Veil Of Shadows

But as she raced back through the forest toward the ThunderClan camp, her promise weighed on her as if she were trying to lift the Great Oak on her shoulders.

Chapter 3

Rootpaw scrambled out of the apprentices’ den. Leafstar had called a Clan meeting, and most of his Clanmates were already gathered in a ragged circle around their leader as Rootpaw pattered up to sit with his parents, Violetshine and Tree.

His sister, Needlepaw, was standing there, too, her claws working nervously into the ground. Her black-and-white pelt was glossy and well groomed, and her eyes shone with a mixture of joy and apprehension.

“Good luck,” Rootpaw whispered into her ear. “You deserve it.”

Needlepaw turned to him, but she couldn’t reply as Leafstar began to speak.

“Cats of SkyClan, we have gathered here for one of the happiest occasions in the life of a Clan,” the leader began. “The making of a new warrior. Needlepaw, step forward.”

Taking a deep breath, Needlepaw padded into the center of the circle and stood in front of her Clan leader.

“Reedclaw,” Leafstar continued, turning toward Needlepaw’s mentor, “has your apprentice, Needlepaw, learned the skills of a warrior, and does she understand the meaning of the warrior code?”

Reedclaw dipped her head respectfully to her leader. “She has and she does, Leafstar,” she replied. “She’s one of the most patient cats I’ve ever met, and that has done wonders for her hunting technique.”

“Good,” Leafstar meowed. “Then I, Leafstar, call upon my warrior ancestors to look down on this apprentice.”

But are our warrior ancestors listening? Rootpaw asked himself, his pelt prickling uneasily. Do they even know that Needlepaw is becoming a warrior?

“She has trained hard to understand the ways of your noble code,” the Clan leader continued, “and I commend her to you as a warrior in her turn. Needlepaw, do you promise to uphold the warrior code and to protect and defend your Clan, even at the cost of your life?”

Needlepaw raised her head, and her response rang out clearly across the camp. “I do.”

“Then by the powers of StarClan I give you your warrior name. Needlepaw, from this moment on you will be known as Needleclaw. StarClan honors your skill and your patience, and we welcome you as a full warrior of SkyClan.”

Leafstar stooped to rest her muzzle on Needleclaw’s head, and the new warrior gave her leader’s shoulder a respectful lick, then took a step backward. All the Clan burst into yowls and caterwauls to welcome their new warrior.

“Needleclaw! Needleclaw!”

Tree and Violetshine were both purring loudly as Needleclaw faced her Clan as a warrior for the first time. Rootpaw thrust aside his doubts and joined in the acclamation. He was truly happy for his sister, but even so, he couldn’t help feeling a little envious. Between his encounters with Bramblestar’s spirit and worrying over the Clans being cut off from StarClan, he hadn’t been able to focus on finishing his own training.

I’ve had more practice at trespassing on ThunderClan territory than learning my warrior skills.

As the caterwauls died away, Rootpaw caught Dewspring’s gaze. His mentor gave him a stern look, and Rootpaw knew he wanted to say that his apprentice should be there beside his sister, receiving his Clan’s welcome. Hot shame scoured through Rootpaw, and he hung his head, knowing that Dewspring was right.

But how can I keep my mind on my training when the stuff that’s distracting me is so important for every cat in every Clan?

Two nights had passed since Shadowsight had disappeared, and so far no cat had the slightest idea what had happened to him. As if that weren’t worrying enough, Rootpaw hadn’t seen Bramblestar’s spirit again since that same night.

Rootpaw shuddered. He knew that Bristlefrost, at least, believed that the false Bramblestar had tried to lead dogs to attack Sparkpelt. Sparkpelt had gotten away, but didn’t that prove how ruthless the impostor was? If he’d wanted to get rid of Shadowsight, he might have done something terrible.

As he headed toward the medicine cats’ den to collect their soiled bedding, Rootpaw couldn’t get Bramblestar’s last message out of his head. The spirit had seemed so faint. Maybe it was becoming harder and harder for him to communicate with living cats.

What will happen if Bramblestar’s spirit fades away? Rootpaw asked himself. Will he die for good? What about his nine lives? And if he dies, will ThunderClan be stuck with that intruder in his body forever?