River Of Fire

CHAPTER 2

Violetshine clamped the fern stems more firmly in her jaws and began dragging the bundle of fronds into the SkyClan camp, through the tunnel between the brambles that reinforced the fern walls. It was almost sunhigh, and she had been gathering bedding for the new ShadowClan nests since just after dawn.

This is an apprentice task, she grumbled to herself. But there’s so much to do, and the new apprentices are so young. . . .

She had never imagined that fitting the ShadowClan cats into SkyClan would be so difficult. Expanding the cave where the warriors slept to make room for the new arrivals was only one of the things that had to be dealt with. Her father, Hawkwing, was up to his ears in problems, encouraging the cats from SkyClan and ShadowClan to work together, and they were all tripping over one another’s paws.

I’d complain, she thought gloomily, but who am I going to complain to? No cat listens anymore!

Sometimes she wanted to blame ShadowClan for all this extra work, but then Violetshine would remember that it wasn’t just ShadowClan or SkyClan alone, but the strength of all the cats around the lake that had finally defeated Darktail and his rogues. She knew she should do everything she could to help the ShadowClan cats adjust to their new life, because the lake territory needed all the good and honorable warriors who had survived.

But it’s kind of weird to be so close to ShadowClan cats again, she thought, giving her bundle of fern fronds another tug. It reminded her of the time when she had been a lost kit and then a ShadowClan apprentice, with a sister who lived in ThunderClan.

It wasn’t our choice back then. The cats who found us decided we should be divided between their Clans. . . .

Once, when they were young, Rowanstar had held Twigpaw at ShadowClan’s camp for a few days, and Violetshine had been so happy to share a den with her sister, to be together at last. She had thought Twigpaw felt the same. But then Twigpaw had chosen to go back to ThunderClan. And just recently, after they had joined SkyClan together, she had decided to return to ThunderClan yet again, instead of taking her warrior name in SkyClan.

Twigpaw made her choice. . . .

Violetshine didn’t want to think about Twigpaw. It made her sad that her littermate had twice chosen ThunderClan over her.

Shaking her head, Violetshine resolved not to give in to these dark thoughts. Instead she concentrated on dragging her burden of ferns across the camp. But annoyance rose inside her again when she spotted Tree, lounging on a flat rock beside the stream. Sunlight shimmered on his yellow fur as he stared drowsily into space.

I don’t think he’s moved all morning!

Too tired to be tactful, Violetshine dropped the fern fronds. “Anytime you want to get off your hindquarters and pitch in,” she hissed at Tree, “you’ll be more than welcome!”

Tree turned his head to look at her. At once Violetshine felt a little guilty for being so harsh; Tree’s amber eyes were fraught with indecision.

He still doesn’t know what he wants to do, she realized. Stay with SkyClan, or go off on his own again.

“Look, Tree—” she began awkwardly, not sure what she wanted to say.

To Violetshine’s relief, Leafstar’s voice interrupted her. “Tree—over here, please. I want a word with you.”

Violetshine turned to see Leafstar standing outside her den in the hollow of the old cedar tree at the far end of the camp. As Tree rose to his paws, Violetshine abandoned her bundle of bedding and followed him across to the Clan leader. She was careful to stay a respectful distance behind the loner, not wanting him to think she was putting pressure on him, or Leafstar to think she was nosy.

Even if I am! she admitted to herself.

As she approached, Violetshine noticed that a few other cats were also hovering, including Frecklewish, the SkyClan medicine cat. She could see her own curiosity reflected in their eyes.

“Well, Tree,” Leafstar began. “You’ve had time to think about whether you want to make SkyClan your home. Plenty of time. Have you made a decision yet?”

Tree shook his head. “I’m really not sure if this life is for me,” he replied; Violetshine could detect an edge of strain in his voice. “Sure, I like you SkyClan cats”—he broke off briefly to flick a glance at Violetshine—“but I’ve been a loner for my whole life. Who can say whether I’d be able to adjust to life as a Clan cat?”

Disappointment pricked Violetshine, as if she had set her paw down on an unexpected thorn.

She watched Leafstar closely, wondering if the Clan leader’s face would betray irritation or, worse, a complete loss of patience with Tree.

