Omen of the Stars
Warriors
Fading Echoes
Erin Hunter
For the real Ivypaw, and all of FarDriving Clan
Contents
Allegiances
Map
Prologue
Trees whispered, branch to branch, above the lifeless forest floor.
Chapter 1
Dovepaw trembled in her sleep.
Chapter 2
“Ouch!” Jayfeather staggered sideways as a pain, sharp as a…
Chapter 3
Jayfeather looked up as the brambles at the entrance to…
Chapter 4
“No, no!” Lionblaze called to his apprentice. “If you climb…
Chapter 5
Dovepaw stretched her aching legs. Her nest rustled as she…
Chapter 6
Jayfeather jerked awake. The air was still damp with night,…
Chapter 7
“Long ago, I was told of a prophecy—” the ThunderClan…
Chapter 8
Cold raindrops showered from the roof as Ivypaw pushed her…
Chapter 9
Dovepaw padded restlessly beside the barrier of thorns, anxious to…
Chapter 10
Bright flowers nodded around the apprentice as she weaved, slender…
Chapter 11
Rain dripped at the mouth of Firestar’s den. As Jayfeather…
Chapter 12
Jayfeather lifted his head and sniffed the dawn breeze. The…
Chapter 13
“StarClan honors your courage and spirit.” Firestar touched his muzzle…
Chapter 14
Ivypaw shivered. A chilly wind had stripped the flowers from…
Chapter 15
“Why didn’t you want me to bring Dovepaw?” Lionblaze sat…
Chapter 16
Trees in full leaf whispered gently in the breeze. Yellowfang…
Chapter 17
Lionblaze couldn’t sleep. Had Jayfeather discovered something at the Moonpool?
Chapter 18
Dovepaw didn’t want to go back to the hollow. Her…
Chapter 19
“Clanmates are everything. And we’re your Clanmates now.”
Chapter 20
“I’ll find a way,” Ivypaw murmured as Tigerstar led Hawkfrost…
Chapter 21
Briarlight was coughing.
Chapter 22
Ivypaw drew in a breath. The cold seared her tongue…
Chapter 23
Dovepaw dug her paws deeper into the grass as Blackstar…
Chapter 24
Lionblaze nosed Dovepaw up the tree trunk and turned to…
Warriors Adventure Game
Acknowledgments
About the Author
Other Books by Erin Hunter
Credits
Copyright
About the Publisher
ALLEGIANCES
THUNDERCLAN
LEADER
FIRESTAR— ginger tom with a flame-colored pelt
DEPUTY
BRAMBLECLAW— dark brown tabby tom with amber eyes
MEDICINE CAT
JAYFEATHER— gray tabby tom with blind blue eyes
WARRIORS
(toms and she-cats without kits)
GRAYSTRIPE— long-haired gray tom
MILLIE— striped gray tabby she-cat
DUSTPELT— dark brown tabby tom
SANDSTORM— pale ginger she-cat with green eyes
BRACKENFUR— golden brown tabby tom
SORRELTAIL— tortoiseshell-and-white she-cat with amber eyes
CLOUDTAIL— long-haired white tom with blue eyes
BRIGHTHEART— white she-cat with ginger patches
THORNCLAW— golden brown tabby tom
SQUIRRELFLIGHT— dark ginger she-cat with green eyes
LEAFPOOL— light brown tabby she-cat with amber eyes
SPIDERLEG— long-limbed black tom with brown underbelly and amber eyes
BIRCHFALL— light brown tabby tom
WHITEWING— white she-cat with green eyes
BERRYNOSE— cream-colored tom
HAZELTAIL— small gray-and-white she-cat
MOUSEWHISKER— gray-and-white tom
CINDERHEART— gray tabby she-cat
APPRENTICE, IVYPAW
LIONBLAZE— golden tabby tom with amber eyes
APPRENTICE, DOVEPAW
FOXLEAP— reddish tabby tom
ICECLOUD— white she-cat
TOADSTEP— black-and-white tom
ROSEPETAL— dark cream she-cat
BRIARLIGHT— dark brown she-cat
BLOSSOMFALL— tortoiseshell-and-white she-cat
BUMBLEFLIGHT— very pale gray tom with black stripes
APPRENTICES
(more than six moons old, in training to become warriors)
DOVEPAW— pale gray she-cat with blue eyes
