TimeClan

Leader:

Echostar - Light Grey She-cat

Deputy:

Wolfscar - Scarred Dark Grey Tom

Warriors:

Silverlight - Grey She-cat

Fernfur - Brown Tabby She-cat

Wolfscar - Scarred Dark Grey Tom

Goldenflame - Golden Tom

Willowberry - White She-cat

Tawnyfeather - Calico She-cat

Shademist - Black She-cat

Med Cats

Hollypetal - Ginger and White She-cat

Sparrowwing - Brown Tabby Tom

Apprentices

Queens

Flowerpelt - Black and White She-cat

Silverlight

Kits

Ravenkit - Black Tom

Ashenkit - Grey She-kit

Chapter One

The Lost Deputy

Echosong woke up early, preparing to set out a patrol. Badgerstar had doubled the patrols since DarkClan had taken their previous deputy. Wolfscar, Flowerpelt and Goldenflame were first cats awake. "Could you three go on patrol?" All three cats nodded, and padded through the entrance and out of sight. Icepaw, Shorepaw and Honeypaw were next awake. They each dipped their heads to the deputy and padded over to the freshkill pile, taking a rabbit to share. Tawnyfeather and Shademist followed their apprentices to the freshkill pile. "Hello, deputy" Teased Tawnyfeather as Echosong approached and took a mouse. The shock of becoming deputy hadn't quite set in yet, even after two moons

Echosong chuckled nervously. For now, she could relax. The one thing she had to do was train Icepaw. Once Echosong, Tawnyfeather, Shademist and their apprentices had finished eating, they padded out for patrol.

They avoided the DarkClan camp. Other than that, the borders were clear. Echosong hoped that the patrol she'd sent out earlier had the same good news. They sent the apprentices to hunt until sunhigh and padded back to camp. Badgerstar was waiting outside. "Echosong" he dipped his head, "Can you see me in my den, please?" He padded away in the direction of his den. Echosong told Tawnyfeather and Shademist to go ahead, and she padded after her leader. She remembered the first time she'd been in the Leader's den. It was cosy, with a bed and a place to sit. She sat down on the moss and waited for Badgerstar to address her. "How are the borders?" He asked. "Clear from what I could see. I sent another patrol out earlier, just as you asked" Badgerstar nodded, clearly pleased with Echosong.

"I had a troubling dream last night, Echosong. The former leader, Sunstar, appeared before me. He told me a prophecy" He recited the same prophecy she and Sparrowwing had found the night before, "He said you would know. Is this true?" Echosong nodded. "How long have you known?" He asked. "Since last night" She replied. "I had a dream, and Sparrowwing also" Badgerstar nodded. "I was told that 'The time of the prophecy is near'. We must try to understand what the Starry Cats intend for us" Echosong nodded. "Darkness will arise. Surely that means DarkClan?" she suggested. Badgerstar nodded, "Blood will rule the forest" he shuddered, "That must mean that lives will be lost. Echo and Shade will revive the clans" No words were needed to decode that sentence of the prophecy, the leader and his deputy just looked at eachother, the message flickering in their eyes. "Echo's star will shine" Echosong realised with a jolt what that could mean. Echosong may become one of the Starry Cats. Badgerstar obviously realised it too, He dipped his head but said nothing. "You may go now, Echosong" He murmured. She padded out, stunned by the prophecy. Tawnyfeather was awaiting her outside the den

Are you alright?" She asked, "You look like a cornered rabbit" Echosong shook the shock from her head. "Yeah, I'm fine" She replied firmly, implying no further conversation. The sun had dipped below the horizon. Echosong yawned, only then realising how tired she was. She padded into the den and curlied up, her tail tucked neatly over her nose. She stayed awake for a while longer, dwelling on the prophecy, before deciding that the Starry Cats would allow it to unfold in time, and she fell asleep.

She awoke the next morning to find Tawnyfeather, Shademist, and their three apprentices waiting. "Good morning, Echosong" Shorepaw dipped his head. "Badgerstar told us to patrol again" Icepaw said, a hint of whine in her voice. "He's just nervous about DarkClan. Come on, we better not disobey him" The five cats padded out of the camp and into the morning sun.

