Hush

Chapter One

Dawn light danced along the large clearing as small breezes tugged at bright green leaves.

    It was a pretty morning, but Shadowpaw knew it wouldn't be for long.

    It was surprising how long it took for the alarm to be raised. Maybe the foxheart had slept the entire night, not even noticing what had happened only a few fox lengths away.

    After last night, it would take days for the packed dirt to wash out the red stains scattered around camp. And she knew just who would be forced to clean up after it.

    The young apprentice twitched her ears, hearing something approaching from behind. Recognizing the light, rhythmic steps, she raised her tail in greeting.

    "What's happening?" Shadowpaws sister, Darkpaw, trotted out from a small pathway behind her. Black fur slid into view, barely more than a shadow.

    Shadowfur stood up, stretching her back. Her own shiny black pelt rippled, the muscles clear underneath. The two sisters were almost identical, the only difference between them were their eyes: Shadowpaws green, Darkpaws bright blue, and the more bulky, stronger shape of Shadowpaw. At a much closer look, one could also spot Shadowpaw's slightly lighter fur and dark stripes.

    She felt a twinge of sadness, looking at her sister. They had been so close, as kits. But they had different fate's and beliefs. Shadowpaw knew what she wanted: to be a warrior and help her Clan better itself. She wanted to take matters into her own claws, but Darkpaw wanted to heal, believing StarClan would help them.

    "Swallowhawk is dead." Shadowpaw pointed her nose at a group of cats, gathered around something pale gold.

    "What happened to him?" Her sister looked sad, and slightly surprised. "Who was on night guard last night?"

    Annoyance pricked at the young black apprentice. "No one knows why or how they died. Mothtail just barely got to them. And Meadowbird was on watch last night. She said she never saw anything though." The best healer of CloverClan, Mothtail, had announced he was killed by a cat, but doesnt know the exact wound that killed him.

    "Meadowbird? She's too pregnant to go on watch! She's going to give birth any day now!" Darkpaw was horrified. "She should be sleeping in her den, not out here all night!"

    "Quite down!" Shadowpaw hissed, her fur fluffing up. "If anyone hears you, we'd be in deep trouble. Do you want us to be the next ones dead? Only we'd be displayed as we die, killed in front of everyone!" She turned, facing the crowd again. "Besides, you knew it had to be done. She almost killed Dawnkit a few days ago, just for exploring Deerchase's camp! She's still in the medicine den, not that those healers will be able to do much with the amount of cats they have to take care of."

    Darkpaw didn't reply. She never thought change was worth fighting, so why did she even bother to explain.

    "Lets go see what's happening." Shadowpaw stalked away from her sister, plastering a horrified expression on her face.

    A large, muscular she-cat jumped onto a nearby tree, the only one growing in the clearing she called home. Her brown and ginger fur stood out against the white and black of the birch tree. She settled on the only large branch near the bottom of it, claws digging into the bark as she sat.

    "Let all cats old enough to climb trees gather below the Talltree for a Clan meeting!" Brightstar, the leader of CloverClan, called. Most cats were already there, with those of lower ranking sticking to the farthest corners. Shadowpaw led Darkpaw through the cats, scanning the group for a certain black she-cat.