Unofficial translation by xK1rarax. Translation corrections by NaikoPink.

Cover editing by Isis Arr.

 AFFILIATIONS

THUNDERCLAN
Leader
FIRESTAR : cat of a
intense reddish color.
Lieutenant
BRATTLE ( BRAMBLECLAW ): tabby cat
dark brown with amber eyes.
Medicine man
GLAYO ( JAYFEATHER ): gray tabby cat
blue eyes.
Warriors
(Cats without kittens)
GRAY WHIP (GRAYSTRIPE): gray haired cat
long.
DUSTPELT: cat
dark brown brindle.
SANDSTORM: cat of
light honey color and green eyes.
 GOLDEN FRONT (BRACKENFUR): cat
golden brown tabby.
Sorreltail (SORRELTAIL): brown and white cat
amber eyes
WHITE NIMBO (CLOUDTAIL): white cat of
long hair and blue eyes.
CENTELLA (BRIGHTHEART): white cat with
cinnamon stains
THORNCLAW: tabby cat
golden brown.
Apprentice (BRIARPAW): Trenchpaw
SQUIRRELFLIGHT: colored cat
dark reddish and green eyes.
LEAFPOOL: cat
Light brown tabby with amber eyes.
SCANCUDO (SPIDERLEG): long black cat
legs, with a brown belly and amber eyes.
BIRCHFALL: brown tabby cat
clear.
BAYO (BERRYNOSE): tan-colored cat.
PINTA (HAZELTAIL): Small gray and white cat.
Apprentice: Flowerpaw (BLOSSOMPAW)
MOUSEWHISKER: gray cat and
white.
Apprentice: Bumblebee (BUMBLEPAW)
CARBONERA (CINDERHEART): tabby cat
Gray.
LIONBLAZE: golden tabby cat
with amber eyes.
FOXLEAP LEAPING (FOXLEAP): tabby cat
reddish
ALBINE CLOUD (ICECLOUD): white cat.
TOADSTEP: black and white cat
ROSE PETAL (ROSEPETAL): colored cat
dark roast
Apprentices
(Over six moons old, they train
to become warriors)
BRIARRAW: brown cat
dark
BLOSSOMPAW: tricolor cat
with white spots
 BUMBLEPAW: light gray cat
with black stripes
Queens
(Pregnant cats or cats caring for kittens
little)
FRONDA (FERNCLOUD): light gray cat with
darker spots, with light green eyes.
DALIA (DAISY): long-haired colored cat
toasted, coming from the enclosure of the
horses.
CANDEAL (WHITEWING): white-eyed cat
greens, mother of Betulón's puppies:
Dovekit (gray kitten) [Dovekit] and Little
Ivy (white tabby kitten) [Ivvkit]
ROSELLA (POPPYFROST): brown cat,
waiting for Bayo's puppies.
Veterans
(Former warriors and queens, now retired)
LONG TAIL (LONGTAIL): tabby cat,
light color with very dark stripes, retired
early due to vision problems.
SHREW (MOUSEFUR): little cat
 dark brown.
PUMA (PURDY): formerly tabby cat
solitary, with gray snout
 SHADOW CLAN
Leader
BLACK STAR: big cat
white with huge black legs like the
jet.
Lieutenant
BERMEJA (RUSSETFUR): reddish cat
dark.
Medicine man
CIRRUS (LITTLECLOUD): very tabby cat
little.
Apprentice: Cola Roso (reddish cat)
[FLAMETAIL]
Warriors
ROBLEDO (OAKFUR): small brown cat
Apprentice (FERRETPAW): Ferret Paw (Cat)
cream and gray)
Rowan (ROWANCLAW): reddish cat
SMOKEFOOT: black cat
TOADFOOT: dark brown cat
APPLEFUR: brown cat
 speckled
CROWFROST: black and white cat.
LOMO RAJADO (RATSCAR): brown cat with
a long scar on the back.
Apprentice: Pinepaw (black cat)
[PINEPAW]
SNOWBIRD: white cat
immaculate.
TAWNYPELT: brown-eyed cat
green
Apprentice: Thrushpaw (red cat)
[STARLINGPAW]
OLIVE (OLIVENOSE): brown cat
OWLCLAW: tabby cat
light brown
TOPINA (SHREWFOOT): gray cat with legs
black
SCORCHFUR: dark gray cat
ROAN WILLOW (REDWILLOW): Brown
mottled and reddish
TIGERHEART: cat
 dark brown tabby
CINNAMON (DAWNPELT): tan cat
QUEENS
PELOSA (KINKFUR): long-haired tabby cat
that points you in all directions.
YEDRA (IVYTAIL): white, black and brown cat
Veterans
CEDARHEART: dark gray cat.
POPPY (TALLPOPPY): brown tabby cat
of course with very long legs.
SNAKETAIL: dark brown cat of
striped tail.
ESPUMOSA (WHITEWATER): white cat
long hair, blind in one eye.
 WIND CLAN
Leader
Whiskered Star (ONESTAR): cat
brown brindle.
Lieutenant
PERLADA (ASHFOOT): gray cat.
Medicine man
GOSHFLIGHT (KESTRELFLIGHT): gray cat
mottled.
Warriors
CROWFEATHER: cat
dark gray.
Owlwhisker: Tabby cat
light brown.
Apprentice: BIGOTTILLO (light brown cat)
[WHISKERPAW]
WHITE TAIL: little cat
white.
BLACK CLOUD (NIGHTCLOUD): black cat.
GENISTA (GORSETAIL): white and black cat.
very light gray, blue eyes
 POLET (WEASELFUR): reddish-footed cat
white.
LEBRON (HARESPRING): brown and white cat.
LEAFTAIL: dark tabby cat
amber eyes
ANTPELT (ANTPELT): brown cat with
a black ear
RESOLDO (EMBERFOOT): gray cat with two
dark legs.
HEATHERTAIL: tabby cat
dark brown with blue eyes
Apprentice: SPINEPAW (gray and white cat)
[FURZEPAW]
BREEZEPELT: black cat with eyes
amber
Apprentice: ROCKY (big pale gray cat)
[BOULDERPAW]
CAÑERA (SEDGEWHISKER): tabby cat
light brown
SWALLOWTAIL: gray she-cat
dark
 SUNSTRIKE: brown cat with
a long white mark on his forehead
Veterans
BRAIDED MANTLE (WEBFOOT): tabby cat
dark gray.
SPLIT EAR: Tabby cat.
 RIVER CLAN
Leader
LEOPARDINE STAR: cat
brindle with unusual golden spots.
Lieutenant
VAHARINA (MISTYFOOT): dark gray cat from
blue eyes.
Healer
MOTHWING: tabby cat
golden in color and amber eyes.
Apprentice: BLIMA (gray tabby cat)
[WILLOWSHINE]
Warriors
JUNCAL (REEDWHISKER): black cat.
Apprentice: HOLLOWPAW (brown tabby cat
dark) [HOLLOWPAW]
TORRENTERO (RIPPLETAIL): tabby cat
dark gray color.
BOIRA (GRAYMIST): light gray tabby cat.
Apprentice: TROUT PAW (pale gray cat
brindle) [TROUTPAW]
 WORMWORM (MINTFUR): gray tabby cat
clear.
NÍVEA (ICEWING): white cat with blue eyes
PALOMINA TAIL (MINNOWTAIL): gray cat
dark
Apprentice: MOSSPAW (brown cat and
white) [MOSSYPAW]
PEBBLEFOOT: gray spotted cat
Apprentice: RAPIDILLO (light brown cat
brindle) [RUSHPAW]
MALLOWNOSE: brown cat
light brindle
PARDALO (ROBINWING): white brown cat
INSECTERO (BEETLEWHISKER): tabby cat
Brown and white
MANTE OF PETALS (PETALFUR): gray cat and
white
GRASSPELT: brown cat
clear
Queens
VESPERTINA (DUSKFUR): brown tabby cat.
 MUSGOSA (MOSSPELT): brown-eyed cat
blues.
Veterans
PRIETO: (BLACKCLAW) grayish black cat
MOSGAÑO (VOLETOOTH): little cat
brown brindle.
ALBINE FLOWER (DAWNFLOWER): very gray cat
clear.
ROANA (DAPPLENOSE): gray mottled cat.
SALTON (POUNCETAIL): white and tan cat.

CATS UNLINKED FROM THE CLANS

HUMAZO (SMOKY): large gray and white cat
that
Farmer lives in the horse enclosure
PELUSA (FLOSS): small gray and white cat
who lives in a horse enclosure

OTHER ANIMALS
MIDNIGHT (MIDNIGHT): badger
stargazer who lives next to the
sea.
 FOREWORD
The water poured over the edge of the rock in
a gentle curve and then roared as it fell into the
abyss. Far below, he foamed in the puddle of
his fall. The rays of the setting sun cast a myriad
of rainbows that danced across the dew.
Three cats sat on the bank of the river, above
the waterfall. They watched as a fourth cat
approached, stalking delicately through the
furry moss that covered the riverbank. Starlight
shone on his paws and misted on his blue-gray
fur.
The newcomer stopped and examined the cats
waiting for her with an icy blue gaze. "In the
name of all clans, why did you choose to gather
here?" He asked, waving a front paw in
irritation. "It's too humid and I can't even hear
myself think."
Another cat, with tattered gray fur, stood up to
look at her. “Stop complaining, Bluestar. I
chose this place because it is humid and noisy.
"I have things to say that I don't want any other
cats to hear."
A golden tabby beckoned with its tail. “Come
and sit next to me. "There's a dry place right
here."
Bluestar walked over to him and sat down with
a disdainful snort. "If this is dry, Lionheart, then
I am a mouse."
Turning to the gray she-cat, he added, “Well,
Yellowfang? What's going on?"
"The prophecy has not been fulfilled,"
Yellowfang meowed. "The Three have finally
united, but two of the cats may not recognize
the third."
"Are you sure we have the right Three this
time?" Bluestar asked sharply.
"You know we have them." The speaker, a
beautiful tortoiseshell white cat, gently bowed
her head toward the cat who had been her clan
leader. "Didn't we all have the same dream the
night the First was born?"
Bluestar moved the tip of her tail. “You could
be right, Spotted. But so many things have
gone wrong that it's hard to trust anything
now."
"Of course you are right." Yellowfang moved
her ears. "But if Glaius and Leonado do not
recognize the chosen one, there could be more
problems. "I want to send them a sign."
"That?" Bluestar stood again, tail wagging as if
she still had authority over the old medicine
cat.
"Yellowfang, have you forgotten that this
prophecy isn't even ours? It could be
dangerous to interfere with her. "I think we
should leave them alone."
Spotted blinked, perplexed. "Dangerous?" "Do
you think it's a good idea to have cats in clans
that are more powerful than the stars?"
Bluestar challenged, facing each cat in turn.
"More powerful than us, your warrior
ancestors?" He moved his tail in a gesture to
include his invisible clanmates, who were in
another part of the beautiful forest full of prey.
"What will happen to ThunderClan if...?"
“Have faith, Bluestar,” Lionheart interrupted
softly. "These are good, loyal cats."
"We thought that about Carrasca!" Bluestar
replied.
"We won't make mistakes again," Yellowfang
meowed. “Wherever the prophecy comes
from, we have to trust it. And we have to trust
our clanmates by the lake."
Spotted opened her mouth to speak, only to
turn sharply at the sound of another cat
skimming through the brush a few foxes away
further upstream. A silver-furred cat stepped
into the light and ran toward them, starlight
swirling around her.
"Feather!" Bluestar exclaimed. "What are you
doing here? Are you spying on us?
"We're all Clanmates now," the former
RiverClan warrior reminded him.
"I guessed why they were meeting and..."
"This is ThunderClan business, Feathertail,"
Yellowfang pointed out, with just a touch of her
sharp yellow teeth.
"No, it is not!" Feathertail looked back at him.
"Gray and Tawny are half of WindClan, sons of
Crowfeather." His blue eyes were filled with
anguish. “I care what happens to them. I have
to watch them. And I feel for Carrasca as much
as you do."
Spotted Tail stretched out her tail to touch the
silver she-cat's shoulder. "She's right. Let her
stay.”
Yellowfang shrugged. "They are not your
children, Feathertail," he warned with
unexpected gentleness. “We can warn them
and guide them, but in the end they will go
their own way.”
"All sons and daughters do that, Yellowfang,"
Bluestar commented.
For a few seconds, Yellowfang's expression
darkened and his amber gaze fixed into the
distance, as if he saw a lifetime of painful
memories drawn in the sky. The sun was
slipping below the horizon, the red-streaked
clouds fading to indigo. In the pool below the
waterfall, the foam gleamed pale in the
shadows.
"So what do we do now?" Lionheart asked.
"Yellowfang, you mentioned sending a signal."
"I still think we shouldn't get involved,"
Bluestar insisted before Yellowfang could
respond. “The third cat is already strong and
intelligent, even if I don't know what his special
power will be. If she's the one, won't she figure
it all out on her own?
"We can't just sit around doing nothing!" -
Feathertail protested, sinking her claws into the
wet ground. "Those young cats need our help."
"I think so too," Lionheart said nodding at the
silver cat. "If we had meddled more," he looked
at Bluestar, "Carrasca might not have gotten
lost."
The fur on Bluestar's neck stood up. “Carrasca
made his own decisions. These cats have to live
their own lives. No cat can do it for them."
"No, but we can guide them," Spottedleaf
meowed. “I agree with Yellowfang. "I think we
should send a signal."
"I can see that everyone has made up their
minds." Bluestar sighed, letting the fur on her
neck smooth out again. "Very well, do as you
wish."
"I will send an omen." Yellowfang bowed his
head; Briefly, the other cats saw beyond her
matted fur and gruff manner to the deep
wisdom of the healer she had once been. "An
omen from the stars."
"Which cat will you send it to?" Bluestar asked.
"Fawn or Jay?"
Yellowfang's amber gaze shone in the last light
as he turned to his former Clan leader. "None,"
he meowed. "I'll send it to the third cat."
 CHAPTER 1
A full moon floated in the clear sky, casting
thick black shadows over the island. The leaves
of the Great Oak rustled in a warm breeze.
Crouched between Sorreltail and Graystripe,
Tawny felt as if he couldn't breathe enough.
"You'd think it would be cooler at night," he
grumbled.
"I know," Graystripe sighed, shifting
uncomfortably on the dry, dusty ground. “This
season is getting hotter and hotter. "I can't
even remember when it last rained."
Tawny stretched to look over the heads of the
other cats at his brother, Glaius, who was
sitting with the medicine cats. Onewhiskerstar
had just reported the death of Hawkfur, and
Goshawkflight, WindClan's remaining medicine
cat, seemed quite nervous about representing
his Clan alone for the first time.
"Glayo says StarClan hasn't told him anything
about the drought," Tawnypaw mewed to
Graystripe. "I wonder if any of the other
healers..."
He was cut off when Firestar, the leader of
ThunderClan, stood up on the branch where he
had been sitting while waiting for his turn to
speak. RiverClan leader Leopardstar looked up
from the branch just below, where she
crouched. Onewhiskerstar, the leader of
WindClan, stood on the fork of a branch a few
tails away, while the leader of ShadowClan,
Blackstar, was visible as a gleam of eyes among
the leaves clustered above the tree. Whiskered
Star branch. "Like any other Clan, ThunderClan
is worried about the heat," Firestar began. “But
we are doing well. Two of our apprentices have
been turned into warriors and given their
warrior names: Thrush Step and Rose Petal."
Tawny jumped on his paws. “Paso Tordo! "Rose
petal!" he shouted. The rest of ThunderClan
joined in, along with several cats from
WindClan and ShadowClan, though Tawny
noticed that the RiverClan warriors were silent,
staring with hostility in their eyes.
<<What stung them?>> He asked himself. It
was selfish for an entire Clan to refuse to greet
a new warrior at a gathering. He twisted his
ears. He wouldn't forget it the next time
Leopardstar announced a new appointment to
RiverClan.
The two new ThunderClan warriors hung their
heads in shame, though their eyes sparkled as
they were greeted by the Clans.
Whitepaw, Dustpaw's former mentor, brimmed
with pride, while Squirrelflight, who had been
Rosepetal's mentor, watched the young
warriors with glistening eyes.
"I'm still surprised Firestar chose Squirrelflight
as a mentor," Tawnypaw muttered to himself.
"After she told all those lies that we were her
children."
"Firestar knows what he's doing," Graystripe
replied; Tawny grimaced as he realized that the
gray warrior had heard every word of his
criticism. "He trusts Squirrelflight and wants to
show everyone that she is a good warrior and a
valued member of ThunderClan."
"I guess you're right." Tawny blinked miserably.
He had loved and respected Squirrelflight so
much when he thought she was his mother, but
now he felt cold and empty when he looked at
her. She had betrayed him and his littermates
too deeply to forgive her. TRUE?
"If you're done..." Leopardstar spoke over the
last of the welcoming howls and stood, fixing
her gaze on Firestar.
"RiverClan still has a report to give."
Firestar bowed his head politely to the
RiverClan leader and took a step back, sitting
back down with his tail wrapped around his
paws. "Go ahead, Leopard Star."
The leader of RiverClan was the last to speak in
the assembly; Tawny had watched his tail wag
impatiently as the other leaders gave their
reports. Now his piercing gaze traveled across
the cats crowded in the clearing, while the fur
on his neck bristled with fury.
"Prey thieves!" she hissed.
"That?" Tawny jumped; His yelp of surprise was
lost in the clamor as more cats from
ThunderClan, WindClan, and ShadowClan
jumped up to protest.
Leopardstar looked at them, fangs bared,
making no attempt to quell the tumult.
Instinctively Tawny looked up, but there were
no clouds ready to cover the moon; StarClan
showed no anger at the outrageous accusation.
<<As if any of the other clans wanted to steal
your slimy, stinky fish!>>
He noticed for the first time how thin the
RiverClan leader looked, her bones sharp as
flints beneath her mottled fur. The other
RiverClan warriors were the same, Tawny
noted, looking around; even thinner than his
own clanmates and the ShadowClan warriors,
and even thinner than the WindClan cats, who
looked thin when they were well fed.
"They're starving..." he muttered.
"We're all starving," Graystripe replied.
Tawny let out a sigh. What the gray warrior said
was true. In ThunderClan they had been forced
to hunt and train at dawn and dusk to avoid the
scorching heat of the day. In the hours
surrounding sunset, the cats spent their time
curled up sleeping in the precious shade at the
foot of the stone wall. For once, the Clans were
at peace, though Tawny suspected it was only
because they were too weak to fight, and no
Clan had prey worth fighting for.
Firestar stood up again and raised his tail for
silence. The meowing gradually died down and
the cats sat back down, directing angry glances
at the RiverClan leader.
"I'm sure you have good reasons for accusing
us all like that," Firestar mewed when he could
make himself heard. "Would you like to explain
it?"
Leopardstar whipped her tail. "You've all been
pulling fish out of the lake," he growled. "And
those fish belong to RiverClan."
"No, it's not like that," Blackstar objected,
poking her head out of the foliage. “The lake
borders all our territories. "We have as much
right to fish as you do."
"Especially now," Onewhiskerstar added. “We
are all suffering from the drought. Prey are
scarce in all territories. "If we can't eat fish, we
will die of hunger."
Tawny looked at the two leaders in
amazement. Were ShadowClan and WindClan
really so hungry that they had been adding fish
to their piles of fresh meat? Things must have
been really bad.
"But it's worse for us," insisted Leopard Star.
"RiverClan doesn't eat any other prey, so all fish
should belong to us."
"That's mouse brains!" Squirrelflight jumped,
lashing her bushy tail. "Are you saying
RiverClan can't eat any other prey? Do you
admit that your warriors are so incompetent
that they can't even catch a mouse? "
"Squirrelpaw." Brambleclaw, ThunderClan's
lieutenant, spoke with authority as he stood
from the root oak where he had been sitting
with the other Clan lieutenants. His voice was
coldly polite as he continued. "It is not your
duty to speak here. However," he added,
looking at Leopardstar, "she's right."
Tawnypaw grimaced at Brambleclaw's tone,
and couldn't suppress a pang of sympathy for
Squirrelflight when she sat back down, her
head bowed like an apprentice scolded in
public by her mentor. Even after six moons,
two full seasons, Brambleclaw had not forgiven
his former partner for claiming his sister
Leafpool's kits as hers, and therefore his as
well. Tawnypaw still felt dazed every time he
reminded himself that Brambleclaw and
Squirrelflight were not his real father and
mother. He and his brother, Jay, were the sons
of the former ThunderClan medicine cat,
Leafpool, and Crowfeather, a WindClan warrior.
Since the truth had come out, Brambleclaw and
Squirrelflight had barely spoken to each other,
and although Brambleclaw never punished
Squirrelflight by giving her the most difficult
tasks or the most dangerous patrols, he made
sure that their paths never crossed while
carrying out their duties.
Squirrelflight's lie had been bad enough, but it
all went wrong when she admitted what she
had done. She had told the truth in a desperate
attempt to save her kits from Ashfur's
murderous fury by not being chosen in favor of
Brambleclaw, moons before Leonpaw and his
littermates were born. Leonado and Glaio's
sister, Carrasca, had killed Ashfur to prevent
him from revealing the secret at a meeting.
Then Carrasca disappeared behind a landslide
when he tried to escape through the tunnels to
start a new life. Now the brothers had to
accept that they were half Clan and that their
father, Crowfeather, wanted nothing to do with
them. And on top of that, there were still
suspicious glances from some of his own
Clanmates, making Tawny's fur burn with rage.
<<As if we would suddenly become disloyal
because we found out our father is a WindClan
warrior!>>
Who would want to join those skinny rabbit-
eaters?
Tawny looked at Glaius, wondering if he was
thinking the same thing. His brother's blind
blue eyes turned to Brambleclaw, and his ears
were alert, but it was hard to tell what was
going through his mind. To Tawnypaw's relief,
the rest of the cats seemed too focused on
what Leopardstar was saying to pay attention
to the gap between Brambleclaw and
Squirrelflight.
“The fish in the lake belong to RiverClan,”
Leopardstar continued, her voice thin and high
like the wind through the reeds.
"Any cat that tries to take them will feel our
claws. "From now on, I will instruct our border
patrols to include the area around the water on
all sides."
"You can not do that!" Blackstar pushed her
way through the leaves and jumped to a lower
branch, where she could stare menacingly at
Leopardstar. "The territories have never
extended to the lake."
Tawny imagined the lake as it had been, its
waves breaking gently against the grassy banks
with only narrow strips of sand and pebbles
here and there on the shore. Now the water
had shrunk by half, leaving vast expanses of
mud that dried and cracked under the
merciless sun of the green leaf season. Surely
Leopardstar did not want to claim those barren
spaces as RiverClan territory.
"If any RiverClan patrol lays a paw on our
territory," Onewhiskerstar growled, fangs
bared, "they'll wish they hadn't."
"Leopard Star, listen." Tawny Fawn could tell
that Firestar was trying to stay calm, even
though the hair on his neck and shoulders was
starting to stand up. "If you continue like this,
you will cause a war between the clans. Cats
will get hurt. Don't we have enough problems
without looking for more?
"Firestar is right," Sorreltail murmured into
Tawnypaw's ear. "We should try to help each
other, not ruffle our fur and prepare for a
fight."
Leopardstar crouched as if to pounce on the
other leaders, letting out a wordless growl and
sticking out her claws.
<<We're on a truce!>> Tawny thought, his eyes
widening in dismay. <<A clan leader attacking
another cat at an assembly? It can't happen!>>
Firestar had tensed, bracing himself in case
Leopardstar lunged at him. Instead, he leaped
to the ground with a furious hiss, waving his tail
as his warriors gathered around him.
"Stay away from our fish!" He blurted out as he
led them through the bushes surrounding the
clearing, towards the bridge of trees that led to
the island. Her Clanmates followed her, casting
hostile glances at the other three Clans as they
passed them. Murmurs of speculation and
commentary erupted as they left, but then
Firestar's voice rang with authority above the
noise.
“The assembly is over! We must return to our
territories until the next full moon. May
StarClan light our paths!"

Tawnypaw walked behind his leader as the

ThunderClan cats walked around the edge of
the lake towards their own territory. The water
was barely visible, just a flash of silver in the
distance; The pale moonlight reflected on the
surface of the drying mud. Tawny wrinkled his
nose at the smell of rotting fish.
<<If their prey stink like this, RiverClan can have
them!>>
Ahead of him, Brambleclaw trudged alongside
Firestar, with Dustpelt and Leafpaw on the
other side of the Clan leader.
"What are we going to do?" the lieutenant
asked. “Leopard Star will send out her patrols.
What will happen when we find them in our
territory? "
Firestar's ears twitched. "We have to deal with
this carefully," he meowed. “Is the bottom of
the lake our territory? "We would never have
thought to claim it when it was covered in
water."
Dustpelt snorted. “If the dry land borders our
territory, it is now ours. "RiverClan has no right
to hunt or patrol there."
"But they look so hungry," Fronda meowed
softly. “And ThunderClan never took fish from
the lake anyway. "Can't we let them take it?"
Dustpelt briefly touched his nose to his
partner's ear. "Prey is scarce for us too," he
reminded him.
"We will not attack the RiverClan warriors,"
Firestar decided. “Not unless they get their
paws on ThunderClan territory within our scent
marks. Three tails from the shore, just as we
agreed when we got here. Brambleclaw, make
sure the patrols understand that when you
send them out tomorrow.”
“Of course, Firestar,” the lieutenant responded,
with a flick of his tail.
Tawny's fur stood on end. Although he
respected Firestar's conclusion because he was
the leader of the Clan, Taypaw wasn't sure he
had made the right decision this time. Won't
RiverClan think we're weak if we let them pass
our side of the lake?
He jumped with a touch of his tail on his
hindquarters and looked around to see that
Glaius had caught up to him.
"Leopard Star must have bees on the brain,"
her brother announced. "She will never get her
way. "Sooner or later, cats will get their claws
out."
"I know." Curiously, Tawnycat added, “I heard
some ShadowClan cats at the assembly say that
Leopardstar lost two lives recently. It's true?"
Glaius gave him a curt nod. "Yeah." "She never
announced it," Leonado said.
Glaius stopped and looked at his brother with
such keen intelligence that Tawny could hardly
believe his bright blue eyes could see nothing.
“Come on, Tawny. When does a clan leader
announce that he has lost a life? It would make
them look weak. "Cats don't necessarily know
how many lives their own leader has left."
"I suppose so," Leonado admitted, moving
forward.
"Leopardstar lost a life from a scratch from a
thorn that became infected," Glaius continued.
“And then immediately after that, she
contracted some kind of illness that left her
terribly thirsty and weak as well. "I couldn't
even walk to the creek for a drink."
"Did Mothwing and Blima tell you all that?"
Tawny asked, knowing that the healers would
confide in each other without thinking about
the clan rivalries that made the warriors wary
of saying too much.
"It doesn't matter how I found out," replied
Glaius. "I know, that's all."
Tawny suppressed a shiver. Even though he
knew that Glaius' powers came from prophecy,
it still bothered him that his brother walked
paths that no cat, nor any other healer, had
ever trod before. Glaius knew things without
being told—not even by StarClan. He could
walk in other cats' dreams and learn their
deepest secrets.
"I guess that's why Leopardstar is getting so
upset with the fish," Tawnypaw murmured,
waving away his unease.
"He wants to show his Clan that he is still
strong."
"She's doing it the wrong way," Glaius stated
flatly. "She must know that she cannot make
the other Clans follow her orders. "RiverClan
will be worse off in the end than if they had
fought the drought on their own territory, like
the rest of us."
They were approaching the stream that marked
the border between WindClan and
ThunderClan. The water that had spilled into
the lake.
The water that poured into the lake in a noisy
torrent in the last new leaf season had been
reduced to a narrow stream of green silt, easy
to jump over. Tawny breathed a sigh of relief as
he dove into the brush beyond, beneath the
familiar trees of his own territory.
"Maybe it'll all be over," he meowed hopefully.
"Leopardstar will see the point when she thinks
about what the other leaders told her at the
assembly."
Glaius snorted in contempt. “The hedgehogs
will fly before Leopardstar retreats. "No,
Leonado, the only thing that will solve our
problem is for the lake to fill up again."

Tawny walked through the long, lush grass, his

paws digging into the water with every step. A
cool breeze ruffled his fur. At any moment now,
he could bow his head and drink as much as he
wanted, easing the thirst that burned inside
him like a thorn. A vole jumped out of the reed
bed in front of him, but before Tawny could
jump over, something hard hit him in the side.
He awoke and found himself in his bed in the
warriors' den, with White Cloud standing over
him. His fur felt sticky and the air smelled of
dust.
"Wake up," the white warrior meowed, giving
Tawny another push. "What are you, a
rodent?"
"Did you have to do that?" Tawny complained.
"I was having a big dream..."

"And now you can do a big water patrol."

