The Raging Storm

CHAPTER 12

Violetshine’s paws trembled. The smooth bark of the pine branch felt slippery beneath her pads. Trying not to look at the forest floor below, she shuffled closer to Hawkwing. What if she timed her jump wrong? What if she landed badly and twisted a paw? This would be the first time she’d fought since Darktail had infiltrated the Clans. Was she ready to face battle again? “Hawkwing?” she whispered. “How long will we have to wait?” Waiting was making her anxiety worse.

He glanced at her reassuringly over his shoulder. “When you see a ShadowClan patrol, get ready. But don’t jump down until you hear Leafstar give the order.”

The SkyClan leader was crouching in the next tree, on the same branch as Macgyver. Her mottled brown-and-cream pelt was camouflaged among the sun-dappled branches. Bellaleaf and Harrybrook were hunkering down in a pine on the other side of the trail. It would be sunhigh before long. The ShadowClan patrol would come soon, surely? ShadowClan had crossed into SkyClan territory every day since the Gathering. Each time, they’d used this trail to venture deeper and deeper into SkyClan land.

Leafstar’s anger had grown. Each ShadowClan incursion had fed her fury. “We have to make a stand,” she’d told her Clanmates last night. “At the gorge we were the only Clan. We never had to fight to preserve our boundaries. But things are different here. We have to defend ourselves.” No cat had argued. Since the meeting with Juniperclaw, less than a quarter moon earlier, ShadowClan’s incursions had become more and more brazen. They’d even left markers to show they’d been there. “Let’s teach them that no part of SkyClan land is safe for intruders. After tomorrow, they won’t dare set paw here again!”

Violetshine could feel her heart beating. She was proud Leafstar had chosen her for the attack, but she was scared she’d let her Clanmates down. Nervously she scanned the trail. A bird was hopping over leaves there. It froze for a moment, then fluttered into the air and flitted high into the treetops. Hawkwing stiffened as ShadowClan scents drifted through the pine. Violetshine pricked her ears and heard the rustle of leaves, and then paw steps. They were coming.

She stared along the trail, hardly daring to breathe as Snaketooth padded into view. Strikestone was with her, Blazepaw trotting at his side. Grassheart followed, her pale tabby tail flicking like a snake behind her.

Guilt pricked in Violetshine’s belly. Grassheart had been one of the queens in the nursery when Violetshine had been a kit in ShadowClan. She’d been kind enough—not exactly motherly, but more caring than Violetshine’s foster mother, Pinenose. It seemed strange that they were enemies now, but as long as ShadowClan was trying to steal SkyClan’s land, what else could they be? She had to defend her Clan. The ShadowClan cats looked at ease, as though they were patrolling their own territory. How dare they? She glanced toward Leafstar, waiting for the signal to attack.

Leafstar watched the ShadowClan cats, her hackles lifting as they neared. Stiff as an adder waiting to strike, she tracked them until they were padding beneath her. Then she signaled with a hiss: “Attack!”

Violetshine’s heart lurched as Hawkwing dived onto the ShadowClan patrol. Yowls of surprise exploded into the air as Harrybrook, Macgyver, Bellaleaf, and Leafstar dropped onto their victims. With a hiss, Violetshine unsheathed her claws and leaped from the tree. She landed squarely on Strikestone’s back. The tom collapsed beneath her. Violetshine dug in her claws and clung on fiercely as Strikestone dropped and rolled in a practiced movement.

She grunted as Strikestone rolled over her, but she didn’t let go. She remembered her training. Never expose your belly. Gripping hard, she clung on while Strikestone staggered clumsily to his paws. Then she sank her teeth into his scruff and began pummeling his spine with her hind legs. He shrieked and bucked beneath her.

Beside them, Blazepaw wailed in pain as Harrybrook battered the young tom’s nose with a flurry of swipes. Bellaleaf hooked her claws into Snaketooth’s shoulders and flung the ShadowClan she-cat to the ground. Leafstar hissed at Snaketooth, “Did you think you could invade our land whenever you liked?” As the SkyClan leader slashed at Grassheart’s nose, Strikestone reared beneath Violetshine. She dug her claws in harder as he staggered backward. I’ve got you! Triumph surged in her chest.

