saw Cometmoon, Lionfur, Birchwing, Junipernose, and Pinenose herding everyone out of camp and carrying Puddleheart's herbs. Junipernose was practically dragging Rowanstar's bloody limp body out of camp.
The RiverClan cats were yowling in triumph as we fled our own camp.
"Slateleaf, is she okay?" I heard Beestripe ask but my eyes were far too heavy to keep open and listen.
"Cloudpaw, oh, thank StarClan!" I heard a familiar voice mew and I looked around at the den I was in. It looked like the new camp's medicine den. Beestripe and Puddleheart were both looking down at me with wide eyes.
"W-what happened?" I mumbled and sat up quickly, shaking my head.
Puddleheart looked at Beestripe in surprise. "RiverClan took over our camp when we were at our weakest, you were torn apart as was Rowanstar. He lost another life…" He looked at my mentor with worry.
I jumped up and looked around at the empty den. "What about the kits? Are they okay? And Slateleaf?" I will never forgive myself if something happened to any of them!
"The kits are fine and so is Slateleaf," Beestripe mewed in amusement. "And you're doing fine as well." She glanced at Puddleheart.
The medicine cat shuffled his paws. "You're free to go. Just make sure you be careful with your wounds," he mewed with a small smile.
I shakily rose to my paws and slowly padded out of the medicine den, leaving the two alone and look around the new camp. It was busy with activity. I could already see he split in the Clan: the outgoers and pine hunters stayed away from each other, all glaring at each other. I could feel the tension.
"Cloudpaw!" Strikefang purred, suddenly beside me. "I"m glad to see you're okay!" He turned his head slightly to see Yarrowfur padding in with Slateleaf and Spikefur, prey in their jaws. "He checked in on you and collected herbs for you," Strikefang mewed and then backed away slowly as Slateleaf approached me.
Slateleaf smiled warmly. "I'm glad to see you up and walking." His eyes were shining in amusement and I could see his tail twitch. "I'll catch you later okay? Sleekfeather and I are going hunting." He padded away to the yellow she-cat who was waiting at the entrance of camp.
My pelt prickled in disappointment but I quickly pushed it away and gazed around the clearing in curiousity, catching gazes with Cometmoon who was sitting far away from the pine hunters.
"Get out of my space!" a voice hissed and I turned my head to see Tigerheart baring his teeth at Tawnypelt who was now standing on her paws, narrowing her eyes. "You filthy pine hunter!"
Tawnypelt growled lowly at him, her fur bristling. "Maybe you should get out of my space you rat-brain!" They got down low into a battle crouch, hissing and spitting.
"What're you doing?!" Crowfrost growled, coming into the clearing with his eyes wide. "You're Clanmates! You shouldn't be fighting!" He padded over to the two of them with concern.
Tigerheart looked at Crowfrost with a glare. "Pine hunters think they own ShadowClan because they remain in our territory but us outgoers found this camp so we can live!" Tigerheart spat, turning his angry eyes back to Tawnypelt.
"Excuse me!" Tawnypelt growled. "The outgoers weren't even there when RiverClan attacked us and took over our camp!"
"Are you blaming us?"
She laughed loudly, looking at the other pine hunters who were nodding. "Of course it's your fault! You're all out exploring territory and finding this camp but if you wouldn't have been doing this we wouldn't have lost our camp in the first place!"
And then, the outgoers were lining up along Tigerheart and the pine hunter's lined up along Tawnypelt, their eyes narrowed and growling at each other. They really hit home this time.
Crowfrost looked at them with wild eyes. "Stop it! StarClan wouldn't approve!"
Pinenose turned to Crowfrost as Rowanstar entered the clearing, looking alarmed and confused. "StarClan wouldn't approve? You're the one who told RiverClan of our lack of warriors so they could attack!" she hissed and her eyes widened, looking around as everyone gasped.
Rowanstar stepped forward. "What? Crowfrost is this true?"
