Littlenose's Shadow

Comments: Hi Wispcloud aka Stormstar!

Prologue

"Oh no. Not another," exclaimed a tortoiseshell she-cat.

A white she-cat nodded, her eyes glowing. "A little nose will drop down into the shadows of darkness, after the pawsteps of their parents."

"And so we must tell Lightfeather, even though...you know."

Chapter 1

Littlekit jumped, trying to get a glimpse of the horde of cats.

His ears squashed, he felt a trickle in his heart. A trickle of darkness in his heart. He knew what it was.

Legacy.

Legacy, the terrible inheritance of his parents-known to be evil.

He couldn't hear a word as the cats squashed him purposely.

"Mouse-brain..." one muttered.

"Ugly," one hissed.

He couldn't hear a word as the cats separated.

*I must be Littlepaw now...*

"Who's my mentor?" he jumped.

"Flickerblaze," a tortoiseshell she-cat muttered.

He nodded, touching his mentor's nose and bounding out the camp with him.

Chatper 2

Flickerblaze padded out, Littlepaw on his tail.

"What's that?" Littlepaw gasped, staring wide-eyed at a tree that towered over others.

"Ancient Oak," Flickerblaze explained.

"Can we climb it?" Littlepaw exclaimed, his whiskers quivering with excitement and his eyes gleaming with anticipation.

"No," Flickerblaze replied. Littlepaw's tail drooped and his face fell.

The cats padded on. Seeing a soft pile of moss, Littlepaw leapt on it, shredding some moss.

Laughing, Flickerblaze urged, "Come on now."

Littlepaw scrambled to her paws obediently, running back to where Flickerblaze sat, waiting.

They came to a Thunderpath. There was a faint roaring of monster's paws in the distance. The acrid tang of Twoleg's and their monsters stung Littlepaw's nose.

Littlepaw bristled in excitement, fluffing up his fur.

"A Thunderpath!" Lightpaw breathed. "It stinks worse than all of ShadowClan and fox dung put together!"

Suddenly a huge yellow monster whooshed by, nostrils flaring, it's orange eyes glowing eerily and it's huge black paws churning the Thunderpath.

The apprentice's mouth hang wide open at the monster.

"I never knew that monsters were that big and fast!" Littlepaw exclaimed, wrinkling his nose. "And I never knew that monsters stunk so much!"

"You'll get used to it," Flickerblaze promised.

Littlepaw nodded, speechless.

The cats padded on.

"I almost forgot!" Flickerblaze gasped, relieved that he remembered what to say.

"Forgot what?" Littlepaw asked.

"If we meet a kittypet, loner or rogue, we tell them to please get off our territory. If they are hurt, we bring them to our medicine cats because we have honor. We have to defend our territory, but a good warrior seeks a peaceful solution without claws first. If we meet a kit, we bring it back to it's mother or which Clan they are in, according to the facts they tell us. If it is apprentices, warriors, leaders, or deputies from other Clans, we tell them to please get off of our territory," Flickerblaze declared, "And if they want to join, we bring them to the leader."

Littlepaw nodded, his eyes glowing seriously.

A young golden cat with a blue collar padded through the forest.

"Watch me," Flameblaze whispered, brushing along a bush.

"Greetings," Flameblaze started warmly to the kittypet.

"Wild cats!" the kittypet screeched. She turned tail and fled, paws and tail streaming behind her.

"Well," Flameblaze turned to look at the apprentice, who were staring at the kittypet bolting away from the forest, "That's what you'll expect from most kittypets."

Littlepaw nodded. He didn't speak as Flickerblaze padded back to camp, only following him.

Chapter 3

"Let's go gather some moss," suggested Flickerblaze, "You've had a long day, and I don't want you to get into anything where you have to pad too much."

Littlepaw nodded.

Padding to a tree, he unsheathed his claws and scraped some moss down.

"It helps you with hunting and fighting," he explained.

Littlepaw did the exact replica, gathered up the moss, but it fell off.

