Darkest Night

CHAPTER 13

The blustery wind threatened rain. Twigpaw glanced anxiously at the swishing branches above the camp.

Finpaw nudged her. “Don’t worry,” he mewed. “You’re safe with me. There’s no way StarClan would let another branch drop on me.”

They had the clearing to themselves. Leafstar was in her den. Tinycloud had taken her kits to the shelter of the nursery. Plumwillow, Harrybrook, and Sandynose were all hunting. Dewpaw was training with Macgyver in the forest, while Leafpool had taken Fallowfern to collect herbs.

Twigpaw had asked to stay in camp. “Finpaw needs company.”

Sandynose had looked unconvinced, but Finpaw had begged and Leafstar had agreed. “Apprentices learn more together than alone,” she had said. Sandynose had frowned but hadn’t argued with the SkyClan leader.

Now Finpaw batted a moss ball toward her.

Twigpaw caught it distractedly. “I hope Violetpaw and Hawkwing are staying dry and warm.” They’d been gone a quarter moon.

“They’ll be fine.” Finpaw hooked the moss ball from her.

She blinked at him. “What if they’re not?”

“What if they’re having a great time?” He flipped the ball into the air and swiped at it, missing. “Are you worried you’ll have nothing to worry about?”

“No.” She nudged him, pretending to be indignant. “Aren’t I allowed to worry about my kin?”

“Not when there’s nothing you can do to help them.”

Twigpaw reached out and knocked the moss ball away from him. “Don’t be such a smart-ears.” A new scent touched her nose. She recognized it at once. “ShadowClan!”

“Where?” As Finpaw looked around, the fern entrance quivered and Juniperclaw strode into camp.

Fallowfern hurried after him. “You can’t just walk into our camp!”

“Really?” Juniperclaw turned on her, pelt bristling. “But you can invade our territory?”

Fallowfern stared at him blankly.

Leafstar shot out of her den in the hollow cedar and slithered down the roots. She crossed the clearing and stood between Fallowfern and Juniperclaw. “She can’t hear you,” she told the ShadowClan warrior.

“Is that why she doesn’t know that you don’t just wander onto another Clan’s land and steal their herbs?”

Fallowfern tipped her head. “Did I do something wrong?”

“No.” Leafstar shooed her away gently with a nod of her head. “I’ll take care of it.”

Fallowfern moved away, her eyes glittering anxiously. “I’m sorry, Leafstar.”

Juniperclaw lashed his tail. “Aren’t you going to punish her?”

“Why?”

“She crossed our border!” Juniperclaw spluttered with outrage. “When I tell Rowanstar, he’ll be furious.”

“Then don’t tell him.” Leafstar sat down.

“Is this how SkyClan acts like our ally?” Juniperclaw growled. “We gave you some of our land, not all of it.”

“She probably didn’t smell your scent line,” Leafstar meowed.

“She’s deaf, not stupid!” Juniperclaw’s ears twitched angrily.

“ShadowClan hasn’t exactly been marking their borders regularly!” Leafstar snapped back.

Juniperclaw glared at her.

Leafstar took a breath. “I’m sorry it happened,” she apologized. “We’re still getting used to our new home.”

As she spoke, Leafpool padded quickly into camp, a bundle of herbs in her jaws. She dropped them and hurried to Leafstar’s side. “Is Fallowfern okay? I saw her following Juniperclaw. She looked worried.” She glanced at the ShadowClan tom. “Why’s he here?”

“I caught that fleabag stealing our herbs!” Juniperclaw snarled.

Leafpool looked distraught. “That’s my fault. I’m not used to the new borders. I probably sent her to the wrong herb patch.”

Juniperclaw rolled his eyes. “What sort of Clan is this? You have a borrowed medicine cat who knows even less about your territory than you do.” He looked around the camp. “Where is every cat?”

“Busy.” Leafstar straightened defensively. Twigpaw guessed that she didn’t want to admit that the Clan was so small right now that even one hunting patrol left the camp empty.

“When they stop being busy”—the black tom curled his lip—“tell them to pay more attention to their borders. We will shred the next SkyClan cat we find on our territory.” He stormed off.

“Sorry.” Leafpool shook her head and turned to Leafstar. “I should have been more careful.”