White Cloudpaw's tone was not sympathetic.
Since the streams that fed the lake had dried
up, the only source of water was the shallow,
salty pool in the middle of the lake bed. Patrols
came down several times a day to collect water
for the clan, as well as hunting and patrolling as
usual. The nights of the green leaf season
seemed shorter than ever when all the cats
were tired of the extra chores.
Tawny's jaws opened in a huge yawn. "Okay,
I'm coming."
He followed Cloudcloud out of the lair,
brushing bits of moss from his hair. The sky was
pale with the first light of dawn, and although
the sun had not yet risen, the air was hot and
heavy. Tawny groaned inwardly at the thought
of another dry, scorching day.
Pinta, his apprentice, Flowerpaw, Bay and
Snowcloud were sitting outside the den; They
stood up when Whitecloud appeared with
Tawny. None of them had been at the assembly
the night before, but Tawny could tell from
their tense expressions that they knew of
Leopardstar's threats.
"Let's go." White Cloudhead waved his tail
towards the tunnel of thorns.
As Tawnywalked through the forest behind the
white warrior, he heard Bayo boasting to
Faircloud, “RiverClan better not mess with us
when we get to the lake. "I'll teach any cat not
to mess with me."
Albino Cloud muttered something in response
that Tawny didn't catch. <<Bayo thinks it's so
cool>> , he thought. <<But it's mouse-brained
to look for trouble when none of us are strong
enough for a battle>>.
To their relief, White Cloud led his patrol to the
foot of a huge oak tree and ordered them to
gather bundles of moss to soak in the lake.
Bayo couldn't keep telling Albino Cloud about
what a fantastic warrior he was when he had
his mouth full of fluffy green balls.
When they reached the lake, Whitecloud
paused briefly at the edge, looking down at the
bottom of the lake. It looked dry and dusty near
the center, with jagged cracks running through
it; Farther away, it shone in the pale light of
dawn. While trying to figure out where the mud
ended and the water began, Tawny spotted the
tiny figures of four cats, far away along the
mud. He left his bundle of moss and tested the
air; the faint smell of RiverClan wafted over
him, mixed with the familiar stench of dead
fish.
"Now listen," White Cloudpaw began, laying
down his own burden. "RiverClan can't object
to us drinking water, and Firestar has already
said that he doesn't want any fights. Do you
have it, Bayo? He gave the younger warrior a
hard look.
Bayo nodded reluctantly. "Good," he muttered
through a mouth full of moss.
"Make sure you don't forget." With a final
glance, White Cloud led his patrol through the
mud towards the distant lake.
The surface of the mud was hard at first, but as
the patrol got closer to the water, Leonado
found his paws sinking with every step. “This is
disgusting,” he muttered, his words muffled by
the moss as he tried to brush off the sticky pale
brown stains. "I will never be clean again."
As they approached the water's edge, he saw
that the RiverClan cats had gathered together
and were waiting for them, blocking their path:
Juncal and Boira, with Nutria and his
apprentice, Soplo. They all looked thin and
exhausted, but their eyes shone with hostility
and their fur stood on end as if they were
about to rush into battle for a pair of mouse
tails.
Juncal took a step forward. "Have you forgotten
what Leopardstar told you last night at the
Gathering?" challenge. "The fish in the lake
belong to RiverClan."
"We're not here to fish," Snowcloud replied
calmly, putting down his moss. “We just want
water. You're not going to deny us that, are
you?
"Are there no streams in your territory?" Boira
asked.
"The streams have dried up, as you well know."
Tawny saw the tip of White Cloudpaw's tail
twitch irritably as he responded; the fiery white
warrior was finding it difficult to control his
temper. "We need water from the lake."
"And we will take it, whether you like it or not,"
Bayo added, dropping his moss and taking a
menacing step forward.
Instantly, the four RiverClan cats bared their
claws. "The lake belongs to us," hissed Otter.
Flowerpaw's eyes widened in dismay and Pinta
stepped forward, pulling her apprentice behind
her. Tawny braced himself and unsheathed his
claws, ready to pounce.
White Cloudpaw turned to face his patrol.
"Keep your mouth shut!" ordered Bayo.
"Are you going to let them talk to us like that?"
Bayo challenged. "I'm not afraid of them, even
though you are."
White Cloud stepped forward until he was nose
to nose with the younger warrior, his eyes like
chunks of ice. "One more word and you'll be
looking for ticks on veterans until the next
moon. You understand?"
Tawny felt a tingle of surprise run beneath his
fur. White Cloudhead was feisty at the best of
times, but I had never seen him so angry with
one of his own clanmates. It was as if collecting
water was the most important thing in the
world to White Cloud, and perhaps it was, with
his Clan weakened by thirst and growing
weaker. Tawny Wondered what would happen
if RiverClan managed to prevent the other
Clans from going near the water. Would three
of the four clans become extinct?
Without waiting for Bay's response, Whitecloud
turned around and addressed the RiverClan
cats again. "I apologize for my warrior," he
meowed. His voice was strained; Leonado
realized the effort he was making to stay polite.
“I think it took too much sun. "Now, I would
appreciate it if you would allow us to have
some water."
For a moment, Juncal stopped. Tawny felt his
paws itch with the need to rush into battle.
White Cloud had warned them that they were
too weak to fight, but little did he know that
Tawny was one of the three and had the power
to fight the fiercest battles without receiving a
single scratch. <<But I know we have enough
problems without fighting among ourselves>>.
Finally, Juncal took a step back, motioning with
his tail for the rest of his patrol to do the same.
"Take water, but no fish," he growled.
<<We are not here to fish. How many more
times will we have to tell you that? >> Leonado
thought.
"Thank you." White Cloudpaw lowered his head
and approached the water's edge. Tawny
followed him, aware of the hostile gaze of the
RiverClan cats boring into his back, watching his
every move. His fury welled up again. <<This is
stupid! Do you think I can smuggle a fish under
my fur?>>
He could see that his clanmates were also
angry; The tip of Cloudcloud's tail moved and
Bayo's eyes were burning, although he knew he
should remain silent. The cats' fur was standing
on end and they looked over their shoulders at
the RiverClan cats as they passed by.
Tawny soaked his moss in the lake water and
licked a few bites. It was warm and tasted of
dirt and weeds, barely quenching his thirst. He
forced himself to swallow, grimacing as the
gritty liquid slid down his throat. The sun had
risen, its strong rays cutting through the
treetops, and there was no sign of a cloud from
one horizon to the other.
<<How much longer can we continue like this?
>>
 Episode 2
Glaius took the herbs in the storeroom at the
back of his lair. The leaves and stems felt dry
and crunchy, and their odors were musty. <<I
should stock up for the leaf fall season>> , he
thought.
<<But how can I do it when there are no fresh
sprouts?>>
The pressure of being ThunderClan's only
healer weighed like a stone in his belly. He
remembered all the times he had complained
about Leafpool telling him what to do. Now he
wished that she had never given up as a healer
and gone to live in the warriors' den. <<What
did it matter if I had children? She still knew all
about herbs and what to do when a cat is
hurt>>.
His skin prickled with the bitter memory of a
few days ago, when Scabbardpaw rushed into
camp and stopped in front of his lair.
"Glayo!" panting. "Come quickly! Firestar is
hurt!"
"That? Where?"
"A fox caught him!" The young apprentice's
voice trembled with fear. "At the ShadowClan
border, near the dead tree."
"Okay, I'm coming." Inside, Glaius felt just as
scared, but he forced himself to sound
confident. "Go find Leafpool and tell her."
Scabbardpaw let out a gasp, but Jay didn't stop
to ask why. Grabbing some horsetail stalks, he
ran through the tunnel of thorns and headed
towards the ShadowClan border. Only when he
was on his way did he remember that Leafpool
was no longer a healer.
Before reaching the dead tree, the smell of
blood led him to their leader. Firestar was lying
on his side in a clump of ferns, his breath
coming hard and shallow. Sandstorm and
Graystripe crouched over him while Thornthorn
watched from atop a tree stump.
"Thank you StarClan!" Sandstorm exclaimed as
Glaius ran over. "Firestar, Glaius is here. Just
wait."
"What happened?" Glaius asked, running his
paws gently over Firestar's side. His stomach
lurched as he discovered a long wound with
blood still pouring from it.
"We were patrolling, and a fox jumped out at
us," Graystripe replied. "We chased him, but..."
His voice was choked.
“Find some cobwebs,” Glaius ordered. He
began to chew the horsetail to make a poultice.
<<Where is Leafpool?>> he asked himself in
agony. <<I don't know if I'm doing the right
thing>>.
He placed the poultice on the wound in his
leader's side, tying it with the webs that
Graystripe brought him on his paws, but before
he finished he heard Firestar's breathing
become slower and slower, until he finally
stopped. .
"He's losing a life," Sandstorm whispered.
Glaius groggily continued to fix the poultice in
place, so that when Firestar recovered he
would not lose any more blood. Time seemed
to stretch unnaturally, and Glaius's mind spun
as he tried to count how many lives his leader
had left.
<<That wasn't his last life, was it? It can't be!>>
He had almost given up hope, when Firestar
coughed, his breathing quickened again, and he
lifted his head. "Thank you, Glaius," she
meowed weakly. "Don't look so worried. "I'll be
fine in a few seconds."
But when Firestar set off back to camp, leaning
on Graystripe's shoulder, with Sandstorm
walking eagerly on his other side and
Thornthorn bringing up the rear, Glaius had not
been able to forgive himself.
He needed Leafpool, and she wasn't here. Her
former mentor didn't appear until they were at
the stone wall. She had been hunting on the
WindClan border, and it had taken Trenchpaw
all that time to find her.
"You did your best," she assured Glaius when
he told her what had happened. "Sometimes
that's all you can do."
But Glaius was not convinced; he knew that
Leafpool would have saved Firestar if she had
been there.
<<My clan leader lost a life because of me, he
told himself bitterly. What kind of healer does
that make me?>>
Now he finished sorting the herbs, took a
mouthful of ragwort, and headed to the
veterans' den. When he crouched under the
outer branches of the hazel tree, he found
Shrew curled up near the trunk, snoring softly,
while Longtail and lonely old Cougar sat side by
side in the shade of the rock wall.
"So this badger, look, he was looking for
trouble, and I tracked him down..." Puma broke
off as Glaio entered the lair. "Hello, young man!
What can we do for you?"
"Eat these herbs." Glaius dropped the stalks
and carefully divided them into three. "It's
ragwort; it will keep your strength up."
He heard Puma gasp as the lonely old man
walked over and poked the grasses with one
paw. "Those things? "They look fun to me."
"It doesn't matter what they look like," Glaius
hissed through clenched teeth. "Just eat it.
"You too, Longtail."
"Well." The blind veteran walked over and
licked the herbs. "Come on, Puma," he
meowed through the bit. "You know they will
do you good." His voice was hoarse and his
steps trembled. All of Glaius's fur prickled with
anxiety. The whole Clan was hungry and thirsty,
but Longtail seemed to be suffering greatly.
Glaius suspected that he was giving Shrew his
share of food and water.
If I can get Puma alone, I'll ask him.
Puma growled in disbelief, but Glaius heard him
chewing on the ragwort. "It tastes bad," the
lonely old man complained.
Glaius gathered the remaining herbs and
walked towards Shrew. The veteran was
already waking up, awakened by the sound of
voices. "What do you want?" he demanded.
"Can't a cat sleep here?"
He sounded as irritable as ever, which assured
Glaius that he was at least managing to cope
with the heat. <<When Shrew sounds nice and
sweet, I'll really start to worry!>> "Rapewort,"
he meowed. "You have to eat it." Shrew let out
a sigh. “I guess you’ll scold me until I do it. Well,
while I'm eating it, you can tell me what
happened last night at the Assembly."
Glaius waited until he heard the old cat begin
to nibble on the grass, then began to tell of the
previous night's assembly.
"That?" Shrew choked on a blade of ragwort
when Jay reached the point where Leopardstar
had claimed the lake and all the fish. "She can't
do that!"
Glaius shrugged. "Did. "He said RiverClan
deserves to have all the fish because they can't
eat any other kind of prey."
"And StarClan let her get away with it?" Shrew
hissed. "Weren't there clouds covering the
moon?"
"If there had been, the assembly would have
been dissolved."
"What are our warrior ancestors thinking?"
Shrew growled. "How could they stand by and
let that mangy cat decide that no other clan
can use the lake?"
Glaius could not answer him. He hadn't
received any signals from StarClan recently, not
since the start of the warm weather.
<<Leafpool would have heard from StarClan by
now ,>> he thought. <<They would have told
him what to do to help the Clan. They would
have told him what to do to help the Clan>>.
Leaving Shrew to mutter darkly about the last
of the ragwort, Jayus made his way out of the
veterans' den and headed into the clearing. As
he passed by the apprentices' den, he caught a
couple of unexpected smells. "Now what's
happening?" he mewed irritably.
He walked to the den and peeked his head
through the ferns that covered the entrance.
He could hear muffled whispers and rustling
between the moss and the beds of the
apprentices' nests.
“Dove! Little Ivy!" he growled. “Get out of
there. "They are not apprentices yet."
The two cubs ran out of the den, choking with
laughter as they stopped next to Jay and
brushed bits of moss off their fur.
"We were just looking!" Tortolilla protested.
"We'll be apprentices any day, so we wanted to
pick good spots for our new beds."
"Side by side," Little Ivy added. "We're going to
do all our training together."
"That's right," Tortolilla meowed. "And we will
never go on patrol with other cats."
Glaius snorted, not sure if he was amused or
frustrated. “In your dreams, little ones. The
other trainees will tell them where they are
going to sleep. And their mentors will tell them
when to patrol and who to go with.”
The two puppies were silent for a couple of
seconds. Then Tortolilla burst out: "We don't
care! Come on,
Little Ivy, tell Candeal that we saw the lair!"
Glaio stayed in place for a moment as the two
cubs headed towards the nursery. He felt a
pain in his chest as he remembered when he
had been a puppy and believed he had a
mother to brag about. Now he only had
Leafpool.
As if the thought had called to her, the scent of
his real mother drifted toward him as she
emerged from the tunnel of thorns with the
rest of a hunting patrol. Tasting the air, Jay
noticed that Dustpelt, Goldenleaf, and even his
apprentice Bumblebee were carrying fresh
meat, but Leafpool had none.
Glaius's lip curled into a sneer.
<<All he's caught are fleas! She is a healer, not
a warrior. She should be helping me, not trying
to pretend that her whole story vanished the
day the truth came out.
He heard the footsteps of Leafpool's claws
approaching him, but he didn't want to talk to
her. He turned his head and felt her sadness as
he passed by her. She didn't try to speak, but
he could sense her loneliness and sense of
defeat as sharply as if they were his own. <<It's
like he's given up every bit of fighting he had!>>
Glayo could also sense the discomfort of the
rest of the patrol, as if they no longer knew
how to treat Leafpool. She had been their
trusted healer for so long that they didn't want
to punish her for loving a WindClan cat once,
but it seemed like they no longer knew how to
treat her as a beloved and loyal Clanmate.
The hunting patrol began to put their prey on
the pile of fresh meat. Sparkle followed them
through the tunnel of thorns; Glaius caught the
taste of the yarrow it carried.
"That's great, Twinkle," he said. "I wasn't sure
you could find any, and we're totally empty."
"There are some plants near the old two-legged
nest," murmured Twinkle with a mouth full of
stems as she headed towards the medicine
cat's den.
Many seasons ago, her elder, Cinderpelt, had
taught Twinkle the basic uses of herbs and how
to treat minor wounds and illnesses. Ever since
Jay had become ThunderClan's sole healer,
Twinkle had been helping him by gathering
herbs and with simple wounds. He knew she
could never be his true apprentice, she was
older than him and committed to being a
warrior, but he was grateful for her support.
Furthermore, I don't need to choose an
apprentice yet. That was for older healers; He
felt countless moons stretching out in front of
him, vibrating under his paws like the ancient
footprints he walked along next to the Lunar
Lagoon. And of course, there was still the
Prophecy to fulfill before it was his turn to join
StarClan. <<There will be three... who will have
the power of the stars in their paws>>.
The sun was already high above the trees,
setting so low that Glaius's fur felt like it was on
fire. I can almost smell the smoke!
Then his nose twitched. The pungent smell that
tickled his nose was really smoke. His hair
prickling with fear, he tested the air for a
couple of seconds, just to be sure, and located
the scent at the edge of the hole, near the
veterans' lair.
"Fire!" he shouted, lunging toward the burning
smell.
Almost in the same second, he stumbled as
Tortolilla sped past him, her skin brushing
against his as she ran toward the center of the
clearing.
"Fire!" she screeched. "The Clan is on fire!"
Glaius was impressed that she had smelled the
smoke so quickly. <<I thought my nose was the
best in the Clan! But there was no time to think
about that now>>. He had to find the fire and
put it out before it spread to the rest of the
camp.
More howls erupted behind Glaius as he ran
towards the hazel tree. He smelled
Goldenfrond running beside him and blurted
out:
"Get the veterans out of their lair!"
The golden warrior turned toward the
entrance; Glaius ran past the lair, guided by the
smell of smoke. As he approached the rock wall
he could hear the crackling of flames. A wave of
heat met him and he stopped. Frustration over
his blindness washed over him, fierce as fire.
<<I don't know where to attack him!>>
Then another cat pushed him out of the way;
Jay caught the scent of Graystripe, with Firestar
and Squirrelflight right behind him.
“We need water,” the Clan leader meowed
dryly. "Glayo, look for some cats to go down to
the lake."
"That will take too long," Graystripe shouted.
"Throw dust into the fire, quick!"
Glaius heard the sound of vigorous scraping,
but the smoke and flames did not go out. He
turned around, about to obey Firestar's order,
when he heard the sound of several cats
running towards the fire.
“White Nimbus! Tawny!" Firestar exclaimed.
"Thank you StarClan!"
Glaius caught the smell of damp moss as his
brother and several other cats passed him.
There was a loud hiss and the pungent smell of
smoke suddenly became much stronger. It
caught in his throat and he pulled back,
coughing.
Moments later, Leonado joined him. "That was
close!" panting. "If we hadn't come at that
time, the entire camp could have burned
down."
"Are you sure the fire is out?" Glaius asked,
blinking his eyes that were burning with smoke.
"Firestar is checking it out." Tawny let out a
long sigh. “And now I guess we'll have to go get
more water. I just hope the RiverClan cats are
gone."
"RiverClan?" Glaius felt the hair on his neck
begin to stand up.
"There was a patrol when we arrived," Leonado
explained. “We almost had to fight for a few
drinks of water. "If the RiverClan cats are still
there, they certainly won't welcome us." His
voice was filled with anger. "They looked like
they were counting every drop!"
Glaius's tail drooped as he stood next to his
brother in the sooty remains of the fire. Around
them, the cats were beginning to remove the
burned rubble of the camp; The strong smell
made him cough again.
<<Will this be the end of the clans?>> He asked
himself. <<Like the shrinking lake? So ordinary
and frustrating and so bitter and painfully
slow?>>
Tawny touched his nose to Glaius's shoulder in
a gesture of comfort. “Remember, we will be
Three again,” he murmured.
"Candeal's daughters are also related to
Firestar."
Glaius shrugged. "How can we be sure? Why
hasn't StarClan sent us a signal? "
"We don't know if the prophecy came from
them in the first place," his brother noted.
"But they-"
A loud howl from across the clearing
interrupted what Glaius was about to say. "Hey,
Glaius!"
Glaius's whiskers twitched as he recognized the
voice of the most annoying cat in the Clan.
"What's happening now, Bayo?" He asked with
a sigh, turning in her direction.
Bayo approached to receive him; Glaius
detected Rosella's scent right behind him.
"Rosella will have cubs," the young warrior
announced importantly. "My puppies."
"Congratulations," Glaius murmured.
"I want you to tell him that he has to rest and
take care of himself," Bayo continued. "Having
puppies can be dangerous, right?"
"Well...sometimes," Glaius admitted.
"Yes, I heard that cubs can come too early, or
they can be weak, or..."
"Bayo," interrupted Rosella; Glaius could hear
his anguish as clearly as if he had meowed it to
the entire camp.
"I'm sure I'll be fine."
"Or the puppies take a long time to arrive,"
Bayo concluded, as if his partner had not
spoken.
"There may be problems, but..." Glaius moved
forward until he could give Rosella a good sniff.
"She's a healthy cat," he said. "There is no
reason why you can't continue with your usual
duties for now."
"That?" Bayo seemed indignant. "That's not
enough! "Rosella, go to the maternity ward
right now and let Fronda and Dahlia take care
of you."
"Really, there's no need-" Rosella began, but
Bayo was already pushing her across the
clearing towards the entrance to the maternity
hospital.
Glaius stood still as the sound of his paws
receded. <<Why do you consult a healer if
you're not going to listen to him, mouse brain?
>>
Defeat suddenly washed over Glaius like a great
wave. What was the point of having the power
of the stars in his paws if even his clanmates
didn't listen to him? "I don't know if we can do
this on our own," he muttered to himself. "Two
or three of us..."
Chapter 3
Tortolilla squirmed with excitement as
Candeal's tongue scraped her ears and neck.
“Stay still,” her mother scolded. "You can't go
to your apprentice ceremony looking like
you've passed through the thorn barrier!"
Little Ivy looked over her shoulder from where
she crouched at the entrance to the nursery.
"The cats are already gathering," he reported,
his voice shaking with anticipation. "I think the
whole clan will come to see us become
apprentices!"
Tortolilla broke away from her mother's tongue
and ran across the mossy floor of the nursery
to join her sister. "Let's go!" he urged.
"It's not time yet," his mother told him. "We
have to wait until Firestar calls the entire clan."
"It won't be long." The soft meow came from
Daisy, the horse paddock cat.
Tortolilla understood that Daisy would never be
a warrior; She and Fronda stayed at the nursery
to help each new queen with their kits.
Now Daisy was curled up next to Rosella, who
had moved into the nursery two dawns earlier,
her belly softly rounded with Bayo's puppies.
Bayo was Daisy's son, so these puppies would
also be related to Daisy.
"Are you coming to see us become
apprentices?" he asked the cats.
"Of course." Rosella stood up on her paws and
quickly groomed herself to get rid of the bits of
moss that stuck to her hair.
"We wouldn't miss it for anything."
Tortolilla gave his shoulders another shake; He
felt like he couldn't keep his paws still for
another second. I was so excited I could almost
forget how thirsty I was. "I wonder who our
mentors will be," he meowed.
Before Little Ivy could respond, Firestar's fiery-
colored figure appeared on the High Ledge and
his voice echoed throughout the camp. "Let all
cats old enough to catch their own prey gather
here under the High Ledge for a clan meeting."
Tortolilla jumped up, ready to bounce into the
clearing, but her mother's tail stretched out to
stop her. "Not yet," Candeal murmured.
"And you will walk like a sensible apprentice,
not like a little girl who doesn't know how to
behave."
"Okay, okay," Tortolilla murmured, trying to
control her impatience.
Little Ivy echoed her sister and then added, "I
think I'm going to be sick."
"Oh no!" Tortolilla whimpered. “What will the
Clan think of us if Little Ivy gets sick at her
apprentice ceremony?”
"No, it won't happen," Candeal meowed
calmly. “You will both behave and make me
proud of you. Look, your father came to look
for you."
Betulón had appeared at the entrance to the
maternity hospital, looking at his daughters
with shining eyes. "Come on, the Clan is waiting
for you," he told them.
Little Ivy jumped on her paws, and Dove flexed
her claws as Candeal quickly brushed her own
fur and joined them. By then, all of
ThunderClan had gathered in the clearing
below the High Ledge. Tortolilla felt the gaze of
many eyes on her as she left the nursery with
Little Ivy, followed by her mother and father.
Daisy, Fronda, and Rosella took the back seat
and sat just outside the entrance.
Tortolilla's heart was beating so hard she
thought it was going to burst out of her chest,
but she kept her head and tail up.
"I just know I'll forget what to do," Little Ivy
murmured in her ear.
Tortolilla rubbed against her sister's skin.
"You'll be fine."
Candeal guided them towards the circle of
waiting cats, who separated to let them enter.
Tortolpaw found herself standing between her
sister and Squirrelflight, who gave her an
encouraging nod.
"I have summoned you for one of the most
important moments in the life of a Clan,"
Firestar began. "Dove and Little Ivy have
reached their sixth moon of age and it is time
for them to become apprentices." He beckoned
with his tail. "Come here."
Tortolilla wanted to make a big jump to the
center of the circle, but at the last moment she
remembered what her mother had told her and
forced herself to walk slowly forward with her
sister.
"Dovepaw," Firestar meowed, "From this day
until you receive your warrior name, you will be
called Dovepaw."
"Dove's Paw!" The voices of his clanmates
echoed around him, making his skin tingle as he
heard his new name for the first time.
"Dove's Paw!"
"StarClan, I ask that you guide this new
apprentice," Firestar continued, looking up at
the hot blue sky above the gap. "Put her paws
on the path she must follow to become a
warrior."
Turtledovepaw suppressed a shiver as she
thought of all the starcats, her warrior
ancestors, watching her as Firestar spoke to
them.
"Tawny". Firestar swished his tail at the golden
tabby warrior who was near the fallen rocks
that led to the
High Cornice. “You will be Turtlepaw's mentor.
You are a loyal warrior and your battle skills are
outstanding. I know you will pass these
qualities on to Turtledovepaw.”
<<Fawn!>> Turtledovepaw's heart skipped a
beat as he looked across the clearing at the
golden-furred cat. <<He's a great cat, but what
if he doesn't like me?>>
She jumped towards him, looking eagerly into
his amber eyes. She was amazed and delighted
to see how pleased he looked when he bent his
head to touch noses with her.
"I will work very hard," he promised in a
whisper.
"Me too," Leonado replied. "We will make a
great team."
Turtledovepaw stood proudly at her side and
listened as Firestar repeated the ceremony for
his sister.
Little Ivy looked alone and nervous in the
middle of the circle of cats, but she held her
head up bravely, her gaze fixed on Firestar.
“Little Ivy,” Firestar meowed, “From this day
until you receive your warrior name, you will be
called Ivypaw. May StarClan watch over you
and guide you on your journey to becoming a
warrior.” He paused for a second for the rest of
the Clan to call Ivypaw by his new name, then
swung his tail toward Cinderpaw. "Tiltpaw, you
have shown courage and resilience in your
apprenticeship, and I now trust you to teach
Ivypaw to follow your path."
A murmur of approval rose from the
surrounding cats as Ivypaw ran across the
clearing to touch Cinderpaw's nose. The gray
warrior's blue eyes shone with joy as she
welcomed her new apprentice.
“Dove Paw! "Ivypaw!" the Clan called.
Turtledovepaw felt like she was about to burst
with pride and happiness as her clanmates
gathered around to congratulate them both.
"What do we do now?" he asked Leonado
excitedly.
"Nothing exciting, I'm afraid," he replied with a
flick of his ears. “The Clan needs water. "We
have to collect some moss and then go down to
the lake to soak it."
Turtledovepaw jumped a little with excitement.
"That's great! "I'll be able to see more of the
territory." Looking around for her sister, she
added, “Can Ivypaw and Cinderpaw come with
us?
"Of course." It was Cinderpaw who responded,
advancing towards them with Ivypaw bouncing
beside him. “But we have to be careful with
RiverClan.
"They may try to cause problems."
"I thought RiverClan was on the other side of
the lake?" Ivypaw asked, tilting his head to the
side.
"Not anymore," grunted Tawny. "Let's go, and
I'll explain it to you on the way."
He led them through the thorn tunnel and
headed in the direction of the lake. Dovepaw
had never been more than a few feet away
from the camp, but his excitement at seeing a
new place was mixed with indignation at what
Tawnypaw and Cinderpaw were telling them.
"But RiverClan can't just take the lake like
that!" she protested. "They can?" "Why doesn't
Firestar fight them?" Ivypaw meowed.
"Firestar doesn't like to cause trouble,"
Cinderpelt explained. “Always try to find a
solution that does not involve fighting. "That's
part of what makes him a great leader."
Turtledovepaw wasn't sure he understood.
Even though she was only a new apprentice,
she knew that clans did not randomly enter
another's territory. That was part of the warrior
code!
"Stay close to me and Carbonera," Leonado
warned them. "And no matter what, don't mess
with RiverClan."
<<As long as they don't mess with me or
Ivypaw ,>> thought Turtledovepaw.
Their mentors took them to the foot of a huge
oak tree, where they collected moss balls from
the roots, and then continued to the lake. As
they emerged from the trees toward the shore,
Turtledovepaw's mouth opened, letting his
moss fall out.
"I thought the lake was huge!" she gasped.
"Not just that little bit of water right there." He
felt a pang of disappointment. Why do warriors
make such a fuss over something that wasn't
much bigger than a puddle?
"It usually comes to where we are now,"
Leonado told him. He leaned his ears forward
toward where a narrow strip of pebbles gave
way to dry mud. "It's only because of the
drought that it has reduced so much."
"The drought also means there haven't been as
many twolegs around this leafy season,"
Carbonera meowed. "So not everything is bad."
It sounded like she was trying to convince
herself as much as the trainees.
"What if the lake shrinks completely?" Ivypaw
asked.
"He won't," Titpaw said, though the look she
exchanged with Tawnypaw told Turtledove that
she wasn't entirely sure. "It's bound to rain
soon."
"Now that we're here, you better learn
something about the territories," Tawny
meowed. "This is ThunderClan territory, of
course. And there,” he swung his tail in an arc,
“is WindClan.”
Turtledovepaw's gaze followed his tail pointing
to where the soft grassy moor swelled to meet
the sky. "There aren't many trees to hunt," he
said.
"No, WindClan cats like open spaces, so their
territory is perfect for them," Cinderpelt told
him. "ShadowClan cats like pine trees, so they
chose the territory on that side."
Turtlepaw and Ivypaw examined the dark line
of trees that bordered the lake on the other
side of ThunderClan. "I'm glad I'm not a
ShadowClan cat," Ivypaw meowed.
Turtledovepaw concentrated for a moment,
trying to memorize everything the scene in
front of her could tell her. He could see a group
of cats on the ShadowClan side, walking across
the barren ground toward the distant lake, and
he took a deep breath to savor their scent. On
the WindClan side, the cats were returning to
shore and Turtledovepaw inhaled their scent as
well.
“Ivypaw,” she whispered, flicking her sister
over one ear with her tail, “you should be
picking up the scents of those cats over there.
"That's all we need to know."
"That?" Ivypaw looked at her perplexed, but
before Turtledovepaw could say anything else,
she was interrupted by a loud exclamation
from Tawnypaw.
"Now what's happening?"
Turtledovepaw looked through the crumbly
brown mud and saw a patrol of ThunderClan
cats near the water's edge. They seemed to be
fighting, their backs arched and their tails
waving in the air. A couple of heartbeats later,
one of the warriors began running back to the
shore; when he approached and recognized
Espinardo.
"Issues?" Tawny called.
"Bayo and Zancudo are stuck in the mud,"
Espinardo gasped, pausing briefly. "I need a
branch or something to get them out."
"We will come and help," Carbonera told him,
waving his tail to call the two apprentices.
“Come on, you two. Bring your mosses and
watch where they put their paws."
As he led them into the mud, Dovepaw looked
back to see Thornpaw pulling a long stick out
from under the roots of an old bush at the edge
of the bank. Before he could carry it away,
Glaius emerged from the undergrowth with a
bundle of herbs in his jaws.
"Hey that's mine!" he protested, spitting leaves
everywhere. "Put him in his Syrian!"
"Do you have a mouse brain?" Espinardo
murmured around the stick. "I need it. "It's just
a stick."
"It's my staff." Turtledovepaw was surprised to
see how upset Jaypaw was, his eyes burning
and the fur on his neck standing up as if he
were facing an enemy. "If you don't bring him
back in one piece, I... I..." "Okay, I'll bring your
stupid cane," Espinardo growled. "Keep your
hair straight."
He ran through the mud with the stick in his
jaws. Turtlepaw and Ivypaw followed more
slowly behind their mentors. Turtledovepaw
was trying to lift each paw almost as soon as it
hit the scorching ground. His pads would be dry
when he reached the water.
"Do you think the heat is affecting Glaius?"
Ivypaw whispered. "Espinardo is right. "It's just
a stick."
Turtledovepaw shrugged. "Maybe it's quack
stuff."
"Yes, but what's going to happen to us if our
healer has bees on his brain?"
Turtledovepaw did not respond. They were
approaching the shore of the lake, and he could
see the glistening bodies of dead fish lying here
and there; He almost choked when the smell
met him. Suddenly, the hard ground vanished,
replaced by hot, shiny mud that sucked at his
paws. His paws sank deeper with each step,
and the surface trembled, as if eagerly awaiting
the next step of his paw.
"Stay there," Leonado warned over his
shoulder. Brownish-gray sludge splashed across
his skin and clotted the fur on his belly. A little
beyond him, Bayo and Zancudo were sunk in
the mud.
The two warriors flailed helplessly, their skin
stuck to their sides with brown mud. They
didn't seem to sink beyond the fur on their
belly, but they couldn't hold a paw to crawl out.
"I'm glad they don't share our lair,"
Turtledovepaw murmured to Ivypaw. "They'll
stink of mud and dead fish for a whole moon!"
Ivypaw nodded. "I bet they won't share any
cat's den until they get rid of that stench!" He
walked away to examine a dead fish lying a
couple of fox lengths away. Turtledovepaw
watched as Thornpaw cautiously approached
the mud hole, holding the stick by one end and
holding out the rest so his clanmates could grab
it. Bay dug his claws into it and crawled until he
reached more solid ground, where Tawny and
Titmouse helped him to his feet.
"Disgusting thing!" he exclaimed, spitting mud
and shaking his skin so that sticky droplets flew
everywhere.
Turtledovepaw jumped back to avoid the
splash. Meanwhile, Stiltstrider climbed the pole
and stood panting at the edge of the muddy
hole.
"Thank you," he meowed to Espinardo. "I'll be
more careful where I place my paws next time."
Espinardo nodded. "You are welcome. "You
better go back to camp and clean yourself up."
Stilt and Bay lumbered away, their heads and
tails dangling, mud spilling from their cloaks
with every step they took.
"And now I suppose I'd better give the stick
back to Glaius," continued Espinardo, "or he'll
go madder than a fox in a fit."
He set off towards the shore, only to stop after
a few steps when an angry meow came from
further around the lake. Turtledovepaw looked
alarmed. A mottled blue-gray cat was running
toward them, his tail wagging behind him.
Moving his whiskers, Turtledovepaw caught
another unknown smell, similar to fish lying in
the mud.
<<That must be RiverClan.>>
Espinardo dropped the stick again. "Hey,
Rainfall!" he called. "What do you want?"
The RiverClan warrior ignored him and the rest
of the cats that were grouped a few meters
away from the mud hole. He was heading
straight for Ivypaw, who was still curiously
sniffing at the dead fish.
"Prey thief!" shout. “Leave that alone! The fish
are ours! "
Ivypaw turned around, her fur fluffing and her
eyes widening in terror as she saw a fully grown
RiverClan warrior approaching her.
"Mouse shit!" Cinderpelt spat, jumping to
intercept Rainfall before he could attack his
apprentice. Turtledovepaw and Tawnypaw ran
after her. Suddenly, Tawny let out a howl.
"Shower, be careful!"
Turtledovepaw noticed that the RiverClan cat
was heading straight for the mud hole. Too
focused on Ivypaw, he didn't seem to hear
Tawnypaw's warning voice. Its almost flying
legs slid in the deepest mud; He gave a screech
of mixed fear and surprise as he quickly sank to
the skin of his belly.
"Aid!" he moaned. "Get me out of here!"
"You deserve it," Cinderpelt meowed
indignantly, stopping at the edge of the mud
hole and looking down at the struggling
warrior. "Don't you see she's just an
apprentice? "This is the first time he's left
camp."
"I'm sorry." Ivypaw trotted over, looking
anxious. "Honestly, I wasn't going to eat fish."
"I don't think any cat would want to eat it,"
added Turtledovepaw, approaching his sister.
"Gross!"
Chubasco did not respond. He had sunk into a
deeper part of the hole than the two
ThunderClan cats that had been trapped
earlier; Mud oozed around his shoulders, and
his frantic efforts to get out only made him sink
deeper.
"Stay still," Tawny meowed. "We'll get you
out."
Espinardo trotted over with the stick and
pushed it through the mud until Chubasco
could sink his claws into it. But he couldn't get a
firm enough grip to pull himself out, as if his
struggles had already exhausted him.
Turtledovepaw pressed against Ivypaw as she
watched, her stomach fluttering with anxiety.
Although the RiverClan warrior had almost
attacked her sister, she did not want to see him
drown.
"Help me... help..." Rainstorm rasped, craning
his neck to keep his snout clear of the mud.
"Oh, StarClan..." Tawny murmured. He crawled
to the very edge of the hole, testing each step
of the paw before lowering his weight, and
leaned down so he could sink his teeth into the
back of Chubasco's neck. He gave a mighty tug,
and with a loud sucking noise the RiverClan cat
broke free of the clinging mud and collapsed on
his side, his chest heaving as he gasped for air.
"Consider yourself lucky," Espinardo meowed
unsympathetically. “Now get out. "You
shouldn't have been on this side of the lake at
all."
Chubasco's paws scratched, but when he tried
to get up, his legs gave way and he fell back
into the mud.
"What are we going to do with him now?"
Titmouse meowed. "He would never return to
RiverClan in this state."
Tawny sighed. “There's no need for any of this,
if only RiverClan were reasonable. Are any of
your clanmates around?
"Over there." Thornpaw pointed with his tail,
and Turtlepaw saw a group of RiverClan cats in
the distance, near ShadowClan territory.
They were engaging the ShadowClan patrol he
had seen heading to the water's edge earlier.
His whiskers trembled and he felt like they
were arguing.
"I'm not going to get involved in that debate,"
Espinardo decided. "If we go there, we will find
ourselves fighting ShadowClan just like
RiverClan. Come on." He pushed Chubasco with
one paw. "You can return to our camp until you
are fit to travel. "It's not as far as your
territory."
"Thank you," Raincoat gasped. He wobbled on
his paws, managing to stay upright this time;
Tawny approached him and gave him a
shoulder to lean on. "Carbonera, will you watch
the apprentices while they collect water?" he
called. "I will help Espinardo carry Chubasco
back to camp."
"Sure," Carbonera responded.
Turtledovepaw watched the two ThunderClan
warriors traverse the mud, flanking Rainpaw,
who was still unsteady on his paws. "Hey!" she
called them. "Don't forget the stick!"
Thornback backed away, tail wagging irritably.
"I don't know what's wrong with Glaius," he
growled, grabbing the stick and carrying it with
him.
"Are you okay, Ivypaw?" Cinderpelt asked,
looking at his apprentice with concern in his
blue eyes.
"Yes, I'm fine," Ivypaw replied. "I'm sorry I was
stupid with the fish. If I hadn't gotten closer,
Chubasco wouldn't have fallen into the mud."
"That wasn't your fault!" Indignation gripped
Turtlepaw. "He was being horrible."
"Dovepaw is right," Cinderpaw meowed. “I
didn't need to come running here like that.
Now, gather your mosses and we'll go collect
water. "I want to go back to the clearing and
find out what Firestar will do when he finds out
about this."
Chapter 4
Tawny stopped in the center of the clearing
and let Chubasco sink to the ground, where he
lay on his side with his paws folded haphazardly
beneath him. The RiverClan warrior looked like
a mess: with mud stuck to his fur on his sides, it
was obvious how thin he was, as if he hadn't
eaten well on the moon. Leonado couldn't help
but feel sorry for him.
<RiverClan must be in big trouble if they get
this angry over a dead fish.>
Thornthorn had jumped across the fallen rocks
to find Firestar in his lair. Tawny stayed waiting
with Rainfall and Jay, who had joined them
when they reached the shore, and
accompanied them back to camp. Leonado's
shoulders ached from having supported
Chubasco on the long walk from the lake, and
his mouth was dry with thirst. The sun was
almost up
and the air in the hollow trembled with heat.
The mud on Chubasco's skin was already dry.
<If we hadn't had all these problems, we would
have returned with the water a long time ago ,>
Leonado thought. <We should be resting when
it's hot.>
More ThunderClan cats were emerging from
their dens, staring curiously at the RiverClan
warrior.
"What are you doing here?" Flowerpaw came
out of the veterans' den with a huge ball of
bedding moss, dropped it, and jumped across
the clearing to get a closer look. "Is he a
prisoner?"
"No, he had an accident," Leonado explained.
"He will return to RiverClan once he has
rested."
"I don't see why he has to rest here." Shrew
had followed the apprentice, leading Longtail
with his tail on his shoulder, and Cougar right
behind. He gave Chubasco a suspicious sniff.
"Phew! It smells like rotten fish! "
"And where is our water?" Puma added.
"Is Chubasco hurt?" Sparkle asked more
sympathetically. "Glayo, do you need me to get
some herbs?"
"No, he's just exhausted," replied Glaius.
Tawny began to explain what had happened by
the lake. He left out the fact that Rainfall had
attacked Ivypaw; He hoped the RiverClan
warrior hadn't actually hurt such a young
apprentice, and there was no point in stirring
up more hostility.
"Some cat will have to watch him,"
Brambleclaw mewed when Tawny finished
telling the story. "We can't have him wandering
around camp."
"It doesn't look like he'll be wandering
anywhere for a while," Sandstorm noted with a
flick of his ears.
The comments died away when Firestar
appeared with Thornthorn and pushed his way
through the crowd of cats until he stood in
front of the RiverClan warrior. Chubasco
struggled to sit up and look at him, although
Leonado could tell how much effort it took to
do so.
Firestar bowed his head toward the RiverClan
cat with cold courtesy. "Greetings, Rainfall," he
meowed. "Espinardo told me what happened."
"If I..." Chubasco hesitated as if the words were
choking him, then added, "I am grateful to your
warriors for helping me."
"We'd help any cat in trouble," Firestar replied.
"You'd better stay here until sunset and then go
home when it's cooler. Leonado will show you a
quiet place where you can sleep."
"I'll keep an eye on him," Brambleclaw added.
"Good idea," Firestar mewed, as several of the
other ThunderClan cats murmured in
agreement.
"Can you eat something fresh?" Candeal asked,
his gentle gaze fixed sympathetically on
Chubasco.
"We don't have enough for ourselves,"
Espinardo snapped, without waiting for the
Clan leader to respond. “Firestar, I had an idea
while they were bringing him back here. We
saved his miserable life; Why shouldn't
ThunderClan get something out of that? "
Firestar turned to look at him, a bewildered
expression on his face. "What do you mean?"
"Well, we have one of the RiverClan warriors
here. Why not send a message to Leopardstar
telling her that she can only get it back if she
lets us eat some fish?”
"That?" Rainstorm protested. "You can not do
that!"
"We can do whatever we want, mangy
mantle," Espinardo replied, unsheathing his
claws. "Don't you think we deserve a reward
for helping you?"
"That's how it is!" some cat exclaimed from the
back of the crowd.
"Do you have a mouse brain?" Glaius growled,
turning his head to look at the speaker.
“What do we want with RiverClan fish? "They
smell disgusting."
Looking around, Tawny could see that several
of the cats seemed to agree with Thornthorn,
despite what Glaius had said.
<Why not?> He thought. <We're hungry
enough.> But the thought of keeping a Clan
warrior prisoner made his hair stand on end
with unease.
"What do you think, Firestar?" Sandstorm
urged softly.
Firestar was silent for a moment, while
Showerpaw's gaze flickered from cat to cat as if
he could read his fate in her eyes.
"I think Espinardo is right." Zancudo, with dried
mud still clinging to his skin, made his way to
the front of the crowd.
"Maybe I'd teach RiverClan to stay away from
our side of the lake."
"And stop telling other clans what they can do,"
White Cloud added. "Leopard Star is becoming
too much to bear."
"No, they're just desperate," Goldenfred
argued. "This heat..."
"It's hot here too," Shrew snapped.
"Fire star?" Brambleclaw raised his tail to
silence the arguing cats. "What do you want us
to do?"
Finally Firestar shook his head. "I'm sorry,
Espinardo. I know you want the best for the
Clan, and I admit I don't like turning down the
chance of some extra food. But there is nothing
in the warrior code that allows us to use
another Clan's cat to negotiate."
"That's right," Squirrelflight added, coming to
her father's side. "We would just be making
things worse."
Espinardo opened his jaws as if to argue, then
closed them again and shrugged. "Whatever
you say, Firestar," he murmured.
"Brambleclaw, show Rainstorm where he can
rest," Firestar instructed. "Later, when he's
cool, you can lead a patrol to escort him back
to RiverClan."
Leonado crawled to the shadow of a rock and
managed to fall asleep. His dreams were dark
and confusing, and when he woke up he felt
almost as tired as when he had first curled up.
Long shadows stretched across the clearing as
he walked toward the pitifully small pile of
fresh meat, and the sky above the trees was
stained scarlet. The scorching heat of the sun
had faded, but the air was still heavy and harsh.
<Maybe I can round up some cats for a hunting
patrol.>
"Hey, Tawny!"
Tawnypaw turned at the sound of
Brambleclaw's voice. The Clan lieutenant was
running towards him; Rainfall followed more
slowly.
The RiverClan warrior's clawed footsteps were
firmer now, though he still looked exhausted.
"I'm leading a patrol to bring Chubasco home,"
Brambleclaw explained as he approached
Leonado. "I would like you to come".
"Of course. Can I bring Tortola Paw? "It would
be a good experience for her."
At Brambleclaw's nod, he looked around for his
apprentice and saw her outside her new lair
with Ivypaw and Cinderpaw. When he waved
his tail, the three cats trotted over.
Meanwhile, Brambleclaw slipped into the
warriors' lair and emerged with Goldenfrond
and Sorreltail. Tawny noticed that he hadn't
chosen any of the cats who had wanted to keep
Rainfall hostage until RiverClan gave them
some fish.
"We'll go to RiverClan with Rainfall," Tawnypaw
said to Turtledove as he approached.
"Excellent!" Turtledovepaw jumped a little with
excitement. "I'll be able to see some other
territories."
"Can't we go too?" Ivypaw asked, looking at
Cinderpaw with disappointment in her eyes.
"Sorry, no," Carbonera responded. "You'll both
have to get used to being separated for your
duties," she added to her despondent
apprentice.
"We'll go to the training clearing instead, and
I'll teach you your first fighting moves."
"Excellent!" Ivypaw perked up immediately, his
eyes shining. "Dovepaw, I'll crush you when you
get back!"
Turtledovepaw nudged her sister's nose with
the tip of her tail. "You can try."
Brambleclaw gathered his patrol with a flick of
his tail and led the way out of the tunnel of
thorns. As soon as they left for the forest,
Tawny realized they were heading into
ShadowClan territory.
"Wouldn't it be safer to go to the other side,
past WindClan?" the suggested.
Brambleclaw gave him a brief glance with his
thoughtful amber eyes. "We've been having so
much trouble with WindClan lately," he replied.
"Plus, it's farther that way, and I'm not sure
how long Chubasco will be able to continue. "I
think if we cut straight through the mud,
staying between what's left of the lake and
ShadowClan territory, we shouldn't have any
problems."
"I hope you're right," Tawny murmured.
They emerged from the trees, not far from the
stream that marked the border with
ShadowClan. Tawny glanced in dismay at the
exposed mud below. "This stream used to be
full to the brim," he told Turtledovepaw as she
came to stand beside him and looked curiously
at the empty stream. "The water was
constantly flowing into the lake, but now most
of it is gone."
"Is that why the lake has shrunk?"
Turtledovepaw asked, tilting his head to the
side.
"Partly," Leonado replied.
"Then why did the stream go away?"
“No cat knows. "I guess it must be the heat."
Turtledovepaw looked upstream to where the
channel curved, hidden beneath the withered
clumps of ferns. Its whiskers trembled and its
claws flexed in and out.
"There's nothing we can do about it," Leonado
told him. "Let's keep going."
Turtledovepaw jumped as if he had startled
her, though he couldn't see what had driven
her to such deep concentration.
"What..." he began, but at that moment a howl
interrupted him.
"Tawny! Are you on patrol or not?”
Brambleclaw had led the rest of the cats to the
dry lake and stopped, looking back over his
shoulder as he called to Tawnycat.
"I'm sorry!" Tawny responded. With
Turtledovepaw scampering behind him, he ran
across the hard brown mud and fell into the
back of the patrol car. "Stay by my side," he
warned Turtledovepaw. "And if we see any
ShadowClan warriors, let's let Brambleclaw
handle it."
"What if they attack us?" Turtledovepaw
meowed; She seemed more excited than
scared.
"I do not think they do. But if they do,”
Leonado warned, “Stay out of it if possible. You
are not qualified; "A ShadowClan warrior could
turn you into carrion with just one blow of his
claw."
"I couldn't," murmured Turtledovepaw quietly,
loud enough for his mentor to hear.
Leonado did not scold her. He remembered
what it had felt like to be an apprentice,
desperate to prove himself and learn all the
skills of a warrior. He liked this little cat; She
was brave and curious, and he assumed she
would learn quickly.
<Are you the chosen one?> He wondered as he
watched her walk purposefully through the
mud, her gaze moving from side to side as if
she were checking to see if the ShadowClan
cats were approaching. <Or is she your sister? I
wish StarClan would send us a sign.>
To their relief, there was no sign of ShadowClan
patrols as the ThunderClan cats trudged
through the mud. Tawny couldn't help but feel
as if hostile eyes were staring at him from the
brush on the shore, but no cat appeared.
The last rays of the sun were fading and the
moon had risen above the trees when the
patrol reached the edge of RiverClan territory.
"Go ahead, now," Brambleclaw meowed to
Raincoat. "Take us to your camp."
"There's no need for you to come near our
camp," Chubasco responded, sounding a little
more aggressive now that he was back in his
own territory. "I'll be fine on my own from now
on."
"I want Leopardstar to hear our version of what
happened," Brambleclaw responded; only a
small movement of the tip of his tail told Tawny
that he was irritated. "And if you offer us fish in
exchange for taking care of you, we won't say
no."
"We don't have any prey to share with other
Clans," Chubasco snapped as he turned and
headed toward the shore toward RiverClan
territory.
The RiverClan cats had camped on an island of
land between two streams. Usually the waters
ran high, but now the land was completely dry.
The lush shoots of plants that normally lined
the stream had withered and rotted, exposing
the sun-hardened soil. The smell of stale grass
and dead fish hung in the air like smoke.
Tawny's fur stood on end. They were invading
another Clan's territory, and although they had
good reason, the RiverClan cats might not see it
that way.
"Will they kick us out?" Turtledovepaw asked in
a whisper.
Tawny jumped; He had done his best to hide
his concerns from his apprentice, and he had
not expected her to be so insightful. "It's
possible," he whispered in response. "If there is
any problem, stay close to me. And keep your
eyes and ears open."
As Rainfall led the ThunderClan patrol across
the dry creek bed and along the bank on the
other side, a gray-furred cat emerged from the
brush. Some of Tawny's anxiety faded when he
recognized Vaharina, RiverClan's lieutenant.
Vaharina was a reasonable cat and had been
friendly with ThunderClan in the past.
But there was nothing friendly in Vaharina's
tone as her blue gaze swept over the patrol.
"What are you doing here?" he demanded.
"And what happened to Chubasco?"
"These cats kept me in their camp," Chubasco
began.
"We allowed him to stay in our camp,"
Brambleclaw interrupted. “Leonado and
Espinardo rescued him when he fell into a
muddy hole at the edge of the lake. If it weren't
for them, I'd already be hunting with StarClan."
"That's right?" Vaharina asked Rainfall.
The RiverClan warrior hung his head. "Yeah.
And I am grateful to them. But then they said
they wouldn't let me come home unless
Leopardstar gave them fish."
"Really?" Mallow's ears twitched upward and
she turned a questioning gaze toward
Brambleclaw.
"We talked about that," Brambleclaw admitted,
sounding a little uncomfortable. “But Firestar
said he would break the warrior code. So we let
Chubasco rest during the worst of the heat and
now we've brought him back. “Can we talk to
Leopardstar?” he added politely.
"Leopard Star is busy." Vaharina's tone was
unusually abrupt, and Tawny wondered if she
was hiding something. "I'm grateful for their
help," she continued, "and if we had extra fish,
we'd give them some, but we don't."
Both lieutenants stood still for a couple of
seconds, their gazes meeting. Tawnypaw
guessed that Brambleclaw was wondering
whether to insist on seeing Leopardstar.
<Come on, Brambleclaw. You're not going to
win an argument or fight right here in the
RiverClan camp!>
Beside him, Turtledovepaw stood with ears
alert and whiskers twitching, his bright golden
gaze seeming to pierce the undergrowth all the
way to RiverClan's camp.
<I wish I could really see what's going on there
,> Leonado thought. <There's something
RiverClan isn't telling us.>
Finally Brambleclaw lowered his head. "Then
we will say goodbye, Vaharina. Please pay
Firestar's respects to Leopardstar. And may
StarClan light your path."
Vaharina looked relieved. "And yours,
Brambleclaw," she replied. "Thank you for
helping our warrior." Signaling to Raincoat with
his tail, he turned and disappeared into the
brush, heading toward the center of the camp.
Rainfall made an awkward gesture to the
ThunderClan cats, muttered "Thank you," and
followed her.
"Good!" Sorreltail exclaimed. “He could have
sounded a little more grateful! "Any cat would
think we ripped off its tail."
Brambleclaw shrugged. “No cat likes to admit
that they need help from another Clan. Come
on." He jumped across the dry stream, quickly
heading to the edge of the territory.
Goldenfrond and Sorrelpaw followed, and
Tawnypaw and Dovepaw trailed behind,
glancing over their shoulders from time to time
to make sure no RiverClan cats were following
them.
"Tawnpaw," gasped Dovepaw as his shorter
legs struggled to keep up, "Was that blue-
furred she-cat RiverClan's lieutenant?"
"That's right: Vaharina. "She's a great cat."
"She's very worried, isn't she?"
Tawny was slightly surprised by his apprentice's
comment. She had guessed that there were
things that Vaharina didn't tell them, but she
hadn't said that she was worried. “All the cats
are worried about the drought and the lack of
prey,” he said.
Turtledovepaw shook his head. "Oh, I think it's
more than that, right? "I think she must be
worried about the sick cat."
Tawny stopped at the edge of the lake's muddy
bottom and stared at her. "What sick cat?"
"There's a very sick cat in the RiverClan camp,"
Turtledovepaw meowed, her pale golden eyes
wide with surprise. "Didn't you notice?"
Chapter 5
A tap against his ear woke up Turtledovepaw;
Keeping her eyes closed, she punched him in
irritation. “Get off me, Ivypaw! I need to sleep."
Almost a moon had passed since the
apprentices' ceremony, and the day before,
their mentors had given them their first
evaluation, on the other side of the territory.
Turtledovepaw couldn't remember ever being
so tired. She had never realized how stressful it
was to have invisible eyes watching her every
move!
The paw touched her again, lightly, but with
one of claws.
Turtledovepaw's eyes snapped open. "Ivypaw,