"Fox dung!" he cursed.

"Well, you gather it up in your teeth, you know," Flickerblaze added helpfully.

She gathered up a clump of the moss, and Flickerblaze the other, going back to camp.

Chapter 4

Littlepaw heard the whispers in his head.

"Weak!"

"Untrustworthy!"

"Ugly!"

He sighed, drifting off to sleep.

Chapter 5

Littlepaw padded out of the apprentices' den.

"Ticks today," called Flickerblaze.

He padded towards the medicine cat den.

"Here it is!" a golden she-cat declared, pawing out mouse bile and moss.

"Thanks, Emberfire," murmured Littlepaw.

"Do you know how to use it?" she asked.

"Yep," Littlepaw replied.

As he padded out, he heard the whispers again.

Shaking his head, he padded to the elders' den.

"Hey," croaked Hareleap, staring at him contemptuously.

"Hi," he muttered back.

"What story do you want?" Hareleap mumbled gruffly, glaring.

"One about my mom," asked Littlepaw.

Hareleap snorted in disgust. "Fine, I guess. Supposedly she was a kind and loyal medicine cat apprentice, apprenticed to Mintleaf. They went to half-moon meetings, she learned herbs, went picking herbs...a pretty normal life until she got exiled for supposedly poisoning a warrior. She went into a rage, meeting Snakefang, her future mate to be. At first, they didn't get along that well, including attacking and arguing with each other. After Petalflower saved him from a fox, they became closer. One day she was asked to become his mate. She agreed. They planned their revenge on ThunderClan and had three kits. Snakefang was killed by foxes, and a devastated Petalflower sat vigil with him. Later on, she ultimately succeeded in their plan, leading the leader and deputy to the Thunderpath so they would get crushed by a monster. She then met Lightfeather by a tree and killed her. Then, a fox killed her and she joined the Dark Forest with her mate Snakefang."

"Wow," Littlepaw breathed.

"Now skedaddle. You're done with my ticks and I don't want you killing me now. I can't believe you're not kicked out yet. Someone's gotta die around you."

Chapter 6

"Try to creep in slowly, making sure the prey doesn't smell you, go into the hunter's crouch, put your paws carefully and then pounce on it and snap its spine," Flickerblaze explained, "Then say 'Thank you StarClan for this prey!'"

Littlepaw nodded.

He dropped into a hunter's crouch, Littlepaw doing the exact same.

"Perfect! Try it out on that leaf," he meowed.

He slowly crept in, pouncing on the leaf, and meowed, "Thank you StarClan for this prey that is actually a leaf!"

Flickerblaze burst into laughter at the last parts.

His eyes widened, "Ready to try it on real prey? And whisper back, or the prey will hear you."

He nodded.

A young squirrel was starting to scuffle around a tree, slowly creeping in as he dropped into the hunter's crouch, pouncing on it. He bit on its throat before it could let out a shrill shriek that would split the silence.

"Thank you StarClan, for this prey!" Littlepaw meowed.

Flickerblaze smiled at her, "Off to camp. It's getting late, so you'll need to get some sleep."

Chapter 7

Littlepaw yawned, suddenly realizing he was on the dawn patrol.

Jumping to his paws, he raced out.

"Well, that took you a long time," a dark gray tom grumbled quietly. "If anything, it's the morning patrol."

"I'm sorry," Littlepaw rushed.

Rolling his eyes, the dark gray tom mumbled something to a sleek white she-cat.

The she-cat sighed in disappointment, and they padded off.

He heard a rustle in the bushes.

A kittypet!

"Excuse me, young cat. I am sorry to disturb you but this is ThunderClan territory. If you have any reason or would like to come join ThunderClan, I must ask Moonstar, the leader. Otherwise, please get off as you are intruding," Littlepaw meowed, closing his eyes to think about what to say.

Silence.

He opened his eyes.

The kittypet was long gone. Perhaps the kittypet was quiet? Or had he been concentrating too hard?

