Darkest Night

CHAPTER 5

Alderheart narrowed his eyes against the sunshine as he padded from the medicine den. Crisp, brown leaves littered the clearing. A soft wind lifted his fur.

“And don’t forget borage!” Jayfeather called after him. “We need more borage. But not today. Remind me tomorrow.” The blind medicine cat had been fussing over herbs since sunup, worrying about getting new supplies picked and dried before the rain came.

Alderheart had promised Jayfeather he’d gather comfrey today, but he hadn’t eaten yet and his belly was rumbling. He padded to the fresh-kill pile, a little disappointed that none of the hunting parties had returned yet. A stiff mouse and a cold sparrow were left from yesterday. He glanced around the camp to check that no one else was heading for the pile. He didn’t want to deprive any of his Clanmates of a meal.

Out of habit, he looked toward the apprentices’ den first. Even though a half-moon had passed since Twigpaw had left with SkyClan, Alderheart expected her to pop out, with bright eyes, excited about the day’s training. He tried to imagine her in SkyClan. She was probably a warrior by now. Wistfully, he hoped that Leafstar had given her a name worthy of her spirit. He missed her questions and enthusiasm and endless ideas.

“Hi, Alderheart.” Leafpool’s cheerful mew jerked him from his thoughts. She was padding beside Briarlight as the crippled cat dragged herself around the edge of the clearing. “We’re doing laps today. I think Briarlight’s getting faster.”

“I’m not getting faster.” Briarlight puffed beside her, her forepaws holding her up while her useless hind legs splayed out behind her. “You’re getting slower.”

Leafpool meowed with amusement. Then she turned toward Alderheart and nodded at the pitiful fresh-kill pile. “Why don’t you wait until the hunting patrols return?”

Alderheart rolled the mouse closer. “I hate to waste prey.”

“Waste it while you can.” Briarlight paused to catch her breath. “Leaf-bare’s coming. You’ll have plenty of time to eat stale prey then.”

“Thanks.” Alderheart sighed. “But I’m so hungry, this old mouse will probably still taste sweet.”

Briarlight began her slow progress around the clearing once more.

Leafpool trotted after her. “Just one more lap,” she encouraged. “Let’s see if you can get around without stopping this time.”

“You’re the one who keeps stopping,” Briarlight retorted. “Do you have to speak to every cat in camp?”

As Alderheart leaned down to pick up the mouse, Squirrelflight’s mew rang across the clearing. She stood on Highledge, where Bramblestar was sniffing the air. “Cloudtail, Thornclaw, Poppyfrost. I want you to come on border patrol with me.” As she leaped down the tumble of rocks, the three warriors hurried to meet her. They followed her to the entrance.

Poppyfrost’s pale tortoiseshell-and-white fur was prickling. “We have three borders to patrol now,” she complained. “ShadowClan, RiverClan, and SkyClan.”

“It’s still exactly the same border,” Squirrelflight reminded her.

“But with different cats on the other side, we have to check for different scents,” Thornclaw pointed out.

“You’ll get used to it,” Squirrelflight meowed briskly.

Cloudtail fluffed out his fur. “At least we don’t have to pay much attention to the RiverClan border now that they’ve cut themselves off.”

Squirrelflight looked at him. “We should pay more attention to it for that very reason,” she told him. “If their scent marks grow stale, we should worry.”

“Why?” Cloudtail shrugged. “Maybe keeping themselves to themselves means not bothering with borders.”

Thornclaw flicked his tail. “Squirrelflight is right. As long as they’re marking their borders regularly, we know they’re still behaving like a real Clan.”

Poppyfrost’s gaze sparked with alarm. “Do you think they might stop being a Clan?”

“I’ve given up trying to predict what any Clan will do,” Squirrelflight replied, ducking through the entrance tunnel. Thornclaw and Poppyfrost exchanged glances, then followed, Cloudtail at their heels.

Alderheart stared after them. His belly tightened with worry. They’d just found one Clan. They mustn’t lose another.

