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Chapter Nineteen of my TaS AVOS rewrite is up!
TaS - Chapter Nine
“From this moment on, you will be known as Sparkstorm!” Bramblestar’s eyes sparkled with pride as he looked at his daughter. Sparkstorm’s chest was puffed out. “StarClan honors you for your courage and skill in battle, and we welcome you as a full warrior of ThunderClan.”
“Sparkstorm! Sparkstorm!”
Pride surged through Alderpaw’s pelt as he called his sister’s new warrior name. He wanted to be the loudest cat in the Clan. He wanted to show his sister he was truly proud of her.
Graystripe’s mew sounded farther away in the clearing. The elder was murmuring to Millie. “I thought they’d choose Sparkfire for her warrior name. She looks more like Firestar than any cat I ever saw. It would have been a good way to remember him.” He sighed.
Millie pressed against her mate. “He named her after Sandstorm,” she meowed, her eyes shining. “I’m so proud of her.” Graystripe’s eyes seemed to brighten and he nodded.
Sparkstorm stood beside Bramblestar in the center of the clearing, her chin and tail high. Joy shined in her bright green eyes. The half-moon shone in a clear black sky, lighting the camp and striping the Highledge with shadow.
Bramblestar brushed his muzzle along Sparkstorm’s chin. Squirrelflight hurried forward and touched noses with her daughter. Alderpaw shifted uneasily. He tried to ignore the sadness pricking at his heart. Sparkstorm deserved her warrior name. She’d been a great apprentice from her first day of training. Rosepetal and Toadstep had announced that she had performed brilliantly during her assessment, catching a pigeon and two mice and outwitting Rosepetal in a mock fight with a battle move she’d thought up herself. Alderpaw was still sad, though. His stomach churned and he slouched, looking at his paws.
He glanced at the moon. Would StarClan speak to him at tonight’s meeting at the Moonpool? Perhaps they would tell him that his apprenticeship was nearing its end. Longingly, he imagined Leafpool giving him his medicine cat name while his fellow medicine cats looked on. Would Jayflight finally stop telling him what to do?
“Alderpaw!” Sparkstorm’s mew called him from his thoughts. Their Clanmates were drifting to the edges of the camp, back to the prey they had left so they could witness the naming ceremony.
He hurried to meet her. “Congratulations!”
She looked as happy as a kit on their first day out of the nursery. “Thanks.” She touched her muzzle to his cheek. “Are you feeling okay? You look a little down.”
Alderpaw shuffled. Should he tell her? He shrugged. “It’s just,” he began, searching for the right words. “Ever since we were kits, I imagined being there with you, while we both got our warrior names.” He shrugged. “I love being a medicine cat, but . . .” Tears stung his eyes. “We don’t get to spend much time together anymore. I wish I could have gotten my name with you is all.”
Sparkstorm swiped her tail over his ears. “Don’t worry, Alder,” she meowed. “You’ll be next, and then we can spend all the time we want together. We won’t be busy apprentices anymore.”
Alderpaw smiled. “I hope I get my name soon,” he meowed, the sadness leaving his voice.
Leafpool stepped up next to Alderpaw. “I’m glad to be taking you to the moonpool,” she meowed. “I thought I’d be in ShadowClan a lot longer than I was.” She purred and nudged her apprentice. “I’m sure you’re glad to get away from Jayflight.”
Alderpaw laughed. “I sure won’t miss him.”
Jayflight’s ears pricked from beside the warriors den and he shot Alderpaw an amused glance. “I heard that beebrain!”
Alderpaw stuck his tongue out at him.
Sparkstorm followed Leafpool and Alderpaw as they padded toward the camp entrance. “I think you’re great,” she whispered to Alderpaw. “The way you’ve put up with Jayflight for so long. I’d have thrown him in the lake by now.”
Alderpaw laughed. “I’ve been tempted.”
Sparkstorm nudged him and looked at Leafpool. “You’d better go,” she meowed. Leafpool’s tail had already disappeared through the entrance tunnel. “I’ll meet you at the entrance in the morning. My vigil is going to be long.”
Alderpaw was glad he didn’t have to endure that. The clear sky meant a chilly night. There was probably some frost on the moor. “Don’t get too cold!” He called over his shoulder as he ducked into the tunnel.
“My new name will keep me warm!”
Alderpaw laughed.
“I’ll see you soon, Alderpaw!”
--------
Puddlepaw yawned, drowsy from such a long day. He woke up early and was unable to get back to sleep when Ferretclaw entered the den and asked if he’d like to go on a walk. They went along the lake, talking about how Puddlepaw was and what it was like being a medicine cat. Puddlepaw kept his answers as vague as possible, not wanting to tell Ferretclaw how he actually felt about this whole thing. He told his uncle that he was happy and that Mothwing was treating him well.
In reality, he was miserable and scared and anxious. He tried his best to keep that to himself, from everyone, including Mothwing. He had already asked the Clan for so much, having told them he was a tom only three sunrises before. Everyone was still adjusting and they all made sure he was comfortable, but now he felt like he couldn’t burden them with anything else. They’re already doing so much for me . . .
“Puddlepaw!”
Puddlepaw jumped and turned to Mothwing, swallowing back another yawn. “Yes?” he mewed, getting to his paws. “Do you need me to do something?”
Mothwing blinked at him. “You were spacing out again,” she told him. “Russetstar was just asking me how you’re progressing in your training.” She smiled and pressed against her apprentice. “Can you show her what you remember?”
The russet leader stared at him, her eyes narrow. Her dark green eyes shook Puddlepaw to his core. Russetstar always unnerved him.
Puddlepaw glanced at the herbs in front of him. Three different types. He blinked at them and wracked his brain for names. He pointed to one: a yellow flower with leaves piled next to them. “This is coltsfoot,” he meowed. That had been the first herb he’d ever learned. Littlecloud had left tons of this herb behind, having no use for it for a long while. “It can ease breathing and chew the leaves to heal cracked pads.”
Mothwing nodded to him in approval and glanced at Russetstar, who had a surprised look on her face.
Then he pointed to a bristled stemmed plant. It was green and had a long stem. “Horsetail,” he meowed, once again trying his best not to yawn He wished he didn’t get to sleep so late last night, only to wake up so early. But Mothwing put him on kit duty and all Snakekit wanted to do was run around the den and bowl into him. “Horsetail treats infections and can stop bleeding. We used these after the battle with the rogues.”
“Very good!” Mothwing purred. Her eyes shined with pride for her apprentice. Puddlepaw smiled at her. All his hard work was paying off. “And the last one?”
Puddlepaw looked at the last herb. Small blue flowers connected to a hairy stem. He held back a yawn, trying to remember his training. But there was no memory of this herb. He strained himself, his paws beginning to shake. “Um,” he murmured, blinking rapidly. “I—”
Russetstar looked at him expectantly. Puddlepaw’s stomach churned, cold claws gripped his chest, his throat tightened and a lump formed in it.
“I—I don’t know,” he mewled, shaking. “I can’t remember.”
“Don’t worry,” Mothwing told him. “This is borage. Do you know what it does?”
“Um.” Puddlepaw squeezed his eyes shot. ShadowClan was depending on him. He was their only medicine cat. What would happen if he couldn’t even remember a simple herb? Would the Clan be angry? Would Russetstar banish him? Would Pinenose and Spikefur be upset with him? Tears stung his eyes at the thought of his family being disappointed with him. Russetstar’s gaze burned into him. “I—I,” he stammered again, “I— I know I know this.”
Mothwing brushed her tail down his spine, making him shudder. “Borage produces milk for queens who have stopped producing too early. It can also treat sour stomachs and relieve tight chests.”
Puddlepaw let out a breath he didn’t realize he’d been holding. “Sorry,” he murmured.
“Don’t worry,” Mothwing meowed, picking up the herbs and putting them back into the store in the back of the den. “You did well today.”
“Yes,” Russetstar meowed. “I’m impressed with your progress.”
Puddlepaw looked at his paws. She doesn’t sound impressed.
“He’ll be a full medicine cat in no time.” Mothwing pressed against him. Puddlepaw wondered if she was happy for him or if she was happy she’d be going home sometime soon.
Russetstar nodded to Mothwing. “Thank you for staying with us for so long. You’ve been a great help to ShadowClan.”
The golden medicine cat picked up the last of the borage and set it in its own store. “Of course,” she meowed. “I’m happy to help.”
As soon as Russetstar left the den, Puddlepaw yawned, glad to let it out. He was tired and just wanted to curl up in his nest, but it seemed he wasn’t going to get any rest tonight.
“We’re going to the moonpool,” Mothwing told him, making his shoulders slump. “Would you like to go with me?”
“I’ll go,” Puddlepaw mewed, wishing he could decline. He wanted to see Pinenose and Violetkit in the nursery before going to sleep. Violetkit was a good cat, and she seemed interested in Puddlepaw’s work, though she kept her distance. She told him that Twigkit wanted to be a medicine cat too, but that Alderpaw wouldn’t be able to train her since there were already two medicine cats. I’d be glad to have her be the ShadowClan medicine cat, Puddlepaw thought.
He’d always wanted to be a medicine cat, but this wasn’t what he was expecting. He looked up to Littlecloud. He was a kind tom, and though he was already showing signs of sickness when Puddlepaw began showing interest in herbs, Puddlepaw still knew him well. He wished he had been alive long enough to train the new medicine cat apprentice. He would have been better than a RiverClan cat who doesn’t even want to be here.
“Alright,” Mothwing mewed. “Let me just clean up a bit more, then we’ll be on our way. Eat before we go. It’s a long way to the moonpool.”
Puddlepaw nodded and left the medicine den. He stretched and took a deep breath. The night was cool, but there was no breeze in the air. His pelt bushed out to keep him warm as he made his way to the fresh-kill pile. Anxiety churned in his belly when eyes landed on him and he the sound of cats murmuring reached his ears. Trying not to listen, he picked up a plump frog and a thrush and scanned the camp. Most of his Clanmates were asleep but now, but the apprentices were still awake, right outside their den with prey at their paws.
Sleekpaw caught his eye and she smirked, turning to whisper something to Needlepaw, the apprentice Violetkit always followed around. Puddlepaw didn’t know her that well, but he knew sometimes she’d take Violetkit out of camp. Needlepaw looked over at him, her silver pelt prickling. Her bold green eyes showed nothing. Then Beepaw pressed against her and they went back to their prey, gossiping and giggling. Puddlepaw turned away from them. He saw no sign of his siblings; they must have still been in the apprentice den. Or out on patrol.
Puddlepaw missed his brothers and sister. They had been close when they were young. His heart ached. After he became a medicine cat, they acted like he had betrayed them. Just because I’m not training to be a warrior with them doesn’t mean I’m not their brother anymore.
Puddlepaw made his way back to the medicine den, nearly bumping into Cloverfoot. “Watch where you’re going—!” She blinked when she saw Puddlepaw. “Oh. Sorry, Puddlepaw, I didn’t mean to yell.”
Puddlepaw shrugged. “I’m sorry for running into you.”
“Have you seen Lionpaw?” the gray torbie asked. Cloverfoot was the mentor of Puddlepaw’s sister, a little young for an apprentice, but still older than Stonewing and Wasptail, who got their apprentices only a half-moon after their warrior ceremony. “I was going to take her on the night patrol, but she’s missing.” She groaned. “Again.”
Puddlepaw shook his head. “No, sorry,” he mewed. “I’ll keep my eye out for her, though.”
“Thanks,” Cloverfoot sighed. “Berryheart can’t find Birchpaw either.” She shook out her pelt. “I’ll check around the forest. I wish Russetstar gave those frogbrains to an older warrior. I’m nowhere near enough experienced to take care of them.”
The apprentice brushed past her. Where could they have gone? he wondered. They were always adventurous, but they never disappeared without telling anyone. He shook out his pelt. Maybe they went out with father. He reached the medicine den and squeezed in, seeing Mothwing with dried herbs in her mouth. She spat them out in the pile where they kept the useless herbs. Usually, they’d throw them out by now, but they needed to eat fast, so they could leave soon.
Puddlepaw dropped the thrush in front of her. She looked at it and sighed, settling down in front of it. Puddlepaw sat next to her, taking a bite from his frog. Mothwing took quick bites of the bird, plucking out feathers and setting them aside.
“Do you miss fish?” Puddlepaw asked, chewing on the last bit of frog. He couldn’t imagine living without toads and lizards.
“I do.” Mothwing smiled, her eyes shining. “Leopardstar—you wouldn’t know her, but I’m sure you’ve heard of her—caught me my first fish when I was not that much younger than you. My mother, Sasha, usually caught us land-prey, and I never liked it.” She laughed. “Leopardstar was so worried I wouldn’t like the fish, but it was the best thing I’d ever tasted.”
Puddlepaw looked at the scraps of his prey. Frog was his first prey. Violetkit found it gross when he said it was his favorite, saying she prefered vole. He smiled at the thought of the kitten. “Can I see Violet before we go?”
Mothwing shook her head, licking her paws. “I’m afraid not,” she meowed. “We have to get there soon. I’d rather not be the last ones there.” She got to her paws and stretched. Puddlepaw stood next to her. “Come on, let’s get going.”
The two medicine cats left the den. It was still clear out, but it was colder than it was before. He saw Birchpaw, Slatepaw, and Lionpaw across the clearing, back from their little adventure. Birchpaw saw him and turned to Lionpaw, signing something Puddlepaw couldn’t make out. Lionpaw laughed and whispered something back.
Prickling, Puddlepaw turned away and followed his mentor out of the camp. “What’s it like at the moonpool?” he asked, trying to keep his mind off his siblings.
“It’s beautiful,” Mothwing meowed, blinking at him. “It’s like every star in the sky is trapped in the water.”
Excitement prickled at Puddlepaw’s paws. I wish it wasn’t so far away. “What are the other medicine cats like?” He never spoke to another Clan cat, besides Mothwing of course, and Sparkpaw. She was nice. And caught a glimpse of Alderpaw, the handsome medicine cat apprentice of ThunderClan. Sparkpaw said he was a good cat.
“They’re all very kind,” Mothwing meowed. “I think you’ll like all of them.” She sighed wistfully. “I’m happy I’m going to get to see Willowshine and Leafpool again. I’ve missed them.”
Puddlepaw looked at her, wondering how close she was to the ThunderClan medicine cat. She was excited when she heard that Leafpool had come to check up on her, and she had a bright smile on her face, even after the tabby medicine cat had left.
Puddlepaw pushed through the camp entrance behind Mothwing. He wondered if he’d ever be that close to another medicine cat.
A breeze ruffled Puddlepaw’s fur. It smelled of the lake. Puddlepaw took a deep breath, remembering his first time seeing the large body of water. Pinenose had taken him and his siblings on their first day as apprentices, saying she wanted to see their faces when they saw it. It took Puddlepaw’s breath away.
Puddlepaw enjoyed the sounds and scents of the night, flinching at the occasional screech of a fox or an owl, but continued on, staying close to Mothwing. They reached the lake and began to make their way to the ThunderClan border. Puddlepaw watched the waves ripple on he surface of the lake, the stars shining in the water. The water nearly touched his pawtips and he purred, splashing his paw into the water. “Come on, Puddlepaw!” Mothwing called, now foxlengths ahead.
