Hareflight and Shrewpaw were already scrambling down the rocky slope when Tallpaw emerged into moonlight.
“I thought we’d lost you,” Dawnstripe murmured. She waited for Tallpaw to jump down from the ledge, and fell in beside him. Tallpaw walked in silence. As they reached the meadows, he hardly felt the wet grass drag along his flanks. All he felt was tiredness, growing heavier with each paw step.
The sky was turning pale beyond the moor-top as they neared the WindClan border. The Thunderpath was quiet and they crossed it easily, just as Dawnstripe had promised.
Dawnstripe peered closely at Tallpaw as the ground began to slope up toward the moor. “Are you okay?” she prompted.
“I’m fine.” Tallpaw padded past her without meeting her gaze. “Just tired.” He glanced up the slope to the top of the moor, then back toward Highstones. They seemed to catch fire as the rising sun turned them red, then yellow, paler and paler against the lightening sky. The jagged peaks loomed over the valley, piercing the clouds. To Tallpaw, the moor hardly seemed big enough to contain WindClan, hemmed by forest, crushed by the sky, cut off short by the river in the gorge.
But this is home! Breaking into a run, he bounded past his Clanmates and raced down the hillside toward camp. The Clan was already stirring. Lilywhisker and Whiteberry yawned at the entrance to their den. The Meeting Hollow looked as crowded as a burrow full of rabbits as the Clan gathered around Reedfeather, waiting for his orders for the day’s patrols.
“Tallpaw!” Hopkit scrambled across the tussocks, stumbling each time his twisted paw buckled underneath him. “Did you see the Moonstone?”
“Yes.” Tallpaw nuzzled his head. The kit’s wide, friendly gaze seemed to banish the darkness of Mothermouth.
Sorrelkit raced after her brother, her gray-and-brown fur spiked with excitement. She stopped beside Tallpaw and began sniffing his pelt, her mouth open as she tasted the strange scents he’d brought back. She glanced over her shoulder at Pigeonkit. “He smells funny.”
Pigeonkit pushed past her and inspected Tallpaw closely. “Your fur’s all wet.”
“We’ve been trekking through long grass,” Tallpaw explained.
“What did you see?” Sorrelkit flicked her short tail.
“The Moonstone.”
Sorrelkit widened her eyes. “Was it big?”
“Bigger than Tallrock, and it shone like the stars.”
“Did you touch it?” Hopkit leaned back, his fluffy ears pricked.
“You’ll have to wait till it’s your turn to visit it.” Tallpaw was too tired to talk. “Isn’t it time you had your first taste of mouse?”
Pigeonkit puffed out his chest. “I’ve already tasted it!”
“So have I!” Sorrelkit announced.
Tallpaw spotted a bird on the prey heap. “What about lapwing?” he asked.
“Meadowslip’s worried we’ll swallow the feathers,” Hopkit mewed.
“What if I pluck it for you?” Tallpaw offered.
Sorrelkit raced around him. “Will you?” she squeaked.
“Come on.” He headed toward the prey heap.
Pigeonkit and Sorrelkit streaked ahead. “Wait for me!” Hopkit was struggling to keep up, his crooked paw twisting beneath him.
Tallpaw turned back and tucked his nose under the black tom’s belly. “Hang on!” he warned, flipping the kit onto his shoulders. Tallpaw purred as the young kit dug his tiny claws into his pelt, and carried him over to his littermates.
Bright sunshine turned the distant trees golden. Tallpaw took a step forward, bringing him right to the edge of Outlook Rock. Under the sweep of empty, blue sky, he could see sheep and Twolegs, dogs and monsters. He could even see a hare sitting in the middle of a distant meadow. The air around him was completely still, as though the world were holding its breath.
“A black-and-white dog is chasing sheep in the hill-meadow,” Tallpaw reported.
Dawnstripe shifted behind him. “And?”
“There are grouse beside the copse.” Tallpaw imagined padding beneath the distant trees, new scents bathing his tongue, the grouse within stalking distance. His mouth watered. “There’s a fire in a Twolegplace.” The scent of smoke touched his nose and he glimpsed a plume rising from the top of a Twoleg nest. Feathers flashed in the sunshine and Tallpaw’s gaze flicked toward a hawk as it dived out of the sky. He scanned the meadow where it swooped, trying to pick out its prey. His paws itched to be there. He could snatch the prey out of the bird’s path. “Hawk hunting rabbit.”
