Darkest Night

CHAPTER 15

“You don’t need to climb up with us, Violetpaw.” Hawkwing craned his neck and looked into the branches of the oak. He narrowed his eyes against the rain, which dripped through the branches.

Violetpaw puffed out her chest, hoping to look braver than she felt. “I want to.” It was her plan. She was asking Frecklewish to take a big risk. She had to be there to help.

The rain had started before dawn. It had lashed the gorge so fiercely that the stream had risen by the time the sun climbed above the trees. As water began to wash over the banks, the cats left their camp in the small hollow and moved to higher ground. Before long, they watched their nests get carried away by the flood.

“There’s nothing left for us here.” Fidgetpaw had been the first to say the words. “Let’s fetch Frecklewish and leave.”

Nettlesplash had argued. How could Frecklewish escape in weather like this? But Mintfur had pointed out that, with their camp washed away, they had no home left. And who knew when the rain would stop. Finally Nettlesplash had agreed. It was time to head for SkyClan’s new home.

Now, below the oak, Violetpaw shook out her sodden pelt, hoping Hawkwing would think her fur was spiked because of the rain. She didn’t want him to see her fear. What if Frecklewish didn’t make the jump to the woven ledge? What if she fell?

She peered at the towering Twoleg hive. Rainwater streamed down its smooth walls and ran in rivers across the stone that surrounded it.

Nettlesplash circled the thick trunk of the oak. “It’s an easy climb to the top,” he meowed.

Rabbitleap and Blossomheart looked up, clearly unconvinced. “I’m glad I’m keeping my paws on the ground,” Rabbitleap growled.

Gravelpaw lifted his forepaws and pressed them against the gnarled bark. “Can I come?”

“You’re staying down here,” Mintfur told the young tom. Her gaze swept over Palepaw, Fringepaw, and Nectarpaw. “All four of you.”

“But Violetpaw is going,” Palepaw objected.

“It was her plan.” Hawkwing inspected the trunk.

Violetpaw looked down self-consciously. Gravelpaw and the other apprentices would be her denmates soon. She didn’t want to annoy them. “I guess I could stay down here with you,” she murmured.

“No!” Nectarpaw splashed over the wet earth and stopped in front of her. “You’ve got to go. We don’t mind staying here.”

“Speak for yourself,” Gravelpaw huffed.

“Just be careful,” Nectarpaw mewed. “And ignore Gravelpaw. He thinks he’s already a warrior.”

Violetpaw looked at the tan tom. “I promise to tell you everything when I get down,” she offered.

“If you get down,” Gravelpaw sniffed.

Palepaw nudged her brother. “She won’t get stuck up there like you did last half-moon.”

“I wasn’t stuck.” Gravelpaw flicked his tail crossly. “I was hunting owls.”

“Then why did Mintfur have to climb up and fetch you?”

Nettlesplash circled the tree again, frowning. “Stop bickering. This is serious.” He reached his front paws up the trunk and then, gracefully, bounded up to the first branch.

“Good luck.” Rabbitleap brushed his tail along Violetpaw’s spine. “Dig your claws in deep.”

“I’ll look after her,” Hawkwing promised, and scrambled after Nettlesplash.

Violetpaw’s heart quickened. Breathing fast, she watched Mintfur and Fidgetpaw follow him. Hooking her claws into the soaked bark, she hauled herself up.

Splinters of bark peeled away as she climbed and showered onto the cats below as she followed the warriors higher into the tree. Nettlesplash seemed to know the route; he moved swiftly from branch to branch, tracing a path that took them past ledge after ledge of the Twoleg camp. The tree had already lost half its leaves, and the other half were brown. They fluttered around Violetpaw’s face as she wove around the trunk, following Hawkwing and the others higher into the branches.

Rain drenched her pelt and streamed from her whiskers. She didn’t dare look down, scared of losing her balance. She glanced instead at the wide slab outside Frecklewish’s Twoleg nest. The stone shone with rainwater. The top of the encircling wall was slick. Violetpaw glanced at the woven ledges nearby and saw that the narrow fences that edged them were dripping with rain. How would Frecklewish grip them?