Puddlepaw raced forward to catch up with her. His toes were cold. He took a deep breath. “I can’t wait for leafbare,” he mewed, his eyes sparkling. “I’ve never seen snow before. I can’t wait to see the lake freeze over!”
Mothwing purred. “I’m not excited for our herbs to be frozen,” she meowed, “but RiverClan territory is beautiful when it snows.”
Puddlepaw smiled up at her. I want to see RiverClan territory.
The apprentice jumped when the bushes beside him rustled. Out came Cloverfoot, Berryheart, Ferretclaw, and—Puddlepaw’s tail drooped—Spikefur. His father glanced at him, then his eyes narrowed. Puddlepaw slunk behind Mothwing, not wanting to catch his father’s gaze.
“Hello, Mothwing,” Cloverfoot meowed, dipping her head to the medicine cat. “Sorry if we scared you. We’ve just finished our night patrol.”
Mothwing dipped her head to the warrior. “No worries,” she meowed. “We’re just on our way to the moonpool.”
“Be careful,” Spikefur meowed, his voice monotone. “We smelled rogues on the ThunderClan border.”
Ferretclaw glanced at Puddlepaw, and blinked at him. “Are you excited about going to the moonpool?” he asked, sitting beside him. “It’s your first time, isn’t it?”
“It is,” Puddlepaw meowed. He shuffled closer to the cream and black tom. I’m glad I have such good kin. “I’m a little nervous. I don’t know what will happen.”
“You’ll do great,” Ferretclaw promised, nuzzling his nephew with his nose. “Stay safe.”
The warriors disappeared into the dark pine forest. Ferretclaw faded away last. Puddlepaw got to his paws, bubbly excitement returning to him. They continued their trek to the moonpool. Puddlepaw wrinkled his nose when ThunderClan scent washed over him. Mom was right, he thought. ThunderClan does stink.
Puddlepaw was surprised to see the moor from the lake shore. It was so empty and vast. He narrowed his eyes to see farther: he noticed a silhouette on top of the hill, joined by two others. He wondered if that was Kestrelflight.
They reached the river that bordered ThunderClan and WindClan and turned upward, following a path up the river. The hills began to rise, and the path turned to stone. Willowshine was already there. Puddlepaw blinked at her. She was pretty: fluffy gray fur, shining green eyes. She looked a lot like Mothwing, oddly enough.
“Hello,” Willowshine purred, getting to her paws to greet Puddlepaw and Mothwing. She met her former mentor with a nose nuzzle against her cheek, and then turned to Puddlepaw. “How is your training going?”
“It’s going well,” Puddlepaw meowed. “I’m really enjoying learning herbs.”
“You still have a lot to learn,” Mothwing pointed out.
“A lot to learn?”
Puddlepaw jumped when he heard Leafpool’s voice behind him. The brown tabby joined the three medicine cats, with Alderpaw by her side. Alderpaw caught Puddlepaw’s eye and smiled at him, his amber eyes gleaming. Puddlepaw warmed under his pelt.
“Are you still teaching Puddlepaw the basics?” Leafpool asked Mothwing.
Mothwing looked at her apprentice for a heartbeat, then turned back to Leafpool. “I’m thinking that . . .” She searched for the right words. “I will teach Puddlepaw simply the basics of medicine. Then, once he knows enough, I’ll give him his name.”
Leafpool and Alderpaw shared surprised looks. Puddlepaw was surprised as well. She never told me that. Don’t I have to go through moons of training to become a full medicine cat? His chest and throat tightened again, and he lowered his head.
“He’s been training for less than a moon,” Leafpool meowed, her eyes wide. “Are you sure that’s a good idea?”
Mothwing looked at Puddlepaw. “You are a good medicine cat,” she meowed. “I can tell you’re talented and passionate about what you do. No medicine cat knows everything, and you still have us to go to if you need help.”
Puddlepaw still felt sick. He nodded, not wanting to catch Mothwing’s eye.
“That’s not fair,” Alderpaw spoke up, looking at Mothwing. “Puddlepaw deserves to have just as much training as the rest of us. This may be a special case, but that is too much pressure to put on one apprentice.”
Puddlepaw glanced at Mothwing, who looked thoughtful. “I’ll think it over,” she told him. “I still think it would be best for ShadowClan to have their own medicine cat.”
Alderpaw opened his mouth to say something, but the older medicine cats were already moving on. His eyes narrowed in frustration. Puddlepaw shuffled and moved closer to him, placing his tail on Alderpaw’s own. “Thanks,” he whispered, before catching up with Mothwing.
They continued to climb their way up. There was one last rocky ridge, which was much harder to climb than everything else. Puddlepaw was out of breath when they reached the top. Then he gasped when he saw the moonpool. Mothwing was right. Every star sparkled on the surface. A waterfall splashed down into the pool. The moon shone down on the pool, making waves reflect off the walls of the hollow. Puddlepaw felt bad for any cat who would never see this kind of beauty.
Pawsteps sounded behind them and Puddlepaw turned to see a white spotted brownish-gray tom: Kestrelflight. The apprentice was about to greet him, but then two warriors appeared behind him, their eyes narrow.
“Sedgewhisker, Gorsetail!” Leafpool meowed, blinking. “What are you two doing here?”
“They’re just here to make sure I’m safe,” Kestrelflight nodded to the two warriors. “Ashfoot’s orders. You two can go.”
Sedgewhisker and Gorsetail shared a glance, before nodding. “We’ll wait for you outside the hollow,” Sedgewhisker growled. They disappeared once more and Kestrelflight let out a sigh.
“The whole Clan is on edge,” the tom groaned. “Mudstar hates these rogues with a passion, and Ashfoot is doubling patrols.
“Mudstar did lose a life to them,” Mothwing reminded him. “And well . . .” She shuffled her paws. “Ashfoot is pretty old. Do you know when she’ll retire to the elders’ den?”
“She says she’s thinking about it,” Kestrelflight meowed. “Maybe soon.”
Puddlepaw wondered who the next deputy of WindClan would be if Ashfoot stepped down. They made their way down to the slope. Puddlepaw’s paws tingled with excitement, wanting to get a closer look at the pool.
“Why were they so prickly?” Leafpool asked, casting a glance behind them, referring to Sedgewhisker and Gorsetail.
“Everyone in WindClan is prickly right now,” Kestrelflight told her. “The rogues killed one of our own, and with so many patrols going out, many of our warriors are too tired to hunt. Ashfoot is really spreading everyone thin.”
Once they reached the pool, Mothwing sighed. “Poor Mudstar,” she sighed. “Losing a life must be hard.”
“Yes,” Willowshine agreed. “Is he okay?”
“StarClan healed his wound.” Kestrelflight stretched himself out beside the moonpool, looking tired. “And he seems okay emotionally, but you know how Mudstar is. He’s aggressive and doesn’t like intruders.”
Puddlepaw shuffled his paws, then spoke up. “Russetstar is acting strange, too,” he meowed. The medicine cats turned to him, surprised.
“Yes, I noticed as well,” Leafpool meowed. “I was only in the camp for a few days, but she seemed distant. She was so jumpy and aggressive. I know she’s always been a bit tough to work with, but she was so much worse when I was there.”
Puddlepaw didn’t want to speak badly about his leader, but Leafpool was right. Russetstar was snappy and rude and stayed in her den nearly all day now. Rowanclaw and Tawnypelt were practically leading the Clan at this point.
Leafpool sighed and shook her head. “These rogues are taking a toll on the Clans, and we’ve only had one battle with them.” She sat next to the pool and looked into the glistening water. “Maybe StarClan will have some answers.”
Puddlepaw nodded. “Puddlepaw,” Mothwing meowed, smiling at him. “We need to perform your ceremony before we dream.”
Leafpool stepped forward. “Would you like me to do it, Moth?”
Puddlepaw looked up at his mentor. He knew she didn’t believe in StarClan. Would they accept him if she didn’t believe in them? They accepted Willowshine . . .
“I can do it,” Mothwing assured her, looking up at the stars, then back at the calico apprentice. “Puddlepaw, is it your wish to enter the mysteries of StarClan as a medicine cat?”
Puddlepaw shuffled his paws. He glanced at Alderpaw, who’s eyes were twinkling. Swallowing, he answered: “It is.”
“Then come forward.” Puddlepaw did as he was told, stepping up next his mentor. The moonpool was even more stunning up close. “Warriors of StarClan, I present you with this apprentice. He has chosen the path of a medicine cat. Grant him your wisdom and insight so that he may understand your ways and heal his Clan in accordance with your will.”
Taking a deep breath, Puddlepaw sat down beside the pool and lapped at the water, closing his eyes. He felt the other medicine cats sit around him. Alderpaw lay next to him and his scent reached Puddlepaw’s nose. He smelled like cobwebs and honey. Relaxing, darkness engulfed Puddlepaw’s vision.
When he opened his eyes again, Puddlepaw was in a wide field. Flowers dotted the grass here and there, and a river ran alongside him. He looked up at the dark blue sky, where stars still glistened. There was no moon, but it was bright here. It still smelled like the moonpool: wet and earthy.
He looked around. Shouldn’t there be a StarClan cat here? He opened his mouth, drinking in the scents of the field. But only the smell of water and Alderpaw wafted over his scent glands.
Then he caught sight of a tabby striped cat by the other side of the river. Was he always there? Puddlepaw tested the water. It was shallow enough to cross. He splashed across to join the cat.
“Puddlepaw,” the cat purred, their eyes twinkling with stars.
Suddenly, Puddlepaw recognized the cat. “Littlecloud!” he gasped, rushing over to him and brushing against him. “What are you doing here?”
“I’m here to see you, of course.” The tabby brushed himself against the apprentice. He was not much bigger than Puddlepaw, about the size of an apprentice. Puddlepaw remembered Littlecloud being much bigger. He was a small cat, but not this small. “How’s training going? Is Mothwing treating you well?”
Puddlepaw sighed. “I don’t think it’s going well,” he mewed, looking down at the rushing water. “I’m not that good at memorizing herbs, and the Clan has such high expectations for me. It’s a lot of pressure.” He shrugged. “Mothwing is treating me well, though. I really enjoy her company.”
Littlecloud looked sympathetic. “I wish I could have stayed in ShadowClan long enough to train you, Puddlepaw. StarClan called me too soon. I should have told Russetstar that I needed an apprentice sooner.”
“Would you have chosen me?”
“I think I would have.” Littlecloud gave him a smile. “You were young, but you truly were passionate about medicine, like I was when I realized I wanted to be a medicine cat.” He got to his paws and stretched. “You’re stressing yourself out, Puddlepaw.” He pressed his nose to the young medicine cat’s head. “Your Clan won’t hate you because you can’t remember herbs. Mothwing is there to help you when you need it. And being a medicine cat isn’t all about herbs; it’s also about communing with StarClan, and you’ve obviously got a healthy connection with us.. Don’t be scared of failure.”
Puddlepaw’s stomach churned. Tears pricked his eyes. “Thank you,” he murmured, blinking at the tom. “I’ll remember what you said.”
“Good.” Littlecloud smiled and nudged him. “You're too talented to be so unconfident. I know you have what it takes to be a medicine cat.”
Puddlepaw closed his eyes. Now, he could smell Littlecloud’s familiar scent. Pine sap, needles, and borage leaves and coltsfoot. When he opened his eyes again, though, he was gone. Puddlepaw shivered when a cold breeze ruffled fur. He turned, blinking against the strong wind. His heart stopped when he saw the field replaced by inky shadows, crawling toward him. Heart racing, Puddlepaw tried to run. But his paws were glued to the ground.
The shadows engulfed Puddlepaw, making him want to screech. He couldn’t breathe in the thick darkness. As he fell still, he heard Littlecloud’s voice in his ears, joined by many others. “Shadows will bow to the son of the sun.”
Puddlepaw jolted awake, gulping in air as if he nearly drowned. Sitting up, he caught his breath. His heart was racing and he was still exhausted. The other medicine cats were just waking up, yawning and stretching.
“Did you dream?” Alderpaw whispered beside him, making him jump. His amber eyes turned from bright and happy to concerned. “Are you okay? You look like you were attacked by a badger.”
Puddlepaw nodded. Was he allowed to tell Alderpaw about his dream? Probably not. He nodded. “Yes, I’m fine,” he meowed. “It was just . . . a weird dream that’s all.”
Alderpaw pressed against him. “I get that,” he meowed, getting to his paws and stretching. “Sometimes StarClan can send you some weird visions.”
Puddlepaw nodded, looking at his paws. Shadows will bow to the son of the sun. He blinked rapidly. What could that mean?
TaS - Chapter One
Alderpaw shuddered as a cool breeze drifted through the entrance of the leader’s den. He couldn’t believe leafbare was already here, so soon. Not long ago, he had been trekking beneath warm, blue skies, almost home from his quest. He sighed.
“So?” Snowbush’s mew snapped Alderpaw out of his thoughts. He turned back to the white-and-ginger tom, whose tail was twitching. He sat next to his mate, Lilyheart. Her pelt was rising as she stared at Bramblestar. “Are we going to get Violetkit back?”
Alderpaw cringed. He’d been wanting to avoid any conversation about Violetkit lately. The thought of the young kit made his belly churn and his chest ache. He didn’t know if she was okay or not, like Twigkit was here, in ThunderClan.
Bramblestar sighed and shared a glance with Leafpool, then Squirrelflight. The deputy’s eyes were cold. “Snowbush, Lilyheart,” he began, blinking at the two cats. “I understand how much you care about Violetkit and Twigkit’s well-beings, but . . .” He paused, as though he needed to choose his words carefully. “Bringing Violetkit back to ThunderClan wouldn’t be worth the trouble.” Lilyheart’s pelt rose and Squirrelflight scoffed. Bramblestar knew he had made a mistake.
“All kits are worth it, Bramblestar,” Lilyheart hissed. Alderpaw’s heart ached for the she-cat. She might be thinking of Seedpaw. Her sister had died in the flood, trying to find the Stick of Fallen Warriors. He wasn’t alive at the time, but Squirrelflight told him how distraught Lilyheart was after her sister’s death. “Violetkit and Twigkit need each other!” Her voice broke.
“Lilyheart, there is nothing we can do now,” her leader sighed. “I am sorry. I cannot cause a war between ThunderClan and ShadowClan.”
Lilyheart hissed and rushed out of the den, her eyes glassy with emotion. Alderpaw’s pelt prickled.
Snowbush let out a long sigh. “I’ll take care of her,” he meowed. “She’s grieving, Bramblestar.”
“I understand.” Bramblestar dipped his head to the younger warrior. “If there is anything else I can do to help, please, don’t hesitate to ask.”
“How are the other kits?” Alderpaw spoke up, getting to his paws. They were close to Violetkit, just like Lilyheart was.
“They’re grieving as well,” Snowbush murmured. His eyes were beginning to glass over with tears. “I’ll go check on them. Thank you for speaking with Lilyheart, Bramblestar.” Alderpaw watched him slink out of the den, his tail dragging in the dirt.