“I’m impressed.” Dawnstripe got to her paws. “You haven’t missed anything.” Her pads scuffed the rock. “Let’s move on to your battle-skills assessment.”
Tallpaw turned from the edge of the rock, dragging his gaze from the distant fields. He followed Dawnstripe to the training ground, the trail so familiar now that he didn’t even have to think about where to put his paws. His thoughts were still on the hawk. He’d traveled across the meadow it had hunted in. Now he was back inside WindClan’s borders while it was crouching in a treetop, feasting on its catch. Yearning pricked beneath his pelt. What was it like to hunt only for yourself, to have the freedom to go wherever you wanted, without boundaries or codes pinning you down?
“Tallpaw?” Dawnstripe’s mew jerked him back. “Are you ready?”
Shrewpaw was waiting in the middle of the clearing with Hareflight. “How did Tallpaw do at Outlook Rock?” the brown warrior asked.
“He passed the assessment easily,” Dawnstripe replied.
“Good.” Hareflight flicked his tail. “Shrewpaw hunted well.”
“I’m pleased to hear it.” Dawnstripe gestured with her tail to send Tallpaw over to his denmate. “Time to test their battle skills,” she meowed to Hareflight. “If they perform well enough here, they’ll have passed everything.”
Tallpaw trotted across the grass. Shrewpaw eyed him belligerently. Tallpaw sighed, wishing his denmate weren’t so competitive. They could pass this assessment easily if they each gave the other a chance to show off his skills. He crouched in the grass, relaxing the muscles along his spine. A warrior moves with ease, not stiffness. Dawnstripe’s advice rang in his ears. No claws, no teeth unless there’s a real battle. Fight with your wits as well as your paws. Tallpaw made sure his claws were well sheathed and kept his gaze fixed on Shrewpaw, bracing himself for his denmate’s first move. “Ready when you are,” he mewed.
Shrewpaw narrowed his eyes. “Why don’t you attack first?”
“If you like.” Tallpaw wasn’t going to let Shrewpaw unsettle him. He focused on Shrewpaw’s left shoulder, then leaped for the right. His feint worked. Wrong-footed, Shrewpaw staggered sideways.
Shrewpaw’s eyes blazed. “Cheater.”
“It was a fair move.”
Shrewpaw lunged at Tallpaw. Grasping Tallpaw’s shoulders, he kicked a hind paw out from under him. Good move. Tallpaw was impressed and let Shrewpaw roll him onto his side. As soon as their backs were to their mentors, Shrewpaw sank his claws into Tallpaw’s pelt. “You won’t fool me twice, Wormpaw.”
Tallpaw flinched. “No claws, remember?”
“We’re training to be warriors, not kits!” Shrewpaw hissed in his ear.
Tallpaw dug his hind claws into the grass and thrust Shrewpaw backward. Pain ripped through him as Shrewpaw tugged a lump of fur from his flank. Don’t let him put you off! Tallpaw leaped to his paws. Shrewpaw faced him, eyes gleaming. Tallpaw backed away. Let him think he scared me. He felt a twinge of satisfaction as he saw triumph flash in Shrewpaw’s gaze. Come on, Weaselpaw.
Shrewpaw sprang. Tallpaw glanced at his denmate’s paws. His claws were sheathed. For now. He knew that Shrewpaw would be digging them in the moment they were out of sight of Hareflight and Dawnstripe. He leaped sideways. Shrewpaw twisted to counter his move and Tallpaw shoved his muzzle beneath Shrewpaw’s belly. Ducking under him, he felt Shrewpaw writhe on his shoulders before tumbling to the ground. Tallpaw dropped and rolled in the other direction, scrambling to his pa
ws in time to face Shrewpaw as the young tom jumped up.
“That was a coward’s move,” Shrewpaw growled, just loud enough for Tallpaw to hear.
“Really?” Tallpaw spat. “It must be one you taught me.”
Shrewpaw curled his lip. “I’m going to take a piece of your ear back to camp for that.”
“I’d like to see you try!” Tallpaw lunged at Shrewpaw, turning on his forepaws and swinging his hind legs around. He kicked out and sent Shrewpaw staggering backward. But Shrewpaw recovered quickly and lunged at him. Tallpaw swallowed back a yelp as claws stabbed his flank. Teeth gripped his hind leg and jerked it from under him. As Tallpaw hit the ground with a thump, Shrewpaw leaped on him.