Two rogues padded by, and he sucked in his breath. Hoping he wouldn't ramble on this time, he meowed, "Please leave, unless you want to join. Then come with me, and I'll ask on your behalf."

The rogues narrowed their eyes.

"Now answer please," Littlepaw demanded.

"Whatever," one meowed.

"Bye?" Littlepaw called as he watched them leave.

He caught up to the patrol, padding back to camp.

Chapter 8

Littlepaw padded out the clearing.

"Hey Littlepaw," meowed a flame-colored she-cat with green eyes, "What'cha doing?"

"Mind your own business," he muttered.

"R-U-D-E RUDE!" she yowled.

Every cat's eyes turned toward him. *Great StarClan, help me!*

"What's this all about?" hissed a silver she-cat with blue eyes.

The leader, his own great grandmother glared at him with, loathing and hatred seeping in her eyes.

"Shimmerstar, I was going on a hunting patrol," he replied.

"Then be on your way before I decide to exile you. It's obvious you're gonna kill someone if you stay here. Warriors, guard him. Make sure nothing suspicious happens."

Fury swelled in his heart. Just because he stood in the shadow of his dead, vengeful parents that almost wrecked the Clan didn't mean he was going to do that!

Without acknowledging the warriors at his side, he leaped out of camp, a twitch of envy in his heart, that he almost wanted to take the prey he might catch later on for his own.

*I just want to be treated equally...that's all. Is that so much of a crime?*

Chapter 9

Littlepaw slowly crept in, pouncing on a mouse. He bit its throat.

*I don't want to do any more good for this Clan*, he thought, padding back to camp.

Chapter 10

"Dawn patrol!" shouted a voice.

He grumbled, bounding out of camp without waiting. He marked the border quickly and ran back, as he didn't care.

Chapter 11

Suddenly, blood and pain filled the air.

His eyes widened as he jumped into the battle.

"Littlepaw!" he turned.

"Cherrypaw!" he yowled, turning towards the she-cat who had gotten him into trouble yesterday.

He lunged, clawing at the foxes, swirling around in his fury. The creature let out a howl, running away, as many others also bolted.

Chapter 12

*"Hold still!"*

*"I am holding still! Still as I can!"*

Littlepaw rolled around as the stinging wound burned like fire.

"Hold still or this'll never be done and you won't go to the Gathering!"

Littlepaw snapped straight.

"Finally," the medicine cat sighed wearily.

\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_

Littlepaw bounded to the Gathering.

"Wow! So many cats!" he breathed.

Mistpaw nodded casually.

"Let the Gathering begin!" boomed a deep voice.

"ThunderClan is doing well, and we have three new apprentices. Mistpaw, and Leafpaw, and  Littlepaw," Shimmerstar glared at the apprentices.

Everyone else glared at the three apprentices, and anger fluttered in Littlepaw's heart.

"ShadowClan is doing well," the silver she-cat stepped up, "We have a new apprentice, Joltpaw."

"Joltpaw! Joltpaw!"

Littlepaw yowled along with his sisters.

"RiverClan is doing great, and fish is plentiful," declared a gray she-cat.

"WindClan is doing fine, and rabbits are plentiful," boomed a white tom.

"SkyClan is doing good, lots of squirrels and birds," reported a golden-brown she-cat.

"This gathering is at an end." the ThunderClan leader announced.

The leaders jumped off the Great Oak, gathering their Clans. Littlepaw bounded away from the Gathering. *Just because my parents were bloodthirsty and vengeful doesn't mean I am!*

Chapter 13

Moons past.

"Hey Cherrypaw," called Littlepaw.

"Go away, mouse-brain."

He watched as she stalked away, then looked away.

"Littlepaw!"

He bounced over to his mentor.

"Yes?" he looked to Flickerblaze.

"You'll have a warrior assessment today," he waved his tail.

"Ooh!" he meowed.

"Go on," smiled Flickerblaze.

\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_

Littlepaw wriggled his haunches.

