Shadows in the Night

Prologue
"Are you awake?"

Stonekit stared into the corner of the den silently, ignoring his brother's question.

"Stonekit!" Harekit hissed. "I want to go play outside! Please come with me."

"No," Stonekit said, not turning his head. "Go to sleep, Harekit."

"But I'm bored," Harekit whined.

There was a rustling of branches, and Stonekit closed his eyes and lowered his head quickly as Specklebranch pushed her way into the den. "Harekit? Why aren't you asleep yet?" she asked softly.

"I am asleep," Harekit said quickly, closing his eyes and pretending to snore. "See?"

Specklebranch purred softly. "Of course you are." Carefully she settled down between the two kits, tucking them both in close to her side. Stonekit lay quietly, his breathing shallow. Carefully, he slid one eye open, his amber gaze boring into the darkness. His mind was whirling, his thoughts still full of the cat he had seen not seconds before. Her words rung in his mind.

''You have a destiny, Stonekit, beyond that of any other cat. You will rise high above the Clans, further than any leader has ever risen...''

* * * * * * * * * *

"Are you ready?" Swiftfoot asked them, his tail smoothing Harekit's pelt gently.

Stonekit nodded abruptly, his whole body focused on Ravenstar. Harekit, on the other side of their father, fidgeted nervously.

"What if I mess up?" he asked, squirming away from Specklebranch as she smoothed the tuft of fur on his head. "What if Ravenstar changes his mind?"

"He won't," Swiftfoot answered gently. "You'll do everything right."

"Stop being stupid," Stonekit snapped. "Apprentice ceremonies aren't that big a deal."

Harekit glared at his brother. "They are to me," he pouted.

"Stonekit," Specklebranch warned. "Be nice to your brother."

Stonekit narrowed his eyes furiously. Be nice to your brother. That was all they ever said to him! Why should he be nice to Harekit? The brown tom didn't have a destiny. It wasn't Stonekit's brother who was going to rise higher than any leader before him.

Ravenstar took a step forward, to the top of the Highrock. "I stand here today to make four kits of this Clan into apprentices."

Stonekit didn't hesitate, padding forward slowly, determination in his eyes. Behind him, he caught a glimpse of Harekit glancing up at their father for encouragement. Off to the side, Honeykit and Dewkit were also creeping forwards nervously. Their mother Mousesky stood close beside Specklebranch. The two she-cats had been best friends since kithood, and everyone in the Clan joked that the two sets of kits were meant to be together.

Blazesoul, the Clan deputy purred softly as his two daughters walked past him, Stonekit always a pace ahead of them, and then suddenly Ravenstar was looming above him. The young grey tom looked up, and for an instant their eyes met.

''I will rise higher than you. ''

Ravenstar turned his head towards Dewkit, and the moment was lost.

"Dewpaw, Honeypaw, Harepaw and Stonepaw," Ravenstar began. Stonekit held his head up higher, impatient for the ceremony to be over. Directly ahead of him he saw the silver she-cat outlined against the dark night sky, and he lowered his head a centimetre, then raised it again. She returned the nod, her form shimmering in the wind.

Suddenly, Stonepaw realised that a cat was moving behind him, and he spun around to touch noses with Spiderpool. His new mentor purred quietly.

"You're doing very well," he murmured

Stonekit nodded, and watched as the other three new apprentices stepped back away from the rock. He paused, just for an instant, standing there in front of the entire Clan, feeling their eyes upon him.

Stonepaw stepped backwards. I will rise higher than you all.