Cloverpaw's Shadow

Chapter 17

Finchstar yawned and lifted his head. A silhouette of a cat was standing in the entrance of his den.

"Who is it?" he asked. Cats knew not to enter his den unless permitted.

"I want to be part of the clan again." It was Cloverpaw.

Finchstar sat up. "I... can't do that," he said with as much firmness he could put into his voice.

"Why not?" Cloverpaw demanded.

Finchstar blinked as his eyes adjusted to the dark world. Cloverpaw looked so much like her mother. Those green eyes were beautiful. Just like Junipercloud...

He shook his head, bringing himself back to the present. "You betrayed the clan, your clanmates, your family, and all of Starclan!" Lowering his voice to a whisper, he said, "Your own mother warned you of this."

Cloverpaw shifted her paws. "You betrayed me! You never showed  any love or emotion to me at all! Your own daughter!"

Finchstar flinched. "It wasn't my choice." he muttered.

Cloverpaw stood up straighter. "If you won't accept me then..." She turned around. "Maybe Shadowclan will be more welcoming."

Finchstar sat up alertly. "Cloverpaw, wait!"

But she was gone.

***

"Let all those cats old enough to catch their own prey join here beneath the Highrock for a clan meeting!"

Sparrowkit lifted his head high. Today was his apprentice ceremony! He squirmed as his mother tried desperately to groom him. "Stay still!" Briarwhisker mewed.

Finally, she was done. Sparrowkit followed her mother out into the clearing, barely containing his excitement. If only his sisters were here...

He blinked back tears. He would not think of that now. Briarwhisker sat down and Sparrowkit looked from her to Finchstar.

Something was wrong with the ginger pelted leader. He looked... upset. And tired. But no one else seemed to notice.

"I have called you here today for one of the most important ceremonies in clan life. Sparrowkit has reached six moons and it is time for him to become an apprentice." He beckoned Sparrowkit forward.

"Sparrowkit, you have reached the age of six moons, and it is time for you to be apprenticed. From this day on, until you receive your warrior name, you will be known as Sparrowpaw. Your mentor will be Hollycloud. I hope Hollycloud will pass down all she knows on to you. Hollycloud, you are ready to take on an apprentice. You have received excellent training from Cloudfall, and you have shown yourself to be strong and intelligent. You will be the mentor of Sparrowpaw, and I expect you to pass on all you know to him."

Sparrowpaw bounded up to his mentor. Cheers went up around the clearing. "Sparrowpaw! Sparrowpaw!"

Sparrowpaw felt proud. If only...

His mentor cleared her throat and Sparrowpaw blinked. Hollycloud looked pained.

"Hollycloud, is something wrong?" Sparrowpaw asked quietly. Hollycloud glanced down at him.

"No, why would you think that?"

Sparrowpaw shuffled his paws. "You hurt your shoulder," he said.

Hollycloud looked at him curiously. "How did you know that?"

Sparrowpaw shrugged. "You should get that checked."

Hollycloud gave her apprentice another curious glance and padded away to the medicine den.

Sparrowpaw didn't know how he knew that Hollycloud had hurt her shoulder. He had just... felt it. Her pain was obvious. But no one else seemed to notice. And it would have gotten worse if she didn't have it checked soon. 

Starclan, what's happening to me? Sparrowpaw thought despairingly.