Thunder And Shadow

Rowanstar shifted his paws. “Peace brings prey,” he meowed. “Why fight over borders when we have enough prey to feed every cat?”

Ratscar got to his paws. The brown tom’s eyes were narrow. “The apprentices have a point.

ShadowClan used to rule the forest. Now we live like a bunch of ThunderClan cats. All we want is peace and food. We’re hardly better than kitty pets.”

Kinkfur growled. “What nonsense! ShadowClan will always be feared and respected by the other Clans.”

“Even if we’re not feared and respected by our own kits,” Ratscar rasped dry ly.

Oakfur crossed the clearing and faced Rowanstar. “Why can’t the m entors keep their apprentices under control? In m y day, we did what we were told.”

Stonewing shouldered his way through the gathered cats and glared at Juniperpaw. “How could you em barrass m e like this? Haven’t I been a good m entor to y ou? I’ve taught y ou every thing you know.”

Juniperpaw curled his lip. “Cats are born knowing how to hunt and fight. Why do I need you telling me what I already know?”

Stonewing swung his m uzzle accusingly toward Rowanstar. “I warned you the apprentices were getting too big for their pelts.”

Rowanstar glared back at him, pelt spiking. “I shouldn’t have to control your apprentice for y ou.”

Dawnpelt hurried forward and gazed im ploringly at Sleekpaw and her denmates. “I don’t understand why y ou’re so angry. When I was your age, I was proud to be an apprentice,” she mewed. “We all were. We wanted to learn the warrior code.”

“Only because you wanted to be like ThunderClan,” Needlepaw scoffed.

Dawnpelt bristled. “That’s not true!”

Tawny pelt hissed at Needlepaw. “Respect your elders!”

“Not until they respect us!” Sleekpaw butted in.

Angry y owls echoed around the camp. Violetkit shrank against Needlepaw’s flank as the Clan argued around her. Perhaps the warrior code was too restrictive. She’d heard Needlepaw complain about it often enough. But was it worth fighting about? Surely warriors had a code for a reason. Otherwise they’d be nothing but rogues or loners.

“Silence!” Rowanstar leaped onto the low rock at the edge of the clearing and glowered at his Clan. His fur stood on end, and his eyes blazed in the twilight.

The Clan fell silent and watched their leader expectantly.

“Needlepaw.” Rowanstar fixed his furious gaze on the silver apprentice. “You broke a rule and y ou will be punished. You will look after the elders. Clean their bedding, pull out their ticks, and hunt for them. They are your responsibility from now on.”

Needlepaw returned his gaze, unruffled. “For how long?”

Rowanstar showed his teeth. “Until I say so.”

“Okay.” Needlepaw shrugged and turned away. She shouldered her way between her denmates and headed for the fresh-kill pile. Violetkit stared at her. How could she act so cool?

“Violetkit.” Rowanstar’s mew m ade her j um p.

She stared at him, her heart in her throat.

“You shouldn’t have left camp.” The ShadowClan leader’s mew was stern. His gaze flicked toward the nursery. Pinenose watched from outside. He beckoned the queen forward with a flick of his tail. “You should have been keeping a closer eye on her,” he told the queen as she padded toward him.

She dipped her head. “I’m sorry.”

“Don’t let her out of your sight,” Rowanstar warned.

Pinenose stopped beside Violetkit. “Couldn’t Grassheart take care of her now?” she mewed hopefully. “Now that m y own kits have left the nursery, I could return to warrior duties.”

Violetkit tried to ignore the hurt j abbing her heart. She’d known for a long time that Pinenose had never been fond of her. Of course she’d rather be hunting than watching me. I’m not her kit.

She sm elled pine and fresh air in the queen’s fur. Had she been out already?

Rowanstar scowled. “I know you miss patrolling and hunting, but it’s Grassheart’s first litter.

She won’t have the time to take care of another kit.”

Violetkit lifted her m uzzle defiantly. “I can take care of m y self.”

Rowanstar’s hopped from the stone and padded closer. “If that were true, you wouldn’t have left the camp today.” He turned to Pinenose. “Look after her. Make sure she learns the warrior code. I don’t want her turning out like them.” He glowered at Sleekpaw and her denmates. “She’s been spending far too much time with Needlepaw.”

Pinenose lowered her gaze. “Okay,” she grunted.

But Needlepaw is my only friend! Violetkit stared at Rowanstar, her heart as heavy as stone.

Now I’ll have no one to talk to! Anger sparking beneath her pelt, Violetkit padded to the nursery and squeezed inside. Grassheart’s kits were squirm ing and mewling in their nest while Grassheart dozed. Violetkit scowled at them. They’d never know what it was like to lose a mother and a sister.

Slinking into the shadows at the edge of the den, she curled up and buried her nose beneath her paw.

“Violetkit!” Needlepaw hissed across the clearing.