Fleck stopped abruptly at the edge of the field. Crookedkit skidded to a halt beside the bristling tom and stared, eyes wide, at the cornfield. A huge scarlet monster was trawling through the corn, sucking up the golden stems and spewing lumps from its hindquarters. Shorn stumps lay in swaths behind it.
“Mitzi!” Fleck’s mew was filled with terror.
“The kits!” Crookedkit charged forward, pelting down
the path and clearing the ditch in one leap. He shot through the hedge with Fleck on his tail and charged into the corn. The monster rumbled toward them, heading straight for Mitzi’s nest. Crookedkit heard mewling as he neared the hollow. He burst into the small clearing. Mitzi stood, eyes wild, Piper dangling from her jaws. Crookedkit looked in the nest.
Magpie sat in the middle, wailing. “The monster’s coming!”
Fleck exploded from the corn. “Where are the others?”
Mitzi tucked Piper between her forepaws. “I’ve taken Mist to the ditch,” she told them. “Soot ran into the corn.” Her green eyes glittered with terror.
“I’ll find her.” Crookedkit glanced at the rumbling monster. He could see its bloodred head advancing over the corn.
“I’ll take Magpie.” Fleck leaned into the nest and plucked out the mewling kit.
“Which way did Soot go?” Crookedkit demanded.
“I didn’t see!” Mitzi gasped.
Magpie stabbed his paw toward the corn. “That way!”
Crookedpaw dived among the stems, nose twitching. He sneezed as dust filled his nostrils. The stench of the monster swirled around him, its rumble now a roar as it pounded down the field.
“Soot!” he yowled. He pricked his ears, then flattened them as the roaring of the monster blasted his fur. Opening his mouth, he tasted the air. A faint fragrance of Soot lingered. He hesitated a moment, then plunged deeper into the corn. With a rush of hope he spotted a tiny track through the stems. He followed, heart pounding. It was leading straight toward the monster.
Soot’s scent was stronger now, laced with fear. Crookedkit weaved onward, following the bent corn stems. The monster was howling so loudly, Crookedkit could only feel the blood roaring in his ears. He glanced up, gasping, as he saw the great red body barely a tree-length from him. Gigantic claws swirled at its chest, tearing up the corn and scooping it into its gaping mouth.
“Help!” Soot’s squeal shrilled against the roar. The kit’s black fur was just visible through the golden corn. She was three tail-lengths away, the monster bearing down on her with a roar.
Breathing fast, pelt bushed up, Crookedkit leaped into the air. Landing beside Soot, he grabbed her scruff and pelted onward through the corn. The stalks whipped his face. He tasted his own blood as it welled on his muzzle. Pain jarred his jaw as he clasped hard on to Soot. He fought panic as he heard the monster’s claws whirring at his ear. He leaped again, Soot pressing against his chest as he flung himself clear of the monster’s path. Tumbling to a halt, he felt its wind tug his fur and the ground shook beneath them as it passed.
He lay trembling a moment before he let go of Soot. She crouched quivering beside him. As the monster rumbled away, paw steps crunched the bitten stalks.
“Are you okay?” Fleck ducked down beside them. The farm cat’s eyes were wide.
“Yeah,” Crookedkit panted. “Let’s get her to the ditch before the monster comes back.”
Fleck picked up Soot and waited for Crookedkit to stagger to his paws. “Did it hurt you?”
Crookedkit licked the blood from his nose. “Didn’t touch us,” he breathed.
Soot wriggled in Fleck’s jaws. “Crookedkit saved me!” she squeaked.
Crookedkit frowned at her. “Next time, stay with your mother.” He followed Fleck back across the path the monster had cut and through the corn to the edge of the field. Squeezing underneath the hedge, he padded trembling out the other side and saw Mitzi huddling her kits close to her. A purr shook her as she saw Soot in Fleck’s jaws.
The farm cat placed the kit at her mother’s paws. “Crookedkit reached her just in time.”
Mitzi stared at him, eyes glowing. “You saved my kit,” she whispered.
Crookedkit was shaking too hard to reply.
“You really are a warrior.” Mitzi leaned forward and licked the blood from his muzzle.
“You could’ve been killed,” Fleck grunted.
Crookedkit glanced over his shoulder at the monster still prowling across the cornfield. What if something like that threatened his Clan? “I need to go home,” he murmured.
