“It’s Oakfur,” Violetpaw told her. “One of our elders.” She moved on to the next nest. “This is Kinkfur.” A ragged she-cat lolled restlessly in a filthy nest.
A few nests away, a black she-cat lifted her head weakly. “My throat hurts.”
Violetpaw blinked at her. “We’re going to fetch you water, Pinenose. It’ll help.” She padded between other nests, where cats lay moaning, and stopped beside a small nest near the back to the den. A young queen crouched beside it, gazing anxiously at a she-kit squirming on the damp bracken.
“Hi, Grassheart,” Violetpaw mewed softly. “How’s Snakekit?”
Grassheart blinked at her, her eyes glittering. “I’ve never seen her this ill.”
Snakekit moaned, and Grassheart ran a soothing paw along her flank.
Twigpaw shivered. These cats were really sick! Suddenly she understood the desperation that had driven Crowfrost to keep her here. ShadowClan needed lungwort badly. Anger surged beneath her pelt. If only Onestar could see the suffering he was causing by his stubbornness!
She faced Violetpaw. “Where do you soak moss?”
“There’s a puddle beside the elders’ den,” Violetpaw told her.
“Good.” Padding to the back of the den, Twigpaw spotted the pile of moss Puddleshine had mentioned. She grabbed a thick wad between her jaws and headed out of the den.
Violetpaw followed, carrying more. They passed Birchpaw and Lionpaw as they bounded out of camp behind Scorchfur and Tigerheart. Violetpaw slipped ahead and led Twigpaw to the puddle. The water was clear, pooled in a hollow lined with bracken. Twigpaw dropped her moss in. “One we’ve made sure every cat has water, we can gather fresh bedding.” She glanced around the camp, relieved to see bracken crowding one corner.
Violetpaw blinked at her. “How do you know what to do?” She sounded impressed.
“I used to hang out in the medicine den,” Twigpaw explained. “I guess I learned a lot.” She leaned down and plucked the dripping moss from the puddle, then hurried back toward the den.
As Violetpaw carried moss to Pinenose’s nest, Twigpaw crouched beside Oakfur. The old tom’s eyes were closed. She nosed the wet moss closer to his cheek. “Can you lap just a little?” she coaxed.
Oakfur grunted, not opening his eyes. Lifting the moss between her teeth, Twigpaw held it to the tom’s lips, pressing it gently so that water ran into his mouth. Oakfur twitched and coughed, and then he swallowed.
Violetpaw looked at her from Pinenose’s nest. “She won’t drink.” Worry darkened her gaze.
“It hurts to swallow,” the black she-cat rasped.
“Let me try.” Twigpaw crossed the den and nudged Violetpaw aside. “Can you fetch water for Kinkfur and the others, please?”
Violetpaw nodded quickly and headed for the entrance, pausing only to snatch the moss from Oakfur’s nest.
“I know it hurts, but you need to drink.” Twigpaw held the dripping moss against the queen’s mouth. Pinenose’s eyes flickered open as the moisture dripped along her jaws. She parted her lips and swallowed, coughing. Then she drew back, her eyes opening fully. She stared at Twigpaw. “Violetpaw?” she mewed hazily. “Is that you?”
“I’m her sister,” Twigpaw told her gently.
“You’re Lionpaw? My kit?” Pinenose looked confused. Her gaze darted anxiously around the clearing. “Where are Puddleshine and Birchpaw? I want you all near me.”
“Puddleshine is eating,” Twigpaw told her gently.
“What about Birchpaw?” Panic flashed in the queen’s glassy gaze.
“Is he your kit too?”
“Yes.” Pinenose pushed herself weakly to her paws. “Is he okay? He’s not sick, is he?”
“He’s fine,” Twigpaw soothed, easing Pinenose back onto her belly.
“What about you, Lionpaw?” Pinenose blinked at her. “Are you sick?”
“No.” Twigpaw wondered whether to tell Pinenose that she wasn’t Lionpaw. But Pinenose was staring at her so desperately that she hesitated. She couldn’t remember anyone looking at her like that before.
“I want Birchpaw,” Pinenose rasped. “I want him here. With you and Puddleshine.”
“He’s out training.”
“But I need him.” Desperation filled Pinenose’s eyes.
“I’m here.” Twigpaw’s throat tightened. Did Lionpaw realize how much her mother loved her?
“Pinenose?” Puddleshine padded into the den.
Pinenose’s gaze softened, as though just seeing another of her kits eased her pain.