Mouse!

He crept in slowly on a mouse, pouncing on it and nipping its the"oat.

"Thank you, StarClan for this prey!" he yowled.

He sniffed the air, and soon a squirrel scurried out, snuffling around a tree. Suddenly, its little nostrils twitched.

Littlepaw froze. The squirrel could smell him! He was standing in the opposite direction Flickerblaze said!

But his freezing was short-lived. He bolted toward the squirrel.

Crack!

A leaf crackled as he crushed them under his paws! *Argh!*

Angrily, he just pounced directly on the squirrel and bit down on its spine.

Flickerblaze padded out, amused. "That was quite the pounce the second time," he mused.

Littlepaw's tail tip twitched.

"Alright, you passed," Flickerblaze laughed, "Let's go back to camp."

Chapter 14

"Let all cats old enough to catch their own prey gather beneath the Highledge for a Clan meeting!" the leader yowled.

Littlepaw's eyes sparkled, the tortoiseshell and silver she-cats next to him-his siblings, Leafpaw and Mistpaw smiled.

"I, Shimmerstar, leader of ThunderClan, call upon my warrior ancestors to look down on this apprentice. They have trained...*not* hard to understand the ways of your noble code, and I commend them to you as an *undeserving* warrior in their turn. Littlepaw, do you promise to uphold the warrior code and to protect and defend your Clan, *even though you absolutely won't*?" Shimmerstar asked.

"I will uphold it!" Littlepaw declared, "I do!"

"As if," a cat muttered, a ripple of agreement in the crowd. Even Shimmerstar gave them a small nod.

He had to bite back a sharp retort.

"Then by the powers of StarClan, I give you your warrior name. Littlepaw, from this moment on, you will be known as Littlenose. StarClan honors your...fox-heartedness and mouse-brainedness... and we *don't* welcome you as a full warrior of ThunderClan," Shimmerstar announced.

Littlenose reached to be touched on the muzzle and to lick her on the shoulder, but Shimmerstar jerked away. *I should have known.*

"I, Shimmerstar, leader of ThunderClan, call upon my warrior ancestors to look down on this apprentice. They have trained...*not* hard to understand the ways of your noble code, and I commend them to you as an *undeserving* warrior in their turn. Leafpaw, do you promise to uphold the warrior code and to protect and defend your Clan, *even though you absolutely won't*?" Shimmerstar asked.

His sister's legs, though trembling, had to bite back her nervousness as everyone glared at them. "Of course I will defend the Clan and uphold the warrior code. I do."

Cats snorted.

He had to bite back a sharp retort for his sister.

"Then by the powers of StarClan, I give you your warrior name. Leafpaw, from this moment on, you will be known as Leafstem. StarClan honors your...fox-heartedness and mouse-brainedness... and we *don't* welcome you as a full warrior of ThunderClan," Shimmerstar announced.

Leafstem reached to be touched on the muzzle and to lick her on the shoulder, but Shimmerstar jerked away. *Poor Leafstem.*

"I, Shimmerstar, leader of ThunderClan, call upon my warrior ancestors to look down on this apprentice. They have trained...*not* hard to understand the ways of your noble code, and I commend them to you as an *undeserving* warrior in their turn. Mistpaw, do you promise to uphold the warrior code and to protect and defend your Clan, *even though you absolutely won't*?" Shimmerstar asked.

His sister's legs, though trembling, had to bite back her nervousness as everyone glared at them. "Of course I will defend the Clan and uphold the warrior code. I do."

Cats snorted.

He had to bite back a sharp retort for his sister.

"Then by the powers of StarClan, I give you your warrior name. Mistpaw, from this moment on, you will be known as Miststream. StarClan honors your...fox-heartedness and mouse-brainedness... and we *don't* welcome you as a full warrior of ThunderClan," Shimmerstar announced.

