Lost in Shadows

Prologue
A gray tom loped along a silver pool. Below, a sprawling camp was just waking up out on the forest floor. The tom's wide paws itched with nerves as he paced around and around the camp, blue eyes never leaving the water.

Another tom, a yawning dark tabby padded in, blinking his green eyes sleepily. "Pebbleclaw? What are you doing up?" the tom padded over, "Have you been up all night?"

Pebbleclaw blinked and looked up, his blue eyes unusually bright. "Oh...hello Greeneyes. And, yes I've been up.  I-I just have this terrible feeling."

Greeneyes crossed over to the far side of the water where his friend was still searching the camp. "About...?" he prompted gently.

"Lionstar." Pebbleclaw murmured, not looking up.

Greeneyes sighed and looked over the water, reflecting sadly on the strength of a bond between mentor and apprentice- a bond that could not be wavered by death.

"Pebbleclaw," he began quietly, "I know that Lionstar will always be your apprentice, no matter his age or rank. And even though my Thornpaw never..." he winced, "Never got his name, I still know what you're going through. Lionstar is a leader now though, he can take care of himself."

Pebbleclaw looked up, eyes wild with fear and anger. Greeneyes took a step back.

"You don't know what it's like though!" he hissed, "How can a leader suspect disloyalty from the cat he trusted the most?"

"You mean Yarrowheart," Greeneyes meowed evenly. Pebbleclaw nodded, his eyes drifting back towards the pond. "Yes, I have sensed darkness within him too." Greeneyes continued, "But he's a deputy! He would never kill his leader!"

"Wouldn't he?" Pebbleclaw murmured. He turned to Greeneyes and the old medicine cat was shocked to see tears swimming in his friend's eyes. He pressed against the gray tom.

"Lionstar is the best cat I know," Pebbleclaw whispered, "I know he's going to die today."

Greeneyes' heart twisted as he wondered if Pebbleclaw still saw Lionstar as the bouncing golden apprentice from his mentoring days. He gave his friend's ear a comforting lick.

"I know," Pebbleclaw whispered, "Why can't I save him?"