Path Оf А Warrior

Chapter Ten

Compared to the cold, sheer stone of the mountain during frozen-water, leaf-bare by the lake was almost warm. As they walked past the border with ThunderClan, Tawnypelt sniffed the air appreciatively. She could smell the familiar scent of the lake water and the trees, a hint of pine. There was a richness of prey, too, and the well-known scents of individual cats. The Clan territories smelled like home. Now that I’m here, she thought, I can’t imagine that I ever really wanted to leave.

“I think we’ll be back to ShadowClan’s camp before sunset,” she told Dovewing and Shadowkit. Shadowkit gave a hop of excitement and walked faster, but Dovewing’s steps slowed.

“Are you all right?” Tawnypelt asked her, concerned.

Dovewing stared down at the ground as she walked, her head hanging low. “Do you think Tigerstar will forgive me?” she asked quietly. “Do you think he’ll understand why we had to go?”

Tawnypelt felt an answering tightness in her chest. She had been trying not to think about the possibility that Tigerstar might still be angry with them. “I’m sure he’ll understand once he sees how much better Shadowkit looks,” she mewed hopefully.

“Maybe,” Dovewing said, sounding unconvinced.

Tigerstar loves Dovewing, Tawnypelt thought. And he respects her. Enough to be willing to leave ShadowClan. He’ll forgive her.

“Tigerstar is our leader,” she told Dovewing. “But you’re Shadowkit’s mother, and you had to do what was best for your kit. You made the right choice, and Tigerstar will see that. If not immediately, then soon.”

Dovewing’s ears perked up a little. “Thanks, Tawnypelt.”

“What are you doing?” Two ThunderClan cats—Fernsong and Rosepetal—suddenly approached from around a bush, and Tawnypelt’s fur bristled instinctively.

“We’re not on your territory,” she snapped.

“That’s not what I asked,” Fernsong retorted, twitching his tabby tail.

“We’re collecting herbs for Puddleshine,” Tawnypelt lied. Why should I tell a ThunderClan cat my business?

Fernsong looked dubious, but Dovewing broke in. “How are Ivypool and the kits?” she asked eagerly.

Fernsong’s voice warmed. “They’re doing very well,” he mewed. “They’re such clever little kits. She’d like you to come see them again.” Of course, Tawnypelt remembered. Dovewing’s sister was Fernsong’s mate.

“And is this one of your kits?” Rosepetal asked, looking down at Shadowkit. “Surely he’s not an apprentice yet?” Her tone was friendly, but curious.

“Not quite,” Shadowkit replied, gazing up at her. “But I want to be a medicine-cat apprentice.”

“And so we’re finding herbs,” Dovewing added cheerfully.

Rosepetal nodded, looking slightly confused. “Well, we’d better keep patrolling,” she meowed. “Mind you stay on your side of the border.”

“Give Ivypool and everyone my love,” Dovewing said, and watched as the two ThunderClan cats disappeared into the underbrush. Her face was a little forlorn.

It’s hard to leave your family and your Clan behind, Tawnypelt thought with a pang of sympathy. When she had decided to join ShadowClan, the worst thing had been leaving her brother, Brambleclaw.

She came closer to Dovewing and brushed her cheek gently against hers. “We’re both still grieving a little, aren’t we?” she mewed quietly. “Me for Rowanclaw and the old ShadowClan, you for ThunderClan.”

Dovewing leaned against her for a moment, letting Tawnypelt support her. “Yes,” she agreed. “It’s good to have some cat who understands that.”

They stood together for a little while, and then Dovewing straightened, as if she’d found new strength. “Come on, Shadowkit,” she called. He was stalking a leaf across the grass. “It’s time to go home.”

Side by side, the two cats, with Shadowkit following, headed toward ShadowClan at last.

They made it across the ShadowClan border without running into any patrols and slipped quietly through the tunnel into camp.

Berryheart was watching all the kits—hers and Dovewing’s and Yarrowleaf’s—tumble around the clearing, and she was the first to see them. “Dovewing!” she yowled, leaping to her feet. “Tawnypelt! You’re back! And Shadowkit, too!”

The clearing became pandemonium, cats dashing out of the warriors’ and apprentices’ dens.

“Where have you been?”

“Did you really go all the way to the Tribe?”

“Shadowkit looks better—is he okay now?”

“We were so worried about you!”

