#vosrewrite

[need1etail]

Jayflight, a.k.a a grumpy bi boy who loves his bf

I tried to draw him as a tabby point cat but I failed. He looks pretty cool I think. I love my boy. 

[need1etail]

Chapter Nine

“I don’t care what you say!” Sandstorm hissed. “I’m going on this quest, and that’s final!”

“It’s out of the question!” Squirrelflight snapped back at her, her green eyes blazing with anger. “Bramblestar asked you here to tell Alderpaw about how to get to SkyClan. He never intended for you to go with him.”

Alderpaw shifted from paw to paw on the sandy floor of Bramblestar’s den, nervous as the two cats yelled at each other. After his mother found out her mate was keeping secrets from her, she instantly dragged the truth of SkyClan out of him, playing the “You were upset with me about the Three not being our kits, now you’re just being a hypocrite” card on him. The ginger she-cat seemed upset with her mother and father for not telling her about the lost Clan, but she didn’t say anything about it. It was the day after his father had told him that he must go on the quest, but so far no decisions had been made about which cats would accompany him.

And it doesn’t look like I’ll be leaving anytime soon, not if mom and Sandstorm keep on arguing. He had always believed the mother and daughter got along well together. Now they looked furious enough to claw each other’s pelts off.

Sandstorm glared hard at Alderpaw’s mother. “You may be the Clan deputy, but you’re acting like a mouse-brained apprentice.” Her neck fur was bristling. Bramblestar looked uncomfortable as Alderpaw felt. “I’m the only—”

“Enough!” Squirrelflight lashed her tail. “Mother, you’re an elder, and I’m the deputy. You’ve made your contribution to our Clan, and it’s been a magnificent contribution, it really has. Now you deserve to have the rest of us take care of you. I want you safe in camp, not traipsing about in unknown territory.” Her eyes seemed to soften ever so slightly, but she kept her gaze hard. “I’m not losing my son and my mother on the same journey.”

“That’s exactly the point.” Sandstorm’s voice grew quieter, the words forced through clenched teeth. Alderpaw was glad she wasn’t glaring at him like she was glaring at her daughter and Bramblestar. “I’m the only living cat who has any idea how to find SkyClan’s camp. And I’m the only one who has met the cats of SkyClan before. They’re more likely to accept me than cats they’ve never laid eyes on.”

As she spoke, the anger in Squirrelflight’s face was fading, replaced with a thoughtful expression. “I understand,” she began in an uncertain voice, “but elders don’t—”

She broke off at the sound of paw steps approaching up the tumbled rocks. Alderpaw turned to see Cloudtail, Firestar’s nephew, at the entrance to the den. Bramblestar, Squirrelflight, and Sandstorm exchanged a swift glance, and Alderpaw realized that Cloudtail didn’t know about SkyClan either, even though he was related to the tom who found it.

“All the hunting patrols have gone out,” he reported. “I don’t know why Squirrelflight couldn’t ht have done it, though. I just wanted to ask if you’ve figured out which warriors you’ve chosen to go with Alderpaw. He’ll need a strong group of cats. I’m sure you don’t want him to be alone on this dangerous journey.”

“I will be going with him,” Sandstorm announced, before Squirrelflight or Bramblestar could reply.

Her green eyes flashed with triumph when Bramblestar reluctantly dipped his head in agreement, but Squirrelflight’’s expression twisted into fury and horror.

“You can’t!” she hissed. “I won’t allow it. This quest is far too dangerous for an apprentice, let alone an elder. I couldn’t bear having both of you leave.” Cloudtail looked as if he was sorry he asked.

Dangerous? Alderpaw thought, feeling even more nervous than before.

“Squirrelflight, it will be fine,” Sandstorm huffed. “I may be old, but I’m still strong. And Alderpaw will be in a lot less danger if I go with him.”

“I hate to admit it, but she’s right,” Bramblestar agreed.

Squirrelflight glanced sharply from her mother to Bramblestar and back again, her green eyes glittering with anger. She sniffed and turned away. “This is a terrible idea,” she hissed.

“You have to trust me,” Sandstorm told her, stepping closer to her daughter.

A few tense heartbeats passed between the mother and daughter while Squirrelflight held Sandstorm’s green gaze. Then she sighed, her tail drooping. “I suppose I do.”

Without further argument, Bramblestar led the way out of the den and onto the Highledge. Squirrelflight stayed by his side, while Sandstorm, Alderpaw, and Cloudtail picked their way down the tumbled rocks to the floor of the camp.

“Let all cats old enough to catch their own prey join here beneath the Highledge for a Clan meeting,” Bramblestar called.

All the cats in the clearing turned toward the Highledge. Leafpool and Dovewing coaxed Briarlight from the medicine cat den, and sat side by side in front of the bramble screen. Lilyheart and Daisy appeared from the nursery and settled themselves near the entrance while Lilyheart’s kits play wrestled next to them. Brightheart, Whitewing, and Ivypool slid out from the warriors’ den and took their places at the foot of the rock wall.

Purdy broke off a story he was telling Snowbush, Ambersky, and Dewnose. “I’ll finish the rest later,” he promised as he padded off to flop down beside Graystripe, Millie, and Brackenfur near the elders’ den.

Alderpaw looked around for Sparkpaw and spotted her emerging from the thorn tunnel with Rosepetal and Toadstep. She’s hardly limping at all, he told himself with a burst of pride. I did a good job. All three cats were loaded with prey; they bounded across the camp to drop it on the fresh-kill pile, then joined their Clanmates to listen to Bramblestar.

“Cats of ThunderClan,” their leader began, “I have important news. Alderpaw has had a vision about the prophecy from StarClan. We think that it will help us find what will ‘clear the sky’, and so he must go on a quest to find the place he saw in his dream. Because Sandstorm knows about some of what of he saw in the vision, she will be going with him.”

Murmurs of amazement rose from the assembled cats at Bramblestar’s words, and they exchanged glances alive with curiosity. Alderpaw thought that Graystripe and Millie looked especially shocked that Sandstorm would be part of the quest.

“Why Alderpaw, and not Leafpool, or even one of the other Clans?” asked Berrynose.

Leafpool spoke up from her place in front of her den. “Alderpaw is a medicine cat, Berrynose, and you know that as well as I do. As for why StarClan chose him . . .” She shrugged. “StarClan has their reasons.”

“More important, why Sandstorm?” Brightheart asked with an affectionate glance at the pale ginger she-cat. “She’s an elder; she’s earned her rest.”

“Because I was afraid she would claw my ears off if I forbade her from going,” Bramblestar responded with a hint of amusement in his tone. Alderpaw giggled under his paw.

“And I would have,” Sandstorm muttered.

“There are reasons why I believe Sandstorm is vital to the quest,” Bramblestar went on. “Now all that’s left is to choose warriors to join the group.”

Several enthusiastic yowls greeted his words.

“I’ll go!”

“Let me!”

Sparkpaw scampered Alderpaw and pressed herself against his side, her eyes shining. “I’ll come and help you!” she mewed.

“Oh, thank you!” Alderpaw responded, his relief at the thought of having his sister with him flooding over him.

Then he noticed that Bramblestar and Squirrelflight, up on the Highledge, were exchanging hesitant glances. Rosepetal, who had followed her apprentice, shook her head sternly. “Bramblestar decides who will go,” she told Sparkpaw. “And he’s not likely to choose his own daughter for a quest like this.”

Shaken, Alderpaw gazed up at Bramblestar. “Please,” he begged desperately, “can’t Sparkpaw come?”

Bramblestar paused, clearly torn, while Squirrelflight leaned closer to him and murmured something into his ear. She looked horrified at the thought of both her kits risking themselves on this quest.

The Clan leader and his mate and deputy spoke together quietly for a few heartbeats. Then Bramblestar turned back to the cats in the clearing. “Very well,” he meowed. “Sparkpaw may go with you. And in that case,” he added, raising his voice to be heard about Sparkpaw’s squeals of triumph, “Rosepetal and Toadstep will join the group as well.”

The two cats exchanged excited glances.

Before Bramblestar spoke again, Jayflight stepped up. “I want to come as well,” he meowed. “I know enough about medicine to help Alderpaw out if he gets stuck. Leafpool can’t help him.”

Berrynose, who sat beside him, looked horrified, and uncertain whispers rose from the Clan. Lionblaze ran over to his brother, his eyes shining. “If Jay’s going, I’m coming too!” he called.

Bramblestar opened his mouth to protest, but Jayflight cut him off. “There’s nothing you can say to change my mind,” he meowed in a firm tone. “I’m going whether you like it or not.”

Bramblestar sighed and shook his head. “Fine,” he meowed. “You and Lionblaze may go.”

Squirrelflight let out a huff. “I’m not just losing my mother and son now,” she grumbled. “I’m losing all my kits.”

“You leave at dawn tomorrow,” Bramblestar finished, brushing his tail down Squirrelflight’s flank. “And may StarClan light your path.”

“Alderpaw! Come on! Wake up!”

Sparkpaw’s voice seemed to come from a long way away. Alderpaw opened his eyes, blinked blearily, and made out her face right next to his, her green eyes gleaming in the shadow of their den.

“Wake up!” she repeated, prodding him hard in the side. “It’s time to go. This is your quest mouse-brain, and you’re still asleep.”

Alderpaw stretched his jaws into a massive yawn and staggered to his paws. He had lain awake for so long the night before, thinking about the quest, that it felt as if he had only been sleeping for a heartbeat.

Following Sparkpaw, he scrambled through the ferns that shaded the apprentices’ den and headed out into the clearing, holding his head and tail high to hide out nervous he felt.

The dawn air was damp and chilly, striking deep into Alderpaw’s fur. Above his head the sky was washed with the pale light of dawn, and a faint breeze was rustling the trees on top of the hollow.

It seemed to Alderpaw that the whole of ThunderClan was out in the clearing, most of them clustering around the medicine den. Their excited murmurs sounded like the buzzing of a whole colony of bees.

Alderpaw and Sparkpaw pushed their way through the crowd to join Leafpool outside her den. Rosepetal, Toadstep, Lionblaze, and Sandstorm were already waiting there, and Leafpool was distributing small leaf wraps of herbs to them.

“There you are!” Jayflight mewed to the two apprentices as he pushed through the crowds. Alderpaw purred at the friendly tone in his cousin’s voice. “I’ve been looking for you two all morning. Let’s get some traveling herbs from Leafpool.”

Leafpool set down three more leaf wraps in front of Alderpaw, Sparkpaw, and Jayflight. Alderpaw delicately separated the herbs with one paw, studying them carefully.

“That’s sorrel to quench your thirst,” Jayflight identified the herbs, sounding like Alderpaw’s mentor. “Daisy to keep your joins supple and—” He broke off, then added, “I guess Leafpool has already taught you all of this.” His voice sounded melancholy for a moment before he cleared his throat. “You’re growing up fast. And you’re really good at learning your herbs.”

“Chamomile to ease tiredness, and burnet for strength.” Alderpaw named and described the other two herbs in the mixture. He was happy at Jayflight’s praise. He’s been treating me differently since him and Leafpool talked to Bramblestar about my vision, he reflected. It’s almost as if he thinks that there’s more to the quest the quest than he knows about, and he believes I know the truth. He suppressed a shiver. And, of course, I do know.

Jayflight nodded Alderpaw’s accurate description. “Good. You and Leafpool will give these herbs to every cat who needs to travel. They’ll keep you going even if you don’t have a chance to hunt.”

“They taste weird,” Sparkpaw commented as she licked up her share.

Jayflight didn’t say anything to her, keeping his blind gaze locked on Alderpaw. “I swear to StarClan, if you get killed on this journey, I’ll find your spirit and cuff you over the head until your ears fall off,” he hissed, making Alderpaw laugh. “If anything does happen . . . I’d miss you around the camp.”

Alderpaw purred and nodded. “I promise I won’t do anything mouse-brained,” he meowed. He stepped forward and affectionately nuzzled his cousin’s chest with his head. “I’m glad you’re coming on this quest with us, big brother.”

Jayflight purred and pressed his nose against Alderpaw’s head. “I’d do anything to keep you safe, Alder,” he murmured. “Now finish those herbs before Sparkpaw accidentally eats them.” He got to his paws and sat next to Lionblaze, who gave him an affectionate nudge, nearly making the small tom fall over.

“Just like old times, eh, Jay?” Lionblaze purred. “Me, you, and Holly on a big journey together. Except . . .” He cut himself off, the happy shine in his eyes dimming slightly.

“Yeah,” Jayflight murmured.

Alderpaw’s heart ached for his cousins as he began eating his share of herbs. As he did, he noticed Bramblestar had appeared and had drawn Sandstorm away from the other questing cats. The two of them were having a quiet conversation, their expressions serious. Alderpaw caught a few words.

“If this secret gets out, it could be devastating for the Clans,” Bramblestar meowed.

“That’s nonsense; StarClan gave Alderpaw this vision . . .” Sandstorm began. Alderpaw lost the rest of what she said as the cats moved away.

Uneasiness stirred in Alderpaw’s belly. This was about his quest, and yet there was so much about it that he didn’t understand. And suppose I give away the secret about SkyClan? I wouldn’t mean to but . . . What would happen then? He heaved a massive sigh. At least Sandstorm is coming with us, and she can advise me.

At last Bramblestar stepped back from Sandstorm with a nod of agreement, and he bounded across the camp to climb up to the Highledge.

Sandstorm padded over to Alderpaw and rubbed her cheek against his, her green eyes shining with pride in him. “You look worried,” she murmured.

“I heard part of what you and Bramblestar were saying,” Alderpaw confessed. “It sounds like he doesn’t trust me.”

“Nonsense!” Sandstorm responded. “It’s not that Bramblestar doesn’t want you to know about SkyClan; he doesn’t want any cat to now. He was upset about Squirrelflight dragging it out of him. It’s not his feelings about you. It’s his guilt about what the four Clans allowed to happen to SkyClan.”

But that was seasons and seasons before Bramblestar was born, Alderpaw thought. Why should he feel bad about it? It wasn’t his fault.

“I’m not sure I understand,” he mewed.

“Maybe you will in time,” Sandstorm responded.

Alderpaw dipped his head respectfully. “Thank you, Sandstorm. I’m glad you’re coming with us.”

“Cats of ThunderClan!” Bramblestar called from the Highledge. “Alderpaw has had an important vision—and this vision is to set him off on a quest that, I predict will prove as important to our Clan as the one that Dovewing undertook as an apprentice, when the drought came and she saved our lake.” Dovewing raised her tail in pride and Briarlight nudged her, her eyes gleaming with pride.

Alderpaw was aware of every cat turning to stare at him. He was startled to see the respect and admiration in their eyes. He ducked his head in embarrassment and stared at his paws. I really don’t deserve this.

