Warriors: The Darkest Shadow [Book 1]

Chapter 13

     Shadepaw stood in the middle of the Gathering Island, cries and screams filled the night sky, it was a full moon, but clouds covered the usually bright sky, "ThunderClan! Attack!" The voice of Tigerblaze yowled to the sky, battle cries filled the air as well as blood curdling screams and screeches. 

     All the cries were suddenly silenced, all she could see was a small glittering light. Shadepaw jumped, and touched it, digging her claws into the ball of light, she pulled herself up.

     Shadepaw sat on the ball of light, suddenly a shadow flashed by, it was a giant robin, it spread its wings out like a hawk would, then began to speak.

     When the Robin is granted song, and the Shade is given frost, the Lynx will reveal the truth about the Shadow.

     The robin started to disappear, its eyes growing smaller by each second, "Who Is the 'Lynx'? Who is the 'Robin'? Who is the 'Shade'! Tell me more! Tell me what I have to do!" Shadepaw screeched. But the robin was already gone.

  "Shadepaw! Shadepaw!" A distant voice called, a small green light appeared from the darkness, "Shadepaw!" The voice called again, a squawk called from a far far distance, she could only barely make out the words.

     The Lark must hide in the Shade before the Robin can sing. The squawk said, then light started to seep through the walls, "Wait!" She called again.

     This time Shadepaw was transported to a well lit clearing, the sun bright with Greenleaf, two familiar smoky toms stood beside a grey she-cat.

     "Ok, Scorchpaw, what's your side of the story?" The she-cat asked the tom to her left, Shadepaw padded up beside Scorchpaw, something was familiar about those angered amber eyes.

     "Smokepaw, I saw him eat a rabbit he caught! That's against the warrior code!" Scorchpaw hissed in accusation. The she-cat flashed a mad look at Smokepaw, "Smokepaw?" She glared at the tom to her right.

     "So, maybe I did, that's nothing compared to what I saw Scorchpaw do!" Smokepaw snapped at the other apprentice, Shadepaw opened her jaws, these cat rank of ShadowClan.

     "W-What do you mean, S-Smokepaw?" Scorchpaw stammered.

     "I saw him meet a ThunderClan apprentice at the border! Her name, was Bluepaw." Smokepaw said with evil written all over his face, "No! Don't believe him Embershadow!" Scorchpaw hissed instantly.

     Embershadow turned back towards Smokepaw, "Your brother wouldn't do such a thing, he obeys the warrior code more than any apprentice I've ever seen." She hissed back at Smokepaw.

     A malicious glare started clouding his eyes, Shadepaw stood rooted beside Scorchpaw, a flash of memory suddenly filled her mind, "This is Scorchstar and Smokeclaw, as apprentices!" Shadepaw meowed.

     "You dare call me a liar?" Smokepaw hissed in anger, his claws slid out of his paws, they were black as smoke. "S-Smokepaw?" Embershadow stammered, fear written all over her face. "I am the most powerful cat in all the clans! Nobody will defy me!" He screamed.

     "Smokepaw! Stop!" Embershadow meowed, she was shaking. Smokepaw slid his claws over her throat, making her screech in pain, then thump to the ground, "Embershadow!" Scorchpaw hissed.

     "No cat, will defy me again." Smokepaw muttered, then trudged on into the shadows, leaving the dying she-cat alone.

     Another light flashed, bringing her to the ThunderClan camp, her head stung, it felt like she had passed out, "Shadepaw, please be ok." A voice murmured, "Larkpaw?" She groaned, her friend had layed down beside her, with Cloudpaw staring expectantly at the front entrance to camp.

     "Shadepaw!" He said excitedly. "You need to stop doing this to me." Larkpaw joked, "No promises." She purred back. Larkpaw placed his tail on hers, making her go numb. Suddenly Cloudpaw jumped up, Shadepaw saw him run towards a calico she-cat that smelled like fish.

     Then she saw the familiar handsome green eyes of Frogleap. All feeling returned to her, whatever moment they had just shared, was over.

     "Frogleap!" She purred excitedly, "Oh! Hey Shadepaw." He replied, a sad look was spread all over his face, but at the same time, a look of pride.

     "Frogleap, Spottedpaw, what a nice surprise." The voice of Smallstar called from the Highrock. "We come with great sadness, and a great surprise. First the sadness." Frogleap started, Spottedpaw padded up beside him.

     "Spottedwing unfortunately has gone to StarClan, she was an old cat already, but when she was tending to a sick kit, she-" Frogleap choked, Spottedpaw placed a reassuring tail on his shoulders, and Shadepaw saw Cloudpaw tense.

     "She caught the same sickness, greencough, when she was tending to Minnowkit, who died with her." Frogleap finished, Shadepaw's heart broke, the old medicine cat had seemed so nice. "But, now for the good news, Spottedpaw has earned her medicine cat name, she is now Spottedcloud." He said happily.

     Wonder where she got that name. She thought in jealousy, "Since Spottedwing was one of the most honorable medicine cats in RiverClan history, we are having a special vigil just for her, there will be contests for the apprentices, and a section where warriors can chat with other warriors.

     "I think that is a wonderful idea Frogleap, its about time the clans have a day time get together." Smallstar said encouragingly, "Well, we are off, we will tell Silverstar to await your arrival, the date is in two days. That will give us enough time to prepare." Frogleap said as he leaped down from the Highrock.

     Spottedcloud followed after Frogleap, Cloudpaw followed after her, and Spottedcloud intertwined her tail with his, then the contact broke, making Shadepaw's fur lay down flat again.

     Shadepaw suddenly heard a small mew sound from the nursery, she turned to find the same brown kit that had been part of the prophecy. Did she receive it to? Shadepaw questioned, "Robinkit! Come back in here this instant, you are to young to be out there!" Gingerleaf snapped at her.

     The kits teal eyes pierced into her, they were like an owl's eyes. Or a robins. Something screamed inside Shadepaw. Then the kit bounded back inside the nursery.

     Shadepaw curled up in her nest, Cloudpaw laid beside her, something was wedged in his paw, Shadepaw smelled of it. Purple Reed Flower. She thought  as she placed the flower back in his paws and curled up.

     "You still awake Shadepaw?" Larkpaw whispered to her, "Yeah, you excited for the contest?" Shadepaw muttered back to him. "For sure! I hope we win together." Her friend purred, but she had something else on her mind, Frogleap.