Their Clanmates were brushing their tails over their backs, touching noses, pressing cheeks together, as if they were assuring themselves that Tawnypelt, Dovewing, and Shadowkit were really back—that this wasn’t all some crazy dream.

Then a gradual hush fell over the clearing. Tigerstar had emerged from the leader’s den. He took a slow step forward, then another, his amber eyes locked on Dovewing. Returning his gaze, her steps equally hesitant, Dovewing came to meet him in the center of the clearing.

They both looked devastated, Tawnypelt realized, their eyes full of heartache and hope. Once again, she was reminded of Rowanclaw. Of how she’d loved him. The memory still hurt, but maybe someday it wouldn’t anymore.

“Tigerstar! Did you miss me?” Shadowkit shot forward, crashing into his father’s legs and breaking the tension between his parents. Tigerstar purred.

“Of course I did. But how can this huge cat be my little kit? You’ve grown so much I hardly recognize you, Shadowkit.”

“That’s silly,” Shadowkit said, his tail standing straight up. “We haven’t even been gone for half a moon.”

“It seemed much longer,” Tigerstar mewed, glancing at Dovewing again, his eyes soft.

“A lot happened to us,” Shadowkit said. “My vision was right!” He began to tell Tigerstar about the mountains and the Tribe of Rushing Water, and about all the adventures he had had. Tigerstar listened patiently, occasionally bending to touch his muzzle to the top of his son’s head.

“So your mother and Tawnypelt took you to the Tribe, and you saved them,” he summarized at last, when Shadowkit had reached the end of his story. “And Stoneteller was able to help you.”

“That’s right!” Shadowkit agreed proudly. “Stoneteller said I was special, because I can see things that happen to other cats, not only ShadowClan.”

“I think you’re going to have a very interesting future, my kit,” Tigerstar mewed. He glanced up at Tawnypelt and Dovewing, and Tawnypelt could see concern in his eyes. It isn’t comfortable to hear that your kit is different, Tawnypelt thought. Even though you’re proud of them. Then he straightened and spoke to Tawnypelt directly. “Part of being a good leader is admitting when you’re wrong,” he said. “I should have listened, Tawnypelt. And I shouldn’t have tried to stop you. I knew you had Shadowkit’s best interests in mind, and I wish I had trusted you.”

“I wish I had trusted you,” Tawnypelt replied. “I should have tried to convince you again instead of running off with Shadowkit.” She felt a great swell of relief, as if something tight that had been holding her back had finally loosened. “I’m just glad Shadowkit’s okay.”

“Thanks to you and Dovewing,” Tigerstar purred.

“And,” Tawnypelt added, “I have an announcement to make.” She felt sure at last, as if her path were laid out in front of her. “I’ve decided to step down as deputy.”

“No!” Tigerstar cried. “You’re the best cat to help me run ShadowClan. No one knows this Clan better than you do.”

But Tawnypelt shook her head. “ShadowClan is changing. It makes sense to choose a new deputy. Someone who will be the future of our Clan instead of the past.”

Tigerstar still looked worried. “I’ll think about it,” he mewed slowly. “Choosing a new deputy isn’t something to take lightly.”

“I’ll help you for as long as you want me to,” Tawnypelt offered. “But I’m sure you’ll make the right choice.”

Tigerstar didn’t say anything, his tail drooping. But Tawnypelt wasn’t worried. Soon he’ll see that a younger deputy will be better for him than his mother—I can’t quite stop seeing him as my kit, no matter how strong a leader he becomes.

“Want to share some prey, Tawnypelt?” Dovewing offered. “I’m so hungry after our long journey.”

Tawnypelt suddenly realized that she wasn’t hungry, but she was exhausted. “No, thanks,” she replied. “What I need is a nap.”

She slipped into the warriors’ den. Settling into her nest, she looked back out the entrance at the cats gathered in the clearing. Shadowkit was playing with Pouncekit and Lightkit and the other kits of the Clan, squealing with delight as they chased one another around the clearing. Tigerstar and Dovewing were sharing a rabbit, their heads close together as they talked. Scorchfur, Blazepaw, and Juniperclaw were lying in a patch of sun, all three purring with laughter. Berryheart, one eye on the kits, was resting her head on Cloverfoot’s flank.

It was a Clan at peace.

Tawnypelt curled up more tightly, closing her eyes. She scented the air, picking out the familiar smells of the cats she knew, the scents of ShadowClan.

I’m home.