Barkpaw was waiting outside. “They’re perfectly healthy,” he meowed, as if he thought Talltail was still concerned.
“Good.” Talltail headed for the entrance, his heart aching.
“Where are we going?”
We? Talltail glanced at his friend. It felt like a long time since Talltail had heard Barkpaw say we. “I’m going to feel the wind in my fur.” He fixed his eyes on the gap in the heather. “Do you want to come with me?” He braced himself for Barkpaw to make excuses and return to his den. “You must be tired,” Talltail prompted. The moon was sinking, which meant dawn was close, but there was time for Barkpaw to rest before his morning duties. “Hawkheart probably has a busy day planned for you.”
“I don’t feel like sleeping yet,” Barkpaw told him. “That was my first kitting.” He ducked through the entrance first.
Talltail followed, and they began to climb the slope, following the trail around the heather. “Is Palebird really okay?” Talltail meowed in a rush.
“Really.” Barkpaw’s pelt brushed his as they climbed.
“She looked tired.”
“It was a hard kitting.”
“None of them died, though.” Talltail thought of Finchkit.
“They’re survivors, like you,” Barkpaw purred.
They walked in silence for a while. Talltail gently steered his friend toward Outlook Rock. “I love this view,” he mewed as he led Barkpaw out across the stone.
Barkpaw peered into the night-shadowed valley. “Why? Everything is so dark and far away.”
Talltail sat down, beckoning Barkpaw to sit beside him with a flick of his tail. “Just wait.”
“For what?”
The sky was growing pale as the sun pushed up toward the horizon behind them. Glancing over his shoulder, Talltail saw weak rays seeping through the bare branches of ThunderClan’s forest. “You’ll see in a moment,” he told Barkpaw. As he spoke, the sun lifted above the trees. Sunlight swept the moor and lit up the tips of Highstones.
Barkpaw gasped. “I’ve never seen that!”
“Can you see the mountains behind?”
Barkpaw narrowed his eyes. “There are mountains?”
“And more land beyond them, probably,” Talltail meowed, paws pricking. “Places no Clan cat has ever seen.”
“Or will ever see,” Barkpaw commented.
Talltail turned. “Why not?”
“Why would any cat trek that far from home?”
“To see what was there!”
Barkpaw shrugged. “I’ve been to the Moonstone, and that’s far enough. There’s plenty to see on the moor. I still haven’t learned every herb that grows here.”
“Don’t you want to find new herbs, growing in places other cats haven’t been?”
Barkpaw stared across the valley. “I couldn’t possibly go wandering off. My Clan needs me.”
Talltail shifted his paws. “I wish WindClan needed me.”
“Of course they do!”
Talltail shrugged. “I thought I could replace Sandgorse by becoming a tunneler,” he murmured. “I thought they’d need me then. But Heatherstar said we didn’t need tunnelers anymore. Now Palebird has had Woollytail’s kits. So she doesn’t need me either.”
“She does!” Barkpaw exclaimed. “And the kits will need you, too.”
Talltail shook his head. “It’s more than not being needed,” he sighed. “That’s just part of it.”
Barkpaw frowned. “What do you mean?”
“I . . . I can’t help feeling that I have to find Sparrow.”
“Why?” Barkpaw’s eyes went round with confusion.
“He killed Sandgorse.” Talltail searched his friend’s gaze for some trace of understanding or sympathy. Didn’t any of his Clanmates realize what Sparrow had done?
“But Sandgorse’s death was an accident,” Barkpaw meowed. “It wasn’t Sparrow’s fault.”
Not Sparrow’s fault? Talltail’s anger swelled until he felt it block his throat, choking his words. Why didn’t anyone see that a rogue had caused the death of a Clan cat and walked away unpunished? He glowered at the valley. You’re out there somewhere, I know. He pictured Sparrow stretching happily in a pool of dawn sunshine. You think you can go unpunished forever, but I won’t let that happen. Talltail’s claws scraped the rock. One day, you’ll be sorry.
Barkpaw followed his gaze. “Each cat has his own destiny to follow,” he murmured. “And only StarClan knows where that leads.”
“What if it leads beyond the Clan?” Talltail growled.
