“I’ll help you for as long as you want me to,” Tawnypelt offered. “But I’m sure you’ll make the right choice.”
Tigerstar didn’t say anything, his tail drooping. But Tawnypelt wasn’t worried. Soon he’ll see that a younger deputy will be better for him than his mother—I can’t quite stop seeing him as my kit, no matter how strong a leader he becomes.
“Want to share some prey, Tawnypelt?” Dovewing offered. “I’m so hungry after our long journey.”
Tawnypelt suddenly realized that she wasn’t hungry, but she was exhausted. “No, thanks,” she replied. “What I need is a nap.”
She slipped into the warriors’ den. Settling into her nest, she looked back out the entrance at the cats gathered in the clearing. Shadowkit was playing with Pouncekit and Lightkit and the other kits of the Clan, squealing with delight as they chased one another around the clearing. Tigerstar and Dovewing were sharing a rabbit, their heads close together as they talked. Scorchfur, Blazepaw, and Juniperclaw were lying in a patch of sun, all three purring with laughter. Berryheart, one eye on the kits, was resting her head on Cloverfoot’s flank.
It was a Clan at peace.
Tawnypelt curled up more tightly, closing her eyes. She scented the air, picking out the familiar smells of the cats she knew, the scents of ShadowClan.
I’m home.
Shadowstar’s Life
Allegiances
SHADOWCLAN
LEADER
SHADOWSTAR
—
black, thick-furred she-cat with green eyes
DEPUTY
SUN SHADOW
—
black tom with amber eyes
MEDICINE CAT
PEBBLE HEART
—
gray tabby tom with white mark on his chest and amber eyes
HUNTERS
JUNIPER BRANCH
—
long-furred tortoiseshell she-cat with green eyes
RAVEN PELT
—
black tom with yellow eyes
MOUSE EARS
—
big tabby tom with unusually small ears
MUD PAWS
—
pale brown tom with four black paws
BUBBLING STREAM
—white she-cat with yellow splotches
DANGLING LEAF
—
black tom with an orange tail
SHADE PELT
—
dappled brown tom
DUSK NOSE
—
tortoiseshell she-cat
THUNDERCLAN
LEADER
THUNDERSTAR
—
orange tom with big white paws
DEPUTY
OWL EYES
—
gray tom with amber eyes
MEDICINE CAT
CLOUD SPOTS
—
long-furred black tom with white ears, white chest, and two white paws
HUNTERS
VIOLET DAWN
—
sleek dark gray she-cat with bits of black around her ears and paws
PINK EYES
—
white tom with pink eyes
LEAF
—
black-and-white tom with amber eyes
MILKWEED
—
splotchy ginger-and-black she-cat with scar on muzzle
CLOVER
—
ginger-and-white she-cat with yellow eyes
THISTLE
—
ginger tom with green eyes
GOOSEBERRY
—
pale yellow tabby she-cat
YEW TAIL
—
cream-and-brown tom
APPLE BLOSSOM
—
orange-and-white she-cat
SNAIL SHELL
—
dappled gray tom
BLUE WHISKER
—
white she-cat with yellow splotches
APPRENTICES
HAZEL BURROW
—
black-and-white tom
MORNING FIRE
—
dark brown she-cat with amber eyes
SHIVERING ROSE
—
black she-cat with white splotch on one ear and amber eyes
KITS
PATCH PELT
—
ginger-and-black tom kit
BEECH TAIL
—
pale ginger she-kit
WINDCLAN
LEADER
WINDSTAR
—
wiry brown she-cat with yellow eyes
DEPUTY
GORSE FUR
—
thin gray tabby tom
MEDICINE CAT
MOTH FLIGHT
—
white she-cat with green eyes
HUNTERS
DUST MUZZLE
—
gray tabby tom with amber eyes
SLATE
—
thick-furred gray she-cat with one ear tip missing
WHITE TAIL
—
dark gray tom-kit with white patches and amber eyes
SILVER STRIPE
—
pale gray tabby she-kit with blue eyes
BLACK EAR
—
black-and-white patched tom-kit with amber eyes
SPOTTED FUR
—
golden-brown tom with amber eyes and a dappled coat
ROCKY
—
plump orange-and-white tom with green eyes
SWIFT MINNOW
—
gray-and-white she-cat
REED TAIL
—
silver tabby tom with a knowledge of herbs
JAGGED PEAK
—
a small gray tabby tom with blue eyes
HOLLY
—
she-cat with prickly, bushy fur
STORM PELT
—
mottled gray tom with blue eyes and thick bushy tail
DEW NOSE
—
brown splotchy tabby she-cat with white tips on nose and tail, yellow eyes
EAGLE FEATHER
—
brown tom with yellow eyes, broad shoulders, and striped tail
WILLOW TAIL
—
pale tabby she-cat with blue eyes
SKYCLAN
LEADER
SKYSTAR
—
light gray tom with blue eyes
DEPUTY
SPARROW FUR
—
tortoiseshell she-cat with green eyes
MEDICINE CAT
ACORN FUR
—
chestnut-brown she-cat
HUNTERS
STAR FLOWER
—
she-cat with thick, golden tabby fur
DEW PETAL
—
silver-and-white she-cat
FLOWER FOOT
—
she-cat with tan stripes
THORN
—
splotchy brown tom with bright blue eyes
QUICK WATER
—
gray-and-white she-cat
NETTLE
—
gray tom
BIRCH
—
ginger tom with white circles of fur around his eyes
ALDER
—
gray, brown, and white she-cat
BLOSSOM
—
tortoiseshell-and-white she-cat with yellow eyes
RED CLAW
—
a reddish-brown tom
HONEY PELT
—
striped yellow tom
RIVERCLAN
LEADER
RIVERSTAR
—
silver long-furred tom with green eyes
DEPUTY
NIGHT
—
black she-cat
MEDICINE CAT
DAPPLED PELT
—
delicate tortoiseshell she-cat with golden eyes
HUNTERS
SHATTERED ICE
—
gray-and-white tom with green eyes
DEW
—
gray she-cat
DAWN MIST
—
orange-and-white she-cat with green eyes
MOSS TAIL
—
dark brown tom with golden eyes
DRIZZLE
—
gray-and-white she-kit with pale blue eyes
PINE NEEDLE
—
black tom-kit with yellow eyes
SPIDER PAW
—
white tom