“No, I’ve got a better idea.” Firestar bounded over to the rockfall that led up to his den and sprang onto one of the boulders at the bottom. “Let all cats old enough to catch their own prey join here beneath the Highledge for a Clan meeting!” he called.
Most of the cats were already out in the clearing, and they gathered around Firestar with murmurs of surprise. Lionblaze headed to sit beside Cinderheart, noticing that Jayfeather had emerged from his den and was crouched beside Briarlight, who had dragged herself to the edge of the bramble screen. Daisy, Poppyfrost, and Ferncloud slipped out of the nursery and sat together at the edge of the crowd.
“Foxleap, Rosepetal, come and stand here with me,” Firestar continued.
Exchanging mystified glances, the two warriors rose to their paws and joined their Clan leader at the foot of the cliff.
“Since the Clan is having problems because of the shortage of apprentices,” Firestar went on, “I think the best solution is to create some more. Molekit and Cherrykit—”
“What?” Molekit exclaimed, springing to his paws with every hair on his pelt fluffed out until he looked twice his size.
“Us?” Cherrykit bounced up and down with excitement. “Oh, cool!”
“Firestar, you can’t!” Poppyfrost leaped up, her paws pattering as she raced across the clearing to her kits. “We’ve had no warning! They’re so untidy—Molekit, just look at your pelt!”
She flung herself on the little tom, licking frantically, while Berrynose got up and hurried over to groom Cherrykit. Lionblaze thought the warrior looked as proud as if it were his own apprentice ceremony.
Firestar looked on for a moment with a purr of amusement, then beckoned the two kits with a wave of his tail. “They’re fine,” he meowed. “Come over here and stand in front of me.”
The two kits obeyed him, their fur still rumpled and sticking up here and there. Firestar reached out with his tail and touched Cherrykit on the shoulder. “From this time forward,” he announced, “this kit will be known as Cherrypaw. Foxleap, you have shown courage and perseverance in serving your Clan, and I trust that you will pass on these qualities to your apprentice.”
Foxleap’s eyes were shining with pride as he stepped forward and touched noses with Cherrypaw. She stayed by his side as they returned to the crowd of cats.
But when Firestar turned to Molekit, the little tom took a leap backward, out of reach of the Clan leader’s tail. “I don’t want to be an apprentice,” he squeaked. “You only want us so we can do all the nasty jobs!”
Gasps of astonishment came from the assembled cats. Lionblaze saw Cherrypaw gazing wide-eyed with horror at her brother. Berrynose lashed his tail, while Poppyfrost shut her eyes and dug her claws into the ground as if she wished she were somewhere else.
But Firestar, far from being angry, was stifling a purr of laughter. “Yes, there are duties to be done,” he agreed. “But every single warrior here did them. And training is just as important. That’s why I’ve chosen Rosepetal to be your mentor. She’s a skilled and swift fighter, and I know she’ll pass her training on to you.” He beckoned Molekit again.
Molekit stayed where he was, his eyes narrowed suspiciously. “Can I do some training first?” he checked. “Before I have to search any cat for ticks?”
“That’s up to Rosepetal,” Firestar purred.
Rosepetal’s eyes were sparkling with amusement. “Even better than training,” she promised. “Today we’ll explore the whole territory. Duties start tomorrow.”
“They’d better!” Molekit growled.
At last he padded up to Firestar, who touched him on the shoulder with his tail-tip. “From this time forward, this kit will be known as Molepaw,” he declared. “Now, go and touch noses with Rosepetal.”
The young tom did as he was told, his eyes gleaming with satisfaction.
“The Clan meeting is over,” Firestar meowed.
But before any cat could move, Brackenfur came bounding over. “Just a moment, Firestar. I have some news to share with the Clan.”
Firestar waved his tail, giving the ginger warrior permission to speak.
“Sorreltail is having kits again,” Brackenfur announced.
Yowls of congratulation rose up from the Clan. Lionblaze spotted Cinderheart and Poppyfrost, the kits of Sorreltail’s first litter, exchanging a delighted glance.
Sorreltail raised her voice above the noise. “They’ll be born in just under a moon.”