“The medicine cats’ prophecy told us that unless we embrace what we find in the shadows, the sky will never clear, Alderpaw’s vision gives us hope that the cats of ThunderClan can find what lies in the shadows, and if so, then our Clan will prosper.”

The whole of ThunderClan erupted into enthusiastic yowling. “Alderpaw! Alderpaw!”

Alderpaw froze, almost wishing that a big owl would swoop down and carry him off. Then Sparkpaw gave him a nudge. “Come on, slow mole!” she meowed, giving him an affectionate glance. “It’s time to go.”

Alderpaw straightened, bracing himself. “I’m glad you’re with me, Sparkpaw,” he murmured.

To his relief, Sandstorm took the lead as he and the other questing cats headed for the thorn tunnel. The rest of ThunderClan padded along with them, calling out their good wishes.

“Best of luck, Alderpaw!”

“Keep safe!”

“May StarClan light your path!”

At the last moment, before Alderpaw and Sparkpaw stepped into the tunnel, Squirrelflight bounded up to them. Alderpaw saw fear mixed with slight anger in her eyes, and her voice was brisk as she meowed, “Don’t you dare get yourselves! Every hair on your pelt better be in tact by the time you get back. I want to hear all about your journey.”

“We’ll be careful,” Alderpaw promised.

“I’ll look after them, mom,” Lionblaze meowed, pressing against his mother and licking her head. Alderpaw stifled a laugh when he saw how much bigger Lionblaze was than their mother.

Squirrelflight touched noses with each of her kits, then took a pace back. Alderpaw’s heart suddenly ached as he thought about leaving his mother and father. He suddenly wished he could stay here with his parents, and Aunt Leafpool, and Daisy, and Lilyheart, and the kits. He rushed forward and hugged her tightly, nuzzling her. “I’ll be back before you can say mouse, don’t worry momma,” he murmured, hearing her chuckle sadly and lick his ear. He pulled away and was aware of her gaze on him until he headed into the tunnel.

This is it! The quest has really begun!

The sun was rising as Alderpaw’s group headed through the forest toward the lake, strong rays of sunlight striking through the trees and making patterns on the forest floor. Alderpaw remembered how vast and frightening the territory had seemed when he first left the camp. Now he found it familiar and safe.

“How long will this quest take?” Sparkpaw asked, bouncing along his side. “Where’s the place you saw? I want to know more about your dream—oh sorry, your vision!”

“I have no idea where the place is, or how far it is,” Alderpaw replied, felling a prickle in his pelt at his littermate’s questions. “And I can’t really talk about it. It’s medicine cat stuff.”

“Oh come on you can tell me. Were there cats in you vision? What did they look like? What did they say?” she persisted, her green eyes sparkling eagerly.

Alderpaw’s nervousness increased under the flood of questions. He wished he could tell the truth to other cats; it felt really awkward having to lie. Especially to Sparkpaw. I’ve never kept secrets from her before.

He staggered sideways as Sparkpaw gave him a hard prod in the side. “What’s wrong with you?” she asked, her voice cross. “I’m only trying to help. I want to find what lies in the shadows and save ThunderClan. So how do you know your vision’s got something to do with the prophecy? Huh?”

“Sparkpaw, leave Alderpaw alone,” Jayflight hissed, sending a sharp glare her way. “This is medicine cat business.”

Sparkpaw glared back. “Then why do you get to know? You’re no medicine cat,” she grumbled.

Jayflight’s ears flattened and his neck fur bristled.

“That’s enough, Sparkpaw,” Sandstorm snapped.

Sparkpaw glared at the two of them for a couple of heartbeats, then shrugged, relaxing. “Okay. I’ll find out soon enough, anyway.” She bounded over to Rosepetal, who had moved into the lead. “What do you think?” she asked her mentor. “What does Alderpaw’s vision mean?”

Alderpaw let out a sigh of relief. He was glad that Sparkpaw hadn’t been cowed by Jayflight’s scolding. He felt bad enough for hiding things from her without getting her into trouble as well.

“I’d answer that better if I knew what the vision was,” Rosepetal replied patiently.

“Wouldn’t we all?” Sparkpaw responded, flicking a glance at her brother. “But you must have some ideas, Rosepetal. What do you think we’ll find at the end of the quest?”

“What we need to, I guess,” Rosepetal mewed. Alderpaw wished he had her patience. If he were in her paws, he wouldn’t be able to keep up with all of Sparkpaw’s questions.

“Something that will help clear the sky,” Toadstep added, a hint of excitement in his voice. “Whatever that means?”

“I think it might mean we find some new hunting grounds,” Sparkpaw announced. “I hope it does. Then we—”

She broke off as they came to the edge of a clearing where a squirrel was sitting upright among the grass, nibbling at a seed held in its front paws. Sparkpaw darted off, her tail flowing behind her.

But the squirrel was too fast even for her. Spotting her at once, it raced for the nearest tree, swarmed up the trunk, and vanished into the branches. A few leaves drifted down around Sparkpaw, who stood looking up with a frustrated look on her face.

“We all know you’re a quick learner,” Rosepetal teased as Sparkpaw returned to the group with her tail drooping. “But do we really need a new hunting ground already? It seems you still have something to learn the one we have.” She suppressed a mrrow of laughter.

Sparkpaw didn’t respond, only giving her chest fur a few furious licks to cover up her embarrassment.

For a moment Alderpaw felt bad for her. He knew exactly how it felt to lose prey.

“Well, I think we should stop and hunt for a while,” Sparkpaw meowed. “There’s loads of prey here, and who knows how much there’ll be once we’ve left our territory?”

“No, I think we should keep going and hunt later,” Alderpaw objected. He guessed that Sparkpaw just wanted another chance to prove what an awesome hunter she was. “We have a long way to go.”

“And Thunderpaths to cross,” Sandstorm added. “Graystripe helped me work out a route so that we don’t have to cross the mountains, but it means more danger from Twolegs and monsters.”

“Huh, Thunderpaths!” Sparkpaw sniffed in a dismissive tone. “Purdy told me all about them. They’re no big deal.”

“No big deal?” Sandstorm’s neck fur began to bristle. “Are you mouse-brained? Cats have died on Thunderpaths. Haven’t you heard the story about Cinderpelt?”

“Well, I think we ought to hunt now,” Sparkpaw retorted, ignoring her grandmother and bristling in turn. “Last time I checked, we can’t fill up on herbs and bits of chewed-up bark!”

Alderpaw lashed his tail in frustration. I’m supposed to be in charge, but Sparkpaw still thinks she can boss me around. And she’s arguing with an elder!

He drew his lips back and glared at his sister, ready to snap at her. But Jayflight stepped in front of him, his eyes narrow as she stared hard at the apprentice.

“I’ve had enough of your bickering, Sparkpaw. You may bother be young cats in training, but this is Alderpaw’s quest and Alderpaw’s vision. You need to listen to him. He’s right. We should continue on, not stop and hunt before we’ve even left our territory. So shut your trap and be glad that Leafpool and Alderpaw gave you that ‘chewed-up bark’.”

Sparkpaw ducked her head, her tail drooping. Alderpaw could see a hint of anger and defiance in her eyes. “Fine,” she muttered. “I’m sorry, Alderpaw.”

Alderpaw puffed out his chest, pleased that his cousin had backed him up and announced that he was the leader. All the same, he didn’t like to see his sister miserable. As they set out again, he brushed his tail along her side. “It’s okay,” he whispered.

They emerged from the trees on the lakeshore not far from the stream that marked the border with WindClan. Alderpaw had been this way before, when they’d gone to the Gathering, and he felt quite confident as he splashed through the shallow water and led the way alongside the lake.

With his Clanmates clustered closely around him, Alderpaw glanced up to see if any of the long-limbed WindClan cats were in sight, but nothing moved on the bare hillside.

“Good,” Jayflight sniffed. “They’ve been so on edge lately, they’d probably try to send us home after they found out about the quest. Plus, they’d probably start rumors if they saw us. Mouse-brains. Mudstar needs to get a better grip on his warriors.”

Lionblaze shrugged. “It seems that he’s trying. Maybe those rogues he mentioned are still bugging them.”

Jayflight shrugged and Rosepetal nodded. “They might even follow us. Come on, Alderpaw, pick up the pace a bit.”

Alderpaw sped up into a fast lope along the pebbly lakeshore, and his Clanmates followed him until they reached the WindClan border near the horseplace. Now and again, he cast swift glances at the moor, and once he thought he saw a flicker of movement among some gorse bushes, but no cat emerged to challenge them.

When they crossed the border and stood near the horseplace, Alderpaw halted. He felt a fluttering in his belly. “You’d better lead now, Sandstorm,” he meowed. “You’re the oldest one of us who’s been this way before.”

Sandstorm nodded. “We have to climb the ridge,” she responded, pointing upward with her tail to where a steep hill, dotted her and there with thickets of trees, led to a bare ridge, many fox-lengths above their head. “I’ll never forget the night we arrived here,” she murmured, her green eyes deep with memory. “We climbed that ridge from the other side and we had no idea where StarClan was leading us. Then we reached the top and saw the lake, and the spirits of our warrior ancestors reflected in the water.” She sighed. “It was one of the most wonderful nights of my life.”

She paused for a moment, then gave her pelt a shake. “Let’s go.”

Alderpaw and the others followed Sandstorm on the tough climb up the ridge. She led them past the clustered Twoleg dens of horseplace, then alongside a fence made of some shiny Twoleg stuff.

“Look!” Sparkpaw whispered to Alderpaw “Horses!”

Alderpaw recognized the huge animals from how Daisy described them in the nursery. There were two of them—one dark brown and one mottled gray—standing together in the shade of a tree, gently whisking their tails to and fro.

“They’re not dangerous unless you bother them,” Sandstorm mewed with a brisk tone. “And they won’t come on this side of the fence.”

All the same, Alderpaw was relieved when they left the horses behind and scrambled up the last few tail-lengths to the top of the ridge. Reaching it, he halted, his paws frozen to the ground.

“Wow!” Sparkpaw breathed out, coming to stand beside him. “I didn’t know the world was so big!”

Gazing out in front of him, Alderpaw saw that the ground fell away sharply, sweeping down into a wide valley with stretches of woodland and what looked like a hard black snake winding across it. Beyond it were masses of trees, the huddled dens of an enormous Twolegplace—far bigger than the one by the lake where they had gone to collect catmint—and fields and hills stretching away on every side until they became hazy with distance.

A shiver passed, as if he were being stabbed by masses of icicles, all at once. Glancing back, he could still see the lake with the Clan territories around it, the only place he had known all his life. Ahead, everything was unknown. It was even more frightening than his journey to the Moonpool, because at least he had been able to follow a path the other medicine cats left for him at that point. Now, he had no idea where he was going. He felt like a kit again, stumbling blindly forward, not know what he was going to run into next.

“Isn’t it amazing?” Lionblaze asked, stepping up next to Alderpaw. “It just keeps going, and going, and going. I remember when I went to the mountains for the first time. Looking out on the world so high in the sky was . . . exhilarating. I felt like a StarClan warrior looking down over the Clan territories.”

“Can you see the place in your vision?” Sparkpaw breathed. Her eyes were bright with excitement as she took in the vast landscape in front of them.

Alderpaw peered around, trying to make out the rocks of the gorge, but it was Sandstorm that replied. “Of course not! This place is much too far away.”

“Great StarClan!” Sparkpaw squeaked. “You mean there’s more of it?”

“Much more,” Sandstorm told her, sounding amused. “And the sooner we get going, the sooner we’ll arrive. Come on: I’d like to cross the Thunderpath down there before nightfall.”

Alderpaw realized she meant the black snake-like thing. It was so different from the little Thunderpath that ended at the lake, separating ShadowClan from RiverClan. Glittering objects, which looked like tiny beetles at the distance, were speeding back and forth along its length.

“When we get there,” Sandstorm went on, her voice firm, “you will not cross it before I tell you to. Is that clear?” she added with a hard look at Sparkpaw.

Sparkpaw nodded, as cheerful as ever after her earlier scolding. “Sure, Sandstorm.

With Sandstorm in the lead, the seven cats headed down the slope and soon came to a wide stretch of woodland. Jayflight was pressed close against Lionblaze, and Alderpaw knew that Jayflight was even more blind than he already was. At least he knew ThunderClan’s territory near the lake; now everything was unfamiliar. He probably feels more like a kit than I do.

Even though it wasn’t as thick as the forest, Alderpaw was grateful to be back under the shade of trees, enjoying the warm scents and the long grass underpaw. He felt vulnerable back on the moor, as if an owl would swoop down on him any moment and carry him far away from the Clan.

Sandstorm halted, raising her tail as a sign for the others to do the same. “Twolegs!” she hissed.

“Really?” Sparkpaw’s eyes were alight with interest. “Can we go and see?”

Jayflight snorted. “Why would you want to see them?” he meowed. “They’re strange and dangerous, that’s all you need to know about them.”

Sparkpaw sent her cousin a sharp glare, then turned to Sandstorm. “Please?”

Sandstorm hesitated. “It’s not a bad idea for you to get an idea of what they’re like,” she replied at last. “But we’re not here to gawk at Twolegs, and don’t you forget.”

Jayflight grumbled but followed his Clanmates over to the Twolegs. Lionblaze followed close behind, his claws unsheathed, as if he were getting ready to defend his Clanmates if the Twolegs attacked them.

Alderpaw had to admit that he was just as curious as his sister. So far he had only glimpsed Twolegs now and again, mostly near the greenleaf Twolegplaces, and always from a distance. He had never heard their raucous voices, or gotten close enough to discover what they were really like.

Skirting a bramble thicket, Sandstorm stood screened behind a clump of ferns and beckoned with her tail. “Okay, come and look, but don’t let them know you’re here.”

Alderpaw crept forward, with Sparkpaw by his side, and peered through the ferns. A group of five Twolegs, all different sizes, were sitting in a clearing. Just beyond them was a stretch of ground covered by the black Thunderpath stuff, with one of the glittering things—this one bright red—crouching under a tree.

“What’s that?” he whispered to Sandstorm.

“A monster,” Sandstorm murmured in reply. “They’ll kill you if they catch you with those big black paws. But that one looks like it’s asleep, so it’s probably safe for now.”

“And what are the Twolegs sitting on?” Sparkpaw asked. “They look like tree trunks, but sort of flat.

Alderpaw thought that was a good description. There was a bigger flat trunk, too, with big leaf wraps scattered upon it. They must have held prey, because the Twolegs were stuffing something into their mouths.

Sparkpaw passed her tongue over her jaws. “I’m hungry,” she complained. “And whatever that is, it smells good!”

Alderpaw’s pelt bristled with fear to see the Twolegs so close, to hear their harsh voices and to pick up their weird scent. But he was fascinated too. “They hardly have any fur,” he murmured. “Are they sick? I remember Leafpool telling me about a sickness that made cats lose their fur. But these Twolegs all seem to have it.” Turning to Sandstorm, he asked, “Why don’t their medicine Twolegs help them?”