Twigpaw moved aside as Pinenose crouched in her place. “We’re giving all the cats water,” she told him. “Then we’ll fetch fresh bracken for their nests.”
Puddleshine blinked at her wearily. “They need more herbs.”
“Have you got any?” Twigpaw scanned the den.
Puddleshine nodded to a pile of shredded leaves. “There’s tansy, coltsfoot, and borage.” Tiredness slurred his words. “I need to chew it into a pulp so that they can swallow it.”
“I can do that,” Twigpaw told him.
Puddleshine stared at her. “You’re not a medicine cat.”
“I used to help Jayfeather and Alderpaw.” Twigpaw padded to the herbs. “You need to rest. You’ll be no help to your Clanmates if you collapse from exhaustion.”
Puddleshine’s tail drooped. “I might close my eyes for a moment.” He rested his chin on his mother’s nest. Pinenose relaxed beside him, her wheezing breath ruffling his fur.
As Puddleshine’s eyes slowly closed and his breath deepened into sleep, Twigpaw crouched over the herb pile. She took a mouthful as she’d seen Alderpaw do and began chewing the leaves to a pulp.
Violetpaw trotted into the den, dripping moss dangling from her jaws.
Twigpaw nodded toward the sleeping medicine cat, hoping Violetpaw wouldn’t wake him. Violetpaw blinked at Puddleshine, her gaze softening as she saw him. She placed the wet moss beside Oakfur and hurried to Twigpaw’s side. “What are you doing?” she whispered.
“I’m giving herbs to the sick cats while Puddleshine rests.” Twigpaw padded to Oakfur’s nest and spat pulp onto her paw. As she smeared it around the sick tom’s lips, she felt his rough tongue graze her pad. He was licking the herbs. “When you’ve given the others water, can you gather bracken so that we can make them clean nests?”
“Of course.” Violetpaw headed out of the den.
Twigpaw watched her leave, relief washing her pelt. Violetpaw did want to help her Clanmates. Growing up here hadn’t made her like Birchpaw and Lionpaw. In fact, she hardly seemed like a ShadowClan cat at all.
Stiff with tiredness, Twigpaw curled into the nest beside Violetpaw. Birchpaw and Lionpaw had fallen asleep ages ago, their bellies full of the prey the sick cats couldn’t eat. Her sister sat up, washing.
“I’m too tired to wash,” Twigpaw whispered.
“I want to get the stench of herbs out of my fur,” Violetpaw answered between licks.
Twigpaw had already cleaned the pulp from her paws, although the taste lingered in her mouth despite the two shrews she’d gulped down at sunset. Worry still wormed in her belly. Oakfur was so sick. Snakekit too. And the others were fighting hard against the illness. What if one of them died during the night?
At least Puddleshine was rested now. He’d slept the day away while she and Violetpaw had tended to the sick cats. It was Pinenose who had finally roused him. She’d woken, her eyes a little brighter, and broken into a purr when she’d found him still sleeping beside her nest.
A thorn seemed to jab Twigpaw’s heart as she remembered the fondness in the she-cat’s gaze. “Do you think our mother loved us as much as Pinenose loves Puddleshine, Birchpaw, and Lionpaw?”
Violetpaw stopped washing. “I’ve never thought about it.”
Twigpaw frowned. “Why not?” She wondered why Violetpaw seemed so detached.
Violetpaw lowered the paw she’d been licking. “I suppose I just assumed that since she was gone, there was no
point thinking about her.”
“But didn’t you miss her?”
“I had Pinenose.”
“But Pinenose didn’t ask for you today,” Twigpaw pointed out softly. “She only asked for her own kits.” She searched Violetpaw’s gaze for a reaction, but Violetpaw seemed unmoved. Pity swamped her. When had Violetpaw stopped expecting to be loved?
“I guess I decided that Pinenose was better than nothing,” Violetpaw mewed simply.
Twigpaw gazed wistfully into space. She’d had Lilyheart, at least. The ThunderClan queen had been fond of her, and kind. But Twigpaw had always been aware that they weren’t real kin. “Just imagine if there was a cat who loved us as much as Pinenose loves her kits.”
“Oh, Twigpaw.” Sympathy flooded Violetpaw’s gaze. “You always want to be close to some cat.”
“Don’t you?” Twigpaw frowned, puzzled.
“I guess I just didn’t think it was possible.” She touched her muzzle to Twigpaw’s cheek. “But I’m glad I’ve got a sister.”