But Leafstar remained calm. “We are grateful to you for your help, but we can’t let you stay here as a visitor forever. You need to make a choice. Maybe you should try out as a warrior’s apprentice,” she suggested. “See if you like it. If you do, then maybe you can join SkyClan for real.”

Tree gave his chest fur a couple of quick licks. “I’m not sure I want to do that,” he meowed. “Being an apprentice doesn’t sound like much fun.”

We’re not here to have fun, Violetshine thought.

From the look of her, the same response was going through Leafstar’s mind. Though there was understanding in her expression, Violetshine could see frustration in her twitching whiskers and the way her claws kept sliding in and out.

“As much as we like you, Tree,” she told him, “it’s not fair to other cats if you live in camp without contributing as a member of the Clan. I hope you understand that.”

Violetshine couldn’t account for the sudden clenching she felt in her chest. Why should I feel so tense and agitated when Leafstar suggests that Tree might have to leave the camp? I hardly know him. But she knew that she did care, even if it might be smarter not to.

Before Tree could respond, Frecklewish stepped forward with a respectful dip of her head to Leafstar. “Remember that Tree has had visions,” she mewed to her Clan leader. “Maybe his destiny is as a medicine cat?”

Though maybe we already have enough medicine cats around the lake, Violetshine thought.

Leafstar looked uncertain, then turned to Tree with a shrug. “Perhaps Frecklewish is right. StarClan chooses some cats to be medicine cats, and, since you see visions, maybe they have chosen you. Would you like to spend some time working with her, to see if you might find a home here as a medicine-cat apprentice? I’m sure StarClan will let you know if that is what they intend for you.”

“Okay, I’ll give it a try,” Tree responded, though Violetshine didn’t think he sounded particularly eager. “Honestly, Leafstar,” he went on, “I really don’t mean to take advantage of SkyClan’s kindness.”

His words earned him an approving nod from Leafstar, who waved her tail to dismiss him.

Tree turned away, heading for his den, and Violetshine padded alongside him to retrieve her bunch of ferns.

“Do you think Frecklewish is right? Could StarClan intend for you to become a medicine cat?” she asked him.

Tree shook his head. “I’m not sure,” he admitted. “Medicine cats talk about weird stuff. Besides, I’d have to memorize all the herbs and remedies, and get really close to sick cats.” His nose wrinkled. “It’s kind of gross. . . . I’m not sure that sort of life is for me. I’d rather be sunning myself on a rock.”

Wouldn’t we all? Violetshine wondered, though at the same time she felt an odd wash of relief, like the first cool lap of water on a hot day.

She half turned toward where she had left the ferns, then turned back. “Tree,” she mewed, “I want to ask you something about your visions.”

“Ask away,” Tree responded amiably.

“Do you ever see Needletail these days?” Violetshine waited eagerly for his response. Tree had helped the cats of ShadowClan see and speak to their Clanmates who had died because of Darktail, and Violetshine had at last been able to let go of her guilt over Needletail’s death. Needletail didn’t blame her, had never blamed her, and that was a weight off Violetshine’s mind, but she still missed her friend. Tree’s ability to see dead cats made her feel that she still had some connection to Needletail.

Tree thought for a moment, then shook his head. “No, I haven’t seen her for a while. Perhaps she’s in StarClan.”

As she said good-bye to Tree and began dragging the bundle of fern fronds over to the warriors’ den, Violetshine wondered if that was true. I hope it is; I like the idea of Needletail watching over me. Maybe Pebbleshine is watching too.

The idea was comforting, as if her mother and her friend were still close to her, as if they were still a part of her life. Then her tail drooped as another thought crept into her mind.

Can Pebbleshine watch over both me and Twigpaw, if we live in different Clans?

“You lay out herbs on boulders to dry,” Frecklewish meowed. “How else would you do it?”

“Hang them on twigs and leaves, of course,” Puddleshine replied.

Violetshine was lingering at the edge of the medicine-cat den in the cave under the roots of the old cedar. Morning sunshine flowed into the camp, and a fresh, invigorating breeze ruffled her fur. Watching her Clanmates, she saw Frecklewish’s whiskers twitch in exasperation.

“Well, this is the way we do it,” Frecklewish insisted.

Puddleshine looked confused. “I don’t see why I can’t do it my own way. That’s how Yellowfang taught me, and she’s a StarClan cat. It’s the way we’ve always done it by the lake, for moons upon moons.”

