Deep Blue Eyes-- a warriors fanfic (completed story!)

Chapter 9

Two moons have passed since the capture of Snowkit. Snowkit often would try to escape, but was held back by ShadowClan warriors.

“Why?” He always asked. And the answer was always the same.

“RiverClan captured Hazelkit. Once Hazelkit is returned, you will be returned.”

Nightkit, for that matter, stayed as far away from Snowkit as possible. There were no other kits in the clan, and she wanted to make sure Snowkit had the most tortured stay as possible. Sure enough, it worked. Whenever Snowkit tried to talk to her, Nightkit would hiss and scratch him. The warriors didn’t say a word, instead praised Nightkit. If Nightkit ever felt sympathetic, she remembered Blossomkit’s dying eyes, and treated Snowkit with more hostility than usual.

Today Snowkit was batting a ball of moss back and forth. At first he had refused to eat ShadowClan prey, but hunger took over him and he ate his frogs. He often complained that fish were much better, but no cat would pay attention.

Snowkit sighed unhappily, batting the ball of moss back and forth between his paws. With a mischievous glint in his amber eyes, he dared to throw one at the elders. The elders yowled and clawed him until he lay bleeding on the floor. Frogtail, the medicine cat, was given strict orders not to help.

One uncomfortable day, Shadestar leapt up to the top of the rock that the leaders used to call meetings. “Let all cats old enough to catch their own prey gather here for a clan meeting!”

Nightkit raised her head. She smoothed her black fur, guessing what was going to happen, and crouched down beside the rock, deep blue eyes staring upward.

“Today is an important day for ShadowClan. We will have two new apprentices.” Shadestar announced.

Horrified gasps echoed throughout the camp. Two? The only other kit here is Snowkit!

“I know you’re all shocked,” Shadestar continued, “but it would torture RiverClan more to see one of their own as an apprentice. They’ll give Hazelkit back in no time.”

Nightkit nodded. That’s fair.

“Nightkit! Step forward.”

Blue eyes gleaming, Nightkit stood up on the top of the rock proudly.

“Nightkit, from this moment until you receive your warrior name, you will be known as Nightpaw.”

“Nightpaw! Nightpaw!” The clan cheered. Nightpaw beamed with pride.

“Your mentor will be our own deputy, Darkfur.”

Nightpaw purred with happiness, touching noses with her new mentor.

“Snowkit, from this moment until you receive your warrior name, you will be known as Snowpaw.”

No cat cheered.

“You will not have a mentor,” Shadestar announced, “because I wouldn’t curse my own cats for you.”

The ShadowClan cats nodded.

Snowpaw stood in horror atop the rock. He seemed horrified to be standing up there without a mentor or encouraging cheers. I’ll show him what’s horrifying, Nightpaw thought.

Nightpaw walked up bravely to Snowpaw. She smiled and lashed out a paw. Snowpaw fell off the rock, falling into the midst of the ShadowClan cats below. Everyone stared in shock.

“Nightpaw,” Shadestar announced, “you are an apprentice to be proud of.” Smiling, Nightpaw watched as the cats chanted her name.

Snowpaw lay on the floor, injured and sore. He bristled and looked up and the black she-cat above. She would pay for this outrage.