Path Оf А Warrior

Chapter Two

Vroooom.

At the sound of a Twoleg monster roaring by, Shadowstar opened her eyes. She was lying in the grass near the side of the Thunderpath, not far from the Twoleg bridge. Dawn was breaking, soft pink and golden clouds at the horizon.

For a moment, Shadowstar felt as if she were waking from a long, good sleep. She got to her feet and arched her back, stretching her paws in front of her, enjoying the loosening of her muscles.

Then her eyes fell upon the bridge, and she pictured the fierce dog stepping out from the shadows, its teeth bared.

I died, she remembered with a shudder. Gray Wing’s worried face came back to her.

When I’m gone, not even StarClan knows what will happen to the Clans. There had to be five Clans. That was one thing they’d learned as they had fought against one another and then come together at last. If ShadowClan fell apart at Shadowstar’s death, then all the Clans might be destroyed.

Of course, that was why she, and every leader, had named a deputy. But … Her stomach gave a sickening twist, and she looked around.

Sun Shadow lay in the grass a little way off. He looked as though he could have been sleeping, his eyes closed, his face peaceful. But a long gash ran along his belly, and his fur was matted with blood.

“Oh, Sun Shadow,” she whispered, pressing her muzzle against his shoulder. “I’m so sorry.” He was cold, and the stench of blood and dog overlaid his own familiar scent. Her deputy, her friend, her kin, killed by dogs. Rage and sorrow flooded through her, and she dug her claws into the grass.

“Shadowstar!”

Raising her head at the call, she saw a black tom hurrying toward her from the pine trees. For a moment, it looked like Sun Shadow.

“Where have you been?” the tom yowled, and Shadowstar felt her shoulders sag. It wasn’t her deputy—of course it wasn’t. It was Raven Pelt, a loyal ShadowClan warrior, and his yellow eyes were bright with concern.

“You and Sun Shadow never came home last night,” he said. “Half the Clan’s out looking for you. I—” He halted, catching sight of the dead body at her paws. “What happened?”

In as few words as possible, Shadowstar told him how they had been attacked. Her chest ached with sorrow as she spoke. “I will wait with Sun Shadow,” she said at last. “Go find some warriors to help carry him back to camp. We need to say good-bye.”

The sun was setting, and Sun Shadow’s body lay in the center of camp. Pebble Heart had cleaned his wounds as well as he could, but the impression Shadowstar had gotten at dawn, that Sun Shadow could be sleeping, was gone now. He didn’t look anything but dead.

She dipped her head to touch her nose gently to her deputy’s forehead and then spoke. “Sun Shadow first came to the forest as a young cat, searching for his father. Even though Moon Shadow was gone, he found his kin here. More than that, he found his Clan. He proved his loyalty many times: in battle, in the hunt, in the way he always put the good of his Clanmates first.” She paused, misery rising inside her, and took a deep breath. “Sun Shadow was the best deputy I could have asked for. He was a brave, compassionate cat who cared about every cat in this Clan, and he deserved a better death. He died trying to save me.”

From where he sat by Sun Shadow’s side, Dangling Leaf raised his head. “Sun Shadow taught me how to catch frogs,” he began.

As her Clanmates shared their memories of Sun Shadow, Shadowstar looked around at them all. Juniper Branch and Raven Pelt were huddled together for comfort, Juniper Branch’s head resting on her mate’s flank. Bubbling Stream’s blue eyes were full of sorrow—the young cat had looked up to Sun Shadow. Mud Paws stared mournfully at the ground as Dusk Nose told a story about Sun Shadow and a rabbit. Pebble Heart’s amber gaze—

Amber eyes …

Shadowstar gasped as she remembered the eyes she’d seen watching her from the dark woods as she fought the dogs. She knew she had not imagined that cold, unblinking gaze. But would one of her Clanmates have looked on as she and Sun Shadow died? Without trying to help? A cold feeling spread through her belly. Some cat had watched them die.

Mouse Ear had amber eyes, too. So did Shade Pelt.

Shadowstar barely heard the rest of the stories her Clanmates told as they spent the night watching over Sun Shadow’s body. Once the vigil was over and dawn was breaking, she headed for her den, her shoulders tight. I’m not thinking straight, she told herself. Once I’ve slept, maybe I’ll realize that what I’m afraid of can’t be true.