Miststream reached to be touched on the muzzle and to lick her on the shoulder, but Shimmerstar jerked away. *Poor Miststream.*

"Okay, uh, go sit vigil now, weirdos," Shimmerstar hissed. "Just...don't lure our enemies here, okay? Or foxes, rogues, badgers. Of course, you wouldn't listen. After all...your parents are...uh...terrible cats."

Anger swirled in his heart as he stalked angrily towards the camp entrance and his littermates followed him, and they sat down gruffly, in the eerie, cold night as the wind buffeted their fur.

The coldness swirled around Littlenose. But he didn't care. All he knew was the Clan obviously disrespected and hated him and his littermates. And yet he didn't do anything at all to earn that disrespect.

Chapter 15

Shimmerstar's eyes widened in surprise the next morning. "You didn't bring our enemies...maybe you can be trusted after all. Still, you'll need to prove yourself even more."

Flickerblaze glared at Shimmerstar, then smiled at them. "Oh, I'm still the deputy, you know. Border patrol, Littlenose, Cherrypaw, and Dreamflower. Hunting patrol, Wishheart, and Miststream. Off you go."

Littlenose stared at Cherrypaw, who glared at him.

"Do we have to be in a group?" Cherrypaw asked.

One stern stare from Flickerblaze and Cherrypaw went silent.

"Off you go," Flickerblaze repeated.

They bounded out, Littlenose knocking Cherrypaw over and tumbling through the snow.

"Sorry," Littlenose meowed.

"Kidding? That was fun!" Cherrypaw squealed.

"Great StarClan, can you be more mature? I'll tell Shimmerstar to send you to the nursery, Cherrypaw!" Dreamflower rolled her eyes.

"It's not her fault," Littlenose protested.

"Talk once more, young cat and you'll also be in the nursery."

Littlenose went silent.

"Come on," Cherrypaw meowed, "race you to the border!"

Littlenose opened his mouth to protest, but Cherrypaw was already racing towards the border.

Sighing, he bolted after her, skidding to a halt, and marking the border.

"Daft furball," Cherrypaw purred, staring at his wet pelt. "Come on, race me again!"

"I'm tired!" complained Littlenose.

"Are you gonna chicken out?" Cherrypaw meowed teasingly.

Littlenose shook his fur. "No."

"Come on then!" Cherrypaw bolted away, and Littlenose dragged his paws to bound after the overexcited apprentice.

They skidded to a halt, and Littlenose watched Cherrypaw rub her scent on the border.

"Alright! Let's see Dreamy-dreamy-Dreamflower now!" Cherrypaw bounced, "And-"

He sighed. "You want to race again."

Cherrypaw tilted her head. "How did you know?"

He looked away. "Just a feeling." he suddenly felt emotional for the little apprentice, a fizziness buzzing through him.

"Come on, then!" she yowled.

Littlenose felt like his paws were going to fall off he ran after her.

"That was fast," noted Dreamflower.

"We were racing!" Cherrypaw replied, bouncing around.

She rolled her eyes. "Whatever. Off to camp."

They padded to camp, and when Littlenose reached the camp, he went straight to the warriors' den. *I'm going to sleep for a moon!*

Chapter 16

"Let all cats old enough to catch their own prey gather beneath the Highledge for a Clan meeting!" the leader yowled.

Cherrypaw's eyes sparkled.

"I, Shimmerstar, leader of ThunderClan, call upon my warrior ancestors to look down on this apprentice. They have trained hard to understand the ways of your noble code, and I commend them to you as a warrior in their turn. Cherrypaw, do you promise to uphold the warrior code and to protect and defend your Clan?" Shimmerstar asked.

"I do!" Cherrypaw declared.

"Then by the powers of StarClan, I give you your warrior name. Cherrypaw, from this moment on, you will be known as Cherrynose. StarClan honors your bravery and spirit and we welcome you as a full warrior of ThunderClan," Shimmerstar announced.

Shimmerstar touched her muzzle and Cherrynose licked her muzzle.

"Cherrynose! Cherrynose!" the Clan yowled in unison.