Crowfrost's eyes widened and he looked at Rowanstar in surprise. "I-I… It wasn't my fault! They threatened my kits and Dawnpelt! So I just organized the patrols so they could attack an empty camp!"
The leader looked at his deputy with wide eyes. "Because of you… I lost another life!" He closed his eyes tightly and shook his head. "Crowfrost," he mewed, voice breaking as he gazed at his deputy, "you are no longer part of ShadowClan. If you are seen on ShadowClan territory after moonhigh tonight we shall treat you as we would an enemy warrior or an outsider." Rowanstar held his former deputy's gaze.
He looked at Rowanstar with unblinking eyes. "N-No I'm… I'm loyal to ShadowClan! I swear! Please Rowanstar!" he begged, stepping forward towards our leader.
Now, the pine hunters and outgoers were looking at us in complete shock. "Get out, Crowfrost," Rowanstar ordered and turned away, his eyes averting his now.
Crowfrost dipped his head and glanced at Strikefang, who was staring at his father with wide eyes. He exited the new camp without another word.
We all uncomfortably turned to looked at Rowanstar who was looking at the ground. I could see his mind working.
"I say these words before StarClan," Rowanstar mewed loudly, "so that the spirits of our warrior ancestors may hear and approve of my choice. The new depuy of ShadowClan is Beestripe!"
The Clan was silent as we all turned to look at Beestripe, my mentor, who was standing in even more shock. "M-Me?" she whispered and then blinked, thinking. "I will be a good deputy, Rowanstar. And when you pass I will take over ShadowClan and lead with pride." She dipped her head to us and Rowanstar slipped into his den under the Flat Stone.
"Beestripe! Beestripe!" the Clan cheered and I looked at my mentor in pride. She was the deputy. She really deserved that spot, she was a great leader, especially with the outgoers.
After the cheering died off Rowanstar trudged into his den and Tawnypelt raced after him while Beestripe looked at the warriors with wide eyes. None of them crowded her, they just glanced at each other curiously and turned back to Beestripe.
The same question rang through their heads: Are we done fighting?
"Well, get back to your duties. Junipernose, take Lionfur and Pinenose on a hunting patrol," she ordered and then glanced at Rowanstar's den with a twitch of her nose but didn't move.
I padded to my white-furred mentor. "Congratulations!" I purred warmly, seeing her eyes flicker to me. "You, out of anyone, deserves that spot."
Beestripe shuffled her paws awkwardly. "I mean, Crowfrost did very well in what he did…" She didn't seem sure of her new position. "But I will serve in honor."
She's thinking of what Crowfrost'll do when he finds out, I thought silently and watched her pad away to the medicine den where Puddleheart had retreated.
"Hey Cloudpaw!" Tigerheart yelled to me from the entrance, Slateleaf beside him. "You want to come with us on a border patrol?"
I smiled widely. "Of course!" And padded over to the two toms who began to chat to one another excitedly.
"Wake up, Cloudpaw!" hissed a familiar voice and I opened my eyes, looking around. "Greetings Cloudpaw!"
A gray tom stood in front of me, his green eyes shining. "I am Snowstar, once leader of ShadowClan. You are in StarClan's hunting grounds."
I looked around curiously, seeing cats running past us with stars in their fur and limp bodies of prey in their jaws. The sky was shining brightly and the wind was blowing lightly. There was no snow up here.
Suddenly, fear struck me. "Does that mean I'm dead?"
Snowstar closed his eyes briefly. "No, young kit. You're not dead. I have a prophecy for you…" When he looked at me once more there was eagerness in his eyes. "Storm clouds roll in, bee's lark in the shadows, and the night takes over."
The old ShadowClan leader faded away, as did the dream. "No wait! Snowstar, tell me more!" I called, racing forward, trying to catch up with him but then everything went black.
"Cloudpaw!" a sleepy voice mewed and I sat up in my nest, seeing Beestripe at the entrance of the den. "We're going on a secret mission, come on." Her head popped out of the den.
