Shadowstripe's Treachery

Chapter 2

((Cat above is Stoneswirl))

Shadowkit woke up, surrounded by forest. Trees grew in every direction, and everything was very dark. He looked around in fear, where am I?! This isn't the nursery... He thought, wrinkling his nose at the awful stench that was all around him. He started to run.

"Get me out of here!" He cried for help, but there was no one around to hear him, and nowhere to go. His heartbeat started to quicken as he frantically searched for an escape from this awful smelling forest. But there was none.

Suddenly he stopped dead when he saw a pair of glowing eyes in the undergrowth. He stepped back in horror, his fur bristling and his ears flattened to his head.

"Don't go down the wrong path, Shadowkit... always consider the consequences of your actions." A voice warned him.

"Yeah, whatever! I'll do whatever you say! Now get me out of here!" He begged, now very scared and desperate to leave this awful place.

"Always consider the consequences..." the voice echoed before everything went black.

***

"Shadowkit! You're going to wake the whole camp if you keep clawing and kicking around like that!" Spat his sister.

"Huh?" Shadowkit opened his eyes again, and saw that he was back in the nursery, safe and sound. He let out a sigh of relief. It was just a bad dream... he smiled.

"You were thrashing around in your sleep like a badger was chasing you!" She whispered harshly, "Now if you'll excuse me, I'm going back to sleep. It's only dawn."

Shadowkit didn't say anything while he watched his sister curl up and close her eyes. He yawned, I wish I could sleep that easily... he looked at her even breaths as she slept soundly like she hadn't a care in the world. He laid down, but couldn't seem to close his eyes without thinking about his scary dream. He shook his head, come on.... think of something else!

He squinted his eyes in thought, when suddenly he was reminded of the chilling prophecy that he heard yesterday. He sat up again, more startled than before. I can't be the raging fire if I just sit here, I have to do something! He thought in determination with a smirk at his snoring sister. This was his chance to get ahead of her, he just had to figure out what to do.

He sneaked out of the nursery, careful not to wake his mother or Doespring, and padded outside. He took in a deep breath of fresh air, I am going to be the greatest cat in IceClan! He promised himself. He looked around for something to do, and soon he saw that cats were gathering to go on the dawn patrol.

Stoneswirl, the clan deputy, was calling cats out of their dens and they reluctantly followed him. He could hear their grumbles and complaints as they left their warm nests, what a bunch of slackers! He thought, I would never complain about going on any patrol. Maybe I can help them...

"Let's go!" Meowed the deputy, his voice low and scratchy from just getting over a bad case of greencough. It wasn't uncommon for greencough epidemics to break out in the cold, harsh winters in IceClan territory. Sometimes they even started in leaf fall, and normally at least one cat wouldn't survive. But that's what makes IceClan the toughest clan, Shadowkit thought proudly, they can get through any sickness and any weather!

"Hey, wait!" He squeaked, running up to the group, everyone turned their heads, "Wait!"

"What is it, Shadowkit?" Purred Meadowleap.

"I want to come with you! I promise I won't be a distraction, and I can hunt in all the little places that you can't reach." He reasoned.

Stoneswirl laughed, a glint of humor in his eyes, "You make a great point, Shadowkit, but I'm afraid it's against the warrior code."