Barkpaw’s tail twitched. “Beyond the Clan?”
“What if my destiny is out there?” Talltail nodded toward the valley. What if my destiny is to avenge Sandgorse’s death?
“On your own?”
“Yes.” Talltail glared at the distant fields, scanning for brown pelts moving across the grass.
“Do you want to be a rogue?” Barkpaw demanded. Shock edged his mew.
“Of course not.” How could Barkpaw be so narrow-minded? “Can I only be a warrior inside warrior territory?” Talltail turned his gaze on Barkpaw. “The warrior code must reach beyond borders, surely? Courage, honor, and loyalty don’t end at a scent line.”
“You’re just feeling unsettled because of the kits.” Barkpaw climbed to his paws and stretched. “Once you’ve gotten to know them, you’ll feel differently. There’s room for all of you in the Clan, you know.”
“Maybe.” Talltail watched Barkpaw pad toward the grass. But I doubt it.
“I’d better get back,” Barkpaw called over his shoulder. “Hawkheart will be looking for me.”
Talltail turned his gaze back toward the valley. Where does my path lead? He glanced at the sky. Are you going to tell me, StarClan? His heart sank when there was nothing but silence, no change in the shape of the clouds overhead or in the sound of the wind. But his warrior ancestors hadn’t shared with him at the Moonstone; why would they guide him now? Perhaps even StarClan didn’t know what lay ahead for him.
A bird called from the valley. Another answered it. Talltail tipped his head on one side to listen. Those birds weren’t troubled by the idea of dead birds watching them, making decisions on their behalf. Why should he wait for his ancestors to make up their minds?
I choose my own destiny. Nothing can stop me—not even StarClan.
CHAPTER 25
Talltail hopped from his nest, ready for the dawn hunting patrol. Stagleap and Shrewclaw were still snoring, not even stirring as he picked his way between their nests. They must have returned late from last night’s Gathering. Talltail had slept through their return. Why wait up and hear news they’d be sharing all day anyway?
He padded out of the long grass. Freezing fog filled the camp. Dawn light seeped through the mist as Talltail sniffed at a frosty mouse. It was all that was left of the prey-heap pile. He picked it up and carried it to the nursery, thrusting it through the entrance to give it a chance to thaw. It should be soft by the time that Palebird, Meadowslip, and their kits woke.
It had been a quarter moon since Palebird had kitted Wrenkit, Bristlekit, Rabbitkit, and Flykit. Talltail was proud of them. They had already explored the whole camp, asking questions, begging for badger rides, and getting under everyone’s paws.
As he leaned into the nursery now, Palebird lifted her head sleepily and peered through the half light. “Is that you, Talltail?”
“Yes. Do you need something?” Talltail pricked his ears.
“Go away,” Palebird grunted. “You’re disturbing everyone. The kits kept us awake half the night because you made them so excited about the Gathering.”
As Talltail ducked out of the den, a gorse thorn stabbed his ear. It stung less than Palebird’s words. Appledawn was stretching his spine at the edge of the long grass where the warriors slept. Hareflight stood yawning at the rim of the Meeting Hollow while Cloudrunner sniffed the empty patch where the prey heap should have been.
Cloudrunner lifted his head. “It looks like we
’ve got some hunting to do,” he commented.
“I’m ready.” Talltail flexed his claws.
Appledawn headed for the entrance, Hareflight at her side. Cloudrunner raced past them and led them out of camp. Talltail felt their paw steps ringing through the ice-bound earth. He gave chase, catching up on the grass clearing outside. He stopped and scanned the moor. “Which way?”
“There’ll be prey near Fourtrees,” Cloudrunner guessed. “Anywhere close to the woods, when it’s this cold.” The pale gray tom crashed away through the frost-whitened heather. Talltail veered around the bushes, running hard so that he was ahead of the patrol when they broke from the other side. He heard their paws thrumming behind him and pushed harder.
“Why don’t you hunt down by the RiverClan border?” Cloudrunner panted when he caught up to Talltail at the edge of the trees. “Hareflight and I will search the brambles.” He glanced at Hareflight as the brown tom slithered to a halt, narrowly missing getting poked in the eye by a branch.