My eyes glanced around the nest, the dream and the prophecy still haunting me but I shook it off and slipped out of the den.
Outside, the sun was barely rising over the new camp and the warrior's den was moving as Strikefang, Sleekfeather, and Birchwing slip into the clearing. The two pine hunters glared at Strikefang but said nothing, going out for the dawn patrol and we silently followed after them. But as they turned off the path, we kept following it.
"Beestripe?" I whispered. "Where are we going?" I could see she was tense and as we approached the Thunderpath she glanced around. The monsters wouldn't be around yet. "Beestripe!" I snapped and a monster flew by.
My mentor glanced at me, watching another monster shoot by and then there was a space. "Go! Now!" She yowled and darted across and I followed after, feeling panicked as the cold, hard surface covered by snow seemed to stretch out.
And then I was on the other side, Beestripe panting beside me, lapping up some snow and shaking out her fur, getting down low as we cross the old ShadowClan border into our territory, now it smelled like RiverClan.
"Beestripe," I hissed and she looked at me with wide eyes, "tell me what's going on!"
She flicked her tail in annoyance. "Rowanstar is planning to take back our camp. We need to strike when it's near empty." She turned away and continued on, getting down low. She blended in well with the snow beside her ears which we now flat against her head. I blended in well too, beside my stomach that was brown and reaching up to my chest. If I crouched down, I'd look like snow.
As we slowly moved along to the camp which I could now see, there were two familiar voices I'd grown to know: Nightfur and Heronwing.
But my mentor didn't stop inching forward, now looking over the edge and into the camp and I copied, seeing the two toms in the clearing with three kits chasing a mossball. Shadestream was at the edge of the clearing, licking her pelt and watching with amusement.
Fear struck me. Were we going to attack the queen and her kits? I wasn't fond of Shadestream but her kits.
"Let's go," Beestripe growled lowly, leading me away from the camp and breaking into a run, her paws lightly hitting the ground so she didn't alert the RiverClan warriors and I raced right next to her, easily pushing ahead and darting across the empty Thunderpath, hearing Beestripe behind me.
We finally slowed down when we reached the new camp and I looked at the deputy curiously but she said nothing at all, even when we entered camp she went straight to Rowanstar's den.
There was silence among the Clan as we waited for Beestripe and Rowanstar to emerge from the den but I could feel something wrong. They all knew the answer already.
Beestripe and Rowanstar slipped out of the den. The leader looked small and fragile beside Beestripe who glanced at him to start speaking.
"Beestripe, Junipernose, Tigerheart, Dawnpelt, Strikefang, Cometmoon, and Tawnypelt you will go to ShadowClan's camp and reclaim it," he ordered in a shaky voice, his eyes darting to the chosen cats who stepped forward in acceptance. They were some of ShadowClan's best fighters.
Quickly, Beestripe rounded up her patrol and they darted out of camp, leaving the rest of us to gaze at our leader in worry. His muzzle was coated in gray hairs as was his ginger pelt. He was getting older and weaker, I could tell, as he raced out after them.
I watched Beestripe's kits from across the clearing, their paws batting at each other. They didn't have a clue what their mother had gone to do. The other three kits were watching their older denmates play. They were glancing at one another guilty but I pushed it away.
Slateleaf was grooming himself alone at the edge of camp, his eyes focusing on his fur but I could tell his mind was elsewhere and I couldn't help but wonder if he was angry Rowanstar hadn't put him on the attack patrol.
I padded over to him hesitantly and he didn't notice I'd approached him until I had sat down and was gazing at him curiously.
He looked up at me with shining green eyes. "Hello Cloudpaw," he purred softly, but I could see the dismay in his eyes despite his smile and kind voice. "Can I help you?"
My jaws parted to speak but I couldn't find the words and my pelt pricked with embarrassment. "Rowanstar didn't pick you for the battle patrol," I blurted out and then looked away from him. "I mean, are you disappointed?"
The gray warrior laughed warmly and when I looked back up at him the dismay had faded away. "Only slightly. But we did great work on this camp. Hopefully we'll get to come back and take care of it more." He gazed around the large clearing in pride.