Chapter Two

Between a Badger and a DarkClan Patrol

They had reached the border with LifeClan. There was a strange scent. One Echosong had not scented for a long time. Badger. She remembered with a wince how her mother had died at the paws of one, desperately trying to protect her kits. She followed the scent through the grass until she came across the black and white striped animal. Icepaw cringed, "Is that a badger? What an ugly muzzle!" Shorepaw nodded, "You can say that again!" The badger flicked its ear in their direction, silencing the apprentices. There was a new smell that entered the long grass. One easily recognizable. DarkClan. Echosong whipped around to the three apprentices. "Smell that?" They each took a sniff, scenting the other cats. "Thats DarkClan. Go tell Badgerstar, all three of you. Don't come back no matter what, got it?" The three apprentices nodded, fear clear in their eyes. They turned tail and bolted through the grass. "We needed them!" Hissed Shademist.

"What we needed, was them to stay alive" Echosong murmured back calmly, Shademist realised why Echosong had sent them away and fell silent. There were only three cats, versus DarkClan and a badger. Echosong swallowed nervously. This is for the good of the clan, She told herself over and over again, praying she wouldn't go to the Clan of Starry Cats before this was over. She heard the padding of paws and murmur of voices ahead of them. Glancing back, the badger was aware of it too. It snarled fiercely. She hoped the apprentices made it to camp in time to get help. A cat appeared from the grass, followed by another. "Get out of our territory!" Snarled Shademist. "Why should we?" One sneered back, "Once we take over your clan, it'l be ours" Echosong drew her lip up into a snarl. "You'll never make it to our camp alive" She hissed. She heard the badger growling in its native language, but she decided to ignore it for now. She could scent more cats hiding in the long grass. "Or will we?" The other DarkClan cat challenged. Tawnyfeather leapt forward, raking her claws across one's nose. It yowled a command, and more cats flooded from the grass. Soon, the three cats were outnumbered.

Please let Icepaw, Shorepaw and Honeypaw get help before its too late, prayed Echosong. The growling of the badger grew louder. All the cats hesitated for a moment, knowing the badger had scented and heard them. The sound of the growling nearly drowned out the padding of many paws that approached quickly. The TimeClan warriors burst from the grass, launching themselves into battle with the DarkClan cats, until a clear and familiar call stopped every cat in its tracks. "DarkClan, I am Darkpaw, son of your creator, Deadstar. I know he is dead now, but I am his successor" Darkpaw stepped into the centre of the battlefield. "Darkpaw, what are you doing?" Asked a horrified Badgerstar. "Claiming what my father had left me!" He snarled back, "You should've made me a warrior moons ago, but no! So I will make myself a warrior. I will make myself more than that! I will claim the position my father left me as leader!" His angry yowl resonated around the silenced battlefield. He spun on his sister, Shademist. "Come on, Shademist. Father left you a position as deputy" Shademist didn't move, frozen in the treachery of her brother.

"We will rule the forest together as brother and sister" Continued Darkpaw, "The forest will belong to DarkClan, and we will tear down whoever stands in our way. We will rule side by side. Our father made DarkClan for us, Shademist" Shademist had gotten over the initial shock of her brother's turn. "Then our father was a fool" She snarled, raking her claws across her brothers face. He gave a yowl of agony, and turned on his sister. "You have betrayed our father. You will pay, but now is not the time" Blood welled from the cut his sister gave him as he yowled for his newly claimed clan to follow. But before TimeClan could return to camp, another problem struck. The badger leapt onto Badgerstar, its teeth bared. Badgerstar gave a yowl of surprise as he hit the ground, overpowered by the badger. Wolfscar leapt, biting the badger hard on the flank. It leapt away, but not before it dealt a killing bite to Badgerstar. Wolfscar and the other warriors fended off the badger, with some difficulty against the larger opponent. Echosong bounded to Badgerstar's side. He was panting heavily, blood flowing freely from a deep wound in his neck. "Echosong"