Littlenose could hear his own voice raised as well. "Cherrynose! Cherrynose!"

Cherrynose's eyes gleamed with happiness.

"Go sit vigil now," Shimmerstar meowed.

Littlenose sent a warm glance towards Cherrynose, who smiled back. His heart fluttered.

Padding to the warriors' den, he curled up and fell into a deep, deep sleep.

Chapter 17

Moons passed, and Littlenose padded out of camp with Cherrynose.

Then it struck him.

The fizzy feeling, the warmness, it was love. They had to be destined to be together. Littlenose gulped.

"Hey, Cherrynose?"

Cherrynose's square gaze stared back at him.

"Can I ask you something?" asked Littlenose.

"Of course," she responded.

*"Will you be my mate?"*

Chapter 18

"Um...you've been a great friend and all, and I like you a lot, but...I didn't...really have feelings for you in that way," she mumbled.

"Oh," he meowed. His eyes brimmed with pain and betrayal. "Alright. I'll...see you soon?"

She nodded, looking sympathetic.

He sighed, padding back to camp.

Suddenly, he stared at Leafstem looking away.

"What is it?" he asked gloomily.

"I have a mate," she muttered.

His eyes widened in surprise. "Who is it?"

"A loner," she mumbled.

"A lon-!?" he started.

She clapped her tail to his mouth, looking around frantically to make sure no one heard him. "Shush!"

"Leafstem, that's forbidden! Cats already don't trust us. Great StarClan, I thought you vowed to uphold the warrior code and yet you break it already?" he hissed.

She stared at him quietly.

"Who even is this loner anyway?" he asked.

"Name's Robin," she whispered quietly.

"Who do you think you'll say the father is if you have kits?" he grumbled.

"Um..." she meowed.

Her eyes narrowed with frustration. "I can run away like Leafpool and Crowfeather," she guessed.

"Great StarClan, you're betting on nursery tales?" he rolled his eyes in pure disgust.

"Maybe I am," she replied angrily. "And I'm going to see my mate now!"

"Fine, I'll come with you to see if you two get closer. I do *not* want a loner to be family!" he growled.

She bounded out of camp, Littlenose on her tail.

Chapter 19

They bounded over there.

"Hello Leafstem," purred a black tom with green eyes.

"Hi, Robin!" Leafstem replied.

He suddenly saw Littlenose, fear striking into his gaze.

"Who are you?" he asked.

"My name is Littlenose," he snorted.

"He's my brother," Leafstem added.

Wariness became welcome.

"Hello, Littlenose," smiled Robin.

"Hi," he mumbled.

Suddenly, a dark brown she-cat with amber eyes slid in.

"Who's that?" asked Littlenose.

"This is my sister, Hope," explained Robin.

Hope. The name dug deep into his fur; it gave HIM hope.

"Hope," he whispered, "what a beautiful name."

She smiled at him, making his heart flutter.

"Name's Hope. Your name?" she asked.

"Littlenose," he meowed.

"A strange name," she tipped her head.

"Nonetheless, will you be my mate?" he asked.

Chapter 20

"No way, weird-face," she hissed, a malicious look dancing across her face.

Anger swirled up in his chest. The whole Clan mocked him, mistrusted him, hated him. He had been rejected by his first love-and now his second?

He stalked back to camp.

A voice spoke in his head. It sounded like his mother. Another voice spoke in his head. It WAS his father!

He stopped in mid-step.

"Dear son," they whispered. "Why suffer all this pain? You could join us, you know."

He was tempted, but his morals fought back in a valiant effort.

Finally, he meowed, "I will."

He padded to his moss bed and fell asleep to enter darkness.

Chapter 21

Littlenose opened his eyes.

"Welcome to the Dark Forest, son," Petalflower purred.

Littlenose nodded.

"Hope you enjoy this wonderful place," Snakefang added.