if you don't stop, I..."
She broke off, staring. Standing next to her was
someone she had never seen before: a cat with
matted gray fur and amber eyes. His jaws
parted at the beginning of a snarl, revealing
two rows of worn teeth.
Turtledovepaw crouched down, ready to
confront this strange she-cat that had managed
to sneak into the ThunderClan camp. "Who are
you?
What do you want?" he growled, forcing his
voice to remain steady.
"To you," replied the unknown cat.
Fighting not to panic, Turtledovepaw looked
around the apprentices' den. Moonlight
filtering through the ferns covering the
entrance showed his Ivypaw and the rest of his
indoor companions curled up and fast asleep.
"Ivypaw!" Turtledovepaw gave her sister a hard
push. "Wake up!
Aid!"
Ivypaw didn't move. Turtledovepaw looked at
the intruder, fear giving way to anger. "What
have you done to him?"
"Nothing," the cat replied, annoyance shining in
her amber eyes. "Now do as I say and follow
me."
Turtledovepaw wanted to ask why she should
do something the cat told her, but something
forced her to stand up and leave the
apprentices' den. The clearing was silent in the
moonlight, shadows lying black against the
silver walls. Hawkpaw, standing guard at the
entrance to the thorn tunnel, stood as still as a
cat made of stone, and did not move a whisker
as the mysterious she-cat led Turtledovepaw
into the forest.
<This is strange,> thought Turtledovepaw.
<What is happening to me?> Even the forest
was unfamiliar; The sparse, withered
undergrowth was alive and lush, and the grass
beneath his paws felt cool and moist.
"Where we go?" he shouted, tripping over a
fallen branch that lay in the shadow of a
bramble thicket. "I shouldn't be sneaking out
on a night like this. I'll get in trouble..."
"Stop complaining," the gray cat snapped.
"You'll find out soon."
He led Turtlepaw through the trees; Gradually,
the undergrowth thinned and more moonlight
broke through. A cool breeze began to blow,
bringing with it the smell of water.
Turtledovepaw paused for a second to let me
ruffle his fur, rejoicing in its freshness after so
many days of relentless heat.
"Come on." The cat had stopped under a tree a
few meters ahead. “Come and look at this.”
Turtledovepaw jumped to his side and watched
in amazement. The trees gave way to a strip of
rough grass; beyond it the water stretched
almost as far as he could see, its striated
surface silvered by the moonlight. A soft lick
filled her ears, firm like a queen licking a puppy
in the nursery.
"This...this is the lake!" stuttering. "But it's full!
I have never seen so much water.
I am dreaming?"
"Finally!" The cat commented sarcastically.
“Are they filling the apprentices' heads with
thistles these days?” Of course you're
dreaming."
For the first time, Turtledovepaw noticed the
faint glow of starlight around the cat's paws.
"Are you StarClan?" She whispered.
"I am," answered the cat. “And I was once your
clanmate.”
"So, can't you do something to help
ThunderClan?" asked Turtledovepaw; Fear and
excitement made his voice tremble. "We're
having a bad time."
“Hard times come to all Clans in all seasons,”
replied the old gray cat. "The warrior code does
not offer the promise of an easy life. There will
be many arguments and fights..."
"Do you fight?" Turtledovepaw interrupted,
horrified, then slapped her tail on her mouth.
"I'm sorry," he murmured.
"Blood is spilled in all generations," the cat
continued. His amber gaze softened, and
Turtledovepaw noticed his intense kindness
behind the harsh exterior. "However, there is
always hope, just as the sun always rises."
His figure began to fade; Turtledovepaw could
see the silver waters of the lake through his
gray fur.
"Do not go!" she pleaded.
The gray cat faded further, until it was just a
trail of smoke, and then it disappeared
completely. As the last traces of her faded,
Turtlepaw thought he heard her voice again,
whispering softly in his ear.
<After the piercing-eyed glayo and the roaring
lion, peace will come on the soft wing of the
turtledove>.
Turtledovepaw woke up with a start, her heart
pounding, and she jumped onto her paws in
one quick motion. <I'm here in my lair! So it
was a dream...>
The dawn light filtered through the ferns at the
entrance and I could hear the cats calling to
each other in the clearing as they prepared for
the new day.
Beside him, Ivypaw twitched an ear and blinked
his eyes open. "What's happening?" he
murmured, his voice blurred with sleep. "Why
are you jumping like that?"
Bumblebee's meow came from behind
Turtledovepaw, edged with annoyance. "Do
you realize you just kicked moss at me?"
"I'm sorry!" Turtledovepaw gasped. She had
been sleeping in the apprentices' den for
almost a moon, but she still wasn't used to how
crowded it was in there.
The dream was already breaking into pieces,
fluttering like leaves in the falling leaves as he
tried to retrieve them. <There was an old gray
cat... a StarClan warrior. And the lake filled
with water again. He realized that his legs were
heavy with exhaustion and his paws felt as sore
as if he had actually walked to the lake and
back in the middle of the night. <This is mouse
brains! It was just a dream> .
But there was something important in the
dream. The StarClan warrior had given him a
message. He dug his claws deep into his moss-
covered bedding, trying to remember the
words, but they were gone. She let out a slight
snort, amused and irritated. <Who do you think
you are? A healer? Why would a StarClan
warrior come to give you a message?>
He stretched his jaws in a huge yawn, pushed
the dream from his mind, and slunk through
the ferns toward the clearing. The sky grew
brighter as the sun rose; The first patrols had
left, and for a few seconds Dovepaw tracked
Goldenwood and Sorreltail, who were stalking
their prey near the stream that marked the
border with ShadowClan. Straining his ears, he
heard Sorreltail jumping on a squirrel as it tried
to escape up a tree, and Goldenfrond reaching
out to touch his nose to her ear. "Good
hunting," he murmured.
<I better not listen anymore> , thought
Turtledovepaw, silencing Sorrelpaw's amorous
purr and listening instead to a pair of starlings
fighting noisily in the branches of the dead tree.
Letting his senses roam further, he heard a
howl of pain from the dawn patrol on the
WindClan border, and then Bayo's voice: "I
stepped on a thorn!"
Turtledovepaw let out a small grimace of
amusement as he imagined the cream-colored
warrior jumping indignantly on three legs while
trying to pull out the thorns with his teeth. If he
knew Bayo, he would blame the thistle.
"For StarClan!" Dustpelt sounded angry and
frustrated. “Do you want to sit still and let
some cat help you? "Rose Petal, solve it,
please, or we'll be here all day."
“Just another day in ThunderClan,”
Turtledovepaw whispered to herself.
<And your dream? A voice seemed to speak in
his mind.>
"What's with that?" Turtledovepaw murmured,
firmly pushing the memories back.
Returning to the den, he gave Ivypaw a sharp
jab in the side. “Wake up, lazy people! Let's
look for Carbonera and Leonado and see if they
will take us hunting."
Pride tingled through Turtledovepaw from his
ears to the tip of his tail as he led his prey, a
mouse and a blackbird, to the pile of fresh
meat and dropped them in front of the
warriors gathered nearby.
"Well done," Graystripe meowed, looking up
from the vole he was sharing with his mate,
Milly. "At that rate, you'll be one of the best
hunters in the Clan."
"And he's been an apprentice for less than a
moon," Tawny added, moving forward to
deposit his own kill into the pile. "She seems to
know what the prey is going to do even before
she does it."
Candeal, who was sharing tongues with
Betulón nearby, let out a purr of approval.
"Well. I'm glad to know you're working hard."
Turtledovepaw began to feel embarrassed. "I'm
not that good," she protested as she dropped
her catch. She didn't like being praised too
much in front of Ivypaw, who had managed to
kill only one harpy. "I just have one great
mentor."
Then she watched in case any cat thought she
was criticizing Carbonera. The gray she-cat
didn't seem to have noticed anything wrong
when she and Ivypaw left their own prey,
although Ivypaw cast an envious glance at her
sister.
"Don't be angry," whispered Turtledovepaw. "It
was just bad luck that you missed that
squirrel."
Ivypaw shrugged angrily. "Bad luck does not fill
stomachs."
"Each one can take a piece of prey," Titmouse
mewed to the two apprentices. "You've worked
hard this morning."
"Thank you!" Turtlepaw chose a vole from the
pile, and after hesitating, Turtlepaw
Ivy took her own harpy. Turtledovepaw could
sense that no matter how hungry she was, her
sister did not want to take more than she had
managed to contribute.
Turtledovepaw's belly was howling too, but
when he bent down to eat he forced himself
not to swallow the vole in a couple of voracious
mouthfuls. The sun had risen above the
treetops, its rays beating down mercilessly, and
there would be no more hunting until it set.
"I don't know how much longer this drought
can last," Mili sighed, finishing her portion of
vole and licking her whiskers. "How many more
days without rain?"
"Only StarClan knows," Graystripe replied,
touching his companion's shoulder with his tail
in a comforting gesture.
"Then StarClan should do something about it!"
Stiltstrider looked up from where he was sitting
on the other side of the pile of fresh meat with
Pinta and Mouser. "Do they expect us to
survive without water?"
"There is almost nothing left in the lake," Pinta
added regretfully. "And the stream has dried up
completely between us and ShadowClan."
"So where has all the water gone?" Mouser
asked with an irritable twitch of his ears.
Turtledovepaw paused, bewildered, before
taking another bite of her vole. "Don't you
know why the stream has dried up?" she asked.
"Isn't it because of the brown animals that are
blocking it?" Stiltstrider stared at her. "What
brown animals?"
Turtledovepaw swallowed the bite. "Those who
are dragging logs and branches into the
stream."
Looking around, she realized that all the cats
next to the pile of fresh meat were staring at
her. The vole he had just eaten suddenly
became heavy in his belly. <Why do they look
so confused?>
The silence seemed to last for a while. Finally
Leonado spoke in a low voice. "Dovepaw, what
exactly are you talking about?"
“The…the big brown animals,” he stammered.
They are making a barrier in the creek, like our
thorn barrier across the camp entrance.
Prevents water from flowing. There are two
legs looking at them."
"Two legs!" Mouser snorted in amusement.
"Are they growing wings and flying too?"
"Do not be silly!" Turtledovepaw snapped.
"They're looking at the animals and pointing...
something, something two-legged at them.
"Maybe the animals are blocking the river
because the twolegs told them to."
"And maybe hedgehogs fly," Stiltstrider
meowed with a sigh. “Tawny, you should really
tell your apprentice not to make these things
up. "It's not funny, not when we're all
suffering."
"That's correct," Candeal added. The approval
in his eyes had turned to annoyance and
embarrassment. "Dovepaw, what's wrong with
you? "It's a good game to play with your sister,
but it's not the kind of thing you should talk
about in front of all your clanmates."
Turtledovepaw leapt to his feet, forgetting the
remains of his vole in his surge of anger. "It's
not a game! And I'm not making this up! "You
should know better."
"I don't know anything about that," Zancudo
replied. “Two legs and big brown animals?
"Sounds like a puppy story."
"Can't you hear them?" asked Turtledovepaw.
All the other cats looked at her uneasily and
she had a hard time meeting their gaze.
"Don't be too hard on her." Graystripe swung
his tail at Strider. "We all made games when we
were trainees."
"Maybe she's confused," Mili added helpfully.
“It could be the heat. Did you have a dream?
asked Turtledovepaw.
"I didn't dream it, and it's not a game!"
Turtledovepaw's anger was giving way to
anguish, his front paws scraping in the dirt on
the camp floor.
<Why is everyone pretending they don't know
anything about the creek?>
"Come on." Pinta stood up and stretched. "Let's
find a shady place to sleep. "Maybe we can all
dream of big brown animals." She walked to
the edge of the clearing, followed by Stiltstrider
and Mouser. Bitulon walked around the pile of
fresh meat and stopped in front of
Turtledovepaw. His eyes were serious.
"If you're making things up for fun, then stop
and say you're sorry," he meowed. "If you feel
bad, then go ask Glaius for some herbs. But
stop bothering the warriors who have better
things to do than listen to children's stories."
"It's not a children's story!" Turtledovepaw
wanted to cry like a lost puppy.
<Even my own father is joining them!> Betulón
exchanged a glance with Leonado and then
walked away with Candeal. Graystripe and
Milly headed to the warriors' lair.
Carbonera stood up. Get some rest now,
Ivypaw. When it's cooler, I'll take you to train
for battle."
"Thank you," Ivypaw meowed, looking at her
mentor as she followed the other warriors. He
gave Turtledovepaw a hard push. "Stop
bragging."
Turtledovepaw looked at her, incredulous.
"But, Ivypaw, you..."
"You're just doing it for attention," Ivypaw
hissed. Before Turtledovepaw could respond,
he walked away and disappeared into the
apprentices' den.
Turtledovepaw remained crouched by the pile
of fresh meat, head down, feeling completely
crushed. All the cats in the Clan had treated her
like a piece of dirt, just because she knew about
the brown animals. <Why do they pretend they
don't know?> At least Tawny must have heard
them; He was at her side when he sensed
them, upriver on the border with ShadowClan.
<Maybe it was a big secret that the apprentices
weren't supposed to know? Then he shouldn't
have taken me to that empty stream!>
After a few moments, she felt the light brush of
a nose against her ear and looked up to see her
mentor looking at her. His amber eyes were
unreadable.
"Follow me," he meowed.
 Chapter 6
Turtledovepaw followed Tawnypaw through
the tunnel of thorns to the clearing outside the
camp. <Is he angry with me too?> She
wondered.
Tawny stopped in the shade of a thicket of
hazel at the edge of the clearing and turned to
his apprentice. "Tell me what you can hear," he
meowed.
Turtledovepaw started. <Was this his
punishment?> "Waves crashing on the edge of
the lake," he replied. "And the dawn patrol is
returning." Lightening up a bit, he added:
“Bayo stepped on a thistle earlier. "It was
trying to balance on three legs while pulling out
the thorns with its teeth."
"Was he now?" Tawny murmured. "And where
did this happen?"
"On the RiverClan border, near the steps that
cross the stream."
As Turtledovepaw spoke, the ferns on the
other side of the clearing parted and Dustpelt
led his patrol out into the open field. Rose
Petal, Fox Leap, and Bayo followed him; the
cream-colored warrior limped.
"Hey, Bayo!" Tawny called. "What happened to
you?"
Bayo did not respond, except for a long sigh.
“He stepped on a thistle,” Dustpelt snapped.
"You'd think no cat has had a thorn in its paw
before."
Leonado remained silent until the patrol
disappeared into the tunnel. Then he turned to
Turtledovepaw. His fur stood on end under the
intensity of his gaze.
"Wait here," he ordered.
Turtledovepaw crouched as he crossed the
clearing and followed the patrol into the
tunnel. His stomach was turning
uncomfortably. <I don't understand what this is
all about!>
A few seconds later, Tawny returned;
Turtledovepaw stiffened when he saw that
Jaypaw was with him. <Does Leonado think I'm
sick too? Do you think I need a healer?>
"This better be important," Glaius grumbled as
he crossed the clearing alongside Tawny. "I was
just about to make a yarrow poultice."
"It's important," Tawnypaw assured him,
stopping in front of Tortolapaw. "I think she's
the third."
"Third what?" Turtlepaw's nervousness made
his voice sharpen. "Don't talk about me like I'm
not here."
Leonado ignored her. "She hears things," he
explained to Glaius. “Not StarClan. "I mean
from very far away." Turning to Turtledovepaw,
he added, "Tell Glaius about the brown animals
blocking the stream."
Reluctantly, Turtlepaw repeated the story he
had told his clanmates around the pile of fresh
kills. When she was done, she waited for Glaius
to mock her like the others. <Why is Leonado
putting me through all this again?>
Glaius was silent for a moment; when he spoke
it was with Leonado. "Do you think he's telling
the truth?"
Turtlepaw's frustration boiled over. Before
Tawny could respond, he jumped up on his
paws and faced Glaius. “I don't understand why
all the cats think I'm making this up! There are
animals blocking the stream; Are you telling me
you can't hear them?"
Glaius responded with another question. "Do
you only listen to them?"
Turtledovepaw shook his head; then she
remembered that Glaius couldn't see her. "No,
I know what they look like too." Confusion
descended upon her. "I mean, I can't really see
them, not like they're in front of me. But... but I
know what they look like. They are brown, with
stiff fur and flat tails. Oh, and they have big
front teeth, which they use to cut trees and
branches."
"He also saw Bayo stepping on a thistle,"
Leonado added. "While their patrol was at the
other end of the RiverClan border."
Glaius's whiskers moved. "So, he saw it and
heard it," he reflected. "Anything else? Did you
feel his pain?"
"No," answered Turtledovepaw. “But I saw him
stumble and heard him complain about the
thorns in his pad. And I knew he was trying to
get them out with his teeth."
"That doesn't sound like messages from
StarClan," Glayo commented, turning to his
brother. "It's more like he can see and hear
things that other cats can't."
"We have to test her," Leonado meowed.
"You mean I'm different from other cats?"
Turtledovepaw asked, his mind reeling.
<Couldn't all the cats know what was going on
around the territories? So how did they know
when trouble would come?> He felt his fur
begin to fluff up in panic. "Is there something
wrong with me?"
"No," Tawny assured him, giving him a soothing
touch on his shoulder with the tip of his tail.
"That... means you're special."
"Can Ivypaw feel the same things?" Glaius
asked.
Turtledovepaw shrugged.
“We have never talked about that. But…maybe
not.” Now that she thought about it, she had
always been the one to comment on things
that happened far away, not her sister. A spark
of fear crept through his belly. <I thought all
other cats could see and hear the same way I
could. I don't want to be the only one.> "We
need to test her," Leonado repeated. "Alright?"
he added quickly as Turtledovepaw began to
bristle again.
She met his amber gaze, aware that something
had changed in the last few moments. Leonado
was no longer just his mentor, he taught him
things and told him what to do. Instead, his
eyes showed respect, perhaps even awe.
<Strange> , he thought. "I'm okay with being
tested," she meowed. <Let's get it over with,
and then maybe life can go back to normal.>
"I'm going to go somewhere and do
something," Leonado told him. "When I get
back, I want you to tell me what I did."
Turtledovepaw shrugged again. "Well."
Without another word, Tawny rushed into the
trees, heading toward the RiverClan border.
Turtlepaw felt a little strange being left alone in
the clearing with Jaypaw. She didn't know the
healer like she knew the warriors, although she
was well aware of his sharp tongue. But he did
not seem inclined to speak; he simply crouched
with his paws under him, so Turtledovepaw let
his attention wander to the forest.
Little by little, he understood the confusion of
the noise that came from the trees. A
ShadowClan patrol was investigating the scent
of a fox near the edge; The RiverClan warriors
were making a fuss over the sticky mud at the
edge of the shrunken lake, where Vaharpaw
was scolding an apprentice. And further away,
at the edge of his senses, one of the big brown
animals was adding another piece of wood to
the blockage of the stream.
He jumped when Glaius spoke. "Can you even
tell what Tawny is doing?"
Turtledovepaw turned his ears in the direction
Tawnypaw had gone, towards the RiverClan
border. But there was no sign of his mentor
there.
Where could he have gone? He investigated
Twoleg's abandoned nest and the training
clearing, where he picked up the sounds of
Cinderpaw and Ivypaw practicing battle moves.
He still didn't see Leonado.
Turtlepaw focused his senses on the shore of
the lake. <Yes! There it is!> I could hear it and
smell it, heading down the bank towards the
edge of the lake on the pebbles. <Did you think
you could trick me if I backed away?>
The footsteps of Tawny's paws echoed over the
dry mud. Pausing, he looked around, then
jumped towards a piece of wood dragging it
over the pebbles. Turtledovepaw could hear
them scrape and roll as Tawnypaw pulled the
wood higher. When he had pulled it down to
the grass, he took a bramble tendril from a
nearby bush and laid it on the wood.
"Tawny, what are you doing?" Turtledovepaw
heard Sandstorm's voice and saw the cat
appear at the edge of the bush, with Leafpool,
Scabbardpaw, and Bumblebee right behind
her. The four cats carried moss balls.
"Oh, hello, Sandstorm." Leonado sounded
surprised. "I'm...uh...just trying an experiment."
"Well, don't let me interrupt you." Sandstorm
looked bewildered as she waved her tail and
led the two apprentices into the mud, heading
towards the water in the distance.
When Sandstorm was gone, Tawny ran back
through the trees and arrived, panting, a few
moments later. "Good?" panting. "Where did I
go and what did I do?"
"You tried to trick me, didn't you?" Tortolapaw
began; She felt so self-conscious that every hair
on her skin itched. “You left for WindClan, but
then you went down to the lake. And you
found a piece of wood..."
As he continued, he saw that Glaius was
listening with his head to the side and his ears
attentive. He didn't speak until he finished.
"Did she get it right?"
"Yes, in every detail," Leonado responded.
Suddenly, the air around the three cats seemed
to rustle with unsaid things, as if a storm of
green leaves was about to break out.
Turtledovepaw felt his shaky breathing.
"It's no big deal," he protested. “I thought all
cats could tell what was going on, even if it
wasn't right in front of us. “We all have good
hearing and sensitive whiskers, right?”
"Not so sensitive," Tawny meowed.
"Listen." Glaius leaned forward with an
intensity in his blind blue eyes. "There is a
prophecy, Turtledovepaw," he began.
"There will be three, blood of your blood, who
will have the power of the stars in their
clutches. That was
given to Firestar long ago by a cat from another
Clan, and refers to three cats who will be more
powerful than any in the Clans, more powerful
even than StarClan. Tawny..."
"But what does that have to do with us?"
Turtledovepaw interrupted; He suddenly felt
like he didn't want to know the answer.
"Tawny and I are two of those cats," Jayo
meowed with a flick of his ears. "And we think
you're the third."
"That?" Horror and disbelief seized Turtlepaw;
his voice came out like the squeal of a
frightened puppy.
"I?" Spinning around, she fixed her gaze on her
mentor. "Tawny, this can't be right! Please tell
me it's not true!"
 Chapter 7
Jaypaw grimaced at Turtlepaw's dismay when
he learned that he was different from all the
other cats in his Clan, with a destiny even
greater than that of StarClan. <Not that we
know what our destiny is...> She heard Tawny
sigh as she begged him to tell her it wasn't real.
"I can't tell you that, Turtledovepaw," his
brother meowed. "Because it's true. I often
wish it weren't like that, believe me."
"Tawny and I have special powers," added
Glayo. "He can't be defeated in combat, and I...
well, I have more skills than other healers."
<There's no way I'm going to tell you what they
are! Not yet, anyway.>
"And you have especially strong senses,"
Leonado told him. “You can tell what's
happening far away. I started wondering the
day we went to RiverClan, when you told me
there was a very sick cat at camp. I didn't feel
any of that. You're a better hunter than you
should be, with less than a moon of training.
And no other cats know anything about these
animals that you say are blocking the river.
"The way you were able to say exactly what I
did just now makes me think you might be right
about them."
Turtledovepaw was silent for a moment; Glaius
could hear his claws tearing through the grass.
"This is from mouse brains!" she burst out last.
"I don't believe you. "I don't want to be
different!"
"What you want is not-" Glaius began, then cut
himself off when he heard the sound of cats
picking their way through ferns.
Sandstorm was in the lead, with more cats
behind her, their scents almost drowned in the
wet smell of mud.
"I'm sick of this," Sandstorm complained, her
voice muffled so Glaius could imagine the soggy
moss he held in his jaws.
“RiverClan is behaving as if we have to ask their
permission every time we want to go near the
water.”
"And I'm covered in mud," protested
Trenchpaw.
"We are all covered." Leafpool's voice was
tired. "Once we get the water to our clanmates,
we can rest and take it off."
"Gross!" Bumblebee exclaimed.
The sounds of the patrol faded as they headed
towards the tunnel of thorns.
"We can't talk here," Jayo meowed. "We might
as well announce everything to the Clan and be
done with it."
"Then let's go further into the forest where no
cats can hear us," Tawny suggested.
Glaius led the way along the ancient two-
legged path to the abandoned nest.
The scent of catnip greeted him, easing his
worries and filling him with a deep sense of
satisfaction. <If ThunderClan ever suffers from
green cough again, we will be well prepared.>
"Your catnip is blooming," Tawny commented
as the three cats entered the overgrown two-
legged garden. "It's strange that it grows so
well in a drought."
"If he did, it would be strange," Glaius agreed.
"I've been looking for soaked moss to water the
roots. "We can't afford to let her die."
Distracted by the moment from
Turtledovepaw's problem, Jay moved
confidently from plant to plant, guided by the
strong smell of catnip, and gave each root a
careful sniff to make sure the fragile shoots
were thriving.
"You must understand how I can know what is
happening in the entire forest." Turtledovepaw
came up behind him, a challenge in his voice.
"You can know where each of those plants is,
even if you can't see them."
Glaius twitched his ears, surprised, as Tawny
began, "Dovepaw, that's different..."
"Okay," Glaius interrupted. It was refreshing to
meet a cat who didn't tie herself up by trying
not to mention her blindness in front of him.
“Dovepaw makes a good point. I know other
cats are surprised when I know where things
are. “I have developed very good senses of
smell and hearing,” he continued to
Tortolapaw. "I guess that's to compensate for
not being able to see. But I can't tell what's
happening on the other side of the forest." A
flash of resentment crossed his mind. "Your
powers are much greater than my senses."
"But I don't understand!" Jaypaw could tell that
Turtlepaw was trying to keep his voice steady.
“Why do I have these powers? What does the
prophecy mean?”
"We're not sure," Leonado responded. “At first
we felt like you. And it took us a lot to
understand it, but..."
"What about you?" Glaius intervened. “How
can you not want to be more powerful than
your clanmates? Have a greater destiny, a
mystery to solve? How can you not want to be
one of the Three?”
"But we are not three, we are four!"
Turtledovepaw turned to look at him. “What's
up with Ivypaw? What are his special powers?
What does the prophecy say about her?”
"Nothing," Glaius told him. “At first we didn't
know if the prophecy referred to you or your
sister. But you made it pretty clear that you
were the one."
"You just told us that Ivypaw can't sense things
at a distance like you can," Tawnypaw pointed
out.
"Not yet. But how do we know he won't? Glaius
dug his claws into the ground at the
apprentice's stubborn tone. "Besides, she's my
sister. "I'm not going to do anything without
her."
"You have no choice," Glaius snapped.
"Do you think we asked you for this?" Tawny
heaved a deep sigh. “I wish every day that I
could be an ordinary warrior, doing everything I
can to help my Clan.”
"But we have had to accept it," Glayo meowed.
He heard a struggling sound from
Turtledovepaw, as if the apprentice was flexing
her claws in and out on the ground. "I don't
have to accept it," he muttered angrily.
"You will do it. For what you did today,” Tawny
meowed. Glaius realized that he felt great
sympathy for his apprentice. "You couldn't
have made it clearer if you had gone and
shouted it from the High Ledge."
Now Turtledovepaw was silent, and Glaius
could feel his anger fading, replaced by
uncertainty and fear. He let out a sigh, knowing
what he had to tell her, although he had hoped
it wouldn't be necessary. "You must have heard
that we once had a sister," he began. “Carrasca.
"We...thought she was part of the prophecy,
one of the Three."
"But she wasn't." To Glaius's relief, Tawny
returned to the story. "He tried so hard to
figure out his special power and how he could
use it to help his Clan."
"So what made you realize she wasn't one of
the Three?" asked Turtledovepaw.
Pain and shame washed over Glaius, as acute
as when he first discovered that he was not
Squirrelflight and Brambleclaw's son. He could
feel that his brother felt the same. What could
they say to this apprentice without opening the
wounds that threatened to destroy their Clan?
"How much do you know about Carrasca?" he
asked Turtledovepaw.
"Not much." The young cat's voice was curious
now. “I know she was your sister and she died
in an accident in the tunnels. "Ivypaw and I
used to hear the cats talking about her
sometimes, but when they saw us listening
they always changed the subject."
<I'm not surprised ,> Glaius thought.
"We just realized the prophecy didn't include
her," Tawnypaw stated flatly, in a tone that
warned Turtlepaw not to ask any more
questions.
"So you made a mistake!" replied
Turtledovepaw. "How do you know you're not
making the same mistake again? "Firestar has
many relatives in ThunderClan, not just
Whitecloud and Snowpaw!"
"Because…" Glaius began.
"I dont want to listen!" Turtledovepaw's voice
was angry, and Glaius could imagine her
looking at him with the hair on her neck
standing up. He felt the fear deep inside her,
which she was trying to bury under her anger.
"I don't care about special powers, unless they
can help me be a loyal warrior to ThunderClan.
I don't want any part of any prophecy,
especially one that's so vague you can't even be
sure which cat it refers to! "
"Listen, you stupid furball!" Glaius spat. "Do
you think we wanted things to be this way?" All
his anger and frustration poured out, like a
storm breaking over the forest, and he didn't
even try to stop it. “We did not choose to be
part of the prophecy! We lost our sister
because of that! "
His legs were shaking so much that he had to sit
down. <Who sent the prophecy?> he asked
himself, once again. <And why should we listen
to him when he caused so much pain?>
"I... I'm sorry," stammered Turtledovepaw. "But
if it's so difficult, why don't you ask Firestar?"
"Firestar has never told us about that," Tawny
replied. "He doesn't even know that we know
he received the prophecy in the first place."
"Then how…?" Turtledovepaw's voice was
bewildered.
"I walked in his dreams," Glaius explained
reluctantly. She could tell how his intensity was
frightening the young cat, and how strongly she
would find it to accept the darkness within her
powers. But something was driving him, an
inner voice that seemed to warn him that there
was no time to wait for her to understand. “We
don't know what the prophecy requires us to
do,” he continued, trying to keep his voice
calm, “but we must be prepared. And that
means having the courage to stand up to our
powers, whatever they may be."
Turtledovepaw hesitated; Glaius could feel the
uncertainty rolling off her in waves. "Wouldn't
StarClan want me to learn to be a warrior
first?" she meowed at last.
"Don't know. "I'm not even sure the prophecy
comes from StarClan." Glaius hated to admit
that, but it was true; no StarClan warrior had
ever confirmed the prophecy to him.
"But you're right, Turtledovepaw." Tawny's
voice was warm with approval. “The best thing
you can do is continue your warrior training.
Come on, go and do some more hunting,
before the other cats send a search party for
us.”
"Yeah!" Turtledovepaw immediately sounded
happier. Glaius knew he was trying to forget
the prophecy.
"Go on," he meowed. “I'll stay here and take
care of my plants. "There are some dead leaves
that could do with plucking." He heard the
footsteps of Tawnypaw retreating, with
Turtledovepaw following; At the edge of the
garden he stopped and turned.
“Glayo,” he began hesitantly, “I had a dream.
“This StarClan cat took me to the lake and it
was full of water again.”
"What was the cat like?" Tawny asked.
"Scary! It had messy gray fur and yellow eyes.
And his teeth were all worn down."
"It was Yellowfang," Jayus told him. "She used
to be ThunderClan's medicine cat when the
Clan lived in the old forest."
"Firestar talks about her sometimes," Taypole
assured his apprentice. "He says she's not as
scary as she looks."
"Did he say why he came to you?" Glaius asked.
"No..." Turtledovepaw sounded uncertain
again. "If he did, I don't remember."
"And is this the only dream you've ever had?"
“The only one of StarClan. Do you think it's
important?" Turtledovepaw meowed.
"Yes, but I don't know why." Glaius scraped his
paw against the wet, smelly ground. Let me
know if you have more, okay? Oh, and
welcome to the Three."
Chapter 8
Tawny made his way through the tunnel of
thorns and across the clearing toward the
warriors' lair. As soon as the sun had set,
Brambleclaw had called him to patrol along the
ShadowClan border, to make the best use of
the cooler night. Now Leonado felt as if his legs
were going to fall off. He was so tired that he
wasn't even sure he could make it to the lair.
Moonlight bathed the clearing; Tawny shivered
when he looked up at the sky and saw the
moon growing to its maximum. <Tomorrow
night there will be an assembly,> he thought.
It's been a full moon since Leopardstar claimed
all the fish in the lake. <And things are not
better, they are worse.>
With a great effort, he pushed away his fatigue
and turned away from the warriors' lair to the
fallen rocks that led to the High Ledge. <I have
to talk to Firestar.>
On the High Ledge he paused for a moment,
making sure he knew what he meant, then
called out softly, in case his leader was asleep.
"Fire star?"
"Forward."
Firestar's voice was tired, and when Taypaw
entered the lair, he was surprised to see how
thin and worried the Clan leader looked.
He crouched among the moss and ferns of his
bed, his green gaze fixed on his paws.
He blinked slowly as he raised his head to face
Tawny.
"I'm sorry, Firestar," Tawny stuttered,
beginning to back away again.
"You look tired, so..."
"No, I'm fine," Firestar assured him. "If you
want to talk, this is a good time."
Slightly encouraged, Tawny entered the den,
bowed his head toward his leader, and sat by
the bed with his tail wrapped around his paws.
"How's Turtlepaw's training going?" Firestar
asked.
"Er... good." Tawnypaw wondered if Firestar
had made the connection between
Turtledovepaw and the prophecy. <You must
have heard about the story I had told before,
about the brown animals blocking the river> .
Would Firestar believe her? And if he did,
would he take this as a sign of great power?
"She works hard. I think she will be one of the
best hunters in the Clan."
Firestar nodded. "She has a good mentor," he
meowed.
Tawny squirmed. "I give my best."
The Clan leader turned his bright green gaze
towards Tawny, moonlight reflecting in his
eyes. "Just like Brambleclaw," he murmured,
"When he raised you as his own son."
Catching his breath, Tawny felt a hot core of
rage begin to grow in his stomach, as if he had
swallowed a burning acorn. <Why
Does Firestar mention that again now? I don't
want to talk about it!>
"I know you and Jay are angry because they lied
to you," Firestar continued quietly. "I can
understand that. But you must not forget that
you could not have had a better mother and
father than Squirrelflight and Brambleclaw.
"Things could have been very different."
"I'm not angry with Brambleclaw," Tawny
replied. "He is a noble cat. I felt proud when I
thought he was my father. And he suffered
from the lies like the rest of us."
"Leafpool and Squirrelflight did what they
thought was best for you and your littermates,"
Firestar meowed. “Would the truth have been
easier to live with? "
"We have to live with it now," Leonado noted,
making an effort not to lash his tail.
"I know." Firestar sighed. “Secrets never stay
hidden forever. “It takes a lot of courage to
face the truth.” He paused with a haunting
look, as if remembering something past. "You
don't need to punish Leafpool any more than
she's already been punished," he continued.
“She has lost everything she loved. And
Squirrelflight has lost her partner. Do you think
it's easy for her?”
<They both deserved it!> It took all of Tawny's
self-control not to hiss the words out loud. His
anger threatened to overwhelm him; I didn't
want to think about what Leafpool might be
feeling.
"I take it that's not what you came to talk
about?" Firestar asked, tilting his head to the
side.
Tawny took advantage of the change of subject,
happy to speak to his leader as a ThunderClan
warrior, not as a troubled relative of Firestar.
“Did you hear the story Turtledovepaw told
about the brown animals blocking the stream
that marks the border of ShadowClan?” Firestar
nodded.
"I think you might be right," Leonado
continued.
The ThunderClan leader blinked in surprise,
opened his jaws to speak, and then seemed to
consider the possibility more carefully. "If he
has, I don't see how to know," he replied. He
narrowed his eyes and Tawny suppressed a
shiver at his penetrating green gaze. How much
does Firestar know about us?
"StarClan might have sent him a dream, I
suppose," he mewed to Firestar after a
moment. "She didn't mention that to you, did
she?"
Leonado wished he had said yes. It would be
such a convenient explanation. But lying to his
clan leader would create more problems than it
would solve. "No, he didn't," he replied.
"Hmm..." Firestar's whiskers trembled; He was
obviously thinking deeply. "What she says
makes sense," he finally continued. "I'm not
talking about brown animals. But there could
be something blocking the stream so that the
water can no longer reach us."
"It's what I thought." Tawnypaw was relieved
to have a good reason to believe in
Turtledovepaw that meant he didn't have to
reveal the truth about his senses.
"There is nothing in our territory," Firestar
continued in a whisper, half to himself. "And
there can't be anything in ShadowClan territory
either or they would have unlocked it."
"It must be much further upstream," Tawny
meowed. “Let me go on patrol to investigate.
"There may be something we can do."
"No, it's too dangerous." Firestar shook his
head. “We don't know what could have caused
the blockage. Furthermore, we would need to
travel through ShadowClan territory. Blackstar
would rip off our ears and I couldn't blame
him."
"So all cats have to suffer without water?"
Tawny challenged him. "Glayo is doing his best
to keep the Clan going, Firestar, but there is a
limit to what any medicine cat can do. "Any
more of this, and the cats are going to die of
thirst."
"I know." Firestar let out a long sigh that told
Tawny of his desperation more clearly than
words. "But traveling upstream... is too much
to take on, when we don't know for sure if the
stream has been blocked."
"Then, what are we going to do? “Sit and wait
for the rain?” Tawny's anger flared again, until
he felt as if every hair on his skin would wither.
"StarClan has not sent us any messages to tell
us when the drought might end. It's time for us
to take our destiny into our own hands! "
Frustrated, he scraped his claws against the
stone floor of the lair. The words floated,
unspoken: <You know I'm more powerful than
StarClan! Why don't you believe me when I tell
you that we can fix this?> But Leonado
managed not to say them out loud.
"Very well, then," Firestar replied wearily. "If
you're convinced that Turtlepaw is right, I'll let
you investigate. There doesn't seem to be
anything else we can do to help. But I still won't
allow a ThunderClan cat patrol to travel upriver
alone. You would never reach the blockade,
even if it exists."
"But-" Tawny began.
"I just said," Firestar interrupted. “If
ShadowClan joined us, the mission would be
much less dangerous. In fact, it would be better
if we could form an all-clan expedition. "Four
clans working together would be much
stronger than a single patrol."
"Would you agree?" Tawny asked doubtfully.
"We are all suffering from the lack of water."
Firestar sounded more energetic now, as if the
plan was renewing his strength. "Why shouldn't
we do something about it?"
Tawny shrugged. It was hard for him to imagine
Blackstar, Leopardstar, and Whiskerstar
agreeing to send warriors into the unknown
when life was so hard around the lake. But
maybe they were desperate enough to
consider it. <And if it's the only way to alleviate
the drought> , he decided, <I'm sure I won't be
the only cat willing to do it> .
"I'll propose it at tomorrow's assembly,"
Firestar meowed decisively.
When Tawnypaw walked down the fallen rocks
toward the clearing, he found Turtledove and
Jaypaw waiting anxiously for him.
"I heard you there with Firestar!" Whispered
Turtledovepaw. "What did he say?"
"If you heard us, don't you know what he
said?" Tawnypaw asked, bewildered to realize
that his apprentice might have been listening to
everything he and Firestar had discussed.
"I don't eavesdrop!" Turtledovepaw twitched
his whiskers indignantly. "That would be
wrong."
"So what did he say?" Glaius asked.
"He wants to send a patrol of the four Clans
upriver, to see if we can unblock the river,"
Tawny replied. "He's going to mention it at the
assembly tomorrow night."
"All clans?" Turtledovepaw's eyes widened in
dismay.
"But, but what if they don't believe me?"
"Don't worry". Tawny rested his tail on his
apprentice's shoulder. "Firestar isn't going to
say it was your idea."
"He'll probably tell the other Clans that we
should explore the area upstream, to find out
where the water went." To Tawny's surprise,
Glaius's eyes were shining.
Leonado could not share his brother's
enthusiasm. Forcing the clans to cooperate
with each other seemed to cause more
problems than he was willing to deal with. "You
sound very interested in this idea," he
commented.
"Of course." Glaius waved his tail. “All the Clans
are suffering. "It makes sense that we work
together to solve the problem."
 Chapter 9
Tawny looked up at the full moon lying over the
empty bowl of the lake. Highlighting the
WindClan cats in silver as they headed to the
shore on their way to the assembly. They
seemed thinner than ever, and they walked
with difficulty with their heads bowed and their
tails hanging down as if they were too tired to
continue putting one paw in front of the other.
Tawny looked at his clanmates and realized
that they were equally exhausted. Only
Turtledovepaw seemed to have any energy.
Her fur was full of excitement, and from time to
time she ran a few steps, then waited for
Carbonera and Leonado to catch up. His ears
were erect and his whiskers trembled. Leonado
wondered what he could feel, if he was already
hearing the murmurs of the island.
There was no need to use the fallen tree to
cross the lake to the island. There was no water
left in this narrow canal; The bottom of the lake
was exposed to the stars, covered with pebbles
and pieces of wood. Firestar led the way down,
leaping gracefully across the scattered debris,
his paws silent on the stones.
"I don't know why we came here," murmured
Leapfrog. "We could have crossed the lake
directly from our territory.
"I suppose so," Carbonera agreed. “But we've
always done it this way. Somehow it doesn't
seem respectful to change it."
Leapfrog shrugged with a tired sigh.
The moonlight showed the lake stripped of all
its former magnificence, reduced to a bowl of
dust and stones. It seemed strange to Tawny to
be walking on an arid wasteland of pebbles
where deep water once churned. Above him,
the fallen tree didn't seem as tall either, as it
did when he had to balance on it with the dark
lake lapping hungrily below.
The undergrowth on the island was brown and
brittle all the way to the shore. ThunderClan
and WindClan mingled as they walked silently
through it towards the clearing. Tawnypaw saw
WindClan's lieutenant, Pearlypaw, walking with
Crowfeather; the lieutenant was Crowfeather's
mother, Tawnypaw remembered, with sudden
surprise when he realized he had more
relatives in WindClan.
He leaned back, hoping Pearlypaw and
Crowfeather hadn't noticed, and found himself
walking right behind Squirrelflight and
Thornthorn. Cinderpaw was at his side, with
Ashpaw on the other side and Ivypaw and
Turtledovepaw following him. Together they
made their way through the bushes
surrounding the clearing and emerged into the
cold starlight, surrounded by pine trees.
ShadowClan had already arrived. They greeted
ThunderClan and WindClan with soft nods. The
shadows that fluttered over the ground were as
light and fragile as fallen leaves; Was it Tawny's
imagination, or did the cats really make less
noise with their half-starved paws?
As Firestar and Onewhiskerstar climbed the
tree to join Blackstar, Tawnypaw saw Jays
approaching to touch noses with Cirrus, the
ShadowClan medicine cat. Nearby, Cirro's
apprentice, Pinktail, sat with his littermates
Tigerheart and Cinnamon.
Tigerheart jumped on his paws as soon as he
saw Tawny. "Hello!" he called. "How are you?"
"Well, thank you," Tawny responded dryly.
When he turned around, he tried to ignore the
pain in the younger cat's eyes.
Moons ago, when Tigerheart and his
littermates were new apprentices, their
mother, Tawny, had brought them to
ThunderClan because a loner named Solo had
taken over ShadowClan. Tawny had been born
and raised in ThunderClan; She and her kits had
been welcomed, albeit cautiously, but had
returned to ShadowClan as soon as Solo had
been banished.
<Then I thought they were my relatives,> Tawny
reflected sadly. <Brambleclaw is Tawny's
brother... I liked them, especially Tigerheart.
But now…> "I wish they'd leave me alone," he
murmured aloud to Cinderpelt. "They know I'm
not part of their family."
Cinderpelt's blue eyes softened. "They can be
friends without being relatives," he said. "And
isn't it good to have friends in another Clan
instead of enemies?
How could I understand Carbonera? She has
not been betrayed by her parents. Tawny's
gaze fell on Tigerheart and Cinnamon. <I
wonder if Tigerstar has visited them in their
dreams, like he used to visit me in mine.>
Tigerstar was Brambleclaw and Tawny's father.
He had been a warrior and lieutenant of
ThunderClan, but Bluestar had banished him
for plotting his death and he became leader of
ShadowClan. He had dreamed of ruling over
the four clans when he was alive, and he still
held that dream, even though he now walked
in the Dark Forest, with other cats who were
denied entry to StarClan. He had come to
Leonado in the night, taking advantage of their
shared blood, to train him in the art of ruthless
fighting and brutal ambition. Tawnypaw had
learned everything with enthusiasm, but as
soon as he discovered that Tigerstar was not
his kin, he realized that the dead warrior had
been using him for his own dark purposes.
Tawnypaw forced his paws to carry him
towards the young ShadowClan warriors,
knowing he should try to make up for their
hostility, but before he could take more than a
couple of steps, he heard Onewhiskerstar
calling from the Great Oak.
"Has any cat seen Leopardstar and her Clan?"
With more than shrugs and shaking heads in
response to his questions, he added: "Poet, go
take a look, will you?"
The WindClan warrior pushed his way through
the bushes and returned a moment later.
"There's a patrol on the way," he informed his
leader. "They come straight across the lake."
All the cats settled down to wait, their
conversation dying in silence. Tawnypaw sat
next to Cinderpaw, glancing guiltily across the
clearing at the ShadowClan cats. <Maybe I'll
talk to them before we go.>
Not many seconds had passed before Tawny
heard more rustling in the bushes and
Leopardstar emerged at the head of the
RiverClan patrol. He felt his skin crawl with
shock when he saw how fragile the RiverClan
leader was, every bone visible beneath her
stained skin and her eyes as dull as the mud left
in the lake.
As soon as Leopardstar appeared,
Turtledovepaw sat up straight, her eyes
widening in amazement. Twisting to face
Tawny, he leaned toward him and whispered in
his ear, "That's the sick cat from the RiverClan
camp!"
"You're sure?" Tawny was surprised. <That
means Leopardstar has been sick for almost a
moon!>
Turtledovepaw nodded and Tawnypaw asked
no more questions. He didn't want any other
cats to hear their conversation.
Leopardstar held her head high as she crossed
the clearing with Mist behind her. He stopped
at the foot of the tree, looking up but not trying
to jump; Vaharina murmured something to
him.
“I think Vaharina is offering to help her,”
Cinderpelt whispered in Tawny's ear.
"Leopard Star must be really sick if she can't
even jump up the tree."
But as Cinderpaw spoke, Leopardstar shook her
head decisively, gathered her hips beneath her,
and jumped. Its front paws only scraped the
lowest branch; He dug his claws in and after an
unworthy struggle he managed to get up. He
crouched down on the branch and looked at
the cats below with fierce yellow eyes, as if
daring any of them to comment on his
awkward jump.
Tawnypaw exchanged a look with Leapfrog,
who sat down next to him. <Leopard Star looks
like she's going to fall off that branch any
second!> Then his gaze shifted to his brother,
who was sitting at the foot of the tree with the
other healers, and he wondered if Glaius knew
how weak he was. Leopard Star.
Firestar stood up and let out a howl to indicate
that the Gathering had begun. Even though he
was much thinner than usual, he still looked
much healthier than Leopardstar. "Cats of all
clans," he began. "We are all suffering from the
heat and lack of water."
"What else is new?" Crowfeather called from a
group of WindClan warriors.
Firestar ignored him. “The problem is getting
worse. The stream between our territory and
ShadowClan's has dried up.
We believe there is a possibility of a blockage in
the current. "Some of my Clan cats want to
explore and see if that's true."
As he spoke, his green gaze fell on Tawny, as if
to assure him that he had no intention of
naming Turtlepaw, or revealing that the cat he
had the idea of was just an apprentice. <Let's
hope the other cats who heard her next to the
pile of fresh meat have the common sense to
keep their mouths shut.>
Tawny responded to his leader with a small
nod; Looking at Turtledovepaw, he was
relieved to see that she was listening as
attentively as any other cat, but it didn't seem
like she knew more than what Firestar was
saying.
"Your patrol will trespass into ShadowClan
territory if they travel upriver," Blackstar
growled in response to Firestar's suggestion. "I
wont allow it."
"I think we should send a patrol made up of
cats from all four Clans," Firestar explained. He
raised his tail for silence as a wave of surprise
passed through the clearing. "Do you
remember what happened when the twolegs
destroyed our home in the old forest?"
continuous. “A patrol of six cats, representing
all the Clans, set out on a quest to find new
territories. This is how we survived then; This
might be the way to survive now."
Tawny felt a thrill of excitement pass through
the clearing. The cats jumped on their paws,
their fur fluffed and their tails fluttered.
"I will go!" Tigerheart shouted.
"I will do it!" Cinnamon added, her eyes
shining. "It will be a true warrior mission!"
"I was not born when the Clans made the Great
Journey," Tawny heard Foxleaping meowing to
Rosepetal. "But I bet it was exciting."
"I wonder what we'll find." Rose Petal's
whiskers were trembling. "I'll bet a whole
moon of dawn patrols it's the twolegs again."
"Or badgers," replied Leapfrog. "I wouldn't bet
anything other than badgers."
"I want to go," whispered Turtledove to
Tawnypaw. "Do you think Firestar will choose
an apprentice?"
"Don't worry," Tawny murmured in response.
"You're the only cat out of all the clans that
would have to go."
"Do you really think we could bring the water
back?" It was Whiskered Star who spoke; His
voice was cautious, but hope was awakening in
his eyes.
"I think it's worth a try," Firestar replied.
"And who would be in charge of this joint
patrol?" Blackstar asked, still sounding
belligerent. "You?"
Firestar shook his head. "I don't think any Clan
leader should go," he meowed. “Our clans need
us here. Also, when we took the Big Trip, no
cats were in charge. So we learned to
cooperate and there is no reason why we can't
do it again. What do you think?"
Blackstar remained silent, aside from the sound
of his claws scraping the bark of his branch.
Onewhiskerstar exchanged a glance with his
lieutenant, Pearly Pearl, who was sitting on a
root below, nodded decisively. "I agree. It
makes sense to involve all clans. "WindClan is
with you, Firestar."
"And so does ShadowClan." Blackstar fixed
Firestar with a hard gaze. "You will walk
through our territory, and you will not do so
without ShadowClan cats watching over you."
"Thanks to both of you". Tawnypaw thought
Firestar was trying to hide his surprise that he
had gained the consent of the two leaders so
easily. "Leopard Star, what do you think?"
The RiverClan leader was looking across the
clearing as if she hadn't heard any of the
discussion about her.
After a few seconds of awkward silence, Cirro
stood up. “If I may speak,” he began, gesturing
politely to the leaders, “the situation now is not
the same as last time. The cats that
participated in the first mission were
summoned by a prophecy." His gaze scanned
the Clans until he found Brambleclaw,
Crowfeather, and Tawny. The three cats
nodded; Tawny thought he could see memories
flickering in her eyes.
Squirrelflight looked at Brambleclaw, and there
was deep regret in the look she gave him.
Tawny knew she hadn't been chosen by
StarClan, but she had insisted on going with the
others; She must be longing for that moment
before lies and betrayals came between her
and her partner.
"StarClan deliberately chose those cats, one
from each Clan," Cirro continued.
"Who will choose these cats?" He paused to
look at the other medicine cats and then
added, "Has StarClan given you any clues as to
who should go?"
The other healers, even Glaius, shook their
heads. Tawny felt his stomach tighten.
Turtledovepaw knew that the big brown
animals had blocked the stream. StarClan
hadn't told them anything. <We can't wait for
our warrior ancestors to save us! They don't
know more about this than we do!>
For a moment, Tawnypaw feared that Firestar
would agree to wait for the signs. Then, the
ThunderClan leader bowed his head towards
Cirro.
"That's an important point," he meowed. “But
if StarClan were going to send us signals this
time, I think they would have sent them by
now. Each clan leader is able to choose which
cats should represent their clans. StarClan
trusts that the four of us will do everything we
can for our cats; That's why we get nine lives."
Murmurs of assent rose from the clearing;
Tawnystar saw Onewhiskerstar and Blackstar
nod as well.
“Cats who undertake the journey must be
brave and strong,” Firestar continued. “They
must be able to pursue something they know
little about and be willing to put aside Clan
rivalry for the sake of each cat. "I trust all
leaders will make the right decision."
Tawny breathed a sigh of relief. That had gone
much better than I expected.
<The current wouldn't be blocked for much
longer!> Then Leopardstar raised her head.
"Just like you, Firestar," he said hoarsely.
“Always coming up with a plan. “You think I
don’t know what you really have in mind?”
Firestar looked at her with bewilderment in his
green eyes. "I'm not hiding anything," he
assured her.
"Fox shit!" Leopardstar spat. His thin, uneven
skin bristled along his bony spine. “This is a
trick! You're just trying to trick RiverClan for
our fish. "You want to get rid of some of our
warriors so we can't continue patrolling."
"That makes no sense". Firestar didn't sound
angry, just sympathetic. "Leopard Star, I can
see that you are not well..."
"I'm not stupid, Firestar." Leopardstar rejected
the ThunderClan leader's compassion with a
snarl. Struggling with its paws, it swung on the
branch as if it were about to lose its balance
and fall. "I know you would let RiverClan starve
to save your precious Clan!"
"No, he wants to help," Whiskerstar protested.
"We all do it."
"Everyone wants our fish," Leopardstar
growled. "But they won't get it. "RiverClan will
not be joining this patrol."
The other three leaders looked at each other in
dismay, but before any of them could speak,
Vaharina jumped towards her leader's branch.
He crouched down next to Leopardstar and
spoke softly in her ear.
Tawny strained to hear what he was saying and
managed to catch a few sentences. "They will
be weakened if they send their strongest
warriors away... We will benefit more than
others if the lake is refilled."
Tension rose in the clearing as the other cats
waited; Tawny could feel his skin tingling as if a
storm was approaching. Leopardstar
dispatched her lieutenant once or twice, but
Cloudpaw persisted, the tip of her tail resting
gently on her leader's shoulder.
At last, Cloudpaw stood up, still keeping her tail
on Leopardstar. “RiverClan will send cats with
this patrol,” he announced.
Some howls of protest arose from the
RiverClan warriors. "That's something
Leopardstar should say, not you!" spat the
veteran Prieto.
"She's already made her decision," Mauve Nose
added. "Now you've made her look weak!"
Betulón, sitting a couple of meters from the
queue near Leonado, let out a disdainful sniff.
"Leopard Star couldn't look much weaker even
if she were dead," he commented.
Vaharina didn't try to argue; She just waited for
the noise to die down. He then bowed his head
towards Leopardstar and the other leaders and
jumped to the ground again.
"Thank you, Leopardstar," Firestar meowed,
