Thunder and Shadow

  “The prey I catch isn’t good enough for you?” Rain growled.

  The rogue leader lashed his tail. “You’ve been bringing less and less back to camp.” He dropped the mouse. “This is the most pitiful offering yet.”

  Rain’s eyes narrowed to slits. “Have you been counting what I catch?”

  “Of course I have,” Darktail hissed. “I’m the leader of this group. I make sure every cat pulls his weight.”

  “You sound like a Clan cat,” Rain sneered.

  “So?” Darktail lifted his chin. “They live well.”

  “If you like rules!” Rain flexed his claws.

  “Rules will keep our bellies full.” Darktail spoke slowly, his vicious gaze not moving from Rain.

  “Is that why we came here?” Rain hissed. “To hide behind bushes and hunt prey no one else wants?” He flicked his tail toward ShadowClan’s pine forest, stretching far behind them. “We live on a tiny piece of land when there’s a whole territory right there for the taking.”

  Cold fear ran along Violetpaw’s spine. Did Rain want the rogues to drive ShadowClan from their land? Why? There was enough prey here, and over the past four moons Darktail had seemed happy to leave ShadowClan in peace. She thought of Pinenose and Rowanstar, Puddlepaw and Grassheart. Grassheart’s kits! Was he threatening them?

  “We don’t need the pine forest yet!” Darktail snapped. “For now we’ve got everything we need and we don’t have to fight for it. We won’t be taking over anyone’s territory until I say so.”

  Rain flattened his ears. “You’ve grown soft.” A growl sounded in his mew as he crouched threateningly.

  Darktail’s eyes flashed. With a yowl, he flung himself at Rain. Rain reared and caught him, staggering back as the full force of the muscular tom hit him. Digging in his claws, Rain rolled onto his spine and thrashed viciously at Darktail’s belly with his hind paws. Violetpaw leaped back, her heart pounding, as the two cats rolled, screeching, across the clearing. She’d seen the rogues fight each other before, but today there was a viciousness in their yowls that set her fur on end.

  Needletail darted around them, her gaze fixed on Rain, her pelt rippling as though thrilled by the fight.

  “Watch out!” Violetpaw yelped a warning as Darktail struggled free and swung a paw wildly through the air.

  Needletail dodged it as it sliced past her and caught Rain hard on the cheek, drawing blood.

  Scrabbling to his paws, Rain ducked a second blow and lunged at Darktail’s forepaws. Knocking them from under him, he sent the rogue leader crashing onto his belly. Rain reared and slammed his paws hard onto Darktail’s spine.

  The rogue leader rolled clear with a snarl. He sprang to his paws, his gaze flaming. Baring his teeth, he leaped at Rain. Violetpaw gasped as she saw the rogue leader sink his teeth into Rain’s neck.

  With a grunt, the long-furred tom collapsed. Darktail let out a low yowl as he pressed Rain to the ground, his teeth still in the gray tom’s neck.

  Rain jerked beneath him, his breath gurgling in his throat.

  “Let him go!” Needletail’s panicked cry split the air. “You’ll kill him.”

  Violetpaw’s breath caught in her throat as Rain fell still beneath the rogue leader. Only when Rain slumped in defeat did Darktail let go. Fear surged beneath Violetpaw’s pelt as Darktail backed away. Was this how it would always be in the rogue camp? Bloody fights over leadership? She glanced warily around at the other rogues. Would any of them challenge Darktail?

  Needletail dropped down beside Rain. “Are you okay?” Terror lit her gaze.

  Rain grunted. The fur at his neck shone with blood. Rasping, Rain staggered to his paws and faced Darktail.

  Darktail scowled. “Who’s the leader?”

  Rain glared at him. “You are,” he growled.

  Violetpaw was trembling.

  “Don’t challenge me again,” Darktail hissed softly. The tip of his tail twitched menacingly behind him.

  Rain stared at him, anger showing in his gaze. “I won’t.”

  “No, you won’t.” Without warning, Darktail lashed out, as fast as a snake. His claws raked Rain’s eye before the tom could close it.

  Violetpaw’s belly heaved as blood welled around the socket. Rain staggered backward, ears flat with shock. He let out an agonized yowl before collapsing to the ground.

  Needletail hunched over him. “You’ve blinded him!” she shrieked at Darktail.