“But you’re safe now,” Fleck reassured him. “The monster won’t come on this side of the hedge.”
“I’m not running away.” Crookedkit swallowed. “I’ve finished running away.” He knew he had to go back and become a warrior. This life wasn’t his destiny. It couldn’t be. He was glad he’d saved Soot. But that was just the beginning. He was destined to be great—not a great farm cat but a great warrior. Maybe the greatest warrior ever. He didn’t care if his Clan thought he was too small or too ugly. He would make them see that his heart was still as brave as any of them. And as loyal. He dipped his head.
“I’ll never forget you,” he promised. He was finding it difficult to swallow, especially with Soot, Mist, Magpie, and Piper gazing at him with enormous eyes. “I wish I could stay forever, but I don’t belong here.” He could see Fleck and Mitzi struggling to understand. “I’m a Clan cat,” he whispered. “I have to go home.”
Chapter 9
As the path sloped beneath his paws, Crookedkit heard the roar of the waterfall. He had walked all night, crossing the Thunderpath and slipping through WindClan territory undetected. The sky was growing light beyond the trees. The camp would be stirring soon. He hurried down the path beside the gorge. It seemed narrower than last time he’d passed this way. He had grown. He was also more sure-pawed and he didn’t peer nervously over the edge, but kept his gaze fixed ahead where he could just make out the river snaking into RiverClan territory below.
He wondered if Mist, Soot, Magpie, and Piper were awake yet. Perhaps Fleck had offered to watch them while Mitzi went hunting. Were the kits asking about him, wanting to know where he had gone and when he would be back? Crookedkit’s heart twisted. He missed them already. But he was going home.
As the path flattened out along the bank and the bushes grew lush, he smelled the familiar scents of RiverClan and strained to see the reed bed bordering the camp. But mist shrouded the river, betraying the coming of leaf-fall. It wove around him as he skirted the shore below Sunningrocks. By the ThunderClan stench lingering there, Crookedkit guessed with a prickle of irritation that Hailstar still had not reclaimed RiverClan’s land.
The stepping-stones were hardly visible in the mist, each stone only appearing when he’d reached the one before. He landed on the pebbly shore and scrambled up the short, steep bank. The grassy path was soft on his tired paws.
“Crookedkit?” A voice hailed from the mist and the dark shape of Mudfur emerged on the path ahead. Rippleclaw and Echomist flanked him, the silver of their pelts as familiar as their scent.
“You’re alive!” Echomist’s joyful mew rang in the dawn air.
Mudfur swished his tail. “I’m going to get Shellheart.”
Before Crookedkit could speak, Mudfur had darted back toward camp and Echomist had run to him and was licking him fiercely between the ears. “Where were you? We’ve been worried sick. We thought a fox had taken you.”
Her warm, familiar scent enfolded him. Crookedkit stared at his paws, hot with shame. She thought I was dead. “I’m sorry.”
Rippleclaw stiffened, his gaze narrow. “Then you did run away. Cedarpelt was right.”
Crookedkit nodded. “But I came back.”
“Why?” Rippleclaw curled his lip. “Couldn’t you make it as a loner?”
Crookedkit flinched. “I never stopped being a RiverClan cat.”
Rippleclaw tasted the air. “You don’t smell like a RiverClan cat.”
Echomist hissed at the black-and-silver warrior. “You should be pleased he’s safe!”
“RiverClan doesn’t need warriors who run—”
Rippleclaw was cut short by the pounding of paws and Shellheart slowed to a halt beside him. The RiverClan deputy stared at Crookedkit. “You’ve grown.” His eyes shone.
Oakpaw pelted past his father and brushed around Crookedkit, purring loudly. “You look great! Where have you been?”
“I went to find the Moonstone,” Crookedkit began to explain.
“Did you get lost?” Oakpaw mewed.
“Come on,” Shellheart interrupted. “Hailstar will want to see you.” He pressed against Crookedkit as he escorted him back to camp, a low purr rumbling through his pelt.
Crookedkit felt butterflies in his belly when he saw the wall of reeds that surrounded the camp. “Is Rainflower okay?” he whispered to Shellheart.
“She’s fine,” he reassured. “Everyone’s fine.” He ducked through the sedge tunnel. Crookedkit followed, Oakpaw on his tail and Echomist purring behind.