Sandstorm opened her jaws to reply, but another voice cut her off. “They’re not sick.” The five cats jumped and turned to see a long-furred, gray she-cat with a bushy tail in one of the trees. She seemed amused by the cats’ description of the Twolegs, but her voice didn’t betray any emotion.

Sandstorm bristled and stepped in front of Alderpaw, her eyes narrowing. “Who are you and what do you want?” she hissed, unsheathing her claws.

The gray she-cat laughed and leapt down from her place on the tree branch. She looked about three moons older than Sparkpaw and Alderpaw. If she were a Clan cat, she’d probably almost be ready to be a warrior. She scanned the Clan cats, her eyes alight with curiosity. “I’m just a cat traveling around this area,” she meowed, her voice still pretty monotone. She lifted her head and flicked her tail. “I’m actually on an important mission to find something.”

Alderpaw’s ears perked with interest. “What are you trying to find?” he squeaked, shying behind Sandstorm when the she-cat’s green gaze landed on him. They reminded Alderpaw of Needlepaw’s eyes, bold and bright.

“My name is Rain,” she meowed. “I’m trying to find four Clans. I was sent by my leader to find them.”

Leader? Alderpaw’s paws tingled with excitement. Is this a SkyClan cat? If not, how does she know about the Clans? If she is, is she trying to find the Clans so she can “clear the skies”?

Rain got closer to the Clan cats, making Alderpaw uneasy. Jayflight stepped closer to him, his fur bristling and his claws unsheathed. “I can see you eyeing the Twoleg cats,” she meowed to Sparkpaw, who was still keeping an eye on a shiny rock with the leaf wraps spilling out of it.. “Once the Twolegs leave, I could help you get some of the food in there.”

“So it is food?” Sparkpaw asked, licking her lips.

Rain was about to reply when one of the Twoleg kits squealed and pointed to the cats with one of its pink paws. Alderpaw’s heart began to race. “It sees us!” he squeaked, his paws frozen to the ground.

Jayflight butted into him, hissing. “Hide!”

Forcing himself to move, Alderpaw darted back to the bramble thicket and thrust his way into it, feeling the thorns rake through his pelt. He could hear Sparkpaw burrowing close by. “StarClan-forsaken thorns!” she hissed.

Alderpaw looked around the bramble thicket, seeing no sign of the gray she-cat. “Where did Rain go?” he asked.

Jayflight spoke up. “Who cares! We shouldn’t have gotten so close to those Twolegs. They’re always trouble.”

Alderpaw guessed that Rain fled back up the branch she was in. He could hear the Twoleg kit’s voice rising into a shriek. The the lower-pitched, adult Twoleg voices drew closer, and the ground shook with the trampling of their big, clumsy paws. Alderpaw crouched as small as he could and hoped that all his Clanmates were well hidden.

Finally the sounds died away and the footsteps retreated. “You can come out now,” Rain called, her paws pattering closer to the brambles.

Alderpaw worked his way backward out of the thicket and stood shaking his pelt. He felt as if every thorn in the forest was sticking into him. He watched the Twolegs cleaning their mess of leaf wraps and throwing them into what looked like a shiny rock that had a tiny cave at the top.

They then retreated to their monsters, and Alderpaw was horrified as each Twoleg climbed into it. “Did they just let the monster eat them?” he mewled, turning to Sandstorm.

Sandstorm laughed a bit. “No, the monsters let them ride inside their bellies,” she meowed. “Twolegs are odd.”

Alderpaw agreed.

Then he noticed that Sparkpaw had emerged and ran over to Rain, her eyes wide. What does she think she’s doing? She wasn’t at all scared of the rogue. “Now that they’ve left, can you get the Twoleg prey?” she asked, her tail swishing in excitement.

Sandstorm hissed slightly, but both Rain and the apprentice ignored her. “Sure,” Rain replied, padding over to the shiny rock filled with the prey the Twolegs had thrown in there. “I call these Twoleg cans. I don’t know what they call it, but I don’t really care.” She leapt up to the rim of the cave, and sniffed around before jumping back down. “This is where they put food they don’t want anymore.”

“Why wouldn’t they want it?” Sparkpaw asked, placing her front paws on the can. “It all smells so amazing!”

Alderpaw tasted the air, and his jaws began to water at the delicious scent that flooded over him, he realized how hungry he was.

“Twolegs are very strange,” Toadstep commented, as he and Rosepetal padded up to join the others.

Alderpaw watched Rain push against the can, and it toppled over. Black shiny stuff fell out of the can along with all the prey that the Twolegs threw in. “There you go,” she meowed. “Easy.”

Sparkpaw shoved her head into the cave. Twoleg leaf wraps crackling under her paws, and emerged with a lump of something in her jaws. Alderpaw breathed in more of the enticing smell.

“What is it?” he asked.

“Dunno,” Sparkpaw mumbled around the prey. “Some kind of bird, I think. Go and get some. There’s plenty.”

Sandstorm and Jayflight stayed away from the pile of prey, both still wary of Rain, who was watching them stuff their head into the can and pull out their prey. Rosepetal dragged out a huge piece of bird that made her mouth water. “This is so big it must have been an eagle,” she purred. “I’ll share this with Sandstorm.”

Alderpaw and Toadstep ventured and collected some of the prey for themselves. Lionblaze went next and pulled out a big piece of bird and dragged it over to Jayflight, who sniffed but shared it with his brother. Alderpaw turned to look at Rain, who was grooming herself near the can. “Thank you,” he meowed to her, dipping his head. “I was wondering if I could ask you some questions about where you came from?”

Sandstorm instantly leaped in front of her grandson, glaring hard at the rogue. “I’ll be asking her the questions, Alderpaw,” she meowed, her eyes slits. “You should steer clear of her for now.”

Alderpaw’s heart sank but he nodded and took his place beside Sparkpaw with his own lump of fresh-kill. He bit into it and realized it tasted even better than it smelled. But as he gulped it down, he began to feel a prickling in his pelt, as if some creature was watching him. He tried to tell himself not to be stupid, but he couldn’t shake off the feeling.

A rustling sound came form the trees. Alderpaw tensed, glancing over his shoulder. Maybe the crazy Twoleg kit came back? Or maybe the Twolegs weren’t really done with their prey after all?

But the rustling died away, and there was nothing to be seen. Alderpaw tried to pick up a scent, but the aroma of the delicious Twoleg prey swamped everything else. He turned back to finish his fresh-kill, trying to tell himself that he was just imagining things.

It’s weird . . . I just have the feeling that we’re being watched.

[need1etail]

Chapter Eight

Left alone in the den, Alderpaw went back to the task of sorting dried herbs and putting away the fresh ones Leafpool had brought back. Once his excitement had died down, he felt as if his pelt finally fit him. As a warrior apprentice, he never felt as though he belonged. Now, he wished he was in his father’s den so he knew how he would react to the important vision Alderpaw had had.

He had almost finished the task when he heard limping pawsteps approaching the den. His heart began racing. That must be Rosepetal. Alderpaw didn’t know what to say to her. He didn’t know whether he should apologize about treating her with the wrong herb, or ask how she was doing, or just ignore the whole thing.

But when Rosepetal poked her head around the bramble screen, he had no chance to say anything. “Alderpaw!” she blurted out. “You have to come quickly—Sparkpaw’s hurt!”

Terror tore through Alderpaw like a massive claw. Remembering what had happened when he treated Rosepetal, he wondered whether he should get Leafpool.

No—it’s Sparkpaw! I have to help her now!

“Show me where,” he mewed to Rosepetal, surprised by his strong voice.

Racing out of the den, he followed the dark cream she-cat toward the ShadowClan border. They pelted through the forest, dodging around bramble thicket and leaping over fallen branches. As they drew closer, Alderpaw could hear his sister’s agonized yowling. The sound grew louder as they barreled through a clump of ferns and emerged near the greenleaf Twolegplace.

Sparkpaw was lying in a heap at the foot of a tree. Hollytuft was crouched beside her, gently stroking her shoulder, while Ivypool was encouraging her to lap from a bunch of soaked moss. Both warriors stood up and took a pace back as Alderpaw bounded up to his littermate.

Alderpaw sucked in a deep breath before speaking. “What happened?” he asked.

“She was climbing on a thin branch, trying to catch a bird,” Rosepetal explained. “She fell right out of the tree, and now her foreleg . . .” She winced, her voice dying away.

Alderpaw began to sniff around Sparkpaw, trying to hide the anxiety pulsing through his pelt. It was so odd to see his sister—bright and capable—in such pain and distress. I’ve never seen her like this! She’s always so confident and in control! As he sniffed around, her noticed her foreleg was pointing at an awkward angle, not natural at all.

His heart pounded as he remembered Purdy telling him a story about Cinderheart: how she had fallen from a tree and broken her leg, and how she had to spend moons in the medicine cats’ den before she could use it again.

Oh StarClan please don’t let that happen to Sparkpaw!

Steadying himself, Alderpaw crouched down beside his sister. “I have to examine your leg,” he meowed firmly. “It might hurt.”

Sparkpaw nodded. “Just do it,” she groaned through clenched teeth.

Alderpaw ran his paws over Sparkpaw’s leg and shoulder. At once relief washed over him like a warm tide. It’s not broken—only dislocated. And I know how to treat that!

Leafpool had taught him what to do, telling him of when the Rainwhisker got his shoulder dislocated after the battle with the badgers in camp. Suddenly, Alderpaw felt much more confident, glad that there was no chance he could mess up with herbs like he had with Rosepetal.

“Don’t worry,” he reassured Sparkpaw. “You’re going to feel much better very quickly.”

As he spoke, he saw Ivypool lean closer to Hollytuft and heard her whispering, “Should we get Leafpool just in case?”

Hollytuft just shook her head in uncertainty.

Hot anger flooded over Alderpaw’s pelt. I know how to do this.

“Rosepetal,” he directed, “put your paw on her other shoulder, just there. Ivypool and Hollytuft, keep her hind legs still. Don’t worry, Sparkpaw,” he added, licking his sister’s ear “It’ll all be over in the time that it take you to catch a mouse.”

Bending over Sparkpaw, Alderpaw took hold of her injured leg with one paw and her shoulder with the other. You can’t overthink it, he remembered Leafpool saying. Just do it quickly, with a forceful push.

Just as his mentor told him, Alderpaw forced his sister’s leg back into its socket with a quick, sure motion. Sparkpaw convulsed under his paws and let out a screech. But beneath her cry, Alderpaw heard the pop as her leg slipped back into position.

Did that do the trick? he wondered. He had heard the gasps of horror from Ivypool and Hollytuft, as if they thought he had made things worse.

“You can let her go now,” he told the warriors. “Sparkpaw, try standing up.”

Sparkpaw blinked at him, then slowly staggered to her paws and began to pad back and forth. Alderpaw watched her, hardly daring to breathe. She still looked shaky, and she was limping a little, but she could put weight on the leg.

“That’s amazing!” Sparkpaw exclaimed, turning to her brother. “It feels so much better. Thanks so much, Alder. You’re turning out to be a great medicine cat.”

“You sure are,” Rosepetal agreed.

Hollytuft and Ivypool were looking impressed, too. Alderpaw flushed and licked his chest fur in embarrassment as they congratulated him, though he reveled in their looks of approval.

“I’d better get back to my herbs,” he murmured. “Sparkpaw, you need to have Leafpool check you out when you get back to camp.”

As they made their way back to camp, Alderpaw’s paws were hardly touching the ground. I treated Sparkpaw’s injury! And she’s okay! Pride rushed through him.

As they entered the camp, Alderpaw spotted Bramblestar, Leafpool, and Jayflight. He ran over to them, about to tell them about his achievement, but Bramblestar spoke first.

“Alderpaw!” his father purred, his eyes glowing with warmth. “Just the cat I was looking for. I need to talk to you about the vision Leafpool and Jayflight told me you had at the Moonpool.

Alderpaw stretched his eyes wide. In all the stress of helping Sparkpaw, he had forgotten that his mentors were discussing that with Bramblestar. His excitement rekindled inside him as he followed his father to a shady spot underneath an arching clump of ferns.

They sat down next to each other, and Bramblestar went on, “We think the vision means that you’ve been chosen for a very special quest.”

Alderpaw felt warm all over at pride in his father’s eyes, so that at first he didn’t really take in what he was saying.

“So you must leave ThunderClan and go on this quest,” Bramblestar added.

Wait . . . a quest?

Every hair on Alderpaw’s pelt rose in shock at what his father and Clan leader was telling him. “But . . . but I can’t!” he gasped.

Bramblestar curled his tail around to rest it on Alderpaw’s shoulders. “StarClan wouldn’t have sent you the vision if you weren’t ready,” he assured his son. “We believe this vision you had was about the prophecy. As Sandstorm told you, the cats you saw are from another Clan, called SkyClan. Since the prophecy mentioned the sky clearing, we think they may be in trouble. Jayflight, Leafpool, and I agree that you must go on a quest to find them.”

Alderpaw realized that he was gaping like a blackbird chick waiting for food. He tried to speak in a calm fashion, and to ask sensible questions that would help him understand.

“Sandstorm told me that the cats I saw belong to SkyClan,” he began. “But I don’t see why the should need my help. And how am I ever going to find them?”

“It’s a long story.” Bramblestar sat straight, his tail curled around his paws, and looked down at Alderpaw. “It began many, many seasons ago, in the old forest. SkyClan lived there, too, along with the four Clans that you know.”

“So there were five Clans?” Alderpaw breathed out.

“Yes. But SkyClan lost their territory because Twolegs took it to build their own nests. And the other four Clans refused to share the territory that was left. They drove SkyClan out of the forest.”

“That’s so unfair!” Alderpaw exclaimed indignantly.

Bramblestar bowed his head. “The remaining Clans were ashamed of what they had done, and afterward they never spoke of SkyClan. Eventually, all memory of them was lost.”

“So what happened to SkyClan?”

“They traveled a long way and finally came to the gorge where you saw them. Their Clan thrived there for a while, but at last they were driven out and scattered.”

“So what I saw was a vision from the past?” Alderpaw asked. His pelt was growing hot with anger at what SkyClan had suffered, and he dug his claws into the ground.

Bramblestar shook his head. “Back in the old forest—it was about the time that I became a warrior—Firestar was visited by the spirit of the SkyClan leader who had led his Clan out of the forest. He charged Firestar with a quest to find the remnants of SkyClan and restore it.”

“Wow! Did Firestar really do all that?”

“Sandstorm went with him, and she can tell you everything that happened,” Bramblestar replied. “But in the end, yes, they restored SkyClan and left the cats living by the warrior code in the gorge.”

“So that’s how Sandstorm recognized all the cats I saw!” Alderpaw meowed. “Their leader, Leafstar, and the deputy, Sharpclaw, and . . . what was the medicine cat’s name? Oh—Echosong!”