He glimpsed a sight behind them and gasped. Cats from all Clans, their eyes glowing eerily. Alive and dead. He saw a golden she-cat shuffling behind them, and a silver she-cat glowing in authority. Behind them, rows and rows of cats stood, eyes gleaming in the eerie darkness.

"Welcome. I am Silverstar, former leader of ShadowClan," she paused to glare at Snakefang.

Littlenose nodded.

"I see you will join us. You must prove yourself, train hard, fight for us. Against StarClan, those petty kittypets," she spat in disgust.

Littlenose nodded.

"You going to nod your head off?" she asked.

Littlenose nodded before realizing what she said.

The cats laughed, and just shrugged it off. Something his Clanmates would never do-well, maybe Cherrynose, or his sisters.

"Then you are now a member. I will judge your worthiness in your actions. Now, you shall begin. Your mentor shall be Lightfeather."

The golden she-cat stood, shocked. "Well, alright. Er, definitely, a great leader. I'll try my best."

"Try? There is no try!" she growled, "Now start! I'll be talking to you later!"

Lightfeather nodded.

"Come on, Littlenose," she mumbled.

He stared at her. She didn't get along really well with his mother, he knew.

"I don't judge unless you're a petty StarClan cat," she promised.

That was something his Clanmates would never say.

She nodded, disappearing into the darkness.

A dark, slim body slid over, pouncing on him, rolling him over onto his belly, leaving it exposed. She slashed it with her claws, leaving a bloody gash.

He landed a solid kick on her muzzle, leaving her to roll over and fall down.

He took advantage and pounced on her, slashing a patch of bare skin on her side.

She buckled in agony, swiping the spot above his eye and causing him to be temporarily blinded.

She snarled, slashing at his flank.

He shook away drops of blood, rearing up on his hind legs to nip her ears.

She quickly clawed his belly again as he screeched in pain.

She quickly jumped towards him, sweeping at his legs as he toppled over, and she pinned him down.

He gasped in pain. Suddenly, it came to him. He went limp, and she loosened her grip.

He flung her off him, and as she stood up, dazed, he tried to grab her tail to unbalance her, but just in time, she curled it up.

*Dang!*

She leaped at him, before he could respond as she slid under him and grabbed his tail, causing him to stumble, slashed at his flank nimbly, and crushed him down.

He groaned, going limp again.

But Lightfeather had seen this trick before.

She kept holding him until a voice rang out.

"Enough!" Silverstar yowled. She turned to Littlenose. "You did well for your first day. Off you go, back to ThunderClan."

Littlenose nodded.

His eyes flew open, to see the faces of his siblings staring over him.

"What happened?" they chorused.

Chapter 22

He nodded. "Follow me."

They padded after him, and in a quiet space, he announced. "I'm training in the Dark Forest."

"The Dark Forest!" gasped Leafstem.

"That's forbidden!" yowled Miststream.

He slapped his tail over their mouths, wondering if anyone was listening in on their conversation.

He sighed. "I've been through a lot, okay? You've been through it with me! Join me with Mom and Dad."

"No," they chorused stubbornly.

"Then stay out of my way. I'd rather not have to kill you," he snapped, stalking away.

Leafstem pushed in front of him to block him, but he just pushed her away.

"Please, Littlenose," pleaded Miststream.

He narrowed his eyes angrily. "I'm not asking again. Join me and Mom and Dad in the Dark Forest."

"No," they repeated.

"Then stay out of my way!" he repeated.

He stalked away into the undergrowth.

Chapter 23

"I have a mission for you," announced Petalflower.

Littlenose tipped his head.

"Kill Shimmerstar," she ordered.

He nodded.

Chapter 24

His eyes opened, and he bolted out of camp, sniffing for any scent of his leader, his great grandmother, his intended victim. He got a whiff and...

*Shimmerstar! And...Hope.*

Seeing the she-cat close by, his eyes narrowed in anger, but he forced himself not to attack her. *I need a cat to blame. She'll be my victim too, soon. Well, I have to disguise my scent. And roll in the dirt again.*

"Hope!" he meowed quietly, getting close to her.