Daisy padded over to her and gave her ear a lick, and Ferncloud pressed her muzzle into Sorreltail’s shoulder. “It’s great that you’ll be moving into the nursery with us,” she mewed.
Listening to them, Lionblaze couldn’t help glancing at Cinderheart, but she had moved away from his side and was talking excitedly to Poppyfrost.
Foxleap and Rosepetal were padding toward the thorn tunnel, their apprentices bouncing alongside them. Molepaw seemed to have forgotten his misgivings, and looked as excited as his sister.
“They’re so little,” Poppyfrost murmured as they passed her. “I hope they won’t be too tired, walking all the way around the border.”
“They’ll be fine,” Cinderheart reassured her.
“Of course they will,” Berrynose added, touching his nose to his mate’s ear. “Our kits will be the best apprentices the Clan has ever seen.”
Lionblaze turned away, trying to push down his envy. As the Clan meeting broke up, he spotted Ivypool heading for her den, and bounded across to intercept her. “What was all that about WindClan?” he asked. “Which warriors were involved?”
Ivypool paused as if she was reluctant to answer. “Heathertail and Breezepelt, and their apprentices,” she mewed at last.
It would be, Lionblaze thought. “They just challenged you? There wasn’t any actual fighting?”
Ivypool shook her head.
“It was fine,” Birchfall meowed, overhearing. “We were never in any danger. Breezepelt wasn’t going to cause trouble. Sorreltail overreacted, that’s all.”
Lionblaze studied Birchfall for a heartbeat, surprised at how confident he sounded. Normally any ThunderClan cat returned from an encounter with Breezepelt ruffled and hissing. Why had this time been so different? He narrowed his eyes. Was it because Birchfall and Breezepelt had a connection that went beyond a shared border?
“Tell me more about what happened,” he prompted Ivypool as soon as Birchfall was out of earshot again. “Is there something between Birchfall and Breezepelt? Have you seen Birchfall in the Dark Forest?”
“N-no,” Ivypool replied.
Her hesitation made Lionblaze suspicious. “But you know he goes there, right?” Frustrated, he added, “You’re supposed to tell us everything about the Dark Forest! Even if it involves your father. I think you need to consider where your loyalties lie.”
Fury flared in Ivypool’s eyes. “How dare you question my loyalties?” she snarled. “I risk my life for my Clan every time I go to sleep!”
“What’s going on?” Dovewing’s voice sounded behind Lionblaze, and he turned to see her racing up to him. “What are you doing to Ivypool?”
“Nothing,” Lionblaze defended himself.
“So accusing me of being disloyal is nothing, is it?” Ivypool challenged him, her eyes still blazing with rage.
“That’s not fair!” Dovewing exclaimed. “Just back off, Lionblaze. If we can’t trust our Clanmates, who can we trust?”
Lionblaze snorted. “I don’t know. I’d trust Ivypool more if she’d give me a straight answer.”
Ivypool didn’t answer, just spun around and stalked off. Dovewing was about to follow when Lionblaze blocked her with his tail.
“Make sure you listen carefully for anything happening on the WindClan border,” he meowed.
To his surprise, Dovewing hung her head and muttered something that Lionblaze couldn’t catch.
“What?” he asked.
Dovewing looked up; Lionblaze felt his pelt prickle with apprehension as he saw real fea
r in her eyes.
“My extra senses haven’t come back after my trip to the mountains,” she confessed. “What if I’ve lost my power?”
Lionblaze stared at her. “But you’re one of the Three.”
Dovewing shook her head. “I don’t know if it’s because I heard and saw too much when I was beyond the ridge of hills, or if I’ve become too good at blocking out far-off sounds. I had to do that when we were traveling, or everything would have overwhelmed me.”
“I’m sure you’ll be all right,” Lionblaze soothed her instinctively, remembering the time when she was his apprentice. “You just need to give it time. Your senses will come back.”
But though he tried to sound confident, inwardly he wasn’t so sure. Anxiety bubbled up inside him. If Dovewing loses her power, does that mean the prophecy is reduced to two?
Chapter 5
“Hi, Jayfeather.” Sandstorm’s voice came from the entrance to the medicine cat’s den. “We’ve got some cobwebs for you.”