I dug my claws into the dirt underneath me in embarrassment. Of course, real warriors wouldn't get jealous. I smiled at him, feeling myself tense up. "Yeah we did a good job…" He's gazing around but my eyes are still resting on him. His muscles were rippling under his gray fur and his green eyes sparkled as he looked around the clearing. His whiskers twitched and then he looked back down at me. "Oh!" I exclaimed, looking away in embarrassment. "I should go… See Puddleheart," I mewed quickly and rushed away to Puddleheart's den.
As soon as I entered Puddleheart looked up from his herbs, eyes full of haziness and I could tell he was exhausted. "Do you need something? Is it Beestripe's kits?" I could see him shaking under his fur. Something was wrong.
"Puddleheart, you need to get some sleep!" I exclaimed and rushed forward, taking the herbs out of his mouth.
He looked at me, his eyes half open. "I can't, Cloudpaw. The warriors that come back will have wounds, I have to be there." Puddleheart pushed me off him, returning to the herbs laying on the ground and mumbling something to himself.
"Puddleheart!" the screech echoed through the clearing and instantly looked at me with sadness and then sprinted out of the den and I followed after. Strikefang and Junipernose carried Rowanstar's limp, bloody, spasming body. Panic rushed through me.
The medicine cat's eyes widened in alarm, I could see him struggle to grasp what he needed to do but when he did he bursted into his den and exploded back out with herbs in his mouth, instantly going to to the leader.
My eyes flickered across the clearing where I remembered Beestripe's kits were playing and there they still were, faces pulled back in disgust, confusion, and worry, staring at the leader with wide eyes. They were terrified.
I rushed over to them and nudged them away from our leader, who was clearly losing a life. Shadowkit led the kits towards the nursery and Stonekit was following after him, Lightkit and Featherkit were still watching the leader with wide eyes, slowly trailing behind their brothers while Clumsykit tripped and fell on his face and I picked him up by his scruff, hurrying the kits into the nursery and glancing back at Puddleheart before slipping inside myself.
After setting down Clumsykit the kits turned to me with wide eyes.
Shadowkit was the one to speak it, "Is he going to die?"
Then it was Stonekit, "Where's mom?!"
I could see the fear on the other kits faces now. "No, he's not going to die," I mewed softly and I knew it wasn't technically a lie. "Beestripe is coming," I told Stonekit, holding back a smile when he called her mom. "Don't worry, just lay down in your nests."
Hesitantly, they laid down and glanced at one another and as soon as they were quiet, Beestripe entered, her eyes wide.
Beestripe's pelt was coated in blood and I could see some wounds along her pelt but it didn't look like anything major. "Oh thank StarClan!" she purred and rushed forward, her kits jumped right out of their nests and jumped on her, barely noticing the sticky red blood on her pelt. "I missed you kits!"
Featherkit was the only one not touching her pelt. "Are you hurt?" She sniffed her pelt curiously. "You should go see Puddleheart."
The deputy and queen looked at Featherkit curiously and looked up at me, as if to say: New medicine cat apprentice? Beestripe shook her head. "I'm okay, Featherkit. Just a few scratches." Her eyes shone as she gazed at the kits. "You all need some sleep. Do not come into the clearing until the morning." She flicked her tail at me towards the entrance of the den and I followed her out, hearing the kits settling into their nests.
"Did we get the camp back?" I asked her as soon as we weren't in earshot of the kits. "What happened with Rowanstar?"
She sat down and shook her head. "We got the camp back. Rowanstar is weak, Cloudpaw. As soon as my kits are apprenticed I may need to take over as leader…" Her eyes were full of fear and discomfort for talking about this.
"Rowanstar lost another life," I told her quietly, glancing around the now emptying clearing. Pinenose and Tigerheart were talking quietly at the edge of the clearing and Kinkfur was enjoying the sinking sun, "He's down to three or two…" I shook my head.