"Yes?" she asked.

"There's a beautiful lavender patch! Let's roll in it.

He rolled in a patch of lavender and padded forward as Hope did the same.

He crept up on Shimmerstar, pouncing on her, and biting her throat, placed a paw over her.

"It's over for you," he growled.

She coughed, "I always knew you and your siblings were a traitor."

He rolled in the dirt and grabbed Hope's scruff, dragging her back to camp.

Chapter 25

Littlenose dragged Hope back to camp.

"ThunderClan! This traitor stands in front of you! She was close to Shimmerstar's dead body, which smells of mint. She smells of mint!" he hissed.

Leafstem and Miststream alongside the Clan gasped.

Flickerstar stepped forward, dipping his head. "Fantastic job, my newest apprentice."

"The choice is yours what to do with her," meowed Littlenose.

He nodded. "She will be a prisoner."

Littlenose smiled. *That's what you deserve. To die rotting away in a den, unable to walk and no one to be by you. Not even Robin.*

"In fact, this was so well done, you will be the new deputy," he declared, jumping onto the Highledge.

"I say these words before StarClan, so that the spirits of our warrior ancestors may hear and approve of my choice. Littlenose is the new deputy of ThunderClan," he announced.

Littlenose nodded solemnly. *Now I just need to kill him!*

Chapter 26

"I want to talk to you," meowed Littlenose.

Cherrynose nodded, and they padded out of camp.

He stared at her furiously, then jumped at her, slicing her back.

He grabbed her furiously, shaking her, slashing her.

"What has gotten into you?" she exclaimed.

"Truth has gotten into me," he growled.

She shook her head urgently. "If I was the cause, I'm sorry. I didn't mean to. Littlenose, hate and anger doesn't make you feel content. Peace and love do. I know you're still in there. Please...come out. I don't care if you kill me or not. But you can't do this to our Clanmates. To anyone else. To...the Clans."

He snarled. "You dare talk about love in front of me? Did you know how many loves rejected me? Did you feel the pain as the rest of the Clan insulted you, mistrusted you, every heartbeat, every day, every moon? No."

A look of disgust filled her face. "I can't believe you can't see the monster you became," she accused.

"Why not fight me back?" he snapped, still stung at the accusation.

"You're still my friend, Littlenose," whispered Cherrynose.

"No we're not!" he growled.

He grabbed her, and bit into her scruff, relishing the blood that stung his tongue. He felt strong. He felt powerful. He felt like he could do anything.

He looked at her in disgust and kicked at her body. Seeing a fox come by, he smiled. *This is your next snack.*

Chapter 27

He crept up slowly on Flickerstar, and pounced.

Caught off guard, they tussled.

Flickerstar bit his neck.

"I'm sorry," he whispered.

Littlenose's eyes shut.

Chapter 28

Littlenose opened his eyes.

The Dark Forest!

He looked down on himself. He was dead. D-E-A-D. Dead.

*I will get revenge, one day, one time. I swear on you, ThunderClan. I'm not only in my parents' shadow. I'm my own cat. I am Littlenose.*

Reign's Rule-Sneak peek

Hushed voices rippled through the crowd as a cats' eyes glimmered with worry.

"How could it be?" whispered a white she-cat with clear blue eyes, "These days, suddenly so many cats, their personalities alter to such degrees."

A tortoiseshell she-cat with soft blue eyes sighed somberly, running her tail against her slim, lithe body. "I don't know. But we need to give them a prophecy."

A  silver she-cat with mint-colored eyes bounded over.

"Silvershine?" whispered the tortoiseshell.

Silvershine's eyes were dark as she took a deep breath. "A fluffy little kit will follow darkness as he is vulnerable to the world's cruel clutch on him, unleashing a terrible clutch whereas only the cooling water can defeat."

The tortoiseshell took a step back in shock.

The white one, however, stayed firm. "We need to tell Thrushflight and Wingfeather."