She had almost reached the oak tree that sheltered her den when Mouse Ear fell into step beside her.

“Shadowstar?” the big tabby tom said eagerly. “You must be really tired. I can organize today’s hunting patrols if you want.”

Shadowstar blinked in surprise. That was Sun Shadow’s job. “I guess that’s okay,” she said slowly. “Thanks.” Meeting Mouse Ear’s amber gaze made the hairs rise on her shoulders, but she pushed the feeling away. Lots of cats have amber eyes.

“We should be careful in case those dogs are still sniffing around,” another voice said from behind her. Shadowstar turned to see Juniper Branch, her tail held high. “I’ll make sure there are extra cats on every border patrol, in case they need to drive them off.”

“Okay,” Shadowstar said slowly. The two Clanmates were glaring at each other, the tips of their tails twitching. What’s going on? “Thank you both.”

“I’ll do anything I can to help my Clanmates,” Juniper Branch said, her green eyes bright.

“Me too,” Mouse Ear added.

Shadowstar’s jaws clenched as a thought struck her. Are they competing to take Sun Shadow’s place? She could understand wanting to be ShadowClan’s deputy and second-in-command, but Sun Shadow hadn’t even been buried yet. She opened her mouth to snarl at them—you need to have more respect for Sun Shadow’s memory—but then changed her mind. Better to let her Clanmates show their true colors. “I’m going to my den,” she told them coolly.

“Okay, Shadowstar, get some sleep,” Mouse Ear meowed.

“I’ll make sure no one bothers you,” Juniper Branch added.

Turning her back on them, Shadowstar slipped beneath the oak tree’s roots and curled up in her nest. She was very tired.

I won’t be rushed into choosing a new deputy, she thought. I only have one life left, so this choice might be the most important one that I ever make.

Shadowstar sat outside her den, a breeze ruffling her fur. Nearby, Raven Pelt was sharing a mouse with Dusk Nose. Mud Paws was grooming Dangling Leaf, while Shade Pelt and Bubbling Stream were sorting through herbs, no doubt at Pebble Heart’s request. Every once in a while, one of her Clanmates glanced at her, their expressions troubled. Each time she caught them looking, she felt a claw of dread in her belly, wondering if any of them had worked out that she was on her last life.

No cat knows, she told herself. And she couldn’t tell them now. Surely, if her Clanmates knew that her next death would be her last, they would form a protective ring around her at all times.

Well, some of them would… .

It had been three days since they’d sat vigil for Sun Shadow, and Shadowstar knew her warriors worried about how much time she’d been spending in her den, separated from the rest of the Clan. Maybe they thought she was mourning Sun Shadow.

And I am … but that’s not why I don’t want to be with my Clanmates.

She couldn’t stop remembering the amber eyes shining out of the dark woods as she fought for her life. And she kept looking at her amber-eyed Clanmates, wondering if one of them …

That’s ridiculous. If she didn’t trust her Clanmates, what use was a Clan?

Juniper Branch scrambled in through the thorn tunnel at the camp’s entrance, closely followed by Mouse Ear. There was a long scratch across Mouse Ear’s nose, and Juniper Branch’s ear was torn and bleeding.

Shadowstar jumped to her feet, her worries forgotten. “What happened?” she asked, hurrying over to inspect their injuries. “These were made by another cat. Did some cat cross our borders?”

Is another Clan attacking us, after such a long time of peace? A chill ran through her. Is this how I’ll lose my final life?

Mouse Ear looked embarrassed. “No,” he admitted. “We fought each other. Juniper Branch wouldn’t listen to me.”

“Why should he tell me where to hunt?” Juniper Branch snarled. “I’m a better hunter than he is.”

“Because I know our territory better than you do,” Mouse Ear growled back. “I’ve been with ShadowClan ever since we came here.”

Juniper Branch began to reply, but Shadowstar had had enough. “Quiet!” she snapped. “What kind of mouse-brains are you two?” Both cats looked indignant, but she went on before either could reply. “Because of your foolishness, you didn’t catch any prey. You failed your Clan. Now someone else will have to hunt, because you were too busy fighting to do your duty.”

“This is your fault,” Mouse Ear growled at Juniper Branch. “You’re the one who started the fight.”

Juniper Branch snarled and swiped at him, reopening the scratch across his nose. Hissing, the big tabby leaped at her, tumbling the smaller tortoiseshell onto the ground.