Lilyheart padded to the fresh-kill pile. “You look worried.” She blinked at him, concerned.

“There has been too much change recently,” he mewed distractedly.

Lilyheart brushed past him and pawed the sparrow from the pile. “I still can’t believe Twigpaw left.”

Alderheart heard sadness in her mew. “You must miss her.”

“Don’t you?” She met his gaze.

Melancholy settled over him like mist as he imagined Twigpaw trotting out of the medicine den, Jayfeather grumbling behind her. “Very much.”

“It’s hard to raise a kit only to watch her leave,” Lilyheart sighed. “And she was such a bright young cat.”

Stones clattered behind them as Bramblestar scrambled down the rock tumble. He stopped at the bottom and shook his head before crossing the clearing to where Brackenfur and Lionblaze were sitting with Cherryfall and Molewhisker. As the ThunderClan leader greeted the warriors, Alderheart nodded to Lilyheart and picked up his mouse. He headed toward a clump of ferns where sunshine was pooling. It looked like a warm spot to eat.

He passed Millie and Graystripe, who were playing with Blossomfall’s kits outside the elders’ den while Blossomfall dozed beside Daisy in the sunshine near the nursery.

Plumkit hauled her way up Graystripe’s side and clung to his shoulders. “Give me a badger ride,” she demanded. Her black-and-ginger pelt twitched with excitement.

“Me too!” Stemkit scrambled up beside his sister.

“I want a badger ride!”

“So do I!”

Eaglekit and Shellkit began wailing.

Millie purred at them affectionately. “I think there’s room for you all.” She nipped Eaglekit by her ginger scruff and plopped her down behind Plumkit, then placed Stemkit beside her.

Graystripe pretended to stagger. “You weigh more than owls!”

The kits squealed with delight and clung on desperately as Graystripe swayed one way, then the other.

“I can’t carry this much weight,” he puffed.

Millie nudged his shoulder with her muzzle. “Of course you can,” she told him. “You’re still the strongest cat in ThunderClan.”

“Okay.” Graystripe sighed dramatically and began to lumber around the clearing, lurching with each step so that the kits squealed with fear as he swung them this way, then that.

Millie caught Alderheart’s eyes as he passed. “Silly old fool,” she mewed fondly, nodding toward Graystripe.

Alderheart’s chest swelled with affection, and he dipped his head to Millie, unable to speak because of the mouse between his jaws. What a shame Twigpaw was missing this. But she’ll have Tinycloud’s kits to watch soon, he reminded himself.

He padded around Dewnose and Ambermoon, who were sweeping leaves into the sunniest part of the clearing with their paws. Once dried, the leaves would make a perfect lining for nests, to help keep out the leaf-bare chill.

Sparkpelt and Larksong lingered nearby, and Dewnose glared at them sternly as he swept. “I thought you two were meant to be helping us.”

Sparkpelt eyed him with amusement. “I would help if Larksong didn’t keep distracting me.” She glanced teasingly at Larksong.

The gray-and-white tom looked at his paws, self-conscious.

Alderheart’s pelt prickled with annoyance. Sparkpelt was flirting. How could she be such a featherbrain? She’d always been so ambitious about being the best warrior in ThunderClan. Why was she wasting her time acting like a dandelion-headed apprentice? Alderheart stalked past her. He still hadn’t forgiven her for speaking out against SkyClan at the last Gathering.

He settled a few tail-lengths from them, where the sun was chasing away the shadow of Highledge. Ivypool and Fernsong lay close by, stretching in the warmth.

As Alderheart bit into his mouse and started chewing, he heard Ivypool sigh.

“I’m not ready to have kits yet,” she told Fernsong.

From the corner of his eye, Alderheart noticed disappointment flash in the yellow tom’s eyes.

“Kits mean endless moons in the nursery.” Ivypool went on. “Daisy’s getting too old to look after another litter, and I want to be out in the forest hunting and patrolling, not stuck in camp all the time.”

