Sparrowtail's Story

Prologue
This is how I died.

It isn't a fun story,but it is a tale filled with adventure,with excitement,with loyalty and honor.Sometimes you'll cry,sometimes you'll laugh alongside all these cats I knew once.Sometimes you'll be confused,but why I did what I did,well,I think you'll understand.

When I was a kit,my mother told me,I tried to do everything I could to be better,stronger than the others.But it wasn't till my apprenticeship ceremony that everything began to go wrong.

Murmurs
“From this day forward,until you earn your warrior name,you will be called Sparrowpaw."

As the Clan chanted the names of my sisters,my brother,and I,I looked at my mentor,trying to decide if he was excited or displeased with me.

Bluespots was an...interesting tom.One I definetely didn't want to be on the bad side of.I was certain he would train me well...but I doubted he would ever like me.

The tour of the territory was exciting.I remember Bluespots took me to an old tree called the Cloud-Toucher and told me a story of a cat who climbed it to the tom and couldn't get down again,and simply stayed there.“His old body is probably still up there,"he added with a glint of amusement.

My first day as an apprentice was realatively boring.But that night,a horrible deed was done.

Murder.

I woke in the apprentice den to the yowls of Burrowpaw.My sister Ravenpaw was at his side immediately,trying to calm the distraught tom.Beside him was what I had thought was the sleeping body of Burrowpaw's littermate,Duskpaw.But then I tasted the metallic tang of blood.

“What happened?"I rasped,dozing off as I spoke.

Burrowpaw,his voice heavy with grief,meowed softly,“Someone killed Duskpaw."

“Who would have done this?"Deereyes meowed,curling her tail around her son.“Why Duskpaw?"

Cloudstar silenced the riot with a flick of his tail.The moon was high in the sky,lighting up the camp.“We don't know who killed her,but we will find out."He then added threateningly,“Whoever it is will be exiled immediately."

Murmurs began around the camp again.I only heard snippets of conversation,but rumors were flying.

“I think it was Greyfur."

“Lilacseed was upset with Pinknose yesterday - maybe he killed his kit out of spite."

“It had to be an apprentice to get away that quick."

“Maybe that Dovepaw.She has a mean streak."

“Her sister maybe..."

I shuddered.Hearing my sisters name as a suspect put my nerves on end.I never even heard which one of my sisters was listed next.Maybe me.

The murmurs continued till dawn.