"Because I'm different." Shadepaw meowed, the phrase seemed to touch his heart. He was different from the other Dark Forest cats, "And I always will be." Shadepaw turned around and began to pad away, unable to resist a surge of anxiety for lying to the young cat.

A rebellion? Really? That's what he thought of? Shadepaw shook his head and sighed after making sure he was out of the kit's sight range. But then again, she was a kit, and Shadepaw had overheard it was her first time out of the Nursery! And she was three moons old! Poor kit.

But Applekit now had an important destiny, whether she wanted it or not. She was special. A tint of jealousy ran through Shadepaw's tail, causing it to flick. Special. He spat in his mind, why couldn't he have been special? This she-cat was only put on her 'fate-path' because StarClan were uncertain! Yet Shadepaw was banished to the Dark Forest.

Shadepaw shook his head, knowing that his life had already ended. But it could be different, I have another chance to prove I have a good heart, and that will be shown by guiding this cat.

Shadepaw looked up at the sky, he'd go back there. But not on the bright side. Why had he been so cruel in his life? His death was a mistake and so was his life. Why couldn't he just go back and fix his mistakes? Why was life so cruel to him?

He closed his eyes as he took a step forward. Suddenly, he felt a fluff of fur tickle his nose, instantly his eyes flew open and claws unsheathed he crouched low, teeth bared in a ready position. Catching a good look at the cat in front of him, he realized it was the big orange tom he had seen while spying on StarClan, Firestar.

"What do you want?" Shadepaw growled every muscle burning to attack the tom. He was the leader of StarClan, so Shadepaw thought. Meaning he was the leader of the Liars.

"You were the one who spied on our meeting." Firestar said steadily. Shadepaw bit back a sharp retort, giving away his identity would be a bad start with this tom, especially since it wasn't good.

"I don't know what your talking about." Shadepaw replied easily, wishing he could cuff his own ears for coming up with such a mouse-brained comeback, even a kit could have done better.

"Oakheart and Bluestar reported to me that they pursued a thick furred black tom." Firestar said, "Not many cats have a pelt like yours."

Shadepaw bit back a sharp retort, he was outnumbered, the StarClan cats had planned this ahead. Two cats stood behind Firestar, both built well and prepared to attack. He glared at Firestar, "And what if I did?"

Firestar paused for a moment than looked at Shadepaw, "You mustn't tell anyone of this plan, is that understood? Or StarClan will personally hunt you down."

Shadepaw sneered at the cat's pathetic threat, "And do what? Show me the light and hope it devours me?"

A growl rumbled inside Firestar's throat, "Do not insult StarClan, Shadepaw, we contain bigger power than any cat imagines.

"Prove it," Shadepaw snapped back, struggling to keep his fur on his shoulders lying still. Every muscle of his body burned to leap at the snobby and arrogant tom's face and rip him to pieces. First by extending his sharp claws and scoring them through Firestar's throat. No, he wanted Firestar to suffer a slow and painful death, so perhaps digging his claws into Firestar's stomach and twisting slowly-

"We will prove it when the time comes, for now Applekit is your responsibility." Firestar interrupted Shadepaw's thoughts with a phrase that changed Shadepaw's life. Take care of Applekit? That was his goal, wasn't it? Than why couldn't he feel happier? Because something didn't feel right. StarClan were trying to persuade Shadepaw, of the Dark Forest, to do their dirty work.

Images slowly clicked in Shadepaw's mind. "You are trying to get me to do StarClan's dirty work?" Shadepaw growled, his long claws extending even further as he dug them into the soil beneath him, his teeth bared into a snarl as he spoke.

Firestar cast him a bemused glance, "If that's the way you'd like to put it, than yes."

"So what makes you think I'll do it?" Shadepaw steamed, his fur bristled freely as his claws itched for an attack. Firestar's amusement was not being shared with Shadepaw. Not one bit. Shadepaw wished he could slice open the tom's flesh and watch him bleed to death. But it was not an option now.

"Because you already promised her," he responded, Shadepaw's memories flashed back to Applekit.

Applekit, I am Shadepaw... Of StarClan. I was instructed to bring you here to warn you about a prophecy that one of the other members of StarClan will send you tonight in a dream. Shadepaw felt his own pelt burn in shame, what kind of cat was he, tricking a kit so he could lure he away from another trick?

"And," Firestar added, "You already promised yourself."

Because I'm different. And I always will be. Shadepaw hesitated and the orange cat's last words. He was right, as much as Shadepaw didn't like it, Firestar as telling the truth, whether Shadepaw wanted it or not.

"StarClan has heard your statement and we have reviewed your life... When you... Lived." Firestar seemed to be struggling to get the statement out of his mouth, it seemed akward for both him and Shadepaw. "So StarClan has decided that if you help this she-cat overcome the challenge that waits ahead. StarClan will welcome you into our ranks."

Shadepaw didn't even listen to the last sentence, "No."

"No?" Firestar asked

"You spent your puny little lives looking at every bad part of my life. Because of a fatal mistake, you banished me from my rightful home. From my family. You're a mouse-brained fool if you think I'd want to join your ranks after all you've done to me."

"Think, Shadepaw," Firestar insisted, "StarClan will not give you another chance."

"And nor do I need one. I will help this she-cat, but at the cost of my own free-will, now get out of my fur before I claw your face off." Shadepaw hissed. Firestar's two body guards crouched down, preparing to leap if Shadepaw went out to injure their leader, but Firestar dismissed them with a wave of his tail.

"Very well, Shadepaw. We will 'get out of your fur' but you will never tell this cat of StarClan's previous plans. Is it understood?"

Shadepaw only glared back into the cat's luminous green eyes. The sun was at its highest peak now and the light hit Shadepaw's fur, allowing the murky tone of it to glow. "Off with you." He growled , taking a threatening step forward.

Firestar nodded and turned around, the two cats behind lead the way. Then all three cats faded into nothingness. Once Shadepaw was for certain they has gone, he sat down, smoothing his chest fur with a few easy licks. What have I done?