“Why do you have to be in the nursery with them?” Fernsong asked.

Ivypool sat up. “What do you mean? I have to nurse them, don’t I? Who else can do that?”

“But the nursing is over soon enough,” Fernsong went on. “Then you’d be able to go back to your warrior duties.”

“And leave our kits to raise themselves until they’re six moons old?” Ivypool sounded shocked.

“Of course not,” Fernsong explained. “Once the kits are eating prey, I can move into the nursery. I can move in before that, if you like, so that you can go on patrols between feedings.”

“You?” Ivypool stared at him. “But you’re a tom! Toms don’t live in the nursery.”

“Why not?” Fernsong blinked at her affectionately. “Apart from food, all kits need is love and some cat to play with. I can’t think of a better way to spend my days.” As he spoke, Graystripe thumped past, the kits clinging to his back with excited squeaks and purring so loudly that Alderheart could hardly hear himself chew.

Ivypool watched them pass, and then leaned down and nuzzled Fernsong’s ear. “I’ll think about it,” she murmured. “Maybe after leaf-bare is over.”

As Alderheart took another bite of mouse, the thorn barrier rustled. He looked up to see Bumblestripe escorting Violetpaw and Hawkwing into the camp. His heart leaped. Was Twigpaw with them? He got to his paws and headed toward them. “What are you doing here?” He glanced behind them as he neared, hoping to see Twigpaw follow them through the entrance tunnel. But there was no sign of her. “Have you come alone?”

“Yes,” Hawkwing told him.

“I found them at the border,” Bumblestripe reported. “They want to speak with Bramblestar.”

But Alderheart wasn’t listening to the gray tabby tom. “Why didn’t you bring Twigpaw?” Disappointment jabbed his belly.

“She’s busy with her training,” Hawkwing explained.

“Sandynose is her mentor,” Violetpaw told him happily.

“She’s still an apprentice?” Alderheart stared at the SkyClan deputy. “But she passed her assessment.”

“Her ThunderClan assessment,” Hawkwing meowed pointedly. “Leafstar thinks Twigpaw and Violetpaw”—he glanced fondly at Violetpaw before going on—“need to learn to hunt and fight like SkyClan cats.”

Alderheart’s pelt prickled with irritation. SkyClan got driven from their home and ended up nearly dying. Twigpaw saved them. He glared at Hawkwing. She should be training you.

Paw steps sounded behind Alderheart as Bramblestar joined them. Molewhisker, Lionblaze, Brackenfur, and Cherryfall crowded behind the ThunderClan leader, their ears pricked with curiosity.

Bramblestar dipped his head to Hawkwing. “What brings you here?”

“Leafstar has decided it’s time we sent a patrol to the gorge to search for our lost Clanmates,” Hawkwing told him. “We were hoping you could spare a few warriors. We could use help finding our way back, and we know you’ve sent a few patrols there already. We hoped you’d know the way.”

Bramblestar sat down. “Some of us know the route,” he mewed thoughtfully. “But I’ve sent enough parties to the gorge. And with leaf-bare coming, my warriors should be concentrating on filling the fresh-kill pile, not searching for more mouths to feed.”

“It’s because leaf-bare is coming that we want to go,” Hawkwing pressed. “Would you want your Clanmates to be lost and alone during the cruelest moons?”

Molewhisker padded forward. “It can’t do much harm to send a patrol with them,” he ventured. “I know the way. So do Cherryfall and Sparkpelt.”

Alderheart leaned forward. “And me!”

Bramblestar shook his head. “I’m sorry, Alderheart. Jayfeather needs you here to help him stock his herb store.”

Disappointment dropped like a stone in Alderheart’s belly.

“I could go,” Molewhisker volunteered.

Alderheart looked at the brown-and-cream tom, puzzled. Why was he so keen to help a Clan that he hadn’t even wanted around half a moon ago?

“It would be an honor to show them the way to the gorge.” Molewhisker dipped his head, glancing at Cherryfall.

