Chapter 2

"Let all the cats old enough to catch their own prey, gather beneath the Pine for a Clan meeting!" Poisonstars' excited yowl echoed around the clearing. Skykits' head popped out from the nursery. "It's time!" She squealed and with her siblings close behind, they raced to the Pine, where Poisonstars' orange coat was already flaming in the afternoon sun. They sat close to the Pine, side-by-side. For once, the sibling rivalries where forgotten when it came to becoming apprentices. Gingerspeck appeared from Foxkits' right side and started to groom her four kits. "Hey!" Shallowkit protested as his mothers' rough tongue washed him. He pushed her away. "I'm almost an apprentice. No need for this!" He squeaked and glanced at his siblings, who were too busy washing them selves to notice their brother. Soon, the whole Clan was gathered around the Pine. "Today, is the day where two of our apprentices become warriors." Poisonstars' green eyes gleamed madly in the sun, making Skykit question whether he was chosen to be the deputy, then leader, by chance. "Moonpaw, Shadowpaw. Step forwards." The two brothers took several strides to the roots of the Pine, tails held high. "Moonpaw, Shadowpaw, do you promise to uphold the duty of a warrior, to serve the Clan, to feed the weakest and the oldest, to protect the Clan even at the cost of your life?" His voice rang through the silent clearing. "I do!" Shadowpaw meowed first, voice strong and unwavering. "I do!" Moonpaw echoed. "Then by the power of StarClan, I grant you your warrior names. Moonpaw, from now on, you will be known as Moonshadow. StarClan honors your wisdom and courage. Shadowpaw, from now on, you will be known as Shadowsnow. StarClan honors your bravery and loyalty." The two newly made warriors licked their leaders shoulder and turned to the Clan. "Moonshadow! Shadowsnow!" The clan erupted with cheers as everyone congratulated the two new warriors. "And now, our four kits." Poisonstar continued and beckoned the siblings with a flick of his tail. Skykit ran forwards first, Foxkit second, Shallowkit and then Sparklekit. "Foxkit, until the day you will earn your warrior name, you will be known as Foxpaw. Ambereye, you will be mentor to Foxpaw. You had a fine mentor in Smokeberry and I expect you to pass down these abilities to your apprentice." Poisonstar meowed, his voice strong and clear. Ambereye padded towards Foxpaw and touched noses with her. Shallowpaw's mentor was Fernspot, Sparklepaws' mentor was Sootwave. "Skykit. Until the day you will earn your warrior name, you will be known as Skypaw. Oceanwind." Poisonstar called to his deputy. The white-black she-cat lifted her head, surprised. She walked forwards until she stood next to Skypaw, who hardly could contain her excitement. The deputy as her mentor? Is there a better choice? "Oceanwind, you haven't had an apprentice for moons. I think the time is long overdue." The orange tom said and smiled at the she-cat. Oceanwind gazed at Skypaw and they touched noses. The Clan erupted in cheers. "Skypaw, Foxpaw, Shallowpaw, Sparklepaw!" The four new apprentices lifted their heads in pride and gaze at the gathered calm. "Come on, Skypaw." Oceanwind interrupted her 5 minutes of glory and sped towards the camp entrance. "I need to show you the borders." She meowed over her shoulder. Skypaw ran after her, breathing heavily. "I'll slow down." Her mentor promised. "Okay." Skypaw agreed and continued to run after her mentor. They crossed a small stream, that Oceanwind cleared in one jump. The brown-white tabby she-cat had to wade through it. "Stupid water." She muttered and shook her pelt, trying to ignore the coldness of her now wet fur. Oceanwind was already waiting for her, purring with amusement as her apprentice approached her. She gave Skypaw a few moments of rest and then continued towards the border. A giant stone loomed above them. "This is the PineClan border." Oceanwind announced and led Skypaw along it. "Remember this smell." She advised. Skypaw took a deep breath and wrinkled her nose. "It smells like a Thunderpath with pine trees." "You have never smelled a Thunderpath." Oceanwind reminded her. Skypaw shook her pelt again. "And I bet it smells like this." She meowed and her mentor smiled. Suddenly, her ears pricked up. "Patrol!" She hissed and soon, three cats bounded into view. "Well, well. What do we have here?" A tom sneered at the two she-cats. "Frostfoot, Ravenback, Hailpaw. How nice to see you." Oceanwind dipped her head. Neither PineClan cat did the same. "Did you cross the border?" Ravenback accused, his lips drawn back in a snarl. Oceanwind growled at the black tom. "How dare you accuse us! Do you smell our scent on your territory?" She spat at the PineClan warrior. "No, but every cat knows how much you like to cross borders." Frostfoot added. Without a word, the LightningClan deputy turned around and stalked towards the forest. Skypaw hurried after her. "Not to mention scaredy cats too!" Hailpaw yowled at their backs. Skypaws fur began to bristle and she wipped around. "No! Don't." Oceanwind hissed. Her apprentice mumbled something and they continued towards the ShadeClan border.