Appledawn pulled up behind him, her flanks heaving. “It’s a bit early for a race!” she panted.
Cloudrunner nodded to her. “You can hunt the RiverClan border with Talltail.” He nodded toward the scrubby hillside that linked the woods above Fourtrees to the river. Suddenly the warrior’s eyes narrowed. Talltail jerked around, following his gaze.
Two dark pelts were weaving between the bushes just below the border with RiverClan.
“The river must be frozen if they’re hunting on land,” Hareflight meowed. “They won’t like eating mice instead of fish.”
“They didn’t mention it at the Gathering,” Cloudrunner growled.
Talltail snorted. “Of course not. Clans don’t admit when they’re starving, remember?” He quoted the warrior’s words back at him.
Cloudrunner’s pelt rippled. “Just keep your eyes open. Hungry Clans cross borders.”
Of course they do! Otherwise they’d starve. Talltail headed downhill, Appledawn hurrying to keep up. “I hope we get a rabbit,” she meowed. “I’m starving.”
“If we could use the tunnels, we’d find plenty,” Talltail muttered. Bushes dotted the slope as it flattened toward the RiverClan scent line. The soil felt crumbly beneath Talltail’s paws, sandy enough to resist freezing even after several dawns of frost. This area was popular with rabbits because it was easy to dig at the height of leaf-bare, though the burrows became unstable in warmer weather.
“We might as well re-mark the border while we’re here.” Appledawn padded toward a bramble spilling over the grass and brushed past it.
Talltail headed for a clump of ferns farther along. As he marked the icy fronds, he felt the earth tremble. Paw steps were heading this way. Talltail pricked his ears and let the fur lift along his spine. Something was running at full pelt, not even slowing as it approached the scent line. The ferns swished and a rabbit hared out past his nose. A she-cat exploded after it, with a tom at her heels.
RiverClan scent bathed Talltail’s tongue. He recognized the ginger-and-white pelt of Nightsky as she streaked after the rabbit. Piketooth raced after her, ears flat, eyes wide. Talltail watched, rooted to the spot with surprise. The rabbit veered across the slope and Piketooth peeled away, picking up speed as he hit the open grass of WindClan territory. He outflanked the rabbit and drove it back toward Nightsky. Eyes gleaming, she pounced, killing it with a sharp nip to the spine.
“Why are you standing here like a lump?” Appledawn’s hiss sounded in Talltail’s ear. “They’re on our territory!” She darted forward.
Talltail followed and quickly overtook her, slowing as he neared the RiverClan cats. They spun around, bristling. Nightsky stood in front of her catch. Piketooth showed his teeth. Talltail scrambled to a halt, blocking them from Appledawn’s line of sight. The RiverClan cats looked lean and hungry, their pelts dull.
“Quick,” Talltail hissed to Nightsky. “Take the rabbit and get back to your own territory.”
The RiverClan she-cat stared at him.
“Hurry!” Talltail hissed. He could hear Appledawn racing up behind him.
Nightsky grabbed the rabbit and fled back to the border. Piketooth tore after her, flashing a shocked look at Talltail as he passed.
“What in the name of StarClan are you doing?” Appledawn gasped, skidding to a stop beside Talltail.
“I tried to stop them!” Talltail meowed. “But they were too quick for me. They must be starving!”
“We’ll be starving if you give away all our prey!” Appledawn spat.
Fur flashed at the edge of Talltail’s vision. Hareflight and Cloudrunner were running down the slope. On the other side of the border, Talltail was relieved to see Nightsky and Piketooth disappear into the ferns.
Cloudrunner pulled up beside Appledawn. “What happened?”
“Talltail just let a RiverClan hunting patrol steal our prey!” Appledawn snarled.
Talltail bristled. “It was their prey. It came from their territory.”
Appledawn lashed her tail. “Once it crosses the border, it’s our prey.”
Cloudrunner faced Talltail. “Is this true?”
“They took their prey back over the border, yes.” Talltail lifted his chin.
“You let them kill it on our land, though,” Appledawn put in.
“They killed the rabbit before I reached them. And they’re clearly starving.” Talltail couldn’t understand why his Clanmates were so unforgiving. “Are we supposed to want other Clans to starve?” Is that what warriors do?
