Dreamshade's Destiny

Chapter Two

Dreamkit hung her head over the edge of her nest in the dark den. It was moonhigh. She was only four moons. It should have been only two more moons until they were apprentices. Now it was three. 

Sweetgaze had moved in expecting Fireshade's kits, and only two moons ago she had given birth to Flamekit and Thistlekit. Flamekit was a russet tom with a slightly short tail but larger ears. Thistlekit was white, with a grey paw. Both were toms.

It was slightly more crowded, but okay. But Whitebreeze and Bluemist were mates, and she had no idea if they wanted kits or not.

As she slid out into the open, someone whispered to her. "Hey!" The voice said. Flamekit. "What are you doing out here?" She hissed. "Could ask you the same thing." Flamekit responded with a giggle.

"Can't sleep." Dreamkit huffed. "Oh. That sucks. Maybe we could share the extra nest in the nursery! We'll have more space." Flamekit suggested. "That could work." She agreed. Together, they slid into the cozy den. The moss was cool, and especially soft as it hadn't been used. She bedded down gratefully. "Goodnight Flamekit." She mewed. "Goodnight Dreamkit."

* * *

She awoke the the sound of loud voices outside. They were raised in alarm and uncertainty, defiance and anger, or sheer confusion and panic. It had been nearly another moon since she and Flamekit had bedded down together.

"The rogues attacked another patrol!" A furious yowl rose above them all. "Yeah. And Blood was a part of it!" Flickerpaw turned around and sneered at her.

"I didn't make best friends with him!" She raised her voice, ears hot and eyes glaring. "And he's called Red." She muttered under her breath.

"We need warriors more than ever. And it is only half a moon until Dreamkit, Darkkit and Shadekit become apprentices." Redstar yowled, silencing all cats as he leapt onto Shaderock. "So I will make them apprentices. No- listen." Redstar added as cats opened their mouths to protest.

"To ensure their safety, they will not be allowed to enter battles until they are seven moons old. If they are attacked and unprepared, then you must try to escape." Redstar began speaking directly to them.

"But I want to-" Dreamkit and Darkkit choked on mouthfuls of fur mid-protest as Shadekit stuck her tail over their mouths. "We won't let you down, Redstar!" Her sister promised, glaring at them.

"That's what I like to hear. Shadekit, you will be apprenticed to Lakefeather. Lakefeather, you are a strategic and smart warrior. I hope you pass down your skills on to your new apprentice." Redstar meowed.

"Heavyfall. You will be mentor to Darkkit. I see fierceness and strength in both of you, something you share. Heavyfall, I hope you use this bond to train him well."

Dreamkit gulped, padding forwards. "Driftwood. You will be mentor to Dreamkit. You are an intelligent, loyal cat and I trust that you will teach Dreamkit the skills needed."

"ShadowClan, welcome Darkpaw, Shadepaw and Dreampaw!"

"Darkpaw! Shadepaw! Dreampaw!" The Clan yowled out their names. "Shadepaw! Darkpaw!"

"Dreampaw!"

Dreampaw's pelt twitched and her paws felt a burst of energy. She was itching to stand up, but she dared not to abandon her careful hunting posture. She didn't want Driftwood shouting at her again.

She could sense that Shadepaw was having the same problem. Her sister heaved a sigh. "Can't we just stalk through the woods until we see or smell something?" She complained.

"No." Lakefeather mewed. "Camouflage is key for this part of the forest. It may work near the ThunderClan border, but not here."

"And keep quiet before you scare everything off." Driftwood hissed. It was so unfair! Darkpaw was practicing battle moves, and they were stuck here, sitting around listening for prey that probably wasn't there.

She shut her eyes and let her awareness spread. She was suddenly very sensitive to Shadepaw's breathing and her paws twitching. But she had caught on to something.

Dreampaw let her nose guide her until she had turned into the direction of the smell. It was warm, and forest-like, with the musty, sharp smell that suggested mouse. Opening her eyes, she pinpointed the creature. It was further away than she had anticipated.

She relaxed her muscles and swung her muzzle low to the ground like a snake. She lifted her tail and pinned back her large ears.

Creeping forwards, she swerved a stick lying on the ground. She saw the flash of brown fur as it scampered towards another seed that lay on the ground.

She felt like she could just barely make it if she pounced now. But she might miss! And if she carried on forwards, she would alert the prey, and it would be gone.

Her eyes stretched wide and her tail almost lashed. Indecision gripped her. The others were watching her.

She summoned strength into her achy legs and leapt. She pushed off the ground almost silently, relaxing as her muscles stretched.

She landed next to the mouse, a muzzle-length short. With a hot rush of blood, she scrambled after it, trapping it under her paw. A searing determination shot through her and she snapped it's neck with her teeth.

"Well done, Dreampaw!" "Way to go!" Lakefeather and Shadepaw praised her. Driftwood looked confused. Feeling her skin begin to crawl, she lowered her ears and dropped the mouse at his paws. "Did I do something wrong?" She whispered.

"I never taught you how to do the killing bite." Driftwood mewed softly. Dreampaw felt confused. "Well, I guess I just learnt it naturally. That's good right? I might know skills that I haven't been taught, so I can be a better warrior!"

"We need to get back to camp. Now."

* * *

"You say you never taught her the killing bite?"

Featherwing and Driftwood were talking as if she were deaf. Her heart was thumping and she let out a choked whimper. "Do you know what this means?" Featherwing's voice must have been no more than a scarce whisper, but it felt like she could hear the words in her head.

"Dreampaw will kill."
"Kill what?" Driftwood asked.

"A cat."