“That’s right,” Bramblestar responded. “I believe that SkyClan may need our help again. But listen, Alderpaw. What happened to SkyClan is suck a secret that only, now four, living cats know about it: Sandstorm and me, and now you and Leafpool. That means we can’t tell any cat what your quest is really about. Not even Sparkpaw and Jayflight.”

Alderpaw stared at him, so stunned for the moment that he couldn’t get any words out. “You—you mean,” he stammered at last, “you mean there’s a part of warrior history so secret that even the medicine cats don’t know about?”

Bramblestar nodded. “Only you, Leafpool, Sandstorm, and I know the truth. Leafpool has sworn to keep the secret for us.”

Alderpaw took a moment to think about that. “Why does it need to be a secret?” he asked. “Isn’t it sort of dishonest to lie about the quest?”

“You just need t have faith in me,” Bramblestar mewed in a gentle voice. “Telling the truth now would do more harm than good. I know I’m trusting you with a huge responsibility,” he added, noticing the scared, wide eyed stare of Alderpaw. “But I wouldn’t be doing it if I didn’t think you were up to the task.”

Rising to his paws, he nuzzled the top of Alderpaw’s head briefly, then padded back toward the camp. Alderpaw watched him go, a flood of emotions surging through him. The secrecy worried him, while at the same time he felt an intense curiosity to know what was going on, and whether SkyClan really needed ThunderClan’s help. His anxiety that he might not be good enough to be entrusted with the task warred with the pride he felt that Bramblestar believed in him.

Maybe Sparkpaw is right, he thought. She’s always telling me that I overthink things. I’m just going to focus on my father’s faith in me, he decided at last, and hope that all the rest will fall into place.

[need1etail]

Chapter One

Alderkit stood in front of the nursery, anxiously shifting his weight. He unsheathed his claws, digging them into the hard earth of the stone hollow, then sheathed them again to shake dust from his paws. Now what happens? he asked himself, his belly churning as he thought about his apprentice ceremony, which was only moments away. What if there’s some sort of assessment before I can be an apprentice?

Alderkit thought he had heard something about an assessment once, perhaps a few moons before Hollytuft, Fernsong, and Sorrelstripe had been made warriors. But I can’t really remember. He tried to focus on the memory, but couldn’t recall it. I was so little then. His heart started to pound faster and faster in his chest. He tried to convince himself that one of the warriors would have told him if he was supposed to prove that he was ready. Because I’m not sure that I am ready to be an apprentice. Not at all. What if I can’t do it.

Deep in his own thoughts, Alderkit jumped in surprise when a cat nudged him hard from behind. Spinning around, he recognized his sister, Sparkkit, her orange tabby fur bushing out in all directions. “Aren’t you excited?” she asked, bouncing with enthusiasm. “Don’t you want to know who your mentor will be?” Alderkit’s heart sank. He hadn’t thought about mentors and Sparkkit reminding him made his chest even tighter than it already was. “I hope I get someone fun! Not a bossy cat like Berrynose, or Whitewing. She sticks too close to the rules I think she recites the warrior code in her sleep! Or worse, Jayflight. He’s so bossy and grumpy all the time.” Alderkit shoved his sister lightly. He knew she didn't mean her words, but it was still rude to speak about her kin that way.

“That’s enough.” Squirrelflight, the kits’ mother and Bramblestar’s deputy, emerged from the nursery in time to hear Sparkkit’s last words. “Jayflight is your kin, Sparkkit, don’t disrespect him.” Sparkkit stuck out her tongue a little, a glint of amusement in her eyes. “You’re not supposed to have fun with your mentors,” she added, licking one paw and smoothing it over a stubborn tuft on Sparkkit’s head that wouldn’t lay down. “You’re supposed to learn from them. Berrynose, Whitewing, and Jayflight would make excellent mentors. You would be lucky if Bramblestar gave you to one of them.”

Squirrelflight’s words were sharp, but Alderkit could detect her eyes shining with love for her kittens. Alderkit knew how much his mother adored him and his sister. He was only a kit, but he understood that Squirrelflight was old to have her first litter, and he remembered their shared grief for his lost littermates: Juniperkit and Dandelionkit. Juniperkit, who had barely taken a breath before he died, and Dandelionkit, who had never been strong, and who had slowly weakened until she died almost two moons later.

Sparkkit and I have to be the best cats we can be for Squirrelflight and Bramblestar.

Sparkkit, meanwhile, was not at all cowed by her mother’s scolding speech. She twitched her tail and cheerfully shook her pelt until it was fluffed up again.

Alderkit wished he had his sister’s confidence. He hadn’t wondered until now who his mentor would be, and he gazed around the clearing to the other cats with new and curious eyes. Ivypool would be an okay mentor, he thought, spotting the silver-and-white tabby she-cat returning from a hunting patrol with Lionblaze and her mate, Blossomfall. She’s friendly and a good hunter. Alderkit watched her brush against Blossomfall and lick her on the bridge of her nose before making her way to drop off the prey she caught on the fresh-kill pile. Lionblaze is a bit scary. He shifted his gaze to the tall tabby tom and suppressed a shiver at the sight of the muscles rippling under his golden fur. He loved Lionblaze, but the fact that he was so big still frightened him. It definitely won’t be Blossomfall. She mentored Sorrelstripe not that long ago. Or Dovewing, she mentored Fernsong, or Brightheart, who mentored Hollytuft. As he was searching the clan, he saw Leafpool outside her den with Briarlight and Dovewing. Dovewing was massaging her mate’s back while Leafpool helped the paralyzed she-cat with her exercises. Alderkit watched in interest until his aunt caught his eyes and blinked warmly at him. He quickly turned away.

Lost in thought, Alderkit watched Brackenfur, who had paused in the middle of the clearing to give his ear a good scratch. He was probably a good mentor when he was a warrior. He's been kind to me since I was a kit, but he's also firm.

“Hey wake up!” Sparkkit trod down hard on Alderkit’s paw, making him jolt. “It’s starting.” Alderkit realized that Bramblestar had appeared on the Highledge outside his den, way above their heads on the wall of the stone hollow.

“Let all cats old enough to catch their own prey join here beneath the Highledge for a Clan meeting!” Bramblestar yowled.

As the cats in the clearing turned their attention to Bramblestar and began to gather together, Alderkit though that his father seemed to stand taller and stronger than all of them—even strong warriors like Lionblaze and Dovewing.

He’s so confident and strong. I’m lucky to be his son.

Bramblestar ran lightly down the tumbled rocks and took his place in the ragged circle of cats that was forming at the foot of the rock wall. Graystripe, the Clan’s previous deputy, purred as the kits passed him, and Sorrelstripe, one of the youngest warriors, held her head high, as if proud to have finished her own apprenticeship. Squirrelflight gently nudged her two kits forward until they stood in the circle. Alderkit’s belly began to churn even harder and he tightened all his muscles to stop himself from trembling. I can’t do this! he cried silently, trying not to panic.

Then he caught sight of his father’s gaze on him: such a warm, proud look that Alderkit instantly felt comforted. He took a few deep breaths, forcing himself to relax.

“Cats of ThunderClan,” Bramblestar began, “today is a great day, for it’s time to make two new apprentices. Sparkkit, come here, please.”

Instantly, Sparkkit bounced into the center of the circle, her tail standing straight up and her fur bristling with excitement. She gazed confidently at her leader.

“From this day forward,” Bramblestar meowed, touching Sparkkit on her shoulder with his tail-tip, “this apprentice will be known as Sparkpaw. Rosepetal, you will be her mentor.” Alderkit turned to the dark cream she-cat, who didn't look as surprised as he thought she would. Papa probably told her that Sparkpaw would be given to her. “Rosepetal, you’ve trained your past apprentices excellently, and I trust you will share with her your loyalty to your clan, your quick thinking, and your excellent hunting skills.”

Sparkpaw dashed across the circle to Rosepetal, bouncing with happiness, and the dark cream warrior bent her head to touch noses with her.

“Sparkpaw! Sparkpaw!” The Clan began to yowl.

Sparkpaw gave a pleased little hop as her Clanmates chanted her new name, her eyes shining as she stood up beside her mentor.

Alderkit joined the acclamation, pleased to see how happy his sister looked. Thank StarClan! There wasn’t any kind of test to prove that she was ready.

As the yowling died away, Bramblestar beckoned to Alderkit with his tail. “Your turn,” he meowed, his gaze encouraging Alderkit on. Alderkit’s legs were suddenly wobbly as he staggered into the center of the circle. His chest felt tighter than ever, as if he couldn’t breathe properly. But as he halted in front of Bramblestar, his father gave him a slight nod to steady him, and he stood with his head raised as Bramblestar rested the tip of his tail on his shoulder.

“From this day forward, this apprentice will be known as Alderpaw,” Bramblestar announced. “Toadstep, you will be his mentor. You are a loyal, brave, and energetic warrior, and I know that you will do your best to pass on these qualities to your apprentice.”

As he padded across the clearing to join his mentor, Alderpaw wasn’t sure how he felt. Toadstep was a great warrior, loyal, brave, determined; but, as Bramblestar said, he was also full of energy. Alderpaw didn’t think he would be able to match Toadstep’s enthusiasm about his first apprentice. He wondered if Bramblestar chose Toadstep so Alderpaw would learn to be less anxious and more optimistic. He swallowed and let Toadstep touch his nose to Alderpaw’s.

I hope I will make you proud of me, Alderpaw thought. I’m going to try my hardest!

“Alderpaw! Alderpaw!”

Alderpaw ducked his head and gave his chest fur a few embarrassed licks as he listened to his Clanmates caterwauling his name. At the same time, he thought he would burst with happiness. At last, the chanting died away and the crowd of cats began to disperse, heading toward their dens or the fresh-kill pile. Squirrelflight and Bramblestar padded over to join their kits.

“Well done,” Bramblestar meowed flicking his tail over Alderpaw’s ear. “It wasn’t so scary, was it?”

“It was great!” Sparkpaw responded, her tail waving in the air. “I can’t wait to go hunting!”

“We’re so proud of both of you,” Squirrelflight purred, giving Sparkpaw and Alderpaw a lick around the ears. “I’m sure you’ll both make wonderful warriors one day.”

Bramblestar dipped his head in agreement. “I know you both have so much to give to your Clan.” He stepped back as he finished speaking, and waved his tail to draw Rosepetal and Toadstep closer. “Listen to your mentors,” he told the two apprentice. “I’m looking forward to hearing good things about your progress.” Alderpaw caught a glint of emotion in his father’s eyes. With an affectionate nuzzle, he turned away and head toward his den. Squirrelflight too gave her kits a quick cuddle, and then she followed her mate.

Alderpaw noticed Lionblaze stand from his spot next to Cinderheart and their kits, and bound over to them. “Congrats!” he purred, nudging his cousins in the shoulder with his nose, nearly knocking Alderpaw off his paws. Alderpaw purred. Lionblaze always acted like a big brother to him. The tall tom’s eyes sparkled. “After you do your new apprentice duties, let's have a mouse together, okay?”

Alderpaw nodded. The golden warrior licked the apprentices’ ears swiftly before joining Cinderheart. Alderpaw and Sparkpaw were left alone with Toadstep and Rosepetal.

Toadstep faced Alderpaw, blinking in excitement. “Being an apprentice is a big responsibility,” he meowed, obviously trying to have a serious tone, but failing, his voice edging with excitement. “You must pay close attention to everything you’re taught, because one day your clan may depend on your fighting and hunting skills.” Alderpaw sat up straight and nodded. “You’ll have to work hard to prove you have what it takes to be a warrior,” Toadstep went on, his eyes wide.

Alderpaw held his head high and blinked at his mentor, afraid he didn’t look very worthy to be an apprentice. Rosepetal was speaking to her own apprentice behind him. “We’ll have such fun exploring the territory!” the cream she-cat meowed. The enthusiasm seemed to boost Toadstep, too, because he looked like he was about to burst. “And now you’ll get to go to Gatherings.”

“Can we start learning to hunt now?” Sparkpaw asked eagerly.

Toadstep and Rosepetal looked at each other, and Alderpaw thought they looked ever so slightly guilty. “Not right now,” Toadstep replied. “Apprentices have special duties for the well-being of the whole Clan, and we wanted you to start with a different part of apprenticeship than most apprentices do.”

“What do we have to do?” Alderpaw asked, eyeing the two mentors.

There was a guilty look on Rosepetal’s face as she meowed, “Today we agreed that you two are going to make sure the elders are comfortable by getting rid of their ticks. You’ll need some mouse bile. You can ask Leafpool for some and they’ll tell you how to use it.”

“Mouse bile!” Sparkpaw wrinkled her nose in disgust. “Yuck!”

Alderpaw’s heart sank further. If this is being an apprentice, I’m not sure I’m going to enjoy it.

Sunlight shone through the roof of the den, beneath the hazel bushes where the elder’s lived. Alderpaw wished that he could curl up in the warmth and take a long nap, but instead he was combing his claws painstakingly through Graystripe’s long pelt, searching for ticks. Sparkpaw was doing the same for Purdy, while Sandstorm and Millie looked on, patiently waiting for their turn. Brackenfur was laying next to the two she-cats, his small amount of ticks already finished by Sparkpaw.

“Wow, you’ve got a massive tick here!” Sparkpaw exclaimed. “Hold still and let me get it for you, Purdy.” With clenched teeth, she picked up the stick Leafpool had given her, which had a ball of moss soaked in mouse bile stuck to one end, and awkwardly bent her head so she could dab the moss onto Purdy’s tick.

The old tabby shook his pelt and sighed in relief as the tick fell to the ground. “That’s much better, young’un,” he purred, blinking gratefully at the young apprentice.

“But this stuff smells horrible!” Sparkpaw grumbled around the twig. “I don't know how you elders can stand it.” Suppressing a sigh, she began parting Purdy’s clumped, untidy fur in search for more ticks. Alderpaw heard stories about Mousefur, a snappy elder who died during the Great Battle, who used to groom Purdy’s pelt every night. Squirrelflight told Alderpaw that the elder would scold him about not taking care of himself, but he would never pay attention to her.

“Now you listen here, youngster,” Purdy meowed, tucking his paws under his chest. “There’s not a cat in ThunderClan who wasn’t an apprentice, cleaning off elder’s ticks just like you are.”

“Even Bramblestar?” Alderpaw asked, pausing with one paw sunk deep into Graystripe’s pelt. It was hard to imagine the huge leader as a small apprentice.

“Even Firestar,” Graystripe responded, a purr rumbling in his throat. “He and I trained as apprentices together. I’ve lost count of the number of ticks we pulled, but we probably only pulled so many because we were such trouble makers.” His eyes filled with emotion as he spoke about his old friend. “Hey!” he added, giving Alderpaw a soft prod to the side. “Watch what you’re doing, please. Your digging your claws into my shoulder!”