“Let’s return to the medicine den, Alderpaw,” Leafpool meowed, exiting the den behind Snowbush.
Alderpaw looked at Bramblestar, who was staring at his paws with a dull look in his eyes. Alderpaw wished he could speak to his father about Violetkit, but he decided against it. It seemed that Squirrelflight wanted to speak to him anyway.
Alderpaw took a long, deep breath through his nose when he left the den, taking in the crisp, leaffall air. Half of him longed for greenleaf back, but the other half enjoyed the cool air and the changing of the leaves. The ones that already fell crackled under his paws.
Twigkit was sitting outside the medicine den, playing with an orange leaf in her tiny paws. Alderpaw felt guilt rush through him when he saw her. I wish we could bring Violetkit back, he wanted to tell her.
Leafpool pressed against her apprentice, as if she read his mind. “She still has Leafkit, Honeykit, and Larkkit,” she murmured to him as they slipped into the den.
“But they’re nearly five moons old,” Alderpaw reminded her. “They’re far too boisterous for Twigkit.” He sighed and shook his head. “Violetkit and Twigkit need each other.” Anger rushed through him. “Bramblestar could at least do something.”
Leafpool sighed as she began to sort through thyme. “Bramblestar just wants peace.” She blinked at him. “I’m sure that Violetkit is okay in ShadowClan.”
Alderpaw’s heart ached as he thought of Needlepaw ripping Violetkit away from her sister, completely ignoring the kits’ cries. He remembered Tawnypelt’s cold demeanor toward Bramblestar and Squirrelflight. Anger overpowered Alderpaw’s sadness as he thought of Needlepaw. How dare she hurt the kits this way. He growled to himself.
Twigkit’s squeal of excitement caught Alderpaw’s attention. The gray kitten batted the leaf into the air, then leaped, her short tail whipping to balance her as she spun in the air. Nimbly, she caught the leaf between her forepaws.
“She’s agile. I think one day she’ll be able to jump higher than anyone in ThunderClan.” Leafpool watched with approval sparking in her eyes. “Her ears haven’t opened yet. I wonder if they ever will.”
Alderpaw nodded, looking at her folded ears. They were cute. He watched as she tumbled into the medicine den, knocking into a pile of borage. She jumped to her paws and shuffled them. “Sorry,” she mumbled.
Alderpaw sighed. “Don’t worry about it dear,” he mewed. “Why don’t you play with Briarlight for a bit?” He turned to the brown she-cat, who brightened at the idea of playing with the kit.
“Yes!” Briarlight purred, getting herself up on her front paws. “Come on, Twiggy, let’s head outside and play with a moss ball.”
Twigkit squeaked in excitement as she rushed out of the den. Briarlight followed close behind. She blinked when Graystripe nearly ran into her. “Hey, dad!” she purred, rubbing against him. “Are you here for your joints again?”
Graystripe sighed and shook his head. “Not mine,” he told her, “your mother’s.”
“Aw,” Briarlight mewed. “Tell her I hope she feels better.”
“I will,” her father promised. He watched her leave the den, his eyes sparkling at her with pride. “She’s doing so well.” His purr was so loud. Alderpaw was glad the elder was happy. “By the way, Leafpool and Alderpaw, Bramblestar wants to see you.”
Alderpaw blinked in surprise. We were just there, he thought. Why didn’t he ask us to stay?
“You should probably hurry,” Graystripe pushed the rest of the way into the den, “Russetstar is with him.”
Alderpaw’s ears perked. “Why didn’t you tell us?”
“I just did.” The old gray tom purred and grabbed the comfrey he needed between his jaws, before leaving the den.
Alderpaw left the den behind Graystripe and glanced at Twigkit. Did something happen to Violetkit? Anxiety grasped at his chest with two cold claws. Was Needlepaw not able to keep her promise? He glanced at Twigkit, who seemed to want to follow him. “Stay here with Briarlight, okay?” he told her.
“Yeah,” Briarlight purred, nudging the kit. “Come on, little branch, I’ll race you to the fresh-kill pile.”
Twigkit brightened. “Okay!” she squeaked. The two cats dashed toward the fresh-kill pile. Briarlight lifted her legs to make it so that she could run faster, and Alderpaw could see the awe on Twigkit’s face.
“Come on, Alderpaw,” Leafpool meowed.
Alderpaw nodded. He noticed Lilyheart and Daisy stretched outside the nursery, soaking up the meager warmth. Leaffall left a chill in the air, but the cliff of the stone hollow sheltered the camp from the blustery breeze that was stirring the branches outside. Leafkit, Larkkit, and Honeykit were nosing around the fallen beech, poking their noses through the gaps in the woven walls of the apprentice’s den.
“There’s so much room inside!” Leafkit cried.
“I want a nest in the middle,” Larkkit announced.
“Sparkpaw’s nest is there already,” Honeykit sighed. “I can see it.”
Alderpaw missed his days in the apprentice den with an ache. He missed training with his sister, not that he didn’t enjoy being a medicine cat. Sparkpaw was his best friend, now that his journey was over, him and his sister barely spent time together.
Leafpool’s mew distracted Alderpaw from his thoughts. “I hope the patrols come back soon,” she mewed. “The fresh-kill pile is empty.”
Alderpaw glanced at the bare patch of earth. Ivypool, Whitewing, and Dovewing paced beside it. It seemed that one of them had given the last bit of prey to Briarlight and Twigkit. Hadn’t they brought prey back from their own patrol? Perhaps they’d met Russetstar before they had a chance to hunt. They gazed through narrowed eyes at the muscular ginger she-cat as she stood beside Bramblestar on the Highledge. Squirrelflight was there as well, not hiding her clear anger at the ShadowClan leader, and so was Jayflight, who sat next to his mother, shuffling his paws in impatience.
Alderpaw’s pelt prickled as he sat next to Bramblestar. He seemed distracted as he gazed at Russetstar. Alderpaw couldn’t tell if he was angry at the leader or if he was only thinking about Violetkit. A twinge of anger at his father flickered in Alderpaw’s chest for letting Violetkit go so easy.
Then he sighed and turned to them, his expression grave. “Littlecloud is dying.” He lowered his gaze from Leafpool. Alderpaw knew the two medicine cats were very close.
Leafpool’s eyes darkened with grief. “Is he suffering?”
“Snowbird is with him now,” Russetstar told her. “She’s given him poppy seeds to ease his pain, but she doesn’t know what else to do.” There was a flash of desperation in Russetstar’s eyes. Alderpaw suddenly felt bad for the leader. Littlecloud wasn’t just her medicine cat, he was her friend. She must have lost a lot of friends already, depending on her age.
Leafpool flicked her tail. “If only you’d chosen a medicine cat apprentice moons ago,” she fretted. “Littlecloud would have someone to care for him properly.”
“And ShadowClan would have a medicine cat after him,” Squirrelflight huffed.
Russetstar’s fur ruffled as she glared at the bold deputy. “I didn’t come here for your deputy to lecture me!”
Squirrelflight stepped toward her. “Yes, you came here to ask for help,” she spat. Bramblestar sent his mate a warning glance, but she didn’t back down. “After you took Violetkit, you expect us to help you?”
Russetstar sneered. “I would have gladly gone to any other Clan,” she growled, “but Leafpool is one of Littlecloud’s closest medicine cat friends. I decided ThunderClan would be the best to ask.”
Alderpaw looked at his mother, blinking at her. She had been nothing but kind to Twigkit since ShadowClan took Violetkit away. She seemed to want the black-and-white kitten back s much as Lilyheart and Snowbush. But, there was no use getting Russetstar all worked up. If she needed help, Alderpaw knew they should be kind and respectful. “Can I help?” he asked, his voice soft.
Jayflight spoke up from beside Squirrelflight for the first time. “You are not borrowing the medicine cat apprentice,” he told Russetstar, his eyes narrowing. Alderpaw saw how unnerved the russet leader got as he stared at her with his unblinking, blind gaze. He remembered feeling that same way when Jayflight stared directly at him. But now, he was used to Jayflight’s eyes trained on him, especially since they spent a lot of time together, even before the journey to SkyClan.
Russetstar’s unnerved expression changed to a scowl. “I don’t want an apprentice. Littlecloud needs proper care.”
Alderpaw twitched his tail in indignation. I can care for Littlecloud just as well as Leafpool.
“I’ll go then,” Leafpool announced.
“Thank you.” Russetstar let out a sigh of relief. “Grassheart’s kits are due any day. Dawnpelt and Snowbird will be able to help her when she’s kitting, but it’s her first litter. I’d prefer to have a medicine cat close by to help if there are any difficulties.”
Leafpool nodded while Alderpaw shifted his paws. It sounded strange to hear the ShadowClan leader speak with such concern about her Clanmates. After the night Russetstar invaded the camp, Alderpaw felt that the she-cat was only ruthless and cruel. Had he been wrong? Hope flared in his chest. Maybe Violetkit was as safe and loved in ShadowClan as Twigkit was in ThunderClan.
“I’ll fetch the herbs and come as soon as I am able to.” Leafpool turned toward Jayflight. She sighed and blinked at him. “Can you please take care of Alderpaw while I’m away?”
Alderpaw looked at his cousin with a smile. Jayflight’s whiskers twitched in what Alderpaw could guess was frustration. “Very well,” he huffed. “It’s not like I’ve spent half his life as a medicine cat training him, anyway.” Alderpaw laughed and pressed against Jayflight. “You better be on your best behavior, Alder.”
“Promise, big brother,” Alderpaw purred, nudging him with his shoulder.
“Alderpaw, why don’t you help me carry the herbs,” Leafpool mewed. “I won’t be able to carry them all myself.” She then glanced at Jayflight. “Can you care for the Clan while we’re gone?”
“Fine,” Jayflight huffed. “Just send Alderpaw straight back when you’re finished.” Alderpaw could tell that the gray tabby wasn’t angry at Alderpaw, but at Leafpool. Being treated like a medicine cat when you’re a warrior must be frustrating. He nosed his way past Alderpaw and Leafpool. “Let’s see how well you know your herbs before you leave.”
Alderpaw began to follow, but he felt Bramblestar's tail run down his spine. “Wait.”
Alderpaw glanced back in surprised as Bramblestar dipped his head to Russetstar. “You should leave now. Your Clan must need you at a time like this. Leafpool will travel to your camp as soon as she can.”
Russetstar nodded. “Thank you for your help,” she mewed in a formal fashion. Alderpaw wondered what it had cost her to come to ThunderClan for their assistance. ShadowClan cats were not known for swallowing their pride. Chin high, Russetstar padded past Alderpaw and leaped down the tumble of rocks. She crossed the clearing, avoiding the curious of Whitewing, Ivypool, and Dovewing. She disappeared through the thorn tunnel.
Alderpaw faced Bramblestar expectantly. Why had he asked him to wait? Did he have news about Violetkit after all?
“We’re sending a patrol.” Bramblestar’s mew was soft. Squirrelflight’s eyes were scanning the clearing as if searching for twitching ears among her Clanmates. But Dovewing and Whitewing were talking to each other, heads close. Ivypool had followed Russetstar out of the camp. Lilyheart and Daisy were still dozing, Brackenfur now with them, while the kits clambered along the fallen beech. Twigkit and Briarlight were playing with the moss ball once more. Bramblestar went on: “To search for SkyClan.”
Alderpaw’s heart leapt. Thank StarClan! Anger clawed its way though Alderpaw as he remembered his failed journey to find SkyClan. The idea of Darktail’s vicious rogues driving out the long-lost Clan from their home in the gorge made him feel sick. He found one cat, Frecklewish, who he was sure died to Darktail’s claws.
StarClan’s prophecy had been hard to understand since the beginning: Embrace what you find in the shadows, for only they can clear the sky. But it had led to the quest: Bramblestar and Sandstorm had been convinced that they must find SkyClan. Instead, Alderpaw and Needlepaw had found Twigkit and Violetkit, abandoned in a shadowy tunnel. Everyone believed now that the two motherless kits would “clear the sky”, but Alderpaw couldn’t help wondering if they needed to find SkyClan after all. He wanted to finish what he started. “Can I go?”
“We’re sending Squirrelflight, Lionblaze, and Rosepetal,” Bramblestar told him. “We need you here.”
Alderpaw blinked, disappointment replacing his excitement. Half of him felt sorry for Lionblaze and Rosepetal: they just got home from their journey, wouldn’t they want to rest? But he knew Bramblestar was only sending them because they knew the way to the gorge.
“As far as the rest of the Clan knows,” Squirrelflight continued for Bramblestar, “we’re searching for Twigkit and Violetkit’s parents.”
Alderpaw tensed. “Then Twigkit mustn’t hear about it. I don’t want her getting her hopes up.” When he’d found Twigkit and Violetkit, they were only a few days old. No queen would abandon kits so young unless she had no choice, was completely heartless, or she was dead.
Bramblestar shifted his paws. “The Clan will be as worried as you about getting Twigkit’s hopes up unnecessarily. No cat will want to tell her anything. All Twigkit will now is that a patrol is out . . . well, patrolling.”
Alderpaw glanced at the top of the hollow, remembering the long journey to the gorge. Then he looked at Squirrelflight. “Do you think you’ll find SkyClan.”
“Only StarClan knows.” Squirrelflight blinked at Alderpaw, then glanced behind him to the medicine den. “You’d better get back to your duties. It looks like some cats are waiting for you.”
Alderpaw glanced over his shoulder, following his mother’s gaze. He expected to see Jayflight beckoning to him in impatience. Instead, he saw little Twigkit, shifting her paws in impatience, at the edge of the clearing, her eyes fixed on him. How long had she been there? Had she overheard their conversation?
As Bramblestar and Squirrelflight turned toward their den, Alderpaw scrambled down the tumble of rocks.
Twigkit scampered across the clearing to meet him. “Leafpool says you’re going to ShadowClan.” Her eyes were bright with excitement. “Can I come?”
Alderpaw blinked at her, wishing she could. She hadn’t seen her sister since they’d been separated half a moon ago. He wondered for a moment whether to ask Leafpool or Bramblestar for permission. Then he imagined telling Twigkit they needed to leave ShadowClan, taking her sister away from her once more. His heart ached.
“Can I?” Twigkit asked again, lifting her front paws hopefully.
“No,” Alderpaw told her, regret in his mew. “You’re too young to leave camp.”
Sadness glistened in Twigkit’s green eyes.
“I’m sorry—” he began. But before he could finish, Twigkit hared toward the nursery.
“Wait there!” she called to him. “I won’t be long!”
He watched her go, wondering what she was up to.
Beside the honeysuckle wall of the elder’s den, in a dip that caught the morning sun, Graystripe was washing comfrey pulp into Millie’s fur. Millie’s eyes were half-closed, satisfaction showing in the slits as she worked the herb into her spine. Alderpaw dipped his head as he caught Graystripe’s yellow gaze.
Graystripe lifted his muzzle, green pulp staining his jaws. “Let me know if you need help gathering more comfrey before the frosts comes,” he called. “I may not be fast enough for mice these days but I sure can stalk herbs.”