He panted, his sides heaving with effort, "Lead. The. Clan. Well" His breathing slowed until it came to a stop altogether, and his body fell slack. Other cats gathered around Badgerstar's body. "We must take the body home" Echosong's eyes glazed with grief, but she knew what she had to do. She grabbed Badgerstar's scruff, and carried his body back to camp, where the remnants of the clan gathered around the body Echosong had dropped in the centre of the camp. She leapt up onto the Tallstone to address the clan. "As you can see, our leader is been killed. This was not the work of DarkClan, but a badger. His spirit walks in the stars now. He was a noble leader and his memory lives on" Echosong was surprised at how easily the words flowed from her mouth. "You may also notice that Darkpaw has not returned" Cats glanced around, concerned. "He has betrayed TimeClan and has turned to lead his father's clan, DarkClan itself. However, you have no need to doubt Shademist's loyalty. She chose to stay with our clan when Darkpaw left" Echosong glanced nervously at Tawnyfeather, who gave her an encouraging nod. "As deputy, I must now assume the role as leader. I will travel to the Cave of Whispering Stars at sundown"

Echosong scanned the faces of the cats, considering who best to accompany her. "I wish to be accompanied by Hollypetal, Sparrowwing, and the remaining three apprentices" She saw the apprentices faces light up, their eyes full of excitement. "Clan dismissed" She leapt down from the Tallstone and padded toward the lifeless body that lay in the centre of the camp. She pressed her nose to it, whispering, "What will I do without you, Badgerstar?" She turned away, and padded toward Tawnyfeather and Shademist. "I'm sorry I didn't request you to come with me to the-" She was cut off by Tawnyfeather reaching her nose to touch Echosong's "It's ok. We understand. And we're glad for our apprentices" she murmured. Echosong gave them both a grateful look. "Thanks" And she padded toward the leader's den, where Badgerstar's familiar scent still lingered. Echosong sighed, padding to the bed in the corner. She paced for a moment, and then lay down with her head on her paws. The last words Badgerstar had said to her echoed in her mind. Lead the clan well.

Echosong had gathered the three apprentices and padded over to meet Hollypetal and Sparrowwing at the entrance to camp. Nervousness flooded her, making her heart pound in her ears. The sun was hovering just above the horizon. "We are ready to go" Echosong told the medicine cats. Hollypetal dipped her head, "I will lead the way" And the 6 cats padded off into the setting sun.

They were on the edge of AirClan's territory, too close to DarkClan's camp for comfort. "Not even DarkClan, no matter how ruthless they may be, would harm a medicine cat" Reassured Sparrowwing, but Echosong still felt uneasy. Only once they had entered the darkness could she relax, and focus. The darkness came to an end, where a stream of setting sunlight flooded through the hole in the roof. "Why come at sundown?" Asked Icepaw curiously. "Because it is the time when you can talk to both the Starry Cats and the Almighty Cat himself. All three of the apprentice's eyes widened. Hollypetal nodded encouragingly to Echosong.

She padded into the light the way she had seen Sparrowwing do it. She tiled her head up and closed her eyes, allowing the last of the daylight to warm her pelt. She waited to be called upon by the Almighty Cat himself.

Chapter Two

The Leader Ceremony

Echosongs vision went from the darkness of closed eyes to a warm, dark blue. A cat appeared in front of her, bigger than any other animal she'd seen. It's golden pelt glowed with a similarly coloured golden hue. "Welcome, Echosong" He said in a deep, resonating voice. "I have watched you ever since you joined TimeClan. You were always destined to become leader. Let us begin" He faded from view, replaced by another golden cat, yet this one was normal sized for a cat, and it's pelt did not glow. "I am Sunstar, a former leader of TimeClan" He said, "I give you your first life, the life of friendship. No matter what clan, what heritage, what pelt colour, you must hold your friendships close. You never know when you will need another cats help" Sunstar faded away, and he was replaced by a cream cat. "I am Dawnfur, one of TimeClan's former elders. I give you the life of devotion. You must devote your time to your clan, for they will rely on you" Dawnfur faded, replaced by another cat, a mostly black cat with white paws.

"My name is Whitefoot. I give you the life of loyalty. Always do what is right" Echosong noticed a grimace cross his face as he disappeared. A fully white cat took his place. "I am Frostheart. I give you the life of justice. You cannot treat a cat unfairly until you know the facts" Echosong noticed the slash marks across her throat as she too faded into the background. She was replaced by a calico cat. "I am Swallowpaw. I give you the life of mentoring. Teach your clanmates to do the right thing. When they look for your guidance, offer it. And look after your apprentice well" Echosong wondered why an apprentice was in the Clan of Starry Cats, but before she could ask, he was gone, replaced by a familiar silver she-cat. Echosong recognized her instantly. "Mother" She whispered. "Echosong. You have grown so much. I will always be proud of you, no matter where I am. I give you the life of love. Care for your clan as though they are your kits, because when you return, they will be. Kits and elders, apprentices and warriors" Echosong's mother touched her nose to Echosong's as she faded from view. The next cat was the same dark blue-gray one that had given her the prophecy many moons ago.