Hailstar was already in the clearing. Mudfur paced beside him, his eyes bright. Troutclaw, Tanglewhisker, and Birdsong were trotting down the slope from the elders’ den. Brightsky and Lakeshine paced the edge of the clearing, exchanging whispers. Crookedkit pricked his ears as Fallowtail hurried from her den and joined them.
“Can you believe he’s back?” he heard the brown warrior murmur.
Piketooth and Shimmerpelt sat together, tails neatly wrapped over their forepaws. Timberfur was shaking out his wet pelt beside the reed beds while Ottersplash slid, yawning, from her den.
“Softwing! Wake up!” The white-and-ginger she-cat stared in amazement at Crookedkit. “Whitefang! Come and see!”
Crookedkit watched them pad sleepily from their dens. The two apprentices must have been given their warrior names while he was away. He glanced at the apprentices’ den. Who else had been made a warrior? He couldn’t help feeling a prick of relief as Volepaw, Beetlepaw, and Petalpaw scrambled out.
“Crookedkit’s back!” Petalpaw raced to greet him, Volepaw on her tail.
“You’re bigger!” Volepaw purred.
Beetlepaw narrowed his eyes. “He’s fatter.” He sniffed. “Like a kittypet.”
“I’m no kittypet!” Crookedkit growled.
“Who’s been feeding you then?” Beetlenose challenged.
Crookedkit lifted his chin. “I’ve been hunting for myself.”
“Really?” Hailstar padded toward him, broad shoulders specked with dew from the morning mist. “Not bad for a kit not yet out of the nursery.” His voice betrayed surprise.
Crookedkit warily searched the RiverClan leader’s gaze, relieved to see warmth brimming in his amber eyes.
“You’ve had everyone very worried,” Hailstar growled. “But it’s good to have you home.”
Rippleclaw padded into camp. “Are you going to take him back that easily?” he muttered.
Tanglewhisker snorted. “Of course he is! Crookedkit’s one of us.”
Birdsong leaned against her mate. “That’s right. We are warriors, not rogues,” she rasped. “We don’t turn on our own Clanmates!”
Cedarpelt slid from the dirtplace tunnel. “Is he still our Clanmate?” His brown-striped tail snaked behind him and he narrowed his gaze.
Shellheart’s hackles lifted. “Of course he is!”
“Where has he been?” Beetlepaw called.
“He smells like heather.” Lakeshine sniffed. “Perhaps he was seeing what life was like in another Clan.”
Crookedkit glanced at Fallowtail. Had she reported that she’d scented a RiverClan cat on WindClan territory? She was staring at her paws.
“I’d never join another Clan.” Crookedkit puffed out his chest. “I’m RiverClan.”
Hailstar padded around him, his gaze sweeping the Clan. “He was born in RiverClan and that’s where he belongs.”
Cedarpelt exchanged a look with Rippleclaw. “How can we trust him not to leave anytime life gets tough?” he challenged Hailstar.
“Yeah!” Beetlepaw scowled. “While he’s been away getting fat, some of us have been busy training.”
“I’ll start my training whenever you like!” Crookedkit looked hopefully up at Hailstar.
Before the RiverClan leader could answer, Brambleberry hurried from the medicine den. She stopped beside Crookedkit and sniffed along his flank. “Are you okay?” she asked anxiously. “You look okay.”
“I’m fine,” Crookedkit told her.
A purr rumbled in her throat. “Thank StarClan you’re home safely.”
Hailstar narrowed his eyes. “Where have you been?”
“I went looking for the Moonstone,” Crookedkit told him.
“The Moonstone!” Shellheart gasped. “That’s so far away!”
Paw steps scuffed the clearing behind them. “He was always too adventurous for his own good.” Rainflower’s mew made Crookedkit shiver. He turned and faced his mother, trying to read her expression. Her tail-tip was flicking. Was she pleased to see him or sorry he’d come back? Her eyes reflected his gaze, giving nothing away.
Crookedkit turned back to Hailstar. “I went to ask StarClan if it was my destiny to be a kit forever.”
Hailstar narrowed his amber eyes. “And what did StarClan say?”
“I never reached the Moonstone,” Crookedkit confessed. “But I found my answer.” He raised his chin. “My destiny is to be a RiverClan warrior no matter how long I have to wait.”
Brambleberry frowned. “How did you find your answer if you didn’t reach the Moonstone?” she asked. “Did StarClan visit you?”