Affection swelled Twigpaw’s heart. “So am I.” She met Violetpaw’s gaze. “I guess being here has given us a chance to get to know each other again.” She searched Violetpaw’s gaze, hoping that her sister felt the same way.
Violetpaw’s eyes clouded. She purred and snuggled down beside Twigpaw. “Let’s never forget we have each other. We’re kin, and that’s stronger than being Clanmates or denmates. We’ll always be close. Nothing will ever change that.”
“Do you promise?” Anxiety pricked Twigpaw’s belly.
“I promise.”
CHAPTER 20
Two sunups later, Violetpaw opened her eyes and blinked through the darkness. Voices in the clearing had woken her. Her breath warmed her paws as she listened.
A growl made her stiffen.
She jerked up her head as a snarl rang through the night air. “Twigpaw! Wake up!” She prodded Twigpaw sharply.
Twigpaw lifted her muzzle, her eyes hardly opening. “What?” Her mew was slurred with sleep.
“Listen!” Violetpaw strained her ears.
“You can’t come in here!” Scorchfur’s growl sounded beyond the den walls.
“We have come to take our Clanmate home!” Bramblestar’s mew cut across the growling of ShadowClan warriors.
Twigpaw opened her eyes wide. “Bramblestar!”
Birchpaw and Lionpaw were stirring in their nests.
“What’s all that noise?” Birchpaw sounded half-asleep.
Violetpaw’s heart lurched. “Quick!” She nosed Twigpaw from the nest. “Let’s hide.”
Twigpaw dug her paws deep into the bracken, refusing to be pushed. “Hide? Why? He’s come to rescue me.”
Violetpaw hardly heard her. “We can tunnel under the brambles at the back of the den and slip out past the dirtplace. If we run fast, we can hide so deep in the forest they’ll never be able to find us!”
Twigpaw stared at her. “But I want to be found.”
Violetpaw froze. “What?” She didn’t understand. Twigpaw had said she wanted to be close to her. They’d talked about being sisters—how that was more important than anything. You made me trust you! “You promised we’d always be close.”
Squirrelflight’s growl sounded outside. “We’re staying until you give her back.”
“Get out!” Dawnpelt’s hiss was hard with rage.
“Give us Twigpaw!”
Lionblaze! Violetpaw recognized the ThunderClan tom’s mew with a start. ThunderClan had brought its strongest warriors. Panic swirled in her mind. “Come hide with me!” she pleaded.
Twigpaw stared at her, her eyes glittering with guilt. “I can’t,” she mewed. “I have to go back to my Clan.”
Birchpaw jerked his head. He glared at Twigpaw. “You’re not going anywhere!” With a hiss, he leaped from his nest and slammed into her.
“No!” Shock jolted through Violetpaw. “Don’t hurt her!”
The pale brown tom had knocked Twigpaw to the ground and was holding her there.
Violetpaw sank her teeth into his scruff and, with a grunt, dragged him off.
Twigpaw scrambled free and shot from the den.
Birchpaw turned on Violetpaw, snarling.
Lionpaw jumped from her nest. “What’s happening?”
“ThunderClan has come to take Twigpaw!” Before her denmates could move, Violetpaw pushed past them and followed Twigpaw out of the den.
ThunderClan cats bunched near the entrance, pelts bristling. Violetpaw recognized Bramblestar, Squirrelflight, Lionblaze, Cloudtail, and Blossomfall among them. Their eyes flashed in the moonlight, glancing at her briefly before their gaze flicked toward the other ShadowClan cats. Did they remember her? She’d been part of their Clan once.
“Twigpaw!” Violetpaw’s heart twisted in her chest as she saw her sister race toward them.
Rippletail lunged at her, but Twigpaw escaped his grasp and zigzagged between Sparrowtail and Mistcloud. She ducked past Scorchfur and Spikefur, who were facing the ThunderClan invaders, their backs arched.
Violetpaw stared in dismay as Twigpaw flung herself against Squirrelflight and nestled beside her. “You can’t leave!” she wailed.
Twigpaw stared at her from among her Clanmates. “I can’t stay.”
Why not? Fury surged through Violetpaw. Why had Twigpaw begged to stay close if she was just going to leave? She padded forward, her pelt bristling as Scorchfur lined up beside Mistcloud, Sparrowtail, and Rippletail. Lionpaw and Birchpaw charged to join them.