Jayfeather turned, picking up the scent of cobwebs, and faintly beneath it the scent of Cherrypaw and Molepaw. It had been a quarter moon since their apprentice ceremony, and he had to admit they were settling well into their duties.
As the two young cats bounced into the den there was a splutter of laughter from Briarlight.
“Oh, Jayfeather, I wish you could see these two. They’re walking cobwebs—it’s stuck all over them from nose to tail!”
“We found lots,” Molepaw announced proudly. “Sandstorm lifted up a log for us.”
“I’d better untangle them,” Briarlight went on. “Come here, both of you, and watch out for that pile of burdock root.”
Jayfeather heard the patter of paws as the two apprentices padded across the den, and the sound of Briarlight dragging herself over the ground to meet them.
“Do your legs hurt?” Cherrypaw mewed. “Is it tough, not being able to move them?”
“Yes, it’s tough,” Briarlight replied calmly. “But I’m used to it. And it doesn’t hurt.”
“Bumblestripe says you’re the bravest cat in the Clan,” Molepaw told her.
Jayfeather could feel Briarlight’s embarrassment. “I don’t know about that,” she murmured. “Now keep still so I can get this cobweb off your fur.”
Jayfeather squeezed past the kits and joined Sandstorm in the clearing. “Thanks for taking them out,” he mewed. “Those cobwebs will come in handy.”
“No problem,” Sandstorm responded. After a moment she added, “It seems like you’re overworked. Maybe you should think about taking an apprentice sometime soon.”
I’m planning to be around for a while yet, Jayfeather thought. “Briarlight is being very useful,” he meowed out loud.
To his relief, Sandstorm didn’t push it. “I’ll see you later,” she murmured.
“Could you find Sorreltail for me?” Jayfeather called after her. “Tell her I’d like to see her.”
“Sure.” Sandstorm padded off.
Jayfeather was turning back toward the den when the scent of more approaching cats drifted over him. He halted as the sound of their pawsteps grew louder.
Brightheart . . . Foxleap . . . Rosepetal . . . What do they want?
“Have you come to pick up your apprentices?” he asked. “They’re inside, being untangled.”
“Yes, we’re going out for a training session,” Rosepetal replied. “Brightheart is going to teach them some of her battle moves.”
“Firestar wants every apprentice to learn them.” Brightheart’s voice was full of quiet pride. “That way, if they injure their eye in a battle, or they have to fight at night when it’s hard to see, they’ll know what to do.”
The scamper of paws told Jayfeather that Molepaw and Cherrypaw had appeared from the den.
“Are we training now?” Molepaw mewed eagerly. “We collected masses of cobwebs.”
“Yes,” Brightheart told him. “You’re training with me today. I’m going to teach you some moves that none of the other Clans know about.”
“Cool!” Cherrypaw exclaimed.
“You’ll need to have your wits about you,” Brightheart warned. “We’re going to the slope above the hollow, and the brambles are very thick there.”
“Great! Let’s go!” Molepaw squeaked.
Jayfeather listened as they moved away, enjoying the sunshine soaking into his fur, and the cool breeze that kept the air fresh. Around him the camp was humming with activity. A hunting patrol had just left, passing Thornclaw at the entrance as he returned with a border patrol. Jayfeather padded over when Brambleclaw emerged from the warriors’ den to hear Thornclaw’s report.
“WindClan seems very jumpy at the moment,” Thornclaw meowed.
“So what else is new?” Jayfeather could picture Brambleclaw rolling his eyes.
“More jumpy than usual, I mean,” Thornclaw went on. “We met a WindClan patrol on the border, and they were convinced they’d seen one of our cats crossing into their territory.”
“Oh?” Brambleclaw’s voice grew sharper. “Did they say which cat?”
“No, they didn’t get a good look. So I told them no way was it a ThunderClan warrior. It must have been a loner—if there was a cat there at all.”
“Hmm . . .” Jayfeather could tell that Brambleclaw was thinking hard. “Did they believe you?”
“I have no idea,” Thornclaw admitted. “Those cats jump at their own shadows! But Sedgewhisker was leading the patrol, and she’s a decent cat, so maybe they did.”
“We’d better tell Firestar,” Brambleclaw decided. “If WindClan starts throwing accusations around, he’ll need to know. Come with me, Thornclaw.”
