A New Beginning

Chapter 2

Breezepaw!

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The wind blew gently through the trees. The branches swayed and the leaves shook. The warm sun warmed Breezepaw's pelt.

He sat on a sturdy branch at the top of a very tall oak tree. The world stretched out before him. The thing he loved the most was the wind blowing through his fur.

From his place on the branch he could see the pine forest where Cloudclan lived. Then beyond the pines was the moor. The wide stretch of green was a beauty to Breezepaw. For some reason he felt a longing towards the wide open moor.

"Breezepaw! Get down here now!" a cat yowled from below him. He sighed and took one last look at the moor before carefully climbing down the tree.

At the base of the oak stood his mentor, Reedsong. "I have been looking everywhere for you," the black tom growled. "Sorry Reedsong. I was stalking a squirrel when it ran up the tree so I followed it," Breezepaw lyed. Reedsong snorted, "Yeah right. Come on, Branchstar is saying who will be going to the gathering tonight."

Breezepaw followed closely behind Reedsong as they made their way back to camp. Once in camp cats were already gathered at the base of the Sunrock.

Breezepaw left Reedsong and went to go sit with his littermates. Beepaw was watching Fernpaw with amusement as she mooned over Haredash.

"What have I missed?" he purred while sitting beside his brother. Beepaw shrugged, "Just the same old thing she always does. Except in know something she doesn't."

Breezepaw leaned towards his brother, "Spill it." "I saw Haredash and Moonspot going to hunt yesterday. Also I've heard Haredash and Moonspot are always hanging out with each other," Beepaw meowed.

Breezepaw's eyes widened, "Fernpaw is going to get her heart broken by Haredash! He likes Moonspot and Fernpaw doesn't even realize it." Beepaw dipped his head, "Yeah but I tried to tell her that and she ignored me."

Breezepaw shook his head helplessly. Branchstar caught his attention as he leaped onto the Sunrock. "Myself, Stormcloud, Owlwhisper, Mistyberry, Breezepaw, Fernpaw, Haredash, and Moonspot will be going to the gathering tonight," Branchstar yowled.

Breezepaw looked to Beepaw excitedly but his brother was already having a conversation with Briarwing. He sighed and walked over to the apprentices den.

Breezepaw layed down and looked around the camp. It was so alive but also so peaceful. He wondered if this could be his one day.

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Breezepaw trotted beside Moonspot as they made their way to the gathering island. "So how is your training going?" she asked. "Its going good so far," he replied evenly.

She nodded with approval and turned her attention back to something in front of her. Breezepaw followed her gaze and saw that she was staring intensely at Haredash.

The tan and white tom was trotting ahead of them with Fernpaw beside him chattering on about something. Breezepaw gasped as he almost ran into Owlwhisper. "Sorry Owlwhisper," he quickly apologized.

The medicine cat purred and turned to look at him with amused eyes. "Its fine. Just make sure you pay attention from now on. Anyways, we are at the treebridge." Breezepaw nodded and followed behind Owlwhisper onto the treebridge.

It was slimy and slippery underneath his paws. Breezepaw dug his claws into the soggy wood to make sure he didn't fall into the lake.

He sighed with relief as he jumped down onto the gathering island. Owlwhisper purred with amusement before trotting into the undergrowth. As Breezepaw followed him the string scent of Cloudclan hit his nostrils.

They are never here early, Breezepaw thought suspiciously. But he shrugged it off quickly. He skipped happily over to the Cloudclan apprentices who were gathered on the far side if the island.

"Hi Breezepaw!" Leafpaw greeted him happily. Breezepaw dipped his head to Leafpaw in a small greeting. "Mouseears said that me and Leafpaw will be made warriors soon! I honestly can't wait," Tigerpaw blurted out beside his sister.

Breezepaw was about to congratulate him when Fernpaw came strutting over to them. "Hi Fernpaw!" Leafpaw meowed with the same energy she had to Breezepaw.

Fernpaw ignored her and turned to Tigerpaw. "So I hear you are being made a warrior soon," she sneered. Tigerpaw returned her gaze evenly, "Yep, I can't wait!"

Fernpaw laughed and gave the tom an icy glare. "Well I you already have your name set in stone for you. What do you think Tigerblaze," she chuckled.

Brezzepaw felt the fur on his neck stand up. He glanced to Tigerpaw. His fur was bristling and his teeth were bared to show sharp white fangs.

Breezepaw braced himself to stop Tigerpaw if he attacked his sister when Squirrelstar yowled for the gathering to start. Breezepaw let his fur lay flat as Tigerpaw snarled before sitting beside Leafpaw. Fernpaw snorted and sat down close beside Breezepaw.

Squirrelstar's muscles rippled underneath her long fur as she stood up on her branch on the Great oak. "I have an announcement to make. Cloudclan no longer exists. We will now be known as Shadeclan," she yowled.

Breezepaw's eyes widened at the unexpected news. Branchstar also stood up and gave Squirrelstar a baffled look. "Why would you do that Squirrelstar?" the Sunclan leader meowed with shock.

"Because, Cloudclan was the clan that belonged to Blazestar and Whitestar. I don't want to be that leader that has to fix their mistakes. Cloudclan belonged in the past. Shadeclan is for the future. We will be strong once more. I want to be the most feared clan in the forest. We do not hunt or fight like Sunclan does. We have changed our ways completely. So I would watch out because we will be the best clan in the forest!" she yowled proudly into the sky.

Breezepaw looked around in alarm as the Cloudclan, now Shadeclan cats raised their muzzles into the air and yowled proudly. Once the noise died down Branchstar stood up on his branch and looked around.

"Sunclan respects your decisions Squirrelstar. But you better not get too cocky. Sunclan is right on your tail," Branchstar purred. Squirrelstar laughed as well, "I believe it Branchstar. Now, Shadeclan we're leaving!"

Breezepaw said his good byes to Tigerpaw and Leafpaw before they ran over to their clan. Fernpaw stared after Tigerpaw with an ugly look. When is she going to ever learn how to be nice? I mean that was just horrible want she said, Breezepaw rolled his eyes at his sister. There are some things you just can't change.