Thunder and Shadow

  Alderpaw swallowed back a purr. “I’ve been tempted.”

  Sparkpelt nudged him away. “You’d better go.” Jayfeather was already disappearing through the entrance tunnel. “I’ll see you when you get back!” she called as Alderpaw turned to follow him. Sparkpelt would be sitting vigil in the clearing until dawn, to honor her new name.

  At least Alderpaw didn’t envy her that. The clear sky meant a chilly night. There was probably frost on the moor. “Don’t get cold!” he called over his shoulder.

  “My new name will keep me warm!”

  Alderpaw purred as he ducked through the tunnel.

  Jayfeather was already halfway up the rise. Alderpaw hurried to catch up with him.

  They met Mothwing and Willowshine at the border and followed the stream as it cut between moor and forest, tracing it back toward the hills where it rose.

  Alderpaw scrambled up a boulder after Jayfeather. The stream tumbled over rocks beside them. “Should we wait for Leafpool and Puddlepaw?”

  “They’re already there,” Jayfeather answered without pausing. “Can’t you smell their scent?”

  Alderpaw opened his mouth, tasting the faint trace of Leafpool among the tang of water, stone, and heather.

  “I wonder how Puddlepaw’s training is going,” Mothwing called out behind them.

  “What’s the point in wondering?” Jayfeather answered gruffly. “We’ll find out when we get there.”

  “We’d probably get there quicker if a blind cat weren’t leading the way,” Mothwing mewed fondly. She hurried to catch up to Jayfeather. “He’s as grumpy as an elder,” she breathed, rolling her eyes as she bounded past Alderpaw.

  “I heard that,” Jayfeather huffed. “And you know I can follow this trail as well as any sighted cat.”

  “Sorry, Jayfeather,” Mothwing purred. “I forgot you have the hearing of a bat.”

  Willowshine fell in beside Alderpaw as the older cats chatted. “How’s your training going?”

  “I think I’m doing okay,” Alderpaw whispered. “I’m not sure if Jayfeather agrees.”

  “I don’t think Jayfeather’s agreed with anything his whole life,” Willowshine purred. “You’ll be a great medicine cat, though. You’re being trained by one of the best.”

  Alderpaw swallowed back a sigh. Jayfeather might be one of the best, but there were days when being trained by a badger might be easier.

  He was out of breath by the time they’d climbed the last rocky ridge. He hauled himself over the edge, his heart lifting as he saw the Moonpool below. It lay at the bottom of the shallow hollow, ringed by smooth cliffs. Tonight the water was so still that the moon reflected in it without a shimmer. He let Willowshine lead him down the slope, dimpled by countless paw steps. At the bottom he saw Leafpool.

  She was hurrying to meet Jayfeather as he reached the water’s edge. “How’s the Clan? Are they well?” Leafpool’s eyes glittered eagerly.

  “A few bellyaches and thorn pricks,” Jayfeather told her. “Nothing to worry about.”

  Alderpaw joined them, happy as he smelled Leafpool’s familiar scent. “Everyone misses you,” he told her.

  Leafpool’s eyes rounded with longing. “I miss you too.” She glanced toward Puddlepaw, who was staring into the moonlit water blankly.

  “How’s the training going?” Jayfeather asked.

  “We’re making progress,” Leafpool told him.

  Alderpaw searched her gaze. Did that mean Puddlepaw was doing better than when he’d visited her in camp? Before he could ask, three shapes appeared at the edge of the hollow.

  In the moonlight Alderpaw could make out Kestrelflight. He was flanked by two WindClan warriors. Gorsetail and Sedgewhisker followed him stiffly down the paw-worn path.

  Jayfeather and Leafpool exchanged glances.

  “Why’d he bring them?” Leafpool hissed.

  Mothwing called out. “This meeting is for medicine cats!”

  “We’re not staying.” Gorsetail halted as Kestrelflight reached the water’s edge.

  Leafpool blinked at Kestrelflight. “Is everything okay?” She nodded toward his Clanmates. “You don’t usually bring company.”

  “Onestar’s orders.” The WindClan medicine cat sounded apologetic. He nodded to Gorsetail and Sedgewhisker. “I’ll be fine now. You’d better go.”

  “We’ll wait outside the hollow until you’ve finished,” Sedgewhisker growled. She turned and climbed up the slope. Gorsetail followed.