Alderheart bristled. Was Molewhisker hoping that if he showed the SkyClan cats the route to the gorge, they might go back for good?

“Very well.” Bramblestar’s mew cut into Alderheart’s thoughts. “SkyClan would be stronger if it could find its lost Clanmates, and a strong Clan is a good ally.” He nodded to Hawkwing. “I will send a ThunderClan cat to guide your patrol. Just let me know when you are leaving, and my cats will be ready.”

“Thank you.” Hawkwing dipped his head graciously.

Violetpaw’s eyes shone. “Thanks,” she mewed happily. She glanced at Hawkwing. “Let’s go back and tell Leafstar.”

Hawkwing headed for the entrance.

“Say hi to Twigpaw from me!” Alderheart called after them.

“We will!” Violetpaw and Hawkwing chimed together.

Alderheart watched them disappear through the thorn tunnel. Violetpaw and her father seemed so close. He hoped Twigpaw’s bond with her father was just as strong. And yet, if it was, why wasn’t she here with them? I’m just worrying. He pushed the thought away and tried to imagine her practicing hunting techniques while Sandynose gave her orders. Unease pricked his belly. Twigpaw was such an independent cat. She’d done more than enough to earn her warrior name. Could she really be happy being a SkyClan apprentice?

Alderheart leaned over the rim of the hollow, straining to see along the path. The stream shimmered in the chilly moonlight, but there was no sign of Mothwing and Willowshine.

“Are they coming?” Leafpool called from beside the Moonpool.

“It doesn’t look like it,” he mewed back, disappointed.

Jayfeather shifted impatiently beside the pool. “Let’s not waste any more time waiting for them. They’ve clearly decided to stay away.”

“They were probably ordered to stay away,” Kestrelflight meowed. “That’s what Onestar did to me when he cut ties with the Clans.”

Alderheart tore his gaze from the path to the hollow and headed toward the pool. The smooth stone felt so cold beneath his paws that he could hardly feel the dimples made from countless moons of paw steps.

Kestrelflight was looking at the medicine cats apologetically. “You know I wanted to come when WindClan closed the borders, right?”

Leafpool blinked at him sympathetically. “Of course.”

Puddleshine shifted his paws. “Did StarClan share dreams with you when you couldn’t come here?”

Kestrelflight looked at his paws. “No,” he admitted. “I think they were angry at me for staying away. But I had to stay with my Clan, didn’t I?” He glanced at the others.

“Of course you did,” Leafpool agreed.

“Let’s stop worrying about StarClan and start sharing with them,” Jayfeather snapped. “I’m cold.”

The clear night sky sparkled overhead. A cool breeze whipped around the hollow, sending ripples across the Moonpool.

As Alderheart stopped beside Leafpool, Puddleshine cleared his throat. “There’s something we need to discuss first,” he meowed.

Kestrelflight pricked his ears.

Alderheart leaned closer, wondering what was making the ShadowClan medicine cat look so worried.

“It’s SkyClan,” Puddleshine told them. “They have no medicine cat. A few days ago, I was called out to help them.”

“Tinycloud?” Anxiety flashed beneath Alderheart’s pelt.

Puddleshine shook his head. “A branch fell on Finpaw’s tail. I had to cut him free.”

“Cut him free?” Leafpool looked shocked. “Is he okay?”

“He will be,” Puddleshine told her. “I’ve been visiting the SkyClan camp daily and dressing the wound. I managed to make a clean cut, and there’s no infection.”

“You did well.” Leafpool looked proud of her ex-apprentice.

“I did my best, and StarClan guided my paws,” Puddleshine mewed modestly. “But it’s dangerous for them not to have their own medicine cat, and I don’t have time to check on them every day. Tinycloud’s kits are very overdue. A medicine cat should be in the camp. Her kitting will be hard.”

Jayfeather swished his tail over the stone. “One of us will have to stay with them, like we did with you”—he nodded toward Puddleshine—“when ShadowClan had no medicine cat. Do any of SkyClan’s apprentices seem able to communicate with StarClan?”