Worry wormed beneath Violetpaw’s pelt. She may not want to risk it.

In front of her, Hawkwing stopped, and Violetpaw realized that the patrol was level with the stone slab. Nettlesplash had led them onto a thick branch. Smaller branches jutted from it, and Mintfur and Fidgetpaw had fanned out so that they had a good view of Frecklewish’s nest. Hawkwing edged forward onto the branch beside Fidgetpaw. He made room for Violetpaw and beckoned her forward. Gingerly, she padded over the wet bark and crouched behind him.

Warm light spilled through the clear wall of Frecklewish’s Twoleg nest and reflected in the puddles outside on the ledge.

“Can you see her?” Fidgetpaw hissed to Nettlesplash.

Nettlesplash was peering through the clear wall. “Not yet,” he meowed. “We’ll just have to wait.”

Rain seeped through Violetpaw’s pelt, reaching her skin. She tried not to shiver and dug her claws deep into the bark. Cold to the bone, she waited beside Hawkwing. Time seemed to pass slowly, and with the sun hidden, she had no idea how long they waited.

At last, Nettlesplash straightened. “I see her!”

Through the rain streaming down the clear wall, Violetpaw could see a mottled tabby moving in the warm light.

Nettlesplash yowled. Frecklewish’s face turned sharply toward him. Her eyes widened and she hurried closer. Violetpaw saw her talking. A Twoleg hurried to her side. Eagerly, Frecklewish escorted the Twoleg toward the clear wall.

Violetpaw could hear the medicine cat’s muffled mewing now. Her heart seemed to stop as the Twoleg slid the wall open and Frecklewish hurried onto the stone slab.

Nettlesplash ducked close to the branch as the Twoleg glanced outside, then closed the glass wall and disappeared inside the nest, leaving Frecklewish outside.

Frecklewish hopped onto the slab’s wall and called out excitedly. “What are you doing here? Is everything okay?”

“We’re fine,” Mintfur mewed.

“How are you?” Fidgetpaw asked anxiously.

“I’m fine,” Frecklewish called across the gap. “The Twolegs treat me well, but I want to get out of here.”

“That’s why we’ve come,” Nettlesplash told her.

“Have you thought of a way for me to escape?” Frecklewish looked down. Violetpaw followed her gaze, her head spinning as she took in the huge drop to the stone below. “I escaped through the nest entrance a few days ago, but I got lost before I made it all the way outside, and another Twoleg picked me up and brought me back.”

Violetpaw shuddered at the thought of being picked up by a Twoleg. She blinked sympathetically at Frecklewish.

Frecklewish seemed to notice her. Her eyes widened as her gaze flicked from Violetpaw to Hawkwing. “Hawkwing. You’re back!”

“We’ve come to take you to the lake,” Hawkwing called. “We have a new home there among the other Clans.”

Frecklewish’s eyes brightened. Happiness seemed to flood her gaze, then faded as she glanced down once more. “But how do I get out of here?”

“We have a plan.” Hawkwing nodded to Violetpaw.

Frecklewish blinked hopefully at Violetpaw.

Dread gripped Violetpaw’s belly. My plan is so dumb! She looked at the gap between the stone slab and the woven ledge, trembling as she realized how far it was from this angle. How had she ever imagined Frecklewish could make that jump? A thought flashed in her mind. There was another clear wall beside the woven ledge. Could Frecklewish get to it from inside?

Hesitantly, Violetpaw nodded to the woven ledge. “If you can get to that ledge, there’s a way down.”

Frecklewish followed her gaze, her wet pelt spiking.

“Can you get to it from inside the nest?” Violetpaw blinked at her hopefully.

Frecklewish shook her head. “No.”

“Can you jump to it?”

Frecklewish narrowed her eyes. “I’m not sure. I’ve thought about it before, but it didn’t seem to lead anywhere.”

“It does,” Violetpaw told her eagerly. “There are steps down to the next ledge. They go right to the bottom.”

Frecklewish’s eyes flashed with excitement. “All the way?”

“You’ll be able to climb down far enough to jump into the tree,” Violetpaw called through the rain. She wondered if she was doing the right thing. What if Frecklewish fell?