  Alderpaw’s pelt prickled uneasily. The warriors seemed edgy. Kestrelflight’s fur was ruffled.

  “What’s happened?” Mothwing padded closer, her eyes round with curiosity.

  “Onestar is worried about the rogues,” Kestrelflight explained. “He’s ordered every cat to have an escort if they leave camp.”

  Jayfeather’s ears twitched. “Doesn’t he trust StarClan to watch over you?”

  Kestrelflight shifted his paws. “Since the fight with the rogues, he doesn’t seem to trust anyone.” He frowned. “If only I’d been there when he was hurt. I might have helped him.”

  “There was nothing you could have done,” Jayfeather told him gruffly.

  Alderpaw blinked sympathetically at the WindClan medicine cat, remembering his own guilt over Sandstorm’s death. Is this what it means to be a medicine cat? To always regret the lives you couldn’t save?

  “Poor Onestar,” Mothwing murmured. “Losing a life must be hard.”

  Alderpaw blinked at her. How did a RiverClan cat hear about Onestar losing a life? Bramblestar had hinted at it in his conversation with Rowanstar, but no more. Had some cat in Lionblaze’s patrol spoken out of turn?

  Jayfeather snorted. “At least he had more than one life to lose. Furzepelt probably found dying harder.”

  Leafpool leaned closer to Kestrelflight. “Why were Gorsetail and Sedgewhisker so prickly?”

  Kestrelflight lowered his voice. “Onestar’s acting strangely. He sends scouts ahead when he goes on patrol. He’s set a permanent guard at the camp entrance. He’s enforcing every rule. Half the Clan is on punishment duty for breaking one code or another.” He glanced over his shoulder. “Everyone’s scared they’ll be reported. The warriors are so tense they hardly speak to one another, and the apprentices act like they’re walking on quails’ eggs.”

  Jayfeather flicked his tail impatiently. “The sooner Onestar pulls himself together, the better. Have you thought of slipping a few poppy seeds into his prey? It would give the Clan a break while he slept them off.”

  Kestrelflight’s whiskers twitched with amusement. “I might try it.” His shoulders softened for the first time since he’d arrived.

  Leafpool still looked worried. “Has there been any sign of the rogues on the moor?”

  “Not so far,” Kestrelflight answered.

  Mothwing sniffed. “They must have moved on by now. Why would they stay in territory that’s already been claimed?”

  Willowshine nodded. “Fighting us for every morsel of prey will be way too much trouble. They’re bound to have left.”

  “Let’s hope so,” Leafpool agreed. “Rogues are usually happy to travel. It’s what makes them rogues.”

  Alderpaw’s belly tightened. She didn’t know these rogues. They’d driven SkyClan from their territory and made their home in the gorge. And Darktail had vowed they’d see more of him. Should he warn the others? He glanced at Jayfeather. His mentor had overheard the rogue leader’s threat too. But the blind medicine cat was padding around Puddlepaw, sniffing the apprentice’s pelt.

  “You smell of herbs,” Jayfeather grunted. “Leafpool must be teaching you something.”

  Leafpool hurried forward. “Puddlepaw is a fast learner.”

  “Good,” Jayfeather mewed. “Because we need you back in ThunderClan. Is he ready to become a full medicine cat yet?”

  Already? Alderpaw’s pelt prickled with indignation. I’ll be training until I’m an elder if Jayfeather gets his way.

  “A full medicine cat??
?? Leafpool looked at Jayfeather in horror. “After one moon’s training?”

  Mothwing whisked her tail over the stone. “I’m sure you and Alderpaw can manage to take care of ThunderClan without Leafpool for a while longer. If you ever need help, send for me or Willowshine.”

  Jayfeather snorted dismissively. “We won’t need help.” His blind gaze fixed on Puddlepaw. “But it would be good to know how long you will be wasting your talents on ShadowClan.”

  Leafpool’s ears twitched crossly. “Shared knowledge is never wasted.”

  Anxiety sparked in Puddlepaw’s eyes. “I appreciate everything Leafpool has taught me, and I’m learning as fast as I can.”

  Alderpaw felt a sudden surge of pity for the young cat. Perhaps training too quickly was worse than training too slowly. In another moon Puddlepaw would be expected to take responsibility for the welfare of every cat in his Clan. “I’m sure you will be a great medicine cat,” he assured him. “It just takes patience.”

  Jayfeather snapped his head around. “And the ability to tell the difference between chervil root and leaves.”