Suddenly her spine slammed against hard wood. Stars flashed in her vision and merged into jagged lightning. Strikestone had shoved her against a tree. With a groan, she let him go and slithered to the ground. Strikestone turned on her, his eyes flashing. Panic flowed through her as the ShadowClan tom lifted his forepaw. He curled his lip and swung a blow at her muzzle. Then dark gray fur blurred at the edge of her vision. Hawkwing lunged at the ShadowClan tom and sent him reeling before his claws could reach Violetshine’s nose. Strikestone’s blood spattered the forest floor.

Through a haze of shock, Violetshine could smell their fear-scent mingled with the stone tang of blood. The ShadowClan cats were outnumbered and fighting for their lives.

“Retreat!” Grassheart’s eyes were wild with fright as Leafstar held the she-cat to the ground.

Leafstar’s eyes blazed. “Show this to Tigerstar!” She ripped fur from Grassheart’s flank, leaving claw marks in her flesh.

Grassheart scrabbled free and fled. Blazepaw ducked away from Harrybrook and raced between the trees. Strikestone grabbed Snaketooth, and together they ran for a stand of bracken. Crashing through it, they disappeared.

“Should we chase them over the border?” Hawkwing glanced at Leafstar.

“Let them run,” the SkyClan leader growled. “I think they got the message.”

Still winded, Violetshine pushed herself to her paws. She stared at the bloody trail the ShadowClan warriors had left.

“Are you okay?” Leafstar glanced at her.

“Just winded,” she puffed.

Leafstar looked at the others. “Anyone hurt?”

“Hardly a scratch.” Harrybrook flicked his tail.

“I think only ShadowClan cats got injured,” Bellaleaf growled.

Hawkwing blinked proudly at Violetshine. “You fought well.”

She dropped her gaze self-consciously. “I should have held on longer.”

“Strikestone fought hard.” Hawkwing touched his muzzle to her head. “No warrior could have held on longer.”

Pride warmed Violetshine’s pelt as Leafstar turned toward camp. “I think that’s the last we’ll see of ShadowClan for a while,” the SkyClan leader meowed.

Shrouded in sleep, Violetshine allowed herself a small purr of relief that she could feel Tree lying beside her—that he was still here in SkyClan and had not grown so frustrated with trying to mediate between the Clans that he had left forever. He was here, sleeping but restless, as he had been every night since the disastrous meeting with Juniperclaw. But his quick movement now was more than just restlessness. It jolted her fully awake. “Is something wrong?” Alarm sparked beneath her pelt. He was sitting up in his nest, his body tense as he stared into the darkness. As she pushed herself to her paws, an angry yowl split the cold night air. The den shook as something tugged at the wall. Outside, paw steps thrummed the clearing.

“ShadowClan!” Hawkwing yowled an alarm through the darkness. He raced for the den entrance.

Violetshine’s belly tightened. She’d guessed ShadowClan would retaliate, but she’d never thought they’d attack the camp in the dead of night. Sparrowpelt, Bellaleaf, and Plumwillow darted from their nests. Blossomheart and Nettlesplash were already pushing their way outside. Heart racing, Violetshine followed. “Are you coming?” She looked back at Tree.

He froze. “How can I mediate between the Clans if I take sides in battles?”

Violetshine nodded quickly. He was right. If he was their only chance for peace, he couldn’t be seen fighting ShadowClan.

ShadowClan stench bathed her tongue as she broke into moonlight. The dens were shredded, and SkyClan cats swarmed in the clearing. Two ShadowClan warriors were streaking across the camp. She recognized Snowbird’s brilliant white pelt. Sandynose and Nettlesplash dived at her, but Snowbird dodged them skillfully and pelted for the entrance. Scorchfur barged between Cherrytail and Mintfur as they tried to catch his pelt, ducking under Macgyver’s belly and flicking his tail clear as Hawkwing dived at him.

They were fleeing, their damage done. The walls of the dens were tattered; stems scattered the earth.