Nettlesplash edged closer to the end of his branch. “It’s a long jump,” he called, jerking his muzzle toward the gap between Frecklewish’s stone slab and the woven ledge. “We’ll understand if you don’t want to try.”

“But the lake!” Frecklewish stared at Hawkwing. “No. I can’t let you leave without me.”

Violetpaw stared at her through the pouring rain. Was she really going to try? Why did I mention my plan?

Frecklewish faced the woven ledge, her gaze fixed on the narrow struts that fenced it. The top shimmered with raindrops. She drew her hind legs in close, her forepaws curling over the edge of the stone. Her tail waved slowly back and forth as she balanced herself. She lifted her haunches. Violetpaw could see her bunching her muscles, ready to leap.

Suddenly, the clear wall opened behind her. A Twoleg stepped out into the rain, its eyes wide as it stared at Frecklewish.

Frecklewish leaped.

The Twoleg lunged toward her with a howl. As its hands slapped the wall, Frecklewish’s hind paws slipped clumsily.

She’s going to fall! Violetpaw’s heart seemed to jump into her throat as Frecklewish sailed through the air, forepaws stretching.

Violetpaw darted forward, but Hawkwing steadied her with a paw. “Don’t move!” Half-blind with terror, she looked down. The ground seemed to swim far below them. Don’t let her die!

A clang jarred her from her stupor as Frecklewish hit the thin fence of the woven ledge hard. Her forepaws curled over the narrow strut at the top. Her hind paws scrabbled against the slippery bars below. Pelt bristling with terror, she fought to get a grip. Then, with a long, low, grunt, she hauled herself over the top and slithered to safety.

Violetpaw melted against Hawkwing as relief washed through every muscle. “She made it.” Her mew was no more than a breath.

“Quick!” Nettlesplash hurried toward the trunk and began scrambling down the tree. Fidgetpaw raced after him.

Frecklewish was already leaping down the first flight of steps, making the ledge rattle. The Twoleg stared after her for a moment, then turned and raced back into its nest.

“It’s chasing her!” Mintfur stared after the Twoleg as it disappeared inside. She rushed after Nettlesplash.

Violetpaw followed, Hawkwing at her heels. Half jumping, half sliding, she climbed after the SkyClan warriors. She could hear Frecklewish keeping pace with them. The woven ledge rang with her paw steps. Near the bottom of the tree, Nettlesplash bounded nimbly along a long low branch. At the end, he leaned out as Frecklewish landed on the bottom ledge, a tail-length from the branch. She leaped over the enclosing fence, hardly touching it as she launched herself toward the tree.

Nettlesplash reached out a paw and hooked Frecklewish’s pelt, then hauled her the final muzzle-length into the safety of the oak.

Behind her, the Twoleg climbed through a clear wall onto the woven ledge and yelped.

Violetpaw stood frozen with shock beside the trunk.

Mintfur nudged her. “Let’s get out of here.” She bundled Violetpaw onto the branch below.

Violetpaw could see Gravelpaw, Palepaw, Fringepaw, and Nectarpaw staring up, their eyes wide. Rabbitleap and Blossomheart watched, pelts on end. She swung herself around the lowest branch and clung to the trunk. The bark scraped her belly as she dropped like a stone onto the ground. “We’ve got her!” she told the trembling apprentices. They surged past her as Fidgetpaw and Frecklewish scrambled down the trunk.

Violetpaw hung back as the SkyClan cats wound around each other, purring louder than the rain. Hawkwing rubbed his cheek along Frecklewish’s. “It’s good to see you.”

Clattering sounded from the Twoleg hive. Huge paw steps pounded the stone. “Let’s go!” Violetpaw yowled as she spied the Twoleg running toward the tree.

She pelted away, Gravelpaw darting in front of her. Mintfur and Palepaw raced at her side. She glanced back to see Hawkwing, Nettlesplash, and Frecklewish running after her with Rabbitleap and Blossomheart.

Behind them, the Twoleg slowed to a halt, its small eyes staring in surprise.

We did it! Joy surged beneath Violetpaw’s pelt. They had rescued Frecklewish and found the last of SkyClan. In a few days, they’d be home.