“Well . . . I’m not sure. Twigpaw did want to be a medicine cat once,” Alderheart mewed wistfully.

“Hanging around the medicine den getting under other cats’ paws isn’t the same as being a medicine cat,” Jayfeather mewed sharply.

Leafpool ignored him. “SkyClan is planning to send a patrol to the gorge to look for lost Clanmates,” she told them. “Perhaps they’ll find a Clanmate who’s got some training in herbs.”

Puddleshine still looked worried. “They need someone now. Tinycloud’s kits will be at risk if they aren’t born soon.”

“I’ll go.” Alderheart realized with a rush that if he went to SkyClan, he’d see Twigpaw again. He’d be able to see how she was settling into her new home.

“Don’t be mouse-brained,” Jayfeather mewed impatiently. “Bramblestar just told you that you have to stay in camp to help me with my herb store.”

Alderheart glared at the blind medicine cat. Why did his hearing have to be so sharp?

“Besides,” Jayfeather went on, “Leafpool trained ShadowClan’s medicine cat. She’s used to working with other Clans. She should go.”

Leafpool dipped her head. “I’d be happy to do it.”

Frustration tightened Alderheart’s belly. Why did it seem like everyone was trying to stop him from seeing Twigpaw? He’d rescued her. He’d watched her grow up. Surely he had some right to see how she was doing?

Kestrelflight moved closer to the water. “Let’s begin.” The others followed his lead, crouching close to the edge.

Still upset, Alderheart hunched beside Leafpool and stretched his head forward. Closing his eyes, he touched his nose to the pool.

The ground under him seemed to drop away. He felt the familiar falling sensation in his belly and relaxed into it, let himself swirl down as countless stars rushed to meet him. Then, suddenly, he felt grass beneath his paws. Sunshine warmed his pelt and he opened his eyes to see the sunny meadows of StarClan’s hunting grounds. He was surprised to see the other medicine cats lined beside him. They sat up, blinking at one another in the sunlight. Alderheart tensed. A shared vision! It must be important.

“Where are they?” Puddleshine whispered, glancing around. The hilltop where they stood was deserted.

In the distance, Alderheart could see cats stalking, stretching in the sunshine, or gathered in groups.

Leafpool got to her paws. “Let’s go to them.”

“There is no need.” A deep mew took Alderheart by surprise. He recognized it and turned.

Firestar was padding toward them, his star-specked fur sparkling even in the bright daylight. Others followed him, and Alderheart stretched to see which StarClan cats had come to greet them. He recognized the lithe shapes of WindClan cats, the light tread of ShadowClan warriors, and the thick, glossy pelts of RiverClan cats. ThunderClan cats were among them, as sleek and tough-looking as they had been in life. The cats he did not recognize must, he guessed, be SkyClan’s ancestors. He saw Purdy and broke into a purr. He hoped he knew how much he was missed.

“Where are Willowshine and Mothwing?” A large RiverClan tom with a twisted jaw slid in front of Firestar and scanned the medicine cats with dismay. Crookedstar? Alderheart guessed it was RiverClan’s old leader.

Leafpool dipped her head to him. “They would be here if they could, I’m sure,” she mewed apologetically.

Crookedstar glanced at Firestar. “It is worse than we thought.”

Firestar nodded. “You must bring RiverClan back to the Clans,” he told Leafpool.

Leafpool exchanged an anxious look with Kestrelflight.

Kestrelflight shrugged. “Once a leader has made up her mind, it is hard even for a medicine cat to change it.” He looked at Firestar. “They will come back in their own time, just as we did.”

Firestar’s emerald gaze was dark with worry. “There may not be time for that.”

Before he could explain, Leafpool gasped. A slender black she-cat was staring at her. “Hollyleaf!”

Alderheart knew of Leafpool’s daughter; the Clan told vague stories of how they thought she’d died in a tunnel, though her body was never found. Jayfeather and Lionblaze hardly spoke of their dead littermate, and when they did, there was a strange tension in their words. But there was no tension in Leafpool. She gazed on her kit, her eyes brimming with affection.