stepping forward once more. "I promise you,
you won't regret this decision." He paused to
give a couple of thoughtful licks to the fur on
his chest and then continued, “Each Clan must
send two cats to the mouth of the dry stream
at the second dawn from now on. The Clan
lieutenants can escort them." His green eyes
shone in the moonlight and his voice echoed in
the clearing. “We will find the water! The clans
must survive!"
Chapter 10
As soon as Glaius woke up the morning after
the Gathering, he could feel the excitement
buzzing around the camp like bees out of their
hive. Yawning and trying to shake off the dark
dreams that had disturbed his sleep, he stood
up and brushed off a ball of moss that had
stuck to his nose.
<Don't they realize that the cats who go on the
journey may never return?>
He stumbled sleepily into the clearing and
smelled Firestar emerging from his lair on the
High Ledge. The Clan was gathering to listen
even before their leader shouted the words
that would call a meeting. Jay felt Mousepaw
brush against his skin, and heard the sound of
footsteps as Flowerpaw, Coatpaw, and
Bumblebee hurried past him. Moving forward,
he found a place for himself near Tawnypaw
and Tortolapaw.
"Cats of ThunderClan," Firestar began when the
excited murmuring had turned to silence. “At
the Assembly last night, the four clans decided
to send two cats to explore the stream and find
out if it is really blocked. "I have decided that
Tawnypaw and Dovepaw will represent
ThunderClan."
Even before Firestar finished speaking, howls of
indignation rose into the still morning air.
"She is an apprentice!" Espinardo protested.
"We should send a strong warrior who can deal
with danger."
"Yeah, what's so special about her?" Bayo
added.
But all voices of disapproval were drowned out
by Ivypaw's anguished wail. "Why can you
leave when I can't? Why don't Firestar send
another warrior? "
"It's not because Firestar likes me more or
anything," Turtlepaw assured her sister. Jaypaw
listened as she stretched out her paw toward
Ivypaw and tried to give his ear a comforting
lick, but Ivypaw moved away from her. "It's just
that I was the first cat to think of something
blocking the flow."
Glaius felt guilt wash over her as she
remembered that she was keeping her special
senses, and everything she knew about the
prophecy, a secret from her sister. <You'll just
have to get used to it, that's all.>
"I know," Ivypaw meowed sadly. "But I thought
we would always do everything together."
"I wish we could, but we can't," replied
Turtledovepaw.
"This is enough!" Squirrelflight's voice rose
above the clamor of the protesting cats.
“Firestar has made his decision. "It's not our
place to question it."
"That's true," Graystripe agreed. "Do you trust
your leader or not?"
Little by little, the noise died down and Firestar
spoke again. “Tawnpaw and Turtledovepaw will
leave at the next dawn. The meeting is over."
The crowd of cats divided into groups,
murmuring together among themselves. For a
few seconds, Glaius lost track of Turtledove's
Paw, then located her near the pile of fresh
meat with Albino Cloud and Fox's Leap. Sensing
the trainee's wave of anxiety, he walked over
to join them.
"How did they choose you to go?" Leapfrog
asked as Glaius approached. "How did you
know about the current, anyway?"
"Did you have a StarClan dream?" Albino Cloud
added excitedly. "What did they tell you?"
Jaypaw could tell that Turtlepaw was starting
to panic. "So what if she had a dream?" He
snapped, wagging his tail in Albino Cloud's
direction. "That's between her and Firestar.
Now if not
"You have nothing better to do, you can go
down to the lake and bring some water for the
veterans."
He heard an annoyed hiss from Leapfrog, but
the two young warriors turned and walked
away without arguing.
"He speaks to us as if he were our mentor,"
Albino Cloud complained in a whisper as they
headed towards the tunnel of thorns.
"Glayo, I don't know what to tell you!"
Turtledovepaw meowed as soon as the
warriors were out of earshot. “I didn't have a
dream, you know I didn't! "I can hear those
brown animals, feel them, just like I knew what
Tawny was doing by the lake."
Glaius moved his whiskers. "I know," he
replied. “But only Leonado and I will
understand. As far as the other cats go, this
was a dream. You understand?"
Turtledovepaw hesitated. "I don't like lying to
you," he meowed.
Glaius could sense her bewilderment, and
realized that her super-acute senses were
perfectly natural to her. But she was being too
stubborn and narrow-minded. Frustration
stabbed him, sharp as a thorn. "Don't you want
to be special?" he demanded. "Don't you like
being chosen for a destiny greater than that of
your clanmates?"
"I don't want to!" Turtledovepaw spat at him,
then seemed to remember who he was talking
to. "I'm sorry," he murmured. "I don't like
keeping secrets from my clanmates, that's all."
"Then don't talk about it," Glaius advised. He
felt that the apprentice was about to continue
arguing when he sensed that Twinkle was
approaching. Turtledovepaw took the
opportunity to run across the clearing to where
her sister was sitting outside the apprentices'
den.
"Hello, Glaius," the cat called. "Do you want me
to go pick up some herbs for the trip?"
"Thanks, Twinkle, that would be great," replied
Glayo. His mind began to race. He knew that
Centella was waiting for him to tell her what
herbs to look for.
<Mouse shit! I'm not sure I can remember.>
This would be the first time you would prepare
the traveling herb mixture on your own. He
tried to think about what Leafpool had done
when Brambleclaw and the rest left to find
Solo, but he was distracted by another, deeper
concern. <I wish Tawnypaw and Turtlepaw
weren't on the mission. What if they don't
come back? The prophecy will never be fulfilled
if I am the only one left!>
He smelled Leafpool as she passed on her way
to the pile of fresh meat. Her skin burned to ask
him about the traveling herbs, but she forced
her mouth to stay closed. <She's no longer a
healer! She turned her back on that when she
fell in love with Crowfeather.>
"I'm sorry," he murmured to Twinkle. "Just give
me a couple of moments."
He could always ask Cinderpelt, to see if his
half-buried memories of Cinderpelt would be
able to tell him the list of herbs. But that could
cause more problems than it solves. Cinderpelt
had no idea she was once ThunderClan's
medicine cat.
"It's okay," Twinkle meowed happily. "I think I
can remember the mixture, from when I ate
the traveling herbs before going to the
Moonstone, in the old forest. Let me see...
there's sorrel, isn't there, and daisy? I
remember it because I hate the taste!"
"That's how it is." To Glaius' relief, his memory
was returning. "And chamomile is another..."
"And pimpernel!" Centella finished
triumphantly. "That's all, right? "I'll take care of
it right away."
"Thank you, Sparkle." Glaius lowered his head.
“The best place for sorrel is next to the old two-
leg trail. And you'll probably find chamomile in
the garden behind the two-legged nest."
"Excellent!" The cat quickly walked away. Pinta!
Floret Paw!" she called. "Do you want to come
with me and look for herbs?"
When the three cats disappeared into the
tunnel of thorns, Glaius sensed that Leafpool
was still crouching next to the pile of fresh
meat. A wave of emotion shook him, so
powerful it nearly ripped him from her
clutches. Before he could stop himself, he was
thrown into Leafpool's memories.
He was watching through her eyes as she ran
through the tall grass and undergrowth, her
heart pounding. The spicy taste of travel herbs
was in his mouth. The smells around him were
strange to Glaius, and he realized that this
memory must belong to the old forest, before
the Clans were driven out. Leafpool was
struggling with an agony of fear; Glaius felt like
she was completely focused on her sister.
There was something he didn't want
Squirrelflight to do...
Leafpool then pushed her way through the
branches of a bush and confronted
Brambleclaw and Squirrelflight. Glaius was
surprised by how small and young the cats
looked. <This was before the Great Journey> .
Leafpool and Squirrelflight must have still been
apprentices.
Leafpool walked forward and placed her
mouthful of leaves in front of her sister and
Brambleclaw. "I brought you some traveling
herbs," she murmured. "You'll need them
wherever you go."
Brambleclaw's eyes widened in indignation,
and he began to accuse Squirrelflight of
revealing his secret to his sister. <What secret?
> Glaius wondered.
"She didn't need to tell me anything," Leafpool
promised. "I knew it, that's all."
Glaius shuddered. Leafpool and Squirrelflight
had a connection he had never appreciated
before, and now Leafpool was terrified that his
sister was leaving, and that they might never
see each other again. <This is the beginning of
the quest!> Glaius realized. When the six cats
went to find Midnight and learned of the
message StarClan had given her.
He listened through Leafpool's ears as
Squirrelflight told the full story of
Brambleclaw's dreams and meeting the other
clans' cats. He was aware of Leafpool's deep
dismay, a chaos of feelings he could not
penetrate, as if even in his memories there was
something he was hiding. Leafpool tried hard to
persuade Squirrelflight not to go, but Jay
realized that he knew he had no hope of
changing his sister's mind. <Squirrelflight hasn't
changed much, then!> Finally, sadly, Leafpool
had to accept that Squirrelflight was leaving.
"You won't tell any cats where we've gone?"
Squirrelflight insisted.
"I don't know where you're going, and neither
do you," Leafpool pointed out. "But no, I won't
say anything."
He watched as Squirrelflight and Brambleclaw
licked the traveling herbs, and then, in a
sudden rush of anxiety, he tried to teach his
sister everything he had learned from
Cinderpaw, so that they could find the right
herbs to help them while they were on their
journey.
"We will return," Squirrelflight promised.
Then the memory dissolved and Glaius was left
blind again in the clearing. As Leafpool's
excitement faded, he felt her staring at him
from the pile of fresh meat. She had
deliberately given him this memory.
<I know how you feel. I felt that way too.>
<No, you didn't!> Glaius responded angrily.
<You and Squirrelflight were not part of a
prophecy. If she hadn't come back, maybe it
would have been better for everyone>.
He stood up and walked away towards the
warriors' lair. The air when he left was full of
sadness. For a couple of seconds Glaius was
almost betrayed by sympathy. The memory had
been so clear and Leafpool's emotions so raw.
He shook his head, trying to get rid of the
weakness.
If you had told the truth at the beginning, you
could have helped us with the prophecy.
Carrasca could still be here. But she's gone
now, and we have to do it on our own.
The sun was already high above the trees and
its rays burned in the clearing as if the air had
become flames. Jay's paws ached to be doing
something, but with Twinkle collecting herbs he
couldn't justify leaving the lair.
<I'll check the edges of the wall for snakes.
With each cat so excited, they will never
remember to keep watch.>
As he crossed the clearing, he remembered the
terrible day when Melada had been bitten by a
snake that slithered out of one of the holes at
the bottom of the cliff. There was nothing he or
Leafpool could do to save her from the poison.
Later, when the young cat's family was crying
for her, he and Leafpool had stuffed a mouse
with deadly berries and shoved it into the hole,
hoping the snake would eat it and die. But the
poisonous creature had not taken the bait.
Glaius suspected he was lying in wait, waiting
for another opportunity to strike.
As he made his way along the rock wall,
checking that all the holes were still securely
blocked with stones, Glaius caught Puma's
scent and noticed the lone old man lying on the
flat-topped rock. , near where the snake had
appeared. He could hear the old cat's rhythmic
snores, ending abruptly in a snort, as if Glaius'
paw steps had disturbed his nap.
"You want to be careful there," Jayo meowed,
stopping next to the rock. "You know, the
snake...-"
"I know all about the snake, young man," Puma
interrupted. And there's no sign of any sneaky
creatures around here. I have been observing".
"That's great, Puma." Jayo bit back a comment
about how clever Puma was at keeping an eye
on snakes while he slept. "But I still have to
check."
"I'll help you." Puma dropped from the rock,
staggered to regain his balance, and walked
over to Jay's side. "I think you young people
need a cat with a little experience to show you
what's what."
<Oh, right,> Glaius thought as he continued
checking the snake holes, removing pieces of
stone to give each opening a good sniff before
pushing the stone back and checking to make
sure the lock was secure.
Puma approached him, offering helpful
comments like, "You missed a hole there," just
as Glaius searched for a stone to fit the space,
or "Are you sure you got a proper sniff out of
that hole?"
Glaius gritted his teeth. "Sure, Puma, thanks."
StarClan, help me not rip my ears off!
"You'll miss your brother, I guess," Puma
continued. "But he'll be back before you know
it, mark my words. "It was the same, you know,
when Brambleclaw and Squirrelpaw went
looking for Midnight."
"Squirrelflight," Jay corrected the lonely old
man. <Don't you start too! I've had enough of
Leafpool!>
"I remember the first time I met them," Puma
continued. “They were so young and so brave! I
realized everyone had bees on their brains
traveling so far. But do you see how wrong I
was? "They found this place to live, after the
Standing Walkers destroyed their old home."
Glaius, laid face down in front of a suspicious
smell hole, just grunted in agreement.
"It's not like I've never had problems with the
Walk Upright," Puma continued. “My Walk
Upright was very friendly. I had him well
trained, you know? It was especially good when
the weather turned cold and hunting was
difficult. There was always something tasty to
eat, and a fire to sit by..."
Glaius let the lonely old man's voice fade into
the background of the creaking branches and
the buzzing of insects. He wished the older cats
would stop talking about the quest to find
Midnight. He wanted to shout the words of his
own prophecy so that all the cats could hear it.
<This is more important than anything that
happened in the past!>
"It's okay, Puma," he meowed, interrupting a
long, complicated story about a fox.
"We're done here. Thanks for your help."
"Any time, young man." Glaius heard Puma
climbing back onto the flat-topped rock and
settling into the sun. "There are no foxes now
like there were when I was young..." he
murmured sleepily.
As Jay returned to his lair, he heard Tawnypaw
and Turtledove practicing battle moves next to
the thorn barrier. He stopped, listening to
Dovepaw leaping over Tawnypaw and the slash
of his claws through the air, just a whisker away
from his fur. Suddenly, the mission was real.
Tawnypaw and Turtledovepaw would be gone
the next morning, and the thought terrified
Glaius more than he would have thought
possible.
<Just find those animals and come back> , he
pleaded. <Whatever we have to do to make the
prophecy come true, I can't do it on my own.>
 Chapter 11
Turtlepaw stood on the rocks at the mouth of
the stream that marked the border with
ShadowClan. Even though the sun had just
cleared the horizon, the stones were warm
under their pads and the island on the other
side of the lake was covered in a bright warm
mist. The journey was about to begin, the
mission he had set in motion when he heard
the animals blocking the stream, but
Turtledovepaw could not suppress his grief at
leaving his sister behind. Before dawn, when
Tawnypaw had come to wake her in the
apprentices' den, Ivypaw had curled up and
pretended to be asleep so she wouldn't have to
say goodbye.
Next to Turtledovepaw, Brambleclaw and
Tawnypaw meowed together in silence. Not
wanting to listen to their conversation,
Turtledovepaw let his senses extend further.
He saw a patrol of RiverClan warriors circling
the pool of salubrious water in the middle of
the lake; They looked hungry and scared.
Briefly listening to their complaints about the
heat, he pushed his senses further and focused
on the cats in the RiverClan camp.
He soon managed to identify Vaharina, Juncal,
and the golden-furred medicine cat, Mothwing,
whom he had seen at the assembly.
"I've done everything I can for Leopardstar,"
Mothwing meowed anxiously. "But he still
hasn't recovered from losing his last life."
Vaharina shook her head. “He hasn't had the
opportunity to regain his strength. But there
must be some herbs you can use to help her,
right, Mothwing?”
"All the herbs are dry." The healer's meow was
silent. "I'm afraid Leopardstar is going to lose
this life too."
There was a stunned silence. <How many lives
does Leopardstar have left?> Turtledovepaw
wondered. Finally, Mustachioed broke the
silence. "Then we have to hope that Firestar's
plan works, and the cats we sent find out what
happened to the water."
The sound of paw footsteps across the stream
brought Turtledovepaw back to his
surroundings. Three cats had emerged from
the dry grass on the opposite side of the
stream and were walking across the stretch of
pebbles to join her and her clanmates.
Brambleclaw stepped forward to greet them.
"Greetings, Bermeja," he meowed.
The dark redhead cat only growled in response.
"She's ShadowClan's lieutenant, isn't she?"
Turtledovepaw whispered to Tawnypaw. "She
looks very old!"
"She was one of the cats that made the Great
Journey," Tawny murmured in response. "But
she is still a formidable warrior. Don't let her
hear you call her old!"
"These are the chosen cats of ShadowClan,"
Vermeil meowed, wagging her tail at the
younger warriors who had followed her to the
stream.
The two cats stepped forward and nodded at
the ThunderClan patrol. Turtlepaw recognized
the golden tabby cloak of Tigerheart, Tawny's
son, whom she saw in the Gathering, but the
other warrior, an older dark brown cat, was a
stranger to her.
"Who is that?" he whispered to Leonado.
"Sapero," his mentor told him. "He also made
the Great Journey, but he was a puppy then."
"Wow! Did the pups make the Great Journey?”
Tawnypaw nodded, but gestured with his tail to
silence Turtlepaw while Grasspaw spoke again.
"Don't forget that you will be traveling through
our territory to begin with," he growled. "Don't
even think about stealing prey, because my
warriors will be watching you."
Tawny let his gaze roam over the withered
grass on either side of the stream. "What prey
would they be?" he asked pointedly.
Vermeja bared her teeth at the beginning of a
growl. "Don't get smart with me, Leonado.
"And just because this quest was Firestar's
idea, don't start thinking that ThunderClan cats
are in charge."
"No cat thinks that," Brambleclaw meowed
sweetly. “That's not how it worked on the first
trip. They will discover things for themselves
along the way.”
Bermeja let out a snort. "What was Firestar
thinking when choosing an apprentice?" She
demanded, with a glare at Turtledovepaw.
"What good will it do?"
Turtledove's Paw bristled. <I'm the one who
knows that animals block the current!>
A moment later, his eyes widened in surprise as
Leonado meowed defensively, “He has to
come. "She's the one who knows why the
current is blocked."
Brambleclaw took a step forward, his eyes
narrowing as he looked at Tawnypaw. He
opened his jaws, but did not speak.
Turtledovepaw assumed he meant,
"Mousebrain!" but he couldn't face the other
cats of the Clan.
"She knows?" Sapero looked incredulous. "How
do you know?"
Tawny swallowed, seeming to realize his
mistake. "Oh, she...uh...yeah, she had a
StarClan dream," he explained awkwardly.
"They told him everything."
"Yes, and hedgehogs fly," Sapero murmured.
Turtledovepaw straightened and tried to look
strong and capable, only to flinch as his belly let
out a loud rumble. <Oh no!>
Willowpaw rolled her eyes and Toadpaw
twitched her ears, but Turtledovepaw caught a
sympathetic look from Tigerheart and she
began to feel a little better. Maybe at least one
of the ShadowClan cats was friendly.
Tawny touched his shoulder with the tip of his
tail and tilted his ears toward the lake to signal
three more cats approaching from RiverClan.
As they approached, Turtlepaw recognized
Mistypaw, along with a young gray and white
she-cat and a dark gray tabby.
“Mantle of Petals and Torrentero,” Tawny
whispered in her ear.
Vaharina inclined her head towards the other
members, but did not approach. The three
RiverClan cats stopped a little further away,
waiting with a cautious and reserved look on
their faces. Turtledovepaw supposed that,
although Leopardstar had been persuaded to
let her warriors join the search, none of the
RiverClan cats were happy about it.
Toadstool gave a disdainful snort and leaned in
to murmur something to Tigerheart.
Turtledovepaw caught his soft words. “How
thin! Leopardstar must be saving his strongest
warriors to protect the lake."
Turtledovepaw wasn't sure he was right. It's
true that Petalmantle and Torrentor looked
skinny and unkempt, but that seemed to be
true of all the cats in RiverClan. He wished the
ShadowClan cats weren't so hostile. <This trip
won't be much fun if we can't even say hello!>
Bermeja scratched the dry mud of the river bed
with her claws. "Where is WindClan?" she
meowed impatiently. "I have better things to
do than be here all day."
Looking past the ShadowClan lieutenant,
Turtlepaw saw three she-cats running down
the slope in ShadowClan territory.
WindClan and crossing the dry lake. Pearly, the
WindClan lieutenant, led the way, with two
cats behind her: a small white one and a
younger light brown tabby.
"Who are they?" Tortolapaw asked his mentor.
"I saw them at the Assembly, but no cat told
me their names."
"Whitetail and Reed," Tawny responded,
looking across the empty lake. “Good choice,
White Cola especially. "She is a seasoned
warrior."
Turtledovepaw was glad to see that the
WindClan cats seemed much friendlier. They
ran towards the waiting cats with excitement
shining in their eyes.
"Greetings," Perlada meowed as they skidded
to a stop at the edge of the stream. "Good to
see you."
"And you, Pearly," Brambleclaw replied,
bowing his head.
Russet's only response was a grunt, and
Dustpaw said nothing at all.
"They know what they have to do,"
Brambleclaw continued.
"Find what's blocking the current and get rid of
it," Tawny responded quickly, tail wagging as if
he couldn't wait to be on his way.
"Oh really?" Torrentero cast an alarmed look at
Vaharina. "I thought we were supposed to find
out what the problem was and then come back
to report."
Before the RiverClan lieutenant could respond,
Bermeja let out a growl. "What's happening? Is
RiverClan too scared to accept a challenge? "
"Of course, no!" Vaharina shouted, her blue
eyes flashing. "But the safety of our clanmates
matters to us, even if it is not important to
you."
"It is for the good of our clanmates that these
cats are leaving," Bermeja growled, letting the
hair on her neck stand on end.
Turtlepaw's heart began to race; for a moment
it looked as if the two cats would throw
themselves at each other in a screaming fight.
But then Perlada took a step forward.
"That's enough," he meowed. "We are working
together now. The patrol must do everything
they can without risking their lives.”
Turtledovepaw caught a sigh from Toadpaw
and saw him roll his eyes. Brambleclaw's ears
perked up; he had also seen the younger
warrior. "You made the Great Journey,
Sapero," he meowed in a tone of voice. “You
should remember how the four Clans worked
together to help each other. "It doesn't mean
they won't return to their own separate
territories."
Sapero dragged his front paws on the dusty
ground. "I was just a puppy then," he
murmured. "I do not remember much". "Try
it," Brambleclaw advised dryly. When there
was no response from Sapero, he let his gaze
roam over all the other cats.
“Stay in the stream so you can find your way
back easily,” he instructed them. "Don't be
distracted; don't let the foxes or the household
minimums chase you down the road-"
"Sure!" Sapero interrupted.
<That cat is a real pain in the ass ,> thought
Turtledovepaw. <Brambleclaw has more travel
experience than any cat. Why can't Sapero
listen?>
Brambleclaw looked at the ShadowClan warrior
with a withering look in his amber eyes. “Take
time to rest and eat when you can,” he
continued. "If you find the blockage, you won't
be able to do anything if you're exhausted
when you get there."
Even though Turtledovepaw knew that
Brambleclaw's advice was good, he was
starting to get impatient. He could hear the
brown animals ahead, feel their scratches
across the stones under his paws, and feel the
effort they were making to hold back the
water.
"Do you have ants in your fur?" Tawny
whispered.
"I'm sorry!" Turtledovepaw murmured, trying
to keep still.
Brambleclaw stepped back to join the other
lieutenants. Turtledovepaw looked around,
realizing that the cats who were going on the
search were together for the first time. <I
barely know their names!> he thought, fighting
panic. Their different Clan scents filled her nose
and made her feel dizzy; She approached
Tawny, feeling encouraged by how calm and
strong he seemed among these restless,
unfamiliar cats.
"May StarClan light their paths," Pearlpea
meowed solemnly. “And bring them home
safe.”
 Chapter 12
With the four lieutenants' gazes on them, the
patrol turned to leave and began to climb the
dry bed. It wasn't wide enough for everyone to
walk side by side; Before they had advanced
more than a few steps, Sapero made his way to
the front.
"This is our territory, you know," he growled.
<It's our territory too!> Tawny thought
indignantly. <This stream is the border, mouse
brain!> He was aware of Turtledovepaw beside
him, bristling as if she expected him to protest,
but she remained silent, giving him only a small
nod.
"I'm sorry." The meow of shame came from
Turtledovepaw's other side, as Tigerheart
walked past her to join his clanmate at the
head of the patrol.
Leonado couldn't help but feel sorry for him. It
wasn't Tigerheart's fault that his clanmate was
being so annoying.
Following the example of the ShadowClan cats,
the other cats also went in pairs with their Clan,
with Turtledove bringing up the rear alongside
Tawnypaw. His head and tail drooped in
disappointment, as if he hadn't thought the trip
would be so tense; Tawny guessed he had been
looking forward to making friends with the
other clans' cats.
"Don't worry". He leaned his head to whisper in
her ear. “It won't always be like this. "It will
take a while to get to know the other cats."
Turtledovepaw blinked at him. "We don't have
time to argue," she whispered. “Whatever is
blocking the stream, the brown animals are
increasing it, making it stronger. The water
could be trapped forever! "
Tawny touched his flank with the tip of his tail.
"Not if we can do anything about it," he
promised.
The river bed gradually became deeper,
protected by crumbling sandbanks. Flat
expanses of grass opened up on either side,
and Tawny heard the strange thumping sounds
and strange howls of Twoleg up ahead.
"We're reaching the twolegs' green leaf zone,"
he meowed to Turtledovepaw. "Do you
remember hearing the same sounds when I
took you on your first tour of the territory?"
Turtledovepaw nodded. Whiskers quivering
with curiosity, she climbed up the bank of the
stream before Tawny could stop her and
looked over the bank. Tawny leaped to her
side, his claws extended to drag her down
again.
"They are huge!" Turtledovepaw couldn't hide
a squeak of shock as she looked at the tall pink
creatures that had no fur except for a small
patch on the top of their heads. Three or four
two-legged cubs were jumping around the
clearing, throwing something brightly colored
at each other, while the fully grown Two-legs
sat outside their fur dens. They are like trees in
motion, Tawny thought, his own curiosity
making him forget the danger for a couple of
seconds.
"Get down!" Sapero hissed angrily behind
them.
But it was too late. One of Twoleg's kits had
seen Turtledovepaw; She froze in horror as she
ran towards her with her pink paws
outstretched.
Howls came from the other Twolegs. The adults
jumped on their hind legs and crossed the
clearing, where their cubs were already
gathering.
"Here!" Sapero snapped.
As Tawnypaw pushed Turtledovepaw along the
bank, the ShadowClan warrior turned to lead
the way upstream, but a massive Twoleg
leaped into the stream bed, blocking his path.
Large, fleshy paws groped down from the sky
to reach the cats.
"No!" Petalmantle screeched.
Panicked, Cane tried to climb the steepest part
of the bank and fell backwards in a whirlwind
of flapping legs and tail. Torrentero turned and
fled down the river, but the Twolegs blocked
that path as well. Pushing Turtledovepaw
behind him, Tawnypaw advanced toward the
first Twoleg, his fur fluffy and his claws out.
"Here!" Sapero's howl rose above the noise.
"Follow me!"
He had climbed to a place where the bank had
slipped into the stream and it was easier to get
out. Climbing up behind him, Tawny launched
himself into the open air with the rest of the
patrol behind him.
Sapero led them directly across the clearing
toward the pile of fragile green-skinned lairs.
"No! "This way!" he shouted as Whitetail and
Reedtail swerved toward the lake. "Stay
together!"
The WindClan cats veered back and the entire
patrol crossed the scorched grass, pursued by
the howls of the Twolegs. Tawny ran, his paws
hitting the hard ground. Fear fluffed every hair
on his skin, but at the same time his paws
tingled with excitement. <You can't catch us,
stupid Twolegs!> Sapero circled a burrow and
began leading the cats toward the stream.
Leonado caught a glimpse of Manto de Pétalos
and Torrentero; The RiverClan cats backed
away and Petalmantle limped.
"Fawn, look!" Turtledovepaw gasped; She had
seen them too.
Before Tawny could make a move, a young
Twoleg, larger than the other cubs, swooped
down and grabbed Petalmantle. As the Twoleg
lifted her into the air, the RiverClan she-cat let
out a terrified screech and struggled to free
herself.
"Aid!" Torrentero howled. "Don't leave her!"
At the head of the patrol, Sapero turned and
ran towards the young Twoleg. "Make a circle!"
he hissed. "If we want him to release
Petalmantle, we will have to show him that we
are not afraid to fight."
Whitetail, Reedpole, and Spiker exchanged
horrified glances, but they ran to their place,
trembling, until they surrounded the Twoleg.
Tawnypaw slipped between Turtledovepaw
and Tigerheart. Following Sapero's lead, the
patrol began to approach the young Twoleg,
stalking through the grass and hissing.
"Let her go!" Tawny growled.
Behind him, an adult Twoleg let out a bellow.
Young Twolegs dropped Petal Mantle; the
RiverClan cat fell to the ground and stood
shakily on its paws.
"Fast!" Sapero gathered the patrol with a flick
of his tail and led them at full speed further
away from the young Twoleg. Torrentero ran
alongside Petalmantle, guiding her and pressing
her against his shoulder. More Twolegs trotted
towards them; The patrol split in two at a nod
from Sapero, and veered toward a pair of fur
dens.
Tawnypaw rushed towards the strange blue-
green light with Turtledovepaw and Tigerheart
behind him. Looking back, she saw Dovepaw
crash into a bunch of hard Twoleg things that
clattered and rolled around her, nearly making
her fall. He recovered, ran over a soft skin that
lay on the floor, and crouched under another
skin that hung from the ceiling of the den;
which fell with a soft thump, burying her under
suffocating folds.
Turtledovepaw let out a terrified screech,
clawing wildly to free itself.
"Help her!" Tawny Snapped at Tigerheart, as he
dug at the underside of the outer skin, trying to
find a way out.
Tigerheart pulled at the skin until
Turtledovepaw managed to remove his head;
He swallowed hard and crawled the rest of the
way, shaking the skin off his hindquarters as he
regained his balance.
Tawny found a loose fold in the outer skin and
held it between his teeth to make a gap. It
tasted disgusting, it was like licking the trail left
by a monster on the Thunderpath. Tigerheart
made his way and Turtlepaw followed, stepping
out into the sunlight of the clearing. As Tawny
scurried behind them, something heavy
whizzed past his head and landed with a thud
in a thicket of brambles that bordered the
clearing.
Turtledovepaw jumped in alarm, then lunged
again when he saw Toadpaw just ahead. Tawny
followed him, making sure Tigerheart was still
with them. Sapero led the patrol past the fur
dens and into the ferns at the edge of the
clearing. As he made his way through it, Tawny
picked up ThunderClan scent marks and
realized he had crossed into his own territory.
The rest of the patrol huddled in the ferns
beside them, where they crouched, panting,
while the Twolegs in the clearing continued to
howl.
Sapero was the last to arrive; He stared at the
rest of the cats, waving his tail furiously.
"This is useless!" hiss. “We can't even leave our
own territory without having problems. "Thank
you to that apprentice!" he added, turning his
gaze to Turtledovepaw.
Tawnypaw saw Turtledovepaw stiffen, the fur
on his neck and shoulders beginning to stand
on end. <Sapero, mouse brain, it was you who
led us directly to the Twolegs!> He thought. He
stretched out his tail to give Turtledovepaw a
calming touch on the shoulder. "Young cats are
curious," he replied, his voice sounding calm.
"If the Twolegs weren't crazy, this would never
have happened."
Sapero let out an angry snort. "This quest is
over before it began," he growled. "We don't
even know what we're going to find at the end
of the stream. What makes us think we can
refill the lake when we panic about Twolegs?
"I think you are mistaken," said Whitetail; He
was still shaking, but he stood directly in front
of the young ShadowClan warrior. "Okay, we
had a narrow escape, but that doesn't mean we
have to give up. "We are not helping our clans
by staying in our own territories and watching
the lake shrink further."
Torrentero, who was crouching beside
Petalmantle trembling, trying to comfort her,
looked up, the hair on his neck standing on
end. “Are you trying to blame RiverClan? None
of you realize how difficult it is for us. We need
the lake to eat! "
"No, I don't blame you!" Whitetail responded
indignantly. "What did I say that would make
you think that?"
Tawny stood up and stepped between
Whitetail and the enraged RiverClan warrior.
"We're wasting time," he meowed. “We have
to move forward. "Next time we'll avoid the
Twolegs."
"If there is a next time, you..." Sapero began.
"Hey, we survived, right?" Tigerheart
interrupted his clanmate. Of all the cats, Tawny
thought Tigerheart was the least affected by his
danger; his eyes were shining, as if he had
enjoyed the excitement. “We taught those
fools a lesson
Two legs! They were terrified! Who cares if we
find them again?” Turning to Turtledovepaw,
he added, "Don't worry, I'll protect you."
Tawnypaw was mildly amused when he saw
Turtledovepaw's jaws open in indignation. "I
can take care of myself!"
"We can all take care of ourselves." Reedpaw
unexpectedly backed away from Tortolapaw.
“After all, that's why we were chosen, right?
Because our clans thought we had the best
chance of solving the problem with the
current? "
"That's true," Tawny meowed.
Petal Mantle raised his head; He was still
shaking so much that he could barely speak,
but he looked bravely at the other cats. "I think
we should continue," he meowed. "I've seen
my clanmates starve around me and I can't do
that anymore! Thinking about it gives me
courage.”
"Well said, Petalmantle," Whitetail meowed
softly.
"Then we move on." Leonado spoke before
Sapero had a chance to argue. With a glance at
the ShadowClan warrior, he added, "And since
we're in ThunderClan territory now, I'll take the
lead."
 Chapter 13
Tawnypaw cast sidelong glances at
Turtledovepaw, who was walking with him
along the narrow paths beneath the ferns. Its
fur was still standing on end from the
encounter with the Twoleg, and he could see a
ring of white around its eyes.
<Did we make a mistake by bringing her?> he
asked himself. <He has only been an apprentice
for one moon> . He shook his head. <No, we
need it> , he told himself.
Tawny thought about the time he had traveled
to the mountains with his littermates, to the
Swiftwater Tribe. They had only been
apprentices then and had managed well.
<Dovepaw will be fine too. It has to be> . The
sun rose higher in the sky as the cats
approached the point where the stream
diverted into ShadowClan territory. Tawny
stopped and looked across the dry bed toward
the pine forests, where brown needles covered
the ground and the undergrowth was patchy.
Sapero approached. "I think we should rest
here for a while and eat," he meowed. He
nodded toward the two RiverClan cats. "They
look like they're about to collapse."
Tawny didn't like his mocking tone, and he
didn't want to take Sapero's side against the
other Clans, but he had to admit that the
ShadowClan warrior was right. All the cats were
tired of running from the Twolegs and the
rising heat, but Torrentero and Petalmantle
looked exhausted. Petalmantle had already
flopped onto his side among the ferns,
breathing heavily.
<No wonder RiverClan cats find it difficult ,>
Tawny thought. <They are better at swimming
than walking>.
"Okay, we will rest." Tawny raised his voice so
all the cats could hear him. "ThunderClan and
MoonClan
Shadows will hunt, each in our own territories."
"We can hunt for ourselves," Whitetail noted
with a glance at Cane.
"Sure," the tabby cat agreed.
"That would be stealing prey!" Sapero snapped.
Whitetail sighed. "But isn't it stealing if you
catch him and give them to us? "Can't you just
give us permission and make it easier for all the
cats?"
Tawny guessed he wanted to add mouse brain,
but he restrained himself. <At least Sapero
didn't insult them by saying they only know
how to catch rabbits,> he thought.
"We'll do it Sapero's way," he meowed
peacefully to Whitetail. "I'm sure we'll all have
a chance to hunt later." Even though he could
see the WindClan warrior's point, he didn't
want to risk them running into a ThunderClan
or ShadowClan patrol.
They'd had enough delays with the Twolegs.
The WindClan cat hesitated for a moment, then
gave him a curt nod.
Tawnypaw took Turtlepaw deeper into
ThunderClan territory, feeling safer and more
relaxed being on familiar ground. “Go that
way,” he suggested to his apprentice, leaning
his ears around the edge of a thicket of hazel.
“There may be some prey under the bushes.
"I'll come this way and meet you at the
border."
"Good." Turtledovepaw moved away, lowering
himself slightly, pricking his ears and opening
his jaws to sniff the air.
<I hope she finds something really good,>
Leonado thought as he looked at her out of his
senses. <That would teach Sapero!> He ducked
into the trees in the opposite direction and
almost immediately saw a squirrel out in the
open, scratching something under the leaves
on the forest floor.
<Excellent!>
Dropping into a hunter's crouch, Tawny crept
silently toward his prey, the fur on his belly
brushing the ground. There was no wind to
carry his scent, and he was sure he had made
no sound, but before he had covered half the
distance, the squirrel took off in alarm and
darted for the nearest tree.
"Mouse shit!" Tawny spat.
He launched himself after it, realizing with a
surge of triumph that something was wrong
with the squirrel; She was limping, so he soon
caught up with her and killed her with a blow
to the spine before she reached the tree.
<I hope he doesn't have some horrible illness> ,
he thought as he looked at the inert body. He
sniffed it cautiously. It smelled good, in fact,
deliciously good. Picking up his new prey, he
headed towards the border. Turtledovepaw
caught up with him when he was almost there,
a small mouse dangling from his jaws.
"I'm sorry," he murmured around her. "This
was all I could find."
Tawny sighed. If Turtledovepaw couldn't find
any prey, then there was no prey to find. "Don't
worry," he meowed. "It's better than nothing."
When they returned to the place where the
other cats were waiting, he found Torrentero
and Petalcoat dozing in the shade of the ferns.
Whitetail and Sugarcane were sitting alertly
next to him, as if they were on guard.
"That squirrel looks good," Whitetail
complimented him as he dropped the fresh
meat on the edge of the stream. "And also the
mouse", added to Tortolapaw.
"No, it's not like that." Turtledovepaw dropped
his prey with an annoying flick of his tail.
"If it were smaller, it would be a beetle."
"Alright." Whitetail reached out to touch
Turtledovepaw on the shoulder with the tip of
her tail. "We need every piece of prey we can
get."
"Hey, Toad and Tigerheart are coming back!"
Cane meowed.
Tawny turned to see Sapero walking
confidently through the pines, carrying a
blackbird in his jaws. Tigerheart was a little
behind him, dragging something on the ground.
"The squirrel's not bad," Sapero meowed as he
jumped over the stream and left his prey next
to Leonado. "Too bad for the mouse."
Tawnypaw ignored him, watching as Tigerheart
dragged his prey to the edge of the stream,
dropped it on the dry bottom, then jumped
after him and climbed up the other side with
the prey clutched in his jaws. It was a huge
dove; Tiny gray feathers stuck to all of
Tigerheart's dark brown tabby fur.
"Great catch!" Cañera exclaimed.
"Yeah, great," Leonado added, quelling feelings
of envy. He wanted to show Toaper that
ThunderClan warriors were better hunters than
ShadowClan on any given day. But the capture
of Tigerheart was impressive, and he would not
spoil the younger warrior's pride for it.
Sapero looked quietly triumphant, but at least
he wasn't boasting about the capture of his
clanmate.
Tigerheart seemed a little nervous. "I almost
lost him," he meowed. "It flew and I had to
jump really high to get it."
"That's great!" Leonado told him. He was
pleased to see the gleam in Tigerheart's eyes
and hoped he had made up for his hostility
with him at the Gathering. Cinderpelt was right:
it was better to have friends than enemies in
the other clans. And the young warrior was a
valuable member of his Clan.
<I wonder if Tigerstar realized that yet.> Tawny
wondered, feeling a cold claw run down his
spine despite the heat.
The cats divided the prey and stooped to eat.
For the first time, Tawny felt a sense of
camaraderie with these cats that only the day
before had been his rivals. <Maybe we can
work together after all> .
Awakened from their sleep, Petal Mantle and
Torrentero ate as if they had not seen prey in
an entire moon. By silent agreement, the other
cats stood back and let them fill their bellies.
"They won't help any of us if they're too weak
to keep going," Whitetail whispered to Tawny.
When they finished eating, Sapero took the
lead again as the stream left the border and
wound through the pines of ShadowClan
territory. Leonado felt uncomfortable at the
open spaces and the view of so much sky above
them; the sun cast the shadows of the pine
trees on the brown needles on the ground until
he felt as if he were walking on an enormous
tabby pelt. After a while, they saw a
ShadowClan patrol in the distance, led by
Rowan; Toadstool shouted a greeting, but the
ShadowClan cats did not approach.
The sun was sliding across the sky as the patrol
reached the edge of ShadowClan territory.
Tawny stopped as he crossed the scent marks
and looked toward the forest ahead. The
stream ran between gray, moss-covered rocks.
A few meters ahead, the ground changed; It
became more broken, covered with fallen
stones, and the pines gave way to thick trees,
smaller and older than those he was
accustomed to in his own territory. Their
branches were woven together like the roof of
a burrow, with moss and ivy clinging to their
pale trunks. But there still wasn't much
undergrowth.
<There aren't many places to hide,> Tawny
thought uneasily.
Whitetail approached him with his jaws open
to taste the air. "I think we should take turns
leading," he meowed. She spoke with
conviction, her air of authority reminding
Tawny that she was the highest-ranking
warrior, even though she was so small. "Well,"
he responded, taking a step back and wagging
his tail to let her continue.
Sapero opened his jaws as if to object, then
closed them again. With Whitetail leading the
way, the cats jumped onto the stream bed and
headed toward the unknown forest. The trees
closed over their heads; They moved forward in
the dim green light, turning their heads to
check for danger on either side. Tawny realized
that the WindClan warrior had chosen the best
cover available by keeping them in the empty
stream, where they could duck and hide if
necessary.
"There's mud here!" Exclaimed Turtledovepaw,
shaking a forepaw in disgust. "I walked right by
it."
"That's good," Torrentero meowed. “Where
there is mud, there can be water. "It seems like
the stream here doesn't get as much direct
sunlight."
The RiverClan warrior was right. A few tails
ahead, Whitetail saw a small pool of water
beneath the overhanging bank behind the
roots of an oak tree. All the cats gathered to
drink.
It was hot and tasted like mud, but Tawny
didn't think he had ever drank anything so
delicious.
When the cats had drunk their fill, they
continued on. From time to time, Whitetail
would tell one of them to jump onto the shore
and take a look around. When it was Tawny's
turn, he saw a pair of deer jumping on light legs
between the trees. <We don't see many of
those in ThunderClan,> he mused, <but there
are plenty around here.> He saw their cloven
hoof prints marking the bank of the stream,
and the moss had been stripped from the trees
as high as the deer could reach.
"I saw deer up there," he reported to Whitetail,
hopping onto the creek bed again.
The WindClan cat nodded. "They shouldn't
bother us."
As he walked along, Tawny realized that he was
beginning to have fun and assumed that his
companions felt the same. The air under the
trees was cool and humid; Their stomachs were
full and their thirst quenched. They walked
peacefully in silence, interrupted only by the
occasional rustle of forest leaves, or the splash
of a paw hitting a patch of mud. Leonado
thought it would be easy to forget what his
mission was supposed to be.
Suddenly, Turtledovepaw stopped dead, the fur
on his neck standing on end. His eyes were
wide and scared as he turned to Tawny.
"Dogs!" She whispered. "They're coming this
way." It swung its tail at an angle toward the
stream.
Tawny took a quick breath, but couldn't detect
any dog smell. I couldn't hear anything either.
But that doesn't mean Turtledovepaw was
wrong. There was no point in trying to outrun
the dogs, especially in unfamiliar territory, and
they couldn't risk losing sight of the stream.
There was only one answer.
"Dogs!" Tawny shouted, turning to the rest of
the patrol. "Fast! Climb a tree!"
The cats began to spin around in confusion,
tripping over each other in the narrow stream.
"That? Where?"
"I don't smell any dogs."
"How do you know?" Torrentero asked,
genuine curiosity in his voice.
"No time for that". Tawny forced his voice to go
beyond babbling. "Just climb a tree, okay?"
To their relief, Toadstool and Tigerheart turned
around and climbed up the opposite bank of
the stream, climbing a nearby tree and
watching from a high branch. <At least they're
safe>.
But the cats of WindClan and RiverClan had not
moved; They simply dragged their paws and
cast awkward glances at each other.
"We don't climb trees," Whitetail noted.
"Oh, for the love of StarClan!" Without waiting
to argue, Tawny, with Dovepaw helping him,
pulled the four cats out of the stream bed and
pushed them toward the nearest tree. "Now
get on!"
Cañera turned aside and headed towards a low
tree with twisted branches that made it easy to
climb. "I think I can climb up here," he
meowed.
"No, come back!" Tawny called her. “The dogs
will be up there in no time. Look, just dig your
claws in,” he explained as the cat backed away.
“Then use your back legs to push yourself up
the trunk. It is easy."
The cats looked scared and bewildered. "I will
never do it". Cañera was shaking. "You go. "I'll
take my chances here."
"We're not going to leave you!" Turtledovepaw
meowed ferociously.
Tawny fought fear and exasperation. He could
hear the dogs now, their barking still faint in
the distance, but growing louder with every
second.
"Try this." Turtledovepaw leaped to the nearest
tree and jumped up the trunk until he could
balance on the lowest branch. Going down
again, he added, "Come on, you can do it."
To Tawny's relief, Toadstool and Tigerheart
reappeared at his side. "We'll take one each,"
Sapero meowed, addressing Petalmantle.
"Thank you so much." Leonado called to Cañera
with a movement of his tail. “Tigerheart, take
Torrentero; Turtledove, go with Whitetail."
The older WindClan warrior would be more
confident, he supposed, and easier for an
apprentice to handle; Furthermore, he
suspected that Whitetail might have climbed a
tree or two in the wooded area near the border
with ThunderClan. Free to focus on the terrified
Cane, he pushed her towards the nearest tree.
“Put your front claws here,” he instructed, “and
use that hole to grab hold of one of your back
paws. Now, go up."
Cane did as he was told, then froze, spread
against the tree trunk with all four sets of claws
digging into the bark. "I can't move," he
choked.
"Yes, you can," Tawny encouraged her. “And if
you fall, you will fall on your paws. Now take
one hind leg to that gap there..."
Little by little, step by step, step by step, the
WindClan cat climbed the tree with Tawnypaw
at her side. The dogs had almost reached them,
barking loudly and diving into the sparse
undergrowth. Its scent hung thickly in the air,
and Tawny took quick, shallow breaths as he
tried not to taste it.
The trees they had chosen were difficult to
climb, to make sure the dogs couldn't follow
them, but it was slow for the inexperienced
cats. Looking around, Tawnypaw could see that
Dovepaw and Whitetail had reached the safety
of a high branch, while Tigerheart pushed
Torrenpaw into the fork between two
branches. Toadstool was still persuading
Petalmantle to climb the trunk of the tree next
to Tawny's.
"You're doing well," the ShadowClan warrior
growled, "but for the sake of StarClan, don't
look down."
Just as Cañera managed to make his way to a
branch, the dogs came into view. There were
two of them, with smooth and shiny skin, one
yellow and the other black. They played back
and forth, jumping into the stream and out
again, and sniffing the roots of the trees.
"At least they're not hunting us," Leonado
meowed, crouching on the branch next to
Cane. “Stupid creatures; "You have no idea we
are here."
At that moment, one of the dogs smelled him
and Cañera. He burst into a flurry of excited
barking as he bounded towards his tree and
jumped, reaching for the trunk with his front
paws. Its jaws opened and its long pink tongue
lolled out.
Sugarcane let out a terrified screech and slid
from the branch, paws flailing uselessly as he
fell. Tawny lunged forward, digging his hind
claws into the branch while grabbing Cane with
his front paws. But it was a second too short to
grab her firmly. He could feel Cañera slipping
from his grasp, while the dog below jumped
and barked in a frenzy of excitement. Cañera's
eyes widened in terror, and his jaws opened in
a silent moan for help.
Just when Tawny thought she was destined to
fall, she saw Sapero fly into the air from the
neighboring tree, leaving Petalcoat in a panic
with both of his front paws wrapped around a
branch.
By now, both dogs were jumping towards the
tree, trying to savagely bite Cañera's dangling
tail. For a moment Leonado was convinced that
Sapero had fallen short and would fall into his
jaws. Then the branch swayed alarmingly as it
landed next to Tawny and crouched down,
sinking its front claws into Cane's neck.
Slowly, the two warriors dragged the WindClan
cat upward until she could sink her claws into
the branch again. "Thank you! Oh, thank you!"
he gasped, shaking so hard he almost fell over
again.
Tawny stabilized her with his tail. "Thank you,"
he meowed to Sapero.
The ShadowClan cat growled, with a barely
visible nod, as if embarrassed to be caught
helping cats from rival clans.
Tawny heard the Twolegs howling through the
trees. The two dogs turned and trotted away in
the direction of the voices, casting reluctant
glances at the cats. When their noise died
down and the forest was quiet again, Tawny
Guided Sugarcane to the ground, while Sapero
returned to his original tree to help Petalcoat.
All the cats tremblingly descended and
gathered by the stream, crouching among the
fragile stems of the sun-dried grass.
"I think I sprained my shoulder," Cañera
meowed, flexing his front paw with a grimace.
"I'm so sorry, Leonado. "I'm being a nuisance."
"Nonsense, it's fine," Leonado assured him.
“Not all of us can be good at everything. If we
had to run from something, you and Whitetail
would outrank all the cats.”
"Not when my shoulder hurts," Cañera
muttered miserably.
"Butterfly taught me a little about herbs before
we left," Torrentero interjected, sniffing
Cañera's shoulder. “She says a poultice of elder
leaves is good for sprains. Should I go get
some?”
"Good idea," Leonado responded. "But don't go
too far."
"I won't do it". Torrentero bolted, looking
happy to be doing something useful.
"What are we going to do, if some of us can't
even climb trees?"
Tigerheart asked when the RiverClan cat was
gone. "How can we expect to do what we need
to do?"
The young warrior's anxiety hit Tawny like a
claw, especially since he had been so optimistic
before. The other cats murmured in
agreement.
"We don't even know what we have to face,"
Cañera said. “I mean, how do we know the
stream has been blocked? It could have dried
out from the heat. We could be walking
forever!" he finished with a groan.
Tawny looked at his apprentice and noticed
that she seemed worried. He approached her
and leaned his head to whisper in her ear.
"You're not wrong. I trust you."
Turtledovepaw seemed a little more relieved,
though Tawnypaw saw that her claws were still
tearing into the dirt in front of her.
By the time the sun was almost gone; The sky
above the trees was tinted red and shadows
gathered around the trunks.
"I think we should stay here for the night,"
Whitetail meowed. "We all need to rest,
especially Cañera."
"But it's sure?" Petalmantle asked, his voice
tinged with fear. “What if the dogs come back?
"Maybe we should sleep in the trees."
"No, you'd probably fall when you fell asleep,"
Sapero told him gruffly.
Petalmantle's eyes widened in alarm. "Then,
what are we going to do?"
"Everything will be fine," Leonado assured him.
"We'll take turns watching." Before any other
cats could argue, he jumped on his paws. "Let's
gather some ferns and moss for the beds."
Turtledovepaw and Petalmantle jumped into
the stream to look for moss, while Tawnypaw
and the others began tearing off dried fern
fronds.
"Stay here and rest your shoulder," Leonado
told Cañera. "Torrentero should be back soon."
By the time the RiverClan warrior returned with
a bundle of elder leaves in his jaws, the other
cats had formed walls of fern as rough walls for
the dens, while Petalmantle and
Turtledovepaw had placed moss on the beds. .
"We're here," Torrentero meowed happily,
letting the leaves fall next to Cañera. "We'll
chew them up and put them on your shoulder,
and in the morning you shouldn't have any
more problems."
Cañera blinked. "Thank you."
As the patrol found places for themselves in
the makeshift den, Tawny realized how
uncomfortable he felt settling with cats from
rival clans; Each cat was huddled together with
its clanmate, and Tigerheart practically jumped
when Petalmantle accidentally smacked him
with his tail.
"I'm sorry," she whispered, looking
embarrassed.
Tawny almost put his paw on Whitetail's ear,
and backed away, brushing Toad's fur as he did
so.
"Careful!" the ShadowClan warrior growled.
Tawny gave him a curt, apologetic nod and
jumped over the wall of ferns to stand at the
edge of the stream. "I'll take first watch," he
announced.
He crouched on the shore with his paws under
him, but soon realized that he was tired
enough to sleep unless he kept moving. Forcing
himself back to his feet, he patrolled up and
down the shore, always keeping the lair in
sight. His ears were pricked and he was still
testing the air for signs of danger. There was
nothing: the smell of dogs was getting stale by
now, and once he thought he caught a distant
badger scent, but it was too far away to be a
threat.
When he returned to the lair, the waning moon
was reflected in a pair of eyes looking at him.
"Dove's Paw!" He mumbled, not wanting to
wake the other cats. "You don't have to stay
awake, you know."
"I do not owe?" Turtledovepaw's voice was low
but challenging. "If the dogs come back, I'll be
the one to listen to them first."
"You are not responsible for our safety alone,"
Leonado told him with a twinge of sympathy.
"We can help. Now go to sleep."
For a moment he thought Turtlepaw might
argue and he would have to remind him that he
was his mentor. Then he let out a soft sigh and
curled up, closing his eyes and wrapping his tail
over his nose. Within moments, her steady
breathing told Leonado she was asleep.
Tawny sat next to her, separated from her only
by the thin wall of ferns, and observed her and
her surroundings. <I know what it's like to have
a power that no other cat understands, he
thought. It's the loneliest feeling in the world.>
 Chapter 13
As soon as the thorn barrier stopped shaking
after Brambleclaw, Tawnypaw, and Turtledove
clawed their way out of the gap, Jay turned and
headed back to his lair. Every hair on his skin
tingled with doubt. Eight cats go on a search
based on what Turtledovepaw thinks he can
see, hear, feel, or whatever, in a dry stream. It's
hardly a StarClan prophecy.
What really bothered Glaius was that his
warrior ancestors hadn't told him anything
about the quest or about the brown animals
blocking the stream. At the last meeting at the
Lunar Lagoon, none of the other healers had
mentioned it either. <StarClan is waiting to see
if the prophecy of the Three will save us?> After
all, it is bigger than them. Glaius stopped and
raised his nose to the sky he couldn't see. <Are
any of our warrior ancestors watching us now?
> He wondered.
The rush of paws sounded behind him,
breaking him out of his thoughts.
"Do not look at me like that!" Ivypaw's voice
rose in protest.
<What now?> Glaius asked himself, sighing.