She closed her eyes and nodded. "Get some sleep, we're training tomorrow." Beestripe walked away from me and to the medicine den and I gazed after her and turned away, heading towards the apprentice's den to sleep alone. I miss when Slateleaf and Birchwing and Lionfur were apprentices. The den was cold and empty and I laid in my nest, curling up and setting my head down on my paws.
I can't wait to be a warrior…
"Featherkit!" Beestripe's shrill voice echoed across the clearing and the kit froze mid step and looked back at her mother. I turned away to Slateleaf who was holding prey in his mouth and nudging some over to him.
Tawnypelt was on one side of Rowanstar and Dawnpelt on the other, helping him through the clearing. We were leaving to head back to camp the this morning and I was helping Slateleaf with moving the prey. We were all nervous about the kits and Kinkfur crossing the Thunderpath so Beestripe and Strikefang were working together for once to get them across safely.
I glanced up at Slateleaf as he turned to look at Beestripe before turning back to me. "We're leaving with the second group," he told me through the feathers of the birds in his mouth.
The second group consisted of Beestripe, the kits, Strikefang, Kinkfur, Rowanstar, Tawnypelt, and Dawnpelt. Tigerheart would be leading the first group to camp to make sure the RiverClan warriors didn't come back to the camp.
"Leaving at dawn!" I heard Beestripe call to us and I looked up, it was close to dawn. The first group should be leaving now. And just as I thought this Tigerheart let out a yowl and took off into the pines, the others following after him.
Strikefang glanced over at me from where he was standing next to the kits he was fathering. I knew he was feeling uncomfortable with the situation but he couldn't back out, too many questions would be asked. I knew that Strikefang had feelings for Beestripe when they were apprentices and when he was her mentor. It hurt him so much when he learned the truth.
I turned to Slateleaf who had set down the prey and was licking his paw and drawing it over his ear. He made eyes contact with me and gave a small smile. I glanced down at my paws.
"Cloudpaw!" Shadowkit race over to me with wide eyes. "We get to cross the Thunderpath!" I recalled the time we crossed, we carried them and they were half asleep. Then again Slateleaf saved me from the RiverClan attack.
I smiled around the prey in my mouth. "Don't worry Beestripe will be with you." I pricked my ears when I heard the deputy yowl and she was waiting at the entrance. Time to go already. "Come on Shadowkit." I padded over to her, hearing Slateleaf padding behind me.
We exited the camp, Beestripe and Strikefang leading with the kits behind them and Kinkfur making sure they didn't go anywhere, Slateleaf and I behind them and Rowanstar, Tawnypelt, and Dawnpelt behind us.
It was completely silent as we walked through the pines. I could smell where the other's had walked and above all of them I could smell Cometmoon. He must've been helping Tigerheart lead.
The kits were gazing around curiously, their eyes wide with excitement but they said nothing and I could see Featherkit's pelt prickling with worry. They were scared we were going to get ambushed by RiverClan warriors. Fear rose in my throat and then I felt Slateleaf move closer to me, his pelt brushed mine reassuringly.
Finally, I could see the Thunderpath ahead of us and the fear in the group rose. Nothing bad will happen.
We stopped at the edge, Beestripe was going first to show the kits how. She crouched down low, looked both ways down the hard, gray surface and then darted across when it was clear, turning around and smiled at her kits, calling over the rumbling sound, "It's easy, come on now!"
Shadowkit raced across when there were no monsters or sounds and Stonekit went with him. Then Featherkit and Clumsykit raced across. Lightkit insisted she go across with Slateleaf and I. My mouth was watering from holding the prey so long but I said nothing and watched a monster fly by and then Rowanstar, Tawnypelt, and Dawnpelt padded across. Another monster flew by.
Slateleaf and I put Lightkit in the middle and crouched down low, looking both ways and listening. A monster passed by and I could hear rumbling but Slateleaf darted across so I followed him, hearing Lightkit's tiny paws across the hard surface.
