Book 1 - Warriors: The Shadow Outcast

Chapter Twenty-Seven

"Psst," whispered a distant voice, all while Rainfur felt a nudge on his shoulder. "Psst!"

"What?" asked Rainfur, opening his eyes. After adjusting his sight to the light, he sat up, quite confused. At first, he had no idea where he was, but then he remembered the day before. He was deputy, and he had a duty to perform.

"Sorry I had to wake you so early," Poppyheart murmured, sitting next to him. "I was noticing the senior Warriors wake, and I know they want to see if you'll get up just as early." Rainfur nodded in response, knowing full well that the elder Warriors would test him.

"Yeah, I know," Rainfur sighed. "I just hope I don't screw up."

With that final word, Rainfur stood and walked out of the medicine den. He'd decided to sleep there after receiving some nasty glares from the Warriors who stated that he did not belong in their den. Feeling quite capable of moving, Rainfur listened to them. They had every right to hate him, so for now, he would listen to them.

As Rainfur made his appearance, the four elder Warriors glared at him, seeming to find something wrong. It was before dawn, and they expected him to be up? After reminding himself once again that he was a deputy now, he gave a respectful bow to the Warriors before reaching the fresh-kill pile.

He wolfed down a mouse quickly, knowing that he would be yelled at if he took more than his share. Rainfur told his hungry stomach that he would hunt later, but for now, he had patrols to set up. This was going to be one of the hardest parts, having no idea who was who.

As expected, the other Warriors woke up early as well. They were all eagerly awaiting Rainfur's orders as they crowded him, trying to test him again. They wanted to know how he did under pressure, which was quite alright to Rainfur.

At first he shied away, but then he reminded himself that he needed to be strong for Robinwing and his kits. Rainfur stood tall, seeming to challenge any cat who tested him. They all took two steps back before awaiting their orders, making Rainfur smile.

"This is going to be hard since I don't your names," Rainfur wondered aloud. "Don't worry, though. I'll manage without the introductions." A small apprentice suddenly jumped up to him, looking curious. He was around eight moons old, and quite tiny for his age.

"How are you going to do that?" the apprentice asked, his amber eyes looking at Rainfur with curiosity. "You need to know the names and the cats to know who to call out for the patrols." Rainfur smiled.

"What is your name, young one?" asked Rainfur.

"We have no time for introductions!" hissed Snakeheart, his eyes flaring with anger. "You said that yourself." Rainfur looked to the elder Warrior, still smiling.

"This apprentice asked me a question, and I shall answer it," said Rainfur simply. "He is young, and needs to understand things like organizing patrols, for a cat like him might actually need to know these things in the future. The introduction is polite, something I hope all of you have learned by now."

A few cats murmured, but none of them said a word. They were trying to figure Rainfur out, and to do that they needed to stay silent. Rainfur smiled as he realised how much intelligence he'd gained from giving Jactur a name, something he wouldn't ever regret.

"My name is Sunpaw," the dark ginger tom replied. "Can you answer my question now?" Rainfur raised his eyebrows at the apprentice, quite surprised that he was talking like that.

"Ah, patients, young Sunpaw," Rainfur murmured, cursing at himself for sounding like an elder. "That is one thing a Warrior must master before gaining his full name. Now, to answer your question, I will need your full attention." Sunpaw tilted his head with surprise as Rainfur walked over to a massive looking tom, one that looked like he could fight several cats at once.