"Well, stop being so grumpy," replied
Trenchpaw. "No cat puts ants in your hair."
"You'd be in a bad mood if your littermates
went off to save the Clans," Ivypaw growled,
"and left you doing stupid, silly training!"
Glaius heard the sound of a pebble being
kicked, followed by an indignant howl from
Shrew. "Careful! Can a cat no longer go to
relieve itself without stones being thrown at it?
"Sorry..." Ivypaw murmured.
Glaius listened to the veteran walk away,
annoyance buzzing off her like bees from a
hollow tree. He couldn't help but feel some
sympathy with Ivypaw. <I have also been left
behind> .
"Ivypaw, control that temper right now!"
Carbonera came jumping up. "You have to
show respect to our veterans."
"I'm sorry," Ivypaw repeated, sounding more
miserable than angry now.
"You should think about it. We'll find a really
nice piece of fresh meat for Shrew later on, and
you can take it to him. But not yet,” Carbonera
continued, “because you are all going to do
battle training this morning.”
"Oh, big deal!" Ivypaw was not impressed.
"No, it's great." Trenchpaw sounded excited.
"I'll help you, Ivypaw. "I will make my final
evaluation soon."
"Hey, slow down." Espinardo arrived behind his
apprentice. "Your assessment isn't for a couple
of moons yet. Ivypaw's mentor will do her
training. You want to focus on that jump and
spin I showed you last time. You still haven't
got it right."
"Good." Trenchpaw seemed unconcerned by
his mentor's reprimand.
Spottypaw and Mousepaw came up to join
Flowerpaw and Bumblebee, and the whole
crowd of mentors and apprentices filed out of
the camp, with much pushing and shoving and
excited squealing from the young cats.
Glaius sighed. <Sometimes I feel as old as a
rock> .
The clearing felt very empty once the cats were
gone. Glaius stood still a moment longer,
listening to the faint rustling of the branches
above his head, then shook his hair. Striding
forward, he crossed the clearing and followed
Shrew into the veterans' lair. Longtail was
curled up asleep, his breath whistling through
his nose, while Shrew settled into his bed with
a rustle of dry bracken.
Puma sat next to him. "I was just remembering
the time a couple of rats tried to move into my
Walk Upright's lair," he began. "I realize you'd
like to know about that, so..."
"Wait a minute, Puma," Glayo interrupted. "I
need to talk to Shrew."
"Now what?" asked the old cat. She still
sounded upset; either she hadn't gotten over
the hit of the pebble, or maybe it was the
thought of listening to one of Puma's endless
stories.
"I just need to check where the rock hit you,"
Glaius explained.
Shrew let out a sigh. "I'll be fine, Glaius.
"There's no need to worry."
"I'm just doing my job, Shrew."
Another long sigh. "Very good." Glaius listened
to the rustling of the ferns as Shrew stretched
out in his nest. "It was right there, on the top of
my paw."
Glaius advanced slowly and sniffed carefully. To
his relief, he could find no trace of a wound;
Shrew's skin hadn't even opened. "I think
you're okay," he meowed.
"I told you so," Shrew snapped. "Young cats,
thinking they know everything."
“Still, if you feel any pain or start limping, let
me know immediately. Good?"
"I'll see if he does," Puma chimed in. "Do not
you worry about anything".
"Thank you, Cougar." Glaius left the lair, but
before he could leave, the lonely old man
spoke again.
"Don't go like that, young man. You will also
enjoy listening to this story. There were these
rats, look..."
Glaius fidgeted impatiently near the entrance
to the lair. As soon as he heard movement in
the clearing, Puma's rambling tale broke out.
"I'm sorry. I have to go. "It could be an
emergency." Without waiting for a response,
he slipped under the branches of the largest
bush and emerged into the clearing.
Brambleclaw had returned from seeing off the
cats in search; As Glaius approached, he heard
Firestar leap across the fallen rocks to join his
lieutenant in the center of the camp.
"Good?" the Clan leader asked excitedly. "How
did it go?"
"Good," Brambleclaw replied. "The four clans
sent their cats and they all set out up the river."
"Which cats have been chosen?"
"Toadstool and Tigerheart of ShadowClan,"
Brambleclaw began. "WindClan's Reed and
Whitetail, and RiverClan's Turret and Petal
Cloak."
Glaius's ears perked up in surprise. That doesn't
sound like Leopardstar has sent her strongest
warriors.
<Don't you realize the dangers you will face?>
If Firestar thought the same, he gave no sign of
it. “I hope everyone can get along,” he said.
"They will," Brambleclaw promised. "They will
learn to trust each other and will become cats
stronger for the experience."
“We can only ask StarClan to return,” Firestar
meowed. "And let them find out what
happened to the water." He sighed, then
continued in a more forceful tone, "In the
meantime, we'd better start patrols before the
day gets too hot. I will lead a hunting patrol;
Can you organize the rest? "
"Sure, Firestar."
Glaius heard both cats walk away and start
calling to others inside the warriors' lair. He
listened briefly as his clanmates picked their
way through the branches, yawning and
stretching, and then turned back toward his
lair. Before arriving, Firestar led his hunting
patrol to his side. Dustpelt appeared in the
rear; As he brushed past, Glaius felt a stab of
pain at the base of the brindle warrior's spine.
Pointing his ears toward the patrol, he
detected a slight unevenness in the steps of
Dustpelt's paws.
"Hey, Dustpelt!" he called. "Hang on a minute!"
"That?" Dustpelt sounded even more grumpy
than usual as he retraced his steps. "I'm
supposed to be hunting with Firestar, so make
it quick."
"Have you hurt your back?" Glaius asked.
The brown tabby hesitated. "What makes you
think that?"
"I am a healer," replied Glaius dryly. "If you are
injured, I have some herbs that will help you."
"I have no need of herbs," replied Dustpelt;
Glaius imagined the skin on his neck rising.
"Save them for the cats that are really sick."
"I have plenty of what you need," Glayo
assured him. He wasn't going to let Dustpelt
deprive himself of medicine because of his
selfish altruism. His back would only get worse,
and then he wouldn't be able to hunt at all.
“Come see me when you get back.”
"Ok I will do it." Glaius thought he could sense
relief behind Dustpelt's gruff tone. Silently he
added, "Thank you, Glaius."
"Make sure you don't forget it!" Jayus shouted
as Dustpelt walked away to catch up with
Firestar and the rest of the patrol. He reminded
himself to talk to Fronda if his partner didn't
show up in the herbs. Heading to his lair once
more, Glaius noticed the warm gaze of a cat
resting on him. <Leafpool!> He could feel his
mother's pride in him, from the way she had
detected Dustpelt's wound and avoided hurting
the warrior's dignity or sense of duty by
offering him the herbs.
<I don't want your pride ,> Glaius thought.
Suddenly, the clearing felt like it was closing in
on him. He couldn't stay here a moment longer
with the stone cliffs pressing in around him,
trapping him under watchful eyes. He turned
and ran across the clearing, pushing through
the thorny tunnel after the patrols.
Once in the forest, he headed towards the lake,
without sensing the aromas of the fresh, humid
air that always found him when he took this
path. Now the forest felt strange and restless,
crackling with the warm, dry breeze.
When he came to the edge of the lake, a tail's
length away from where the water used to lap
against the shore, an unknown void stretched
before him. He was used to feeling the cold,
wet weight of the lake on his fur when he
breathed, but now there was nothing but dust.
Stopping at the edge of the trees, Glaius
spotted ThunderClan and WindClan patrols
heading towards the lake. <They must have
come for water> . Farther away, he could hear
a ShadowClan patrol arguing with the RiverClan
warriors guarding the shrinking lake.
"You don't own the water," Bermeja snapped.
"Everyone has the right to drink."
“And we have the right to the fish,” Boira
replied. "If you touch a single scale, I will rip off
your ears." Despite her threats, the RiverClan
cat's voice was muffled and uneasy, as if she
had little strength left.
<It can't be much fun staying here without
shade or rest,> Glaius thought. He walked to
the dry lake bed, feeling the pebbles rolling
under his paws. He knew that somewhere
nearby there must be the opening of the
tunnels where the underground river had
dragged them into the lake. But no cat had
mentioned finding a hole in the lake bed;
perhaps it had been filled by one of the many
landslides, like the one Chubasco had fallen
into.
Glaius shivered despite the heat, remembering
the landslide that had trapped his sister,
Carrasca, when the tunnel roof had collapsed.
For an instant, he was standing there again in
the rain-lashed forest, calling out to her
desperately. Then he shook himself away from
the terrible memory.
"Hey, Rosella!" Albino Cloud's cheerful voice
led him back to the scorched lake. The
ThunderClan water patrol had arrived, Bay and
Twinkle accompanying them.
There were more footsteps behind him, and
Glaius realized that Rosella had also ventured
to the bottom of the lake; She trotted over to
the patrol car, her steps sounding slow and
heavy with the weight of her pups.
"Hello," he gasped. "Isn't it hot? "The lake is..."
"Shouldn't you be in the maternity ward?"
Bayo interrupted before his mate had a chance
to meow more than a few words.
Glaius sensed that Rosella was taken aback. "I
just wanted to stretch my legs," he explained,
"and see if the lake has shrunk any more."
"You're supposed to be resting," Bayo pointed
out with a tone of voice. "What about our
children?"
"But I want a drink," Rosella protested.
"Albino Cloud will bring you some water," Bayo
meowed, before walking towards the distant
lake.
Twinkle and Faircloud's embarrassment was so
strong that Glaius could almost taste it. "Sure,
Rosella," Albino Cloud murmured. "I'll get you
some moss."
"Thank you, but I can do it." Rosella sounded
tense and shaky. "I will see you later."
He walked painfully away from the patrol,
following Bayo, but without trying to catch up
with him. As he passed Glaius, he stopped. "It's
good that I'm leaving the maternity hospital,
right?"
"Of course," replied Glaius. "Your cubs won't be
born until the next moon."
"I thought so," Rosella meowed. "Dalia said it
wouldn't hurt them if she went for a walk." She
let out a tired sigh. “Bayo seems to want me to
stay in maternity forever! "He says there isn't
enough room for me in the warriors' den now."
Glaius scraped the hot ground with his paw.
"I'm sure he just wants to take care of you."
Rosella did not answer; she just let out a huff of
disbelief and headed towards the water.
Shaking the tension from his mind, Glaius
returned to the shore and located his staff,
neatly wedged beneath some old roots some
distance from the shore. He settled in the
shade of a larger bush and ran his paw over the
scratch marks. Faint whispers curled around his
ears, and he recognized some of the voices
from his time with the old clan. He strained to
hear what they were saying, but they were too
quiet. A pang of sadness passed through him,
like a thorn, for having left them behind. They
had been his friends, once, and he had helped
them by keeping them away from the lake
forever. The spirits of the ancient cats seemed
to surround him now, stroking his fur with their
tails, mixing their scents with those of the dry
lake.
<What do you want?> Glaius asked them,
sensing their anxiety.
But there was no response.
The howling at the water's edge distracted him.
Pushing the stick back under the roots, he
crawled out from under the largest bush and
stood up.
"This is WindClan's part of the lake!" Glaius
stiffened as he recognized Weatherwind's
voice. "Go back to your own side."
"That's ridiculous!" Albino Cloud protested.
“Our territories end three tails from the shore.”
"The shore is where the water begins,"
Ventolero growled. “And that makes this part
of the lake WindClan territory. So get out of
here! "
"Do you want us to?" That was Bayo's voice;
Glaius could imagine the cream-colored warrior
preparing for a fight, his fur standing on end
and his teeth bared in a snarl.
<A fight is the last thing we need!> Glaius
leaped forward, the fur on his belly brushing
against the dust and loose pebbles of the dry
lake bed. "Stop!" he shouted, pushing himself
between the two warriors. "What value is the
lakebed to any Clan?"
He heard an angry growl and smelled Breeze
nose to nose with him. "You can say that, half-
clan cat!"
Jayo felt himself shaken by the wave of hatred
coming from the WindClan warrior. He took a
step back, his nostrils flaring. “What does that
have to do with…” he began.
Ventolero brought his face even closer to
Glaius. “Your mother betrayed my father as
well as her Clan,” he hissed. "You have no right
to be a healer. Not even the right to live among
the Clans. I will never forgive you for what you
have done! Never!"
Glaius was too stunned to respond. He noticed
Bayo bristling next to him. "I'll scratch it for you
if you want, Glaius!" the young warrior
growled.
Glaius shook his head. <What would that
change?> He heard paw steps approaching and
smelled Pearly, the WindClan lieutenant.
"What's going on here?" he demanded.
"Nothing," Ventolero responded. "Just a
misunderstanding about how to get to the
water."
Pearlybeam turned to Glaius. "You should
advise your warriors to stay on your own side
of the lake," he warned. "To avoid future
misunderstandings."
Glaius was not willing to fight, not with
Weatherwind who was throwing poison at him.
"Very well," he meowed, tilting his head
toward the lieutenant.
Anger grew within him as he collected the
feelings of triumph radiating from Ventolero.
"Come on," he added to the ThunderClan
patrol.
"We're not doing any good here."
He could feel the fury of the ThunderClan cats
as they walked past him towards their own
territory.
"I can't believe that mangy WindClan cat!"
Albino Cloud spat. "How dare you tell us where
we can and can't go?"
"You should have let me attack him!" Bayo
growled.
"There is no name for what he told you."
Twinkle's meow was quieter, but Glaius could
sense her surprise.
He shrugged, not wanting to discuss the
accusations Ventolero had thrown at him, and
to his relief, Centella didn't say anything else.
Leaving the patrol to head toward the distant
waters, Glaius turned toward the shore, the hot
wind ruffling his skin. Despite the heat, the cold
passed through him, to the bones, and he felt
the ancient cats surrounding him once more.
<Careful, Jaywing> , one of them whispered.
<Storm Clouds gather in a dark gale> .
 Chapter 15
A dry, dusty wind swept over Turtledovepaw,
shaking the branches above his head. He
blinked awake and stretched his jaws in a huge
yawn. For a couple of seconds, he couldn't
remember where he was. <This is not the
apprentices' lair! Where is Ivypaw?>
She sat up, panic overtaking her, only to
recognize the den she and the other cats had
built the night before, and the clearing where
they had fled from the dogs. The others were
still asleep, except Tawny, who was sitting a
couple of tails away on the bank of the stream.
"Hello," he purred. "I was awake when
Whitetail finished his watch, so I took your
turn."
Every hair on Turtledovepaw's coat prickled
with annoyance. Leaping over the low fern wall
of the lair, he approached his mentor. "I can
take my own turn!" she growled. "You don't
have to treat me like a puppy."
"You just became an apprentice," Leonado
reminded him.
Turtledovepaw suppressed a howl of
frustration. "The prophecy doesn't care about
that, does it?" she pointed out. "I had my
power before I left motherhood. "It's not like
StarClan waited for me to grow up first."
Tawny opened his jaws to respond, but before
he could speak, a whisper came from the den
and Canetree sat up, stretching. His eyes were
filled with surprise as he looked around; then
he seemed to remember where he was and
stood up, brushing bits of moss from his hair.
"Hello, Reedpaw," called Turtlepaw. "How's
your shoulder?"
The WindClan cat flexed her paw
experimentally, then looked up, purring in
relief. "It's much better, thank you. "I can
hardly feel anything."
As he spoke, the other cats began to move,
looking tense as they realized how close they
were to the other Clans' cats.
"We should continue with the hunt," Sapero
announced, jumping out of his bed. "Before it
gets too hot and all the prey hide in their
burrows."
"Don't go too far," Tawny warned the cats as
they dispersed.
"Remember, those dogs may still be around."
Turtlepaw sharpened his senses, but he could
detect no sign of the dogs. <The stupid
creatures are probably still sleeping in their
two-legged lair.> What he did take was a
squirrel somewhere in the trees on the other
side of the stream; He jumped to the opposite
bank and headed towards it.
<I'm going to make up for that miserable little
mouse I caught yesterday> .
Slipping through the trees, he saw the squirrel
nibbling on a seed at the foot of a beech tree.
Turtledovepaw crouched against the ground,
saw that the wind carried his scent away from
his prey, and dropped into a crouch. Step by
silent step, he moved closer. <That's right...
look away...>
A quick swipe of his paw knocked the squirrel
off his feet, and she trotted proudly back
toward the others, who were gathering again
by the den.
Tawny had killed a vole, while Tigerheart had a
pair of shrews and Frog had a mouse. Whitetail
and Reed had both caught a rabbit.
"You should teach us that pair hunting
technique," Tawnypaw was suggesting as
Turtledove approached with his new prey. "It
could be useful".
Whitetail recognized his words with a
movement of his ears; Turtledovepaw guessed
that she didn't feel comfortable teaching cats
from another Clan anything.
When the cats prepared to eat, Torrenero and
Petalmantle stepped back. "We didn't catch
anything, so we can't eat," Petalmantle
meowed, with a longing look at the fresh meat.
"Nonsense," Whitetail replied briskly. "How are
you going to travel if you have an empty belly?"
"That's correct," Leonado added. “On this
journey, we all share. Come on, there's a lot."
The two RiverClan cats backed away again and
Turtledovepaw dropped his squirrel in front of
them. "Thank you," Torrentero murmured.
Turtledovepaw felt his guilt and shame when
they began to eat, and he felt sorry for the cats
who depended so much on one type of prey.
No wonder the RiverClan cats were starving
now that they couldn't find fish.
When all the cats had finished eating, they set
off again, with Sapero in the lead. They walked
silently along the creek bed, almost as
uncomfortable with each other as they had
been at the beginning of the trip;
Turtledovepaw could feel the tension rising, as
if everyone had realized again that they didn't
know where they were going or how they were
going to get there.
Panic bubbled inside her. <They're only here
because of me. What if I'm wrong?>
Pausing, he struggled to block out all the
sounds of the forest around him, then closed
his eyes and cast his senses forward.
Immediately, sounds began to travel down the
creek bed to the stones beneath their paws:
scratches, bites, the slap of trapped water, and
the footsteps of large brown animals' paws
sliding over a pile of tree trunks. He felt their
bulky bodies as they dragged more branches
into the stream.
"Dove's Paw?" She jumped at the sound of
Petalmantle's voice. "Are you OK?"
Turtledovepaw's eyes blinked open to see the
RiverClan she-cat at the back of the group
looking back over her shoulder.
"Uh... sure," Turtledovepaw meowed, running
to catch up. "I'm fine."
Reassured that the brown animals were indeed
ahead, she approached Petalmantle as they
moved forward. The foliage above was
becoming denser, blocking the fierce rays of
the sun, so that it felt as if the cats were
traveling through a cold, dimly lit tunnel.
Turtledovepaw even saw a pool of water
beneath the overhanging shore.
"Check it out!" he exclaimed, giving
Petalmantle a friendly tap on the shoulder with
his tail. "Maybe there will be some fish there."
Turtledovepaw had meant that his words were
gentle mockery, but the RiverClan cat's ears
stood on end. "Maybe there are."
He walked to the edge of the pond and looked
down at the still green water. Torrentero
approached to join her. "Fish?" he asked,
tasting the air.
"Yeah!" Petal Mantle's tail rose into the air.
“There are fish. "They must have survived here
when the rest of the creek dried up."
"Do you think you can catch some?" Tigerheart
asked curiously.
"Of course he can". Torrentero's eyes shone
with pride.
"The rest of you stay back," Petalmantle
instructed, tail wagging. "If their shadows fall
on the water, the fish will know they are being
hunted."
"Like being downwind of prey," Turtledovepaw
murmured to Tawnypaw as they retreated.
Torrenero and Petalmantle crouched at the
edge of the pond and waited with their eyes
fixed on the water. The wait was prolonged.
Turtledovepaw moved her paws impatiently,
then stood still, wondering if the fish could feel
the vibrations in the ground. They still waited.
His legs hurt and his fur itched; He stifled a
yawn. <Is this really how RiverClan cats catch
their prey? That fish better be worth it> .
Suddenly, Torrentero threw one paw into the
water and pulled a small silver fish out of the
water in an arc of drops. He fell into the dry
river, where he jumped and writhed until
Petalmantle killed him with one blow.
"There," he meowed. "The other fish have
probably fled to darker corners now, but at
least we have a piece of fresh meat."
"Come and share," Torrentero offered. "They
have not lived until they have tasted fish!"
The two RiverClan cats watched with bright
eyes as their companions cautiously
approached. White Tail was the
first to give the fish an experimental bite.
"Er...no, thanks," he meowed, running his
tongue along his jaw. "I think I'll keep the
rabbit."
"Me too," Cañera agreed, after barely trying it.
"I'm sorry, but I don't think I can get used to
that."
"I bet I could!" Tigerheart meowed, taking a
large bite. "It's great!" he murmured around
him.
Dovepaw waited for Tawny and Tawny to take
a share, then crouched down in front of the fish
and bit cautiously. The flavor was strong and
not unpleasant, although I preferred mouse or
squirrel.
"Thanks, it's really... different," she meowed as
she stepped back to let the RiverClan cats finish
the fish.
As they moved forward, he realized that he had
fish on his paws and whiskers.
<Mouse shit! Now I can't smell anything else!>
A little further away, the stream wound in a
sharp bend. Sapero, who had gone a little
ahead, stopped. "Get on the benches now!" He
ordered, turning to face them.
"Because? What's happening?" Tawny called.
"Just do it!" Sapero hissed. Its fur was fluffy and
its eyes were wide.
His urgency spread to the other cats like a gust
of wind. Turtledovepaw climbed the steep
slope with her companions on either side of
her, and Toadpaw led them under the trees,
whipping her tail to hurry them along.
Tigerheart stepped back toward the bank of the
stream, looked down, and froze. "Oh..." he
sighed.
Curious, Turtledovepaw walked over to join
him, aware of Toadpaw's annoyed hiss behind
her. Bile rose in his throat and he swallowed
when he saw why Sapero had moved them so
quickly. A dead deer lay in the stream, stiff-
legged and blocking the path. Flies buzzed
around them, and a sweet, rotten smell rose to
hang lazily in the air.
Turtledovepaw quickly backed away as the
other cats came to see what she and Tigerheart
were looking at.
"Don't say I didn't warn you," Sapero meowed,
cutting off their displeased expressions. "I
smelled it, just faintly, because the wind was
behind us, and I wanted to stay well away."
"Very good, too," Whitetail responded. “He
could have died from some illness.”
"Most likely he died of thirst," Torrentero
added sadly.
The cats continued walking, jumping into the
stream again once they left the deer's body far
behind. A gloomy mood hung over them like a
gray cloud; Turtledovepaw assumed they were
all thinking about how much their clanmates at
the lake needed water.
"I don't understand," murmured Turtledove to
Tawnypaw. "I should have smelled the deer
before Sapero, and I didn't."
Tawny shrugged. “As he said, the wind was
behind us. Also… no offense, Turtledovepaw,
but you smell like fish.”
Turtledovepaw let out a sigh. "Maybe, but I
should have been more alert."
<What else might I have missed?>
A few seconds later, Tigerheart stepped back to
walk beside her. "Are you OK?" he asked, his
voice filled with concern.
"It was just a dead deer." Turtledovepaw tried
to sound as if she hadn't been moved by the
sight. She didn't want Tigerheart to start
treating her like a helpless puppy. "Look!" he
meowed, tilting his ears forward in the
direction they were traveling. "The trees are
declining!"
Successfully distracted, Tigerheart stepped
forward to get a better look. The rest of the
patrol also quickened their pace and left the
creek bed to stand in a line at the edge of the
trees. Turtledovepaw looked out over a field
where fluffy grayish-white animals were
nibbling on the grass.
"What are they?" Petal Mantle exclaimed in
surprise. "They look like they're made of spider
webs!"
"Oh, they're just sheep," Whitetail replied. "We
see them all the time in WindClan."
"Their mantles are good linings for beds,"
added Cañera.
Whitetail took the lead as the patrol crept into
the field, following the line of the creek.
Turtledovepaw felt uncomfortably exposed
with nothing between her and the open sky,
and she was grateful for the experience of the
WindClan cats. Then, behind her, she heard a
loud bark and the smell of dog washed over
her, blinding her senses. Whirling around, he
saw a Twoleg walking along the edge of the
forest with a small brown and white dog
trotting at his heels.
As soon as the dog smelled the cats, he started
running towards them, barking even louder.
Turtledovepaw looked wildly around, but there
were no trees to climb except the forest they
had left.
"Run!" Sapero shouted.
Paws pounding the short grass, the patrol
rushed to the opposite side of the field.
Turtledovepaw cast a quick glance over his
shoulder. "The dog is beating us!" she gasped.
Whitetail also looked back, then let out a loud
meow. "Head to the sheep!"
"That?" Tigerheart almost fell over his own
paws while spinning. "Why the sheep?"
"Twolegs never let dogs near sheep," gasped
Whitetail. “Maybe sheep are dangerous to
dogs. Anyway, if we can reach them, we should
be safe."
As he ran toward the sheep, Turtledovepaw's
heart skipped a beat. But I had no choice,
unless I wanted to stay outdoors with the dog.
Along with the rest of the patrol, he dove
between the legs of the strange animals.
The sheep had gathered together, letting out
high-pitched cries that seemed to show that
the sheep were afraid of the dog.
Turtledovepaw caught a glimpse of him among
the bulky gray bodies, dancing around the
length of the sheep's tail and still barking with
his head. The sheep began to swarm across the
field, moving in a giant group. The cats had no
choice but to move with them, frantically
dodging skinny legs and sharp hooves.
Turtlepaw was crushed in the warm, greasy
blankets of web, and lost sight of the others.
<Help! Where has everyone gone?>
Above the noise of the sheep, he heard the
Twoleg's voice raised in an authoritative howl.
The dog's barking stopped. Turtledovepaw
could no longer see him, but she heard his
paws waver in the grass and then retreat as he
reluctantly trotted back to his Twolegs.
Gradually, the sheep slowed down, then
stopped near the hedge on the far side of the
field, still letting out their piercing bleats.
Turtledovepaw crawled to the edge of the flock
and saw Tigerheart and Tawnypaw emerging
together a few tails away. Sapero followed
them to the open field, with Manto de Pétalos
and Torrentero behind him. A few seconds
later, Whitetail and Canetail appeared further
down.
"We have to get off the field!" Whitetail called.
"Go through the hedge!"
Turtledovepaw obeyed, crawling under the
thorny branches that raked his back, keeping
his belly pressed to the dry leaves and debris
on the ground. On the other side was a strip of
grass with a stretch of black stone beyond,
where the patrol gathered again and stood
panting.
Turtledovepaw's eyes widened as he looked at
his companions. Their skins were matted with
shreds of sticky sheep's web clinging to them,
and a sour smell hung around them like a cloud
of flies. <I'm just as bad> , he thought with
disgust, <handling a gray lock that clung to his
shoulder> . But at least none of us are hurt.
She bent her head to lick the fur on his chest,
wincing at the bad taste, only to look up,
startled, a moment later when the sound of a
crash enveloped her. The sky was a light blue,
and the wind only stirred a few tiny clouds. But
the thunderous noise grew louder and louder
and a bitter, burning smell filled her.
Turtledovepaw looked from side to side,
confused by the noise and the stench and the
sensation of something huge and shiny, solid as
a stone...
"Come back!" Tawny screeched.
He pushed Turtledovepaw and Petalmantle
toward the thorny hedge. Turtledovepaw
stumbled and half fell among the thorns as a
gigantic silver creature roared by on round
black legs.
"What...what was that?" he stammered,
standing up. "A monster," Tawny told him, his
voice strained. “They run along these Thunder
Paths.” It swished its tail on the stretch of flat
black stone.
"We saw a lot of them when we went to the
two-legged place to find Solo."
“We also had to cross Thunderpath on the
Great Journey,” added Whitetail, “and there
was one that passed through the old forest.
They are dangerous; "We all have to be very
careful."
Turtledovepaw cautiously approached the edge
of the Thunderpath and sniffed it
experimentally. His nose wrinkled at the bitter
smell. The rest of the patrol was next to her;
Tigerheart placed a paw cautiously on the hard
black surface and then moved it away.
"We'd better stop wandering around," Tawny
meowed, "and cross while it's still quiet."
Walking towards Turtledovepaw, he
murmured, “Is it safe? Are there more
monsters coming? "
Turtledovepaw extended his senses, listening
for another of the terrifying creatures, but
there was nothing in any direction. "It's okay,"
she whispered.
"Good." Leonado raised his voice. "Follow me
as fast as you can and don't stop!"
He left the edge of the grass and crossed the
Thunderpath. Turtledovepaw followed him,
keeping her gaze on him, but aware of the
other cats rushing to her side. They reached the
strip of grass on the other side only to be
stopped by a fence of shiny, crisscrossed silver
material that extended well above
Turtledovepaw's head.
"What do we do now?" Torrentero groaned.
"We can't go any further than this path."
"Here!" Sapero called from a few lines away.
"There's a hole I think we can sneak through."
He crushed himself to the ground and
propelled himself forward through a narrow
gap at the bottom of the fence, standing a few
seconds later on the grass on the other side.
"Come on, it's easy," he urged his companions.
Whitetail followed and then Dovepaw followed
suit, shivering as he touched Twoleg's hard
material against his back as he writhed through
space. The rest of the cats followed, with
Tawny keeping watch until they were safely on
the other side. Finally he writhed inward,
grunting with the effort as he pushed himself.
Turtledovepaw stood still, looking around. A
flat field stretched out in front of her, the grass
much greener than she had seen anywhere else
since the heat and drought began. Beyond
were Twoleg dens built from some kind of red
rock. Turtledovepaw had never imagined there
could be so many Twoleg lairs in one place. The
noise erupted from them like one thunderclap
after another; She trembled as the roar
enveloped her, flooding her senses. The
twolegs screeched and chattered, thumped and
roared, in an endless wave of sound.
Turtledovepaw tried desperately to block it out,
to focus on the cats around her and what she
could see directly in front of her. Only then did
he realize what he couldn't see.
"Where is the current?" she gasped.
 Chapter 16
Tawny heard the panic in his apprentice's cry
and saw the fear in his eyes.
Silently he approached her and rested his tail
on her shoulders.
"Calm down," he murmured. "Everything will
be fine."
Torrentero was looking around. "The water
doesn't run uphill," the RiverClan cat meowed,
"so the stream must be there somewhere." He
pointed with his tail to a line of tall grass at the
foot of a green slope.
"Let's check it out," Sapero suggested.
He let Torrentero take the lead as the cats
trotted in single file along the silver fence.
Before they had covered many foxes' distance,
Tawny heard Twoleg's loud voices coming from
the other side of the field. A group of Twoleg
cubs burst into the open, screaming loudly and
kicking what looked like a smooth round stone
with their hind legs.
"Fast!" He called to his companions as the
young Twoleg ran across the grass towards
them.
Each cat quickened their pace until they were
running with their tails extended. Tawny felt
the ground shake beneath his paws as the
young Twoleg approached, still howling and
kicking the rock thing back and forth between
them. With a cry of relief he sank into the tall
grass at the foot of the slope, but his gasp
turned into a screech of alarm as the ground
gave way beneath his paws. He rolled and
stumbled down a shallow cliff, paws and tail
flailing, and landed with a thud on the hard,
pebble-strewn earth.
"It's the current!" Petalmantle meowed.
Dazed, Tawny sat up and looked around. He
was back in the dry creek bed, the hanging
grasses almost meeting over his head.
His companions were scattered beside him,
rising and examining his scratched pads and
matted fur.
"I have swallowed every grain of sand in this
stream!" Tigerheart complained, spitting.
"No, you haven't," Sapero growled, shaking his
hair. "They're all over my mantle!"
Tawnypaw saw Dovepaw crouched next to an
overhanging rock, her eyes glassy with fear. "I
should have heard the Twolegs coming!" She
whispered. "I should have known what was
going to happen and warned them."
Tawny looked over his shoulder at the other
cats, who were preparing to leave again.
"Dovepaw has some gravel on his pad," he
warned. “We have to lick it; "We will be with
you in a few seconds."
Then he leaned over Turtledovepaw so that no
other cats could hear what he was saying. "You
are not responsible for all of us. "You're on this
mission because you were the first to sense the
brown animals blocking the stream, but that
doesn't mean the rest of us can't hear and see
things and protect ourselves."
Turtledovepaw blinked sadly. "I hate it here, so
close to the two-legged place," he muttered.
“It's too much, all the sounds, smells and
images in my head. I can not stand it! "I can
only focus on what's nearby." His eyes opened
into huge pools of misery. "It's like being
blind!" Tawny bowed his head and touched his
nose to her ear in a gesture of comfort. At the
same time, he pushed away a pang of worry
that Turtlepaw had needed so much lockdown
to cope with the stress of being in a foreign
territory. He realized how much he had
depended on her to tell them what awaited
them.
<We'll be fine without his powers,> he
reassured himself. <After all, other cats have
made journeys with just their ordinary senses.>
"Everything will be fine," he meowed. "At least
we have found the news again." He could still
hear the sound of Twoleg beyond the tall grass,
their loud voices interspersed with the thuds of
the soft stone-thing.
"That can't be a stone," observed Cañera, his
ears trembling. "They would break their legs if
it were like that."
Just as he finished speaking, the rock crashed
into the tall grass in front of them and lodged
at the very edge of the bank. Tigerheart and
Sugarcane rushed forward to take a look.
"Be careful!" Whitetail and Toadstool shouted
at the same second, then looked at each other
embarrassedly.
The two younger warriors did not notice.
Tigerheart climbed up the side of the stream
bed and nudged the rock with his nose.
"It's not a rock!" he meowed in surprise.
"Look!" He gave the rock another push and it
bounced away from him, lighter than a twig.
"Mouse brain!" Tawny hissed. He ran forward
and gave the rock a harder push, sending it
further away.
"Stay away," he warned Tigerheart and
Sugarcane. "It's a two-legged thing!" Before the
three cats could hide back in the creek bed, one
of the young Twolegs came stumbling through
the tall grass, meowing at his companions.
Tawny guessed he was looking for the round
thing.
"Hide!" hiss. "Stay down!"
He crouched next to Tigerheart and Sugarcane,
feeling very exposed with only the stalks of the
grass to hide him. Tigerheart was tense with
alarm, but Sugarcane seemed perfectly
comfortable,
remaining still and silent, not even blinking, as
his gaze followed the young Twolegs.
<Makes sense> , Tawny thought. <WindClan
cats are used to hunting without the
underbrush on the ground . >
It seemed like several moons passed before the
Twoleg found the round thing and fled with it.
Little by little, the noise of the Twolegs faded
away.
The three cats slid toward the stream again;
Sapero was waiting for his clanmate with the
hair on his neck standing on end.
"Are you a complete mouse brain?" he
demanded. "Do you want a Twoleg to catch
you?"
"I'm sorry," Tigerheart murmured.
Whitetail looked at Cane, who bowed his head
in apology.
"Let's move on," Sapero meowed. "We've
wasted enough time here." He ran, looking
back to add, "The brown animals won't be
around, right?"
"Er... right," Turtledovepaw stammered.
The stream skirted the green expanse where
the Twolegs played, then ran between rows of
Twoleg nests, with neat patches of grass
stretching to the shore. Trees hung over the
canal; Tawny was grateful for the shade and
cover, especially when he heard the howls of
the young Twolegs coming from their nests.
Poking his head above the shore from time to
time, he saw Twolegs' cubs chasing each other
or kicking more soft, round things. He once saw
a young Twoleg squealing happily as he hung
from a tree on a piece of wood suspended
between two long tendrils.
"What do you think that is?" he asked
Whitetail, who had climbed in next to him.
"I have no idea." The WindClan cat shrugged.
"Whatever it is, the pup is having fun."
The sun came and went as the cats moved
upstream. Tawny's belly began to rumble; It
seemed like a long time had passed since their
recent early morning hunt. Whitetail and Cane
seemed excited about something; Their ears
were pricked and their mustaches trembled,
and they continued to murmur among
themselves. "Is something wrong with you?"
asked.
Cañera turned to him, her eyes shining. "We
can smell rabbits!"
"That?" Sapero stopped with a dismissive wag
of his tail. “Do you have bees on the brain?
Rabbits wouldn't live so close to Twolegs."
"Yes, the Twolegs would probably hunt them,"
Tigerheart added.
"There are rabbits," Whitetail insisted, giving
the ShadowClan cats a withering look. And not
very far either. She began stalking the creek
bed, nostrils quivering; Cañera touched his
shoulder.
Tawnypaw turned to Turtledovepaw. "They are
right?"
To his disappointment, his apprentice
shrugged. "Don't know. “I still have my senses
blocked,” he muttered. She looked at him with
a fierce look. "I can't help it, okay? There's too
much noise to deal with! "
"It's okay," Tawny Soothed before the other
cats wondered what they were talking about.
Suddenly, Whitetail walked away with Cane on
his back. The WindClan warriors moved down
the side of the bank and disappeared through
the thick grass that bordered the stream.
"Fox turds!" Sapero hissed, going after them.
Tawny and the other cats followed him, then
stopped dead when they reached the top of
the bank and looked through the thickets of
grass.
"There is a rabbit!" Petalmantle breathed. "Two
rabbits!"
Tawny's jaws watered as he looked at the
creatures: they were young and plump, with
thick black and white fur. They sat nibbling on
the patch of grass that extended to Twoleg's
nest, unaware that there were hunters nearby.
For some reason, they were surrounded by a
fence of shiny Twoleg material, but it was low
enough for a cat to easily climb over.
Whitetail and Reed were already crouched in
the grass, ready to jump; Tawny flattened
himself to the ground and crawled to join
them, aware of Sapero right behind him and
the rest of the patrol fanning out to intercept
any rabbit that might run to safety. Saw
Whitetail gather his muscles to jump over the
fence. A second later, he froze when a loud
howl came from a tree a few meters away.
"Hey! You! "Wait a second!"
Tawny Stared in amazement as three housecats
jumped out of the tree and ran across the grass
to stand between the WindClan cats and the
rabbits. In the lead was an orange cat with
dazzling yellow eyes, followed by a small white
cat and a black and brown tabby.
The orange cat planted itself right in front of
Whitetail; his two companions were right
behind him. They both looked terrified, with
their fur ruffled and their ears flattened.
"They can't hunt these rabbits," the orange cat
declared, teeth bared in the beginning of a
growl.
"Oh yeah?" Cañera rose from his hunter's
crouched position to stand nose to nose with
the kitten. "We will fight for them, if that is
what they want. You should put up more scent
markers if you want to keep cats out of your
territory! " "Territory?" The white cat looked
confused. "What are you talking about?"
"Territory!" Sapero growled, coming to stand
next to Cañera. "Don't pretend you're so dumb
you don't know what territory is."
"This is my owner's den," the black and brown
cat meowed.
"But the rabbits aren't in the den, are they?"
Whitetail sounded like he was talking to
particularly stupid pups. "Unless this territory is
scent marked, they are free for any cat to
hunt."
"No, they're not," the orange cat insisted, the
fur on his neck standing up.
Tigerheart narrowed his eyes. "Look, domestic
kitten..."
"This is ridiculous," Cañera interrupted
impatiently. “There are two perfectly good
rabbits waiting to be caught, and all we can do
is argue. Are they hunting them? he asked the
domestic kitties. "Because-"
The three kittens let out a gasp of horror, their
eyes widening.
"No!" exclaimed the tabby cat. "These rabbits
belong to my owner."
"We'd be in big trouble if we hunted them," the
orange cat added.
"That's right," the white cat meowed. "All the
cats here know about the cat that caught the
owner's rabbit." His voice became lower. "They
took him to the Slicer and he was never the
same again."
Tawny and the other Clan cats exchanged
puzzled glances.
"Now I've heard it all," he said.
Torrentero. "Domestic kittens protecting the
rabbits from their two legs!"
"And?" Sapero growled. "I'm going to take the
rabbits anyway. "They look fat and slow
enough for any cat to catch, not just
WindClan."
He threw himself against the shiny fence and
began to climb it. Immediately, the orange cat
grabbed Sapero's tail with his teeth and pulled
him again.
Sapero stirred and turned around, claws
extended. "Back off, pet kitten!" He spat. "Do
you think I'll let you stop me?"
"No." Tawny pushed his way between the two
cats. "We will look for prey elsewhere."
"Correct." Whitetail sounded disappointed, but
her voice was firm. “These rabbits are too well
protected. "We can't risk getting injured now."
Sapero continued to stare at the orange cat for
a second longer, then shrugged angrily and
turned around. The three housecats stood in
front of the fence and watched as the clan cats
walked across the grass and towards the
stream bed.
Even though Tawny had avoided the fight, he
still found it difficult to control his anger.
<What a waste of rabbits. We all could have
had a good meal>.
"Those kitties think they've won!" Sapero
exclaimed. He took one last look over his
shoulder before jumping back into the stream.
"Look at these! I'd like to wipe those smug
looks off their faces."
"But Whitetail is right: we can't," Petalcoat
reminded him. "We have to stay safe until we
find water."
"Good," Sapero murmured darkly. "But wait
until we're on our way back..."
The patrol continued in silence until they
passed the Twoleg nests. The gardens gave way
to a thorny grove with young trees protruding
from a tangle of undergrowth.
"I think we should stop here and find
something to eat," Torrentero suggested.
Tawny could see that he and Petalmantle were
seeing each other again, their eyes dull with
fatigue. "Good idea," he agreed, watching
Sapero curl his lip in frustration. "We don't
know when there will be another opportunity."
The ShadowClan warrior let out an exaggerated
sigh. "Okay, let's get this over with. And let's
hope we don't have any more stupid pets
coming our way."
Turtledovepaw's tail rose. "I can hear a bird
there," he murmured to Tawny, tilting his ears
toward the other side of the copse. "He's
hitting a snail against a rock."
Tawny listened, but couldn't hear anything.
"Come in," he meowed, pleased that his
apprentice was managing to use his senses
again.
Turtledovepaw ran away happily, while
Tawnypaw stood for a moment testing the air
until he spotted a squirrel near the top of a
nearby tree. Climbing up the trunk, he had
reached the branch below his prey when a loud
meow sounded from the ground.
"Hello again!"
The squirrel sat up, started, then bolted,
launched itself into the air, and disappeared
into the foliage of the next tree. Tawny snorted
in exasperation. Looking down, he saw the
white cat in the two-legged nest with rabbits;
she stood at the foot of her tree, looking at him
with friendly green eyes.
"You just scared away my next meal," Tawny
complained, running to join her.
"I'm sorry." The white kitten blinked at him. “I
just wanted to see you hunt. I figured they
would stop here since they tried to get those
rabbits. Do you really have to feed yourselves?
Sometimes we catch mice, but it's not
necessary. I mean, who would want to eat skin
and bones? "
<Lots of cats> , Tawny thought when the kitten
paused to breathe.
<Could she really be that clueless?> Seeing
another squirrel at the edge of a bramble
thicket, she gave it a quick nod in farewell and
took off after it.
But the white cat followed him. "Are you
hunting that squirrel?" she asked. "I can see? "I
will remain silent."
<Too late!> Tawny groaned as the squirrel's
ears stood on end; she jumped up to the
nearest tree to sit and screech angrily at them
from a low branch before disappearing.
"My name is Tinker Bell," the white cat
sputtered, oblivious to what she had done.
“The orange cat is called Seville, and the black
and brown tabby is Playful. Thanks for leaving
the rabbits alone. "It's true what happened to
that other cat, the one that ate its owner's
rabbit."
Tawny took a deep breath and turned to her.
"It's nice to chat and all," he meowed under his
breath, "but I'm a little busy."
He could have saved his saliva; he noticed that
Tink wouldn't have recognized a clue even if it
hit her on the forehead.
"What are you all doing here?" he meowed,
looking through the trees at the other cats
stalking their prey in peace. “Did you escape
from your owner? Are you lost?
Are you looking for your way home?”
Tawny raised his tail in an effort to stop the
onslaught of questions. "No, we're not pet
kittens," he meowed, trying not to feel
offended. "We live in Clanes, by a lake
downstream from here."
"Clans?" Tink sounded bewildered.
"A bunch of cats living together," Leonado
explained. "We have a leader"
"What's all the fuss about?" Fern fronds parted
to reveal Sapero, his fur bristling with
annoyance. He dropped the mouse he was
carrying. "For the love of StarClan, they're
making enough noise to scare away all the prey
from here to the lake."
"Hello." Tink seemed quite unconcerned by the
ShadowClan cat's short temper. "My name is
Tinkerbell. And yours?"
Sapero exchanged a surprised look with
Leonado. "Never mind that," he meowed
briskly to Tink. "We're on a mission and you
can't help us, so leave us alone."
Tink's eyes widened. "Oh wow, a mission!"
"We're looking for the water," Leonado
explained as the rest of his patrol approached
to find out what was happening. Tortolapaw
brought his thrush, and Torrentero proudly
placed a vole next to it.
"We think there are some brown animals
blocking the stream."
"Oh really? "I've often wondered what
happened," chirped Tink. “I liked the flow. "It
was good to lie on the grass and watch the
insects buzzing over the water."
Sapero rolled his eyes.
"Can I go with you?" Tinker Bell meowed
suddenly. "It would be funny! Maybe brown
animals are dogs, do you think so? Or giant
rabbits!"
"No, I'm sorry, you can't come," Torrentero
meowed. "You couldn't take care of yourself."
Tink's gaze fell on the few pieces of fresh meat
that the Clan cats had managed to catch. "You
guys don't seem to be very good at that
yourselves," he commented.
"We're fine," Torrentero responded. "Now run
back to your owner."
Sapero waved his tail to make the patrol move
away. "We'll eat later," he growled.
Whitetail grabbed the thrush from Dovepaw
while Petalcoat took the mouse and Tawnycat
took the vole. Before jumping into the dry
stream again, he looked back to see Tink sitting
where they had left her, watching them go. His
head was tilted unhappily.
Feeling guilty for abandoning her, Leonado
lunged back. "Here, would you like a bite of
vole?" he offered, letting it fall into his paws.
Tink's gaze was filled with horror. “With
feathers and everything? No way!"
Tawny heard snorts of amusement coming
from his companions. "Okay, bye then," he
meowed hastily and ran off to join them,
remembering at the last minute to take the
vole with him.
The sun had set when the patrol left again. In
the twilight they came to a steep valley where
the trees were much older, with spreading
trunks and gnarled branches. Whitetail, who
was in front, found a crevice in a huge hollow
tree, with the ground covered in a thick layer of
dead leaves, where there was room for
everyone to curl up and sleep.
"Well done!" Tawny yawned. "We'll be safe
here from anything."
I still thought it was better to set up a lookout;
Exhausted from the night before, when he had
taken Turtlepaw's shift in addition to his own,
he didn't argue when Torrentero volunteered
to take the first shift. He crawled into the tree,
noticing that neither cat seemed to be
particularly concerned now about the fur that
brushed against them as they lay down, and
snuggled gratefully next to Turtledovepaw. He
fell asleep within moments.
After what seemed like a second, Leonado
woke up with a sting in his ribs. Moonlight
filtering through the crack in the trunk revealed
Turtledovepaw looking at him with bright eyes.
"What's happening?" he murmured.
"I can hear the brown animals!" Turtledovepaw
told him, wagging his tail excitedly. "We are
almost there!"
 Chapter 17
Glaius lifted his head and savored the air, which
had cooled slightly as night approached. A light
breeze moved the branches of the trees above
the stone hollow and stirred the dust on the
floor of their lair. A few cats were gathered
around the poor pile of fresh meat; Their soft
voices filtered through the bramble wall,
reaching Glaius in a blur of sound.
Sighing, he wished he had Turtlepaw's long-
range senses, so he could track her, Tawnypaw,
and the rest of the patrol. They had been gone
for two days and Glaius had no idea if they
were still searching or if they had found the
brown animals and the trapped water. The
night before, he had tried to walk in Leonado's
dreams and had found himself climbing the dry
creek bed, with unfamiliar trees arching their
branches overhead. He had caught his
brother's scent, and thought he saw the tip of a
golden tail moving around a rock just in front of
him. But no matter how fast he ran, he couldn't
catch up and Leonado didn't answer when he
called.
<It's too far away,> Glaius thought ruefully as
he woke up, his legs aching as if he had actually
tried to chase his littermate. <There's no way
you can catch him now.>
His skin itched with the longing to tell Leonado
about his encounter with Ventolero at the lake
the day before. He was still agitated by the
hatred that the WindClan cat had emanated,
and he seemed to hear the voices of the
Ancient Clan, whispering warnings that he
couldn't quite make out.
<I can't believe that mangy flea hide is my half-
brother!>
The bramble wall creaked as a cat passed by;
Glaius recognized Dustpelt's scent.
"I've come for more of those herbs," Dustpelt
announced, then reluctantly added, "My back
feels a lot better today, so they must have done
something right."
"I'm glad to hear it," replied Glaius. "Wait and
I'll bring them."
As he headed to the storage crevices at the
back of the den, Dustpelt called after him, "I
don't want them if another cat needs them
more."
"No, it's fine," replied Glaius. He picked up
some tansy and some daisy leaves from the
storeroom and headed back to the tabby
warrior.
"Eat those," he ordered, pushing the tansy
towards his clanmate.
While Dustpelt licked the herbs, Jay chewed
the daisy leaves and made a poultice to spread
at the base of the ThunderClan warrior's spine,
where the pain was worst.
"Thank you," Dustpelt meowed. As he left the
lair, he paused, a great shame flooding his skin.
“Candeal said I had to thank you too. "He said I
was being very annoying, complaining about
back pain and doing nothing about it."
"Surely not," Glaius muttered, slightly amused,
as the tabby warrior headed towards the
warriors' lair.
The sound of Dustpelt's pawing had barely died
away when another cat poked its head through
the bramble wall.
"Hello, Titmouse," Jayus meowed, inhaling her
scent and collecting his anxiety along with it.
"There is something wrong?"
"I'm fine, but I'm worried about Rosella," the
gray cat replied, slipping into the study.
"What's wrong with her?" The alarm took off in
Glaius like a jumping fish. "Are they your
puppies?"
"Oh, no, he's fine physically," Carbonera told
him. "Her belly is about the right size and there
are no signs of fever or vomiting."
"Good," Glaius murmured. <And you would
know... Cinderpaw> , he added privately. Only
he and Leafpool knew the strange truth about
Cinderpaw, that she had previously lived in
ThunderClan as the medicine cat Cinderpelt ,
who had died saving Sorreltail from a badger at
the time Cinderpelt was born. Cinderpelt had
no idea why he knew so much about herbs, or
why memories of ThunderClan's old home
haunted his dreams. Leafpool and Jay had
agreed long ago not to tell him; she was a
warrior in her own right, and if StarClan had
decided to give Cinderpelt a second chance,
they would not interfere.
"It's just that she's so quiet and sad,"
Carbonera continued. "Is there anything you
can do to help?"
Glaius was baffled. What kind of help were you
expecting? "I don't want to give herbs to
Rosella," he began, "not when she's expecting
puppies, unless it's really urgent."
"Yes, but-"
"You told me she's not sick," Glaius continued,
ignoring the cat's protest. "If everything is
fine..."
"It's not right," Carbonera interrupted in turn.
"Nothing is right," he added sadly. "Oh, Glaius, I
miss Carrasca so much!"
Glaius felt as if a cat had thrown a stone at his
belly. He tried hard every day not to think
about his sister, and every day he failed. "Me
too," he replied quietly.
"If you do." Carbonera's tone was full of
sympathy. “Losing a littermate is the worst
thing ever. Maybe that's why Rosella is so sad,
because Melada is gone." He let out a long sigh.
"I'm sorry for bothering you, Glaius."
He turned and left the study; Glaius imagined
his head bowed and his tail dragging in the
dust. When she left, he slipped inside to the
storage crevices again and turned over his
dwindling stash of herbs. Poppy seeds... tansy...
borage... <No, there's nothing here that can
help a cat who's just sad.> And there was
nothing any cat could say or do to make Rosella
stop crying for her dead sister.
Snuggling into his nest of moss and ferns,
Glaius drifted off to sleep and turned his paws
in the direction of Rosella's dreams. To his
surprise, he found himself on the steep and
rocky path that led to the Lunar Lagoon. The
moon cast its pale light on the boulders and
grass of the moors on either side, and shone on
the tortoiseshell fur of the young cat that
glided silently before him.
"Rosella!" Glaius called.
The young cat started, then slowly turned
towards him; The light of the stars shone in his
eyes.
"What are you doing here?" Glaius asked him.
Rosella didn't seem surprised to see that he
was the cat following her. “I have dreamed
about this mountain trail so many times since
Melada died,” he explained. "I want to see her
so bad, and I can hear her calling me from
somewhere up there." She nodded toward the
top of the ridge, silhouetted against the star-
filled sky.
Glaius strained his ears to hear the young cat's
voice. But there was nothing except the faint
rustle of the wind on the grass. "I can't hear
her," he meowed.
"I can." Rosella was calm and lucid as she
spoke, although her voice betrayed her longing
for her dead sister.
Glaius' paws tingled. Rosella had set her paws
on a path that only healers walked. "You should
go back to the clearing," he told her. She
remembered how he had saved her life long
ago, guiding her back from StarClan when she
was a little cub with a green cough. She had
come willingly then, not ready to leave behind
the Clanmates she had only just begun to
know. "This place is not for you."
"No, I must continue!" Rosella turned and ran
down the narrow path, faster and faster until
she disappeared in a swirl of mist. Her voice
drifted weakly toward him. "I have to see
Melada!"
Glaius woke up with a jolt, his paws scraping
through the disturbed moss. The warm air
stirred against his face, telling him that the sun
had already risen. His pads hurt as if he had
actually spent the night hiking in the
mountains. Yawning, he crawled out of his nest
and walked towards the clearing. The sun's rays
poured through the trees onto the camp,
burning the bare ground. Glaius tried to
imagine the clearing as it had been, green and
fresh, knowing that now everything would be
parched to a brittle brown.
A worm of worry was gnawing at his belly.
Trying to ignore it, he headed to the maternity
ward and stuck his head in the doorway. He
could hear the soft breathing of sleeping cats,
and smelled Candeal, Dalia, and Rosella curled
up together in a pile of fur. Slightly reassured,
he crept away without disturbing them.
<But I'll keep an eye on Rosella ,> he decided.