Hollyleaf blinked lovingly at her mother. There seemed a curious calm about the black warrior as she padded slowly forward. She reached Leafpool and they touched cheeks with such gentle solemnity that Alderheart felt his throat tighten.

“Are you happy here?” Alderheart heard Leafpool whisper.

“I am at peace,” Hollyleaf answered.

Kestrelflight’s mew snatched Alderheart’s attention away. “Onestar.” The WindClan medicine cat dipped his head low as he caught sight of his leader. “It is good to see you.”

“And you.” Onestar lifted his head. He looked so different from the thin, anxious cat Alderheart had seen last. He was young and strong again, starlight showing in his eyes.

As Kestrelflight threaded his way among his WindClan ancestors, Firestar sat down. His gaze was placid but his tail-tip flicked impatiently, as though he was resigned to the greetings that must be made, but anxious to speak. What did he want to say?

Puddleshine touched noses with ShadowClan cats. “Kinkfur! How are you?”

Kinkfur shook out her long gray fur. “It’s good to be free of aches and pains at last.”

Beside her, Crowfrost looked healthy, his black-and-white pelt sleek. Alderheart’s breath quickened. Which other ShadowClan cats were here? Was Needletail among them? He scanned the crowd hopefully, looking for her silver pelt. But he couldn’t see her. There was no sign of any of ShadowClan’s missing Clanmates, either. Were they still alive, or were they still finding their way to StarClan?

Firestar got to his paws and padded to the hilltop. “I realize it is good to see old friends,” he called. “But we have words to share.” As he spoke, a small, soft-furred, silver-gray tabby joined him.

Echosong! Alderheart recognized SkyClan’s dead medicine cat from his visions. He pushed his way to the front of the gathered cats. Firestar was eyeing them impatiently, clearly waiting to speak. Leafpool and Jayfeather joined Alderheart, Kestrelflight and Puddleshine at their side.

Firestar went on. “We are glad you have made room beside the lake for SkyClan.”

Delight surged in Alderheart’s belly. He’d been right. SkyClan was meant to stay beside the other Clans.

Firestar turned to Echosong, dipping his head respectfully.

She blinked at him and turned to the medicine cats. “SkyClan is where it belongs, but there are still challenges ahead for all the Clans. What you decide now will change your path forever. Remember only this.” She paused, her green eyes grave. “The dark sky must not herald a storm.”

Alderheart’s fur lifted along his spine. The dark sky must not herald a storm. Despite the warm sunshine, he felt a chill pierce his pelt and shivered at her words. What did she mean? He looked at Jayfeather, hoping to see understanding in his blue gaze. But the ThunderClan medicine cat was fading before his eyes. All around him the grass and sky and cats were dissolving into a shimmering haze. He felt himself fall, his heart rushing into his mouth as darkness engulfed him.

The smooth cold stone of the Moonpool hollow shocked his paws. He opened his eyes. The Moonpool seemed to shiver. The reflected stars glimmered on its surface. “What did Echosong mean?”

The other medicine cats sat up. They looked at each other, puzzled.

“Another prophecy.” Jayfeather got to his paws and flicked his tail irritably. “Let’s not waste time trying to make sense of it here. We’ll pass it on to our leaders and let them decide what must be done.”

“No!” Alderheart stiffened. “We must try to understand. If it was left to our leaders, we never would have found SkyClan.”

Leafpool blinked at him. “We need to think about it, certainly. And discuss it once we’ve thought. Perhaps there will be another sign to guide us. But it won’t come tonight.”

The others nodded in agreement. There was nothing Alderheart could do but follow them toward the rim of the hollow, anxiety worming beneath his pelt. He had been hoping to see Needletail, but there had been no hint of her. If she wasn’t with StarClan, where was she? Overhead, the half-moon shone silently while the wind moaned around the hollow.

I hope she is at peace, wherever she is.