Pain flared white-hot along Tallpaw’s spine as Shrewpaw pushed his muzzle and churned his hind claws against his back. Couldn’t Dawnstripe see what was going on? Tallpaw pushed the thought away. He didn’t want Dawnstripe rushing to his rescue as if he were a kit. He twisted his head and clamped his jaws around Shrewpaw’s foreleg, just hard enough to get a grip, careful not to draw blood.
“Don’t you know any warrior moves?” Shrewpaw snarled. “I fought better when I was a kit. No wonder you couldn’t save your father!”
Fury roared through Tallpaw, stripping sense from his thoughts like wind tearing up heather. Without thinking, he unsheathed his claws and bit down on Shrewpaw’s foreleg so hard he tasted the young tom’s blood. Shrewpaw screeched and dragged himself free. Tallpaw plunged after him, grabbing him with outstretched claws, and hauled him back. Flinging him to the ground, he slammed his hind legs into Shrewpaw’s belly and began battering him with blows that sent fur flying across the grass. The heather swam at the edge of Tallpaw’s vision and the dark shape of Shrewpaw seemed to fade beneath him. In its place, Tallpaw saw the short, brown pelt of Sparrow.
“You!” He dragged the rogue onto his side, dripping blood from his scratched muzzle into the rogue’s dark, expressionless face. “You deserve to die.”
“Tallpaw!” Dawnstripe’s yowl seemed to come from far away. The tug of her teeth in Tallpaw’s scruff startled him. He felt himself being yanked back, clear off his paws.
Hareflight lunged in front of him, shielding Shrewpaw. “What in StarClan’s name are you doing?” The brown warrior stared at him, horror widening his eyes.
Tallpaw blinked. Shrewpaw was trembling, bloody and tattered, on the ground beside his mentor.
What have I done?
CHAPTER 23
Dawnstripe glared at Tallpaw, her pelt spiked with rage. “No claws, remember?”
Tallpaw stared back, shock pulsing through him. “I’m sorry!”
Beside him, Hareflight checked Shrewpaw’s wounds. Shrewpaw squirmed away from his mentor. “I’m okay,” he insisted.
He doesn’t want to admit that I nearly shredded him. Tallpaw winced as he recalled the fury that had driven him on. How far would I have gone if Dawnstripe hadn’t stopped me?
Dawnstripe smoothed her chest fur with a couple of licks. “It’s been a stressful day,” she meowed. “You just got carried away.”
Hareflight eyed Tallpaw warily. “I guess.”
“Sure.” Shrewpaw nodded as he shook out his pelt, hiding his scratches.
“It won’t happen again,” Tallpaw promised, but inside he felt a stab of panic. Would he fail his assessment because of this? He could have killed Shrewpaw because he’d lost control of his rage. I don’t deserve to pass the assessment. His pelt pricked with shame. True warriors don’t hurt their Clanmates.
Dawnstripe headed into the heather. “Let’s get back to camp.”
Tallpaw trailed behind his Clanmates, dreading what Dawnstripe would have to tell Heatherstar. Doespring and Stagleap were just leaving the camp as they reached the clearing outside.
Stagleap lifted his tail excitedly. “How did the assessment go?”
Doespring’s eyes widened as she saw Shrewpaw’s bloody nose. “What happened to you?”
Hareflight padded forward. “Tallpaw forgot he was fighting a Clanmate.”
Stagleap stared at the clumps of fur hanging from Shrewpaw’s pelt. “Did you think you were fighting a ShadowClan patrol?”
Tallpaw looked at the ground, his pelt hot.
Shrewpaw shrugged. “He just got lucky with a few swipes.”
“Go to Hawkheart,” Hareflight told him. “Get those scratches seen to while Dawnstripe and I speak with Heatherstar.”
Stagleap shot Tallpaw a questioning look, but Tallpaw wasn’t about to tell him anything. “I’m going to get a drink,” he muttered, and followed the trail that skirted the camp wall to the spring. As he rounded the corner, he slowed. He could hear mews up ahead. Two cats were already beside the water.
“Are you sure?” Tallpaw recognized Woollytail’s rasping mew.
Palebird answered him. “Yes. In two moons’ time.”
Tallpaw pricked his ears.
“What about Tallpaw?” Palebird meowed. “We should tell him first.”
“Of course,” Woollytail answered. “He’ll be pleased. It’s been a hard greenleaf for all of us. This will cheer him up.”
Tallpaw’s pelt pricked uneasily. What will cheer me up?
Palebird lowered her voice. “I think I should tell him by myself.”
Tallpaw brushed past the heather and faced his mother. “Tell me what?”