"This is a romaza leaf," Jayus announced,

hooking it in his claws and holding it up so all
the apprentices could see it.
"As if we didn't know," Ivypaw murmured.
Glaius bit back a stinging rebuke. He knew that
the young apprentice was still in a bad mood
because Turtledovepaw had gone on the
mission without her, and he couldn't entirely
blame her. But Firestar had asked him to give
all the apprentices basic training in the use of
herbs, and Ivypaw had to learn the same things
as everyone else, whether he liked it or not.
"Romaza leaves are good for rubbing sore
pads," he continued, ignoring the young cat's
bad temper for now. "And you can find them
pretty much anywhere, so they're one of the
most useful herbs."
"So, well, if we took a long trip, should we look
for romaza?" Bumblebee asked.
<Wow, I shouldn't have said that,> Jaypaw
thought, as Ivypaw let out an angry hiss at his
denmate.
"That's right," he replied. "Or if you step on a
sharp rock," he added, trying to divert
attention from the trip.
"Wouldn't we need cobwebs for that?"
Trenchpaw meowed.
"Only if the skin has been broken," Glaius told
him. “And that's for all wounds, of course,
especially serious ones where the cat loses a lot
of blood. For smaller scrapes and scrapes, we
use calendula or horsetail to stop the bleeding.
“These are marigold leaves,” he continued,
holding one up. “I don't have a ponytail right
now; "You should ask his mentors to look for
him when they go out to train, and it would be
great if you could bring some back."
"And what if some cat eats spoiled food, or
some nasty Twoleg thing like our mother said
the RiverClan cats once did?" Flowerpaw
chirped.
"What do you give them then?"
"That's a little complicated for now," Glayo
meowed. “Today we are learning about pain
and minor injuries. You'll find them almost
every day, while cats are only poisoned once a
season, if that."
"But we should know what to do, right?"
Bumblebee argued.
"They're not going to be healers," Glayo began.
"More serious illnesses..."
To his relief, he heard clawed footsteps
approaching and caught Thornthorn's scent as
the brindle warrior poked his head through the
bramble wall.
"You're done?" he meowed. "The other
mentors and I want to go hunting."
"Yeah! Hunting!" Flowerpaw jumped to his
paws. "I'll catch the biggest rabbit in the
forest!"
"Don't make promises you may not be able to
keep," Espinardo meowed dryly. "Can I take
them, Glaius?"
"You are welcome to it," replied Glaius
soulfully. "Remember about the ponytail!" He
called to the apprentices as they left the study
and hurried across the clearing.
Once they were gone, Glaius left and headed to
the veterans' lair. When he made his way under
the hazel branches, he found that Shrew and
Cougar were still sleeping, curled up friendly
near the trunk of the bush. Longtail was awake
and stretched when Glaius entered.
"Hello," he meowed. "I was hoping you'd stop
by."
Anxiety pricked Glaius like a nettle when he
heard how fragile the veteran sounded. He had
always thought of Longtail as a young cat, who
lived in the veterans' den only because of his
blindness, but now he realized that he too was
growing old.
"What can I do for you?" he asked Longtail.
"I was wondering if there is any news about the
cats that went upriver," replied the blind
warrior. "Has any cats figured out what's
stopping the water?"
"We haven't heard anything else," Glaius told
him. <I'm certainly not going to reveal
Turtlepaw's secret!> "You know as much as I
do."
Longtail sighed. "Is not sufficient. "No cat will
be happy until they are home safe."
"I know, but there's nothing..."
"Glayo!" The loud whisper interrupted what he
was about to say; Glaius detected Candeal's
scent and turned to her.
"What's happening? Are any cats sick?”
"No, but we can't find Rosella. Have you seen
her?"
Glaius didn't bother to remind him that he
couldn't see anything. "She was sleeping in the
maternity hospital before."
"Well, she's not there now." Candeal seemed
more bewildered than worried.
"She hasn't been here either," Longtail told
him.
"I can't find her anywhere!" Dahlia pushed
through the branches, nearly slamming Jay into
Shrew's sleeping body. "He is not in the
apprentices' den, and he has not gone to
relieve himself, and..."
"It's getting too crowded here." Glaius gave the
cat a gentle push toward the clearing. "If we're
not careful, we'll wake up Shrew and Cougar,
and we'll never hear the end of it." As he led
Dalia and Candeal back to the clearing, he
turned his head and meowed to Longtail, "If I
find out anything about the blocked stream, I'll
let you know, I promise."
"Thank you, Glaius," the blind veteran
meowed.
Outside in the clearing, Glaius confronted the
two queens. "Okay, tell me from the
beginning."
"When I woke up, Rosella wasn't in the
nursery," Dalia meowed. "Candeal didn't know
where he had gone. At first we weren't
worried, but when she didn't come back we
started looking for her."
"She is not in the camp," Candeal added.
Glaius wasn't sure how worried he should be.
Rosella was at least a moon away from having
her puppies, so she wouldn't be hurting herself
if she had gone for a walk.
"We should tell some cat," Dalia suggested.
"But who?" Candeal asked reasonably. “Firestar
has made a patrol to look for water;
Goldenfrond and Sorreltail are hunting with
Brambleclaw..."
"Carbonera is training his apprentice," added
Glayo. And it won't do any good to tell Bayo, he
thought, remembering how roughly the cream-
colored warrior had treated his partner when
they met by the lake.
"I don't think you should worry," he continued.
"Rosella's probably gone to stretch her legs, or
maybe get a drink of water."
"You're probably right," Candeal meowed,
sounding relieved.
Waves of anxiety continued to come from
Dalia's skin, but she didn't protest when
Candeal gently urged her to return to the
maternity ward.
Jay returned to his lair and headed to the
storage slot to select some herbs for Dustpelt.
He hadn't exactly been telling the truth when
he told the brindle warrior that he had a lot of
what he needed to relieve the stiffness in his
back. He hadn't wanted to admit that tansy
supplies were getting dangerously low, in case
Dustpelt refused to take more.
Head buried in the storage slot, Glaius felt
more than heard movement outside the lair. As
he stepped back, he caught Dalia's scent. "Go
ahead, Dalia," he meowed, stifling a sigh. He
wasn't surprised that she had come to see him;
He knew she was becoming frantic because of
the queen's absence.
The cat brushed past the bramble wall and
stopped in front of Glaius, her claws digging
into the dry ground. "I'm so worried about
Rosella! She's been very depressed lately."
"Why do you think that is?" Jayo asked,
remembering what Cinderpelt had told him.
"There's nothing wrong with her puppies. They
are well within it; I have heard them squirm.
And the warriors make sure he gets plenty of
water and fresh meat.”
"It's not that," Dahlia meowed with an
impatient flick of her tail. "It's Bayo. "Rosella
thinks he doesn't love her."
Glaius stifled a groan. I really don't have time
for this! "Well, Bayo loved Melada first."
Dalia let out a gasp. "I can't believe you said
that, Glaius! "It shouldn't matter who Bayo
loved before, now that he's with Rosella."
Glaius shrugged. "Maybe yes." <It seems logical
to me. Every cat knows that Bayo wanted
Melada as a partner, and then the snake killed
her>.
"Rosella is afraid that Bayo doesn't love her or
the puppies," Dalia continued. "She thinks he
wants Melada back."
"Well, that's not going to happen," Glayo
pointed out.
"I already know it!" Dahlia snapped. "But
Rosella is not being logical."
<Tell me again!> Glaius sighed inwardly.
Dahlia scraped the compacted earth with her
claws. "What if she decides to leave the Clan
for good?"
"She wouldn't do that," Glayo assured him.
StarClan save me from these annoying cats!
"But I'll talk to Firestar when he gets back from
his water patrol. "Maybe some cats can go look
for her." <Though I'm not sure which cats we
can spare, with so many needed for hunting,
training, and water patrols.>
Gently, he guided Dalia out of his study and
across the clearing to the nursery. He could
sense that she still wasn't happy, but he didn't
see what else he could do.
Once he was back inside, Glaius headed to the
rock wall to check the holes for any sign that
the snake might have paid another visit.
The sun had passed high and the ground was
burning, burning its pads; the sunbathing rock
was too hot for the veterans to sunbathe there.
<At least I don't have to deal with Puma this
time!>
As he removed the stones that blocked the
holes so he could smell them well, Glaius
imagined the day Melada died.
Grimacing, he let Bayo's horror wash over him
as he watched the young cat writhe in pain
from the poison. The warrior's pain remained
at the foot of the cliff like a memory, soaking
into the stones themselves.
It was enough to make Bayo wish he had been
bitten by the snake instead of Melada. <If
Rosella knows that, she has good reason to run
away.>
Glaius stopped in the middle of rolling the last
stone into his hole. He suddenly had a terrible
suspicion about where Rosella might be.
Leaving the gap, he slipped under the trees of
the forest, grateful for the cool shade and the
air that felt so humid he could almost drink it.
Sticking out his parched tongue, he tried to
smell her, but that only made him thirstier than
ever.
<Mouse brain! What are you, a puppy?>
Shaking himself, Glaius headed through the
trees to the ridge overlooking the lake. The air
was hot and dry, whipped with a searing wind
that carried the smells and sounds of cats from
the water's edge. He knew what the lake was
like from his dreams; Now he tried to imagine it
much smaller, surrounded by dry mud and
stones.
Even the underground tunnels will be dry now.
Walking along the ridge, Glaius stopped every
few steps to taste the air. Finally, he caught the
scent of Rosella in a clump of tall grass. <Yes!
He was right> . He followed the footprints
along the spine of the hill until he reached the
WindClan border. Rosella's scent was simply
noticeable beneath the WindClan scent
markers.
Glaius's heart skipped a beat as he confirmed
what he had suspected all along. Rosella was
trying to retrace the path she had followed in
her dreams, until she reached the Lunar
Lagoon.
<Cat with a mouse brain!>
Following the scent of his clanmate, Glaius set
off down the path toward the Lunar Lagoon.
But before taking many steps with her paws,
she caught another scent, a little fresher than
Rosella's and overlapping, as if the cat it
belonged to was following her.
<Windy! What are you doing here?>
 Chapter 18
Turtledovepaw felt his fur stand on end with
excitement as he looked at his mentor, his eyes
shining in the moonlight that shone through
the crack in the hollow tree.
"What can you feel?" he asked in a whisper low
enough not to wake the sleeping cats, or to
reach Petalmantle on lookout outside.
Turtledovepaw closed his eyes. “Scraping
sounds across the floor,” he whispered. “The
sound of teeth gnawing on wood... and the roar
of falling trees! “The brown animals are
dragging the trees to the stream and putting
them in place, packed together like a wall.” She
took a deep breath. “Oh, I can feel the water!
It’s trapped behind the trees… What are these
creatures?”
He opened his eyes again to see Tawny looking
alarmed, though his expression quickly changed
to a look of determination when he saw that
she was looking at him. "How many animals are
there?" he meowed.
"I'm not sure…." Turtledovepaw tried to focus
on the brown animals as they moved through
the fallen trees, but he couldn't get the image
clear enough to count them all. "Less than our
patrol, I think."
Tawny touched his shoulder with the tip of his
tail. "Everything will be okay," he reassured
her.
Turtlepaw could not share his confidence. What
he had not told his mentor was that it would
not be easy to fight these animals. They were
much heavier than cats, dense and low to the
ground, so it would be difficult to turn them
upside down. They had long, sharp teeth and
powerful clawed legs; He shuddered at the
thought of the wounds they could inflict. The
fear that he might be leading the patrol into a
battle they couldn't win weighed on his
stomach like a stone.
Tawny crawled out of the hollow tree to relieve
Petalmantle of his guard.
Turtledovepaw had already taken his turn, so
he settled down to sleep, but he couldn't block
out the sounds from upstream. He jerked
awake again every time a tree collapsed or a
branch squeaked harshly as it was dragged over
another. He was still trying to rest when the
pale light of dawn filtered into the hollow tree
and the other cats began to move around him.
"Great StarClan!" Tigerheart exclaimed, sitting
up and shaking the dead leaves from his fur.
"Dovepaw, you squirm more than a bunch of
worms!"
"I'm sorry," Turtledovepaw murmured.
Tigerheart briefly pushed his nose into her fur
to show that he hadn't meant to be cruel,
before stepping through the slit and out into
the open air. Turtledovepaw and the other cats
followed him and finished off the rest of the
pile of fresh meat. Paw of
Tortola noticed that Torrentero and Petal
Mantle no longer looked so thin and fragile.
<They must be really hungry in RiverClan if
they're getting fat on what we've managed to
catch here!>
Above the trees, the sky was pale as milk. A
cold wind pushed gray clouds across the sky,
ruffling the cats' fur in the opposite direction.
"It's been moons since it's been this cold,"
Petalmantle meowed, shivering. "Maybe the
climate is finally changing."
"We can deal with that," Sapero growled.
When the cats finished eating, Tawny took the
lead, wagging his tail for the others to follow.
"It's not far now," he encouraged them. "We
are very close to the brown animals."
"How do you know?" Sapero demanded,
narrowing his eyes suspiciously.
"StarClan's dream said they were beyond the
two-legged place," he explained.
Tawny, with a discreet nod towards
Tortolapaw.
Although she was worried about what other
cats would say if they knew of her abilities,
Turtledovepaw found that she was upset by her
mentor's secret. He's willing enough to use my
power, so why does he treat it like he's some
kind of shame to ThunderClan?
"Don't forget to be careful with falling trees,"
he warned them. "And when we get to the
place, the water will be very deep, so be careful
not to fall."
"Was that all in your dream?" Sapero asked,
sounding like he didn't believe her.
"That's how it is." Tawny stopped to give the
fur on his chest a couple of licks, as if he were
thinking quickly. "She saw the brown animals
pushing the trees and, and StarClan warned her
about the water, didn't she, Turtledovepaw?"
Turtledovepaw nodded reluctantly. "That was a
dream!" Torrentero exclaimed. "Firestar never
said anything about that in the Assembly."
"Yeah, well, it wasn't necessary," Tawnypaw
meowed uncomfortably, glaring at
Turtledovepaw.
Turtledovepaw met her innocent gaze. <You
got yourself into this mess, so get out of it!> As
the patrol moved along the creek bed, up the
gently sloping valley, the gust of wind rising in
the trees made it hard for Turtlepaw to hear.
what was ahead. She strained to make out the
sounds of the brown animals and jumped when
she heard Tigerheart's voice near her.
"Isn't that great?" he meowed. "We're going to
find these animals, and then... Boom! Give us
back our water! They will not refuse. If they do
it well…” He crouched down, then jumped into
the air, sliding his front paws in a strong sweep
of his claws.
Turtledovepaw didn't think it would be as easy
as that, and he wished the talkative young
warrior would just shut up. He stifled a sigh
when Cañera came bounding from his other
side.
"Showing off, like ShadowClan!" she meowed.
"Look at this." She turned to face Tigerheart so
that the young warrior almost tripped over her,
launching herself into the air with a terrifying
scream, spinning as she jumped and landing
right behind him.
"You have failed!" Tigerheart exclaimed.
"I wasn't trying to grab you," Cañera replied.
"You'd know if it was."
“Oh, would I? Try it, then, and see! "
Dovepaw dove to the side as Tigerheart lunged
at the WindClan she-cat and struck her on the
head with her sheathed claws.
Cane fell on his side, pulling Tigerheart's paws
out from under him so that he lost his balance.
The two young cats went round and round in
the narrow bed of the stream; Petal Mantle
had to climb up the bank so she wouldn't be
crushed.
"Stop that right now!" Tawny growled, entering
the middle of the fight. “Mouse brains! Do you
want to get hurt before we even get there?”
The two young cats separated and sat down; Its
fur was sticking out everywhere and it was
covered in dust.
"I would have won with the next move,"
Tigerheart murmured.
"In your dreams!" Cañera gave him a farewell
flick over the ear with his tail before backing
away.
Tortolapaw saw Tawnypaw giving Reedpaw a
worried look; He seemed to move awkwardly,
as if he had sprained his shoulder again. Then,
he looked back at Tigerheart; the look he gave
the younger warrior was unreadable.
<Now, what's on your mind?> Turtledovepaw
wondered.
At the top of the valley, the land opened up to
a flatter, more sparse forest. The wind had died
down and Turtledovepaw could hear the
scratching and gnawing of the brown animals
more clearly than before. Their sense of
urgency seemed to extend to the others, and
Sapero, who was in the lead, quickened his
pace until the cats were almost running along
the bottom of the stream.
Tawny jumped onto the bank of the stream to
look ahead and stopped, tail wagging in
surprise. "Look at that!"
"That?" Whitetail called to him.
Tawny did not answer; he simply signaled with
his tail for the rest of the patrol to join him on
the shore.
As he climbed beside her and watched,
Turtledovepaw felt his heart begin to pound.
She knew from the beginning of their journey
what they would find, and yet everything was
so much clearer and scarier now that she was
faced with it.
Ahead of them, the stream ran through a patch
of rough forest. Several of the trees had been
neatly cut to about two tails' length from the
ground, the top of the stump rising like a sharp,
splintered point. It looked as if a huge animal
had crashed into the stream bed, crushing the
trees on either side.
But that wouldn't seem so... so deliberate.
Stretching along the creek, clearly visible above
the fallen trees, was a massive barrier of logs. It
rose in a curve like a hill, almost as big as a two-
legged nest.
Turtledovepaw shrank, closed his eyes, and
pressed himself against the ground. The noise
that passed through her was deafening: growls
and scratches, bites and scrapes, the slap of
heavy paws against wood. It took all the
strength he had to control the sounds until he
could cope with them and remain aware of
what was happening around him.
"So that's what's blocking the current,"
Torrentero whispered.
A moment of stunned silence followed his
words; was broken by Mantle of Petals. "We'll
have to move the logs away."
"No, you'd better drag them out of the creek,"
Sapero argued. "Otherwise, who knows where
they will end up?"
"Anything, as long as we let the water out,"
Tawny meowed.
"And we'll have to stay well clear when the logs
give way," Whitetail said.
"Wait." Turtledovepaw's voice was a hoarse
croak as he struggled to get back on his paws.
“The brown animals are still here. "They built
that barrier deliberately to trap water."
Another shocked silence greeted his words.
Then Sapero shrugged his shoulders. "We'll
have to scare them away, then."
Turtledovepaw was sure it wouldn't be as easy
as that, but she couldn't think of anything
useful to say.
"Don't be afraid," Tigerheart whispered,
coming to stand next to her, his skin brushing
against hers. "I will take care of you."
Turtlepaw was too moved to protest. She
followed Leonado as he motioned for the rest
of the patrol to return to the protection of the
creek bed.
"I suggest we wait until after dark before
attacking," he meowed. "First we have to
explore both sides of the logs, because right
now the brown animals have the advantage of
knowing the territory much better than we do."
"That's a good idea," Whitetail commented.
"And we have to remember that each Clan
must fight with its strengths," Leonado added.
"Us-"
"I am sure of my strength, Leonado,"
interrupted Sapero. "Just worry about yours."
Tawny met the ShadowClan warrior's gaze for a
couple of seconds, but he was no match for the
veiled challenge. Turtledovepaw was nervous
about the tension between the two cats, as
well as the anxiety she could sense from the
rest of the patrol. They couldn't argue now!
More than ever, they needed to work together
to release the water.
Whitetail took the lead as the cats left the
creek bed and climbed a slope through the
trees, circling fallen logs. He stopped at the first
of the cut trees and sniffed it curiously. "Big
teeth," he murmured to Tawny, tilting his ears
toward the pointed tip of the stump, where the
jaw marks of the brown animals were clearly
visible.
Tawnypaw responded with a cautious nod,
while Turtledovepaw's belly churned at the
thought of those teeth meeting his skin. The
smell of brown animals was everywhere;
Turtledovepaw had been aware of it before,
but the stench here was much stronger, like a
mix of musk and fish.
"Hey, they smell a little like RiverClan!"
Tigerheart whispered with a playful glint in his
eyes.
"Don't let Torrenpaw or Petalmantle hear you
say that," Tortolapaw warned, not in the mood
for jokes.
Following Whitetail up the hill, he gradually
realized something ahead. Two legs! He was
about to say the word, but realized he would
get into trouble again, trying to explain how he
knew it. There are also greenskin lairs, such as
those on the ShadowClan border.
Giving great strength, he reached for Whitetail
and hissed, "I think I can smell Twoleg."
"Really?" The white cat stopped and opened
her jaws to taste the air. "Yes, I think you may
be right." Turning to the rest of the patrol, he
added: “Two legs forward. Be careful."
The cats moved more slowly, using logs and
stumps for cover. At the top, Whitetail signaled
with his tail for the others to duck, and they
dragged the last lengths of tail over their
bellies. Peering from the shelter of a clump of
grass, Turtledovepaw spotted several fur dens
in the clearing ahead. An adult Twoleg was
sitting outside the entrance to one of them,
while two others were examining something on
the ground a few meters away. There didn't
seem to be any of the young Twolegs playing,
like the ones in the other clearing.
<It's okay,> Turtledovepaw thought with a sigh
of relief.
"What do you think the Twolegs are doing
here?" Torrentero asked, standing up to
advance a little further. "Do you think they
have something to do with the brown
animals?"
"Maybe they've come to see them,"
Petalmantle guessed.
Around the edges of the open space were hard,
black Twoleg things, with long black tendrils
trailing along the ground. More of the Twolegs
gathered around, murmuring and occasionally
touching the black things, which made high-
pitched noises. Turtledovepaw bent down to
lick one of the tendrils that snaked past her,
and jumped back at the bitter taste, which was
similar to the stench of the Thunderpath.
"Hey look!" Tigerheart approached her. “Some
of those Twolegs have fur on their faces! "They
look strange."
"Twolegs are weird," Sapero noted bitterly
from right behind him. "We don't have to keep
talking about it."
"I wonder what they have in that lair," Cañera
muttered, looking around the trunk of a tree.
"It smells so good!"
Turtledovepaw took a long sniff, his nose
twitching as he picked up the scent from the
furthest den of fur. It smelled like some kind of
fresh meat, although it was also mixed with the
aromas of Twolegs. His belly rumbled. I was
hungry enough to eat anything.
"I'm going to check it out," Cañera announced,
leaping toward the clearing of the fur dens.
"Hey wait!" Whitetail called, but her clanmate
did not reappear.
"I'll catch her," Petalmantle meowed, heading
in the footsteps of WindClan's cat claws.
"Now there are two of them in danger."
Whitetail lashed his tail angrily.
Turtledovepaw watched, holding her breath.
Cañera headed straight for the hide dens;
Petalmantle followed her, but she was so
focused on the WindClan warrior that she
didn't see the Twoleg moving toward her.
"Oh no!" Whispered Turtledovepaw. I didn't
want to see what happened next, but I couldn't
look away.
The Twoleg howled something, bent down, and
picked up Petalmantle with its huge paws.
Petalmantle let out a surprised squeal and
began to squirm, but Twoleg held her firmly.
The Twoleg was meowing something at him;
Turtledovepaw didn't think he sounded hostile.
"I'll rip off his ears!" Sapero hissed, gathering
his muscles to leap into the clearing.
"No wait." Tawny Blocked the ShadowClan
warrior with his tail. "Look."
Petalmantle had stopped fighting. Instead, he
pushed his face towards the Twoleg's and
gently tapped his ear with a paw.
Turtledovepaw could hear her purring as
Twoleg stroked her back with one paw.
"I can't believe what I'm seeing," Tigerheart
meowed happily. "Wait until I tell it at home."
Twoleg put Petalmantle down and patted him
with his paws, as if telling him to stay where he
was. Petalmantle sat up, still purring. Twoleg
approached the fur den and passed Canefoot,
who was watching, frozen with horror, near the
entrance.
The Twoleg ducked inside and reappeared a
moment later with something in one claw;
Twolegs carried the object to Mantle of Petals
and placed it in front of her. Petalmantle picked
it up and rubbed it against Twoleg's leg, then
quickly walked away, back to the edge of the
clearing.
"What are you all looking at?" He asked,
dropping what the Twoleg had given him.
"Er... you, being so friendly with that Twolegs,"
Sapero replied.
"So?" Petalmantle challenged him. "It got us
out of trouble, didn't it? Oh, how disgusting! he
added, scraping himself against the nearest
tree. "I'm going to stink Twolegs for a whole
moon!"
"Very sorry!" The brush rustled as Cane leapt
toward them. "I didn't think they would care
about us."
"It didn't do any harm," Tawnypaw murmured,
while Petalcoat was still trying to get Twoleg's
scent off of him. "But let's be a little more
careful from now on."
Turtledovepaw curiously sniffed the Twoleg
thing. It smelled like fresh meat, mixed with
Twoleg essences and herbal essences, and was
shaped like a thick twig. "I've never seen an
animal like that before," he meowed.
"It must be Twolegs prey," Tigerheart
suggested. "Hey, Petal Mantle, can I have
some?"
"Everyone can," Petalmantle replied. "I don't
know what it is, but it smells delicious."
Turtledovepaw bent down to eat his share.
Petalmantle was right; It was tasty and felt
warm in his stomach after the meager prey that
morning.
"Too bad there aren't more," Tigerheart
announced, running his tongue over his jaws
and looking out into the clearing with a
speculative gleam in his eyes.
"If you go out there, Tigerheart," Sapero
growled, "I will personally tear off your ears
and feed them to the brown animals."
"I never said-"
"You don't have to," Whitetail interrupted,
sounding worried. "The Twolegs already know
we're here, and that's bad enough without us
looking for trouble."
"I wouldn't worry." An unknown voice spoke
from behind them. "The Twolegs are much
more interested in beavers."
All the cats turned around. Turtledovepaw
found himself staring at a long-legged cat with
shaggy brown fur. He looked at them with
sharp yellow eyes, his gaze moving from one
cat to another.
"So who are they?" he asked eventually.
"We could ask you the same thing," Sapero
responded, the hair on his neck beginning to
stand up. "And what do you know about these
Twolegs?"
The cat seemed unimpressed with Sapero's
display of hostility. "My name is Woody," he
replied. "I've been getting food from the
Twolegs for the past few moons."
With a warning glance at Sapero, Leonado
stepped forward and bowed his head. "We
haven't come to steal food from you or the
Twolegs," he meowed. "We are here because
of the blocked current."
Woody's ears perked up in surprise. "You mean
the beavers?" "Beavers?" Whitetail echoed.
“Are those the brown animals? Is that what
they are called?
The loner nodded. "Big, bad animals with sharp
teeth," he meowed, confirming the impression
Turtledovepaw had received through his
senses.
"I met some of them once before, when I was
traveling."
"Have you ever fought one?" Sapero
demanded.
The brown cat stared at him as if he had lost his
mind. "No way! Why should I do it? What do I
want with a bunch of fallen trees?” "We need
the trapped water to fill the lake," Torrentero
explained.
Woody looked completely bewildered. "Lake?
What lake?
"The lake where we live," Leonado explained.
"A couple of days' travel down the river."
"And they came all this way to find him?"
Woody's ears moved. "Why didn't they go to a
different lake?"
Turtledovepaw examined the cat curiously. It
didn't smell like a domestic kitten and it didn't
have the soft, groomed appearance that the
local two-legged cats had. Was he a loner? He
seemed pretty sure he was in these woods,
even though the patrol outnumbered him. <He
also seems to know a lot about brown animals.
Maybe it will help us release the water>.
"You don't understand," Tawny responded to
Woody, waving his tail to lure all the cats
deeper into the brush, out of the Twolegs'
sight. "There are too many of us by the lake,
too many to leave our homes and find
somewhere else to live."
"And StarClan told us to come here and find
what's blocking the transmission!" - Tigerheart
intervened.
<Mouse brain!> thought Turtledovepaw.
Woody won't understand about StarClan. He
was surprised to see that the brown cat only
nodded briefly, as if he understood very well.
Maybe you've heard of clan cats before?
"We have to scare away these... these
beavers," Whitetail meowed determinedly.
"Then we can get rid of the blockage and we
will have our water again."
Woody shook his head. "They have bees on the
brain," he murmured.
"So you won't help us?" Tawny asked.
"I did not say that. I will take you to the river
and show you the dam; that's what they built
to block the stream and make a pool deep
enough for their den. "They might change their
minds when they've seen it up close."
"Thank you," Torrentero purred; It was digging
its claws into the leaves, as if it couldn't wait to
get close to the sound and smell of water again.
"There will be Twolegs around," Woody warned
them, turning to lead the way down the hill.
"But you don't have to worry about them. They
are only interested in watching the beavers. In
fact, the Twolegs brought them here.”
"That?" Sapero stopped, his jaws opening in
astonishment. “Did the Twolegs bring them? In
the name of StarClan, why?”
Woody shrugged. "How can I know? Maybe
they wanted to cut down some trees.”
The brown cat led them around more black
Twoleg things with trailing tendrils, down into
the valley and across the dry bed just below the
wall of logs. This, then, was the beaver dam;
the reason why the water had stopped flowing
into the lake. Turtledovepaw looked toward the
looming pile of tree trunks as he passed. <It's
so big! Can we really change something that
size?>
On the other side, Woody led them in a circle
through the forest until they approached the
stream again. "There are no Twolegs on this
side," he explained. But be careful with the
beavers. "They won't be welcome here, they
know it."
He stopped halfway up the slope, in a patch of
fallen trees, and the cats lined up next to him
to look across the trapped stream above the
dam. It had overflowed the riverbank on this
side and spread into a wide, flat lagoon that
reflected the gray sky. Here and there circles
appeared, spiraling outward as if a fish had
taken flight.
Towards the upstream edge of the lagoon was
a mound of mud, twigs and bark that overhung
the shore but did not block the flow like the
dam. Turtledovepaw detected a strong smell of
beaver coming from him.
"What's that?" Whitetail asked Woody,
wagging his tail at him.
"It's where the beavers live," explained the lone
brown one. "It's called a burrow, and they..."
"Oh look!" Petalmantle interrupted, his voice
rising to the squeal of an excited team. "So
much water... It's wonderful!"
Before any cat could stop her, she jumped to
the water's edge, with Torrentero right behind,
and dove under, splashing her paws in ecstasy
and ducking her head under the water.
"They're like hairy fish," Tigerheart grumbled,
coming to stand next to Turtledovepaw and
Reedpaw. "No matter what they say, it is not
suitable for cats."
"They look like they're having fun."
Turtledovepaw felt a little melancholy.
She was so busy watching the two RiverClan
cats play in the water that she stopped being
alert to her surroundings. Suddenly, he felt
movement at the top of the dam. Turning, he
saw that two heavy brown shapes had
appeared on the logs. Their bodies were
elegant and rounded like a bird's egg, with
small black eyes and ears like rolled leaves.
Their tails extended behind them, wide and flat
like a solid wing.
They were much larger than a cat and as wide
and sturdy looking as the logs they stood on.
"Beavers!" she shouted. "Look up there!"
"Oh, great StarClan!" Tigerheart murmured.
The fur on his neck fluffed and his tail stood up
to twice its size. "They are rare!"
Still happily swimming in the lagoon, the
RiverClan cats did not notice the two animals,
even as they climbed down the dam and slid
into the water, slapping the surface hard with
their tails and sending up a shower of droplets.
“Torrentero! Mantle of Petals!" Turtledovepaw
screeched, throwing himself over the edge of
the lagoon. “Beavers! Get out now!"
Beavers glided across the pond, their huge
bodies barely making ripples. Turtledovepaw
could hear their paws fluttering in the water
and felt their huge tails direct them toward the
cats.
Torrenero and Petal Mantle saw them and
began splashing like crazy toward the edge of
the lagoon. The beavers swerved effortlessly in
pursuit, raising their heads to avoid the waves
behind the cats. Turtledovepaw dug his claws
into the ground as he watched the gap
between them grow smaller and smaller.
Oh StarClan, help them!
The two RiverClan cats emerged from the
water just in front of the beavers' noses. Its fur
was dripping and stuck to its sides, and its eyes
were wild with fear.
"Run!" Tawny shouted.
All the cats ran towards the trees at the top of
the slope. Looking back, Turtledovepaw saw
the beavers emerge from the water, raising
their snouts and showing their long yellow
teeth. On land they were much clumsier than in
water; Turtledovepaw realized that the cats
could easily outrun them if they chased them.
But the beavers stayed where they were on the
edge of the pond, watching the cats and
making no move to follow them. The patrol
gathered under the trees, Petalmantle and
Torrentero shivering and shaking water from
their furs.
"That was close," Torrentero murmured.
"Thank you for warning us."
"Oh, StarClan," Toaddaw whispered. "This is
not going to be as easy as we think."
Turtledovepaw caught Tawnypaw's gaze on
her. He didn't speak, but she could guess what
he was thinking.
<Why didn't you tell us it was going to be so
difficult?>
 Chapter 19
Leonado led the patrol away from the water
and into the cover of denser trees.
He could see his own shock reflected in the
wide, frightened eyes of his companions. The
two RiverClan cats were still shivering, huddled
together, their gaze flickering down the valley
side as if they expected the beavers to emerge
from the brush at any moment.
Woody followed them and sat with his tail
wrapped around his paws. "Don't say I didn't
warn you," he observed with a yawn.
Tawny took a deep breath, knowing that if any
cat didn't come up with a plan, they would all
give up and go home. "Woody, do beavers
sleep at night?"
The loner shrugged. "Don't know. That's when I
sleep too. The Twolegs would know.”
"Yes, but we can't ask them," Sapero snapped,
curling his lips back from his teeth.
"At least the Twolegs won't be around when it
gets dark," Tawny meowed. And the beavers
may be asleep. "I think that would be the best
time to attack."
The air tingled with tension as the cats looked
at each other. Petal Mantle and Torrentero
looked through the trees toward the lagoon.
"That belongs to us," Torrentero murmured.
Tawny knew they couldn't leave now. After
having come all this way, they had to do
something to get the water back, for the good
of their Clans.
"Look," he began, scraping some twigs into a
pile. “This is the dam. Here is the pond, and
this,” he drew a long scratch in the dirt, “is the
bed on the other side.”
"We should split up," Sapero meowed,
touching the ground with a paw on either side
of the pile of twigs. "Attack from two directions
at once."
Tawny nodded. "Good idea. Once we are on
top of the dam, we begin to dismantle it until
the water can pass through. Woody, do you
know if the dam is hollow? Were the beavers
hiding inside?
Woody shook his head. "No idea. And don't
think I'm going to participate in this attack," he
added. "This is your battle, not mine."
"We wouldn't ask you," Leonado replied,
though he felt a pang of regret. Woody would
be a valuable ally to have on your side.
"Okay, let's hunt now," Sapero suggested.
"Then we will rest a little until nightfall."
"But don't go alone," Leonado warned. "And if
you see a beaver, meow to warn the rest of
us."
He walked into the forest with Dovepaw at his
side, stopping after a few tails away to taste
the air. "I can't smell anything except beavers,"
he complained.
"Me too," Turtledovepaw meowed. "Look at
this." He stopped in front of a large pile of mud
mixed with twigs and grass. Large paw prints
lay in the dry mud. "I wonder, what is it for?"
Tawny approached and sniffed it cautiously,
taking a step or two back from the strong
stench of musk, beaver and fish. "Maybe it's a
smelly mark," he guessed. "If we move further
away from it, we may be able to capture some
prey."
To their relief, the smell of beaver faded as
they entered the woods, past the last of the
felled trees. Tawny began to recognize the
familiar scents of mice and squirrels. Hearing a
scuffling sound from under a bush, he saw a
mouse and slithered towards it, careful to leave
his paws down slightly. The mouse tried to
escape at the last moment, but Leonado caught
it under his paw and killed it with a bite to the
back of the neck.
"I have one too!" Turtledovepaw announced,
trotting over with a mouse in his jaws.
Tawny threw dirt on the fresh meat. “Hunting
is much better here,” he commented, pleased
that they had found prey so quickly. "I guess it's
because the water is so close."
It didn't take him much longer to catch a
squirrel and Dovepaw to track down a couple
more mice."
"I never thought hunting could be so easy," he
murmured around his mouth full of fresh meat
as they carried the prey back to the lagoon.
Tawnypaw realized that Dovepaw was still a
cub when the drought began. He had never
known what it was like to hunt when there was
a lot of prey. "It will be like this in the
forest once we bring the water," he promised.
Back in the brush by the pond, they found that
the other cats had hunted well and, for once,
the patrol was well fed as they settled down to
sleep until nightfall.
"I'll keep watch," offered Turtledovepaw. His
eyes were wide open and his whiskers were
trembling.
"No, you need to rest," Leonado told him. "I'll
keep watch."
"But I don't think I can sleep," Turtlepaw
protested in a whisper, glancing at the rest of
the patrol to make sure they couldn't hear her.
"I can still hear the beavers, gnawing and
scratching..."
"Then block your senses like you did before,"
Leonado told him. "We know the beavers are
here now, so we don't need you to be alert all
the time." When she still looked unconvinced,
he tilted his head and gave her an approving
lick in her ear. "You have done well,
Turtledovepaw. You were right! The stream has
been blocked by brown animals and we can do
something about it. "When we defeat the
beavers and free the water, the Clans will owe
you everything."
Turtledovepaw sighed. "I hope that happens."
Without arguing further, he curled up; After a
few moments Leonado realized that she was
asleep.