"You may not recognize me, Echosong, but I am your father, Tide. I give you the life of courage. Your courage will lead your clan through the darkest of days. You will need this courage to face the prophecy. Farewell, Echosong" He faded into the background, and Badgerstar himself appeared. "Hello again, Echosong. I give you the life of wisdom. Share this with your clanmates. You're wisdom will bring you further than you're strength. I chose you as deputy for a reason. Lead the clan well" He disappeared, and the Almighty Cat once again appeared in front of her. "I present you with your ninth and final life. This is the life of connection. With the Clan of Starry Cats, with other clans, and with your own clan, you must connect, gather knowledge. This connection will make you powerful. I give you your leader's name, Echostar. Use your nine lives to protect your clan with each of the gift you have received. Your company will be waiting. You may join them. Goodbye, Echostar" The Almighty Cat faded, along with the Dark blue haze that had appeared in the beginning. She blinked her eyes open, listening to the voices chanting her new name. She padded back over to the medicine cats and apprentices as the chanting subsided.

"Are you Echostar now?" Honeypaw asked. Echostar nodded. "That was weird! You stood there for a moment, then voices started saying your warrior name, then they said other cats names that I don't know, then they said 'The Almighty Cat has spoken' and they said your new name!" Icepaw explained. Echostar laughed. "I met every one of those cats that the voices said"

As they padded back to camp, Echostar told the apprentices every detail of what had happened. They listened intently the whole way home. As they entered the camp, the warriors padded over and dipped their heads to the new leader. Echostar padded up and leapt onto the Tallstone, preparing to name a new deputy. "Let all cats old enough to stalk their prey gather beneath the Tallstone!" She yowled, bringing cats padding in her direction. "The time has come to name a new deputy. As it is Sundown, the Clan of Starry Cats can hear and approve of my choice"

She scanned the faces of the cats, searching for a good deputy, until her eyes fell on an experienced warrior, and the perfect choice. "Wolfscar, do you accept the role of deputy?" Wolfscar nodded, "I will do everything I can to serve my clan" Echostar looked approvingly at him. "Clan dismissed" She leapt off the Tallstone and watched as cats gathered to congratulate their new deputy. She noticed Flowerpelt standing next to him as she padded over. "Thank you, Echostar" Wolfscar said as he noticed her padding over. "I have some news. Flowerpelt and I have become mates!" He gave Flowerpelt a quick lick on the ear. Echostar was very pleased for them both, but also a little envious. She had never had someone to love her the way Wolfscar loved Flowerpelt. "I'm happy for the both of you" She said, concealing her envy away. Wolfscar dipped his head as Echostar padded toward Tawnyfeather. "Where's Shademist?" She asked. Tawnyfeather winced as she heard the Icepaw and Honeypaw tormenting Shademist. "You're brother is a traitor. Who's to say you won't be too?" Hissed Icepaw. "I wish you weren't my mentor!" Yowled Honeypaw. Echostar padded over, scowling at the two apprentices.

"You should respect your mentor, Honeypaw. She has taught you more than you could've without her" Honeypaw turned to Echostar. "Her brother betrayed us!" "And what has she done, exactly?" Echostar replied, struggling to keep calm. "She could turn on us at any moment! This might all be a coy for Darkpaw to get into our camp!" Icepaw snapped at her mentor. "Both of you will be cleaning the elders tomorrow. I expect you to at least have some respect for them" She growled, her patience wearing thin. Both apprentices looked defiant as they padded to their den. "Thanks Echostar" Shademist said. "I would've done it for any of the clan" Echostar replied, brushing her tail over Shademist. Shorepaw padded out, looking guilty. "I'm sorry about Honeypaw and Icepaw, Shademist" He said earnestly. Shademist dipped her head. "It's not your fault, Shorepaw. I hope they learn their lesson tomorrow with the elders" Shorepaw chuckled, "I'm sure they will. Bye, Shademist, Echostar" He bounded away. "You're lucky, Tawnyfeather. He's a good apprentice" Remarked Shademist. Tawnyfeather nodded, a gleam in her eyes. "Better than yours, clearly" Shademist grimaced, "I doubt anyone will trust me after that"

"Welcome to my life" Echostar chuckled, looking up at the sky. The sunlight was waning. Echostar nuzzled her friends in turn. "See you guys later" She padded away.

