Warriors: The Darkest Shadow [Book 1]

Chapter 8

   (Shadepaw!)

 Shadepaw stared in horror as blood spewed from the warriors throat, her amber eyes were growing more lifeless by the second, Larkpaw stood behind Twigleaf with pure fear burning in his leaf green eyes, Shadepaw stopped cold when she looked back at her ShadowClan apprenticed brother, his eyes were glued to the dying WindClan warrior with amazement, Scorchfang stuck his nose in the air and parted his jaws.

     "Lets go, she has prey buried further up the stream." The deputy meowed, Ashpaw followed their father, while Larkpaw and Twigleaf held back, "Lets go I said!" He snapped at them, "C-coming Scorchfang." Twigleaf mewed to the deputy, Larkpaw stood rooted to the spot, Shadepaw felt bad for him. I'll make him feel better at the next gathering. She thought, "Scorchfang can I go back to camp?" The apprentice asked, Shadepaw saw his paws trembling with fear, and his one white paw was twitching.

      "I wish I could go down there and take him back to ThunderClan, he would be safe there." Shadepaw made the mistake of whispering, Twigleaf pricked her ears and angled them towards the bramble bush she was hiding behind, Ashpaw parted his jaws, then froze. "Scorchfang, I think I smell Shadepaw." Her brother meowed, the deputy's piercing yellow eyes were staring right at her.

     Shadepaw's skin crawled, her paws twitched, as Scorchfang stepped forward her blood pounded in her ears, in moments the smokey grey toms shadow was towering over her, and his muzzle stood only a whisker length from her hiding place, Shadepaw crouched down with fear, she flattened her ears and shut her eyes. "Come out you little overgrown kit." The deputy rasped, he walked another step closer to the bramble bush, the thorns snagged at her pelt, suddenly  the ShadowClan toms muzzle appeared over the bush.

     She couldn't force herself any further into the bush, suddenly she burst out of the bush, the deputy was so stunned it gave Shadepaw enough time to run, "Larkpaw, Ashpaw, get her!" Her father yowled, in an instant two shapes were chasing after her, she could see Larkpaw gently slowing down, Shadepaw felt grateful for the apprentice risking himself for her, but her brother was gaining, "Ashpaw! Stop!" She hissed at him, "Sorry Shadepaw, normally I would but, were in different clans now!" He hissed back.

      The former ThunderClan apprentice leaped at her, his long claws cut into her flank, "Stop!" She screamed again, his yellow eyes were filled with regret, but he continued his pursuit, it suddenly dawned on Shadepaw.

     He hasn't been in the forest in half a moon! I can out run him if I take the undergrowth path! Shadepaw thought, she took a sharp turn towards camp, and ran up a tree, the apprentice started falling behind, "Get, back here!" He gasped, Shadepaw suddenly jumped off the tree, and into a patch of undergrowth, Ashpaw sprung in after her, only to get stuck in a small hole between the bushes, Shadepaw continued without looking back, she could smell the calming smells of camp.

     Shadepaw burst into camp, all the faces were suddenly on her, "Scorchfang, ShadowClan, kill, Harefoot!" She gasped, her vision began to blur, "Where? Shadepaw who was with him?" She heard the voice of Tigerblaze, the deputy sounded battle ready, "T-Twigleaf, Larkpaw, Ashpaw, Larkpaw, not do anything." She coughed, her scratch burned, Shadepaw wanted to curl up and forget this day.

     "Nightpool! Shadepaw needs attention!" Smallstar called, "Shadepaw, this is very important, where are they!" The leader asked frantically, Shadepaw opened her mouth to speak, "B-by WindClan lake, border." She squeaked, Shadepaw could hardly see her paws in front of her, "Tigerblaze! Organize a patrol!" He yelled to his deputy, the ginger tom began yelling names.

     Shadepaw tried to walk, but staggered, suddenly she felt dirt shoot up her nose, the dirt around her leg was soaking wet and crimson, she saw the grey pelt of Bluepaw, then the world went black.

     Shadepaw awoke with a familiar scent swelling up her nose, she opened her eyes enough to make out a sleeping shape beside her, she saw a black pelt with a small bit of cobweb on his flank, Shadepaw recognized the one white paw, "L-Larkpaw?" She rasped, the black apprentice shot up at the mention of his name, "Shadepaw!" He exclaimed.

     "Tigerblaze's patrol found him up at the  WindClan border with a nasty bite on his flank, so they brought him here for me and Nightpool to care for him, along side you." She heard the voice of Bluepaw meow from behind her, "How long have I been out Bluepaw?" She asked, "About a day, and its not Bluepaw anymore, its Bluefeather." The medicine cat apprentice said happily.

     "How long are you gonna stay?" Shadepaw asked Larkpaw, "Not long, probably until the next gathering, until my leg feels better anyway." He replied, "I'm gonna go get some fresh kill, what do you want?" Shadepaw asked, "Anything except bird." He replied with disgust, "Got it." Shadepaw said.

     As she walked to the fresh kill pile, Shadepaw saw Bluefeather sharing prey with Greypaw. Is he still Greypaw anymore? Shadepaw thought, "Here Greypaw, your assessment is today, your gonna need your strength." She mewed to him, Oh his assessment is today. She thought with bitterness. Shadepaw stared down at the fresh kill pile. Only a mouse and two sparrows. Shadepaw thought again, she grabbed the mouse and began back towards the medicine den.

     I hope Larkpaw likes it. Shadepaw's thoughts whirled hopefully, as she got to the entrance she heard something crash into the camp, Shadepaw twisted around quickly to see a grey tom with green eyes, Shadepaw recognized him from the gathering.  RiverClan's youngest medicine cat.  His eyes were clouded with fear, "Frogleap? What are you doing here?" Nightpool exclaimed, "Yeah, its a long way from RiverClan territory, "Help, badgers, attacking camp, WindClan won't help us!" He panted.

     "Badgers? Likely story Frogleap." Gingerleaf scoffed at the medicine cat, "I believe him." Tigerblaze meowed from the warrior den entrance, "Me two." Shadepaw and Larkpaw said in unison, Shadepaw looked back at Larkpaw with a smile, "Me three!" Exclaimed Blazekit, the small ginger kit was bouncing over to stand beside his father, "I wanna help protect RiverClan too!" He squeaked.

     "Sorry Blazekit, not until your an apprentice." Said Featherstep, "Please!" He wailed as the queen carried him back to the nursery, "Well Tigerblaze, I will stay and help guard camp,  any other cat who wishes to go with you can go." Smallstar said to the deputy, Shadepaw got excited, she was about to pad up to the deputy when she felt her leg buckle. No! I'm helping RiverClan!  She hissed to herself, Shadepaw followed Larkpaw up towards the ginger deputy.

     "I will go too, Spottedwing is getting far to old to be caring for injured cats." Nightpool said as she walked up beside Frogleap, they looked almost similar, except for the eyes, Nightpool's pelt was just a small bit darker then his, "Follow me everyone!" Frogleap yowled as they burst out of the hollow, Shadepaw trailed behind them, every step was more painful then the last, but she stayed close behind Larkpaw.