The wind stirred the surface of the pond,

moving the clouds across the waning moon.
The forest was dotted with light and shadow as
the patrol glided to the water's edge.
Tawny stopped at the edge of the pond; The
prey looked even larger and more threatening
in the darkness, hiding the stars behind the
taller trunks. His belly churned. <StarClan, are
you with us now?
Do you even walk through these skies?> He
checked the shore carefully in both directions
and tasted the air, but he saw nothing moving,
and the beaver smell that clung to everything
did little to tell him whether the beavers
themselves were around. <With any luck,
everyone is asleep in that pile of mud
upstream.>
"Good," he whispered as the other cats
gathered around him. “Dovepaw and I will
cross the stream with Whitetail and Reed. The
rest of you will stay on this side."
Sapero gave him a brief nod.
"We went up to the dam and threw the logs,"
Leonado continued. "If the beavers try to stop
us, we fight."
"Yeah!" Tigerheart hissed, his eyes shining pale
in the moonlight.
"Okay, let's go," Tawny meowed. He walked to
the bottom of the dry bed and climbed up the
other side toward the dam, closely followed by
half the patrol. Now that the wait was over, his
worries had faded away, replaced by harsh
expectation. <This is the night we get our water
back!>
Once he crossed the stream, Whitetail let out a
meow. Which was answered by another meow
from Sapero on the opposite bank.
"Now!" Tawny growled.
He rushed down the slope and jumped over the
dam. A second later, his paws slipped from
under him and he slid halfway up the pile of
logs, barely avoiding falling into the pond.
Beside him, Turtledovepaw had also slipped to
a lower branch; Leonado leaned down, grabbed
her by the back of the neck, and lifted her up
again.
"Be careful!" he gasped as he regained his
balance. "These logs are slippery."
He noticed something he hadn't noticed
before: the beavers had gnawed away all the
bark on the tree trunks, exposing the pale,
shiny wood. Whitetail was moving across a long
log, placing her paws in front of each other in a
straight line and digging her claws in, while
Sugarcane tried to jump over them, knocking
over a log and managing to get out of the way
before it dragged her in. of the pond with its
fall.
The angry howls and growls from the other side
told Tawny that the rest of the cats were
having the same problem. <How can we
destroy the dam if we can't even move around
it?>
He and Turtledovepaw were struggling to
remove a log from the pile when Tawnypaw
heard a splashing sound, followed by the heavy
sound of padded paws. Every hair on his cloak
rose in horror as two beavers staggered in front
of him, their purple eyes and curved teeth
gleaming in the moonlight.
"Oh, no..." Turtledovepaw muttered.
Tawny let out a howl and lunged at the nearest
beaver, slashing its side as it passed him. To his
dismay, his claws bounced harmlessly off his
skin, which felt thick and greasy, like mud. As
he turned, he saw both beavers heading
towards Turtledovepaw; The apprentice
bravely faced them, leaping forward into the
air as they pounced on her. She landed on the
leader's shoulders and scratched him on the
head and ears, but the beaver ignored her.
Shaking his head, he brushed it off like a fly,
sending it crashing into the trunks.
The beavers climbed to the top of the dam
where Whitetail and Reedtail waited,
silhouetted against the sky. The cats' backs
were arched and their fur stood on end as they
meowed in defiance.
Tawnypaw checked to see that Turtledovepaw
was unharmed and left her staggering on her
paws while he charged back into battle. When
he reached the top of the dam, he saw a
beaver swing on its front legs and deliver a
massive blow to Cañera with its tail. The
WindClan warrior let out a surprised screech as
she fell backwards. As she fell, she grazed
Whitetail, who dug her claws into the nearest
log to avoid following the path of her
clanmate's fall.
Looking into the darkness, Leonado saw Cañera
lying on the dry bed below. She was moving, so
he assumed she was dazed; There was no time
to go check it out. As he turned to face the
beavers again, Whitetail climbed up and stood
beside him.
"Fox dung, you've torn off my claw," he
muttered.
One beaver had disappeared, but the other
was coming towards them; He reared up on his
hind legs and let out an angry hiss. As he
lunged forward, Tawny glided to one side while
Whitetail jumped at him from the other. The
beaver's teeth clicked a whisker's length from
Tawny's ear; Whitetail managed to land a
cutting blow to its head before it could turn to
face her.
"Well done!" Tawny gasped.
She briefly saw Turtledovepaw running away
from the second beaver, jumping and climbing
the slippery logs as the large animal lumbered
after her. Tawny wanted to jump to help her,
but the blow of a flat tail nearly knocked him
off his feet when the beaver he was fighting
turned towards Whitetail.
"Fawn, help!" Whitetail screeched.
She was lying on the logs; the beaver's vicious
teeth were biting into his throat. Tawny threw
himself at the creature; The impact felt like
trying to move a tree, but it distracted the
beaver for a second, long enough for Whitetail
to break free and deliver a blow to his
adversary's ear along the way.
<This is useless!> Tawny thought. <They are too
strong for us! And where are the others?>
He slipped out of the beaver's reach, reached
the top of the dam, and looked across the dam.
His heart skipped a beat when he saw the other
four cats fighting for their lives against another
pair of beavers at the bottom of the dam near
the lagoon. As he watched, he saw Petalmantle
being knocked over and thrown backwards into
the water. He surfaced, swimming strongly, but
had trouble climbing back onto the slippery
logs.
Toadstool and Tigerheart were fighting as a full
patrol, but these beavers were even bigger and
stronger than the ones at the top of the dam.
<We can't win> , Leonado realized, bitter
failure washing over him. Looking back, she
saw Whitetail with Dovepaw crouching right
behind her, looking terrified but determined.
Both beavers were advancing towards them,
letting out their threatening hisses.
"Come back!" shouted Tawny. “Go back to the
shore, climb a tree! "I'm going to help others!"
"No!" Turtledovepaw shouted in response.
"We're not going to leave you!"
"I'll be fine!" Tawny stared at his apprentice,
hoping he would remember that he could not
be killed in combat. "Now, go!"
To his relief, Whitetail turned around and
pushed Turtledovepaw along the dam; Both
cats fled towards the shore, climbing the logs,
with Whitetail limping on three legs. There was
still no sign of Cañera; Tawny assumed she was
still dazed on the creek bed.
<Let's hope it stays there>.
Tawny turned to the opposite side of the dam
and came face to face with the beavers; Their
eyes flashed as they crept closer to him.
"Do you think you'll have an easy victory?"
Tawny taunted them, fluffing his fur. "Think
again!"
He threw himself at the beavers, aiming for the
narrow space between them. As he glided
through them both, helped on his way by their
slimy fur, he ducked his head to avoid their
sharp teeth and dodged back and forth as they
tried to claw at him. He then jumped over their
tails as they spun, trying to knock him down,
and passed through them. His sides felt
battered, and when he landed he almost lost
his balance and fell off the hold, but managed
to stay on his legs.
"Come?" he shouted triumphantly. "Not a
scratch!"
The words were barely out when he felt a
strong blow from behind that knocked him off
his paws. Another beaver had arrived and
stood over him, its tiny front legs trembling as
it lunged to bite his neck.
Tawny rolled away, paws flailing as he slid
down the side of the dam, ending up at the
bottom, where Sapero and the others were still
fighting.
"Withdrawal!" Tawny gasped. "It's over!"
"Not while I'm standing!" Sapero growled,
aiming a blow at a beaver that was trying to
throw him off the dam.
"Me too!" Tigerheart stated through clenched
teeth.
Tawny could see that both ShadowClan
warriors were injured: Toadwort had blood
dripping above his eye, while deep claw marks
were etched into Tigerheart's skin.
There was no time to argue. Tawny glided over
to Petalmantle, who was still trying to balance
herself on the lower logs, grabbed her by the
scruff of the neck, and tossed her to the shore.
He watched her for a couple of seconds until he
saw her climb up the slope to safety. Then he
looked around for
Torrentero. His heart leaped into his throat
when he saw the RiverClan warrior, who was
cornered by the largest beaver of them all at
the point where the dam met the shore.
Torrentero was facing the creature defiantly,
teeth bared and claws extended, but Leonado
could see he had no chance.
Just as he lunged at the beaver, the creature
lunged forward. He pressed his long, cruel
teeth into Torrentero's shoulder and opened an
irregular wound; The RiverClan warrior let out a
cry of agony. Tawny flung himself on the
beaver's head and dug his claws into its ears.
The beaver let out a pained bellow and backed
away, waving its tail at Tawny. Torrentero
slipped, going down the log where they were
fighting and diving into the water.
"Help him out!" Tawny screeched, desperately
clinging to the beaver's head as he tried to slice
into its flank with his hind claws. He saw
Petalmantle running down the slope.
“Torrentero! Torrentero!" she shouted.
At that moment, the beaver reared up and
knocked Leonado out; who lay helpless on the
logs, struggling to catch his breath as the
beaver pounced on him with bright eyes and
wicked teeth.
Then Sapero stood between Leonado and the
beaver; Distracted, the creature turned to
pursue the ShadowClan warrior. Sapero stayed
out of reach, growling and kicking the beaver
with his front paws until Tawny managed to get
to his feet and flee.
Tawny and Toadpaw jumped off the dam and
ran toward the water's edge, Tigerheart on
their backs.
Petalmantle was crouched at the edge of the
shore. "I'm going to help Torrenero," he
shouted, diving into the water and swimming
toward where his clanmate was thrashing
about. Tawny couldn't help but remember how
happily the two RiverClan cats had played in
the water the day before.
The five beavers were grouped at the top of
the dam, looking down at the cats below.
Tawny and Toadstool turned toward them,
ready to fight if they attacked again before
Petalmantle could rescue his clanmate.
The RiverClan cat reached Torrentero, grabbed
him by the neck, and began pulling him back to
shore. Meanwhile, Whitetail limped up to them
from the bank on the other side of the dam; His
paw was bleeding profusely from where the
claw had been torn off. Turtlepaw and
Reedpaw followed behind her, with Reedpaw
leaning on Turtlepaw's shoulder; She still
seemed half dazed from her fall from the top of
the dam.
While Petalmantle swam toward the shallow
water with Torrentero, Tawny and Toadstool
waded into the pond and helped her drag it to
shore.
The RiverClan cat was barely conscious; His legs
could not support him and his head was
bowed. Tawnypaw and Toadpaw grabbed him
by the shoulders, while Dovepaw and
Petalmant raised their hindquarters, and
together they moved him up the hill, back to
the bracken thicket where they had rested
earlier. Whitetail and Canetail ran after them.
When they reached their makeshift shelter,
Turtlepaw broke some ferns to make a bed,
and the cats knocked down Torrentero. The
shoulder where the beaver had bitten him was
bleeding profusely and the blood was running
down his wet fur. Tawny felt his stomach
clench as he looked at the long, deep wound.
"We have to stop the bleeding," Turtledovepaw
meowed. "Does any cat know the right herbs?"
Tawny tried to think. Surely Glaius must have
said something once that would be useful now.
But between fear and exhaustion, I couldn't
think.
"Torrentero was the cat who knew the most
about that." Petalmantle's eyes were wide and
scared. "Mothwing gave him some training
before we left."
Tawny's claws raked the ground in frustration.
"Torrentero?" hiss. "Torrentero, can you hear
me?"
But the RiverClan warrior did not respond. His
eyes were closed now and his breathing was
shallow.
"Cobwebs stop the bleeding," Whitetail
meowed.
Turtledovepaw jumped. "I'll go get some." He
sank into the undergrowth.
Petalmantle leaned over his clanmate, gently
licking his wet fur like a mother would care for
her cub. The rest of the cats watched in silence.
<Oh, StarClan!> Tawny asked. <Don't let him
get close to you yet.>
He looked up as a clump of ferns waved wildly,
expecting to see Turtledovepaw return, but
instead it was Woody who emerged into the
open, a vole dangling from his jaws. He gaped,
dropping his prey, as his gaze fell on
Torrentero, and his eyes widened in horror.
"What happened?" he growled.
"The beavers happened," Sapero replied curtly.
Woody walked over and gave Torrentero's
wound a cautious sniff. "I can't believe you guys
put yourselves in such danger," he meowed.
"It's what we do." Tawny had to stop himself
from growling at the loner. "The warrior code
says that you must fight for your Clan to the
death."
"In that case, they're stupid," Woody snorted.
Tigerheart let out a growl of fury and lunged at
the loner. "Don't you see how brave this cat
was?"
Woody turned to face him, sticking out his
claws, but before Tigerheart could reach him,
Whitetail darted between them and shoved the
young warrior's back. "This will not help
Torrentero," he said.
As Tigerheart sat up, breathing hard and
looking at Woody, the ferns parted again and
Turtledovepaw reappeared, limping on three
legs while holding a web-filled paw.
"Thank you, Turtledovepaw." Petalmantle took
the web and stuck it into Torrentero's wound,
but his blood quickly soaked it. His breathing
had become even shallower.
"His fur is on fire," Petalmantle whispered.
Tawny realized that the moon had set and the
sky was paling with the arrival of dawn. All the
cats, even Woody, sat quietly around
Torrentero, listening to his breathing become
weaker and more uneven. Finally, when a
golden line appeared on the horizon, he
stopped.
Tawny bowed his head. Torrenero had been a
young warrior, with much to offer his Clan. And
in the time they had traveled together,
Leonado had begun to think of him as a friend.
That beaver had taken everything.
"Now hunt with StarClan," Toadstool
murmured; He extended his tail and touched
Petalmantle's shoulder.
Petal Mantle fell to the ground with a muffled
sound of pain. Whitetail and Reedtail
approached her, one on each side, and the
three cats huddled together next to her body.
Torrentero. Tigerheart looked dismayed, as if
he couldn't believe a warrior's life could end so
quickly.
Turtledovepaw jumped and walked away,
blindly combing the grass and ferns. Fearing
that in their grief they would not take heed of
the danger, Leonado followed her and caught
up with her at the top of the slope, above the
enormous mound of the prey. The beavers
were gone. Apart from a few scattered logs,
there were no signs of the battle that had taken
place there so recently before.
Looking at the prey, Turtledovepaw whispered,
"We never should have come!"
 Chapter 20
<In the name of StarClan, what made you come
here?>
Glaio trudged along the rocky path toward
Lunar Lagoon, following the scents of Rosella
and Ventolero. His fur stood on end as he
thought about how unlikely it was that the two
of them would be together on a good basis.
<What could he want from her?>
The sun had set and the wind was rising,
bringing with it the humid scent of rain. It
finally seemed like the drought was coming to
an end. <That's a good thing,> Glaius thought.
A last hard fight took him to the ring of thorns
that surrounded the Lunar Lagoon. Making his
way, he walked along the wavy path, once
again feeling the footprints of the ancient Clan
beneath his paws. Their whispers surrounded
him, but Glaius was too focused on finding
Rosella to hear them that night.
With the endless spray of the waterfall in his
ears, he reached the edge of the lagoon and
caught the scent of Rosella. The cat was sitting
at the edge of the water a little further away. I
was alone; There was no sign of Ventolero.
<It's here somewhere. But where?>
"Rosella?" Glaius whispered.
He heard her gasp in surprise. "Glayo! Did you
follow me?”
"Yeah." <But I won't tell him that another cat
could have followed you too> . “Your clanmates
are worried about you,” he continued. "You
shouldn't have come here alone."
"My pups are fine," Rosella replied, her voice
dull and apathetic. "Is Bayo worried about
me?"
Glaius hesitated. He had not seen Bayo before
he left; As far as he knew, the cream-colored
warrior still didn't know that his partner was
missing.
"You don't need to answer," Rosella continued
bitterly. "Of course not!
He doesn't care about me. "He's still in love
with Melada."
Glaius searched helplessly for the right words
to say, but Rosella immediately continued,
seeming to assume that he agreed with her.
“I wanted to see Melada so much. "I miss her
more than I can say, and I don't blame her
because Bayo doesn't love me." Rosella let out
a shuddering breath. “I always loved him, even
when he was with Melada. But she would
never have tried to take him away from her!
"Then when she died, I thought she might love
me after all... but she doesn't."
"You don't know," Glaius began.
"Oh yes, I know!" Rosella looked back at him.
"You can tell by the way he carries himself that
he doesn't care about me at all. Why else
would I want her to go to maternity ward so
soon? He doesn't even want to see me in the
warriors' den!"
Glaius didn't know how to respond. No cat
could make Bayo love Rosella if he still wanted
his sister dead, and walking to the Moon
Lagoon wasn't going to help.
"I'm going to take you home," he meowed. "Do
you remember that I brought you home once
before from a forest you visited in your
dreams?"
Rosella was silent for a moment; Glaius could
feel the memories stirring in his mind, flickering
like starlight on water.
"Yes, I remember," he murmured, his voice
barely audible over the sound of the waterfall.
"I was sick, right? But I didn't really leave the
stone clearing. “So, where was that forest?”
She held her breath and her voice grew
stronger as she went. "You were in StarClan,
right? "I was dying and you saved my life!"
"Yes, that's what happened," Gladius meowed.
"And I've come to help you again."
He heard Rosella stand up and walk around the
Lunar Lagoon until she was standing in front of
him, her scent strong in his nose.
“If I went to StarClan once and came back, I can
come back! Please!" Glaius could feel his body
trembling with longing. “I want to see Melada. I
want to tell you that it was not my intention to
take Bayo away from you. Oh, Glaius, what if
she hates me too?”
Glaius stifled a sigh. "That's not possible," he
began. “Warriors cannot simply enter and
leave StarClan. I would have to hurt you or
make you sick, and healers can't..."
He stopped when he heard a soft sound of
footsteps from the edge of the ravine.
Ventolero's voice echoed coldly on the stone.
"What is this? Another dilemma for
ThunderClan? Cats should really learn to
control their emotions, you know? "Now they
will have more puppies than should have ever
been born," he added.
"Windy!" Rosella sounded surprised. "What are
you doing here?"
"That's not very nice." The WindClan cat's voice
was soft. "Moon Lagoon is not ThunderClan
territory, you know?"
"Leave us alone," Glaius snapped, trying to hide
the fear that ran like melting ice down his
spine. "We don't need you here."
"Oh, I think so." The soft voice was getting
closer. "I'm willing to help Rosella get to
StarClan, even if you aren't."
Glaio swallowed, catching a wave of fear and
bewilderment from Rosella, as if the young cat
couldn't understand why the WindClan warrior
was threatening her. "Don't be ridiculous," he
meowed. "You won't kill her, not while she's
here."
"Oh really?" Ventolero growled; now he was
just one queue away. “And you, a blind healer,
think you can stop me,
TRUE? When his body is found drowned in your
precious lagoon, it will be your word against
mine. I was never here tonight. "My clanmates
can lie as well as yours, Glaius."
Rosella let out a gasp. Glaius stood in front of
her, protecting her from Weatherwind. The
waves of hatred coming from his half-brother
were almost enough to knock him off his feet,
and he realized that Windwind would do
anything to punish him for being born.
“Your fight is with me, Breeze,” he growled.
"Let Rosella go."
Ventolero snorted in contempt. “Sending you
to StarClan is not punishment enough. You
need to know what it's like to have all the cats
in your Clan staring at you and whispering
about you. "Know that you are surrounded by
lies and hate and things that should never have
happened."
"Do you think we don't know?" Glaius
challenged him. “The worst of lies was told
about us.
"We didn't even know who our real parents
were."
For a moment he felt Windwind's strong hatred
falter. But the moment did not last.
"Don't try to talk your way out of this,"
Ventolero hissed. "You are nothing but a
coward."
<StarClan, help me!> Glayo thought, knowing
there was only one way to go. Unsheathing its
claws, it leapt towards Windwind. He felt the
WindClan cat's surprise as he was knocked
down; Glaius landed on top of him and struck
at his neck and ears, tearing the skin with his
claws.
Ventolero let out a howl of pain and fury. But
Glaius knew he couldn't expect to win a fight
against an experienced warrior. The WindClan
cat tossed him and he flipped onto his back.
Holding him with one paw, Weatherwind
landed several hard blows on Glaius's belly.
Moving in a vain attempt to escape, Glaius
realized that his adversary kept his claws
sheathed.
<He's playing with me. He'll finish me off when
he's ready>.
Rosella's terrified wail came close to Glaius's
ear. "For! You can't kill a healer!"
"Look at me," Ventolero growled.
Rosella tapped him on the shoulder, but she
was heavy with her cubs and clumsy; Glaius
realized that the blow had no force.
"Get out of here!" he gasped as another blow
to his belly left him breathless. "Think of your
children!"
Rosella backed away, moaning, but didn't try to
leave.
In the next second, Weatherwind jumped away
from Glaius, who crawled away, half dazed.
Staying still, he tried to locate the WindClan
cat, but between the pain and fear he was
losing control of his senses.
Then Weatherbreath leaped back in front of
him, lashing out with his paws, claws still
sheathed as he brushed against Jay's ears and
snout.
"Go ahead and see if you can hit me!" he
mocked.
Glaius leapt forward, but before he reached the
WindClan cat, a heavy weight landed on him
from behind and claws raked his shoulders.
<Another cat? Oh great StarClan, no!>
Remembering his battle training, Glaius
relaxed, plopping down on the edge of the
lagoon with the unknown cat crushing him. It
attacked with all four paws, scratching
frantically at the other cat's belly.
<Who is it? How many cats want to kill me?>
The smell of the newcomer surrounded him,
but Glaius did not recognize him. The cat did
not belong to WindClan, nor any of the other
Clans. <He is neither an outlaw nor a loner. I
should recognize this smell, but I don't>.
The weight of the unknown cat suddenly
disappeared; Glaius struggled to his feet, only
to stagger as a huge paw dragged him into the
lagoon. Ventolero blocked him and pushed him
back; For a few seconds, the two cats hit Glaius
between them like a pair of puppies playing
with a ball of moss.
Rosella was still hovering nearby. "Windy, no!"
He pleaded. "StarClan will be angry if you kill a
medicine cat."
"Like I care!" Breeze growled.
Howling in fury, Glaius tried to lash out, but his
blows were too wild and uncontrolled to cause
any damage. He felt blood begin to drip from
one shoulder as Ventolero scratched him.
<They're getting tired of this. They will finish
me soon>.
He was about to collapse from exhaustion
when he felt another cat jump next to him. His
last hope died at the thought of another enemy
attacking him. Then he heard a surprised
squeak from Windclan, and realized that the
newcomer had attacked the WindClan cat,
causing it to retreat.
"Hello, Glaius," the new cat hissed through
clenched teeth. "You have problems?"
"Honey!" Glaius gasped.
The StarClan warrior's scent enveloped him as
she jumped back to his side. The huge cat
lunged at them again; This time Glaius cut him
off with quick blows to his ears, while Melada
dealt the WindClan warrior a sharp blow to the
belly.
Glaius heard an angry growl coming from the
unknown cat as he backed away.
"Get away!" Melada growled. "They don't want
you here! And as for you, Windclan… He turned
to look at the WindClan cat again. “You get out
of here too. Or do you want a pair of torn
ears?”
"You may have won this time," Ventolero spat.
"But don't think this is over, Glaius, because it
isn't."
Glaius heard his paws retreating along the
undulating path; His scent faded. Glaius,
breathing heavily, turned to Melada and
realized he could see her. She was sitting on
the edge of the lagoon, the starlight shining on
her pale brindle coat. Rows upon rows of
starcats had appeared behind her, crowding
around the Lunar Lagoon and up the sides of
the hollow. Glaius did not dare to look at them
too closely, in case he saw Carrasca among
them. Or if he didn't see her, which could mean
he was somewhere much, much worse.
Instead, he approached Melada. "Thank you,"
he gasped. "I thought I was surely going to join
you in StarClan."
Melada wagged her tail. "It's not your time yet,
Glaius," he replied. "You still have a lot to do."
Reaching forward, he gave her ear a friendly
lick. "Thank you for saving my sister."
"Can she see you?" Glaius asked, with a glance
at Rosella, who was crouching slightly on the
undulating path.
Melada shook her head sadly. “Please tell her I
miss her as much as she misses me. And I will
love your children as if they were my own." His
eyes shone with love and sympathy as he
continued. “Bayo loves her. He's just afraid of
losing her like he lost me. "I'm taking care of
them both."
Bowing his head once more, he merged back
into the crowd of star warriors. Another cat
approached, her ruffled fur like smoke in the
starlight.
"Yellowfang," he sighed.
"I know who was helping Ventolero," the
former healer told him, without wasting time
on greetings.
"You know? Who was?"
Yellowfang blinked her amber eyes. “You don't
need to know that yet. But their presence is a
sign of big trouble ahead."
Glaius's belly twisted. "What do you mean?"
"Melada fought at your side today," Yellowfang
meowed. “And so will all StarClan warriors
when their turns come. But the empty hearts
of our enemies have been filled with hatred
and hunger for revenge, and that gives them a
strength that cannot be measured.”
Glaius looked at her in horror.
"The forces of the Dark Forest are increasing."
Yellowfang's voice vibrated with apprehension.
"I fear it will take a power greater than StarClan
to defeat them."
 Chapter 21
Leonado and Sapero lowered Torrentero's body
into the hole they had dug under an oak tree.
Beyond the brush, Turtledovepaw could make
out the pond behind the dam, glistening in the
morning sunlight. He hoped Torrentero's spirit
was down there now, swimming and fishing
like he had wanted.
Anger burned like a slow fire in his belly.
<Torrentero shouldn't have died on this trip!>
He wanted revenge on the beavers now, he
wanted it like a hungry cat craved a bite of
fresh meat.
<We have to destroy the dam! Water belongs
to the Clans!>
As he approached the edge of the grave and
began pushing dirt and leaf mulch over
Torrentero's body, he stopped to listen to the
beavers. They moved silently inside the
burrow, and he imagined them smug and
happy because they had chased away the cats
in such an easy victory.
Leonado's voice distracted her from her
thoughts. "We can't fight the beavers again."
"I told you so," Woody murmured from where
he sat on one of the oak's gnarled roots.
Tawny moved an ear to show the loner he had
heard, but he didn't respond. “We need to find
a different way to release the water,” he
continued.
Petalmantle looked up from covering the body
of his clanmate. His eyes were still dazed with
pain, but his voice was hard and determined.
"We could try to keep the beavers away."
"Then what?" Sapero asked.
"Then we will destroy the dam," Petalmantle
replied.
"But it's huge!" Tigerheart objected. “It would
take days. "We can't keep the beavers away for
that long."
"We don't have to destroy everything." Petal
Mantle sounded confident. "If we can move
enough upper branches so that the water spills
out, the force of the current would carry away
the rest of the trunks."
Turtledovepaw nodded. "I see," he meowed.
He figured a RiverClan cat would know what he
was talking about when it came to water.
He directed his senses to the dam, feeling the
way the trunks and branches were intertwined,
and realized that Petal Mantle's idea might
work.
"We must do it quickly," Whitetail interjected,
with a glance at the sky. "Time is going to break
soon, and besides" His gaze flickered to
Petalmantle, "we have to go back to our clans
to tell them what happened."
"That's true," Leonado agreed.
"I know what we can do!" Tigerheart was
looking around the clearing.
“Let's practice moving these fallen branches. "If
we figure out how to do it without losing our
balance, we can dismantle the dam much
faster."
Sapero gave his clanmate a nod of approval.
"Good idea."
Turtlepaw was also impressed. Tigerheart could
be annoying sometimes, but he had to admit
he wasn't stupid.
When they finished covering Torrenero's grave,
the Clan cats scattered around the clearing and
began trying to lift the branches. To
Turtledovepaw's surprise, Woody went to help
Petalcoatl. "I shouldn't have let you attack the
beavers," he murmured as he stood next to her
and helped her roll up a mossy log. “I should
have known they were too strong for you. I'm
sorry."
"It's not your fault, Woody," Whitetail told him.
Petalmantle didn't say anything, just
concentrated on swinging the heavy branch to
the side.
Turtledovepaw followed Tawnypaw across the
clearing to a lightning-split tree trunk lying on
the ground. Shock coursed through her when
she saw he was limping. "Are you OK?" she
asked.
Tawny nodded. "I didn't get hurt in combat,
remember?" hiss. "But I can't let others know
that."
Turtledovepaw sighed. "I wish we didn't have
to keep everything a secret."
"It's for your own good." Tawny turned to her,
pinning her with his captivating amber eyes.
"They have to let us help them, and they might
not if they think we're different."
Turtledovepaw looked over his shoulder at the
other cats, who were scattered around the
clearing, wrestling with the logs. <Would you
really be afraid of me if you knew what I could
do? "Probably," he decided sadly.
<After all, if I hadn't sensed the beavers, we
would never have come and Torrentero would
still be alive.>
She and Leonado began to roll the log; It was
heavy, and the grass growing around it made
movement difficult.
"Let's try to turn it around," Leonado
suggested. "Go to that end and I'll lift it from
here."
"Well." Turtledovepaw looked at the log with a
look of doubt. <It's so big! And some of the
dam logs are even bigger!>
He watched as Tawny pushed his paws under
one end of the log and began to lift it. "I'm
going to push it from this end," he hissed
through clenched teeth. "Hold it steady, then
push from your end and it should fall."
Turtledovepaw tried to grab the log, but as
soon as it began to move, its paws slipped; The
log hit his chin as he fell to the ground again.
"Sorry," he huffed. "Let's try again."
But the second attempt was no better. This
time the log rolled toward Turtledovepaw, and
she barely saved her paws from being crushed
as she jumped back.
Tawny lashed his tail in frustration. "I can't
move it on my own," he growled, though
Turtledovepaw knew he was more angry with
himself than with her. "It's too heavy".
"This isn't going to work, is it?" "Dovepaw
jumped, surprised to see that Toadpaw had
approached them." "We'll need at least three
cats to attract the beavers," he continued,
plopping down next to the log with a tired sigh.
“That leaves only five to dismantle the dam,
even if Woody helps. "We never will."
Turtledovepaw looked across the clearing to
see that everyone else had stopped trying to
move the logs and branches.
They seemed exhausted, especially Cloak of
Petals, whose eyes were still dark with grief for
his clanmate.
<This is useless! What are we going to do?>
Tawny stood up. "We can't give up now," he
growled. "We need help."
"But that's about mouse brains," Whitetail
protested. "We can't go back to the lake to look
for more cats. It is very far.
We need the water now!"
"There are cats much closer that can help us,"
Tawny reminded them with a flick of his tail.
Sapero's eyes widened in astonishment. "Do
you mean the domestic kittens?"
Tawny nodded. "It's worth a try. "We just have
to go down the river to that two-legged nest
with the rabbits."
"Yes, but...they're pets," Tigerheart pointed
out.
Whitetail murmured in agreement. "If you go
looking for them and they don't come, then
we've wasted our time."
"It's a risk we take," Leonado responded.
Turtledovepaw's belly churned. If the rest of
the patrol disagrees, <What could Tawny do?>
After a few seconds, Cañera broke the silence.
"I think we have to try," he meowed. "We owe
it to Torrentero."
Petalmantle nodded. "I don't want to think he
died for nothing."
The cats looked at each other, and Turtlepaw
knew that they were all grieving for Torrentero,
regardless of their Clan.
"Then go ahead," Sapero meowed. "I can't
think of anything better."
"Correct." Tawny pricked up his ears.
Turtledovepaw, you can come with me. The
rest of you, keep practicing. "We will be back as
soon as we can."
Turtledovepaw followed his mentor as he ran
down the slope towards the pond and jumped
into the stream bed below the dam. As she
followed him down the pebble channel, she
realized that her pads had become hardened
and strengthened by the long journey. He
didn't even feel pain when he stepped on a
sharp-edged stone.
The day was approaching full sun when they
reached the grove where they had stopped to
hunt. Leonado slowed his pace.
"Tinkerbell followed us here," he meowed.
Maybe he comes here often. Turtledove Paw,
can you feel it?
Turtledovepaw was already feeling confused by
the sounds of Twolegs place: monsters,
Twolegs howling, and the strange, harsh din of
their lives. She longed to block it out like she
had before, concentrating only on the ground
in front of her paws and the rustling leaves
closer to her, but this time she knew she
couldn't. He had to listen to everything,
assimilate all the information that filtered
through his ears and his nose and his paws,
until they found the cats. He cast his senses,
searching in particular for Tinker Bell, but could
detect no trace of the white kitten.
"It doesn't matter," Leonado told him. He's
probably next to those rabbits or inside
Twolegs' nest.
As they trotted downstream, Turtledovepaw
soon caught the scent of rabbit, and the two
cats emerged from the stream at the end of
Twolegs' territory. The rabbits were still
nibbling on the grass behind their shiny fence,
but there was no sign of the domestic kittens.
Turtledovepaw could catch nothing except a
fading scent of Playfullpaw.
"Where have they gone?" she moaned. "I
thought they lived here."
Tawny's eyes reflected his own anxiety. "I
thought this part would be easy," he
murmured. He hesitated, then added, “They
probably see the entirety of this two-legged
place as their territory. Do you think you can
find where they are? "
Turtledovepaw's belly shook. <Three pets? In a
place as big and noisy as this?> But he had
found the beavers and now he realized he
could do this too. He had to use his senses
again to make his journey worth the loss of
Torrenero. "I'll try."
Crouching down, he closed his eyes and let his
senses roam over the two-legged place. This
territory was so different from anything she
had seen before, at first she only had a very
vague idea of what lay between the Twoleg
nests. Gradually, it began to build an image of
rows and rows of nests, with Thundering Paths
between them, the roar of the monsters
echoing off the hard red walls. Two legs were
running and screaming and carrying things...
"The domestic kittens!" Tawny hissed urgently
in her ear. "You're looking for the pets."
Turtledovepaw threw himself back into the
swirling chaos of the two-legged place. This
time he slowed down, listening around every
corner, letting the images fill his mind until he
could see the smallest details: the shadows of
leaves on the dark green bushes, the wide, pink
faces of the Two-legged cubs, the brilliance of
sleeping monsters.
<Cats. You're looking for cats... There's one!>
Turtledovepaw took on the beating of a tail,
the sound of a paw's footsteps climbing up a
wall and down over the grass. Concentrating
carefully, he let his senses follow him and
tasted the scent.
<No, it's not one of the kittens we met. Too
young and scared>.
When his senses spread again, a meow from a
little further away called his
attention. <That sounds familiar...> Tracking
the sound, he saw Seville, the big reddish cat,
calling for Playful as he sunbathed. And Playful
was... Turtledovepaw heard the scrape of claws
on wood and knew that the fat black and
brown cat was swinging on a fence above
Seville.
"I've found them!" he exclaimed happily.
Widening his eyes, he looked at Tawny. "Come
on!"
Taking the lead, he walked along the bank of
the stream, past the place with the rabbits,
until they came to a narrow path that led
between two of Twoleg's nests.
Turtledovepaw's fur stood on end as he
emerged onto a Thunderpath; the stench of
monsters and the noise of Twolegs in their lairs
filled her until all she wanted to do was turn
around and run back into the forest to stuff
leaves in her ears and nose.
The growl of a monster sounded from further
down the Thunder Path. Turtledovepaw
jumped back, crashing into Tawnypaw. "I'm
sorry!" he gasped as the sleek, brightly colored
monster zoomed by. "I don't know if I can do
this."
"Yes you can." Tawny buried his nose in the
hair on her shoulders. “You can do it for the
Clans. Now, do we have to cross this
Thundering Path? "
Turtledovepaw nodded. Her heart was beating
so hard she thought it would burst out of her
chest as her mentor gently pushed her to the
edge of the hard black strip.
“When I say run, you run,” he instructed. He
looked carefully to both sides, his ears pricked
up by the sound of monsters, then raised his
tail. "Runs!"
Suppressing a howl of terror, Turtledovepaw
lunged forward. Their pads brushed the surface
of the Thundering Path; then he was safe on
the other side, shivering as he pressed himself
against the shelter of a hedge.
"Well done!" Tawny purred. "Now where are
we going?"
<Calm down!> Turtledovepaw told herself
fiercely. "Over here." He led Tawny along the
edge of the Thunderpath, slipping behind a tree
to hide as a slow-moving monster prowled
past. "Do you think he's looking for us?" She
whispered. Tawny shrugged. "I doubt it. But no
cat knows what monsters think."
Turning away from the Thunderpath, following
his sense of the presence of Seville and Playful,
Tortolapaw found himself in a maze of narrow
paths between red stone walls and high
wooden fences. As he turned a corner, he
almost stepped on a sleeping kitten; the black
cat jumped up, hissing, and jumped over a
fence before disappearing into the nearby
garden.
Turtledovepaw breathed a sigh of relief, then
jumped, surprised by the sound of a dog
barking behind the fence on the other side.
"It's okay," Tawnypaw meowed, though
Dovepaw saw the fur on his neck stand on end.
"It can't reach us."
"I hope you're right," Turtledovepaw
murmured.
The crisscrossing paths seemed to lead
nowhere. <Have I lost us?> Turtledovepaw
wondered. Then, where two roads crossed, he
smelled the strong smell of cut grass and saw a
bush with strong-smelling red flowers. Yeah!
I've smelled them before... and I remember
that pattern of shadows that the bush casts on
the road.
"We have to go around this corner," he
explained to Leonado over his shoulder as he
quickened his pace. "Now on this wall..."
He jumped up, with his mentor at his side, and
walked down to a square of soft green grass.
Seville sunbathed at the foot of the fence on
the other side.
"Hello Seville!" Turtledovepaw called, running
across the grass to touch the big orange cat's
nose.
Seville's green eyes widened in surprise. "It's
traveling cats!" he meowed. "What are they
doing here? Did you find the animals you were
looking for? Did they release the water?” "We
found the animals," Leonado told him. “But we
can't release the water. We need help".
"You mean our help?" A voice called from
above. "Wow!"
Turtledovepaw looked up to see Frisky perched
on top of the fence, his black and brown tabby
coat almost hiding him in the shade of a holly
tree.
He jumped down, his fur fluffing as he touched
noses with Dovepaw and then Tawnypaw.
Seville blinked, eyes wary as he looked from
Tawnycat to Tortolapaw and then back again.
"What exactly do you mean?" he roared.
"Do you know where Tinker Bell is?" Tawny
asked, avoiding the question. "We searched the
place with the rabbits, but we couldn't find any
of you."
"I'm the only one who lives there," Frisky
explained. "The people from Tink's house live
on the other side of that birch tree." He
pointed his tail at a tall tree on a wooden
fence. "How did you find us?" he added,
narrowing his eyes.
"Oh, it was easy," Tawny replied. "We are Clan
cats, remember." He shot an amused look at
Turtledovepaw.
"Wow!" Playful's eyes sparkled. "I'll go find you
Tink," he offered. "He'll kill us if he misses the
chance to help real wild cats."
Without waiting for a response, he climbed to
the top of the fence and disappeared.
Seville stretched, gesturing with his tail toward
the patch of sun-warmed grass next to him.
"Lie down and rest," he invited the Clan cats.
"It's beautiful and sunny here."
"We've had enough sun lately, thank you,"
Leonado responded.
He turned to look out into the garden, clearly
keeping an eye on the dogs and Twoleg, while
Turtledovepaw tore the grass with his front
claws.
Several moons seemed to pass before Playful
fell next to them, followed by Tink.
"Hello!" the white cat greeted them, running
up to Tawny to touch his ear with her nose.
"It's great to see you again." He suddenly took
a step back, his lip curling as if he had smelled
something foul. "You're not going to make me
eat skin and bones, are you?"
"No," Tawny meowed. "We have come to ask
for your help."
"Excellent!" Tinkerbell purred. "What do you
want us to do?"
"We can fight, look!" Playful added. He jumped
on Tink, trying to wrap his front paws around
her neck. Tink reared up on his hind legs and
lost his balance as he aimed a blow at Playful's
ear. Both cats fell onto the grass in a pile of fur.
Seville rolled her eyes.
"Er...that's great," Tawny meowed. "But we
don't really need them to fight.
"We need them to dismantle a dam."
Tinker Bell sat up, brushing bits of grass from
her fur. "What is a dam?"
Leonado described the huge pile of logs
blocking the stream. “We fought the beavers,
but they were too strong for us,” he explained.
"So some of us are going to lure them out while
the rest dismantle the dam and release the
water."
Playful blinked. "Will it be dangerous?"
Tawny nodded. "Yes," he meowed.
The black and brown tabby's eyes shone even
brighter. "Well! "We're terribly bored, lying
here all day."
Turtledovepaw's conscience pricked her like a
thorn in her notebook. "This is not going to be
fun," he warned the domestic kittens. "A... a
cat died."
Tink gasped and the fur on Playful's neck stood
on end.
"But we will not fight the beavers again,"
Leonado assured them, looking at his
apprentice.
Turtledovepaw looked him in the eyes. "We
can't ask them to come with us unless they
know what could happen." <But,
What if they don't come?> He asked himself
anxiously.
<What shall we do then?> "We'll go, won't we,
Playful?" Tinker Bell meowed.
Playful nodded, although he seemed less sure.
Seville let out a grunt and stood up, arching his
back a long way. "I can't let these young people
go alone," he growled. “Who knows what they
could do? "I'll come too."
"Thank you," Turtledovepaw meowed. "Our
clans thank you."
"Follow us." Playful bounced on his paws. "We
know a quick way back to the creek."
Turtlepaw was surprised at how confident the
kittens were as they traveled around the place
on two legs. When they reached Thunderpath,
Playful leaped onto a sleeping monster, leaving
dust marks on its shiny snout. Seville and Tink
followed him, then turned to wait for the Clan
cats on the other side of the Thunderpath.
"Come on!" Seville called. "I thought they were
in a hurry!"
Tawnypaw gave Turtledovepaw a sidelong
glance. "Are we going to let those kittens think
we're afraid of monsters?"
"No way," replied Turtledovepaw. <Even if we
have it!>
Tawny clenched his muscles and jumped onto
the monster's hindquarters. Turtledovepaw
followed, trying not to flinch as his paws hit the
smooth, hot surface. He jumped on its back and
then on its snout. In the blink of an eye, he was
on the ground, gasping with relief. Looking
back once he reached the other side of the
Thundering Path he realized that the monster
had not woken up, even after five cats had
jumped on it.
<Maybe monsters are stupid.>
By now Turtlepaw was completely lost, but she
didn't have time to stop and feel the direction
they should go. Then he saw a line of trees and,
through them, the bed of the stream. They
emerged from the two-legged maze a few
foxes away upstream from the place with the
rabbits.
"Why am I walking now?" Seville asked.
"Let's continue to follow the flow," Leonado
responded. He took the lead, quickening his
pace until he was running down the canal.
"Hey, take it easy," Frisky protested, grimacing
as he raised a paw. "These stones are sharp."
"It is fine, I am sorry." Tawny slowed to a
steady trot.
Turtledovepaw brought up the rear to make
sure none of the kittens were left behind. He
could feel the tension rising as they got closer
to the prey, not just from the pets but from the
air itself, as if something huge was about to
happen. Above them, clouds gathered in the
sky, covering the sun, and the scratch of
lightning flickered on the horizon. As they
walked through the grove, Turtlepaw could see
how scared the kittens were, jumping every
time the branches moved with the rising wind.
With an effort, he caught up with Playful and
walked beside him. "Are you OK?"
The cat's only response was a tense nod.
<I hope that's true,> thought Turtledovepaw.
Guilt and fear writhed beneath his fur.
<Oh, StarClan, am I taking more cats into a
battle they'll never return from?>
 Chapter 22
Tawny jumped to the bank of the stream and
turned to look at his torn patrol. Seville, Tink,
and Playboy stood with their mouths wide
open as they looked towards the prey.
"That's really huge!" Playful breathed. Tink
blinked at Tawny. "Do you really think we can
move that?" Tawny nodded, trying to hide his
own doubts and give the domestic kitties
confidence. "With all of us working together,
yes, I do."
"Come on," Turtledovepaw urged, jumping to
stand next to Tawnypaw. "Let's go find the
others."
Tawny led the way up the hill and entered the
clearing where he had left the other Clan cats.
He made his way through the brush and
stopped, his eyes wide with surprise as he saw
a pile of logs in the middle of the clearing. Cane
was throwing a branch at the top of the pile,
before slightly jumping down.
"Hey, you're back," he gasped.
"I thought if we could stack the branches, we
could figure out how to separate them," Sapero
explained, walking over to meet Leonado. His
skin was covered in pieces of branches and
bark and he was breathing hard.
"Good idea," Tawny mewed admiringly. "You're
doing a great job".
On the opposite side of the clearing,
Petalmantle was dragging a branch that was
much, much larger than her. He didn't stop
until he reached the pile of logs and pushed his
branch to the bottom of it. Then he limped
wearily across the clearing to join Tawny and
the others; His eyes as he looked at the
newcomers were stale and full of
determination.
While Tigerheart and Whitetail trotted with
Woody, Tawny began introducing the domestic
kittens.
"I'm not a Clan cat," Woody explained. "I'm just
passing through."
"I think I've seen you before, in the forest,"
Seville meowed; He seemed relieved to meet a
cat that looked even a little familiar.
"We have to discuss the plan," Sapero
announced as soon as the introductions were
over. "We have to decide..."
"Let's hunt first," Whitetail interrupted with a
flick of his tail. "We can't do this if we don't eat
and get some rest."
Toadstool looked briefly offended at being
contradicted, then nodded at the WindClan cat.
"Okay," he agreed. "But we better hurry."
To Tawny's relief, there was still plenty of prey
in the forest, and it wasn't long before the cats
gathered in the clearing again, stooping to eat
their catch.
"We already ate, thank you," Seville meowed
when Whitetail offered him a mouse.
Tinkerbell stepped back, her green eyes
widening in horror, but Playful seemed
cautiously interested, and leaned in to sniff the
squirrel that Turtledovepaw had caught.
"Come on, take a bite," she encouraged him.
Playful hesitated, then sank his teeth into the
squirrel and tore off a bite.
"What do you think?" Turtledovepaw asked as
he swallowed.
"Er...not bad," the tabby cat replied. "Just a
little... hairy." Night was falling when the cats
finished eating. The moon shone fitfully behind
banks of drifting clouds, and the air felt humid
and heavy.
"I think Whitetail and Reedtail should be the
ones that attract beavers," he began.
Fawn while the rest of the cats crowded around
him under the trees.
"Because?" The tip of Whitetail's tail twitched.
"We are not afraid to maneuver the dam."
Cañera nodded.
"Because WindClan cats are the fastest
runners," Sapero replied. "We all have to do
what we do best."
"Oh good." Whitetail seemed satisfied.
"I'll go with you," Woody meowed. “I know
these forests. We will start from the beaver
den and then go this way..." Taking a twig in his
jaws, he drew a line on the edge of the leaf to
represent the stream, and then a winding path
through the trees. "There is a lot of vegetation;
"They won't have a clue what's going on at the
dam," he added, dropping the twig.
"That's great, Woody," Leonado told him.
"Let's distract the beavers as long as we can,"
Whitetail meowed.
"And if they decide to return, I will run and
warn them," Cañera added.
Tawnypaw nodded, with a sidelong glance at
Turtledovepaw. <She can also use her senses to
track beavers.>
"And what about the dam?" Tigerheart asked.
"Once the beavers are out of the way, what
then?"
"We'd better do it from the other side,"
Leonado meowed. "That way we'll be even
further away from the beavers."
"That's a good idea," Petalmantle agreed. "And
I've been thinking. Check this out." He pointed
with his paw at a small pile of twigs. "It's easier
to knock down the upper trunks of the dam,"
he demonstrated as he ran a claw across the
upper twig, "but if we can somehow get in and
move the trunks lower, then the whole thing
could collapse." He gently removed a twig from
the middle of his pile and the pile crumbled,
sending the twigs rolling down the slope. "The
weight of the water would crush them."
"Bright!" Tigerheart exclaimed.
"Hang on a minute." Sevilla, the orange kitten,
spoke. "You want us to go inside the dam and
collapse it... and we'd still be inside, right?"
Tawny nodded. "It's risky, but it seems like it's
the only way." He hesitated, looking around at
the worried faces of his friends. "We'll have to
see what it'll be like when we get there," he
finished with a shrug.
With one last glance at their companions,
Whitetail, Reed, and Woody headed upstream
toward the den, while Tawny led the rest of the
cats across the dry creek below the dam to the
bank on the opposite side. Further up the
slope, they could see Twoleg's fur dens glowing
with light and echoing with murmuring voices.
"What about them?" Sapero asked, wagging his
tail in the direction of the fur dens.
Leonado stopped at the foot of the dam.
"There's nothing we can do about it," he finally
responded. “We don't have enough cats to
distract them. "We'll just have to have faith
that they don't cause any problems."
"Having faith is the easy part," Sapero
responded curtly.
Tawny's fur prickled with tension as he waited
for Whitetail's signal. He could tell the other
cats felt the same way. Turtledovepaw was
scratching the ground with the tips of his claws,
while Tigerheart's tail moved back and forth.
The three domestic cats looked terrified, with
their eyes wide and their ears back.
