Shadowblaze yowled, "CAMP INVASION!" and threw herself into the camp entrance determined to prevent the Shadowclan warriors from entering the camp. She slashed blindly at the cats that were outside the camp walls, holding them back with her flailing claws. Suddenly one cat managed to get through and he turned on Shadowblaze, slashing at her, trying to dislodge her from her spot at the entrance to let his clanmates through the entrance so that they could get in and get what they came for. Then the cat vanished as suddenly as he came, Shadowblaze turned to see why he had stopped clawing her and she saw the cat was being pinned by Twigclaw who yowled, "Keep holding them off! I'll send Hawkpaw to help you! They're getting in through the walls!" and with that Twigclaw vanished back into the mass of cats. Shadowblaze continued to batter the writhing mass of cats outside the camp with her claws. A few heartbeats later Hawkpaw appeared and began to help her drive the enemy back, together they slashed at the enemy. Before long Shadowblaze's paws began to tire and she could tell that Hawkpaw was tiring too so she meowed, "Hawkpaw," "What?" "I have an idea," "What is it?" "It's the plan my mother used to help us escape the fox when I was young" "You're still young," "No, I'm a warrior now!" "A warrior who's younger than me!" "Fine whatever but, if I don't make it back tell Twigclaw that he was the best mentor any cat could have had," "Shadowblaze what are you planning?"
Shadowblaze yowled "Bye Hawkpaw" and with that Shadowblaze streaked out of the entrance yowling at the top of her lungs, "I'M SHADOWPAW! YOU CAN TAKE ME BACK TO YOUR CLAN IF YOU CAN CATCH ME!" she ran as fast as she could go ,which was fairly fast, toward the Shadowclan border. She stopped at the thunderpath, but first she made sure that her scent had went across the thunderpath. Then she darted up a nearby tree to see if her plan worked, it did, the Shadowclan cats barreled into the clearing and smelled her scent that she laid and followed it into their own territory. Shadowblaze slipped out of the tree and began her walk back to her clan. On her way back Shadowblaze decided to catch some prey, by the time she got back to the camp she had caught 5 mice and a thrush.
The minute Shadowblaze walked into camp she was met but three very angry cats. "YOU MOUSEBRAIN!" "YOU COULD HAVE BEEN KILLED!" "WHAT WERE YOU THINKING!?" "DO YOU HAVE BEES IN YOUR BRAIN'!?" finally Fernshine pushed into the group of cats and yowled, "Enough! Let poor Shadowblaze explain herself!" Shadowblaze sighed but eventually led the small group of cats to the medicine cat's den and explained why she did what she did and how she got away from the Shadowclan cats. After she finished her story the others sat in silence before Shadowblaze broke the silence by asking, "Why wasn't Skystar angry?" Birchpaw answered her, "You know how Skystar was so distant during those last few days before the fox attack right?" "Yeah," "Well… it turns out that Skystar was in love with another she-cat during those last few days. He came back that day to tell our mother that he was no longer her mate." Shadowblaze sat back and let those words sink in. she heard a rustle at the entrance and scented Skystar hiding out there. Her anger bubbled up, fierce and hot and she venomously hissed, "Well if Skystar wants to have a new mate he can have one! He's no father of mine!" and with that she stormed out of the den, out of the camp and into the forest where she swarmed up a tree and curled into a small hollow before she knew it Shadowblaze's exhaustion caught up with her and she fell into a restless sleep.
Shadowblaze woke to the sound of someone or something trying to climb up her tree. She quickly shook off the heavy drapes of sleep, unsheathed her claws and prepared to jump onto her intruder. Shadowblaze was about to leapt when a familiar voice called from below, "Wait! It's me, Hawkpaw! Please don't kill me," Shadowblaze sighed and meowed, "Fine I won't but what are you trying to do?" she asked as she watched Hawkpaw run at the tree over and over again, "I'm trying to climb it! What did you think I was trying to do?" "Well you look stupid" declared Shadowblaze as she gracefully slipped down to the ground, "Here, I'll show you." Shadowblaze demonstrated how you were supposed to grip the tree with your claws and slowly pull yourself up. Hawkpaw tried but he wasn't used to climbing trees and it took him 6 tries to even get slightly close to Shadowblaze. On his seventh try he managed to get to right beneath Shadowblaze and then he started to fall. Shadowblaze rolled her eyes and leaned down and grabbed Hawkpaw's scruff, hauling him up the last few tail lengths. "Don't look d-" Shadowblaze tried to warn Hawkaw but it was too late, Hawkpaw looked over the side and practically leapt back and clung to the branch with all four claws. Shadowblaze sighed, "Hawkpaw if you hook all of your claws into the tree you won't be able to move around." Shadowblaze sat next to Hawkpaw and started to slowly pry his claws out of the tree.