“It’s okay,” Leafstar assured her. “The borders probably weren’t properly marked. ShadowClan is just as short on warriors as we are.”

“They’d never admit it,” Leafpool grunted.

“Nor would we,” Leafstar pointed out. “But we don’t try to make up for it by throwing our weight around like a troop of badgers.”

Twigpaw poked the moss ball nervously. Border tension was never a good sign. Was ShadowClan beginning to regret giving some of their land to SkyClan? Would they ask for it back?

As Leafpool walked toward Fallowfern, her eyes filled with remorse, Leafstar headed back to her den.

The SkyClan leader glanced at Twigpaw and Finpaw as she passed them. “Why don’t you two make yourselves useful?” she mewed crossly.

“How?” Twigpaw blinked at her.

“Clear out the warriors’ den.” Leafstar lashed her tail.

Twigpaw dipped her head. “Okay.”

As Leafstar padded to her den, Finpaw screwed up his nose. “Why should we clean out dens?” he muttered. “We’re here because of my tail, not because we’re in trouble.”

“Some cat’s got to clean them,” Twigpaw pointed out.

“Let the warriors clear up their own mess.” Finpaw jerked his muzzle toward the camp entrance. “We should have fun. Let’s go find another frog for Dewpaw’s nest.”

Twigpaw’s whiskers twitched with amusement as she remembered how Dewpaw had shot out of his nest when the frog had wriggled beneath his bedding. She glanced at Finpaw out of the corner of her eye. His mischievousness was infectious. “Let’s find a hedgehog!”

“How would we get a hedgehog back to camp?”

“We could lay a trail of worms for it to follow.”

Finpaw’s eyes brightened. “Great idea!” He headed for the entrance.

“I was joking!” Twigpaw hurried after him.

“I know.” He paused at the entrance while Leafpool and Fallowfern disappeared into the medicine den. “But we can clean out dens later, while everyone else is showing off their catch or reminiscing about the gorge.” Winking at her, he scampered out of camp.

Twigpaw followed. “I guess we could hunt,” she suggested. They could share their catch with their Clanmates. And it would be great to hunt without Sandynose for a change. He was always criticizing where she put her paws or how she killed her catch. “I know a great place for mice.”

Without waiting for an answer, she headed to where one of ShadowClan’s ditches ran onto SkyClan land. Wind whirled through the canopy and whipped through her pelt. She smelled the musty flavors of leaf-fall, her heart pricking as she remembered ThunderClan’s forest. Leaves would be fluttering down like snow there, lining the paths and choking the ferns. Here the pines stood green and straight, heedless of the changing season.

“Mouse dung!” Finpaw cursed behind her. She glanced back and saw him stagger as he followed her over an uneven stretch of ground. His stubby tail flicked back and forth wildly as he tried to steady himself.

Twigpaw slowed down and let him catch up to her. “You’ll get used to your tail eventually.”

He glanced at her. “But I’ll never be a normal cat again.”

“Who wants to be normal?” she mewed lightly.

As the trees thinned, she saw the ditch. She could smell mouse already. She stopped at the edge and peered in. Weeds sprouted from the sides, and beneath their shriveling leaves she saw movement. “Quick! Get down.” She dropped into a crouch.

Finpaw squatted beside her. “Prey?”

“It’s a mouse.” Twigpaw could hear it pattering over the pine needles at the bottom of the ditch. She flicked his haunches with her tail-tip. “You can have the first catch.”

Finpaw edged forward and peeked into the ditch. His hindquarters quivered with excitement. He bunched his paws tightly beneath him and held his breath. Twigpaw could sense he was about to pounce but, as his stubby tail swept the forest floor, he wobbled. His hind paw shot out to stop himself toppling. Pine needles sprayed the ditch. The mouse darted away.

Finpaw lunged after it, slapping his front paws down hard. But the mouse skittered free as he staggered and thumped clumsily against the side of the ditch.

Twigpaw saw his hackles lift. He was angry with himself.

“I’m never going to be able to hunt!” He turned on her, eyes flashing. “I’m going to be the worst warrior ever.”

Twigpaw’s heart twisted. Poor Finpaw! But she hid her pity. “You will if you think like that,” she mewed sharply. “You can be as good or as bad as you want to be.”

“How can I ever be any good when my tail throws me off balance all the time?”