Millie purred. “You can hunt mice as well as any warrior, my dear,” she told him.
“Why bother,” Graystripe asked, “when I can let the youngsters catch them for me?”
Twigkit squeezed out of the narrow entrance of the bramble nursery. Alderpaw could see that she was carrying a red feather between her jaws.
She trotted toward him and laid it carefully at his paws. “Will you give this to Violetkit?”
“A feather?” Alderpaw looked at it, a pang in his heart. It seemed like a small offer, but Twigkit was staring at it with an excited spark in her eyes.
“Violetkit found one before they took her away,” she told Alderpaw. “She wore it behind her ear cause she thought it was pretty. It was smaller than this one, but Violetkit left hers behind and Lilyheart accidentally threw it away when she was cleaning out the old bedding. But I found this one at the edge of the camp the other day, and I knew Violetkit would love it.” She stared up at Alderpaw, eagerness glistening in her kitten-blue eyes. “You’ll take it to her, won’t you? And tell her it was from me?”
Guilt prickled through Alderpaw’s pelt. If it weren’t for the prophecy StarClan had shared with him, the Clans wouldn’t have squabbled over the kits. They’d still be together, not in different Clans. They could play together instead of sending feathers by messenger. At least they’re alive. Alderpaw shook out his pelt. If it weren’t for the prophecy, he and Needlepaw might never have found them, and they’d have died, alone under the Thunderpath.
He licked Twigkit fondly on the head. “Of course I’ll give it to her. And I’ll tell her that you’re thinking of her.” As Twigkit nuzzled his cheek, purring, he picked up the feather and headed toward the medicine den.
Chapter eleven of my AVOS rewrite is up!
TaS - Chapter Five
Alderpaw felt sick when Darktail caught his gaze. He recognizes me. He backed away, huddling behind Jayflight. Darktail’s gaze bore into him.
“Alderpaw, Leafpool!” Bramblestar called up the slope. “We need help down here. Some cats are wounded.”
Leafpool raced down the slope. Urgency tugging at his paws, Alderpaw broke away from Darktail’s glittering gaze and bounded after his mentor. Jayflight followed them, sniffing around for any wounds.
“Leave,” Bramblestar stepped toward the huddle rogues. “Before we rip the pelts from your backs.”
Alderpaw watched Darktail turn his gaze on the ThunderClan leader. Would he give in so easily?
The rogue leader snarled, his teeth showing blood as he spoke. “His won’t be the last you see of us. We have a mission here, and we know more about your so-called Clans than you think.”
Fear ran along Alderpaw’s spine like icy water as the rogue leader turned and headed away through the ferns; his campmates followed. Is he talking about what I told him back at the gorge. Alderpaw shivered as he wondered whether the rogue gang had followed them back to the lake.
Bramblestar glanced around his warriors. “Who’s hurt?”
“I’m fine,” Hollytuft called. “Sorrelstripe’s got a bad scratch though.”
“Nothing to worry about,” Sorrelstripe huffed, shoving her sister.
“Just a scratch or two,” Rosepetal reported.
Lionblaze was licking a few wounds of his own, but Alderpaw could see from where he stood that they were no more than shallow scratches.
“Alderpaw, find some cobwebs.”
At Leafpool’s order, he hurried to the roots of a tree where cobwebs crowded the gaps. His paws were trembling as he pulled long strips out and carried them to Leafpool. He recognized Willowshine as well, who was helping some ShadowClan cats.
“I missed you,” Alderpaw murmured to Leafpool as he sat next to her.
Leafpool smiled to him. “I hope Jayflight treated you well,” she whispered back, her eyes twinkling. She crouched over Oatclaw. The WindClan tom lay limp, oozing from deep cuts along his flank. “Cover them and stop the bleeding,” she ordered, taking a clump of cobweb from Alderpaw and heading toward Furzepelt. “Willowshine said she’ll care for the ShadowClan cats.
Alderpaw spread the remaining cobwebs over Oatclaw’s wounds, packing them in where the cuts were deepest, as Leafpool taught him.
“Mudstar is badly hurt,” Dewnose meowed, leaning over the dark brown tabby tom.
As Leafpool and Willowshine hurried to look, Alderpaw glanced at the WindClan leader. He was on his side, his fur matted with blood.
Alderpaw quickly finished dressing Oatclaw’s cuts. “Stay still until the bleeding eases,” he told him before turning to help Leafpool and Willowshine.
Mudstar lay like fresh-kill, a bloody wound opening the dark brown pelt below his neck. “I’ll fetch more cobweb.” Alderpaw gasped. “He’s blee—”
Before he could finish, a groan sounded behind him. He turned to see Emberfoot stagger, then collapse.
“Emberfoot!” Alderpaw darted toward him, his throat tightening as he saw his flanks shudder, then fall still. He sniffed him, shivering. His heart sank to see his sagging limbs. “He’s dead!”
“Dead?” Bramblestar darted to his side, his pelt spiking.
Toadstep and Rosepetal approached slowly. Oatclaw lifted his head, his eyes round with shock as he stared at his fallen Clanmate.
Furzepelt limped closer. “They killed him?” Disbelief and fury edged her mew.
Alderpaw looked for wounds, finding bitemarks on Emberfoot’s spine and scratches along his flank. Then he saw the ugly lump on the back of his head. “He must have hit his head.” He scanned the ground and noticed, for the first time, the sharp points of deeply buried rocks jutting from the forest floor. Blood and fur clung to one nearby. He glanced toward Willowshine and Leafpool.
The gray medicine cat hadn’t moved, her eyes had turned to Mudstar, but the ThunderClan medicine cat was staring in disbelief. Blood was pulsing from the WindClan leader’s throat.
Alderpaw touched Emberfoot’s lifeless body with his paw. He shuddered, remembering Sandstorm. There’s nothing I can do for him, he told himself, turning to Mudstar. He could still help the WindClan leader. “I’ll get cobwebs.” He headed for the tree roots.
“No.” Leafpool’s meow was grave. Willowshine had stopped running his paws over the leader, now sitting beside her friend.
“But the bleeding!” Alderpaw dared to his mentor’s side.
The ground beneath Mudstar was stained rose red. The fur around his throat was scarlet and glistening.
Why wasn’t Leafpool doing something? Alderpaw’s throat tightened with dread. “We have to help him!”
“There’s nothing we can do,” Willowshine murmured, pressing against the red tom.
Alderpaw looked up. Stonewing and Ferretclaw lowered their heads and Rosepetal and Toadstep had backed away, their eyes wide. The RiverClan cats had their heads bowed as well, mourning the leader’s lost life. Bramblestar hadn’t moved, and Alderpaw could see him trembling. Squirrelflight was turned away, her eyes dark. Oatclaw stepped closer to the leader. Jayclaw pressed against him, comforting the mourning warrior.
Then Mudstar gasped, as though taking his first breath after a near drowning. Shuddering, he gulped in the air and opened his eyes.
Alderpaw blinked in surprise as he saw that the leader’s wound was healing, a starry haze surrounding it. Blood still stained his fur, but the gash had closed as though it had never been there.
Understanding washed through him. “He lost a life,” he whispered to Jayflight.
Jayflight nodded.
Alderpaw swallowed. Sparkpaw appeared next to him and pressed against him, as if sensing his deep horror. He knew that leaders had nine lives, but he’d never imagined what it must be liked to lose one. Did dying hurt? How did it feel to come back to life?
Hollytuft looked at Oatclaw with a questioning gaze. “Has he many more?”
Oatclaw shrugged. “Only Mudstar knows that.”
The WindClan leader flashed Oatclaw an angry look. Growling, he pushed himself to his paws. Oatclaw dipped his head.
Alderpaw frowned. Surely Mudstar’s Clan knew. They must count each passing life. And yet a casual observer could never know how many lives a leader had left. Alderpaw stared at him, narrowing his eyes. One. Mudstar had one life left. He glanced at Leafpool and Willowshine. Do they know? Willowshine caught Alderpaw’s gaze and shook her head. She did.
Mudstar lifted his chin, murder in his eyes. Staring between the trees, he flattened his ears. “Where are the rogues?”
“Gone,” Bramblestar told him. “For now.”
“Good,” Mudstar snarled, his eyes narrow. “Are any cats injured?”
Bramblestar’s gaze flicked around the WindClan cats. Squirrelflight stepped forward. “Emberfoot is dead,” she told Mudstar. “Oatclaw and Furzepelt are badly wounded. Come back to our camp, where Leafpool and Alderpaw can treat their wounds properly.”
Mudstar glanced at Emberfoot. He lowered his head and approached him. “Emberfoot was a good warrior,” he murmured. “We should go home and mourn him.”
“Oatclaw and Furzepelt are in no state to travel that far right now,” Willowshine meowed softly.
Mudstar glanced at his injured warriors. Oatclaw was leaning against Rippletail, blood welling on his flank. Furzepelt was staring at her fallen Clanmate, her eyes shimmering with grief. “Willowshine is right,” Furzepelt meowed. “Not even you are able to carry him. We need rest.”
The dark brown leader snapped his gaze toward Furzepelt. Alderpaw was surprised when she didn’t even flinch, holding sharp amber with steady green.
Bramblestar nodded to Lionblaze. “You and Rosepetal sit with him. Make sure nothing disturbs his body until a patrol can fetch him.” He turned to Mudstar, softening his mew. “Come home with us. We can care for you.”
Mudstar snarled, as if he wasn’t happy about having to be taken care of.
“Let us take care of you,” Jayflight hissed, “or Oatclaw might bleed to death.
Oatclaw looked troubled by that, glancing at his leader with large, worried eyes. Mudstar nodded. “Very well.”
“Chew up more horsetail and marigold,” Jayflight ordered.
Alderpaw was helping treat the injured WindClan and ShadowClan cats in the shelter of the medicine den while the rain thrummed outside. Jayflight agreed to help Alderpaw while she escorted Willowshine and the other RiverClan warriors back home. It had been a while, meaning she might already be on her way back.
Alderpaw had already made enough pulp to put on Oatclaw and Furzepelt’s, Cloverfoot and Strikepaw, the only ShadowClan cats who were badly injured, and his Clanmate’s wounds, and his tongue was numb from the herbs. He wished Leafpool were back already, or that Willowshine had offered to stay.
Alderpaw shivered at the memory of Frecklewish. The thought of her fighting until Darktail ripped out her throat open, or, worse, left her to suffer and bleed out. Now he’d brought his rogues here and they had killed again. At least Ember is okay. He remembered the kind brown tabby nearly sacrificing herself for him. He was surprised she wasn’t dead. He shuddered when he remembered Darktail’s words. We have a mission here, and we know more about your so-called Clans than you think. What in StarClan did they want? “They were so vicious,” he murmured to himself.
Jayflight’s ear twitched. “I haven’t heard of cats like them since the Dark Forest.”
Alderpaw blinked at the medicine cat. Every kit had heard nursery tales about the Dark Forest. His parents and many of his Clanmates had fought in a battle against the evil cats who lurked there. “Do you think that’s where they’re from?” he asked.
Jayflight shook his head. “No. Only Clan cats find their way to the Place of No Stars, and these rogues have clearly never belonged to any Clan.”
Oatclaw was sleeping, in a makeshift nest beside Briarlight’s, drowsy from the poppy seeds Jayflight had given him. Furzepelt moaned softly as Jayflight licked pulp into her wound. Cloverfoot was awake, licking the wound on her shoulder. Strikepaw was stretched out next to her, eyes closed but obviously awake. She blinked when Jayflight walked over and let him put the pulp on her wound as well.
Sparkpaw pushed through the trailing brambles. Her rain-soaked pelt dripped water onto the medicine den floor. “Are they hungry?” she glanced at Oatclaw and lowered her voice. “The hunting patrol is back. There’s plenty of prey on the fresh-kill pile.” She smiled. “Russetstar sent Beepaw and Stonewing to hunt for us as a thank you.” She snorted. “Stonewing was so upset.”
“I’m starving,” Cloverfoot called, trying to keep her voice quiet so Oatclaw could sleep.
“I want to make sure there’s not infection in these wounds before they eat,” Jayflight told her. Cloverfoot lowered her head, and Alderpaw heard her stomach growl.
“It won’t be long,” he promised her.
“Those rogues are so hateful,” Sparkpaw commented. She flexed her claws and snarled. “I wish I could have gotten my claws on Darktail. I would have ripped his flea-bitten tail off.”
Alderpaw glanced at his sister. His stomach hurt when he thought of Sparkpaw attacking Darktail. Would she be able to defeat him? He didn’t want to think about Darktail hurting his sister. He shook out his pelt. They needed to speak to Bramblestar and Squirrelflight about it soon. Alderpaw had never imagined they’d show up at the lake. He spat the herbs he’d been chewing onto a wet leaf and carried it to Jayflight. “Can Sparkpaw help you for a bit?”
Jayflight stared at him, then at Sparkpaw. His eyes narrowed, but he said nothing.
Sparkpaw sniffed. “I’m not a medicine cat.”
“Neither am I,” Jayflight grunted. “You can chew, can’t you?”
“I guess.” Sparkpaw looked amused.
“So can I go?” Alderpaw stared at Jayflight. “It’s important. I won’t be long. I need to speak to mom and dad.”
“What about?” Sparkpaw pricked her ears.
“About the rogues,” Alderpaw whispered, not wanting Cloverfoot to hear. Sparkpaw’s eyes darkened and she nodded.
Jayflight let out a long sigh and nodded. “Don’t be long.”
“Aw, I wanna come too.” Sparkpaw fluffed out her wet fur.
Jayflight pawed a pile of marigold leaves toward her and flicked her ear with his tail. “When you’re Clan leader, you can be the first to hear everything. Until then, you can help by chewing these leaves.”
Sparkpaw gave Jayflight a playful glare. “Just you wait, I’ll be the best leader ThunderClan’s ever seen!” She crouched beside her cousin and nudged him with her shoulder, grabbing a mouthful of herbs. “Ewww!” she gasped. “How do you stand this?”
“You get used to it,” Alderpaw batted at his sister, giggling at her disgusted look. He nosed his way through the trailing brambles. Rain battered his face. Outside, his Clanmates were sheltering beneath ferns edging the camp. Alderpaw could sense tension in the air. Graystripe looked out from the elders’ den. Ambersky and Dewnose huddled beneath the thorn barrier while their brother sat with Lilyheart, watching their kits, along with Twigkit, play in the rain. Cinderheart and Hollytuft stood close to them, guarding the mates and their kits.
“Alderpaw!” Mousewhisker’s mew caught his attention. He turned to see the gray-and-white tom and Stormcloud next to him. “Stormcloud is having another panic fit.”
Alderpaw glanced over at the Highledge, then at Stormcloud. “Jayflight is inside,” he told him, blinking at the gray tabby. “He knows what to do. I’ll be back in a bit to talk if you need it.”
Stormcloud dipped his head. “Thank you, Alder,” he mewed, slipping into the den with Mousewhisker close behind.
“Remember to take deep, steady breaths!” he called after him before continuing on.