When Twigclaw came to get the two he found them leaping around the trees like squirrels, "Shadowblaze! Hawkpaw! Are you cats or squirrels?" Shadowblaze rolled her eyes and called back, "What do you want Twigclaw?" "Well I don't know if Hawkpaw wants to be an apprentice forever but if you don't come back to the clan right now Hawkpaw will miss his apprentice ceremony." Shadowblaze slipped out of the tree she was in and landed next to Twigclaw who squinted up at the branches and asked, "Did you teach Hawkpaw how to get down?" "Of course… not. Mousedung!" Shadowblaze turned her gaze toward the trees where Hawkpaw was trying to descend the tree. He suddenly just decided to leap down. "Really?! Leaping out of a tree is never a good idea Hawkpaw!" Shadowblaze scolded, "Well you never taught me how to get down Shadowblaze!" "Fair enough" when Shadowblaze turned around she caught Twigclaw fighting a smile (can cats smile?) "What? why are you smiling?" Twigclaw didn't say anything which drove Shadowblaze crazy. "Well? Are we leaving or not?" Hawkpaw meowed.
The three cats got back to camp just in time for Hawkpaw's warrior's ceremony Skystar leapt onto the Leader's Rock and yowled for the clan to gather. "I have called us together today because two apprentice's fought well in the battle against the Shadowclan invaders. Hawkpaw and Wrenpaw step forward. I, Skystar, leader of Thunderclan call on my ancestors to look down upon these cats. Hawkpaw and Wrenpaw, do you promise to defend your clan at the cost of your life?" "Yes" "Yes" "Then from now on Hawkpaw will be known as Hawkclaw and Wrenpaw will now be known as Wrenwing!" Hawkclaw leaned forward and licked Skystar's shoulder and he rested his muzzle on his head. Then Wrenwing licked Skystar's shoulder and he rested his muzzle on her head. Then he yowled, "The meeting is now over!"
The clan immediately gathered around the two new warriors congratulating them on becoming warriors, Shadowblaze was just about to go over to them and congratulate them when a paw poked her and a voice asked, "Can we talk to you?" Shadowblaze turned around and saw Sparkkit, one of Finchfeather's kits, she looked further and saw Cliffkit and Blazekit watching from the shadows. "Sure" Shadowblaze said and then Sparkkit led her over to the small clearing where the kits liked to play. They all sat down and the kits began to ask Shadowblaze about how she became a warrior so quick. "How long do you have to train to become a warrior?" asked Sparkkit "Well most apprentice's train for 6 moons like Wrenwing" "But you only trained for 2 moons" "that's because I had already trained for 2 moons when I came to Thunderclan." "So how old are you now?" "I'm 6 moons old now. When are you three becoming apprentices?" Blazekit replied, "We're becoming apprentices in a moon, we're 5 moons old right now." Shadowblaze nodded and noticed Cliffkit, the shyest, just sitting there and watching them talk so she asked, "Cliffkit? Do you have any questions?" Cliffkit slowly nodded and then said, "What happened to Birchpaw and where's your mother?" Shadowblaze froze, she felt like she was back at that terrible day, it must have been showing on her face because Cliffkit quickly said, "I can change that question." just then Shadowblaze was saved from answering the question by Hawkclaw who stuck his head in and called, "Hey Shadowblaze, Twigclaw wants you for a patrol." "Coming!" Shadowblaze called, "Sorry kits, you can ask Hawkclaw your questions instead." "Ok!" they squeaked. On her way out Shadowblaze heard Sparkkit say, "I have the perfect question for Hawkclaw, I heard the elders talking about it."
As she slipped past Hawkclaw she shoved him into the clearing and told him that the kits wanted to ask him some questions. Just as Shadowblaze reached Twigclaw she heard Hawkclaw shriek, "Where did you hear that?!" Shadowblaze stifled a purr and told Twigclaw that she was here for her patrol assignment.