The next morning, after getting used to her new den, Echostar awoke. She padded into the elders den, where Smalltalon, Mooneyes and Lostears were. Lostears remained asleep, a benefit of being deaf, Echostar assumed. "Hello, Echostar. What brings you here?" Asked Smalltalon. Echostar took a shallow breath as she recalled yesterday's events in her mind, as was rightly ashamed of her apprentice. "You will be having some apprentices looking after you today" She gave the elders the low-down on what had happened yesterday. Once she had finished, Mooneyes nodded. "You are rightly ashamed, Echostar. No apprentice, warrior or even kit should torment a clanmate. And we will gladly accept their help. If been trying to get rid of a tick this morning" Her white eyes glimmered mischievously. Smalltalon gave a throaty laugh, "Too right, Mooneyes. We'll be seeing you later, Echostar"

She dipped her head and padded out of the elder's den to find Icepaw and Honeypaw eating outside. They had finished by the time Echostar had approached. "You've finished. Off to the elders with you" Icepaw shot her a dirty look as they both padded away. Wolfscar padded out of the warrior den next, accompanied by Flowerpelt. "We've had some good news" He purred, "Flowerpelt's bearing my kits" Echostar's heart gave a joyous thud. "I'm so happy for you! I'm sure they'll turn into fine warriors with a mother and father like yourselves" "Thank you, Echostar" Replied Flowerpelt bashfully. With a dip of the head and a lick on Wolfscar's ear, she turned and padded away, leaving just the leader and her deputy. "Can you organize a border patrol? I'll take a hunting patrol out, seeing as I have some time on my paws" Wolfscar nodded, and padded away. Echostar padded after him to the warrior den to see who, if any, was willing to hunt. "Hey, Echostar" Tawnyfeather yawned. "Would you like to bring Shorepaw on a hunting patrol?" She asked, dipping her head in greeting. Tawnyfeather nodded, and went to get her apprentice. "I'll come" Offered the familiar voice of Shademist.

Echostar smiled, knowing they could not go anywhere without her. They padded to the edge of the camp as Tawnyfeather and Shorepaw joined them. They padded out of camp and into the long grass.

They arrived back at camp by sunhigh, each carrying as much prey as they could carry. They dumped in on the prey pile and padded in their separate directions. Echostar found Icepaw outside the elder den. "How are the elders?" She asked, beginning to forgive Icepaw and her sister for what they had said to Shademist. "Mooneyes had ticks, and now my paws smell like mouse bile!" She grumbled.

Chapter Three

Meeting in Chaos

Echostar continued her work as leader for the rest of the moon, until the first day of Falling-season came. It was sunhigh. The time to announce who would come to the Meeting. She leapt up onto the Tallstone, calling, "All cats old enough to stalk their prey gather beneath the Tallstone!" Cats gathered beneath her gaze. "It is sunhigh. I must announce who will be coming to the Meeting. The cats accompanying me will be: Wolfscar, Flowerpelt, Silverlight, Tawnyfeather, Shademist, Hollypetal, Sparrowwing, and Shorepaw. We will leave at sundown. Clan dismissed" She leapt off the Tallstone as the clan dispersed.

Orange light made the many pelts of the gathered cats glow as TimeClan descended into the meeting. Echostar hesitantly leapt up onto the Meeting Rock aside other leaders. Once all five leaders were present Mudstar's clear yowl silenced every cat at the Meeting. "TimeClan, seeing as you have a new leader, you may go first" He said. Echostar stepped forward, looking over the many, many faces of the cats. "Badgerstar was killed by a badger last moon. As his deputy, I have taken his place and recieved my leader's name: Echostar" She heard a cat from another clan yowl loudly. "I thought Dustheart was deputy!" Echostar's blue eyes flickered with grief "Dustheart was the first cat to be killed by DarkClan. And I'm sure he won't be the last, but we will avenge his death" Echostar tipped her head up a touch, her courageous yowl sounding over the Meeting. Each of the leaders dipped their heads respectfully, "They were both loyal cats who will be missed" Silverstar said. The assembled cats murmured in agreement.