<Come on, Whitetail,> Tawny urged. <Go
ahead, before one of us starts panicking.>
"Remember," he meowed loudly. “No cat
should fight. If the beavers come back and
challenge you, don't try to be heroes. "We've
learned that lesson the hard way."
"Good," Sapero agreed. “If beavers attack, run.
Climb a tree. I don't think they can..."
A piercing meow from across the stream
interrupted him.
"Something's up," Tawnypaw murmured, with
a glance at Turtledovepaw.
She nodded. "The beavers are moving inside
their den," he whispered, so faintly that no
other cats could hear.
Leonado looked upstream toward the lodge. At
first, the night was so black that I couldn't see
anything. Then the moon moved away from
behind a cloud, and he saw movement next to
the pile of logs. The beavers' heads broke the
surface of the pond and climbed out of the
burrow, their bodies appearing over the trunks
like voluminous shadows.
On the shore, Tawny made out the pale mantle
of Whitetail, with the dark shadows of Woody
and Reed at his side. I could only hear their
mocking hisses, taunting the beavers to get
them out of their den and away from the pond.
One of the beavers grunted, then walked down
the hill of logs and onto the shore. He began to
move towards the cats, tail rustling in the
leaves. The other beavers followed, clumsy but
surprisingly fast. Cañera lunged forward and
dealt the leader a quick punch on the nose
before wiggling away again.
"Great StarClan!" Sapero spat. "She doesn't
have common sense?"
The beavers lumbered in pursuit as Whitetail
and the others slithered into the trees, luring
them deeper into the forest. In a few seconds,
Leonado lost sight of them.
"Come on!" Sapero hissed.
As the cats jumped at the prey, a claw of
lightning split the sky from top to bottom and
thunder erupted above their heads.
Tink shuddered, clutching herself against the
log she was swinging at, then forced herself to
her feet again and continued climbing.
“We should split up,” Petalmantle gasped.
“Someone should come with me and start
looking for a hole where we can enter. "The
rest of you can start removing the logs from the
top."
"I'll go with you," Sapero offered.
Petalmantle led the way through the dam, just
above the level of the pond, with Toadstool
following behind her. Leonado watched her as
she stopped and began to puncture one of the
logs; He then headed to the top of the barrier.
Lightning crackled again; Tawny was almost
deafened by the thunder that followed him,
and his ears continued to ring afterward. He
shook his head impatiently. Then thick drops of
rain began to fall, splashing the trunks and the
cats' fur.
"This is what we were missing," Tigerheart
grumbled.
"We would have been happy for that at the
lake," noted Tortolapaw. "I hope it rains there
too."
As Tawny climbed the tallest log and stood
looking out over the lagoon, the clouds burst.
The rain fell in a hissing curtain that blotted out
everything except the logs beneath their paws.
Her hair was soaked in seconds; He shivered as
the cold rain hit his skin.
"It's okay," he shouted, raising his voice to be
heard over the patter of raindrops. “See if you
can loosen some of these trunks and branches.
“Push them into the riverbed.”
It grabbed a long, thin branch with its jaws and
threw it down, then bowed its head to grab a
larger log. Playful pushed him from the other
side; He slowly rolled to the edge and landed in
the dry creek with a satisfying crash.
"Yeah!" Playful howled.
Farther along the dam, Tigerheart and Tinker
Bell struggled with a tree trunk, while Seville
knocked smaller twigs and branches onto the
stream bed. Turtledovepaw crouched near
Tawnypaw, her eyes closed; He assumed she
was sending her senses to find out what the
beavers were doing.
"All good?" asked.
Turtledovepaw blinked at him through the
pouring rain. "Good," she replied. "Whitetail
and the others are keeping the beavers busy."
Tawny twitched his ears. "Well. Now come help
me with this log. Otherwise all the cats will
start wondering what you're doing."
Turtledovepaw glared at him; Tawny knew how
he felt about keeping his powers a secret, but
he didn't see what else they could do. Slipping
on the wet logs, he struggled to his side and
rested his shoulder on the log he was trying to
move. Tawny pushed it hard and felt it start to
move, rolling faster and faster until it tipped
over the edge and fell into the stream.
"Well done!" Tawny gasped. "Us-"
He was cut off when a cat's terrified screech cut
through the hiss of rain. A couple of tails away
along the dam, Tawny saw Tigerheart's paws
slip beneath him; The young warrior
plummeted toward the stream, landing with a
splash where the rain pooled on the stony bed.
Before Tawny could find a way to help him, he
saw movement below and Tigerheart
appeared, determinedly clawing his way to the
pile of logs. Its mud-soaked fur stood out in
spikes, but its eyes shone with determination.
"Are you OK?" Tawny shouted.
"No, I'm furious!" Tigerheart crawled to the top
of the dam. "I'd like to turn every one of those
beavers into fresh meat."
"He's fine," Turtledovepaw murmured.
Tawny Tail swished his tail at the ShadowClan
cat, then began testing which of the logs
around him could next be removed. They all
seemed to be stuck together tightly, held
together with mud and twigs.
Then he heard Petalmantle calling from further
below the burrow. "Hey, we need help down
here!" Heading towards the sound of the cat's
voice, Tawny joined the three domestic kittens.
Their fur was stuck to their bodies and their
eyes were full of fear.
But they did not hesitate and hurried across the
logs to answer Petal Mantle's call.
<I'll never feel the same about pet kittens after
tonight ,> Leonado thought.
Petal Mantle and Toadstool were clinging to
the prey two or three meters tail-width above
the pond. The rain splashed on the surface
while the black water sucked the lower trunks.
A dark hole opened in the mound next to
Toadstool and Petalcoat, from which a huge
tree trunk protruded. "We dug out some mud
and twigs," Petalcoat explained. "If we can
move that log, I think a lot of the prey will go
with it."
"Okay, let's try it," Tawny meowed.
Looking around, he saw that Turtlepaw and
Tigerheart had also come down to join them.
"Dovepaw, you're the smallest," he called. "Can
you go in and push from there?"
Turtledovepaw nodded his head tensely and
disappeared into the hole. The rest of the cats
lined up against the tree trunk and began to
push. At first, Tawny couldn't feel him move at
all.
"Stronger!" shout. “Playful, push more from
your side! Sapero, can you get under it and get
more mud?
Little by little, as all the cats struggled and
gasped, the trunk of the tree began to move.
The outer end swung;
Tawny heard a crunching sound from inside the
dam.
"Dovepaw, stay away!" he screeched.
The apprentice was brought back out into the
open as more mud was poured into the hole,
which quickly closed. The tree swayed more,
snapping several more trunks next to it, then
broke free and fell down the slope.
Playful slipped as he passed by;
Tink clamped her teeth on his shoulder and
pulled him back up. Tigerheart dove to the
ground and the tree trunk bounced right on top
of him, grazing his bristly fur. Tawny suddenly
realized that the log under his paws was
moving. He looked around for a solid place to
jump to, but there was no time. When the log
he had been standing on fell into the pond, he
dug the claws of one of his paws into another
branch and stayed there, hanging in the air,
with the water lapping at his tail.
The pond eagerly pushed against the dam.
Tawny clawed his way toward a larger log,
feeling it shift under his weight. The entire
structure was beginning to shake.
"Pull out those twigs!" Mantle of Petals
ordered Seville, making a gesture with his tail.
“Tigerheart, get the mud out of that hole.
Sapero, you and Playful, help me roll this log."
Tawny took a deep breath. <How does
Petalcoat know what the water is going to do?
> He began to tear off twigs with his claws,
realizing as he did so that the water level in the
pond was rising, or was the dam sinking on top
of it? ? A wave lapped over his head, leaving
him spluttering; He caught a glimpse of
Turtlepaw and Tinkerbell, working side by side,
below the level of the trapped water.
<We have to work faster!> he thought as
Turtledovepaw poked his head out for air. His
paws hurt as he forced them to tear off
branches and kick debris behind him as he
worked. He suddenly realized that
Turtledovepaw was at his side again, water
emanating from his fur.
"The Beavers!" she gasped. "They're coming
back!" A second later, Tawny heard terrified
meows; Whitetail, Reed and Woody were
running towards the top of the broken dam.
Looking through the rain,
Tawny made out the bulky, menacing shapes of
the beavers right behind them.
"Fast!" he screeched. "Take out the logs!" All
the cats were tearing and digging at the
branches, but they were too tightly packed.
Fury surged in Leonado as he realized that they
were going to fail, only because they were
running out of time.
Then he heard a rumbling sound coming from
above. The dam began to shake.
"It will overflow!" Sapero screeched. "He'll
come right at us!"
Tawny turned around, almost losing his balance
on the unstable logs, and saw a surge of water
traveling downstream, a huge wave rising
higher and higher as it got closer. "Stay away
from the dam!" shout.
Tink was closer to him; He grabbed her by the
scruff of the neck, ignoring her indignant
squeal, and pulled her toward the safety of the
shore.
Seville and Playful jumped after her, followed
by Woody.
Further up the slope, the yellow rays of
Twoleg's lights cut through the trees. Tawny
saw Twoleg charging toward the stream, their
voices raised. A beam of light pointed to
Turtledovepaw, clinging to a branch in the
middle of the prey with all four sets of claws.
"Go back to the slope!" Tawny ordered.
But it was too late. The roar grew louder until it
filled their entire world, cutting through the
howls of the Twolegs and the squeals of the
cats. The prey was shaking too much to jump
now. A torrent of water roared in Leonado's
ears as the storm surge hit them.
"Hold on!" he screeched.
He dug his claws hard into a trunk as the prey
exploded, trunks and branches flying like twigs.
The trapped water gushed forth, pouring into
the river bed and overflowing the banks. Tawny
caught a glimpse of Woody and the three
kitties piled up in the middle of the slope, their
jaws open, as the wall of water dragged them
both away.
 Chapter 23
Glaius groaned as he forced his eyes open to
the darkness. Rosella's scent surrounded him
and he felt her tongue busily scrape his
scratches.
"Glayo, please wake up!" she pleaded. "Please!
"I can't take you back to camp on my own."
"That...?" For a moment, Glaius couldn't
remember where he was, or why his clanmate
was panicking.
"Oh, thank you StarClan!" Rosella exclaimed.
"You're not dying! “I’m so sorry I caused all this
trouble,” he continued, giving her quick licks
between words. "I had no idea Ventolero had
followed me here."
Windy… all that way… Glayo realized that he
could hear the soft sound of the waterfall
falling into the Lunar Lagoon. The memory
flooded through him of his battle against
Ventolero and the mysterious cat that had
joined the fight against him. And the cat that
had come to her aid. If it weren't for Melada, I
would be carrion.
Glaius struggled, dazed, with his paws. "I'm
fine, Rosella. Stop worrying". <How much does
she know?> He wondered. <Did you see the
other cats in the battle?>
"But you're not okay!" Rosella still sounded
distraught. "You have a very deep scratch on
this side."
"Yeah, I have Windwind to thank for that," Jayo
meowed. "It's a good thing he didn't bring any
other cats with him," he added, wondering if
Rosella would mention Ventolero's ally.
Rosella shuddered. "I know. I couldn't believe
he would attack a healer. "You were so brave,
Glaius, fighting him alone."
He tingled in Glaius's paws. She didn't see the
others. But there was still something he
needed to know.
“Melada came to see me a moment ago,” he
told her.
Instantly he felt the sharp pang of the cat's
emotions: A mix of hope and fear.
"Did she... talk to you?" Rosella asked
nervously.
Glaius nodded. “She told me that she is
delighted that you are with Bayo. And she said
she'll take care of your puppies."
"Really?" Rosella's voice softened to a purr.
"Oh, I'm so happy!"
"Oh, and she told me that Bayo really loves
you," added Glayo.
Rosella's purr faded. "I wish I could believe
that..." She sighed. "But I don't see how
Melada could know."
Glaius stifled an exasperated hiss. "She's a
StarClan cat. "She knows a lot of things that
you don't." He stopped himself before adding:
Mouse brain.
"I guess we'd better head back to camp,"
Rosella meowed. "I'll help you, Glaius."
"I'll be fine, thank you."
But as he struggled along the undulating path
he became more aware of the searing pain in
his side. His legs felt as weak as those of a
newborn puppy, and when they reached the
row of thorns, he had to lean on Rosella's
shoulder.
They limped slowly along the path leading back
to the forest, taking frequent breaks along the
way. Even though he was exhausted and in
pain, Glaius's mind continued to work, and he
began to realize how strange it was that
Weatherwind had followed Rosella to the
Lunar Lagoon.
<Why? She never crossed WindClan territory,
and even if she had, the right thing to do would
have been to chase her away. And why did
Ventolero threaten to kill her? He wouldn't hold
a grudge against Rosella. She is not average
Clan, and it had nothing to do with the lies
Leafpool and Squirrelflight told.>
Glaius let out a sigh. There were many things I
didn't know, but I needed to find out quickly.
The appearance of the cat he had not
recognized worried him deeply.
"Are you OK? Do you want to rest again?”
Rosella asked.
"I can not continue."
The heat in his hair told Glaius that the sun was
out, although a damp wind swept across the
moor, occasionally sending up splashes of rain.
The air felt heavy. His skin itched. A storm is
coming. When they reached the WindClan
border, Jay continued to test the air for
Windclan's scent, in case he was waiting to
ambush them on their way home. But all he
could smell was the scent of WindClan's scent
marks: strong and fresh, as if a patrol had
passed by shortly before.
Rosella jumped, interrupting his train of
thought.
"What's happening?" he growled, the fur on his
neck rising.
"I'm sorry, it's nothing," the cat replied. "I saw
lightning over the trees and it scared me, that's
all."
Glaius forced his fur to lie flat again. <Are you a
scared mouse cub?> he scolded himself. <Next
time you'll be afraid of the fallen leaves!> But
the danger was real, even if it wasn't hard at
the time. Glaius' hair stood on end as he
wondered if the Dark Forest cats were
watching him now. The Dark Forest, The Place
Without Stars, where the spirits of cats who
had not been welcomed by StarClan walked
alone...
<Is that where the strange cat came from? It
wasn't Tigerstar or Hawksbill. And what did
Yellowfang mean? Was he warning me that
there would be a war between the cats of the
Dark Forest and StarClan? And if there is, will
the clans have to fight?>
Glaius let out a sigh. "I need to rest," he
murmured, sinking into the grass next to the
stream. Battered and tired, he wondered how
he could have imagined he had the power of
the stars in his paws.
<Where are Tawnypaw and Turtledovepaw?>
He wondered. I hope you are safe and on your
way home.
The sun had already passed when Glaius and
Rosella staggered back to camp. As soon as
they emerged from the tunnel of thorns, Glaius
heard paw steps running from the nursery;
Bayo's scent, sharp with anxiety, swirled
around him.
"Where have you been?" the warrior asked.
Glaius heard the squeak of her tongue as she
licked Rosella's ears. "I was very worried!"
Rosella began to purr, perplexed. "It doesn't
matter. I am back now."
Bayo pressed against his side. "I couldn't bear
to lose you too," he murmured.
"Don't worry". Rosella's voice shook a little. "I
am not going anywhere."
"Yes, you will. You're going back to
motherhood right now." Bayo nudged him. "I'll
bring you some fresh meat and then you'll go
rest."
Glaius stayed where he was as his paws
retreated. Dalia and Candeal left the maternity
ward to greet Rosella, and Bayo guided her
inside, still scolding her gently.
<Bayo is a real pain in the ass, and yet two
seemingly sensible cats are after him,> thought
Bayo with a shake of his head. <Rare> .
Turning around, he limped across the clearing
toward his lair, but when he settled into his bed
he knew he wouldn't sleep. He felt as restless
as the trees that make their branches ring
overhead. A storm was approaching, and more
than rain and thunder. The forces of the Dark
Forest were increasing...
Finally, after writhing in his bed, unable to get
comfortable or stop thinking about his worries,
Glaius decided to go down to the lake and look
for his staff. Maybe Pedrusco knows something
about the battle.
As he left his lair he met Cinderpelt, who was
walking through the clearing towards the
tunnel of thorns.
"Thank you for bringing Rosella back," he
meowed, nuzzling her ear. "We were all so
worried."
"You're welcome," Glaius muttered, just
wanting to escape.
But Carbonera stopped him as he tried to walk
away. "Are you OK?" he asked, his voice
becoming higher pitched with anxiety. “You
seem… somewhat upset. And… Oh!” she
gasped. "You have a terrible scratch on your
side."
"It's nothing," Glaius muttered.
"Foolishness!" Titmouse meowed. "You are a
healer; you know very well what is nothing.
Come on. “You would never let any of us leave
camp untreated.”
Unaware of Glaius's protests, he led him back
to his lair and headed towards the storage
holes. A moment later he returned with a pile
of chervil leaves in his jaw. "This should stop
any infection," he announced, beginning to
chew them.
When the poultice was ready, Cinderpelt's
paws moved deftly and confidently as he
placed it on Jay's side. He let out a sigh of relief
as the throbbing pain subsided.
<Will Cinderpelt ever wonder why she feels so
comfortable in the healers' den? He knew
exactly what herbs to use and what to do with
them. Will the time ever be right to tell him I
used to be Cinderpaw?>
Another pang of foreboding shook him. If a
battle is approaching involving every warrior
since the dawn of the clans, we'll need all the
healers we can get.
Once Cinderpelt was satisfied, Glaius emerged
again, his skin sticky with his poultice. The
branches creaked above his head, and huge
jets of cold water began to fall, splashing his fur
and hurled against the trees by the rising wind.
"It's starting to rain!" Foxleaping's voice came
from the trees, and a moment later a patrol
caught up with Jaypaw, with Squirrelflight,
Rosepetal, and Snowcloud.
"Hey, Glaius!" Leapfrog continued to chatter.
"Isn't that great? "If it keeps raining, we won't
have to go looking for water anymore."
An irritated hiss came from Squirrelflight.
“Leaping Fox, look what you've done! You
loosened the moss and now it's all dirty. "Stop
getting so excited and focus."
"I'm sorry," Leapfrog meowed, though it didn't
sound muffled at all. "I'll wash it when we get
to the water."
Glaius walked alongside the patrol until they
approached the lake. Then he turned aside,
heading to the place where he had hidden his
stick, and pulled it out from under the roots of
the largest bush. Dropping it into the shelter of
the sandbar, he sat next to it and ran his paws
over the scratches.
The voices of the ancient cats were weak and
distant.
"Boulder..." Glaius muttered. “Were you at the
Lunar Lagoon last night? Do you know what is
happening in the Dark Forest?"
"Yes I know." A voice breathed into Glaius's
ear, sending a shiver through him from his ears
to the tip of his tail. “But I can't stop it, and
even if I could, I wouldn't. This is a storm that
needs to break, Glaius."
Glaius's ears twitched in shock. "Because?"
“There have been too many lies,” Pedrusco
responded. “Too much pain has been caused
between the Clans. The cats will take revenge
and the oldest grievances will be resolved."
Glaius turned his head toward the voice and
saw the nebulous form of the ancient cat, with
its hairless body and bulging, blind eyes.
"You knew it?" he demanded. "About Leafpool
and Crowfeather?" Stone let out a sigh that
stirred Glaius's whiskers. "Yes, I knew it."
Glaius jumped. “Then why didn't you tell me?
"Don't you know how much pain we went
through?"
"It wasn't your time to know, Glaius." The old
cat's voice was calm and matter-of-fact.
“You had to be raised as a ThunderClan cat,
trained as a medicine cat by your mother,
Leafpool. That was your destiny, Glaius."
"It's not the destination I wanted!" Glaius
snapped.
"There was no place for you to be half-Clan
from birth," Stone continued, as if Glaius had
not spoken. "There is no room for rejection
because your mother had broken the healer
code and the warrior code."
Glaius stared at him, almost unable to believe
what he was hearing. "So you lied, and all the
cats lied, for the sake of the prophecy?" Rage
built up inside him until he was angrier than he
had ever been before in his life; He dug his
claws hard into the ground to avoid gouging
out Pedrusco's eyes. “Do you think it was worth
it? Do you believe it? I thought you were my
friend!"
Slowly, Pedrusco shook his head. "I'm not
friends with any cats. I know too much for
friendship. Be glad you will never be
overwhelmed with the knowledge I have. "My
curse is to live forever, knowing what has been
and what will be, powerless to change
anything."
Its outline began to fade. When it disappeared,
Glaius's fury erupted. He felt the ground until
he located a sharp stone. Then he grabbed the
stick, swung it on the stone, and crushed his
front paws on one end. He heard the stick
break and splinters went through his paws.
Pedrusco and the ancient clans had also
betrayed him. <No one ever told the truth?>
At the same second, thunder exploded
overhead, rolling across the sky. Rain cascaded
onto the lake bed. Glaius crouched beneath the
bank, his jaws open in a silent moan, and he
covered his ears with his paws.
 Chapter 24
Turtledovepaw dug her claws into a branch as
the wave of water carried her downstream.
The howling of terrified cats was all around
him, but he could see nothing except the
churning dark water and the tops of the trees
as they whirled past. His hair was soaked, he
was shivering from the cold, and he was more
afraid than ever in his life.
"Wait!" Tawny's voice rose above the chaos of
the storm.
"Where are you?" Turtledovepaw whimpered,
but there was no response.
A wave crashed over her, filling her mouth and
nose with water. Still managing to grab onto
the branch, he forced his head to the surface,
spluttering and coughing as he struggled to
breathe. A harsh yellow light flashed in her
vision, and Turtledovepaw realized she was
being taken beyond the lairs of the
Twolegplace. <I hope the kittens get home safe
and sound> , she thought confused.
Something dark rose before her: the branches
of a tree hanging, descending and trailing in the
surge of water. Turtledovepaw kicked
frantically, trying to avoid it, but the floodwater
carried her right into the middle of the
branches. They scraped her fur as they dragged
her, almost knocking her off the branch.
Holding on as tightly as she could to the point
where she thought her claws would come off,
Turtledovepaw was suddenly thrown into the
tide again. A bundle of brindle fur, dark with
water, passed by him with a groan.
<Tigerheart!>
Blinking the water out of his eyes, Turtlepaw
watched in horror as the young ShadowClan
warrior disappeared beneath the surface.
<StarClan, no!>
Taking a deep breath, he let go of the branch
and launched after him. Catching memories of
Torrenero and Petalmantle swimming in the
pond behind the dam, he tried to copy their
movements. But it was hard. His soaked fur
was heavy and his legs ached from exhaustion.
She continued to hit more floating branches
that pushed her underwater, and when she
resurfaced, the waves spit into her eyes.
Turtledovepaw had almost given up hope of
finding her friend when she caught a glimpse of
Tigerheart floating again less than a tail's length
away from her, before disappearing almost
immediately. He swam toward it and then dove
beneath the surface.
Above, the water was dark, with only
intermittent flashes of moonlight flickering on
the surface. Down there, Turtlepaw felt as
blind as Jay, sending his senses to locate
Tigerheart and pushing through the murky
water until his paws touched her fur.
<It's not moving! Am I too late?>
Grabbing its fur with a bite, Turtledovepaw
frantically swam upwards. As her head broke
the surface, a branch swept past her and
entangled her front paws. Tigerheart's weight
threatened to drag her under the water again,
but Turtledovepaw wouldn't let go. Relief
coursed through her when she saw Petalmantle
swimming strongly towards her.
"Torrentero will not die in vain," the RiverClan
cat hissed through clenched teeth. "StarClan
will not take any more warriors from us."
He grabbed Tigerheart by the neck, relieving
Turtlepaw of his weight. Turtledovepaw was
able to carry himself a little further above the
water, where he saw a flat piece of wood
spinning towards them in the current.
Struggling through the flood, he managed to
grab it and pull it towards Petal Mantle.
Together, the two cats dragged Tigerheart to
the flat wood and crouched beside him, holding
on as the water carried them across the stretch
of green grass at the edge of the two-legged
place and into the forest beyond.
Turtledovepaw found that he could see more
clearly; the rainy sky turned gray with the first
pale light of dawn. The water was calmer now;
It still overflowed the banks of the stream, but
the first terrifying wave had subsided. Looking
around, Turtledovepaw saw branches scattered
across the surface, and here and there, rising
and falling with the remaining cat heads on
them.
"Yeah!" he gasped, extending his tail to touch
Petalmantle on the shoulder. “There is Sapero!
And Leonado! And there is Whitetail and Cane,
hanging from the same branch."
"Thank you StarClan," Petalmantle meowed.
"You're all safe!"
As he spoke, Tigerheart began to stir and
shake, tilting the piece of wood dangerously so
that the water covered them.
"Stay still," said Turtledovepaw. "You're sure.
And we'll be home soon."
Finally, the current slowed enough for the cats
to abandon the branches they were clinging to
and trudge across to dry land. The seven cats
huddled together, panting and watching as the
flood water gradually returned between the
banks of the stream.
The rain continued to fall steadily, but
Turtledovepaw hardly noticed. She was wetter
than she had ever been and had swallowed so
much water that she couldn't imagine being
thirsty again. He took a deep breath, listening
to the water dripping, pooling, and splashing
through the forest, through ShadowClan
territory, and finally to the lake, where it
swelled over the dried mud and stones,
billowing in every crack and gap, spreading
silver twigs across the parched surface.
<We did it> , he thought. <We brought back
the lake>.
Tigerheart was lying on the ground, coughing
up mouthfuls of water while Petalmantle
rubbed his back.
"It will be OK?" Turtledovepaw asked anxiously.
"It'll be fine," Petalmantle assured him.
“This is what we do in RiverClan if the kits fall
into the lake before they can swim. "It always
seems to work."
Tigerheart coughed up more water, then
turned his head to look at Turtledovepaw
sleepily. "Thank you," he said hoarsely.
When he recovered enough to stand up, all the
cats gathered together and formed a circle with
their heads bowed.
"StarClan, we thank you," Whitetail meowed.
“You helped us destroy the dam and protected
us from the flood. We ask you to honor
Torrentero, the warrior who will never return
home."
Turtledovepaw raised his head and caught
Tawnypaw's attention. She wondered if he was
thinking the same thing.
<StarClan didn't save us. We did it>.
 Chapter 25
The daylight grew stronger as the cats returned
through the woods, following the edge of the
stream. Branches were scattered everywhere,
left behind by the receding wave; they had to
climb over them or wriggle under them, until
Turtledovepaw felt as if her paws would not
carry her one step further.
<I wish I were back in my bed. I would sleep for
a moon!>
Gradually the rain eased and, although it did
not stop, patches of blue sky appeared as the
wind tore the gray cloud into strips. Under the
shelter of the trees, the cats' fur began to dry in
messy mats.
"When I get back, I'm going to dress up like
never before," Whitetail murmured. "My hair
has never been as dirty as it is."
Suddenly, Sapero stopped with his head raised
and his jaws open to taste the air. "I can smell
ShadowClan's scent marks!" he announced.
The force seemed to flow back into
Turtledovepaw's paws, and all the cats
increased their speed. They soon crossed the
border.
"I never thought I'd see the day I'd be happy to
be in ShadowClan territory," murmured
Tawnypaw to Turtledove.
She nodded. <This journey has changed the
way we think about the other clans, forever.>
A few seconds later, he caught the scent of
approaching ShadowClan cats, and soon they
appeared through the trees: a patrol led by
Tawny, with her apprentice, Thrushpaw, and
the warriors Raptorclaw and Roanwillow.
“Sapero! Tigerheart!" Tawny exclaimed, leaping
forward through the rain. He touched noses
with Toadstool, and stuck his snout into
Tigerheart's fur, murmuring, "You're safe!"
A shiver ran through Turtlepaw as he imagined
what this encounter would have been like if
Tawny's son, Tigerheart, had not returned.
"This is wonderful!" Tan continued, stepping
back to look at the rest of the cats. “You
brought the water back! "Thrushpaw, run back
and tell Blackstar immediately."
His apprentice took off into the forest, his paws
brushing the pine needles and his tail wagging
excitedly.
"Come on," Trigueña urged. "They have to
come back to our camp and tell us everything."
Turtledovepaw exchanged a look with
Tawnypaw; She wanted to be home in the
Rocky Glade, but at the same time she was
reluctant to say goodbye to the rest of the
patrol.
Whitetail and Sugarcane whispered together
for a second; then Whitetail nodded. "We
would be happy to visit you," she meowed.
Tawnypaw also agreed, and although
Petalmantle seemed reluctant, she followed
the others as they were escorted through the
forest by Tawny and the rest of her patrol.
Turtledovepaw could hear the howls of excited
cats long before they reached camp. Through
the trees he saw the ground slope upward to a
line of bushes where Blackstar stood, flanked
by his warriors. More cats emerged from the
bushes around them.
"Welcome to our camp!" Blackstar called,
beckoning them with his tail. "Rest here and
choose from the pile of fresh meat."
"Who are you and what have you done with
Black Star?" Tawnypaw murmured in
Turtledovepaw's ear as they climbed the slope.
Pinktail and Cinnamon, Tigerheart's littermates,
rushed to touch their noses.
"I just went down to the lake!" Cinnamon
announced excitedly. "The water flows back."
"It will take a while to fill it," added Cola
Roso, rubbing his snout against his brother's
shoulder. "But the Clans have been saved, and
you did it!"
"We all did it together," Tigerheart meowed.
Turtledovepaw felt strange being greeted like
this, especially when the cats of ShadowClan
had been so secretive and distrustful in the
past.
Besides, I didn't feel like I deserved so much
praise. <We lost Torrentero and almost didn't
destroy the dam at all. And we couldn't do it on
our own, we needed kittens and a loner to help
us>.
"Come to camp." Blackstar repeated his
invitation as he moved forward to meet the
patrol.
Petalmantle lowered his head. “Thank you,
Black Star, but no. "I have lost my Clanmate,
and I must return to RiverClan and tell them
how he died."
"We'll go with you," Leonado offered
immediately; Whitetail and Canetail murmured
in agreement.
Petalmantle held his head high. "Thank you,
but I'll go alone." Without waiting for a
response, he lowered his head once more to
Blackstar, then the rest of the patrol, and
walked away. Turtledovepaw watched her until
she disappeared into the trees.
"It's time for us to leave too," Leonado told
Blackstar. "Whitetail, will you and Sugarcane
travel back with us?"
"Yes, we will," Whitetail responded. "Black Star,
thank you for inviting us to your camp, but it is
time for us to return to our own clans."
A pang of regret passed through Dovepaw as
he turned to say goodbye to Toadpaw and
Tigerheart. They seemed different, somehow,
now that they were back with their clanmates.
His scent was already sharpening, he had
become less familiar, and his expressions were
harder to read. They're more... more
ShadowClan now. When we traveled together,
we were one clan.
Sapero was next to Trigueña; He gave Leonado
and the others a dignified nod. "I'm proud to
have traveled with you," he meowed. “And
even more proud of having achieved what we
set out to do.”
To Tortolapaw, it sounded like the kind of
formal report a leader would make at an
assembly; Not for the first time, he wondered
how Sapero really felt, and if his loyalty had
ever extended beyond his own Clan to the cats
who had traveled with him.
With a sidelong glance at his clanmates,
Tigerheart leaped toward Turtledovepaw and
nuzzled against hers. "I'll miss you," he
whispered. "I'll see you at the assemblies,
right?"
Turtlepaw only had time to reply, "Yes, I'll miss
you too," before Toadpaw waved the young
warrior away with a nod of his head.
Tigerheart returned to his clanmates.
"I'll keep practicing that battle move I showed
you," he reminded Cañera. "I'll beat you at the
next assembly!"
Tigerheart gave one last flick of his tail as the
ThunderClan and WindClan cats moved away
and headed back through the soggy pines
toward the stream. With Tawnyfight leading
the way, they walked silently along the shore,
still staying on ShadowClan's side, until they
reached the lake.
Turtledovepaw had half expected to see it
overflowing with water, as it had been in his
dream, but the water's edge was still far away
in the muddy stretch. The stream poured over
the dry stones of the lake bed; I guess none of
us will mind getting our paws wet in the future,
Turtledovepaw mused as they splashed
through the water and walked alongside
ThunderClan territory.
When they reached the point where she and
Tawny would have to turn into the forest to
head for the stone clearing, they said goodbye
to the WindClan cats.
<This really is the end ,> Turtledovepaw
thought sadly. <We are no longer a patrol. Only
cats from different clans>.
"Goodbye," Whitetail meowed; Her eyes were
full of regret, as if she too was sad that her
journey had come to an end. "May StarClan
light your path."
"And yours," Leonado replied.
He and Turtledovepaw stood together for a few
seconds, watching the two WindClan cats walk
wearily along the edge of the lake. Then the
ThunderClan cats scrambled up the bank and
headed toward the dripping trees. Before they
had taken more than a couple of steps,
Turtledovepaw heard a howl behind them and
saw Sandstorm running across the lakebed,
with Foxleaping, Albinocloud, and Graystep
following her. The four cats carried bundles of
soaked moss in their jaws.
"Hey, it's Tawny and Turtledove!" Leapfrog
exclaimed, dropping his moss and making an
effort to get past Sandstorm and reach his
clanmates first. "They are back! They brought
the water! "
Albino Cloud ran next to his brother. "What
happened?" he murmured with his mouth full
of moss. "Did you find the animals?"
"It was frightening?" asked Thrush, his eyes
shining as he joined the others.
"Give them some space," Sandstorm meowed.
“There will be plenty of time to hear your story
in the clearing. Leapfrog, run and tell Firestar
they're back."
Foxleaping took off through the trees with a
cheerful flick of his tail, while Tawnypaw and
Turtledove followed more slowly, escorted by
the water patrol. By the time the thorn barrier
across the entrance to the hollow came into
view, the cats were emerging through the
thorn tunnel. <Just like floodwater breaking the
dam,> thought Turtledovepaw. Coatpaw,
Bumblebee, and Flowerpaw ran around,
playing fight with each other in their
excitement. The older warriors followed more
slowly, tails raised and eyes shining. Rosella
emerged, carrying her puppies, escorted by
Candeal and Dalia.
Even the veterans appeared, Shrew leading
Longtail with his tail on his shoulders, and
Cougar lumbering behind.
As Firestar made his way through the thorns,
the other cats stepped aside to let him pass.
The ThunderClan leader moved forward until
he stood in front of Tawnypaw and
Turtledovepaw, and extended a paw to touch
each of them on the shoulder with the tip of his
tail.
"Congratulations," he meowed, his green eyes
shining with pride. "You have saved the lives of
all the clans."
Gesturing with his tail, he invited Tawnypaw
and Turtledove to enter the camp before him.
The rest of the Clan entered behind. White
Cloudpaw dragged a huge rabbit from the pile
of fresh meat and dropped it at Tawny's feet.
"Here, eat," he meowed. "You both must be
hungry."
"Later, thank you." Tawny bowed his head
toward the white warrior. "We have to inform
Firestar first."
But it was impossible to move because more
and more cats surrounded them.
"What was blocking the current?" "Were there
really brown animals?"
"Did you have any problems with the
Twolegs?"
Trying to ignore the excited questions,
Turtledovepaw stretched up on the tips of her
paws, looking over the heads of the cats
surrounding her.
<Where is she?>
Finally he saw Ivypaw walking away from the
crowd, casting a timid glance at his sister and
then looking down at his paws. Turtledovepaw
pushed her way through the cats until she
reached her sister.
"Ivypaw!" she meowed. "I've missed you so
much!"
Ivypaw looked at her with sad eyes.
"I was afraid you wouldn't do it!" she
confessed.
"Don't be a mouse-brain," Turtledovepaw
murmured affectionately. "We're best friends,
right? I thought about you all the time!" <Well,
at least a lot of times>.
"Hey, Turtledovepaw!"
Hearing his mentor's voice, Turtlepaw turned.
Tawnypaw stood with Firestar and
Brambleclaw near the bottom of the
overturned rocks.
"We have to make our report," he called.
"Firestar wants us to tell the entire Clan what
happened."
"I'm coming," answered Turtledovepaw.
As she walked towards him, she saw Tawny's
gaze shift to focus on something behind her.
"Glayo," he meowed with a nod of his head.
Looking back, Turtlepaw saw Jaypaw
approaching from the direction of his lair. She
bit back a gasp of surprise: the healer looked
years older than when she and Leonado had
left camp. His eyes were haunted, his body had
the emaciated appearance of an old man, and
he had a fresh scar on his side. He put one paw
slowly in front of the other, as if he wasn't sure
his legs would hold him upright.
"Welcome back," he said hoarsely.
"Thank you, Glaius." Turtledovepaw couldn't
take her eyes off him. <What had happened
while they were away to make him look like
this?>
Looking up at Tawnypaw, Dovepaw saw his
own surprise reflected in her eyes. She
followed Jay as he headed toward the Clan
leader and the other cats, with a quick glance
over her shoulder at Ivypaw.
"I'll be back soon," he promised.
"That's very bad news about Keeper," Firestar
meowed as Tawnypaw and Turtlepaw finished
their report. “We are all clan mates in this. "We
have lost a brave warrior."
The entire Clan bowed their heads in silence.
Zancudo was the first to break it. "You mean
you really asked pet kitties for help?"
"And you fought these... What did you call
them, beavers?" Dustpelt meowed. "You'll
have to teach us the correct battle moves in
case they come here."
"You better not, or I'll give you something to
think about," Puma growled.
Firestar raised his tail for silence. "That's
enough for now," he meowed. "There will be
plenty of time to talk to Tawnypaw and
Turtledovepaw later. Let them eat and rest
first.”
Tawny retreated to the pile of fresh meat,
where he shared White Cloud's rabbit with Jay
and some of the other warriors. Although she
couldn't remember when she had last eaten,
Turtledovepaw felt too exhausted to join them.
He staggered across the clearing and made his
way through the ferns to the apprentices' lair.
Trenchpaw followed her inside. "Look!" she
meowed proudly, pointing her tail toward
Turtledovepaw's nest. "We made it especially
comfortable for you."
Turtledovepaw saw that her nest was lined
with soft gray feathers. "Thank you," she
purred, encouraged by the older apprentices'
friendship.
"That looks great. "It must have taken you
years."
"You deserve it!" Bumblebee added, poking his
head through the entrance.
"Yes, you are a heroine!" Flowerpaw chirped,
appearing next to him. "The Clans will never
forget what you did."
The three apprentices left Turtledovepaw alone
to sit and rest. It felt strange to be curled up in
his own bed again. <Now that I'm back, I'm just
a normal apprentice, right? Shouldn't I be on
patrol or something?>
His bed had never felt so warm and
comfortable, but Turtledovepaw continued to
stir through the feathers, unable to sleep.
<What's wrong with me? I'm so tired my hair is
falling out!>
He opened his eyes at a rustling noise to see
that Ivypaw had pushed his head through the
bracken.
"I thought you'd be asleep," he meowed.
"I can't," confessed Turtledovepaw. "I feel like I
have ants in my hair."
"Do you want to go to walk?"
Maybe he needed to do something to tire her
out even more. Turtledovepaw left her nest
and followed her sister through the thorns into
the forest. That was better than trying to sleep
alone with his thoughts. Her paws pushed her
towards the lake and the water it had released.
The sun had set, leaving the forest shrouded in
twilight. The rain had stopped and the wind
had died down; The air was moist and cool,
moving gently against his skin. The grass
already felt lush and fibrous under his paws.
<The drought is over. The clans will survive!>
Turtledovepaw paused briefly, blinking in
surprise. <I did that> , he realized. <If it weren't
for my senses, the Clans would still be dying of
thirst.> Pride flooded her with the force of the
released water descending toward the lake.
<Maybe it won't be so bad to have these
powers if I can use them to help my Clan.>
Upon reaching the lake, the two cats jumped
from the shore to stand at the very edge of the
mud, looking towards the distant wave of
water.
"Am I imagining it or does it seem closer?"
Whispered Turtledovepaw.
"I think so," Ivypaw replied. She jumped a little
excitedly. "I can't wait to see what it looks like
when it's really full, with the water up to here."
Turtledovepaw took a step forward and
stopped when something sharp stabbed into
his notebook. "Oh! "I stepped on something."
Looking down, he saw two parts of a stick
marked with scratches, the broken ends
splintered. With an annoying flick of his tail, he
pushed the pieces aside and examined his pad.
"Are you OK?" Ivypaw meowed.
"Yes that's fine." Turtledovepaw licked the pad.
"The skin is not even broken."
He stood close to his sister again, their cloaks
touching. Ivypaw entwined her tail with
Turtledovepaw's, letting out a soft purr. "I'm so
glad you're back, Turtledovepaw."
"Me too." Turtledovepaw buried her nose in
her sister's soft fur. "I will never leave you
behind again," he promised.
 Chapter 26
"What's going on?" Bayo stuck his head out of
the entrance to the maternity hospital. "Why
haven't the puppies been born yet?"
Glaius paused with his paw resting gently on
Rosella's belly and let out an exasperated sigh.
"Because now is not the time, Bayo," she
meowed, forcing her voice to remain calm.
"You do not have to worry".
He could feel powerful waves coursing through
Rosella's body as her babies prepared to be
born. The young cat lay on her side on the soft
moss of the motherhood; Dalia was crouched
next to his head, licking his ears, while Candeal
stroked his skin with a soothing paw.
"Yeah, Bayo, why don't you go catch a shrew or
something?" Dalia suggested. "We are doing
well."
"So what's taking you so long?" Bayo
demanded.
Glaius rolled his eyes. When Dalia first woke
him up to go to the maternity ward, Bayo had
insisted on staying with her partner. But he had
been a nuisance, interfering and questioning
everything the healer did, until Glaius had sent
him outside. But it bothered Glaius almost as
much to hear him pacing back and forth, and
poking his head out every few seconds to ask
stupid questions.
<Any cat would think no queen had given birth
before!>
Bayo withdrew, and Glaius could hear his
nervousness quickening again. Outside the
maternity hospital, night stretched over the
stone hollow, with a gentle breeze rustling the
trees and the scent of fallen leaves in the air.
Two nights earlier, Glaius had traveled to the
Lunar Lagoon to meet with the other healers.
He had hoped to learn more about Yellowfang's
warning, but none of the other medicine cats
spoke of messages from the Clan.
Stellar or dreams of the Dark Forest. As Glaius
settled down to sleep by the lake, he found
himself walking through the sunlit territory of
the Clans' ancestors, but no star warrior had
answered his calls.
A grunt of pain from Rosella distracted Glaius,
and another powerful wave passed through his
belly.
"It won't last long now," he promised.
Dalia stopped licking to give Rosella a drink
from a soggy clump of moss, and the cat
relaxed with a long sigh. "No cat told me it
would be such hard work," he murmured.
"What happened? I heard something! They are
already here?" It was Bayo again, putting his
head and shoulders into motherhood.
"Bayo, you're blocking all the light," Candeal
pointed out gently. "You're really not helping."
"These are my children, you know," Bayo
protested.
"Yes, and I'm the one having them!" Rosella
meowed loudly. "Honestly, Bayo, I'm fine."
At that moment, Glaius heard his brother's
voice calling from outside the maternity
hospital. "Is there anything I can do to help?"
"Yes," replied Glaius. "Keep Bayo away from
me!"
Bayo leaned back with an offended snort, and
Glaius heard Tawny speak softly to him. The
paw steps began to sound again, but this time
there were two pairs, moving a little further
away from the maternity ward.
"Good," Glaius meowed. "Now we can move
on."
Rosella growled as she struggled to bring her
kits into the world. "I don't think they'll ever
come," she gasped as the spasm passed.
"They will," Glaius told him calmly. “This first
puppy is big; That's why it's taking longer. But it
will come soon."
The cat gasped; Glaius felt his stomach lurch
and a cub slithered across the moss.
"Oh look!" Candeal exclaimed with a delighted
purr. "A kitten... and it's beautiful, Rosella."
Rosella gave a grunt of recognition as another
spasm passed through her. Glaius carefully felt
his belly. "Just one more to come," he told her.
<He's getting tired> , he thought. <Come on,
little one, move. Your mother needs to rest>.
Dalia gave Rosella another sip, while Candeal
leaned over her, murmuring encouragingly. But
Rosella was barely conscious when the second
cub, a small cat, emerged to join her brother.
"Oh, they are just beautiful!" Dahlia whispered;
She and Candeal bent their heads to lick the
puppies and wake them up. “Look, Rosella.
Aren't they lovely? "
Rosella let out an exhausted murmur and
pulled the two cubs closer to her belly.
Glaio could hear their little squeals that faded
into silence as they began to nurse.
“Everything ready,” he stated with satisfaction.
“Here, Rosella, eat these borage leaves. "They
will help more milk come."
Listening to the new mother licking the grasses,
Glaius suddenly had the feeling that
motherhood had become more full. "It's okay,
Bayo, you can come and meet your children,"
he meowed.
He turned, hoping to catch Bayo's scent.
Instead, he realized he could see the branches
of the nursery, intertwined with bramble
tendrils to keep out drafts.
<Am I dreaming?>
There was no sign of Bayo, but three other cats
were sitting along the wall of the maternity
room. Horror stiffened every hair on Jay's skin
as he saw the muscular, brindle forms of
Tigerstar and Hawkstar, one with glowing
amber eyes, the other with icy blue ones. The
third cat was a big brown cat with a crooked
tail. Glayo had never seen it before, but he
recognized the scent of the cat that had
attacked him in the Lunar Lagoon during his
fight with Weatherwind.
There was hunger in the eyes of the three spirit
cats as they looked at the newborn cubs.
Jay was still frozen in shock when Tawny
pushed his head into the lair. "Can Bayo come
in now?" asked.
He then narrowed his eyes and turned his head
towards the three Dark Forest cats. "They
won't have these puppies!" hiss.
Glaius's heart began to pound. "You can see
them?"
Tawny nodded. "Yeah. Can I see them." He let
out a growl, baring his teeth.
"Tawny, what in the name of StarClan are you
doing?" Dahlia asked. "Go get Bayo."
Hearing the cat's voice, the three cats
disappeared and Glaius's vision darkened once
again. He crouched down, trembling, as Tawny
withdrew and forced himself to turn to the
cubs. The sound of healthy sucking calmed him
and he managed to compose himself when
Bayo entered the maternity ward.
The young warrior was trembling with
excitement. "Oh wow! A son and a daughter!"
he exclaimed. He pressed himself against
Rosella, covering her face with licks. "You are
so smart, so beautiful," he repeated. "Our
children will be the best in the Clan!"
As Glaius listened, he became aware of the
smell of Melada that surrounded him and a
faint murmur reached his ears.
<Thank you>.
His head still spinning, Glaius slipped into the
clearing. Leonado was waiting for him. "Do you
know who that third cat is?" he demanded.
Glaius shook his head. "I don't know his name,
but I've met him before. "He attacked me in the
Lunar Lagoon when I was fighting Ventolero."
"That?" Tawny sounded horrified, and his claws
scraped the dirt of the clearing.
Glaio quickly told her what had happened
when he followed Rosella to the Moonpool.
"Windywind seems to want revenge on all the
ThunderClan cats," he finished, "for what
Leafpool and Crowfeather did."
"I can understand that... in a way," Tawny
meowed. "But where did the other cat come
from?"
"Yellowfang spoke to me in a dream," Glaius
told his brother. "She seems to know this cat, it
comes from the Dark Forest, like
"Tigerstar and Hawkhawk, but he didn't tell me
his name." He let out a frustrated sigh. "I don't
understand why the Dark Forest cats suddenly
appear among the Clans. Do they really want to
get involved in new disputes? "
<But that's what Pedrusco told me> , he
suddenly remembered. <He spoke of old
grievances that will be answered. Is this what
you meant?>
"Glayo, there is something I need to tell you."
Tawny led his brother through the barrier of
thorns and into the forest, stopping to confront
him on the mossy ground beneath an oak tree.
The branches rustled peacefully above them in
the breeze.
"I have a confession to make," Leonado began.
Glaius listened, mouth open in horror, as
Tawny told him how Tigerstar used to visit him
at night and how the vengeful cat had trained
him to fight better and harder than his
Clanmates. Not for the sake of his Clan, but to
satisfy Tigerstar's own thirst for power.
"Why did you not tell me?" Glaius squawked
when Tawny had finished.
"Because I thought it was my destiny," Leonado
replied. "Tigerstar told me he was my relative,
but he knew from the beginning that he wasn't.
So he lied, he lied to get me on his side, like
one of his warriors for a battle between the
clans."
"It's coming," whispered Glaius. "A battle
between StarClan and the Dark Forest, and all
warriors will be called to fight." Icy fear made
the hair on his skin stand on end. "Did the three
cats come tonight in case one of Rosella's kits
died, so they could take him to the Dark
Forest?"
"They don't need dead cubs," Tawny meowed.
"They can visit the living, as they visited me."
He doubts. "I...I think they're already training
Tigerheart. In the battle against the beavers, I
saw him use a battle move that Tigerstar taught
me.”
Jay's thoughts flew back to the Lunar Lagoon,
and how Weatherwind didn't seem at all
surprised to be fighting alongside the warrior in
the shadows. "They've also recruited
Ventolero," he realized. “Feeding their hatred
towards us and their hunger for revenge. But
how? The warrior ancestors had never before
been able to touch the living world."
"They can." Leonado's tone was serious. "When
I trained in my dreams with Tigerstar, in the
end, I woke up with real injuries."
Glaius felt the tip of his brother's tail rest on his
shoulder.
"They're breaking through," grunted Tawny.
"And when the battle comes, it will be for real."
BOOK CREDITS RESERVED TO ERIN
HUNTER