“Sorry!” Alderpaw meowed, relaxing his claws. In spite of being scolded, he felt quite content. Cleaning off ticks was a messy job, but there were worse things that sitting in a shaft of sunlight and listening to the kind elders. He looked up briefly to see Sandstorm’s green gaze resting lovingly on him and his sister as she settled herself more comfortably in the bracken of her nest.

“I remember when your mother was first made an apprentice,” she sighed, shaking her head. “Dustpelt was her mentor. I wish you had met him—he died during the Great Storm, killed by badgers. He was one of our best warriors, and he didn’t put up with any nonsense. Even so, Squirrelflight sure was a match for him!”

“What did she do?” Alderpaw asked, intrigued to think of his serious, fierce mother as a difficult young apprentice. “Please tell us!”

Sandstorm scoffed and rolled her eyes. “What didn’t she do? Slipping out of camp to hunt on her own . . . getting stuck in bushes, falling into streams . . . I remember Dustpelt saying to me once ‘If that kit of yours doesn’t shape up, I’ll claw her pelt off and hang it on a branch to frighten the foxes off!’”

Sparkpaw stared at her grandmother, her mouth gaping. “He wouldn’t have!”

“Of course not,” Sandstorm purred, her green eyes alight with amusement, “but Dustpelt had to be tough with her. He saw how much she had to offer her Clan, but he knew she wouldn’t live up to her potential unless she learned discipline.”

Brackenfur purred. “She was just enthusiastic about being an apprentice.”

“Well, she sure did live up to her potential,” Alderpaw meowed.

“Alderpaw!” Graystripe gave the dark ginger apprentice another prod. “What about my ticks, huh?”

“And ours!” Millie put in, with a glance at Sandstorm. “We’ve been waiting moons!”

“Sorry . . .” Alderpaw began rapidly searching through Graystripe’s pelt, and almost at once he came across a huge, swollen tick. That must be really uncomfortable for Graystripe. Picking up his mouse bile twig, he dabbed the tick with the moss, at the same moment, he happened to glance up, and spotted his aunt, Leafpool, speaking with Jayflight intently just outside the medicine cat’s den. Alderpaw knew that Jayflight was sort of like Leafpool’s assistant, figuring out omens, and helping her find infections. As Alderpaw wondered vaguely what was so important, both the medicine cat and the warrior turned toward him. Suddenly he felt trapped in Jayflight’s blind blue gaze and Leafpool’s searching one.

A worm of uneasiness began to gnaw at Alderpaw’s belly. Great StarClan! Are they speaking about me? Have I messed something up already?

Yeah so I tried to go a couple different ways but I decided I liked this more. Here’s the first chapter again!

[need1etail]

Chapter Three

Hey! I decided to upload this chapter early due to accidentally uploading chapter two twice. Chapter Four should be up this Wednesday and we’ll be back on schedule. Okay bye.

The sun had gone down, and the outlines of the forest trees above the stone hollow had begun to fade into the twilight. Alderpaw sat outside the apprentices’ den, giving himself a thorough grooming. This is a special night. I have to look my best. He and Sparkpaw had been apprentices for almost a half-moon. Looking back, Alderpaw felt that he hadn’t done as bad as he thought. Toadstep had praised him for being responsible about helping the elders and doing his share of chores like collecting moss to make every cat’s nest comfortable, along with all the other tasks apprentices had to do. He had gone out on a border patrol without complaining about his aching paws, paid attention to the leader, and did everything the older warriors told him.

I haven’t caught much prey yet, but I almost caught a bird yesterday, and Toadstep told me that birds are especially hard to catch. Alderpaw remembered his first catch: it was a scrawny mouse, and he was pretty sure it was dying, but Toadstep was excited, so he looked back on the memory fondly. Since then, he hadn’t been able to catch any more prey.

But Alderpaw had to admit that even though he was doing well, Sparkpaw was doing better. She never came back from a hunting patrol empty-pawed. When she was struggling with fighting moves, Alderpaw thought he could be better than her at something, but she got the hang of it, and Alderpaw was once again behind her.

Just because she’s good at so many things doesn’t mean that I’m awful, Alderpaw tried to convince himself, but he found it hard to believe. For the thousandth time in that half-moon, Alderpaw caught himself staring intently at the medicine den. I wonder what it would be like if I were a medicine cat apprentice. Then I wouldn’t have to compare myself to Sparkpaw all the time. But the idea made him think of Toadstep feeling bad that his first apprentice left him, and Sparkpaw getting angry that he wouldn’t be training with her anymore and he shook the thought away, his pelt hot with guilt. She’s my sister! Of course I want to train with her!

At that moment, Sparkpaw appeared out of the gloom. “Are you ready?” she asked, bouncing on her paws with excitement. “Bramblestar is gathering the Clan by the thorn tunnel.”

Alderpaw sprang up, pushing away his worries. Anticipation tingled through him from ears to tail-tip. “This is going to be so great!” he meowed. “Our first full-moon Gathering!”

“And we get to be introduced to the other Clans!” Sparkpaw added as she and her brother scampered across the clearing, side by side. “I can’t wait!”

Joining the crowd of cats who clustered around the tunnel entrance, Alderpaw wondered what the other Clans would be like. Apart from glimpses across the border when he was on patrol, he’d only seen cats from another Clan once, when he was still a kit and two medicine cats from RiverClan had come to talk to Leafpool. They had looked just like normal cats, except that they were bigger, their pelts were thick and sleek, and they had left a funny, fishy smell behind them. And while they were in camp, all the ThunderClan cats had been tense, casting sidelong glances at them, their neck fur bristling.

Anyway, medicine cats are different from the warriors, Alderpaw told himself. The thought of being in a whole other Clan with cats he didn’t know intrigued him.

At last, Bramblestar raised his tail to lead the cats who he chose to go to the Gathering. As Alderpaw padded through the tunnel near the back of the group, his excitement began to ebb. I hope I don’t do something stupid and make a fool of myself in front of all these strange cats.

By now, Alderpaw was becoming used to the forest in the daylight, but he realized when he slid out through the thorn tunnel, that it looked quite different in twilight. The trees seemed thicker and more mysterious; the air was cooler and carried different scents. The darkness was full of new sounds, and it was hard to work out where they were coming from. By the time he and his Clanmates emerged onto the lakeshore, Alderpaw was thoroughly spooked. He had barely left the shelter of the trees when he heard a hooting sound above his head. Flinching he whipped around to stare up into the darkness. A pale wing swept across his vision, and then the owl was gone.

Suppressing a shiver, Alderpaw turned to Squirrelflight, who was padding along beside him. “I’ve heard stories about huge owls,” he began nervously, “big enough to snatch up a cat. Is it true?”

Squirrelflight’s eyes glinted in the dusk with a mixture of kindness and  amusement. “The owls in these woods aren’t nearly big enough to attack any cats,” she replied.

Alderpaw mulled over her answer. She didn’t exactly answer the question, and left him only partly comforted. Did his mother mean that somewhere else there were owls big enough to take cats as their prey? And if there were, couldn’t they come into the forest one day?

Toadstep, who flanked Alderpaw on the other side, flicked his apprentice’s ear with his tail. “Someday, Rosepetal and I will take you and Sparkpaw hunting at night,” he meowed. “There’s lots of prey out of its nest at night instead of during the day.”

“That’s . . . er . . . great,” Alderpaw responded weakly. He was bad enough hunting during the day, he’d probably be worse at night.

Just then, he heard a shocked, excited gasp from Sparkpaw, who was just behind him along with Rosepetal. Glancing back, Alderpaw spotted little lights flickering on and off in the darkness, as if little scraps of sunlight danced in the air. “What are those?” Sparkpaw breathed, staring at the lights with huge eyes as if she couldn’t believe what she was seeing.

“They’re called fireflies,” Rosepetal explained. “Insects that light up just like the stars. Isn’t that cool?”

“It’s fantastic!” Alderpaw mewed.

Sparkpaw shot off toward the lights, and Alderpaw hesitated for less than a moment before he followed her. Excitement filled him as he leapt up, batting at the fireflies with his paws as if he could catch the little sparks of sunlight. Beside him, his sister was leaping up too, twisting in the air, but the tiny glints of light were always just out of reach.

“Sparkpaw! Alderpaw!” Squirrelflight’s stern voice rang out after a few heartbeats. “Come back here right now.” Alderpaw and Sparkpaw dropped to their paws and padded back to the group of cats, panting and disheveled. “What do you think you’re doing? When you’re on your way to a Gathering, you’re representing ThunderClan, and when you meet the other Clans, you had better behave perfectly.”

Alderpaw dipped his head. “We will. I’m sorry.”

“Sorry,” Sparkpaw echoed, quieter than her brother.

“I should think so,” Squirrelflight stalked on ahead and joined Bramblestar near the front of the group. Bramblestar brushed his tail against Squirrelflight’s flank, his eyes glittering with amusement.

The two apprentices followed, but as soon as Squirrelflight was out of earshot, Sparkpaw leaned closer to Alderpaw. “Wasn’t that amazing?” she whispered. “We never saw stuff like that when we were stuck in camp all the time”

The ThunderClan cats skirted the lake, keeping close to the edge as they passed through WindClan territory. On the way, they watched the moon emerge from behind thick clouds, shedding a cold, silver light over the surface of the lake’s water.

“Oh good,” Toadstep meowed. “If StarClan is angry, they cover the moon. This means the Gathering can continue as normal.”

At the far side of WindClan territory, Alderpaw spotted a cluster of Twoleg dens  in the frosty moonlight. “That must the horseplace,” he murmured to Sparkpaw. “Remember Daisy telling us about it in the nursery?”

Sparkpaw paused a moment, scanning the ground beyond the Twoleg fence. “I can’t see any horses,” she mewed, sounding disappointed. “Maybe they go into their dens when—”

She broke off as Squirrelflight gave her a prod. “Keep moving. We’re almost there.”

Alderpaw’s excitement mounted as they crossed a stretch of marshy ground and the tree-bridge leading to the Gathering island came into view. Another group of cats was milling around the shore near the end of the fallen tree.

“That’s WindClan,” Rosepetal told the two apprentice. “Take a good sniff so you can learn their scent.”

Alderpaw had encountered the WindClan scent on the border they shared, but it was much stronger here: a scent that suggested cool air and tough, scraggly plants. There was a hint of rabbit, too, he decided. The WindClan cats looked fairly ordinary, though they were thinner than most of his Clanmates, with long legs and wiry, muscular bodies. Bramblestar paced forward through the crowd of cats and dipped his head politely to a mottled, dark brown tabby, whose snout was ever so slightly gray, telling his age. “Good evening, Mudstar,” he meowed.

Alderpaw blinked at the wiry tom. He was smaller than he imagined; when Squirrelflight described him, he imagined him to be buffer, a dark brown tabby with broad shoulders. This cat was skinny and tall. Comparing him to Bramblestar was like comparing a tree to a twig.

Mudclaw nodded to the ThunderClan leader. “I hope you stayed close to the lake on the way here,” he meowed.

Bramblestar nodded. “Of course, Mudstar,” he meowed. “My Clan would never dream of stepping on your territory.”

Mudstar dipped his head to him. Alderpaw knew Mudstar and the rest of WindClan was their ally, but the tom scared him. His height intimidated the small apprentice, and his eyes looked as if he always had a hard glare.

Bramblestar signaled to his cats to stay back while the WindClan cats cross the tree-bridge to the island. Mudstar thanked him before crossing. Alderpaw accidentally caught the eye of one of the warriors, a light brown tabby she-cat, who turned to him and blinked kindly. He wondered who she was, but was too anxious to approach her and ask. He watched in nervousness as the WindClan cats balanced along the trunk and leapt to the ground at the far end. I wonder if any cat has ever fallen into the lake, he thought. That would be so embarrassing!

As Bramblestar began to lead the ThunderClan cats across, Alderpaw kept his head high. When it came to Sparkpaw’s turn, she raced across and hurled herself onto the shore of the island with a yowl of triumph. Rosepetal, who was next, rolled her eyes. “I’ll have to say something to her about taking risks,” she muttered.

Alderpaw clambered onto the tree trunk, trembling with anxiety, and relief flooded over him when he found that it was much wider and steadier than he expected. He didn’t like the sight of the dark water just below him, or the sucking sound it made as it lapped against the tree, but he kept his gaze fixed on the island ahead of him and was massively relieved when he reached the tree roots. He jumped down beside Sparkpaw, who had waited for him.

“Come on, slow mole!” she urged him. “We’re missing all the fun!”

Alderpaw saw that the ThunderClan warriors were pushing their way through a thick line of bushes at the top of a slope that led up from the beach. With Sparkpaw at his side, he raced up the slope that lead up from the beach. As the thorns raked through his pelt, he reflected that he hadn’t needed to spend so much time grooming himself back at camp.

On the other side of the bushes, Alderpaw found himself at the edge of a wide circle of grass. A huge, gnarled oak tree stood in the center, its roots as thick as a cat’s body. All around it cats were milling around; some were talking together in clusters, while other found comfortable spots and settled down facing the oak tree. Alderpaw watched the medicine cats gather together. He recognized the large, dappled golden and white she-cat who sat near Leafpool and a smaller gray tabby cat near them, presuming she was her apprentice, from when they visited Leafpool when Alderpaw was still a kit. The other medicine cats also seemed familiar, as if he could see them in a vague memory. He caught the eye of the golden and white medicine cat, who blinked kindly at him. Alderpaw blinked back before turning away from them. He suddenly wanted to get to know the other medicine cats, and wished he could introduce himself to them.

Sparkpaw snapped him out of his thoughts. “It’s like all the other Clans are already here,” she murmured into his ear. “I’ve never seen so many cats!”

Alderpaw nodded in agreement. He was especially astonished to see a crowd of young cats—probably apprentices like us, he thought—yowling and roughhousing together in the shelter of the bushes. I thought you were supposed to behave perfectly at a Gathering, he thought, remembering what Squirrelflight had told him. But maybe different Clans have different rules.

“Well, what do you think?” Toadstep asked; he had padded up unnoticed while Alderpaw was staring at the rowdy cats.

“It’s amazing!” Alderpaw breathed out.

“It sure is,” Rosepetal agreed, emerging from the bushes and giving her pelt a shake. “Especially your first time.”

“Look,” Toadstep meowed, pointing with his tail. “That’s Russetstar, the ShadowClan leader, climbing up the Great Oak.”

Alderpaw blinked as he looked up at the dark ginger she-cat who settled himself in the fork between two branches and gazed around with a look of power in his eyes. He looks like a cat I wouldn’t want to cross.

“You’ve already seen Mudstar, there on the branch just above Russetstar,” Toadstep went on, indicating the brown tabby tom. “And here comes Mistystar, the RiverClan leader.”

