WARRIORS: Snowdrift's Promise

Chapter 10

Shadowstep waited for the medicine cat to follow, his black pelt ruffled from the horror as he had recently watched his leader die from age. His eyes scanned the Windclan border as they crossed and met up with a patrol of Darkhook, Pulsefire, Howlpaw, and Icefang. Dipping his head in greeting he was then hissed at by a senior warrior," What is a Shadowclan cat doing here? The deputy no less.." Icefang growled, about ready to step forward until Darkhook motioned the senior warrior to stop," Stop! His trespassing is allowed... By the sign of such grief, I assume Darkstar joined Starclan?" He asked softly. The Shadowclan deputy nodded, his eyes closed briefly, as if to keep as much sorrow deep down in his heart. The Windclan deputy placed a gentle tail tip on Shadowstep's shoulder,"Pass, if you must, Oatstar has given permission to allow me the approval of outsiders hunting here, if you need, take a couple mice on your way home..." He brushed against Shadowstep before leaving with his patrol. Newmoon nudged Shadowstep towards Highstones,"Come along, we must hurry." She mewed, leading the way to High Stones. Shadowstep's paw steps grew heavier as if the force of Starclan was sitting on his shoulders around the time they reached the Thunderpath. The retched smell of it caused the grief to back away and allow pure disgust to fill his face,"Gah! That still reeks! Even though I haven't been here since my apprentice days, I still hate the smell..." He grumbled, ready to cross the Thunderpath with Newmoon. Bracing himself, he nodded to Newmoon,"Go!" He yowled, racing across, the black medicine cat right at his heels. He suddenly felt the Thunderpath tremble beneath his paws as he reached the middle, he noticed a monster flying in at a very high speed, horror flashing in his eyes as he pushed Newmoon off the Thunderpath, running to jump off as well. Both cats lay panting on the other side, their dark pelts heaving to catch their breaths. Newmoon was the first to catch her breath," Shadowstep, come on, we must keep moving. The moon will rise soon." She urged the black tom. Her nose pressing against his fur. Shadowstep grunted and slowly rose to his paws, his breath growing steadier by the second,"Alright, let's keep going..." He mewed, padding onward to the Highstones.

After the sun began to set, the two clan cats reached the cave that led to the Moonstone. Newmoon took a deep breath,"Here we are...." She paused briefly, taking in the presence that led to the cats of Starclan,"The mother mouth... We must go into the tunnel and from there, we will see the Moonstone." She mewed, padding inside the tunnel with Shadowstep close behind her. His warm breath covered her tail tip, making her shiver at the first touch of his breath. She had always enjoyed being in Shadowstep's company, for she held a terrible secret. Shadowstep was her son. She padded into the cave where the Moonstone lay and nodded towards the glowing stone,"Touch your nose to the stone and let the cats of Starclan gather and allow you to dream and recieve your lives." Her purr was soothing, resting down beside the deputy. Following her instructions, Shadowstep pressed his nose to the cold stone and was swept to the starry lands of Starclan. A cat stood before him, the queen that nursed him, Beehive. Shadowstep rushed over to brush himself against the she-cat who died only a moon after he was apprenticed by the claws of a badger,"Beehive! Its so good to see you again!" His voice squeaked like a little kit's voice would. Beehive purred,"Yes it has my dear. But... There is something I must tell you before we begin. I wasn't your real mother... in fact my sister here... she has the full story, right Newmoon?" She glanced to the black she-cat. Newmoon nodded, age was already making her slower and less active,"Shadowstep... You... are my son... I was Darkstar's mate after giving up being a warrior to persue the life of a medicine cat. Darkstar disliked it but accepted it and we were mates in secret... He was only the deputy then, known as Darkfire before he gave up on being my mate after I chose to be an official Medicine Cat. By that time, I was expecting you... Darkstar was thrilled but knew that my sister would have to be the mother. After I gave birth to you, Beehive, Darkstar's new mate, took you in, fed you, and raised you..." Newmoon admitted, her eyes dark with grief. Shadowstep's eyes were wide,"Why didn't you say anything!! Now I get to know my real mother is a medicine who is about to die from age! And I won't get to know her in a different way..." He wailed in grief.

(Im stopping there but Shadowstep becomes Shadowstar and returned to camp!!!!)