  Anger pricked through Alderpaw’s pelt. “That’s not fair—”

  Leafpool interrupted him. “At least we know that Alderpaw has plenty of patience.” She stared meaningfully at Jayfeather.

  As though he could see her fierce gaze, Jayfeather turned away and padded to the edge of the pool. “Since there’s little else to say, let’s share with StarClan.” Crouching, he touched his nose to the water’s smooth surface.

  Alderpaw pulled his nose tip from the chilly water, disappointed.

  “Did StarClan speak to you?” Leafpool was looking at him hopefully.

  He shook his head, straightening. He’d seen nothing but his own thoughts. Jayfeather, Kestrelflight, and Willowshine glanced at each other. Puddlepaw stared at the ground.

  “Didn’t anyone speak with them?” Leafpool pressed.

  Jayfeather shook out his pelt. “I guess there was nothing to share.”

  “What about the rogues?” Leafpool looked worried.

  “They must be no threat,” Willowshine guessed.

  “I told you,” Mothwing jerked her head up. She lay by the water, but she hadn’t dipped her nose to it like the other medicine cats. How could she share with a Clan she didn’t seem to believe in? Even though she’d witnessed the great battle with the Dark Forest, she’d never truly believed that those cats were their own ancestors, but simply thought of them as rogues from beyond Clan territory. “They’ll have moved on by now.”

  Alderpaw wished he could believe her. But that wasn’t the worry that wormed in his belly. He’d been hoping for StarClan to give him a clue about SkyClan. The more he thought about it, the more convinced Alderpaw felt that the sky that would clear in the prophecy referred to SkyClan. And surely StarClan knew where the lost Clan had gone. Why couldn’t their ancestors send word? Or at least give a clue about whether Twigkit and Violetkit were part of their prophecy? With a twinge of pity, he thought of Twigkit snuggling in beside him, shivering after her fall in the lake. If I am an ordinary cat, the Clan won’t want me anymore. He pushed the thought away with a shiver. Of course the Clan would want her, whether she was special or not.

  “Are you ready to return?” Sedgewhisker’s mew sounded from the rim of the hollow. She stood silhouetted in the moonlight.

  Kestrelflight hurried toward her. “I’m coming.” He glanced back at the others. “May StarClan light your paths,” he called as he joined his Clanmate.

  Mothwing and Willowshine followed him up the slope. “See you at the Gathering,” Mothwing mewed over her shoulder.

  Willowshine dipped her head as she passed. “Take care.”

  Jayfeather was inspecting Puddlepaw again. “Tell me what herbs you know,” he quizzed the young cat.

  “Watermint, horsetail, marigold . . .”

  As Puddlepaw began to list them, Alderpaw noticed Leafpool gazing anxiously at the moon’s reflection in the water.

  “Were you hoping that StarClan would tell you if Rowanstar has made the right choice in Puddlepaw?” he asked softly, padding to her side.

  “I know he has,” Leafpool answered quietly. “Puddlepaw is quick to learn and has sympathy for his patients. He’s going to make a fine medicine cat.”

  “Then why do you look so worried?” Alderpaw recognized the dark shadows in Leafpool’s eyes.

  “I’m worried about ShadowClan,” she murmured.

  “Is something wrong?” Alderpaw leaned closer.

  “Not exactly wrong,” Leafpool meowed hesitantly. “Not yet, anyway. But it’s so chaotic.”

  “Perhaps ShadowClan is just like that. Not all Clans are the same.”

  “ShadowClan has always had its own sense of the warrior code, but at least they respected it.” Leafpool met Alderpaw’s gaze anxiously. “These days, the younger cats show their elders no respect. They ignore some rules completely. I had to hunt for Grassheart yesterday. The apprentices aren’t bringing her enough food to keep her milk flowing. Flowerkit, Whorlkit, and Snakekit are growing fast. Grassheart needs all the prey she can eat.”

  “Why don’t the warriors send their apprentices out hunting?” Alderpaw was confused.

  “Mentors don’t seem to be able to tell their apprentices anything. Sleekpaw talks back to everyone, even Rowanstar. And Needlepaw’s not much better.”

  Alderpaw’s hackles pricked as Leafpool criticized the young she-cat. “She’s still looking after Violetkit, though, isn’t she?”

  Leafpool blinked at him. “If you mean does she have Violetkit trailing everywhere after her, yes. She takes her out of camp to StarClan knows where.”