“Don’t let them get away!” Hawkwing gave the order as Snowbird and Scorchfur pelted from the camp entrance. Macgyver led Bellaleaf, Nettlesplash, and their Clanmates after them. Violetshine scanned the clearing. Were there more ShadowClan warriors in camp? As the others disappeared into the forest, movement beside the fresh-kill pile caught Violetshine’s eye.

Juniperclaw! The ShadowClan deputy was dragging a vole from the pile. He was stealing SkyClan prey! With a yowl, Violetshine raced across the clearing. “Leave that alone!” She slewed to a halt in front of him, outrage sparking in her pelt. Juniperclaw froze and eyed her spitefully through slitted eyes. She lunged at him, catching his flank in her claws. With a growl, he tore free and fled through the shadows at the edge of the clearing. She pelted after him, but he was fast. Skimming the ground like a bird, he shot from the camp and disappeared into the brambles a fox-length from the entrance.

Violetshine pulled up, panting. There were enough SkyClan warriors in the forest. She should stay in camp and make sure there were no more ShadowClan warriors lurking around the dens. She ducked back inside.

Leafstar was standing in the clearing, Hawkwing and Sandynose at her side. The SkyClan leader looked about her, her amber eyes wide. Leaves littered the ground; stems hung from the walls where the ShadowClan cats had torn them. “Is that why they came?” She blinked at the damage, her eyes clouded with confusion. “To destroy our dens?”

Hawkwing frowned. “What’s the point? Dens can be rebuilt.”

Sandynose lashed his tail. “Perhaps they thought they were giving us a warning.”

Violetshine forced her ruffled pelt to smooth as she padded to Hawkwing’s side. The thought that ShadowClan could invade the camp while they slept made her nervous. “Perhaps we should post guards at night,” she ventured, looking at Leafstar.

The SkyClan leader didn’t seem to hear her. She was watching the entrance.

Nettlesplash ducked into camp, his pelt ruffled from his race through the forest. Blossomheart and Sparrowpelt hurried at his heels. “We lost them,” Nettlesplash puffed. “They were heading for the border. Macgyver’s leading a patrol to track their scent to make sure they don’t come back.”

Blossomheart stared at the ragged camp. “What a mess!”

Leafstar’s pelt twitched. “Let’s worry about it in the morning.” She nodded to Sparrowpelt. “Help me guard the entrance. The rest of you, get some sleep.”

Hawkwing flicked his tail. “I’ll stand guard too.” He nudged Violetshine toward the warriors’ den and padded away.

Tree was standing at the entrance. His eyes were round with dismay. Violetshine stopped beside the yellow tom and shivered. “I can’t believe they invaded our camp,” she murmured. “They’re no better than rogues.”

Tree blinked at her through the darkness. “I really thought I could help keep peace between the Clans.” He sounded defeated. “But they seem determined to fight, and there’s nothing I can do. I can’t stand by and watch ShadowClan destroy you. But I’m not sure I have the power to stop them.”

I can’t stand by and watch ShadowClan destroy you. Violetshine’s heart sank. He’d said you and not us. He was talking as though he didn’t belong in SkyClan. She pressed against him. “You still might get them to see sense.” Her words sounded hollow. ShadowClan had crossed the border too many times. And now they’d come right into SkyClan’s camp. She didn’t see how there could be peace between SkyClan and ShadowClan now. But she had to make Tree believe there was still a place for him in SkyClan.

Tree didn’t respond. Instead he tucked his muzzle into her neck fur. The warmth of his breath soothed her, but she knew he felt beaten. She could feel it in the heaviness of his body as he leaned against her. Had the Clans broken his spirit? Her heart ached with grief. If he couldn’t bring peace, would he leave? He’d joined SkyClan as a mediator. If he couldn’t mediate, why should he stay?

As she woke, Violetshine felt the warmth of newleaf sunshine seeping into the den. She opened her eyes. The den was bright where torn walls let the light in. Her heart quickened as she saw Tree’s empty nest. Where was he?

