The Rise of a Tyrant

Chapter 6 // Shadepaw

Shadepaw inhaled the bitter air of camp as he awoke in the apprentice den. He raised his eyelids to view the new addition to their den - the python skeleton, dimly lit with the light of dawn, lining the branches of the whole den. A trophy, perhaps. Although Shadepaw certainly wasn't part of it. 

As he flicked his ears around the den, Shadepaw heard the rise and fall of every other apprentices' calm breathing - except for Marshpaw, who slept in the medicine den. Shadepaw then reached his senses towards camp, and like the forest in leafbare, no movement could be heard. 

Shadepaw rised out of his nest, and cautiously tip-toed past the other apprentices. He didn't want to be in camp today, because he knew they'd all be getting their warrior names first thing that morning. 

Shadepaw felt a sinking feeling in his chest as he stepped away from the den, but he continued to begrudgingly leap from one stone to the other, hoping the trickling of the water below would silence his pawsteps as he crossed the water separating them. 

Now, reaching the main clearing of camp, Shadepaw stiffened, immediately looking at Silentcloud's den for signs of movement. If she saw him now, she'd be making sure he stayed for the ceremony. 

That's not happening, mother. Shadepaw thought bitterly.

He quietly made his way past the elder's den - only hearing the obnoxious, broken snores of Tangletail - and into the dirtplace. Finishing his dirt, Shadepaw wiped his paws against the bush and made his way out of camp. Shadepaw knew where he would go - he'd make his way through the heathlands and onto the beach. Then, he'd hide in the Skycave all day. No cat would dare go there, they care too much about respecting Cloudclan. 

Shadepaw snorted. If I want to be in this clan, maybe I would respect them. But they're just a bunch of dead cats who'd also just tell me what to do. He thought. I'm good, thanks.

When Shadepaw reached the heathlands, he began to see the sky lighten up. The Skypool far ahead seemed a lot more orange than usual, but Shadepaw shrugged. At least that's not my problem. Who even likes salty water? Gross!

Shadepaw suddenly heard a rustle ahead of him. Crouching by instinct, his nose caught scent of a hare. 

"It's not like you could catch one of those all by yourself," Barkstripe had said to the small apprentice, even though it was definitely possible for a cat to do that. 

Shadepaw isnt weak, not like Silentcloud and Barkstripe think, and he'll prove it! 

He staked the hare, remaining silent as a snake. When spotting it's brown ears suddenly perk up, he leapt, barely giving the hare time to think. Shadepaw landed, claws outstretched, onto it's back. He wrestled with the panicking creature for a second, before hissing as he bit down on it's neck.

After the hare stopped struggling and went limp, Shadepaw stepped back, looking at the massive fresh-kill he had made. The grey tom felt his shoulders lift as his chest filled to the brim with pride. 

He bent back and yowled at the sky in triumph. "Take that, Silentcloud!"

There was a mrrp of amusement behind Shadepaw. "You sound so desperate!"

Shadepaw jumped and bristled at the voice behind him. He stiffened as he realised the dark grey tom in front of him was Slugpaw.

"So, what are you doing here?" Slugpaw asked.

Shadepaw shook the embarrassment away. "I was about to say the same to you." He became puzzled. "Aren't you supposed to be in camp? You're going to miss your ceremony!"