Bramblestar sheltered with Mudstar, Hazeltail, Rosepetal, Squirrelflight, and Leafpool, who looked soaked, beneath a jutting branch of the fallen beech. Alderpaw hurried toward them, catching Leafpool’s eyes and blinking at her.
“Were you pushing them back into our territory?” Bramblestar asked Mudstar.
“It was actually the other way around.” The WindClan leader’s eyes were still dark with fury. “They were running from ShadowClan, they got to us, and they attacked. We got turned around and they started pushing us back into the forest.”
“Did you provoke them?” Squirrelflight asked.
Mudstar snorted. “We were just patrolling our borders. Furzepelt noticed them first, when one attacked her. We were lucky ShadowClan was with us or they would have slaughtered us on the spot.”
Alderpaw caught Bramblestar’s eye. “Can I speak to you and mom alone?” He was aware that he was interrupting. But this was important.
Bramblestar’s ears twitched.
Mudstar scowled at the medicine cat apprentice. “What is it?”
“I need to speak with my parents.” Alderpaw met the WindClan leader’s gaze, trying to keep a calm demeanor. In reality, he was pretty sure an anxiety fit would attack him any second now.
Mudstar sniffed and looked away.
Bramblestar frowned, his fur rippling in unease. He then flicked his tail to Squirrelflight. “What is it?” He guided Alderpaw and Squirrelflight quickly to a clump of ferns sprouting near the camp entrance. They ducked beneath the browning fronds.
Alderpaw shivered as rain dripped onto his spine. “The rogues who attacked WindClan are the same rogues we found in the gorge.”
Bramblestar closed his eyes, sighing. “I feared as much. It was too much of a coincidence for a band of rogues to show up now.”
Squirrelflight growled and lashed her tail. “I knew I recognized that stench.”
“Do you think they followed us home?” Guilt wormed beneath Alderpaw’s pelt.
“Most likely,” Bramblestar murmured.
Squirrelflight nudged him and shook her head. “You can’t blame yourself, Alder. They might have found us no matter what.”
Alderpaw shifted, wishing it were that simple. “Why do you think they’ve come here?” The question had been niggling in Alderpaw’s thoughts since he’d recognized Darktail. “Darktail said he had a reason.”
Bramblestar looked away. “Who knows why rogues act like rogues? All we can do is protect our Clan.” He leaned closer to Alderpaw. “How many of them were in the gorge?”
“I don’t know.” Alderpaw tried to remember. “I remember a lot of them, and I’m sure it was about the same amount as we saw during the battle.”
Squirrelflight blinked. “It seems they’ve just arrived, then. We should patrol the forest for more, though.”
Alderpaw nodded in agreement. But then anxiety made his belly churn more. Was the forest full of rogues? Why had they come here? As his thoughts whirled, he jumped when Leafpool appeared behind him and spoke: “I want to check on ShadowClan and Mothwing.”
Squirrelflight nodded to her sister. “I do too.” She looked at Bramblestar. “Maybe we should check on RiverClan as well.”
The dark brown tabby was already padding from the ferns. “Let all cats old enough to catch their own prey join here beneath the Highledge for a Clan meeting.”
Alderpaw watched his father leap onto the Highledge.
The elders padded from their den, and Mousewhisker, Stormcloud, and Hazeltail slunk out of the warriors’ den, Stormcloud looking better. Jayflight left the medicine den alongside Sparkpaw. He met Berrynose and pressed their noses together. Whitewing, Ambersky, Dewnose, and Snowbush all met with Cloudtail and Brightheart at the elders’ den. Next to Ambersky was Hollytuft, who was snuggled close to the cream she-cat, shivering in the rain. Dovewing joined them with Briarlight. Alderpaw didn’t like the idea of the brown she-cat out in the rain. She could catch something and she might not be able to recover from it.
Dovewing glanced around. “Has anyone seen Ivypool?” Her blue and green eyes brimmed with worry.
“She’s hunting with Fernsong and Blossomfall,” Alderpaw padded to her side.
Dovewing’s pelt spiked anxiously. “I hope they don’t bump into those rogues.”
Briarlight pressed closer to her mate, licking her shoulder. “Our sisters survived the Dark Forest. They can handle a few rogues.”
“I hope so.” Dovewing huddled close to Briarlight against the rain.
Mudstar wove through the crowd and stood at the front. Water streamed down his whiskers as he lifted his face to the Highledge. “I want to take Emberfoot back to our camp so we can sit vigil.”
Jayflight stood next to his mate. “Oatclaw and Furzepelt are too wounded to help carry him. Movement will reopen their wounds. They should stay here for a few days.”
Mudstar’s tail flicked.
Jayflight held his ground. “You’ve lost one Clanmate today,” he meowed, his voice steady. “Don’t risk another.”
Mudstar snorted. “Very well.”
“You decide wisely, Mudstar.” Bramblestar’s gaze flicked around the Clan. “Snowbush, Whitewing, and Bumblestripe. Escort Mudstar home. Carry Emberfoot’s body as though he were your own Clanmate.”
The three warriors nodded as Bramblestar went on.
“Dangerous rogues are in the forest. We don’t know how many there are. They have shown that they were willing to fight to the death. Until we know why they are here and what they intend to do next, we must be on our guard. And we must check on ShadowClan and RiverClan. They were brave in the battle against the rogues, and I want the cats I’m sending to be on their best behavior. Berrynose. Take Hazeltail, Snowbush, and Toadstep to RiverClan’s camp to check on them. Be ready to help them fight if there are any rogues on their territory. Squirrelflight will take Dovewing, Sparkpaw, Leafpool, and Rosepetal to ShadowClan to see how they’re holding up. Jayflight,” he turned to the warrior, “how are Cloverfoot and Strikepaw?”
“Well enough to travel,” Jayflight reported.
“Good, Squirrelflight, you can take them home.” The ginger deputy nodded.
“I want to come!” A tiny squeak sounded from the nursery.
Alderpaw turned as he recognized Twigkit’s mew. She was struggling out of the nursery entrance.
Cinderheart watched as the kit splattered onto the muddy ground and stared up at Bramblestar. Lionblaze rushed to help her up, but she shook herself and got to her paws on her own.
Alderpaw closed his eyes, feeling the soft fluff of Twigkit’s cheek against his own. I hope I’m worthy of your trust, Twigkit. He heaved a breath. I hope I can make sure we will all be safe.
“Please let me come to ShadowClan. I want to see my sister!”
“Don’t be mousebrained!” Rosepetal stared at her from the clearing.
Sparkpaw snorted from beside her mentor. “This is a patrol, not a nursery!”
Disapproving murmurs rippled through the gathered cats.
Alderpaw pushed past his Clanmates and stopped beside Twigkit. “You’re too young to travel to ShadowClan,” he told her gently. “Especially with rogues in the forest.”
She stared up at him, her eyes as wide as an owl’s. “That’s why I have to go! I have to make sure Violetkit’s safe.” She was trembling and tears threatened to spill over her cheeks.
Lionblaze moved closer to the kit and wrapped his tail around her, while Cinderheart pressed her nose against her head. Rain was soaking Twigkit’s pelt. “Alderpaw is right,” she murmured. “You’re too young to be out in the forest. Plus this weather might give you a cold.”
Twigkit pulled away from Lionblaze. “But Violetkit’s my sister! What if the rogues have hurt her? She should be with me, where it’s safe!”
Alderpaw’s heart twisted. How would he feel if Sparkpaw were in danger? He looked up at his father. “Let me come with Squirrelflight,” he meowed. “I can check on Violetkit and Leafpool and I can both speak with Mothwing.” He glanced at Jayflight hopefully, relieved when he saw him nodding.
Bramblestar bowed his head. “Okay, you can come.”
Alderpaw bent his head and touched his nose to Twigkit’s wet pelt. “I can’t bring Violetkit back with me, but I can make sure she will be safe.”
Twigkit looked up at Alderpaw with watery, serious eyes. After a moment she leaned up to nuzzle his cheek. “Okay,” she murmured. “I trust you, Alderpaw.”
Alderpaw closed his eyes, feeling the soft fluff of Twigkit’s cheek against his own. I hope I’m worthy of your trust, Twigkit. He heaved a breath. I hope I can make sure we will all be safe.
Book Two Allegiances - WindClan
Leader Mudstar — mottled dark brown tom with amber eyes
Deputy Ashfoot — gray she-cat with green eyes
Medicine cat Kestrelflight — mottled brownish-gray tom with white splotches like kestrel feathers
Warriors Nightcloud — black she-cat
Gorsetail — pale gray-and-white she-cat with blue eyes
Harespring — brown-and-white tom
Crowclaw — dark gray tom
Leaftail — dark ginger tabby tom, amber eyes
Emberfoot — gray tom with two dark paws
Breezepelt — black tom with amber eyes
Furzepelt — gray-and-white she-cat
Apprentice, Larkpaw (pale brown tabby she-cat)
Sedgewhisker — light brown tabby she-cat
Apprentice, Fernpaw (dark brown she-cat)
Flashheart — black tom with white flash on his chest
Oatclaw — pale brown tabby tom
Featherpelt — gray tabby she-cat
Hootwhisker — dark gray tom
Queens Heathertail — light brown tabby she-cat with blue eyes (mother to Smokekit, a dark gray she-kit, and Brindlekit, a mottled brown tabby she-kit)
Elders Onewhisker — brown tabby tom with a graying muzzle
Whitetail — small white she-cat
TaS - Chapter Three
Violetkit shifted and snuggled closer to Pinenose, but she couldn’t get comfortable. Ratscar’s words ran around in her head.
She’s not really one of us, is she?
It was late and the Clan was sleeping now, except for the cats sitting vigil beside Littlecloud’s body. He had died as the sun had set, two days after Leafpool had arrive. The ThunderClan medicine cat had been at his side, and the Clan had crouched at the edges of the clearing, avoiding one another’s eyes as they listened to the weakening moans of their medicine cat.
I should be sad that Littlecloud is dead. She knew that she was supposed to be sad, but she’d hardly met Littlecloud. He’d checked her over once when she first arrived in ShadowClan, but he’d already been sickly-looking, and she had shuddered at his sour breath.
Besides, Ratscar’s words were still gnawing at Violetkit too sharply to allow her to concentrate on Littlecloud. She’s not really one of us, is she? She had heard the skinny, dark brown elder’s meow as she passed the elder’s den that morning. He was talking about me.
Kinkfur had protested. “She must be one of us. StarClan sent Needlepaw to find her.”
Violetkit had paused, pricking her ears. Oakfur stayed silent for a long time before he let out a sigh. “I have to agree with Kinkfur,” he meowed. “StarClan sent us this kit, we must act like she is a real ShadowClan cat.”
But, Ratscar’s words still shook her. Oakfur’s did as well. We must act like she is a real ShadowClan cat. Violetkit shook. But . . . I’m not ShadowClan born.
“Pinenose?” She pressed against her mother’s belly with her paw. The queens older kits had moved into their own nests in the nursery, arguing that they were nearly apprentices and far too old to share their mother’s nest. Grassheart was asleep, her round belly moving in the dappled moonlight. From time to time she moaned, as though bad dreams kept waking her.
Pinenose was snoring. “Mom!” She poked the queen again.
“What is it?” Pinenose snorted as she woke. She looked at Violetkit, weary. “Are you ill?”
“No.” Violetkit blinked at the queen through darkness, wondering suddenly if she’d ever seen her real mother’s face. She couldn’t remember it. She wished she could. “I need to ask you something.”
Pinenose yawned, closing her eyes again. “Can’t it wait until morning?”
No. “Do I really belong in ShadowClan?”
“Of course you do, little flower.” Pinenose shifted, wrapping her tail around the black-and-white kitten. “You wouldn't rather be in ThunderClan would you?” Her voice was fading as if she was slowly falling back asleep. “They’re such’a bunch of know-it-alls.”
“But I wasn’t Clan born.”
Pinenose sighed and opened her green eyes again. “My father wasn’t Clan born,” she murmured, blinking at her. “I guess we have that in common.”
Violetkit felt comforted. “I thought your father was Blackstar?” she mewed, cuddling up into Pinenose’s belly fur.
“Other father,” Pinenose whispered, licking her head. “Sorry, dear, I’m just so tired. You belong here, with me and your brothers and sisters. . .” She closed her eyes and lay her head back down.
“Who was your other father?” Violetkit breathed the words, so quiet it sounded like the whisper of a breeze.
But Pinenose was asleep again, snoring once more. Violetkit lay her head against her foster mother’s black pelt, feeling her chest rise and fall against her. The soft vibrating of her snore comforted her a little. Across the nursery, Grassheart was still fidgeting and moaning. Birchkit was curled into a tight bundle, his muzzle buried under his paws. His limbs were quivering, as though he was dreaming of hunting. Puddlekit’s head lolled; her mouth was slightly open. Slatekit stirred, but the gray tom-kit didn’t wake. Violetkit wondered if they thought she didn’t belong, too. Perhaps every cat in ShadowClan besides Pinenose thought she shouldn’t be here. Then why did Russetstar and Needlepaw take me?
She tried not to remember the night she was taken away when, without warning, ShadowClan warriors attacked ThunderClan and took her away from Alderpaw, Lilyheart, and Twigkit. It had felt like an awful dream, but it hadn’t been; the next morning she’d woken up here and not in Lilyheart’s nest with Twigkit, Honeykit, Larkkit, and Leafkit laying with her.
Suddenly she remembered her feather. She dug into the moss and pulled it out from where she’d hidden it for safekeeping. She buried her nose in its soft fringes and shut her eyes. Was that Twigkit’s scent she could smell? She breathed in deeply, feeling herself relax. Tiredness began to seep into her pelt. Imagining Twigkit beside her, Violetkit let herself drift into sleep.
“Puddlekit!” Pinenose’s alarmed mew woke her. “Go and fetch Leafpool! Grassheart is kitting!”
Violetkit blinked open her eyes, her heart pounding. Pinenose was crouching beside Grassheart, who was writhing in her nest. The pale tabby’s breath was fast and hard, a growl deep in her throat.
Puddlekit darted from the den.
“We’ll go with her.” Birchkit leaped from his nest, Lionkit at his heels. They disappeared through the entrance.
Violetkit blinked at Pinenose and Grassheart. What should I do? Grassheart’s growl turned into a wail. Trembling, Violetkit squashed herself deeper into her nest, flattening her ears. A moment later, Leafpool burst into the den. In the moonlight filtering through the bramble walls, Violetkit watched her run a paw over Grassheart’s heaving belly.
“Everything’s just as it should be,” the ThunderClan medicine cat meowed, her voice calm. “For now she only needs some wet moss to drink from.”
“We can send an apprentice,” Pinenose meowed.
“I can get water,” Violetkit squeaked. She grabbed her feather and tucked it behind her ear.
Leafpool blinked at her. “Violetkit!” she mewed. “Go to the apprentice’s den. You can sleep there tonight.”
“What about the moss for Grassheart?” Violetkit stared at her, round-eyed.
“I’ve already sent Puddlekit to fetch some,” Leafpool told her. “She’s going to help me deliver these kits.
