Path Оf А Warrior

Chapter Nine

The grass was still wet with dew when they left ShadowClan territory early the next morning, and mist was rising off the river. They stuck to the riverbank as they headed for SkyClan, skirting the edges of ThunderClan’s territory.

“It would be better if ThunderClan stayed out of it,” she told Raven Pelt, who was padding along at her side, “but I doubt they’ll miss us crossing their land. We should expect to see them soon.”

Raven Pelt nodded. He was focused, his gaze constantly scanning the woods around them for danger and the cats with them to make sure they were together and all right. His ears were pricked, listening intently to everything Shadowstar said.

He’s aware of his Clanmates. He’s not afraid to fight, but he’s not excited at the thought of shedding blood. He’s eager to learn. Shadowstar shook her fur, willing herself to stop assessing Raven Pelt. She had already chosen him, and every time she thought about it, she confirmed for herself that she had made the right choice. Now she needed to concentrate on the coming battle.

Can I really bring myself to kill Quick Water? she wondered. Even if she killed me first? From the Great Battle, she remembered the shock of seeing the life go out of a cat’s eyes, of taking the life of a cat she knew. It had been horrible and deeply shocking, even though the fight had been so desperate. She had never gone into a battle intending to kill another cat.

Quick Water is a danger to ShadowClan, she reminded herself. To all the Clans. But her reasoning felt suddenly hollow.

Maybe we can convince her to leave Clan territory. Shadowstar felt sick. She can’t live among the Clans anymore. That’s for certain.

WindClan was waiting for them at SkyClan’s border.

“Are you sure you don’t want to charge in and attack their camp before they know we’re here?” Windstar asked, her tail slashing through the air. “It would improve our chances.”

Shadowstar shook her head. “We have to do this openly. We’re not attacking SkyClan; we’re fighting Quick Water.”

Windstar looked at her. “It’ll come to the same thing,” she mewed frankly.

“I know,” Shadowstar told her. “But we won’t attack them first.”

She opened her mouth, scenting the wind. She could smell ThunderClan more strongly now. A few heartbeats later, she could hear what sounded like most of the Clan coming toward them. And SkyClan was coming, too—she’d seen a border patrol spot them and dash back through the woods toward camp, doubtless to alert the Clan.

Thunderstar got there first.

“What are you both doing here?” he asked angrily. His warriors were ranged beside and behind him, their muscles tensed, their claws out.

“You know why we’re here,” Shadowstar answered. “And our fight isn’t with ThunderClan. You should go back to your camp.”

Thunderstar shook his head. “This is our fight, too.”

“You’ve come to attack SkyClan.” Skystar’s voice broke in coldly. He and his warriors had slipped through the trees, lining up on the other side of the border.

“No, we are not here to attack SkyClan, either,” Shadowstar told him. “Our quarrel isn’t with either of your Clans.” She spotted Quick Water among Skystar’s warriors, her gray-and-white face defiant. “We’re here to protect the warrior code. Quick Water tried to kill me, and she killed Sun Shadow. She’s a murderer, she’s broken the code, and we can’t let her stay in the Clans.”

Thunderstar growled in annoyance. “We settled this, Shadowstar. Quick Water explained why her scent was there. Let’s not let this come down to teeth and claws. You were mistaken about who attacked you.” He hesitated, just for a moment. “You must have been.”

Shadowstar met his gaze. “I know you want to believe her, Thunderstar, but I’m not mistaken.” She turned to Skystar, her voice pleading. “There’s still time to avoid a fight. Exile Quick Water. Drive her out of Clan territory, and we’ll walk away. No cat will have to fight… .”

As she had known he would, Skystar drew back, angry and offended. “I’m not going to punish an innocent warrior because you tell me to. This is SkyClan territory.”

Thunderstar’s meow was more diplomatic. “We’re keeping Quick Water safe because she’s done nothing wrong. Please, Shadowstar, Windstar, trust that we can see that even if you can’t.”

Windstar hissed. “It’s you two who aren’t seeing clearly. You’re blinded by your affection for Quick Water. See the facts!”

Looking from Skystar to Thunderstar, Shadowstar could see that arguing with them would be useless. Quick Water, huddled in the midst of the cats behind Skystar, had her shoulders hunched, as if there were a cold wind rushing over her. She’ll never leave, Shadowstar thought. Not by her own choice, anyway.

Shadowstar charged toward the gray-and-white cat, knocking past Flower Foot, who fell back with a grunt. But before she could reach Quick Water, something slammed into her side, throwing her to the ground. Gasping for breath, Shadowstar rolled over, kicking her hind legs up to throw off her attacker, and saw Thunderstar’s large ginger form above her. “Stop this!” he yowled, and she twisted and pummeled him, throwing him off. Climbing to her paws, she came face-to-face with Birch, a SkyClan warrior.