Hareflight stepped forward. “We take care of our own Clan first.” He glanced up the slope toward camp. “We have hungry cats, too.”
“Then let’s hunt,” Talltail meowed lightly. “We haven’t lost a rabbit; we’ve just seen one cross the border and go back again. Come on, let’s check out that gorse over there.”
“Your Clanmates aren’t happy with you.” Heatherstar sat at the back of her den, half-hidden in shadow.
Talltail stood in front of her, feeling slightly baffled. Why was everyone making such a fuss about the RiverClan rabbit? “It was prey from their territory.” He was tired of explaining.
“So you keep saying.” Heatherstar sighed. “But we have to feed our own Clan first.”
“They flushed it out,” Talltail reasoned. “It never would have run into our territory if RiverClan hadn’t chased it there.”
Heatherstar leaned forward. “What’s wrong, Talltail?” Her eyes were round with curiosity.
Talltail’s fur pricked along his spine. “Why does there have to be anything wrong?”
“I know you’ve had a hard time.” Heatherstar’s mew was sympathetic. “Palebird never got over Finchkit—”
“She got over her enough to start a new family with Woollytail,” Talltail muttered.
Heatherstar blinked. “Losing Sandgorse was a shock for you, I know. And I’m sorry you weren’t able to follow in his paw steps, but I had to think of the whole Clan.” Heatherstar took a breath. “If there’s ever anything you want to talk about, I want you to know you can come and talk to me. Or Dawnstripe.” She frowned. “I worry that you hold back from your Clanmates. You keep too much to yourself. Being part of a Clan means sharing in all things.”
Talltail flicked his tail, feeling more and more uncomfortable. “May I go now, please?”
Heatherstar nodded. “Of course. But remember, you can always talk to me.”
“Thanks.” Talltail turned and headed out of the den.
Barkface, who had been given his medicine cat name just a few days before, was waiting for him in the clearing. “I have to talk to you,” he hissed urgently.
“What about?”
“Just wait!” Barkface led him to the spring outside the camp wall and stopped in the clearing. The water bubbled beside their paws, lapping over the rim of ice around the edge of the little pool. “Do you remember what you said at Outlook Rock?” He faced Talltail with his ears pricked. “After Palebird kitted? You asked what would happen
if your destiny led you beyond the Clan,” Barkface prompted.
Talltail nodded. “So?”
“You said that it was possible to be a warrior even beyond Clan borders.”
“I still believe that.”
Barkface went on. “You wanted to find out what was out there.”
Talltail’s paws pricked with impatience. “Why are we going over this again?”
“I was out on the moor at sunrise,” Barkface mewed in a rush. “I was picking sheep sorrel to ease Flailfoot’s fever, and I found a tuft of black-and-white fur.”
Talltail stared at him. “How’s that important?”
“You’re black and white!”
“Are you saying you found my fur?” Talltail looked along his flank. “I don’t think I’ve lost any.”
“No!” Barkface leaped up the ridge of earth above the spring and paced along the top. “Don’t you see? It was a sign.”
“A sign?” Talltail was confused.
“As I held it up and looked at it, the wind whisked it from my paw and carried it over the moor like a puff of smoke. It just vanished.”
Talltail frowned. “What are you trying to say? That I’m about to vanish?” Anxiety began to worm in his belly.
Barkface was quivering. “I just know it means something. It felt important, like StarClan had sent it. And after what you said about your destiny leading you outside the Clan, well, maybe you were right. Maybe this was StarClan’s way of saying they agree.”
“You think StarClan wants me to leave?” Talltail felt cold. Was that why they hadn’t shared dreams with him at the Moonstone? “Do you think I should?” His throat tightened.
“No!” Barkface scrambled down the bank and stopped a whisker from Talltail’s muzzle. “Of course you don’t have to. But if you truly believe that your destiny lies beyond our borders, I think StarClan wants you to follow it.”
Talltail saw his friend’s eyes glow with conviction. He just wants me to be happy. Slowly he nodded. “Thanks for telling me, Barkface.” He climbed up the bank and padded over the grass. “I’ll have to think about it.”