The Secrets in the Shadows

Chapter 3

Lightningclaw's P.O.V

I walked into the camp with the hunting patrol. I set down the prey I had caught and went beside Raintail, Redclaw, Brackenstorm, and Spottedwish. After sharing tongues I watched as Amberpaw and Ashpaw get groomed by their mother Silverleap. She was a great mother even though she left us her kits before the second great battle. I wish Bramblestar cared more for these three but he hardly even talks to anyone any more for that matter. Some cats think he is going insane but others say he is under stress. Whichever he need to be careful of who he could trust while under the pressure of leader and of the cats in the other clans and especially the Shadeclan cats.

Tonight was the night, Amberpaw was becoming a warrior. I told Spottedwish how bad I felt for not acting like a real friend or even a clan mate. Bramblestar yowled, "May all cats old enough to catch their own prey gather for a clan meeting!" I sat beside Spottedwish and I noticed she was watching Bramblestar carefully.

"I, Bramblestar leader of Thunderclan, call upon my warrior ancestors to look down on these two apprentices who have trained hard to understand the ways of your noble code, and I commend them to you as a warrior in their turn. Ashpaw and Amberpaw , do you promise to uphold the warrior code and to protect and defend this Clan, even at the cost of your lives?"

"I do." Ashpaw said confidently.
"I do." Amberpaw echoed.

"Then by the powers of StarClan, I give you your warrior names. Ashpaw, from this moment you will be known as Ashflight . StarClan honors your bravery and speed, and Amberpaw, from this moment on you will be known as Amberfeather. Starclan honors your strength and loyalty and we welcome you as full warriors of Thunderclan."

"Ashflight! Amberfeather! Ashflight! Amberfeather!" The clan chanted. As the chanting died done Bramblestar walked into his den without saying anything else. Squirrelflight sighed and said, "As of a tradition Amberfeather and Ashflight must sit a silent vigil from moon-high until dawn. While we get some sleep. Meeting dismissed." She finished. They both jumped down from the ledge and started for the entrance. I watched as the clearing became empty when I heard a low growl from Bramblestar's den. I sighed and watch as Squirrelflight leap down from the high ledge with her ears back. I sighed and wondered what Bramblestar was so angry about all of a sudden. I went to my nest wondering if the clans would survive through this green-leaf and transition into leaf-fall.

When I woke up Squirrelflight was sending out patrols. Amberfeather and Ashflight were already in their new nests and fast asleep. I got to the fresh kill pile but there wasn't anything there. "Lightningclaw take a patrol out to go hunting." I nodded and got Spottedwish, Bluecloud, Runningwing, and Snowpelt and we went to go hunting close to the Windclan border. Sometimes if I looked close enough I would see my parents smiling at me and saying I made the right choice, but for what? We had a race just like old times to see who could catch the first five pieces of prey and met at the Sky tree. I lost to Spottedwish but only by a paw length. When we had our share we took it back to camp and gave it to the queens and elders.

Since we had free time today we decided to get Runningpool and have some fun beside the sky tree. The six of us went slowly to the tree and were talking about if we had any crushes on toms or if we were ever going to have a mate. I zoned out and started thinking about what Bramblestar said to me about making me deputy. I wondered now that Spottedwish decided to stay if he would pick her instead of me but I quickly pushed the thought aside. When we got to the tree Spottedwish was the first to get in the water. As soon as everyone had gotten in I was the last one on dry land. I hated the water. "Come on Lightningclaw it'll be alright just jump right in!" Spottedwish urged. I shook my head and said, "No thanks I'm good. I'm not a swimmer." She shook her head. I smiled and watched as the sun started to set and my friends splash each other until sun-set. They all got out and we decided to go up the Sky tree and watch the stars appear in the sky. Runningpool had left earlier to go to the Moonpool since it was half moon tonight. Tonight was a lot of fun. I'm glad Spottedwish decided to stay in Thunderclan. As the stars appeared I looked for who I thought was my parents stars. The stars were so beautiful on the calm lake. We saw the night patrol coming out of camp and decided it was time to go back to camp.