IVYPAW— silver-and-white tabby she-cat with dark blue eyes
QUEENS
(she-cats expecting or nursing kits)
FERNCLOUD— pale gray (with darker flecks) she-cat with green eyes
DAISY— cream long-furred cat from the horseplace
POPPYFROST— tortoiseshell she-cat (mother to Cherrykit, a ginger she-cat, and Molekit, a brown-and-cream tom)
ELDERS
(former warriors and queens, now retired)
MOUSEFUR— small dusky brown she-cat
PURDY— plump tabby former loner with a gray muzzle
LONGTAIL— pale tabby tom with black stripes, retired early due to failing sight
SHADOWCLAN
LEADER
BLACKSTAR— large white tom with huge jet-black paws
DEPUTY
RUSSETFUR— dark ginger she-cat
MEDICINE CAT
LITTLECLOUD— very small tabby tom
APPRENTICE, FLAMETAIL (ginger tom)
WARRIORS
OAKFUR— small brown tom
APPRENTICE, FERRETPAW (cream-and-gray tom)
ROWANCLAW— ginger tom
SMOKEFOOT— black tom
TOADFOOT— dark brown tom
APPLEFUR— mottled brown she-cat
CROWFROST— black-and-white tom
RATSCAR— brown tom with long scar across his back
APPRENTICE, PINEPAW (black she-cat)
SNOWBIRD— pure-white she-cat
TAWNYPELT— tortoiseshell she-cat with green eyes
APPRENTICE, STARLINGPAW (ginger tom)
OLIVENOSE— tortoiseshell she-cat
OWLCLAW— light brown tabby tom
SHREWFOOT— gray she-cat with black feet
SCORCHFUR— dark gray tom
REDWILLOW— mottled brown-and-ginger tom
TIGERHEART— dark brown tabby tom
DAWNPELT— cream-furred she-cat
QUEENS
KINKFUR— tabby she-cat, with long fur that sticks out at all angles
IVYTAIL— black, white, and tortoiseshell she-cat
ELDERS
CEDARHEART— dark gray tom
TALLPOPPY— long-legged light brown tabby she-cat
SNAKETAIL— dark brown tom with tabby-striped tail
WHITEWATER— white she-cat with long fur, blind in one eye
WINDCLAN
LEADER
ONESTAR— brown tabby tom
DEPUTY
ASHFOOT— gray she-cat
MEDICINE CAT
KESTRELFLIGHT— mottled gray tom
WARRIORS
CROWFEATHER— dark gray tom
OWLWHISKER— light brown tabby tom
APPRENTICE, WHISKERPAW (light brown tom)
WHITETAIL— small white she-cat
NIGHTCLOUD— black she-cat
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GORSETAIL— very pale gray-and-white tom with blue eyes
WEASELFUR— ginger tom with white paws
HARESPRING— brown-and-white tom
LEAFTAIL— dark tabby tom with amber eyes
ANTPELT— brown tom with one black ear
EMBERFOOT— gray tom with two dark paws
HEATHERTAIL— light brown tabby she-cat with blue eyes
APPRENTICE, FURZEPAW (gray-and-white she-cat)
BREEZEPELT— black tom with amber eyes
APPRENTICE, BOULDERPAW (large pale gray tom)
SEDGEWHISKER— light brown tabby she-cat
SWALLOWTAIL— dark gray she-cat
SUNSTRIKE— tortoiseshell she-cat with large white mark on her forehead
ELDERS
WEBFOOT— dark gray tabby tom
TORNEAR— tabby tom
RIVERCLAN
LEADER
LEOPARDSTAR— unusually spotted golden tabby she-cat
DEPUTY
MISTYFOOT— gray she-cat with blue eyes
MEDICINE CAT
MOTHWING— dappled golden she-cat
APPRENTICE, WILLOWSHINE (gray tabby she-cat)
WARRIORS
REEDWHISKER— black tom
APPRENTICE, HOLLOWPAW (dark brown tabby tom)
GRAYMIST— pale gray tabby she-cat
APPRENTICE, TROUTPAW (pale gray tabby she-cat)
MINTFUR— light gray tabby tom
ICEWING— white she-cat with blue eyes
MINNOWTAIL— dark gray she-cat
APPRENTICE, MOSSYPAW (brown-and-white she-cat)
PEBBLEFOOT— mottled gray tom
APPRENTICE, RUSHPAW (light brown tabby tom)
MALLOWNOSE— light brown tabby tom
ROBINWING— tortoiseshell-and-white tom
BEETLEWHISKER— brown-and-white tabby tom
PETALFUR— gray-and-white she-cat
GRASSPELT— light brown tom
QUEENS
