Book 1 - Warriors: The Shadow Outcast

Chapter Two

Matthew walked with the patrol, his eyes scanning the environment around him. Everything was so large, so big. In this point of view, he felt restricted yet free. Matthew's objection to becoming a cat was now out of his mind. Now all he could think about was how lucky he was to be able to see this while still being able to compare it with his world, the one he grew up in. Matthew sighed, remembering once again that this was a bad idea. He wasn't used to being a cat, and he shouldn't have even lived.

With a little nudge from Robinpaw, Matthew bounced back and watched where he was going. Nothing seemed different. Unlike WindClan territory where there was actually an entrance, there seemed to be nothing here at all. Where was their camp?

Matthew found out, as he followed the patrol, that it was underground. Bramble thickets surrounded the entrance everywhere except for one part, which they walked into. After walking down a slope that was a bit steep, they walked into a camp that seemed to also be filled with cats. Matthew's nose picked up many unfamiliar scents.

Like last time when he entered WindClan camp, they all seemed to notice him. Matthew ignored the glares and hisses and continued on, hoping that none of them would catch the star-shaped scar on his shoulder. He hated being thought of as royalty, or at least being different. He wasn't different, in a matter of speaking. He was just a cat, besides the fact that he used to be human. He just had an irregular scar.

"Who is this?"

Matthew looked up to find a large black tom with one brown ear. The cat towered over Matthew, making him take a step back. Cursing at the fact that he was smaller than anyone there, he made himself look taller. The worst thing he could do right now, it seemed, was look afraid. At least he was good at something.

"He's a loner we found on our patrol," Yelloweye explained. "WindClan found him and then threw him out beyond our border." Sharpfang scoffed at this.

"They probably thought that we would take him, considering all the other loners and rogues we've taken in." said Sharpfang. "I hope we just leave this one to ShadowClan. We don't need any other soft mouths to feed around here. We need strong, Clan-born warriors." Yelloweye gave a low growl, but the black tom just narrowed his eyes.

"I understand, Sharpfang," the black tom said reasonably, "but it is up to Ravenstar." Matthew sighed with relief, but Sharpfang wasn't as happy. He just walked away, and that was a good thing, Matthew hoped.

"Come, kit," said the black tom then. "Ravenstar is waiting. We shall decide whether you are worthy or not to become an apprentice of ThunderClan." Matthew nodded and then followed the black tom, knowing now that he must be the deputy. So, Matthew figured his name was Jayflight, since Yelloweye and Sharpfang talked about him that way. All he could do was guess at the moment, so he did.

After making the short but hard trip up the ledge, Jayflight led him into a large den that Matthew knew was the Leaders' den. Why wouldn't it be? It was the highest den, not to mention the largest, and the safest. Matthew shivered as he walked into it, finding it actually really cold.

"Jayflight? Who is this?" came a deep voice from inside.

Matthew looked up to see a large dark grey tom with lightning blue eyes exactly like his own. The tom seemed young, yet he was leader and he looked curious. His fur was longer than the average cat, but it was groomed so that it looked glossy in the light given.

Matthew blinked, hoping his eyes would adjust to the dim light, but he wasn't inside the den anymore. He was instead—well he didn't know where he was. It was darkness, pure black darkness. A few seconds later and several cats—five, exactly—stood in front of him, all the same cat. It was Ravenstar, yet there was several of them. What on earth was happening?