Twigclaw assigned her to a hunting patrol That was going to go hunt around the Bird Rocks where many birds lived and raised their chicks. As the patrol left the camp Shadowblaze saw Hawkclaw being chased around the camp by the three kits. Shadowblaze purred in amusement and followed Twigclaw out of camp.
Just as the patrol reached the Bird Rocks they heard the sound of a fight at the border. Shadowblaze looked at Twigclaw and silently asked him what they should do the rest of the patrol did the same. "Ok, this is what we're gonna do. Shadowblaze and Owlsong, come with me. The rest of you stay here and hunt, if we need help I'll send someone back to fetch you." and with that Twigclaw flicked his tail and led Shadowblaze and Owlsong toward the battle.
Shadowblaze followed Twigclaw and Owlsong and wondered what was happening at the border. She froze when Twigclaw quietly meowed, "I don't believe it." "What?" she hissed "you don't believe what?" "Look" Twigclaw pointed at the scene in front of them with his tail. Shadowblaze looked and gasped in horror. In the moor in front of them a huge battle was taking place, about thirty badgers were fighting a large pack of dogs that was attacking them, "Should we help them?" Owlsong asked, "Of course not you mousebrain!" hissed Twigclaw, "Then what are we going to do?" "Go back to the patrol and finnish hunting!" and that's exactly what they did. When the patrol returned to camp they were met with Skystar and Fernshine who immediately drew Shadowblaze aside and told her to meet them in the medicine cat's den immediately after she placed her catch on the prey pile. She nodded and retreated to place down her catch.
When Shadowblaze entered the medicine cat's den she knew that whatever they had called her for was serious, Fernshine and Birchpaw were sitting close to the entrance and when she entered they told her to sit and wait for Skystar to come. While they were waiting Wrenflight ran in and told Fernshine that Skystar was asking for her, Fernshine groaned and said, "I told him that we were having a meeting!" still she followed Wrenflight and told Shadowblaze and Birchpaw to wait there for her to get back with Skystar, "I'll bring him even if i have to break his legs and drag him here." she promised.
When Skystar finally showed up he looked extremely happy and when he saw Shadowblaze and Birchpaw he burst out the news, "Sandfire is having my kits!" Shadowblaze froze and said, "What? Who's having your kits?" "Sandfire" Skystar meowed happily, "I finally get to be a father!" Shadowblaze stood her anger just about to explode, she stepped closer to Skystar who backed up, ears twitching uneasily, "D-did I say something wrong?" "Yes you did. YOU'RE ALREADY A FATHER BUT YOU'VE NEVER BOTHERED TO CARE ABOUT ME OR ANY OF MY LITTERMATES! A-AND NOW! YOU CHOSE A HALF-WIT SHE-CAT OVER MY MOTHER WHO BORE YOUR KITS AND LOVED YOU WITH ALL HER HEART!" Shadowblaze finished her rant with a simple sentence, "Think on that mousebrain."
Everyone in the den was staring at her and Skystar's head was lowered in shame. "Well what did you call me for?" Shadowblaze asked, "Well i was given a prophecy" Fernshine said, "It was 'Send the one who blazes like a fire yet is full of shadows to the north to learn the truth'" "And you think that this cat is me" Shadowblaze speculated. Fernshine nodded, "Will you accept this quest?" "Yes." Shadowblaze replied confidently, "You should take another cat with you just in case anything happens" Birchpaw meowed, "Did the prophecy say a specific cat who I should bring?" "No I don-" Fernshine's sentence was cut off when her eyes suddenly turned white and she began to glow. Shadowblaze and practically everyone in the den scrambled away from her. A few heartbeats later Fernshine returned to normal and she said, " I still don't know who you should bring but the prophecy told me to go ask the one who you look up to who I'm guessing is Twigclaw, right?" "Yep, that's right" Shadowblaze answered, "Could you tell us the prophecy, Fernshine?" Shadowblaze asked, "Umm… no, that would be strange to put it mildly." and with that Fernshine left to find Twigclaw.
When Fernshine returned she had Hawkclaw with her. Shadowblaze stood and meowed," So I have to go on a quest with Hawkdung" "Hey!" Hawkclaw complained, "You two should get going, Starclan told me that you two have to reach wherever they want you to go within two moons or else whatever they want to show you goes away or something." Fernshine warned, "Got it. Come on Hawkclaw! We have a quest to complete!" and then Shadowblaze raced out of the camp leaving Hawkclaw to race after her so that he wasn't left behind.