Frecklewish’s neck fur began to bristle. “You don’t always know better just because you were taught by Yellowfang,” she hissed. “You’re a SkyClan cat now, and you’ll do things the SkyClan way.”

Violetshine spotted Tree, sitting a tail-length away from Frecklewish. He had been training with her for a quarter moon now, though Violetshine didn’t think he was enjoying himself much.

“Hang on a moment,” he meowed, interrupting the two medicine cats, who were glaring at each other in mutual irritation. “Does it really matter, if you get the same result?”

Both medicine cats transferred their glares to Tree, who looked completely relaxed, his fur flat and his tail still, as if he really had no idea what the fuss was about. Did he really not care that Frecklewish and Puddleshine were arguing? Even if Tree’s visions meant that he was a natural medicine cat, maybe he still wasn’t cut out to be a Clan cat.

He’ll probably decide to move on, she told herself, trying to ignore the hollow feeling in her chest. Just one more cat who leaves me behind, whether he means to or not.

Puddleshine and Frecklewish had resumed their argument, making Violetshine’s fur prickle with annoyance. Since she didn’t want to listen anymore, she turned away, wondering if there was a hunting patrol she might join. As she headed toward the warriors’ den to see who was around, she was intercepted by her father, Hawkwing.

“Is everything okay with you?” he asked her, looking concerned and even a little suspicious.

“Yes, I’m fine,” Violetshine assured him. “I’m just tired. There’s a lot going on in camp just now. I’m sure you’ve noticed that too!”

Hawkwing glanced toward the medicine-cat den and nodded. “Making one Clan out of two isn’t as simple as moving all the cats into the same camp.”

At that moment Leafstar slid through the lichen that screened her den and took up a position on the tangle of cedar roots outside the entrance. “Let all cats old enough to catch their own prey join here beneath the Highroot for a Clan meeting!” she yowled.

Cats appeared from the warriors’ den and sat in a ragged semicircle around the rock. They were joined a few heartbeats later by the apprentices, scampering over from their den under the low-growing juniper boughs. Frecklewish and Puddleshine gave up their argument and moved away from their den entrance to sit next to the elders. Last of all, Tree strolled over to join Hawkwing and Violetshine.

When the cats were assembled, Leafstar let her gaze travel over the combined Clan until it rested on the former ShadowClan leader. “Rowanstar, do you want to stand up here with me?” she asked.

Nearly as one, all the Clan cats turned their heads toward Rowanclaw, waiting to find out how he would respond.

The ginger tom dipped his head. “I wouldn’t want to tread on your tail, Leafstar,” he meowed. “I’m just a SkyClan warrior now. And I’m not Rowanstar anymore—just Rowanclaw.”

At his words, a deep groan of dismay came from one of the former ShadowClan cats, but when Violetshine turned her head, trying to work out which cat it had come from, she couldn’t be sure.

With a nod of appreciation to Rowanclaw, Leafstar began to assign the day’s duties. Violetshine wondered why she didn’t leave that task to her deputy, then realized that maybe with so much confusion it was better for orders to come from the Clan leader.

“Rowanclaw,” she mewed, “I’d like you to lead a patrol down to the old ShadowClan camp. And while you’re there, maybe you could collect some of the material for nests that was left there.”

“What?” Tawnypelt, Rowanclaw’s mate, sprang to her paws, her tortoiseshell fur fluffed up and her green eyes glittering with fury. “That’s an apprentice job. Rowanclaw is a former leader!”

“It’s not a slight on Rowanclaw,” Leafstar assured her. “It’s just that you both know your old camp really well.”

“I’m okay with it,” Rowanclaw added, resting his tail on Tawnypelt’s shoulder. “I’m not a leader anymore, and I want to pitch in and help, just like any cat.”

Violetshine noticed that even while he spoke to Tawnypelt, Rowanclaw was avoiding her gaze with a faint look of guilt. She wondered whether disappointing his mate was the worst part of his decision to disband ShadowClan.

“Thank you, Rowanclaw,” Leafstar mewed. “I’m grateful that you feel that way. Tawnypelt, you can go with him. And Violetshine, too,” she went on, turning toward her. “You know ShadowClan territory from the time you lived with them.”

