The Shards of Dawn

Chater 1: Gathering Darkness

  Shane smiled up at the friendly face of someone he had known for so long, his mother Sophie. She was smiling back him and she carefully moved her hands down to pick him up.

  Shane only then realized how small he was. And then he remembered then how Sophie was gone, but that didn't ruin his happy moment with his mother. He looked around and saw they were back in Windclan territory, and the sun was shining overhead and making Sophie's eyes light up and the grass sparkled.

  Shane asked,"Will we be able to do this again, mom?" He also heard his voice was squeaky like a child.

  "No, Shane. No day will be perfect like this again I'm afraid." She said softly and Shane frowned."Never?"

  Sophie sighed."Not for you my dear. I'm afraid your clock is slowing down. You won't see these hills again." She looked over to the vast stretch of land that Windclan called home and Shane almost felt tears coming."Never?"

  Sophie blinked at him and said,"No, but you will see me again one day I promise. You, me, Hannah, and Julio can be a family again."

  Shane asked,"How long do I have to wait?"

  Sophie shook her head."Not much longer my son." She stroked his head and Shane purred like a cat, like he always did when stroked across the head.

  Suddenly Sophie stiffened and her gaze moved onward and Shane asked,"What's the matter?" He titled his head as Sophie got to her feet and started glancing around nervously."I feel a darkness."

  Shane frowned."Danger? Where is it mama? Where?" He looked around but saw nothing to disturb the quiet peace of the moor.

  "I-I don't see anything mama." Shane stated and after a few moments of silence Sophie glanced back down at him."The dark is not around us Shane." Shane stared into those eyes he had looked at all his life as she said,"The darkness is in you."

{ haha yeah that's from A Pack Divided if anyone had read it. If they haven't I won't spoil it for them by telling you who said that to whoever }

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  Shane jumped awake, and immediately felt the pain in his legs. He looked around and didn't seem the safety of the shack near the river, but now was far from it, upstream.

  He recalled his dream with a sigh. Had the gods sent him such a dream? Where they the ones who made him walk at night, doing things he couldn't recall?

  Each night since the 4 had arrived, Shane had fallen asleep and woken up in an unfamiliar place, far from the shack, where he and his group had taken refuge with Eela and Conner, the two children who lived there now.

  Eela and Conner were all that was left of a tribe called The Tribe of Falling Leaves. Apparently a shortage of prey and space for the clan had made them separate, and Eela said that they hadn't heard anything from the others who had gone off on their own. Shane felt pity for them. At least he knew his clan was alive...But they wouldn't be for long if he didn't get that cure.

Shane sighed and started making his way back to the shack, catching it's white glow that was created by the thousands of shark teeth line around it. It was a beautiful sight in the night, maybe more creepy in the day.

Shane moaned a bit as he felt the pain in his legs from walking all night to who knows where doing who knows what. But he knew whatever the reason was for, it wasn't good.

He slowly approached the shack, and luckily Eela and everyone else was asleep, so he wouldn't have to explain himself. He didn't want to lie to anyone like he had to Conner the night before. Shane had stated that he wasn't able to sleep and just needed to go on a walk, but that wasn't true, and Shane knew Conner knew that.

Shane peaked inside and saw Eela and Conner asleep together a few inches away from the door, and he could hear them snoring softly. He didn't understand why they liked to sleep on the floor, considering the fact they had 8 beds. But he didn't want to wake them up to ask.

Shane steadily crept back to his bed, the closest to Blister, who was asleep peacefully, a smile on her face, and that smile warmed Shane's heart in some way, almost making him forget the darkness growing inside himself.

"Get to bed Windclan boy." Shane heard Mystic say and he jumped before looking back at her. He hadn't even noticed her leaning up over her bed, her icy blue eyes digging deep into his blue ones and he quickly looked away, shivering.

"You need to stop being creepy Mystic! I know it was okay in Thunerclan to be stealthy or whatever but it's not to me!" Shane complained and Mystic rolled her eyes."Well, it was funny to see you mooning over Blister...Also how you sneak out at night."

Shane stiffened."I-I didn't sneak out...I went for a walk...And I was not mooning over her. I don't like any girl."

Mystic just rolled her eyes again."Mmm hmm. Okay smart guy. I'm not stupid, you know. Something is wrong with you. And you know it. And I know you like her, right?"

Shane blushed, then started to feel furious.

How dare she insult me like this? She's no better herself! Mooning over Max...And I'm not in love with any girl! He thought with fury and snarled,"I'm not mooning over anyone...no one deserves my love and I don't deserved to be loved."

Mystic frowned."Woah woah, take it easy Shane. I'm just messing with you. Looks like you wanna test my ears off..."

Shane growled a bit but turned away sharply and sat on his bed, his eyes narrowed in anger.

After a few moments Shane relaxed and his fury faded, but he felt sad.

He knew he shouldn't have snapped like that at Mystic, and he sighed in shame.

Shane didn't get that mad at anyone...What was up with him?