Alderpaw saw the blue-gray she-cat leap into the trees, her body smooth and graceful; several leaves fluttered down as she found a spot on a lower branch. She had the same sleek pelt as the white and golden she-cat, but was much smaller compared to her, and he guessed the golden and gray she-cats were Mothwing and Willowshine, medicine cats of RiverClan. Alderpaw knew the story behind the RiverClan leader. Daughter of the honorable leader of ThunderClan, Bluestar, and the deputy of RiverClan, Oakheart. Her ThunderClan heritage made her look more like most of the ThunderClan cats here: tall, though shorted than the RiverClan cats, muscular, broad-shouldered. He wondered what to was like to be Half-Clan and the leader of a Clan.

Bramblestar caught Alderpaw’s eye as he, too, headed toward the tree, and felt a thrill of pride to see his father ready to take his place with the other leaders. He’s so important! I want to be as important as him one day.

“The deputies sit on the roots,” Rosepetal told the apprentice. “The brown-and-white tom is WindClan’s deputy, Harespring, and the black tom next to him from RiverClan.” Just like his medicine cat and leader, he had a sleek, shiny pelt. Half of Alderpaw wished his pelt was that pretty. They must groom themselves a lot. “The cat just joining them is Crowfrost of ShadowClan.”

“I’d better get my tail over there, too,” Squirrelflight meowed as she padded past. Pausing for a moment, she added to the apprentices, “This is your chance to get to know the other Clans. Go and introduce yourselves.” She gave her kits little licks on their foreheads before turning and running to the other deputies, calling over her shoulder. “Have fun, kittens!”

Sparkpaw groaned next to her, embarrassed by her mother’s love. Alderpaw felt good after she licked his head, though.

Alderpaw saw that the older ThunderClan cats were mixing with the other Clans already, settling down with their friends, and eagerly exchanging gossip. Squirrelflight joined the other deputies, while Bramblestar swarmed up the tree and sat on a branch near Mistystar.

Alderpaw looked around, shuffling with anxiety, not knowing which of this milling crowd of cats he dared approach. I’d rather just stick with Sparkpaw, he told himself.

“I’ll introduce you to a few cats, if you’d like,” Toadstep offered.

Alderpaw was about to accept his offer when Sparkpaw’s ears twitched. “We don’t need any help, thanks,” she mewed. “We’ll manage just fine on our own.”

“Okay.” Toadstep dipped his head. “See you later.” He padded off and plopped himself down beside a rangy, pale tabby she-cat who Alderpaw recognized from the tree-bridge.

Alderpaw turned to glare at his littermate. “Why did you say that?” he demanded. “I’d much rather be introduced by Toadstep than walk up to a strange cat and have to introduce myself.”

Sparkpaw returned his glare. “I’m not going to hide behind an older cat like I’m some kind of kit,” she snorted. “What would the cats from other Clans think of me. Besides, you need to get used to talking to strangers. You’ve got way too much anxiety built up in that tiny body of yours.”

Alderpaw shuffled his paws. “Fine,” he retorted. “But who are we going to talk to?”

Sparkpaw let her head and tail droop a little, as if she was only just thinking that through. Then she raised her chin high again and looked around. Almost at once, Alderpaw spotted another cat gesturing to them with her tail. She seemed to be an apprentice by her size, a sleek silver-gray she-cat with white chest fur and a pointed tail. Her bold green eyes sparkled as she called out, “Hey! Over here!”

Relieved that another cat had made the first move, Alderpaw trotted over with Sparkpaw by his side. He picked up the weird reek that was familiar from the ShadowClan border, but was too polite to wrinkle her nose.

“I’m Needlepaw,” the silver she-cat announced. “This is Sleekpaw, and that’s Beepaw.”

The two apprentices she was with nodded in greeting. Sleekpaw was a gray tortoiseshell and Beepaw was a plump white she-cat with black ears and a black stripe over her nose. “Hi,” Beepaw meowed, shifting to make room for the two ThunderClan apprentices under the bush where they were crouching. “We’re from ShadowClan.”

“Is this your first Gathering?” Needlepaw asked. “It’s my second—I’ve been an apprentice for three moons.”

“Yes, it’s our first,” Alderpaw responded. “I’m Alderpaw, and this is Sparkpaw.”

“We’re from ThunderClan,” Sparkpaw added, puffing out her chest as if she was proud of her Clan heritage.

“Are you really?” Needlepaw’s brilliant green eyes widened. “Does that mean you want to boss all the other cats in the forest around?”

“No it does not!” Sparkpaw exclaimed with a lash of her tail, while Alderpaw’s neck fur bristled. “What are you even talking about?” the ginger apprentice went on. “Why would you insult us like that?”

“All right, keep your fur on,” Needlepaw meowed, with an amused glance at her Clanmates. “I was only teasing. All the other Clans have reputations with the others. ThunderClan cats are bossy, WindClan cats get scared and run away, and RiverClan cats are too fat and lazy to hunt properly.”

Alderpaw narrowly stopped himself from gaping, and exchanged a scandalized glance with his sister. Who does she think she is, talking about other Clans like that?

“Well I think it’s stupid,” Sleekpaw added, licking one paw and drawing it over her ear. “What Clan you’re in doesn’t decide what you’re like. It’s just where you’re born. Some of the cats in ShadowClan are every bit as bossy as you think ThunderClan cats are.”

Sparkpaw’s ears pricked forward in surprise at Sleekpaw’s rant, but she nodded slowly, as if she agreed with the she-cat’s statement. Alderpaw didn’t know if he agreed with it. The Clan a cat is born into makes a cat a lot of things: it causes a cat’s appearance, hunting type, body type. But maybe Sleekpaw was right. Maybe the Clan a cat is born in didn’t cause a cat’s personality to change.

Before Sparkpaw could say anything, a cat’s voice rang out across the clearing. “Cats of all Clans!” It was Russetstar, standing tall and proud on her branch. “Welcome to the Gathering. Mistystar, would you like to speak first?”

The blue-gray leader dipped her head as she rose to her paws. “RiverClan is doing well,” she began. “The lake is full of fish . . .”

“RiverClan cats eat fish!” exclaimed Beepaw in a whisper. “Can you image? No wonder they’re so smell.”

Alderpaw glanced around to see if any ShadowClan warriors would correct Beepaw’s behavior, but there were none within earshot. He hoped furiously that Mistystar hadn’t heard the comment, but if she had, she ignored it. “A new litter of four kits has been born to Lakeheart,” she announced, then dipped her head again to Russetstar before resuming her seat.

“Mudstar?” Russetstar gestured to the older WindClan leader.

“Hunting has been good on the moor,” Mudstar announced.

“I bet he hasn’t done much hunting,” Needlepaw muttered.

“Yeah, my mentor said he’s older than Russetstar and Bramblestar combined,” Sleekpaw responded.

They’re talking about a Clan leader! Alderpaw couldn’t help but twitch his whiskers in amusement, and he heard a suppressed snort of laughter from Sparkpaw. But he was still shocked by their comments, and even more shocked that ShadowClan warriors would talk like that in front of apprentices. If Squirrelflight caught Alderpaw and Sparkpaw speaking that way about a leader, they’d be grooming the elders’ pelts for ticks for moons.

“Some rogues passed through the edges of our territory,” Mudstar continued. “Sedgewhisker led a patrol to keep an eye on them, and the rogues left without making any trouble. They’ll be a long way away by now.” The mottled tom gave the pale brown tabby Alderpaw saw earlier a proud glance. Alderpaw guessed she was Sedgewhisker.

“I’d have clawed their ears off if they’d come to ShadowClan,” Beepaw muttered, sliding out her sharp claws. Alderpaw shuddered. He hoped he never joined a battle against ShadowClan. “That’d teach them not to trespass on our territory.”

“WindClan has always been weak,” Needlepaw added. “That’s what I heard Tawnypelt telling Crowfrost, anyway.”

Sleekpaw bent forward to mutter something into Needlepaw’s ear, but Alderpaw stopped listening as Bramblestar had just risen to make his report.

“The prey is running well in ThunderClan,” the tabby tom meowed. “And two new apprentices, Alderpaw and Sparkpaw, have begun training with their mentors, Rosepetal and Toadstep.”

Alderpaw was aware of every cat turning to look at him and his littermate. Some of them chanted their names. “Alderpaw! Sparkpaw!” Utterly embarrassed, he lowered his head to lick his chest fur. It was bad enough being the center of attention when it was just my own Clan!

Sparkpaw, however, was preening, thoroughly enjoying the welcoming yowls of the other cats.

Bramblestar had take his seat on the branch again, and Russetstar stepped forward. “Prey is plentiful in ShadowClan,” she reported.

“Honestly!” Needlepaw whispered. “Does any cat expect him to say anything else? If we were all starving, he’d say the same. He must think we’re all mouse-brained.”

Shock once again took over Alderpaw at the disrespectful way Needlepaw spoke. Don’t these cats even respect their own leader? I would never talk about Bramblestar like that! He was sure that Russetstar wasn’t lying. These sleek she-cats obviously had all the prey they could eat.

“Twolegs are still using the greenleaf Twolegplace on our territory,” Russetstar went on. “But they haven’t caused much trouble, and as the weather get colder over the next couple of moons, we don’t expect to see much of them.”

“And it can’t be soon enough for me,” Needlepaw muttered.

“Two of our apprentices have been made warriors.” Russetstar glanced down proudly, sweeping her tail around to indicate a white tom and a yellow she-cat, who stood close together near the Great Oak. “Stonewing and Wasptail.”

The two new warriors stood up straighter, their eyes gleaming, as their Clanmates yowled their names enthusiastically. Most of the other Clans joined in.

“Also,” Russetstar continued when the clamor had died down,  “four kits have been made apprentices: Beepaw is apprenticed to Dawnpelt, Sleekpaw to Tigerheart, Juniper to Stonewing, and Strikepaw to Wasptail.”

Instead of yowling to acclaim the new apprentice, a murmur of surprise arose from all the cats. Mudstar looked at the ginger leader, his eyes narrow. “Is ShadowClan really giving apprentices to brand-new warriors now?” he asked with a disapproving tone.

“By the time ShadowClan cats are warriors,” Russetstar retorted, the faintest suggestion of a growl in her voice, “they’re ready for anything. Other Clans need to stay out of ShadowClan business.”

Alderpaw noticed that the ShadowClan apprentices sitting beside him were looking a bit smug. “ShadowClan has a lot of apprentices,” Needlepaw informed him loftily. “Russetstar doesn’t know what to do with all of us.”

“That’s nice for you,” Sparkpaw mewed pertly.

Alderpaw felt even more strongly that it was weird, both the way the ShadowClan apprentices talked about their leader and the fact that an apprentice would be so casual about sharing her Clan’s weakness with others.

Distracted by his thoughts, he noticed that the four Clan leaders had drawn closer together in the branches of the oak tree and were speaking to one another in the branches of the oak tree and were speaking to one another in low tones.

A moment later, Russetstar stepped forward again. “The medicine cats have something to say to all the Clans,” he announced. “Something important that they have only discussed with their leaders so far.”

A tense silence fell among the Clans as the medicine cats gathered together in front of the Great Oak. He barely recognized any of them besides his aunt Leafpool and Mothwing and Willowshine. “The old tom must be Littlecloud from ShadowClan,” he murmured to Sparkpaw.

“So the cat with the splotchy brownish-gray fur must be Kestrelflight of WindClan,” Sparkpaw responded.

The medicine cat conferred together rapidly before Kestrelflight leaped up onto one of the oak roots beside the deputies.

“All of us have shared a vision,” he began. “We received a prophecy that is vital to all our Clans.”

Meows of shock and confusion rose from the cats around him as he finished speaking.

“Why would StarClan give you a shared vision?” some cat called out.

“Which cat spoke to you all?”

“It’s been seasons since we had a prophecy!”

The clamor grew louder and louder until Jayflight stood from his spot next to Berrynose, lashing his tail. “For StarClan’s sake, shut up and listen!” he snapped, startling the warriors around him. Alderpaw watched him sit back down and mumble angrily to Berrynose, who licked his ear, his eyes glowing with affection.

Gradually, the noise died down, until Kestrelflight could make himself heard again. “Firestar spoke to us first,” he reported.

“Oh yeah, it would be Firestar!” Needlepaw snorted. “He has his tail in every cat’s business, even now that he’s dead.”

“He said, ‘Embrace what you find in the shadows, for only they can clear the sky.’”

“And what did he mean by that?” Harespring asked.

“We don’t know,” Kestrelflight replied.

Harespring sniffed. “Well that’s just great.”

As he listened to Kestrelflight, Alderpaw couldn’t shake off the feeling that all of this was somehow familiar. He could almost picture a large cat with a flame-colored pelt—a cat he had never seen—speaking the words. Could that have been Firestar? But everything was vague, like a half-remembered dream; he tried to push the shadowy memory away and focus on what was being said.

When Kestrelflight fell silent, agitated voices rose all around him.

“What does it mean?”

“What would we find ‘in the shadows’?”

“And how are we supposed to find it if we don’t know what it is?”

“Maybe it’s ShadowClan?”

“If you ask me,” a scarred ShadowClan elder hissed to Brackenfur who sat next to him, “what should be embraced is a bit more respect for senior warriors and elders.”

Beepaw and Needlepaw shared a quite purr of laughter. “Ratscar’s always saying that!” Beepaw murmured.

A pretty RiverClan apprentice raised her tail. “I found some really beautiful blue feathers that I decorated my nest with a shady glen,” she meowed. “Do you think they could be important?”

An older RiverClan tabby—her mentor, Alderpaw guessed—gave her a sharp cuff over the ear. “Stupid furball!” “Our old territory was filled with shadows,” an elder, a pale brown tabby tom, sighed.

“But that's gone now, Onewhisker,” Brackenfur meowed.

Alderpaw was surprised to see that Onewhisker, the tom who was hyped up in Squirrelflight’s stories to be a brave, strong cat, looked so old and frail, his eyes shone with sad memories.

Alderpaw was surprised to see that Onewhisker, the tom who was hyped up in Squirrelflight’s stories to be a brave, strong cat, looked so old and frail, his eyes shone with sad memories.

“I’ve got a question.” Cloudtail rose from where he was sitting beside Brightheart and Whitewing and faced the medicine cats. “Do we think this prophecy applies to all the Clans? Or do you think it was meant for Jayflight, Lionblaze, and Dovewing?”

Alderpaw knew why he would think that. The three were once part of a powerful prophecy, which was one of the reasons Jayflight agreed to help Leafpool decipher prophecies. Alderpaw turned to the medicine cats, curious.

“Good question,” Littlecloud responded.

“I wasn’t with the other medicine cats when it happened,” Jayflight answered. That seemed wrong to Alderpaw. Is he lying? “But Leafpool’s told me that Firestar prefaced it with ‘a time of great change is coming for all the Clans.’ Which would seem to mean, yes, this is meant for all of us.”

A new swell of voices, confused and angry, rose from all four Clans.