Pinenose bristled. “She’s not an apprentice yet!”
“She will be soon, and the quicker she starts training the better,” Leafpool meowed firmly. She flicked her tail toward Violetkit. “Go.”
Violetkit scrambled from her nest and headed for the entrance, relieved to get away from Grassheart’s frightening moans. She nosed her way out and froze.
Wasptail was right outside the den, pacing and muttering to herself. She glanced sharply at Violetkit, then sighed and shook her head, continuing her pacing. Violetkit walked past her to see Russetstar, Rowanclaw, Tawnypelt, Strikepaw, Tawnypelt’s son, and Stonewing were still sitting vigil beside Littlecloud’s body. He lay like a stone in the center of camp. Ratscar, Oakfur, and Kinkfur were crouched nearby. Kinkfur’s nose was buried into Ratscar’s shoulder fur.
Her heart pounded and she swerved to avoid the vigil, but as she moved closer to the apprentice’s den, new worries invaded her mind. What would Sleekpaw and the other apprentices say when she told them that Leafpool had sent her to sleep with them?
A soft mew sounded behind. “Violetkit, I was just coming to find you.” Needlepaw padded from the shadows at the edge of the camp.
“Find me?” Violetkit spun around, alarmed. Had she done something wrong? Needlepaw had visited her in the nursery a few times, and every time she did, Violetkit felt unnerved and uncomfortable. The fuzzy memory of Needlepaw ripping her away from Alderpaw and Twigkit made her heart ache. Would Needlepaw take her away from Pinenose too?
“We have to go somewhere.” Needlepaw halted, her bold green eyes shining in the moonlight.
“But Leafpool told me to go to the apprentice’s den,” Violetkit told her. “Grassheart is having her kits.”
“So?” Needlepaw shrugged. “You can do that later.”
Beside Littlecloud’s body, Tawnypelt turned. Her eyes flashed with worry as she caught sight of Violetkit and her apprentice. The tortoiseshell hurried toward them. “Violetkit, why are you out of the nursery. It’s late.”
Needlepaw answered for her. “Grassheart is kitting.” She jerked her nose toward the nursery. “I’m supposed to take care of Violetkit.”
That’s a lie. Violetkit blinked at the apprentice, surprised.
“Make sure she gets a warm nest and some sleep.” Tawnypelt turned back toward the nursery.
Violetkit was impressed. Tawnypelt hadn’t doubted Needlepaw for a moment. I wish I were like Needlepaw. She’s so sure of herself.
Needlepaw glanced at her. “Are you ready?”
Ready for what? Violetkit stared at her. Tongue-tied, she could only nod.
“Then follow me and keep quiet.” Needlepaw headed for the camp wall, slipping into the shadows where the brambles swallowed the moonlight. “We mustn’t be seen.”
“Why not?” Violetkit whispered. Butterflies fluttered in her belly.
“We’re going on an adventure.” Needlepaw turned to her, her green eyes sparkling and the hint of a smile on her whiskers.
Violetkit’s eyes lit up. “Where?”
“Outside the camp.”
Violetkit hesitated. “Outside?”
Needlepaw thrust her muzzle close. “You're not scared, are you?”
“No,” Violetkit lied, puffing her chest out and trying to look brave. She didn’t want Needlepaw to think she was some kind of scaredy-mouse kit. “But I might get into trouble if I leave camp.”
“Not if you’re with me.” Needlepaw blinked at her.
Violetkit shuffled her paws. Was that true? Was she allowed to leave the camp if she was with Needlepaw? Perhaps it was a special mission. Something to do with Littlecloud dying, or Grassheart having kits. Everything had been strange all day. Perhaps leaving camp was okay now.
Needlepaw ran her tail along Violetkit’s spine. “Just stay close to me and you will be safe, I promise.”
Needlepaw’s tail felt soothing. I will be safe. It sounded reassuring. Violetkit lifted her chin. “Okay. Let’s go.”
Needlepaw purred as she headed deeper into the shadows. As Violetkit trotted after her, she wondered where they were going. Then she smelled the familiar scent of the dirtplace and realized they were heading for the narrow tunnel that led out of the back of the camp.
She ducked through it after Needlepaw, blinking as darkness pressed in with the brambles. A moment later she was outside.
Needlepaw tasted the air. “Come on.” Her silver pelt shone as she padded through a strip of moonlight. “Follow me.”
Violetkit tried to stay close behind Needlepaw, peering up at the trees. Their great trunks disappeared into shadow overhead, and specks of starlight glinted through the gaps in the thick canopy. She tripped over a root and landed on her chin. “Oof!”
“Be careful.” Needlepaw turned to look at her, her eyes shining in the dark.
“I wasn’t watching were I was going,” Violetkit confessed, warming from embarrassment.
“You’d better start. The forest is a dangerous place at night. There could be foxes anywhere.”
Foxes? Fear sparked in Violetkit’s chest. She didn’t even know what a fox looked like, but from the nursery tales she’d heard, she knew they were fierce. She strained to see into the shadows. Sniffing for strange smells, she hurried to catch up to Needlepaw. She was used to the warm cat scents of the camp. Out here countless odors filled her nose, and everything was dank and strange. How would she know if a fox was nearby? She padded closer to Needlepaw, brushing her flank.
“Give me some space!” Needlepaw nudged her aside. “I don’t want to be tripping over you all the way there.”
“All the way where?” Violetkit glanced at her, anxious.
“It’s a surprise.” Needlepaw ducked beneath a low-hanging branch and jumped across a ditch.
Violetkit halted at the edge, wondering if she could clear the deep rut in the forest floor. She could see water glimmering at the bottom. It smelled rank. She didn’t want to fall in. Bunching up her muscles, she crouched and wiggled her haunches. Fixing her gaze on the far side, she leaped.
Her front paws reached the far side, but her back paws fell short. She hooked her claws into the needle-strewn earth and scrabbled desperately with her hind legs. Alarm flashing through her, she struggled to haul herself up.
Teeth clamped down on her scruff, and she felt herself being swung through the air. Needlepaw dropped her on the ground. “This journey will take forever if you can’t jump a simple ditch.”
Then something in the trees screeched. Violetkit ducked to the ground, her heart pounding. “What was that?”
Needlepaw let out a loud laugh, almost like a cackle. “An owl, toadbrain! Haven’t you heard one before?”
“Yes, but I didn’t know they could fly!” She’d heard Lionkit and Birchkit talking about owls, and Pinenose told her if she misbehaved, an owl would take her in the night. She thought, for a while, that they were nursery tales, and that Pinenose was just trying to scare them into behaving. But after she’d heard her first owl, she was horrified, staying in the den for half a moon. “I thought they were like foxes!” She fought the urge to duck under Needlepaw’s safe belly. What if it came back? It could scoop her up and take her to its nest like fresh-kill.
“Don’t worry,” Needlepaw told her, as though reading her thoughts. “I can fight off an owl. Here.” She crouched down beside Violetkit. “Climb onto my back or we’ll never get there in time.”
“In time for what?” What was this mysterious adventure about?
“Stop asking questions.”
Burning with curiosity, Violetkit forgot the owl and scrambled onto Needlepaw’s back. Clinging to the slender apprentice’s shoulders, she flattened herself against her spine. Needlepaw broke into a trot. “Is Pinenose feeding you enough?” Needlepaw teased. “A mouse would be heavier.”
“She feeds me plenty,” Violetkit defended herself, though she was secretly worried she was too small. What if she never grew as big as the Clan cats? Then they’d always think she didn’t belong.
Needlepaw was moving quickly now. Violetkit had to grip on hard as the apprentice leaped a fallen tree, picked up the speed as she ran down a slope, then cleared three ditches in a row. Watching the forest flash past, lit strips of moonlight, made Violetkit dizzy. She closed her eyes and clung on like a tick. Where were they going?
Needlepaw was heading farther and farther from camp. What if someone noticed they were gone? What if they got lost? As Violetkit’s thoughts whirled, the scents around her started to change. She opened her eyes and saw that the pines had been replaced by gnarled oaks and slender birch trees. The forest floor was littered with leaves, and their musty scent filled Violetkit’s nose. “Where are we?” she breathed.
“Can’t you tell by the stink?” Needlepaw slowed to a halt and sat down.
Violetkit slid from her shoulders, the leaves crunching beneath her paws as she landed. She took a deep breath. There was cat scent here, but it didn’t smell like ShadowClan scent. It was still familiar, though. She blinked, remembering. ThunderClan scent! “Are we on ThunderClan land?” She glanced around nervously. “What if a patrol finds us? What if a ShadowClan cat sees us here? What if-?”
Needlepaw gave her a cuff around the ears. “You and your what-ifs! Don’t worry, no one’s gonna see us. ThunderClan is sleeping, and our Clanmates are too busy mourning Littlecloud and worrying about Grassheart to patrol.”
“Why are we here?” Violetkit gaped up at Needlepaw with round eyes, her ears twitching nervously.
Needlepaw was staring at a clump of ferns. Moonlight pooled around them. Leaves fluttered down as a breeze stirred the sleeping forest.
“Why—” Violetkit began to ask again but Needlepaw cut her off.
“Hush! They’re coming!”
“Who?” Violetkit was getting frustrated.
“Quick! Hide!”
Violetkit felt like her heart was going to burst as Needlepaw darted behind the arching roots of an oak. She scampered after her, panting as she ducked down beside the apprentice. She could hear paw steps. You said they’d all be sleeping! Violetkit didn’t dare speak out loud. Blood roared in her ears. She wanted desperately to peer over the root, but she knew she mustn’t be seen. She nearly jumped out of her skin when she heard a voice.
Violetkit frowned. She’d heard that meow before. She opened her mouth and let the scent was over her tongue. The scent was familiar—she’d met this cat a few days ago. “It’s Alderpaw!” she hissed at Needlepaw less alarmed now. “What’s he doing here?”
“He’s brought someone to see you.” Needlepaw leaped onto the root and swished her tail. “Hey, Alderpaw.” She laughed her squeaky, crackly laugh when Alder jumped, backing away with spiked fur.
“You made me jump!” he squeaked reproachfully.
“Did I?” Needlepaw tipped her head, an innocent twinkle in her eye. “Did you bring her?”
“Bring who?” Pelt prickling with anxiety, Violetkit scrambled up beside Needlepaw and stared at Alderpaw.
A small shape moved behind him. Two flat ears poked out beside him, then a muzzle.
“Violetkit?” A tiny mew sounded through the darkness.
Violetkit froze, her thoughts racing. Could it be? She jumped down from the root and sniffed the air. A strange scent touched her nose, both familiar and not familiar. “Twigkit?”
Green eyes blinked. Then a gray kit darted forward and slammed into Violetkit. Unbalanced, Violetkit tumbled backward.
“It’s you! Oh, it’s really you!” Twigkit thrust her nose against Violetkit’s cheek, purring as loud as Violetkit had ever heard before.
Surprised, Violetkit shook her off and leaped to her paws. She stared at Twigkit.
Twigkit stared back. “You remember me, right?”
“Of course I do!” Violetkit blinked at her, too overwhelmed to move.
Worry sparked in Twigkit’s gaze. “You are pleased to see me, aren’t you?”
Violetkit hesitated, emotions swirling through her like storm clouds. She was more pleased than she could say. But what did Twigkit expect? How would she act? “Of course!” she repeated, stammering.
“You look different and not different all at the same time!” Twigkit blurted. She leaned forward and sniffed Violetkit. “And you smell weird.”
“So do you.” Violetkit was surprised that the smell of ThunderClan seemed so strange to her now. “You smell like cobwebs. Your ears never unfolded?”
“You smell like pine needles,” Twigkit purred, rubbing against her sister. “And I know.” She reached up to pat her ears. “I love them. I’ve never liked the look of regular cat ears.” She blinked. “Your tail is so much fluffier than it was before!” Violetkit smiled. “It’s so good to see you again. I’ve been learning to be a medicine cat. I want to be a medicine cat when I’m old, just like my dad, Alderpaw.” She glanced at Needlepaw. “Is that your mom?”
Violetkit followed her sister’s gaze, confused. Needlepaw wasn’t her mother. And Alderpaw wasn’t their father. What was Twigkit rambling about? She must mean like how Pinenose is my mom. She blinked. “Not really.”
“What’s her name?” Twigkit blinked her round green eyes at Needlepaw.
“I’m Needlepaw.” The sleek silver she-cat jumped down from the root and padded around Alderpaw, who looked tense. “Did you manage to sneak out of camp without being seen?” Violetkit saw a glint in Needlepaw’s eyes. She sounded like she was teasing Alderpaw. She frowned. Were they friends?
“Let’s play!” Twigkit’s mew took Violetkit by surprise. A paw thumped her flank. “Got you! You’re the warrior now and I’m the mouse.” Twigkit raced toward the root and scrambled behind Alderpaw, hiding behind him. His amber eyes twinkled.
Violetkit watched her go, wondering what to do. She glanced at Needlepaw for advice.
“It’s a game, toadbrain,” Needlepaw scoffed, smiling. “Go and chase her. Alderpaw and I can talk. Don’t go too far, though. There are owls around here too.”
Owls? Violetkit’s heart lurched.
Twigkit peeked around Alderpaw’s back, then caught Violetkit’s eyes and giggled. “Come on, Violet! Chase me!” Twigkit called.
Excitement tugged a Violetkit’s paws. In a moment she forgot owls, and, with a squeak of delight, leaped over the root and bowled into Twigkit, rolling them both through the leaf litter.
Twigkit struggled away. “Now you’re the mouse!” She raced for a patch of blackberry bushes.
Violetkit darted away, leaves brushing her face as she pushed through the blackberries. Ferns rustled behind her as Twigkit dived into a clump.
“I’m gonna catch you!” Twigkit called happily. Violetkit plunged through the ferns, squirming between the fronds until she felt soft paws touch the tip of her tail. Twigkit tugged. “I’m the mouse now!” she chirped. Turning, she squeezed her way out and hared across a stretch of open ground.
As Violetkit ran after Twigkit, her heart leaped. She’d been so lonely in ShadowClan. None of the other kits wanted to play like this. And Pinenose was too old and tired to play kit games. Now she was with her littermate again. And they were playing like she hadn’t played since they’d been parted. She felt like she might burst with joy. Why did the Clans ever separate them in the first place?
They played until they were both out of breath. Twigkit told Violetkit all about Lilyheart and her kits, Snowbush, who acted like another father to her, and Briarlight, who was like a big sister. Violetkit explained that Pinenose was her foster mother and she was kind, trying her best to get her to play with Lionkit, Birchkit, Slatekit, and Puddlekit, even though they obviously weren’t interested. Violetkit felt a longing tug at her heart for Lilyheart and Snowbush and the kits and Briarlight. What would life be like if Needlepaw hadn’t taken me away? They scrambled to a halt in front of Alderpaw and Needlepaw. The apprentices were talking, Alderpaw watching Needlepaw with wide, beseeching eyes, while Needlepaw paced back and forth, her tail high.
“I bet Tawnypelt is grumpier than Jayflight.”