“Tallpaw!” Palebird’s eyes brightened. “I have good news.” Why is Woollytail looking so worried, then? Palebird gazed fondly at Woollytail. “I’m expecting kits.”
Tallpaw glared at him. “Yours?”
The tunneler lifted his muzzle. “Yes.”
“You’re going to be a brother at last,” Palebird gushed.
“But what about Sandgorse?” Tallpaw blinked at Woollytail. “You were his friend. How can you—”
“Sandgorse would be pleased.” Woollytail cut him off. “He wouldn’t want to see Palebird grieving for the rest of her life. You should be pleased for your mother.” Palebird’s eyes shone. “She hasn’t been this happy for a long time,” he went on.
Tallpaw’s heart twisted. Sandgorse and I couldn’t make you happy. But Woollytail can.
“You’ll still be her first kit,” Woollytail told him gently. “Did you really think you’d be her last?”
Tallpaw looked at the two cats. Woollytail’s eyes begged him to understand, while Palebird seemed oblivious that she’d caused him any pain. “Whatever makes her happy,” he growled, turning away. Mouth still dry and tasting of Shrewpaw’s blood, he marched into camp.
The Meeting Hollow was buzzing. Tallpaw’s Clanmates were streaming into it, their pelts ruffled with excitement. Cloudrunner looked over the rim. “Hurry up, Tallpaw, or you’ll miss your own naming ceremony!”
Aspenfall and Larksplash settled near the edge of the hollow. Mistmouse and Appledawn were discussing something animatedly while Plumclaw, Hickorynose, and Meadowslip sat close together. Tallpaw realized that for the first time, tunnelers and moor runners were sitting together.
Hopkit, Sorrelkit, and Pigeonkit leaned over the edge. “Why can’t we sit next to you?” Hopkit called to his mother.
Meadowslip shooed them away with a jerk of her muzzle. “Go and sit beside the nursery. You can see well enough from there. Heatherstar doesn’t need kits under her paws. This is an important ceremony.”
Tallpaw spotted the Clan leader standing in the middle of the hollow. Reedfeather stood a few paces behind while Hareflight and Dawnstripe flanked him. Shrewpaw was with his father. Redclaw puffed his chest out proudly and glanced up at the pale sky. Was he wondering if Brackenwing was watching?
Dawnstripe caught Tallpaw’s eyes, beckoning him with a flick of her tail. Did this mean he’d passed his assessment? Her eyes shone and she gave him a tiny nod. He’d passed! Tallpaw stared numbly back at her. Palebird had found a new family to replace her old one. What did it matter if he had a warrior name? She would have a litter of kits to look after soon. They’d make her happier than he ev
er had.
“Come on, Tallpaw.” Woollytail padded up behind him and nudged him forward.
Beside him, Palebird purred. “Your naming ceremony! So much good news in one day!”
Tallpaw narrowed his eyes. For you, maybe. He padded across the tussocks and slid down into the hollow.
Heatherstar dipped her head. “Leaf-bare is coming, but we will face it with two new warriors.” She looked at Shrewpaw. “Your warrior name will be Shrewclaw, in honor of your skill at hunting and fighting. You have trained well and are worthy of your warrior name.”
Shrewclaw fluffed out his tail and purred.
“Tallpaw.” Heatherstar’s eyes glowed as she gazed at him. Tallpaw shifted his paws. “Your father always meant to name you for your long tail, and so I give you your warrior name in honor of him. Talltail, one day you will be a greater warrior than even you can imagine. Sandgorse would be proud of you.”
Talltail stared at his leader. He should have felt happy, but the numbness wouldn’t shift. Instead it wrapped itself tighter around his heart. Heatherstar held his gaze, her eyes searching his as if she was trying to tell him something. Is she just being kind because she knows I don’t fit in? Around him, the air filled with the calls of his Clanmates.
“Talltail!”
“Shrewclaw!”
They lifted their voices to the afternoon sky, celebrating WindClan’s newest warriors.
Talltail glanced over his shoulder at Palebird. She was pressed against Woollytail, her eyes bright. Talltail swallowed back the sadness welling in his throat. Is she proud of me, or just happy about the kits? Surrounded by his Clanmates cheering his name, he had never felt more alone.
The stars shimmered in a peat-black sky. Perched on the edge of Outlook Rock, Talltail gazed beyond the mountain peaks that edged the horizon like jagged teeth. What lay beyond? Had any cat traveled that far? His breath billowed in front of him, the stone slab cold beneath his paws. The chilly leaf-fall night carried the distant scent of a leaf-bare frost.