"Here we are." Oceanwind meowed and suddenly halted. Startled, Skypaw reared back and tried to stop. She crashed into her mentor and both cats went tumbling over the border. Oceanwind stood up and shook her pelt, trying to clear it of dead leaves. "Oh, no. We crossed the border." She meowed, her voice shaking a bit. Skypaw shook too, but for a different reason. She was also trying to get rid of the leaves. "Be quiet!" Oceanwind hissed and looked around, ears flat across her head and nose in the air. "Get out!" The black and white she-cat ordered and pushed Skypaw to their own territory. "What happens now?" Skypaw asked. "Now? Now, you will go back to camp and tell Poisonstar what we did. I will wait here for a ShadeClan patrol and explain why we crossed the border. They have been always nicer to us than PineClan." Oceanwind muttered the last words. Skypaw dipped her head to the LightningClan deputy and spun around, racing back to the camp. On the way, she heard a rustle. She pricked her ears and sniffed the air. Skypaw could pinpoint the mouse that was making the noise. Crouching down, she lowered herself almost all the way to the floor, but not touching it exactly. She slowly crept forwards and stopped a tail length from the mouse. It still hasn't noticed her. Wiggling her haunches, Skypaw leapt into the air with her claws unsheathed. The mouse didn't stand a chance. A short squeal was quickly cut off when the new apprentice bit into the mouse. The sweet and intoxicating smell almost made Skypaw bite into the small brown body and chew. "But the Clan has to be fed first." Skypaw sighed and picked up the mouse and with her tail held high, she trotted to camp.

"Hey, Skypaw!" Foxpaws' voice called. Skypaw ignored her and placed her first catch into the fresh-kill pile. "Where are you going?" Shallowpaw added in. Her two siblings where already back and were lounging in front of the apprentice den. "Poisonstar’s den." Skypaw retorted. She walked to the Pine and sat down in front of the leaders den. "Poisonstar. May I come in? I have an important message from Oceanwind." Skypaw meowed and waited for her leaders’ voice of approval. "Come in." His high pitched voice sounded even crazier than in the morning. She pushed away her thoughts and entered the den. It was cosy and cool inside it. The den was well protected from the heat and Poisonstar even had a small running water source inside. Skypaw cleared her throat. "So. Me and Oceanwind where exploring the PineClan border when a patrol appeared. They accused us of crossing the border and even called us cowards. Then, at the ShadeClan border, I tripped and accidentally pushed myself and Oceanwind across the border. She stayed behind to explain this to a passing ShadeClan patrol. She told me to report back to you.” Skypaw finished and glanced at her paws, hoping the punishment wasn’t that severe. After several heart-beats, she glanced up again. Poisonstar’s green eyes gleamed as he glanced at the new apprentice. A teasing yet cruel smile was placed upon his face. Skypaw gulped. “You are excused, Skypaw.” He said and the white-brown tabby quickly dipped her head and almost ran towards the entrance. “And Skypaw?” She turned around reluctantly. “You remind me of Blazefire.” The yellow-orange tom waved his tail and Skypaw pushed her way back into the clearing. She sat down next to the fresh-kill pile and tried to calm her beating heart. What was that about? She thought and glanced at the first warrior. “Hey, Snowfire!” Skypaw called to the white-red she-cat and bounded towards her. “Yes, Skypaw? Is there anything you need?” She asked and Skypaw nodded vigerously. “Who is Blazefire?” Snowfire froze and let out shaky breaths. “Where did you hear that name?” Snowfire hissed angrily and Skypaw shrank back. “Poisonstar.” She whispered. “Blazefire was my mother.” Snowfire meowed and turned away, stalking back to the warriors den. Skypaw sighed and curled up right there, in the clearing. “Skypaw? What’s wrong?” Shadowsnow’s voice roused the new apprentice. She jumped up. “Nothing! Nothing’s wrong!” Skypaw meowed a bit too loudly and quickly. The black tom snickered. “Oh, come on. I know you too well. You can’t lie to me.” Shadowsnow said and stepped closer to Skypaw. “It’s just that I made Snowfire upset. I asked about Blazefire because Poisonstar said I remind him of her and I asked Snowfire, and I didn’t know she was Snowfire’s mother.” Skypaw let out and Shadowsnow said nothing for a while. “You couldn’t have known. When I was a new apprentice, Snowfire was about to become a warrior. I asked her where her mother was, since I had never seen her.” Shadowsnow chuckled darkly. “Big mistake. She lashed out at me. See this?” He pointed to a faint scar that ran from his eye to his jawline. “Snowfire attacked me, just because I asked where her mother was. Blazefire was killed on the Thunderpath when Snowfire was just an apprentice. She didn’t like any cat that spoke of her mother, even just asking about her made her fly into such a rage, she could attack a fellow clanmate. Proof? Me. And some cats say, that’s why Poisonstar acts so mad all the time. His heart broke when Blazefire died and ever since then, he turned into this.” Shadowsnow gestured towards the leaders’ den where Poisonstar just poked his head out. When he caught sight of Snowfire exiting the warriors den, he brightened up a bit but then the usual gloominess settled in and he disappeared inside again. Skypaw was silent all the time. So that’s why. He’s crazy because he misses Blazefire and Snowfire reminds him too much of his mate. Suddenly, Skypaw felt compassion to her leader. It wans’t his fault, he was just too sad. She glanced at Shadowsnow, her own sorrow reflected in his green eyes. “He copes, but not enough to be sane.” He meowed softly and licked her cheek before heading towards the thorn tunnel. Skypaw just stood there. A sudden noise made her look to the camp entrance. “Oceanwind!” Skypaw squealed and hurried to her mentor. The black-white she-cat smiled and nuzzled her apprentice. “What happened?” Skypaw demanded. “Well, I explained it to the patrol and even though they looked like they didn’t believe me that much, they let me go without a scratch.” Oceanwind said and Skypaw breathed out a sigh of relief. “Thank StarClan!” She meowed. “And guess what? I caught a mouse when I was returning to camp!” Skypaw boasted and Oceanwind smiled warmly. “Good job! Tomorrow, I’ll take you hunting.” Oceanwind promised and walked off to talk to Poisonstar. Skypaw smiled and then yawned. Today was a busy day for the new apprentice, and she was tired. She walked drousily to the apprentice den, where Sparklepaw was already curled up, fast asleep. She must have come just now. Skypaw thought as she curled up next to her sister and fell asleep.