Warriors: Uprising (Book 1)

Chapter 9

Inside the Leaders' den, Birdstar and Nova were both chatting about something until another cat came in and interrupted them: It was Blacksting. Both Birdstar and Nova looked at him. Nova was the first to speak.

"What do you want?" Nova remembered how Blacksting did not want to sit a vigil for Sootkit.

"I wish to speak with Birdstar alone, but I can't do that with you in here." Blacksting retorted.

"I'm sure you can speak with both of us in here." Birdstar spoke up before Nova could meow anything more and start an argument.

Blacksting left the den for a bit and then came back with a certain plant in his maw. "Now you see why?" he said with muffled words.

Nova was trying to identify what plants Blacksting had, but she couldn't lay her paw on it.

"Nova, please leave my den for a little while." Birdstar meowed, sounding more serious than before.

"But Birdstar-"

"Please." His mew was stern.

Nova sighed and left the Leaders' den, mumbling something to herself.

Blacksting dropped the plants out of his maw. "You like eating this, don't you?"

"What do you want, Blacksting, and how in Starclan do you know about the goatweed?" Birdstar asked.

"I have my ways, but I am here to make a deal with you." Blacksting gained an evil look on his face.

"What deal?"

"My kit Shredkit is becoming an apprentice today."

"Yeah...?"

"I want you to make him my apprentice. If you do so, I won't destroy your source of goatweed." Blacksting meowed.

"You won't do what?!" Birdstar almost jumped up.

"You heard me."

"How do I know this isn't some kind of trick, Blacksting?"

"The only reason you sneak around Driftclan territory is to make sure your goatweed farm hasn't gotten discovered." He quickly shot back.

Birdstar went silent.

Blacksting smirked.

"Just allow me to train Shredkit and all will be fine."

"F-Fine..." Birdstar's paws were shaking a little.

"Great! You can take this then as a little gift from me." He nudged the goatweed towards Birdstar.

"You can take your leave now," Birdstar ordered.

"Sure thing! But uh, One more thing." Blacksting turned back around, "If you interfere with my training, I will take away everything you love." His mew was lower this time, and the evil face he had before had returned.

Birdstar gave no response to that and watched as his clanmate left his den.

Outside of the leaders' den, Blacksting stopped and looked at Nova. "Don't you interfere, either. Just do your job and question nothing. Or I will ruin you, Nova of Galaxyclan."

Nova gasped. "How do you know about-"

Blacksting padded away without looking back.

*

Shredkit didn't get sleep at all. He didn't feel as tired as he thought he would be. He noticed his mother Dustshine shifting and moving; she was waking up. Shredkit sighed. He knew he would become an apprentice soon, and he didn't want to leave the Nursery at all.

"Shredkit, you will become an apprentice. Aren't you excited?" She purred happily and licked his fur clean.

"Ye-yeah, I am!" Shredkit's voice was a little shaky.

"I'm glad." She continued licking.

"My fellow clanmates of Vertexclan, gather around the Sharp Stone for a clan meeting!" It was the voice of Birdstar coming from outside of the Nursery.

"Well," Dustshine got up, "It's time!" She smiled and nudged Shredkit to get up.

I don't want to leave the nursery though... Shredkit thought to himself and whimpered as he and Dustshine left the Nursery. The warriors and the medicine cat gathered by the Sharp Stone, which was in the middle of the camp. Skybelly was sitting right next to Birdstar.

"I shall appoint a new apprentice now, Shredkit, please step forward." Birdstar meowed.

Shredkit came up, his legs shaking as he stood in front of Birdstar.

"You are of age to become an apprentice. From this day on, until you are of age to be a warrior, you will be known as Shredpaw and your mentor will be-" Birdstar hesitated and looked at Blacksting, who just gave a blank stare. "Blacksting." The black cat padded over next to Shredpaw.

Blacksting will be my mentor?! Shredpaw thought. He's never seen his father much in the Nursery until now, and Dustshine only mentioned him once to him. Shredpaw was shaking more now at the thought of what his father would think of him.

"Buzzardgaze has taught you well, and I expect you to pass on what you know to Shredpaw." Birdstar said.

Blacksting turned to Shredpaw and touched noses with him. He gave a low growl that only Shredpaw heard. It made him step back a little in fear.

"Shredpaw! Shredpaw! Shredpaw!" Vertexclan cheered.

"The clan meeting is over now." Birdstar said, then headed back to his den. All the other cats had dispersed except for Blacksting, Dustshine, and Shredpaw.

"I'm surprised you two got paired!" Dustshine meowed and would go nuzzle Shredpaw, but Blacksting stopped her.

"Leave us alone and go do something that doesn't involve you bothering us," he hissed at her.

"O-oh... Sure thing!" She padded off to the fresh-kill pile, which was close to the medicine den.

Blacksting turned and looked at Shredpaw. "We'll start tomorrow." He went back to the warriors' den.

Shredpaw stared at his father as he went back with a very frightened look on his face.