DUSKFUR— brown tabby she-cat
MOSSPELT— tortoiseshell she-cat with blue eyes
ELDERS
DAPPLENOSE— mottled gray she-cat
POUNCETAIL— ginger-and-white tom
CATS OUTSIDE CLANS
SMOKY— muscular gray-and-white tom who lives in a barn at the horseplace
FLOSS— small gray-and-white she-cat who lives at the horseplace
OTHER ANIMALS
MIDNIGHT— a star-gazing badger who lives by the sea
Map
PROLOGUE
Trees whispered, branch to branch, above the lifeless forest floor. Mist wreathed their smooth trunks, pale as bone, and swirled through the night-dark forest. Above their branches, the sky yawned, starless and cold. There was no moon to cast shadows, but an eerie light glowed through the trees.
Paws thudded on the dead earth. Two warriors reared on their hind legs and launched themselves at each other, their bodies heaving and twisting like ghosts in the gloom. One brown. One black. Wind rattled the trees as the brown tom, his broad shoulders heaving, aimed a vicious swipe at his lean opponent. The black tom dodged, not taking his gaze from his rival’s paws for a moment, his eyes narrowed in concentration.
The brown warrior’s strike missed and he landed heavily, too slow in turning to avoid a sharp nip from the black tom. Hissing, he reared again, twisted on one hind paw, and lunged, his forepaws falling like rocks on the black tom’s shoulders.
The tom collapsed under the weight of the blow. Breath huffed from his mouth as his chest slammed against the ground. The brown warrior raked thorn-sharp claws along his opponent’s pelt, and his nose twitched as blood welled in the wound, scarlet and salty.
Quick as a snake, the black tom slithered out from his rival’s grip and began to swipe rhythmically with his forepaws, swaying one way then the other until the brown warrior flinched back. In that flinch—a single moment of distraction—the black tom sprang forward and sank his teeth deep into the warrior’s foreleg.
The warrior yowled and shook the tom off, his eyes flaming with rage. A heartbeat passed as the cats stared at each other, both gazes glittering with calculation. Then the black tom ducked and twisted, raking his way under the brown warrior’s snow white belly. But the warrior pounced on him before he could scramble clear, hooking his pelt with long, curved claws and pinning him to the ground.
“Too slow,” the brown warrior growled.
The black tom struggled, panic flashing in his eyes as his rival’s jaws began to close around his throat.
“Enough.” A dark tabby stepped from the shadows, his massive paws stirring the mist.
The cats froze, then untangled themselves. The brown warrior sat back on his haunches, one foreleg raised as though it hurt. The black tom scrambled to his paws, spraying droplets of blood across the forest floor as he shook out his fur.
“Some good moves, Hawkfrost.” The dark tabby nodded to the broad-shouldered warrior; then his gaze flicked to the black tom. “You’re getting better, Breezepelt, but you’ll need to be even quicker if you’re going to outfight stronger warriors. If you can’t match an opponent in weight, look to speed instead and use his weight against him.”
Breezepelt dipped his head. “I’ll work on it, Tigerstar.”
A fourth tom slid from the shadows. His silver stripes gleamed in the half-light as he wound around Tigerstar. “Hawkfrost can match any warrior,” he purred, smooth as honey. “There aren’t many cats with such skill and strength.”
