Dark Skies- Book #2 in Sunrise

                                                                                           Chapter 11
Jadepaw raised a single eyebrow at Lightningstrike. "So you're going to be my mentor..." She meowed, hope edging its way into her voice. "Yes," Lightningstrike replied excitedly. "Don't you have to mentor Sparkpaw?" "Oh, yeah, I'm going to mentor her after you." "Cool! Ravenstar was teaching me how to climb trees." Lightningstrike drew back. "Well, I'm going to teach you about the Warrior Code." "But-" "No protests." "But I know the rules!" Jadepaw whined. "Okay, what are they?" Lightningstrike inquired. "Um... don't kill cats...don't eat prey before the elders...don't-"

"Queens." "Huh?" "Don't eat prey before the elders and queens have had their meal." Jadepaw gave a dismissive flick of her tail. "Mouse, rat, same thing." Lightningstrike eyed her, amused. "No, they are not the same thing. One is-" "I don't really care. Let's do the Warrior Code." Jadepaw really wasn't up to dealing with a know-it-all right now. Lightningstrike simply nodded and began to lead her out of camp. "Wait, why are we leaving camp to learn the warrior code?"

"So we can be in touch with the inner spirits of our surroundings." Lightningstrike scoffed. "Really?" Jadepaw widened her eyes sarcastically. "No, silly, we're leaving so you can be focused. Away from all distractions. Including Clearpaw." Lightningstrike nudged her, and Jadepaw almost choked. "What? No? Clearpaw isn't-" "I see how you look at him," It was Jadepaw's turn to scoff. "More like the way he looks at me."

"No, you look at him like this." Lightningstrike rounded her bright green eyes and batted her lashes wildly, making it look like she had gotten something in her eye. "Uh....okay...What are we learning?" "The Warrior Code." "What code?" "All of them." Lightningstrike seemed to realize that Jadepaw was about to send all of the birds in ThunderClan territory flying into ShadowClan camp, because she stopped her teasing just in time.

"Code number One," She prompted. "Defend your Clan with your life. Make sure that your loyalties always lie with your Clan." Jadepaw recited it almost perfectly, and she was rewarded with a curt nod from Lightningstrike. "Code number Two," "Don't hunt or trespass on another Clan's territory." Another nod.
. . .
That's how Jadepaw wasted her morning. Well, at least Jadepaw thought so. Sparkpaw was now being trained by Lightningstrike, and Cloudpaw and Drizzlepaw weren't speaking to her. Jadepaw felt very alone, and it didn't help that half the camp was hiding out in their den. It had began to sprinkle rain outside, but Jadepaw sat next to Highrock. Rain had began to run down her forehead onto her front paws. She shivered from the cold, rain running down her skin.

A puddle of water swelled in between her front paws, but she didn't really mind that much. She was as wet as can be, and if she didn't shift her position, the wind didn't penetrate her pelt. It was really quite comfortable, almost as good as a nest. Well, it was comfortable, then a warm and dry pelt pushed up against her wet fur. "Wow, it's wet out here." Starlight murmured. Jadepaw let out a loud, heavy breath. "You're wet," Starlight commented.

"Why aren't you in your den? Whitecough is easy to catch in the cold." "Then why have I not seen any cat with Whitecough?" "Because they don't soak in the rain," Starlight replied sarcastically. "What's wrong?" He asked. "Nothing. Why do you ask?" Jadepaw replied. "You're real grumpy. More than usual." "Are you saying I'm usually grumpy?" Jadepaw let out a low growl. "No, um. No. Yes. Get out of the rain!" As if on cue, it started pouring rain.

Sparkpaw and Lightningstrike sprinted into camp, rain streaming down from their pelts. Sparkpaw's brown and white pelt sagged from the weight of the water. Jadepaw dragged herself up, and she was right. The wind rushed under her pelt to her belly fur, and her legs quivered. Her skin got goosebumps all over it, making her fur standing on end. It wasn't easy for Jadepaw to dry off, but after soaking on the ground next to her nest and cleaning herself, her pelt puffed back out.