“Sure, Leafstar,” Violetshine replied.

“May I go too?” Hawkwing asked.

Violetshine glanced at her father with narrowed eyes. I’m a warrior now! I can go on a patrol without any cat to watch over me.

But she said nothing, and after a brief hesitation Leafstar nodded. “Of course, Hawkwing. It’ll be good for you to learn every paw step of our new territory.”

Rowanclaw raised his tail to gather his patrol together, and all four cats headed out of the camp, leaving Leafstar to organize the other patrols.

As soon as they were out in the forest, Hawkwing slowed his pace a little, angling his ears at Violetshine to draw her to his side.

“Let Rowanclaw and Tawnypelt go on ahead,” he murmured.

“Don’t you want to patrol with them?” Violetshine asked, surprised that her father would show hostility toward his new Clanmates.

“No, it’s not that at all,” Hawkwing replied. “But they’re mates, so they might want to speak together privately.” He hesitated, then added, “You’ll understand when you’re older.”

Violetshine tensed. The last cat I want to talk about mates with is my father!

But Hawkwing said nothing more. Distracted by a scuffling sound in the debris underneath a beech tree, he sprang forward, then straightened up again with a mouse in his jaws.

“Good catch!” Violetshine exclaimed, glad to talk about something else.

Letting Rowanclaw and Tawnypelt draw ahead, Violetshine waited while Hawkwing buried the mouse to collect later. Afterward they picked up the pace, until the former ShadowClan cats were in sight again.

As they crossed into ShadowClan’s old territory, Violetshine drifted closer, several paces ahead of her father, wanting to hear what they were saying. She realized that she didn’t entirely trust them; she wouldn’t have been surprised to hear them complaining about Leafstar, or even plotting against her.

Rowanclaw and Tawnypelt were padding along side by side, talking together and clearly unaware that any cat could overhear them. Violetshine stayed as far back as she could, not wanting to be caught eavesdropping. The pine trees grew close together here, and her paws made no sound on the thick layer of needles that covered the ground.

“Is this what you really want?” Tawnypelt was asking Rowanclaw as Violetshine crept into earshot. “To end ShadowClan forever? We’re one of the five Clans, remember. I’m sure the rest of our Clan would support you if you decided you’d made a mistake.”

Rowanclaw looked as if he could barely meet her gaze. “Without Tigerheart, there’s no point,” he responded, his voice full of grief. “I wasn’t a strong sun. Puddleshine told me he saw in it in a vision, before Tigerheart left. . . . So I don’t see how ShadowClan can go on.”

Glad that neither cat seemed hostile to Leafstar, Violetshine twitched her tail, torn between wanting to hear what they said and feeling reluctant to intrude. Rowanclaw’s words had brought her own ShadowClan roots vividly back to her mind. She wanted nothing more than to be a SkyClan warrior, and yet she couldn’t pretend she didn’t feel deep sadness at the loss of ShadowClan. She knew too that some of the younger ShadowClan cats felt even worse: at least Violetshine had kin in SkyClan.

But what can any of them do if Rowanclaw doesn’t want to lead?

Violetshine could sense clouds gathering on the horizon, and she felt a sudden chill, like claws of frost probing through her pelt. It gave her a weird feeling that something was wrong, but she couldn’t put her paw on what that might be. The forest suddenly seemed strange and foreboding.

Turning back, she spotted Hawkwing rounding the trunk of a pine tree. “We’ve patrolled, so we can head back to camp, right?” she meowed as he padded up to her. “Rowanclaw and Tawnypelt can find the bedding from their old camp, if there’s any left.”

Hawkwing gave her a curious look. “We’re not finished with the patrol,” he said. “Leafstar wanted us to go to the old ShadowClan camp with Rowanclaw and Tawnypelt, remember?”

Violetshine’s pelt prickled with embarrassment. “Right,” she meowed. “It’s just . . .”

She was aware of her father’s gaze resting on her. “So why are you in such a hurry?” he asked.

Somehow Violetshine couldn’t raise her head to look at him. She didn’t reply to his question, even though she knew the answer. When she thought about how unsettled life was in SkyClan, and how uneasy some cats seemed, she was suddenly nervous about the idea of Tree leaving SkyClan.

Suppose I get back to camp and he’s gone?