  Darktail curled his lip. “I only half blinded him,” he growled. “A half-blind cat threatens no one.” He padded to the fresh-kill pile and grabbed the plump rabbit between his jaws, then carried it to the edge of the clearing and began to eat.

  Violetpaw stared at Rain, horror scorching though her as she saw his face. She’d seen fights here before, but none this cruel. His cheek was ripped and his eye was closed and oozing blood. Nausea swept over her, and she raced from the camp. Skidding to a halt behind an alder, she vomited, her body convulsing with shock.

  Hunched in her nest, Violetpaw stared through the darkness. The camp was quiet except for Rain’s moans and Needletail’s soothing mews as she nursed him the best she could. Nettle had been racing in and out of camp all evening with herbs. Now he crouched outside the patch of long grass where Rain and Needletail were huddled together.

  Violetpaw watched Nettle’s eyes slowly close as sleep overwhelmed him. Darktail’s snores echoed across the camp. No moon lit the clearing, and clouds covered the sky. The other cats were curled in their nests. There was still prey on the pile. Darktail had been the only cat to eat. The others had slunk to the edges of the camp in silence. Violetpaw wondered if they were as shocked as she was by the brutality of their campmates. She wondered if the ShadowClan cats regretted leaving their Clan now. Perhaps ShadowClan did have too many rules, but the cats looked after one another. They would never blind one another!

  Violetpaw knew she had to leave. She could not live like this, in a group ruled by fear and claws. But where could she go? Her heart fluttered anxiously as she imagined life as a loner. Perhaps she could ask Rowanstar to take her in, or Bramblestar. Perhaps some of the Clan cats still believed she was part of the prophecy and would welcome her back. She just knew she couldn’t stay here. These cats were too unpredictable. What if she said something wrong? Or failed to bring home enough prey? How long would it be before Darktail or one of the other rogues turned on her?

  She could hear Needletail murmuring beyond the long grass. Needletail had been growing closer and closer to Rain. She won’t leave him. Especially not now. And if they did become mates, would Needletail still have time for Violetpaw? I’d be alone here.

  Quietly Violetpaw got to her paws and climbed from her nest. Heart pounding in her ears, she tiptoed across the clearing. She paused beside Nettle, who was snoring gently now, and strained to see past him through the grass but could make out nothing but shadow. She wanted to tell Needletail she was leaving, and to thank her. But she didn’t dare risk being caught.

  “Don’t worry, Rain. It’ll hurt less soon.”

  She listened to the soft murmur of her friend. This would be the first time in moons she’d be without her. Good-bye, Needletail. Her heart aching, she turned away and headed out of camp.

  The scent of pine and moss filled her nose as dawn broke and early newleaf sunshine seeped into ShadowClan territory. Violetpaw crouched beneath a bramble a tree-length from the camp wall. A juicy rabbit lay beside her. Would it be enough?

  Rowanstar had turned Darktail away when he had come bringing a gift of prey. And he’d told Needletail to take her. You did ShadowClan no favors by finding her. There’s been nothing but trouble since she arrived. We’re better off without her. His words still rang in her head, as they had in the moons since she’d left. Was she wasting her time even trying to come back? Perhaps she should head straight for ThunderClan territory and beg Bramblestar to take her in. Twigpaw would support her, wouldn’t she?

  Her heart quickened with fear. What if no Cla
n wanted her? What if they saw her as trouble: just an extra mouth to feed? The rogues would never forgive her for leaving. She’d be a loner.

  “Who’s there?”

  Tawnypelt’s mew took her by surprise. A tortoiseshell muzzle pushed through the brambles, and Violetpaw found herself staring into the warrior’s green eyes. “Violetkit?” She blinked.

  “I’m Violetpaw now,” Violetpaw mewed uncertainly. She’d had no naming ceremony. Needletail had decided it was time she began her training. Did that mean she wasn’t a proper ’paw?

  Tawnypelt backed out. “Come out here.” She sounded stern.

  Nervously Violetpaw grabbed the rabbit between her jaws and crept out.

  Spikefur and Tigerheart stared at her from behind Tawnypelt.

  “Are you hunting on our land?” Tawnypelt stared at her, shocked.

  Violetpaw dropped the rabbit. “I caught it before I crossed the border.” She wasn’t going to make the same mistake as Darktail.

  “Why did you come here?” Tawnypelt demanded.