Tigerheart strode from the shadows and faced the ThunderClan cats. “Do you really think we’re going to let you take her without a fight?”
Bramblestar’s eyes flashed with scorn. “The fight wouldn’t last long.”
Violetpaw shuddered. He was right. With so many ShadowClan cats sick, and so many of the Clan’s young cats with the rogues, ShadowClan’s warriors were outnumbered in their own camp.
“Let them go.” Crowfrost’s mew was hoarse as he padded heavily from his den. He pushed between his Clanmates and faced Bramblestar. “You can take her.”
Scorchfur stared at the ShadowClan deputy, his pelt spiking. “What are you doing?”
“We’ve held ThunderClan’s apprentice long enough,” Crowfrost growled. “It seemed like a good plan at the start, but now it feels wrong. There is sickness here. We should return her before she gets ill, too. Why should Twigpaw suffer for us?”
“She wasn’t suffering!” Violetpaw cried out desperately.
Scorchfur ignored her. He snarled at Crowfrost. “How else are we going to get the lungwort?”
Spikefur stood beside his denmate. “Our Clanmates are dying!”
“ThunderClan knows that,” Crowfrost told the dark brown tom. “WindClan knows that too. If they want to let innocent cats die, then it is for StarClan to judge them, not us. ShadowClan cats are true warriors.” He turned his accusing gaze on Bramblestar.
Bramblestar’s eyes rounded guiltily. “We tried,” he meowed. “We sent Leafpool and Alderpaw to plead with Onestar. But Onestar is determined to make you suffer.”
Crowfrost curled his lip. “And you’re going to let him.”
Uncertainty darkened Bramblestar’s gaze. He glanced at Squirrelflight. His warriors shifted around him uneasily. “Let’s go,” he meowed at last.
Violetpaw stared helplessly at Twigpaw. We treated you kindly! You helped Puddleshine! Surely her sister must feel some connection with ShadowClan now? “Why can’t you stay?” she mewed plaintively.
Twigpaw looked confused. “ThunderClan is my Clan.”
But I’m your kin. Violetpaw’s heart dropped like a stone as the ThunderClan cats began to back through the tunnel. She watched Twigpaw as shadow swallowed her. She’s gone.
Tigerheart turned on Crowfrost, his eyes blazing. “How could you?”
Spikefur lashed his tail. “You’ve let our only hope disappear.”
Crowfrost stared at them, his gaze clouded. “I couldn’t risk a young cat’s l
ife any longer. What if she got sick here and died?”
“It would have made ThunderClan understand our suffering,” Spikefur snapped.
“We should have fought to keep her!” Scorchfur faced him, ears flat.
“A battle wouldn’t have stopped them.” Crowfrost sounded weary. “And even if we’d managed to keep Twigpaw, do you really think ThunderClan could make Onestar change his mind?”
Spikefur curled his lip. “You’re a coward!” he snarled.
Scorchfur puffed out his chest. “Rowanstar would never have let her go.”
“Rowanstar may not live through the sickness,” Crowfrost reminded him gravely.
“He has nine lives,” Scorchfur retorted.
“And he’s losing them one by one.”
Violetpaw’s gasped at Crowfrost’s words. Was it true? Were their leader’s lives really slipping away?
Spikefur thrust his muzzle close to Crowfrost. “Let’s hope he doesn’t die,” he hissed. “Because you’re no leader.”
Dawnpelt hurried to Crowfrost’s side. “That’s not true.”
Tawnypelt joined her. “Crowfrost made the right decision. Twigpaw was spending too much time with the sick cats. She might have become ill too. What would StarClan think if she died because of us? And Onestar is determined to make us suffer. You know that. Holding Twigpaw here wasn’t going to change anything.”
Spikefur growled. “Now we’ll never know.” He turned his tail on Crowfrost and stalked across the clearing. Scorchfur followed, Birchpaw and Lionpaw at his heels. Rippletail and Mistcloud glanced nervously at each other before following the disgruntled cats. Tigerheart padded toward the shadows, his pelt rippling uneasily.
Tawnypelt blinked at Crowfrost. “You made the right decision.”
Dawnpelt nudged him toward his den. “It’s just a few ruffled pelts, that’s all. They’ll be smooth again by the morning.”
A few ruffled pelts. Violetpaw watched her Clan melt into the shadows, her heart aching. Twigpaw was gone. She’d chosen to go. Sorrow clouded Violetpaw’s eyes. Why did I ever let myself believe that she truly loved me?