Shadowstripe's Treachery

Chapter 16

((Cat above is Toadpaw))

"From this day on, until you receive your warrior name, you will be known as Toadpaw." Birchstar announced to the trembling new apprentice. Three moons had passed and it was past time for Whispermoon's kits to become apprentices. The other three, Rosepaw, Greypaw, and Darkpaw, stood aside with their new mentors watching their youngest brother with happiness.

Toadpaw looked like he was about to burst with excitement, and his light green eyes were bright with joy. Birchstar took a short breath before speaking again. The terrible blow to his head had been affecting him more than ever, and his old age was starting to show more then it used to. "Your mentor will be..." he took another breath, "...your mentor will be Shadowstripe. I hope that he passes all he knows onto you."

Shadowstripe gasped when he heard his name. He was going to be a mentor! Snowfall, who had also been chosen to mentor an apprentice, gave him a congratulatory nod. Shadowstripe shakily moved up to the highrock and touched noses with the little brown tabby.

Oakleaf glared at him in jealousy since he had not been given an apprentice to mentor. Shadowstripe smirked at him in return, and then began to chant the apprentices' names with the rest of the clan. "Rosepaw! Greypaw! Darkpaw! Toadpaw!" They cheered heartily.

Once the cheering died down and the cats dispersed, Toadpaw bounced over to Shadowstripe, his eyes gleaming. "So what are we going to do?" He asked with hope in his eyes.

A half smile formed on Shadowstripe's face, "Well what do you want to do? It's your choice."

Toadpaw tilted his head, "Really? Are you sure? Aren't mentors supposed to decide?"

"Does it say that in the warrior code?" He asked.

"Uh... no."

"Then what's the problem?" Shadowstripe meowed.

"Um, nothing!" Toadpaw mewed, back to his happy self. He then looked around until he spotted his brothers and sisters lining up at the camp entrance. "Can we go with them?"

Shadowstripe shrugged, "I don't see why not."

"Yay! You're the best mentor ever!" He squeaked, running over to join his siblings.

Shadowstripe chuckled, following behind his apprentice. He sat away from the other mentors, since his sister was one of them. Larkflight was mentoring Rosepaw, Snowfall was mentoring Darkpaw, and Ravenfeather was mentoring Greypaw.

The other apprentices, though they were clearly excited, seemed dull and mundane compared to how thrilled Toadpaw was. He was already far ahead of the group, and Shadowstripe had to sprint to catch up with him. The little apprentice was more energetic then a rabbit that was being chased by a dog.

"Woah! Slow your pace there, Toadpaw." Shadowstripe called. The apprentice stopped and waited for Shadowstripe to get there. "Don't you want to enjoy the territory?"

"Oh, sorry." Toadpaw mewed, dipping his head. "I just want to see as much of the territory as possible."

Shadowstripe laughed, "At this pace, you'd be able to see the whole lake twice!"

"For StarClan's sake, Toadpaw! Wait for us!" Called his sister, Rosepaw. She was a beautiful, fluffy grey she cat with gleaming yellow eyes that sparkled like the sunlight.

Greypaw and Darkpaw appeared shortly after Rosepaw, though they were already out of breath. "Slow...down... guys...." Greypaw, a dark grey, slightly overweight tabby tom, gasped for breath.

Darkpaw looked the least like her siblings; she was a slender black she cat with dark amber eyes. She frowned, "Toadpaw, do you ever stop?" She hissed, making Toadpaw flatten his ears guiltily.