“No cat is grumpier than Jayflight.”
Violetkit interrupted them. “Why don’t you play?”
Alderpaw blinked at her, as if surprised. “I’ve been training all day, unfortunately,” he told her. “I don’t have the energy to play.”
Needlepaw rolled her eyes. “ThunderClan cats are so dull.”
“That’s not true.” Alderpaw gasped, pretending to be offended. He nudged her shoulder with his nose in a teasing manner.
Needlepaw stepped away. “Come on.” She nodded at Violetkit. “We’d better head home.”
“Home?” Grief jabbed at Violetkit’s heart. Weren’t she and Twigkit meant to be together now? Wasn’t that why Needlepaw brought her here? She blinked desperately at the silver she-cat. “Is Twigkit coming with us?”
“Twigkit can’t come to ShadowClan.” Needlepaw sounded surprised.
“Then why’d you bring me here?” Violetkit asked. She wanted to wail.
“To visit your sister.” Needlepaw shrugged. “You’ve had fun, haven’t you? Now it’s time to go.”
Sorrow threatened to knock Violetkit off her paws Alderpaw glanced up through the branches. “Dawn will be coming soon. We should get home before the camps start to wake.”
“Ours is already awake,” Needlepaw sniffed. “Littlecloud died yesterday. The older cats, and Strikepaw, are sitting vigil.”
Alderpaw’s gaze darkened with sorrow. “I’m sad to hear that.”
Needlepaw shrugged. “It’s not exactly a surprise. He was like, one of the oldest cats in the forest.” Needlepaw headed upslope toward the pines. “Come on, Violetkit.”
Violetkit stared at her numbly, struggling to understand. Why would Needlepaw bring her here and then just take her away again?
Needlepaw flicked her tail. “We need to get back before Pinenose notices you’re gone.”
Violetkit’s throat tightened. She stared at Twigkit, desperate for her to beg Needlepaw and Alderpaw to let her stay. “Did you know we were just visiting?”
“Alderpaw explained.” Her sister touched her muzzle gently to her cheek. “He and Needlepaw wanted to cheer us up. This was the best way they could think of.” Her warm, sweet breath tickled Violetkit’s ear. Violetkit pressed against her, trembling. Suddenly, she remembered what it felt like to sleep beside her sister, curled tight against her soft fur.
“We’ll see each other again soon,” Twigkit promised.
Violetkit wasn’t convinced. “How do you know that?”
“Because we have to.” Twigkit pulled away, her eyes round and sparkling. “We’re kin!”
Alderpaw dipped his head toward Twigkit. “Come on. We’d better hurry.” Gently he nosed her away, up a leaf-strewn bank.
Violetkit’s belly grew hollow as she watched him guide her over the top. Leaves swished as they disappeared into the shadows of the woods.
“No!” The wail escaped before she could swallow it back. Sadness pressed around her like freezing water. She had to go back to ShadowClan, where no one wanted to play with her; where she couldn’t smell her sister’s warm scent. She’d be alone again.
A warm muzzle touched the top of her head. Violetkit’s heart lurched. She looked up, surprised to see Needlepaw gazing at her with soft, sympathetic eyes.
“Don’t worry, toadbrain,” Needlepaw mewed, her voice gentle.
“But I belong with her! Not ShadowClan.” Anger surged through Violetkit’s chest. “I’m not a ShadowClan cat, I’m not ShadowClan born. No one cares about me there. I’m so lonely.”
Needlepaw’s eyes glistened, as if tears were about to prick at he edges. She blinked and shook her head. “I know how that feels, kit.” She ran her spiky tail along Violetkit’s spine. Then she puffed out her chest as though she’d made an important decision. “But that’s going to change. From now on, I’m going to look out for you. You’re going to be fine.”
Violetkit blinked at her, a flicker of hope piercing her sorrow. It still hurt terribly that she didn’t have her sister in ShadowClan, and that so many of the cats there barely seemed to notice her. But she saw sincerity in Needlepaw’s eyes. Maybe now all that would change.
Maybe now she finally had a friend.
TaS - Chapter Two
ShadowClan scent, tinged with the sharp smell of pinesap, filled Alderpaw’s nose. The bundle of herbs between his jaws was making his tongue tingle.
A ShadowClan patrol led by Tawnypelt, met them as he and Leafpool crossed the border. Alderpaw remembered the night her, Needlepaw, and Russestar took Violetkit away, and how hostile Tawnypelt was toward Bramblestar and Squirrelflight. His pelt prickled. Bramblestar and Tawnypelt were a lot like Twigkit and Violetkit: separated by Clan but still siblings.
Tawnypelt greeted them warmly, which surprised Alderpaw. He guessed she was told to be kind. “Thank you for coming,” she meowed, signaling her tail to a white tom at her side. “Help them carry their herbs, Stonewing.”
Leafpool laid down the parcel of herbs she had been carrying and let him take it. “Thank you.”
Alderpaw recognized Sleekpaw standing beside them. He remembered the feisty she-cat from his first Gathering. Twigkit’s feather was tickling his nose, sticking out from the wad of rolled leaves he was carrying between his jaws, and he looked hopefully at the yellow apprentice, wondering if she might offer to help carry his bundle.
Sleekpaw gave him a haughty glance and headed away between the pines.
Alderpaw sneezed.
“Let me help.” Tawnypelt took the leaves from him gently, tugging them with her teeth. The feather fluttered to the ground, and Alderpaw snatched it up before it could fly away on the wind.
Tawnypelt and Stonewing followed Sleekpaw between the trunks. Alderpaw hesitated, glancing at the straight, evenly spaced pines. This was the first time he’d been in ShadowClan territory, and he was surprised how different it was from ThunderClan’s forest, where twisting trunks and low branches covered dips and rises, their leaves already browning and falling. In ShadowClan, the forest was smooth, dotted here and there with brambles and rutted occasionally with ditches, and there seemed to be no leaffall at all. Pines stretched into the distance, their thick canopy blocking out the sun. Countless moons’ worth of fallen needles made the ground feel springy beneath his paws.
Leafpool nudged him. “Stop staring and keep up,” she whispered. “I don’t want you getting lost.”
Alderpaw hurried forward, following Stonewing as he leaped over a fallen tree.He scrambled over the bark, landing clumsily as Leafpool dropped with grace beside him.
“I don’t see why we need to ask ThunderClan for help,” Sleekpaw meowed, her voice loud. Alderpaw rolled his eyes.
Tawnypelt flicked her tail but didn’t reply. Stonewing continued walking. Alderpaw guessed that the herb parcels between their jaws were keeping them silent. But he wondered if they felt the same way about leading ThunderClan cats to their camp.
Leafpool sniffed. “Someone needs to take care of Littlecloud.”
“I don’t see why,” Sleekpaw retorted. “It’s not like you can cure him, he’s too old, he should have joined StarClan moons ago.”
Tawnypelt halted with a growl and dropped her herb parcel. “Carry this, Sleekpaw,” she meowed, her voice sharp. “It’ll help you hold your tongue.”
Sleekpaw glowered at the ShadowClan warrior, but she took the parcel and, lifting her tail, marched on through the woods.
Tawnypelt sent Leafpool an apologetic look. “Young cats don’t seem to have any respect these days.”
Young ShadowClan cats, Alderpaw thought crossly. He resented being lumped in with arrogant furballs like Sleekpaw. He remembered being shocked by how rude she and Needlepaw had been when they had mocked their elders at the Gathering. That just seemed to be the way ShadowClan was. Needlepaw had always enjoyed breaking the rules. That was why she’d left her Clan to follow him on his quest. Needlepaw. Thinking about the young she-cat made his fur tingle with a mix of anger and anxiety. He couldn’t help admiring her carefree self-assurance, no matter how angry he was at her. Would he see her in camp? His belly tightened more. He’d been sure that they had become friends on the quest, maybe even more, like siblings, but after the battle with ThunderClan, he knew that that friendship had been severed. Half of him didn’t want that friendship to end, but the other reminded him that Needlepaw took away Violetkit and that she doesn’t deserve his friendship.
He realized the others were pulling ahead, and he broke into a run, catching up as they neared a towering wall of bramble. Tawnypelt was already disappearing through the tunnel, Stonewing at her heels. Sleekpaw pushed past Leafpool and ducked in next. Alderpaw followed Leafpool, unnerved by the heavy stench of ShadowClan.
The tunnel opened into a clearing surrounded by thick brambles. Low branches hung over the camp, and large rock stood at one end. He scanned the camp, wondering where the medicine den was, hoping to see Needlepaw or Violetkit. He spotted neither, but warriors moved around the edges, where scrubby grass sprouted beneath the trailing brambles. Their eyes were narrow at the medicine cats, whispering into one another’s ears about them. Alderpaw’s pelt prickled. A white she-cat looked pleased to see them. “Thank StarClan you’re here,” she meowed with relief.
“Snowbird.” Leafpool met her gaze. “How’s Littlecloud.”
“He’s in pain, and I’ve run out of poppy seeds,” the queen told her.
“Don’t worry,” Leafpool told her. “We’ve brought plenty of herbs. I will ease his suffering the best I can.”
“This way.” Snowbird headed toward an opening in the brambles. Stonewing reached it first and dropped his bundle of herbs at the entrance.
Sleekpaw spat hers out with a snort. “These taste foul.”
Leafpool shoved her away and sniffed at the herbs, as though making sure none had been damaged. “It doesn’t matter what they taste like, it’s what they do that counts.”
Alderpaw sent Sleekpaw an angry glare. Why did she always have to be so rude?
“Leafpool!” A deep mew called across the clearing.
Alderpaw turned to see Crowfrost hurrying toward them, his black-and-white pelt rippling in the breeze. Alderpaw knew Crowfrost was a well-respected cat in ShadowClan: brave, well-rounded, smart. Alderpaw wondered if he was one of Russetstar’s choices for deputy before she picked Rowanclaw.
Speaking of the leader and her deputy, the two ginger warriors followed more slowly, their eyes dark with worry. “We need to speak with you,” Russetstar meowed.
Leafpool dipped her head respectfully to the ShadowClan leader. “I must check on Littlecloud.”
The leader halted. “Of course.” She sat down and curled her tail over her paws. “We will be waiting until you’re done.”
Leafpool nodded to Alderpaw. “Come with me.” She picked up an herb bundle and disappeared inside.
Relieved to escape the stares of ShadowClan, Alderpaw followed his mentor into the den, wrinkling his nose as the stench of sickness rolled over him.
Leafpool crouched beside Littlecloud, murmuring prayers to StarClan under her breath.
Alderpaw stared at the sick medicine cat, shock prickling at his paws. Littlecloud’s fur was matted, and he looked so small, curled in a nest that looked as though bedding hadn’t been changed in a moon. His nose was so pale and dry, his eyes half-closed and cloudy. He wheezed with every breath.
Carefully, Alderpaw laid the feather he’d been carrying on the needle-strewn floor of the den.
As he did, Dawnpelt padded in, her eyes shimmering with worry. Snowbird sat outside, as if guarding the den.
“Who’s been looking after him?” Leafpool turned on her; her eyes were blazing. “His nest is filthy, and he needs water.”
Dawnpelt flinched. “We’ve been doing our best.”
“Couldn’t you have sent an apprentices for clean bedding or wet moss?” Leafpool demanded.
Dawnpelt dropped her gaze. Her eyes shined with a mix of dismay and anger. “I’m sorry.”
Alderpaw felt a wave of sympathy for the she-cat. Both her and Snowbird looked weary and anxious. He wouldn’t have liked to have to ask an apprentice like Sleekpaw to help with mundane duties like moss gathering.
Leafpool’s gaze softened. “I’m sure you’ve done your best. But we need to get him more comfortable.”
“Should I fetch moss now?” Dawnpelt offered.
“Not yet,” Leafpool straightened. “I need to speak with Russetstar and Rowanclaw, then check on Grassheart.” She looked worried, as though she feared the queen might be as poorly cared for as Littlecloud. Alderpaw hoped she wouldn’t overwork herself. “Stay here until I get back.” Deftly she unwrapped the bundle of herbs and pulled out a few stalks of tansy. “Chew this into a pulp and try to get Littlecloud to swallow it. It should ease his breathing.” She shoved the tansy toward Dawnpelt, then hurried out of the den.
Alderpaw paused, uncertain what to do.
“Alderpaw!” Leafpool’s call made him jump. He hurried after her, catching up as she reached Russetstar and Rowanclaw. He tried to ignore the harsh gazes of other ShadowClan cats, who were still watching from the edge of the clearing. Tawnypelt stood, looking anxious, beside Stonewing. A dark gray warrior with a torn ear was whispering to a calico she-cat. Two young toms were crouching beside the fresh-kill pile, a half-eaten frog lying between them.
“Make it quick.” Leafpool’s mew was brisk as she addressed the ShadowClan leader. Alderpaw’s ears twitched hotly. Were medicine cats allowed to speak to Clan leaders that way?
Russetstar seemed unruffled. Her solemn gaze rested on Leafpool. “I have something important to ask you.”
“Then ask,” Leafpool told him. “I need to check on Grassheart.”
Russetstar exchanged glances with Rowanclaw before speaking again. “We were hoping you would agree to stay with us for a while.”
“I’ll stay until Grassheart gives birth and her kits are checked over and healthy.”
Russetstar leaned closer. “We were hoping you’d stay long enough to train our apprentice medicine cat.”
Leafpool blinked in surprise then turned to Alderpaw. His belly turned with anxiety. Jayflight wouldn’t be happy if he had to train Alderpaw any longer than he needed to. “Who’s the apprentice then?” Leafpool scanned the camp, her eyes bright. “Where are they? Have you picked a tom or a she-cat? Or are they neither tom nor she-cat?” She blinked happily.
“Puddlekit’s a she-cat, and she hasn’t been apprenticed yet,” Rowanclaw explained.
“Puddlekit!” Leafpool stared at the deputy in disbelief. “You want to put a kit in charge of your Clan’s medicine and sick Clanmates?”
“Puddlekit is six moons old and will be made an apprentice any day now, along with her littermates,” Russetstar told her, her tone sharp.
“Did Littlecloud choose her?” Leafpool asked.
“He said she showed interest in being a medicine cat,” Russetstar sniffed. Then she sighed. “But no.”
“Then you’ve had a sign from StarClan?” Leafpool pressed. “Or has Puddlekit had a vision?”
Rowanclaw exchanged a worried glance with Russetstar as his fur rippled along his spine. “We don’t know.”
“You don’t know?” Leafpool’s eyes widened, anger sparking in the amber. “Does this kit have any connection with StarClan at all?”
Russetstar lifted her chin, her gaze still hard. “ShadowClan must have a medicine cat. Puddlekit is willing to care for her Clan, and she’s interested in Littlecloud’s work. I am only asking you to train her.”
Alderpaw stared at Leafpool. He understood her shock. It seemed like madness to choose a random kit to take care of a whole Clan. Would she agree to help?
Leafpool closed her eyes for a moment as though gathering her thoughts. “I’m sorry, Russetstar,” she meowed. “I have an apprentice of my own I need to think of. I can’t put Jayflight in charge of him any longer.”