Crookedkit hesitated. Should he tell Hailstar about Mapleshade? But he had disobeyed her when she told him to return to RiverClan. He shook his head. “I helped a loner save her kits and I realized I should be helping my Clan.” He turned back to Hailstar. “I’m sorry I ran away. It was dumb and I won’t ever run away again. I want to be the best warrior in RiverClan.”
Hailstar’s eyes flashed. “Better than Shellheart?”
Crookedkit glanced at his father. Shellheart’s gaze didn’t waver. “One day.”
The RiverClan leader dipped his head. “Good. RiverClan will always need strong warriors.”
“Welcome back, Crookedkit!” Petalpaw rushed to congratulate him. Echomist, Birdsong, and Tanglewhisker weaved around him, purring. Crookedkit breathed in their warmth.
“Can I welcome back my kit?” Rainflower was waiting behind Birdsong. The elder scuttled out of the way. “Welcome home.” The pale gray she-cat touched her muzzle lightly to Crookedkit’s head. “I’m glad you’re safe.”
Crookedkit swallowed. “Th-thank you.” His gaze reached for hers but she’d turned and was padding toward the sedge entrance tunnel.
“Can I join your patrol?” she called to Rippleclaw.
“Of course.” Rippleclaw signaled to Echomist and Mudfur with his tail. “We should be checking the borders by now.” He flashed an accusing look at Crookedkit.
“I can’t believe you went all the way to the Moonstone by yourself,” Petalpaw purred.
“Not all the way,” Crookedkit corrected.
“I bet you didn’t even make it to WindClan territory,” Beetlepaw scoffed.
Volepaw plucked at the ground. “How far did you get?”
Rippleclaw paused at the entrance. “Petalpaw, Volepaw, come with us. Mudfur wanted to assess your hunting today. We might as well do it now.”
Ottersplash crossed the clearing and nosed Beetlepaw. “Come on,” she meowed. “We’re practicing hunting in the beech copse. The earlier we get there the more prey there’ll be.”
“Can Oakpaw come, too?” Beetlepaw’s eyes flashed. “I always learn more when there’s someone to compete with.”
“You can compete with your littermates,” Ottersplash told him.
“They’re easy to beat.”
“That’s not true!” Volepaw snapped.
&nbs
p; Crookedkit watched his former denmates follow their mentors out of camp, then turned to Oakpaw. “Do you have to train, too?” He glanced at Shellheart.
“With leaf-fall coming, we can’t waste time,” Shellheart meowed gently. “You can tell us about your adventures tonight.”
Crookedkit nodded. He’d caused the Clan enough disruption for one day. “Okay,” he mewed. “I’ll see you later.”
“Why don’t you clean out the elders’ nests?” Shellheart suggested as he padded away with Oakpaw.
Tanglewhisker rubbed a grizzled paw over his ragged ear. “They could do with new moss. The old stuff is full of fleas.”
Crookedkit stifled a sigh. He’d learned so much and traveled farther than any apprentice, but he had to stay in camp and clean out nests. Suddenly becoming a warrior seemed a long way off.
Crookedkit woke into a dream. Mist shrouded the earth and trees rose around him with smooth gray trunks that disappeared into darkness above. Mapleshade slid out from behind a trunk, mist swirling around her paws. “So they took you back.”
“Of course.” Crookedkit swished his tail. “I’m a RiverClan cat.”
“I was worried you’d forgotten.”
Crookedkit narrowed his eyes. “I came back,” he growled. “You don’t have to go on about it.”
Mapleshade sat down. “You’ve got guts,” she muttered. “I’ll give you that.”
“What do you want with me?” Crookedkit wondered why she was back in his dreams. He’d come home. What more did she need?
“I want to help you fulfill your destiny.” Mapleshade padded closer. Her tail slid across Crookedkit’s flank.
Crookedkit fidgeted with impatience. “What is my destiny?”
“If you obey me and train hard, one day you will lead your Clan.”
“I’ll be leader?” Crookedkit couldn’t believe his ears. “But I’m not even an apprentice yet!”
Mapleshade sat down. “Were you hoping that Hailstar would be so impressed by your adventure he’d make you an apprentice right away?”
Crookedkit flinched. She was close to the truth. “I can hunt,” he insisted, straightening up. “And I’m big enough.”