“Stop it!” Raven Pelt, Juniper Branch’s mate, charged toward them, quickly followed by Mud Paws and Dangling Leaf.

They pulled the snarling cats apart. Blood was running down Juniper Branch’s cheek, and a patch of fur was missing from Mouse Ear’s shoulder. They glared at each other, their tails slashing from side to side.

“You’re acting like stupid kits,” Mud Paws yowled, exasperated. “Why would you fight like this?”

Juniper Branch snarled at him. “Stupid kit yourself,” she hissed. “You always stick up for Mouse Ear, even when he’s wrong.”

Mud Paws narrowed his eyes. Before he could retort, Raven Pelt stepped up beside his mate protectively, his ears pressed back in anger.

They’re practically at each other’s throats, Shadowstar thought, dismayed. How will this Clan stay together without me?

She stepped between Juniper Branch and Mouse Ear and glared around at all the warriors. “No more,” she said firmly. “You should be ashamed. Is this how a Clan behaves? Or are you rogues with your claws turned against each other?”

The angry cats’ tails drooped. “I’m sorry, Shadowstar,” Juniper Branch muttered, and Mouse Ear nodded.

“Go to Pebble Heart’s den and let him treat your wounds,” she ordered. “After that, you can work together and change the bedding in all the nests.” Juniper Branch looked as if she was about to object, and Shadowstar gazed at her sternly. “If you two are going to act like kits, you can take on some apprentice duties.”

She watched as they hurried off toward the medicine cat’s den, looking abashed; then she turned to the rest of her Clanmates. “I’m going to lead a hunting patrol,” she announced. “Maybe that way, we’ll be able to focus on actually catching some prey. Who wants to come with me?”

“I will,” Dusk Nose volunteered quickly, and Bubbling Stream stepped forward to join them. With a nod of approval, Shadowstar turned and headed for the tunnel, the two younger cats following.

Out in the forest, the familiar pine scent made Shadowstar feel a little calmer. The earth was cool and damp underfoot. She sniffed the air, searching for prey.

“There were a lot of mice over by the Thunderpath yesterday,” Bubbling Stream suggested.

“We’ll head over there, then,” Shadowstar mewed briskly. Her muscles tightened at the idea of going back to where Sun Shadow had died—where she had died—but she wasn’t going to avoid any part of her own territory.

There was long grass just past where the tree line ended, and Dusk Nose stiffened. “There,” he meowed. “In that clump of grass.” The air was heavy with the scent of mouse, and Shadowstar could hear several quick heartbeats coming from the grass.

“Drive them out and Bubbling Stream and I will catch them,” she told him, and she and the white she-cat slipped forward, passing on either side of the clump of grass where the mice were concealed. Once they were a few steps closer to the Thunderpath, Dusk Nose charged into the grass. Four mice, panicked, ran straight toward the she-cats.

Bubbling Stream pounced at once, pinning one mouse beneath her paws. Shadowstar was a heartbeat too slow to catch the other three and whipped around to leap after them.

They were so close to the Twoleg bridge. For a moment, she expected the shaggy brown dog to step out and block her path. Her heart thumped painfully, and she hesitated.

The mice dashed out of sight.

“What happened?” Dusk Nose burst out, and then licked at his chest fur, embarrassed.

Shadowstar shifted uneasily from one paw to another. “I’m just tired,” she lied. Both her Clanmates were staring at her with concern, and she flicked her ears at them. “Come on,” she meowed. “Let’s try a little farther into the woods.”

I need to get over this, she thought as she led them farther on. It’s because I can’t forget that this is my last life. I have to make sure my Clan is ready to go on without me before I die, but I can’t be so afraid of death that I don’t act.

Catching a rich prey-scent, she peered around. There. A small squirrel was sitting up, its back to them, clutching a nut.

Shadowstar didn’t hesitate this time. She took off, running fast. Excitement shot through her as the squirrel, startled by her movement, began to run too. She could leap before it reached its tree.

Then she stumbled, a blinding pain shooting through her foreleg. Looking down, she realized that she had stepped into a hole and twisted her limb.

I would have seen it if I hadn’t been so reckless. But she’d had to charge, hadn’t she? Otherwise, she would have frozen up again.

As Bubbling Stream and Dusk Nose hurried toward her, Shadowstar wondered bleakly if she’d lost her nerve for good.