“You’ll just have to train harder,” Twigpaw told him. “Feeling sorry for yourself won’t make your tail grow back.”

Finpaw stared at her, emotion welling in his eyes.

“You can do it,” she urged. “You can be the best warrior in SkyClan if you practice.”

He blinked. “Do you really think so?”

“Of course I do! You’re clever and determined and so full of energy. Why wouldn’t you be a brilliant warrior?”

Finpaw’s fur smoothed and he lifted his chin. “I can do anything I want.”

“Yes!” Twigpaw purred, pleased to see him looking happier.

“Twigpaw!” Leafpool’s mew rang through the forest. “Finpaw!”

Twigpaw’s heart fell. They’d been discovered. She glanced guiltily at Finpaw, then turned to face Leafpool.

The ThunderClan medicine cat was hurrying toward them, swerving between the trees. “What are you two doing out here?” Her voice was hushed, as though she was worried about being overheard. “Get back to camp. Sandynose will be back soon and wondering where Finpaw is. You know how annoyed he was the last time you sneaked out.”

“Why does he care?” Twigpaw bristled with annoyance. “You’d think he’d want Finpaw to be training instead of hanging around camp all the time.”

“He’s worried about him,” Leafpool told her.

Finpaw hopped out of the ditch. “I wish he’d find something else to worry about.”

“Until he does, you’d better do as you’re told.” Leafpool whisked her tail. “Didn’t Leafstar ask you to clean out the warriors’ den?”

Twigpaw’s tail drooped. “But I’ve been doing apprentice duties for moons!”

“I’ll do it.” Finpaw padded to her side. “You’ve spent enough time in camp with me. You should have some fun.”

Twigpaw had been looking forward to a chance to hunt without Sandynose. “But what about you?”

“I can have fun later.”

Leafpool nosed Finpaw toward the camp. “Once the warriors’ den is clean,” she mewed briskly. “The sooner you get the forest smell off your fur, the better. That’s how Sandynose caught you last time.”

Finpaw glanced back at Twigpaw as Leafpool hurried him away.

She watched him go sadly. Hunting would have been more fun with Finpaw. She shook out her fur. There was no point being miserable. One day, she and Finpaw would both be warriors and they could hunt together whenever they liked. Even Sandynose wouldn’t be able to stop them then.

Why was Sandynose such an old badger? He didn’t like anything she did. He’d probably frown if she brought him a mouse.

Small paws skittered over the forest floor. Excitement sparked beneath Twigpaw’s pelt as a squirrel jumped the ditch and shot toward the ThunderClan border.

Twigpaw hared after it. She skimmed the forest floor, zigzagging between the pines. The squirrel was fast, but so was Twigpaw. And the wind was on her side. Her scent streamed out behind her, and the swishing treetops disguised the sound of her paw steps. As the squirrel neared the ThunderClan border, she ran harder. She was closing on it. As it raced across the border, she leaped. Stretching out her front paws, she sailed across the scent line.

Silver fur flashed in front of her face. With a yelp, she crashed into the muscly flank of another cat. She staggered backward and regained her balance. Catching her breath, she blinked at the cat she’d collided with. “Ivypool!”

Her mentor shook out her fur and glanced glumly at the squirrel as it leaped for the trunk of an oak and swarmed up into the branches.

“I’m sorry,” Twigpaw panted. “I chased it across half of SkyClan’s territory. I thought a few more tail-lengths wouldn’t matter.” She glanced apologetically at the border behind her.

Ivypool eyed her warily. For a moment, Twigpaw wondered if she recognized her.

“It’s me,” she mewed. “Twigpaw.”

Ivypool flicked her tail. “I know,” she snapped.

Wasn’t Ivypool pleased to see her? Twigpaw wanted to tell the silver-and-white warrior how much she missed her, but Ivypool was acting strangely. “Is everything okay?”

Ivypool scowled. “Yes. If okay means that the apprentice I spent moons training decides that she doesn’t want to become a ThunderClan warrior and leaves to join another Clan.”

Guilt clawed Twigpaw’s belly. “I had to,” she mewed. “I needed to be with Violetpaw and Hawkwing.”

Ivypool sighed heavily. “I suppose,” she conceded. “But I miss you. And it feels strange to train a cat who leaves to fight for another Clan.”