And, then suddenly, we were on the other side in the grass and I turned around to see Lightkit in the middle of the Thunderpath, staring wide-eyed as a monster came barreling towards her.
"Lightkit!" I screeched, the prey falling out of my mouth and I lunged back onto the Thunderpath, grabbing her scruff and turning away, throwing her safely to the side and then seeing bright lights. I closed my eyes tightly and heard a loud screech.
But then, the ground wasn't underneath my paws anymore and I felt something hit my side, hard. I opened my eyes to see Slateleaf pushing me off the Thunderpath, the monster already past us and Lightkit was being licked by Beestripe and the kit stared straight forward in fear.
"Never stop in the middle of a Thunderpath!" Slateleaf told the kits. "Ever." Then he picked up his prey and nodded to mine, turning away as Beestripe continued leading us towards camp. I quickly grabbed my prey and followed after.
Slateleaf didn't look at me, he just let his fur gentle brush mine as we walked towards camp. I kept looking at him. I didn't remember what happened or how he saved me but he did. My heart fluttered in my chest but I pushed it away, I needed to focus on getting us back to camp. I could see it in the distance, and the other group too, Tigerheart letting everyone enter through the back entrance and watching us.
We sped up now, all of us eager to get back to the camp. I could see Tigerheart was tensed up. Something was wrong. But I couldn't wait to be on familiar grounds, something that I'd lived in almost my whole life.
The dogs flashed through my head and fear struck me.
We stopped outside the back entrance as Beestripe spoke to Tigerheart quietly and then she slipped inside and we entered after her.
It was a mess. Dens were scattered and the prey pile was completely gone. The medicine den had been completely wiped out. Everything was overgrown and tossed around. RiverClan had destroyed our camp.
Rowanstar was sitting in the middle of the camp, hunched over and eyes dark. "This is to distract us!" he called out in a shaky voice. "They think we'll be too busy rebuilding our camp so we won't check our border but we will!" He was looking around at his gathered warriors with fire in his eyes. We all knew he was weak, that ShadowClan was weak.
Everyone gave out a yowl of agreement and instantly Beestripe sent cats out to patrol the borders.
Slateleaf and I set our prey down and before he could run away I spoke up, "Thank you for saving me…"
His eyes flickered to me and he gave a small nod. "Of course, Cloudpaw." Something in his eyes sparkled but quickly went away. He went to say something again but Rowanstar's loud yowl interrupted him.
"ShadowClan cats! There is a cat here today who is ready to become a warrior of ShadowClan!" Rowanstar's eyes shone as he looked at me and I froze in shock. "Although she has not done a warrior assignment, Beestripe and I both agree that she is ready to become a warrior! Cloudpaw, step forward!"
I swallowed back my fear and stepped towards the old leader, too scared to say anything.
"I, Rowanstar, leader of ShadowClan, call upon my warrior ancestors to look down on this apprentice. She has trained hard to understand the ways of your noble code, and I commend her to you as a warrior in her turn. Cloudpaw, do you promise to uphold the warrior code and to protect and defend your Clan, even at the cost of your life?" Rowanstar asked me and I could tell there was real question in his voice.
Does he think I'd leave ShadowClan? In my brief anger I found my voice, "I do."
For a second a flash of surprise went across his face, but he cleared his throat and continued the ceremony, "Then by the powers of StarClan, I give you your warrior name. Cloudpaw, from this moment you will be known as Cloudsong! StarClan honors your loyalty, bravery, and wisdom and we welcome you as a full warrior of ShadowClan!"
And instantly, without any silence, the Clan cheered, "Cloudsong! Cloudsong!" Beestripe was the loudest of all of them. She was like my mother.
My head turned to Slateleaf who was smiling at me warmly, his face lit up in excitement and pride. He mouthed to me: Congratulations!
But blackness covered everything and suddenly I was looking at Snowstar, who was shaking in fear, repeating over and over again in a deep and terrifying voice, "Storm clouds roll in, bee's lark in the shadows, and the night takes over."