Forever Loved

'''A/N: This is a little something I'm doing for Icy's contest. Hope you enjoy! (Oh, by the way? It's Moon here)'''

Chapter One
Tigerpaw stretched, yawning as the early morning sun filtered into the den through the thickly twined brambles. He glanced around. The other ShadowClan apprentices were still sleeping, buried deep in their nests in a futile attempt to shelter from the bitter leaf-bare cold.

Tigerpaw rolled his eyes. Every cat was so lazy in leaf-bare. All of them--even the leader--just slept, all morning, instead of hunting for their Clan. Of course, Tigerpaw himself was much to noble to sleep in. No, he had to do what was best for the Clan. Besides, it would impress his denmates.

He got to his paws, shaking his handsome ginger fur and padding out into the clearing. The dawn patrol was nowhere to be seen, and Tigerpaw snorted. Probably still snoozing in their nests. No matter. He would go and hunt for the Clan anyway. After all, in such cold weather, it wasn't like any rival Clans were going to be trying to steal prey or anything.

He loped into the forest, feeling the soft pine needles under his paws. He loved the pine forest where ShadowClan lived. He felt a fierce rush of pride. ShadowClan was the best Clan ever! They were true warriors, often training and hunting in the dead of night. What other Clan could do that?

He quickly scented a plump rabbit and pounced on it, snapping its neck easily. After burying it in the soft earth, underneath the layer of frozen pine needles, he continued on, deeper into the forest.

As he got closer to the border, he scented something strange, and frowned, slipping into the shadows cast by the towering pine trees. He narrowed his eyes, his ginger fur blending in with the stray beams of sunlight that escaped the heavy cloud cover.

Sure enough, a small, lithe shape was stalking a rabbit, even plumper then the one he had just caught. As the cold leaf-bare breeze twisted around the pines, he caugh a whiff of WindClan. His nostrils flared. A WindClan cat on ShadowClan territory?

He felt a surge of anger--and of satisfaction. He'd catch the intruder and teach him a lesson, then go back to the camp, and tell everybody. That would get their attention. While they were all sleeping in their soft nests, Tigerpaw was out catching trespassers. He'd probably get his warrior name for it.

But first, he had to catch the trespasser. With his superb fighting skills, it'd be easy. But still, a typical ShadowClan ambush would be even more fun then just straight-out fighting. He gave a hiss of truimph. The intruder was heading toward a thick clump of pines, which would be a perfect place to ambush him.

Threading his way between the tall pines, Tigerpaw made sure to stay downwind of the intruder, not wanting to spoil the surprise. After all, what was the point of an ambush if the cat you were ambushing already knew you were there?

To be continued...