All around, the forest had erupted into battle. Gorse Fur was tussling with Owl Eyes, his teeth bared in a snarl. Mouse Ear and Honey Pelt were rolling over and over, their claws tearing at each other’s fur. Windstar was fighting with Thunderstar now, and Juniper Branch was holding her own against Skystar, dodging the furious swipes of the gray tom’s paws. Every warrior in these four Clans seemed to be locked in combat.

Shadowstar clawed at Birch, leaving a long bloody scratch across his chest. We’ve been at peace for so long, she thought miserably. Now that’s ruined. Birch fell back a pace, then launched himself at her, snarling, and she rose up on her hind legs to meet him.

As they grappled, teeth bared and claws extended, hissing and yowling, she saw past Birch’s shoulder.

Raven Pelt!

He and Quick Water were circling each other, backs arched. Shadowstar saw with a jolt of dismay that her deputy had a long bloody gash across his flank. As she watched, Quick Water charged forward, catching Raven Pelt off balance with a blow to his leg.

Raven Pelt stumbled, and Quick Water leaped upon him, her claws extended for a vicious blow.

No. Not again!

Shadowstar was not going to stand by and watch another one of her deputies die. She had failed Sun Shadow—but she was not going to fail Raven Pelt.

He would live to be the next leader of ShadowClan.

Shadowstar crashed past Birch and sprang at Quick Water, knocking her backward and away from Raven Pelt.

“Get away,” she hissed to her deputy. “This is my fight.” He drew back but stayed near, his tail slashing the air agitatedly, guarding her back.

As she and Quick Water eyed each other, it felt to Shadowstar as if the sounds of the battle around them quieted. She could hear nothing but her own and Quick Water’s harsh breathing.

“You’re a murderer,” she meowed softly, and she thought she saw a flash of guilt in those amber eyes. “You don’t belong here anymore,” she went on.

Quick Water looked at her with an agonized, lost expression, and then she sprang, slashing her claws at Shadowstar.

Shadowstar reared up and away, feeling the claws drag down her chest. A sudden warm wetness spread across her body. For a heartbeat, that was all. Then her vision blurred and she swayed on her paws.

Am I dying? Quick Water was staring at her, and behind the gray-and-white she-cat was a circle of other faces: her own Clanmates, SkyClan cats, WindClan, and ThunderClan. It was as if all the fighting had stopped and they were only watching her, still and shocked.

Not yet. I can’t die for the last time and leave a murderer in the Clans. With the last of her strength, Shadowstar struck, slicing her claws across Quick Water’s belly. She heard Quick Water yowl in pain. Then her legs gave way, and she fell. There was a thud as Quick Water collapsed heavily beside her, moaning.

They were eye to eye, Quick Water’s amber eyes staring into her own green ones. Behind and around them stood the Clans, silent with horror. Shadowstar opened her mouth to speak, to reassure her Clanmates, but she couldn’t make a sound. The forest was growing blurry around her. Skystar was pressing his paws against Quick Water’s side, trying to close the wound.

“It was true,” Quick Water croaked suddenly. Shadowstar blinked slowly, registering the shock on Skystar’s face. “I led the dogs to attack Shadowstar and Sun Shadow. I thought if they were both dead, we could take their territory, and ensure the safety of SkyClan. And then I tried to kill Shadowstar again, up by Highstones. I know it was wrong, but I was so scared.”

“Oh, Quick Water,” Skystar sighed. He was still trying to hold her side together, but he looked heartbroken. “After everything we’ve been through to form the Clans … SkyClan wouldn’t have thanked you for betraying the warrior code like that. For killing another Clan cat.”

Raven Pelt was above Shadowstar now, trying to clean some of the blood from her face.

The warrior code is what keeps us from being rogues. It makes us Clan cats. If we don’t follow the code, the Clans will be more lost than we would be without our territory. Shadowstar wanted to tell Raven Pelt this—he was going to lead ShadowClan now; it was important that he know—but she couldn’t speak, only gasp for air. Meeting his eyes, she was sure he knew what she wanted to say.

“Shadowstar, I’m so sorry,” Quick Water moaned, her voice weak. “I thought I was saving my Clan. But I should have been trying to keep all the Clans safe. All you cats”—she looked around wildly at the crowd, which Shadowstar could barely see now through the blur of her vision—“please know I know I was wrong. Please, forgive me… .”

Darkness was filling the clearing. Shadowstar could make out only the shapes of cats , all around them. But she was sure, somehow, that right now they stood united—not Clans, but one great Clan. They wouldn’t forget. Her paw twitched as she tried to reach out, tried to touch Quick Water.

I forgive you.