  Violetpaw could see confusion and anger in the tortoiseshell’s gaze. “I want to come back to ShadowClan.” She stared at her paws, her mew hardly more than a whisper.

  Spikefur growled. “You chose to leave. You no longer have a place here.”

  “Rowanstar told Needletail to take me.” Violetpaw lifted her gaze, forcing herself to be brave. “I know I was never really wanted here. But I was hoping I could make a place for myself.”

  Spikefur glared at her. “As what? The Clan traitor?”

  “Hush!” Tawnypelt turned on her Clanmate. “She wasn’t the only one who left.”

  “They’re all traitors!” Spikefur hissed.

  Tigerheart pushed in front of the angry tom. “Violetpaw was only a kit when she left. And Rowanstar did tell Needletail to take her. She can’t be held responsible for her decision.”

  Tawnypelt was looking at the rabbit. “Did you catch that yourself?”

  “Yes,” Violetpaw told her meekly.

  Spikefur nudged Tigerheart away. “She may have brought others with her!”

  Violetpaw puffed out her chest. “I came here by myself! The others don’t even know I’m gone.”

  Tawnypelt poked the rabbit with a paw. “It’s a good-sized catch. I can see you’re not a kit anymore.” She nodded toward the camp. “Come on. We’ll let Rowanstar decide what to do with you.”

  Rowanstar was resting beside the great rock at the edge of the clearing as Tawnypelt, Spikefur, and Tigerheart escorted Violetpaw into camp. Tigerheart carried the rabbit. As they crossed the clearing, Violetpaw ignored the stares of the ShadowClan cats. She heard Kinkfur whispering to Oakfur outside the elders’ den but couldn’t make out her words. Pinenose watched her from the warriors’ den. Violetpaw avoided the she-cat’s gaze, shame pricking through her fur. She guessed that Pinenose wasn’t thinking anything good about her. Stonewing and Wasptail looked up from washing as she passed the warriors’ den. Dawnpelt was rummaging through the fresh-kill pile, picking at last night’s leftovers. Violetpaw glanced toward the nursery, hoping to catch a glimpse of Whorlkit, Snakekit, and Flowerkit. Perhaps they were apprentices by now. But the nursery was silent, lit by the early morning sunshine.

  Rowanstar scrambled to his paws as he saw her. Violetpaw tensed, straining to read his gaze. Was that relief in his green eyes?

  “I knew you’d all come back!” His gaze flicked hopefully past her toward the entrance.

  “It’s just Violetpaw.” Tawnypelt stopped in front of the ShadowClan leader. “She came alone.”

  Rowanstar’s eyes narrowed suspiciously. “Is she spying?”

  Tigerheart dropped the rabbit at his paws. “She wants to rejoin the Clan. She brought this as a gift.”

  Rowanstar frowned. “Just like those rogues.”

  “I’m not a rogue!” Violetpaw flicked her tail. Why did Clan cats have to call everyone names? Anger surged through her. Did no cat want her? She’d spent her life being passed around by other cats. First Alderpaw had taken her from her mother’s nest. Then Rowanstar had snatched her from ThunderClan. Then Needletail had taken her to the rogues. This was the first time she’d had any choice in the matter, and she was choosing to join ShadowClan. They were lucky! “I know I’m not a Clan cat now, but I want to be. I’ve decided to come here. But I can always go to ThunderClan.”

  Worry flashed in Rowanstar’s gaze. “No.”

  “Why?” She met his gaze, surprised at her own boldness.

  “We need you here.” The ShadowClan leader looked suddenly weary. “Perhaps if you come back, the others will too.”

  “That’s their decision.” Violetpaw was unconvinced. “Don’t take me as bait to catch the others. Take me because you want a Clanmate.”

  Spikefur growled under his breath. “Don’t believe her, Rowanstar. The rogues may have sent her. It could be a plot.”

  Violetpaw scowled at the tom. “Do you really think they’d send me if they wanted to infiltrate the Clan? I’m the last cat ShadowClan wants. I’m not even Clanborn.”

  Tawnypelt’s flank brushed hers. “Rowanstar, I think we should take her back. It was brave of her to leave the rogues and risk coming here.”

  Tigerheart nodded. “She may not be Clanborn, but she has the courage of a Clan cat.” He blinked at her warmly.

  Surprise pricked through Violetpaw’s pelt. Was it really going to be this easy? She stared at Rowanstar, her heart beating fast.