The two cats padded off toward the tumbled rocks, and Jayfeather headed back to his den. Sorreltail was waiting for him at the entrance.
“Hi, Jayfeather. Sandstorm said you wanted to see me.”
“Right. Come in. I need to check you over.”
“I’ll be fine, honestly,” Sorreltail went on as she followed Jayfeather into the den. “I’ve done this before, you know.”
“I know. And that was many seasons ago. Older she-cats need their medicine cat to keep an eye on them when they’re having kits.”
“Who are you calling older?” Sorreltail bristled, but Jayfeather could tell she wasn’t really annoyed.
He made her lie down in the bracken and felt her belly gently with one forepaw. Then he leaned close to her to listen to her heartbeat. Briarlight dragged herself over to watch; Jayfeather could feel her breath on his neck fur.
“Will she be okay?” Briarlight whispered.
Jayfeather nodded. “Everything seems fine,” he replied, adding to Sorreltail, “I’ve noticed a bit of stiffness in your hip joints. You might need some poppy seeds to take the edge off the pain when you give birth.”
“I’ll be fine,” Sorreltail told him. “Leafpool has already given me some exercises to help keep the joints flexible.”
Jayfeather stiffened. “Leafpool is not your medicine cat,” he hissed through gritted teeth.
“She’s still my friend,” Sorreltail pointed out, “and I’ll listen to her, no matter what happens.”
Jayfeather suppressed a sigh. I can’t be bothered to argue. With the flick of an ear to dismiss Sorreltail, he followed her out into the clearing. Sitting in a pool of sunlight, he listened to what was going on in the camp. Dovewing had just come back from a hunting patrol, and was settling down beside the fresh-kill pile to eat with Hazeltail and Graystripe. Dustpelt was leaving at the head of a hunting patrol. Leafpool, Ivypool, and Poppyfrost followed him; Jayfeather detected Poppyfrost’s delight at going out on warrior duties again.
The patrol had scarcely left the clearing when a commotion broke out at the top of the hollow. Jayfeather sprang to his paws, every hair on his pelt bristling. Yaps and snarls and the shrieking of cats came from up above, and wails of dismay broke out in the camp.
“That’s Molepaw and Cherrypaw!” Berrynose yowled, leaping out of
the warriors’ den and charging across the clearing. “And that sounds like a fox!”
He hurled himself toward the thorn tunnel, with Firestar, Cloudtail, Graystripe, and Brackenfur hard on his paws. Jayfeather ran back into his den. Briarlight was dragging herself toward the entrance; Jayfeather could sense her shock.
“What’s happening?” she asked. “What’s that awful noise?”
“Fox,” Jayfeather replied tersely. “Get the supplies for wounds ready.”
As Briarlight headed for the storage cleft, Jayfeather heard Dovewing behind him, standing by the bramble screen. “A fox?” she gasped. “But that’s not possible! I didn’t hear anything.”
Jayfeather wanted to ask her what she meant, but he was distracted by the yowls and screeching that still came from the top of the cliff.
“It sounds really bad!” Briarlight’s voice was shaking. “There’ll be terrible injuries.”
“We’ll deal with it.” Jayfeather made himself sound calm, but he was still worried by what Dovewing had just said. Why didn’t she hear the fox coming?
Gradually the sound of battle died away; moments later Jayfeather heard the voices and pawsteps of his Clanmates returning through the thorn tunnel. He padded out to meet them, bracing himself for the scent of wounds and spasms of pain.
But as soon as he emerged into the clearing Jayfeather realized that things weren’t as bad as he had feared. He could hear that Brightheart and Rosepetal were limping, and picked up the scent of blood coming from Foxleap, but their injuries were nowhere near as serious as the wounds an angry fox could inflict.
“Go into my den,” he instructed them. “I’ll be with you in a couple of heartbeats. Where are the apprentices?”
“Here!” Cherrypaw bounced up beside him. “Molepaw and I are fine.”
“Yeah, the fox nearly ate us up.” Excitement was rolling off Molepaw in fizzing waves. “But the cat came and chased it off!”
Firestar pushed his way through the cats crowding around Jayfeather. “What cat?” he asked Molepaw. “Do you mean Brightheart, or your mentors?”