Twigpaw dipped her head. “I’ll always be grateful for what you taught me.”

Ivypool huffed. “Alderheart said you haven’t gotten your warrior name yet.”

“Leafstar wants me to do some SkyClan training.”

“Isn’t ThunderClan training good enough?” Ivypool sniffed.

“Of course.” Twigpaw’s pelt prickled self-consciously. “But SkyClan cats use different skills.”

“There’s only so many ways to catch a mouse.”

Twigpaw swallowed back a purr. “You sound like Graystripe.”

Ivypool caught her eye, her gaze warming. “I guess I’m getting a little set in my ways.”

“No, you’re not,” Twigpaw reassured her. “How’s Fernsong?”

“Fernsong’s great.” Ivypool purred. “He wants kits. He’s even offered to move into the nursery and raise them.”

“A tom in the nursery?” Twigpaw blinked at her. It wasn’t something she’d ever considered before. “I guess that could work. Fernsong would make a great father.”

“Yes.” Ivypool’s eyes shone.

The affection in Ivypool’s gaze jolted a memory from the back of Twigpaw’s mind. “How’s Dovewing?” she asked warily.

“Why?” Ivypool narrowed her eyes suspiciously.

Twigpaw’s belly tightened. Did Ivypool know about her sister and Tigerheart’s secret meetings?

“What are you hiding?” Ivypool padded closer.

“Nothing.” Twigpaw stared at her paws.

Ivypool’s stare burned her pelt. “I know you well enough to see when something’s bothering you.”

Twigpaw didn’t want to tell Ivypool what she knew. But she couldn’t lie to her former mentor. “I saw her,” she murmured softly.

“Where?” Ivypool flexed her claws.

“Near the ShadowClan border.” Twigpaw avoided Ivypool’s gaze, feeling as guilty as if she’d been meeting the ShadowClan deputy in secret. “She was with Tigerheart.”

Ivypool didn’t respond.

Twigpaw looked at her and saw worry spark in her gaze.

“I knew it!” The white-and-silver warrior suddenly lashed her tail. “I knew she’d been up to something. Did you hear what they were saying?”

“I couldn’t really tell what they were talking about. Tigerheart was worried about ShadowClan,” Twigpaw mumbled. She couldn’t tell Ivypool that the two warriors were in love. “Dovewing seemed upset.”

A growl rumbled in Ivypool’s throat. “Upset? Why does she care what happens in ShadowClan? Her loyalty should be to us.”

Twigpaw squirmed beneath her pelt. “I’m sure it is.”

Ivypool glared at her. “Then why is she meeting Tigerheart in secret?”

“I don’t know.” Twigpaw backed away. She was shocked by the fury in Ivypool’s mew. Does she think my loyalty should still be with ThunderClan? She searched the warrior’s gaze.

“I’m sorry.” Ivypool fluffed out her fur. “It’s not your fault. I shouldn’t be angry with you.”

“I’m sorry I left ThunderClan,” Twigpaw blurted.

Ivypool blinked at her. “I know it was a hard decision to make.”

“Are you worried Dovewing might switch Clans too?”

Ivypool looked away. “She’d never do that. She’s fought too long and risked too much for ThunderClan.”

A meow sounded between the oaks. “Ivypool!”

“That’s Thornclaw,” Ivypool told her.

“I know.” Twigpaw recognized the ThunderClan tom’s mew with a pang.

“I’d better go.” Ivypool dipped her head. “You should head back to your own territory.”

Twigpaw followed Ivypool’s gaze toward the SkyClan border. Part of her wished she were returning to the ThunderClan camp. But then she’d miss Finpaw. With a sigh, she turned and crossed back over the scent line. “Take care!” she called to Ivypool.

“You too.” Ivypool headed away.

As the undergrowth swallowed her, Twigpaw’s heart felt heavy. She missed her mentor. She missed ThunderClan. And she wished she hadn’t been the one to share the news about Dovewing. She felt a sudden spark of sympathy for Dovewing. It must be hard having feelings for a cat in another Clan. What if someone tried to stop her from seeing Finpaw? She tried to imagine how she’d feel if she were still in ThunderClan and could only meet with him in secret. She shuddered. I wouldn’t like it. I wouldn’t like it one bit!