Cloverpaw's Shadow

Chapter 19

Cloverpaw crouched in her nest. Cats were beginning to stir and Rosepaw, a cream colored apprentice, lifted her head. She narrowed her eyes at Cloverpaw.

It had been over a moon since she had joined Shadowclan, but the looks she was still getting from other cats proved that most were unhappy that she had come to live in their clan. She didn't understand. She was just an ordinary cat, thrown out from her birth clan and seeking a new life in a new clan. Couldn't cats see that? Why did they have to act like she was diseased or untrustworthy? The only cat in the entire clan who had been nice to her(besides Jaystar, he had forgiven her for the death of his son), was Starlingpaw, a smoky grey apprentice.

She sighed. Just then, Starlingpaw poked his head into the den. "Cloverpaw, Heatherpelt wants us for the border patrol."

Cloverpaw smiled weakly at him and stood up.

***

"Where are we going?" Starlingpaw said eagerly. Without waiting for a response from Heatherpelt, he went on. "Can we explore along the eastern border?"

Cloverpaw stiffened. That was near the old Twoleg path, a border Thunderclan patrolled often.

Starlingpaw glanced back at her with an expression she couldn't read on her face. But before he could say anything, Heatherpelt nodded her head. "That sounds like a good idea." They changed direction and Cloverpaw reluctantly followed, her guard, Cedarstripe, trailing behind her.

They reached the border, and Cloverpaw could feel her heart dropping. Fresh Thunderclan scent was drifting up from the trees. She was about to suggest they leave, when a patrol of Thunderclan cats stepped out from behind the trees.

Starlingpaw looked back at Cloverpaw. He mouthed sorry, and Cloverpaw looked away.

"Good morning, Birdflower." Heatherpelt greeted. Cloverpaw's eyes darted up to her adoptive mother. With her on the patrol was Marshflight, Blizzardclaw, and his apprentice, Silverpaw. Cloverpaw felt like hiding behind the other Shadowclan warriors to avoid her former clanmates, but she didn't want to appear a coward.

No one had even noticed her. I deserve it, she thought. Then Silverpaw blinked and swung her head towards Cloverpaw.

Maybe she won't recognize me, Cloverpaw thought desperately. But the young silver she-cat did.

"Cloverpaw? What are you doing here?"