Russetstar sighed. “I was afraid you’d say that. Then we can ask Mothwing or Willowshine for help. Thank you for agreeing to look after Grassheart and Littlecloud.”
“Of course,” Leafpool mewed. “I’m always happy to help. How long are you planning to keep Mothwing or Willowshine?”
“We thought a couple of moons would be enough,” Rowanclaw answered.
“You think it’s that easy?” Leafpool stared at him in disbelief. In ThunderClan, medicine cats stayed apprentices for many more moons than warriors, and Alderpaw guessed it would be the same in ShadowClan. “They wouldn’t be training her to stalk birds! There’s a lot to learn. And even then a medicine cat needs experience—more experience than you can get in a couple moons.”
Russetstar held her gaze. “A starving cat can’t choose their prey.”
Leafpool glanced through at the canopy, as though trying to glimpse Silverpelt sparkling above. “StarClan help you.” Then, with a sigh, she faced Russetstar. “As soon as I’m finished with Littlecloud, I can go to RiverClan to ask Mothwing to tend to Puddlekit.”
“Thank you,” Russetstar meowed, a hint of a growl in her meow. “Puddlekit is a ShadowClan cat. She will learn quickly and perform her duties well.”
Leafpool stared at her. Alderpaw could sense the tension between them and wondered how Leafpool would react.
“Alderpaw.” Leafpool broke eye contact with the ShadowClan leader to turn to her apprentice. “While I check on Grassheart, find some moss and soak it in water. Littlecloud will be thirsty.” She glanced at Russetstar. “Is there an apprentice who can help?”
Russetstar turned her head. Scanning the shadows beneath the bramble wall. “Needlepaw!”
Alderpaw’s heart quickened. Two bold green eyes flashed beneath the trailing branches. Slowly, a sleek, silver she-cat with white chest fur slid out. Alderpaw straightened, forcing his ruffled fur to smooth along his spine.
Needlepaw caught his eyes and nodded a curt greeting before padding toward her leader. “What do you want?”
“Go with this ThunderClan cat and gather wet moss for Littlecloud to drink,” Russetstar told her.
Needlepaw glanced toward the medicine den. “Wouldn’t it be easier to carry Littlecloud to a ditch and let him drink there? He weighs hardly more than a mouse.”
Russetstar showed her teeth, her eyes flashing with anger. “Do as I tell you.”
Tawnypelt hurried toward them, her pelt prickling. “Are you being insolent again, Needlepaw?” She gave her apprentice a cross glare.
Needlepaw’s eyes rounded with fake innocence. “I was just making a suggestion.” Alderpaw tried not to giggle.
Leafpool shook out her fur and headed across the clearing. “I assume the nursery is still where it’s always been?”
“Yes.” Tawnypelt followed her. “Grassheart is resting. But she’s eating well and hasn’t complained of any pain.”
“Good.”
As the two old friends walked away, Alderpaw glanced at Needlepaw. “Where’s the best place to collect moss?”
“The whole forest is practically one big moss garden.” Needlepaw sighed and padded toward the camp entrance. “Hi, by the way.”
“H-hi.” Alderpaw followed, his pelt hot. Is she pleased to see me? She was acting so casual it was hard to tell. Am I pleased to see her? He was still split between hating her and just feeling anxious and uncomfortable about her. He searched for something interesting to say, but Needlepaw beat him to it.
“Every cat around here is really impressed with me,” she told him. Her voice echoed around the trees as they emerged from the bramble tunnel. “I brought back a special kit for the Clan. Now we’re part of the prophecy, too.”
Alderpaw felt a flash of sympathy for the she-cat. He remembered the talk they had all those sunrises ago. She just wants to be part of their destiny. Their prophecy. His heart suddenly ached. Is that why she wanted to take Violetkit so bad? She failed to be part of my destiny, so now she wants to be part of Violetkit’s. He shook his pelt, deciding to ignore her little speech. “How is Violetkit doing? Is she okay? Has she settled in?”
“I think she’s doing well,” Needlepaw told him. “She’s in the nursery most of the time with Pinenose and her kits. I don’t have much time to visit her.”
Anxiety prickled at Alderpaw’s belly. “Doesn’t she come out to play?”
“Of course she comes out to play.” Needlepaw stopped at a large pine and began scraping moss from between the roots. “She’s a kit. What else do kits do?”
“Do you play with her?” Alderpaw thought of the games he played with Twigkit: moss-ball, cat and mouse, hunt the acorn . . .
“I don’t have time.” Needlepaw pulled off a long strip of moss and flung it toward Alderpaw. “I spend too much time training. Besides, I don’t play kit games.”
“But you helped find her,” Alderpaw reminded her. “Doesn’t that make her special to you?”
Needlepaw glanced at him. “Do you play with Twigkit?”
“When I’m not busy with apprentice duties,” Alderpaw told her.
Needlepaw sat back and looked at the pile of moss she’d collected. “I’m training to be a warrior, not a medicine cat. It takes up a lot of my time. Are you going to help with the moss or what?”
“I think you’ve gathered enough,” Alderpaw told her. “We just need to soak it in water now.”
“There’s a pool over there.” Needlepaw nodded past the camp wall. “Follow me.”
As she marched away, Alderpaw grabbed the moss between his jaws and followed.
When they reached a small pool filled with rainwater, he dunked the moss. The cold made his nose ache. As he lifted it out, water dripped onto his chest.
Needlepaw stared at him, her bold green eyes sparkling with amusement. “You look like an otter.”
Alderpaw’s fur ruffled along his spine. He turned, self-conscious, and headed toward the camp entrance.
As he carried the sodden moss into the medicine den, Dawnpelt stood to greet him. Her jaws were green with tansy pulp; Alderpaw could smell the sharp tang of it even over the musty scent of the dripping moss. Needlepaw padded in and stopped beside the entrance, looking at the sick medicine cat with curious eyes. “He looks so small,” she commented.
“His fur needs washing.” Alderpaw piled the moss beside Littlecloud’s nest and lifted a clump of it to the tom’s mouth.
Littlecloud’s nose twitched, but he didn’t open his eyes. Turning his head, he lapped helplessly at the moss. Alderpaw pressed the soaked moss closer so that the moisture ran into his mouth.
Littlecloud swallowed with a gasp of relief.
Alderpaw turned to Dawnpelt. “You need to make sure he has water all the time.”
Dawnpelt nodded, looking guilty. “Okay.”
As she spoke, Leafpool padded in. “Grassheart seems well. She’s close to kitting.” She stopped beside Alderpaw and pressed her ear to Littlecloud’s chest. “The tansy eased his breathing,” she commented. “I’ll mix some herbs that will help his fever.”
“Can I help?” Alderpaw reached for the pile.
“You can fetch clean bedding with Needlepaw,” Leafpool told him.
Alderpaw felt a stab of disappointment. He wanted to show Needlepaw how much he’d learn about being a medicine cat. But he didn’t argue. He should be focusing on helping Littlecloud, not showing off to Needlepaw. Nodding, he headed for the entrance. “Do you know where there’s any bracken?” He asked as he brushed past her.
She followed him out of the den, ignoring his question. “Don’t you get bored of being bossed around?”
“I want to help my Clanmates.”
“Littlecloud isn’t your Clanmate; he’s mine.”
Alderpaw stopped to face her. “Do you want to help him?”
Needlepaw shrugged. “I guess, but I thought that was why Leafpool came here.”
“She can’t do everything by herself,” Alderpaw pointed out, feeling a prickle of irritation. He had almost forgotten how frustrating the silver apprentice could be. “She’s not even going to stay long. Just until Grassheart gives birth and Littlecloud gets better.” Or joins StarClan. He shook the thought away.
Needlepaw gazed at him for a moment, then flicked her tail. “Do you want to see Violetkit?”
Alderpaw’s heart lifted. “Oh, yes, please.”
“She’s in the nursery.” Needlepaw’s mew was suddenly bright. “Come on—I’ll take you there.”
“Wait!” Alderpaw suddenly remembered Twigkit’s feather. He turned back toward the medicine den and darted inside, snatching it from the ground and speeding out again before Leafpool could speak. He raced back to Needlepaw, the feather fluttering against his nose.
Needlepaw purred and headed across the clearing. “This way.” As she reached a bulge in the bramble wall, she ducked.
Alderpaw watched Needlepaw squeeze through a narrow entrance among the prickles. He climbed after her, ignoring the thorns scraping his pelt.
Inside, he was surprised to see the entrance open into a warm, spacious den. A black she-cat lay in one nest, a pale brown queen in the other. The pale tabby was round with unborn kits. Alderpaw dropped his feather and stared at her. “Grassheart?” He’d never seen such a pregnant cat. He was amazed at her size and wondered how big her litter would be.
Grassheart lifted her head, looking weary. “Who are you?”
The black she-cat hissed, “Yes! Who are you?”
“It’s okay,” Needlepaw soothed. “He’s a medicine cat. He came with Leafpool.”
Alderpaw felt hot with embarrassment. “I’m just an apprentice,” he corrected. “I was hoping to see Violetkit.” He gazed hopefully at the black queen, guessing that she must be the cat who was nursing Violetkit.
“Oh, little Violet.” Pinenose sighed and relaxed back into her nest. “She’s a funny little thing. I keep trying to persuade her to go out and play with her brothers and sisters, but she insists on staying indoors and amusing herself.”
Alderpaw followed Pinenose’s amused gaze and saw a small black-and-white kit sitting on her haunches at the edge of the den, pawing at a tendril sticking out from the wall.
“Violetkit?” he called softly. Would she remember him? She’d been so young when Russetstar and Needlepaw took her away.
She turned her head and blinked at him, her eyes showing no emotion.
Alderpaw’s heart tightened. She looked even lonelier than Twigkit, playing by herself. “It’s me, Alderpaw. I’ve brought you a present from your sister.”
“My sister?” Violetkit blinked at him, confused. “You mean Lionkit?”
“No, little Violet,” Pinenose mewed. “Your other sister. Remember Twigkit, in ThunderClan?”
“Yes,” Alderpaw pushed the feather toward her.
Violetkit stared at it, her fluffy pelt spiking. “It’s a feather,” she mewed slowly, as if confused.
“Yes.” Alderpaw nudged it closer. “A red one, like the one you used to play with when you shared a nest with her.”
Violetkit’s eyes suddenly lit up. “I remember!” She pricked her ears and bounded forward. “Is it the same one?”
Alderpaw shook his head, then softened the story a bit for the young kit. “The old one got dirty, so Twigkit found a new one for you.”
“Just for me?” The kit’s mew cracked before she broke into a loud purr. She pounced on the feather, trapping the quill between her paws and grabbing it between her jaws. “Momma! Pinenose, look what Twigkit gave me!”
Pinenose blinked at her. “I saw it, Violet,” she meowed. She seemed like she was trying her best to sound interested in the feather. “It’s very pretty.”
“I love it!” the kitten squealed, tucking it behind her ear like Twigkit said she did before. Violetkit lifted her face and stared at Alderpaw. “Tell Twigkit I love it!” She sat up suddenly. “How is Twigkit? What’s she like? Has she got her own feather? Is her tail fluffy yet? She always wanted the fluffiest tail. Has she tried vole yet? I want to taste vole, but mom says I’m not ready ready.”
Her words tumbled out in excitement, leaving Alderpaw breathless. Which question should he answer first?
Suddenly he thought of Sparkpaw. She’d been a lively kit too. His heart ached to imagine how he could have grown up without her endless questions and new ideas for games. Losing Sparkpaw would be the worst thing that could happen to Alderpaw.
“Twigkit’s tail is getting fluffier every day, and she tasted her first vole two sunrises ago. She helps me out in the medicine den a lot and—”
“Is she going to become a medicine cat?” Violetkit asked, her eyes wide.
Alderpaw purred. “I don’t think ThunderClan needs three medicine cats.”
“Violetkit,” Pinenose called to her. “I think it’s time for your nap.”
“But I’m not tired!” Violetkit stared at the black she-cat with an upset gaze.
“Grassheart is tired, Violet,” Pinenose answered. “And she can’t sleep with you chattering.”
Alderpaw felt sympathy tug at his heart for Violetkit. “Perhaps she could leave the den for a while and play with her feather and her siblings?”
Pinenose sniffed at the ginger tom, eyeing him. “I’m her foster mother, so I can say when it’s time for her nap.”
Alderpaw could see it was pointless in arguing with the queen. He gave Violetkit a sad look. “You better rest,” he murmured. He glanced at Pinenose. The ShadowClan queen was settling down into her nest, her tail twitching. “Besides I have to get going.”
“Already?” Disappointment sparkled in Violetkit’s yellow eyes.
“My Clanmates will be expecting me.”
Violetkit stared up, hope sparking in her gaze. “Will you come visit again soon?”
Pity welled up in Alderpaw’s throat. She should be in ThunderClan, playing with her sister. Not here, where she was obviously lonely. “I’ll try.”
Violetkit gazed at him bleakly, as though she didn't believe he meant it. “I’d better go take my nap.” Tail drooping, she turned and climbed into the nest to settle in beside Pinenose. The feather dislodged from her ear and fluttered to the ground beside the nest.
Alderpaw lifted it between his teeth and set it down beside her. “Sleep well, Violetkit. I’ll tell Twigkit all about you.”
“Tell her I’m going to be the best warrior ever.”
“I will.” Regret filled Alderpaw’s belly. Trying not to show it, he headed for the entrance. “We’d better go find some bedding for Littlecloud,” he told Needlepaw.
“I guess.” Needlepaw squeezed out after him. “I never realized Violetkit was so talkative.”
“Perhaps you should try spending more time with her.” After all, you did find her and name her. Alderpaw padded across the camp.
“Maybe.” Needlepaw sounded thoughtful. “It could be cool to have a kit following me around.”
Alderpaw hardly heard her. He was so lost in his own thoughts. Violetkit seemed so lonely. If only there were something he could do to help . He pricked his ears as a thought struck him. At the camp entrance, he halted and stared at Needlepaw. “I have an idea.”
Needlepaw met his gaze, eagerness sparking in her eyes. “What?”
Alderpaw lowered his voice. “Why don’t we let the kits meet?”
“You mean Violetkit and Twigkit?” Needlepaw looked puzzled. “But how?”
“We can decide on a meeting place, then sneak them out one night and take them there.”
“You mean in secret?” Needlepaw’s eyes shone. “While everyone’s sleeping?”
Alderpaw nodded, ignoring the guilt worming through his belly. Surely Violetkit’s happiness was more important than Clan rules? Besides, Alderpaw still firmly believed that the Clans shouldn’t have separated the kits in the first place. He pushed away the thought that this would also be a chance to see Needlepaw again. He had to admit, he did miss her. She still felt like a close sister to him. But this wasn’t for him. It was for the kits.
Needlepaw was pacing. “There’s a great spot near the border. I can show you while we’re collecting bracken. It’ll be perfect. No one would ever know but us.” She flicked an ear toward her unseeing Clanmates, pleasure warming her gaze. Then she turned to Alderpaw. “Don’t you just love secrets?”