"That is all. Would you like to go, Minnowstar?" The WaterClan leader stepped to take her place as Echostar stepped back, in line with the other leaders. "WaterClan is as strong as ever with, a new warrior, Riversplash" Echostar saw her sister proudly raise her head."That's all, Mudstar?" Mudstar stepped forward, "One of our elders has died, Mistyeyes. She will be missed among our clan and others. We also have a new warrior, Wolfstrike" Echostar's brother sat a little straighter. "Enough from EarthClan, Rockstar?" The AirClan leader stepped up to address the cats. "The prey is running well, and we have a new warrior, Stormcloud, and a new apprentice, Featherpaw" Echostar couldn't see her brother, but she knew he would be sitting tall among the warriors. "Other than that, I have nothing to report. Silverstar, you may go"

The final leader on the rock to speak stepped forward, "LifeClan is well. We have 3 new kits, Sagekit, Forestkit and Leafkit, and a new apprentice, Thistlepaw. That is all" "The Meeting is over" The leader leapt off the rock in unison and padded away to gather their clans. TimeClan assembled quickly, and as they prepared to leave, there was a devastating yowl. It was EarthClan. The TimeClan warriors raced to help them, finding a battlefield of EarthClan and DarkClan. "TIMECLAN, ATTACK!" Echostar howled. The TimeClan warriors raced into battle alongside the LifeClan warriors, who had seen the commotion on the way to their camp. Soon, the green grass was stained scarlet from the battling cats. Echostar was locking in a fierce tussle with a grey DarkClan warrior. Echostar was pinned down. She kicked up with her hind legs, sending the warrior skidding across the ground. A DarkClan apprentice bounded up to Echostar. She could smell fear all over him. "Not your fight" She growled, batting him away with a paw. She leapt at another DarkClan warrior. A triumphant yowl halted Echostar in her tracks. "I HAVE AVENGED DUSKHEART!" It was Wolfscar. He was holding a limp body in his jaws.

He shook it vigourously, like a dog, before dropping it and racing off to another DarkClan warrior. More DarkClan warriors flooded in. Echostar quickly finished the cat she was fighting and took on a third. It was a black tom with a familiar scent. "Darkpaw" She hissed. "Darkstar, now, you TimeClan dirt" He snarled back. He had become a fierce opponent, biting and slashing. One of his claws struck Echostar across the throat. She gave a pained yowl as the world began loosing colour. He slashed again, blood flowing freely from her wound. He raised a paw to strike again, but before he could, Shademist bowled into him, throwing him off balance, giving Tawnyfeather enough time to rush to Echostar's side. But it was too late. The world turned black for a moment, before becoming a hazy blue. A golden cat appeared in front of her. It was Sunstar. "You have lost your first life" He said, "You now have 8 lives left. A battle awaits you. You must fulfil the prophecy, Go now, Echostar" Sunstar faded away, as well as the blue haze. Her eyes blinked open. The screeches of fighting cats filled her ears. She got to her paws. Shademist was fighting her brother. Tawnyfeather had gone off to fight another DarkClan cat.

An EarthClan warrior was fighting another DarkClan cat, and matching him blow for blow. Echostar bolted at Darkstar, knocking him over. She stood beside Shademist, lip curled and teeth bared. "You'll never rule the forest. Not as long as the clans are here" Darkstar cackled, "But I can try" He leapt at Shademist, who lost balance on impact. Darkstar yowled. Two more cats rushed to him. One leapt on Echostar. The other onto Shademist. Darkstar padded up between them. "It's over, TimeClan!" He yowled. A bloodcurdling yowl sounded from the other end of the battlefield. The cats separated, revealing two other cats pinned down. It was Mudstar and Silverstar. "Its over for all of you! We have your leaders, and if you don't surrender your territories, we will kill them as many times over as we need to" The warrior holding Echostar down put a paw on her throat and smiled evilly down at her. Wolfscar padded up to Darkstar. "Do it, Wolfscar" Echostar croaked. "We can't! They will take every cat at camp prisoner, or kill them altogether!" "We will give you time to leave your territory" Darkstar added reasonably. "Deal?" Wolfscar bared his teeth, "Fine!" He yowled, and Shorepaw appeared at his side.