Fierce / A Warriors Tale (Book #1 = Shadow Book Series)

Chapter Three (It Can't Be)

Shadowpaw scattered around, hoping to find Lionclaw. "It's no use! We need to find Spottedstar!" Windpaw snapped.

Even though Windpaw was acting a bit snappy he knew she was just worried. He nodded and followed her through the shimmering green forest.

"Spottedstar, Lionclaw's missing!" Windpaw yelped. Spottedstar looked concerned and jumped down from the high rock.

"Warriors, go find Lionclaw. Some of you stay behind and patrol the borders! Go now!" She worriedly meowed.

Shadowpaw looked at Spottedstar long and hard. He could tell that she knew why Lionclaw disappeared.

"Where is he?" Shadowpaw asked calmly. Spottedstar spun hear head around frantically. "Er-" she paused and looked at him. She sighed and finally gave in.

"Last moon a warrior from FadeClan threatened Lionclaw. They wanted something that we wouldn't give to them" She paused again and then continued. "Lionclaw and I didn't think much of it, but a few days later we realized how fierce a FadeClan warrior could be when they didn't get something they wanted."

Shadowpaw cut her off. "What did they want?" He asked curiously. "We sent our warriors on a close patrol to the FadeClan borders each day." She meowed changing the subject. "What did they want?" Shadowpaw asked, more serious now.

"They wanted something that they didn't want in the beginning." She replied. "Which was?" He asked. "They wanted a clan cat!" She snapped, now annoyed.

Shadowpaw stopped and blinked slowly, realizing that a FadeClan warrior was upon their clan. "Who?" he asked slowly.

Windpaw shifted her paws in the dirt, carefully listening. Spottedstar looked down at Shadowpaw. He quickly sensed a small bit of nervousness from the strong leader. "They wanted you, Shadowpaw." She meowed steadily.

A shock of fear raced through him, leaving him felling cold. He shook a bit, trying to let her words soak in. "I-i can't be a FadeClan cat" he mewed softly but unsure. "You are" Spottedstar stuttered.

Windpaw eyes lit up in shock as well. She didn't seem as surprised as Shadowpaw, though. Shadowpaw felt angery and confused, he couldn't believe it.

Spottedstar sighed and began trying to talk to him. Quickly without hesitation, Shadowpaw darted away into the forest that was now less bright then earlier. His eyes glowed as he ran through the crunchy leaves and stern bushes.

His heart raced as fast as he ran. He came to a stop near the FadeClan border. He took a deep breath, then raced into their territory.

"Halt, ya' foolish cat!" Yelled a large, chubby looking cat. He eyes were a dark yellow, faded from being so old. The tip of his tail was missing, and his paws were as large as a plump rat.

Shadowpaw gave him a strange look and backed up slowly. "Where do you think ya' going, mouse brain?" He chuckled as the ground under him seemed to rumble. Shadowpaw gulped and tried to pick up scents from other cats.

"What makes ya' think ya' can just trot into our territory ya' foolish cat!" He meowed.
"I'm Shadow-" a plump but beautiful she-cat cut him off. She was black with bits of white scattered on her.

"Leave the poor thing alone, Yelloweye" She purred. She turned to Shadowpaw. "My name is Darkpaw." She mewed. "I'm Shadowpaw" he replied. She purred loudly and nodded.

Shadowpaw licked his fur, feeling a little uncomfortable. "Don't worry, I won't hurt you!" She mewed softly as she butted his shoulder.

He nodded slowly and started to back up again. "Ohhh no! Ya' coming with me!" Yelloweye hissed.

He dragged him to the center of FadeClan's opening. "Scarface, Scarface!" Yelloweye called to his leader. Scarface plunged himself out of a large bush of thorns and needles. "What!" He hissed.

"I gotcha' a Shadowpaw!" He chuckled. Scarface smirked but then changed his face to no emotion. "How could a fat cat like you get him?" He snapped. "He ran into our territory sir!" He meowed in reply.

"Our territory, eh?" He laughed and turned to Shadowpaw. "What makes you think you can just come to our territory fleabag?" His harsh words tingled throughout Shadowpaw's ears.

Before Shadowpaw could speak, Scarface interrupted. "We will find out what to do with him tonight!" He shouted as he jumped on the high rock.

Shadowpaw started to panic slightly. What ever could they do to their own clan mate?