Tigerstar curled his lip. “Quiet, Darkstripe!” he hissed. “Hawkfrost knows his own strengths.”
Darkstripe blinked. “I wasn’t—”
Tigerstar cut him off. “And there’s always room for improvement.”
A fifth cat slid from behind a tree, his night-colored pelt ragged against the smooth gray bark. “Hawkfrost depends too much on his strength,” he muttered. “Breezepelt too much on his speed. Together they would make a great warrior. Separately they are vulnerable.”
“Brokenstar.” Hawkfrost greeted the matted tabby with bared teeth. “Are we supposed to take advice from the warrior who failed to silence Jayfeather?”
Brokenstar twitched the tip of his tail. “I did not expect StarClan to fight so hard to save him.”
“Never underestimate your enemy.” Hawkfrost stretched his forepaw, wincing.
Breezepelt licked the deep scratches along his flank, his tongue reddening with his own blood.
“We must be ready,” Tigerstar growled. “It’s not enough to be able to beat one enemy at a time. We must train until we can take on a whole patrol single-pawed.”
Breezepelt looked up from his wound, his eyes flashing. “I can already beat Harespring and Leaftail in training.”
Tigerstar’s eyes darkened. “Training is one thing. Warriors fight harder when they’re defending their lives.”
Breezepelt clawed the ground. “I can fight harder.”
Tigerstar nodded. “You have more reason than most.”
A growl rose in Breezepelt’s throat.
“You have been wronged,” Tigerstar meowed softly.
Breezepelt’s young face looked kitlike in the gloom. “You’re the only ones who seem to realize that.”
“I have told you that you must seek vengeance,” Tigerstar reminded him. “With our help, you can take revenge on every cat who has betrayed you.”
Breezepelt’s gaze grew hungry as the dark warrior went on.
“And on every cat who stood by and did nothing while others claimed what was yours as their own.”
“Starting with Crowfeather.” Breezepelt snarled his father’s name.
Brokenstar swished his crooked tail through the air. “What did your father do to defend you?” His words were laced with bitterness, as though soured by his own memories.
Darkstripe slunk forward. “He never valued you.”
Tigerstar shooed the striped warrior back with a flick of his tail. “He tried to crush you, make you weak.”
“He didn’t succeed,” Breezepelt spat.
“But he tried. Perhaps he valued his ThunderClan kits more. Those three kits should never have been born.” Tigerstar padded toward the young warrior, his eyes gleaming, holding Breezepelt’s gaze like a snake mesmerizing its prey. “You have been suckled on lies and the weakness of others. You have suffered while others have thrived. But you are strong. You will put things right. Your father betrayed his Clan and betrayed you. Leafpool betrayed StarClan by taking a mate.”
Breezepelt’s tail was lashing. “I will make them all pay for what they have done.” No heat fired his gaze, only cold hatred. “I will have vengeance on each and every one of them.”
Brokenstar pushed forward. “You are a noble warrior, Breezepelt. You cannot live a life spawned on lies. Loyalty to the warrior code runs too strong in your blood.”
“Not like those weaklings,” Breezepelt agreed.
Hawkfrost was on his paws. “More practice?” he suggested.
Tigerstar shook his head. “There is something else you must do.” He swung his broad head around to face the warrior.
Hawkfrost narrowed his eyes to icy slits. “What?”
“There’s another apprentice,” Tigerstar told him. “She has great power. She must join us to make the battle even.”
“You want me to visit her?” Menace edged Hawkfrost’s mew.
Tigerstar nodded. “Walk in her dreams. Teach her that our battle is her destiny.” He flicked the tip of his long, dark tail. “Go.”
As the broad-shouldered warrior turned away and padded into the mist, Tigerstar growled after him, “You should have no trouble. She is ready.”
CHAPTER 1
Dovepaw trembled in her sleep.
“Dovepaw! Dovepaw!” Voices wailed around her as she struggled in the current, dragging at her fur, swirling her through darkness. “Dovepaw!” The cries were jagged with fear. Trees and branches tumbled past her, sweeping away downstream. Darkness yawned below, stretching so far beneath her that horror caught in her throat.