“Is StarClan saying that we all must embrace what we find in the shadows—whatever that is?” Crowfrost demanded.

Alderpaw could feel the tension in the clearing, as if a covering of cold, dark fog had suddenly descended. Cats were sharing uneasy glancing and muttering to one another in low voices.

“This is so exciting!” Sparkpaw whispered. “Maybe we’ll find the shadowy thing and save the Clans.”

“I doubt it,” Alderpaw responded. I don’t feel ready to be heroic.

“What!” Needlepaw had obviously overheard. “No ThunderClan is better at finding things than any ShadowClan cat!”

“You would say that!” Sparkpaw flashed back at her. “Just wait and see!”

“I think the whole idea is silly,” Sleekpaw mewed disdainfully, though Alderpaw noticed that she kept her voice low while she said it. “Prophecies and StarClan and all that stuff are just ridiculous!”

Alderpaw and Sparkpaw exchanged surprised glances. Does Sleekpaw not believe in StarClan? Alderpaw wondered. That’s terrible! Needlepaw and Beepaw didn’t seem as shocked, as if they already knew about Sleekpaw not believing in StarClan. They let out short purrs of laughter.

A sudden prickling sensation at the back of his neck made Alderpaw feel that some cat was looking at him. He glanced over his shoulder toward the Great Oak, and his pelt began to bristle in alarm. Seated at the foot of the tree with the other medicine cats, Leafpool was staring directly at him.

Why?

[need1etail]

Chapter Seven

I worked a bunch this week so I’ve gotten a ton of my final drafts done fuck yes.

Alderpaw was alone in the medicine cat den, except for Briarlight, who was curled up in her nest, asleep, and Dovewing, who was laying next to her, watching her breathing.

“She had such a restless, painful night,” Leafpool had told him when he arrived in the den to start work. “Try not to wake her.”

Dovewing had straightened from where she was bent over Briarlight, listening to her breathing. “I think she’ll be okay for now, Leafpool. You can go and get those herbs you were telling me you needed,” she meowed. “I’ll stay with her.”

“You can stay here and organize the store.” Leafpool pointed to the herb store in the back, which had leaves scattered across the ground. Alderpaw’s heart sank. Didn’t he just organize that yesterday? “Leafkit, Honeykit, and Larkkit got into the den,” Leafpool sighed. “Throw out anything looks too withered to be useful.”

Now that the medicine cat had gone, Alderpaw was left to get on with his boring job. But for once, he didn’t mind. It gave him a chance to think over his dream at the Moonpool the night before. I’m sure it was just a dream, he assured himself. It’s not even worth telling Leafpool about. It’s just not important.

Instead, Alderpaw had decided to make himself useful. In the last few days, he felt he was actually starting to get the hang of being a medicine cat. He hadn’t memorized all the herbs yet, but he knew most of them, and it was much easier to test himself when Briarlight was there to help. Maybe I’ll be a good medicine cat after all, he told himself. I’ll try my best to be as good as Leafpool.

Absorbed in separating the catmint from the tansy, and picking out the wrinkled juniper berries that had lost their healing, Alderpaw was startled to hear the paw steps of another cat approaching the den. He turned to see Rosepetal brush back the bramble screen and limp inside.

“Hi,” he mewed, pointing with his tail at Briarlight and signaling to Rosepetal to keep quiet. He was glad to see her, though he didn’t like the pained expression on her face. “Is anything the matter?”

“It’s my paw,” Rosepetal replied, holding it up. “It hasn’t healed yet, and it’s still painful. Could you take a look at it?”

“Sure,” Alderpaw responded. “But it’s early days for it to heal.”

With a sigh of relief, Rosepetal lay on her side in a nest of moss and fern and stretched out her injured paw so Alderpaw could get a good look at it. Alderpaw examined it, giving it a good sniff and noting that the wound was clean and hadn’t started bleeding again. He was especially careful to look for the signs of infection that Jayflight had told him when Leafpool was out.

Not red, not hot to the touch, good.

“It’s not infected,” he told Rosepetal. “It’s just a deep cut and it’s taking some time to heal. He hesitated, then added. “That’s normal.”

“I’m glad it’s not serious,” Rosepetal meowed, “but is there anything you can give me to help the pain? It isn’t terrible, but it’s distracting me, and I want to get back to my warrior duties.”

Alderpaw padded back to the store and began to look through the herbs, touching each one and trying to remember what they were for. There were a lot of kinds, and he was finding it hard to find the one he wanted. He was sure that Rosepetal needed comfrey root, but he couldn’t quite remember what it looked like. He remembered chewing it up for Jayflight, but everything was so crazy . . .

Eventually, he found a pile of roots and bit off a piece, trying to reach into his memory and remember the taste of the burdock. He mashed it up in his mouth, then spat it out and spread it onto Rosepetal’s wound.

Rosepetal’s pained expression seemed to fade, and she looked relieved. Alderpaw watched her carefully, remembering how important it was for a medicine cat to be aware of how other cats were feeling.

“I think it’s already working,” Rosepetal meowed after a moment. “Thanks, Alderpaw. I’m so glad to be rid of the pain.”

“It’s nothing,” Alderpaw meowed, dipping her head to her.

Rosepetal got up, keeping her injured paw off the ground, and touched her nose to Alderpaw’s ear. “I’m so please you’ve found your place as a medicine cat,” she told him. “Leafpool will be very proud of you.”

Alderpaw watched Rosepetal as she left the den, feeling his pelt tingle with pride at her words. I’ve treated my first injury all my own.

Voices sounded from outside the den, and Alderpaw realized that Leafpool had returned. He couldn’t hear what she and Rosepetal were saying, but he could guess. Rosepetal must be telling Leafpool what a great job I’m doing!

His ears perked in confusion when Rosepetal followed Leafpool, who had a bundle of yarrow in her jaws, back into the den. “What’s wrong?” Alderpaw asked.

“You put chervil root on Rosepetal’s paw,” Leafpool told him. Alderpaw flushed in embarrassment. Rosepetal gave him a sympathetic glance as Leafpool cleaned her paw of the wrong herb. “It’s not bad, but it won’t help her wound. I’ll put burdock on her paw.”

Alderpaw sat silently as Leafpool crushed the black root, and spat it on Rosepetal’s wound. Rosepetal thanked her before leaving the mentor and apprentice alone. “I’m sorry,” Alderpaw murmured, his stomach churning.

Leafpool let out a sigh, and shook her head, moving closer to Alderpaw. Her voice was soft, as if she was comforting a kit. “Don’t worry, Alderpaw,” she meowed. “It didn’t hurt her.”

Alderpaw’s ears flattened. She sounded upset. “I should have waited for you to come back,” he mumbled, shuffling his paws. He squeezed his eyes shut, angry with himself. “I should have known what burdock looks like. I just used it a couple days ago.”

Leafpool meowed turned to the herb store and put the burdock away. “We just need to test you some more on the subject. You’ll get it right.”

Alderpaw wasn’t satisfied. He looked up at Leafpool. “I’m so sorry,” he meowed again. “I never should have done it. I won’t ever do it again!”

Dovewing shushed them from across the den, brushing her tail down Briarlight’s spine, who was fidgeting. Alderpaw realized that his voice had risen on the last few words. Leafpool nodded to her.

“You don’t have to be sorry,” Leafpool told him, placing her paw on his shoulder. “It’s really okay. Again, we just need to focus on burdock for now. You’re a great apprentice, Alderpaw. You’ll be a full medicine cat in no time, based on how fast you’re learning.”

Alderpaw nodded to her. “Thank you.”

“Now,” Leafpool went on, “the elders need some taking care of. You can get some mouse bile and get rid of their ticks.”

Alderpaw stifled a sigh. “Yes, Leafpool.”

When Alderpaw reached the elders’ den under the hazel bushes, carrying a twig with a ball of bile-soaked moss dangling from the tip, only Sandstorm was there.

“Hi,” she meowed, a friendly look in her green eyes. “I’m glad to see you. Graystripe and Millie have gone for a walk, Purdy is sunning himself somewhere, and Brackenfur is trying to convince bramblestar that he can work on the dens again. Meanwhile, I’ve got a huge tick on my shoulder, just where I can’t reach it.”

Alderpaw parted Sandstorm’s fur to find the tick, then patted the mouse bile on it. This time, he couldn’t suppress a sigh, to think that he was back on tick duty, just as if he had never become medicine cat apprentice.

Sandstorm wriggled her shoulders gratefully as the tick fell off. “That’s much better, Alderpaw. But there’s something upsetting you, I can tell. Would it help to tell me about it?”

Alderpaw shook his head, embarrassed that he hadn’t hidden his feelings well.

Sandstorm brushed her tail along his side. “There’s no shame in being sad,” she assured him. “No reason not to show it. Everyone gets sad sometimes. Even Firestar. And besides,” she added with a faint mrrow of amusement, “you’re not very good at hiding your feelings!”

Both her reassurance and her joke made Alderpaw feel a bit better. He kept searching her fur for more ticks as his grandmother went on talking to him in a gentle voice.

“You’re my kin, and I would love if you were comfortable telling me things. I can help. I’m old. I’ve been through a lot. And as the others aren’t here just now, it can stay just between us.”

Alderpaw relaxed. He patted mouse bile on the tick he had just found, then set the twig down. “I accidentally gave Rosepetal a poultice of chervil root thinking it was comfrey root while Leafpool was away,” he confessed. “Leafpool was disappointed in me.”

“Wow!” Sandstorm exclaimed, making Alderpaw’s heart skip a bit. “What a dreadful thing to do! Bramblestar will certainly throw you out of the Clan.”

For one horrible heartbeat, Alderpaw thought she meant it. Then he realized she was joking.

“You shouldn’t feel bad,” the old she-cat went on more seriously. “You were trying your best, but you messed up. No point in feeling bad. Now you’ll know better next time. Being an apprentice is all about learning and growing, and aren’t you lucky to have the opportunity? And to have Leafpool and Jayflight, such wise cats, to guide you?”

“I . . . I don’t want to disappoint them,” Alderpaw stammered. “It was the first time I got an herb wrong on a cat. I should have known better.”

“Did Leafpool really seem to be disappointed in you?” Sandstorm asked him.

Alderpaw thought about that for a moment. “No,” he meowed at last. “She didn’t. She didn’t even seem upset, now that I think about it.”

“She wants you to learn, Alderpaw,” the pale ginger she-cat went on. “She wants you to make mistakes and learn from them. And you’re doing that. You shouldn’t expect to understand everything right away. You’re thoughtful and cautious, and that will serve you well as a medicine cat. Besides, you’re her first apprentice who really wanted to be a medicine cat, unlike Jayflight. She just didn’t want to mess up, and feel bad, and give up.”

She really knows me well! Alderpaw thought, beginning to feel better. It’s so good to have an older, wiser cat to give advice.

“Is anything else bothering you?” Sandstorm asked after a moment.

Alderpaw’s mind flashed back to the strange vision at the Moonpool. I’m almost sure it was a dream . . . but what if it was more?

Sandstorm’s guidance had inspired him, and the encouraging look in her eyes made him want to confide in her. “Something happened at the Moonpool,” he began, and went on to tell her about his meeting with Ravenpaw. And how he had watched the unfamiliar Clan in the water of the pool.

“It was so strange . . .,” he told Sandstorm. “These other cats seem to live in a rocky gorge with a river running through it. And it looked as if their leader was making a new warrior.”

Sandstorm narrowed her eyes, her green eyes suddenly intense. “Describe these cats to me,” she meowed. “Tell me as much as you can remember.”

“Well,” Alderpaw began. “The cat I thought was the leader was a cream-and-brown tabby she-cat with amber eyes. And there was a dark ginger tom next to her, and a small silver-gray tabby she-cat with dark gray paws and deep green eyes.” He shivered as he remembered her intense stare at him. “She looked up at me; it was like she knew I was there.”

Sandstorm jumped to her paws, her pelt bristling with excitement. “I know those cats! They sound like Leafstar and her deputy, Sharpclaw—and the small silver tabby is Echosong, their medicine cat.”

“That’s really weird,” Alderpaw murmured. “Why would I dream about real cats I never met—never even heard of?”

Sandstorm’s green eyes glowed. “That wasn’t a dream . . . it was a vision.”

“Really?” Alderpaw began to share the older cat’s excitement. “So who are the cats I saw?”

“They are from another Clan: SkyClan,” Sandstorm replied. “And they may need our help.” She suddenly started purring. “I wonder why Ravenpaw was sent to you and not Firestar, or maybe an old SkyClan leader.”

Alderpaw gaped at her. There was another Clan he’d never heard of? He had to believe Sandstorm, why would she be lying about this, or making this up? Plus, he was excited to have had a vision, like a real medicine cat. But at the same time, he wondered why SkyClan would give such a young, inexperienced medicine cat apprentice the vision. “Why me?” he blurted out.

“Why not?” Sandstorm’s voice was calm. “Why did StarClan chose Firestar to be the cat to save the Clans, when he was just a kittypet? Why did StarClan choose Jayflight, Dovewing, Lionblaze, and Hollyleaf as The Four when they’re all half-clan? StarClan chose you, Alderpaw, and you must honor their choice. You must be proud of their choice. And you must tell Leafpool.”

The first part of her speech made Alderpaw glow with pride. I might be as special as Firestar? And The Four? But when she mentioned telling Leafpool about his vision, he shrank with anxiety. Leafpool already saw that I’m not ready for half of my medicine cat duties . . . What will she think when I tell her about my vision? Won’t she think I’m not ready for this either? “Leafpool won’t be happy,” he mumbled.

“Nonsense!” Sandstorm meowed briskly. “She’ll be proud of you, Alderpaw. I know my daughter well enough to know this. You were overthinking earlier today, and that’s okay. It happens to the best of us. I understand it’s scary, but you must tell Leafpool about your vision. It’s one of the big tasks of being a medicine cat.”

Alderpaw nodded. He needed to be brave. Even though cold claws tightened around his chest, he headed across the stone hollow to the medicine cats’ den. By the time he reached it, Leafpool was bending over the sleeping Briarlight.

“I . . . I need to talk to you about something important,” he began, trying to keep his voice from shaking.

Leafpool looked up from her patient. “Of course you can talk to me, Alderpaw, but let’s go outside. Briarlight just woke up and ate something, but she’s sleeping again now, and I don’t want her disturbed.”

“I think we should fetch Jayflight as well,” Alderpaw told her. Leafpool did as her apprentice wanted, and the gray tom joined them, his blue gaze not revealing any emotion. Outside the den, Alderpaw spoke in a low voice as he told his mentor about his vision at the Moonpool. “Sandstorm said she recognized the cats,” he finished.

To his amazement, Leafpool was gazing at him with glowing amber eyes, while Jayflight clawed at the ground in his excitement. They’re both really pleased, Alderpaw thought, nearly bursting with pride for himself.

“Do you think this might be my first vision?” he asked.