  “Out of camp?” Guilt warmed Alderpaw’s pelt. Is that my fault? It was me who encouraged her in the first place. “Doesn’t Rowanstar punish her?”

  “I don’t think he even knows,” Leafpool sighed. “There are simply more apprentices than the Clan can handle. Beepaw and Yarrowpaw have been saying that we shouldn’t bother with StarClan. They ask why should they believe in a bunch of cats they’ve never even seen.”

  Alderpaw interrupted, shocked. “They mustn’t reject StarClan!”

  Leafpool went on anxiously. “Sleekpaw says dead cats are dumb. She says StarClan can’t possibly understand the forest anymore. They’ve been living in their own hunting grounds too long.”

  Alderpaw leaned forward. “Can’t you tell them they’re wrong—what you’ve seen with your own eyes?”

  “I’m a ThunderClan cat.” Leafpool stared at him helplessly. “Anything I say will just make it worse. And the warriors have stopped arguing with them. It’s like they don’t see the point anymore.”

  Alderpaw’s heart quickened with fear. “Perhaps that’s why StarClan didn’t share with us tonight. They might be angry about ShadowClan.”

  Leafpool closed her eyes. “Or maybe StarClan doesn’t know what to do.” She blinked them open, as though pushing away worry. “Perhaps it’ll pass. These are young cats. They’ll grow out of this nonsense.” She fluffed out her pelt against the chilly night air. “I’m probably worrying over nothing. Like you say, ShadowClan has always been different. It could be that every new set of apprentices is the same and the warriors are doing the right thing by quietly waiting it out.” Before Alderpaw could comment, she padded toward Puddlepaw, interrupting Jayfeather, who was questioning Puddlepaw about how to treat an infected claw. “Come on. It’s time we were going.”

  Puddlepaw looked relieved. He nodded to Leafpool and headed for the top of the hollow.

  “I’ll be home in a moon or two,” Leafpool told Jayfeather as she followed him.

  “I wish it were sooner,” Jayfeather huffed.

  “So do I.” Leafpool caught Alderpaw’s eye as she went on. “Be patient with Alderpaw. Cats learn far more from kindness than anger.”

  Alderpaw glanced nervously at Jayfeather, wishing Leafpool hadn’t said anything. Never poke your claw into a bees’ nest.

  Jayfeather
’s whiskers twitched with amusement. “If I start being gentle with him now, he’ll worry I’m getting soft in my old age.” He followed Leafpool up the slope. “It sounds like you’re doing a good job with Puddlepaw. At least he seems to know what chervil is for.”

  Alderpaw hardly heard his mentor’s jibe. He was worrying about ShadowClan. What if Leafpool was wrong? What if the bad behavior of the apprentices didn’t pass? What would happen to Needlepaw? His heart lurched. How could Violetkit learn to be a true warrior in a place like that?

  CHAPTER 8

  Violetkit narrowed her eyes as she glanced at the setting sun blazing between the treetops. Her paws ached. She was getting used to the walk back from the rogues’ camp. Needlepaw usually helped her over fallen trees and ditches, but it still felt like a long way. She was relieved to see the bramble wall of the camp ahead.

  “Come on,” Needlepaw whispered, guiding her toward the dirtplace tunnel.

  Violetkit stumbled wearily as a mew took her by surprise.

  “Where have you been?” Tawnypelt strode from between the trees and blocked their path. Her angry gaze fell on Needlepaw.

  Needlepaw blinked back at her, unfazed. “I was showing Violetkit the best spot for squirrel hunting.”

  Tawnypelt glared. “Violetkit is too young to hunt squirrels. She shouldn’t even be out of camp.”

  Needlepaw rounded her eyes imploringly. “But she gets so bored. Pinenose’s kits are apprentices now.”

  “What about Grassheart’s kits?” Tawnypelt stood her ground. “She could be helping to entertain them.”

  Violetkit stepped forward. “Pinenose says they’re too young for me to play with.” At least that was true. The kits were so cute, but Pinenose always had a reason why Violetkit should stay away from them.

  “Nonsense,” Tawnypelt snapped. “When I was a kit, I played with my denmates the moment I opened my eyes, no matter how old they were.”

  But you were Clanborn. Violetkit swallowed back resentment. She didn’t want to appear ungrateful. Pinenose and Grassheart were kind to her. They were just overprotective, that’s all. “I’d play with them if I was allowed to,” she mewed defensively.