  Rowanstar hesitated, glancing around the camp. Then he dipped his head. “Very well. We need all the warriors we can get right now. I welcome you back to ShadowClan as a Clanmate.” He looked toward the fresh-kill pile. “Dawnpelt! You will be Violetpaw’s mentor.”

  Dawnpelt padded toward Violetpaw, her nose wrinkling as she approached. “Okay,” she agreed. “But I’m not training her until she’s washed off that filthy rogue stench.”

  Violetpaw hardly heard her. She didn’t care what she smelled like. Joy flooded her belly. She was going to be a Clan cat again. A real apprentice!

  CHAPTER 14

  Now that she’d been accepted back into ShadowClan, Violetpaw was determined to show what a helpful cat she’d become. She rose early each day to fetch fresh bedding for the elders before Dawnpelt took her out for training. She was always last to take prey from the pile at the end of a long day’s hunting. When Dawnpelt was busy, she would help Puddleshine gather herbs. The last time she’d seen him, Puddleshine had still been an apprentice, but he’d been given his full medicine-cat name when Leafpool had returned to ThunderClan. Violetpaw liked helping him. He was always friendly, although he seemed anxious in his role as the Clan’s medicine cat, and a little overwhelmed by the daily worries of keeping his Clan healthy.

  Her time with the rogues had made her a good hunter, and Dawnpelt was impressed with her skills. Violetpaw didn’t dare explain that Needletail had trained her. She hardly mentioned Needletail or the others, even when her Clanmates asked about them. Rowanstar had pressed her for information about the rogues, but Violetpaw had refused to answer in any detail, saying only that as long as Darktail was leader, they were no threat to the Clan. She’d heard Darktail say that he had no wish to take over ShadowClan territory, and she hoped it was true. Eventually Rowanstar stopped asking. The whole Clan stopped asking, and she knew that she had earned their grudging respect for refusing to betray her former campmates. She’d even overheard Kinkfur talking to Ratscar one evening as she’d padded wearily to her den. “If she won’t betray them, then she won’t betray us.”

  Of course, some of her Clanmates didn’t trust her yet. Snowbird and Scorchfur watched her through narrowed eyes. Spikefur barely spoke to her. Pinenose acknowledged her with polite nods but kept her distance. At least Yarrowleaf and Strikestone were friendly enough, content to share prey with her at the end of the day.

  She missed Needletail, and guilt jabbed her belly every time she thought of her friend. Keeping busy helped her not think about what she??
?d left behind. It also stopped her wondering about Twigpaw and their mother. Could Twigpaw be right? Could their mother still be alive? Perhaps she should have gone with Twigpaw when she’d asked. Violetpaw pushed the questions away and made herself busy each time they popped into her thoughts.

  Today rain dripped through the canopy as she woke. She heard it from inside the cozy apprentices’ den and fluffed out her fur before nosing her way into the clearing. The rest of the Clan was still sleeping as she padded quietly across camp. Weak dawn light hardly showed through the clouds. As she tried to think of a sheltered patch of bracken where she could gather dry stems for the elders’ bedding, Puddleshine padded from the medicine den.

  Worry clouded his gaze.

  “What’s wrong?” Violetpaw hurried toward him, her paws squelching over the muddy ground. She glanced past him toward the medicine-den entrance. She knew Wasptail and Oakfur were inside, sick with a mysterious illness. “Are they worse?”

  “I don’t know what to do.” Puddleshine paced, oblivious to the rain soaking his fur. “I’ve tried every herb I know. I thought it was greencough, but catmint hasn’t helped. Tansy eases their breathing for a while, but their fever is getting worse, and nothing seems to help.”

  “Can I help?” Violetpaw offered. “I can fetch more herbs—”

  “Didn’t you hear me? Herbs aren’t working!” Puddleshine stared at her, panic glittering in his gaze. “I don’t know what to do.”

  “Speak to Rowanstar,” Violetpaw urged, wishing she had something better to suggest. “Perhaps he’s seen the illness before. He might know what Littlecloud used to do.”

  Puddleshine blinked at her gratefully and headed for the leader’s den.

  Violetpaw followed, shaking rain from her pelt.

  “Rowanstar!” Puddleshine called softly through the entrance.

  A husky growl sounded from the shadows. “Who is it?”

  “It’s me, Puddleshine.” The young medicine cat stepped back as Rowanstar slid from his den.