“No,” Jayflight responded, making Alderpaw falter, “this wasn’t your first vision. Don’t you remember when you were a kit and you told me about that weird dream you had? With the medicine cats and the noble flame-colored cat?”

Alderpaw gazed at him in wonder. That’s why I always feel as if I know Firestar when I hear about him! “That was a vision? You said it was just a dream!”

Jayflight huffed. “StarClan give us strength!” He looked straight into Alderpaw’s eyes. “Yes, it was a vision. I only told you it was a dream so you wouldn’t worry. And that’s why it was clear to Leafpool that you should have become a medicine cat apprentice.”

“I’m just glad you actually wanted to be a medicine cat!” Leafpool purred. Jayflight snorted and Leafpool shot him a glance. “Alderpaw, StarClan obviously has big plans for you!”

Alderpaw found that hard to take in. Excitement tingled from his nose to his tail-tip, and his claws flexed in and out. Maybe that’s why I felt such a strong pull to the medicine cat den when I was a warrior apprentice—not because I’m a bad hunter, but because I have this special connection with StarClan!

“We’ll have to go and discuss this with Bramblestar,” Leafpool announced.

“Good,” Alderpaw meowed, turning to his father’s den. I can’t wait to hear what dad has to say about this!

Leafpool shook her head while Jayflight raised a paw to halt Alderpaw. “No, we’re going alone,” he told him. “You may have had the vision, but you’re too inexperienced to discuss what it means. We’ll tell you what happens, I promise.”

Alderpaw’s sensation of being special faded. “Oh,” he muttered, feeling young and silly again. He stayed outside the den, watching Leafpool and Jayflight as they headed toward the tumbled rocks that led up to the Highledge.

I guess whatever my vision was trying to tell me, the older cats will take care of it.

[need1etail]

I read River of Fire three months ago, and I can barely remember what happens, what the hell, that book was so boring.

[need1etail]

Chapter Eleven

Alderpaw couldn’t believe how fast the fox was. He watched, stunned, as its wiry body leaped through the air and landed on Sandstorm, its pointed snout burying itself in her as its gnashing teeth sank into her shoulder. Sandstorm let out a shrill yowl of pain before unsheathing her claw and swiping at its nose, making it yelp.

Shaking off his shock, Alderpaw raced forward and flung himself on top of the fox. Snarling, it turned and reared up, throwing Alderpaw off its back. Free of its jaws, Sandstorm rolled away, looking dazed, but ready to kick the fox’s tail. Blood was pouring from the wound in her shoulder.

“Get out of this!” Alderpaw called to her. “It’s too dangerous—you’re hurt!”

Sandstorm hissed, glaring at the fox in front of her. “Never!” she yowled. “I’d rather die than not fight for my kin.” She threw herself at the fox’s shoulder, digging her teeth into its shoulder.

Alderpaw stared at her, amazed by her fighting skill. For a split second, he thought he saw the starry pelt of her mate, Firestar, fighting beside her. He darted toward the fox again, scoring his claws down its side, then leaping back out of range as it snapped at him. Where are the others? he thought. Sandstorm was the only one helping him with this fox. He gazed around, and his heart pounded even harder as he saw a second fox attacking his other Clanmates, who were defending themselves desperately. Rain was on top of the other fox’s back, digging her teeth into its neck. Jayflight and Lionblaze were fighting side by side, aiming at the fox’s snout before it let out a loud snarl and struck Lionblaze away. They won’t be able to help us, Alderpaw realized, his terror mounting. The night air was full of snarls and yowling and the reek of blood.

Alderpaw’s fox swiped at his face, and he barely managed to duck in time to avoid the blow. The fox lunged at him again; leaping backward, Alderpaw crashed into something hard, and he realized that he was trapped against the trunk of a tree. Sandstorm was panting across the way, covered in fresh wounds besides her bleeding shoulder.

The fox growled, claws raking at the ground in front of it. Alderpaw tried to hiss at it in defiance, but the sound came out weak and unthreatening. I wouldn’t even frighten a kit!

Alderpaw braced himself as the fox crouched to spring. But before it could move, a high-pitched cry rang out. In the moonlight, Alderpaw saw a whirlwind of fur fly out of the bushes and land right on the fox’s back.

The fox let out a fearsome screech and thrashed back and forth, trying to dislodge the ball of fur from its back. But the furball had dug its claws in and managed to cling on.

Another cat! Alderpaw realized. Great StarClan, they’re brave! But they’re no match for a fox.

There was no time to wonder who the strange cat was. Throwing himself back into the fray, Alderpaw tried to get his claws into the fox’s throat, but his grip gave way as it shook its head violently. Then he realized that Sparkpaw and Sandstorm had joined him, fighting fiercely by his side, slashing at the fox, then darting back out of range.

“Swipe at its eye!” the cat on the fox’s back called out. “Go for its hind leg!”

The strange cat’s voice sounded oddly familiar to Alderpaw, but he had no time to think about that, and in the fitful moonlight he couldn’t see clearly.

“Whatever you do, don’t let go!” Sparkpaw gasped to them.

“I wasn’t planning to!” The strange cat raked their claws along the fox’s back, while Alderpaw and Sparkpaw kept on attacking from the side, trying to throw the fox off balance.

At last the creature screeched and, with a massive shake, hurled the strange cat off; they went sprawling in a patch of fern. Alderpaw watched Sparkpaw dash between them and the fox, ready to defend them, but the fox clearly had enough. It turned tail and ran, while Rosepetal and Lionblaze drove the second fox after it.

For a few heartbeats all the cats stood still, their chests heaving as they fought for breath. Sandstorm was the first to speak. “Is every cat okay?”

“I’m find,” Alderpaw responded.

“I banged my shoulder on the ground,” Toadstep mewed. “I think it’ll be stiff tomorrow, but it’s not serious.”

“I’ve got a scratch and I lost a bit of fur,” Rosepetal added.

“The fox got me pretty good,” Lionblaze spoke up. Alderpaw saw blood running down his nose and a bleeding wound on his cheek.

“Mouse-brain!” Jayflight hissed. “You’re not invincible anymore, you idiot.”

Alderpaw began sniffing Sparkpaw all over to make sure she was unhurt, though she wriggled under his questing nose. “Honestly, Alderpaw, I’m fine.”

“So am I.” The voice of the strange cat came form behind Alderpaw, and he turned to see them emerging from the clump of ferns where they had fallen.

“Thanks for your help,” he meowed, and the other cats joined in a chorus of agreement.

“You were really brave!” Sparkpaw piped up, padding over to the cat.

“I think the fox would have gotten me if it weren’t for—” Just then the moon came out from behind a cloud, and Alderpaw got a good look at the strange cat for the first time. “Needlepaw!” he gasped. “What are you doing here?”

Needlepaw strolled into the midst of the group of the cats and gazed around at them calmly. “Saving you from foxes,” she replied.

“But . . . aren’t you a ShadowClan apprentice?” Toadstep asked. “Where’s your mentor? What are you doing so far away from far.”

Clearly annoyed at being questioned, Needlepaw gave a defiant flick of her tail. “I was exploring on WindClan territory when I saw you all heading out,” she replied. “I was sure it had something to do with the prophecy, so I followed you.”

“You’re not supposed to be wandering around without your mentor,” Sandstorm scolded her. Her voice was tight with pain from her wound, and Alderpaw knew she needed rest and treatment, not an argument with ShadowClan apprentice. “And not supposed to be exploring on WindClan territory.”

“I wasn’t hunting!” Needlepaw retorted. “And I . . .”

Her voice faded to silence at Sandstorm’s green glare. “You’re certainly not supposed to leave Clan territory by yourself, without permission from your Clan leader,” Sandstorm went on. “Don’t you realize how dangerous it is, being out here alone? You’re going to be in a lot of trouble with Russetstar when you get back.”

Needlepaw returned her glare, bold defiance gleaming in them, but kept her jaws clamped shut.

“Did you really follow us across the Thunderpath?” Sparkpaw asked with curious eyes. She was sitting close to the silver she-cat. “We almost became crowfood crossing it ourselves.”

“Of course I did.” Needlepaw puffed out her chest, her voice sounding pompous. “Thunderpaths are no big deal. I’m not afraid of monsters!”

Alderpaw wondered if she really meant that, or if she was just saying it to make herself sound tough. Thunderpaths are terrifying!

“Then you’re a mouse-brain,” Sandstorm told her in a cold voice

“I can take care of myself,” Needlepaw retorted. “Which is more than I can say for the rest of you. Obviously you need my help. I just saved Alderpaw and Sparkpaw!”

Sparkpaw blinked next to Needlepaw. “You helped save us,” she pointed out, nudging the ShadowClan she-cat, giving her a soft, friendly glare. “You only helped.”

Needlepaw eyed her, her green eyes sparkling. “I’m coming with you now,” she announced.

Rosepetal and Toadstep exchanged an incredulous glance. “No way!” Jayflight snarled, glaring hard at the silver apprentice. Alderpaw saw how unnerved she looked when Jayflight looked straight at her.

“Exactly,” Sandstorm’s voice was brusque. “You should go back to your own territory.”

“I’m staying, and you can’t stop me,” Needlepaw meowed, quite undeterred. She challenged Sandstorm with a sharp glare. “I know you’re going to look for the thing in the shadows that the prophecy spoke about. And there’s no way I’m going to let you find it just for ThunderClan. Who’s to say ShadowClan can’t have some of that destiny, too?” Her gaze traveled around the group of cats, and her voice grew urgent. Alderpaw sensed that her desperation was about more than seeking what lies in the shadows. “If I can do anything to help clear the sky for my Clan, then I have to do it.”

Alderpaw felt a pang of sympathy for Needlepaw. If I were in her place, I’d want to make sure the sky cleared for ThunderClan, too. But he was taken aback when Needlepaw swung around and spoke to him directly.

“Alderpaw, you’re a medicine cat. You know about this stuff. What do you think?” Her voice turned into a persuasive purr. “Please let me come.”

Alderpaw felt good to be asked, to know he had this cat’s respect. He knew he shouldn’t enjoy Needlepaw’s company as much as she did. She’s from another Clan, and she breaks rules all the time, and she’s super rude to senior warriors and leaders and elders . . . but she’s fun, and different, and she’s really good at hunting and fighting. And she always says exactly what she thinks. He suddenly realized he wished he acted more like Needlepaw.

“I . . . uh . . . I don’t know,” he stammered as he shuffled his paws in an uncomfortable way. “I’m not sure I—”

“This is Alderpaw’s quest,” Jayflight broke in, to Alderpaw’s relief. “But I know about this stuff too, and we need to discuss this alone.”

“Sure,” Needlepaw mewed, pausing before she gave one paw a nonchalant lick.

She’s not really casual about this, Alderpaw realized. She’d never admit it, but she’s worried about what we’ll decide.

The ThunderClan cats padded into the shelter of a clump of trees at the edge of the hollow. Alderpaw noticed Sandstorm was limping, and the wound in her shoulder was still bleeding.

“Are you okay, Sandstorm?” he asked. “I ought to take a look at that wound.”

“I’ll be fine,” Sandstorm responded with a dismissive twitch of her whiskers.

But Alderpaw wasn’t satisfied. “Give the wound a good lick to clean it,” he told Sandstorm in a firm voice as soon as they were settled under the trees. “Sparkpaw, find me some cobweb.”

“Ooh, bossy medicine cat!” Sparkpaw meowed, a hint of amusement in her voice. “Have you been taking politeness lessons from Jayflight?” Jayflight gave her a soft cuff over her head and she laughed as she started sniffing around in the undergrowth and soon came back with a pawful of cobweb.

By the time Sandstorm had finished cleaning her wound. Alderpaw examined it thoroughly, glad to see that the bleeding had slowed to a trickle.

“This is all very well,” Sandstorm meowed as Alderpaw fixed the cobweb in place, “but what are we going to do about Needlepaw?”

Jayflight spoke up. “I don’t like the thought of her tagging along with us,” he sniffed. “She’s nosy and cocky. It’d drive me insane.”

“But she’s young,” Lionblaze pointed out. “It wouldn’t be safe for her to go back alone.”

“More cats means more mouths to feed,” Jayflight pointed out.

“More cats means more cats to hunt,” Lionblaze countered, making his brother grumble.

Rain stepped forward, her eyes narrow. “The nosy little cat got herself into this mess,” she meowed, “maybe she should get herself out of it.”

“Well,” Alderpaw began, feeling shy about contradicting the SkyClan warrior, “her nosiness did come in handy when the foxes attacked us.”

“He’s right,” Toadstep spoke up.

“I think we should send her back,” Rain meowed.

“What, do you want to lead her back?” Sparkpaw asked, glaring at the older cat.

Alderpaw saw a flash of something in the gray she-cat’s eyes, but he couldn’t identify it. She stepped back, not saying another word. Her cold glare sent shivers up Alderpaw’s spine

“This is getting us nowhere,” Sandstorm sighed. “Alderpaw, Needlepaw was right about one thing: you’re the medicine cat. What do you think?”

“I don’t agree with Rain and Jayflight,” Alderpaw admitted, even though he was reluctant to go against the SkyClan warrior and his cousin. “I think Needlepaw should come with us. If we try to send her back,” he added, “she’s going to ignore us and she might as well follow us anyway.”

“Maybe,” Rosepetal snorted, “but that’s no reason to welcome her.”

“Okay,” Sandstorm mewed, “since we can’t agree, I’ll make the final decision. Needlepaw comes with us.”

Rain and Rosepetal exchanged a disappointed look and Jayflight snorted.

“But there’s no way we’re telling her what this quest is really about, right?” Rain asked, eyeing Alderpaw. Alderpaw turned away from her, uncomfortable in her intense gaze.

Sandstorm caught her eye. “No, we won’t tell her that,” she murmured.

Rising to her paws, the cats padded back into the hollow to tell Needlepaw their decision. On the way, Alderpaw could hear Rosepetal and Toadstep muttering just behind him.

“She is going to be in a lot of trouble once she gets back to her own territory,” Rosepetal mumbled.

“But that’s not our problem,” Toadstep responded, matching his sisters quiet tone. “It’s hers.”

While they were away, Needlepaw had obviously been grooming herself, and her sleek silver pelt shone in the growing light of dawn. Alderpaw, still covered in dust and bits of debris from the fox fight, felt very scruffy in contrast.

“We’ve decided to let you join us,” Sandstorm announced.

Needlepaw raised one paw and examined her claws. “Well, of course you have,” she mewed, her voice cool. “It’s not like you could stop me, anyway.”

Alderpaw’s pelt prickled with irritation at her rudeness, and yet he sensed that Needlepaw was much happier than she was prepared to admit. There’s something sort of . . . lonely about her, he thought.

As the sky began to flush red where the sun would rise, Alderpaw saw Needlepaw’s face more clearly. And he thought he could see in her eyes how pleased she was to be included.