She hopped out of her nest and hurried from the den. Outside, she scanned the ravaged camp, relieved to see Tree. He was helping Harrybrook gather brambles beside the apprentices’ den. If he were planning to leave, he wouldn’t bother helping the Clan now, surely? Palepaw and Pigeonpaw darted around them, racing each other to snatch up broken stems, while Sunnypaw and Nectarpaw threaded loose tendrils back into the den wall.

Warriors milled in the clearing, pacing restlessly as Hawkwing murmured in Sandynose’s ear. Sparrowpelt was hungrily eating a vole beside the fresh-kill pile. Leafstar stalked around the edge of the camp. Her gaze was dark as she sniffed at the torn dens. Was she going to announce a fresh attack on ShadowClan? They certainly deserved it after their raid on the SkyClan camp. The SkyClan leader stopped beside the medicine den, where Frecklewish and Fidgetflake were frowning at a hole ripped in the side. “Was your herb store damaged?”

“No, thank StarClan,” Frecklewish told her.

Hawkwing lifted his muzzle and surveyed his warriors. They turned to him expectantly.

“Bellaleaf.” He nodded to the orange she-cat. “Choose three warriors to help you mend the elders’ den.” He flicked his tail toward the clump of bracken where Fallowfern slept. The deaf elder was sitting among the bent stems, her nest open to the sky. Hawkwing went on. “Nettlesplash, take a patrol of apprentices into the forest. Collect as many stems as you can find. Bracken will do. Brambles would be better if you can get them back to camp without pricking your paws.”

As Nettlesplash signaled to Sunnypaw and Nectarpaw, Leafstar looked up from the shredded medicine den. “You’re wasting your time, Hawkwing,” she growled.

Hawkwing looked at her. “What do you mean?”

“Why bother rebuilding?” Leafstar sat down heavily. “Whatever we build, ShadowClan will destroy. And the other Clans won’t lift a paw to defend us.”

Violetshine stiffened. What was Leafstar saying? They couldn’t let ShadowClan defeat them!

Bellaleaf stared at the SkyClan leader. “We can’t give in!”

“We must fight them.” Harrybrook flexed his claws.

Hawkwing gazed evenly at Leafstar. “We must keep rebuilding until they realize we’re here to stay.”

“What’s the point?” Leafstar stared at him bleakly. “Why did we even come here? The Clans clearly don’t want us. We had a good home in the gorge, and with Darktail gone, we can go back there and make it better. Why fight to stay beside the lake when no cat will fight at our side? It we are to be alone, let’s be alone where there are no borders to defend and no other Clans jealous of our land.”

Nettlesplash blinked at her, his brown pelt twitching. Sagenose and Mintfur exchanged anxious looks.

“Is the gorge far away?” Palepaw whispered to Pigeonpaw.

Frecklewish swished her tail. “You’re just downhearted,” she told the SkyClan leader. “You’re probably tired. Why not sleep and think about it when you’re rested?”

As she spoke, Sparrowpelt began to retch. Violetshine jerked her muzzle toward the warrior, who was hunched a tail-length from the fresh-kill pile. His flanks heaved as he convulsed. Eyes round with pain, he vomited a slippery lump of half-chewed vole onto the ground. Frecklewish hurried toward him. She sniffed the vole as Sparrowpelt convulsed again. Her pelt spiked with worry as he vomited again and collapsed, groaning.

Leafstar hurried toward him.

“Stay away.” Frecklewish signaled her backward with a flick of her nose. “I don’t know what’s causing this yet.”

“Was the vole rotten?” Hawkwing called across the clearing.

Frecklewish shook her head.

Sparrowpelt let out a low, trembling wail. Violetshine’s pelt prickled as she heard it. He must be in a lot of pain. What was hurting him so badly? She caught her breath as a thought struck her. Sparrowpelt had eaten the vole she’d seen Juniperclaw touching last night. That seemed strange. Perhaps the ShadowClan tom hadn’t been trying to steal SkyClan’s prey after all. Did he have a darker plan? Had Juniperclaw done something to the vole to make it harm Sparrowpelt? Her chest tightened. Destroying the dens could have been a distraction. Had the real plan been for Snowbird and Scorchfur to keep SkyClan busy while Juniperclaw poisoned their prey? Would ShadowClan really do something so fox-hearted?